Perhaps it was because my thoughts were too scattered, or maybe I just couldn't calm down enough. It took me a solid two weeks to find even the slightest trace of focus, and another week to cultivate any sense of inner energy. It's the curse of the smart, after all—sometimes it's harder to not think than to think.
After finally getting Ye Luoqui, who had absolutely zero foundation in math, to grasp the basics, I began to feel the sensation of qi.
At first, I thought I was just imagining it. But after a few more days, as the warmth inside grew, I checked with Ye Luoqui and confirmed it was the real deal—the warm, gentle flow I'd been yearning for.
Gao Yan, though not strong in fundamentals, had at least the basics of arithmetic down, and he was quick-witted enough to pick things up.
After three weeks of focused tutoring, he was handling all the calculations we needed, and he was beginning to grasp my modified Han-style bookkeeping method.
Ye Luoqui also surprised me. Although she had close to zero foundation, she was quick to learn and could apply concepts well.
I adjusted my expectations for her; as long as she could manage the basic math for finance and accounting and grasp double-entry bookkeeping, that was enough.
Today, the monthly audit by Zhang, the steward from Earth Hall arrived. I had everything prepared, watching with a smile as he flipped through the ledgers.
"This… Han Liang, your Department Eleven has given me quite a shock. This month, your efficiency is three times higher than any other accounting unit. How on earth did you pull this off? You're clocking in and out at the same time as everyone else. What's your secret?"
Zhang's keen eye had noticed the sheer difference in our work output. I handed him the revised Han-style Bookkeeping Method, Version 1.0, and explained, "To be honest, Steward Zhang, I'm very experienced in accounting, so I shared many techniques and insights with Luoqiu and Xiaoyan."
"Beyond that, I studied the accounting methods used across various factions and made some improvements that I recorded here. I believe these tweaks could make work at Earth Hall faster, simpler, and safer."
With some skepticism, Zhang took the booklet, nodding. "I'll pass this on to Elder Qian. So Xiaoyan and Luoqiu both learned this… 'Han-style Bookkeeping' of yours?"
I gave Gao Yan and Ye Luoqui a look, and Gao Yan jumped in, "Steward Zhang, Han Section Chief isn't exaggerating—he really is a math genius. This month, thanks to his teaching, my efficiency has more than doubled. And the Han-style Bookkeeping? Much more efficient than what we're using now."
Ye Luoqui nodded enthusiastically. "That's right, Steward Zhang. Before, I'd get a headache just looking at these ledgers. But Brother Han has taught me so much. I may not be using his method perfectly yet, but I can already feel how powerful it is."
At Luoqiu's admission, Zhang coughed awkwardly, but seeing her wholehearted support, he stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "Since both Luoqiu and Xiaoyan vouch for it, the faction will take a serious look at this. Han Liang, I'll submit it to the experienced fellows in the department."
Seizing the opportunity, I continued, "Steward Zhang, if I may be so bold, I'd like to offer my knowledge of arithmetic to more of our fellow workers."
" Xiaoyan, for example—he's smart, diligent, and has earned accolades, but he didn't come in with a strong accounting background. Yet, with my guidance, his efficiency shot up. The same goes for Luoqiu. If I could train the other staff, even if they don't reach Xiaoyan's level, it'd still make work easier for everyone in Earth Hall."
Zhang was clearly more interested in this than even my new bookkeeping method; after all, he'd seen the difference our team was making firsthand. "I think this idea has potential. If you believe others can learn from you, the more, the merrier. And rest assured, the faction rewards contributions fairly."
"If Department Eleven can keep up this threefold efficiency, you'll be paid three times the usual rate. I'll also apply to raise Luoqiu and Xiaoyan's monthly wages to six taels of silver. As for you, Han Liang, as head of Department Eleven, you'll receive fifteen taels. And if your Han-style Bookkeeping and teaching method are approved, a promotion to leader isn't out of the question. Keep up the good work."
After Zhang left, I turned to Gao Yan and Ye Luoqui, grinning. "Well, look at that. I really have you two to thank. Gao, the moment I mentioned you, I could tell Zhang was intrigued. Luoqiu, I wasn't exaggerating when I said you started from scratch, right? Even Zhang could see that. And look at you now—the girl who used to blank out at the sight of a ledger feels like a stranger."
Ye Luoqui blushed, "Oh, Brother Han, it's not that dramatic…"
Gao Yan chuckled. "Brother Han, we're just adding the finishing touches. If anyone deserves thanks, it's you for your patience with us."
