Beacon Fires Across the Myriad Miles of Rivers and Mountains

Li Kun was in high spirits when a eunuch suddenly appeared outside the door.

The young eunuch knew the emperor's temperament well; after entering, he didn't say much, but simply knelt on the ground.

Li Kun quickly suppressed his joy and turned his gaze over. "What is it? Is there something going on at the Council of State Affairs now?"

"Your Majesty," the eunuch hurriedly reported, "The prime ministers are arguing fiercely over the banditry in the south, and Chancellor Wang wishes to meet with Your Majesty to present his plans."

"The banditry in the south?" Li Kun frowned. "Is it that cult that has appeared in the three southern regions in recent months? I heard they call themselves the White Lotus. But didn't the Rear Army Command Office already go to quell the rebellion? How come it's still causing trouble at the Council of State Affairs?"

The eunuch continued, "Although the ministers argued because of the southern banditry, they then brought up the chaos in Yan-Zhao, and then the Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends Bandits of Black Wind Mountain, which led to the argument about military affairs. Chancellor Wang intends to reform the military system and implement New Laws in the army, which has angered the other ministers."

"I see." Hearing this, Li Kun finally understood. "It's because of the New Law again. No matter what the argument in the court is about, it all boils down to the New Law!"

He looked tired, then stood up, turned and walked away, with the old man who had been waiting nearby following closely behind.

Li Kun slowly moved to the innermost part of the study and looked up at the wall.

On the wall is a painting of a Myriad-Mile Rivers and Mountains Map, the School of Names of unknown origin. Mountains, rivers, cities, and military towns are all depicted on it, lifelike, with various images faintly appearing in various places.

The northwest was filled with a murderous aura and the flames of war.

The southwest, however, was not peaceful; it was rife with the glint of swords.

In Southern Ridges, one can vaguely see a White Lotus, its bud about to bloom;

In the southeast, the sea is raging with stormy waves, and harpoons frequently break through the water, heading straight for the coastal prefectures.

In the eastern part of Jiangshan, over a hundred generals gathered together, shining brightly and releasing a fierce aura that eroded the auspicious dragon energy.

Further north, chaos reigns, and one can almost hear the cries of disaster victims and the roars of displaced people through this map.

Beyond the northern borders, Black Dragon appears, rising and falling across the Grasslands, exuding a wild, unrestrained, and overwhelming aura.

"People live in a corner of the world, only seeing what's in front of them. They think the Great Rui is full of flowers and music, but who knows the hidden dangers on this vast land? The implementation of the New Law has met with great resistance, with officials and gentry across the country almost rising up to oppose it. I am well aware of the reasons, but the country is in dire straits. If we do not reform and revitalize the nation, sooner or later the imperial Dragon Vein will be shaken, and the dynasty will be in jeopardy!"

"Your Majesty..." Upon hearing this, the old man beside him was startled and quickly stepped forward to comfort him, but the emperor raised his hand to stop him.

"Your Excellency need not comfort me," Li Kun took a deep breath. "Now that the imperial regalia has been passed to me, I naturally have an inescapable duty. Even if it exhausts my mind and shortens my lifespan, it is of no consequence. It is only a pity for the civil and military officials..."

At this point, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something, then returned to the table. He picked up several memorials, flipped through them, glanced at them, and said, "I remember that Liu Jing opposed the reforms. Li Qi is a favorite general of Minister Wang, and as for Song Yuan, he has the Shi Family backing him and is also part of the military, so he has always maintained neutrality..."

Li Kun flipped through the pages, pondering as he went.

"Although these three all serve in Jiannan Circuit, their previous memorials were almost always contradictory. Even when they occasionally reported on the same matter, they were mostly at odds. How come they all speak with one voice, praising Qiu Yan this time? This Qiu Yan is no simple man..."

He hesitated for a moment, then smiled, put down his pen, and wrote comments on several memorials.

"It is fortunate that the country has talented people."

Looking at the reply to the memorial in her hand, Liu Jing fell into deep thought.

It took three days for the official reply to reach Jiannan. During those three days, the situation in Jiannan Circuit changed dramatically. With the Wuxin Commandery's deployment of troops, the original garrison soldiers were transferred by the governor and the censor. Under the pressure of the situation, the Marshfolk, led by the Saluo Tribe, actually took the initiative to surrender and submitted a petition to plead guilty.

This change had far-reaching consequences, forcing the Yongping Army to take action. Even Pan Xiang, who had been utterly defeated by Biaoxin, seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

The precarious situation has now been turned around!

As a result, the situation in Jiannan Circuit changed drastically. The army led by Biaoxin and the Barbarians who traveled north via the western route were now isolated and deep in enemy territory. It seemed that it was only a matter of time before they were completely quelled.

Only then did the people of Jiannan Circuit realize that they had almost been caught in a war. Fortunately, the situation had been quelled. In their lingering fear, they couldn't help but feel grateful to the Inspector and the two Military Governors.

However, anyone who knows the inside story knows that this matter is not simple, and the real hero who quelled the crisis is someone else.

