Chapter 41: Slow Down, Please
At the Mingdi Ferry in the Imperial Domain of Great Li, a cross-continent ferry named "Li Pearl" slowly rose into the air.
Emperor Song He was aboard, planning to discuss an alliance with the Cao clan of Great Duan and the Lu clan of Great Yuan.
Sword Immortal Zhu Su had taken on a temporary assignment, and the Ministry of Justice had issued a third-rank Unhindered Tablet. She did not mind at all, but the Ministry of Justice was somewhat uncertain, wondering if it was too low. They immediately inquired of the National Preceptor's Residence whether it should be exchanged for a second-rank tablet. Rong Yu's reply simply said it was unnecessary.
With the emperor having left the capital of Great Li, Chen Ping'an, as the National Preceptor, although not bearing the title of Regent, held the power of a regent.
Returning from Mingdi Ferry to the National Preceptor's Residence, Chen Ping'an entered the study and looked at the piles of documents on the table, which resembled miniature "rock mountains." He found them a headache. The high officials of the Ministry of Revenue had nearly been completely uprooted. Besides Minister Mu Yan's case files from the Ministry of Justice, there were also two corruption cases involving the two major imperial granaries, which definitely required his personal review. Additionally, there were copies of memorials co-signed by Mu Yan, as well as annual records of silver amounts from each prefecture submitted to the ministry for approval, all needing to be traced back at least ten years. Even after Rong Yu and the secretaries of the National Preceptor's Residence had provided brief summaries, it was not something that could be clarified in one or two booklets. Even the Ministry of Works' memorial requesting the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to consult on repairing sacrificial items, simply because it involved several altars and temples including the Great High Mysterious Hall—"the nation's great affairs lie only in sacrifices and war" was not an empty saying. Although the amount of money involved was not large, the matter was significant. Originally, it would have been sent to the Ministry of Revenue for handling according to precedent, but now it had to be personally overseen by the National Preceptor's Residence. There were also local officials petitioning for a deceased martyr to be enshrined in the prefecture's Shrine of Virtuous Worthies, or for a renowned literary scholar to be included in the Biographies of Confucian Scholars, or for a certain work to be stored in the Hanlin Academy's library. The Ministry of Rites could only deliberate; the final decision had to come from the National Preceptor's Residence. It was not just a feeling of "sweeping fallen leaves, the more you sweep, the more there are"; it was like a bottomless pit. Governing a great state was like cooking a small fish, or handling heavy matters with ease—how easy was that?
After a flurry of writing, Chen Ping'an walked out of the study and sat on the steps, holding a tobacco pipe, pinching out some tobacco leaves.
Song Yunjian stood under the peach tree, turned his head, and asked with a smile, "Rong Yu is also a martial artist with excellent aptitude. Why doesn't the National Preceptor personally instruct her?"
"I'm not particularly good at teaching boxing."
Chen Ping'an shook his head and said, "Later, we can have Zhou Haijing spar with Rong Yu and help feed her a few more rounds of punches."
Song Yunjian asked, "Then what does the National Preceptor consider his own strength?"
Chen Ping'an unhesitatingly said two words, "Taking punches."
Song Yunjian laughed heartily. The National Preceptor certainly had a witty way of speaking; no wonder there were such rumors from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Chen Ping'an said seriously, "I'm not joking with you."
"When it comes to practicing boxing, it's difficult, but also simple. If you want to deliver good punches, you have to be able to take heavy punches. Say what you will, no matter how mystical martial artists make it sound, no matter how flowery the boxing manuals, the essence is just two words: taking punches."
Cui Cheng of the Bamboo Tower, Gu You of Northern Ju Lu Prefecture, Old Madam Bai of the Ning Estate, Li Er of Lion Mountain, and later Jiang She.
Looking back on his own martial arts path, step by step, eventually crossing onto the eleventh level of martial arts, what did it rely on? Wasn't it just constantly taking punches, constantly forging his physique, absorbing the strengths of many and making them his own, learning from multiple teachers and making them his masters?
Song Yunjian came to sit beside Chen Ping'an and asked, "I heard this morning's court session was extraordinary?"
Chen Ping'an nodded and said, "According to Old Minister Shen, in the past thirty years of Great Li, there has never been a court session as lively as today."
Because there were many new faces in the great hall, including twenty-three officials from the secondary capital alone, all renowned regional governors, such as Wei Li, Wei Liang, Liu Xunmei, and others. There were also Cao Wu, Huang Meixian, and other prefectural generals.
Moreover, there was a figure who rarely showed his face but wielded immense power. Just by looking at his position in the hall, standing near King Luo Song Mu, and the fact that he was permitted to wear a saber during court, one could understand the weight of this military official.
In the past thirty years, the Great Li court had enfeoffed six Patrol Envoys. Of those still alive, only four remained. Among them, Cao Ping and two others had followed King Huai Song Changjing into the Barren Wastes. Only one Patrol Envoy remained "stationary," with his army stationed in Wei Prefecture north of the Great River, named Pei Mao.
In the Great Li dynasty, there were nine Pillar of State surnames. The Yuan and Cao families were naturally first-class, along with the Guan family of Yunzai Commandery.
Next came the Zhao family of Tianshui and the Yu family of Mayi, followed by the Yan family of Zizhao, the Ma family of Poyang, and the Qiu family of Fufeng, with similar family foundations.
Pillar of State could be hereditary, but the position of Patrol Envoy, the pinnacle of military officials, had no such provision.
Pei Mao had not attended court for many years. This time, the emperor personally summoned him, so he left his post in Wei Prefecture to enter the capital for a report.
Song Yunjian smiled and said, "I heard this Patrol Envoy Pei is a tough character."
Chen Ping'an dismissed it with a smile.
Like Su Gaoshan, Pei Mao came from a humble background. The slight difference was that Su Gaoshan had risen through the border army, while Pei Mao had been a civilian official for over a decade before switching to military command. He always acted alone, was extremely proud, and had many well-known bold and arrogant sayings.
It was said that Pei Mao had an only son, not very old, but he had neither joined the military nor made a name in officialdom. There were various rumors—some said he was making a fortune somewhere, some said he had gone up the mountain to cultivate and become an immortal. Others said he had studied for many years at the Linlu Academy and was not keen on fame.
Song Yunjian counted on his fingers and said, "Yuan Chongzhi has headed the Censorate for many years. Yuan Ji of the Imperial Academy is a leader among the pure stream. His eldest grandson Yuan Zhengding is recognized as a dragon among men. General Cao Wu of Yu Prefecture is the Yuan family's son-in-law, and behind the scenes lurks Sword Immortal Yuan Huajing."
