The Land Is So Beautiful, Episode 2, Chapter 1

"Whoa—" Yulong turned her horse around. "Brother, hurry up!" she said, her pretty face showing a hint of reproach.

I was driving a luxurious four-wheeled carriage on the official road to Yingtian Prefecture. Yes, I am indeed a carriage now. After the Linglong sisters heard that I was going to the Spring Water Sword Sect, they suddenly became homesick and couldn't wait to fly back to Yingtian Prefecture. They even forgot that Yuling was still recovering from her illness, so I had to hire a carriage to head to Yingtian Prefecture the next day.

After only half a day, the carriage became unemployed because its attention was completely unable to concentrate on driving. After that, I became the carriage.

I confidently raised the whip, but soon I realized that humans are actually the most forgetful of their roots. When I was five years old, I was skilled at driving a carriage loaded with vegetables or thatch between the city and the countryside, but after being a young master in Shen Garden for more than ten years, all of this had become rusty.

Xiao Xiao sat with Yu Ling in the carriage. Seeing me sweating profusely, she took out a handkerchief to wipe my brow and turned to Yu Ling with a smile, saying, "Our sir is a bit too strong-willed."

Fortunately, it didn't take much time. We had already passed Wuxi, and no one seemed to be following us. We were almost at Changzhou when Lu Wei caught up on horseback.

"Brother, I've been following you all day, but I haven't found anyone suspicious. It seems you've wiped out everyone who tried to assassinate you in Suzhou."

Lu Wei looked around. "We should be at Changzhou in another hour or so. Ahead lies the territory of Yingtian Prefecture. I won't follow anymore, to avoid trouble from Chief Constable Su. If those bastards don't make a move tonight, I guess there won't be any problems along the way."

I knew that Chief Constable Su, whom Lu Wei was referring to, was his superior, Su Yao, the Chief Constable of Southern Zhili. He had been telling me a lot about government affairs these past few days, seemingly convinced that I had a bright future in the government.

I knew that officials were most afraid of overstepping their bounds, so I laughed and said, "Fortunately, I'm a constable from Zhejiang Province, so I don't have to listen to his nagging."

Changzhou was a place I knew very well; when I was preparing for the provincial examination in Yingtian, Xiao Xiao and I stayed at Tianning Temple here for more than ten days. Lu Wei was taken aback when he saw me enter Piling Post Station with such ease. "Brother, you seem quite familiar with my jurisdiction."

The post station manager naturally recognized Lu Wei and quickly settled everyone in. Perhaps seeing Xiao Xiao and the Linglong sisters dressed so elegantly and adorned with jewels, he mistook them for the daughters of some high-ranking official, and given Lu Wei's ambiguous attitude, the post station manager went to great lengths to curry favor with them.

"The three young ladies are like celestial beings, making our humble post station shine... The upper rooms are a bit quieter; the court just finished its purges in April—as the young ladies surely know, there have been many more officials coming and going lately... This way, everyone's background is clearly different!" The postmaster's grumbling and incessant flattery annoyed me, and my face showed some displeasure. Lu Wei quickly gave me a wink, and I suppressed my irritation, slipped him twenty taels of silver, and praised his quick wit and insightful understanding. Only then did the postmaster leave happily.

"Why bother with him?" I asked, puzzled.

Lu Wei sighed, "Just consider it giving you face, brother. This Piling Post Station is a major post station in Jiangnan, with many officials coming and going. It's very convenient to gather information from the court. Speaking of which, that postmaster is actually one of your informants."

I suddenly understood. In the martial arts world, Lu Wei was considered a prominent figure among the righteous sects, but even he had to resort to opportunism and scheming once he entered officialdom. It seemed that officialdom was just like the martial arts world—once you entered

, you were no longer in control of your own destiny. I lay down comfortably on the couch and explained with a smile why we were staying at the Piling Post Station: "This is an important post station of our Great Ming Dynasty. I imagine no one would dare to cause trouble here, and I can finally get a good night's sleep."

Xiao Xiao's eyes shone with admiration. Her master always had a knack for turning the impossible into reality. Even a lowly ninth-rank official like the Deputy Inspector of the Hangzhou Prefecture Patrol Office could be manipulated by him in many ways. Staying at a post station? That Uncle Lu couldn't have come up with that idea.

She was about to offer a few words of praise when suddenly someone outside the courtyard shouted: "You bastard! I'm causing trouble here, so what! You damn dog, you look down on me, I'll beat you up!" Then came a series of banging and crashing sounds, interspersed with the post station manager's cries for his parents. "

How embarrassing!" I frowned. I'd just said no one dared cause trouble here, and someone jumped out to sabotage me. Seeing the surprise on Lu Wei's face, I figured this kind of thing didn't happen often.

