Chaotic World Book

Chapter 783 - Capítulo 783: 737: Smearing His Scroll

Capítulo 783: Chapter 737: Smearing His ScrollMerely two or three days later, the Demon Suppression Department in the Capital received a pigeon-carried message from Ba Shu.

The Demon Suppression Department was stunned. Homing pigeons were not creatures that could be raised just anywhere, like in any house or even an underground lair; they were trained to follow sophisticated routes to return to their nests. In the past, the pigeons raised by Ba Shu’s Demon Suppression Department would only fly back to the original site of the Department, which amounted to delivering themselves right into Li Shentong’s hands. After going into hiding, the Department had absolutely no way to train homing pigeons, so what was the deal with this unexpected pigeon from Ba Shu?

Qin Dingjiang removed the scroll tied to the pigeon’s leg, broke the seal, and his eyes widened. He immediately rushed to find Tang Wanju, “Head, Head! A letter from Ba Shu!”

Ba Shu? Tang Wanju paused, then smiled slightly, “Why be alarmed? Give it here for me to see.”

Just this morning, Tang Wanju had received a letter from Zhao Changhe, written from the Miao Region—yes, the one Sisi wrote while hiding under the desk. The letter detailed the current situation of the Spirit Clan and the Miao Region, Sisi’s ascension to the throne of Dali, and requested the court to send envoys to officially seal and communicate, as well as whether to continue establishing the Demon Suppression Department and the Provincial Government in the Miao Region, etc. It mentioned that Zhao Changhe would depart for Ba Shu immediately in hopes of good news.

herworld, or face you and me on the battlefield? I didn’t put it so bluntly to save his face, but he should understand the implications.”

“Now, he has taken the initiative to reestablish the Demon Suppression Department, responsible for supervising the equal distribution of land among the peasantry and the illegal activities of officials, asking me to organize the former members of the Demon Suppression Department. It is a risk for the brothers of the Demon Suppression Department, but it is worth a try. People’s hearts are continuously changing, and our men joining serves not only as a check on the officials but also as a reminder to him. Every time he sees a member of the Demon Suppression Department, he should remember and consider whether some matters might be mocked if they reached Zhao Changhe’s ears. This is also his true intention in asking for the Demon Suppression Department again; he’s reminding himself.”

“But since there is now a Demon Suppression Department, the nature of Ba Shu’s governance has become somewhat delicate, suddenly bearing a resemblance to the subjugating influence over the Miao Region, as if it could at any moment transition to an official Great Han seal granting the title of King of Shu. However, this is not our goal. The Miao Region can be so, but Ba Shu cannot; it cannot have a king but must be governed by a Governor we appoint. This step cannot be directly achieved yet… My casting of the cauldron at the city gate secretly carried the implication of conquest, and Li Shentong has not moved it away, indicating that he is also observing what comes next.”

“He watches our battles with Guanglong, with the barbarians, scrutinizes my strength, and eyes the edge of your troops. It would be impossible for him to become loyal merely due to being charmed by a few words from me. In any case, his willingness to send troops from Hanzhong and to join me beyond the border is enough; it aligns with the original intentions and cannot demand more. The rest is up to us.”

“For starters, he attaches great significance to certain concepts I proposed, and indeed, it’s time to start exploring whether these can be implemented. Some things require technological advancements to achieve. For instance, I know we have movable type printing, an idea put forward by old Xia decades ago, and artisans created it. Yet until now, it’s fragile and inefficient, and paper production is also very limited, which makes it challenging to implement widespread education constrained by these limitations.”

“It warrants our attention, as everything is missing just that—focus… This would also greatly benefit our imperial examination strategy. I hope to gather craftsmen to improve the technology, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and facilitate the spread. Once this is accomplished, when word gets to Ba Shu, it will be like posing a challenge to him, to see how he follows up.”