The Magistrate: Chapter 75 (Patreon)

Chapter 75

Rebuilding a Nation

An adoption by the head of one of the five Great Clans required public announcement in all the major cities of The Three Kingdoms. The news sent the Divine Council deeper into hiding, while their elders began secret negotiations on how to address the matter publicly. Tobias didn’t care about the politics. Patriarch Lee had no interest in becoming emperor, and he didn’t feel that the new 2nd Patriarch Lee had the right temperament to hold the position, either. Tobias had met the cultivator a decade ago, when he fled the palace in search of safety. And while he was one of the best prodigies their clan had produced in the last thousand years, he had no interest in management or growing his clan, preferring to pass these tasks to his Majordomo.   

With the Divine Council out of the Imperial Palace, Tobias could move ahead with his plans. Negotiating with the heads of the second and third-tier noble clans would be hard enough without them looking over his shoulder. But there was work to do before that could happen.

Tobias stood in the study at his residence and reached into the mirror world he’d crafted inside the silver mirror Peace Master So had forged for him. His fingers grasped his clone's wrist, feeling its flesh give. He gave a swift tug, using his will and physical strength, and pulled his clone through the mirror and into reality.

The clone version of himself immediately stepped to the side, knowing exactly how critical time was, as Tobias reached into the mirror again and grabbed the wrist of his reflection a second time, pulling himself into reality again.

Balancing so many natural laws took every ounce of concentration Tobias's cultivation had given him. However, it wasn’t enough. The second clone immediately dissolves as the chi bindings failed to hold it together.

Its brief existence was summed up by a single memory that appeared in Tobias’s head. Tobias remembered seeing his own face as he exited the mirror world and then nothing, confirming his clones were capable of memory transfer.

The first clone stepped closer to the mirror as the clone dissolved into chi, trying to examine the aftermath. “I can’t sense what failed with so little cultivation, so I assume that it was a lack of spiritual energy.”

Tobias shook his head as he ended the technique and stepped back. “My core needs another layer to hold enough chi to stabilise a second initiate realm clone and likely two more to stabilise a foundation realm one.”

“This is still a better outcome than we hoped for.”

Peace Master So folded space and appeared behind the clone, poking him in the back with his finger. “Your technique didn’t say anything about using spiritual energy, Senior.”

The clone looked over his shoulder at the sage. “Spiritual energy is my dao, which causes a stronger transfer of memories and intuitions. I used it to lower the chi requirements for holding this form together, making me significantly more efficient than a typical clone.”

Peace Master So walked around the clone, running his gaze over him. “Why can’t I read your memories or use my powers on you?”

“I might have the cultivation of an initiate realm cultivator, but for the purposes of your powers, I’m an extension of a core realm cultivator.”

“Interesting.” Peace Master So turned to Tobias. “Senior, can I borrow your clone?”

“No,” Tobias replied, tiredly. “I don’t have any spiritual energy left to make a new one.”

“I would also prefer if my existence continued by merging with my original body,” the clone added. “If you wish to study one, you can make your own.”

Peace Master So groaned. “But then I have to put up with myself, and I can be insufferable.”

Tobias reached for the mirror and placed it in his storage ring before heading for the door. “I need to cultivate to restore the chi I expended. Feel free to continue your discussion without me. My clone is undoubtedly as interested as I am to learn what you are doing to the 1st Emperor’s hidden realm.”

Eunuch Ho was outside the door kowtowing.

Tobias stopped beside the man, knowing he couldn’t convince him to rise because of his visitor. Tobias sent a trickle of chi into the man’s stomach meridian to help him recover.

“I’ve successfully created a clone,” Tobias said when he was done. “He will be performing many of my duties. Assist him as you would me.”

***

Two weeks had gone by since Tobias was appointed 1st Minister. Most of that time was spent studying the Imperial Archives. Tobias knew the laws of the Imperial Family and the 2nd Emperor back to front, but the laws the 1st Emperor had used to rule The Three Kingdoms were not a significant part of his education. After a week of study, Tobias understood why.

The 1st Emperor had written his national projects into law, guaranteeing their services to his people. His tax codes depended on their existence. Many of his laws depended upon their existence. Without those national projects, there was no legal route to tax anyone in a way that would fund The Three Kingdoms or enforce many of the laws that would allow the nation to operate like a functional state.

The 2nd Emperor had sidestepped this issue by implementing his own tax codes and laws, ignoring the national projects, but the Divine Council refused to accept those laws. They wanted Tobias to reinstate the 1st Emperor’s legal system. But that required him to recreate the nation that The Three Kingdoms had once been.

Tobias wasn’t sure he could do that.

Rebuilding a nation required time, funding, structure, and the rule of law. None of which currently existed.

Tobias was using his unrestricted access to the Imperial Archives to prove that. He was also using his access to silently amass information that the Divine Council would have objected to gathering under other circumstances. Like, where was the best place to begin repairing The Three Kingdoms cultivation foundation?     

