The Literary Gathering (Extra-long chapter)

The literary gathering was held at Luhu Lake in the imperial city, with a pavilion erected on the lakeside to create an area large enough to accommodate hundreds of people.

The late summer sun was still scorching, but a cool breeze was blowing by the lake.

Originally, the literary gathering was organized by the Imperial Academy, and most of the participants were students from the Imperial Academy.

But after Pei Manxilou stirred things up and made such a big fuss, the people attending the literary gathering were immediately different. Students from the Imperial Academy could still participate, but they could only participate on the periphery and could not enter the pavilion.

The literary gathering was held at noon, so that the officials of the court could take advantage of their one-hour break to participate openly.

As noon approached, the students of the Imperial Academy, dressed in Confucian robes and caps, were stopped at the outer perimeter by heavily armed imperial guards.

"This is a literary gathering organized by our Imperial Academy. Why are we not allowed to enter?"

How can the host-guest relationship be reversed?

"Not only are the Imperial Guards controlling the event, but even the Warlock from the Bureau of Astronomy have come to prevent anyone with ulterior motives from infiltrating the literary gathering. Could it be that His Majesty intends to attend the literary gathering?"

As they were talking, carriages arrived one after another and stopped at the square outside Luhu Lake. Alighting from the carriages were nobles and military officers.

They should have had no connection with the literary gathering; they were all there to "learn military strategies."

Not only did they come, but they also brought their female relatives and children.

"Look, the officials have arrived: the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries, and the grand secretaries of the Hall of Literary Brilliance."

"I guessed some important people would come, but I didn't expect so many to show up. Why does a literary gathering need to go this far?"

"Brother, you don't understand. A literary gathering is naturally out of the question, but ultimately, this gathering is about negotiations. There are no trivial matters between two countries. You gentlemen are here to create momentum and exert pressure."

"This mere barbarian dares to come to the capital to discuss philosophy; he's utterly ignorant and arrogant. We'll see how the great scholar Zhang Shen teaches him a lesson later."

Following the military generals were the officials of the third rank and above, such as the Minister of Ministry of Justice, the Minister of War, and the Grand Secretaries of the Hall of Literary Brilliance.

Some of the high-ranking officials also brought their female relatives, such as Wang Simu, who was quite famous for her literary talent. She was dressed in a light pink lady's dress, with exquisite makeup, and was dignified and beautiful.

"The Hanlin Academy's refined scholars have also arrived. Interesting. These scholars pride themselves on their unparalleled learning; they'll surely gang up on Pei Manxilou later." The students of the Imperial Academy's eyes lit up.

A group of young officials dressed in blue robes entered the meeting hall with their heads held high.

The Hanlin Academy was a gathering place for academic elites. Although these nobles had no power and were young, they were definitely one of the most learned groups in the Great Feng.

They are in the prime of their lives, at the peak of their memory, comprehension, and mental acuity.

With their arrival, the students of the Imperial Academy gained even more confidence.

After the Hanlin Academy members were seated, they began to converse in hushed tones:

"I've read the 'Hokusai Taiden' (Great Collection of Hokusai's Writings). It's of a certain quality, but it's eclectic and lacks depth."

"It may not be of much expertise to us, but it is quite profound for students all over the world."

"This person is indeed formidable. In a single field, we could all surpass him, but in terms of the breadth of his knowledge, we are truly ashamed of ourselves."

"By the way, when it comes to military strategy, no one in our Hanlin Academy can surpass Cijiu, right?"

In an instant, all eyes turned to the handsome young man.

Xu Xinnian sat behind his desk, he clearly noticed that not only his colleagues from the Hanlin Academy, but also the nobles and officials not far away, looked over upon hearing the sound.

"Of course, that's my major." He was about to nod when he heard a sneer from among the nobles, "Pei Manxi is seeking instruction from the great scholar Zhang Shen. Surely a teacher can't be inferior to a student."

Xu Xinnian was somewhat annoyed and said loudly, "The sage said, 'In learning, there is no distinction between young and old; the accomplished come first.' Who says that students are necessarily inferior to teachers?"

The nobles and military officers burst into laughter, knowing that he was Xu Qi'an's cousin. Some of them laughed particularly unrestrainedly, their mockery written all over their faces.

Xu Xinnian is indeed learned, but apart from his eloquent speech, he is not particularly outstanding in other areas within the Hanlin Academy.

He actually said that students could surpass teachers, which is utterly ridiculous.

Huh? Swearing?

The nobles and military officers realized what was happening, and their laughter abruptly stopped.

Xu Xinnian took a sip of tea and stood up with dignified composure.

Xu Qi'an, dressed in light armor and with a standard-issue sword at his waist, followed Huaiqing and Lin'an's carriage to the venue. The luxurious carriage slowly stopped by the roadside, and Huaiqing, dressed in an elegant palace dress and a fiery red long skirt, got out of the carriage at the same time.

Then, they all raised their hands to shield their eyes from the intense sunlight.

