Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 877 The Godfather of Qiantang
Yes, it's about friendship and a relationship based on righteousness.

As Confucius said, "To achieve benevolence is to attain righteousness," and Mencius said, "To uphold righteousness is to attain virtue." I, Xu Hanwen, practice the way of benevolence and righteousness, which is why I am able to become friends with moral people from all over the world.

"The headmaster said...you are extraordinary." Magistrate Ximen lowered his head and continued to speak of the evaluation from his friend from afar, his voice hoarse, "Let me learn more from you about how to conduct myself and how to hold firm to my beliefs."

Half of what he said was true; the other half, Magistrate Ximen himself was still wondering about.

Because the description of Xu Xuan in the letter from the headmaster he received did not seem like that of a young man at all.

"His wisdom borders on the supernatural, his heart is as deep as the ocean, his actions are as swift as thunder, and his strategies are like a game of chess."

How can this be considered an evaluation of a scholar in his twenties?

This is clearly describing the next "public good".

Magistrate Ximen even suspected that the headmaster might have misspelled his name... after all, he didn't seem this powerful when they met in Tonglu.
Logically, Xu Xuan should have seized the opportunity to pull Magistrate Ximen onto the pirate ship.

But he didn't.

Instead, he patted the other man on the shoulder and said gently, "Lord Ximen, please rest well today. Tomorrow... let's talk again at the academy."

Since we've had such a great start, let's try a more radical approach.

The next day, Xu Xuan took Magistrate Ximen to Nanshan.

He wanted to show this new magistrate what "the connections of Chongqi Academy" meant, what "Instructor Xu's prestige" meant, and what "the godfather of Qiantang" meant.

The professors reacted indifferently to the new county magistrate's visit.

After all, every magistrate of Qiantang County would come to the academy to pay respects at the mountain gate after taking office, as a sign of respect for education.

However, Chongqi Academy has always been aloof, usually only sending an ordinary professor to deal with the situation, not even bothering to offer a cup of tea.

And those like Magistrate Ximen, who arrived with a negative aura from the start, suffered even worse treatment.

But today is different, because Xu Xuan is here.

He also introduced him very "enthusiastically": "This Lord Ximen is my close friend. He and I once worked together in Tonglu to eliminate the licentious temple priests. We are comrades-in-arms who have shared life and death!"

The effect is immediate.

The elderly professors' expressions immediately softened, and they even unusually offered Magistrate Ximen a few words of advice:
"Serving as an official in one's post brings benefits to the people in that region."

"Qiantang is a place of flourishing culture and learning; we must not let down the people's expectations."

This was already the highest level of treatment that Chongqi Academy had given to local officials.

Madam Yin further implied, "If Lord Ximen encounters any difficulties in official business in the future, he may directly contact Instructor Xu."

Here's a translation: "Don't bother us with anything outside of teaching; just talk to Xu Xuan."

Over the past three years, all the bigwigs in the academy have discovered something wonderful: Instructor Xu is incredibly useful.

Whether it was coordinating relations with the government, reforming the teaching system, or handling miscellaneous affairs of the academy, everything was arranged perfectly, without anyone else having to worry about it.

Given this, who would be willing to put in the extra effort?
Magistrate Ximen was greatly shocked.

He had originally thought that he, as a "tainted magistrate," would encounter obstacles at every turn, but Xu Xuan only needed a few casual words to gain him the approval of Chongqi Academy...

Is this the power of "Xu Hanwen"?

Xu Xuan appeared humble, but inwardly he smiled slightly: This is nothing.
On the third day, Xu Xuan took Magistrate Ximen to the Jintian Academy.

Someone continued to show off their "charm".

As a close friend of Yu Gong despite their age difference, Xu Xuan was able to make connections at the Jintian Academy.

He greeted everyone he met, from the gatekeeper to the professor, and then to the old servant sweeping the floor; everyone greeted him with a smile.

With such an impressive presence, anyone who didn't know better would think he was an instructor at the Imperial Academy.

Halfway there, they encountered a crooked tree.

There was a person standing under the tree.

The man's expression changed drastically upon seeing Xu Xuan, and he turned to flee.

Xu Xuan, with her sharp eyes, called out to him with a smile, "Zhou Ju? Aren't you an instructor at Jintian Academy? What brings you to Jintian Academy?"

Zhou Ju froze, covering his face with his sleeve, and chuckled awkwardly as he backed away, "Young Master Xu! What a coincidence! I... I've come to visit my teacher..."

After saying that, he slipped away without looking back, his steps so fast it was as if a ghost was chasing him.

Magistrate Ximen: "...?"

Why does this person, who is about the same age as him, seem so afraid of Xu Hanwen?

Xu Xuan made no attempt to hide anything and directly revealed the man's background: "His name is Zhou Ju, the former governor of Donghai County, and a disciple of Master Yu."

Magistrate Ximen gasped in shock.

Yu Gong's disciple?! That's quite an extraordinary identity!

But why did he run away when he saw Xu Xuan?
Xu Xuan smiled slightly, his tone casual:

“What he did was outrageous and he was naturally dismissed and sent here to start as a teacher at a small academy, where he will have to learn how to be a person again.”

This is a statement that is both tactful and direct.

A soft shout came from the study: "That's all thanks to your skillful methods, Master Xu, that you were able to give him a chance to start anew."

Before he finished speaking, a surge of righteous energy, as powerful as a tidal wave, rushed in, wave after wave, rattling the doors and windows.

