"Imperial Censor Rong, if today Guan Shanhai had not come in time, were you prepared to end your life in such a way?"
Faced before Rong Qing who relented his pride and submitted, not only did Cui Buqu comfort him, he even delivered a lecture to him.
Rong Qing's face froze in place.
"Not long later, everyone would come to know that Imperial Censor Rong came by orders to supervise the calamity, yet before he gained his victory, the officials of Guangqian County were already deep in grief, and even the Imperial Censor himself had been drowned by the flood. This would just prove that the calamity is indeed serious, and Guangqian County would receive even more rations for this. You, on the other hand, Rong Qing, would become the Imperial Envoy who died the most obscure death in the entire history of Great Sui," Cui Buqu paused for a moment, gave Rong Qing a half-hearted smile, "as well as be turned into the greatest joke."
Rong Qing finally understood why he did not like this Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau.
Because whenever the other spoke to him, there was always another implication between the lines and layered meanings. Just now, his words sounded like he was mocking him, but in reality, it felt like there were an entirely different set of meanings to them as well. If Rong Qing could not guess at them himself, his speaking adversary would never explain it to him.
There were some people who were fated; even if they didn't know each other for long, they could still share hearty talks. However, Rong Qing was very certain that regardless of how many times he's seen Cui Buqu, he would never like him.
This person was truly too harsh and thought too frequently that he knew better. Making use of the Empress as his support, his standards were loftier than the clouds, deeming that nobody meets his standards at all.
Rong Qing stomached his resentment and said: "I know that it was impolite of me to embark on the journey first this time, Commander, and you are displeased with me. However, the calamity is like wildfire—if I came a day early, perhaps I could survey and deliver the report a day earlier so that more people could be saved!"
Cui Buqu unceremoniously continued his words: "So that is why you almost died."
Rong Qing immediately leapt to his feet, standing straight: "If Commander Cui does not wish to have a proper talk, then this subject will take his leave first. I will return this favour of yours in the future, but this time, in Guangqian, we will each walk our own paths!"
He was also a stubborn person; since he felt that he wasn't in the wrong, naturally, he was unwilling to remain here and stomach the scolding.
Cui Buqu raised a finger slightly.
Before Guan Shanhai could understand what he meant, Qiao Xian had already taken a step forward, her sword out of its sheath, positioned across Rong Qing's neck horizontally.
"Were you allowed to leave?" Qiao Xian said coldly.
Rong Qing was driven into fury and laughter: "Consider me acknowledging the barbarity of the Zuoyue Bureau. It seems that you people would even threaten officials of the Imperial Court! It's no wonder all our peers were terrified at the mere mention of you people. If what Commander Cui wants is this threat that makes everyone run when they see you, then you've got it!"
Cui Buqu's expression was plain: "It has not been even a few days since you came, and you almost died. Once this information spreads, the name of your Rong family and the name your father had tried so hard to build, will all be lost because of you."
Rong Qing was stunned: "You know my father?"
Cui Buqu: "Your father is Rong Qi, assumed the post of County Magistrate of Mo County in Youzhou two years ago. When the Göktürks penetrated and pillaged the city, he had been fearless, unwilling to bend the knee even at the threat of death. In the end, before the reinforcements could arrive, it was too late, and he died before the gates of the city. His Majesty commiserated over his loyalty that remained until the bitter end, thus promoting you to join the ranks of the Imperial Censorate."
At the mention of his father, Rong Qing's fury had unconsciously died down. He remained silent for a while, before saying finally: "Actually, I've managed to uncover many things over the last few days. I, too, realize something was very strange about this matter."
Rain visited more frequently than usual; when Rong Qing came to Guangqian county, the rain had been hailing for subsequently ten days. He had followed another path and went through the highlands, away from the river water. The main road was supposed to just be filled with wet soil, but it shouldn't have reached the same level as flooding an entire city. Only after arriving in Guanqian county did he notice that the calamity had extended beyond his expectations.
