Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1038 Prefect, Don't Panic
But in Professor Xu's class, they learned more about cold, hard logical analysis and harsh real-world cases.

Xu Xuan rarely engages in empty talk about morality; instead, he teaches them "how to see through appearances to the essence," "how to assess the interests and risks of all parties," and "how to achieve goals in the cracks of reality."

Let's combine Professor Xu's "real-world logic" with the "sage's wisdom" in the book to re-examine the current crisis.

Qiao Feng immediately gained a deeper understanding of Ji Rui's words, and even grasped their essence.

and so……

Qiao Feng raised his head, his gaze regaining its clarity and determination, and said frankly to Ji Rui:
"Brother Ji... your words may be a bit rough, but the reasoning is correct. I had oversimplified things before."

Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is also a sign of a gentleman's character.

I have to admit that apart from his inappropriate word choice and overly rough and unrestrained style, this "classmate Hanqing" is actually quite right in his analysis and judgment of the situation.

At this moment, he even felt that the rumor circulating in the academy that "three heroes and two wonders are not as good as one season" was exaggerated, but it seemed... not entirely without basis.

So, how exactly should we do it?
All six people turned their gazes to Xu Xuan, who had remained silent.

Although Xu Xuan was anxious, he did not lose his composure.

Knowing that although the Stone King had repeatedly performed poorly since joining the "righteous camp," he was, in the end, a true demon king of the third realm, and a spirit born from a rare stone of heaven and earth, with a strong innate foundation and the most resilient to beating.

Even if the waters of the Yellow Springs wanted to completely erode and wear down its divine soul and demonic body, it would not be something that could be done in a short time; it would inevitably require a continuous process.

Therefore, rescuing the Stone King and resolving the Xingyang crisis require even more careful consideration of methods and approaches, striving for a prudent and thorough approach, and aiming to achieve the goal in one fell swoop.

Then, amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying an undeniable authority:
“Near Luoyang, we do need the prefect’s assistance to act freely.”

"Moreover, it is a comprehensive cooperation and a wholehearted commitment."

"So let's work together to 'persuade' Governor Zheng to cooperate with us."

If the white lotus takes root in the human world, then it will use the rules of the human world to drive everything to happen.

Thus, a "literary trend" quietly emerged in Xingyang County.

The renowned "Three Outstanding Scholars" of Chongqi Academy jointly issued a notice, declaring that they would hold a grand literary gathering in Xingyang under the guise of "the reappearance of the ancient Yuhe River and the emergence of the relics of the Holy Emperor"!

We extend a wide invitation to talented individuals and renowned scholars from all over the land to gather here, to discuss the principles of water management throughout history and the origins of civilization.

This seemingly elegant and grand event perfectly catered to Zheng Lian's need to create momentum by "offering auspicious omens," making it difficult for him to refuse.

As representatives of the Southern literary tradition, the three heroes of Chongqi held a literary gathering, which naturally attracted talented scholars from the South who came to support them and make the most of the event, determined not to lose face.

After receiving the invitation from Zao, who was acting as a half-fellow student, almost no one at Jintian Academy refused; everyone who could come showed up.

It was both to repay the favor he had received from those who had rescued him and to support the Southern camp.

At Bailu Academy, apart from Lu Nan who was unable to attend due to his duty of escorting sacrificial artifacts, all the other renowned scholars, such as Qian Qing and Zhang Hao, were present.

The mere gathering of the core disciples of these top academies in the south in Xingyang was enough to rival the sensational West Lake literary gathering that swept across Jiangnan three years ago.

But this is far from enough.

When the students of Chongqi Academy traveled north to study, they met and discussed philosophy with many talented people from other academies along the way, and they all received sincere invitations.

The three academies also used their profound reputation among scholars to attract as many students as possible who were studying in the west or north.

Of course, not everyone will give this face, especially students from the north.

And so, rumors, from who-knows-where, began to circulate quietly among the scholars:
"What kind of literary gathering is this? It's nothing but southerners coming to the north to show off their power and influence, relying on their numbers!"

"I think the talented men from the North are afraid and dare not accept the challenge, right?"

It also contains some deliberately provocative remarks about the differences in academic styles between the North and the South, and even sharp remarks with personal attacks.

Public opinion was instantly ignited!
To those important figures in the court, this might just be the antics of a child, not worth a second glance.

But for the young scholars who were in the prime of their lives, this was a matter of utmost importance, concerning the honor and disgrace of their region and their personal reputation!