Magistrate Ximen was already unsettled, and this overwhelming aura made his legs go weak, almost causing him to kneel on the ground.

How can someone whose beliefs waver withstand the pressure of a "Confucian knight-errant"?

Just then, a hand landed firmly on his shoulder.

It is Xu Xuan.

His expression remained unchanged, with even a faint smile playing on his lips, as if the overwhelming righteous energy was nothing more than a gentle spring breeze.

Magistrate Ximen was startled, but his body steadied itself.

Yu Gong sighed and glanced at Magistrate Ximen with a complicated expression.

This moment is just like that moment back then.

This new county magistrate... is going to be lucky.

What happened next terrified the newlyweds.

In the study, the old man and Xu Xuan engaged in a fierce verbal exchange. Yu Gong's words were like knives, directly accusing Xu Xuan of "excessive methods" and "unpredictable behavior" over the years.

Xu Xuan responded calmly, sometimes quoting classical texts, sometimes using a strategy of retreat to advance, and even managing to give Magistrate Ximen a reassuring look.

The two engaged in a heated debate, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Finally, Yu Gong snorted coldly, took a letter from the drawer of his desk, and slammed it heavily on the table.

"I don't have many friends in Luoyang."

Xu Xuan: "...Pfft."

He couldn't help it.

Yu Gong glared at him angrily: "What are you laughing at?!"

Xu Xuan immediately put on a stern face: "This student has been rude."

But you really can't blame him for this.

Who would have thought that Old Man Yu could be so humorous?
You don't have many friends? I don't even want to say anything more.

Of course, I eventually accepted the letter, though I probably won't use it.

After all, the old man had a thousand times more enemies than friends, and he didn't want to be misunderstood as a "remnant of the Yu Party".

Before leaving, Yu Gongcai finally exchanged a few words with Magistrate Ximen.

He stroked his white beard, his eyes sharp, but his tone was unusually gentle: "Now that you're in Qiantang, do your job well."

He paused, then gave Xu Xuan a meaningful look: "If you have any questions, feel free to ask Xu Xuan for advice."

"If he had even a fraction of his skills... some things wouldn't have had to be handled so badly."

These words sound like encouragement, but they actually contain a hidden barb.

When Xu Xuan led Magistrate Ximen out of the Jintian Academy, the middle-aged man was still somewhat dazed.

The three major academies... were they just swept away so easily?

Chongqi Academy treated him with great courtesy, and even Yu Gong of Jintian Academy tacitly acknowledged Xu Xuan's "guiding" position...

This is an epic achievement, right here right in front of us!
Magistrate Ximen even began to doubt his life. He had studied hard for decades and worked diligently as an official for half his life, but in the end, he was not as successful as a young man in his twenties.

So shocking.

Day three.

The prominent families and wealthy merchants of Qiantang gathered together to host a lively welcome banquet for Magistrate Ximen.

This time it was completely different from the last time.

Last time, all the attendees were peripheral figures, but this time even the heads of various families came in person.

the reason is simple.

Xu Xuan, holding a wine glass and smiling, stood in front of the main table and announced to everyone:
"Magistrate Ximen is my good brother."

These words caused a stir among the audience.

The previously aloof gentlemen instantly put on enthusiastic smiles and rushed forward to offer toasts.

Several heads of households even expressed their willingness to "donate funds to support education" and "build bridges and roads" to fully support Magistrate Ximen's achievement projects.

Magistrate Ximen: "..."

Three days ago, he was a "bad luck magistrate" that everyone avoided.

Three days later, he unexpectedly became a guest of honor among the wealthy gentry of Qiantang.
This world... is truly too surreal.

After the event ended, Xu Xuan kept Magistrate Ximen behind and said a few more words.

The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear:

"Work hard here. If anything happens, contact Baoantang."

"The problems in Qiantang... no, the problems within Yangzhou, are not problems at all."

This statement, though made casually, carries immense weight. It's not boasting, but a statement of fact.

Magistrate Ximen stared at him blankly, as if most of the shadows in his heart had been erased, as if the storms and hardships of the outside world had been blocked by an invisible wall.

The sense of security has never felt so real.

"But Tonglu..."

The middle-aged magistrate lowered his head, his voice hoarse, still unable to let go of the past.

Those pointing fingers, those malicious rumors, even the dirty water thrown in front of the ancestral graves...

How can one easily let go of a year's torment?

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan smiled.

"So what if people talk? As long as everyone speaks highly of you, you can withstand all the harsh criticisms."

"Also, I think you're right. They're wrong."

"Please continue to uphold justice in Qiantang."

Magistrate Ximen had been battered by reality for a full year, forced to leave his hometown. Hearing such words now would shatter even the strongest defenses.

Cold words are like frost, withering all the flowers; sarcastic remarks are like a cold tide, freezing the cold to the bone.

Gentle words are like the spring sun, melting away the snow on a thousand mountains; warm words are like a gentle breeze, blowing open the flowers on ten thousand trees.

As the weather changes from cold to warm, I feel a sense of strength and hope.

After a long silence, he suddenly bowed down.

This bow was even more solemn than the kneeling three days ago.

That kneeling was an act of utter despair, a sign that there was no other way out.

This bow was a heartfelt and sincere submission.

"Mr. Xu."

He called out softly, his voice trembling slightly, but there was no longer any confusion.

(End of this chapter)