Tobias turned to the elderly Head Archivist. “Are there records on how many general meridian opening and cleansing pills the Great Clans and sects produced before the Great Plague?”

The Head Archivist stiffened and then bowed low. “These records were locked away by the 2nd Emperor, 1st Minister. We can no longer access them. None who remain remember these records either.”

This wasn’t the first time Tobias had discovered the 2nd Emperor had restricted information that he needed. However, the 2nd Emperor didn’t understand the nature of information or how to hide it effectively. He frequently left secondary sources unrestricted. All it meant was that it took Tobias longer to find the answers he needed.

“Then find me the records for state and imperial garden production.”

The elderly archivist relaxed. “Would you like the individual records or the combined records?”

“Start with the second, but also bring me the first.”

“Before or after the Great Plague.”

“Both, but only the records from a century before.”

The Head Archivist quickly collected his juniors, and they rushed off to gather what Tobias had requested.

While he waited, Tobias drummed his fingers against his thigh, thinking over his investigation. Accurate numbers for how many spirit herbs The Three Kingdoms currently produced and had once produced wouldn’t just allow him to increase the quota for how many spirit herbs everyone was allowed to raise. It would also allow him to see whether regions recovered proportionally to the number of cultivators and spirit herbs present, or whether they recovered independently of that.

The former would tell him how to force recover and the latter would tell him where to force it. The chi saturation across The Three Kingdoms had been carefully monitored, so if areas were recovering more than they should have, he wanted to find the reason. He hoped the reason was that some areas were naturally more recoverable because of the land's geological formation.

Once upon a time, Tobias would have needed three floors of analysis to calculate this. Now, he could do so alone. Everything he read was stored in his memory, ready for cross-referencing when necessary.

While deep in thought, a junior archivist silently walked over to Tobias and bowed. Tobias absently motioned with his fan, giving the man permission to speak.

“1st Minister, the magistrates you summoned have arrived. They are waiting where you instructed.”

Tobias gritted his teeth.

Middle Magistrate Yun had arrived precisely when he’d told him to, despite the difficulties of his request. The man was as punctual as Tobias remembered.

Tobias rose to his feet, trying to control his anger. “Leave these records where they are.”

The junior archivist froze at the order, then bowed even deeper, sensing his anger and trembling. “1st Minister, this is not within my power to do.”

Tobias paused as he noticed the man trembling and tried to quash his anger. “I know the archives rules. I also know that I am the only one with permission to enter these archives. No one will see that these rules have not been followed.”

“1st Minister, the shelves preserve the records. The longer they are away from them, the more they degrade. Many of these records are thousands of years old.”

Tobias hadn’t considered that. “Make note of everything I am studying and be prepared to collect them upon my return.”

The imperial archivist bowed again. “This one will see that it is done, 1st Minister.”

Tobias finally gained control of his anger. “My apologise, I should have realised there were reasons why the archives operated this way beyond merely following rules.”

It was extremely rare for those of his status to apologise to someone so far beneath them, especially over such a trivial matter, so Tobias knew that the man was going to spend the next few minutes trying to take the blame. Tobias flicked his fan to silence any protest and left the Imperial Archives, making his way through the inner palace.

Tobias did his best to ignore the servants and guards who stopped what they were doing to bow the moment they spotted him, remaining face down until he left the area. His station didn’t allow them to do anything less. And no amount of personal protesting would change their actions.

Accepting the position of 1st Minister had built a social wall around him, and there was nothing he could do to tear it down. However, when he accepted his position, he hadn’t realised how difficult it would be to operate with that wall.

He’d become detached from the society he lived in. No longer treated like a person. He was a walking incarnation of The Three Kingdoms' power and authority.

Tobias arrived at the imperial courtyard where he had taken his royal magistrate exam, entering through a gate reserved for the highest-status officials. Nothing had changed in the decade since his last visit. Every stone and banner was exactly where it had stood all those years ago.

A century from now, it would be no different.

The only difference would be the mortals who filled it.

Tobias’s gaze tightened as it landed on Middle Magistrate Yun and his inner circle waiting for him to arrive. They were on their knees, showing the proper amount of respect, but the sight of them made his anger bubble over.

Tobias had checked the Imperial Archives. The Middle Magistrate Yun was responsible for his invitation from the 1st Prince. He was the man who had brought him to his attention. That act had ensured he became a middle magistrate when he turned twenty-five, and led to Tobias falling into the 2nd Prince’s hands.

Middle Magistrate Yun and his inner circle of fifty magistrates cupped their hands and bowed as Tobias approached. Their actions filled Tobias with rage. Then Peace Master So’s dao seeped into his mind and body, removing his hostility.

Tobias took a calming breath and focused on what mattered. Reestablishing a functional, corruption-free bureaucracy. The fact was, Tobias didn’t personally know many magistrates, besides Magistrate Chi’s family.

However, he did know that Middle Magistrate Yun. The man was highly efficient and effective at his job. With no strong ties to Tobias, the 3rd Emperor, or anyone else alive, the Divine Council would approve his appointment.