"Cao Qiao is the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Cao Ping is a Patrol Envoy of Great Li. The Vice Minister of Personnel in the capital, Cao Gengxin, after today's court discussions, has been transferred to the secondary capital to serve as Minister of Personnel."
Song Yunjian asked, "Is the relationship between the Yuan and Cao families really as tense as outsiders say?"
In Great Li officialdom, there had always been the saying "Yuan and Cao take different paths, as incompatible as fire and water."
The Yuan family's ancestral home was in Erlang Lane of the Li Pearl Cave Heaven, while the Cao family's ancestral home was in Niping Lane, making them close neighbors with National Preceptor Chen.
Chen Ping'an said, "The relationship is indeed not good, but there is also an element of putting on a show for the Great Li Song emperor and the court nobles. Over the past three hundred years, roughly speaking, during times of internal and external difficulties, the relationship between the two families improves slightly. When the Song family is powerful, the relationship becomes extremely poor."
Song Yunjian understood in his heart.
Currently, in Great Li, the posts of Minister of War and Minister of Revenue were both vacant.
Shen Chen, in his eighties, had retired to his hometown. But Mu Yan, only in his early fifties, had been thrown directly into prison. At that age, it couldn't even be called "losing integrity in old age."
Song Yunjian asked in confusion, "Why not promote Guan Yiran within the Ministry of Revenue? Instead, they threw him to a remote place like Ju Prefecture."
Ju Prefecture was coastal, known for its small territory, low taxes, and barren resources, with a fierce folk customs. It was said that ten Ju Prefectures' taxes were not worth one Hong Prefecture, describing Ju Prefecture's current situation.
Chen Ping'an blew out a puff of smoke and said slowly, "If he truly wants to establish himself in the capital of Great Li and eventually be called 'Chancellor' by the common people, he must first pass a certain hurdle."
Song Yunjian said, "Whatever happens, first raise his rank?"
Chen Ping'an cast a sidelong glance at Song Yunjian.
Song Yunjian was bewildered. What was wrong?
During the Qiu Kingdom rebellion last time, the Prefect of Han Prefecture, Situ Xiguang, and the General of Han Prefecture, Lu Song, both genuine regional magnates—one was an old protégé of Minister Guan of the Ministry of Personnel, the other was an old subordinate of Patrol Envoy Su Gaoshan—had received very low evaluations in that assessment. According to rumors, the National Preceptor himself had given several rather harsh comments.
Thus, they were quietly marginalized. The court gazette glossed over it, and public opinion had no ripples. Anyone with insight in officialdom knew it would be harder for them to turn things around than to climb to the sky.
Only Huang Meixian, from deputy general of Han Prefecture to general of Ju Prefecture—this military cultivator of the Wind and Snow Temple was also Great Li's first female prefectural general.
The only objection came from the one place where there should have been no objection at all.
That was whether Guan Yiran should be promoted to Prefect of Ju Prefecture.
The Minister of Revenue in the Great Li capital was a second-rank official, while the left and right vice ministers were second-rank junior. The chief revenue officer in the secondary capital Luo Jing was downgraded one rank by precedent.
The Six Ministries were also divided into upper and lower. War, Personnel, and Rites were the upper three; Revenue, Justice, and Works were the lower. Transfer from lower to upper, though a lateral move, was considered a promotion. Although Revenue was not in the upper three, its workload was heavy, with only slightly fewer officials than War.
Guan Yiran had served as a Director of a Revenue Clearing Bureau for many years. In the Ministry of Revenue, this position was generally fourth-rank or fourth-rank junior, because a Revenue Clearing Bureau Director often concurrently managed three to five prefectures' affairs, including grain taxes and other duties like grain transport, water conservancy on the Great River, or tariffs on salt, iron, tea, and wine. So even among Clearing Bureau Directors, authority varied. Under former Minister Ma Yuan, there were two Directors who were promoted an extra rank to third-rank junior, and Guan Yiran was one of them.
Therefore, Guan Yiran's promotion to the third-rank position of Prefect of Ju Prefecture could only be seen as following the natural course; it couldn't even be called an "exceptional" promotion.
Moreover, Ju Prefecture was at the bottom of Great Li's hundred-plus prefectures. Many believed it was a case of being promoted in name but demoted in reality—some even thought the court was giving him the title of prefect and sending him to the countryside to retire.
Many felt some regret. The Ministry of Revenue had made such a big mess, Minister Mu Yan was already in prison, and a large number of current high officials and noble children were implicated, including a Right Vice Minister of Revenue who soon followed Minister Mu into prison. At this critical juncture, if Guan Yiran could remain in the Ministry of Revenue and be exceptionally promoted from third-rank junior to second-rank junior to fill the vacancy for Right Vice Minister, it would seem most reasonable.
Song Yunjian sighed, "After all, who would think being Minister or Vice Minister of Revenue is easy now?"
"If he acts impartially and goes through old accounts in the Ministry of Revenue, it would mean either crushing Mu Yan and a bunch of nobles or offending them to death."
"If he tries to muddle through, both the Emperor and you, the National Preceptor, are watching. No one would dare gamble with their career."
Having said that, Song Yunjian's eyes lit up. He thought he had grasped the trick. A prefect of a prefecture was undoubtedly a powerful substantive position, officially entering the ranks of Great Li's regional officials. That was somewhat subtle! Could it be that Guan Yiran had a mastermind behind him? First, he withdrew from that hornet's nest of the Ministry of Revenue. His rank was not delayed either. If he was transferred after three or five years, or when the next assessment ended, wouldn't he return to the capital?
Song Yunjian glanced at Chen Ping'an. Could this mastermind be the National Preceptor?
Chen Ping'an seemed to guess Song Yunjian's thoughts and gave a thumbs up.
Song Yunjian asked doubtfully, "Is the National Preceptor praising or mocking?"
Chen Ping'an said, "You guess."
Song Yunjian said, "Mocking?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Finally guessed right once."
Song Yunjian was speechless.
Chen Ping'an said, "During the court session, I deliberately made things difficult for Guan Yiran. First, I asked him what constitutes a well-governed prefecture, how it applies to large prefectures like Hong Prefecture, and how to small prefectures like Ju Prefecture, and what specific evaluation criteria there are. Guan Yiran answered each one, obviously having prepared. Then I asked him if he went to Ju Prefecture, how long it would take to achieve results, and whether it would need five years. He said ten years. Finally, I asked if that was a military pledge. He said it was."
