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Chapter Fifty: Lin Feng's Promotion
"To be honest, Noble Niece, although I am one of the Twelve Prefectural Commanders, the Twelve Prefectures are vast, and many matters cannot be decided solely by me. The old rules of appointing officials have been in place for years; changes can be made, but it is difficult to implement them smoothly."
"Uncle, you jest. Who in the entire Border Troops does not know of your reputation? As one of the Twelve Prefectural Commanders, you are highly respected. As long as you give your approval, who in the Twelve Prefectures would dare to act against it?"
"Haha, Noble Niece, you only see one side of things. The military is far more complicated than you imagine. Some scoundrels may seem to listen to you on the surface, but behind your back, they stir up trouble and incite discord. Noble Niece, since you have just started your position, do not make any drastic moves; handle everything with caution. There are some people even I cannot control."
Tang Jiner sighed and feigned understanding as she replied, "What you say is true, Uncle. Although I may not accomplish even a thousandth of what you do amidst your busy schedule, sometimes my tasks can be quite challenging as well. Many subordinates simply do not listen; there are cases where I explicitly instructed them not to investigate and to close the case hastily. Yet there are always those stubborn ones who insist on uncovering every detail. They even escalate matters to the Imperial City. What do they think of me as a General?"
The two engaged in a battle of wits, neither willing to yield.
Jiang Wannian's expression darkened slightly; after a couple of forced laughs, he said, "Noble Niece, everyone has their own difficulties. Pressuring each other will benefit no one. It is impossible to implement a system for appointing and dismissing officials all at once. How about this: whenever there is an appointment or dismissal of officials, I will draft a list for you to review. If there are any concerns, you can come to my residence to discuss it."
Tang Jiner smiled lightly in response, "Uncle, there is no need for such complexity. Everything should follow the established protocols of the court. The list of appointments and dismissals for the Border Troops will come to me; if I agree, I will stamp it; if not, I will reject it and look for other suitable candidates. What do you think?"
"If some military officers are crucial and must be appointed but you reject them, what will happen during wartime? You must understand that an army cannot be without its leaders for even a day," Jiang Wannian pondered.
"My opinion is that reasonable appointments will be approved. If there are truly special circumstances or urgent situations, Uncle can consult me," she replied.
In the end, both spoke of consultation but meant very different things.
Jiang Wannian's meaning was: Appointing and dismissing officials is my prerogative. I will provide you with a list as a formality. If you find it unsatisfactory, come to my house to discuss it.
Tang Jiner's meaning was: Appointing and dismissing officials is naturally my responsibility as the head of the Border Troops; if you want special considerations, come to my house to discuss it and ask for my opinion.
Jiang Wannian had always been decisive in the twelve border towns but found himself yielding step by step today due to Tang Jiner's relentless pressure. He furrowed his brow and held his teacup in silence for a long time.
The burly general with thick brows and large eyes could not tolerate such treatment towards his superior; he shouted angrily, "Governor, your words seem to disregard our lord entirely. Such excessive demands would never be accepted by our soldiers in the twelve towns even if our lord agreed!"
Tang Jiner ignored the remark and instead tapped her teacup, signaling Lin Feng to pour more tea.
Lin Feng was a clever man and naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Tang Jiner's actions. He retorted, "Shut up! Does my lord's conversation with your general involve your input? What a brute."
Lin Feng threw back the exact words that had been hurled at him earlier, as if he had slapped his opponent across the face.
The warrior known as War Maniac was furious, his face turning crimson, and his eyes fixed on Lin Feng, filled with intense murderous intent.
However, Lin Feng showed no fear and continued pouring tea for Tang Jiner, completely ignoring War Maniac's presence.
After a long pause, Jiang Wannian finally spoke up, "Noble Niece, we are family and should not have any misunderstandings. Even if I agree to this matter, this system cannot be enforced in all twelve towns."
"Uncle, you jest. I am merely the commander of Dongping Town; I only concern myself with matters here. As for the affairs of the other eleven towns, they are up to you to handle," Tang Jiner said, noticing that Jiang Wannian was reaching his limit and promptly made a concession.
Realizing it was just a matter concerning one town, Jiang Wannian sighed in relief and decisively stated, "Since Noble Niece feels this way, then let it be so. I have watched you grow up; I must support your endeavors."
"Thank you for your support, Uncle," Tang Jiner replied with a charming smile.
"Well then, let's leave it at that for today. I still have some official documents to attend to," Jiang Wannian said as he took his leave, no longer daring to make grand promises about solving any difficulties. He hurried away from this contentious place.
Tang Jiner was not an ordinary person; she was the Emperor's most beloved princess. Unless absolutely necessary, Jiang Wannian did not dare to act against her.
Before leaving, Jiang Wannian said, "Noble Niece, I have taken care of your matters. You must help clear my name regarding the court's accusations."
"Rest assured, Uncle. I will send a memorial back immediately to report everything. I will ensure that all those who rebelled that year are declared dead."