"A military strategy, a masterful plan— Qiu Yan is truly a rare talent. If he weren't still without an official position, the Emperor would probably have summoned him and given him some encouragement. The younger generation is indeed formidable! The words 'talented' and 'fortunate' are incredibly valuable, far more so than gold and silver rewards."

Looking at the annotation in her hand, Liu Jing pondered for a moment, then turned to her advisor beside her and asked, "Is Qiu Yan still in the city?"

When news of the invasion of the Marshfolk and the Barbarians reached Jiannan City, the overall situation was already settled, so there was no need for Qiu Yan and Jingquan Zi to remain in the government office. Therefore, both of them have now left.

Upon hearing the question, the aide replied, "Qiu Yan has been staying at an inn for the past few days, waiting for the results to be released." He pondered Liu Jing's thoughts for a moment, then said, "Should I go and pass on a message from the master, offering him some guidance?"

"No need, let him wait for the results in peace," Liu Jing waved her hand. "However, I summoned him to the manor a bit hastily this time, and there might be some trouble. You must be careful not to let Qiu Yan be wronged. Also, bring me pen and ink; I need to write a letter to Peng'er."

"Yes, I understand." The advisor immediately understood Liu Jing's plan.

Time flies, and the results will be released soon.

Before dawn that day, the entire Jiannan City was already bustling with activity. Scholars and Confucianists strolled through the streets and alleys, constantly looking around, all eager to see the procession announcing the good news.

The recent military disasters could not dampen the scholars' thirst for the list of successful candidates. Many lost their appetite and could not sleep, their minds preoccupied with waiting for the results. There were even rumors that two elderly Xiucai had died suddenly from exhaustion, but this was not unusual and did not surprise anyone.

Before dawn, the area around the screen wall in front of the Examination Hall was already teeming with people.

For years, even decades, they have studied diligently, striving day and night, with the hopes of the whole family pinned on that list!

"What a list! Before it's even posted, it's already gathered so many exquisite thoughts, each one brimming with Literary Qi, pure, fervent, and exhilarating. If any god could absorb them, the Incense Thoughts around this Examination Hall alone would be enough to support a Seventh-Rank Deity!"

Among the crowd were Qiu Yan and others. He opened his senses to feel the fluctuations of thoughts around him.

Although the crowd was dense, Qiu Yan possessed the Life Cultivation, and after refining his Fourth Soul, he was incredibly strong. Even without revealing it, he could easily push others aside with a little skill, giving Zhang Zhen, Zhou Guan, and Luo Jiayun a foothold. Otherwise, given their physiques, they would have had little room to stand.

"Good heavens, I thought I was early enough, but I didn't expect there to be so many people outside the Examination Hall!" Zhou Guan exclaimed as he looked around.

Zhang Zhen, clearly experienced, replied, "A single examination can change one's fate; it's the hope of countless families. How could it not be valued? I'm afraid some people were already waiting here yesterday afternoon."

The two seemed to be chatting casually, but they were actually using it to distract themselves and relieve tension. While they were talking, their eyes were always fixed on the screen wall.

Beside them, Luo Jiayun pursed her lips tightly, remained silent, and stared intently at the screen wall, her face somewhat pale.

Of the four, only Qiu Yan remained calm and composed, even having the time to sense the surging thoughts around him and sigh. Suddenly, his expression changed slightly as he caught a familiar aura at the edge of the surging crowd.

"This is..."

Qiu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, deep in thought, when he suddenly felt a twitch on his skin, realizing someone was targeting him. He then saw a burly man in blue squeeze through the crowd, glance at Qiu Yan, and then clasp his hands in a fist and palm salute, saying, "Young Master Qiu, please come with me. Someone wants to see you."

"Huh?" Zhang Zhen and the others were taken aback. "Who wants to see Qiu Yan at this time?"

Noticing their expressions, Qiu Yan smiled, gave them a brief explanation, and then, under the questioning gazes of the three, followed the burly man in blue and squeezed out of the crowd.

As they walked, the two would occasionally shake their limbs, and people along the way would give way as if they were fish in water, creating a sense of unimpeded movement.

"Who would choose to meet Shen Zhi at this particular time?"

Zhang Zhen, Zhou Guan, and Luo Jiayun stood there, looking puzzled. They exchanged glances, but before they could even think, they were swept away by the surging crowd. With Qiu Yan gone, there was no one to help them, and the three of them, being of frail constitution, could only drift with the tide.

On the other side, Qiu Yan and the man in blue squeezed through the crowd one after the other in a few breaths. Then the man turned around and said, "Young master, please walk forward and you will see an old friend. I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned around and strode away.

Qiu Yan didn't take it seriously and did as instructed. Soon, he saw a familiar figure at the street corner.

"It's been a long time, Brother Zheng. You left for the Special Grace Examination that year and haven't been heard from since. It's truly worried me."

The man standing on the street corner, dressed like a scholar, exuded a composed and learned air. Compared to two years ago, his appearance had changed slightly, but his looks and demeanor remained exactly the same. Who else could it be but Zheng Zhongsen?

"My dear brother, since we parted years ago, my experiences have been too bizarre to explain in a short time, and perhaps no one will believe me anyway. However, I have come here today to ask you for a favor."