Chapter 1 A Glimmer of Light

The windowed room, unlit, appeared pitch black under the meager moonlight.

The blind man, Bei, sat at the table, surrounded by a pile of documents, some useful, some useless, a chaotic heap he needed to organize and categorize.

Suddenly,

he trembled slightly,

a solemn expression crossing his face.

A strong surge of killing intent erupted from the rear residence. Though well-controlled, it was still sensed by the blind man, Bei, with his mental probing abilities.

However, in an instant, the killing intent quickly dissipated, vanishing without a trace.

Immediately, the blind man, Bei, identified the source of the killing intent.

But he wasn't sure if it had been detected by him or intentionally…leaked to him.

Nor was he sure,

if this killing intent,

was directed at him,

or at his…old father.

…

…

Morning,

the first ray of decaying sunlight shone into the room,

followed by,

decaying dressing, decaying washing, decaying eating.

Even after leaving the room and reaching the courtyard,

Zheng Fan could still smell the lingering scent of decay on himself.

Today's teaching was about to begin. Just thinking about Liang Cheng's fingernails from yesterday made him feel unwell.

"Ah-choo!"

Zheng Fan sneezed, his eyes feeling a bit dry.

He sniffed the air, detecting a burnt smell, and looking up, he could see swirling ashes in the sky.

Were they burning straw?

Aside from the fact that the season was wrong, even if they were burning it, they wouldn't pile it up in the city, would they?

Just then, Zheng Fan saw Fang Cao walking by with a bolt of cloth. As she stopped to greet him, Zheng Fan asked,

"What are they burning outside?"

Fang Cao paused, then realized what he was asking and replied,

"Master, many families outside are burning paper money."

"It's not Qingming Festival yet. Could it be a local custom?"

In this world, at least in the Eastern region, customs and traditions were similar to the world Zheng Fan came from. But it wouldn't be too strange if there was an extra festival similar to Qingming.

"No, Master, the conscripted laborers who were sent out to transport supplies have returned."

Zheng Fan's mouth opened slightly, and the scene of the barbarian cavalry charging into the supply camp that night resurfaced in his mind. It all seemed to have happened just yesterday, but in reality, it had been quite a while since the night raid ended.

"Returned…how many returned?"

"Only two or three hundred, it seems. So many families in the city started holding funerals this morning."

"Oh, um, alright, go ahead and get busy."

"Yes, Master, let me know if you need anything."

Fang Cao bowed slightly to Zheng Fan, then left with her bundle.

Zheng Fan sighed. Last time, the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion conscripted two to three thousand laborers from Tiger Head City, but only about one-tenth returned.

He could imagine how many families in Tiger Head City were in mourning at this moment.

Moreover, the pillars of those families were gone. Even in modern times, it was difficult for a woman to support a family if the main breadwinner was gone, let alone in the current environment. It was as if the sky had fallen for these families.

"Master?"

Si Niang's voice came from behind Zheng Fan.

"Huff…you startled me."

"This humble one apologizes, but I've called out to Master several times already. It's just that Master was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't hear me."

"Yes, I was thinking about something just now."

"Master, are you interested in Fang Cao?" Si Niang suddenly asked.

"Huh…? What?"

Zheng Fan's mind couldn't quite keep up with Si Niang's thought process.

"Yes, didn't Master stare blankly after seeing Fang Cao just now? Master, if you want her, this humble one will arrange it for you tonight. I'll have her bathe and wait for you in bed."

"Isn't she a subordinate of A Ming? I heard they're quite close."

"They are, because of a father-killing feud."

"Uh…"

"Besides, A Ming wouldn't care about these things. He's not interested in women. As long as you want her, Master, Fang Cao would definitely be willing.

This humble one has a good eye for people. She's someone who wants to climb up in the world. Give her a chance, and she might become the next Wu Meiniang or Zhen Huan.

She might have some feelings for A Ming, but he doesn't reciprocate at all. I reckon that after she successfully gets into your bed, Master, and becomes the mistress, she'll both love and hate A Ming.