The princesses were afraid of the sun, so they used their hands to shield themselves from the sunlight. A certain guard thought of this sentence, and then he saw a eunuch holding up a canopy to shield the two princesses from the sun.

Biao Biao turned around and searched through the crowd, her watery peach blossom eyes filled with confusion. She didn't know whose appearance her dog servant had disguised himself as.

"You've disguised it quite well." Biao Biao was a little disappointed because she often read in storybooks that "people who like each other will have a telepathic connection."

As soon as the two princesses entered, they saw Xu Xinnian standing by the table, delivering a passionate speech, swearing and pointing at a group of nobles.

The nobles and military generals were furious and attacked Xu Xinnian one after another, but he remained fearless, quoting classic lines and speaking sharply.

Many military officers have already begun rolling up their sleeves.

The gentlemen sipped their tea and leisurely watched the play.

Huaiqing frowned and rebuked, "Insolence!"

Her furious demeanor was so imposing that it was incredibly intimidating. Not only did Xu Xinnian stop his tirade, but even the furious generals above him fell silent.

The nobles and dignitaries all rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings to the two princesses."

Huaiqing snorted coldly and took his seat with Biao Biao and two guards.

Xu Xinnian took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then looked at Wang Simu in the upper left seat, just as Wang Simu was looking over at him.

Yesterday, Wang Simu specifically sought him out, hoping he could showcase his talent at the literary gathering, gain a good reputation, and enhance his prestige.

Miss Wang didn't expect Xu Erlang to dominate the literary gathering and shock everyone present.

Because Zhang Shen makes an appearance, and Mr. Zhang is Xu Erlang's teacher, his appearance is enough.

Xu Erlang smiled at her, just as he had smiled calmly after hearing what she had said yesterday.

At this moment, respectful shouts came from the surrounding area from the students and guards, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince; greetings, Third Prince and Fourth Prince!"

The people in the pavilion turned their heads to look and saw the Crown Prince supporting an elderly man with white hair and a cane, walking along the passage surrounded by the Imperial Guards towards the pavilion.

"Grand Tutor?"

Huaiqing blurted out in surprise.

Biao Biao subconsciously shrank her head. She had been slapped on the palm of her hand by this stinky old man since she was a child, for many years.

The Grand Tutor wasn't targeting Lin'an; he was targeting the academically weak.

The Crown Prince helped the Grand Tutor into the shaded pavilion.

The officials all rose and bowed respectfully.

In terms of seniority, all of you present are juniors of the Grand Tutor.

Xu Xinnian and his colleagues bowed in unison, scrutinizing the old man being helped by the Crown Prince. Although his hair was white, it was still thick and full, a truly enviable amount of hair.

His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, his skin was severely sagging, and his eyes were slightly cloudy, but this old man had a unique temperament.

He remembered Dean Zhao Shou saying that the Grand Tutor was the only scholar of his time who had cultivated Vast Righteous Qi.

The three highest officials in this dynasty are all of the first rank, but they have no real power. The Grand Tutor originally had the potential to take charge of the cabinet, but when his father, the emperor, became a Daoist and neglected state affairs, the Grand Tutor wanted to beat his father with a bamboo stick, but was stopped. After that, he had no chance of entering officialdom and devoted himself to studying in the palace.

"I didn't expect even the Grand Tutor to come," Xu Xinnian thought to himself.

The Grand Tutor snorted coldly, looked at the Grand Imperial Academy, and said indifferently, "I have lived in seclusion for many years, only to find that the Imperial Academy is getting worse with each generation."

The chief priest's face turned red.

Those who also came from the Imperial Academy were somewhat embarrassed.

The face of the imperial court is their face.

A young barbarian brilliance shines in the capital. If it were just Martial Dao, that would be one thing, since barbarians are inherently crude warriors. But he becomes famous for his scholarship.

It should be understood that the greatest pride of humankind is its culture; of all other pursuits, only studying is noble.

Confucian School is the system of the Central Plains people, a unique cultural treasure, and a source of pride for countless people.

Seeing the somewhat tense atmosphere, Huaiqing stood up, pushed the Crown Prince aside from the Grand Tutor, and helped him to a seat, his voice cold and clear:

"Grand Tutor, Pei Manxilou is incredibly talented. In terms of the Four Books and Five Classics alone, the Grand Master of Ceremonies is no less capable than him. Such a person, with such broad and profound knowledge, is extremely rare. But rest assured, with Zhang Shen involved, everything should be handled smoothly."

The Grand Tutor patted Huaiqing's hand, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"If Your Highness were a man, how could that barbarian have the opportunity to swagger around in the capital? I've come here to join in the fun because I refuse to believe in such a thing. Our Great Feng has produced many outstanding scholars and countless rising talents. Is there really no one who can suppress a barbarian who has only learned a little bit of the sages' teachings?"

Then, a light laugh came from outside the pergola, carrying a hint of leisure, retorting:

"The sage said, 'In education, there should be no discrimination.' The Grand Tutor keeps calling us barbarians; has he truly kept the sage's teachings in mind?"

