A Dike a Thousand Miles Long Collapses from an Ant Hole

"Have you heard? Qiu Sheng, who was frightened into fainting, has woken up."

"He was unconscious for three days. It was just a test, why was he so scared?"

"Who knows if he was really dizzy or faking it? But Mr. Zhao didn't look well that day, so he probably didn't expect such a person to sneak in."

"If this kind of thing isn't handled properly, people will say that Mr. Zhao is deliberately making things difficult for the students, which is no small matter."

"It's because Qiu Sheng is timid. When he heard that a Grand Confucian was going to test his knowledge, he lay down. I heard that he was the top scorer in the Dao Examination Yuanning Prefecture. I really don't know how he got the top score."

"Oh? The whole inn is saying that I fainted from fright because I was too unlearned and afraid of being exposed?"

As Qiu Yan sipped his soup and listened to Luo Jiayun's account, he shook his head.

Three days ago, he came into contact with that spark of fire, fell into the Flame Reincarnation, comprehended the Human Path Heavenly Dao and humanity, his consciousness left his body, and his clone also fell into a coma. Coincidentally, on that day, Zhao Bingcheng, a Shu Learning invited by Miss Song, was lecturing with the scholars and said he would test their knowledge. The scholar's clone fell into a coma, and a misunderstanding arose from this.

Of course, other Confucian scholars also played a part in this. Since ancient times, there has been no first place in literature but no second place in martial arts. Some scholars, as long as they find an opportunity to kick someone when they are down, will immediately take the chance to do so.

"Brother Qiu, I am well aware of your knowledge; it was just an accident that day," Luo Jiayun sighed from the side. "But gossip is a fearsome thing, worse than floods and ferocious beasts. Brother Qiu, you must be more careful in the future."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan said, "Although rumors have arisen, it is not difficult to quell them. All we need to do is demonstrate our knowledge; facts speak louder than words."

Luo Jiayun frowned and said, "From what Brother Qiu is saying, you intend to stop the rumors? I'm afraid that you might overdo it. It would be better to let nature take its course and let the innocent prove themselves."

Qiu Yan chuckled and said, "Brother Luo, you're being too presumptuous. The Shu Learning of Shu Learning are known for their eloquence and debate. If this matter isn't clarified, it will soon become fodder for their arguments, a source of amusement and jokes, showcasing their humor and turning into anecdotes. But for me, that would be disastrous, damaging my reputation."

These words displeased Luo Jiayun, who retorted, "Do we pursue scholarship for empty fame? Brother Qiu's words are far too utilitarian."

"Brother Luo, we have devoted ourselves to studying the classics, all for the sake of being nominated for office. If we can use what we have learned to govern the world and rise to a high position, but we don't have a reputation to back us up, we can't even control the clerks in the government office, so how can we benefit the people?"

Qiu Yan knew that Luo Jiayun was unhappy, so he didn't say much, but simply pointed out a few issues.

The damage to one's reputation may seem intangible, but its impact on a person is very real. Qiu Yan's scholarly avatar has other uses and cannot be easily discarded. He must continue on the path of the Imperial Examinations and accumulate reputation and public support. He cannot allow bad reputation to fester. A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole; he cannot afford to be negligent in the slightest.

Luo Jiayun shook his head after hearing this.

Qiu Yan didn't insist. He then asked, "Where is Mr. Zhao now?"

Although displeased with Qiu Yan's earlier words, Luo Jiayun did not take offense at the remarks and replied, "The military governor is hosting a banquet at his residence today. Old Master Zhao has taken several students who answered well the other day to the banquet, so you won't be able to see them for a while. However, I heard that Miss Song is holding a literary gathering at Literary Star Tower tonight and has invited Old Master Zhao to oversee it. You could try your luck, but please don't be impulsive."

In conclusion, he still offered a tactful piece of advice. "Gu Yanzhi, Fang Ziyan, and others are all rare poetic talents, and they have all published collections of poems one after another. With such outstanding works preceding them, it will be extremely difficult for you to leave an impression on Mr. Zhao."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Luo. However, although the poems are good, they cannot be used to benefit the people. I don't think Mr. Zhao would value them." Qiu Yan's answer confused Luo Jiayun.

"Literary gatherings are places where writers meet and poetry is used to enhance the atmosphere. They are places where scholars can showcase their poetic talents. Even if Mr. Zhao doesn't value them, there's no way to avoid them."

After exchanging a few more words, Luo Jiayun, seeing that he couldn't persuade Qiu Yan, shook his head, got up, and took his leave.

After seeing Luo Jiayun off, Qiu Yan paced slowly in the room, reorganizing her thoughts.

"We still need to gather some intelligence first, and try to know ourselves and our enemy as much as possible."

With this thought in mind, he pushed open the door and went out. As he walked along the road, the scholars along the way pointed and whispered among themselves, and he could hear their mocking words. But Qiu Yan's expression remained unchanged, as if he didn't care at all.

"The thoughts in these people's minds are like grass on a wall, swaying with the wind. If you pay attention to them or argue with them, you will only get what they want. As long as the situation changes, their thoughts will naturally change as well. They are not worth paying attention to at all."

After leaving the inn, Qiu Yan strolled through the streets.

Wuxin City is different from Yuanning City; it is less lively and more somber, with patrols of soldiers frequently seen passing through the streets and alleys.

However, the city also had many taverns and inns, which were doing brisk business and were mostly frequented by merchants.

Located on the frontier, at the border of Two Offices, this place extends south to the territory of the Marshfolk. Merchants come here year-round, bringing felt, cloth, tea, and salt from the Central Plains to barter with the Marshfolk. They mostly buy animal hides, but there are also more valuable items, mostly medicinal materials, such as sandalwood, agarwood, abalone shell, litharge, musk, and hundreds of other kinds. A single trip can earn them dozens of taels of silver, making it a highly profitable business.

