Liu Residence
Liu Tián Qǔ, who had finally arrive back home after a very long busy day, knew nothing of how big the matter had grown. However, she knew something very suspicious was going on with Veiled Mountain. After discerning that Wang Fèn Yǒng was a very smart and extremely brilliant guy. She decided to give some hints to Wang Fèn Yǒng that crooked and corrupt officials were up to no good.
To her, it was common sense. Okay, so you have a big mountain full of the top ore in the whole continent sitting outside your doorstep. Significant mining operations are going on on it. Forget about getting a cut of it. You don't even know it exists. Ah? How could something not be wrong? Come on. Even a blind bat could see something big was going on.
What she found confusing, though, is that from the memories of her predecessor. Some small-time smugglers were caught smuggling, which bought to light the mountain of melded ore. However, the smugglers that were caught were quickly sentenced to death. After lengthy negotiations, the emperor and the Chens' came to an agreement. Resulting in the emperor talking control of the mountain, and that was the end of the whole matter. In her predecessor's memory, there was no indication of any other suspicious activity on the mountain beside the smugglers that were caught.
Candles lit the masters chambers of Liu's residence, chasing away the gloom of the evening. Liu Tián Qǔ sat in the lounge area of her chambers on a braided rug around a long low table. The table was situated next to the doors of the lounge that opened to an inner courtyard. Sitting in the center of the table was a dish of oranges. Next to it sat a tray with a pot of tea and three cups on it. The fourth cup sat in front of Liu Tián Qǔ. It was filled with a beautiful fragrant jasmine tea.
Liu Tián Qǔ gently picked up the cup of tea that sat in front of her. Taking a sip of tea, she gazed out the opened courtyard door into the sky, luxuriating in the glow of the beautiful full moon that hung in the sky like a luminous pearl. It glowed so exquisitely bright lighting up the night sky, putting the stone lampposts that lined the pathway of the inner courtyard to shame. The glorious scent of the peach blossoms that fill the air was more fragrant than any incense she could have lit. There she sat sipping tea as she waited for Butler Zhou and his wife Housekeeper Gao.
Liu Tián Qǔ was supposed to have a meeting with Butler Zhou and Housekeeper Gao concerning all the household matters that needed to be addressed. Liu Tián Qǔ shook her head in disbelief as she lowered her gaze to the courtyard. The moon covered the courtyard in an ethereally silver glow creating a peaceful, magically serene image. However, all she could think about was all those smugglers, and wicked officials got away last time. She thought, 'This matter was no a simple matter. There's more to this than meets the eye.' She hoped that Wang Fèn Yǒng could cast a big net this time. She believed he was more than capable of doing so.
Little did she know. It wasn't a matter of casting a big net. The problem was in containing what the net caught.
From the memories from her predecessor, the Tolling Lands were behind in technology military wise. Melded ore when heat treated becomes harder, stronger, and more impact resistant than any other known material on the continent. The sharpness of the blades of steel created with melded ore is incomparable to any other. Over two hundred years ago, the Royal Family of the Tolling Lands were able to secure secret knowledge on creating the strongest, sharpest, most unbreakable impact resist steel and armor using melded ore.
Unfortunately, they were never able to get their hands on enough of the ore to mass-produce enough steel and armor to equip the armies of the country. When they finally got their hands on the ore. The steel and armor that they created were better than any of the surrounding countries. This changed the dynamics of the continent. However, that advantage didn't last long. The same betraying wicked official who almost caused the fall of the country sold the secrets to surrounding countries in a deliberate attempt to weaken the country.
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Although the Tolling Lands were behind in their technology. They still were able to stand against the five countries surrounding them. This was because the Tolling Lands military was made up of vast armies. The armies of the Tolling Lands were governed by generals who were overseen by Commanders. The Tolling Lands had four Commanders. They were called the Commanders of the East, West, North, and South. The Commander of the south governed the armies and generals of the south. The Commander of the East governed the armies and generals of the east. It was the same for the west and the north. All the commanders answered to the Grand Commandant who was also the Grand Prince and they answered to the Emperor. In times of war, they also answered to the Minister of War.
The armies of the Tolling Lands were bigger, stronger, and more superior then the armies of the surrounding countries. Of all the countries In the Northern Lands, the Tolling Lands had the most elite warriors, fiercest border generals, and had enormous battle-ready armies and massive reserve armies.
The Tolling Lands was an extremely prosperous country. Although there was no warrior caste, the Warriors of the Tolling Lands were paid well by the country and given many benefits and many retirement benefits. This resulted in many young men choosing to become Warriors. If there was anything that the Tolling Lands had in excess, it was armies and warriors.
Of all the countries in the Northern Lands, the Tolling Lands was the largest. It was almost twice the size of Russia. Although the Tolling Land was behind military wise, it made of for it in other ways. The infrastructure of the whole country was strong. Paved roads connected ninety-eight percent of all the towns, villages, and cities of the country to the Imperial City.
There were also huge travel wagons that traveled between all major cities and towns. The roads were religiously monitored, repaired, and upgraded. This provided for easy travel, and the roadways allowed for fast and easy martial movement.
The Tolling Lands methods of agriculture were more advance as well. There were also martial and emergency food storage facilities in every town, village, and city. They were constantly audited. If an auditor found an emergency food storage facility empty or found food missing from it. The mayor and or governor of that town, village, or city was immediately granted to death.
Communications were advance too. Relay and rest stations for travelers riddled the country, making it easier, faster, and more efficient for the travel wagons, Kings Riders, and the Kings Fowl Messengers to carry messages across the vast country in a short amount of time. It was said that the Tolling Lands was once sentient. Sadly record of it has all been lost in the passage of time.
It was late in the evening when Butler Zhou and his wife, HouseKeeper Zhou, finally made their way to Liu Tián Qǔ chambers.
Zhou Yù, who was the couple adopted daughter and Liu Tián Qǔ's head maid, escorted them in as they arrived.
"Young Master sorry to keep you waiting," Butler Zhou said as he and Housekeeper Gao bowed in greeting upon entering the room. Butler Zhou looked so much better. He was dressed very neatly in clothes that were very well made and befitting of his station.
His eyes and face looked more lively and happy, the world-weariness and tiredness was completely gone make him younger. He looked like a completely different person to Liu Tián Qǔ. Smiling inwardly, Liu Tián Qǔ was happy to see this new younger-looking version of Butler Zhou.
Rising to greet them, Liu Tián Qǔ said, "Not at all, not at all. Butler Zhou and Housekeeper Gao. When I left home this morning, Liu Residence looked empty, sad, and desolate. In just one afternoon, both of you have worked miracles. Thank you for your hard work."
"Please, come in and have a seat "Liu Tián Qǔ gesture for them to join her where she was sitting at the long low table in the lounge area near the opened courtyard doors.
Zhou Yù began to retreat from the room as the couple came in to seat themselves at the table. "Zhou Yù," Liu Tián Qǔ called to her head maid, causing Zhou Yù to turn around and bow in acknowledgment. "Come and join us as well. I want you here for this meeting."
Liu Tián Qǔ waited until Zhou Yù seated herself at the table before saying, "First, I want to say thank you for agreeing to come and take care of me and the house. I was raised in seclusion, so I know nothing about taking care of a house and overseeing servants. I will be relying heavily on you all to assist me." Liu Tián Qǔ said as she set the remaining three teacups out, and begin to fill them slowly with the jasmine tea.