Chapter 717: Northwest Ablaze with Smoke, Peace for All in the Capital

Category: Historical MilitaryAuthor: Fenghuo Xizhu Hou

Though the world enjoyed a spring of unity, the Liyang imperial court remained oblivious when the Northern Mang army advanced on three fronts, nor would Beiliang relay this military intelligence to the capital. It was likely that even if the capital were to hear of it, they would merely breathe a sigh of relief. Barbarians killing barbarians, a dog-eat-dog scenario, was of no concern to them. It would be best if both sides suffered heavy losses, practically a godsend that would bring "good fortune" to the Liyang Dynasty.

On the straight official road just outside the capital's south gate stood four individuals without travel permits or household registers. A couple with a child, the toddler riding on the shoulders of the sword-wielding man, clearly a family of three. Next to them stood a slightly superfluous, imposing figure in white. This white-clad person, who gave off an indistinct impression, was not exceptionally striking in appearance; neither possessing the captivating beauty of a "rouge-list" woman nor the extraordinary handsomeness of a man. Passersby instinctively avoided gazing at this person, allowing only a fleeting glance. Upon reflection, it seemed impossible for them to leave no impression, yet no one dared to look a second time. As for the inconspicuous family of three, they were naturally overlooked.

The man, holding his child's legs with both hands, looked at the city wall of Tai'an, a little emotional. "Perhaps this was the only city in the world that ever troubled me. I really wanted to enter, but I was afraid of causing trouble. None of us three have legitimate Liyang identities, so we can't just force our way in. Sneaking in at night wouldn't be right either. At that time, there was a man named Xie in the city; he wasn't my match in a fight, but finding me would be simple. I just wanted to take my wife and daughter inside to play, not go on a rampage and show off. If I were twenty years younger, perhaps I'd consider something like that."

The white-clad person sneered, "Didn't Hong Xixiang manage it?"

The man replied helplessly, "Aren't you comparing me to Lu Zu?"

The white-clad person said flatly, "In terms of those tangled identities, would you lose? Even if we only consider martial arts talent in this life, you wouldn't lose. Yet you've fallen to a point where you're not even as good as Tuoba Pusa."

The man wore a dismissive expression, as if he had nothing to say. His wife quickly interjected with a laugh, "My husband is naturally lazy, but isn't that good? No need to inexplicably compete with anyone, and it's peaceful."

The man nodded in agreement, "Exactly, exactly."

The child rested her chin on her father's head and nodded along, even though she didn't understand anything, cheering, "Exactly, exactly!"

The white-clad person gazed towards Tai'an City. For eight hundred years, from the Great Qin to Liyang, she had visited almost every imperial capital, except for this paramount city before her.

The child suddenly said, "Daddy, didn't Mommy say before that there's a guy who likes to wear green clothes who often enters the city? Why are you having a headache? Daddy, it's okay if you can't beat my future master, but at least try to be the second or third strongest in the world, right?"

The man rubbed his chin and said seriously, "You're right."

The woman pinched his waist hard.

Just as the man was about to speak, he noticed that their companion had simply turned and walked away. He was indeed as lazy as his wife described, too lazy to ponder the reason. Yet, he couldn't help but inwardly grumble, *Aren't your identities, Great Demoness Luoyang, equally messy? Do you have the right to lecture me?*

The white-clad person was Luoyang. He was the one who had traveled from Northern Mang to Liyang, found a wife, then, because his wife said sword-wielding knights were the most dashing, casually picked up a sword and pretended to be a swordsman, had a beloved daughter, and finally met both Luoyang and Tuoba Pusa at the foot of Mount Hui. In Northern Mang, his reputation was immense. Of the five great sects in Northern Mang, his sect was among them, and he was its sole member. A unique existence in the world. One person, one sect. He certainly knew his martial arts talent was excellent, but he never pursued enlightenment, ascension, or being the strongest in the world. It was like his wife, who wasn't stunningly beautiful, yet he fell for her at first sight. Some things in the world simply have no reason. His only pursuit was freedom; in his youth, it was personal freedom, and after meeting his wife and having a child, it became the freedom of their family of three. As for what freedom truly was, he was too lazy to ponder it deeply.