If one could outshine all others and make a name for oneself at such a prestigious literary gathering, the sense of accomplishment and exhilaration would be unparalleled!

Thus, the nature of this literary gathering quietly changed.

Like a snowball rolling downhill, what started as a casual gathering that was optional became quite serious if someone didn't show up.

Do you feel that you are not talented enough and dare not go on stage?

Is he so cowardly that he doesn't even have the courage to face the talented scholar from the South?
In this delicate yet intense atmosphere, a large number of students from the north, and even some sons of noble families who were originally uninterested in the matter, flocked to Xingyang with either a competitive spirit or a desire to watch the spectacle.

Many princes and nobles who had nothing to do in Luoyang, as well as young masters from various powerful families, also came to join in the fun.

For them, this grand gathering, which brought together the best talents from the north and south and was filled with a bit of tension, was much more interesting than cockfighting and horse racing in Luoyang.

Thus, an unprecedented literary gathering, arguably the grandest before everyone's journey to the capital, was "unexpectedly" born in Xingyang County.

The air of culture and the fortune of the powerful were truly dazzling, even dispersing some of the dark clouds in the sky.

Upon hearing the news, Prefect Zheng Lian felt dizzy and almost wanted to die.

Don't come over here!
He screamed wildly in his heart.

The person who secretly does bad things is most afraid of attracting too much attention, especially when it comes from famous and influential young masters and princes!
Most intellectuals of this era, especially those who could enter such top circles, were either wealthy or powerful.

Or they may come from prestigious academies with deep-rooted traditions, and have intricate networks of connections that extend throughout the upper echelons of the land.

What's even more critical is that in another ten or twenty years, these spirited young people will replace their fathers and become the new pillars of the court, wielding power.

Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that this literary gathering held in Xingyang was an informal, nascent gathering of the future "mini-court".

Thinking about all this, Zheng Lian felt immense pressure, so much so that even breathing became incredibly difficult.

I felt like I was sitting on the crater of a volcano about to erupt.

But this is just the beginning.

Soon, another "evil wind" began to circulate, saying that there was no "Yu Du Yang Cheng" or "Holy Emperor's Relics" underground in Xingyang.

The auspicious omens that Prefect Zheng Lian was going to present were no different from those shoddy items in history; everyone, including the emperor, was fooled by him!

However, the rumor didn't have much effect. Most people who heard it didn't believe that a prefect right under the nose of Luoyang would dare to be so audacious as to mock the scholars of the land and even deceive the emperor.
Instead, people laughed it off, generally believing that it was some jealous villains spreading rumors in an attempt to smear Prefect Zheng and the grand event.

Some people have even begun to analyze and discuss with great interest what kind of treasures are worthy of the current grand occasion.

Some say it must be the reappearance of the Yuzhou Ding, otherwise it wouldn't attract so much attention and generate so much auspicious energy.

Some people cite classical texts to say that the Hetu and Luoshu have appeared in the world. After all, historical records state that "When Heaven sent Yu, the Luoshu appeared. A divine tortoise carried the writing on its back, which numbered up to nine. Yu then arranged them into nine categories of constant principles."

Such precious treasures, which are essential to the very foundation of humanity, deserve this grand display.

Some have speculated that it might be the Yuwang Stele, the Iron Needle for Stabilizing the Sea, or even the remains of an ancient dragon clan that controlled floods...

In any case, topics concerning destiny, auspicious omens, and precious treasures never lack popularity. With the continuous promotion behind the scenes by certain "interested individuals," it quickly "broke out of its circle" throughout the entire Wenhui and even Xingyang area, becoming the hottest topic in streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns.

Thus, Zheng Lian, within the prefectural governor's residence...

I felt a tightness in my chest, difficulty breathing, and my face was as pale as paper.

The original "alternative" plan was on the verge of completely spiraling out of control!

With public opinion praising them so highly, if they can't produce a corresponding level of "auspicious omens" when the time comes, they will definitely be smashed to pieces when they fall!
Just when they were at their wits' end and almost in despair, another eunuch from the palace arrived at the Xingyang Prefectural Governor's residence on horseback.

The eunuch's message was simple, yet it plunged Zheng Lian into an icy abyss:

Yu Gong, who was far away in Wu County, submitted a public memorial to the imperial court!

In his memorial to the throne, Yu Gong bluntly stated that "most auspicious omens are nothing but nonsense, and behind them must be the machinations of petty people who deceive the emperor and seek personal gain!"

"They're just bringing out some jade spirits or other far-fetched 'treasures' and making up all sorts of stories to deceive the emperor!"

