Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Chapter 87 Bearing Thorns to Plead Guilty, Jing Xiang and Wei Zhuang

Wang Chu was speechless after hearing Li Cenji's words.

Earlier, he had visited officials in various counties, and after returning, he devoted himself to compiling exam questions, and indeed did not carefully calculate the town's finances.

Hearing him say this now, I was shocked to realize that Fengxiang's foundation had become so weak.

Wang Chu remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply: "The General is right. I only considered the morale of the army, but I did not consider the money, provisions, and time. It was my oversight."

Zhao Zhang sat to one side, remaining silent until now. He put down his teacup and suddenly said, "General, I have something to say, but I'm unsure whether I should."

Li Cenji said, "Please speak, sir."

Zhao Zhang slowly said, "Just now, I witnessed the confrontation between the Commander and Li Changyan in the hall. Li Changyan dared to slam his fist on the table and storm off only because he had troops under his command and thought the Commander wouldn't dare to touch him. But if the Commander had taken him and Wang Lu down together then and sent someone to take over the left and right wings, wouldn't it have been cleaner and more efficient? With official authority in hand, even if Li Changyan had a thousand grievances, would he dare to draw his sword in front of all the generals?"

Li Cenji did not reply immediately upon hearing this.

He picked up the now-cold teacup, took another sip, and then slowly said, "I have considered your plan, sir. But if I were to actually do that, what would outsiders think of me? The troops on both sides also made contributions and endured hardships in the campaign against Huang Chao. Now that I have just taken charge of the military and political affairs of Fengxiang, if I were to use such crude methods to seize the military power of the two flanks, who would dare to come and serve me in the future? If we can resolve this peacefully, it will look better on the surface. Besides, I was already 70-80% confident that I could persuade Wang Lu to cooperate. By recruiting one and attacking the other, Li Changyan's left flank troops won't be able to cause any major trouble."

After listening, Zhao Zhang remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "The commander's considerations are thorough; it was I who was too hasty."

He paused, then continued, "However, the commander cannot be completely unprepared. Although I am not familiar with Li Changyan, I have heard of his reputation in the army:"

He is stubborn, arrogant, and self-important. He may leave in a huff today, but that may not be the end of it. The commander must be wary of him secretly conspiring with others.

He was plotting something sinister.

Li Cenji nodded: "I have already instructed Zhou Ping to keep an eye on both sides. If he dares to do anything untoward, I have a plan to deal with it."

He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the gray-white light of early winter outside, and said softly, "Reducing the army is the first step. Next, we need to investigate the population, eliminate powerful clans, and measure the land. This game in Fengxiang has only just begun."

Sun Chu, Wang Chu, and Zhao Zhang exchanged glances, all understanding the situation:

The situation in Fengxiang is about to change.

These three things would affect the interests of too many people, no wonder the general wanted to reshuffle the military power first, to prevent any of the officers from being bribed!

As soon as Li Changyan left the military governor's mansion, the anger on his face immediately subsided by three points. He immediately mounted his horse and, without waiting for his attendants, lashed the horse's rump with a whip.

The horse, in pain, took off galloping towards the military camp in the west of the city.

He galloped all the way until he entered the camp gate and his own tent. The tent flaps were drawn, blocking out the light and sight from the outside.

Only then did he dare to exhale a long breath and plop down in the chair.

His back was now soaked with cold sweat, and the defiant force he had displayed earlier now tinged with lingering fear.

He had just angrily rebuked Li Cenji in the marshal's mansion, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them three-tenths of their original meaning:

That man was no ordinary military governor; he was the god of war who led a hundred cavalrymen to charge into the enemy lines at Longwei Slope, beheaded Shang Rang amidst ten thousand troops, and forced Huang Chao to commit suicide.

If Li Cenji had turned hostile and seized him on the spot, what could Li Changyan have done, no matter how justified he was?

He clenched his fist, then suddenly released it, forcefully shaking off the lingering fear and transforming it into an even stronger sense of resentment.

On what grounds?

