Chapter 467: Peaceful Mind

As soon as this suggestion was raised by White Cat, the military officers froze for a moment: Damn, what a genius.Just moments ago, everyone was trying to find a single scapegoat to take the blame, but the Captain Wang in front of them was even more outstanding—a single slick maneuver deftly diverted the blame toward Inspector Wu Shen. None of those present would need to shoulder any responsibility.

That was the true master of blame-shifting.

The mediocre way was to shift blame to one’s allies; the middling way was to shift blame to irrelevant outsiders; the superior way was to shift blame onto one’s political adversaries.

For the faction of military officers, shifting blame onto the civil officials was the superior way indeed.

Great General Du Wenhuan gave a thumbs-up. “Splendid!”

Deputy Cao Wenzhao of the Gu Mountain Garrison couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “Truly splendid!”

General Wang Guoliang of Shanxi: “Captain Wang, your talent is immense! It’s a shame you’re only a Captain.”

General Wang Chengen of Shaanxi: “Hey, Wang Guoliang, what are you implying? Trying to poach my subordinate?”

Wang Guoliang: “Not at all! I just want to remind you—such a great talent shouldn’t be wasted. Promote him quickly to Qianzhong.”

Wang Chengen was both amused and exasperated. “If he achieves more merit, I will promote him surely.”

The officials were thoroughly pleased. Du Wenhuan immediately wrote a letter, summoning Wu Shen to deal with the captured family members of the rebels. Then, he left two thousand men in Hequ County to oversee these captives. The other officers were to immediately set off in pursuit of Wang Jiayin.

Hejin County, Longmen Ferry.

Shi Jian stood guard on the sandy shore of the old ferry with a hundred garrison soldiers.

These hundred soldiers had been assigned to him by Wang Chengen. They possessed next to no combat capability—essentially the weakest sort of cannon fodder. Moreover, though termed a hundred, their actual number was barely over fifty.

These fifty-plus men had zero fighting spirit and absolutely no desire to chase the rebels. Being stationed at Longmen Ferry was a welcome relief to them. Thus, they were extremely obedient to Shi Jian, terrified that offending him might get them sent to the frontlines.

After following Shi Jian for a few days, they discovered their superior was rather warm and approachable—free of any airs of authority. He always mingled with them as equals and particularly enjoyed telling them stories.

For example, right now, the fifty-something soldiers sat by the riverbank, enjoying the river winds while listening to Shi Jian narrate a tale of a soldier who helped commoners, won their affection, and ended up marrying their daughter.

The story was utterly fabricated!

To modern ears, a dozen plot holes could be immediately spotted. But these unsuspecting ancient men were unfamiliar with modern tricks of propaganda. If given a smartphone, they’d likely be scammed into selling their organs within minutes.

The fifty-plus soldiers were completely enchanted. After hearing it, they sighed and shook their heads. “Truly admirable! To be honest, we don’t wish to be villains. Who wouldn’t want to help others if they could? But we’re penniless and possess nothing. Even if we wish to help, it’s impossible.”

Shi Jian: “Rest easy. Soon, you’ll have the power to help others.”

The soldiers: “???”

“Look at the river!”

Shi Jian pointed. Turning around, the soldiers saw a large cargo ship sailing slowly across the river. Standing at its bow was a man with his arms spread wide, draped in a Daoist robe. The river winds lifted the edges of his garments, bestowing him with an ethereal, fairy-like demeanor…

Shi Jian himself was startled by the sight: Ai-ya! Is the Deity’s statue placed at the bow?

He had given the cloth doll to White Cat, so he hadn’t been able to contact the Deity for days. Suddenly seeing a life-sized statue of the Deity placed on the bow like a figurehead left him momentarily baffled.

He hurriedly dashed to the riverbank. Before the ship docked, he bowed deeply toward the statue. “I pay my respects to the Deity!”

The statue’s eyes instantly swiveled. “No need for formalities! I merely stand at the bow, trying to recreate the feeling of the Titanic. Ah, what a shame! Doing this alone doesn’t work; it lacks that special feeling without a partner.”

Shi Jian: “???”

Incomprehensible! But it mattered little. Mortals not understanding a deity’s words was perfectly normal—that’s what it meant for heavenly secrets to be unfathomable. After all, not everyone could grasp them completely.

The Titanic Deity announced: “Unload the grain from the ship! Rescue the commoners of Hejin County without delay.”

Shi Jian clasped his fists hastily. “I obey.”

He swiftly turned and shouted toward the fifty-odd garrison soldiers: “Quickly unload the grain! Someone run to Hejin County town! Summon the refugees within to lend a hand. Inform them they’ll be fed and paid three jin of flour daily!”

The garrison soldiers paused, then erupted in exhilaration. One exclaimed: “Shi Jian! Will we get wages like the refugees? I… I haven’t received any army pay in ages. My family’s pots are nearly empty. I yearn to earn those three jin.”

A chorus immediately rose beside him: “We want to earn it too!”

Shi Jian laughed, though his words carried a scolding tone: “Once the refugees arrive, you’ll be maintaining order! How can you unload grain then? Don’t worry, you’ll get wages for maintaining order too.”

The soldiers were overjoyed.

As they scampered off happily, the Titanic Deity spoke again: “Shi Jian, Wang Jiayin’s forces have broken through the officials’ encirclement at Hequ County. They are heading south and will reach Pingyang Prefecture (modern-day Linfen County, Shanxi) within days.”Shi Jian recoiled in shock. “Pingyang Prefecture?! That’s practically next door to Hejin County!”

Hejin County was essentially a satellite town to Pingyang Prefecture; its geographical relationship resembled that of a small town bordering Xi’an Prefecture. Once the bandit army attacked Pingyang, anyone with half a brain knew they would inevitably return to Hejin.

Shi Jian exclaimed anxiously, “Hejin was just recently plundered, burned, and looted by Bu Zhan Ni; even its walls were destroyed. The commoners took a massive blow! If the bandits return now… it would truly…”

Li Daoxuan sighed softly. “That’s precisely where your abilities come into play. Evacuate the city. Persuade them, trick them, or even threaten them with weapons if necessary—force the citizens out of Hejin County town. Ideally, resettle them near Longmen Ferry. Imitate the ancient ferry dock—build a wooden stockade here.”

Shi Jian’s eyes lit up in enlightenment: “This way, the bandits would storm into an empty Hejin County town. Meanwhile, my garrison troops building Water Fortifications here would appear entirely justifiable—it would meet less resistance than Xing Honglang founding her stronghold.”

Li Daoxuan smiled inwardly: This lad’s sharp. Good. I can entrust this mission to him.

Silence fell. His eyeballs no longer moved; the statue remained frozen mid-pose—arms spread wide, feeling the wind at its bow… stunningly handsome.

Shi Jian felt it then—the Deity had returned to the heavens; the statue before him had reverted to a lifeless object.

He fretted: I gave the protective cloth doll I always carried to White Cat. Now I lack even a deity statue near me… unsettling indeed.

He hastily offered a mental apology to the Deity: Pardon my disrespect.

Shi Jian leaped onto the ship, hoisted the Deity’s statue onto his back, and carried it ashore. He carefully placed it atop a tall boulder beside Longmen Ferry…

After positioning it securely, he patted his hands. With the Deity Statue right here beside me… ah, that’s much better. Now my mind feels solid and steady.