Chapter 15

Compared to the blood and tears of the Tian family, the stories of other people in Luodu City continued, such as Du Huan, the last person who could be called the "Savior Chancellor," who was quietly waiting for his own fate in the mansion that had been burned down on one side.

This was his thirty-seventh year in office and his eleventh year as the Chancellor of Revenue. The hardships and experiences of his official career had left indelible marks and a dignified demeanor on him.

The Du family was a well-known lineage of chancellors and one of the few prestigious clans in the capital that had survived since the founding of the Li Tang dynasty. Their ancestors in Xiangzhou were known as the "half-city Dus."

For several hundred years after the revival of the Tai Xing era, starting with Du You, who served under the Liang family, the Du family produced six chancellors and countless high-ranking officials. "Full of officials" and "generations of nobility" were the highest praises given by successive emperors to their family.

Therefore, Du Huan, at the age of thirteen, entered the ranks of the Tang Empire's bureaucracy under his father's patronage. With the help of his family, he studied governance and economics and, relying on the family's connections and support, achieved success in his position in Jixian at the age of seventeen, earning him the title of the most outstanding young talent of his time.

Of course, in the vast bureaucracy, even in a decaying empire, those younger and more talented than him either died young, faced insurmountable setbacks, or were trampled underfoot, becoming stepping stones for this rising star in the officialdom.

Compared to the Grand Chancellor, who theoretically had the authority to make decisions and oversee the entire situation, the Chancellors of Revenue throughout history were always in the second tier but were the most stable group. The emperor could dismiss a Grand Chancellor to demonstrate his authority, but in deciding who would manage and control the state's finances, he was extremely cautious.

Since the rise of powerful ministers, this decision-making power had shifted to the masters of the military councils, who were equally cautious in their choices, not wanting to let their uneducated favorites undermine their governance in specialized fields.

While bloody swords and spears could plunder wealth and intimidate people, they could not generate wealth or manage finances.

Although they were maliciously called paper-menders and watchdogs, and criticized for being intolerant, favoring relatives, suppressing colleagues, wielding power, loving wealth, being extravagant, and covering up mistakes, it could be said without regret that he had dedicated his best years and energy to this declining dynasty.

Under his management and maintenance, the grotesquely distorted financial system of the Tang court, which was like a large cart with worn-out parts and missing pieces, continued to run on a relatively correct track, relying on its remaining broken and shaky inertia, without flipping into the ditch due to the constant bumps and obstacles. This was a significant achievement.

The weak and incompetent emperor, whose nominal authority and righteousness had fallen into the dust with the last shred of dignity torn away, left his ministers in a difficult position.

"Regardless... the Grand Council will need your financial expertise."

The well-meaning and somewhat envious and jealous voices of his colleagues and subordinates from the Political Affairs Hall, who were sent in rotation to convey messages, still echoed in his ears.

"Regardless of your position, you will be relied upon and treated with respect in the future."

"Even if you are reserved, you must consider your relatives and clan members."

"When the Grand Council is in power, they will still take care of you."

"Though I am not talented, I am a loyal servant of the state and should die with it."

He smiled, drank the wine mixed with the Asuji pill, and thought, how could these opportunists understand his despair and disillusionment?

He was not just the Chancellor of Revenue but also the nominal Grand Scholar and Inspector of the various academies. When he saw the capital's two schools and various institutions turned into ruins filled with corpses, the last hope for reform and maintenance in the bureaucracy, the ideals and banners he represented, died with his despair for this era and society.

No one could stop the darkness before the new era.

...

Today's serialized story is a fitting one, an independent director's清新电影《假如爱有来生》, about the idealistic bandit brothers and the orphaned avenger of the exterminated caravan, caught in the struggle between true love and family vengeance.

"Finally, the monk said, I have waited under this tree for decades, and now I can let go and move on."

"The woman, somewhat flustered, said, The tea is cold, I'll refill it... but she found herself involuntarily walking to the mirror, looking at her reflection in her bridal attire."

"She turned and ran back, only to see the fireflies dispersing in the moonlight."

"Thank you."

I shook my head.

To be honest, when I first heard "he," that clearly prepubescent voice, I was somewhat disappointed, as my last hope for Yinluo was shattered. But now, I am numb to it.

The veil on her head trembled, as if she was crying uncontrollably. Please, you are a man, don't be so sensitive and emotional like a rabbit.

To be honest, such stories are nothing to me. As a university student in the new era, with ideals, beliefs, and integrity, who supports causes online but runs away from them in real life, I am well-versed in various清新段子, can recite classic lines from movies, and understand various obscure references and origins, just like the self-taught masses who are familiar with internationalist warriors like Aoi Sora.

Of course, these are just prerequisites and basic skills. Most people, who have not yet achieved the five goals of a house, a car, a spouse, a child, and a stable job, and who dream of reaching the depths of someone's heart through the gateway of life, end up either being used, dumped, or cheated, or accidentally end up in jail, discussing why flowers are so red or where chrysanthemums bloom.

Well, I can confirm that this is a literary youth. Only a young person with limited life experience and a tendency to fantasize would be easily moved.

