The "Righteousness" of Government Slaves
The defensive fortifications of Qixia'ao.
Under Yang Sijian's iron-fisted command, it spread and took shape at an astonishing speed, like steel vines sprouting from ruins.
At the valley entrance and on the gentle slopes, the rampant weeds and thorns serve as natural camouflage.
The double-layered "tiger pit" is ready: the outer, shallow pit is densely covered with poisoned bamboo skewers and wooden spikes, and topped with loose soil and turf, blending seamlessly with its surroundings; the inner, deep pit is filled at the bottom with withered wood and fallen leaves soaked in pine resin, a single spark could ignite a raging inferno. Between the pits, narrow, winding underground channels connect silently like the earth's veins, serving as both waterways and secret paths.
Within the core area, the "Honeycomb" bunker complex was constructed using the remaining walls and ruins.
Between the houses, "rat trails" meander and connect, some being underground passages, others being mazes formed by the gaps between the remaining walls.
The "Eagle's Nest" outpost is perched atop a half-collapsed roof of a giant rock, offering both a wide and secluded view.
At the deepest part of the valley, beneath the sheer cliffs, a cave entrance covered by a huge vine camouflage net has taken shape, and the dull chiseling sounds continue day and night—the secret passage to the deep mountains, "Guixu," is being vigorously excavated under the personal supervision of Yang Sijian.
At this moment, Yang Sijian, with his back bent, led Liu Quan and two guard captains to conduct a final inspection along the pre-designated "snake path"—a death zone filled with tripwires, falling rocks, and poisonous caltrops.
His eyes were sharp, and his withered fingers brushed over a taut, almost invisible animal sinew tripwire deep in the grass. He then carefully examined the boulder base, which was cleverly positioned and would crash down with a bang if the mechanism was triggered.
"here."
He pointed to a tiny knot at the point where the tripwire was attached, “Wrap it three more times, then soak it in poison ivy sap. Once it dries, it will break at the touch and kill instantly upon contact with blood.”
The captain of the guards made a solemn note of it.
A suppressed commotion suddenly arose from the direction of the valley entrance.
A mule cart escorted by constables from the prefectural city was parked outside the pit area.
The head constable looked at the "ghost realm" before him, overgrown with weeds, lined with broken walls, and filled with the strong smell of medicine. His face was full of disgust and fear, and he dared not take a step closer.
"The things Lord Chen ordered have been delivered! Come out and carry them yourself!"
The leader shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice suddenly echoing in the silent valley.
Liu Quan led his men over. Several bags of coarse rice, several bundles of sparse, almost translucent coarse cloth, several packets of inferior herbs, and several old hoes and sickles with chipped and worn blades were carried into the valley.
Shabby, perfunctory, even insulting—this was the "gift" they received in exchange for large sums of money.
"Hmph, Magistrate Chen's business is a sure thing," Liu Quan muttered, his eyes flashing with anger.
Yang Sijian finished the inventory without expression, then simply waved his hand and said, "Move it to the warehouse. Every grain of rice, every inch of cloth, is a matter of survival. Keep it safe."
His cloudy old eyes swept over the inferior supplies, a barely perceptible trace of fatigue and a deeper, coldness flashing across them.
He had seen this exploitative trick in countless places and government offices, but now that he was the one being exploited, the absurdity and cruelty of this "righteousness" were laid bare before his eyes.
The oppressive atmosphere surrounding the arrival of supplies had not yet dissipated when the lookout guards at the valley entrance rushed over, carrying an elegant hard-covered envelope sealed with wax: "Madam, Elder Yang! The messenger from Linshan County just left, specifying that it be given to Madam Ling or Master Shen."
Yang Sijian took the envelope and looked at the neat characters in regular script on it: "Respectfully presented by Huo Heng, Magistrate of Linshan County".
His brows were deeply furrowed, as if the envelope carried an invisible weight.
He took the letter and walked toward the command tent at the edge of the "Hive" core area.
Inside the shed, Ling Zhan was deep in thought, staring at the perfected map.
Shen Yan stood in the shadows of the corner, his back to the door, silent as a cold rock.
Ever since receiving Su Wan's tearful letter, he has remained silent, throwing himself into the most strenuous physical labor.
