On the map, there are sixteen different pins.
“Each of these pins refers to a village, town or city that we must visit during the riding circuit.” Uncle Tang explains. He then points towards three big crosses on the map and says, “These are dangerous spots. This cross in between these two villages is a route that merchants avoid at all costs as people have reported that they are often robbed when travelling between these two villages.”
Ding Sha then takes over and explains what the other two crosses mean.
“This cross near a forest is because the beasts in the forests are suddenly leaving the forest and attacking people.
We will need to find out what is causing this. This is one of the reasons that we have requested for more guards.” He says with a serious expression.
Ding Sha then points to another X further away and says “Sightings of bandits have been reported around here. We will need to find them before they establish a base and kill them.
This is the other reason why we have requested more people. We were discussing which route to take earlier as our route would determine which of these three crosses we will deal with first. We were unable to come to an agreement as our request for more guards was not granted until you came with Mo Ji.”
Judge Cui then speaks up and gives me a difficult question. “Which of these three issues would you want to deal with first? Since we are receiving more guards and you are the son of the governor, we will follow your decision this time.” He speaks as if he is testing me.
I think for a bit and give my answer “We should search for the bandits and get rid of the camp first, then head to the danger zone where merchants are getting attacked and finally the forest.”
Judge Cui makes a curious face and asks “Why?”
“Simple. The area the bandits are attacking is closer to a city, so once we wipe them out, we can loot their hideout and trade the bandit’s loot for supplies. We should then head to the villages that are getting attacked and help them with the supplies we have gained and finally, enter the forest. Furthermore, this route will reduce the duration of the riding circuit by a few months” I answer with a smile.
Judge Cui nods his head in acknowledgement of my answer and uncle Tang smiles but Ding Sha and Zhao Keng looks at each other. Ding Sha then asks me “What is your cultivation realm?”
“I will soon breakthrough into the realm of Qi Flow, I have had a stuffy feeling for the past few months but have been unable to break through…” I say sadly…
Zhao Keng then chips in “Your plan is good, but we do not have enough strength. We will have to guard you if you cannot break into the realm of Qi flow before we set out. We will decide on which route to take when the promised reinforcements have arrived. Do you have any objections Judge Tang and Judge Cui?”
Judge Tang and Judge Cui shake their head…Uncle Tang then looks at me and offers to bring me out for lunch. “Shi er, don’t worry about cultivation. I am sure you will be stronger than your father soon. Let us head to the canteen for lunch. I will bring you there.”
…
After lunch, we return to our office and chat for the rest of the day. I learnt that the province where the capital of the empire is located is called <DongGuan>. It just means that governing the north, as we are the northern tip of the empire.
We have five cities, three towns and eight villages in the DongGuan province. If a town is able to build a stone wall around itself, it becomes a city. If a village gets more than 10 different families living in it and has provided the basic infrastructure, it becomes a town. Furthermore, the mayor of a town will be recognised by the empire and they will receive a salary.
On the other hand, anyone can create a village. Those who try to are usually either big families with no status or people who want to climb up into the upper class.
They will venture out and try to create their own village and hope that one day, they will be able to establish a town and join the upper class. This is because a mayor of a town is considered a member of the civil service and u will mingle with the upper class who will want to connect with you.
however, the ones who start a village and are successful at building a town are the merchant families or farmers, who somehow managed to survive on their own and acquire huge amounts of land.
While towns and cities will be assigned a magistrate to take over the administering of justice, magistrates will only step in once a party decides to pass the case over to the magistrate.
While there might be some differences between a family disciplining their own people and a magistrate disciplining a criminal, as the laws are basically, morality, there is rarely much difference in the ultimate sentence.
This had greatly reduced the workload of those in charge and those involved would often prefer to let their household deal with the miscreants of their family.
This is because a household cannot make you perform labour in a mine or any kind of similar labour as your penance, and since your own family will rarely beat or torture you, those accused would also rather their own household take charge.
This means that magistrates will often only try cases between small families or disputes between large families and the occasion psychotic criminal. it is also due to this that the governor’s office will have not much to do in large cities or towns.
Judge Cui also expressed his admiration for my father, as he was the one who created the position of a “travelling judge”. The travelling judge is a unit under the governor and is grant its power by the governor.
After this unit was established, the laws and safety in the towns and villages became much more clearer and better and other governors decided to create their own unit of travelling judges but it is still unknown if their unit is made to maintain their power over the towns and villages or to uphold justice.
…
Time quickly passed and soon my father came to make some small talk with my colleagues and went home with me.
On the way home, he passed me two spirit stones and said that this was this month’s pay. My first pay! My first salary in two life times! I smile excitedly.
My body start running a small suction force in my hands on it’s own and suddenly my mind shows me an image of my body tearing in two, sending a sharp pain throughout my body
“Ahhhh!” I scream in pain, i holdgrasps my chest and drop the spirit stones on the floor of the carriage.
My father who is sitting next to me is shocked, but he quickly realises what is happening.
“Shi er! You are undergoing the transformation into the realm of Qi flow!”
Unknown to us right now, the winds around the capital start to get stronger and the clouds are swirling above us…