He gazed at the magnificent city, clearly sensing its accumulated fortune. He assumed that after the new Liyang emperor ascended the throne, with Han Shengxuan dead, Liu Haoshi dead, and the man named Xie also gone, the emperor, fearing his head would be removed soon after donning the dragon robe and sitting on the dragon throne, had set up many murky, intricate mechanisms. This was reasonable; given the Liyang Dynasty's ever-growing national power and foundation, it wouldn't be entirely helpless against a single, top-tier martial artist.

His daughter suddenly whispered, "Daddy, I want to eat chive pancakes."

The man paused, then grinned as he turned to look at his wife, who was more important than anything else. The woman stomped on his foot. "Fool! What's the point of your martial arts if your daughter can't even have a pancake?" She quickly added, "We're not asking for it for free!"

The man, having received his "imperial decree," nodded and laughed, "Alright!" He freed one hand to take his wife's, and softly said, "Daughter, hold on tight."

In an instant, all first-rank experts, both overt and covert, within Tai'an City felt an immensely powerful aura! The Northern School Dragon-Supporting Qi Refiners were even more bewildered, like a swarm of headless flies. The man raised a smiling face. What is freedom? At least at this moment, he knew the answer. Freedom. That's when his daughter wants a pancake, and even if the entire city of Tai'an tries to stop him, they can't stop Hu Yan Daguan. A brilliant stream of light erupted from the road, like a long rainbow plunging into Tai'an City.

Tai'an City indeed had sayings about late autumn cabbage and spring chives; these two ingredients were affordable and beloved by everyone, from high-ranking officials to peddlers. The capital's residents particularly enjoyed "biting into spring" with chives, a custom perfectly aligned with the season. Eating a mouthful of spicy, fresh green chives could practically expel all the stale qi accumulated in one's organs over winter. In the largest official building in Zhao Family Urn, a district of the capital, many officials' burps smelled of chives, not to mention the muffled farts from under some dignitary's backside—things that would make one frown deeply, then quickly smile knowingly.

Zhao Family Urn housed the always prestigious and aloof Hanlin Academy, as well as the formerly deserted but now slightly livelier Grand Secretariat and Chancellery, two major government offices. However, the busiest was naturally the Six Ministries under the Department of State Affairs, and among them, the Ministry of War consistently stood as the most crucial and imposing of the Outer Court's primary offices. Even after Heir Apparent Yin Maochun replaced Zhao Yourong as Minister of Personnel, this dynamic remained unchanged. Unlike the other five major ministries whose heads rotated frequently—with new leaders appearing every few years—the Ministry of War, from the first year of Yonghui to the second year of Xiangfu, had seen only three individuals occupy the ministerial seat over two decades: Grand Pillar Gu Jiantang, King of Shu Chen Zhibao, and currently, the Tangxi Sword Immortal Lu Baijie. Furthermore, the latter two combined had served for less than two years. The Ministry of War had undoubtedly always been a coveted place for new imperial examination graduates, so much so that last year's *bangyan* (second-rank scholar), Gao Tingshu, openly declared during a court discussion that he would rather be a minor official in the Ministry of War's Bureau of Military Appointments than an assistant director in the Ministry of Rites' Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs, which offered the easiest path to promotion. It's worth noting that the Minister of Rites, Bai Guo, was present in the hall at the time. Minister Bai was so amused and angered that he immediately kicked the other minister, Lu Baijie. It was rumored that Bai Guo was later transferred to Minister of Revenue, and one day, he met the new *bangyan* at morning court and quip-ped, "Fortunately, I didn't take office in the Ministry of Personnel, otherwise you, young man, would have been stuck on the back bench in the Ministry of War for fifteen or twenty years."

Today, the unusually busy Ministry of War received a rather abrupt visitor. Everyone in the ministry, whether walking outside or sitting inside reviewing documents, either stopped to salute or rose respectfully upon seeing him, their expressions agitated, almost as if they were granted a private audience with the emperor. It was simple: because this person was Gu Jiantang! The youngest martial artist among the Four Famous Generals of Spring and Autumn, and the former master of Gu Lu in the Ministry of War! As a general, Xu Xiao, also a famous general of Spring and Autumn, had died of old age, but Gu Jiantang could not even be called elderly. As an official, Zhang Lu, which had confronted Gu Lu for over a decade, had long since collapsed, and Zhang Julu had died miserably. Yet, Gu Jiantang remained the Liyang court's sole super-first-rank Grand Pillar, holding authority over 300,000 soldiers on the northern border!