But it made me think of certain things from my past life, a cousin who was like a sister under the one-child policy, who was sensitive and emotional.

Her exposed hands and feet looked smooth and delicate, and the water stains made her look pitiful, making me want to reach out and wipe her tears.

Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine. Whether it was an illusion or not, I sensed some hostility and resentment, and I froze in mid-air, then awkwardly pulled my hand back. Well, I forgot that this is Liangshan, a den of bandits in a chaotic era.

Women on Liangshan were not scarce, but due to practical needs, they were more like strong, muscular women, far from my taste shaped by countless AVs and ACGs.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be a few brothels on Liangshan, and in this chaotic border area, there wouldn't be a lack of women willing to provide ancient services.

When did I become so desperate that I could have lustful thoughts about a stranger? Well, this is a genderless being, I mocked myself, and felt more balanced.

"When you feel bad, eat more."

I used a trick and, somewhat reluctantly, handed him something.

It was a bamboo tube filled with steamed shrimp. The bamboo was freshly transported from the south, still green, and the steamed shrimp, free of the earthy taste of the pond, had a fresh, sweet flavor.

I managed to get rid of this odd pair. Although I was used as entertainment, I also gained some information I needed.

In exchange, I received a stack of old and new newspapers. I needed to understand this world better.

Although the authority of the court was no longer, the system of newspapers that had once spread throughout the empire via the extensive road and postal network had been largely destroyed. However, in some relatively stable coastal areas controlled by overseas vassals, some regional newspapers were still being published with the support of certain forces and inertia.

Additionally, among the supplies from overseas vassals, there were also targeted newspapers for the upper echelons of Liangshan, but few people had the ability or interest to read them, and they were discarded after a year. Therefore, obtaining these from the many servants in the Hall of Gathered Heroes was not too difficult, though the information was outdated.

Then I had to pick up my childhood hobby of calligraphy. Although hard writing with charcoal and reed pens had been popular for a long time, for the upper class, calligraphy with a brush was still the high-end and prestigious form, even for the bandits on Liangshan.

Fortunately, a predecessor in this world had invented simplified characters, or I would have gone crazy. After defeating the imperial army, the bandits on Liangshan needed a period of rest and recuperation, giving me time to consider my next move.

Like a habit from another time, the smell of ink and paper soon immersed me in the joy of reading.

"Eastern Henan, the governors of Qing and Xu are friendly and have formed marital alliances... This is likely the premise for the five states' attack on Liangshan."

I muttered to myself.

"The siege of Mizhou was broken in April, and the overseas vassals captured tens of thousands of people."

This was the chain reaction after the five states' defeat.

"Suspected remnants of the Brightness Sect are causing unrest in Minzhong... The governor of Mingzhou has entered Wenma County again, and the naval forces of Houguan are on high alert."

Cults are common in chaotic times.

"The vassals of Yizhou and Danlu are in conflict again, and the Governor of Fuzhou has declared neutrality."

It's Fuzhou, not Japan, which suggests something. Have the predecessors in this world reached the Japanese archipelago?

"The Duke of Bohai died suddenly, and his sons are fighting, causing widespread conflict. The vassals of Andong are closely monitoring the situation."

Bohai, another source of regional unrest, but it's unclear if it will affect Liangshan.

"A severe drought in Hongzhou, and the water bandits of Yunmeng have risen again."

"The Southern Army defeated the Shanha tribes at Pukou Cave, killing and capturing thousands."

"The Southern Dynasty's imperial examinations, the Four Sons of the South stand out... The Annam Academy regains the top position."

"The Ring Sea Regatta, the Southern Snow Wind wins the championship."

"The Daoist debate, the Shangqing Sect versus the Three Emperors Black Pavilion Sect, on Fangcheng Mountain."

As I delved deeper into this era, which had deviated significantly from the original timeline, I could confirm that the actual year was roughly between the late Northern Song and early Southern Song dynasties. However, the social productivity was comparable to that of the mid-to-late Ming dynasty in the south, with various specialized cities and industries frequently mentioned in the records.

Moreover, I even saw potatoes and sweet potatoes on Liangshan, though they were severely regressed and very small. These crops, which were clearly from the New World, indicated that the same land area could support several times more people, with more densely populated villages and cities and a higher degree of land development.

In the previous "me's" memory, the entire Yellow River basin was planted with rice and other crops that could only grow south of the Qinling-Huai River line.

And just in the prefecture of Qingzhou, there were over a dozen counties or military cities.

Continuing to read, I found some entertainment news, but there was no mention of Luoyang, as if it were a black hole that swallowed all information.

Although there was no content about the Luoyang incident I was involved in, other news was still useful. I had a vague feeling that I was forgetting something.

"The traces of Liang Gong's secret treasure reappear... Beware of fraud, citizens and officials should be cautious."

"Liang Gong's treasure?"

Seeing these words, I felt a stir in my heart, as if I had grasped something, but I couldn't remember what.

While slowly enjoying the food and marking key words on a piece of paper, I casually threw the printed pages into the fire.

Although obtaining this information was not too difficult, if someone with ulterior motives saw it, it could cause trouble. In this era, few people could read, and even fewer were interested in collecting and reading newspapers.

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