221: Three questions, meeting Qi Dachun

Demon Suppression Hall.

Chu Jiang sat at the head, his gaze sharp, staring at the young man Wang Chao had brought into the hall.

The young man was dressed in a white robe, with an extraordinary and refined demeanor.

Recently, Yun Province had been undergoing a vigorous reform, widely recruiting talented individuals, and many ambitious people had come to join.

To be strongly recommended by Wang Chao, he had obviously undergone layers of screening before.

His ability was beyond doubt.

"Junior Chen Shian, greetings to Pacification Envoy!" Chen Shian cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.

Chu Jiang nodded slightly, signaling Chen Shian to take a seat.

Seeing this, Wang Chao wisely withdrew. Shen Commander and others greatly admired Chen Shian, believing he could shoulder important responsibilities, but as Yun Province Pacification Commissioner, Chu Jiang still needed to approve him.

Chu Jiang spoke, deciding to test him first.

"If grassroots officials collude with demons, how should such a situation be prevented?"

Chen Shian understood that Chu Jiang was testing his talent. After a moment of serious thought, he said, "Firstly, establish secret guards or inspectors to secretly investigate local government officials, and report any problems immediately upon discovery; secondly, implement harsh laws and severely punish those who collude with demons. In times of chaos, heavy measures should be used, such as executing entire families or even exterminating three generations; strengthen local armed forces, but ensure that this force is loyal to the Dynasty and to the Demon Suppression Division—this is something you are already doing; thirdly, crack down on the bureaucratic families in grassroots government, controlling the number of people from the same Family serving as officials in one place."

"Otherwise, it will lead to a situation where all critical parts of a region are controlled by one or several official families, completely cutting off the path for those at the bottom to rise."

"They are interconnected, colluding with demons and harming the common people. Even if inspection personnel are dispatched, they will find nothing."

"Of course, complete avoidance is impossible, because the world is currently in turmoil, and people are terrified. As long as people remain despairing and have no confidence in the future, then this issue cannot be eradicated. Ultimately, officials colluding with demons, besides the motive of collecting money, also stems from fear and despair."

A strange look flashed in Chu Jiang's eyes. This person seemed young, yet he possessed such insights. It was not at all like the knowledge a young person should have.

After a moment of silence, he posed a second question.

"Some tragedies are often caused by the arbitrary decisions of the chief official of the local government. Do you think it is necessary to restrict, or even add peer supervision, in today's world?"

Chen Shian continued, "I believe it is absolutely not. In this era of demonic chaos, implementing peer supervision is not in line with reality. Firstly, the supervisor will become the de facto superior, and supervision cannot be effectively implemented. Secondly, peer supervision will decentralize power. If a major issue arises, the two will inevitably bicker, leading to disaster. If there is only one person, he can make a direct decision. What we need to do is select the right chief official for that place and let him act freely."

If he hadn't become Qi Dachun's disciple before, he would have certainly thought this was a great thing, to decentralize local power.

But he overlooked the characteristics of the era.

This was a chaotic world.

Decentralizing power would lead to disaster.

For example, if Chu Jiang, the Yun Province Pacification Commissioner, no longer held the greatest local power, but was instead subject to the restrictions and supervision of the Yun Province Governor.

Then all reforms would be shelved, or even fail to start.

Let alone be implemented.

Chu Jiang was quite satisfied with his answer to this question.

After all, this question had been a trap.

Immediately following, he posed a third question.

"Do you know why the world today can barely remain stable?"

Chen Shian answered without hesitation, "It is order, it is rules."

His Master had also asked him this question, but at that time, he had said money and military force.

His Master said that was also correct.

Money and military force were also elements in constructing rules.

"Well said, it is order. The Human Race moved from disorder to order, or rather, from chaos to order. The rules in this world can be broken, established, or repaired, but they cannot be absent."

"Without rules, order will be lost, and endless chaos will ensue. The world will no longer be peaceful, and burning, killing, looting, and various crimes will become commonplace."

"This set of order and rules is like a house. It starts out intact, providing shelter from wind and rain for countless people. As time passes, one day it will age, it will leak, patching holes by tearing down one wall to mend another, letting unimportant items endure the elements while important things are well protected, until it completely collapses."

"What stage do you think the Great Chu Dynasty is currently in?" Chu Jiang's gaze was profound, as he looked thoughtfully at Chen Shian.

Chen Shian never expected that Chu Jiang, despite being a martial artist, would have such clear insight into the state of the nation, analyzing it so thoroughly. He truly possessed both civil and martial talents.

"In my opinion, the Great Chu Dynasty has reached the time for breaking the old and establishing the new, and rebuilding order."

This time, Chu Jiang did not answer, but instead asked, "From what Master do you hail?"

"My Master, Qi Dachun!" Chen Shian hesitated for a moment, then decisively replied.

This was with his Master's permission; if Chu Jiang asked, he could reveal his Master's name.

"To raise such an astonishing talent as you, your Master must be extraordinary," Chu Jiang praised.

"My Master is merely an ordinary scholar, not some peerless expert," Chen Shian humbly replied.

Chu Jiang and Chen Shian had a long conversation, lasting a full three hours, sitting and discussing the Dao.

No one knew what they discussed.

The next day.

Chen Shian was exceptionally promoted, leaping from a commoner to the overall head of reforms for Yun Province.

This shocked the entire Yunzhou Thirteen Prefectures.

Where did this person come from? What virtue and ability did he possess to hold this position?

Was Chu Jiang perhaps desperate?

The various Families saw him as a mere child who hadn't even fully matured, and paid him no mind.

Did he really think he could shake the Foundation of the Families?

Dream on.

...

Peach Blossom Village, outside the academy.

"Chu Jiang, greetings, Master!"

As soon as Chu Jiang arrived at the academy, he discovered that it was not simple; it actually outlined the Great Tendencies of Heaven and Earth. Anyone who trespassed, let alone a Divine Power Realm expert, even a Faxiang Realm expert would not fare well.

Yun Province actually hid such a formidable figure.

"Please come in!"

From within the academy, Qi Dachun's voice came, and all the Great Tendencies of Heaven and Earth dissipated.