At night, she'll try every means to please you, Master, and during the day, she'll act dignified in front of A Ming, watching him give her the mistress's greetings.

Then Xue San and the others will say some suggestive things on the side, which will happen to reach your ears, Master, causing you to have a bad impression of A Ming and specifically assign him to dangerous missions;

Fang Cao will feel wronged, will be in pain, and will complain to you, gradually wasting away;

But you'll remain cold-hearted and ignore her, even secretly ordering the blind man, Bei, to execute Fang Cao.

Then, on the day the blind man, Bei, makes his move, he'll use his mental power like an ultrasound and discover that Fang Cao is pregnant…"

"…" Zheng Fan.

Seeming to realize that she had said too much, Si Niang immediately waved her hand and gently slapped herself a few times, bowing and saying,

"This humble one is being too talkative. Master, please don't be offended. Isn't that how the dramas in the harem always go? Just thinking about it makes this humble one excited, oh hehehe…"

Zheng Fan couldn't help but roll his eyes at Si Niang,

and said:

"You're overthinking things. I just realized that many families outside are in mourning."

"Oh, that matter. It's like this, Master. You and Liang Cheng returned to the city late at night, and you returned directly after being awarded official positions for your merits.

The remaining laborers, it seems, waited for the Zhenbei Army to destroy that Shatuo tribe and then were responsible for escorting the spoils of war. Only after everything was finished were they able to return. Plus, you Master, all rode horses, so you returned several days earlier than them.

Moreover, Tiger Head City had actually been controlling the news, although there were some rumors saying that many of the laborers who went out died, everyone still held onto a bit of luck and hope as long as there was no definitive news.

Now, the ones who were left, that is, the people who survived, have returned, so the ones who didn't return…"

"So that's how it is." Zheng Fan nodded thoughtfully.

"I reckon that after a while, Tiger Head City will open up its household registration again to recruit people."

"Open up household registration?"

Zheng Fan remembered that he and his subordinates all had household registrations in Tiger Head City, all belonging to the "Old Zheng Family" sequence.

"Yes, Master. It's because of the Yan country's system, perhaps. The local population and land, especially in a border region like Beifeng, that the monarch directly controls are not as much as what those aristocratic families control.

This time, too many laborers died. Tiger Head City should absorb another batch of refugees for registration, just like they did with us last time, otherwise the corvée labor and taxes in the future can't be guaranteed."

Perhaps, people in later generations were already used to the state power controlling and interfering in everything, but in this world, especially in a system like the Yan country where the monarch was more like the leader of a clan alliance, they had to face the awkward situation of sharing the country with the aristocratic families.

This was also the key reason why the Yan country, despite possessing the Great Yan Iron Cavalry that the other three great powers feared, and also having the good external environment of the desert barbarians being scattered, was still unable to launch a war of conquest from north to south.

These great aristocratic families, their foundations and the years of their existence, were even older than the Yan country's royal family. And, if one day the Yan country ceased to exist, they might still remain strong.

In the ancient world that Zheng Fan was familiar with, during the period of the Five Barbarians Invasion of China, the Jin dynasty court had already fled east in a panic. The barbarians, one after another, rampaged through the Central Plains, but under the rule of the barbarians, there were still many great aristocratic families. They closed their doors and continued to live their lives. They didn't care whether the court fought the barbarians or whether the court was defeated by the barbarians. On the contrary, those barbarians who wanted to rule the place well had to rely on the power of these aristocratic families. Their lives were still good.

For Tiger Head City, there was one advantage here, that was that the land in Beifeng Commandery was not fertile, and there was not much good farmland, so the local aristocratic families did not have as much demand for population as the inland did. At the same time, Tiger Head City was developed in industry and commerce because of trade, so every year many refugees would gather here wanting to find a bite to eat.

If a group of people was gone, then another group of people would be recruited. The leek-cutting model hadn't changed, it was just that the way they ate was a little too direct.

"Master."