Outside the pavilion, Pei Manxilou, with his full head of white hair, entered the pavilion with the charming Huang Xian'er and the cold-blooded, vertical-eyed boy.

They were clearly outsiders, guests, yet they adopted a relaxed and leisurely demeanor, as if they were the true hosts of the literary gathering.

He showed no concern or fear regarding the presence of high-ranking officials, nobles, and military generals.

Students of the Imperial Academy, nobles of the Hanlin Academy, officials present, meritorious military officers, and others silently gazed at Pei Manxilou, this barbarian man of astonishing talent and profound learning.

No one responded, but he quietly straightened his back, composed himself, and faced a formidable enemy.

"I am Pei Manxilou, the eldest son of Pei Man from the Bai Shou tribe. I greet you all!"

Pei Manxilou used his scholarship to create the image of a brilliant and talented scholar, and he has achieved his goal.

At this literary gathering, he intended to further enhance his reputation and pave the way for subsequent negotiations.

The Xu Residence.

Chu Yuanzhen sat in the courtyard, at the stone table, holding a wine cup in his hand. Lina, Li Miaozhen, and Xu Lingyin sat beside him.

"Why was he allowed into the capital? What was he going there for? Isn't he afraid Emperor Yuanjing will behead him?" Chu Yuanzhen said sourly.

He was very envious of the literary gathering. As a swordsman who came from a scholar background and was once the top scholar in the imperial examination, this kind of literary gathering, a showdown between the best, was fatally tempting to Chu Yuanzhen.

But he can no longer enter the capital, nor can he participate in the literary gathering in public, all because of Xu Qi'an. If it weren't for helping him back then, he wouldn't be in such a miserable state.

So I went over to him for a drink and complained a bit.

Unexpectedly, the person who started this whole thing ended up in jail himself.

Chu Yuanzhen felt as sour as if he had eaten a lemon.

I want to go too.

Xu Lingyin said in a clear, crisp voice.

"Literary gatherings are just a bunch of scholars discussing pointless things; you wouldn't want to go. Such places have nothing to do with us, master and disciple. We'd be better off staying home, eating pastries and drinking sweet rice wine."

Lina took the opportunity to teach her apprentice a lesson; she was quite shrewd and hoped her apprentice would gradually develop the same self-awareness.

"Master, there's lots of delicious food at the literary gathering. Last time, when the big pot was fighting with the monks, I followed an uncle and ate a lot of good food."

Xu Lingyin delivered the fatal blow.

"Oh right, how come I didn't expect that there would be fine wine and delicacies at the literary gathering?" Lina's eyes lit up.

"That's a really tricky angle," Chu Yuanzhen patted Xu Lingyin's head, finding the silly girl quite adorable, and then recalled the nightmare tutorial he had encountered at the Cloud Deer Academy that day.

He silently withdrew his hand.

Li Miaozhen said, "That barbarian has been very arrogant lately, and I couldn't stand it. I couldn't help but want to stab him with my sword."

"You stab whoever you don't like? Are you really the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect?" Chu Yuanzhen thought that Li Miaozhen was the most problematic member of the Heaven and Earth Society.

Number One's identity is unknown; Number Three, Xu Cijiu righteous gentleman; Number Six, Hengyuan, is compassionate; Number Five, Lina, although not smart and loves to eat, has no flaws that would make people want to "get it off their chest".

Numbers 7 and 8 have been "missing" for many years.

Master Jinlian, the ninth Daoist priest, is gentle and kind, a respectable elder who cultivates virtue and whose character is commendable. He also has no bad habits.

Li Miaozhen is the most frustrating. She is the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect, and should have been indifferent and aloof. However, after two years of training after going down the mountain, she transformed herself into a chivalrous heroine who is eager to help others and eliminate evil.

"The scholars at the Imperial Academy are so incompetent that we have to rely on the scholars at the Cloud Deer Academy to put them in their place," Li Miaozhen said.

Chu Yuanzhen smiled and nodded, "Zhang Shen's ' Six Commentaries on the Art of War ' is exquisite. With him involved, those barbarians won't be arrogant for long. However, he is capable of writing 'The Great Canon of Beizhai,' which is enough to establish a school of thought and make him a renowned Confucian scholar."

Li Miaozhen frowned. She sensed that Chu Yuanzhen didn't think highly of Zhang Shen and said, "Is this barbarian really that powerful?"

Chu Yuanzhen nodded.

"If we're comparing poetry, Xu Ningyan is probably more skilled," Li Miaozhen asked cautiously.

Chu Yuanzhen scoffed.

Li Miaozhen frowned and said, "Is it also uncertain?"

Chu Yuanzhen shook his head and chuckled, "No, Xu Ningyan's poetic talent is unparalleled, but a literary gathering is not a poetry gathering. Besides, Xu Ningyan wouldn't even be able to attend."

In the marketplace.

Although ordinary people couldn't enter the imperial city, they discussed the literary gathering extensively and eagerly awaited the results.