Song Yunjian was stunned. "Guan Yiran didn't even leave himself a way out?!"
Chen Ping'an said, "If a person isn't ruthless, they can't stand firm. That applies everywhere."
Song Yunjian fell silent.
If someone took the trouble to review the archives, they would find Guan Yiran's official career was nearly perfect. Not that he was promoted quickly, but that it was solid enough!
He had secretly gone to the border army, starting as a low-ranking accompanying cultivator. Through military merit, he step by step became a powerful school commander with real military authority. Then he followed Grand General Su Gaoshan south, fighting hard battles all the way. During that time, he was once responsible for leading troops to garrison Shujian Lake. Afterwards, he continued leading troops south. He was truly a meritorious general who had traversed the battlefields of an entire continent, a standout among the younger generation.
Later, he switched to serve as Superintendent of Works on the Great River, working alongside Liu Qingfeng and Liu Xunmei. The deceased Liu Qingfeng had already become a minister in the secondary capital, and Liu Xunmei's official career was also flourishing, not far behind Cao Gengxin and Yuan Zhengding. Only Guan Yiran had been promoted too slowly.
It was worth noting that back then, everyone naturally assumed that if he was given the position of Superintendent, the court was definitely going to give him a major appointment. Perhaps he would soon be qualified to participate in small court sessions in the imperial study. But he waited until Old Minister Guan passed away, and Guan Yiran was still just a director in the Ministry of Revenue. Therefore, even the military families of Chi'er Lane, who were normally at odds with the civil officials of Yichi Lane, could find some faults when discussing younger figures like Cao Gengxin or Yuan Zhengding. But when mention was made of Guan Yiran, they all conceded. There was a consensus in the capital's officialdom: giving him a vice minister post somewhere wouldn't be too much. If one also considered Old Minister Guan's record of merit and the old ties of incense and fire, wasn't it possible that Guan Yiran would eventually make a comeback and regain control of the Ministry of Personnel for his family?
Most crucially, Guan Yiran had a personal friendship with National Preceptor Chen!
Song Yunjian asked, "There's one more thing I don't understand, and I'd like to consult the National Preceptor."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Since Daoist Yingning is deigning to ask me, I'll first lend a willing ear, then speak without reservation."
Song Yunjian was annoyed and started to get up.
Chen Ping'an sighed. "Aiyo, Daoist Yingning's cultivation of mind and nature is still too lacking."
Because this matter was deeply related to his own Great Dao, Song Yunjian black-facedly said, "According to common opinion, anyone who can go up the mountain and become an immortal is bound to be a genius with exceptional intelligence. Even a village elder sitting at the head of the village chatting would suggest that since the court can manage the immortals on the mountains, why not let them help in government offices? They wouldn't even be greedy for money—how wonderful! That former National Preceptor Cui handled this matter sloppily..."
Chen Ping'an said calmly, "At the very least, it takes a thousand years to repay a hundred years of debt. Do you think that's a fair trade?"
Senior Brother Cui once had a judgment: either fully adopt the Daoist official governance of the Azure Mirror World, or once the proportion of Qi refiners in officialdom exceeds twenty percent, the state would completely change.
Song Yunjian shook his head. "I don't quite understand."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Take your time to grasp it."
Song Yunjian's expression brightened. "True. Why rush to know the answer? It's fine to comprehend it slowly on my own."
Chen Ping'an said, "Having that heart for the Dao is the right way."
Just as Song Yunjian was about to leave, Rong Yu hurried over and said, "Liu Qi has replied. He said he can't get away from the Barren Wastes ferry for now, but his good friend Cao Zu will find time to visit Bao Ping Continent and pay respects to the National Preceptor. He will arrive in seven days and enter the capital of Great Li. Cao Zu will explain the knowledge of the Liu Jin Realm to the National Preceptor in detail."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Later, contact the Hundred Flowers Blessed Land and the Longquan Commandery Kiln Affairs Office. Have them supervise the urgent firing of a batch of official kilns. I suggest, for example, that the style can imitate the Flower God Cups. As for whether to adopt it, let the Flower God Ladies decide themselves. Just tell them the reason directly—that it's a gift from our Great Li court to 'Liu Ciyuan' and 'Cao Huajian.'"
Rong Yu smiled knowingly.
Song Yunjian exclaimed in amazement. What a pity the National Preceptor didn't also hold a concurrent post as Minister of Revenue.
Chen Ping'an said, "Daoist Yingning can rack his brains and still not understand which hurdle Guan Yiran must pass in officialdom. Rong Yu, please enlighten him."
Rong Yu smiled. "Guan Yiran must pass Old Minister Guan's hurdle."
"Only then will he be truly qualified to inherit the Guan family's ties of incense and fire. In the future, when he becomes a marquis or a chancellor in Great Li's court, no one will raise any objection; everyone will feel it's only right. It needs to be that most officials feel Guan Yiran was held back by his surname, which is why he became Chancellor so late."
"Instead of being promoted step by step within the Ministry of Revenue, he went to Ju Prefecture to gain another seven or eight years of experience. Thus, Guan Yiran has done it all: border army general with outstanding military merit, Great River Superintendent with achievements lasting millennia, Revenue Director familiar with a nation's financial operations, and local regional official governing a prefecture. By the time he returns to the capital, looking at the entire Great Li officialdom, there will be few officials who can match Guan Yiran's resume. At that moment, no matter what official post Guan Yiran takes or how he is promoted, it won't be excessive."
Song Yunjian suddenly understood. So there were so many twists and turns. But then he asked, "Wasn't it ten years?"
Rong Yu smiled slightly. "With Guan Yiran's ability, it won't take ten years to transform Ju Prefecture from barren to prosperous."
Song Yunjian rubbed his cheeks. No wonder it was said that the smartest people in the world cultivate immortality on the mountains, and the second smartest cultivate in public service.
Chen Ping'an asked casually, "Has Pei Mao given any word about coming to the National Preceptor's Residence?"
Rong Yu shook her head. "No news yet. Only that tonight the Fufeng Qiu family will invite Pei Mao for a drink and catch up."
For two generations, the Fufeng Qiu family had no members serving in court. But strangely, during this great official turmoil that the common people had barely noticed, the Qiu family was not completely unaffected. However, compared to those powerful aristocratic clans that had been severely shaken, the Qiu family members' mistakes were like skipping a few small stones on the sea of officialdom. It seemed the court might as well award the Qiu family ancestral hall a plaque inscribed with "Upright and Honorable Family."