It seems as if one wants to use exhaustion to numb the pain in one's soul.
Xuan Chenzi was also in a corner of the shed. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to rest, seemingly indifferent to the outside world. However, his slightly furrowed brows and the fingertips that were twirling the whisk revealed the unease in his heart.
The atmosphere inside the shed was heavy and oppressive, like the rumble of thunder before a storm.
Yang Sijian placed the letter on the rough wooden table in front of Ling Zhan: "Madam, it's a letter from Huo Heng."
Ling Zhan shifted his gaze from the map to the envelope.
Shen Yan's body stiffened abruptly, and he slowly turned around.
He walked slowly, his movements stiff, his gaze fixed on the letter as if it were a venomous snake. His fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly as he grabbed the letter, tore open the seal, and pulled out the gold-flecked letter paper inside.
Huo Heng's handwriting was neat and clear, revealing the inherent superiority of a scion of a prominent family.
[To Madam Ling and Master Shen:]
You two must have already heard about the transfer of the artisans in Linshan Town. The Ministry of Works, by imperial decree, supervised the government-run textile production and conscripted artisans from across the country. This was a national policy and a matter of law and principle. As artisans, we bear the artisan register and receive a salary from the court. It is only right and proper for us to serve the country.
On that day, Master Shen hastily entrusted me with the task, stating that I would "treat him well and settle him down." I was grateful for his kindness and indeed intended to be considerate. However, the Ministry of Works' documents are strictly enforced, and the law is absolute; how can personal feelings be allowed to override it? The craftsman Liu Sanhe, disregarding the law, incited the escape; his actions constitute disobeying imperial orders! As an official appointed by the court, in charge of this region, my primary responsibility is to uphold the dignity of the state-run textile industry and demonstrate the inviolability of the court's laws! If such rebellious individuals are allowed to run rampant, where will official authority be? Where will the dignity of the court be? He has brought this disaster upon himself; it is entirely his own fault! I acted according to the law, handing him over to my superiors in the Ministry of Works for punishment, as a warning to others, precisely to maintain overall stability and serve as a warning to others!
You merchants, though you may value personal relationships, must know that all land under heaven belongs to the king; all people within the realm are his subjects. The return of artisans to the government is a restoration of order, a return to the right path. This is the law of the court, and the righteous reason! I hope you will understand this greater good and refrain from using personal feelings to oppose the law. The property of Shen Ji in Linshan Town will be disposed of according to the law, replenishing the government's coffers.
Huo Heng, Magistrate of Linshan County, bows respectfully.
There was not a trace of guilt or pity in his words.
Only cold "national policies", "laws", "majesty", and "justice"!
He characterized Liu Sanhe's resistance as "rebellion" and "defying imperial orders," while downplaying her tragic death, her husband's martyrdom, and the abduction of her young son as "bringing disaster upon herself" and "blaming herself"!
He portrayed himself as an incorruptible and capable official who upheld the authority of the government.
He even condescendingly admonished Shen Yan and Ling Zhan for not understanding "righteousness" and "right principles"!
Shen Yan's hand gripped the letter, her knuckles cracking, and a sickly flush rose on her pale face.
Huo Heng's words "right reason" were like poisoned ice picks, piercing his heart.
Once upon a time, wasn't "buying slaves" a perfectly reasonable and justifiable thing for him?
It is a common means of maintaining the operation of the company and making profits.
Did he ever truly consider whether those who were bought were also burning with resentment, just like Liu Sanhe?
The thought gnawed at him like a venomous snake, filling him with a strong, almost nauseating disgust for his past.
He suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the void, as if he saw Huo Heng's face, which was full of self-righteousness and arrogance—a face that seemed to reflect his own cold-hearted past!
Anger surged through his veins like magma, mixed with intense self-loathing, burning so intensely that his very soul trembled!
But this time, he didn't scream uncontrollably, nor did he pound himself in pain.
That extreme anger, along with the newly born, bone-deep self-doubt, was compressed and condensed all at once, ultimately sinking into the deepest recesses of his heart, transforming into a profound, icy silence. This silence was more chilling than any roar, as if even his own existence was frozen and interrogated under this cold scrutiny.
He slowly and deliberately squeezed out a few words from between his teeth, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were being rubbed.
