Chapter 326: Lawless
Chapter 326: Lawless
Liang Shixian’s gaze immediately fell on the firearm held in Bai Yuan’s hand. It was a firearm with a very long barrel, and its mechanism seemed extremely complicated just from a glance.
With Liang Shixian’s knowledge in many matters, he couldn’t even understand it.
He pointed to the dead bird on the ground and said, “Did Mr. Bai shoot this?”
Bai Yuan became proud when he mentioned this and smiled again, saying, “Hahaha, yes, indeed it was I who shot it. A hundred steps away, I hit a flying bird with one shot from my firearm. Hahaha, in the Six Arts of Gentlemen, the art of ‘shooting’, no one in the whole world can compare with me. Hahahaha.”
Liang Shixian thought to himself: Something seems wrong, doesn’t it? Does ‘shooting’ in the Six Arts of Gentlemen simply refer to shooting with any weapon?
I need to think it over carefully.
Liang Shixian, who was knowledgeable in many matters, immediately activated a data search mode in his mind. Ancient books, ancient idioms, and ancient definitions flashed through his mind like a rotating lantern. Suddenly, with a ‘ding’, it fixed upon a bamboo-slip book.
“The Rites of Zhou: Diguan Situ Baoshi” states that so-called ‘shooting’ is divided into five items: Bai Shi, Can Lian, Shanzhu, Xiang Chi, Jing Yi.
This not only included the key points of archery techniques but also the ceremonial requirements when shooting arrows.
This had nothing to do with the ‘bang-bang-bang’ firearms at all!
Just as he was about to make a sarcastic remark, he saw Bai Yuan raise his firearm again, perform a series of skilled loading motions, then lift the gun and aim at a flying bird in the distant sky.
“Boom!”
With a gunshot, the bird fell down from the sky again.
Bai Yuan cheered, picked up the dead bird that had earlier knocked off Liang Shixian’s hat, stuffed it into Liang Shixian’s hand, and said, “I’ll give this bird I just shot to County Lord. I’m off to get another one.”
After saying that, he started running away. His white robe trailed behind him as he ran, and his sleeves fluttered. In an instant, he disappeared from view.
Liang Shixian held a dead bird in his left hand and extended his right hand forward, saying, “Hey? Don’t run! I, the official, came to discuss serious matters with you. Where are you going?”
He quickly lifted the hem of his official garments and started running after him. Surprisingly, he ran quite fast, clattering loudly as he pursued Bai Yuan.
Dian Deng Zi Zhao Sheng was walking from the opposite direction, waving a sheet of paper in his hand, and saying, “County Lord, you’ve come at the perfect time. The refugees from our Qingjian County want to apply to you to move their household registration to Chengcheng… For you, this should be as easy as…”
Swish!
Liang Shixian brushed past Zhao Sheng and was gone in an instant.
Zhao Sheng said, “Hey? County Lord, wait for me! I have important matters to discuss with you…”
He also took off running after him.
They ran more than two hundred steps away. Bai Yuan picked up the dead bird and laughed heartily.
Liang Shixian followed and caught up, grabbing Bai Yuan’s arm, saying, “Huff! I’m exhausted. Stop running around! I, the official, need to talk to you about serious matters.”
From behind, Zhao Sheng caught up, panting, “Huff… County… Lord… I… have important… matters…”
The three scholars gathered together…
Talking over each other, babbling all at once, they finally managed to explain the matters of all three people.
Zhao Sheng’s request was indeed a minor matter, not difficult.
Although the Ming Dynasty’s management of household registration for common people was very strict, the authorities had carried out large-scale migrations many times. The imperial court had long had “practical operational cases” for large-scale population migrations.
Bulk modification of household registrations for “immigrants” was not difficult, at least it wasn’t difficult for Liang Shixian.
But the matter Liang Shixian brought up was more challenging.