At this time, Liang Cheng walked in from the front door.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Fan asked.

"Just now, a guard came to pass on a message, telling you to gather at the yamen before noon, saying it was an order from the magistrate."

"Is something up?" Zheng Fan frowned slightly.

Originally, that chubby pacification commissioner had given him ten days of leave, and there were still a few days left.

But plans couldn't keep up with changes, Zheng Fan had to change back into a more serious set of clothes, find all his identity documents and prepare them, and then, accompanied by Liang Cheng, the two of them rode their horses to the entrance of the county yamen.

Liang Cheng naturally couldn't enter. Zheng Fan took out his identity documents for the two guards to examine, and then he was led into the yamen hall.

After entering, Zheng Fan realized that he seemed to be one of the later ones to arrive, because the hall was already full of people.

Some were wearing armor, some were wearing casual clothes like Zheng Fan, and some were potbellied, with the image of a wealthy man.

But everyone present had the official rank of Commandant.

Some were real posts, and some were honorary titles.

Most of them were still the heads of the village fortresses near Tiger Head City.

In short, Zheng Fan didn't know any of these Commandant colleagues. The only one he knew well enough to call out his name had died outside the city a few days ago.

Oh, right, at Wang Li's funeral, the blind man, Bei, had sent funeral money in Zheng Fan's name.

The Pacification Commissioner has arrived.

After the Pacification Commissioner walked in,

everyone realized,

oh, the old County Magistrate had also come.

Because the Pacification Commissioner was too fat, he walked in front, completely blocking the old County Magistrate.

Zheng Fan couldn't help but think that if the army suddenly started killing people at this time, he would definitely hide behind the Pacification Commissioner. Such a large piece of human flesh shield, it would be a waste not to use it.

The Pacification Commissioner naturally didn't know what Zheng Fan was thinking in his heart. After seeing Zheng Fan standing on the outermost edge, he smiled at Zheng Fan, and then stepped into the hall.

The two adults sat in the first seat, and the Commandants below all stood, without chairs.

After the Pacification Commissioner sat down, he began to look at his nose with his eyes, and his heart with his nose, as if he was an old monk in meditation, detached from the world.

The old County Magistrate coughed a few times first, and a smile appeared on his face,

and said:

"We've gathered everyone here this time, because there's good news to tell you."

"Sir, has the court's reward come down?"

"Has the court's grain and pay for this year arrived?"

"Sir, my village fortress didn't get much money and grain last year. We're almost unable to survive. You must not leave me out this time, otherwise I won't know how to explain it to the people below when I go back."

"Yes, sir, you must not leave me out this year. The soldiers under my command are almost unable to eat a dry meal."

"Don't panic, don't panic, don't be anxious."

The old County Magistrate pressed down with both hands, and continued very kindly:

"Everyone has a share in this good thing, everyone has a share."

"Sir, what is it exactly?"

"It's like this, wasn't there a war a while ago? Our Tiger Head City was conscripted by an order from the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion to send thousands of laborers to help transport supplies, but the military situation was dangerous, and many good men died on the battlefield. Alas, thinking of this, I feel a blockage in my heart."

This was a politically correct topic.

Everyone present, including the Pacification Commissioner who was sitting in the upper seat and wandering outside the heavens, also wiped the sleep from the corners of their eyes and cooperated with the County Magistrate to complete the rhythm of this bitter drama.

"When the men in the family are gone, some families can't survive. Today, the almshouse in our Tiger Head City has received nearly three hundred children from newborns to seven or eight years old.

These are all considered orphans. Some have no one left in their families, and some are because their mothers are remarrying or their families really can't afford to raise them. Their husbands have left, so they sent the children over.

It is expected that even more children will be sent over tomorrow or the day after.

So, the reason for gathering everyone here this time is for this matter.

Our Yan people have always believed in having many children and many blessings. This official will be the Child-Giving Guanyin this time.

What do you say,

isn't this a great thing?

I'm sending you children, so you can all be happy and become fathers."

"…" Everyone present.