This Anguo Was Not That Anguo
After returning to Chang'an City from Nanyang, Zhang Xuezhou was constantly arranging livelihood matters for the Zhang Household Village. These days, he was basically preoccupied with travel and other miscellaneous matters related to survival.
When there are many trivial matters to attend to, it becomes difficult to do other things.
Only when time was running out did Zhang Xuezhou begin to refine the innate spiritual artifact wooden staff he had taken from Fangzhang Island.
This was his weapon for changing his fighting style, and Zhang Xuezhou devoted almost all his attention to it.
Of course, Zhang Xuezhou didn't specialize in treasures and had no other methods, since his cultivation level had stagnated.
After a series of rituals, Zhang Xuezhou found that the blue wooden staff in his hand was not very effective.
He held the cyan wooden staff and gestured with it several times, only to find that it would be difficult to use the power of the Realm Technique to suppress it as he had ten days ago.
"Brother Anguo is very knowledgeable about treasures. He's told me before about all sorts of innate, acquired, and spiritual treasures. Go find him!"
After returning to Chang'an City, the first person Zhang Xuezhou visited was Wei Shao'er, while the first person he visited when he traveled was Kong Anguo.
Few people would care that a scholar from the Golden Horse Gate had returned to Chang'an City. Perhaps it was because he was close to Zhang Xuezhou or had something to ask of Zhang Xuezhou that he would know that Zhang Xuezhou had returned to Chang'an City.
Kong Anguo was clearly unaware that Zhang Xuezhou had returned to Chang'an City.
The two were not particularly close, but they felt extremely comfortable interacting with each other.
Besides Dong Zhongshu, Kong Anguo was the second person Zhang Xuezhou recognized as having good character.
The other party was very knowledgeable and did not show any greed for money or treasures. He could even exchange valuable items such as the Sage Kong Token and the Sui Marquis Pearl fairly.
Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't flaunt his treasure to everyone, lest he reveal his trump card, but he was genuinely happy to show it off to Kong Anguo.
Besides sharing his findings, Zhang Xuezhou also wanted to ask Kong Anguo whether he could fully grasp the essence of this treasure.
He tidied himself up briefly, then picked up his cane and went out.
When Zhang Xuezhou met Kong Anguo, Kong was staying at an inn and did not have a fixed place to live.
However, more than half a year had passed, and the Kong family was not short of money, so the other party had most likely already purchased a house in Chang'an City.
If Kong Anguo hadn't assigned him a new position, Zhang Xuezhou could still meet him at Jinma Gate, but now, once again, only he, a scholar awaiting imperial orders, remained at Jinma Gate.
Zhang Xuezhou wasn't in a hurry; his destination was the Sage Kong.
This is a gathering place for Confucian School scholars; if you want to find out which famous Confucian School figures you've heard of, this is obviously the easiest place to get the answer.
There were truly many Confucian School scholars!
The Sage Kong is not far from Laoshu Hutong; it only takes a few streets to reach, and it takes about 45 minutes for an average person to walk there. Zhang Xuezhou could walk there even less time if he walked briskly.
Upon arriving at this gathering place of Confucian School scholars once again, Zhang Xuezhou did not climb the tree to observe, but instead entered the Sage Kong openly and confidently.
Confucian School is extremely lenient in its teaching, unlike other schools of thought that are secretive and secretive. Every few days, someone at the Sage Kong would preach the introductory Confucian School classics.
At this time, someone was giving a lecture at the Sage Kong, and as many as forty Confucian School scholars gathered to listen.
The number of Confucian School students attending the lectures was large, but most of them were beginners, and some were even still learning to write. It was difficult for these people to interact with great Confucian scholars, but the Confucian scholars who gave the lectures were very likely to have formally entered the Confucian School school and were also likely to know the region where important Confucian School figures were located.
He waited patiently, sitting on the ground as well.
The Confucian School scholar who was teaching spoke eloquently, and although the other party was only talking about some superficial things, his eloquence was excellent.
This may not only be a way of passing on Confucian School, but also a means for Confucian School scholars to train their students.
"That concludes my lecture for today. Scholar Fang Cheng'an will continue shortly. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. If you wish to continue your studies with me, you can also contact me privately!"
A quarter of an hour later, the scholar surnamed Fang put away the bamboo slips in his hand and bowed repeatedly to the crowd, indicating that his lecture for the day was over.
He breathed a sigh of relief and stepped off the stage. Some students stood up to greet him, while others came forward to ask questions. Some newcomers even inquired about the cost of continuing their studies with him.
"Brother Fang, I haven't seen Brother Anguo for some time and would like to visit him. May I ask where he lives?"
