After Chen Shijie finished speaking, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration.
Gui Niang had no ties with him, merely a romantic interest; the public security of Nanyang County was not his responsibility, and the position of Agricultural Affairs Bureau was merely to encourage and promote agriculture.
He could have walked away, smoothly promoted back to the military to serve as a military Agricultural Affairs Bureau officer.
Yet he was willing to take risks, setting a trap to attract the Mysterious Heaven Sect to act against him.
For Gui Niang and the common people, it was loyalty and responsibility; to eradicate bandits and kill enemies, it was courage and confidence!
Old Chen, truly a man!
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Xing knew he should say something. Old Chen had shared so much with him, which was a sign of trust.
"Actually, I came here partly because of the Mysterious Heaven Sect."
"Oh?" Chen Shijie raised an eyebrow, "You mean…"
"Yes, since I obtained the Calamity Avoidance Almanac, there have been three major calamities and several minor ones, all occurring after the Minor Heat, during the joint search by the county and the East Lake Army," Zhao Xing said slowly.
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?"
"The reason is the same as yours," Zhao Xing replied, "I am just a minor official, distributing the thousand-mile command tokens and the Calamity Avoidance Almanac; that is already a form of precaution. As a mere Gathered Essence Third Level official, could I expect a top-tier expert to protect me?"
The Calamity Avoidance Almanac was not omnipotent; it displayed very little information, only indicating which moments and directions might pose problems. Note that it was 'might,' not 'definitely.'
Just like the ordinary folk use it, today is suitable for starting work or opening a business, and building houses, while it is taboo to chop wood, travel, or hold funerals. What does 'suitable' mean, to what extent? What does 'taboo' mean, and who does it specifically involve? There are too many possibilities.
"The reason I didn't report it is simple."
"First, reporting it would be of no use; the higher-ups would deploy as they see fit. It’s not like they would go to great lengths just because of a minor official like me."
"Second, if the higher-ups take it seriously and want to know more intelligence, they would make me cooperate as bait. While this is beneficial for the government, it poses great danger for me."
Zhao Xing spoke candidly and straightforwardly.
He feared being sacrificed.
Who could guarantee that everyone in the upper echelons was good? Not that he meant to imply that.
But what if someone sought credit and acted recklessly for the sake of achievements?
Even if, hypothetically, everyone in their positions was blameless and altruistic, undertaking such a task was inherently dangerous.
Based on Zhao Xing's understanding of the Mysterious Heaven Sect, he felt he shouldn't have mentioned it at the time to avoid trouble. He just needed to stay vigilant and avoid them.
The Mysterious Heaven Sect was not some petty thief or bandit; it was a sinister sect with a legacy spanning thousands of years.
"Then why are you saying it now?" Chen Shijie asked with interest, "Are you inspired by my courage?"
"Not at all," Zhao Xing replied bluntly, "After I opened the mountain, I gained too much, acquiring forty-two portions of spiritual essence. If the Mysterious Heaven Sect isn't blind, they will definitely prioritize my capture."
Zhao Xing's reasoning mirrored that of Chen Shijie; he also guessed that his weight on the Mysterious Heaven Sect's list had increased.
Moreover, he had family and friends he cared about, Zhao Ruide, Zhao Zheng, and even Madam Cai, Ziyu, and Qian Dong. He did not want them to be dragged into this because of him.
"I want to hit them hard once and eliminate their stronghold in Grain City; that is also the result I desire," Zhao Xing said. "The Mysterious Heaven Sect is powerful, but for such a big fish, it is harder to hide than for small fry."
"Eliminating a stronghold, it would be difficult for them to rise from the ashes for at least ten to twenty years."
Chen Shijie nodded slightly, "You say your weight in the government is light; if you were me, what would you do?"
Zhao Xing replied slowly, "That depends on how much weight you truly have."
Chen Shijie pondered for a moment, "If you consider me a proper seventh-rank official, you should know that the influence of a seventh-rank official is significant, especially since you already know about the Water Book of the Bi Xia Yuan Jun being in Zixiao Island."
Zhao Xing waved dismissively, "Don't think too highly of me; I just enjoy reading miscellaneous books, old county records, various local reports, and ancient sect legends. These are not hard to obtain."
Chen Shijie said, "Let's just chat casually; we are in a private conversation now, no need to be cautious. Whether right or wrong, it’s just between you and me."
