Tianruofu

The system of prefectures in the Dawu Country has been in place for several hundred years, with a total of fifteen major prefectures nationwide. Below the prefectures are the sub-prefectures, and below them are the counties.

In the central region of Dawu Country, from west to east, there are four prefectures that connect the north and south.

Tian Ge Prefecture is located in the eastern part of the central region and governs six sub-prefectures, all of which are quite prosperous, with Tian Ruo Prefecture being the most prominent among them.

There are many reasons why Zhang San chose this prefecture, but the main one is the presence of chaos. Additionally, among the four prefectures in the central region, he is more familiar with this one.

The chaos in the central region of Dawu Country mainly refers to the brutal power struggles among the criminal forces.

In the southern region of Dawu Country, power is largely fragmented among various factions such as Black Cloud, Poison Valley, and Hundred Kills Hall. As for the northern region, despite being the largest part of Dawu Country and encompassing seven prefectures, the criminal forces are essentially divided between Black Heaven Gate, Dark Building, and JinWan Pavilion.

In the past two decades, especially in recent years, the criminal forces in Dawu Country have not only settled the territorial disputes within the domestic market, but they have also reached a consensus on the competition in the international market. It can be said that the criminal industry has been divided and allocated among the major forces.

In simple terms, in this era, there is no room for further development for the criminal forces. If they want to expand, they have no choice but to devour each other's power.

Someone even coined a new term for this phenomenon - "internal cannibalization."

However, unlike the internal cannibalization in ordinary industries, as professional criminals, they take the concept of "cannibalization" quite literally.

The so-called "Criminal Alliance" has also become an empty shell and a mere slogan over time.

But whether it's the criminal forces in the south trying to move northward or the three major forces in the north struggling to deal with their two opponents and considering moving south, the central region of Dawu Country, except for the Imperial Prefecture, is the most fiercely contested territory for the criminal forces.

Surprisingly, the criminal forces in the southern region seem to have reached a consensus when it comes to the struggle in the central region of Dawu Country. That consensus is that regardless of whether they can snatch territory from the three major criminal forces in the north, they all want to get involved.

The reason is simple. If they manage to snatch a piece of the cake, that's great. But even if they can't, they will make sure to ruin it. As long as the central region remains intact, no matter how strong the influence of the three major criminal forces in the north is, it's impossible for them to truly threaten the foundation of the criminal forces in the south.

After all, the criminal forces in Dawu Country are quite serious and professional!

Typically, the term "colleague in the criminal world" only exists when they can't kill each other or when killing each other would come at a great cost. Otherwise, genuine criminals naturally appreciate and enjoy the concept of "eating one's own kind."

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In Tian Ge Prefecture, under Tian Ruo Prefecture, there are a total of seventeen counties, as well as the capital city of Tian Ruo Prefecture, called Tian Ruo City, which is the largest city in Tian Ge Prefecture.

Moreover, this prefecture not only occupies a vast area but is also strategically important for two reasons.

First, it is located in the easternmost part of the central region of Dawu Country, connecting to the vast Eastern Sea.

Dawu Country itself strictly prohibits "maritime transportation," seemingly due to a past maritime invasion war. After the war, a maritime ban was imposed.

Until today, the "Sea Prohibition Order" has been deeply entrenched, and Dawu Country has completely banned any commercial dealings with the island nations in the Eastern Sea.

Violators will be treated as sea bandits, barbarians!

Even fishermen who go fishing must have a permit issued by the government, indicating the severity of this "Sea Prohibition Order."

However, even so, the saying goes that where there are great rewards, there are bound to be brave individuals. The enormous profits from maritime trade have led to the existence of underworld forces and even ordinary people who often take risks.

Therefore, the geographical location of Tian Ruo Prefecture has become a crucial place for controlling maritime transportation.

Secondly, Tian Ruo Prefecture is connected to the Eastern Sea and the mainland, and although there are numerous mountains within the prefecture, it serves as a shortcut from the south to the north.

Most large merchant caravans traveling from the south to the north, or the grain convoys from the south supplying the Northern Army of Dawu Country, often choose Tian Ruo Prefecture in Tian Ge Prefecture as a fast route to enter the north.

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At the gate of Tian Ruo City, Zhang San and his apprentice, who had been robbing undocumented mountain bandits all the way, finally arrived here.

It seemed that the reason was that Zhang San discovered that the business of undocumented mountain bandits in Dawu Country was not as impoverished as he had imagined. Anyway, it was impossible to take on missions along the way, so it was better to rob those undocumented mountain bandits.

The reality proved that ideals are full, but reality is harsh.

Although robbing mountain bandits was successful every time, those undocumented mountain bandits were indeed poor. Honestly, after deducting various expenses along the way, Zhang San didn't feel his pockets getting fuller.

With tears in his eyes and having been tricked by the city gate order, Zhang San swore to himself that he would earn back all the money he had lost here.

Upon entering the city, the main street leading to the city gate came into view.

