Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 657 - 657 0424 Unaware of the County Master_2

Chapter 657: Chapter 0424: Unaware of the County Master_2 Chapter 657: Chapter 0424: Unaware of the County Master_2 Upon Qi Tian’s attempt to storm the Guard Office, the sentry at the entrance immediately stopped him. “Who goes there? Dare to trespass a military restricted area, asking for death?”

Qi Tian pointed to his clothes, speaking, “Don’t recognize me, fine. But don’t you recognize this uniform?”

The sentry aimed his long spear at Qi Tian, remarking, “Wearing a Daoist robe, what’s so remarkable about that? Listen, I grant you ten breaths to leave, or I won’t be so polite.”

Qi Tian didn’t expect these troops to dare to stop him. It wasn’t just a question of them not giving him face anymore, but it reflected a deeper issue – they didn’t know what his uniform stood for. Compared to the first question, the latter was far more serious.

Ever since the Great Zhao Nation established the National Master Manor, every County of Great Zhao must have a County Master Mansion, and in most counties under each County, a County Master Mansion would be set up, especially for large tax-paying counties and important bordering counties.

Erding City was one such county. As a border county adjacent to Yanming Pass, Erding City was one of the first cities to set up a County Master Mansion. Since there is a County Master Mansion here, the army and civilians shouldn’t be ignorant of what a County Master is, let alone fail to recognize the clothing of a County Master.

Another question crossed Qi Tian’s mind. If there should be a County Master Mansion here, then where was the County Master? It might be understandable for other cultivators not to be present, but what about the County Master who was responsible for protecting the area and ensuring peace for the people?

A series of questions surged in Qi Tian’s mind, but no one was there to answer yet. He glared at the sentry blocking him, saying, “You don’t recognize me, I won’t make it hard on you. I order you to go in now, report to your commander and tell him that Lubei County Master Qi Tian is here and wants to see him immediately.”

“The County Master of Lubei County? What makes you so important that you come to our Erding City?” The sentry obviously didn’t know the specifics about Qi Tian and instinctively wanted to get rid of Qi Tian.

Qi Tian didn’t have the patience to waste time on him. He stared fiercely at the sentry, who immediately felt like he was being stalked by a ferocious beast, his soul trembling. “What are you standing around for? Why not go and report?”

The sentry’s spirits were taken aback by Qi Tian so he didn’t dare to waste any more time and hurriedly retreated into the Guard Office to report to Commander Zhou Qingyu.

At first, Zhou Qingyu couldn’t remember who Qi Tian was. “Qi Tian? I don’t know him, send him away.”

Just as the sentry was about to leave on his orders, Zhou Qingyu suddenly had a flashback. He quickly called back the sentry, asking, “Once again, repeat Qi Tian’s words exactly as he said.”

The sentry eagerly repeated Qi Tian’s words. This time Zhou Qingyu listened very carefully. He was startled and jumped up from his chair. Running towards the outside of the Guard Office, he tripped over the door sill which knocked off his hat. He picked himself up from the ground, didn’t even bother to retrieve his hat, but continued running towards the Camp Gate of the Guard Office.

At the gate, seeing the young Qi Tian in his County Master Mansion clothes, Zhou Qingyu was taken aback. He didn’t know Qi Tian personally, but he had heard descriptions of Qi Tian. He knew Qi Tian was very young, he walked over with a smile and bowed and greeted Qi Tian, “Mojiang, Commander of Erding City Guard Office, Officer Zhou Qingyu, pleased to meet you.”

Qi Tian nodded, he casually pulled out a jade badge and handed it over to Zhou Qingyu, saying, “Take a look.”

Upon seeing Qi Tian’s identity jade badge, Zhou Qingyu had no doubts about Qi Tian’s identity. He fell to his knees with a plop, holding the identity jade badge in his hand and returning it to Qi Tian. “Mojiang Zhou Qingyu pays his respects to you, County Master.”

