Beware Of Chicken

Senior Disciple Lu Ri could honestly say that over this past week, he was more engaged and interested than he had been in years.

The Lord Magistrate of Verdant Hill had looked through Lu Ri’s notes. With some reticence at first, but once he saw what was within them, the man’s dark eyes had become intense and focused. He had understood exactly what Lu Ri had been working on, instantly recognizing its value. Upon Lu Ri’s request for assistance with making his plans reality, the man had agreed. A fire had been lit inside of him, like it had been lit in Lu Ri.

Thus did the Magistrate do something that Lu Ri had not entirely expected. He had thought it might just be the two of them; a cultivator and one brilliant, exceptional mortal working together.

Instead, the Lord Magistrate had immediately requested assistance from his learned men and Scribes.

“I have my moments, but I, alone, am not the most able man here,” the man had stated sternly before calling upon his “troops”. The Scribes of Verdant Hill, once their mission was explained to them, began their work immediately.

Lu Ri was once more impressed by the quality of man that worked under the Lord Magistrate, but as the Honoured Founders had proclaimed: the virtuous would be able to find other virtuous companions. And indeed, the Lord Magistrate of Verdant Hill had amassed a following.

First Archivist Bao, though his body may have been corpulent, he had a mind better suited to a lean, ferocious beast. He ordered his men to prepare reams of reference materials from the Archives, and then when he had it all on hand, he began his work. He hunted down failed calculations and faulty conclusions without mercy. He rooted out mistakes in methodology and savaged them utterly. His brush was a long black claw, and he suffered no weakness within Lu Ri’s theorems.

Lady Wu, was no less useful, for all that the Lord Magistrate’s wife did not work directly with them. She was as the Honoured Founders had described in their texts—with most of the work done by Honoured Founder Shu herself—the perfect, virtuous wife. Lady Wu supported without question. Needs and wants were anticipated without fail; and by her command the various tables and results were tabulated. Her handmaids brought food and drink, and her sweet voice soothed fraying tempers and butting heads when other scribes began to argue over results.

Finally, there was Zhuge Tingfeng. He was the Lord Magistrate’s main aide and liaison between the various groups. It was he who ventured out into the city to get the leatherworkers the first prototypes, and it was he who had arranged the tables so that they could see the best materials by cost.

And yet these were only the ones who Lu Ri personally interacted with. The rest were no less diligent.

Behind them, the Lord Magistrate’s motivated, disciplined, and dedicated legion toiled. The Imperial Scribes of Verdant Hills worked without cease, collecting data on past weather trends, which materials were feasible for crafting the mail bags, and a thousand other menial yet necessary tasks.

All ideas were heard. All conclusions considered.

It had been… most enjoyable to converse with other men of learning and discipline. To have everything he had done be taken with absolute seriousness, and considered from every possible angle. It did not matter that he was a Cultivator; amidst scholars, his ideas were equal.

They had already gone through four revisions of his notes; Lu Ri had insufficiently anticipated the problems mortals could face. Things that any cultivator could ignore were debilitating problems to these men, but their ingenuity in finding ways around such problems was enlightening. A mortal could brute force nothing. They had to think on their feet and come up with creative ways around the issue.

In fact, his time within Verdant Hills had been so enjoyable that he had been surprised by Master Shen and Jin Rou’s sudden arrival—it had not been that long, had it?

Still, even as Master Shen was looking on amused, Jin Rou himself poked through Lu Ri’s notes.

“I see you are refining the exact way to deliver your letters, Lu Ri,” Master Shen observed.

“Indeed, Master Shen. It is a most vexing problem.” How does a messenger exactly find a person reliably? What sort of change, or institution would make the monumental task easier?

At his words, Jin Rou perked up. “Can I help? I think I might have a couple of ideas.”

