Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

A district magistrate was just a low-ranking official, and they would have to bear dire consequences if the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect was to casually badmouth him to the county chief.

However, that was only true for run-of-the-mill district magistrates. Would anyone really consider Jiang Pengji to be an ordinary district magistrate?

The sun shone bright in the sky, and the air felt extremely humid and hot. The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect and his party had been waiting for a whole hour outside the city and they were drenched in sweat from the heat. The plump Inspection Deputy of the Prefect was even more flustered. After all, he wore his full set of fancy clothing and jewelry to put on airs before Jiang Pengji. Even though his servant fanned him continuously, he still felt incredibly hot. Sweat kept seeping out from his pores, wetting the inner layer of his shirt.

The commoners outside the city were sallow and emaciated. In contrast, he was so fat that his face looked like a full moon, white and tender fat piling on his face. There was something sinister-looking about his eyes, and his face wore a totally impatient and irritated expression, making him look unapproachable. The commoners who were queuing up to enter the city occasionally looked over at them, discussing in whispers with their heads down.

“Where did all these officials come from? They look well-dressed…” one said.

The middle-aged man beside him said, “Rumors have it that the leader is the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect sent by the higher-ups, probably not a decent person.”

Inspection Deputies of the Prefect had low rank but great power, and they often made use of their position to ask for bribes from their subordinates. Many had to humor them and act polite, bribing them in secret to keep their own insignificant positions. The greedier Inspection Deputies of the Prefect would even instruct others to exploit the citizens.

Due to the drought in the north and the fight between the Tsing Yi Army and the Red Lotus Group, the spring ploughing and autumn harvest in the past two years had been affected. Even the families that were somewhat rich were running out of food, but the Inspection Deputy of Prefect was still plump and ruddy, equivalent to two adult men in weight and size. It would be really ridiculous to say that he was a man of integrity.Without bribes, how much could an Inspection Deputy of the Prefect earn?

The commoners laughed and said, “Why have they been shooed to one side, and why are they not entering the city?”

The middle-aged man clicked his tongue and snickered. “They clearly aren’t staying outside of the city out of their own will, they have probably been stopped and couldn’t enter the city. I really hope that the sun will be shine fiercer today and kill the corrupt officials and their lackeys with the heat. The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect has never left empty-handed without exploiting us whenever he comes over to do his rounds, has he?”

Another person said proudly, “Our present district magistrate is different from all the pests who had taken up the position before. If the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect dares to do anything illegal, he will definitely be subjected to a fierce beating that would break his legs.”

The citizens discussed in hushed tones, glancing from time to time at the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect, who kept on wiping his sweat with his hand.

Meanwhile, the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect had gotten impatient from waiting and asked his subordinates to prompt the district officials to hurry up, while thinking about how he could punish Jiang Pengji. At the moment, a sudden commotion occurred at the gates of the city, and the commoners who had been queuing up to enter the city voluntarily made way.

The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect tried hard to crane his neck, wanting to see what was going on. His neck was also covered in fat, his large head seemed to sit directly above his shoulders, and one couldn’t see the existence of his “neck” at all.

After a good while, Dian Yan, bringing hundreds of tall, sturdy soldiers with him, weapons in their hands, approached him. The blades were sharp and white, appearing inexplicably forbidding to onlookers. Dian Yan was tall and strong, with rather dark skin. Even though he was dressed neatly, he still gave off the aura of a bandit. “You are the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect?”

The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect was raging internally. Where did this black-faced man come from, how dare he be so rude? The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect wanted to put on airs as an official, but after seeing the big knife hanging around Dian Yan’s waist and the soldiers forming two orderly rows behind him, his eyelids twitched subconsciously. “Yes.”

The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect had been waiting outside the city for two hours. I thought that it would not be long before the district magistrate come out to welcome me into the city with reverence. I didn’t expect the other party to leave me waiting under the sun for two hours. Now someone is finally attending to us, but he brought all these troops, how incredibly rude!

“Inspection Deputy of the Prefect, what can I do for you?” Dian Yan looked straight at him without even blinking, as if he was interrogating a prisoner.

The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect laughed angrily. “I heard that the magistrate of Xiangyang District had disregarded the laws of Dongqing and deployed private troops to abuse the citizens of the other three districts of Fengyi County. As the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect, I have the duty to inspect and supervise the district government. I am here under the orders of the county chief to investigate the matter thoroughly and determine if the district magistrate harbors any intention to rebel.”