The wide street, numerous pedestrians, bustling hawkers—it immediately dazzled Wang Xiaoer.

Even Zhang San was a bit surprised because he had traveled north and south with his master as an assassin in the past, and he had also been to Tian Ruo Prefecture, so he naturally stayed in the city of Tian Ruo for a while.

"How could it have changed so much in just ten years?" Zhang San marveled inwardly.

The street had widened by at least a yard, and on the main street, various shops were bustling with activity.

It looked so prosperous.

Or maybe I remembered it wrong, or was it always like this?

The city walls are so high now? It's like seven or eight stories high. It would take me a while to use lightness skills to traverse the wall.

If something happens, it won't be easy for me to escape with this wall.

As a cautious assassin, Zhang San naturally thought of the issue of escape.

Following the flow of people along the street, the master and apprentice walked toward the city center. Compared to the composed Zhang San, Wang Xiaoer appeared curious about everything. After all, he had lived with his mother in a small county town in the Northern Prefecture when he was a child, and later, when he came to Baiyun Prefecture, he had always stayed in the county town and had never seen the prosperity of a prefectural city.

"Wow, Master, what's that?"

On the busy street, as Zhang San, who was pulling a cart, glanced over, Wang Xiaoer pointed to a three-story building with a plaque that read "Book Tower."

Zhang San explained, "Every three years, the scholars of Dawu Country have an examination. The first test is the Prefectural Examination, where scholars from all the counties, towns, and villages in the prefecture gather. If one achieves a good ranking in the Prefectural Examination, they can participate in the Provincial Examination. After the Provincial Examination, they can attain official positions. The top three in the Provincial Examination can even go to the imperial capital for the final Palace Examination."

Wang Xiaoer asked again, "I see. So, if someone succeeds in the Prefectural Examination and Provincial Examination, why do they still need to take the Palace Examination? What if they become the top scorer in the Palace Examination?"

Zhang San replied, chuckling, "The Palace Examination is presided over by the Emperor himself. If one becomes the top scorer in the Palace Examination, they will be the Zhuangyuan, the number one scholar. Although success in the Provincial Examination can lead to official positions, they are considered as backup candidates for lower-ranking officials. But being the Zhuangyuan is different. They will be appointed to fill any vacancies, and their reputation can spread throughout the world. How could those scholars resist such an opportunity?"

Wang Xiaoer's eyes turned, and he asked again, "What if someone achieves first place in all three examinations—the Prefectural, Provincial, and Palace?"

Zhang San chuckled and said, "That's called 'Lian Zhong San Yuan,' achieving top scores in all three exams. It's even more difficult than reaching the Heavenly Realm in martial arts. In the past three hundred years, only three people in Dawu Country have accomplished it. However, in the last century, especially in recent years, there have been quite a few who achieved Lian Zhong San Yuan."

Wang Xiaoer was astonished and asked, "Does that mean the current examinations are easier than before?"

Zhang San sneered softly, "That's an innocent thought, my young friend. We don't know if the examinations are easier or not. But nowadays, becoming the Zhuangyuan can be bought with money. It's inevitable."

Wang Xiaoer frowned and said, "Master, the way you put it makes me suddenly feel that what seemed like a fair examination has become unfair."

Zhang San replied directly, "Unfair? Why is it unfair? You feel that way because you are standing with those who have studied diligently in the cold room for ten years."

"But for the children of the high-ranking officials, they must think, why should our family's generations of efforts be defeated by you poor scholars who have spent ten years in the cold room?"

Even those high-ranking officials may wonder why Dawu Country is still so backward.

Isn't it enough for our children to become officials directly? Why should they participate in such a boring game of examinations, sitting in a study hall with those poor scholars?

The high-ranking officials are bitter in their hearts. At one point, they even thought that this world is truly strange.

After Zhang San and Wang Xiaoer finished their conversation, they glanced once more at the three-story high study hall and continued on their way.

However, on the corner of the third floor of the study hall, there was a tea table. The tea on the table was steaming, and a man in black sat behind it, watching the two who had just left the study hall with great interest.

In fact, Zhang San had noticed the person on the third floor a long time ago. But with such a distance, coupled with their low-volume conversation and the bustling streets they were in, it was impossible for anyone to hear their dialogue clearly.

Moreover, the conversation itself was nothing special.

But this world is just that strange.

What you think is only what you think.

Sometimes, even Zhang San is not exempt from it.

This man in black may not possess martial arts skills, but he does have exceptional hearing, even surpassing many powerful warriors in terms of hearing ability.

The man in black smiled, lifting his right hand to reveal a unique white jade cloud-patterned thumb ring on his right thumb.

He raised a cup of fragrant tea and slowly sipped it, as if Lu Gaosheng, the man in black, was not satisfied. However, it was unclear whether his dissatisfaction stemmed from the tea or from the scholar's words he had just encountered at the bookshop.

In a low voice, Lu Gaosheng said, "Why should our family's generations of efforts be defeated by your ten years of studying behind closed doors?"

What an interesting statement.

What an interesting person.