Within the territory of Guangqian Prefecture, practically half of the county towns have already been submerged. Even in the wilds of Guangqian county, every inch of land was difficult to waddle through. The calamity victims had all taken refuge within the city, however, there were limitations to how much Guangqian county could hold, and so they could not take in all of them. County Magistrate Huang Lue allocated these people on the Western side of the city, making them work in exchange for shelter. Every day, they would have to transport sand and stones outside the city to build a wall in order to prolong the calamity from entering the city. Rong Qing had seen it himself and believed that it was not a bad plan. Since they have received the calamity victims, they have arranged work for them so they wouldn't cause trouble.
However, although Guangqian county's situation was settled, the County Magistrates of other county towns were not as capable. The calamity hasn't retreated, and the rations in the main storage were limited. Huang Lue hoped that Rong Qing could deliver a report to the Imperial Court to ask for more rations.
Rong Qing had such intentions. However, as a patrolling Imperial Censor, he couldn't just listen to Huang Lue. Thus, he sought out the Assistant Magistrate Li Yan for questioning. Who could have guessed that Li Yan hesitated when he spoke, showing that he was hiding something about County Magistrate Huang. Rong Qing found it strange and after being bombarded with incessant questions, Li Yan finally let a hint slip, allowing Rong Qing to travel to the wilds in person to take a look.
As he spoke until this point, Rong Qing changed the subject and said: "The night before, I received a strange painting."
He allowed Xiao-Liu to bring the painting.
There was no mounting on the picture. It was rolled up in a simple way. In the centre of the painting, there was a granary. A great many people were moving rations outside of it, and on the side sat a man that looked like an official with servants by his side, sitting at a table having a feast as he surveyed the people moving the rations on a hot day. It was extremely crowded.
And on either side of the painting, not far from the granary, was a pile of corpses like a little mount. There were males and females among the dead, including the elders and the young, sprawling in all sorts of positions on the ground with yellow faces and appearing to be extremely thin, like they have shouldered great pain. Some of them were already dead, and some of them still held a silver of breath. In the hands of the man was an arm and he gnawed at it like an evil spirit. Beside him, there was a child who had lost that arm, wailing and shrieking as blood flowed everywhere.
Just by looking at the left and the centre of the painting, one would not feel anything, but once they piece the right and left side of it, there's an effect of making one feel like they were suffocating.
Rong Qing still recalled the first time he saw that painting, his heart had been shaken by something he couldn't name. He had stood there in a daze for half a beat feeling nothing. Looking now at Cui Buqu, his gaze had lingered on top of it only for a while, not even blinking.
Truly the heart of tigers and wolves1, Rong Qing thought.
"This person," He tapped the dining official on the left side of the painting, "Guangqian County was originally an upper-class county. The County Magistrate is a sixth-ranking official. Due to the calamities that took place these two years, it was demoted to a middle-class county, and the official demoted to a seventh-ranking. However, the date for County Magistrate Huang Lue reporting to work hasn't come, so he is still a sixth-ranking. This person is wearing a scarlet-coloured official gown, and he wore no ornaments or fine jade. Although one cannot see his face clearly, by judging his attire, you can tell this is Huang Lue without a doubt."
Cui Buqu said: "So you think that someone tried to file an anonymous report to you after knowing of your arrival, hinting that the County Magistrate Huang Lue is corrupt, embezzling rations and submitting false reports of the situation?"
"Correct."
Although Rong Qing was emotional, a sliver of intellect remained in him. He hadn't rushed up to Huang Lue for questioning, but he was still unable to be at peace, and thus went looking for other officials in Guangqian County, knocking at their doors hoping to find something through them.
Therefore, he had asked Assistant Magistrate Li Yan, but he had stuttered and stammered endlessly.
This was not all; Rong Qing also discovered that among the officials in Guangqian County, aside from Li Yan, County Official Wu Yi was also not on good terms with Huang Lue.
In Guangqian County, the County Magistrate, Assistant Magistrate, and County Official were the three most important people, yet they have appeared united on the surface but divided in heart, minding their own business. Underneath, all the officials were playing a game of theories, one where the glint and flash of cold steel could not see blood.
