am-books Chapter 454: Mobilizing the Entire City
Chapter 454: Mobilizing the Entire City
Chapter 454: Mobilizing the Entire City
The night sky gradually brightened, from pitch black to deep blue, and a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon.
With the longer summer days, it would not be long before the sky fully brightened.
At this moment, Jinling Prefecture was stiflingly hot, with no hint of wind. Some civilians had already risen early to draw water from the wells.
Not all residents of Jinling relied on water from the Qinhuai River or the Yangtze River. Many wells were scattered throughout the city, typically shared by a dozen households. People often queued for water, prompting some to fetch it early.
At the moment, a group of civilians gathered around a well, chatting animatedly. Curious latecomers approached, only to find a strange fish in the water being drawn. It was entirely black, with four limbs resembling those of a lizard, and its bumpy skin looked grotesque.
Just then, a Green Phoenix Guard arrived, with a saber at his waist and a small flag on his back. His appearance startled the crowd, who quickly dispersed.
The Green Phoenix Guard approached the well, glanced at the bucket, and shouted, “Some criminals have poisoned the city’s wells. By order of the County Magistrate, all wells are temporarily closed and may not be used!”
Jinling City was an administrative hub that served as a state city, a prefectural city, and a county seat. This meant that the County Office, Prefectural Office, Provincial Administrative Office, Governor’s Office, and Military Commissioner’s Office were all located within the same city.
The county magistrates of subordinate counties served like overworked maids, constantly scrambling to meet demands. Thus, most officials considered the position unbearably difficult and often referred to the job as a punishment for their past life’s wrongdoings.
When dealing with commoners, the County Office would take charge, so the Green Phoenix Guard relayed the County Magistrate’s orders.
The civilians were alarmed upon hearing this, whispering among themselves.
An elderly man stepped forward and asked, “Pardon me, sir, but when will we be able to use the water again? We can’t go without water forever. This is the only well we have, and the waterworks are far away.”
The Green Phoenix Guard replied, “The waterworks are also temporarily unusable. You can use it once the Daoists purify the water and give their approval.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn
With that, the Green Phoenix Guard took out two official seals and affixed them over the well’s opening in the shape of an X. He also posted a notice on a nearby wall.
After completing this task, the Green Phoenix Guard hurried off in another direction.
The townsfolk gathered around the notice, and those who could read stepped forward to loudly recite its contents.
This was a merit of the current dynasty. The number of literate individuals had increased tenfold compared to the previous era. Most people could write their names and recognize ten digits, which was sufficient for daily life.
......
About an hour later, two sweat-drenched Daoist priests arrived, carrying satchels, wooden boxes, and a trunk on their backs. They paused to inspect the seals on the well and set down their items. They began removing talismans and various bottles from the boxes to prepare for dispelling the Cult of Fates’ curse.
The Daoist Order had long been enemies of the Cult of Fates, so they possessed many methods to counteract the cult’s schemes. This was part of the Daoist Order’s duties. Without such efforts, why should Daoists be respected, hold privileged positions, or wield great power? They were expected to protect peace in critical times.
“Makes sense. But what are the higher-ups planning now? Is His Majesty coming to the Jinling Palace?” The first soldier speculated.
“Stop guessing and get to work. Once the sun is out, it’ll be unbearable!”
As they spoke, they finally pried open the heavy stone slab, revealing the underground drain. A wave of damp, sweltering air mixed with a foul stench wafted out.
Ignoring the stench, the two soldiers looked closely and gasped in shock.
They saw several strange fish swimming in the drain. These creatures had tentacles, but they were not squids.
Two Daoists stepped forward. Upon seeing the strange fish in the drain, their expressions turned grim.
......
Meanwhile, several people pushed open the heavy doors of the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion’s warehouse at the Dinghuai Gate.
A Daoist superintendent strode into the warehouse, scanned his surroundings, and immediately cursed. “You idiots! Don’t we have Mini Dragon Pearls? Why aren’t you using them? Are you waiting for the warehouse to catch on fire?!”
The superintendent was not exaggerating. The summer heat was stifling, and the warehouse was packed with various goods. Entering the enclosed space felt like stepping into a steamer. With sweat pouring down, the superintendent was irritable, especially when he had just been reprimanded by the Deputy Mansion Master.
The deacon, scolded by the superintendent, immediately turned and berated his subordinates guarding the warehouse. “The warehouse regulations clearly state that the Mini Dragon Pearls must be activated all day. Who turned them off?”
The so-called Mini Dragon Pearls were replicas of the Dragon Pearls that were used to power flying ships. Though the replicas could not power flying ships, they could effectively reduce temperatures and had fireproof properties. However, they required a supply of Xuanhuang to function.
Another deacon interjected, “We’re running low on Xuanhuang this month.”
“Why are the Xuanhuang Division’s expenses always maxed out then? You people must be crazy for money!” The superintendent cursed again. “If you’re going to embezzle, why not just connect a pipe directly to the Zhenwu Lake and save on water costs while you’re at it?”
Feeling guilty, the deacon dared not retort. Instead, he turned to yell at his subordinates. “Why are you all still standing there? Hurry up and activate the Mini Dragon Pearls!”
A Daoist priest immediately went to activate the Mini Dragon Pearls.
The superintendent exhaled heavily and ordered, “Prepare the disaster relief supplies. It’s best if they’re not needed, but if they are, they must be ready to go immediately. I’m warning you all—if anything is short or missing, you should know what happens next. The investigation team is right here in Jinling.”
The two deacons nodded.
Noticing their usual dismissive attitudes, the superintendent raised his voice. “I’m serious this time! Don’t even think about skimping. Let me make it clear—this is a matter of life and death. If you can’t or won’t do it, say so now, and I’ll find someone else. Plenty of others will line up to replace you two!”
The two deacons immediately straightened their expressions and nodded timidly.
Similar scenes were unfolding throughout Jinling City. Except for the Black Robes, every available personnel had been mobilized.