I, Li Changyan, have served Zheng Gong since he first arrived in Fengxiang. I even led troops in the battle of Longweipo. The court only awarded me a nominal rank and that was it.

But that brat Li Cenji, as soon as he took over as military governor, started targeting me, cutting my troops and dividing my men—

Isn't this just discarding a donkey after it has served its purpose?

He grew increasingly furious, abruptly stood up, summoned the guards outside the tent, and shouted sternly, "Go! Summon all the generals in the camp! The military commanders and officers of the left flank, not one of them should be left out! Tell them I have important matters to discuss with you!"

Seeing his ashen face, the soldier dared not ask any more questions and ran out in a flash.

Li Changyan sat down at his desk, spread out a sheet of paper, dipped his brush in ink, and prepared to write a letter to Zheng Tian.

He was thinking to himself:

Although Zheng Gong has entered the court, he is still Li Cenji's mentor. If I write down in detail about Li Cenji's disbanding of the army and seizure of power, Zheng Gong, out of consideration for our past relationship, may well step in to intervene.

But as the pen tip hovered over the paper, he hesitated.

Lord Zheng is currently in Chang'an, and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

Moreover, Zheng Gong has always favored Li Cenji. Now that I have sent this letter, will Zheng Gong side with me or with his disciple?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that writing this letter was pointless, so he threw down his pen, and ink splattered onto the paper, spreading into a dark blot.

About half an hour later, all the generals in the left wing camp arrived one after another.

Since it was not wartime, the soldiers of each battalion were stationed in various places around the city. Some were in the camps outside the city, and some were on guard duty on the city walls. Those who could come rushed over. The tent was crowded with more than a dozen officers and soldiers, and their armor jingled.

Once everyone had arrived, Li Changyan stood up and recounted the events of the military downsizing and reorganization at the Bai Ri Jie Shuai Mansion.

When the conversation turned to Li Cenji's plan to reduce the size of the left wing troops and redistribute them to the newly established front and rear armies, he grew increasingly enraged. He slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Gentlemen! I followed Lord Zheng in the campaign against Huang Chao. Though my contributions weren't great, I never missed a crucial military opportunity! Now that Li Cenji has just taken the position of military governor, he wants to use me as a scapegoat—a classic case of 'the rabbit is killed after the hunt.' I'm making this clear today: I will absolutely not relinquish this military power. If he pushes me too far, I will raise an army tonight and drive him out of Fengxiang! If you still remember our past relationship, then join me in this uprising!"

The generals exchanged bewildered glances, then one of them slammed his fist on the table in agreement, saying, "The military commander is right! We've risked our lives alongside him, why should he dismiss us just like that?"

Someone else said, "What is Li Cenji? He only rose to power because of his bravery and Zheng Gong's influence, and now he wants to ride roughshod over us!"

The crowd in the tent was immediately agitated, chattering and clamoring for an uprising to demand justice.

Just as things were getting out of hand, a report suddenly came from outside the tent: "Report—the Right Wing Commander, Wang, has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Li Changyan was first taken aback, then his face lit up with joy, and he abruptly stood up, saying, "Please come in! Commander Wang has come here to discuss a joint uprising with me! He is more senior than I am, and with him leading the charge, the morale of the Fengxiang army will surely be high!"

The generals also made way, chattering amongst themselves, some already planning how to divide the credit after the mission was accomplished.

The curtain was lifted, and Wang Lu strode in.

He was dressed in full armor today, with a sword at his waist, the armor plates gleaming with a cold blue light under the lamplight.

He entered without a single attendant, just himself and his armor.

Li Changyan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Brother Wang, you've come at the perfect time! I was just discussing the uprising with the generals, driving away Li Cenji. With you in charge, Brother Wang, what is there to worry about in achieving our great cause? The generals were just saying that they wanted to elect you as their leader—"

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Lu abruptly stopped, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at Li Changyan's face, and said in a deep voice, "Li Changyan, I ask you, do you want the entire Li family to be buried with you?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, and the lively discussion that had just taken place in the tent suddenly fell silent.

Li Changyan's smile froze, and he asked in surprise, "What do you mean by that, Brother Wang?"