One day's time was not enough for Rong Qing to find out about anything. However, last night, he received another painting.
It was the same paper and the same brush strokes.
Rong Qing spread out the second piece of painting in front of Cui Buqu.
This time there were no officials, yet the painting was even more frightening.
Amid the flood, broken trees sunk and floated, the residual of bodies drifted; sometimes one could even see a black head looking at the sky with soundless fear and inaudible screams, plagued with terror and despair.
The city's wall and moat could be seen from afar, close to a nearby mountain slump under an old tree, a man was kneeling on the ground diligently unearthing it with his bare hands and uncovering a few semi-decayed hands from the soil which stood out from a forest of white bones, as if one has already dug close to hell where all existence of Buddha had thoroughly perished.
Guan Shanhai stood at the side as he glanced at this painting, he couldn't help muttering a questioning sound.
As if Rong Qing knew why he did that, he said: "That is right. This tree was the very same place I was trapped in the morning. During that time, I decided to take a look myself because of this painting to see whether such a place truly exists."
In the end, it was proven that the tree did indeed exist. However, before he could unearth the ground beneath it, the horrendous rain had already caused the water level to rise tremendously. Had Guan Shanhai not appear in time, Rong Qing would have already turned into a lonely ghost that roams the earth.
"Commander Cui should know now that there is a reason behind my doings!"
Cui Buqu paid no attention to the displeasure that came from his voice, "So, your suspicions for Huang Lue have grown?"
Rong Qing nodded: "When I proposed leaving the city to investigate the matter to Huang Lue, he had strongly objected to it. County Official Wu also behaved as though he saw nothing. Instead, it was Assistant Magistrate Li Yan who was willing to pursue me out to take a look. So, the problem most certainly lied in Huang Lue."
Cui Buqu said: "If normal people saw a horrendous rain carrying on infinitely and rising up the water levels, of course they would object to it. Why are you not suspicious of Li Yan's ulterior motives instead? That he was trying to use this chance to eliminate you?"
Rong Qing remained silent for a while, before retorting: "Huang Lue is the County Magistrate of Guangqian County. His word decides many things that go on around here. What can an assistant officer like Li Yan do?"
Cui Buqu said coldly: "However, this time the calamity did not just hit Guangqian County. Practically half of the entire Prefecture has been submerged in water. If I were you, I would not deduct a conclusion based on these paintings that came from anonymous sources."
Rong Qing felt that Cui Buqu saw him as a prick, trying to make an argument out of everything.
He was unwilling to say more.
When a conversation becomes disagreeable, more words would mean more opportunities for arguments.
"Tomorrow, Huang Lue has invited all the aristocratic families to discuss funding the calamity with rations. He has also invited me. If Commander Cui refuses to believe it, you can attend it and decide for yourself between the loyal and the disloyal."
Rong Qing snorted coldly, flipped his sleeves and left.
Everything was too chaotic.
Clouds of fogs surrounded them everywhere, and regardless of how one tries to pry it apart, it was futile.
Guan Shanhai was used to killing straightforwardly on the battlefield; he has never before seen or experienced such a complicated situation. At first glance, it looked like allocating tasks depending on the different ranks of each official, but if he were to look closely at it, it seemed like it wasn't that simple. Was it possible that they have truly exhausted all the rations delivered here by the Imperial Court? County Magistrate Huang and Assistant Magistrate Li obviously had strife between themselves. Was Rong Qing being used by both of them? Why would someone deliver two pieces of paintings to Rong Qing? Was it to lure him into searching for the truth or deliver him to death's door?
The more he thought about it, the heavier his headache became. Guan Shanhai felt fortunate that he had been a martial official, and there was no need to gyrate around these matters in circles. However, he couldn't believe that Cui Buqu could pry the truth open like a god the moment he arrived, readily solving everything in one go.
However, what he knew was that in order to catch up to Rong Qing, Cui Buqu had halved the amount of time originally needed to arrive. His body's condition seemed to have gotten worse, yet he never uttered a word during the journey.
