Martial Cultivator

The city gate of Jiang’an Commandery was already in sight, but the convoy halted instead of proceeding. The pale-faced Liu Tong rode over to the carriage where the woman was and asked in a low voice, “Madam...”

The carriage curtain was lifted. The woman wore a sorrowful expression as she looked at Liu Tong. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head and said, “We’ve come this far. What is there to fear?”

Liu Tong forced a bitter smile. “Should we ask again, just in case?”

The woman did not reply, only nodded in the end.

So Liu Tong rode to another carriage not far behind and asked in a somewhat respectful tone, “Lord Chen, we’ve arrived at the gates of Jiang’an Commandery. Do we enter the city?”

When he asked this question, Liu Tong was actually a bit hesitant. He still did not really believe that this young martial artist before him was someone with a high rank or authority.

“Go and have the commandery governor come out to meet me.”

The curtain did not lift. Only the young man’s somewhat weak voice came from inside.

“Wouldn’t that... be too much?”

Though Liu Tong had never served as an official, he still knew that the commandery governor was the master of an entire commandery. Having him personally come out to the gates to receive someone was probably no easy matter, it would be a complete loss of face.

How would that governor take such a demand?

“Just go and tell him. The commandery governor ought to be at the city gate. Tell him to come meet me alone, he’ll come.”

The voice from inside the carriage remained weak, like a light breeze.

Liu Tong was half-believing, half-doubtful. After informing the woman, she gave him a definite reply. So, steeling himself, he headed toward the city gate.

......

......

At the commandery city gate, officials rarely seen by the common folk had gathered in full, save for the garrison commander Su Tong.

Huang Shi, the governor of Jiang’an Commandery, was a thin middle-aged man. He looked around at the officials present but still did not see Su Tong. His expression turned a bit ugly as he stared at the assistant governor of Jiang’an and asked, “Where is Su Tong? He really isn’t coming?!”

The assistant governor gave a bitter smile. “Your Excellency, we already sent someone to inform him. Su Tong said he’s unwell and won’t be coming.”

Huang Shi’s expression shifted between cloudy and clear. Though he did not know who exactly this big figure from the Divine Capital was, the messenger had earlier not even mentioned his name, only requesting Su Tong by name. Now that Su Tong refused to come, Huang Shi felt this matter was going to be troublesome no matter what.

He had been serving in Jiang’an Commandery for many years and had long hoped to rise higher, but never had the opportunity. Now, he was finally going to meet someone of great standing from the Divine Capital, perhaps even gain some connection. That was why he had taken the initiative to summon all the high-ranking and low-ranking officials. But now that the person had specifically asked for Su Tong and Su Tong did not show, Huang Shi was worried the matter might backfire.

“This Su Tong has been throwing his weight around in Jiang’an Commandery for so long, he really thinks he’s some local tyrant. Putting on airs at a time like this, has his brain been kicked by a donkey?”

Huang Shi cursed inwardly, his face becoming increasingly ugly.

The assistant governor of Jiang’an had nothing to say either. Su Tong usually relied on his military power to show no courtesy at all to them civil officials. They could only pinch their noses and endure it.

“May I ask which one is the Commandery Governor?”

Liu Tong arrived at the city gate, looked at the assembled group of officials, and braced himself to ask.

Huang Shi turned his head to look at the middle-aged man before him. After thinking for a moment, he cupped his hands and said with a smile, “This official is the governor of Jiang’an, Huang Shi.”

Liu Tong was a bit stunned. He had not expected the governor to be so courteous. He hurriedly cupped his fists and said, “There is a Lord Chen outside the city. He asks for Lord Commandery Governor to go out to receive him...”

When he got to this part, Liu Tong lost a bit of confidence. After all, such words did not sound pleasant no matter how politely phrased.

Who would have thought Huang Shi would quickly take a few steps forward and say with a smile, “Then this official will have to trouble you to lead the way. Take me to see Lord Chen.”

Liu Tong had not expected things to go this smoothly. He nodded and led the governor toward the convoy.

Not long after, Liu Tong arrived at the carriage and said softly, “Lord Chen, the commandery governor has arrived.”

A soft sound of acknowledgment came from within the carriage. Liu Tong knew it was not his place to linger, so he promptly left.

After Liu Tong had left, there was finally some movement inside the carriage. A young man stepped out and sat down.

Huang Shi looked at the young man before him and was momentarily shocked. Though he had prepared himself for various possibilities, he still could not help his surprise upon seeing the young man.

It was simply because the young man was just too young.

For a moment, Huang Shi did not know how to speak.

The young man seated beside the carriage looked at Huang Shi and said calmly, “This official is the Warden, Chen Chao.”

Warden?[1. Reminder, it’s all warden, I renamed it as Lord Warden Commander to make it easier for readers, but in the raws, there is no distinction.] Of which region?

In the Great Liang Dynasty, there were certainly many wardens.

But the young man before him had not said from which region.

In the entire Great Liang Dynasty, there was perhaps only that warden sitting in the highest position who did not need a geographic designation before his title.

And if one had to add one, it would be “Great Liang.”

Wait a moment... Chen Chao?

Huang Shi quickly reacted and immediately dropped to his knees. “This official Huang Shi pays respects to the Lord Warden Commander!”

”Get up.”

Chen Chao glanced at Huang Shi and asked calmly, “Su Tong didn’t come?”

Huang Shi had just gotten back on his feet, still a little shocked. Now, hearing the Lord Warden Commander ask about Su Tong, his scalp tingled, and he became even more uneasy.