"I'll go check it out," Lu Wei said, turning and leaving.

I didn't move. This wasn't Zhejiang Province, after all, and Lu Wei was a skilled fighter; I wasn't worried he couldn't handle even a small brawl.

Seeing my displeasure, Xiao Xiao quickly checked the room and ran to Linglong's room. The sounds of fighting outside quickly subsided, but Lu Wei hadn't returned for a long time. I was a little puzzled and was about to go out to see what was going on when he burst in excitedly, saying with a smile, "Brother, I've come to introduce you to a friend."

Seeing the travel-worn man in his early thirties following behind him, I was surprised. This man had a handsome and refined appearance, and judging from his appearance, he should be a demoted civil official. However, he exuded a strong killing intent, not the sharp kind of killing intent that martial arts masters like Qi Fang or Lu Wei possessed after channeling their inner energy, but rather a serene and righteous aura.

"Is this brother a military officer?" I asked, bowing respectfully.

The man was startled, a glint of light flashing in his narrow eyes before returning to a slightly weathered calm. Lu Wei chuckled, "Brother, your eye is truly sharp!" He pulled the man aside and said, "This is none other than Shen Xiyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, who decisively defeated 8,000 enemy soldiers with only 500 infantry at Huashitan in Yong'an!"

Shen Xiyi? I was immediately astonished. This refined-looking man was actually Shen Xiyi, known as "Leopard," the bravest general of Guangdong and Guangxi?! Appearances can be deceiving.

I had heard of Shen Xiyi's fame when I was in Yangzhou. These heroes of the battlefield were always the subject of much conversation among the literati and idle commoners in teahouses and taverns, especially since the victory at Huashitan, achieved with fewer troops, shone brightly amidst the numerous military defeats reported in the official gazettes. After he was promoted to the capital, people were saying that this scion of a prominent family had an unlimited future in the military.

However, judging from his current attire, he was clearly disheartened.

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief was a high-ranking official of the third rank, yet he was dressed in commoner's clothes, indicating he had been stripped of his official hat. "I have long admired Lord Tang Zuo's reputation; to meet you today is an honor beyond measure! I am Wang Dong, Deputy Inspector of the Hangzhou Prefecture Patrol Office. I pay my respects, Your Excellency."

Since I was staying at the post station, I decided to follow official custom, though I didn't like bowing and scraping to strangers.

"I dare not accept the title 'Your Excellency,'" Shen Xiyi's voice was extremely steady, subtly displaying the air of a noble family, though his face showed some surprise, as if he didn't believe I was a constable. "I have been demoted; I am currently merely the Prefect of the Hangzhou Prefecture. Brother Wang, please do not perform such a grand ceremony!"

I smiled slightly, "You are still three ranks higher than me; calling me 'Your Excellency' is not unjustified." I added, "Dust cannot obscure a pearl; a fine sword is forged through tempering. After this minor setback, Your Excellency will surely achieve new merits for the court."

Shen Xiyi smiled. "Judging from your voice, Brother Wang, you don't sound like a constable; you sound more like a scholar."

Lu Wei said, "Let's not be polite. Brother Tang Zuo doesn't have a place to stay yet." I immediately understood that Shen Xiyi must have brought his family, so I said that Linglong and Xiao Xiao could stay together, and I would move in with Lu Wei to free up a room.

Shen Xiyi, showing the decisiveness of a warrior, thanked me and excused himself, saying he had to settle his family. The postmaster, considering the money I had given him, only said that he had seen too many demoted officials from the capital and that they were nothing special, and didn't cause any more trouble.

After tidying up, I was about to invite Lu Wei and Shen Xiyi to dine with me when I saw the two of them arrive together, followed by two women. I was taken aback. My wife's arrival was a sign of kinship, and it seemed that Shen Xiyi must have suffered quite a bit on her journey. She was so moved by our sincerity.

"These are my younger sister and my wife,"

I quickly greeted them. Although they were dressed simply, their beauty was undeniable, and their demeanor was graceful and poised, befitting a noblewoman. However, Miss Shen was still wearing mourning clothes, like a newly widowed lady.

I called out Xiao Xiao and Linglong, introducing them as my concubines. This was the first time I had mentioned Linglong's identity to outsiders. Their faces immediately flushed with shyness, but their eyes shone with barely suppressed joy. They hurriedly followed my instructions and, along with Xiao Xiao, bowed to the three women.

