The third year of Chongzhen, autumn.
Li Daoxuan was gnawing on a sticky rice duck and debating whether he needed to add an extra layer of autumn pants, when the mirror box showed movement—a lone fast horse tearing toward Chengcheng County.
The mirror's view was fixed on the county seat. He had been monitoring post-harvest prosperity…
and suddenly witnessed that courier gallop straight into the city, dismount, and deliver two imperial edicts to Magistrate Liang Shixian.
Two scrolls. That was already funny.
One praised him: saying his governance was exemplary, his people adored him, the gentry and commoners had jointly petitioned the court to keep him in post. The court, touched by such devotion, had set aside the idea of promoting him three ranks—how noble!—and decided to let him remain as the magistrate of Chengcheng County.
The other scolded him: saying that in three full years he hadn't managed to collect even a single tael of tax silver, an embarrassment to the Ming Empire itself. No county magistrate in history had performed so poorly; he was on the verge of setting a new record for shame. At this rate, with his tax collection skills, he'd never be promoted in his life—so he was to remain magistrate.
Both decrees lay side by side on his desk. Liang Shixian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Neither did Li Daoxuan, watching from afar. Ah, the Ming bureaucracy… truly magnificent in its confusion.
"Brother Feng has done me a great favor. My seat is saved."
Liang Shixian sighed to the officer beside him, Fang Wushang.
"Judging from these two decrees, every action I take could make me either a rising star or a ruined man. If the eunuch faction still held power, I'd be finished. Fortunately, the Donglin scholars have their say at court now, so… well… sigh."
Fang Wushang snorted, clearly unimpressed.
"That's why I hate you civil officials. No face, no shame. Merit is merit, fault is fault—how can you twist the scale of reward and punishment just by running your mouth?"
Liang Shixian gave a helpless smile.
"True enough. But tell me, General Fang, if you were in charge, how would you judge it?"
Fang Wushang froze, thought carefully, and said:
"Reward merit, punish faults. Add them together. No promotion, no demotion. Continue as magistrate."
Liang Shixian: "…"
Li Daoxuan nearly choked on his duck.
"How is that any different from the two decrees before?!"
Too bad Gao Yiye wasn't around to help him roast the scene properly.
Liang Shixian, feeling the weight lift from his chest, brightened again.
"Since I'm to remain, I can keep working for Chengcheng County's welfare. General Fang, there's a matter I wish to discuss."
"Please."
"Feng Jun, the magistrate of Heyang County, came to see me not long ago. He mentioned something… alarming."
Liang Shixian retold the secret conversation between him and Feng Jun.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun is a divine being; gods do not conspire or rebel. Yet the weapons He granted have fallen into mortal hands."
His face grew grave.
"And mortals are fickle. Gaojia Village grows stronger every day. Should those holding power there let greed creep in… the consequences would be unimaginable."
Fang Wushang frowned.
"You have a point."
"Indeed? Then I'm glad General Fang agrees," said Liang Shixian.
"If I were being transferred, this wouldn't concern me—but since I'm staying, I must take responsibility."
"Then what exactly do you want me to do, Lord Liang?"
"You are brave—no matter how mighty the foe, you never flinch. I still remember you charging a spear straight at Tianzun's giant hand. I've thought: if there's anyone under heaven who fears no power and acts by his own sense of justice, that person must be you."
Fang Wushang blinked. Hard.
Liang Shixian continued solemnly:
"I hope you can keep an eye on the people of Gaojia Village. If they commit crimes or abuse their authority, you…"
Fang Wushang hissed softly. Courageous he might be, but stupid he was not.
That task was heavy.
If Instructor He decided to "discipline" him, a few hundred muskets would open fire—how could he resist?
If Bai Yuan decided to snipe him, one bullet from afar would do.
If Shansier wanted him dead, one command and the entire village would rise against him.
Impossible odds.
He felt a mountain of pressure settle on his chest.
After much brooding, however, something clicked. He lifted his head sharply.
"Lord Liang, you needn't assign this to me. I'm the County Inspector of Chengcheng. My duty is to hunt outlaws and keep the county safe. If they ever break the law, I should be the first to act. I'll simply spend more time near Gaojia Village—make a few extra rounds, keep an eye out."
Hearing that, Li Daoxuan's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Last time, when Gaojia Village's militia marched into Heyang County, things had nearly spun out of control. If his own "NPCs" bullied other "NPCs," would he even be able to punish them? He'd been wondering where to find someone to uphold order impartially.
Now he'd found one.
Fang Wushang was perfect—Chengcheng County's top-tier stubborn man, gloriously inflexible.
Only one problem: technically, he still served the Ming court. He still called himself "County Inspector," not a member of Gaojia Village. So when he enforced "law and discipline," he would naturally do it from the Ming perspective, not Gaojia's.
That tiny difference could lead to vastly different outcomes.
Li Daoxuan mused, Hmm… maybe he just needs an extra identity.
He tapped the "Gaojia Village" button on his console. The view swooped back over the village, where Gao Yiye was hunched over his desk, drawing Dao Xuan Tianzun: Demon-Vanquishing Chronicles, Volume 5.
The new storyline was already fixed—Tianzun helping Heyang's farmers bring rain, the Dragon Kings refusing, and getting thoroughly beaten for their arrogance.
Li Daoxuan grinned.
"Yiye, Yiye! Fang Wushang will be visiting soon. This time, I want to give him something… special to do."
"Tianzun has only to command."
"When he arrives," Li Daoxuan said, still smiling, "bring him to me. We'll have a little talk."