Wang Lu sneered, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent. Without regard for others, he fired off a rapid-fire barrage of questions: "You just said you wanted to raise an army to drive Li Cenji out. Let me ask you: what happens after that? You'll become the military governor of Fengxiang? Even if you become the military governor, will the court recognize you? Will the emperor recognize you? Will the other regional military governors recognize you? When the court issues an imperial edict declaring you, Li Changyan, a traitor, what will you use to defend yourself? Can your few thousand soldiers defeat the imperial guards? Can they defeat the combined forces of the regional military governors of Jingyuan, Qinzhou, and Banning? Fine, even if the court is too busy to deal with you for the time being, and you take this position, then what? Will your Li family have any successors?"

His words grew increasingly harsh, and Li Changyan's face turned pale and then red. He wanted to retort, but couldn't find the words to refute.

Wang Lu gave him no chance to catch his breath, continuing, "You only have one younger brother, Li Changfu, who is currently serving under Li Cenji. If you raise an army, Li Cenji's first target will be Li Changfu. The continuation of your Li family line depends entirely on him. If you rebel, your brother will not survive. Are you willing to do that? Even if you are, will your ancestors in the afterlife forgive you?"

Li Changyan's Adam's apple bobbed, and after a moment of silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "I—I can still have children. I'm only in my forties; if I take a few more concubines, I might be able to have a son—"

Upon hearing this, Wang Lu not only failed to soften his stance but instead sneered, saying, "Have a son? Fine, even if you take a concubine today and have a son next year, so what? It will still be twenty years before your son comes of age. By then, you'll be over sixty. Li Changyan, we both climbed our way up from the bottom ranks of soldiers. Don't you know how many hidden injuries we have? I'm fifty-three this year, and my joints ache all over. I can hardly get out of bed on rainy days, so I started to retire early. You're six or seven years younger than me, but your injuries are probably no less than mine. Can you live to see your son come of age? Even if you do, you'll be frail and sickly then. Will you still be able to control these arrogant and fierce soldiers under your command?"

"Can your twenty-year-old son command respect? Can he control the tens of thousands of troops in Fengxiang at that time?"

When he spoke of "his arrogant and fierce soldiers," his gaze swept over the generals in the tent, intentionally or unintentionally.

His gaze swept over the officers and commanders.

Some stood tall and proud, showing no signs of embarrassment.

However, a barely perceptible glint of greed flashed in some of their eyes.

Wang Lu took in all the subtle changes, a cold smile playing on his lips, but his face remained impassive. He continued, "If you truly ascend to that position, your son will become the target of everyone's wrath. At that point, he won't be able to control the army, and your officers, vying for power, will first and foremost kill your entire Li family. Who can you guard against? Can you protect yourself from the brothers you spend every day with?"

The tent was completely silent.

Li Changyan lowered his head, his expression unreadable, but his breathing gradually became heavy.

If Wang Lu hadn't pointed it out, no one would have thought of these things for the time being.

But once exposed, people's greed is amplified infinitely.

He didn't need to look up to know how many of the officers in the tent truly supported him, and how many were secretly calculating whether Li Changyan's son could keep him in check if Li Changyan actually took the throne.

Seeing that he had been persuaded, Wang Lu softened his tone and sighed, "I also have sons and grandsons, but I have never dared to entertain such thoughts. Why? Because I know that after my death, my descendants will not be able to control the arrogant and fierce generals in the army. They are different from us; they did not fight their way up step by step, and they do not have enough merit and prestige to support them—rather than let my descendants die and be exterminated, it is better to live a peaceful life as a military commander, at least ensuring the safety of my family. Li Changyan, you acted impulsively today and wanted to rebel, but have you considered this: even if you succeed, how many years can your Li family be glorious? Three years? Five years? Once those hidden wounds erupt and you fall, your Li family will be finished. If you lose, your entire family will be executed. You will die whether you advance or retreat, so why choose this path?"