Gu Jiantang walked alone into the large room of the old Zhang Lu. Without him saying a word, that large group of officials, who were notably haughty among the Six Ministries, rose to salute, then collectively and swiftly sat back down to continue their work. This was the unspoken, severe demeanor Gu Jiantang instilled in the Ministry of War: you could be arrogant and domineering in your conduct, but your work must be swift and decisive, with no procrastination. Unlike the other five ministries, where ministers and vice-ministers had separate offices, the three principal and deputy officials of the Ministry of War all worked in the same room. The minister's desk was placed at the far left, and the two vice-ministers' desks were at the far right. Currently, of the Ministry of War's two vice-ministers, Grand General Piaoyi Lu Shengxiang was not in the capital as the commander-in-chief of the Southern Expedition, and the newly appointed Vice-Minister, General Longxiang Xu Gong, had traveled to inspect the borders of Liangliao according to the new Liyang rites. Thus, only Minister Lu Baijie remained in the room. Upon seeing Gu Jiantang, he did not deliberately put on airs. Instead, like his subordinates, he put down his brush, stood up to greet the old minister, and even remained standing after the others had reseated themselves. This was not merely because Lu Baijie's official badge, embroidered with a second-rank lion, was slightly inferior to Gu Jiantang's first-rank Qilin, but more so because Lu Baijie held an undisguised respect for Gu Jiantang, a senior figure in the Ministry of War.

Lu Baijie walked around his desk to Gu Jiantang's side and smiled, "Great General, would you like to sit and have some tea?"

Gu Jiantang nodded. Lu Baijie led the way to the two adjacent empty desks at the far right of the room. Soon, the *bangyan* (second-rank scholar) who had written "Eight Immortals Drunk" and been personally "threatened" by Minister Bai Guo, brought tea. He first served it to Gu Jiantang, who was "far away in the sky," then to Lu Baijie, who was "right before his eyes." After taking the tea, Gu Jiantang slowly asked, "So you're Gao Tingshu, the one who refused to go to the Ministry of Rites?"

The young official from the Bureau of Military Appointments, who dared not make any superfluous move and only wished to leave quickly, involuntarily tensed up, and stammered, "That would be your humble subordinate."

Gu Jiantang's face was devoid of a smile as he posed another rather sharp question to the new Ministry of War official: "Why didn't you serve tea to Minister Lu first?"

Gao Tingshu was speechless.

Lu Baijie laughed heartily, "Great General, oh Great General, you're clearly secretly pleased, so don't gloat. Master Gao took a huge risk coming to our Ministry of War, potentially facing a 'cold bench' (being sidelined). He's practically half your family, you shouldn't scare a junior like this."

Amused by Lu Baijie's teasing, Gu Jiantang no longer maintained a stern face, but instead smiled faintly. "Just for your initiative in serving the tea first, even if the Ministry of Personnel tries to suppress you later, I'll ask Minister Bai for a favor right here, ensuring your future promotions won't be delayed. But you, young man, should learn more. Look at how Minister Bai handles things: he both saves face for himself by finding a way out and makes you remember his great kindness for helping you."

Lu Baijie said with a helpless expression, "Hey, hey, hey, Great General, that's not fair! It's one thing to mooch tea, but you're also undermining my authority. I'll have no prestige left in this room!" Lu Baijie turned and glared at Gao Tingshu, feigning anger, "You brat, scram! Aren't you afraid I'll make things difficult for you? Do you want to annoy all the Ministers of the Six Ministries before you stop? Even if the Great General protects you then, at most he'll send you to the borderlands to face the wind and sand!"

Gao Tingshu quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, grinned foolishly, and scurried away. The Ministry of War officials, who had secretly been listening, burst into laughter. Amidst the wonderfully lighthearted atmosphere, everyone naturally envied Gao Tingshu's sudden good fortune; he had instantly left a strong impression on two successive Ministers of War.

Gu Jiantang drained his tea in one gulp. After setting the cup down, he remarked with emotion, "Minister Lu has it tough."

Lu Baijie took a sip of the slightly bitter tea, nodding with a faint, wry smile, "It truly is difficult."

Gu Jiantang remained silent for a long time, then stood up and said, "I'm about to leave the capital and return to Liaoxi. I won't bother you further."