However, Middle Magistrate Yun also might be the man responsible for Tobias’s stay with the 1st Prince and his torture at the hands of the 2nd Prince, so Tobias wanted answers.

Tobias stopped before the man, sensing his initiate realm cultivation, and flexed his aura to get Peace Master So's attention. Without the presence of his dao of peace, Tobias might have had Middle Magistrate Yun and his underlings executed out of hand. It was why he’d never gone looking for answers. His anger over those events was too much for him to control. The dao of peace was the only reason he could stand before him and hear the truth.

Under any other circumstances, he would already be dead.

Tobias cupped his hands behind his back. “Is he guilty?”

Peace Master So voice rippled through the courtyard. “No, Senior. The one before you was unaware of what his actions would lead to. He truly only sent a report detailing your capability and the value you might offer to the 1st Prince. He thought he was helping your career and his. There was no ill intent in his actions.”

“Is he aware of what happened to me?”

“Only what is publicly known. He is unaware that his actions set you up to be tortured by the 2nd Prince.”

Middle Magistrate Yun flinched.

“Can he be trusted?”

“He is ambitious and wishes to live a long, lavish life with as many beautiful concubines as he can afford. Other than a weakness for attractive women, he has no corrupt intentions. He prides himself on his ability to get results and help those under him. He is mortified that his actions have harmed you and will spend the rest of his life atoning for this sin. Nothing you say will change his feelings on this. It is who he is.”

Tobias frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He has a significant amount of positive karma from previous lives, but has already created more positive karma in his short life than was needed to justify his birth. He’s a mortal I would go out of my way to watch over. And his good karma and righteous disposition are likely what led you to your fate.”

That was a strong endorsement, but a vague answer. “How so?”

“Those with this much good karma always lead to the downfall of the wicked, and it is never by direct means. Always by a series of coincidences that occur from crossing their path. They create small events which lead to larger ones.”

“Are you suggesting that this man is responsible for the downfall of the Imperial Family?”

“Not solely, but his actions, and actions taken by those like him, likely lead to it.”

“Can I trust his underlings?”

The eyes of three magistrates rolled back as their personalities were wiped away. Peace Master So did not kill, but that did not mean he didn’t offer justice to those who deserved his wrath. Seven others were pulled from their kneeling positions and dragged to the side.

“The rest can be trusted, Senior.”

“Thank you, Peace Master So.”

“Come by and visit the 1st Emperor’s hidden realm when you are finished. I have something I wish to show you.”

Tobias felt Peace Master So’s attention return to the hidden realm, leaving the courtyard.

Tobias turned to the seven magistrates who had been pulled away and yanked their marks from their belts with his aura. “You have been found unfit to hold your position. As of this moment, you are stripped of your authority as magistrates. In ten days, you will be tried for your crimes. If you confess those crimes before that date, you will be given some leniency. You may take your own lives before then if you do not wish your crimes to reflect upon your family or clan.”

The seven men dropped into a kowtow and did not raise their heads or utter a single word.

Tobias turned to Middle Magistrate Yun. “I need an Upper Magistrate I can trust to help me rebuild The Three Kingdoms. You appear to be that man. Would you like the position?”

Tobias prided himself on his ability to direct his anger towards only those who deserved it. Middle Magistrate Yun did not deserve it. Which meant Tobias had a use for him.

“This one would be honoured,” Middle Magistrate Yun replied.

“Can you pass the exam?”

“This one can.”

“Good. Once you have passed the exam, you may promote your underlings to any position they can manage. Any failures on their part will reflect on you, so do not raise them above their capabilities. Their underlings and any additional underlings you have or allies that you have will go through a similar process when the rest of The Three Kingdoms magistrates begin to arrive in ten days. Now stand up.”

Middle Magistrate Yun rose, cupped his hands before him, and bowed. “This one greets, Sage Knowledge.”

“When I am operating in my capacity as 1st Minister, you will address me as such.”

He repeated the gesture. “My apologise. Middle Magistrate Yun greets, 1st Minister Finch.”

Behind him, his underlings cupped their hands and bowed. “We greet the 1st Minister.”

Tobias covered the magistrates with his aura to stop any from overhearing them. “I’ve been instructed by the Divine Council to root out corruption in The Three Kingdoms. Every magistrate with cultivation below the foundation realm has been instructed to travel here. Starting in 10 days, every one of them will be examined by the Exalted One. Your men will be responsible for recording any corruption the Exalted One uncovers. You will then have the responsibility of bringing charges against anyone who is named. It does not matter what their station is; you will prosecute them. With the Exalted One as your witness, you need no further evidence. You are expected to use the full force of the law.”

Middle Magistrate Yun swallowed. “How do we proceed if the matter is connected to nobles or officials?”

“I didn’t make any exceptions. You will not either. Generals from the Fifth Imperial Army will be travelling with you to give assistance where needed.”

One of his underlings fainted.

“And after this is done?” Middle Magistrate Yun asked.

“Then the hard work begins.”