Chapter 154: Jinling County

Jinling County is located to the east of Jinyang City, serving as a major county in Jinyang Commandery, Bingzhou.

To the east of this county lies a range of elevated hills, where the mausoleums of successive Princes of Jin were constructed throughout the dynasties.

Accordingly, the name of Jinling County derives from these very tombs.

"Jinling County is a newly established county administration set up by the King of Huntian after his recapture of Bingzhou. Aside from the county seat itself, the surrounding townships are divided into eighteen districts, corresponding to the eighteen mausoleums of the Princes of Jin."

"Within each township reside the tomb-keeper households left behind by past Princes of Jin, along with the surviving members of the Bingzhou Lu clan who remained after the imperial court recovered the region."

"Today, Jinling County comprises over fifty thousand households, with more than half of the population consisting of descendants of the Bingzhou Lu clan."

Pointing toward the nearby mausoleums of the Princes of Jin, Tian Manyin explained to Lu Sheng.

Six days ago, after agreeing with Lu Sheng that she would travel alone, she had mounted two rhinocerine dragons and quietly hurried here from Yujing City.

To avoid attracting attention, the two had disguised themselves as a couple in their thirties. Furthermore, upon arriving in Jinling County, they had not alerted a single soul.

"Indeed, Jinling County and the tombs of the Princes of Jin." Gazing at the guards patrolling back and forth before the mausoleums, Lu Sheng remarked, "Does this mean those patrolling soldiers are the guards of the Jin tombs?"

"They are the Jinling Guards protecting the mausoleums!" Tian Manyin said. "The officials of Jinling County are appointed by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. The Commandant of the Mausoleum concurrently serves as the County Magistrate, the Vice Commandant acts as the County Vice Magistrate, and the Escort Captain holds the concurrent rank of County Lieutenant."

"Those patrolling back and forth are subordinates of the Escort Captain, responsible for driving away wild beasts that might damage the tombs and apprehending potential tomb raiders."

"They look passable enough." Observing the spirited demeanor of these men, Lu Sheng nodded and said.

Although vastly inferior to the imperial armies of Yujing, the Jinling Guards possessed a certain aura of elite forces, far outclassing ordinary regional garrisons.

"Naturally. These are one of the six elite mausoleum-guarding units, and the local essence of the Bingzhou Lu clan." Gesturing toward the men, Tian Manyin continued:

"Now, Jinling County is your fiefdom. Not only are the county officials appointed by you, but all the Jinling Guards must also take their orders from you."

"According to the Great Jing statutes, as a commandery prince, you are entitled to three hundred and fifty personal guards stationed in Yujing."

"You can award these quotas to those who have sworn allegiance to you, or select them from the Jinling Guards and bring them back together later."

"Let's observe first before deciding." Without making an immediate commitment, Lu Sheng signaled his rhinocerine dragon, and carrying both himself and Tian Manyin, they proceeded toward the mausoleums of the Princes of Jin.

***

"Halt, travelers!"

Just as they entered the precincts of the Jin tombs, Lu Sheng and Tian Manyin were intercepted. A junior officer clad in armor stepped forward and said:

"The mausoleums of the Princes of Jin are currently under renovation. Unauthorized persons are strictly forbidden from approaching!"

"Undergoing renovation?" Hearing this, Lu Sheng nodded slightly, produced a token, tossed it to the junior officer, and said, "I am a member of the Jinyang Prince's Estate, hailing from the Bingzhou Lu clan. Commanded by the Prince of Jinyang, my wife and I have come ahead of schedule to pay our respects!"

"The Jinyang Prince's Estate and the Bingzhou Lu clan?" Examining the token and glancing at the rhinocerine dragon beneath the pair, the junior officer dared not be negligent. He bowed and said, "Please wait a moment, two honored guests. I shall report this immediately. The Commandant of the Mausoleum has been overseeing the restorations of the Jin tombs these past few days and is currently inside!"

With that, he instructed his subordinate soldiers to keep watch over the two, turned on his heel, and hurried away to inform the Commandant of the Mausoleum.

"People from the Jinyang Prince's Estate have arrived already!"

Upon hearing the junior officer's report, the Commandant of the Jin Tombs and Magistrate of Jinling County, Lu Shichuan, said with a trace of astonishment.

