Chen Gongtai Tests Lan Ziyu

Seeing Chen Gong standing there in a daze, Lan Tian ignored him. He went straight into the house and carried out several bamboo scrolls to read. In his original world, he would never have dared hope for days spent reading beneath such warm sunlight.

In that age of relentless competition, people jogged to and from work, while school libraries stayed open all night. He truly did not know why everyone worked themselves so desperately.

By contrast, in this world, people were satisfied as long as they had something to eat. When he had first arrived at this village, most of the houses had still been empty. Getting a wife did not require a house, a carriage, or money; for an ordinary farming family, selling some grain and cutting two jin of meat was enough for a betrothal gift.

The scroll in Lan Tian's hands looked quite familiar to Chen Gong. Upon closer inspection, he found that it was actually his own Weiliaozi, and the urge to test him arose again.

"Are you reading the Weiliaozi?" Chen Gong asked again.

Lan Tian nodded calmly. Why is this guy standing here? Should I chase him off with a stick?

Chen Gong knew the Weiliaozi by heart. At a glance, he had seen that Lan Tian was reading the War Might Chapter, so he asked, "I have also studied this book. May I ask what principle lies behind the passage: 'Land is what nourishes the people; cities are what defend the land; war is what defends the cities. Thus, when farmers cultivate, the people do not go hungry; when defense is diligently maintained, the land is not endangered; when warfare is diligently maintained, the cities are not endangered'?"

Lan Tian had only just reached that passage. He was astonished that scholars of this era were so formidable. Did they possess photographic memories, or had they truly memorized the text so thoroughly?

After pondering for a moment, he replied, "Land nourishes the people, cities defend the land, and war defends the cities. The reasoning is clear enough, but how many can actually accomplish it?"

Seeing that his view seemed novel, Chen Gong urged him on. "Please continue."

"First of all, the part about land nourishing the people has not been done well. Whose hands is the land in now? Whose land are the common people farming? Would you cherish something that was not your own? When war came, would you not flee?" Lan Tian countered.

Lan Tian's words were extremely bold for this era. Yet he himself was now the landlord of Gan Family Village, so Chen Gong found it very strange. Was this boy opposing himself?

"That is what the laws of the state prescribe. How could the common people own land independently? Besides, without the restraints imposed by land, where would grain and soldiers come from?" Chen Gong asked in confusion.

"How can one know the outcome without trying? Perhaps if the people had land of their own, they would be more willing to risk their lives and give their all. In my humble opinion, land nourishing the people is the foundation. If the foundation does not exist, then cities defending land and war defending cities are merely empty talk." Lan Tian spoke calmly. He had the accumulated experience of several thousand years of history, so he did not expect people of this era to understand.

After speaking, Lan Tian lowered his head and continued reading, no longer paying any attention to Chen Gong beside him.

Chen Gong raised his head and stroked his beard, repeatedly considering Lan Tian's views. He considered himself broadly learned, yet he had not expected this young man's words to be so incisive.

"Listening to you has benefited me greatly. My lord, Marquis of Wen Lu Bu, is invincible beneath heaven and is presently staying in Xiaopei to recruit worthy men. Since you possess such great talent, why not return with me and seek hegemony together?" Chen Gong invited Lan Tian once more.

"Hegemony? 'Imperial ambitions and hegemonic dreams are discussed amid laughter, yet they cannot surpass a life spent in drunkenness.' Sir, you should return." Lan Tian lifted his chrysanthemum tea, took a sip, and shook his head with a sigh.

Chen Gong was dumbfounded. By now, he was certain that Lan Tian possessed great talent, but his temperament was as tranquil and detached as that of an old man.

After a moment, Chen Gong pointed first at the scroll in Lan Tian's hand, then at himself. "I am Chen Gong, courtesy name Gongtai."

"Master Gongtai? I have long admired your great name." Lan Tian jolted upright and clasped his hands in salute.

No wonder this fellow had been standing here for so long. He had been reading Chen Gong's collection. Yet there was one thing Lan Tian could not understand: why had Lu Bu sent him to recruit him? Could it be because of Lu Lingqi?