Zhao Xing considered for a moment and then nodded, "Alright, if you insist on me speaking, then I will ramble a bit. However, I want to first see the latest local reports and the general strength of the various armies and departments in Nanyang County. Additionally, any intelligence related to the Mysterious Heaven Sect that I can view, please let me see."
"After we finish looking, let’s conduct a sand table exercise. You have a sand table for Nanyang County, right?"
Chen Shijie raised his brow; he had only intended to chat casually, but Zhao Xing was taking it seriously.
Seeing Zhao Xing's demeanor, he became interested, "Yes, yes, yes! I am from the military Agricultural Affairs Bureau; follow me."
He led Zhao Xing through the training grounds to the back hall.
Indeed, Chen Shijie was a man of action; he had transformed the back hall into a small military command hall.
In the center was a diagram sand table, a fourth-grade treasure capable of simulating various terrains and landscapes, and it was proportionally scaled down.
As long as a map was placed on the sand table's base, it could be restored.
Clouds even floated above the sand table, and the weather was recorded!
"Still a fourth-grade upper-tier? Hmm? This map… is from the upper reaches of the Canglan River's Six Counties? Wait, where did the Xier County city go? Why has it turned into scorched earth?!"
Chen Shijie exclaimed, "Your eyesight is impressive; you recognized it at a glance… Now I truly believe you have seen a lot."
"As for Xier County city, in my deductions, it has already disappeared, but in reality, it still exists."
Chen Shijie waved his hand, and a section of scorched earth on the sand table was restored.
"Do you know how to use the sand table?"
"Not very well," Zhao Xing replied reluctantly. He also didn’t dare to reveal too much; knowing how to read books was one thing, but being completely familiar with military equipment was too strange.
"It’s written in the military strategy; you can look it up yourself," Chen Shijie pointed to a pile of disorganized documents, "I almost forgot, Gui Niang is still waiting for me in the side hall… You take a look first; I’ll be back soon."
After saying that, Chen Shijie transformed into a gust of wind and left.
Zhao Xing examined the military command hall on his own.
Aside from the diagram sand table, there were several straw figures, but the straw figures were quite small, almost palm-sized.
Additionally, there were battle drums, rapid marching orders, and various military flags.
These items emitted a faint glow, and their ranks were not low.
"How high of an official was Old Chen before? Could he really be a seventh-rank official?" Zhao Xing walked to the table and began to browse through the documents.
The content was quite varied, covering everything.
"Detailed Training of Great Spearmen," "Fiery Battle Array of the Five Elements Camp," "Mechanisms of the Equipment Camp Explained," "Military Strategy of the Agricultural Affairs Bureau," "Exotic Beasts: White Bone Golden Toes," "Hundred Battles: Terrain Chapter," "Seven-Rank Supplies"…
Old Chen's large table was filled with books, both on top and underneath.
As a qualified military Agricultural Affairs Bureau officer, Old Chen's reading volume and proficiency in spells were several times that of a civil Agricultural Affairs Bureau officer.
"Old Chen is quite capable," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
He didn’t browse further but instead looked for information related to the Mysterious Heaven Sect.
"In the winter of the 241st year of the Chengkang era, the Mysterious Heaven Sect's demons caused chaos on Daoyuan Island. The demon bandit 'Wanhua Zhenjun' used evil methods to infiltrate and control a stationed military officer in Qinglong Prefecture, leading a total of forty-seven men, intending to create slaughter in the prefectural city, causing disaster across fourteen counties. They were killed by the martial hero 'Zhou Jue' fifteen days later…"
"In the spring of the 249th year of the Chengkang era, the Mysterious Heaven Sect's demons attacked the Wanchuan Mountains in Dayuan Prefecture, seizing two dragon-headed boats transporting materials for the cave heavens, attempting to distribute them to the seven counties' populace, spreading the faith of the evil gods… Three days later, the demon bandit 'Fazhen Shangren' and two evil gods were exterminated by the Night God Guard leader 'An Dinghe' and the Great Yuan Zhenjun."
"In the summer of the 257th year of the Chengkang era, the Mysterious Heaven Sect's demons attacked the Ming Lake Dao Academy, resulting in four hundred and twenty casualties among the students…"
"In the 261st year of the Chengkang era…"
Chengkang was the era name before Emperor Jing.