Although Guan Shanhai did not like this new task given to him, his perception of Cui Buqu was no longer as bad as it had been before. He even couldn't refrain from uttering in a light tone: "How did you know Imperial Censor Rong would encounter danger?"
"Because here, Rong Qing is a knife. Whoever has it in their grasp could use it to threaten someone else." Cui Buqu suddenly sighed, "Perhaps we will be able to see the one hundred ways Rong Qing could die from very soon."
Ah?
Guan Shanhai was confused and had completely no idea what he was talking about.
...
Rong Qing was also very confused.
He was speaking to the aristocratic families within the city, and they were sitting in the courtyard behind the county's bureau.
Answering Huang Lue's invitation, everyone came to attend the banquet and discuss ways to ease the current situation.
What made Rong Qing confused was this: Yesterday, Cui Buqu was still behaving cynically, yet today, he was like a tamed sheep sitting behind him. Not only did he add a beard to himself, he even introduced himself as Master Cui, changing his identity completely and turning into an aide of Rong Qing's.
The native merchants were all very interested in Imperial Censor Rong, for practically everyone came forth to offer him gifts in an attempt to form closeness. They seldom notice Cui Buqu who sat behind him, and the few who did only asked a question or two about him. Cui Buqu was servile and submissive, and thus all the questions were answered by Rong Qing.
Rong Qing knew that Cui Buqu wanted to conceal his identity, and it coincided with his wishes since he also did not want others to know that Cui Buqu was a member of the Zuoyue Bureau, which would lead them to think that the Imperial Court had no faith in him, thus sending someone to keep an eye for them.
However, he hadn't expected Cui Buqu's acting to be so flawless. It was as if he had changed into another person entirely. He claimed to be a man of few words and truly acted the part—uttering not even a single word. Even his gaze had turned gentle and harmless, speaking in a gentle and hushed tone. Where was the sharpness he had shown just yesterday?
Another guest has arrived. Rong Qing could no longer pay attention to inspecting Cui Buqu's change. He realized that most of the people who gathered today were either young people or the eldest and second children of the family. The patriarch of the family itself seldom showed their presence.
Among them, one young man stood out from the crowd.
The other looked twenty give or take; he was quite handsome, said to be surnamed Li, and was the fourteenth child of his house. He was a distant relative of Assistant Magistrate Li Yan—only now did Rong Qing realize that Li Yan was a native and his family's situation was liberal. The Li family had been a notable clan known locally and throughout the entire Guangqian Prefecture.
Li Shisi followed behind his cousin—who is also the eldest child of the Li family—and came forth. However, compared to the sturdiness of his cousin, Li Shisi was a lot more engaging. Not only did he go about proposing a toast of wine to everybody, he even came to close proximity with Rong Qing, having no care for courtesy, pulling him to the side as he asked him something. He even showed an interest in Cui Buqu who was next to Rong Qing.
"I heard Master Cui is someone from the Southern Dynasty? Why have you not remained an official in the Southern Dynasty but came all the way to the Northern Dynasty? What sort of scenery is in the Southern Dynasty; is it truly filled with mountains and rivers aplenty, filled with euphemism and songs?"
Li Shisi strained his neck, practically touching Cui Buqu. If not for his young-looking exterior that didn't look annoying and for his face being filled with curiosity, it was feared that he would have been receiving a lecture about manners right now.
Cui Buqu gave a bashful smile: "Not everyone who wants to become an official would be given the chance. My capabilities meet neither the standards of a martial or literary official. Fortunately, Imperial Censor Rong did not mind and took me in to help with copying scripts and books. As to your mention of the scenery, my humble opinion feels that the mountains and rivers are similar in both the Northern and Southern Dynasty."
"Aiya, Master Cui, how delicate your wrist looks!" It was as if Li Shisi found something new and interesting, caught Cui Buqu's wrist and refused to let go.
"I heard the people from the South often have queer interests, especially flirting with those who are elderly in age. With your looks, could it be that you were a target of such people and so you came north to seek refuge?"
====
[1] 虎狼之心 describes someone who is ambitious, cruel, and ruthless.