I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

When Afu delivered the book and letter to the Imperial Academy, Zhao Mingcheng had just returned from playing football, covered in sweat.

He told Afu to wait outside, dried his hands, and opened the letter.

I read it word by word, using the daylight streaming through the window.

When he saw his father describing how Zeng Bu praised him and gave him the book, his brows furrowed slightly.

When he saw his father's last words, "Son, you can figure it out yourself... I will share the burden with you," he remained silent for a moment.

It seems that Dad is really in a difficult position.

Zhao Mingcheng picked up the book with the blue cloth cover, "Annotations on the Strategies of the Warring States." The book wasn't thick, but it felt heavy in his hand.

Upon opening it, the title page bears Zeng Bu's private seal, and inside are dense annotations in vermilion ink, written in tiny, neat, and vigorous characters, filling the headers, footers, and spaces between the lines.

The critiques are not just about word and phrase interpretations, but more about insights, discussions, and reflections and associations when reading certain policy essays.

Zhao Mingcheng didn't rush to look at it closely; he closed the book and placed it on the table.

I poured myself a cup of iced tea and sipped it slowly, my mind racing.

He wasn't surprised that Zeng Bu extended an olive branch.

At this juncture, the Privy Councilor is in a delicate situation. He has been bitten by Cai Jing and reprimanded by the emperor, and urgently needs to expand his power and find new support.

He himself, a student of the Imperial Academy who had twice met the Emperor, had climbed the social ladder by associating with Prince Duan, and had just managed to stabilize himself amidst the turmoil, was clearly a good investment target.

To answer or not to answer? That is the question.

The simplest solution is to not answer.

It's simply a matter of returning the book or putting it away and pretending it never happened.

But this would be tantamount to slapping Zeng Bu in the face.

Even if Zeng Bu loses power, he is still a Privy Councilor, a powerful and deeply entrenched figure. It would be no good to completely offend him.

Moreover, the father had already met with Zeng Bu and accepted the book. Now, trying to distance himself would only make him seem guilty and arouse more suspicion.

So you definitely have to accept it, but how to accept it is an art.

When younger generations receive gifts from their elders, especially those in high positions of power, they often find it difficult to contain their excitement.

If Zhao Mingcheng truly responded to Zeng Bu in that grateful manner, it would be tantamount to telling everyone that Zhao Mingcheng had indeed sided with Zeng Bu.

By then, there will be fewer options left.

There must be a middle way.

It was a response to Zeng Bu's overtures without appearing politically subservient; it demonstrated both talent and sincerity while maintaining a degree of independence and distance.

Zhao Mingcheng's gaze returned to the book.

As a university teacher, he certainly understood that academic discussion was the best pretext.

Since Zeng Bu came under the guise of gifting books and encouraging younger generations, he would return under the guise of seeking advice and exploring knowledge.

He did not concern himself with politics, but only discussed his insights from books; he was respectful but not obsequious; he had independent thinking, but maintained a humble attitude.

He reopened the book and this time looked at it very carefully.

It's not just about reading the original text, but also about reading Zeng Bu's annotations.

Let's see what insights this veteran official, who has weathered decades of ups and downs in the political arena, wrote down beside those words about intricate political maneuvering and the treacherous nature of human relationships.

In the section on "befriending distant states and attacking nearby ones" in the Qin Strategies, Zeng Bu commented: "This strategy is not only applicable to the state, but also to the court. The situation of distant and near states can change in an instant, but only benefits and harms are eternal."

In the section on "a cunning rabbit has three burrows" in the Book of Qi, Zeng Bu annotated: "The way to protect oneself is to leave room for maneuver. However, having too many burrows will divide one's strength, so be careful."

Furthermore, in the "Strategies of Zhao," there is the section on "wearing nomadic clothing and practicing archery on horseback," which Zeng Bu annotated at a longer point: "It is easy to change the laws, but difficult to change people's hearts. King Wuling of Zhao was a man of great talent, but he was impatient for quick success and instant benefits, which ultimately brought disaster upon his descendants. This shows that the transformation of a country should be carried out step by step, and things should be done naturally."

As Zhao Mingcheng watched, he pondered in his mind.

Zeng Bu's annotations are calm, pragmatic, and reveal a seasoned shrewdness. They are neither radical nor pedantic, valuing practical benefits while also being mindful of strategic tact.

