Chapter Fifty-Three: Inspector of the Twenty-Two Prefectures of Guannei Province

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“So you’re saying he took only those things with him, nothing out of the ordinary?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Could it be that Old Cheng didn’t give him that item? Or perhaps he did, but the boy has no idea what it means.” The speakers in the room were none other than Kong Zhichong and the academy’s supervisor.

“Kong, why not simply detain Li Zisheng, interrogate him, pressure him a bit? He’s just an eight-year-old child, a common country lad; even if he’s stubborn, it won’t amount to much.” The supervisor spoke with a fawning smile, appearing thoroughly ridiculous.

“No, if it were merely so, how could he have earned the esteem of Cheng Zhongliang, that old fox? Cheng even went so far as to invite a great scholar of the Wang family out of retirement, only to encounter disaster.”

“What? Kong, are you saying Cheng Zhongliang sought out a Wang family scholar? What could Li Zisheng possibly have done to deserve such?” The supervisor’s face turned ashen; such secrets among the higher echelons were unknown to him, so upon hearing this, he was shocked, yet also deeply envious.

“Have all of his belongings been checked?”

“Yes, all checked. They’re just ordinary things, nothing special.”

“Kong, Cheng Zhongliang’s only remaining disciple is Li Zisheng. None others survived. If he didn’t give that item to Li Zisheng, who else would he entrust it to?” The supervisor mused aloud.

Kong himself pondered quietly.

Just as the two hesitated, a hurried voice rang out from outside.

“Master Kong.” A sturdy figure strode in.

“What brings you here?” Kong’s expression remained calm, but the supervisor’s face changed repeatedly. The newcomer was a military commander whose relationship with the academy had reached a freezing point; his presence here was almost unimaginable.

“Master Kong, has General Zhang taken action?”

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“Oh? What action?” Even Kong’s tranquil expression betrayed a hint of surprise. He had already learned through his disciple Zhang Ziyang that his uncle had entered the Huiyue military camp, but had remained inactive, his intentions unclear.

Especially at this sensitive time, when great scholars of Tang were being assassinated one after another, the Emperor would surely dispatch him to investigate. He would be stretched thin, so Kong had not paid him much mind. If he did act now, it would be unsurprising—if not, he would have difficulty explaining himself to the Emperor.

“I saw Li Zisheng enter the Huiyue camp and go straight into General Zhang's tent. When he emerged, he had obtained General Zhang’s command token.”

“What? Are you saying Li Zisheng got the Zhang family lad’s command token?”

“Yes. Afterwards, I inquired about their conversation. I asked the soldiers stationed outside the tent. Though they kept their mouths shut, I learned that General Zhang had directly promoted Li Zisheng to Inspector of the Twenty-two Prefectures of the Inner Circuit, granting him authority to act at his discretion.”

“What did you say? Is Zhang mad?” Kong was genuinely shocked now.

“Inspector of the Twenty-two Prefectures of the Inner Circuit—what a bold move! The Emperor appointed him as Commissioner for the Inner and Hebei Circuits, to oversee the investigation into the massacre occurring in both circuits. During his tenure, instead of focusing on the case, Zhang appointed an eight-year-old child as Inspector. Is he not afraid of being impeached and losing everything? At that point, not even his father could save him.”

Kong paced slowly around the room. Both the supervisor and the newly arrived commander knew this was Kong Zhichong’s habit when deep in thought, so they held their breath, not daring to speak, waiting for his deliberation.

The supervisor also reflected, marveling at how truly powerful those at the top were—their connections far beyond his reach. He hadn’t anticipated that even in the military, Kong had informants in high places. The influence was astonishing.

After almost half an incense stick’s time, Kong’s face suddenly grew grim and ominous.

“That Zhang lad—rather than serving as a proper general and leading troops, he meddles in this affair. Truly a wolfish ambition! His heart is dangerous, his heart is dangerous!”

Neither the supervisor nor the commander had ever seen Kong so agitated, outright declaring ‘his heart is dangerous.’ Because of this, both men pressed their lips shut, fearing to add fuel to his anger.

“That Zhang boy is despicable. Supervisor, fetch that scoundrel from the Zhou family.”

“Zhou Linqing? Yes, Master Kong.”

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The supervisor hurried out, making his way to the Martial Talent Hall, where Zhou Linqing spent his days carousing with a gang of unsavory friends. Relying on his father’s position as Deputy Supervisor of Military Equipment, Zhou bullied his way through the hall, especially targeting rural students. All of this the supervisor observed, but never intervened. Such was the world: the strong preyed on the weak. Those without skill or resilience deserved their suffering.

“Supervisor, supervisor…” Along the way, greetings and salutations abounded. The supervisor relished the feeling, having attached himself to Kong Zhichong, hoping for a meteoric rise and to be entrusted with greater responsibilities.

Because of Cheng Zhongliang’s involvement, he had been relegated to this small county academy as supervisor. Though the principal’s authority had been stripped, a county academy was still too insignificant. He hoped resolving the Li Zisheng matter would allow him to return to the prefectural academy, to sit as supervisor with greater power—all dependent on Kong Zhichong.

Thus, he had to handle this matter carefully. He had endured long enough in this county academy, so long that he scarcely remembered what it felt like to hold high office.

“Go, fetch Zhou Linqing quickly.” He grabbed a student from the Martial Talent Hall, someone who was often in Zhou Linqing’s company, so the supervisor recognized him.

“Yes, supervisor. Young Master Zhou is in the dormitory. I’ll fetch him at once.”

“Supervisor, it’s been a while. Do you still want those ginseng roots from last time? My father brought back some more during his recent assignment.” Zhou Linqing greeted him with a sycophantic smile, his words smooth and ingratiating.

“Enough nonsense. Master Kong wants to see you.”

“Master Kong? Kong Zhichong himself?” Zhou Linqing was surprised. He had heard from his father that Kong Zhichong was a major figure in Chang’an, far beyond his imagination. He wondered what business such a person could have with a nobody like him.

“Follow me. And remember, don’t say anything foolish. If you anger Master Kong, not even your father can save you.”

The supervisor, having accepted gifts from the Zhou family, though displeased, still offered a warning to prevent the Zhou boy from speaking out of turn and provoking Kong, which might spell the end for the Zhou family.