In addition, Five Marshes also produces mountain horses that can traverse steep streams as if walking on flat ground. However, private merchants are not allowed to participate in the horse market because horses are strategic resources that can influence the strategic balance in this era. Therefore, the government manages the horse market.

However, the costs and risks are not small. One-third of the profits from the trade between caravans must be handed over to Wuxin City. If someone is caught reselling contraband by the patrol, they will be executed on the spot and all their gains will be confiscated.

Not to mention that if they encountered unreasonable barbarian tribes in the Five Creeks region, they would be killed on the spot or enslaved, getting nothing in return.

However, places where merchants gather are also places where information is readily available, and restaurants and taverns are frequented by all sorts of people from all walks of life.

Qiu Yan was sitting in a tavern, ordering snacks, listening to the conversations around him, while his eyes were fixed on the clinic across the street.

This clinic is the most famous in the entire Wuxin City. The doctor in charge is no ordinary person, but the former chief military doctor of the Wuxin Commandery, known as "Yama's Grudge"), which means that even Yama King hates this person for taking away his livelihood. This is an extraordinary compliment.

Even now, if Military Governor's Residence has any illness, the Yama's Grudge will still come to diagnose and treat it, which shows how skilled the doctors are. However, ordinary people can hardly afford the consultation fees at pharmacies. But if soldiers or officers come for treatment, that's a different story. Sometimes they don't even charge consultation fees.

As Qiu Yan surveyed the clinic, he silently pondered something. Suddenly, he overheard the conversation between the two people behind him. An idea struck him, and he focused his attention to listen intently.

"I heard that a fortune teller has come to Five Roads Crossing in the north of the city, and he's very accurate."

"This is nothing new. These past few days, the most famous people in the city have been Daoist priests, two of them. One is the Fate Dao you mentioned, but he doesn't just stay in Five Roads Crossing; he roams all over the city. The other Daoist priest is ruthless and heartless, with several lives on his hands. He just killed two of the military governor's guards the day before yesterday and is currently wanted by the entire city."

"Is this true? This is utterly lawless! They even killed the military governor's personal guards. Is this what a Daoist priest is like?"

"Indeed, these days, these Daoist priests are becoming increasingly incomprehensible. I've heard that there are some strange people Central Passes Guanzhong who are similar to Daoist priests, but they all have shaved heads, are helpful to others, and help those in distress. They have quite a reputation."

"I've heard a bit about this too. It's probably a new branch of Daoism. Those people are really kind-hearted, and many people want to join the sect. But I've heard that once you join, you can't marry and have children, so in the end, none of them do."

"Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring. How many generations has our bloodline been passed down to us? Carrying on the family line is not just our own responsibility; it's connected to our ancestors. How can we castrate ourselves? If we truly cut off the ancestral line, we won't even have the face to meet our ancestors after we die!"

The two men speaking were distinguished by their appearance, dressed in fine clothes and draped in cloaks, exuding an air of wealth. However, there was a hint of mercenary shrewdness in their eyes. Qiu Yan knew at a glance that they were two merchants from well-to-do families, perhaps from branches of officialdom, and were well-informed.

"What these two people are saying is quite interesting. Two Daoist priests, one a fortune teller and the other a murderer, and that bald-headed sect—it's somewhat similar to a religion from my previous life on Earth."

As he was thinking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the clinic. A group of soldiers in military uniforms were seen carrying a person, who appeared to be going to see a doctor.

But before they even entered the clinic, they were stopped by a group of burly men dressed in brightly colored clothes. Then, a man with long hair walked over, surrounded by several others.

This person had hair as black as silk ribbons that reached all the way to their ankles. They wore Colorful Garb and a string of bracelets on their wrists that made a tinkling sound as they walked, creating a subtle rhythm that drew people's attention.

The long-haired man stood in front of the group of soldiers, his face cold and stern. He said coldly, "Aren't the people of the Central Plains supposed to value their promises? Since you made such a boast before the duel, now that you've lost, it's time to keep your word. You should all cut off your left arms!"

Suddenly, a voice familiar to Qiu Yan rang out from among the soldiers—

"You swamp chieftain are utterly unreasonable! We agreed on a martial arts contest, yet you released poisonous insects to bite people. Who broke their promise? You're just trying to take advantage of this! Let me be frank with you: those garrison slaves brought this upon themselves. If they hadn't crossed the border to kill and rob, how could they have been..."

"Hmm, that voice sounds familiar." Qiu Yan looked closely and spotted Liu Hong's face in the crowd.

On the day Qiu Yan entered the city, Liu Hong and another rider Yang Huang, accompanied him. After not seeing each other for many days, when they met again, Qiu Yan looked somewhat disheveled.

"This Liu Hong is Wuxin Cavalry, a highly valued military unit. It takes a lot of time and resources to train even one of them. Yet the Long-Haired Marshfolk is forcing them to cut off their own arm. Forcing someone to cut off their own arm on someone else's territory—what audacity! And judging from Liu Hong's reaction, they seem to have reservations. In that case, the identity of this Long-Haired Marshfolk is pretty obvious."

Thinking of this, Qiu Yan extended his senses and began to plan. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he caught a glimpse of aura.

"Hmm? This long-haired Marshfolk actually has a familiar aura about him. What a pleasant surprise. Hmm, if a prince of a tribe causes a diplomatic dispute, at least the governor can't just ignore it..."

P. S.: Thanks to "tilaf" for the monthly pass!