Chapter 655: Against the Grain

The proverb says, "Beacon fires have burned for three months, a letter from home is worth a fortune." This rings true for soldiers on the battlefield receiving mail from home, just as it does for their families back home receiving letters from loved ones in the army.

Several months had passed since Yin Zhong departed for the front, and Ji Yuan had been in the capital prefecture for over a month. It was then that the Yin Residence finally received a letter from Yin Zhong, accompanied by a battle report from the front lines.

Inside the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Ji Yuan was poring over documents in the Bureau's vast archive room.

The archive room resembled a vast library, containing astronomical and astrological texts that successive Imperial Astronomers had gathered from across the land through various means. It also held other relevant documents, including writings by Grand Astrologers and their subordinates from throughout Great Zhen’s centuries of history. A significant portion comprised historical records, often detailing astronomical observations from previous dynasties.

After several conversations with Yan Chang, Ji Yuan came to inspect the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and was surprised to discover such a treasure trove. He immediately developed a strong interest. It seemed that many capable individuals had served as Imperial Astronomers throughout history, demonstrating a certain scientific rigor even within the realm of metaphysics.

Consequently, Ji Yuan took up residence at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and spent every day poring over its documents.

Theoretically, these documents were classified as state secrets. Aside from the Bureau’s own officials, even other imperial appointees would need a written permit from Yan Chang to view them, or potentially even from the Emperor himself – let alone Ji Yuan.

But this was, after all, only in theory. If Ji Yuan wanted to view the documents, who among the two highest-ranking officials in the Bureau—Grand Astrologer Yan Chang and Imperial Preceptor Du Changsheng—would dare to stop him? Far from hindering him, they served him with utmost dedication. Of course, Ji Yuan was not delicate and did not require much service; with some tea or wine, a bit of food, and a simple bedroll, he could comfortably stay in the archive room.

With Ji Yuan present, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng dared not inform the new Emperor of Great Zhen about the situation. Instead, they both, without prior agreement, joined Ji Yuan in sleeping on bedrolls in the archive room. Yan Chang often discussed the documents with Ji Yuan, using the opportunity to learn. Du Changsheng, who initially just wanted to curry favor, later became genuinely involved, which made Ji Yuan not dislike either of them.

The archive room featured many partition walls. Towering wooden bookshelves lined the outer walls and partitions wherever there were no windows. The further inside, the more densely packed the shelves became with paper volumes, silk scrolls, and numerous bamboo slips and woodblock prints. Retrieving books often required the use of several ladders, making the room truly resemble a colossal library.

In his left hand, Ji Yuan held a scroll of bamboo slips with characters carved by knife. His right index finger traced the carved characters as he read. This particular document contained detailed research on astrological changes over many years.

“Mr. Ji, look here,” Yan Chang exclaimed. “It says that Duke Zhong Pei observed the stars in a dream and predicted changes in calamities. The recorded date is a hundred years earlier than what’s commonly circulated! If that’s the case, then the timeline finally matches up!”

Yan Chang, holding a similar bamboo slip, exclaimed in surprise upon seeing its content. Ji Yuan and Du Changsheng also moved closer to look.

“Indeed,” Ji Yuan remarked. “If this is true, then Duke Zhong Pei was not from the 11th year of Baoshe, as widely believed, but from a century earlier…”

“Hmm, he was quite capable, what a pity,” Du Changsheng added.

Just as they were contemplating this, a messenger from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau hurriedly entered the archive room. After searching for a moment, he spotted the three men leaning against a distant corner and quickly approached them with a bow.

“Reporting, Director,” the messenger said, “someone from the palace has arrived. The Emperor urgently summons the Director and the Imperial Preceptor to the palace for an audience; there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”

“Hmm?” Yan Chang questioned. “The Emperor summons us to the palace?”

Yan Chang and Du Changsheng exchanged glances. The new Emperor had neglected them for quite some time since ascending the throne; why a sudden summons today? Yan Chang stood up and questioned the messenger.