Even the hardworking peddlers and laborers, while sitting at their stalls eating a bowl of noodles, could hear the people at the next table constantly discussing literary gatherings, pointing out current events, and passionately writing.

"This reminds me of the magical duel last year; it was such a sensation. In the end, Xu Yinluo stepped forward and turned the tide," a peddler in a blue jacket said loudly, slurping a mouthful of noodles.

"A literary gathering isn't a contest of magic, it's a pity Xu Yinluo isn't a scholar, he can't be of any help," his companion replied regretfully.

The noodle stall owner lifted the lid of the hot pot, cooking noodles as he spoke, indignantly saying, "The scholars at the Imperial Academy are truly useless, losing to a barbarian. I'm ashamed for them."

Diners at other tables couldn't help but remark, "It would be great if Xu Yinluo were a scholar."

In the eyes of the people, Xu Yinluo was an omnipotent hero, a legendary figure of Great Feng, and a truly conscientious great man.

Therefore, they blindly worshipped him, believing that Xu Yinluo was omnipotent. But reason told them that Xu Yinluo was not a scholar, and his knowledge was certainly inferior to that barbarian.

Therefore, one can only sigh: if only Xu Yinluo were a scholar.

The noodle stall owner handed the noodles to the customer and laughed, "But this barbarian dared to challenge a great scholar from the Cloud Deer Academy; he's simply ignorant of his own limitations."

The diners laughed.

Inside the imperial palace, in the sleeping quarters.

Emperor Yuanjing sat languidly on the couch, flipping through Daoist scriptures. Footsteps approached, and the old eunuch returned with small, quick steps, whispering:

"News has come from the literary gathering that Pei Manxilou and the officials of the Hanlin Academy discussed classics, policy essays, people's livelihood, agriculture, and history, and he was not at a disadvantage."

"Not being at a disadvantage is already a disgrace to our Great Feng," Emperor Yuanjing said expressionlessly.

The old eunuch knew the emperor was displeased when he saw the emperor's expression.

Ultimately, Pei Manxi's arrogance at the West Tower is the biggest embarrassment suffered by the monarch.

"Is there any discussion on poetry?" Emperor Yuanjing suddenly asked.

The old eunuch shook his head.

"He does have some self-awareness." Emperor Yuanjing chuckled, but his laughter was short-lived as he suddenly turned serious and gave a cold snort.

After a pause, Emperor Yuanjing asked, "Zhang Shen hasn't arrived yet?"

The old eunuch bowed his head. "Mr. Zhang is not here."

Emperor Yuanjing nodded slowly. "No rush, the literary gathering hasn't even gotten to the main point yet. Although the scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy are annoying, they have never disappointed in their scholarship."

He appeared quite relaxed.

What is the main topic of the literary gathering?

It was a war, a war that took place in the north.

Among the representatives of the Imperial Academy, one student stood up and spoke indignantly:

"The barbarians have been harassing the border for years, slaughtering the people of our Great Feng, causing far-reaching harm. Now, after being crushed by the iron hooves of the Northeast Jingguo, they shamelessly come to our Great Feng to ask for help."

"Barbarians are barbarians, shameless and brazen."

Students from the Imperial Academy College on the outskirts responded enthusiastically, angrily denouncing the barbarians as "shameless."

Huang Xian'er smiled knowingly, twisting her hair between her fingers.

The boy with vertical pupils was filled with rage, desperately suppressing his serpentine, bloodthirsty nature. He gave the student a cold, sweeping glance.

Pei Manxilou remained expressionless, even laughing, and said:

"The Witch God Cult dominates the northeastern part of the Nine Provinces, bordering only three provinces to the Great Feng. With the Great Feng's population and military strength, they can be kept out of those three provinces at a certain cost."

He paused for a moment, and seeing the expressions of agreement on the faces of the officials and military officers, he continued:

"But if the northern territories are also occupied by the Witch God Cult, the Jingguo cavalry can march south and directly attack the capital. Kangguo and Yanguo can then attack from the east, echoing each other. Wouldn't the Great Feng be in grave danger?"

"As we all know, there are endless grasslands in the north. If the Jing Kingdom gains control of the northern territories, it will be able to raise more cavalry. At that time, even if the Great Feng has cannons and crossbows, it will not be able to stop these 'invincible' land forces."

"Therefore, the Great Feng's military expedition is not to help my divine race, but to help itself. My divine race has a difficult time multiplying and a low population. Even though we sometimes harass the borders, we don't have the military strength to go south, so the threat to the Great Feng is limited. But the Witch God Cult is different."

No one objected.

The top students of the Hanlin Academy, the students of the Imperial Academy, and even the officials of the court all agreed with his words.

The Northeast, controlled by the Witch God Cult, was rich in resources, and people could both hunt and farm. Among agricultural civilizations, the population was the most prosperous.

The population of the Witch God Cult is far smaller than that of the Great Feng because of its limited territory.

If the northern territory falls into the hands of the Witch God Cult, and some of the population is relocated to the north, the Witch God Cult's population will double, or at least double, within twenty years.