Chen Ping'an asked again with a smile, "Is Su Wenzhao currently traveling and studying with his teachers and friends?"
Rong Yu nodded. "It's going smoothly."
Vice Minister Cao, now to be addressed as Minister Cao. His second uncle Cao Ping was one of the commanders of the Great Li border army and had been granted the title of Patrol Envoy alongside Su Gaoshan. Back then, everyone knew that when the National Preceptor proposed creating this new post, whoever first led troops to swallow up the Zhu Ying dynasty would be the first to hold it!
In the early years, in order to be the first to break into the old Zhu Ying dynasty's capital, aside from competing on the battlefield, both sides had frequently lodged complaints against each other with National Preceptor Cui Chan.
Cao Ping's official documents were always elegantly worded, presenting facts and reasoning, but also hiding needles in cotton, subtly poking at Su Gaoshan's sore spots.
Su Gaoshan was not so polite. Besides the necessary battle reports and merit claims, whenever he had the chance, he would curse Cao Ping in his memorials, using vulgar language: "I'll f*ck his Cao ancestors for eighteen generations," "That filthy-hearted, rotten-lunged dog bastard," and so on.
In addition, Su Gaoshan had a habit of particularly liking to "add names" in his official documents, always writing down the names of several school commanders or even platoon leaders, along with detailed notes about a certain battle on a certain date at a certain place, how someone fought heroically, how many heads they took, and what military merit they earned. Therefore, Su Gaoshan's memorials and official documents actually had the most words among all the border army generals.
A sudden rain shower fell. The lotus flowers standing gracefully in the pond of the right garden of the National Preceptor's Residence swayed and nodded frequently in the rain.
On Tiaoyu Mountain's Huaying Peak, however, the sun was shining brightly. The Old Deaf Man was the first to walk into the thatched cottage, laughing. "Today is a bit different. I'll have to find another teacher to give you lectures."
Inside the cottage, besides the batch of Taoists from various branches of Peach Talisman Mountain, there was now the little girl Chai Wu sitting in a corner listening. The two direct disciples of Hidden Official, sword cultivator Deng Jianping and martial artist Yuan Huang, had also been frequenting these lectures recently. Even the Taoist Xian Wei and his disciple Lin Feijing were sitting inside today.
Recently, the Old Deaf Man had mainly been teaching them Gao Gu's "Three Discourses."
The content was so exquisite that the Old Deaf Man was greatly impressed and decided to spend at least half a year meticulously passing on as much of the Daoist essence as possible to those earnest seekers of the Way. So he closed the door and went through it word by word, making annotations. Because the three essays were so good, the Old Deaf Man was even more afraid of "a single character error leading to a thousand-mile discrepancy." When he encountered parts he was unsure about, he would consult Senior Bai Jing, and if she became impatient, he would then ask Mr. Xiao Mo.
The Old Deaf Man was extremely dedicated to teaching the Dao. He disliked using cryptic words and preferred plain language.
Moreover, with Bai Jing speaking in such an obscure manner, the Old Deaf Man, recognizing that his intelligence and Dao power were far inferior to hers, strove to explain things simply and clearly. Not only did he avoid misleading his students, but he also hoped they could apply what they learned quickly. Furthermore, the Old Deaf Man had discovered that spending a long time teaching the Dao greatly benefited his own cultivation, as it helped him sort out his own path of cultivation.
Xian Wei, for example, had been drawn in by the "Three Discourses." It was like a long drought finally meeting rain—he had finally heard Daoist teachings he could understand!
The Old Deaf Man looked quite pleased. Not only were more and more people attending the lectures, but he had also convinced Liu Cha to allow them to go to Huanghu Mountain to study and ask questions. Unexpectedly, Divine Lord Wei also brought good news: the Celestial Master Zhao Tianlai of Dragon Tiger Mountain would come here to teach. Ah, today was truly an auspicious day—double happiness!
Everyone inside saw a handsome young Taoist standing at the door, with Divine Lord Wei respectfully attending beside him.
The Old Deaf Man stood by the window. Zhao Tianlai entered the cottage, raised his hand to signal them not to rise and bow, and got straight to the point: "I will briefly lecture you on the Thunder Methods of various branches. I can only give a rough outline and will inevitably omit much. Please bear with me. During the lecture, feel free to ask questions at any time; there is no need to be constrained by who is speaking and who is listening. After today's lesson, during the Thunder Retreat month, you may put more thought and practice into it."
A Celestial Master lecturing on Thunder Methods—how was that different from Bai Ye personally arriving at the cottage to speak on swordsmanship, or Xuan Dao to speak on talismans?
Wei Bo also moved to stand near the window.
Having left the Lotus Root Blessed Land and returned to Luopo Mountain, the Fox Lord of Qingqiu was restless and was sightseeing among the mountains. Sensing something unusual at Huaying Peak, she pretended to pass by by chance, wanting to see the depth of Dao power in the "Taoists" of the mortal world today.
She did not enter the cottage but performed a curtsy at the door, smiling charmingly. "May this servant listen outside the door?"
The Old Deaf Man did not dare make the decision himself; he had to see what Celestial Master Zhao and Divine Lord Wei thought.
Celestial Master Zhao smiled from inside the cottage. "There is no objection."
Instantly, including the Fox Lord of Qingqiu, everyone suddenly realized they were already standing in a magnificent Thunder Pool.
---
In the border area of Yongtai County, a new, inconspicuous White Cloud Escort Agency had opened. Drums and gongs roared, firecrackers crackled—following the customs of the mortal world to seek good fortune. A sudden rain shower had come and gone quickly, fortunately not delaying the agency's opening time.
In Changning County, land prices were jaw-droppingly expensive. They had inquired about the approximate rental prices and knew the situation well. If the escort agency had settled there, it wouldn't have been about making money; it would have been about sending money straight to the Great Li Ministry of Revenue, which managed the nation's taxes.
Thanks to a little old connection their master had built in the mountains years ago, through a friend of a friend, they had finally managed to invite a "local snake" from the public service to help shore up the scene. He was the Chief Clerk of the Revenue Section of Yongtai County Magistrate's office—the top man. In Great Li, officials in vassal states were considered to be "promoted three ranks." Capital officials were even more "in demand." All things considered, this wasn't bad.
