The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 70: Limo

Chapter 70: Limo

“Take us to Ji Mo!”

After court adjourned, Liu Xu strode swiftly back to the council hall, summoning his associates to close the doors for a private meeting.

Liu Xu’s face was iron-gray and grim as he said in a low voice, “Each of you must send letters back to Qingzhou. Pray that Qi Rui’s death was accidental and that your clans haven’t made any suspicious moves. If Sun Zhuo finds an opening this time, no one will be able to protect him.”

The officials below murmured their assent. Finally, one old official with a pained expression worriedly asked, “What if the troubles in Qingzhou implicate us?”

Liu Xu replied, “Fortunately, we have Feng Liang. He only cares about solid evidence, not personal connections. As long as we haven’t done anything, there shouldn’t be major issues.”

But this was precisely what worried everyone most – the fear that some reckless individual accustomed to arrogance in Qingzhou might have retaliated against Qi Rui after clashing with him.

Liu Xu had the same thought and said directly, “If any family did this, sever ties immediately. Don’t bother covering it up.”

Covering it up would be useless anyway and might only bring trouble upon themselves.

“Don’t interfere with Qingzhou matters. Focus on the Winter Examination instead. Best to push your daughters and sons to take the exam. Even if only one in ten passes, that’s still good.”

With more participants, they could try their luck to get someone into the Hall of Gathered Talents and secure those positions.

Because of the Qingzhou situation, everyone resolved to participate in the Winter Examination. If they were implicated later, they could use their examination participation to plead for leniency.

Sun Zhuo and Feng Liang departed and quickly reached Qingzhou. Upon arrival, they immediately suspended the governor and other officials, causing widespread alarm. Zhao Yingzhong and others feared they had offended too many people and might lose their lives at any moment. Local officials also worried about someone dying in their jurisdiction and losing their official positions. Both sides proceeded with extreme caution.

After Feng Liang arrived in Qingzhou and reviewed the case files, he was shocked by Qi Rui’s history. The names of people he had conflicts with filled several volumes. He seemed to have minor arguments every three days and major disputes every five days. Qi Rui had even physically fought with people. In the Qingzhou government office, he was practically disliked by everyone, even dogs.

If they investigated each case individually, it would likely take over half a year to conclude. Feng Liang wrote a memorial reporting his estimated timeline, which relieved Liu Xu and others.

Sun Zhuo, who accompanied Feng Liang in the investigation, glanced at the list, contemplating which person would be most advantageous and reasonable to frame.

Noticing Sun Zhuo’s gaze, Feng Liang quietly closed the case files.

Under the blazing sun, camel bells jingled. After killing a group of desert bandits and losing two sheep, Wang Qiu, wrapped in a headscarf with sweat-dampened hair, felt unbearably thirsty. With no shade to rest in and not yet returned to Great Jin, everyone’s spirits were low.

Niu Pengnan said weakly, “When will we return to Great Jin…”

Having left Jiayu Pass months ago, they no longer hoped to find the Western Rong Khan’s royal tent, only wishing to return home quickly.

Along the way, most of the journey passed through endless Gobi with no people and few animals. Occasionally seeing a few geckos crawl by, then wind and sand sweeping past leaving dead silence. Everything was orange-yellow with scattered patches of withered green, as if all life had been extinguished. Everyone was exhausted.

Wang Qiu supported Niu Pengnan, her throat dry. Pointing to distant black smoke, she said, “Look, there are people ahead. If there’s a merchant caravan, let’s see if we can find one heading toward Ji Mo, then ask Ji Mo to send us back to Great Jin.”

Since they had been mistakenly sent to Ji Mo by a merchant caravan, it meant other caravans also went to Ji Mo. With luck, they might even encounter a caravan traveling from Ji Mo to Great Jin.

As long as they could return to Great Jin, everything would be fine.

Hearing Wang Qiu’s words, everyone felt somewhat encouraged and moved forward with a glimmer of hope.

As they advanced, they finally saw low-growing grass clumps and several tall trees – the white poplars they had seen in Ji Mo, with grayish-white bark, high branches, palm-sized green leaves, and tough roots.

The group reached the shade of these trees and immediately felt much cooler. Niu Pengnan exclaimed excitedly, “These look like Ji Mo’s white poplars. Have we returned to Ji Mo?”

This possibility lifted everyone’s spirits, but Wang Qiu felt the situation wasn’t optimistic.

After resting under the white poplars and watering the remaining three sheep, the group continued their journey. A yellowish earthen city gate came into view.

At the city gate, soldiers stopped them. Wang Qiu showed them the travel pass Ji Mo had given them.

The soldiers gathered to discuss quietly: “They’re envoys sent by the eastern country. We should report this to the king quickly.”

After verifying their identities, one soldier hurried to inform the king while the others returned their travel pass, respectfully invited them into the city, arranged accommodation, and provided bathing and clothing.

Wang Qiu felt somewhat confused. Their respectful attitude puzzled her. Had they really returned to Ji Mo?

After the soldiers left, a tall man arrived, all smiles, enthusiastically serving Wang Qiu and her group horse meat and flatbreads. His scrutinizing gaze made Wang Qiu slightly uncomfortable.

The man said a string of words that Wang Qiu guessed meant something like “eat freely, don’t stand on ceremony.”

