Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 438: County Government Explosion Case, A Large Army Marches South to Eliminate Bandits_1
In the end, Wang Linchi did not attend the Spring Feast—not because he chose not to go, but because the County Government was bombed.
Witnessing this scene left him utterly shocked. Just who were these daredevils capable of bombing the County Government?
The Prefectural Governor was killed on the spot, along with a large number of Officials. Because of this incident, the Imperial Guards, the Qiantian Iron Horse, and the Three Laws Department in Zhenhai City were all alerted. They rushed over overnight, locked down the entire Baishan County, and forcibly took control of the situation.
From the information Wang Linchi gathered, the Liu Kou were responsible. The Dajing Court was not the only dynasty in this world; various large and small kingdoms surrounded it. However, Dajing’s formidable strength allowed it to deter its neighbors, though it couldn’t entirely avoid incursions.
The Hu Lu from the north and the Liu Kou from the south had always been a headache for the Dajing Dynasty. The Hu Lu worshipped Demon Gods, while the Liu Kou were adept with gunpowder.
Compared to Spirit Masters, the power granted by the Hu Lu’s Demon Gods was far too weak, at most reaching the level of a Scholar. Both their military strength and civilian life were vastly inferior to Dajing’s; simply having enough to eat was considered a significant achievement for them.
As for the Liu Kou’s gunpowder, its development was not very advanced. Bombing the County Government likely involved internal and external collusion. While gunpowder could threaten Spirit Masters, its development was too rudimentary. It was still at a stage similar to fireworks and had not progressed to the level of cannons.
As for how the County Government was bombed, Wang Linchi didn’t know; it had already been blown up by the time he arrived.
It seems Dajing’s fortunes are in decline, he thought.
If the Calamity of the Last Law continued, the decline of the Spirit Masters was certain, and the rise of the Hu Lu would be probable.
Spirit Masters were at the level 30 tier. The power conferred by the Demon Gods worshipped by the Hu Lu Shamans was at the level 20 tier. The Liu Kou’s gunpowder wasn’t even worth mentioning; it was at the lowest tier, relying entirely on sheer numbers. They possessed no Transcendental System and were essentially ordinary people.
He also understood why gunpowder development was so slow: the Liu Kou occupied a remote location, making significant advancement practically impossible.
Even if Dajing were defeated by the Hu Lu, there would be no chance for the Liu Kou to capitalize on the situation. However, if the Calamity of the Last Law intensified to the point where the ambient spiritual energy dropped below a level 10 equivalent, neither Spirit Masters nor Shamans could survive. Perhaps then, the Liu Kou might find their opportunity to rise.
The prerequisite was that Dajing must not obtain their methods for producing gunpowder. Historically, the Emperors of Dajing had never valued gunpowder, regarding it as a trivial matter.
But speaking of which, could it be a self-directed act? Wang Linchi suddenly wondered.
Perhaps Emperor Jing intended to use this gunpowder incident as a pretext to completely eliminate the hidden threat posed by the Liu Kou. In the past, the Court had consistently disapproved of suppressing the Liu Kou and the Hu Lu.
Suppressing bandits cost money, let alone launching a full campaign against the Liu Kou. Once the army mobilized, it was like igniting a money incinerator. The high Officials in the Court naturally couldn’t stomach this, as it meant money coming out of their own coffers.
But now things were different. These people dared to bomb a County Government and kill a Prefectural Governor. If the high Officials continued to object, could they guarantee that one day they wouldn’t be targeted, or that their families would remain unharmed?
At this thought, Wang Linchi’s understanding of the situation sharpened. If not for the Imperial Guards, who else could have secretly transported such a large quantity of gunpowder into the County Government?
More importantly, consider the timing. With the recent events in Zhenhai City and the upcoming Spring Feast, it was bound to cause a major uproar.
Next, all that was needed was a little guidance of public opinion, and the Court Officials would have no choice but to agree. If anyone stubbornly opposed Emperor Jing, the County Government bombing could simply be replicated. Under such circumstances, everyone would surely consent.
Perhaps the plan was laid out from the very beginning, Wang Linchi mused, recalling the earlier lockdown of Baishan County.
Next, the two missing Imperial Guards will likely be framed as victims of the Liu Kou as well.
Wang Linchi only needed to wait for news. If events unfolded exactly as he surmised, it would confirm that this was a self-staged incident. The goal was to create a legitimate pretext.
Emperor Jing wants to resolve the problems of the Liu Kou and the Hu Lu within his lifetime. The actual difficulty isn’t...
Wait, I’m mistaken. It’s not just about resolving issues with the Liu Kou and the Hu Lu. Given Dajing’s current national strength, they must be aiming for more.
Perhaps... unification!
This idea emerged in Wang Linchi’s mind.
Expanding territories—that’s the goal of every emperor. Only by doing so can they leave their name in the annals of history.