Seeing a familiar face in long robes, Ma Yixian exclaimed in surprise, "Cao Mo?!"
The boy and many of his senior fellow disciples were orphans. Their master, Hong Zhengyun, named them after their hometown counties and commanderies. For example, the boy could no longer remember his original name. Because he had been picked up by Master Hong on the roadside in Ma Yi County, Master simply named him Ma Yixian, so he wouldn't forget his roots. When he later made something of himself, he could return to his hometown with the name.
Cao Mo took out a red envelope and smiled. "I said I'd come to congratulate you. A man of the jianghu keeps his word."
Ma Yixian whispered, "How big is the red envelope?"
Cao Mo pretended to be casual. "One Snowflake Coin."
The boy was stunned. That much? He whispered, "After showing off, will you take it back privately?"
Cao Mo slapped the envelope heavily on the table draped with red silk, grandly saying, "Small change."
Ma Yixian stood on tiptoe and slapped Cao Mo's shoulder heartily. "I like this heroic spirit of yours, pretending to be rich when you're not."
Chen Ping'an swept his gaze around, smiled, and said nothing. He wondered when Wei Li would visit the escort agency and what excuse he would use to send money.
Ma Yixian beamed. The escort agency had just opened and needed money everywhere. Having a spendthrift like Cao Mo come to deliver money could be considered an auspicious start.
The boy teased with a grin, "What line of work is Grandmaster Cao in now?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Same as you, just scraping by in the capital."
Ma Yixian asked curiously, "Which path?"
Chen Ping'an pointed in a direction and said, "On that path called Thousand Step Corridor."
Ma Yixian had heard of Thousand Step Corridor, lined with government offices on both sides. The boy and his senior brothers had agreed that once the escort agency's business stabilized, they would find time to go see it, and also Yichi Lane and Chi'er Lane.
Ma Yixian asked seriously, "Are you a guard or instructor for some high official, teaching the young masters some fancy moves? Or are you a retainer for someone rich in the capital?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "They couldn't afford to hire me."
Ma Yixian couldn't stand Cao Mo's habit of bragging without batting an eye. "Oh, so why not say you're a court attendant for the Emperor himself?"
Chen Ping'an patted the boy's head. "Impudent. How dare you speak to a martial arts grandmaster like that?"
Ma Yixian was ultimately happy to see this Cao Mo in a strange land far from home.
Their master, Hong Zhengyun, had painstakingly reached the Cave Dwelling Realm after years of effort, but had no Dao title. The batch of second-generation disciples like Ma Yixian were all orphans. When they were said to have been "taken up the mountain" by their master in the early days, it was really just a way to survive in a chaotic world. Once they reached the mountain and had a place to stay, Hong Zhengyun taught them with all his heart. Those with aptitude for cultivation practiced Qi; those who never found the path were taught some boxing and swordsmanship. So it wasn't an exaggeration to say that a few of Ma Yixian's senior brothers were martial arts experts who could walk on walls and tread on snow without leaving a trace.
Chen Ping'an deliberately looked around and asked with a smile, "Why didn't your Senior Sister Zhao come?"
Ma Yixian immediately became wary. "What's it to you whether Senior Sister Zhao has arrived or not?"
This innocent boy might not actually be deeply in love with Senior Sister Zhao; he just followed the senior brothers in liking her, otherwise he would seem lacking in taste or out of step.
Senior Sister Zhao Li and a few others were still with the old man, continuing their cultivation in the mountains. The mortal world below was boundless, a world of temptations.
The only disciple with a chance to reach the middle five realms was Second Senior Sister Zhao Li. A small sect finding a good seedling for cultivation was such a stroke of luck.
Before they parted, Hong Zhengyun specifically reminded them of one thing: the Cao Mo was deeply unfathomable, surely at least a fifth-level martial artist. No matter where they met him in the future, they must show him some respect. He told his disciples this not to make them wary of Cao Mo, but to prevent them from speaking without restraint because of familiarity.
After all, not to mention a martial grandmaster of the Refining Spirit Three Realms, even a sixth-level martial artist was a rare and renowned martial arts master across several nations—the kind who could lead the martial world. If they walked the white path, would they lack gold and silver or fame? If they walked the black path, wouldn't they earn the title of "demon lord"?
Also because of their master's constant teachings and their own backgrounds, Ma Yixian and the others didn't think they were anything special as half-baked "mountain immortals." The neighbors around the escort agency had already come to deliver gifts, exchange pleasantries, and make friendly acquaintances. They had come down the mountain simply to earn money honestly and peacefully, to accumulate more cultivation resources for Zhao Li and the others still in the mountains.
Beyond that, their biggest wish was just to save up a few immortal coins and one day go to the famous Great Li White Funeral Ferry in the capital domain to see what real immortal treasures looked like.
Chen Ping'an said, "Everything is hard at the start. First, establish yourselves in the capital. In the long run, steady and continuous, your escort agency can still make money."
Ma Yixian nodded and grinned. "I'll take your word for it."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and said, "The Azure Mystic Cave of the Ape Trample Stack in the capital domain is currently unowned. I mentioned it to your master before. Old Brother Hong seemed a bit interested, but he felt the sect had no connections in the capital, making it a slim hope. So I've been working some connections in the capital recently, and there's some progress. Wait for my news. If it works out, your sect will need someone with authority to hold the fort—meet with the local authorities, have a good chat, and settle it."
Ma Yixian became anxious. "Cao Mo, friendship is friendship. If you want my master to bow and scrape, or—or to have Senior Sister Zhao sell her looks to get cozy with the rich and powerful—then you're insulting us!"
The boy's heart was still as pure as a blank sheet of paper.
Chen Ping'an rubbed the boy's head and explained with a smile, "A sinister and unpredictable Great Li assessment has just caused a huge uproar, and the aftershocks haven't settled yet. Everyone inside and outside officialdom is on edge. Frankly speaking, even if you dared to send silver or invite them to flower banquets at this moment, they wouldn't have the guts to accept it. They'd likely kick you out and never have any dealings with you greenhorns who don't understand officialdom. Rest assured, I'm sincerely helping, not setting you up. I'm just making the connection and giving a little help. Whether to take this path or not, it's still up to your master to decide."
Ma Yixian was skeptical. "Really?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "What good would lying to you do? Can it make me any money?"
Ma Yixian believed most of it. "Cao Mo, I'm telling you in advance, don't get any funny ideas or waste time on some nonsense. Senior Sister Zhao has her heart set on immortality; she won't like you. I'm being upfront with you: if you really do us a big favor, and then Senior Sister Zhao ignores you, don't get angry and flip out on us. Then we... we can't be friends anymore."