I instructed the postman to prepare a sumptuous feast for the five women, and then secretly told Xiao Xiao that Shen Xiyi seemed to be short of money, asking her to find an opportunity to send some silver and jewelry to the two women of the Shen family. Afterwards, I went with Lu and Shen to Wenheng Pavilion next to Piling Post Station.

After a few sips of Shaoxing wine, Shen Xiyi's fair face flushed with a hint of alcohol, giving him a somewhat fierce look. "Good wine! It's been a long time since I've had such good wine!"

Lu Wei picked up a crab-filled steamed bun and put it in his mouth, saying as he ate, "Brother, it seems you're having a run of bad luck? Which powerful figure in the capital did you offend?"

Shen Xiyi sighed, "It's Grand Secretary Yang. Alas, it's all because of the Grand Ceremony."

The Grand Ceremony again!

Since becoming a student of my teacher Wang Shouren, I have paid much attention to current affairs of the court. Two years after the new Emperor Jiajing ascended the throne, he executed Qian Ning and Jiang Bin, and dismissed 140,000 members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, winning the hearts of the people and revitalizing the court. However, Jiajing was not the son of the late Emperor Zhengde, but merely his cousin. Zhengde had no sons, and after his death, Yang Tinghe, the Grand Secretary of the Jinshen Hall and the chief minister of the cabinet, took advantage of Jiang Bin's absence from the capital to install Jiajing as he succeeded to the throne under the principle of "brother succeeding brother."

Yang Tinghe was a renowned minister with merit in supporting the emperor, while Jiajing was young and intelligent, eager to make a name for himself. The emperor and his minister should have been on good terms, but a dispute arose over how to address Jiajing's father, Prince Xingxian. Yang Tinghe, a master of Neo-Confucianism, insisted on succession without lineage. This meant Jiajing would have to address his uncle, Emperor Xiaozong, as "father," while his own father would become his uncle, which he naturally resented. Although forced to yield under pressure from other officials, this created a rift between Jiajing and the cabinet led by Yang Tinghe.

Shortly after his ascension, the scholar Zhang Cong, discerning the emperor's intentions, submitted a memorial advocating "succession without lineage," insisting on continuing to address Emperor Xiaozong as "uncle." Emperor Jiajing was overjoyed and sent the matter to the Grand Secretariat for deliberation. Unexpectedly, the result was the same: some officials who advocated for the succession were demoted, and Zhang Cong was banished from Beijing.

"The Great Rites Controversy has been over for more than a year, and its repercussions are still lingering?" Looking at the bustling crowds on Wenheng Bridge, I couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. The Grand Rites Controversy, in essence, was nothing more than a power struggle between the emperor and his ministers. But Jiajing was a decisive emperor, and Yang Tinghe's stubbornness would have had dire consequences!

"It's not that the aftermath of the court debate hasn't subsided, but rather that new waves have arisen."

Shen Xiyi's smile looked somewhat bitter. "Gui E, the head of the Nanjing Ministry of Justice, submitted a memorial advocating for the succession of the throne, and thus the court debate reignited. I merely said a few words that the throne should be passed on, and I was demoted nine ranks in a row. The Grand Secretary's official arrogance is truly too overwhelming!" He sighed, "Alas, it's better not to say anything more!"

"One cannot disregard mourning for a deceased relative! Lord Yang is a bit stubborn. Why insist on clinging to the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism? Emperor Xiaozong was not the Emperor's father to begin with, yet you insist on forcing the Emperor to have an additional father. Lord Yang is being rather pretentious." My master raised me and nurtured me, and then passed on his vast fortune to me, yet I never called him "father."

Shen Xiyi's face showed approval, and he said, "Brother Bieqing, your words are exactly what I was thinking!"

Lu Wei picked up the conversation, "Gui E from the Ministry of Justice? I've met him. That kid has a violent temper and often goes against his superiors. It's an anomaly that someone like him can have his current position." He then asked Shen Xiyi, "Brother, I heard that the Grand Secretary wants to use the succession dispute to attack his political enemies. Is that true?"

"There's no smoke without fire. Last time, the Minister of Personnel, Wang Qiong, was imprisoned in court. This time, Gui E can't escape the criticism of currying favor with the emperor. I heard that he also wants to impeach Yang Yiqing, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and Xi Shu, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing. He even wants to take away the title of Earl of Xinjian, who is currently retired. Where is justice?!" Shen Xiyi became more and more angry as he spoke, his thin eyebrows raised and his eyes wide with anger. Finally, he couldn't help but slam his hand on the table, and with a "crack," the table was cracked.

I could see it clearly; the strength in Shen Xiyi's hand was somewhat unexpected. It seems his scholarly face was quite deceptive. However, I wasn't too surprised. If he didn't have this much strength, how could he be known as the bravest general in Guangdong and Guangxi?

