Chapter Twenty-Three: The Call to Arms

"Good!" The official was very satisfied with Qi Jun’s response. Stroking his beard, he turned to the prison entrance and called out, "Guards!"

The jailer hurriedly opened the cell door and entered, standing respectfully by the official’s side to await his orders.

"Unlock his chains," the official instructed, pointing at Qi Jun.

"Ah... is this proper? What about Magistrate Song?" The jailer frowned, clearly troubled, and looked at the official for guidance.

"I will explain everything to Magistrate Song myself," the official replied indifferently.

"Yes, sir!" The jailer nodded, fetched the keys, and removed the shackles from Qi Jun.

Waving the jailer away, the official then approached Qi Jun, drew a document from his sleeve, and placed it on the table before him.

"What is this?" Qi Jun asked, rubbing his wrists where the manacles had bitten into his flesh, his eyes full of confusion as he glanced at the document.

"This is your chance to survive. Sign it, and you will be pardoned," the official said with a smile, picking up a writing brush and handing it to Qi Jun.

Qi Jun looked over the document, and at once understood the official’s intentions.

It was a conscription order. Such orders, issued by local authorities, were contracts that hired local talent to serve the government.

Those who signed were called "recruits." Though not officially on the imperial roster, they were still answerable to local officials—much like temporary staff in later times.

The Great Liang court had been beset by constant warfare. The Rouran tribes to the north raided at will, the Qiang in the northwest threatened on the borders, and the Mirror Kingdom in the south watched hungrily for any weakness.

Beset on three sides, Liang’s military spending soared year after year, leaving precious little for other needs. Taxes rose ever higher, yet soon there was little more to squeeze from the people.

The emperor, tormented by endless urgent reports from the front, changed his military, civil, and financial ministers several times over. Only when the powerful found themselves out of options did they devise the emergency conscription system.

At first, there were limits to the number of conscription orders issued each year. But failing to gain the upper hand on the borders, the state was slowly drained by the long, grinding struggle with its enemies.

Conscription orders became ever more common, and in some local offices, recruits made up more than half the staff.

According to the hierarchy of "scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants," merchants were barred from local governance. The elite understood this well, and to prevent merchants from gaining power, imposed strict limits on them.

Merchants who supported conscription were given only certain privileges in taxation and commerce, but were strictly forbidden from taking part in governance. Recruits could only hold marginal, procedural posts, and were excluded from decision-making.

The system alleviated the shortage of capable officials at the local level, but over time, wealthy gentry and merchants inevitably gained some influence.

Some recruits, though nominally government employees, in fact took orders from their wealthy patrons. Everyone understood that loyalty followed the purse.

In Qi Jun’s hands, this conscription order stated that he was to serve in the county constabulary for three years, with his salary paid by a certain wealthy merchant named Meng Wanhe.

Meng Wanhe was the richest merchant in Anqiang County, known to everyone. The Tonghe Pawnshop, which had bought the Qi family’s ancestral home at a cutthroat price, was among his properties.

Seeing that name, Qi Jun felt a surge of loathing. Though his parents had been killed by bandits from Panlong Ridge, it was the Tonghe Pawnshop that had taken advantage of the family’s misfortune to seize their home through malicious underpricing.

It was impossible to believe Meng Wanhe hadn’t orchestrated it; by that measure, he was an accomplice to the bandits of Panlong Ridge.

Qi Jun understood the official’s intent. By signing the order, he would become a recruit of the county constabulary; his actions would be covered by them and he would no longer be liable or imprisoned.

He let out a bitter laugh. Signing would spare him from punishment, but also meant working for his enemy in the future. Yet if he refused, Magistrate Song would surely destroy him.

"What is it? Are you unwilling?" The official, impatient, pressed him. "If you want to leave this place, this is the only way! You must realize—not everyone gets such an opportunity!"

Qi Jun knew he had no choice. Gritting his teeth, he took the brush, signed his name, and pressed his fingerprint to the paper.

He closed his eyes and silently prayed, "Forgive me, dear departed parents. I have no other way..." A sense of helplessness, as though he had just sold himself into bondage, weighed on him.

The official glanced at the document, smiled, and tucked it away. He clasped his hands to Qi Jun and said, "From today, you are my subordinate! I hope we work well together, serving both the court and the people of Anqiang with all our hearts!"

"Now, may I ask, where are the people Liu Qi kidnapped?" Qi Jun had no patience for formalities, urgently asking after Yun Fei and the clan elders.

"Haha, you needn’t worry. Come with me!" Feng Qinian smiled, gesturing for him to follow, and led the way out of the jail. Though Qi Jun was still full of questions, he had no choice but to obey.

Walking once more through the jail’s corridors, now free of shackles, Qi Jun felt tremendously light. Passing his old cell, he glanced inside; Li Youtian, whom he had knocked unconscious, still lay sprawled on the floor like a dead dog.

But the other prisoners looked at him with a mixture of fear and awe. Noticing that Qi Jun was not only unshackled but leaving the prison with officials, they were full of envy and wonder.

"I told you that scholar wasn’t ordinary. Good thing we didn’t provoke him!"

"Nonsense! Old Wang, when did you say that? When Big Li bullied him, you laughed the loudest!"

"Enough! Don’t you see he’s leaving with Lord Feng? He’s one of Lord Feng’s men now!"

"Then how did he end up here? I bet he offended Magistrate Song. Everyone knows Magistrate Song and Lord Feng are at odds..."

"If I’d known, I would’ve tried to befriend him earlier—maybe he could have gotten me out too..."

A jailer came by and rapped the bars with his baton, silencing the prisoners at once.

He frowned at the sight of Li Youtian sprawled inside, unlocked the cell, and had two other guards carry him out.

By the time they left the county jail, night had fallen. Qi Jun stood at the entrance, gazed up at the moon, drew a deep breath of the cool air, and then climbed into the carriage waiting for him.

"Freedom feels good, doesn’t it?" Feng Qinian, eyes closed, asked from his side.

Qi Jun nodded, lifting the curtain to watch the night scenery flash by. Because of the curfew, the streets were deserted. The carriage raced through the empty town.

By regulation, commoners were forbidden to ride in the same carriage as officials. But Feng Qinian clearly paid this no mind, instead inviting Qi Jun to ride with him.

Qi Jun understood this was Feng’s way of winning him over—signaling that he valued him.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped before a stately residence. Qi Jun alighted and saw the plaque above the gates: "County Constable’s Residence." He realized he had arrived at Feng Qinian’s official home.

A servant quickly opened the gate, respectfully welcoming them and instructing another to tend to the horses.

"Please," Feng Qinian said, leading Qi Jun through the main entrance, past the screen wall, through the decorative gate, along the covered walkway, and finally stopping before a side room.

A maid, spotting the constable from afar, knelt respectfully at the threshold.

It was Qi Jun’s first time entering such a grand, three-courtyard house. He observed the buildings and layout as a curious visitor, quietly marveling at the artistry of ancient garden design.

Only when they stopped at the side room did he come to his senses, looking questioningly at Feng Qinian.

Feng Qinian smiled meaningfully and knocked gently on the door.

"Who is it?" came a woman’s voice from within, making Qi Jun freeze. He knew that voice too well, and had been longing to hear it again.

Feng Qinian, clearly pleased, patted Qi Jun on the shoulder, leaving him dumbfounded at the door as he walked away.

With a creak, the door opened a crack.

When the person inside saw who was at the threshold, she flung the door wide in delight, her breath quickening with excitement.