Chapter 472 : Founding the Nation (6)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍brand-new Hong Dynasty was busy cementing its foundation, but not everything across the empire was going according to plan.

Deep ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍inside the county office of Wugang County in Henan Province.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍newly appointed County Magistrate stroked his mustache as he spoke. “The harvest season has arrived. It is time we began collecting taxes.”

“Yes, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍County Magistrate.”

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a Rank 7 official, the magistrate was basically the undisputed ruler responsible for all major and minor affairs within a county.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍man was not originally from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult; rather, he was an outsider who had been granted the Rank 7 position after accumulating some merit during the war. If he had taken a post in a provincial capital or a bustling city, he would have been just another middle manager with a dozen bosses breathing down his neck. But he had specifically pulled strings to get assigned to this remote city instead.

And the reason he had wanted this post was simple.

"Did the imperial decree sent down from the Forbidden City state that we are to collect two-tenths of the rice harvest as tax?"

“That is correct, sir.”

“Hmm. Well then, tell the peasant farmers that by the Emperor's direct command, we are collecting five-tenths.”

Hearing the order, the Rank 8 Assistant Magistrate answered in a hesitant tone.

"Brother—I mean, Magistrate, sir. Isn't that playing with fire?"

The two had known one another from before they joined the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s side and took part in the war.

That was why the magistrate could issue such corrupt orders so openly.

"The Divine Cult barely has its own house in order. They don't have the manpower to micromanage a speck of dirt like this county."

“B-but, Magistrate. What about those fanatics teaching at the local school? Or those roaming beggars from the Ministry of Welfare?"

“Tsk. That's why I told you to collect five-tenths. If a man tries to keep all the profit for himself, his belly will burst and he will die. As long as we toss a little hush money their way, they'll happily look the other way."

It seemed human greed really was the same everywhere.

The mere thought of having to slice off a piece of their hard-stolen pie to bribe teachers and a bunch of homeless beggars made the Assistant Magistrate scrunch up his face in regret.

Catching the stingy look on his old war buddy's face, the magistrate just let out an amused smirk.

"Relax. We just need to forge a report to the capital claiming the crops failed this year, then ship them barely a quarter of the rice we collected."

“As expected of you, Brother!”

“Ahem.”

“As expected of you, County Magistrate!”

After shamelessly flattering the magistrate, the assistant stepped out of the building and immediately executed the corrupt order.

"My lord, please! If you take that much, how are we supposed to survive?"

Despite the tearful cries of the farmers, the Assistant Magistrate had the constables forcibly seize half of their crops.

That night, he immediately took a portion of the seized harvest and distributed it as bribes to the instructors and the beggars from the Ministry of Welfare.

Several days passed as they exploited the farmers and filled the granaries.

Several days later, the Magistrate was sleeping off another night of heavy drinking when he suddenly woke with a shiver crawling down his spine.

Yet he could not move.

Because out of nowhere, a sword blackened with soot was already resting at his throat.

“W-who are you?”

The man dressed in black answered the County Magistrate’s question.

“You should know better than anyone why I have come.”

Hearing that icy tone, the Magistrate instantly realized exactly who had broken into his room.

"You're a dog sent from the capital."

He was undoubtedly an emissary of death from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Since you knew I'd come, what possessed you to exploit the common people?”

The County Magistrate wore an aggrieved expression at the black-clad man’s question.

"Is this how the Divine Cult repays its debts?! I risked my life and fought for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult! I made a great contribution to driving the Han Dynasty out!”

"Which is exactly why you were rewarded with a Rank 7 position.”

“I-I risked my very life, and you expect me to be content with nothing more than this?”

Hearing the Magistrate's entitlement, the black-clad man’s gaze grew even colder.

“You are gravely mistaken about one thing. The sole purpose of our Divine Cult is to deliver the masses from suffering. We purged the Eastern Depot and the old officials because they were a plague of corruption. If we take the throne only to pull the same garbage they did, then what was the point of destroying the Han Dynasty in the first place?"

The County Magistrate felt wronged.

To him, all that noble talk about saving the masses was just a cheap justification.

Most martial artists were all like that.

They slapped a shiny and righteous label on their actions, but everyone knew they moved for their own benefit.

Yet the County Magistrate could not voice his grievance.

Slick.

Deciding this conversation had run its course, the black-clad man thrust his sword through the Magistrate’s throat.

“Grrk…”

The Magistrate couldn’t even say his last words before his body went limp.