"Haha, excellent! Noble Niece is talented in both literature and martial arts. With you overseeing the Border Troops, I feel as if I have wings; the demon race will surely tremble at our might."
Once the business was concluded, Jiang Wannian departed, and a lively atmosphere filled the air with the sound of drums and gongs. Tang Jiner, accompanied by a group of officials, bid him a warm farewell, putting on a show of reluctant parting.
Lin Feng followed closely behind Tang Jiner. When Tang Jiner exchanged final goodbyes with Jiang Wannian, War Maniac and another martial general, Zhu Chui, approached Lin Feng.
Zhu Chui was slender, matching Lin Feng in stature. He wore a friendly smile that made him seem approachable.
"My brother," he said cheerfully, "today I have greatly benefited from your teachings. I hope you will leave your name so that my brothers and I can repay you in the future." Zhu Chui smiled broadly.
Lin Feng understood the implication; they intended to seek revenge later. Since they would eventually discover his name anyway, he simply replied, "I am Lin Daye, and I do not change my name or surname."
Zhu Chui clasped his hands together and smiled. "So it's Brother Lin! A pleasure to meet you. We will remember your impressive demeanor today."
After Jiang Wannian left, Tang Jiner led Lin Feng back to the hall.
Recalling Lin Feng's earlier advice, she asked, "Lin Feng, why did you suggest I compromise with Jiang Wannian?"
"Since Jiang Duzong is already aware of Lord Qiu's impeachment regarding the rebellion from years ago, with his skills and capabilities, he can handle it. Why should you openly oppose him? Moreover, even if Jiang Duzong accuses you of plotting against your superior, he won't be able to convict you. However, if things escalate too much within the court, you might be summoned back for investigation," Lin Feng analyzed carefully.
Tang Jiner was sharp-witted and quickly grasped the situation. She couldn't help but feel sorrowful. "Teacher Qiu has finally grasped Jiang Wannian's weakness and risked everything to meet him. If I let this lead slip away now, wouldn’t it mean Teacher died in vain?"
"My lady," Lin Feng replied, "Jiang Wannian is powerful; taking him down is not so simple. This is not something that can be resolved overnight or through open conflict."
"If I could avenge my teacher, I would not hesitate to fight."
"My lady, that would be a grave mistake. What rises must eventually fall; Jiang Wannian has reached the peak of his power and has accumulated many enemies along the way. You are a rising star with limitless potential. Engaging in a life-and-death struggle with him would only bring you loss."
"Loss?"
"Such a huge loss."
Tang Jiner couldn't help but chuckle, her mood lifting considerably. She looked at Lin Feng and said, "I didn't expect you to be not only quick-witted but also quite conversational."
Through their interactions today, Tang Jiner felt that although Lin Feng held a low rank and his cultivation wasn't impressive, his insights and vision were remarkable, making him worth nurturing.
As Lin Feng left Tang Jiner's residence, he suddenly realized he was drenched in cold sweat.
Facing a warlord like Jiang Wannian, Lin Feng could hardly withstand the immense pressure; he had been holding on with all his might.
Upon returning to his quarters, he planned to wash his face and then practice. However, he found the military camp bustling with activity. After inquiring, he learned that a soldier named Li Daye had been severely injured and was unconscious. Fortunately, he still had a breath left.
Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine; he hadn't expected Zhu Chui and War Maniac to act so quickly. Thankfully, he had only mistakenly used a name that sounded similar to his own.
"Li Daye, I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean for you to take the fall for me; it's just unfortunate that your name is so coincidental," Lin Feng silently apologized.
The next day, as Lin Feng was just getting out of bed, Lindor hurried over with an official document in hand.
"Lin Shidi, congratulations! You've been promoted," Lindor said cheerfully.
"Brother Lin, really? I don't think I've done anything to deserve it," Lin Feng replied in confusion.
"Here's the official document; take a look."
Lin Feng took the document and read it carefully. Indeed, he had been promoted from Commander to Captain, matching Lindor's rank. To be honest, Lin Feng wasn't particularly interested in gaining power or wealth; his focus was solely on cultivation.
Lindor looked at Lin Feng with some envy and said, "Shidi, I've been in the military camp for five or six years now. This is the first time I've seen a rookie who has been here for less than a month and hasn't even seen battle get promoted. It seems I've underestimated the elders' intentions. You are extraordinary."
"Senior Brother, I just had a stroke of bad luck."
Lin Feng was about to leave, preparing to head into the primitive forest for cultivation.
Lindor, however, stopped him and said, "Junior Brother, after your promotion, you need to pay respects to various officials."
"Is it really necessary? I still have things to do."
"No matter what else you have going on, this is more important. The Border Troops may be under the Fire Departure Sect, but they also interact with other sects and even some Loose Cultivators. We need to visit them one by one."
"Fine."
With no other choice, Lin Feng followed Lindor to pay respects to the officials of Dongping Town.
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