His words had serious implications. Dian Yan furrowed his brows subtly. He knew that the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect meant no good, but he wasn’t expecting the latter to be so shameless and threaten him directly.

“My lord serves the country with all his heart, when has he ever shown any intention to rebel? The mob known as Tsing Yi Army ravaged Fengyi County. If not for my lord showing mercy towards the people and deploying troops to chase the Tsing Yi Army out, how can the citizens of the other three districts enjoy such peace? The sun and the moon can bear witness to this.” Dian Yan then said, “Inspection Deputy of the Prefect, since you have been sent over to investigate the matter, I hope that you can perform your duties impartially and clear my lord’s name.”

The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect felt somewhat better.

At least the man knows fear, it’ll make things easier.

The deputy knew that Liu Xi is the son of Liu She, but so what?

The naive boy doesn’t know any better, and Liu She can’t do anything about it no matter how assertive he is. Liu Xi was in the wrong. As a mere magistrate of Xiangyang District, how is he qualified to deploy troops to reclaim the other three districts?

However, the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect quickly realized that something was wrong. The group, consisting of more than a hundred people, was ushered into the city. The prosperity of the city surprised him. Greed and evil thoughts immediately followed.

Despite being an Inspection Deputy of the Prefect for many years, he had yet to see a district that was managed so well. Countless rogues roamed outside the gates, yet the city was the only bustling and flourishing place in the vicinity, as if they were living in a prosperous era. He did not feel amazed by Jiang Pengji’s governing ability, but instead he thought about how much money he could extort from the latter.

Surely Liu She’s son is in no shortage of money?

Such emotions did not last long. He was soon drenched in cold sweat as he realized that a row of armed soldiers was standing on each side of the street. They stood straight, and the whitish blades gleamed coldly. They were all looking at him.

Despite his ignorance, the Inspection Deputy of Prefect could feel the forbidding atmosphere in the air.

Somewhat pale, he asked, “These are…”

Dian Yan replied, “Deputy, these are all the private troops belonging to my lord.”

All? The Inspection Deputy of Prefect got a bad feeling in his heart. His hair stood on end and he dared not think about how many soldiers there were in the city.

Dian Yan’s lips curled into a sneer, and he asked with fake concern, “Deputy, what’s wrong?”

“These… these soldiers, look really mighty. Magistrate Liu did a good job training them,” said the deputy.

Dian Yan replied, “I know right, all the soldiers have been on the battlefield and killed the soldiers of the Tsing Yi Army. They are incredibly brave.”

All of them have spilled enemy blood? The Inspection Deputy of the Prefect was sweating mentally. He finally understood why the air felt strangely cold after entering the city, it was because of the goddamn murderous vibe of the soldiers!

Had he not been sitting in an open carriage, his legs would have given way and he would have fallen to the ground. He mentally prepared himself, telling himself not to be scared by the troops.

No matter how powerful Liu Xi is, surely he cannot disregard royal laws?

If he doesn’t want to be labeled a traitor, he must hand over Jiaoping District, Cheng’an District and Maolin District today!

As he thought this, the Inspection Deputy of the Prefect gained a little confidence.

At the entrance of the city hall, two guards stood on each side of the door, looking straight ahead. The Inspection Deputy of Prefect craned his neck, but he did not see anyone that seemed to be “Liu Xi”.

Why… didn’t he come out to welcome me?

Dian Yan said, “Inspection Deputy of Prefect, my lord is already waiting for you in the main hall.”

His attitude greatly annoyed the Inspection Deputy of Prefect, who was used to people sucking up to him and worshiping him wherever he went, yet the deputy couldn’t vent his dissatisfaction.

He stepped on the stool and climbed down from the carriage. Just as the guards behind him were about to follow him, the soldiers on both sides suddenly crowded over and overpowered them all.

The expression of the Inspection Deputy of Prefect changed abruptly, and he widened his eyes in shock. “You intend to start a rebellion?”

Dian Yan smiled as he restrained the guards beside the deputy and took away the weapons in their hands. “Of course not, but for the sake of my lord’s safety, outsiders are not allowed to bring weapons into the city hall, and we seek your understanding, deputy.”