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, before I came here today, I already sent word to the various camps on the right flank: if I do not return within an hour, they are to immediately close their gates and not move without orders, awaiting only the commander's command. I have come alone today to advise you. If you kill me, the troops on the right flank will not follow you in rebellion; they will only hold their ground. Can your left flank withstand the siege of the right flank and the imperial guards? Are you confident you can defeat the commander?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the generals in the tent changed.

Those who were just clamoring to raise an army now all lowered their heads.

With their forces being roughly equal in strength or even weaker than Li Cenji's, how could they dare to confront Li Cenji head-on?

That's a ruthless man who can charge into an army of ten thousand with a hundred riders!

Li Changyan remained silent for a long time.

No one spoke inside the tent; only the sound of the wind rustling the flags outside and the footsteps of the night watchmen changing shifts in the distance could be heard.

He finally slowly raised his head. On his dark face, most of the anger had subsided, replaced by a deep weariness.

He sighed deeply, leaned back in his chair, and said hoarsely, "Brother Wang—I acted impulsively today. If you hadn't come in time to remind me, I'm afraid I would have made a grave mistake."

He paused, then said, "In your opinion, Brother, how should I end this?"

Seeing that he had finally relented, Wang Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his face remained calm as he said, "I apologize with a bundle of thorns on my back."

Li Changyan was taken aback: "To plead guilty with a bundle of thorns on one's back?"

"Exactly."

Wang Lu said, "Tonight, isn't the Commander-in-Chief planning a celebratory banquet at his residence? That's the perfect opportunity. With all the generals present, bare your chest and carry a bundle of thorns, publicly apologize to the Commander-in-Chief, saying that you acted impulsively and spoke inappropriately during the day, and are willing to accept punishment. If the Commander-in-Chief is magnanimous, he naturally won't pursue the matter further. Since he wants to establish his authority in front of the generals, he can't be so ruthless as to eliminate an old general who has already admitted his mistake. Your apology will save face for him and preserve your own. As for the matter of reducing the army, you should gracefully accept it. Hand over the troops that should be handed over, and cooperate with those that should be cooperated with. It's just a change of organization anyway, and you can still be your military commander. Why make things escalate to the point of armed conflict?"

Li Changyan remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded slowly: "Alright. I will listen to my brother."

He then looked at the generals in the tent, stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, I lost my composure today. What I said just now was just nonsense uttered in the heat of the moment, and it should not be taken seriously."

Gentlemen, please disperse and do not take this to heart.

The generals looked at each other, some of them were about to get up and leave, while others looked uneasy.

One of the commanders hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Commander of the Army—we, your humble servants, have also said many treasonous things. If the Commander-in-Chief settles accounts later, we, your humble servants—"

He stopped speaking before he finished, but the worry in his words was clear.

Before Li Changyan could speak to appease him, Wang Lu interrupted, laughing loudly, "You're all overthinking it! It's just a slip of the tongue; why would the Commander-in-Chief take it to heart? Think about it, if the Commander-in-Chief really wanted to make a big fuss, he would have arrested Li Changyan on the spot during the meeting at his residence this morning and then sent someone to take direct control of the Left Wing troops. Why would he have let Li Changyan return to his camp unscathed? The fact that he didn't act then shows that the Commander-in-Chief doesn't want to break off relations. If you go with Li Changyan today to apologize in front of all the civil and military officials, and admit your mistake, it will only make the Commander-in-Chief seem narrow-minded. Don't worry! I'll put in a good word for you with the Commander-in-Chief, and I guarantee you'll be fine."

The officers were somewhat relieved after hearing this.

Someone said, "In that case, we will accompany the military commander to apologize."

The others nodded in agreement. Only two younger commanders exchanged a glance, a hint of resentment flashing in their eyes, but seeing that the situation was hopeless, they could only lower their heads and remain silent, dispersing with the crowd.

As evening approached and darkness fell, lights began to illuminate the various residences in Fengxiang City.

The General's mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns, and strings of lanterns were hung under the eaves, illuminating the courtyard as if it were daytime.

Sun Chu, Wang Chu, Zhao Zhang, Chen An, Zhou Ping and other civil and military officials arrived one after another, took their seats, and laughter and conversation filled the hall.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.