I was more concerned about my teacher, Wang Shouren, the Grand Master of the Palace, Pillar of the State, and Earl of Xinjian. He had declined the position of Minister of War in Nanjing and remained unemployed at home. My master

always taught me that a tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind, especially in our line of lecherous thieves. You can't be too famous; if you become infamous, you're not far from death. The imperial court is another kind of martial arts world, and I suppose it's the same. My newly acquainted mentor, Prince Wang, is now truly renowned throughout the land. Five years ago, Prince Ning, Chenhao, rebelled, and it was he who single-handedly led the troops of an entire province to quell the rebellion in just forty-three days. His fame spread far and wide, and not only were the officials jealous of his achievements, but even Emperor Zhengde, who personally led the expedition, resented him for stealing his limelight, because while he was still on his way south, Prince Ning had already surrendered.

"Truly, when the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer." I downed the daughter's red wine in

my cup in one gulp. "Back then, Yangming Gong attributed all the credit to Wang Qiong because of his ability to recognize and appoint capable people, causing the Grand Secretary to lose face. It seems that it's time to settle old scores now." "Brother Bieqing, you seem quite concerned about politics." Shen Xiyi looked at me with some surprise. "Have you been to school?"

"Yes, I have studied for a few years." I knew I was concerned about many things. Lu Wei was the chief constable of Suzhou, and his rank was higher than mine, but he would never care about the struggle between Yang Tinghe and Wang Qiong, as that was too far removed from his life. He was more concerned about when Su Yao would retire. However, this Shen Xiyi was young and capable, and would surely achieve great things in the future. I had the intention of befriending him and didn't want to hide anything from him. "Speaking of which, Lord Yangming was my mentor."

Both Lu and Shen were moved. Shen Xiyi cupped his hands and said seriously, "Xiyi is disrespectful! Lord Wang is the military god of our Great Ming Dynasty, whom we all admire. However," a hint of suspicion appeared in his narrow eyes, and he pondered, "Lord Wang has three thousand disciples, but I only know two people who call him my mentor: Fang Xianfu and Ji Yuanheng..."

Shen Xiyi's suspicion was unexpected. I hadn't expected that my teacher had so many students, but only two direct disciples. I remembered that my teacher had specially inscribed a poem on the folding fan in my hand, and I realized that he was farsighted and had long been aware of such trivial matters. Seeing that Lu Wei also had some doubt in his eyes, I smiled and snapped open the folding fan in my hand.

“Sitting by the stream, my heart is at ease as the water flows. I don’t know when the moon rises over the mountains, or when the shadows of the pines fall on my clothes.” After reading it, Shen Xiyi glanced at the signature. “Indeed, this is the poem ‘Showing to Students in the Mountains’ personally written by Prince Wang. I’m truly sorry.” He looked at me and asked, “Prince Wang doesn’t easily accept disciples.

Brother Bieqing, do you have an official title?” “Brother Tangzuo, you have keen insight. I am the newly appointed top scholar in the provincial examination of Yingtian Prefecture.” I smiled, thinking to myself, “This Shen Xiyi is quite shrewd.”

Lu Wei glared at me, clearly displeased that I hadn’t told him my identity. Shen Xiyi didn't seem particularly surprised, only sighing and saying, "It seems the Prince's desire to enjoy the scenery is thwarted. Yang Tinghe's impeachment is quite severe, claiming the Prince had been secretly communicating with Chenhao, and fearing exposure, he sent troops to punish him, resulting in my senior brother Ji Yuanheng being arrested and imprisoned."

"What did the Emperor say?" I was startled. My senior brother Ji had always followed our teacher; he was perfectly fine when I saw him in Yingtian a few months ago. How could he suddenly be imprisoned? The Emperor's power and grace are truly unpredictable!

"His Majesty is also hesitant and indecisive."

Hmph! Once the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. His Majesty probably isn't indecisive, but rather has a very firm idea. I cursed inwardly. Thinking of Yang Tinghe, Fei Hong, and others who control the court—all political enemies of my teacher—I knew that to rescue my teacher from this predicament, I had to rely on the Emperor. But who could speak to the Emperor?

"Brother Tang Zuo, you said Gui'e is from the Nanjing Ministry of Justice? Has the Emperor punished him?" Since Yang Tinghe wants to use the Grand Ceremony of Court Deliberation to attack dissidents, then I'll retaliate with the same.

"No, I heard he's being summoned to the capital."

My eyes lit up. The Emperor really doesn't want two fathers anymore. "Has he been summoned?"