Lu Ri paused at the offer. While his intent was appreciated, Lu Ri didn’t know how Jin Rou could help. Truth be told, Lu Ri imagined Jin Rou as a simple man. His ability to grow Spiritual Herbs and his diligence was to be praised but… well. He was a farmer. Not a cultivator, nor a scholar. The Boy had accomplished little when he had been in the Cloudy Sword Sect as well, being a simple menial. He also had an air about him. Lu Ri didn’t know. He felt like a big and happy, if a bit dim, dog. Loyal and hardworking, but hardly something that made great breakthroughs.

But there was no real harm in letting him speak his mind.

“Of course, by all means, Junior Brother,” he said instead.

Jin Rou approached the map and considered it. “Alright, this is really comprehensive already… Mailboxes, logistic trains, it's just something to tie it all together, right?”

“Indeed, Junior Brother. Something is missing, and we are attempting to find the problem. As of right now, our address system functions like so: Province, Commandery, subdistrict, house number and street. Thus would a letter be addressed to: Azure Hills, Verdant Hill Commandery, Verdant Hill, 15th house on Green Grass Street.”

“I wouldn’t want to be the officials in charge of naming everything.” Jin Rou said sardonically, as he examined the system Lu Ri had devised closely. Then, he spoke again, after his eyes lit up. “You need a code.”

“A code?” First Archivist Bao asked, taking another bite from a fresh bao.

“Yeah. What this needs is, I think, is more a logistics issue. Especially when letters will begin to come in from the entire Empire. Something instantly identifiable to the men who will be directly handling the letters. Some streets may have the same name, or there could be some mistake that sends the letter to a different province. There may be a mistake on the address.”

“Indeed. This is an issue we have been considering.” Lu Ri replied, wondering when Jin Rou was truly going with this.

“So… how about a series of letters and numbers known to every postal worker that instantly specifies location? So they don’t have to try and work out the addresses. The first number or character would be the province, the second a distribution center to send the mail to. Then, from that main distribution center, like you have up here, the regional center. Then the people in the local office can go and deliver the mail to the house. A Postal Code, as it is.” At this, he picked up a brush and folded up a piece of paper into a shape like an envelope, the traditional way to give money. “So! Azure Hills, Verdant Hill Commandery, Verdant Hill, 15th house on Green Grass Street. Blue Three Green, Four Grass Nine. Blue is the Azure Hills, three is the third region, and green is the office in the third region. Or like… something else other than this. Maybe just numbers, instead of letters? I have no idea even where to begin partitioning out and quantifying the entire Empire.”

Lu Ri instantly grasped the usefulness of such a designation system, and his eyes widened. So too did the scholars as they gathered around the flat piece of parchment, staring at the crisp courtly characters of Jin Rou.

The Senior Disciple mentally chastised himself. Of course, Shen Yu would suffer no dullard to be his grandson and disciple! How foolish could Lu Ri have been to dismiss the man?!

Shen Yu simply watched, interested in what Jin Rou was saying.

“...now that I think about it, this would be a good way to deliver letters.” The Lord Magistrate declared, as he picked up the envelope.

“Indeed. It is much less cumbersome than a traditional scroll or bamboo missive.”

“I suppose we can rework the satchels again.” One scholar noted. “Though with them being smaller, they will be more easily lost, won’t they?”

“Indeed.” Lu Ri declared. “But this idea certainly has merit. How shall they be sealed—wax? No, too expensive for a normal mortal if they must send many letters…”

Lu Ri noted how Jin Rou and Hong Xian looked at each other, before the man shrugged, along with Jin Rou.

“Well, I’m glad that I could help out a bit. Senior Brother, you and Teacher were really thorough.” The Young Man declared. The Lord Magistrate smiled at Jin Rou.

“Well, I do try.” the man said mildly.

“Teacher?” Lu Ri asked, looking between the men.

“Yeah. He's taught me a lot, especially when I needed help with some political issues. The Lord Magistrate is the best Magistrate I know,” Jin Rou said honestly.

Kowtow before the mortal who enlightened you; show contempt for the barbarian who knows only the strength of his arm.