"Ziyu knows my name as well?" Chen Gong pretended to be surprised.

"I heard Miss Lu mention you. She said Master Gongtai possessed talent enough to chart heaven and earth, with the vision to encompass the universe." Mutual flattery cost nothing. Lan Tian was far better at this than Gao Shun; what was wrong with praising someone to his face?

Hearing the excessive praise, Chen Gong stroked his beard and said, "Miss Lu overpraises me. Chen Gong is merely a minor official. But I observed that your speech was extraordinary just now. Do you truly not wish to go with me and assist General Lu?"

Since Chen Gong had named his identity outright, Lan Tian naturally could not put on airs as a farming youth. He answered respectfully, "Master Gongtai misunderstands. I am only a young farmer. When it comes to growing crops, I certainly yield to no one, but my earlier words were merely empty boasts. How could I possibly help General Lu contend for hegemony?"

"Ziyu is too modest. I saw how you handled the dispute among the villagers earlier. Your reasoning was sound and well supported. How can that be called empty boasting?"

"Sir is learned in ancient and modern matters, so you surely know the harm caused by Zhao Kuo's bookish military talk. In truth, staying here as a farmer is quite good. I will not delay General Lu's great plans." Lan Tian declined again.

Seeing how resolute he was, Chen Gong did not try to persuade him further. Before leaving, Lan Tian plucked two bunches of grapes from the rack and gave them to him.

On his way back, Chen Gong looked at the grapes left in his hand and thought, The grapes grown by this Lan Ziyu are truly excellent. What a pity that a man of such ability is unwilling to serve the state.

When he returned to the government office in Xiaopei, Lu Bu was drinking alone in the hall.

"Was the general not going to drill the troops today?" Chen Gong asked.

"Gongtai, you are back? That unfilial wretch angered me. She actually dared insult me this morning, so I did not go to the training grounds." Lu Bu threw his wine cup onto the table.

"Miss Lingqi has always been filial. How could she suddenly insult the general?" Chen Gong asked in confusion.

"How should I know what madness took her? I was practicing martial arts in the rear courtyard this morning when that unfilial wretch came over with a short staff to exchange moves with me. She said her staff technique was called the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique.' Was that not her way of calling me a dog? I truly regret teaching her martial arts in the first place. She infuriates me!" The more Lu Bu spoke, the angrier he became, and he slammed a fist onto the table.

Calling one's father a dog—Chen Gong did not dare respond. Seeing this, Lu Bu continued, "Did Gongtai gain anything from his trip to Gan Family Village?"

"I misjudged him."

"I told you so. What talent could a mere farming boy possibly have?" Lu Bu said disdainfully.

"I mean General Boping misjudged him. This Lan Ziyu truly is as the Young Lady said—exceptionally intelligent. It is only that his nature is far too tranquil and detached, and he is unwilling to enter official service. It is truly a pity." Chen Gong sighed.

"If he has talent, why did Gongtai not tie him up and bring him back? Would I, Lu Bu, treat him poorly?"

Chen Gong was greatly alarmed. "General, you must not. In the past, Tao Gongzu forcibly recruited Zhang Zhao and gained the foul reputation of slighting worthy men and neglecting scholars. Later, the scholars were unwilling to supply him grain, and the people were unwilling to die for him. That was why Cao the Rebel crushed him at Pengcheng."

"These scholars are truly troublesome." Lu Bu regretted the words as soon as he said them, because Chen Gong at his side was also a scholar.

"If the general wishes to achieve hegemony, he cannot do without the support of the scholar-gentry. Though Lan Ziyu is unwilling to enter office, he left behind a line that was remarkably detached from worldly affairs, utterly mismatched with his age." Chen Gong sighed.

"What line?"

"'Imperial ambitions and hegemonic dreams are discussed amid laughter, yet they cannot surpass a life spent in drunkenness.'"

Lu Bu was profoundly shaken upon hearing it. What ambition did he have to contend for hegemony? He was merely a warrior from the frontier struggling desperately onward.

"Gongtai."

"What is it, General?"

"Go summon Boping. I have something to instruct him."

"Yes."