Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 435: Within Baishan County, Emperor Jing’s Plot_1
The County Government of Baishan County was far more prosperous than Zhenhai City.
Once there, Wang Linchi sought out an old acquaintance, the Cheng Family.
This was the main branch of the Baihe Cheng Family from Baihe County. It was also due to the Baishan Cheng Family’s efforts, negotiating with the Liu Family, that Cheng Xun had survived. Otherwise, he would have been in a terrible predicament at the time.
With the disappearance of the "Bright Heart Treasure Mirror," chaos enveloped the Baihe Cheng Family. Despite their frantic efforts, the mirror remained missing, forcing its members to return to Baishan County.
Consequently, Cheng Xun found himself in a difficult situation. He had an opportunity to return to the main family, the Baishan Cheng Family, and if successful, he could have directly ascended in status.
Regrettably, Wang Linchi’s scheme left Cheng Xun in a terrible state, and by extension, the Baishan Cheng Family grew to dislike this branch from Baihe County. As a result, Cheng Xun is still struggling in Baihe County.
However, the loss of a single copy of the "Bright Heart Treasure Mirror" was not a significant loss for the Baishan Cheng Family; only a complete version held any real value to them.
Upon arrival, Wang Linchi went directly to the Government Office to register and simultaneously sign up for the examination to obtain the Lifted Person title.
"You’ve come from Zhenhai City?" the registering clerk asked, his curiosity piqued. Zhenhai City had been the subject of much talk lately.
First, a Great Family had been exterminated, then a commoner had snatched a Scholar’s top rank, and more recently, a theft case had infuriated the Court.
"Yes," Wang Linchi replied calmly.
The clerk promptly registered Wang Linchi and filed his information. "Alright, that’s done," he said. "Every year, country folk come to try for the Lifted Person title. But out of thousands, only one or two succeed. They’d be better off staying as local landowners in the countryside."
As he spoke, the clerk exuded an air of superiority.
"Does this mean that every year, the Great Families in the County Government produce a considerable number of Lifted People?" Wang Linchi asked in return.
"More than those from the countryside," the clerk responded vaguely.
Wang Linchi immediately understood; the number likely wasn’t much greater.
It probably only reached double digits and certainly didn’t exceed a hundred.
At the County Government, the number of Spirit Masters with a Scholar’s title was dramatically higher. After all, Zhenhai City couldn’t compare in terms of resources or population. Furthermore, Spirit Masters from various cities aspiring to the Lifted Person title had to come to the Baishan County’s County Government. Since the examination was held annually, many Spirit Masters chose to settle here.
If this were the Capital, the number and quality of Spirit Masters would be even greater.
Throughout the Jing State, with its twelve prefectures and one hundred forty-four counties, the number of Spirit Masters produced never decreased; instead, it increased year by year.
This, in turn, placed greater pressure on the lower classes.
Most Spirit Masters hailed from Great Families or Poor Families. Spirit Masters like Wang Linchi, who rose from the common populace, were so rare across the twelve prefectures that one might not even count a handful.
Literacy itself was a challenge for them, let alone finding a way to take the elementary examinations, so their chances were slim.
Consequently, a severe situation had developed. As the Great Families continued to expand and the Poor Families re-emerged, ominous signs of land annexation began to appear.
However, Wang Linchi estimated that barring any natural or man-made disasters, the current state could endure for another hundred years or so. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
After a hundred-odd years, the End of the Dynasty would inevitably approach, fraught with widespread conflict.
That was, of course, assuming they weren’t wiped out by the Calamity of the Last Law.
"The County Government is filled with talent, naturally surpassing smaller cities and towns," Wang Linchi replied with a smile, not pointing out the clerk’s exaggeration.
Emboldened by this response, the clerk puffed out his chest and declared, "Of course! Within the County Government, country folk are inherently inferior. Even if a Spirit Master from the countryside came here, he would be treated just like an ordinary person."
"Oh? So someone like me would receive the same treatment as a Tongsheng then?" Wang Linchi chuckled, certain the clerk was bluffing.
"Uh..." The clerk, caught off guard, stuttered. A Tongsheng was distinct from a Scholar; they were, in fact, eighth-rank officials. Even if it was a nominal post, it wasn’t something to be spoken of lightly. "My apologies. I misspoke."
"By your logic, a beggar from the Capital would be a cut above the Spirit Masters in this County Government. Wouldn’t you have to kneel before him?" Wang Linchi teased.