Lu Ri sucked in a breath as he remembered that particular koan of the Elders. Jin Rou, despite leaving the Cloudy Sword Sect… understood. He once more cursed the worm who had beat Jin Rou within his mind. How much could he have accomplished with a junior like this!? It was a travesty!

“Grandson, when did you think about all this?” Shen Yu asked, he smiled charmingly and nodded to Lady Wu, who bowed politely back.

“Well… I kind of live far out there, and Senior Brother did have to spend way too long getting my stuff to me.” He shrugged helplessly. “Yeah, I was trying to hide at the time, but now? Well, if it makes it easier for Bi De to message home…”

Indeed. Over long distances mail, even for all its faults, was still superior to the transmission stone system, which required exorbitant fees or political capital to be able to use. Having to relay each message through the hundreds of towns all but ensured sometimes the message’s contents would change. Lu Ri had heard those in the Plum Blossom’s Shadow complain mightily about the effect.

Shen Yu nodded and scratched his beard. “I’ll bring this up to a friend of mine. See how feasible it truly is.”

“Ha! Delegation. The best power,” Jin Rou chortled. “A task shared is a task lessened.”

“Indeed,” the Lord Magistrate agreed.

Lu Ri stared at the envelope again, and then turned to his Junior Brother and bowed his head, showing the younger his respect in penance for his earlier unworthy thoughts

“Jin Rou,” Lu Ri addressed, “If you have any other plans, please, I would like to hear them.”

The man before him blinked, but tentatively smiled and nodded. “Well, I can’t say I’m very good at logistics. Tell you what, Chyou and Bo from the Azure Trading Company are going to be around soon, and Chyou is really good at this kind of thing—but before that! Senior Brother!”

Lu Ri paused. “Yes?”

“Would you do me the honour of dining with my family tonight?” the man asked, bowing politely.

Lu Ri bowed in return, placing two hands together in a martial salute, “You give this Disciple much face, inviting him into your home. I humbly accept this offer.”

“Great! Gramps said you liked maple syrup, so I made something special for you…” Jin Rou said as he began to ramble and sketch out designs for his “mailboxes”.

The little flag on the side was inspired, in Lu Ri’s humble opinion.

The last time Lu Ri had been in the Azure Hills, it had been six months of hell. This time… this time the heavens had smiled upon him.

More than the pain of Qi-deprivation, more than the irritation that came with constantly suppressing his power, Lu Ri found something that washed all these measly woes away.

Finally.

He had found people who understood!

Shen Yu shook his head as he stepped out into the fresh air once more. Really, he hadn’t expected Jin to be so enthusiastic about this whole thing!

It was actually rather amusing, how well Lu Ri and Jin were getting along, but Shen Yu had his limits for these kinds of topics, and he had wanted to explore the little town a bit. Now that he was actually in it, instead of just passing through, there was an odd feeling about the place. Nothing dangerous, but there was something here that he just couldn't quite place.

So he got some of the local gut rot, which was objectively fairly good, and wandered. The drink wasn’t quite what he was looking for. There was something special about the drinks that were nearly poisonous.

He walked and drank, going around clean streets and happy people. It was almost boring, in his opinion—but it was a nice place. Well run, clean and efficient.

Lu Ri had whispered the Lord Magistrate was a paragon of virtue—the boy had either not noticed or not comprehended the rope marks all over the couple’s body. Both of them had fine taste!

It was utterly hilarious, and he found himself quite liking the two mortals. The Magistrate had aided Jin, and appeared to have a fine head on his shoulders, and his wife… well, it was a shame that every woman of quality was taken. He would have to see if this town even had any courtesans.

But as he was walking to find the nearest place to enjoy himself, something caught his eye.

An elderly woman and what Shen Yu assumed to be her husband were sitting on a bench. They were remarkable in the fact that both of them were alive at their apparent age—a bald old man who looked to be asleep with his arm around the woman’s shoulder, the old woman, blind in one eye, leaning slightly against his chest. She was running her fingers through an old tomcat’s fur, and she had a small, gentle smile on her face. A goat was beside them both, idly chewing her cud.