Lu Baijie also rose and calmly said, "I'll see the Great General off."

After the two walked out of the room, Lu Baijie hesitated, then quietly asked, "Is the Great General truly leaving?"

Gu Jiantang hummed in affirmation. Like the Minister of War beside him, he no longer appeared as relaxed as he had inside; his expression was somewhat solemn. "If I could have decided to stay before reaching reaching the capital, there would have been hope. But now, even if I insist on staying, do you think it's possible?"

Lu Baijie was speechless. The Great General Gu Jiantang's implied meaning was not profound. When the late emperor was alive, Gu Jiantang had traveled with him back to the capital, yet failed to convince the emperor to let him, the Grand Pillar overseeing military and political affairs in the northern regions, replace Lu Shengxiang in leading the Southern Expedition. How, then, could Gu Jiantang now, with the new monarch ascended, leverage his past achievements to coerce the new ruler at such a sensitive juncture?

In truth, both Gu Jiantang and Lu Baijie evidently agreed with someone's earlier assessment of the situation: the suppression of the rebellion in Guangling Road should be swift, not slow. The court dispatching Lu Shengxiang to partner with Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun for the Southern Expedition, aided by several vassal kings in quelling the rebellion, was indeed sufficient in terms of military strength. It wasn't a brilliant move, but certainly not a foolish one either. However, almost everyone overlooked one thing: deploying and arraying troops on the battlefield is far more straightforward than the officialdom, where everyone can sit behind closed doors and deliberate over every step. Lu Shengxiang possessed exceptional talent in "commanding troops," but the turbulent court politics at the time simply didn't allow this Vice-Minister of War the chance to "command generals." Not only was there no opportunity, but he was also dragged down to a point where even commanding troops became extremely difficult. As a result, the court forcibly turned a highly advantageous chess game into a muddled, terrible one. Had Gu Jiantang been in charge, even with the interference of those arrogant young scions, Yang Shenxing would absolutely not have dared to recklessly pursue glory, thus preventing Yan Zhenchun's entire 30,000 cavalry from being annihilated there, and avoiding the utter defeat of vassal kings Zhao Ying and Zhao Xun, who practically rode to their deaths.

Gu Jiantang quietly slowed his pace and said, "Lu Shengxiang has been made Grand General Piaoyi. Barring any surprises, he'll vacate the position in the Ministry of War that I just occupied. At that time, my subordinate, General Tang Tieshuang of Liaoxi, will come to the capital to take over. It's not particularly good news, nor bad news; I'm just taking this opportunity to give you a heads-up. Tang Tieshuang is unlike Lu Shengxiang and Xu Gong; he's not good at being an official, but he's excellent at leading troops in battle. Once he joins the Ministry of War, Minister Lu, try to have him take some young people with him and send them to Guangling Road... or perhaps it will be to the south of the capital region by then."

Gu Jiantang said calmly, "The reason I'm saying this isn't out of self-interest to make Tang Tieshuang's official career smooth. Rather, it's just a hope that while the Ministry of War is in your hands, Minister Lu, it can retain a bit more of the battlefield essence for a few more days. In the future, I fear few of those sitting in the Ministry of War will know what horse manure smells like, and even fewer will have calluses on their inner thighs from the hardship of riding."

Lu Baijie sighed and said, "This shouldn't be difficult."

Gu Jiantang suddenly looked back at the former Gu Lu. In the twilight, some lingering spring sunlight still spilled onto the roof. Gu Jiantang then smiled at Lu Baijie, "No need to see me off further. I'm going to a place I never had the chance to visit before."

Lu Baijie stood still, watching the Great General depart. He knew where Gu Jiantang was going. The former Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu was initially the location of the Ministry of Personnel, as regardless of how arrogant the Ministry of War became under Gu Jiantang's long tenure, the Ministry of Personnel always remained the nominal first key department of Liyang's Outer Court. Later, when Zhao Yourong parted ways with his mentor, the Ministry of Personnel moved to a different location. At that time, Wang Xiong'gui, who was the only remaining favored disciple steadfastly supporting the Grand Secretary, did not immediately move the Ministry of Revenue, which he led, into Zhang Lu. However, at that time, the Ministries of Personnel, Works, Revenue, Rites, and Justice would each have a vice-minister sit diligently at Zhang Lu, so that the civilian leader could convey his intentions or will to the various departments of the five ministries as quickly as possible. Now, Zhao Yourong had been promoted to the Grand Secretariat, and Yin Maochun had taken charge of the Ministry of Personnel. The latter unexpectedly chose to occupy that room. Of course, there would no longer be any mention of "Zhang Lu" in the world. Compared to "Gu Lu," which was often spoken of, this place was no longer even dared to be mentioned. As if it had never existed in the Liyang court.

