Chapter 6: Land

The white light flickered, and the green shirt on the table swayed gently. The figure dressed in a scholar's robe rose tall, revealing the true form of Qiu Yan's deity. With a shake of his sleeves, he descended gracefully and performed a bow, saying: "I have met the Earth God"

With each bite, Qiu Yan's thoughts became increasingly clear

This term "army" does not refer to the abbreviated name or title for the military as in Qiu Yan's previous life, but rather denotes a specific city. The area governed by the "army" typically encompasses a city, similar in size to a county, with no subordinate villages or hamlets beneath it, yet it is home to stationed troops and military encampments

Qiu Yan thought to himself as he entered the kitchen

A gentle breeze penetrates the room through the window, causing the air to flow and slightly stirring the blue shirt on the table

"Xiao Yan, your uncle came too hastily just now and didn't let you eat enough. I will have a word with him tonight. You go to the kitchen and get some more to eat." Just then, the aunt beside them heard and urged him to have a supplementary meal.

You are somewhat aware of your aunt's situation at the Pan residence. There is not much to give you, so she entrusted me with some snacks to bring along. " After he finished speaking, he set down the box and took out a few pieces of broken silver from his pocket. "Take this little bit of money; it includes some from your aunt and some from me. Our family is not well-off, so we cannot offer much. Make do with this."

Liu Huai expressed a few sentiments and then shared what he knew.

Seeing through Liu Huai's thoughts, Qiu Yan shook his head: "Uncle, rest assured, I am well aware of the situation; those people are not ones I can deal with at the moment"

Qiu Yan had a good memory since childhood and had explored various historical texts and classics. By the age of sixteen, he had already passed the county and provincial examinations. His father, Qiu Zonglin, was overjoyed, believing that the family would soon produce a young scholar. However, unexpectedly, before the formal township examination, Qiu Yan stumbled at the hurdle of the Dao examination. Last year, at the age of nineteen, he took the exam again but still failed, without even obtaining the title of Xiucai.

Do not refuse any longer, buy books and eat at https://www.hetushu.com, which does not cost money? Ink, paper, and brushes are all significant expenses; if you do not take them, how will you read and write? If you feel indebted to your uncle and aunt, when you become an official in the future, do not forget us, take it!

After exchanging a few more words, Liu Huai and Liu Yue took their leave. They both worked at the Pan residence, and it was already a challenge for them to step away briefly to offer some comfort to Qiu Yan, who had arrived unexpectedly.

Suddenly

There is no need for excessive courtesy. I am the Land God of the Southern District under the jurisdiction of the City God of Yuanning. I have come in accordance with the superior's order. May I inquire about your background and the purpose of your visit to Yuanning City

In this situation, Qiu Yan was certainly unwilling to accept the other party's gift

As he pondered, his stomach suddenly let out a growl

Upon arriving in Yuanning City and seeking refuge with Qiu Yan's uncle, I have truly inherited this identity. Observing filial piety for over two years is not a bad thing; it provides a good opportunity to reflect on myself. The imperial examination is still necessary, as I have taken on the burden of ambition. However, if I were to take the examination now, I fear the outcome would be even worse than that of the original Qiu Yan. Nevertheless, it must be said that since I have taken on several significant burdens, I have felt a subtle sensation over the past few days. Once all the burdens are fulfilled and I break free from these entanglements, there may be unforeseen benefits.

There will likely be some action tonight

Listening to Liu Huai's words, Qiu Yan's expression gradually changed

The aunt mentioned by Liu Huai is his younger sister, who is also the younger sister of Qiu Yan's mother. In her youth, she was quite beautiful and caught the eye of Mr. Pan, becoming his concubine. Liu Huai was able to secure a managerial position thanks to this connection. However, over the past ten years, the Liu family has only had one daughter, and their status in the Pan household has gradually declined. Now, more often than not, they find themselves relying on Liu Huai for support.