“Do you know why His Majesty has summoned the Imperial Preceptor and me?”

The messenger looked up, glancing at Ji Yuan, who was still leisurely reading bamboo slips. He dared not ask who this person was and honestly replied to his superiors based on what he knew.

“Replying, sirs,” the messenger said, “I heard that several flag-bearing horsemen rode into the capital from outside the East Gate today. It seems there’s an important battle report from the Qizhou region in the northeast.”

“A battle report wouldn’t typically warrant summoning the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, would it?” Du Changsheng questioned, also standing up in surprise. Ji Yuan, who was sitting by a bookshelf, also frowned slightly, then smiled and interjected.

“That might not be the case,” Ji Yuan said. “It would be best for you two sirs to enter the palace early, lest the Emperor grows impatient.”

“Understood,” Yan Chang said. “Alright!” Du Changsheng added.

After exchanging glances, the two men took a step back and bowed to Ji Yuan.

“Then, Mister, we shall take our leave first!” Yan Chang said. “Du Changsheng bids farewell!” Du Changsheng added.

Ji Yuan did not look up, simply gesturing with a dismissive wave of his hand behind his back, signaling them to leave. Only then did the two men turn around, nod to the messenger, and quickly depart together.

A quarter of an hour later, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng arrived together outside the Imperial Study. The eunuch outside hurriedly entered the Imperial Study to report, where many civil and military officials were already standing.

The officials inside were engaged in a heated debate. Seeing a eunuch enter, the Emperor immediately raised a hand, signaling everyone to be silent. The eunuch quickly bowed and reported.

“Your Majesty, Grand Astrologer Yan and the Imperial Preceptor have arrived and are waiting outside.”

Yang Sheng, seated on the imperial throne, promptly said.

“Let them in quickly!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Soon after the eunuch withdrew, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng entered the Imperial Study together. Upon entering, they saw Yin Zhaoxian, Yin Qing, and several other important civil officials, as well as a few military officials.

“Your humble servant, Yan Chang, greets Your Majesty!”

Yan Chang’s etiquette was impeccable. Du Changsheng, however, due to his status as Imperial Preceptor and his past merits, merely needed to softly utter “Your Majesty.”

Yang Sheng gestured with his eyes to Yin Qing, who nodded and then spoke on his behalf.

“Grand Astrologer Yan, and Imperial Preceptor Du,” Yin Qing began, “this morning, we received an urgent military report from Qizhou. Not only is the Zuyue Kingdom continuously increasing its troops, but we’ve also discovered that their army includes many Great Heavenly Masters and Great Priests enfeoffed by Zuyue. In battles, there have been frequent attacks using demonic arts and strange, unusual techniques, causing great alarm among our soldiers. Fortunately, our army also has the assistance of extraordinary individuals, martial artists, and chivalrous figures, and coupled with the valiant fighting of our soldiers, we have only just managed to maintain an even footing.”

“Hmm? Demonic arts and strange, unusual techniques?” Du Changsheng was most sensitive to this matter. He immediately exclaimed in surprise, then bowed to Yang Sheng and said.

“Your Majesty, may I see the original military report?”

The Emperor nodded, then looked at a middle-aged eunuch to his side. The eunuch quickly took the military report from the desk and handed it to Du Changsheng. Du Changsheng immediately took the report and quickly scanned it. Then, a drop of his vital blood seeped from his fingertip and spread out as he used the military report to perform a divination about the front line.

“Imperial Preceptor, what are the results?” the Emperor asked.

Hearing the Emperor’s question, Du Changsheng glanced around at the civil and military officials present. Even some officials who usually looked down on him now gazed at him with expectant eyes, which pleased him greatly. Finally, he turned to the Emperor and said.