Pei Manxilou said in a deep voice, "At that time, the present of my divine race will be the future of the Great Feng."

Xu Xinnian observed silently.

These idiots have unknowingly let the other side take the initiative. Shouldn't you be discussing how to extract leverage? Why are you discussing the necessity of sending troops? Of course, we need to send troops, that's beyond question. Discussing leverage seems to be something to do at the negotiating table, something for you gentlemen, and it's really not appropriate to talk about it at this time.

The core of this literary gathering was actually for the Great Feng to destroy Pei Manxilou's image and his prestige.

But the situation isn't looking too good. This guy is eloquent and persuasive, and he also has the "righteous cause" of having to send troops.

Xu Xinnian's gaze shifted, and he noticed that many military officers were eager to speak, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end they frowned and remained silent.

They at least have some self-awareness; these military generals are careless even when it comes to insults, let alone debating. Even with their rich experience in leading troops, they can't out-argue Pei Manxilou—bah, those crude warriors!

"Aren't you usually so sharp-tongued in court? And when the Grand Tutor slapped my palm, weren't you so eloquent? Why aren't you saying anything now?" the woman said anxiously.

"How can the Grand Tutor participate? He is a highly respected senior, and the difference in seniority is too great. Even if he wins, it will not be honorable. People will only say that our Great Feng is bullying the weak. The same applies to you gentlemen. Moreover, if you gentlemen participate, I guarantee that Pei Manxilou will take the initiative to compete with them in scholarship."

Huaiqing, unusually, spoke at length, explaining to his foolish younger sister:

"With the exception of a few Grand Secretaries, the learning of the rest of you has been neglected."

Biao Biao opened her eyes wide and muttered, "What should we do? This is infuriating!"

The students at the Imperial Academy College looked grave, and the top students at the Hanlin Academy were equally alarmed, their faces grim.

The Grand Secretary sighed, "Pei Manxilou's talent is astonishing; it's truly astonishing."

The young officials from the Hanlin Academy, who entered with great confidence, present a stark contrast to their current silent and serious demeanor.

Wang Simu frequently glanced at Xu Erlang, hoping he would step forward and perform.

The Grand Secretary noticed his daughter's expression and asked, "Why is Erlang so silent today?"

Wang Simu frowned.

Just as everyone was speechless and racking their brains for a solution, a flash of clear light appeared in the sky above Luhu Lake, and Zhang Shen, dressed in a Confucian robe and wearing a Confucian hat, appeared out of thin air.

Then, he fell into the lake.

With another flash of light, Zhang Shen appeared in the pavilion, still showing a hint of lingering fear.

The boast he was making was definitely. "I wasn't at the Cloud Deer Academy, I was at Luhu Lake. That's why I almost fell into the lake. "Xu Qi'an mentally scoffed.

"Master Zhang has arrived."

"Mr. Zhang has finally arrived. I knew he wouldn't be absent."

The students on the perimeter cheered, relieved.

The men laughed, and those who were on good terms with Zhang Shen said, "Brother Jinyan, you've finally arrived."

Zhang Shen nodded indifferently, then noticed the Grand Tutor and hurriedly bowed. "Student Zhang Shen greets the Grand Tutor."

The Grand Tutor grunted in acknowledgment, and a smile finally appeared on his usually stern face, "Zhang Jinyan, this young man from the White-Haired Division wants to learn military strategy from you. Could you offer him some guidance?"

The atmosphere inside the pavilion immediately became lively.

Zhang Shen looked around, then gazed at Pei Manxilou, whose hair was as white as snow, and said, "You're the Pei Manxilou who authored the 'Beizhai Grand Canon'?"

Pei Manxilou stood up for the first time, bowed, and said, "This student greets Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Shen waved his hand. "No need for formalities. Do you want to test your military strategy against me?"

The shed fell silent as everyone craned their necks in anticipation.

Huang Xian'er sat up slightly, squinted, and gazed at the scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy.

The young man with vertical pupils suppressed his arrogance. This fourth-rank master of the Confucian School system was Pei Man's "enemy" at this literary gathering. Although he looked down on scholars, the scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy were not included in his contempt.

Even though the Confucian School system has declined for many years, its influence remains.

"This student is of limited knowledge and wishes to seek your guidance, sir." Pei Manxilou smiled gently, appearing confident and composed.

Zhang Shen rolled his eyes:

"Isn't this just being a rogue? I haven't led troops for over twenty years, and I've almost forgotten what it's like to sleep with a weapon as my pillow. I'm just repeating the same old things I've been saying for over twenty years. What kind of military strategy are you trying to discuss with me?"

"Why don't you go discuss military strategy with Wei Yuan? That old fellow sits in the court, with spies all over the country. He's been strategizing for twenty years without stopping, just waiting for the day he can unleash his full potential."

Pei Manxilou laughed and said, "Isn't what you're saying just being a scoundrel?"

