The Weakest and Strongest of the Same Realm

No matter how fine the horses of Chang'an City were, they could not gallop 2,600 li without stopping.

But with the imperial court's most urgent command flag displayed, they could requisition horses directly from relay stations along the way, making it possible to travel day and night.

In just three days, the carriage had crossed countless mountains and rivers and entered a sparsely populated region.

Lingnan.

It was a home for exiles and a gathering place for those who had fallen on hard times.

Across this region, there were far too many families of officials banished there by the court.

Yet even though the court kept sending discarded talents south, the Lingnan barbarians remained rampant.

Several horse-tripping ropes were swiftly pulled taut ahead of their carriage, forcing the palace guard driving it to rein in the horses as they tried to keep running.

"Huolololo!"

A series of strange cries rang out. Clumps of weeds and leaves flew up beside the uneven road, and more than ten naked men with faces painted in bright colors emerged, carrying bows and spears.

"They've taken a fancy to our mounts, and they want our clothes too!"

Dong Zhongshu lowered his gaze from the white cloth and listened for several seconds before translating the men's hard-to-understand speech.

"Master Dong, your learning truly reaches the heavens. You even understand the language of the barbarians in Lingnan," Sima Xiangru praised.

"Learning a language isn't difficult. If you put your mind to it, Changqing, you could learn it in ten days or half a month," Dong Zhongshu said. "I envy your talent for writing fu and playing the zither!"

"What kind of skill is that?" Sima Xiangru said with a laugh. "If I had to rely on my writing and zither playing to drive off enemies, I'm afraid