Zeng Bu possesses a typical pragmatist mindset, prioritizing "stability" and "effectiveness" above all else.

Zhao Mingcheng began to reply. He didn't write a salutation or a signature, just like he was jotting down reading notes.

He chose two places.

One example is Zeng Bu's comment on the phrase "befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones," which he wrote next to it.

"Your Excellency's insight is profound. However, in my humble opinion, distance is not solely determined by geography, but also by the hearts and minds of the people and the intertwining of interests. In today's court, the distinction between friend and foe cannot be simply categorized by 'distance.' For example, if two people have a grudge, a third party may either join forces with one to contain the other, or remain on the sidelines and wait for both to be injured. This 'cooperation' and 'attack' seem to be more about assessing the situation and adapting to circumstances, rather than rigidly adhering to established rules."

Another place is the "Hu-style clothing and horseback archery" section.

Zeng Bu emphasized "step by step," while Zhao Mingcheng wrote...

"The problem with King Wuling may lie in 'changing the surface without fundamentally changing the core.' Adopting nomadic clothing is easy, and horsemanship and archery can be practiced, but the shackles of 'distinguishing between Chinese and barbarians' and 'ancestral laws' in the minds of the Zhao people are difficult to break. I believe the difficulty of reform lies in overcoming the inner demons. Only with thunderous measures can the surface be broken, and only with gentle persuasion can the heart be transformed. Perhaps a combination of leniency and severity is the way forward? I am foolish and seek your guidance, Your Excellency."

After writing these two paragraphs, he looked at them.

The tone is respectful, like a student asking a teacher for advice.

However, the insights presented are independent and even subtly supplement and discuss Zeng Bu's view of "gradual progress".

He particularly emphasized the phrase "combining leniency and severity," which subtly echoed his earlier policy essay.

This also reflects the current political situation: the emperor must severely crack down on the old faction, but he cannot create panic among the people.

He folded the "Miscellaneous Thoughts" and placed it with the book.

I'll have my father "conveniently" pass it on when I go home for a few days off.

This is the most natural way, without being deliberate.

……

On his day off, Zhao Mingcheng went home.

The father and son talked in the study with the door closed.

Zhao Tingzhi seemed more energetic than a few days ago, but there was still some lingering worry in his eyes.

He inquired in detail about Zhao Mingcheng's recent situation at the Imperial Academy, and also subtly asked about any new developments on Prince Duan's side.

Zhao Mingcheng answered them one by one, and then took out the book "Annotations on the Strategies of the Warring States" and the folded plain paper from his bag.

"Father, I have carefully read the book that Master Zeng gave me. His annotations are profound, and I have benefited greatly from them. I also have some rudimentary thoughts, which I have jotted down."

He handed the reply to his father.

"I think that if Father has the opportunity to see Master Zeng soon, perhaps... he could pass on these random thoughts, saying that I have some questions after reading them and would like to ask for your guidance. If it is not convenient, that is fine too, it is just my personal thoughts on reading."

He spoke of it casually.

Zhao Tingzhi took the plain letter, opened it, and quickly read it. His heart stirred.

He wasn't a great scholar, but he had read official documents for decades and could appreciate their nuances.

My son's words were written with neither arrogance nor servility; they were insightful and raised questions, demonstrating a proper approach to academic inquiry.

What's even more ingenious is that by having him pass it on "whenever he has the chance" and "by the way," an act that could potentially be interpreted as political defection is completely downplayed as a junior asking an elder for advice.

"My son has thought things through carefully." Zhao Tingzhi nodded and carefully put away the plain paper.

"I understand. I will convey the message when the time is right."

Zhao Tingzhi did not ask his son what he thought or whether he should lean towards Zeng Bu.

The son's response in this way has already made his stance clear: maintain contact, but not bind; demonstrate value, but reserve space.

This is enough.

Zhao Tingzhi suddenly felt that the burden on his shoulders seemed to have lightened a little.

This son has really grown up, and he knows better than his father how to navigate the vortex.

……

Not long after, after a meeting between the two ministers, Zhao Tingzhi seized an opportunity to catch up with Zeng Bu and respectfully handed him the "Annotations on the Strategies of the Warring States" and the plain paper tucked inside.

