The Prefectural Lord's residence.
Li Guangxin gazed at the verse before him.
His breathing grew somewhat rapid.
His pupils dilated slightly.
"A timeless verse."
"A timeless verse."
"A timeless verse indeed."
As the Prefectural Lord, although he had not followed the Confucian Dao, he was still a high-ranking regional official. His ability to appreciate literature far surpassed that of these Confucian scholars.
An ordinary person reading Man Jiang Hong would, at most, merely think it was beautifully written.
But he could sense the waves this verse would stir throughout Great Wei.
The Jingcheng Humiliation was an enormous disgrace to Great Wei.
Five generations of emperors had governed through civil virtues, bringing peace and prosperity. Known as the nation above all nations, it received tribute from every direction and commanded the respect of all under heaven.
One could say that before the Jingcheng Humiliation, the Great Wei Dynasty had all but reached its pinnacle.
Yet when the northern barbarians marched south, their iron cavalry trampled countless cities of Great Wei.
They slaughtered hundreds of millions of commoners.
Living souls were plunged into misery, and blood flowed in rivers. Killing, wounding, looting, and pillaging became commonplace. Along their southward path, nine homes out of ten stood empty, and Great Wei's national fortune sank to its lowest ebb.
That war battered Great Wei into unbearable shame and left Emperor Jiankang bedridden, beyond even the power of divine medicine to save.
It struck every civil and military official of Great Wei dumb.
Had Heaven not spared Great Wei, the realm would surely have changed hands long ago. Though the Martial Emperor later emerged and launched seven northern expeditions, he ultimately lacked the strength to turn the heavens around.
Even now, the northern barbarians continued to clamor that sooner or later they would invade the Capital, declaring that they would make the reigning sovereign welcome them and wash away the dust of their journey, then reduce the sovereign to a plaything in bed.
What an immense humiliation that was!
Although the northern barbarians had done nothing beyond shouting threats in recent times, with no actual clashes.
That thorn remained forever lodged in the hearts of Great Wei's subjects.
Now, this verse by Xu Qingxiao spoke straight to the hearts of countless people.
"Jingcheng's shame, still unavenged; a subject's hatred, when shall it end?"
"Drive the long chariots forth and crush the passes of Cloudlink Mountain."
Li Guangxin drew a deep breath, unable to compose himself for a long time.
"Father, this man is a great talent of our age. Shall I recruit him into your service?"
Li Xin spoke, asking his father.
"No."
Li Guangxin shook his head and refused outright.
"Such a great talent, barely twenty, has already advanced to the Ninth Rank and written a timeless verse. His future will be extraordinary."
"I would have no face to accept him into my service. Besides, a talent like him would never consent to serve beneath me."
"Xin, you said this verse was written for a general. Who was it?"
Li Guangxin refused outright, while also wondering whom Xu Qingxiao had written this verse for.
At those words, Li Xin looked somewhat embarrassed.
"I asked, but Brother Xu did not answer."
Li Xin was somewhat embarrassed.
"He did not answer?"
"Clever, clever. Truly, exceedingly clever."
Li Guangxin could not help marveling.
"What is clever about that? Father, your son is slow-witted. I truly do not understand."
Li Xin was a little dumbfounded. Xu Qingxiao was indeed a great talent, but praise was praise-surely there was no need to force it?
"It is only natural that you do not understand."
"Since the Jingcheng Humiliation, Great Wei's national policy has changed. Military officers lead, while civil officials assist. Although His Majesty curbed them somewhat after ascending the throne, military officers still dominate Great Wei."
"How many princes and marquises were ennobled during those seven northern expeditions?"
"How many generals at court wish to lead troops on another northern expedition? The moment this verse appears, it will be like a massive stone stirring a thousand towering waves."
"The hatred of officials and commoners remains vivid, and Jingcheng's humiliation has yet to be washed away. Whether for merit or renown, a northern expedition is inevitable."