* * *

That night, the County Magistrate, the Assistant Magistrate, and all those who had followed them were given a one-way ticket to hell.

Early the next morning, the black-clad warrior from the Dark Shadow Pavilion summoned everyone involved.

He gathered the surviving county clerks, the local school teacher, and the beggars from the Ministry of Welfare.

The Dark Shadow Pavilion martial artist first clasped his hands in salute before them.

“I thank you for your efforts. Had you not sent word so swiftly, it would have taken us longer to realize that those corrupt officials were exploiting the common people.”

Those gathered waved their hands modestly or returned his courtesy.

"We just did our jobs."

“Indeed. What kind of Heavenly Demon Divine Cult believer would actually let themselves get bought off by dirty money and turn their backs on the suffering masses?"

The magistrate and his cronies, who had zero actual faith in the Cult's teachings, had completely miscalculated one thing.

They had just blindly assumed that if they shared the stolen wealth with these people, they would naturally board the same ship.

As the saying goes, one sees only what one knows. They assumed everyone measured gain and loss the same way they did.

On the flip side, the Cult members couldn't even begin to comprehend the Magistrate's thought process, either.

The logic of ordinary people did not apply to fanatics.

As the Dark Shadow Pavilion martial artist quietly listened to the informants, a faint smile appeared on his face. It was nothing like the cold expression he had worn the night before while cutting down the corrupt officials.

"Then let's return everything they stole."

“Of course. Hahaha! Even the rice those bastards handed out is still untouched."

Together, the officials in the county traveled throughout the area to return the rice to the farmers.

“Remember this. The Hong Dynasty’s current tax is two-tenths. If a new official comes and attempts to collect more than that, I want you to write a letter to the capital immediately. Should the tax rate change, an imperial edict will be issued. Don't take anyone's word for it, verify it for yourselves."

They repeated the same instructions as they went from village to village.

Naturally, the farmers looked troubled.

“Oh, sir. How are illiterate people like us supposed to write letters or read imperial edicts?”

The Dark Shadow Pavilion martial artist chuckled at that.

"Why do you think we built the public schools? Your kids are learning how to read and write right now. Pretty soon, checking a decree or writing a complaint won't be an issue at all. Plus, if any of you adults want to learn your letters, the school doors are wide open for night classes after your work is done.”

And they also realized—

“Thank you!”

“The grace of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult seems to cover the very heavens!”

—How immense was the sacred grace of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which sought to teach letters to all living beings.

* * *

Several days later, in the Outer Palace of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The morning assembly was in full swing. 

But today, the stage belonged to Seo Wan-pyeong, the Lord of the Dark Shadow Pavilion.

“…Thus, over the past month, we have dealt with twenty-seven such individuals throughout the Central Plains.”

After hearing the report in full, Wi Jin-hak furrowed his brow.

“It is impossible not to lament this. We embraced them all because driving out the Han Dynasty was our first priority, yet it seems far too many have done exactly what the Han officials did before them."

Zhuge Mun, Cheon Ryang, Beggar King, and the other ministers who had not originally belonged to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could only hide their unease.

As Holy Emperor Wi Jin-hak had said, every person who had committed corruption had come from outside the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

‘Retards, all of them. Tsk.’

‘If you're going to be corrupt, the least you could do is know how not to get caught.’

While they silently cursed the disgraced officials, Seo Wan-pyeong finished his report and spoke again.

"Your Majesty, removing the corrupt officials poses no difficulty. The problem is that we're running out of officials to govern the provinces."

“Hmm.”

With a soft sigh, Wi Jin-hak swept his gaze over the ministers.

Zhuge Mun cautiously opened his mouth. “Your Majesty, I believe we must first hold the Imperial Examination in order to recruit new low-ranking officials.”

“The Divine Cult’s doctrines have yet to take full root across the Central Plains. Even if we select officials through the examinations, I fear that we may obtain the same result.”

As Zhuge Mun hesitated over how to answer Wi Jin-hak’s negative response, Il-mok smoothly cut in.

"Your Majesty. I actually have to agree with the Minister of Finance on this one. To govern the counties of every province, we need capable people taking the helm. As Your Majesty has said, there may indeed be some among them who are no different from the corrupt officials, but there are definitely brilliant and honest talents out there just waiting for a chance. Look at this room, Your Majesty. Even in this court, there are those who did not originally belong to the cult, yet devote themselves wholeheartedly to the welfare of the people."