Zhang Xuezhou also joined the crowd, and when the questioning subsided, he struck up a casual conversation with everyone.
Zhang Xuezhou's familiar appearance resembled that of Confucian School scholar, prompting the Fang-surnamed scholar to repeatedly bow and pay his respects.
"Brother, you've come to the right person!" the scholar surnamed Fang said happily. "Not many people know that Lord Anguo is coming to Chang'an City, and even fewer know the details. If you'd like to pay him a visit, I can show you the way!"
"Haha, thank you so much, Brother Fang!"
The scholar surnamed Fang was extremely polite and enthusiastic, to the point that Zhang Xuezhou felt somewhat uncomfortable.
He had only intended to ask for directions, but he didn't expect the other person to want to lead the way.
Zhang Xuezhou chuckled and quickly agreed.
He was naturally happy to accept such a warm-hearted Confucian School scholar.
It's likely that the other party holds a relatively low position within the Confucian School community. Kong Anguo has been in Chang'an City for over half a year, and only now has the other party received the news, giving them the opportunity to share it with others.
"You're too kind," the scholar surnamed Fang replied, clasping his hands in greeting. "I happen to live nearby, so showing me the way wouldn't be a trouble at all. We can go together on our way!"
"I see, it seems I asked the right person!"
Zhang Xuezhou returned the greeting with clasped hands. He couldn't figure out who the cultivator surnamed Fang was, that he had ended up living next to Kong Anguo.
"I'm short of money, so I'll need your help with the travel expenses!"
Once outside the Sage Kong, Zhang Xuezhou finally understood why the Confucian scholar surnamed Fang was so eager to lead the way.
Problems that can be solved with a small amount of money are not problems. Even if the scholar surnamed Fang didn't ask, Zhang Xuezhou would have paid for the travel expenses himself.
He readily agreed, which pleased the scholar surnamed Fang greatly, and he quickly summoned a relatively new carriage.
"Go to Fuqilai Inn!"
The scholar surnamed Fang boarded the carriage and pointed to the location it had arrived at.
This surprised Zhang Xuezhou slightly.
Zhang Xuezhou guessed that Kong Anguo must have bought a house, and he never expected that Kong Anguo was still living in the guesthouse.
"Brother Fang, are you also new to Chang'an City?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.
"We originally made a living in State of Liang, but now that State of Liang in chaos, we have no choice but to seek a better place, so we came to Chang'an City," the Confucian scholar surnamed Fang nodded and said.
"I see!"
"We never imagined that the prices of food and lodging in Chang'an City would be so outrageously high, leaving us penniless in such a short time," said the scholar surnamed Fang. "Now we can only hope that the imperial court will post a notice to recruit people!"
"Brother Fang is learned; he will surely achieve fame and success!"
Zhang Xuezhou rarely offends people when interacting with them; after all, saying a few kind words and blessings won't hurt him.
This made the scholar surnamed Fang extremely happy throughout the journey, dispelling much of his gloom.
When the carriage stopped, he was the first to jump down.
"Lord Anguo is staying in room number one of the Jia section!"
After Zhang Xuezhou paid the fare, the scholar surnamed Fang gave him directions.
He was referring to an extremely large inn, which was located near the imperial city and was not only spacious but also very expensive.
Zhang Xuezhou felt that Kong Anguo had gone to great lengths to get a job, staying in such a place for an extended period, especially the best room, Room A-1.
Living in this place for six months is enough to buy one of their kind of luxurious mansions.
Of course, Zhang Xuezhou had to admit that the Kong family was extremely generous with money, so it wouldn't be surprising if they did something like this out of sheer stupidity.
He and the scholar surnamed Fang entered the Fuqilai Inn at the same time. The scholar surnamed Fang went to room number six in the Bing section, while Zhang Xuezhou went to the room on the east side of the second floor, which faced the main street of Chang'an City.
"Brother Anguo, I am Dongfang Shuo!"
Zhang Xuezhou knocked on the door and introduced himself.
The door opened as he expected.
But the person in the room was not Kong Anguo, whom Zhang Xuezhou was familiar with, but a wealthy, middle-aged, robust man dressed in an exquisite robe.
Zhang Xuezhou was slightly taken aback, and the other party was equally taken aback when they saw Zhang Xuezhou.
Zhang Xuezhou did not know the other party, and the other party obviously did not know Zhang Xuezhou either.
Brother Anguo?
Zhang Xuezhou tentatively called out again.
"Han Anguo greets Brother Dongfang. Please come in, as a guest!"
The middle-aged man politely returned the greeting and introduced himself by name. Only then did Zhang Xuezhou realize that this Anguo was not the same Anguo as the other man. His overly familiar approach had backfired, and he had met someone else named Anguo.