Chen Ping'an looked shocked. "You've only been down the mountain for a few days, and you're already this sharp? Your mind works so fast for a newcomer to the jianghu. In my eyes, you've got the makings of an old hand!"
Such a simple boy couldn't withstand a few flattering words from an old jianghu hand.
He had just been feeling down, but now Ma Yixian was grinning again.
He thought to himself, if Senior Sister Zhao was somehow bewitched and took a shine to Cao Mo, he, as her junior brother, wouldn't stand in her way.
That way, in the future, Cao Mo could take him along on his jianghu adventures, enjoy quick revenge, meet a few beautiful confidantes, and he'd practice his drinking skills...
Ha, I'm pretty shrewd.
Ma Yixian crossed his arms. "Master said that when we come down the mountain, we have to temper our minds through real affairs. I've contributed a lot to setting up this escort agency, learning a lot about social graces."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Such a clever kid, what a pity you're just not suited for cultivating immortal arts."
Bringing up the one sore point, Ma Yixian said angrily, "Aren't you just a jianghu trickster who only works on his physique and plays with spears and staves? What's so great about you? Are you a Qi refiner? First realm? Second realm?"
Chen Ping'an was momentarily speechless, then laughed and cursed, "Kid, you've got a sharp tongue, haven't you?"
The older and younger had nothing to do and crouched near the weapons rack in the training ground. The boy was distracted, maybe missing the mountain and his master, or worrying about what tomorrow would bring.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Young Master Ma, what are you thinking about?"
Ma Yixian curled his lip. "I dream of a benefactor falling from the sky to help us get some business, or just give us a cornucopia."
Chen Ping'an tilted his chin towards the distance. "Isn't there one right in front of you?"
Ma Yixian lowered his voice, helpless. "Even if he's the top man of the Revenue Section of the county office, what kind of official is that?"
Chen Ping'an clicked his tongue. "Have you ever seen a county office in Bao Ping Continent with a bustling crowd of nearly a thousand people? The prefectural governor in your hometown probably isn't as impressive as this Revenue Section Chief Clerk. Besides, the county magistrate is not as good as the one directly in charge. Didn't you see your senior brother buddying up to him? Do you think they hit it off immediately?"
Ma Yixian asked doubtfully, "The Revenue Section Chief Clerk is that awesome?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "What do you think?"
Ma Yixian grinned. "Is it too late for me to go suck up now?"
Chen Ping'an reminded him, "Don't forget to tell your senior brother about the Azure Mystic Cave of the Ape Trample Stack."
Ma Yixian said, "I won't forget."
The boy suddenly asked doubtfully, "Why don't you go tell him yourself?"
Chen Ping'an chuckled. "What do you think?"
Ma Yixian couldn't help laughing. Yeah, the senior brother liked Second Senior Sister the most. Every time he looked at Cao Mo, he was on guard like a thief. Among the junior brothers, he never said anything directly, but always hinted that Cao Mo was a bit too old and wasn't from a scholarly family... If he had the guts to say it to Senior Sister Zhao to her face, I'd still respect him as a man. But always getting close, fumbling and hesitating—that's not a hero.
Three people came from Yongtai County Magistrate's office: two from the Revenue Section and one from the Service Section.
One young man who came with the Revenue Section Chief Clerk had no official airs and took every opportunity to lend a hand at the escort agency.
Yongtai County was a capital county. Compared to ordinary prefectural counties, the number of permanent clerks was more than double. Besides the standard Three Bureaus and Six Sections, there were also sections for taxes, waterways, and others, totaling sixteen sections. The Criminal and Revenue sections, with their heavy workloads, were considered "major sections." Anyone who worked there for many years, especially those with real power, was a crafty old hand who knew many high officials and rich merchants. The boy was unaware of the ins and outs. As for that sturdy fellow from the Service Section, he probably managed twenty or thirty men and would frequently come into contact with the White Cloud Escort Agency.
It was clear that the young Revenue Section clerk was a trusted subordinate of the Chief Clerk.
But what Chen Ping'an really noticed was an oil-paper umbrella the man had temporarily placed under the eaves.
Later, he would have Rong Yu retrieve the Yongtai County Revenue Section files.
The man from the Service Section stood shoulder to shoulder with his colleague, looking straight ahead, and said softly, "Brother Bian, I happen to have a way to transfer to Yongning County Office. Are you interested?"
The situation in Yongtai County Office—outsiders only heard rumors, but they experienced the bitter reality every day. It was just two words: hard to endure.
Magistrate Wang Yongjin used to be so full of vigor, but now at the office, it seemed he lost a few pounds every day.
The previous Old Egret Lake affair was indeed a mistake on their part, and the matter was too big for anyone to cover up.
The young Revenue Section clerk gently clasped his hands and declined. "Brother Lu, I appreciate your kindness. It's not that I don't trust you, but over the years, Chief Clerk Xu has treated me well and nurtured me. Normally, I would be tempted, but leaving now would be too much for my conscience."
The man surnamed Lu hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Brother Bian, to be honest, I have some brothers in the Northern Bureau who are officials. It's a good place. Why don't I set up a meal? If it works out, great; if not, consider making a few friends—no loss. Rest assured, they are sworn brothers from my border army days. I'm the worst off among them now. I trust them, and they trust me. They won't doubt the character and ability of any friend I introduce."
Otherwise, the man wouldn't be calling someone ten years younger "Brother Bian."
Bian Chuntang's son, every time he came to the county office, would ride on his shoulders to the stable.
He had always felt that Bian Chuntang would go far in officialdom—honest, meticulous, and responsible.
He was just a bit unlucky.
In the past, things were manageable. In two or three more years, he would be ready to take over from Chief Clerk Xu, with Magistrate Wang Yongjin's tacit approval.
But now, with the entire "Revenue" line in Great Li officialdom, anyone even slightly related was terrified. Who wasn't afraid that a thunderclap from above would leave countless drenched chickens below?
The young clerk surnamed Bian still shook his head and joked, "If Brother Lu could also go to the Northern Bureau, I'd go with you. Without acquaintances there, I'd be afraid of being kicked out the day after I arrive."
The man laughed heartily and scratched his head. "I wouldn't dare brag. One hole for one radish, I really don't have the ability to take you to the Northern Bureau. That place is everyone's dream now. I heard..."