Now it was the fifteenth year of Emperor Jing, not far apart.
Chen Shijie was searching for activity records of the Mysterious Heaven Sect over the past hundred years.
"Each time they are extinguished, and the demon bandits are quickly killed, yet they still pop up from time to time to cause trouble," Zhao Xing observed these reports.
The Mysterious Heaven Sect was troublesome for this reason; the ones they sent to stir up trouble were all powerful individuals nearing their lifespan's end.
Since they were already close to death, they had nothing to lose, making them reckless in their actions.
Even if they were killed, it was of no consequence.
In most cases, the Mysterious Heaven Sect did not seek to seize land or treasure; as long as they could annoy the Great Zhou and spread their existence, that was their goal.
Leaving a seed of fear in the hearts of the people, making them aware of the Mysterious Heaven Sect's existence, was the objective.
It was not necessary to have faith; fear was also nourishment for the evil gods.
"Starting from the year of Emperor Jing, they changed their strategy to abduct people everywhere; this is a new round of planning," Zhao Xing compared the reports with his past memories.
At the same time, he was considering how to remind Chen Shijie while maintaining the right balance.
He couldn't let himself appear too unusual.
Chen Shijie returned after more than an hour.
When he returned to the back hall, he seemed a bit downcast, clearly indicating that Gui Niang was someone he truly cared about.
Zhao Xing had no intention of prying into Chen Shijie's personal matters, as he found romantic entanglements quite troublesome. Even a tough man like Old Chen was affected by a woman; he thought it best to only pursue physical relationships without emotional involvement in the future.
"How's the reading going?" Chen Shijie asked.
"Not bad," Zhao Xing replied, putting down the documents in his hands.
"Then let's begin."
Zhao Xing approached the diagram sand table and replaced it with the map of Nanyang County.
"Buzz~"
The sand table gently trembled, and the ten-meter-long, four-meter-wide sand table began to transform.
New mountains and rivers emerged, and soon even the weather in various regions was generated.
Zhao Xing located the position of Gu County on the sand table and then infused it with vital Qi.
Gu County immediately enlarged, occupying the entire sand table.
"Suppose I am a member of the Mysterious Heaven Sect, hiding in any place in Gu County except for Gu City. If I want to capture you, the proper ninth-rank Agricultural Affairs Bureau officer of Gu City, the first thing to consider is timing."
Zhao Xing's opening statement made Chen Shijie slightly taken aback, as he had expected Zhao Xing to consider it from his perspective. Instead, the other party was directly thinking from the Mysterious Heaven Sect's angle.
"What kind of timing?" Chen Shijie asked.
"Yin month, Yin day, and Yin hour are the best," Zhao Xing said.
Chen Shijie frowned, "To avoid the monitoring of the Temple of Divinity?"
"Yes." Zhao Xing pointed at the location of the Temple of Divinity in Gu City, "The first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh months are Yin months. I checked the reports; whenever the Mysterious Heaven Sect sends out their shadowy manifestations, it must be during these months."
"And it must be during Yin month and Yin day."
"During these special time periods, the monitoring ability of the Temple of Divinity's shadow gods is weakened."
"Although the shadow powers hidden by the Mysterious Heaven Sect will also weaken, the same reduction in strength during these time periods is advantageous for them."
Chen Shijie nodded; this reasoning was indeed sound.
When everyone has advantages, it is equivalent to having none for the Mysterious Heaven Sect, as their shadow spirits cannot compete with those in the Great Zhou's Temple of Divinity.
However, if everyone has disadvantages, it becomes an advantage for the Mysterious Heaven Sect, as the monitoring strength of the shadow gods in the Temple of Divinity would be weakened.
They could gain a period of time to act without being detected.
Of course, they would eventually be discovered; even if they couldn't win, they still couldn't escape. It would just significantly extend the 'action-discovery' time.
And this time frame was when the Mysterious Heaven Sect would act.
Zhao Xing said, "If I plan to make a move to capture you, I would definitely wait until November."
"Why? Isn't there still a few days left in September?"
"Not enough time." Zhao Xing shook his head, "I want to capture you, not kill you."
"The remaining days are insufficient for me to take you out of the Great Zhou's territory."
"Nanyang County is a long way from the Great Zhou's border; the Mysterious Heaven Sect is not a citizen of the Great Zhou. To take someone out, they must be discreet and cannot use their powers, so they need time."