The boy with vertical pupils couldn't help but interject, scoffing, "Why don't you let Brother Pei Man and the Supervisor have a magical duel?"

This time, Pei Manxilou did not scold the boy, but asked with a smile:

"Then I will not ask you to teach me military strategy. In fact, I have long admired your military books. I have heard that you are proficient in military strategy and that your book, ' Six Commentaries on the Art of War,' is widely circulated and praised by everyone."

"I am but a humble student, and have also written a military treatise. This book took several years to complete, and it not only incorporates the military strategies of the Central Plains but also the tactics of barbarian cavalry. I humbly request your guidance, sir."

As he spoke, he looked at the boy with vertical pupils beside him.

Xuan Yin opened the small wooden box at his feet and took out a thick book. "The Military Scroll of the Northern Study".

On the Great Feng side, everyone looked at each other in disbelief, truly not expecting that this person was not only proficient in military strategy, but had also written a military treatise?

Scholars value writing books and biographies. Even highly learned people are very cautious about writing. A book may be revised and edited for many years before it is published and widely publicized.

As for some essays and notes, at this point, they can't really be called "books".

For example, the book "Great Zhou Shi Yi" that Xu Qi'an read at the Cloud Deer Academy was just a notebook and could not be called a book.

Therefore, everyone was skeptical of Pei Manxilou's words.

The Grand Tutor's expression visibly darkened.

The faces of Wang, the chief minister, and other veteran officials also turned solemn, as if they had a bad feeling.

Out of respect for the book, Zhang Shen solemnly accepted it with both hands. A gentle breeze blew across the lake, causing the pages to rustle as he rapidly turned the pages.

Zhang Shen's changing expression was noticed by everyone in the room. At first, they were stunned, then they admired him, and finally they were excited.

Pei Manxilou asked, "What do you think of this book, sir?"

Zhang Shen did not answer immediately. After a moment's thought, he sighed, "Brilliant."

"The book is divided into three volumes. The first volume, Military Strategy, discusses what military strategy is and what war is. Even those who are unfamiliar with warfare can understand what war is by reading it. It provides a concise overview."

"The second volume on strategy, with its description of 'military tactics are like water, which has no constant shape,' is excellent. The twelve strategies for attacking with cunning are truly ingenious."

"What's even more remarkable is the third volume, which meticulously studies troop deployment and provides many formations for the cooperation of warriors and ordinary soldiers, greatly maximizing the usefulness of ordinary soldiers."

Pei Manxilou was indeed a brilliant scholar. In terms of military strategy, Zhang Shen lost. Confucian School emphasizes open-mindedness, and he couldn't be stubborn like a mule.

Besides, losing the literary competition would be the biggest embarrassment for Emperor Yuanjing and the court. Cloud Deer Academy had already been expelled from the court, and he had no need to go against his conscience for the sake of the face of those good -Imperial Academy for-nothings at the Imperial Academy.

Zhang Shen sighed, "My ' Six Commentaries on the Art of War ' is truly inferior to your 'Beizhai Military Strategy,' I humbly admit defeat."

"It is said that the scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy are of noble character, and their reputation is well-deserved."

Pei Manxi laughed, a hearty and unrestrained laugh.

Why did he choose Zhang Shen as a stepping stone? There were three reasons: Zhang Shen was famous enough; Zhang Shen had lived in seclusion for more than twenty years; Zhang Shen was a scholar at the Cloud Deer Academy, known for his frankness and integrity. As long as his military treatise could convince Zhang Shen, he wouldn't go against his conscience to suppress him.

The saying "a gentleman can be deceived by his principles" illustrates this point.

The pavilion was completely silent; everyone had lost their composure.

The vertical-pupiled youth, Xuan Yin, sneered, "Everyone says that the Great Feng Dynasty is flourishing in literature and scholarship, full of potential scholars. It seems they are all inferior to my elder brother, Pei Man. Elder brother, when you return to the North, you will be our Divine Clan's Xu Yinluo."

He was referring to someone as beloved as Xu Qi'an.

Upon hearing this, the students of the Imperial Academy outside the pavilion felt both ashamed and angry. They wanted to retort and curse, but felt too ashamed to speak, as cursing would only make them more humiliated. They gritted their teeth in frustration.

The top students at the Hanlin Academy looked embarrassed.

In other academic fields, they can have back-and-forth discussions and debates, but when it comes to warfare, these academic elites have never even been to a battlefield, so they have no right to speak. Their theoretical discussions only make them a laughing stock.

Huang Xian'er giggled, though it was unclear whether she was happy or mocking.

"This literary gathering was completely pointless; I wish I hadn't come," one of the women complained.

They came with anticipation and enthusiasm, wanting to see the barbarians suffer a setback, not to show off their power Great Feng defeat the scholars of Da Feng.

Huaiqing sighed. She was a woman, and it was not a good time to leave this situation. Otherwise, it would be a slap in the face to scholars. Moreover, she had only read some military books.

Pei Manxilou is the young master of the White Head tribe. He has been through many battles and is very experienced. His skill level is definitely much higher than hers.