The headquarters of the Capital Patrol Troop Commander had recently been making a big show, reportedly blocking doors and making arrests at Yichi Lane and Chi'er Lane.
The man lowered his voice even more. "I heard that Hong Ji of the Northern Bureau has just latched onto that National Preceptor..."
Bian Chuntang gently patted the man's arm. Reminded, the man quickly fell silent.
Because he saw that by the weapons rack in the training ground, there was a man in blue robes crouching, whose gaze seemed to be on them.
Suddenly seeing the man smile and nod, the young man was startled, then smiled and nodded back.
Chen Ping'an left the escort agency shortly after the county office personnel. Not far away, at the street corner, he saw the King of Luo, "traveling incognito and observing the people's condition."
Song Jixin asked, "So idle?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Taking a break."
Song Jixin explained, "I couldn't find you at the National Preceptor's Residence. Miss Rong Yu said you might be here."
Chen Ping'an said, "Same difference."
A vassal king who virtually occupied half of Great Li's court, going to the National Preceptor's Residence to chat with the National Preceptor during a sensitive time when the emperor was away—who was he putting on a show for? This little bird had been treacherous since childhood. Truly, a leopard cannot change its spots.
Song Jixin laughed heartily. "I thought you'd say 'a dog cannot change its habit of eating shit.'"
Chen Ping'an said impatiently, "Spit it out if you've got something to say."
Song Jixin said, "I'm about to return to the Barren Wastes. Since the Emperor has left the capital, I can't very well stick around here shamelessly."
Chen Ping'an nodded. He needed to avoid suspicion.
Today's court session had many faces from the secondary capital Luo Jing. Song Mu, regarded as the powerful King of Luo second only to the emperor, could neither be regent nor hold any official duties. What would he do by staying? Plot rebellion with heavy ministers? If over the years, sending people to the southern secondary capital officialdom was called "mixing in sand," then this massive promotion of Luo Jing officials—what was that called? Inviting a wolf into the house?
Song Jixin sighed with feeling. "Someone once told me that for people like you, you either use them or kill them. There's no other choice."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Explain what you mean by 'people like me.'"
Song Jixin said, "Strong fate, enduring nature, holds grudges."
Chen Ping'an said, "Good insight."
Song Jixin mused, "Unconsciously, so many years have passed."
Chen Ping'an said, "Whenever you get completely tired of worldly wealth and honor, I believe with your Dao affinity and resources, it wouldn't be difficult to switch to the mountain path and become an immortal."
Song Jixin stretched lazily and smiled. "We'll see."
He strode ahead first, waving his hand at the man who had been his neighbor for many years.
On a short-distance ferry, a cultivator leaning on the railing overlooking the landscape had keen eyes and recognized the "green-clad child" at the bow. His large sleeves fluttered in the wind, giving him an air of an immortal about to ascend.
He didn't dare speak rashly, since such a reclusive master was not to be casually encountered.
He mustered his courage, approached, and asked nervously, "Could you be Jing... Qing Patriarch of Luopo Mountain?!"
Chen Lingjun instinctively shielded Mi Li and gave a forced smile. Good heavens, why was he being insulted right off the bat?
But out of courtesy, a bewildered Chen Lingjun still asked, "My friend, you are?"
That immortal master quickly gave his name and, upon confirming the noble status of this old-timer from Luopo Mountain, his gaze became even more admiring... Chen Lingjun found it creepy.
This immortal master, who had once attended two Night Banquets with his master, was now filled with emotion. He knew little about Luopo Mountain, but he revered this Patriarch Jingqing because the latter had a proud immortal spirit. Luopo Mountain was a close neighbor of the Northern Peak Piyun Mountain, but this Patriarch Jingqing rarely participated in the latter's Night Banquets.
Wasn't that a deliberate slap in Wei Bo's face?!
Mi Li pricked up her ears and widened her eyes, looking at the strange cultivator with an adoring expression, then at the strange-faced Jingqing. Jingqing was something else! He was quite famous outside! Zhong Qian was holding back laughter, her belly aching from the suppressed glee.
Chen Lingjun glared at the gloating Zhong Diyi, coughed a few times, sidestepped two paces, then stepped back one. With a smile, he introduced the black-clad little girl to the chattering cultivator, saying that this fellow Daoist Zhou was from their Luopo Mountain...
As Chen Lingjun moved, Mi Li immediately crossed her arms, then felt that was too arrogant, so she switched to clasping her hands behind her back. That also seemed inappropriate, so she just wrinkled her sparse yellowish brows, scratched her head, pursed her lips, and smiled shyly.
Before Jingqing could introduce her, she said, "My name is Zhou Mili, I live on Luopo Mountain."
---
After the rain, the sky cleared, and a brief coolness was quickly followed by rising heat. In the courtyard, a lush ginkgo tree buzzed with cicadas.
Shen Chen, his mind awash with mixed feelings, slowly toured the Ministry of War offices leaning on his cane. He could have walked it with his eyes closed.
This old man in his eighties, who had spent most of his life in the Ministry of War, had already submitted his resignation to the emperor, which had been approved in today's court session. After leaving the office today, he would retire successfully.
Perhaps because he was now free from official burdens, the old man smiled more than usual. He gave advice to young officials he met along the way.
As the only Minister of War in Great Li's history who had never been on a battlefield, Shen Chen naturally had regrets.
Just as a poor scholar in the wilderness longs for the favor of fox fairies among ancient tombs and desolate graves.
Which civil official in court didn't want to command troops, build achievements on the battlefield, and expand the territory, so their names could go down in history?
He had joked earlier with National Preceptor Chen, who had come to inspect the ministry, asking him to put in a good word with the emperor about his posthumous title—to make it as grand as possible.
The old minister, who thoroughly understood the Great Li officialdom, knew in his heart like a mirror that what he most longed for was "Wenxiang," but that was absolutely impossible. As for "Wenzhong," he couldn't reach it either. He estimated it would be "Wenyi" or something around there. That would be good enough. He should be content.
The emperor had left the capital for the first time without appointing the eldest prince, Song Geng, as regent.
The implication was that Great Li still had not established a crown prince.
Slowly pacing to his official hall, he had someone summon the two vigorous Vice Ministers Xu and Wu. The old man sat in his chair, hands resting on his cane, chin on the backs of his hands, smiling as he watched them cross the threshold. So young, they walked with a spring in their step.
The old man rubbed his bony hands with his chin. "Zhou Gong is also an interesting fellow."