Shen Xiyi said he hadn't when he left the capital, so he didn't know now. I asked Lu Wei who Gui'e usually associated with. Lu Wei laughed and said, "He's a real troublemaker. He dares to scold even his superiors, let alone his subordinates. He doesn't have any friends! Someone my age was lectured for two hours the time I met him. However, he's a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and I've heard he's quite respectful of scholars."

I felt a pang of sadness. Lu Wei, with his high status in the martial arts world, was being bossed around by a mere sixth-rank official. It was truly laughable. However, those arresting officers and prison officials under the Ministry of Justice were either from the military or martial artists like Su Yao and Lu Wei. Gui'e, a scholar, naturally wouldn't like associating with them.

After asking about Gui'e's address, I had an idea. Judging from Shen Xiyi's expression, he seemed to understand the actions I was about to take. Reflecting on the mysterious nature of life's encounters, I couldn't help but sigh that coming to Yingtian Prefecture was truly the right decision.

Back at Piling Post Station, Lu Wei began interrogating me: "Brother, which of these four identities—disciple of the Spring Water Sword Sect, deputy inspector of the Hangzhou Prefecture Patrol Office, top scholar of Yingtian Prefecture, and disciple of a prince—is genuine?"

He actually gave me face by not asking me this in front of Shen Xiyi.

"Would Linglong lie to you, sir?"

To my surprise, Lu Wei nodded. "Maybe. Those two girls clearly fell in love with you. They didn't even object when you said they were your concubines. I was really shocked at the time. I think they'd do anything for you, but..." He hesitated, then contradicted himself: "Qian Jiang's injuries can't be faked!"

"Then it's possible that Linglong secretly taught you the Spring Water Sword Technique."

Lu Wei looked at me like I was a monster. "Never mind, even if you're not a disciple of the Spring Water Sword Sect now, I think you will be after you meet Madam Yu in a few days. The waist token of the Hangzhou Prefecture Patrol Office is the same as mine, issued by the Ministry of Justice. I don't think you would lie to me. But, you're so rich, could you have bought it?"

It seems every profession has its own occupational hazard. Just like a lecherous thief always tries to take a beautiful woman into his harem, a constable starts endless speculation and deduction when he sees something that doesn't fit his thinking.

"Brother Lu, have you been holding this in for a long time?" I was starting to regret leaving his wife five hundred taels for lodging and food.

"No, brother." Lu Wei, as expected of the top constable in Jiangdong, read my mind from my tone and expression. His face immediately lit up with a smile, even his wrinkles smoothed out. "My wife said she's never met a colleague like you. A mere deputy inspector is a waste of your talent. Should I talk to Li Zhiyang about it? We have some connections."

What a joke, I got this official position because of Li Zhiyang's connections. Just as I was about to speak, Shen Xiyi knocked and entered.

Seeing the gratitude on his fair face, I knew it must be about the money. Sure enough, he cupped his hands and said to me, "Your Excellency's gift to my wife is too much for me to accept, and it would be disrespectful to refuse."

"It's nothing, nothing to mention." Seeing his gray cloth clothes, I found Lu Wei's black satin robe quite conspicuous. The ancestors of the current emperor all believed that the officials below were pure people with completely noble character. Thus, the meager salaries allowed ninety percent of those receiving a government salary to confidently declare, "I want to embezzle."

Because without embezzlement, even basic necessities like food were a problem. Lu Wei was a seventh-rank official, equivalent to a county magistrate, with a monthly salary of seven shi and five dou of rice—equivalent to nine hundred jin of white rice, which seemed like a considerable sum. However, in the Ming Dynasty, salaries were paid at three parts rice and seven parts paper money. Due to the excessive issuance of paper money, Lu Wei only received two shi and five dou of rice plus less than one tael of silver. Without embezzlement, let alone wearing fine silks and living in a spacious mansion in a prosperous area, he would probably have to think twice even about eating meat.

Lu Wei also laughed, "Brother, there's no need to feel ashamed or disrespectful. This lad is a wealthy man; a few hundred taels of silver won't bother him." Lu Wei was an old hand in the business; he seemed to understand my desire to befriend Shen Xiyi, and thus began to subtly encourage me.

Shen Xiyi said, "I am ashamed to accept this," and then did not mention the money again. I saw that he was decisive and efficient in his actions, and I became more optimistic about his future.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/46286.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=46286&aspx=1

Previous Page : Chapter 55 of the Ten Scenes Satin

Next Page : Chapter 5 of the Wind and Moon Continent: Five-Star Array

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

The Land Is So Beautiful, Episode 2, Chapter 1

comment Open a new window to view comments