Anxious

The Governor-General of Liangjiang, a position of utmost importance.

As a Han official, to reach such a post, Zhang Ji was not only capable of practical matters and able to put a veneer on the declining court, but more importantly, he had always been upright and strict. Evildoers and villains feared him. Even in the prevailing atmosphere of the court, which generally suffered from xenophobia, he could still remain neither humble nor arrogant, arguing his case with reason.

To earn the respect of others, one must first respect oneself.

A foreign governor-general had specifically traveled from Hong Kong to meet Zhang Ji, and his wife also met Mrs. Zhang at the same time. Such a dignified diplomatic exchange was absolutely unimaginable at that time.

Fine, since you are so capable.

The foreigners treat you with great courtesy.

Then, the position of Governor-General of Liangjiang, which frequently involves dealing with foreigners and often requires subservience, a frontier official who is likely to be disliked by both sides, is entrusted to you!

In the position of Governor-General of Liangjiang.

Zhang Ji worked diligently and never slacked. He had to maintain the court's dignity and honor, and also grasp the proper measure to avoid provoking border conflicts. Although the difficulty was great, he was fortunate enough to do many practical things for the country and the people, and he did not provoke the foreigners into large-scale conflict. It could be said that he had done right by everyone.

Doing this well is enough.

If he had done even better...

As a Han official, perhaps one day the court would deem him to have a foot ailment and directly send him back to his hometown to recuperate. That glass ceiling was invisible, but it had always been there, above all officials.

Zhang Ji's good luck ran out today.

When the urgent news of many foreign ironclad warships being sunk on the Yangtze River reached the Governor-General's office, Zhang Ji, who had suddenly stood up, felt his vision blacken, his chest tighten, and he sat back down.

Foreign ironclad warships were sunk?

Who did it!?

What? It wasn't the navy. Neither the Liangjiang nor Liangguang navies were mobilized. Those few broken ships, if they had truly gone head-to-head with the foreign ironclad warships, the urgent message would have been that the entire navy was annihilated, and the menacing foreigners would have come to discuss treaties and security.

What? It wasn't the imperial navy? Could it be infighting among the foreigners?

Zhang Ji's ashen face recovered slightly.

Amidst his shock, while sending people to inquire and awaiting news, he couldn't help but sigh heavily. Two years ago in Liaodong, two tigers fought, and as the host, facing a brutal, gaping maw, he was forced into neutrality. What powerlessness and incompetence this was. Could it be that such a situation was to be repeated here today?

Zhang Ji wanted to leave the Governor-General's office to investigate personally.

However, the people were in a state of panic at this moment.

He feared that as soon as he left the Governor-General's office, the office itself would succumb to xenophobia.

Zhang Ji soon received another piece of good news.

The perpetrator who sank the foreign ironclad warships was an Immortal. The Immortal flew towards the city, so the foreigners couldn't blame us!

"Absurd!!"

"Are you trying to fool me into thinking I'm an idiot?"

"An Immortal?"

"I think you've lost your minds and want to collude with the remnants of Honglian again."

Facing the roar of the Governor-General of Liangjiang, the officials trembled. Especially when their superior, Shangguan, put such a heavy hat on them, no one dared to utter a word. They were all as silent as cicadas in winter.

A large part of Zhang Ji's anger was vented. After calming down, he waved his hand to investigate further. He prepared to call the foreign ministers and governors in the concessions to gauge their reactions, and then consider how to report this world-shattering disaster. Could it be that he, the dignified Governor-General of Liangjiang, would truly have to resort to the excuse of an Immortal out of sheer incompetence?

Two hours later.

Looking at the telegram prepared for Tianjing in his hand, which clearly stated words like "a white-haired Immortal took action, wielding lightning, and sinking foreign warships," Zhang Ji fell into deep silence.

"My lord, send it," a strategist beside him advised.

"But..." Zhang Ji was extremely conflicted.

"My lord, the foreigners have already said it has nothing to do with us; it was that Immortal who did it. We are not crows that caw aimlessly," the strategist persuaded again.

As long as the foreigners did not go berserk and use military force against the court, even if this telegram was a bit absurd, it would not be mistaken for a crow that revealed the cause of the disaster.

Zhang Ji still shook his head, the telegram in his hand feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Ruisheng, I am now at an age where I understand the Mandate of Heaven. I probably don't have many years left to live. In my final moments, I wish to live without shame before heaven and earth."

As a relative of the clan, Zhang Ruisheng nodded in agreement, his expression becoming serious and respectful.

His cousin was truly a gentleman.

"If I send this telegram, I fear I will be judged as powerless and incompetent. If it were only that, it would be fine. I am afraid that the court will think I am delirious, disbelieve me, and miss this only golden opportunity, even aiding and abetting the wicked. When the Immortal gets angry, how many people in our dynasty can withstand ironclad warships with their heads?" Zhang Ji was worried about this.

He received the emperor's stipend and was loyal to the emperor.

After multiple verifications, arriving at the scene, investigating on-site, and visiting personally, Zhang Ji had to admit that the Immortal was real.

The citizens of the city, along with the foreigners in the concessions, had all witnessed it.

It could not be faked.

Since it was real, and this Immortal was so powerful, this was a heaven-sent opportunity! If the Immortal could be appointed as the Imperial Tutor, with his might, he would surely sweep away the decline, revitalize the national prestige, and deter the barbarians!

"In that case, this telegram can be temporarily withheld," Zhang Ruisheng suggested with a glint in his eye.

"Oh?" Zhang Ji raised his eyebrows.

"Does my lord think the foreigners can win?"

"Difficult," the foreigner wouldn't need Zhang Ji's full assistance to capture the attackers if they were confident.

"Then, sir, do you think the Immortal can win?"

"Hmm, difficult as well." The xenophobia wouldn't be cured overnight; the foreigners' strength was deeply ingrained in people's minds.

Zhang Ruisheng spread his hands.

"No matter who wins, the imperial court definitely won't. If the Immortal can't win, he's not an Immortal. If he truly is an Immortal, his words will be far more useful than our telegrams."

More useful than the imperial seal, even.

Even from a legal standpoint, an Immortal was equivalent to Heaven, and the Son of Heaven was Heaven's son. Wouldn't a father educating his son be better than foreigners harming their son?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ji gave his kinsman a deep look. For a long time, his kinsman had been in deep private contact with people like Nong Jinsun, and his intentions were no longer worth concealing.

The Immortal had ultimately landed at the International Journalists' Club, and today also happened to be the founding of the Jingwu Gymnastics Association.

While Zhang Ji was contemplating, a phone call came into the Governor-General's office.

Zhang Ruisheng waited a moment before going to answer the phone.

A moment later, Zhang Ruisheng hung up. The usually humble and reserved aide's voice was tinged with excitement.

"They're getting desperate! Deploying guns is useless! Guns! Useless! Next, they'll deploy cannons! Ships!"

"Alright, that's enough. I'm feeling unwell and need to go to bed to recuperate. Don't let anyone disturb me." Zhang Ji decisively interrupted Zhang Ruisheng, then stood up and walked toward the back hall with a somewhat desolate air.

Whether intentionally or not, Zhang Ji left the great seal, representing his status as Governor-General of Liangjiang, on his desk. Zhang Ruisheng, with a calm expression, tucked the seal into his sleeve and then quickly left the Governor-General's office, hurrying to the Yangtze River Navy's base without delay.