A soldier came to report: "More than a dozen carriages have arrived and are parked at the gate of the mansion!"

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, they heard footsteps approaching from outside, and then Li Changyan strode in.

He wore only a single garment on his upper body, with his arms bound by thick hemp rope and a bundle of thorns tied to his back, resembling the ancient custom of "bearing thorns to plead guilty."

He was followed by a group of officers from the left wing, all dressed the same, with their heads bowed, filing in one after another.

Upon seeing this scene, all the civil and military officials present were taken aback and stood up, wondering what had happened.

Li Changyan walked into the hall, knelt on one knee before Li Cenji, and said in a deep voice, "General! This morning, I acted impulsively in the hall and spoke rudely, offending you. After returning to camp and reflecting on my actions, I realized that my words and deeds were inappropriate and unforgivable. I hereby offer my apologies and accept your punishment! The generals behind me were also confused for a moment and said some things I shouldn't have. They have all come here to accept their punishment. If you wish to punish someone, please punish only me and do not implicate them."

After he finished speaking, he kowtowed deeply.

The officers and soldiers behind him also knelt down in unison.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Everyone looked at Li Changyan, then at Li Cenji, waiting to see how the young military governor would respond.

Li Cenji put down his wine cup and slowly stood up.

He walked up to Li Changyan, bent down, and personally helped him up. He then untied the hemp rope from Li's arm, gently removed the bundle of thorns, and tossed it aside. He said softly, "General Li, what are you doing? Get up. What happened this morning was just a disagreement during a meeting. Why do you have to apologize like this every time? It's normal to have differing opinions during meetings. If we have to apologize like this every time we have a disagreement, how can we work together in the future? Let's let this matter rest, and no one is allowed to mention it again."

He then turned to the officers and soldiers kneeling on the ground, waved his hand, and said, "Gentlemen, rise. Let's call this even. From now on, let's work together to protect Fengxiang."

Upon hearing this, the generals felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they all thanked the emperor and rose to their feet.

When Li Changyan was helped up by Li Cenji and heard him say, "Let's leave this matter behind," a huge weight was finally lifted from his heart.

He cupped his hands again and said, "General, you are so magnanimous, I am deeply grateful. I have no objection to the reduction of troops, and I am willing to follow your orders."

Li Cenji nodded, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Alright. It's settled then. The soldiers dismissed from the left wing will be assigned to the vanguard; the soldiers dismissed from the right wing will be assigned to the rearguard. We'll discuss the rest in detail tomorrow. For now, let's take our seats and have a drink to ward off bad luck."

He turned and returned to his seat, raised his wine cup, surveyed the assembled civil and military officials, and proclaimed loudly, "Gentlemen, today is the day I am bestowed my title. Come, drink this cup to the brim!"

All the civil and military officials raised their glasses in unison, and for a moment, the hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Cenji summoned Li Changfu and announced to the crowd: "Li Changfu is commendable for his loyalty and bravery, and has repeatedly made military achievements. He is now being promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Military Governor's Office, in charge of the discipline of the military governor's guards."

Li Changfu was taken aback upon hearing this, then clasped his hands in thanks, but couldn't help glancing at Li Changyan.

Li Cenji saw it all, but didn't say anything.

As everyone toasted and exchanged drinks, Li Cenji pulled Li Changyan aside and lowered his voice, saying, "General Li, I promoted Changfu to the position of Commander-in-Chief today, firstly because I value his abilities, and secondly to put your mind at ease. I promise you: Changfu will definitely succeed you in the future, and when you retire in glory, he will not lack a future."

Hearing this, Li Changyan felt a warmth in his heart and was about to express his gratitude, but then he hesitated and said, "General, there is one more thing I have to say, but I don't know if I should."

He hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I just told my brother that I am only in my early forties, and if in the future—if in the future I can have a son—"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Cenji understood his meaning and laughed, "What's so difficult about that? If the general has a son in the future, I will naturally arrange for him to study, practice martial arts, and gain experience to become a capable person. When he reaches the age where he can stand on his own, I will not neglect the Li family in the position he deserves. As for Changfu—don't worry, I will not mistreat him while he is by my side. In the future, when you have a son, Changfu can stay in the government office as Zhou Ping's deputy, and he will have a promising future as well. In any case, your Li family will have a successor, and I will definitely make proper arrangements for you."

When Li Changyan heard him say this, the last trace of worry in his heart disappeared.

He bowed repeatedly in gratitude, saying, "Since the General has treated me so kindly, I will do my utmost to assist you in governing Fengxiang. As for the matter of reducing the army, I will begin processing it tomorrow without delay."

Li Cenji smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Alright. Then it's a deal."

As night deepened, the lights in the Marshal's Mansion shone even brighter.

The hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, occasionally punctuated by bursts of laughter.

Li Cenji sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the assembled civil and military officials:

Sun Chu was whispering something to Wang Chu, Zhao Zhang held his wine cup thoughtfully, Chen An and Song Wentong were toasting each other, Zhou Ping stood calmly to the side of the hall, and Li Changyan and Wang Lu sat side by side, finally raising their wine cups as well.

Although Fengxiang's game was fraught with twists and turns, at least this move was made steadily.

Ling said that Jingxiang's family left Bianzhou and traveled westward. Their mule cart creaked and groaned as it rolled along the official road, covering no more than forty or fifty li a day.

As November arrived, the weather turned bitterly cold, with a biting north wind, and snow began to fall from west of Tongguan.

At first, there were only a few snowflakes hitting the car roof with a soft rustling sound.

Later, it turned into a heavy snowfall, covering the sky and the earth, turning the fields, villages, and forests on both sides of the official road into a pure white blanket.

Jingxiang lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. He saw that the snow was falling more and more heavily, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

He only learned after entering Tongguan that there would be an examination for this recruitment of talents on the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

So they had to hurry on their way, but the weather turned bad. A heavy snowfall made the roads muddy and difficult to travel, and the mule carts slowed down considerably.

He did a quick calculation:

If they continue to dawdle like this, the heavy snow might block the roads, leaving them stranded halfway. In that case, with no village or shop in sight, the family of three would suffer from hunger and cold.

The exams in Yong County are scheduled for December. If the snow and wind delay the exams, all this journey from afar will have been for nothing.

After a moment's thought, he said to the driver, "Master, is there a market town ahead? I'd like to buy another mule to pull the cart, so we can travel faster."

Although the driver was a local of Bianzhou, he had traveled all over the country for many years. Upon hearing this, he said, "Sir, thirty li ahead is the territory of Zheng County. There is a mule and horse market there. Although it is not big, there are often drivers selling livestock. However, it may be difficult to bargain in this snowy weather."

Jingxiang nodded and said, "It's alright. As long as we can get on the road, spending a little more money is worth it."

Upon arriving in Zheng County, Jingxiang indeed found a sturdy blue mule at the mule and horse market. After some haggling with the broker, he bought it for ten strings of cash.

He harnessed the blue mule to the front of the cart, so it would pull alongside the original mule. He then said to the driver, "Yuanzhang, it's agreed that once we reach Yong County, this blue mule will be yours for 80% of the price. You'll make 20% for free, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, the driver beamed with joy and repeatedly said, "Of course! Sir, you are truly generous! I will certainly ensure your family's safe arrival in Yong County!"

With two mules pulling the cart, the speed was indeed much faster.

They used to travel 30 to 40 li a day, but now they can travel more than 60 li.

Although Jingxiang spent more money, he felt much more at ease, thinking that as long as he arrived in Yong County before the end of November, he would have a few days to settle in.

On this day, as they traveled through Qizhou, the sky was overcast, the north wind grew stronger, and the withered trees along the roadside rustled in the wind.

Jingxiang was sitting on the carriage shaft with his neck hunched over when he suddenly heard the driver shout "Whoa!" He pulled on the reins and turned around to say, "Sir, there's someone blocking the road ahead."

Jingxiang's heart tightened, and he wondered if he had encountered a bandit who was robbing him.