Gu Jiantang walked to that place and looked at it. Under the twilight, compared to Gu Lu, there wasn't even a trace of lingering light. During this return to the capital, the emperor, who was not yet referred to as the late emperor, stood in the imperial prison that night. It was Gu Jiantang who met the person for the last time and relayed their final words. That person, separated from him, the Great General, by iron bars, did not speak a single word of a dying wish, but merely waved at Gu Jiantang. Gu Jiantang withdrew his thoughts, choosing not to look at the key officials from the Ministry of Personnel who, upon hearing the news, hurriedly rushed out of the room and down the steps to greet him, nor did he glance at the Heir Apparent Yin Maochun who stood by the entrance. Gu Jiantang simply turned and strode away.

The capital silently gained a new resident. Normally, an extra person—or even a thousand—in this premier city would be like a stone skipped on water, but this particular guest, who was under a cloud of alleged wrongdoing, could not be underestimated by anyone. Jing'an King Zhao Xun, the youngest Zhao clan princely vassal of the Liyang Dynasty. From the imperial decree summoning Zhao Xun to his arrival in the capital, the Ministry of Rites should have been involved, but the Imperial Clan Court handled everything exclusively. There were no impenetrable walls in the capital; unofficial news was already spreading rapidly among high-level officials, but virtually no one knew whether Zhao Xun's trip to Tai'an City would bring him fortune or disaster. In the battle outside Yaoyou Pass, Zhao Ying, the King of Huainan and also a princely vassal, was killed in battle after three consecutive victories. To call it "frustrating" might be inappropriate, but "heroic" wouldn't be quite right either. Brave, yes, but also too reckless. Abandoning three passes to engage in cavalry duels on the plains—how could that be considered wise? As for Zhao Xun, he received more praise than criticism. After all, this Jing'an King had gone to rescue the King of Huainan and was almost pursued to death by the rebel cavalry of Western Chu. The two vassal kings, though a generation apart, had a superficial relationship, which showed Zhao Xun's unquestionable loyalty to the court, a stark contrast to his father, the old Jing'an King Zhao Heng. However, the current emperor had just ascended the throne, and the imperial will was hard to fathom.

Zhao Xun was temporarily residing in a mansion on Junwang Street, with no hereditary connection to him. Over a hundred years ago, it had been the private residence of a powerful Liyang official, built with immense extravagance, spanning a vast area with over four hundred rooms. Its pavilions' foundations were several *zhang* higher than the street outside. About forty years ago, it was bestowed by the Liyang Emperor upon King Zhongyi, but unfortunately, the title was lost after only one generation of hereditary succession due to a crime. In the last forty years, it changed hands several times, with no owner residing there for long. The most famous occupant was undoubtedly the Old Grand Tutor Sun Xiji of Western Chu.

Although Zhao Xun was nominally a vassal king traveling to the capital to confess his sins, the wording of the previous imperial decree was quite severe. Had everything not unfolded as predicted by the blind Master Lu, Zhao Xun might truly have been terrified out of his wits. At the time, Lu Xu's advice was simple: "Since you're going, accept it." Zhao Xun was indeed accepting his fate; these past few days, he often strolled alone through the mansion, fully appreciating its bright corridors, towering ancient trees, and the surrounding water and hills. Zhao Xun now stood in a pavilion in the middle of a lake, a smile still on his face. Previously, when he arrived in the capital, the Right Director of the Imperial Clan Court, who escorted him here, treated him with disdain, looking at him as if he were a stray dog. But just yesterday, perhaps having heard some news, he frantically came to mend relations, his wrinkled old face beaming. Zhao Xun, of course, did not outwardly show any displeasure; he even presented the Right Director with a mercury-infused jade thumb ring he had prepared long ago. The old man's eyes lit up upon seeing it; clearly, Master Lu's meticulously prepared trinket had hit a nerve. In fact, besides the jade thumb ring, Lu Xu had also told him to carry a tortoise-shell inkstone with him, saying that if the Left Director were to greet him, this item should be presented.