"Official slaves...that's his right...good...very good!"
The shed was deathly silent.
The words "right principle" struck Yang Sijian and Xuan Chenzi like a heavy hammer.
Yang Sijian's hunched back seemed to have bent even more, and a complex and indescribable emotion flashed in his cloudy eyes.
He had served as an official in the Ministry of Works and was very familiar with the operation of this set of "laws and regulations".
Huo Heng's letter is merely a microcosm of countless local officials, driven by a massive bureaucratic machine, rigidly implementing and even intensifying the maintenance of this set of "justices." What they are maintaining is not fairness, but "official authority" and their own positions.
Liu Sanhe's blood was merely a negligible lubricant in the operation of this cold machine.
The chill brought by this realization was more biting than the cold wind outside the valley.
Xuan Chenzi, who had kept his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
His eyes showed neither the burning pain of Shen Yan nor the deep weariness of Yang Sijian.
There is only a kind of compassion and solemnity that comes from a deep understanding of the world.
He gently stroked the handle of the whisk.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the simple roof, revealing the enormous, invisible net that enveloped the entire dynasty.
Huo Heng's self-righteousness, Chen Tongzhi's greed, the Ministry of Works' strict orders...
One link leads to another, weaving together this net called "Righteousness," which traps countless people within it.
He sighed softly, as if talking to himself; the sound was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the oppressive shed.
"We...it's like we've made enemies with Huo Heng and the Ministry of Works' henchmen..."
The old Taoist paused, his gaze sweeping over Chen Yan's lifeless face, Yang Sijian's hunched back, and finally settling on Ling Zhan's cold eyes, carrying an almost fatalistic heaviness.
"But in reality, one wrong move and you're going to be fighting against the entire bureaucratic system."
Ling Zhan listened quietly.
Huo Heng's letter, Shen Yan's hatred, Yang Sijian's silence, Xuan Chenzi's sigh...
All of this converged and settled in her cold eyes.
She reached out and snatched the disgusting letter from Chen You's stiff, unresponsive hand, tossing it carelessly onto the table as if it were filthy trash.
"'Did you see that?'"
Ling Zhan's voice was calm yet piercing, as if Xuan Chenzi's sigh merely confirmed her judgment: "'This is Huo Heng's "justice," and also the "justice" of their entire system. In their eyes, the lives of people like Liu Sanhe are less than worthless weeds. Their blood and tears are merely dust used to whitewash the 'authoritative authority.'"
She turned to Yang Sijian, her gaze sharp and pragmatic, as if the letter and Xuan Chenzi's sighs had simply clarified the direction forward.
"Old Yang, what's the progress of the 'Return to the Ruins' entrance disguise?"
Yang Sijian took a deep breath, suppressing the chill in his heart, and solemnly replied, "Madam, rest assured, I have personally made the arrangements. The vines, moss, and gravel blend seamlessly with the cliff. The first section of the internal support frame is complete, allowing for rapid passage. The initial camouflage and reinforcement will be completed within three days."
"'very good.'"
Ling Zhan nodded, his gaze sweeping across the map to the locations of Linshan Town and Linzhou Prefecture, with a determination to shatter this "reasoning".
"'Chen Tongzhi's supplies won't feed us for long. Huo Heng's 'righteous reasoning' has blocked the artisans' livelihood on the surface. But the hidden path remains.'"
She glanced at Shen Yan, who sat like a cold sculpture in the corner. Her voice wasn't loud, but it pierced his ears clearly, carrying an undeniable command: "'Shen Yan, suppress your hatred and pain. Simply venting your anger in this valley won't shatter Huo Heng's 'righteousness,' or break through that net. I need what's in your head—the trade routes, money shops, and secret intelligence networks that the Huo family might be involved in in Linzhou Prefecture. Write down everything you can think of.'"
Shen Yan's body trembled, and he slowly raised his head.
A flicker of emotion finally appeared in those lifeless eyes—a sign that the frozen flames were beginning to reignite.
He nodded stiffly, letting out a muffled "hmm."
Ling Zhan finally looked at the little stone standing there.
“‘I heard your Aunt Su has returned to the valley. Go and fetch her. We have some goods; it’s time to head out of the mountains.’”
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