Ever since rumors circulated in Yujing City several months ago proposing that Jinling County be granted as a fief to the Prince of Jinyang, he had made certain preparations within the county. Ten days ago, following the official imperial decree, he had immediately brought prepared craftsmen and materials to begin renovating Jinling.

Simultaneously, in accordance with the imperial mandate, he had overseen the construction of tombs for Lu Sheng's father and ancestors.

Learning that visitors from the Jinyang Prince's Estate had arrived, he dared not delay. Summoning the chief clerk and other officials by his side, he went out to greet them in person:

"Lu Yunchuan, Commandant of the Jin Tombs and Magistrate of Jinling County, greets the two of you. May I ask if you carry official dispatches from the Jinyang Prince's Estate?"

"We shall speak inside!" Without answering, Lu Sheng led Tian Manyin, leading their rhinocerine dragon, and walked straight into the grounds of the Jin tombs.

"You—" Lu Yunchuan wanted to press further, but Lu Luiping, the chief clerk beside him, gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered:

"My lord, these two are distinguished guests. We ought to welcome them inside without delay!"

Frowning slightly, Lu Yunchuan felt a twinge of displeasure. Considering he was a dignified Grand Martial Master, coming out in person to greet two Martial Masters was already a sign of respect toward the Prince of Jinyang. The two brazen youths before him were truly showing a lack of proper deference.

However, these two were close retainers of the Prince of Jinyang. How could he, a man in his sixties who had never had any contact with the Prince of Jinyang, compare to them?

"Very well!" Sighing softly, Lu Yunchuan said, "We shall follow your advice then!" Together with Lu Luiping, he escorted Lu Sheng and Tian Manyin inside.

"I am Lu Sheng, the Prince of Jinyang, and I have come ahead of time to inspect the grounds!"

Upon reaching a palace within the Jin tombs, Lu Sheng dismissed the others and took the initiative to announce himself to the two officials. Although his arrival in Jinling was discreet, he had no intention of concealing his identity entirely. At the very least, by interacting with these local officials, he could obtain a more comprehensive understanding of Jinling County.

"You are... the Prince of Jinyang!" Deeply startled, Lu Yunchuan said with a slight tremor in his voice. He truly had not expected that the person before him was the newly enfeoffed Prince of Jinyang himself, and that he and the people of Jinling County had run into him traveling incognito.

Seeing the skepticism on Lu Yunchuan's face, Lu Sheng swept a hand across his visage, removing his disguise, and said, "You should have seen portraits of this face, no?"

With that, he displayed the golden seal of the Prince of Jinyang bestowed by the imperial court.

Gazing at the golden seal of the Prince of Jinyang and verifying Lu Sheng's appearance, Lu Yunchuan finally realized that the person before him was indeed the newly appointed Prince of Jinyang commissioned by the Great Jing court.

Without the slightest hesitation, he fell to his knees and prostrated himself:

"Your subject, Lu Yunchuan, Commandant of the Jin Tombs and Magistrate of Jinling County, pays respects to the Prince of Jinyang!"

Simultaneously, Lu Luiping by his side dropped to his knees as well:

"Your subject, Lu Luiping, Chief Clerk of Jinling County, pays respects to the Prince of Jinyang!"

"Haha!" Seeing that these two had acknowledged his identity, Lu Sheng let out a hearty laugh, reached down to help them up, and said, "Rise quickly, both of you!"

Then, gesturing toward Tian Manyin, who had also shed her disguise, he introduced her: "This is my newly wedded consort, Tian Manyin of the Xincheng Tian clan."

"Hereafter, you may address her simply as Lady Tian. All matters concerning the prince's estate shall be managed by her!"

"A consort?" Exchanging glances, Lu Yunchuan and Lu Luiping harbored some inward doubts. From the officials who proclaimed the imperial decree, both men knew that Lu Sheng had not yet taken a wife. Now, having been invested as a prince for barely ten days, there had simply been insufficient time for him to marry a primary consort.

"This Lady Tian is most likely a secondary consort he has taken!"

Though this thought flashed through their minds, neither man dared to show disrespect. Setting aside the fact that Tian Manyin was now the mistress of the Jinyang Prince's Estate, her background as a scion of the Xincheng Tian clan alone demanded utmost caution.

Consequently, upon hearing Lu Sheng's introduction, the two men bowed deeply once more, paying their respects to Tian Manyin as the secondary consort.