Technically, there is no hierarchy between Qi Tian and Zhou Qingyu. Moreover, Qi Tian is the County Master of Lubei and has no control over Zhou Qingyu, so it would be justifiable not to kneel before Qi Tian. But Zhou Qingyu dared not think so. This was a figure who was trying to dethrone the Crown Prince. Even the Crown Prince was cornered by Qi Tian without any viable recourse. As a lowly officer, did he think he could compete with the Crown Prince? If he dared to prick Qi Tian, he’d likely lose his head.

Qi Tian put away his identification jade plate, then stepped into the Guard Office. After Qi Tian, Gao Jinmei, and Jin Jin walked past him, Zhou Qingyu finally got up from the ground. He scurried a little behind Qi Tian, bowing his head and groveling: “County Master, let me guide you.”

The Guard Office of Erding City wasn’t large. It wasn’t long before Qi Tian sat himself on Zhou Qingyu’s tiger chair, with Zhou Qingyu standing in front of him with his head bowed.

Before Qi Tian could even ask anything, a centurion rushed in with blood all over his face, full of urgency. “General, the Bei Rong Kingdom is charging again, and our brothers can’t hold on much longer. They asked me to inquire, should we withdraw? When should we withdraw?”

Zhou Qingyu gave a bitter smile, he hadn’t anticipated such an awkward question coming his way. If his response was ill-advised, would he then be seen as a deserter by Qi Tian—would Qi Tian behead him out of hand?

Before Zhou Qingyu could respond, Qi Tian ordered Jin Jin: “You, follow this centurion to the city wall, pass an order to the Bei Rong Kingdom on the other side; tell them to immediately seize their attack and for their army to withdraw fifty li (approximately 15.5 miles) back. If they dare to disobey, give them a warning.”

“Yes.” Jin Jin followed the centurion without further words, heading towards the city wall.

The centurion was dumbfounded throughout, he glanced at Zhou Qingyu. The latter was frightened and broke out in a cold sweat. He hastily apologized to Qi Tian: “County Master, he did not know who you are. Please forgive his ignorance. Yao Zhenping, what the hell are you doing standing there? Hurry up and carry out the County Master’s order. Are you looking to rebel?”

The centurion, Yao Zhenping, finally came to his senses, he didn’t dare to say more but quickly lead Jin Jin to the city wall

Once they left, Qi Tian looked at Zhou Qingyu and asked: “Tell me, what exactly is the situation?”

Zhou Qingyu was almost in tears. Qi Tian’s question was abrupt. What was he supposed to explain? He wanted to ask, but feared blood out of Qi Tian’s turnips. If he asked the wrong question and aroused suspicion, worse still get him in Qi Tian’s bad books, who would he complain to then?

Steeled, Zhou Qingyu decided to spill everything he knew that Qi Tian might be interested in. “County Master, let me first brief you on the downfall of Yanming Pass.”

Qi Tian nodded.

Zhou Qingyu heaved a sigh of relief. Qi Tian nodding suggested that the topic he chose was of interest to Qi Tian. He said, “The fall of Yanming Pass happened just a few days ago. Initially, Yanming Pass had a garrison of fifty-thousand elite soldiers. However, recently, we received orders from the Capital City, forty-five thousand of the garrison was reassigned, leaving only five thousand to guard Yanming Pass.”

“What? Only five thousand to guard Yanming Pass?” Qi Tian asked in amazement.

Zhou Qingyu nodded: “Indeed, only five thousand remained. At the time, I even mentioned to the messenger from Heavenly Balance that having just five-thousand soldiers at Yanming Pass was insufficient to defend it. However, the messenger insisted on reassigning the majority of the troops, as just a centurion, I had no influence and in the end, I couldn’t change the outcome.”

“Did the messenger mention why they wanted the troops reassigned?” Qi Tian asked.

Zhou Qingyu said, “The messenger didn’t mention it to me, he hardly even looked at me, I didn’t dare to act brashly. However, I did hear him say that the Bei Rong Kingdom hasn’t encroached on our Yanming Pass for many years. Even if the soldiers were reassigned, Yanming Pass would be safe. Indeed, at first, nothing happened. But eventually, perhaps some Bei Rong traders passing through Yanming Pass relayed the news back home, and then the Bei Rong sent their troops.”