Sima of Henei

The Great Jin, from Sima Yi onwards, has become worse with each generation.

Even Sima Yi himself was a person who treated public oaths as mere farts, and had absolutely no credibility.

Even in his own family affairs, he could claim to cherish his wife, but in the end, he favored his concubine over his wife.

"But..."

Chu Tianshu asked doubtfully, "When the ancient Dragon Vein still existed, weren't people of each generation still able to forge their own paths after inheriting the power of the Origin Canon?"

"This shows that even the Dragon Vein Original Scripture have a very limited ability to interfere with the world."

Huo Ming sighed.

"That's because the ancients' interference with each other's Dragon Vein was a process passed down from generation to generation, while what we are facing is the Dragon Vein Original Scripture that has just returned after nearly two thousand years."

Huo Ming said, "The solidified trends that have accumulated within the Dragon Vein today pose a far greater pressure than what the ancients faced."

"This is what the Dadu and his men concluded from various events."

"Coincidentally, the Origin Canon that the Dadu obtained was none other than that of Marquis Wu Zhuge."

"That... the wise and virtuous prime minister who devised strategies for campaigns, was repeatedly thwarted by Sima Yi, and was ultimately outlived by Sima Yi."

The sunlight streaming through the window is serene.

After saying these words, Huo Ming drank several mouthfuls of tea.

Chu Tianshu seemed to be deep in thought, so he also picked up his tea and took a sip.

"So, you're here to see Sima Yi?"

Seeing the other party nod, Chu Tianshu spoke again.

"However, Zhuge Liang farmed in Nanyang, while our General Cai farmed in Yunnan."

"You went all the way to Henei to seek the blessing of Sima Yi Origin Canon text, surely it wasn't just because the historical Sima Yi came from Henei, right?"

Huo Ming nodded.

He finished his tea and whispered, "It's a message secretly sent back by our friends in the capital."

"After the Yuan clan declined, the Cao Family inherited most of the power in the north. They also discovered the Dragon Vein Original Scripture and paid special attention to Sima Yi."

"It was the Cao Family who discovered that there is currently a person in Henei who most likely obtained Sima Yi's Origin Canon."

Indeed, since he was a member of the Cao Family, Sima Yi naturally deserved special attention.

Chu Tianshu asked curiously, "Who is this person?"

According to the information Huo Ming received, this person's surname was Chen and his given name Xuewen.

During the Former Qing Dynasty, a famous person named Li Tangjie emerged from Henei County.

He served as an official during the reigns of Emperors Daoguang, Xianfeng, and Tongzhi, successively holding positions such as Minister of Ministry of Works, Minister of Rites, Grand Councilor, and Minister of Revenue.

After his death, the emperor posthumously granted him the title of Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and the posthumous name Wenqing.

This person once taught at the Heshuo Academy for thirteen years.

Chen Xuewen is his grand-disciple.

Among the literati of Yu Province, Chen Xuewen was quite famous, having inherited many connections left over from the Former Qing.

After all, although the Former Qing was overthrown, there are still quite a few people serving in various places in Yu Province who are Former Qing officials who have simply changed their official titles.

There was a joke that circulated here back then.

It is said that a county magistrate cut off his queue (braid) and used a bamboo pole to poke down two roof tiles in front of the yamen (government office), indicating that a battle had taken place there and a revolution had taken place.

He had forgotten about the incident and flew into a rage. Someone nearby, quick-witted, spoke up to report it.

"Reporting to the county magistrate, this was done by the county magistrate himself."

There are also rumors that this county magistrate, who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, got his position through Chen Xuewen's connections.

Despite his advanced age, he still had to treat Chen Xuewen with the respect due to a disciple.

Huo Ming said, "There's another matter, which I only discovered after I arrived here."

"This Chen Xuewen is from Chenjiagou, the very Chenjiagou famous for its Taiji Fist."

Chu Tianshu's heart stirred.

Yes, Chenjiagou is also located in Henei.

Uncle Zhong once said that he was proud of what he had learned when he was young, but he only realized it when he got older.

The Taiji Fist of the Golden Toad Sect is actually Taiji to that of Chenjiagou.

At that time, the leader who was chasing Cai Shanjun used a set of sword and shield techniques, which were also the Taiji of Chenjiagou.

Their actual combat skills are truly impressive.

Chu Tianshu was in a hurry to kill someone and didn't have the leisure to wait for the other party to fully demonstrate the essence of Chen Family Taiji.

"During the Daoguang era, Li Tangjie was attacked by court officials and demoted three ranks. He was not promoted again until the Tongzhi era, when he became a Grand Councilor."

"The reason for his demotion was that when he was in charge of the imperial examinations, he admitted a group of elderly military officers, which violated the old practices of the Former Qing."

Huo Ming said, "The most authentic way to practice Taiji in Chenjiagou requires thirty to forty years of accumulation, gradually building up strength over time; the older one gets, the higher their skill becomes."

"Those who were admitted back then were all from Chenjiagou. At that time, Li Tangjie already had close ties with Chenjiagou."

This incident involved collusion between civil and military officials, which violated a major taboo of the emperor, and this was the main reason for his demotion by three ranks.

Fortunately, Li Tangjie maintained a good reputation and was known for his integrity; otherwise, things might have been even worse.

It was also because of those elderly martial arts graduates from back then that they were eventually stripped of their official titles.

Chenjiagou then devised another group of people to pursue civil service careers.

Chen Xuewen was the ringleader among them.

"I originally thought I could handle this all by myself."

Huo Ming said, "But I went to Chenjiagou to observe before, and there are indeed quite a few experts there."

"Although I'm not afraid, if I alert Chen Xuewen and he realizes that someone is watching him, things could get complicated."

As he spoke, Huo Ming took a piece of paper out of his hat, which unfolded to reveal a black and white portrait.

Chu Tianshu glanced at it. "This is Chen Xuewen. Don't you have a photo?"

Huo Ming said, "He never takes photos, so getting this portrait won't be easy."

"That's interesting."

Chu Tianshu lightly rubbed his fingertips against the teacup, looking quite interested, and said, "I remember back then, even with two pistols in hand, you were still easily knocked unconscious by that knife-and-shield assassin."

"There must be some people in Chenjiagou whose strength surpasses that assassin's."

"You just said you weren't afraid, did you also obtain some kind of Origin Canon?"

Huo Ming had no intention of hiding anything, but his expression seemed somewhat complicated when the topic came up.

"When a stray bullet ripped a piece off my scalp, my mind went completely blank."

"On that battlefield where blood flowed like a river, I became unable to distinguish between near and far, high and low; all I knew was to rush forward and grab the machine gun."

"At that moment, I felt something converge upon me from all directions, amidst the deafening roar of gunfire, and descend upon me."

Huo Ming sighed.

"Afterwards, I felt happy, a little flattered, and perhaps a little ashamed."

"I was just a lowly guard, yet I received the Origin Canon, Zhao Yun."

Chu Tianshu picked up the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and stared intently.

"What's there to be ashamed of? It wasn't you who tricked or deceived Zhao Yun Zhao Yun; it was the Origin Canon that chose you!"

Chu Tianshu grinned and said, "Let's have a fight."

Huo Ming quickly waved his hand. "The Dragon Vein Original Scripture is merely a sum of events, a kind of interference force, not heroic spirits."

"I know you martial artists enjoy debating ancient and modern times, but fighting me is not the same as sparring with Zhao Yun himself."

Chu Tianshu laughed even harder.

"I understood just now. The current proposal is to have a friendly exchange with 'you'."

At this point, Chu Tianshu deliberately sighed.

"Little Huo, are you really going to reject me?"

(End of this chapter)