Zhao Xun genuinely exclaimed, "Lu Xu, you truly are a brilliant strategist! When I was still a princeling, I always thought that so-called top strategists like Li Yishan and Nalan Youci were merely products of their times, and that in an era of peace, they would fade into obscurity. It wasn't until I met you that I realized that no matter whether it's a time of chaos or order, you will always have your place."

Zhao Xun had previously thought that sacrificing 6,000 cavalry to achieve the "retreat to advance" strategy was too heavy a price. However, when Zhao Xun arrived in Tai'an City and stood in this mansion, he began to understand that Master Lu was right. Zhao Xun suddenly saw two figures appear on the far side of the lake, then walk towards the pavilion, unescorted. Zhao Xun frowned, feeling a natural sense of vigilance. As the two gradually approached, Zhao Xun paused. Recognizing one of them, he asked in surprise, "Brother Song?" It was Song Keli, the young phoenix of the Song family. On his last visit to the capital, Zhao Xun had some brief interactions with Song Keli.

Song Keli bowed and said, "Your humble servant greets the King of Jing'an."

Zhao Xun quickly smiled and said, "Brother Song, no need for such formality."

Song Keli appeared at ease, exuding an inherent calmness and lack of arrogance, without any sign of despondency from his family's decline or his own obscured status. His joint visit with the gray-haired scholar left Zhao Xun feeling quite uncertain.

Song Keli whispered, "This is Master Yuan. Sun Xiji and others from Western Chu are merely Master Yuan's guests."

Zhao Xun was not foolish; he immediately understood. The surname Yuan. The true owner of this mansion. It was the Liyang Dynasty's foremost strategist, Yuan Benxi, the "Half-Inch Tongue," whom his father Zhao Heng despised to his very core!

Zhao Xun bowed deeply, "Your junior, Zhao Xun, greets Master Yuan!"

Yuan Benxi said nothing, merely waved his hand.

Song Keli smiled, "Your humble servant is here to inform Your Highness that you can soon leave the capital and return to Qingzhou."

Before Zhao Xun could fully process it, Song Keli's "soon" truly came to pass very quickly. A Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, clad in a vibrant red python robe, approached the three, carrying an imperial decree. His steps were swift yet gave no impression of disorder or haste. The old eunuch, holding the imperial decree, first gave a slight nod of greeting to Yuan Benxi before proclaiming the decree to Jing'an King Zhao Xun. Zhao Xun naturally knelt, and Song Keli also stepped back and knelt to listen. Only Yuan Benxi, facing the lake, remained oblivious. And the Grand Eunuch, who held a secure position among the top three eunuchs in the realm, showed not the slightest unusual expression regarding this. Having received the imperial decree, Zhao Xun had no choice but to quickly leave the capital. Furthermore, without Lu Xu's ingenious advice, he truly didn't know how to speak to the Liyang Imperial Tutor, fearing he might make things worse. So, he used the opportunity to bid farewell and leave the lakeside pavilion.

After Zhao Xun and the Grand Eunuch had successively departed, Yuan Benxi asked, "What do you suppose this Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial will be asked when he returns to the palace?"

Song Keli shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

Yuan Benxi smiled, "The emperor won't care about the King of Jing'an's situation. He will ask whether Yuan Benxi showed respect upon seeing the imperial decree."

Song Keli was torn between laughter and tears.

Yuan Benxi calmly said, "Earlier, I advised the late emperor that if Jing'an King Zhao Xun intentionally concealed his strength during the campaign to quell the rebellion, an imperial decree should be issued ordering him to the capital, stripping him of his title, and demoting him to commoner status. If he genuinely tried his best but still failed, then he should retain his princely title but be required to reside in Tai'an City for one or two years. The late emperor took this matter to heart. The current emperor isn't uninterested, but for him, a vassal king with mediocre prestige like Zhao Xun's departure or stay is insignificant. He wants to use this to imitate the late emperor's tactics against Zhang Julu, constantly making probing moves, proceeding cautiously, and gradually eroding power..."

Song Keli whispered, "Isn't he a bit too impatient?"