For some reason, Il-mok had stepped forward to defend Zhuge Mun.

He didn’t care whether they were a political ally or a political rival; what he cared about was that the nation could run properly.

"Corrupt officials will inevitably appear, but as long as the Dark Shadow Pavilion keep pruning them just as they did these past fews months, it should not become a grave problem.”

The arrangement would dump even more work onto Seo Wan-pyeong’s shoulders, but there was no avoiding that.

"Besides, the newest graduating class from the Hall of the Demonic Way will soon emerge. If we combine the graduates with the new hires from the Imperial Examination and send them all out into the field, this staffing crisis will soon stabilize."

The Hall of the Demonic Way.

Back in the day, kids were thrown into that mental asylum for prospective mental patients at sixteen. By then, most of his peers had already spent years cultivating Demonic Arts in preparation for admission, leaving an alarming number of them more than a little unhinged by the time they arrived.

Seeing that firsthand was what had driven Il-mok to push for educational reforms.

He proposed delaying the study of Demonic Arts until after sixteen and raising the admission age to eighteen. And in exchange for delaying admission, the number of graduates per class would increase from 20 to 40.

The previous Heavenly Demon had accepted the proposal, and the educational reforms had been implemented. At last, the first class to grow up under the revised system was approaching graduation from the Hall of the Demonic Way.

Of course, forty graduates wouldn't be nearly enough to meet the empire's needs, so it was still necessary to proceed alongside the Imperial Examination.

After raising that point, Il-mok felt a strange sentiment stir within him.

'Wow, when you put it like that, I really have been working for the Divine Cult for a long time.'

After briefly dwelling on the small reflection, Il-mok gathered himself and added, “There is also one matter I would like to propose to Your Majesty.”

“Speak freely.”

"I believe it's time we increased the salaries paid to government officials."

The proposal drew immediate objections from the ministers who had come from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Why should those who serve the state be rewarded with even greater wealth than they already do?"

“Did you hear not the reports from the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord about men who were blinded by wealth and allowed their greed to run wild?”

Il-mok waited until they had finished before answering.

“That is precisely why their salaries must be increased.”

His years as a civil servant had taught him that lesson well enough.

He had taken extensive courses and studies to obtain a seat at a government office, all while hoping the pay would be enough. Yet, reality had been nothing like that.

Worse still, the meager salaries had driven more than a few officials to line their pockets through bribery and every other underhanded scheme they could devise.

Of course, he wasn't suggesting they have to blindly shower the officials with money.

He simply believed that those who devoted themselves to serving the nation should earn enough to take pride in doing so.

"Pay honest officials well and continue punishing corruption as we always have. Reward those who serve the country faithfully, and show no mercy to those who betray it."

And, while he was at it...

'I need to start aggressively padding my retirement funds before I retire.'

After considering Il-mok’s proposal for a moment, Wi Jin-hak spoke.

“It would be difficult to decide this matter arbitrarily. We'll need to review the Empire’s tax revenue from across the Central Plains, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s income. Once I've discussed it with the Minister of Finance, we'll revisit the matter."

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

After offering a respectful bow, Il-mok turned his head toward Zhuge Mun and gave him a faint smile.

I helped you this time. Next time, you owe me one.

* * *

Notices announcing the Imperial Examination soon appeared throughout the Central Plains, drawing scholars from every corner of the realm to the Forbidden City.

Through the first examination, numerous new low-ranking officials were selected. Before long, the newest graduating class of the Hall of the Demonic Way was also dispatched into the field.

They had extinguished the most immediate fire, but their busy days never seemed to end.

Whenever the various ministries ran short of funds, Jong-ri Chu would return from the Western Regions with wealth he had earned, buying the government a little more breathing room.

Then came the harvest season, and with it another flood of tax revenue into the imperial treasury.

And just as before, rather than hoarding this immense wealth, the Hong Dynasty continuously poured it directly into each ministry's new projects.

Corrupt officials emerged from time to time, but they were able to easily fill those vacancies the following year by deploying the next forty graduates from the Hall of the Demonic Way.

In this manner, roughly two years passed since the fall of the Han Dynasty.

Before anyone realized it, basic academies had firmly taken root across the entire Central Plains.

And right around the time the kids from the very first batch of schools were gearing up to graduate and enroll in the Elementary Demon Halls...

“Your Majesty! The Imperial Palace in Xi’an has been completed!”

At long last, the time had come for them to relocate to the new empire's capital.