Two Words Turn Fortune

The main hall of the Military Governor's Residence.

This hall is decorated in an antique style, with two rows of quaint seats, exuding a faint aroma, and a picture hanging on the wall with a large Chinese character "" written on it.

This character is written with a vigorous and unrestrained style, exuding a sense of boldness, and each stroke reveals a sense of solemnity and power.

The word "" consists of two parts: Zhi Ge. The Ge part is sharp, like a sword being drawn by a sword, and the Zhi part exudes a smell that is as stable as a mountain and intimidates one party, as if one man can hold a barrier and no one can open it.

In front of the wall, there were two chairs. On the left sat a middle-aged man with a burly build and a thick beard. Although he had his hair tied up with a small crown and wore a simple suit, he still exuded an imposing aura.

On the right, a man in his fifties sat in a chair, his demeanor composed. He held a cup of tea, took a small sip, and his elegant movements softened the imposing aura of a middle-aged man.

After the old man put down his teacup, the middle-aged man spoke up, "Mr. Zhao also wants to see that scholar?"

The old man nodded. "Indeed, I have some impression of this Qiu Yan. Three days ago, when he was lecturing at the post station, he suddenly fainted and his pulse was weak. Everyone said it was because he was frightened, but I don't think so. He is no ordinary person, as he has caught Ma Yang's eye. Since the general has invited him here, I will take this opportunity to test him and see how much of the Historians' School he has learned."

"Very well." The middle-aged man nodded and then ordered someone to fetch Qiu Yan.

Before long, a servant led Qiu Yan across the threshold.

As soon as Qiu Yan entered the hall, his gaze was drawn to the calligraphy on the wall. He felt a surge of energy emanating from it, as if it were tangible. His muscles and bones reacted involuntarily, his tendons trembled, his blood rushed, and his aura swelled. Fortunately, he regained his senses in time and suppressed his strength with a thought.

"I was so captivated by this calligraphy that I almost revealed my cultivation level in the Fate Dao."

Qiu Yan was still thinking when a voice came from the head of the table—

"I didn't expect you to have taken up martial arts. You've even achieved some skill, which is quite remarkable for someone your age."

The one who spoke was the middle-aged man.

Qiu Yan shifted his gaze from the words to the man and bowed respectfully. He knew the middle-aged man's identity, of course; only one person in the entire Wuxin City could sit in this position.

Song Yuan, Military Governor of Wuxin Commandery.

After accepting the greeting, Song Yuan said, "Scholars have always looked down on warriors. You practice both literature and martial arts; it seems you have grand ambitions." His words were barbed.

Qiu Yan replied, "Among the Six Arts are archery and charioteering. Being proficient in both literature and martial arts is what we strive for." Qiu Yan's reply was neither humble nor arrogant. He looked directly at Song Yuan without the slightest fear or hesitation.

"You have some insight, and you don't look down on yourself just because of your different status. That's rare," Song Yuan shook his head and smiled. "Have a seat."

Qiu Yan sat down as instructed. He glanced at the seat next to Song Yuan and saw the old man. He recognized him as Zhao Bingcheng, Grand Confucian from Shu Learning, one of his targets. However, the latter remained silent and made no move to greet Qiu Yan.

At this moment, Song Yuan continued, "You must know why I called you here today. Young people learn some martial arts and then adopt the ideas of the Mohists, thinking they can help those in need. But this depends on the person. Acting impulsively can have unimaginable consequences. Don't let the books of Sage cloud your judgment and make you think you can educate the world with etiquette!"

As he spoke, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, one tap after another, creating an invisible pressure.

"Everyone says that I, Song Yuan, have suppressed a region, making it difficult for the Marshfolk to cross the border. But they don't know that this also has the effect of appeasement. Non-Self hadn't made good relations with several tribes and used barbarians to control barbarians, how could a single city suppress an entire tribe? Geluolan's father is the chief of the Saluo Tribe Marshfolk. You provoked him in a moment of anger. If the Saluo Tribe turns against Great Rui, who knows how much bloodshed will result? Can you bear such a heavy responsibility?"

As he spoke, he lowered his voice, his words becoming heavy and somber.

After hearing this, Qiu Yan tried to figure out what the other party was thinking, but he couldn't quite grasp it.

"Alright, while it's good to experience mundane things, there's no need to get too deeply involved. Besides, expressing my thoughts will make things easier in the future, hmm?"

As Qiu Yan was still thinking, a strange aura suddenly enveloped his body, followed by a feeling of his Fortune turning upside down!

"Good heavens, what's going on? Fortune turned?"

Surprised, Qiu Yan remained calm. A Knot Cord flew out from the Black Hole Living Soul, releasing a calming aura.

The second line of the Li Trigram: Yellow Li, great good fortune.

The auspicious divination brought the Fortune of the time to a standstill, but its aftershocks spread, affecting Song Yuan and Zhao Bingcheng, and giving Qiu Yan a sudden realization.

"If my Fortune turns around, I will immediately offend powerful figures. If this continues unchecked, I will suffer Innocence. I must stop this trend!"

At this moment, Song Yuan and Zhao Bingcheng suddenly became agitated and their anger flared up. Their gazes toward Qiu Yan were now tinged with a hint of rage.

"They've already been affected. It's really strange. I don't have any restrictions placed on me, otherwise I wouldn't have escaped the detection of the deity himself. Why has my Fortune been reversed? Where did this ambush come from?"

The image of the Daoist priest from earlier flashed through his mind, but now was not the time to delve into it. The most urgent task was to stop the aftershocks of the reversal of Fortune, and to do so as discreetly as possible to prevent any unforeseen complications.