"Help me back!"

The Grand Tutor gripped his cane, slammed it down three times, and roared.

The old man's face was filled with disappointment.

Inside the palace.

The old eunuch rushed in, his face filled with apprehension.

The curtains hung low, and on the couch, Emperor Yuanjing glanced at him but said nothing.

The old eunuch whispered, "Zhang Shen admits defeat."

"Smack!"

Emperor Yuanjing threw the book at the old eunuch's face.

On the shore of Luhu Lake, in a cool pavilion.

Pei Manxi bowed to all four directions, his smile gentle, displaying an attitude of neither arrogance in victory nor discouragement in defeat. "Thank you all for your guidance. Great Feng truly deserves its reputation as a land of flourishing literature and learning, inspiring awe and admiration."

These words sounded like mockery to everyone; no, they were mockery.

The Grand Tutor's face was ashen, and he quickened his pace.

The men rose one by one, silently leaving the table, intending to depart.

"Thud!"

The sound of the wine glass being placed on the table was somewhat heavy, drawing sidelong glances from those around.

Xu Erlang stood up gracefully and said loudly, "My elder brother has a poem: 'I can't bear to see my son become a new nobleman, so I angrily step onto the stage to strike again.'"

The sound carried.

The Grand Tutor stopped and turned around to look.

The officials, nobles, and military generals all looked over.

The students of the Imperial Academy looked over.

Pei Manxilou stared in astonishment at the young Hanlin Academy official who had spoken so provocatively.

Xu Xinnian looked at the white-haired barbarian and said calmly, "I will discuss military strategy with you."

These words caused an uproar.

Cijiu!

His colleagues at the Hanlin Academy gestured to him with their eyes, signaling him not to act impulsively.

Xu Cijiu had a good reputation in official circles, which was entirely due to his role in the Chuzhou massacre, where he stood at the Meridian Gate and angrily berated the Prince of Huai.

This reputation is hard-earned, and it would be a great pity to ruin it all because of a moment of indignation or impulsiveness.

"Mr. Zhang is his teacher. Even he lost. Does Xu Cijiu think he can win?"

"Why bother embarrassing yourself further? Pei Manxilou's military treatise is so excellent that even the great scholar Zhang is ashamed of his own inferiority and praises it highly."

"We are also indignant, but... but Xu Cijiu reckless."

The students of the Imperial Academy College were abuzz with discussion.

Pei Manxilou wondered if he had misheard. He stared at Xu Xinnian for a moment, then suddenly remembered that this was Zhang Shen's disciple.

The teacher has already lost; how can the student possibly turn the tide?

The vertical-pupiled youth, Xuan Yin, sneered, while Huang Xian'er listlessly toyed with her wine cup, saying indifferently, "Boring."

Wang Simu stared in astonishment, her eyes wide. She hadn't expected that Xu Xinnian had been holding back for so long, all for this moment.

"Acting on impulse!" Chief Minister Wang was furious.

"Lord Xu, have you ever trained soldiers?" Pei Manxilou asked with a smile.

Xu Xinnian shook his head.

"Have you ever been to the battlefield?" Pei Manxilou asked again.

Xu Xinnian shook his head again.

The scholar, born into a barbarian tribe, shook his head slightly. "Although you specialize in military strategy, you only talk about it on paper. How can you discuss military strategy with me?"

The vertical-pupiled youth, Xuan Yin, sneered, "Could it be that you've also written a military treatise, intending to use it to compete with my elder brother?"

Seeing Xu Xinnian being mocked by the barbarians, everyone felt ashamed.

Zhang Shen looked at his prized disciple in surprise, thinking to himself, "Has this kid lost his mind? Even I am ashamed of my own abilities. Why is he jumping out like this? To avenge me?"

However, it would be good for him to experience some setbacks. Xu Cijiu has had it too easy. Whether it's his family background, his studies, or his official career, he has never experienced any major setbacks.

Xu Xinnian raised his chin and said proudly, "That's right, I do have a military treatise here. Please enlighten me, Brother Pei Man."

"!!!"

Everyone, including Zhang Shen, stared blankly at Xu Xinnian, their eyes extremely dazed. Like Pei Manxilou, they wondered if there was something wrong with their ears.

Xu Xinnian ignored the crowd and took out a thread-bound book with a light brown cover from his pocket.

Pei Manxi saw four characters written on the cover: Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Despite his extensive reading, he had no recollection of this name. It was neither a contemporary military treatise nor one of those old, rehashed military books recently compiled by the court and presented to him.

But he was a book lover and wouldn't disrespect any book because of its title; he would reach out, pick it up, and smile as he flipped through it.

"War is a matter of vital importance to the State; it is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

The opening was quite good, simply stating the importance of war in a very insightful way.

Continue reading:

"Therefore, it is judged by five factors, compared by calculations, and its true nature sought: first, the Way; second, Heaven; third, Earth; fourth, the General; and fifth, the Law."