Last year, the father and son duo of Qiu and Tu, both scholars, went to take the examination. The son aspired to become a Xiucai, while the father aimed to become a Juren, but they both returned empty-handed, becoming the laughingstock of Qingchang County. This prompted the Qiu family to move to Zuoqu Village. Unexpectedly, just a few months later, such a tragedy occurred, with several villages suffering complete devastation, and even Qiu Zonglin lost his life, leaving only his nephew to survive by chance

Qiu Yan's calmness did not reassure Liu Huai; instead, it heightened his concern that the other party might have made a decision and act impulsively. Thus, he became increasingly worried: "You should stay here for now, and return to observe the mourning period later. In two years, you can take the imperial examination again."

This meal lasted nearly an hour. By the time Qiu Yan returned to the room prepared for him, the night had already deepened

However, the current situation also illustrates that although those monsters are ferocious, when they truly arrive in densely populated areas, they must adhere to the rules and dare not act recklessly. The more people there are, the safer it is; at least there is no need to worry about a large-scale attack from demons.

The matter of the monsters has unexpectedly turned into a case of bandits invading territory, and the villagers who were consumed have become victims of warfare. The 'refugees' who managed to escape have all been isolated and specifically accommodated. In this way, it truly is a case of deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea; no one knows the truth of the tragic events in the south. It seems that the influence of that 'King of Tongshan' is indeed extraordinary

Qiu Yan nodded in agreement. Even if Liu Huai had not instructed these matters, Qiu Yan had similar plans and was even prepared to have Liu Huai cooperate. Unexpectedly, the other party took the initiative, which saved a considerable amount of effort.

As for Liu Huai, if it were not for his seniority and age, he would have likely lost his position long ago. Even so, he can only manage trivial matters now. The Pan residence is vast, and there are seven or eight people in charge of affairs, with Liu Huai being just one of them. Life at home has increasingly fallen short of the past, until recently, when Liu gradually gained the trust of the third young master of the residence, leading to an improvement.

The government has already issued a notice. A few days ago, Wu Xin also sent a team of soldiers to encircle the fleeing soldiers from the marsh people. The people from several villages have already been buried, and there are dedicated personnel to assist the disaster victims who have fled here. " Liu Huai observed Qiu Yan's expression while speaking. Noticing that the other party frequently frowned, he said, " Yan'er, your father... "

Liu Huai does not actually have high hopes for Qiu Yan's path in the imperial examination. In his view, both Qiu Yan and his father are not cut out for it. It would be better for him to live a peaceful life, perhaps as a tutor or a bookkeeper, which is far more advantageous than being solely focused on the imperial examination. However, he fears that his nephew might become despondent, so he uses this as a way to provide a sense of purpose, hoping to keep the other party's thoughts anchored.

Night falls, enveloped in silence

Qiu Yan's aunt and Liu Yue's wife then withdrew

You can think it through best. The Pan residence has matters to attend to, so you should rest for now. In the evening, we will arrange a banquet for you to ease your worries. I have not yet informed your aunt about your return, but I will do so shortly. She has been troubled these past few days due to your situation and has been reprimanded by Madam Pan several times.

Although he was a steward in the Pan residence, the household was not large and did not have many rules. Usually, meals were taken in the main hall. Now, seeing that Qiu Yan had returned safely, he hurried back, removed the dining table, and the few of them sat down separately.

However, Qiu Yan's father, Qiu Zonglin, passed the scholar examination at the age of twenty. For over twenty years, he continued to take exams but was unable to advance further. In the end, the family was left in dire straits, relying on his wife to patch and mend clothing to make a living, which ultimately led to health issues for Qiu Yan's mother. She passed away five years ago, and since then, Liu Huai no longer maintained contact with Qiu Zonglin

The examination is held twice in three years, in April and May. If Qiu Yanshou completes his mourning period, he will be able to participate, and if all goes well, he may even take part in the autumn examination of the same year

Time passed swiftly at hetushucom.com, and soon it was evening

All along, Liu Huai has had a poor opinion of Qiu Yan's father, Qiu Zonglin, but he is particularly fond of Qiu Yan, who is the child of his own sister

As soon as this person appeared, they stood on tiptoe to look at the table

Those swamp dwellers are said to be ruthless individuals, killing without a blink of an eye

In the end, despite all the arguments, Qiu Yan still accepted it. Just as Liu Huai said, in this world, without money, one cannot make any progress, not even the gods are exempt from this.