"If Your Majesty can truly govern the world to a state of peace and prosperity, where the people live in harmony and contentment, then what need is there for such empty formalities to decorate the facade?!"

He directly requested that Zheng Lian, the prefect of Xingyang, be executed to set an example and deter others from doing the same.
Although Yu Gong's political life had come to an end and he was forced to retire in Wu County, he was still alive and his prestige remained.

It remains an insurmountable peak in the hearts of Confucian scholars worldwide, and one of the facets of Confucianism.

This scathing and direct memorial to the core of the matter greatly angered the Jin emperor, who had only been in a good mood for a few days.

After all, that old codger Yu Gong was the kind of scoundrel who dared to force the emperor to admit his mistakes in front of all the civil and military officials back in the day!

Now, how can we allow ourselves to become a laughing stock, with people saying that the emperor still needs to rely on "manufactured auspicious omens" to maintain his dignity?

Meanwhile, Grand Scholar Yin, who was in the southwest region curbing the chaos of the demonic path, followed suit and submitted a memorial expressing the same view.

As for Fu Tianchou, who had already returned to Luoyang, he immediately chose to "join the group," once again demonstrating his incorruptible nature as an imperial censor, and wrote a memorial to the emperor, earnestly requesting him to investigate the matter thoroughly and not to believe the falsehoods.

The pressure, like layers of dark clouds, was directly placed on His Majesty's side.

Therefore, in his anger and helplessness, Emperor Jin secretly instructed a eunuch to "share" some of the pressure with Zheng Lian, the instigator.

Behind the seemingly casual message from the eunuch was a chilling warning: he was instructed to do a good job of presenting auspicious omens and to do it perfectly; if anything went wrong... he would bear the consequences!
After the eunuch left, Zheng Lian slumped into a chair in the empty hall, the last vestige of his will to live in his eyes gradually dying out like a candle in the wind.

"I...I just want to improve myself..."

He muttered to himself, filled with resentment and regret.

"If only we hadn't been so greedy from the start, and hadn't made such a big show of it..."

"If it weren't for the constant urging and encouragement from my advisors..."

"if……"

Several invisible whips, seemingly drawn from Luoyang, from Wu County, from all directions, passed through layers of transmission, and finally struck him squarely.

Not everyone can withstand immense pressure like the Father.

At night, the prefect dismissed everyone and sat alone in the cold courtyard, drowning his sorrows in wine.

The increasingly clear sound of the rushing water underground now sounded like a tolling death knell.

A bitter smile, more painful than crying, appeared on his face.

"We can't delay...we can't wait...we can't afford it..."

He repeated those three words in a low voice, each one laced with blood and tears.

"hahahahahahahahahaha……"

Finally, he let out a shrill and desperate laugh.

"It seems that only my death can barely preserve the family..."

But if he really wanted to die, why would he have delayed until now and endured it all?
Moreover, in the center of this vortex, is it possible to die easily if you want to?
Zheng Lian was now truly trapped in a desperate situation where he could neither live nor die.

Just when all hope was lost...

Not far away, a pure white light burst forth from the ground in the courtyard!

The spiritual light grew rapidly, transforming into a budding flower, which then bloomed layer by layer, becoming a pure and flawless white lotus flower with a soft halo!
At the same time, clear and compassionate chants, accompanied by the delicate fragrance of lotus flowers, gently resounded, echoing in the silent night sky:
"The lotus descends to cleanse the world of calamities, and jade hands part the waves to reveal the holy voyage."

“The three evil paths are filled with bitter waves that stir up the turbid world, while a compassionate cloud covers the eight directions.”

"With discerning eyes, one observes the forms of all beings; with a pure vase, one sprinkles sweet dew everywhere."

"I do not ask how deep the calamity is, but I will prove my sorrowful vows with the fragrance of lotus flowers."

As the hymns were chanted, an ethereal and sacred figure slowly emerged from the center of a blooming white lotus.

His figure grew larger with the wind, and after three steps he was as tall as an ordinary person, solid and lifelike.

A vast, compassionate, and peaceful aura, seemingly capable of encompassing all the suffering in the world, rippled outwards, instantly dispelling the heavy atmosphere of despair in the courtyard.

The white-clad figure's face was shrouded in a soft halo, making it difficult to see clearly, yet inspiring peace and trust.

He faced the stunned Zheng Lian, his voice gentle yet powerful:
"Prefect, do not panic—Da Ci is here!"

(End of this chapter)