He peered out and saw a figure standing in the middle of the road, wearing a worn blue cotton robe, thin and with a bulging bundle on his shoulder, waving in his direction.

Judging from his appearance, he looked like a scholar on a journey. Jing Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and said to the coachman, "Let's go and see."

As the mule cart slowly approached, Jingxiang finally saw the man's face clearly.

This man was around fifty years old, with a thin face, a hint of sorrow accumulated over the past year between his brows, high cheekbones, chapped lips, but his eyes were very bright.

Although his clothes were old and worn, they were washed clean, which showed that he was a scholar.

But his tired expression clearly indicated that he had traveled a long way.

Jing Xiang cupped his hands and said, "Sir, what can I do for you?"

The helper returned the greeting with clasped hands, his voice hoarse, and asked, "May I ask if your mule cart is heading to Yong County?"

Jing Xiang nodded and said, "We are heading to Yong County."

The man offering help showed a hint of joy, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "I've traveled all the way from Chang'an, and my money is all gone. I'm truly exhausted. If it's convenient for you, could you give me a ride for the rest of the journey?"

Seeing his appearance and hearing his Guanzhong accent, Jingxiang felt a pang of pity.

He looked back into the carriage. His wife was dozing with their son in her arms. The carriage was already cramped with three people, and it would be too crowded to let another person squeeze in.

He then said to the man who was helping him, "The carriage is cramped, and there are family members inside, so it's not convenient to move around. If you don't mind the bumpy ride, please sit next to the driver."

The rescuer thanked him repeatedly, climbed up the cart shaft, sat down next to the driver, hugged the bundle to his chest, let out a long sigh of relief, and rubbed his sore and numb ankle. It took him a while to recover.

The mule cart resumed its journey, creaking and groaning as it rolled over the thin layer of snow on the official road, leaving two deep ruts.

Jing Xiang sat on one side of the carriage shaft, glanced at the man who had come to his aid, and asked, "Sir, are you going to Yong County because of the recruitment notice issued by Zheng Xiang, the military governor of Fengxiang?"

Upon hearing this, the aid worker was taken aback at first, then revealed a complex smile and said, "Your information is excellent. However, if I may be so bold as to correct you, the current military governor of Fengxiang is no longer Minister Zheng."

Jing Xiang was taken aback: "Not Lord Zheng? Then who is it?"

The rescuer said, "He is Li Cenji, a disciple of Prime Minister Zheng. He was originally the military governor of Fengxiang and Longyou, but has now been officially appointed as the military governor and concurrently the commander of the troops in this region."

Upon hearing this, Jing Xiang's eyes lit up slightly: "Li Cenji? The same Li Cenji who beheaded Shang Rang at Longwei Slope and forced Huang Chao to commit suicide outside Chang'an?"

The rescuer nodded and said, "It is indeed this person."

Jing Xiang remained silent for a moment, then secretly memorized the name.

He then asked the man who had helped him, "May I ask your esteemed name, sir? Since you are from Chang'an, you must be a learned man."

The man bowed slightly and said, "I dare not accept such praise. My surname is Wei, and my given name is Zhuang. I am from Jingzhao. When I was in Chang'an, I heard that Prime Minister Zheng issued a proclamation, which did not discriminate based on background but only on talent. Although I am over fifty years old, I still have some ink left to dry, so I wanted to come and give it a try. However, I was traveling in a hurry and ran out of money. If I had not met you, sir, I would have been stranded halfway."

When Jing Xiang heard him give his name, it sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had heard it before. He simply cupped his hands and said, "My name is Jing Xiang. I am from Tongzhou. I came here to try my luck after hearing about the recruitment notice in Fengxiang."

As the two began to talk, Jingxiang learned that Wei Zhuang was originally from the Wei clan of Jingzhao, but his branch had long since declined, and his younger siblings had all been separated during the Huang Chao Rebellion. Now, he was all alone, walking from Chang'an.

When this injustice was mentioned, Wei Zhuang covered his face and wept.