Wu Wangcheng sat down slightly slower than Left Vice Minister Xu Tong, smiling. "Just now when we met, Zhou Gong said the same old thing: as long as he could command a sword boat, he wouldn't mind not being promoted."
Left Vice Minister Xu Tong was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. That guy's thoughts were too simple. But military cultivators from the Wind and Snow Temple were often like that.
Shen Chen smiled. "When I was as young as you two, I had already experienced the way the Luo Gou vein cultivators of Wind and Snow Temple did things. They are all single-minded. They are the most enthusiastic about cursing high officials. Back then, they were famous among the various departments of the Ministry of War, as if they were all cut from the same mold. Huang Meixian is considered good—she doesn't curse, she just scares people with her scabbard."
The old man, moved, pointed at the two vice ministers. "You young people have it good."
There were plenty of people who never grasped officialdom in their entire lives. For example, they might occasionally be overtly or covertly helped by a benefactor, but they just thought it was their own ability. Or a colleague might be tripped up many times, yet they remained completely in the dark, blaming bad luck.
As for "time reveals the heart," how could ordinary mortals, no matter how long-lived, compare to cultivators on the mountains?
Previously, the reason Shen Chen had never approved Zhou Gong's request wasn't that he was deliberately making things difficult, but that Zhou Gong was different from Huang Meixian, the deputy general of Han Prefecture. Zhou Gong had always retained his registry status in the Luo Gou vein of Wind and Snow Temple. The Great Li border army had its own regulations; exceptions couldn't be made casually.
But since the National Preceptor had personally spoken, asking Zhou Gong to go to the Ministry of War to find Wu Wangcheng, with Rites Minister Dong Hu as guarantor, allowing the Ministry of War to make an exception and permit him to command a sword boat—the Ministry of War could go along with it. The rules of Great Li were themselves built by Cui Chan.
The old man said with a smile, "Previously, everyone in and out of court wondered: could a sword immortal also be a good official?"
"Xu Tong, Wu Wangcheng, you two are the same. Don't give me that aggrieved look. You're both young foxes, still a bit green."
"But no matter what, among the Six Ministries in the Great Li capital and the secondary capital, the one most naturally inclined toward National Preceptor Chen is our Ministry of War, without a doubt."
"Why did I throw out my old face and insist that National Preceptor Chen must inspect the Ministry of War first? Because I knew our ministry didn't need to pretend. The National Preceptor would feel that on the Thousand Step Corridor, at least there was one piece of ground that was on his side, that truly understood the weight of 'Hidden Official.'"
All the civil and military officials initially wanted to know one thing: how big was the gap between the young National Preceptor and former National Preceptor Cui?
Even if you, Chen Ping'an, could be the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, could you sit firmly in the seat of Great Li's new National Preceptor?
They also wanted to figure out the similarities and differences between these two junior and senior brothers of the Wen Sheng lineage.
Since Shen Chen had already stepped down and even his official seal had been sealed away, the selection of a new minister had not yet been discussed in court, and not even a hint had leaked from small court sessions.
Xu Tong and Wu Wangcheng were naturally burning with desire, but since Old Minister Shen deliberately avoided the topic, they couldn't very well bring it up themselves. They could only pretend to be nonchalant.
Shen Chen smiled. They were young after all. But thinking again, compared to him in his own youth, they seemed much more composed.
"Cooperate well with the National Preceptor. Believe me, what is due will come in time. Don't reach for what isn't yours."
"As for what the new Ministry of War will look like tomorrow, I won't be around to manage it. I just hope it doesn't end up as chaotic as the Ministry of Revenue."
Shen Chen slowly stood up and smiled. "I entrust it to you."
Both vice ministers clasped their fists.
Shen Chen waved his hand. "Go on, get busy."
The old man came to the courtyard and stood on the steps, looking at the ginkgo tree.
Officials of the Six Ministries could always receive a few pieces of celadon from the Longquan Commandery official kilns.
But only high-ranking officials of the Ministry of War would be granted a sword forged in Longquan Commandery.
The capital's commoners had a humorous saying: whether someone was truly a high official of Great Li depended on whether they had ever ridden a military ferry from Mingdi Ferry.
Some foreign officials with great merit, upon retiring to their hometowns, could bring their families aboard the ferry as per precedent.
Shen Chen, as a minister, was certainly qualified for such treatment, but the old man refused.
He wanted his journey home to be slow.
Along the way, he wanted to see more of this hard-won peaceful era—the wide roads, the fields of grain, the orchards.
In fact, when he stepped down as Minister of War of Great Li, according to an old agreement, someone would lead his horse to see him off.
In the future, if our Great Li cavalry could conquer half of Bao Ping Continent, that someone would see him off to the palace gate.
If they could conquer the entire Bao Ping Continent, that Cui Chan would lead his horse the entire length of the Thousand Step Corridor in the imperial city.
But few knew of this.
Former Emperor Song Zhengchun of Great Li, former National Preceptor Cui Chan, and now King Huai Song Changjing in the Barren Wastes—even including Shen Chen himself, the number was still less than a hand.
Shen Chen hadn't told anyone, to avoid seeming to rely on his seniority.
The old man just treated it as a jar of old wine that needed no new companions. After resigning and returning home, he could drink it alone.
In his study, on the desk lay a yellowed military text he had read countless times. The ginkgo leaf pressed inside had been there for decades.
The old man seemed to see many years ago, a blue-robed old man and a much younger version of himself discussing military affairs under the tree.
Shen Chen rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. After a moment, he mustered his spirits and asked with a smile, "Why has the National Preceptor come again?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I've come to lead the horse for the old minister and walk the Thousand Step Corridor."
Shen Chen was inwardly shocked, but pretended to be puzzled. "Where does the National Preceptor get that? It leaves me completely in the dark."
Chen Ping'an went over to help the old man, smiling. "An old scholar, can he ride a horse?"
The old man reached back, rubbed his bony backside, and nodded with a straight face. "I can grit my teeth and endure."
There is nothing easy under heaven; one just grits one's teeth and endures.
On Thousand Step Corridor Street, horses' hooves clattered. The old man sat high on horseback, gripping the reins tightly, his thin shoulders rising and falling.
Shen Chen deliberately avoided looking at the commotion from the offices on either side of the street, muttering under his breath, "National Preceptor, slow down a bit. I'm afraid this old bones'll get shaken to pieces."
The man in blue robes, who was indeed leading the horse slowly, smiled softly. "Alright."