"Indeed." Chen Shijie nodded, "If I want to set a trap, it should also be in November, preferably at the beginning of the month. Please continue."
"Once the timing is confirmed, I also need to consider the manpower," Zhao Xing said, pointing to the map, "Gu City is a first-class county, and its county office departments, the Agricultural Affairs Bureau, the military class, and the inspection office, as well as the East Lake Army stationed by the East Lake, all need to be taken into account."
"You are a proper ninth-rank official; if I want to capture you, I need to prepare at least seven eighth-rank officials."
Chen Shijie shook his head, "You must be mistaken; I asked you to consider me as a seventh-rank official. The Mysterious Heaven Sect cannot know my true strength."
Zhao Xing replied calmly, "Even if I don't know, I must prepare that many. Moreover, your position as a military Agricultural Affairs Bureau officer is not hard to investigate."
"It would be great to quietly capture you."
"If unexpected events occur, some of these people must be left behind to create distractions."
"After capturing you, I would quickly use the Transformation Technique, sealing your soul and locking your vital essence, turning both of us into ordinary people."
"Then we would rely on ordinary followers for support, using carts and boats to exit the Great Zhou's territory."
Zhao Xing shrank the map of Gu City and expanded it to encompass all of Nanyang County.
He lightly tapped his finger on the map: "Nanyang County has many waterways; as long as we can board a ship on the Canglan River and drift downstream, we can reach a border town a thousand miles away in less than a day. Then, crossing the mountains, we could use spells, and it would be as free as birds flying high in the sky."
Chen Shijie smiled and asked, "That sounds too ideal. First, tell me where you think the best ambush location in Gu City would be."
Zhao Xing enlarged the map of Gu City again, then tapped on several locations: "Gu City is a major grain-producing county in Nanyang County, and the concentrated areas for grain production are in Shanggu Town, Old Granary Town, Bashui Bay, Sanpo Chong, and Pingtang Town."
"You would definitely go to these places, right?"
Chen Shijie looked at them and nodded in acknowledgment, "Indeed, ensuring the harvest for the people is the Agricultural Affairs Bureau's primary duty. These eight places are major grain-producing towns; I would likely go there—no, I must go there!"
Zhao Xing said, "At this point, it’s down to eight options, as any of these places could be the starting point for action, and their locations are quite similar."
Chen Shijie smiled and nodded, "Indeed, your analysis is quite reasonable."
Seeing him like this, Zhao Xing knew that Chen Shijie had already considered these things, perhaps even more comprehensively.
However, for Old Chen's safety, he still added a few more words: "The people the Mysterious Heaven Sect sends to act are always reckless, not considering life or death, nor cost-effectiveness, because the assassins they send out are all nearing the end of their lifespans."
"So I say preparing seven eighth-rank officials is still on the lighter side; it could even be more."
Chen Shijie tilted his head and asked, "You haven't mentioned the officials or clerks from other departments at all; you only calculated the forces to capture me. If they truly act, the forces assigned to deal with me will definitely be fewer, and the Mysterious Heaven Sect cannot possibly have such ample manpower."
Seeing Chen Shijie's expression, Zhao Xing knew he had fallen into the trap of experiential bias.
Because previously, when the Mysterious Heaven Sect abducted people, they didn't just capture Agricultural Affairs Bureau officers; they also took other professions, including minor officials.
But Zhao Xing was deducing from the outcome, knowing that the Mysterious Heaven Sect's primary target was the Agricultural Affairs Bureau profession, as they aimed to capture Agricultural Affairs Bureau officers to brainwash and train them, later creating disasters within the Great Zhou.
"Suppose I am the leader of the Mysterious Heaven Sect; I would think capturing you alone is enough," Zhao Xing said, seemingly casually, "Lord Chen, as a military Agricultural Affairs Bureau officer, your status is significant. Even officials from the sixth rank come to support you. Capturing you would be equivalent to capturing ten or a hundred other officials and clerks."
"The resulting uproar would be even greater."
"Or perhaps the Agricultural Affairs Bureau is their main target, while the others are just incidental, optional?"
Chen Shijie's expression grew serious; the previous analysis was within his expectations.
But now, Zhao Xing's seemingly casual remark reminded him that if such a possibility were to occur, had he underestimated the Mysterious Heaven Sect?
(End of Chapter)