Yuan Benxi gave no clear answer, but with a slight effort, he continued, "Zhao Xun is very clever. Not because he is inherently intelligent—in fact, he's far inferior to his father Zhao Heng—but because he understands how to be utterly compliant with those who support him. I wanted him to stay in Tai'an City, confined to observing the world's changes from the sidelines, because Xiangfan, as the empire's vital core, is simply too important to allow any loss. That blind young man with a living heart is himself a huge variable. I originally intended to completely disrupt Qingzhou's power and have either Xu Gong or Tang Tieshuang take charge of Xiangfan City. Now it seems, perhaps, one day, Qingzhou will become a battleground for strategists, possibly for Liyang, Northern Mang, Beiliang, Western Chu, Western Shu, and Southern Border."

Song Keli hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

"Strategists, indeed. Scholars who plan. Their status is fixed: merely 'scholars.' What follows is devising strategies for those they assist. But before that, one must find the right person." Yuan Benxi narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Li Yishan finding Xu Xiao was correct; Zhao Changling was wrong. My choice of the late emperor was correct; Xun Ping was wrong. Nalan Youci finding King Yanfu, Zhao Bing, was correct; Lu Xu finding Zhao Heng and Zhao Xun, father and son, was wrong."

Song Keli asked curiously, "Then was it right or wrong for Song Dongming, Xu Beizhi, and Chen Xiliang to find Xu Fengnian?"

Yuan Benxi smiled faintly, "I don't know."

Song Keli asked seriously, "Even you, Master, have things you're not sure about?"

Yuan Benxi countered, "Why shouldn't I?"

Song Keli smiled, "You can."

Yuan Benxi merely smiled, then said, "I once asked two monks the same question: to kill a thousand to save ten thousand, is that an action to be taken, or not? When I asked about killing ten to save ten thousand, Yang Taisui nodded and said it could be done. But when I kept asking about killing one to save ten thousand, Li Dangxin still refused to nod."

After Yuan Benxi finished speaking, he paused for a long time, then placed his hand on the pavilion pillar and said, "Next, I will have you take an imperial decree and a secret decree to Jizhou. The former is for you to establish roots in Jinan, and the latter is for you to deliver to Yuan Tingshan, that mad dog, telling him to boldly open the gateway to Jibei."

Song Keli was initially puzzled, but then suddenly turned pale.

Yuan Benxi said calmly, "It's just to make Beiliang a bit more chaotic. Those who seek to live, live; those who wish to die, die. Each finds their place. Beiliang's cavalry is the finest in the world? Then let the entire Central Plains watch and see."

As always, Tai'an City now welcomed the "literary flourish" of the first lunar month, an unmissable and fleeting opportunity. For a time, calling cards and petitions filled the air. The imperial examination system began in Dafeng, flourished in Western Chu, and reached its peak in Liyang. In Western Chu, the examination subjects were extremely complex. After reforms in Liyang, the *jinshi* (scholar-official) examination became paramount, and under a certain individual, the *jinshi* exam gradually emphasized policy questions. Initially, there was a period of uproar, questioning whether "the Grand Secretary neglected scholarship in favor of practical achievements." The number of successful *jinshi* candidates also steadily increased, from a mere three or four in Dafeng to twenty or thirty in Western Chu, then over a hundred in the later Yonghui period, reaching an unprecedented two hundred in the first year of Xiangfu. Due to the boom in imperial examinations, many aspiring scholars from other regions continuously poured into and stayed in Tai'an City, leading to the two interesting phenomena of "publicizing the list" and "reviewing submitted papers," which implicitly brought the literary and official circles closer together.

The Liyang *jinshi* examinations were held in the first lunar month, with results announced in the second. Aside from the rare few who successfully "leapt over the dragon gate," aspiring scholars who failed shouldn't naively think their journey was over, nor could they simply return home. Firstly, the enormous travel expenses to the capital were beyond what most scholars could afford, so they had to remain in the capital. Those with connections sought out relatives or fellow provincials, while those without had to borrow lodging in temples or Daoist monasteries. During this period, besides continuing their arduous studies, they also had to learn to ask influential officials or literary figures to "cast an eye" over and critique their proudest essays, or directly submit them to Ministry of Rites officials other than the chief examiners. Phrases like "the Prime Minister's doorman is a seventh-rank official" and "it's easier to see the King of Hell than his imps" arose from this practice.