"And several of the foremost generals among them personally took part in those expeditions. The hatred in their hearts burns a hundred times more fiercely than ours."
"Xu Qingxiao did not reveal whom he wrote it for. When this verse reaches the Capital, those men who have already become princes and marquises will likely see themselves in it."
"A celebrated verse paired with a celebrated general becomes a tale cherished through the ages. They regard power as passing clouds, yet care deeply about their names. If they can leave a fragrant legacy for a hundred generations, remembered for millennia, would that not be an immense kindness?"
Li Guangxin carefully explained it to Li Xin, leaving him deeply shaken.
He truly had never considered that angle.
But upon closer thought, it was indeed so.
Whether celebrated generals.
Or Grand Confucians.
Their hearts were devoted to their nation, its people, and all under heaven, but why did they do all this?
At their level, wealth and power were merely passing clouds.
What they wanted was a name that endured through the ages.
That was the highest aspiration of great figures. Of course, some reclusive masters had grown weary of everything, reaching an even higher state.
But such a state could not be attained within the imperial court.
Xu Qingxiao had written this verse for a general.
It was a timeless verse that merely needed time to ripen.
But whom had he written it for?
Those towering generals at court included princes and dukes. Their lives had already reached their pinnacle.
To rise any higher would be treason, so they had almost nothing left to pursue. If they still desired anything, it was for capable officials to emerge among their descendants.
But if someone composed a verse for them, and that verse was timeless, they would naturally rejoice.
A thousand ages later, whenever people recited the verse, they would think of the man. To leave a fragrant legacy for a hundred generations was the highest glory.
To them, Xu Qingxiao would thus become their benefactor.
An immeasurably great benefactor.
Would it not be only human to lend such a benefactor a helping hand?
As he pondered it carefully.
Li Xin felt every hair on his body stand on end, astonishment filling his eyes.
"Without doing anything, Brother Xu has already paved himself a broad, smooth road, a path straight into the clouds."
"This man's wisdom is almost demonic."
Li Xin marveled. Something seemingly insignificant concealed earth-shaking methods. Calling such cunning demonic was no exaggeration.
But soon, Li Xin could not help frowning.
"But Father, when I asked Brother Xu, I felt as though he himself did not know whom he had written it for. What does that mean?"
Li Xin asked.
Li Guangxin gave a cold laugh.
"You don't understand a damn thing. That is precisely how clever people act-truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood passing for truth. You are still too young."
Hearing Li Guangxin say this, Li Xin immediately nodded.
But just then.
A voice rang out from outside.
"Reporting to the Prefectural Lord! Acting Company Commander Cheng Lidong requests an audience."
A servant's voice interrupted the conversation between father and son.
"Cheng Lidong?"
"Show him in."
In an instant, Li Guangxin's expression became utterly calm, and a weighty air of authority spread around him. He waved his hand, signaling Li Xin to stand aside.
Soon, Cheng Lidong slowly entered the main hall.
"Your subordinate, Cheng Lidong, pays his respects to the Prefectural Lord."
Cheng Lidong appeared injured. His movements were somewhat stiff as he knelt on one knee.
"How did the assignment go?"
Li Guangxin did not concern himself with Cheng Lidong's injuries. Getting hurt in the line of duty was normal. Could one enjoy authority without paying any price?
"My lord, your subordinate has slain Wu Yan, the fugitive from Southern Yu Prefecture, and brought back the body. However, I did not find the item involved in the conspiracy."
Before Li Guangxin, Cheng Lidong dared not raise his head. He kept it lowered, utterly respectful.
"You did not find it?"
"Is that true?"
A cold gleam appeared in Li Guangxin's eyes as his gaze settled on Cheng Lidong.
"My lord, Wu Yan was cautious and chose death over compliance. I ask for your discerning judgment."
Cheng Lidong spoke.
"Impossible."