The next day, a man in relatively luxurious clothing appeared at the door. Judging by how others treated him with reverence, his status must be high. He gestured to Wang Qiu for a long time before she tentatively asked, “Does your king wish to see us?”

The man bowed. When Wang Qiu stepped forward and others followed, he stopped them, indicating only Wang Qiu should come.

Niu Pengnan looked worriedly at Wang Qiu, who said, “Don’t worry, my martial skills are sufficient for self-defense. Shí Yī Niáng, you protect the female physicians. If anything happens, meet under the white poplars outside the city.”

Wang Qiu followed the man to an ornately decorated building with colorful patterns. During inspection, Wang Qiu removed knives from her legs, waist, and sleeves, astonishing the inspecting soldiers.

Inside, guards were stationed everywhere. Wang Qiu secretly memorized their positions.

After leading her in, the man left. After a while, a man wearing a golden crown entered. Wang Qiu assumed he was the king and bowed to him.

The king was pudgy, his body round like a ball. Smiling while stroking his mustache, he looked lustfully at Wang Qiu, who alertly tightened her fists.

Without a common language, the king walked over smiling, took Wang Qiu’s hand and caressed it. Wang Qiu realized these people must have mistaken them for gifts from Great Jin.

Wang Qiu withdrew her hand, swiftly dislocated the king’s arm, twisted him around to stand behind him, and held him firmly. However the king struggled, he couldn’t break free.

The guards, suddenly facing this unexpected turn of events and not expecting a woman to have such agile skills, were momentarily stunned before hurriedly surrounding her.

Wang Qiu pulled a hairpin from her hair, pressed the green bead, and a sharp blade immediately sprang from the pin’s base. Holding the thin pin against the king’s vulnerable neck, she said sharply, “Who dares approach!”

Everyone was dumbfounded. No one expected her hair ornament to become a weapon, and her skills were unlike ordinary women’s – more like a specially trained assassin.

The king panicked too, raising both hands and muttering pleas for mercy in his language.

Wang Qiu forced the king to the table, tapped it, and tightened the hairpin. The blade sank slightly into the king’s skin, soon oozing tiny blood droplets that formed a thin red line.

Sweat beaded on the king’s forehead as he waved the guards back. The guards retreated cautiously. Hearing Wang Qiu deliberately tap the table again, he quickly had someone fetch his seal.

While the king was stamping the customs clearance document, sudden commotion erupted. With a loud crash, a guard-costumed person flew in from outside, tumbling several times in the air before gracefully landing.

The king gaped, holding the seal frozen, not daring to move.

“Qiu Niang, are you alright!” The Women’s Army rushed in anxiously.

Niu Pengnan followed behind, panting, “Captain Wang, we’ve come to rescue you…”

But when everyone looked closely, they saw Wang Qiu already holding the king while he stamped documents, immediately relaxing. Shí Yī Niáng said, “I told you, Qiu Niang has peerless martial skills, undefeated by anyone.”After writing and stamping, Wang Qiu took the clearance document and shouted in the king’s ear, ‘Ji Mo!” Do you know where that is? Take us to Ji Mo!”

The king thought for a long time before uttering strange syllables: “Li Mo?”

Wang Qiu carefully discerned his tone and repeated word by word: “JiMo”

The king copied her cadence: “LiMo”

Wang Qiu figured this country’s language couldn’t produce that sound, so she nodded, gesturing, “Yes, take us to Ji Mo!”

The king didn’t know why eastern envoys would go to such a distant country, but with his life in her hands, he didn’t dare object, immediately ordering, “Quickly prepare horses to take them to Li Mo.”

His subordinates hurried out to arrange things, privately noting that envoys from the east were not to be trifled with – even their women were this formidable. Best to befriend them, not antagonize them.

Having barely reached an agreement with the king, Wang Qiu released him and asked Niu Pengnan, “What about the female physicians? Were they frightened?”She wasn’t worried about the Women’s Army, who were assassins by background with special training, but feared the female physicians might be unable to handle bloody scenes in the short term.”

Niu Pengnan bent over to catch his breath and answered, “Captain Wang, don’t worry. The eighteenth lady and others escorted the female physicians to safety.”

Wang Qiu felt relieved and nodded, “That’s good.”

The king sent someone familiar with the route to drive Wang Qiu’s carriage. For some reason – perhaps seeing they traveled with three sheep – he also tied five additional sheep and food onto the carriage.

Their carriage was quite unique: just a horse in front pulling a wooden plank with a blanket spread over it. Goods went in the middle while people sat on the edges. Everyone traveling the roads did the same, resulting in horse droppings everywhere, especially unpleasant in summer heat.

Wang Qiu couldn’t stand it for a moment. After reuniting with the female physicians, they fled the place as if escaping.

After Wang Qiu’s group left, the king immediately sent messages to neighboring countries, warning them to be careful with eastern envoys and never anger those people, lest that country attack and they couldn’t resist.

Author’s note:

My teacher once recommended a documentary, “Ride to Berlin,” which was quite good.

Also, poplar trees were apparently introduced to our country during the Tang Dynasty. “Yangliu” refers to willow trees, while “baiyang” refers to what we now call poplar trees. Let’s set that Great Jin also cultivated poplar trees, so Wang Qiu and the others recognized them.