Shen Yu frowned. The woman seemed familiar. Why did she seem familiar—

It hit Shen Yu as he walked closer to stand before the woman. She frowned at him when she noticed his approach, and then her good eye rolled around in her skull.

“Shiyun?” He asked aloud, staring at somebody that he thought had been dead for a very long time.

“Haaa?” the old woman demanded. “Who the hells is Shiyun? You lost your mind, you old bastard, or are you too drunk to see properly?”

Shen Yu stared, not registering the insult. He saw the slight tell of nervousness within the woman. She knew he didn’t believe her, and he could see the despair welling up in her soul. The way she tightened her grip slightly on her cat.

Shiyun of the Heavenly Path. The powerful diviner, wreathed in gold and jewels, with her fierce companion, Laoshi, the Tiger’s Fury. Two cultivators on the path to the heavens, their time cut short by politics and jealousy.

She had aided him once in the past—forewarning him of an ambush. She was one of the most powerful resources available to the world. And yet jealousy and politics had slain her. They said the Starfall Crater still burned with baleful flames to this day.

Yet, here she was. Once jade skin was brown and weatherbeaten, full of wrinkles. The fine raiment that had been red and gold was a dull blue linen.

The Emperor would give him a great reward, if he told the man. Her divination abilities were obviously still intact.

But… here she was. Old. Infirm. Her cultivation crippled. Her riches gone. Her status and reputation, forgotten and irrelevant.

It was almost pitiful, save for one thing.

She had been smiling until Shen Yu had approached her… Had been happy until…

Ah, he really was getting soft, wasn’t he?

“Ah! Haha! Sorry, Sister,” Shen Yu said, slurring slightly and taking a swig of his drink. Shiyun’s eyes widened. “You look like somebody that I once knew. I would say she had been a friend—so I wanted to greet her and share a drink. But you’re obviously not her! She was pretty.”

The old woman stared at Shen Yu with some suspicion.

“Well, you’re a rude bastard, ain’t ya? I once knew a rude bastard. King of the street rats, he was! He was an annoying pest, constantly lusting after me.”

“You’re right. He does sound like an annoying little toad, lusting after a swan.” Shen Yu replied, holding out his bottle. The woman looked at it, before reaching out with a sigh and taking a sip.

“He wasn’t all bad though. Never tried force. Not like a lot of people. Maybe if he were slightly more charismatic, he would have had a chance?” She shot him a smirk. “That said… he would never be caught dead in a place like this. Not enough glory for him.”

Shen Yu took back his bottle. “I guess he wouldn’t,” he said. “But enough about old friends. I’m just here to visit my grandson. He’s grown up into quite the fine man.”

“Oh?” Her eye rolled. “Tall, handsome, freckles? I think I might know him, and you’re right. He is a fine boy. Why, if I were a few decades younger, well! His wife would be beating me off with a broom! Kahahahahaha!”

Shen Yu snorted at the smile and the laugh as the man who was asleep beside Shiyun jolted awake. “Wha—zha—?”

Shiyun turned, smiling softly, almost tenderly at the man. “Oh, go back to sleep, Shu. This old bastard was just asking me directions!”

Shu glanced up at Shen Yu, and then tightened his grip slightly on Siyun’s shoulder, looking almost challengingly at Shen Yu. “Oh? Well, be off with you, then. I was enjoying my nap with my woman!”

Shen Yu couldn’t help himself. He laughed.

“Ah, my apologies, my apologies! I’ll leave you two fine lovebirds alone—though I do have one question, Senior Sister. How would you describe your time in this town?”

Shiyun considered the question for a moment. “Best years of my life,” she replied.

“I see. Well! Thank you for the directions, miss,” he said, and then he departed.

An old woman, sitting together with an old man.

It was an odd feeling. He had expected rage within himself at Shiyun’s choice to be mortal. Perhaps even pity, that she would die and be forgotten.

But instead… Instead, all Shen Yu found was…something that was almost envy.