I waved them off. "No need to be modest. Whether they'll actually adopt the new bookkeeping method is still up in the air. But teaching arithmetic? I think that's a safe bet. Rest assured, as my earliest students, you'll get all the core techniques before anyone else."
"Alright, with the business done, let's knock off early. We just got paid, and now a raise, too. I'm treating you both to a good meal tonight."
"I hear from Mr. Liu that you've made quite a name for yourself in Earth Hall, becoming one of the faction's rising stars as an arithmetic instructor and accounting expert?"
The woman across from me, with her lively, inquisitive eyes, watched me with a spark of interest.
She wore a green jacket with a yellow undershirt that highlighted her fair skin, with the faintest hint of rouge on her cheeks. Her black hair was styled into an elegant, high bun, the very image of a beauty from a classic scroll painting.
It was Xue Jin Qiao, back after two months. I sipped my tea and sighed. "Don't get me started. My original plan for moving up the ranks didn't involve teaching. I wanted my Han-style Bookkeeping to be my breakthrough. But the faction shelved it, tossed me a symbolic ten taels, and latched onto my math skills instead. Now, I barely touch the ledgers myself and just spend my days teaching colleagues from the Eleven department."
Xue Jin Qiao burst into laughter. "So it turns out you really are a numbers wizard, huh? I underestimated you. Hey, are you serious about that bookkeeping method? Give me a copy—I'll have my family's accountants study it too."
We were having lunch in a private room at the Tianya Pavilion, our first meeting since I'd arrived in Yuecheng two months ago. I chuckled. "You're welcome to it. The faction hasn't exactly done anything with it anyway. But fair warning—it's dry reading. I added tons of math terms to make it seem sophisticated but then threw in explanations so they wouldn't think it was gibberish. In the end, maybe I just overcomplicated it."
"But, it doesn't matter. In a month, my first batch of students will start showing results. Department is filled with sharp minds, even if teaching them has me talking till I'm hoarse. Managing skeptical people who question everything is tougher than the teaching itself. The faction probably put me there as a trial of sorts."
"I also used this accounting research angle to push for broader access to the faction's ledgers. As a junior, I won't see the highest-level records, but the mid- and low-level faction logs should give me a better sense of the organization's operations."
"If I'm right, there's an unusually high number of people being transported across the logs I've been able to review. The numbers fluctuate, but it doesn't seem like normal human trafficking patterns. It might be the lead we're looking for… or just statistical noise. I need to confirm."
Kidnapping and trafficking were serious crimes in this dynasty, punishable by heavy sentences. The legitimate buying and selling of people, however, was a perfectly legal business, and the Dragon Head Gang was the giant in that market. Going over their records was chilling; it gave a glimpse of the true scale of this monstrous operation.
Xue Jin Qiao grew serious. "This lines up with the information I had Liu pass along to you. My people's investigation found similar cases of kidnapping and bandit attacks all over Shun'an Prefecture, and there are rumors that some martial women have gone missing too."
" In most cases, disciples going missing is just part of the risks. But this past year, these incidents have been alarmingly frequent—especially in the past six months. After I reported what happened at Blewind Mountain to the authorities, I tried to get a sense of their response. It was as if they didn't see anything unusual at all. Strange, isn't it?"
She sneered, toying with her cup. "After Previous Emperor's passing, the central government's control over the regions has only weakened with each generation. Human trafficking, collaborating with foreign forces, private militias, worshiping forbidden deities—all these violations..."
"On the surface, Dayan still looks like a land of peace and prosperity. But if you look closely, you'll see the cracks running deep."
"Fifty years ago, when the emperor made his rounds across the land, he didn't need the support of the martial world. The royal guard would sweep through, their reputation built on blood and steel, with no room for argument."
She paused, her expression darkening. "But now? Some places have already fallen out of the court's control. Just look at what happened at BluewindMountain, where we stumbled into a den of human trafficking—and the authorities turned a blind eye."
She met my gaze directly, her eyes intense. "And your Dragon Head Gang? They've seized control of nearly a third of the empire's transport industry and deal in human trafficking as well."
She lowered her voice to a hard whisper. "How can one sleep soundly with such threats lying next to them? It's not just the filthy business of human trafficking. The transport sector is a lifeline for the empire. If the court had any real strength, they'd never let shadowy organizations like this even approach something so critical."
"And it's not like the gang is a small-time operation. They have tens of thousands of loyal members under their banner. For the most part, the government can only punish them when a blatant crime gets exposed. But as for the real profits behind it all? Those remain untouched."