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Du Changsheng began, “indeed, cultivators have intervened, and they seem to be closely entangled with the Zuyue Kingdom, having truly accepted enfeoffment from Zuyue. They are essentially Zuyue’s court officials, and their confrontation with Great Zhen is part of a human conflict. Strange, truly strange. By all accounts, with Zuyue’s current aura, its land should be plagued by malevolent spirits and demonic entities, a time when evil forces threaten its own society. Why would they all jump out to help Zuyue invade Great Zhen? Isn’t this like tying themselves to a sinking ship? Do they truly believe they will win?”

Du Changsheng found it utterly absurd. Such an incident, where cultivators truly pledge allegiance to a state and interfere in its human destiny, would be rare even in Great Zhen, yet it was happening in Zuyue.

Yin Qing glanced at Yan Chang, then looked at Du Changsheng and, after some thought, inquired.

“Imperial Preceptor, you are a person of the immortal path,” Yin Qing said. “Might you have a good strategy?”

“A good strategy?” Du Changsheng replied. “I, Du, am merely a cultivator; I can only go to the front lines to assist our imperial army. A good strategy will still require the combined efforts of Duke Yin, Master Yin, and the many other officials and generals.”

Yang Sheng immediately rose from his seat.

“Excellent! With the Imperial Preceptor’s words, I am reassured!”

Yang Sheng had personally witnessed the grand array that connected to the celestial stars to save Yin Zhaoxian. So, even though Du Changsheng repeatedly emphasized that he had merely borrowed the power, Yang Sheng still greatly trusted his abilities. In truth, summoning Du Changsheng today, besides hearing his opinions, was largely to elicit such a declaration from him. He hadn't even hinted at it, yet Du Changsheng had already volunteered—how could Yang Sheng not be pleased?

Yan Chang also spoke up at this moment.

“Your Majesty,” Yan Chang said, “your old servant has recently observed the celestial phenomena and knows that our dynasty has reached a critical juncture. At this moment, we cannot afford to consider whether it exhausts the populace or drains resources; we must fully guarantee the war effort on the front lines.”

“Troops, armor, weapons, chariots, provisions, and so forth will naturally be allocated by me and my colleagues,” Yin Qing assured. “The army is also continuously recruiting and deploying. Furthermore, our Great Zhen has accumulated strength over many years; it will not collapse overnight. Please rest assured, Grand Astrologer Yan.”

Yin Qing spoke with absolute confidence, and those present were thoroughly convinced. Yin Zhaoxian, currently the only person besides the Emperor with a seat, sat by the imperial desk, merely stroking his beard in silence. He was pleased to see the civil and military officials in court working together, and even more delighted to see the common people and the court united.

Du Changsheng’s gaze fell upon Yin Zhaoxian, and he suddenly spoke.

“Actually…”

But his words stopped there.

“Imperial Preceptor, what do you wish to say?” the Emperor prompted. “Speak freely.”

“Uh, I, Du, wanted to suggest that Your Majesty also put up notices so that more capable individuals from our dynasty can come and assist,” Du Changsheng stammered, “but then I remembered that many righteous individuals have already gone forth…”

“The Imperial Preceptor speaks wisely!” the Emperor declared. “Minister Li shall oversee this matter!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

With the Emperor’s command, a middle-aged official on the side immediately bowed and accepted the order. By the time of Emperor Yang Sheng’s reign, most of the veteran officials who had served through three reigns since the Yuande Emperor’s era had either retired or passed away.

Du Changsheng’s suggestion was effectively meaningless, as Yang Sheng himself had already thought of it. Yet, to save Du Changsheng’s face, he deliberately voiced his approval. What Yang Sheng didn’t know was that Du Changsheng had originally intended to say that if Yin Zhaoxian personally went to the battlefield, it would be worth half an army.

In the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s archive room, Ji Yuan held the bamboo slips in one hand and a white jade "Thousand-Measure" pot in the other. He sat on the floor, slowly pouring wine into his mouth.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Ji Yuan’s pale eyes were unfocused, his immediate surroundings blurred, but within his mind’s eye, he seemed to traverse thousands of mountains and rivers.

“Someone anticipated my move, Ji Yuan, and is acting against it?”