The Five Troop Divisions entered the capital to serve Wang, significantly weakening the imperial military strength in the northwestern region. As a result, the rebel bandits were bound to run even wilder.
Those farther from Chengcheng County were one thing, but Fan Shanyue was in Heyang County—so dangerously close. This was a major headache. Worse yet, he now held status as an official of the court, having been recruited and appointed as the “Heyang Defense Commander.” Dealing with him openly was impossible.
Bai Yuan said, “County Lord, what are your thoughts on the matter of Fan Shanyue?”
Liang Shixian replied, “After much consideration, I see no alternative. Fan Shanyue is the ‘Heyang Defense Commander,’ while I am merely the Chengcheng County Magistrate. I have no authority over affairs in Heyang. If Fan Shanyue causes trouble within Heyang County itself, I cannot intervene. I can only fortify the border area between our two counties. Should he create trouble there and encroach into our Chengcheng County, I can then dispatch the patrol officer Fang Wushang and the militia forces to engage him, even kill him. Reporting it afterwards would be permissible.”
Bai Yuan responded, “Magistrate Liang, are you suggesting that I lead the militia to guard the border and simply wait for him to come?”
Liang Shixian sighed, “That seems the only option.”
Bai Yuan shook his head, “This is too… ah…”
Liang Shixian also shook his head, “Indeed, it’s too… ah…”
As the two of them sighed despondently, Li Daoxuan had an idea. He instructed, “Yiye, go speak with these two gentlemen.”
Gao Yiye hurried over to them. “The Deity has issued an order.”
Both Bai Yuan and Liang Shixian were instantly rushing with pride.
Gao Yiye pointed to the rifled firearm in Bai Yuan’s hand. “Mr. Bai, the Deity long ago bestowed upon you this divine object. It can take an enemy’s life from two or three hundred paces away. Why not use this to carry out the Way of Heaven?”
Bai Yuan jolted awake to the idea, “Eh? Yes! Exactly!”
Liang Shixian, however, remained baffled, “What do you mean?”
Bai Yuan chuckled darkly, “Magistrate Liang, that Fan Shanyue is now an official of the court. We cannot openly march into Heyang County to deal with him, correct?”
Liang Shixian confirmed, “Correct!”
Bai Yuan continued, “Then we deal with him covertly. Set up this immortal firearm in the woods, a few hundred paces away from him. Bang! Finish him off. Then immediately duck into the ravines and make our escape. Who would ever know it was us?”
Liang Shixian exclaimed, “Ah?! Th-this… this course of action… it’s outright assassination! Wouldn’t that be utterly lawless?”
Bai Yuan retorted, “Lawless I may accept, but those two words ‘no Deity’ should not be said! This is a divine decree bestowed by the Deity—it is the heavenly will! How can you speak of no Deity?”
Liang Shixian was shocked into silence: “!”
Bai Yuan pressed on, “When Fan Shanyue was a bandit, he coerced honest civilians and committed heinous crimes. Now, as an official of the court, he remains unchanged in nature, plundering the common people, no different than that rascal the guerilla Li Ying. Eliminating such a man is upholding the Way of Heaven. The Deity has given his decree. County Lord, what further hesitation is there?”
Liang Shixian thought seriously for a moment, “True enough.”
Bai Yuan declared, “Magistrate Liang, you cannot leave Chengcheng County—it violates the rules for an imperial county magistrate. But I, Bai Yuan, am not bound by such rules! Hehehe. Just wait for my good news.”
After pondering a while, Liang Shixian saw the light.
Which holds higher authority: the Way of Heaven or man-made law?
Was that even a question?
Of course, the Way of Heaven reigns supreme!
Even the emperor stands one level below Heaven. The emperor himself bears another title: ‘Son of Heaven.’ Meeting the Deity, he would have to call him Father.
Following the Deity’s orders could never be wrong.
“Attendant! Fetch paper and pen!” Liang Shixian commanded, “I must write a letter to the Heyang County Magistrate, requesting his cooperation.”