Pei Manxilou nodded slightly, putting aside his slight disdain and scrutiny. To be able to write such a sentence, the author of the book certainly had some real skill.

When he saw the phrase "Warfare is based on deception," he was finally moved, his pupils slightly contracting. "Brilliant, brilliant! This is truly brilliant."

Pei Manxilou read on with great eagerness, gradually immersing himself in the ocean of knowledge, lingering there and ignoring everything around him.

This book contains twelve chapters, and its content is extensive and profound. It not only describes the theories and experiences of war, but also summarizes the laws of war.

This book transcends the realm of strategy; it explores not just simple tactics and military tactics, but something more macroscopic and at a higher level.

For example, the book says that politics is a crucial factor in determining the outcome of war. This suddenly elevated the level of understanding, giving Pei Manxilou a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

Barbarians wage wars solely for plunder. Pei Manxilou also believed that war is war, and while factors outside the battlefield are important, the outcome of a war ultimately depends on the disparity in the strength of the two sides.

The military treatise is short, appearing incredibly simple compared to his thick volume. Yet, every word is precious, and every sentence is worthy of deep contemplation.

Looking back at myself, I copied down various battles, tried hard to analyze the details in words, summarized the different factions, and emphasized the importance of soldiers. I made a fool of myself.

Of course, this book also has its flaws; for example, it makes no mention of the role of warriors or how to utilize them.

After a long while, Pei Manxilou finally broke free from his immersive reading and exclaimed with satisfaction, "I've benefited immensely, immensely!"

Then he noticed that the Great Feng people around him were staring straight at him.

Everyone was stunned.

Pei Manxilou's series of facial expressions just now fully demonstrated to them the words "overjoyed", "amazed", and "eagerly eager".

It makes one incredibly curious: what exactly is written in the book that would elicit such a reaction from such a brilliant individual?

Pei Manxi glanced at Xu Xinnian, then at the Art of War in his hand, hesitated, struggled, and finally sighed deeply, bowing deeply:

"Lord Xu, I have lost."

"I have no other request than to earnestly request that you, Lord Xu, allow me to copy this book. I am willing to treat you with the respect due to a disciple and address you as 'Master'."

This book is indeed far superior to his "Hokusai's Art of War," so there's no point in arguing about it.

The boy with vertical pupils, Xuan Yin, stared wide-eyed. "Big brother, you, you..."

The alluring and seductive Huang Xian'er, at this moment, finally lost her lazy and carefree confidence on her pretty face, and her expression changed slightly.

A commotion erupted, as if an uproar had broken out.

Pei Manxilou admitted defeat, feeling ashamed of his inferiority.

Moreover, in order to be able to copy Xu Cijiu's military treatise, he even went so far as to call himself a student.

The nobles and military generals stared intently at the military treatise in Pei Manxilou's hand, as if it were the most tempting thing in the world.

The chief minister stared intently at Xu Erlang, his eyes and expression seemingly frozen.

Wang Simu's heart pounded wildly as she gazed adoringly at Xu Erlang, who stood proudly in the center of the arena.

The Grand Tutor, leaning on his cane, took two steps forward, squinted, and scrutinized the man from head to toe. Then he slammed his cane down twice, stroked his beard, and laughed heartily.

"These are the true scholars of our Great Feng, these are the real rising stars."

The third and fourth princesses looked at Xu Cijiu, their eyes shining with a strange light.

"The Xu Household truly has two outstanding individuals. Xu Qi'an is already incredibly brilliant, but Xu Cijiu is no less so," someone remarked.

Zhang Shen snatched the military treatise from Pei Manxilou's hands and began to read it with deep confusion.

His expression shifted, mirroring that of Pei Manxilou just moments before.

After he finished reading, he was completely dumbfounded.

"No, that's not right. Who wrote this military treatise? Who wrote 'Cijiu'?" Zhang Shen asked excitedly.

How could he not know the level of his own disciple? Xu Cijiu was outstanding in military strategy, but it was absolutely impossible for him to have written such a magnificent military treatise.

The author of this military treatise is someone else.

Zhang Shen couldn't wait to know who the original author was; he was astonished that the Great Feng Dynasty had such a figure.

Xu Xinnian nodded slowly. "This military treatise was indeed not written by me."

The room fell silent in shock, everyone staring at him blankly and confusedly, then glancing at Zhang Shen.

Gradually, it dawned on him that this military treatise, which had so impressed Pei Manxilou, was actually written by someone else?

"Is it Wei Yuan? Is it Wei Yuan?" Zhang Shen asked again.

All eyes fell on Xu Erlang.

Wei Yuan muttered to himself in the west tower.

"Wei Yuan!" Everyone suddenly realized.

"What does this have to do with Duke Wei?"

Xu Erlang frowned, somewhat displeased. He glanced at everyone and raised his voice, "This is a military treatise written by my elder brother."

In an instant, inside and outside the pavilion, along the shore of Luhu Lake, all became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

P. S.: I really wish I could write 10,000-word chapters every day, but my brain says: No, you can't do it.