With this thought in mind, Qiu Yan continued Song Yuan's words, saying, "I have never heard of anyone damaging a branch to protect a leaf. Although the Marshfolk are a great threat, Great Rui was able to stand firm and suppress them because it had a million-strong army. The current military governor, with an army under his command, ensures the stability of the southwest not because of his relationship with the Marshfolk, but because of his soldiers."

As Qiu Yan spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Song Yuan, his gaze unwavering, unaffected by the pressure. "The arrogant and domineering prince of the Marshfolk has harmed the soldiers under the governor's command and chilled the hearts of the Wuxin Commandery's troops. The Marshfolk is the leaf, and the Wuxin's troops are the branches. Signal Node understands far better than I do which is more important."

The saying "to protect the leaves while harming the branches" is not a fabrication by Qiu Yan, but rather a saying of an ancient sage. The full sentence is "To exploit China to serve the barbarians. To protect the leaves while harming the branches."

The wise man's words stirred up a trace of the Force of Order had flowed through the world for thousands of years, dispelling some of the aftershocks of the fortune-changing energy triggered by the Dao Arts.

"Oh?" Zhao Bingcheng, who had been silent, twitched his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, as if he had been touched.

"What you say seems reasonable, but it's just empty talk. I've been stationed in the Southern Border for decades, how could I not know this? I train the troops day and night, and with a single order, the entire army is ready to fight. That's how we've achieved the current situation. To maintain balance and keep the Swamp Marshfolk at bay, we can't rush things. We must proceed slowly and steadily, without the slightest negligence." Song Yuan continued, seemingly discussing the past and present with Qiu Yan, but the anger in his eyes grew even stronger.

Qiu Yan did not refute, but simply said, "The incursions of the Marshfolk are not due to habit, but because the Five Creeks are barren. Although they have yams and animal hides, they lack food and fodder. The Marshfolk do not engage in production, but only know how to plunder. This is the root of the problem. When granaries are full, people will know etiquette. It is not about using etiquette to educate the world, but rather that after education, everyone will work hard. Only by giving will there be a reward. When life is worry-free, etiquette will naturally follow, and the world will be well-governed."

"When the granaries are full, people know etiquette," is another widely circulated saying of Sage. It mobilizes more intangible Order and will eventually completely dispel the lingering Fortune.

Realizing this, Qiu Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a surge of anger, directed at the person who had plotted against him. If he hadn't acted decisively, this single act would have fulfilled the prophecy and brought about an unexpected disaster.

"Did Ma Yang teach you to say those things?"

At this moment, Zhao Bingcheng's voice came from the head of the table. This Shu Learning finally couldn't help but speak up, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. "Didn't Ma Yang advocate the Historians' School's approach, comparing everything with the ancients, believing that if everything were to return to the past, the world would be well-governed? How could he make such a statement?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan stood up and bowed to Zhao Bingcheng, saying, "Chancellor Ma's Historians' School scholarship has greatly benefited me. If my horizons had not broadened, how could I have grasped this principle from the book?"

"So, this is a principle you figured out yourself?" Zhao Bingcheng's surprise only increased, his eyes lit up, and he pressed for an answer.

"I know your background and origins. You studied under Ma Yang for two years, but you were not formally apprenticed. Since you can grasp such a principle, it shows that you are not just a bookworm. Good! Good! Good!"

Qiu Yan's eyelids twitched. He felt that Zhao Bingcheng's change of heart was rather abrupt. He had only said a few words, and even if the idea was novel, it was not enough to excite a Grand Confucian like him.

Something unusual must be going on.

On the other hand, Zhao Bingcheng's three "good"s made Song Yuan frown. He had originally intended to reprimand Qiu Yan and give him a slight warning, but with Zhao Bingcheng's praise, it would be inappropriate for Song Yuan to say anything harsh afterward. However, his nameless anger subsided.

Zhao Bingcheng also realized this, smiled at Song Yuan, and said, "I have met that Marshfolk, Xiao Wang. He is unruly, but he is reasonable. Since Qian'er is holding a literary gathering tonight, why not invite Xiao Wang over and let me act as a peacemaker to let bygones be bygones."

"Since you have this intention, sir, what else can I say? It's just that this kid managed to fool me." Song Yuan pointed at Qiu Yan, his words carrying a hint of an elder speaking to a junior, making Qiu Yan even more confused about his intentions.

But before he could think deeply about it, Zhao Bingcheng's series of questions interrupted his train of thought.

"The inspiration you gained from Ma Yang's words indicates that you disagree with some of Ma Yang's views. Why not speak them out and let me hear them? Perhaps I can offer some guidance."

As Zhao Bingcheng spoke, a sense of urgency appeared in his cloudy old eyes, and his whole body radiated excitement.

Seeing this, Qiu Yan could easily guess the reason.

"It turns out this old scholar and the old prime minister have an academic dispute. He noticed something in my words and that's why he spoke up to help. He's right. I'm not praising me, but I feel I've hit the old prime minister's sore spot."

As they pondered, the old man and the young man began to chat, but Qiu Yan simultaneously released his senses to secretly probe as he spoke.

Time passed, and by the time Qiu Yan returned to the inn, it was already late.

However, as he stepped into the inn, two scholars not far away stared wide-eyed, their faces showing expressions of utter disbelief. (To be continued)

ps: Thanks to "Xiucai Baiyi", "Seeing Flowers in the Smoke", and "Jiang Aiwei Ai" for the rewards!