The clerk felt superior due to his location, but this was merely a county seat. With Prefectures and the Capital ranked higher, there was little basis for such arrogance.
The clerk’s face darkened. His lips moved as if to argue, but in the end, he didn’t dare refute Wang Linchi.
"Alright, take your time to ponder the logic of it and see if anything seems amiss," Wang Linchi said with another chuckle, then turned and left.
Wang Linchi didn’t mind the clerk’s superiority complex, as long as it wasn’t directed at him.
Since the clerk had directed it at him, Wang Linchi had no reason not to retaliate. For an ordinary person to dare flaunt superiority before a Transcendent was audacious. It was only because Wang Linchi was in a good mood from his recent successes in Zhenhai City that he was lenient. Had his mood been foul, he would have ensured the man understood true cruelty.
After Wang Linchi left, the clerk couldn’t help but spit. "Tsk, another beggar trying to make it in the County Government."
"He’s just a Scholar. Who in our family doesn’t have a few of those?"
Despite his grumbling, his hands didn’t dare slow their work. He couldn’t afford to offend a Spirit Master.
As for tampering with Wang Linchi’s registration?
That would be seeking death.
If any issue arose, he would be the first one held responsible. No one would stand up for him; not even his own Great Family could offer protection.
If he dared to target Wang Linchi today, who was to say he wouldn’t do the same to others tomorrow?
Besides, he possessed no Spiritual Bone or Spiritual Meridian; he was just an ordinary man. The moment trouble started, the Great Family backing him would hand him over to atone.
Venting anger was worthless when one’s life was on the line.
Wang Linchi, for his part, wasn’t worried about the clerk causing trouble. With his luck, if anyone dared to plot against him, it might just turn into another fortuitous opportunity.
He found a property broker and asked him to find a courtyard to rent. Wang Linchi planned to rent this time, not buy. If things went smoothly, he would be heading to the Prefecture in a few months.
Given his abilities, the position of top scholar in Baishan County was his for the taking.
With a metaphorical knife to the throat of the examination system, its reform was entirely at Wang Linchi’s discretion.
The matter of the courtyard was quickly settled. Unlike the clerk with his airs of superiority, this broker seemed rather numb.
It made sense. The clerk was from a Great Family and worked in the government, while the broker was simply trying to earn a living.
The more powerful the Great Families became, the harsher their exploitation of those beneath them.
The prosperity of Baishan County belonged to the Great Families, not the common people, who were merely the ones fueling it.
"Not bad, I’ll take this place." Wang Linchi smoothly signed the contract. The broker’s eyes only lit up upon seeing the money. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wang Linchi, he departed.
「...」
"They disappeared near Zhenhai City?" Emperor Jing looked at the report from the Imperial Guards. It stated that two individuals, both on important missions, had gone missing.
This news instantly turned Emperor Jing’s expression grim.
"Investigate thoroughly! Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find me traces of them!" Emperor Jing ordered, suppressing his fury.
The task he had assigned could not end in failure. Moreover, he refused to believe it was a mere coincidence that two Imperial Guards entrusted with critical tasks would vanish simultaneously.
Zhenhai City had Imperial Guards, but most were assigned to surveillance; their deaths wouldn’t be a major issue. However, the loss of a Natural Heavenly Body and an ancient Demon Suppression Relic was a grave matter.
"The Imperial Guards have already been dispatched," Li Command Envoy reported, trembling slightly with fear.
"Not enough! Send Zhou Xuan with the Qiantian Iron Horse. Also, have the Three Laws Department dispatch their tracking experts. I want them found, dead or alive!" Emperor Jing ordered, genuinely infuriated this time.
Li Command Envoy’s pupils contracted in surprise at the scale of the deployment.
He had no idea what mission these individuals had been assigned. Though he was the Command Envoy of the Imperial Guards, he had long since lost any real authority. All Imperial Guards were under Emperor Jing’s direct control, reducing him to little more than a messenger.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Command Envoy agreed reluctantly and promptly departed.
If he stayed any longer, he feared he might get caught in the fallout.
Once Li Command Envoy had left, Emperor Jing fell deep in thought, a restless air about him.
The medium can only provide one more simulation. I must boost this Heroic Spirit’s fame and influence to the absolute maximum. Otherwise, even if summoned back, it will not achieve the Unparalleled in the world quality. Emperor Jing mused. He possessed such methods because he had already run tens of simulations.
However, to his surprise, an unexpected incident had occurred this time.
