Infinite Professions

Chapter 427: Chapter 220: The Grand Ritual

Several days later, Jinyang Prefecture.

A burst of clamor, disturbing one’s peaceful dreams.

"Hmm!?"

Having met with the heads of various noble families last night, a hungover Cui Shao frowned deeply, sitting up angrily from his bed: "Someone come!"

"My lord!"

A servant who had been waiting outside promptly entered, bringing a basin of clear water and a towel.

Cui Shao did not take them but instead asked angrily: "What is going on, why is it so noisy?"

"Reporting to you, my lord."

The servant smiled wryly: "It is the city hosting the Divine Judgment Festival."

"Divine Judgment Festival!?"

Cui Shao furrowed his brows and then looked outside: "Isn’t it on the first day of August? It’s only May now, what are they doing?"

Since he was sent here, he had naturally done his homework, so he was quite familiar with the Divine Judgment Festival.

The festival dates back a hundred years, to when the Divine Judge was still the Village Land God of Little Huang Village, set in August for the deity’s birthday, gradually evolving from a village festival to a county festival, and eventually becoming a semi-official holiday that influenced even the Prefecture City of Jinyang, unable to escape its customs.

Among these, Li Mubai, in name a Deputy Governor but actually a Prefect, who held military and political power in Jinyang, played a significant role. It was he who step by step introduced the deity’s belief system into Jinyang Prefecture City, and today, the scale of the Divine Judgment Festival is almost as grand as the City God’s Festival.

But this is not the point; the point is why hold it now, when it’s only May?

Even if such a major festival requires early preparation, it’s not typical to prepare more than three months in advance, right?

What on earth is going on!?

"This... I do not know, my lord."

The servant smiled wryly and said: "In any case, the whole city is now adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations, all trades and businesses are preparing for the festival."

Cui Shao’s brows remained tightly knitted: "And what about the clerks in the Prefecture Government Office?"

"Most of them have gone to preside over the preparations."

"Hmph!"

Although he had anticipated this, Cui Shao still felt a bit of repressed anger at such a result, snorted coldly, and rose to his feet: "Get me dressed!"

"Yes!"

...

After changing into his official attire and arriving at the Prefecture Government Office, it was indeed extraordinarily deserted, with most officials absent, having gone to oversee preparations for the Divine Judgment Festival.

Cui Shao gazed coldly, but made no comment, seated himself, and began reviewing the documents.

Due to the Jinyang Prefect’s laissez-faire attitude, the belief in the Divine Judgment Temple had been growing stronger over the years, as had the influence of its supporters like the Song Clan and the Li Clan, especially the leader of the Li Clan, Li Mubai, who was skilled in both civil and martial matters, extraordinarily intelligent and brave, with superior means. As early as his promotion to Fifth Grade over a decade ago, he gradually marginalized the former Prefect Lu Jingrui, and actually took control of Jinyang’s military and political power.

After over a decade of such operations, his influence became deeply entrenched, leveraging the Divine Judgment Temple’s power to suppress various noble families, gaining authority from above and winning popular support from below. Among the people of Jinyang, he earned the nickname "Li Qiantian," with many plays and novels circulated among the populace, depicting stories of him and the Punishment Judge resolving strange cases with wisdom and battling demons with martial skill.

Faced with such an opponent, it would be unwise to confront them directly being a newcomer.

Cui Shao was well aware of this, so he refrained from the customary show of force expected of new officials. Instead, in the days following his appointment, he met with the heads of major noble families in Jinyang, planning to use a strategy of driving tigers to devour wolves, inciting conflict between these families and the Li and Song Clans.

However, these noble family members were not easily dealt with, especially the old foxes among them, who were as cunning as ghosts, readily agreeing on the surface but actually remaining unmoved, each watching coldly, hoping to reap benefits like fishermen.

This directly blocked Cui Shao’s path in office.

It’s not that he lacked strategies, but rather that even the cleverest housewife can’t cook without rice. Without support from these local noble families and with Li Mubai solidly holding Jinyang Authority, as a newcomer with no power or loyal officials, even a genius could do nothing.

To break the deadlock, assistance was necessary!

Where could this assistance come from?

Noble families, local tyrants?

Jinling, the State Mansion?

Or the Three Religions, Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Legalism?

Cui Shao’s mind was in a whirl, yet he found no inspiration.

On the other side...

"A trapped beast still fights!"

Qingye Temple, pavilion at the back mountain.

It was still the White Eyebrow Elder Monk, and the young Daoist.

The two sat opposite each other, with a chessboard laid out on the table, engaging in a game of chess.

"Sensing crisis, trying to use the power of the Jinyang People to break through shackles and ascend to divinity, is it?"

"In Jinyang Prefecture, he has many faithful followers and extraordinary methods. Even without orthodox Dharma Gates, he could forcibly break through."

"But the outcome would at most result in a Fifth-Grade Divine Position, still a dying struggle!"

"The Jinyang Prefect still lets things go, is he trying to stay out of it, or does he have other plots?"

"Regardless, he has made his move, and we cannot just stand by. Otherwise, even a trapped beast’s fight can cause harm."

"Send someone to assist the new Prefect Cui Shao, starting with Li Mubai."

"This man controls Jinyang’s military and political power, a crucial piece in Song Xiang’s hands. As long as we target him, Song Xiang must react."

"If he retaliates, Hidden Dragon can leverage the opportunity to raise troops for a campaign. If he doesn’t, we can slowly clip his wings!"

"Brilliant!"

With these words, the chess pieces were placed, and the monk and the Daoist exchanged cold, knowing smiles.

Most of the world’s foolish people are ordinary. Those who rise to high positions through their own efforts invariably possess great wisdom and extensive strategies.

Therefore, they did not expect Hidden Dragon’s plan to fool their opponent.

But whether it was exposed or not, it didn’t affect the situation.

Because this was an open conspiracy!

So what if you see through it, can you break the deadlock?

This Jinyang land is already a tool in the claws of Hidden Dragon.

If you resist, you die; if you don’t resist, you also die!

The former a bit faster, the latter a bit slower, but there’s no difference otherwise.

Therefore...