"He fled Southern Yu Prefecture precisely to deliver information. Whether Wu Yan lives or dies is of no concern to me, but that item must be found."
"Cheng Lidong, I will ask you once more. Are there any other leads?"
The chill in Li Guangxin's eyes was intense.
"My lord, Wu Yan chose death over surrender, and your subordinate could do nothing. However, something strange did happen in Ping'an County."
Cheng Lidong knelt on both knees, looking frightened and apprehensive.
"Speak."
Li Guangxin uttered a single word, brimming with authority.
"Reporting to my lord, Wu Yan fled to Ping'an County and wounded a bailiff. With Netherworld Poison in his body, that bailiff should not have survived twenty-four hours."
"But the very next day, this bailiff happened to discover Wu Yan's whereabouts. He went to the County Yamen to report it, then hid in the Document Archive."
"Unexpectedly, Wu Yan lured the tiger away from its mountain and also reached the Document Archive. He encountered the bailiff again and wounded him a second time. Yet that bailiff recovered without treatment, dispelled the cold poison, and even used the opportunity to enter the ranks."
"Moreover, a scroll of an unorthodox art was hidden in Ping'an County's Document Archive."
"Therefore, your subordinate suspects that this bailiff may have had dealings with Wu Yan."
Cheng Lidong explained everything clearly. He dared not conceal anything either, since anyone sent to Ping'an County could learn these facts by asking around. There was no point hiding them.
"Recovered without treatment?"
"What an enormous joke. Wu Yan practiced the Taiyin Meridian Condensation Art, and the cold poison within him was astonishing. Even I would have to guard against it carefully. A mere bailiff recovered without treatment?"
"And the unorthodox art in Ping'an County is a Pure Yang Unorthodox Art."
"He either practiced that unorthodox art or formed a connection with Wu Yan, who dispelled the cold poison for him."
"Whichever it was, he has committed a crime that reaches the heavens. Where is this man now?"
Li Guangxin said with a cold laugh.
He instantly deduced the chain of events.
"Reporting to my lord, he is in Southern Yu Prefecture."
Cheng Lidong answered.
"Oh? You brought him in?"
Li Guangxin asked.
"Reporting to my lord, your subordinate had no conclusive evidence and therefore could not arrest him. Furthermore, the Ping'an county magistrate intervened to stop me, so I dared not act."
Cheng Lidong answered.
"Then why do you say he is in Southern Yu Prefecture?"
Li Guangxin frowned slightly.
"After recovering without treatment, he abandoned martial pursuits for scholarly ones. He is now coming to Southern Yu Prefecture to take the Prefectural Examination."
Cheng Lidong replied.
"Ridiculous."
"Abandoned martial pursuits for scholarly ones? Taking the Prefectural Examination? You believe such nonsense, fit only to deceive children?"
"Cheng Lidong, are you spouting rubbish here?"
Li Guangxin was truly angry.
What was the Prefectural Examination?
Only talented scholars from the various counties were qualified to attend. It was not something anyone could take simply because they wished to.
"My lord, your subordinate would never dare speak nonsense."
"He became Zhou Ling's student and received Zhou Ling's recommendation, which qualified him to take the Prefectural Examination."
"Your subordinate does not know how to explain this either. It is indeed strange."
Cheng Lidong was helpless as well.
Because those were simply the facts.
"Zhou Ling?"
Li Guangxin frowned, trying to recall who Zhou Ling was.
Li Xin, however, widened his eyes.
"Zhou Ling? What is the name of this bailiff you mentioned?"
Li Xin was the first to react.
"Reporting to the young master, his name is Xu Qingxiao."
Cheng Lidong answered.
A voice rang out.
Li Guangxin and his son froze.
Xu Qingxiao?
Xu Qingxiao, the great talent?
A yamen runner?
Practicing an Unorthodox Art?
Both of them stared wide-eyed.
Their reaction left Cheng Lidong momentarily silent.
What was going on?
They knew him?
Before you continue