"Lord Zeng, I was honored by your gift of a book last time. My son read it carefully and was quite moved. He wrote a few lines of simple words and asked me to pass them on to you. He said that he was confused about certain parts and asked for your guidance. Seeing his earnestness, I dared not delay and hereby present them to you." Zhao Tingzhi spoke humbly and naturally.

Zeng Bu was somewhat surprised. He took the book and the plain paper, a smile spreading across his face. "Oh? Mingcheng is so thoughtful. Very well, I'll go back and take a look."

Back in his study, Zeng Bu first dealt with several urgent official documents before opening the book under the lamp and taking out plain paper.

He read very slowly.

First, he read the two paragraphs written by Zhao Mingcheng, nodding as he read, his eyes showing appreciation.

When he saw the four characters "combining leniency and severity", he tapped them on the paper with his finger and a smile appeared on his lips.

Then, he turned to the corresponding original text and annotations in the book and compared them. He wanted to see how Zhao Mingcheng understood his annotations and how he offered his own opinions.

"This kid..." Zeng Bu put down the plain paper, leaned back in his chair, and murmured.

"They really absorbed what I wrote."

Zeng Bu picked up his pen and wrote a few lines of text with a vermilion brush below Zhao Mingcheng's two paragraphs.

Next to the section on "assessing the situation," he wrote a comment.

"Your observations are very clear. The political situation is like a game of chess, with no fixed pattern; the key lies in making decisions on the spot. However, the foundation for assessing the situation lies in discerning advantages and disadvantages and understanding people's hearts. You are young, so observe more and think more; you will understand in the future."

He wrote a slightly longer commentary next to the section on "balancing leniency and severity".

"The phrase 'destroy the enemy in one's heart' is quite apt. Reforming laws is easy, but transforming people is difficult. The key to leniency and severity lies in 'appropriateness' and 'timing.' Being lenient when appropriate and severe when appropriate is crucial. You mentioned this in your previous policy essay, which shows that it was not just a general statement. You can verify this in historical records."

After finishing his comments, he tucked the blank paper back into the book. After thinking for a moment, he had his servant summon Master Chen.

Master Chen entered and saw Zeng Bu smiling. He asked...

"The Master seems to be in a good mood today?"

"Take a look at this."

Zeng Bu handed over what Zhao Mingcheng had written.

Master Chen took it, carefully read what Zhao Mingcheng had written and Zeng Bu's annotations, and clapped his hands in approval.

"This young master Zhao is truly astute. His response was perfectly timed. He accepted the host's kind offer, demonstrated his talent, and showed no sign of sycophancy, only seeking knowledge from the host. What's even more commendable is that his insights were genuinely profound, not just empty flattery. The host made the right move."

Zeng Bu nodded.

"This young man is not only exceptionally talented, but also calm and composed, and knows how to exercise discretion. Look at these two points of his discourse; they are both derived from books, yet they subtly reflect the current situation. In particular, the phrase 'balancing leniency and severity' clearly echoes his previous policy essay, and it also seems to be... reminding this old man."

"A reminder?" Master Chen asked, puzzled.

"He noticed that my annotations emphasized 'gradual progress,' so he suggested that 'defeating the inner demon' requires a balance of leniency and severity. This was a subtle way of saying that he agreed with my prudence, but also believed that sometimes, more decisive measures were needed."

"Tsk tsk, it's not easy to have such insightful yet sharp knowledge at such a young age."

Zeng Bu sighed.

"What's even more commendable is this caution. He didn't write a thank-you note, only some random thoughts; he didn't send it directly, but asked his father to pass it on."

"This is telling me that he understands the pros and cons, is willing to make friends, but won't be reckless. Clever, very clever."

"So, what are your plans, sir?"

"Not good."

Zeng Bu carefully put away Zhao Mingcheng's letter.

"Let it be like this. Making friends through literature is the best approach. He's a smart man and knows what to do. I, too, need such 'literary friends' these days."

He looked up at the night view outside the window.

"Cai Yuanchang is aggressive, Zhang Zihou is observing the situation, and the Emperor intends to maintain a balance... This court is becoming increasingly lively. Zhao Mingcheng may indeed amount to something. I have sown this seed of goodwill today, and I may reap unexpected rewards in the future."

Master Chen agreed wholeheartedly.