My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Lü Bingchen personally saw him off and instructed him in a low voice.

"This trip to Dongshan Mine will be fraught with difficulty. The dean hopes you will act as a sharp blade, cutting through the chaos with swift precision. No matter what happens, the Martial Arts Academy will always have your back."

Liang Cheng nodded to show he understood, then mounted his horse. His gaze swept over the procession before finally settling on the east.

"Move out!"

The thundering of hooves shook the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

「Two days later, on the outskirts of Dongshan Mine.」

The closer Liang Cheng’s party got to Dongshan Mine, the thicker the air became with the smell of charcoal and ore. The road was constantly busy with ox-carts transporting minerals.

Dongshan Mine was mostly a series of low, reddish-brown hills. At the foot of the mountains, houses stood in dense clusters, black smoke billowed into the sky, and a clamor of voices filled the air. A dozen or so people were standing under the stone memorial archway at the town entrance.

The man in the lead was none other than Lu Ming, the Lu Family’s Steward stationed at Dongshan Mine.

When he saw Liang Cheng’s convoy arrive, he hurried forward to greet them. "You must be Town Guardian Liang? I am Lu Ming, the Lu Family’s Steward here. I have been waiting for you."

Liang Cheng dismounted and scanned the crowd. Lu Ming quickly introduced everyone; they were all influential figures from Dongshan Mine. Out of the corner of his eye, Liang Cheng’s gaze passed over one person in particular.

The Lin Family’s eldest young master, Lin Chong.

However, the man was being extremely low-key at the moment. But from Lu Ming’s attitude toward him, it was clear that Lin Chong was tacitly regarded as the leader.

Liang Cheng acted as if he hadn’t noticed anything. Information from his prior investigation flashed through his mind.

’The current Patriarch of the Lin Family is Lin Yue, at the True Qi Realm Middle Stage. Legend says he has condensed four True Qi Seeds and has been in Cultivation of the Black Mountain Force for thirty years, giving him a formidable physique. Lin Chong is his eldest son, at Transformation Force Perfection, and he manages the mining affairs.’

Just then, Lu Ming said, "Town Guardian Liang, we have prepared a grand banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust from your journey."

"I am weary from the journey today. I’d like to rest for a bit. How about I host a banquet for all of you tomorrow?"

"Of course."

Liang Cheng then asked Lu Ming for the location of the Guardian Station. Lu Ming personally led the way. After they arrived at the Guardian Station, the convoy began to settle in.

Liang Cheng, however, took several Steward Disciples from the Martial Arts Academy who were skilled in calculation and went straight to the accounting office.

"Everyone, please audit the accounts."

An hour later, after Zhao Yuan had summarized all the findings, he said, "Senior Brother, the ledgers and maps in the mansion have been sorted, but the production records for the last six months are missing."

"Who’s in charge of the books?"

"The former Chief Clerk claimed illness and returned to his hometown three months ago. The Lin Family has been temporarily managing the accounts since then."

As they were speaking, a Personal Guard entered and reported, "Town Guardian, Young Master Lin Chong has arrived."

A thought stirred in Liang Cheng’s mind. ’I just started checking the accounts, and he’s already here. That was fast.’

"Show him in."

Lin Chong entered with only two Followers, holding a gift box and wearing a broad smile.

"Town Guardian Liang, this is a small token to congratulate you on your new post. The rules on East Mountain have always been clear. In the future, whatever the Town Guardian needs, the Lin Family will certainly do its utmost to cooperate."

"Rules? What rules?"

"Following the precedent of previous years, my Lin Family is responsible for the mining, smelting, and transportation. The Garrison Mansion, on the other hand, is responsible for public order and tax collection. Each performs its own duties and does not interfere with the other."

Lin Chong’s smile grew even wider. "Of course, every year the Lin Family also presents ten percent of the net profit to the Guardian Station as a ’coordination fee’."

Liang Cheng didn’t respond to that. Instead, he said, "Right now, I want to see the mineral production and shipping records, as well as the tax ledgers, for the past three years. Please have them sent over, Young Master Lin."

Lin Chong’s smile faltered. "The account books are numerous and complicated. It will take time to organize them..."

"Have them delivered to the Guardian Station by noon tomorrow. Before, there was no one at the Guardian Station, so it was reasonable for the Lin Family to manage things. But now that I have arrived, the account books should be returned."

Lin Chong’s smile returned as he cupped his hands. "Town Guardian Liang is truly decisive and efficient. I am impressed. It’s just that the Dongshan Mining Affairs are deeply entrenched and complex. The old accounts from years past involve many parties. I hope the Town Guardian can appreciate the difficulties and consider things from a long-term perspective."

After speaking, he gave Liang Cheng a meaningful look, then turned and left.

...

「At noon the next day, the Lin Family’s account books were delivered to the Guardian Station on time.」

Twelve large wooden chests, each filled with thick ledgers, were piled up, filling half the accounting office.

Lin Chong had personally escorted them. He said with a smile, "Town Guardian Liang, these are all the account records from the last five years. Please look them over."

Liang Cheng gave a faint nod. "Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Lin."

"It is my duty. Things are busy at the mine, so I will take my leave now. If the Town Guardian has any questions, you can send someone to ask me at any time."

As soon as Lin Chong left, Liang Cheng immediately summoned the Steward Disciples skilled in mathematics. "Investigate."

The five of them buried their heads in the ledgers, and Liang Cheng left to await the results.

Five years of accounts couldn’t be sorted out in a short time. Liang Cheng wasn’t in a hurry and gave them plenty of time.

Liang Cheng sat cross-legged, regulated his breathing, and began a Circulation.

’All schemes are built on a foundation of strength. Only by being strong enough can one withstand any attack. Everything else is merely icing on the cake.’

Afterward, Liang Cheng lived in seclusion, practicing diligently and tirelessly.

「Three days later.」

[Broken Wave Technique, Second Layer: Beginner Level (427/2000)]

[Profound Yin Sword Technique: Beginner Level (312/1500)]

[Wind and Thunder Slash: Minor Success (3003/5000)]

[Stone Armor Skill (Golden Armor): Beginner Level (291/1000)]

Steady progress.

After that, Zhao Yuan reported that the accounts had been roughly sorted.

After Liang Cheng sat down, a Li Disciple spoke with a grave expression, "True Inheritor, on the surface, the accounts are flawless. The shipments, warehousing, losses, and wages all match up. Every transaction even has the handler’s signature and fingerprint, but..."

"Speak."

"It’s too perfect."

The Li Disciple pointed at a ledger. "In mining, natural and man-made disasters are unavoidable. How could there not be a single recorded accident in the past five years? Furthermore, the miners’ monthly wages were paid out in fixed amounts, with not a single person’s payment changed or delayed. This is highly illogical."

Another disciple added, "And the consumables. The procurement price for materials needed for mining, like gunpowder and iron drills, hasn’t changed at all in five years, and the usage has also remained almost constant.

"But according to our undercover inquiries, miners say that for the past two years, the mineral veins have gotten deeper and the rock has become harder, making excavation more difficult. The consumption of materials should have increased."

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