“This lowly official is ashamed. Although we did notify General Su, he claimed to be unwell and was unable to come and receive Your Excellency...”

Chen Chao said flatly, “This official won’t beat around the bush with you. Before coming, this official looked into your background. Over the years, while you can’t be called a good official, you haven’t been corrupt or reckless with human lives. But that Su Tong is another matter. I’m afraid he hasn’t done a single good deed in years. Do you have any evidence in your hands? If so, just hand it over to this official.”

Huang Shi’s expression turned complicated. After some thought, he said cautiously, “Lord Warden Commander, Su Tong technically falls under the jurisdiction of the Northern Frontier Army. Although Your Excellency’s rank is high...”

In the Great Liang Dynasty, there were two major military officials. The Great General of the Northern Frontier commanded the Northern Frontier Army and all troops within Xinliu Prefecture. In nearly all matters, it was the Great General’s word that carried weight. As for the Lord Warden Commander, while the title was high, it was in truth difficult to interfere in the matters of officialdom.

Chen Chao looked at Huang Shi and said calmly, “Lord Huang, do you know what position the current Great General held before assuming his current position as Great General?”

Huang Shi was taken aback, then suddenly understood. Before becoming Great General, the current one had not been a general of the Northern Frontier Army, but had been the previous Lord Warden Commander.

“This lowly official has a ledger that records the bribes Su Tong has taken over the years. It’s not complete, but enough to convict him.”

Huang Shi hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, “Lord Warden Commander, if you intend to arrest Su Tong, I’m afraid it must be planned carefully. After all, he holds all military power in Jiang’an Commandery.”

Such military officials, if handled poorly, might incite mutiny among their troops. That would make matters spiral out of control.

Chen Chao said indifferently, “Have the local warden surround his general residence and drag him out to the door.”

“Your Excellency intends to escort Su Tong to the Divine Capital to stand trial?”

Huang Shi was rather surprised by how decisively this Lord Warden Commander acted.

Chen Chao shook his head. “This official intends to execute him on the spot.”

“Lord Warden Commander... I’m afraid that may be inappropriate?”

Huang Shi was utterly shocked. He had never imagined Chen Chao would go this far.

Chen Chao said calmly, “Some things can be done slowly. But some things, if done too slowly, chill the hearts of the people. As for the Divine Capital, if they want to say that this official is overstepping bounds, say that this official acts recklessly, let them talk.”

Chen Chao turned his head to look into the distance and said softly, “This official doesn’t care.”

......

......

Wang Zhen, the warden of Jiang’an Commandery, had been in office for less than a year. After Chen Chao became Lord Warden Commander, though he had always been extremely busy, he had still managed to get things done thanks to gaining control over the Hundred Streams Pavilion

The first thing he did was to remove many incompetent wardens and promote a number of capable and practical ones; among them was this Wang Zhen.

Since assuming the post of warden of Jiang’an Commandery, Wang Zhen had lived up to expectations. From time to time, he would lead his subordinates in hunting demons in the surrounding mountains and forests, reducing the local demons.

Today, he had just returned from outside the city and had not yet stepped foot into the Warden Office when he was stopped at the gate by a subordinate official. That man respectfully raised a document and said in a low voice, “Your Excellency, an official dispatch from upstairs.”

Wang Zhen reached out to take it, thinking it was another directive from the warden of the prefecture, but as soon as he saw the seal bearing the characters for “Lord Warden Commander,” his eyes widened.

“It’s a dispatch from the Divine Capital.”

Wang Zhen’s hand trembled slightly as he held the document. Ever since that young Lord Warden Commander had assumed his position, there had been many voices of criticism in the court. But Wang Zhen, having been personally promoted by that same Lord Warden Commander, held nothing but absolute admiration for him.

Upon opening the dispatch, Wang Zhen quickly raised his brows, closed the letter in one swift motion, and laughed. “The Lord Warden Commander has come to Jiang’an Commandery!”

Upon hearing these words, all the officials of the Warden Office nearby were already visibly stirred.

Toward that young Lord Warden Commander, they had no other sentiment, only two words - deep respect!

“Quickly summon every official in the Warden Office. We’re going to the General’s Office to arrest people.”

Wang Zhen smiled faintly and clenched his fist.

An official asked, “Your Excellency, who are we arresting?”

”Of course it’s Su Tong.”

Wang Zhen said with a cold sneer, “That scum, this official has long wanted to kill him.”

......

......

General’s Office.

Su Tong was dead drunk, narrowing his eyes at a graceful dancing girl. After beckoning to her, the other dancers gave her a sympathetic glance before slowly withdrawing.

That dancer who remained turned pale. Before coming here today, she had already anticipated something like this. But when it truly fell upon her, she was at a loss.

Su Tong waved at the dancer and slurred, “Help this general undress!”

Trembling, the dancer stepped forward and reached out with shaking hands to help Su Tong remove his robe.

Seeing her move too slowly, Su Tong chuckled and reached into her collar, grabbing the warm lump within.

The dancer’s body stiffened slightly. Though filled with revulsion, she dared not resist.

“Su Tong!”

Just as Su Tong was savoring the sensation at his fingertips, a voice rang out sharply.

The shout jolted Su Tong more than half sober. He shoved the dancer aside and narrowed his eyes, looking into the distance. He frowned and bellowed, “Wang Zhen! Who gave you the gall to trespass into this general’s residence?!”

Wang Zhen did not bother replying. He drew his saber and sneered, “Men, tie up this General Su!”

Su Tong leapt to his feet. “Wang Zhen, are you fucking rebelling?!”

Wang Zhen said coldly, “Su Tong, your time has come.”