As the light faded, a hunched figure emerged, resembling a solitary individual, shaped like a dwarf, with a stooped back and a height of less than three feet

Thinking to himself, Qiu Yan took a bundle of blue garments from beside the pillow, spread it out, placed it on the table in the room, and then lay down to sleep. Before long, a faint snoring sound could be heard.

Qiu Yan did not engage in pleasantries, simply nodding before departing

Having understood the general situation, Qiu Yan gradually grasped the context of the matter and inquired, "Where did this information come from?"

He has obtained a physical body and inherited causality, but he is also in danger, especially given the current situation. The other party clearly possesses considerable power in the mortal realm, necessitating extra caution.

His nephew has been somewhat stubborn and dull since childhood, acting in a single-minded manner. Liu Huaisheng is afraid that if the other party inquires about the reason clearly, he might seek revenge, which is why he feels somewhat worried

It is not permissible! Qiu Yan quickly declined.

However, this will further complicate the causal relationships involved in this kinship, and there must be a return in the future

Turn, turn, turn

At this point, Liu Huai recalled something: "By the way, the scrutiny of refugees has been quite strict this time. You should try to stay indoors as much as possible these days and avoid revealing your identity. Otherwise, it might lead to some trouble. Let's wait until the situation calms down before discussing it further"

Recently, Governor Song Yuan achieved a great victory over the Wuxi Marsh in the dense forest. Some of the marsh inhabitants fled into the territory of Jiannan, and one group has been rampaging in the southern region, resulting in the destruction of your villages at their hands

After the establishment of the Dazhu Li Dynasty, a three-tier system of provinces, prefectures, and counties was implemented at the local level. However, in addition to this, there was another type of institution— the military

After absorbing that drop of blood essence, although the physique has become increasingly resilient, the appetite has also grown. For the past half month, I have been able to supplement my diet with game in the mountains, but now that I am here, it is likely that it will not be so easy to fill my stomach in the future

During the gathering, Liu Huai naturally could not miss the opportunity to comfort Qiu Yan. Fortunately, at this moment, Qiu Yan was no longer the person he once was, and he responded to everything. In the end, Liu Huai took out a small box.

Within the entire realm of Longjian Dao, there are a total of seven armies, which correspond to seven garrison cities directly governed by the Dao. These are primarily distributed in the southern and western regions, serving as a national defense barrier, and are engaged in constant warfare with the swamp people and the foreign tribes.

The Liu family's courtyard is not far from the Pan residence. After the hour of Xu had passed, Liu Huai and his son returned from the Pan residence, and the family gathered around a table to have a meal.

Listening to Liu Huai, who seemed slightly intoxicated, uttering one sentence after another, Qiu Yan, even though not the original person, felt a trace of warmth in his heart

A beam of blue light appeared without any warning, emerging from the ground and swirling into a conical shape

This world, like ancient China, also has the concept of mourning, but it imposes few restrictions. One may not hold official positions, take examinations, or marry for a period of twenty-seven months, which is two years and three months

Sitting by the bedside, he pondered for a moment

Wuxi Marsh, Governor Song Yuan

With the departure of Liu Huai and his son, Qiu Yan fell into deep thought

Then Song Yuan was the military governor of the Wuxin Army in the southwest, and also the highest authority in Wuxin City, situated between Yuanning Prefecture and Rongzhou Prefecture. He engaged in constant battles with the people of Wuxi Marsh and rarely suffered defeats

The highest commander of the army is the military governor, who is in charge of all military, political, and civilian affairs within the city