Neither Spirit Masters nor Shamans could achieve true immortality. Therefore, an emperor like Emperor Jing, who had ascended to power through iron-fisted methods and possessed considerable abilities, likely desired nothing more than a positive legacy for future generations.
「Another half-month passed in a flash.」
Baishan County finally lifted its lockdown. As expected, the Spring Feast was also cancelled.
Wang Linchi planned to pack his belongings and leave Baishan County. Many others were doing the same; anyone with discernment could see that Baishan County and Zhenhai City had become a massive vortex of trouble.
Consequently, Wang Linchi became certain that the bombing of the County Government was indeed a self-staged act by Emperor Jing, sacrificing a County Government for a greater cause. The blame was firmly pinned on the Liu Kou, including the deaths of Liu Yan and the other missing Imperial Guard.
Next, a decree to suppress the "rebels" was issued directly from the Court. A massive force of one hundred thousand soldiers was mobilized, along with Emperor Jing’s elite unit, the Pitfall Army, all heading south.
No one in the Court dared to oppose Emperor Jing following the explosion at the Baishan County Government. Instead, they were all vociferously supportive—except when it came to providing money, supplies, or manpower, of which they claimed to have none.
The Officials in the Court were all members of the Great Family Clans, largely adhering to the belief that the nation could fall, but their families must endure.
Fortunately, Emperor Jing was resourceful. If they wouldn’t provide support, he would take what he needed. Through a series of decrees, he directly forced the Great Family Clans to make painful contributions, effectively bleeding them dry.
He was truly an enemy to these Great Family Clans. The Great Family Clans dared not rebel; they could only try their utmost to minimize their losses.
This was because the Emperor truly had the power to end their main lineage. Even if they tried to prop up a collateral branch, their direct line would be severed.
This approach wouldn’t cause a full-scale rebellion from the Great Family Clans because he wasn’t exterminating them entirely. The main lineage represented the clan, but it didn’t always have complete control over all its branches.
Even without such drastic measures, merely by Emperor Jing supporting a collateral branch, the main lineage would struggle to withstand the pressure. Faced with internal power struggles and external threats, they would either have to surrender or face ruin.
Of course, these matters had little to do with Wang Linchi, as he was not a member of any Great Family Clan. After packing his belongings and readying his horse, he prepared to leave.
At the city gate, a group of armored soldiers stood watch. Although the lockdown had ended, it didn’t mean all protective measures were gone. Appearances had to be maintained until the very end, lest the ruse be exposed prematurely.
"What’s your business, and where are you headed?" one of the soldiers asked, stopping Wang Linchi.
Wang Linchi replied, "I’m going to the Prefecture for the Spirit Master examination." With that, he presented his registration document and travel permit.
The soldier carefully examined the documents, then looked at Wang Linchi before asking, "Why are you traveling alone?"
Ordinarily, someone like Wang Linchi, holding the title of Lifted Person and being a fifth-rank Official, traveling alone would be quite suspicious. It would have been more normal if he were accompanied by carts, servants, or servant concubines.
"I am Wang Linchi, a Doctor from Baihe County," he replied calmly.
The soldier then seemed to recall something. "Ah, so you are Wang Jieyuan! My apologies for the discourtesy."
The soldier suddenly seemed to understand. He must have been ostracized by the Great Family Clans. Wang Linchi had become a notable figure in this area—a commoner who had managed to become a Lifted Person and a Jieyuan without aligning himself with any Great Family Clan. It’s understandable that he might be in a somewhat reduced state.
The Great Family Clans wouldn’t dare take major actions, but minor obstructions were certainly possible, like ensuring Wang Linchi couldn’t hire servants or rent accommodations. However, this was merely the soldier’s own assumption. In reality, Wang Linchi simply couldn’t be bothered with such arrangements.
"You’re too kind. May I proceed now?" Wang Linchi asked modestly.
"Wang Jieyuan, please proceed!" The soldier stepped aside, clearing a path for Wang Linchi.
"Thank you," Wang Linchi said. He then led his horse out of the city. Only once he was clear of the gates did he mount and ride away.
As the soldier watched Wang Linchi depart, he couldn’t help but sigh. Alas, for common folk like us, even if we achieve some renown, it’s nothing compared to a single word from a Great Family Clan.
Those who become common soldiers are never from the Great Family Clans. If someone from a Great Family Clan were to join the army, their lowest rank would be that of an officer; they would never start from the bottom ranks.
In the Dajing Dynasty, there wasn’t a strict division between civil and military career paths, only a distinction in official positions. Even if commoners joined the army, unless they became Spirit Masters, they could never become true Officials; they would remain mere soldiers for their entire lives. Even with promotions earned through years of service or accumulated military merit, the highest they could reach was the level of a clerk, never an Official.
The inherent gap created by social class was simply insurmountable.