It was later learned that Wei Zhuang is only 47 years old, but his appearance is already in his fifties or sixties, which means he has been living a miserable life, hence the weathered look in his appearance.

Upon hearing this, Jingxiang felt a pang of sympathy. Seeing that the man spoke eloquently and with gentle manners, he knew that he was a learned man.

After the car had been traveling for a while, Jingxiang suddenly had a thought and blurted out, "Is Mr. Yuan the same Wei Zhuang, Wei Duanji, who wrote 'Thoughts at Zhangtai at Night' and 'Written Outside Yanxing Gate'?"

The aid worker paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile and said, "My meager reputation is nothing to brag about. These are just poems I wrote in my spare time, hardly worthy of serious consideration."

He said "it's nothing to brag about," but his words carried a hint of self-deprecation, and even more so, a sense of desolation.

Jing Xiang, however, showed a look of surprise and delight, and cupped his hands, saying, "So it really is Mr. Duanji! When I was at home, I read your poem 'Thoughts on a Night at Zhangtai,' and the line 'A lone lamp hears the horn of Chu, a waning moon shines over Zhangtai' has always been etched in my memory, as I considered it a rare masterpiece of our time. I never expected to meet you here in person! I am truly sorry for my disrespect."

Wei Zhuang waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "You flatter me, sir. I am but a down-on-his-luck scholar who failed the imperial examinations. How could I possibly deserve the title of 'sir'? If I weren't so unappreciated and unable to achieve anything on my path, where would I have found the leisure to write those poems? It was merely a way to express my feelings in my impoverished state."

Hearing him make fun of himself like this, Jingxiang couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

He remained silent for a moment before saying, "Mr. Duanji, there is no need for you to be modest. Your talent is by no means ordinary. Your failure in the imperial examination was due to the examiners' blindness, not your fault."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang's eyes dimmed slightly. He cupped his hands in greeting to Jing Xiang but did not reply.

The mule cart moved slowly along the official road, its wheels crunching through the snow with a soft, rustling sound.

The two remained silent for a while.

Seeing his somber expression, Jingxiang avoided mentioning the imperial examinations and instead steered the conversation back to poetry: "Mr. Duanji, when I read your poems, I always feel a sense of melancholy and desolation, yet also a touch of unrestrained freedom. I wonder if you have any insights into composing poetry?"

When Wei Zhuang heard him ask about poetry, he perked up a bit and stroked his beard, saying, "The essence of poetry lies in having genuine feelings. Without true feelings, no matter how ornate the language, it is nothing more than a mirage."

Over the years, Yuan Xiu has traversed the turbulent times of Lanzhou and personally experienced displacement. His poems are all an outpouring of pent-up emotions. If I were to speak of insights, they wouldn't be profound truths, but simply the four words, "Poetry comes from the heart."

Jingxiang nodded and said, "What you say is exactly what I think. Although I don't often write poetry, I believe that poetry without true feelings is like a person without a soul, merely a body without a soul."

The two talked back and forth, from poetry and literature to history, and from classics and history to governance.

Although Jingxiang came from a poor family, he was well-read and had unique insights into the past dynasties and the rise and fall of dynasties.

Wei Zhuang was a learned man from a family with a long tradition of scholarship. In addition to poetry and prose, he also had a deep understanding of government affairs and people's sentiments. Moreover, he did not look down on people from poor families because of his high social standing.

The two found themselves getting along very well and even felt as if they had known each other for a long time.

Jingxiang sighed, "It is truly regrettable that someone of your talent failed the imperial examination."

Wei Zhuang also said, "Zizhen's vision and ambition far surpass those corrupt officials and sycophants who only know how to fight for power and profit. If he cannot enter the Red Army, it will be a great regret for the world."

The two exchanged a smile and said nothing more.

The mule cart traveled westward along the official road. The snow fell intermittently, and the driver's whip occasionally cracked in the air, urging the mules to keep going.

After traveling for several more days, at the end of November, the city wall of Yong County finally appeared on the gray horizon ahead.

The mule cart slowly made its way to the city gate. The soldiers guarding the city checked the name cards and documents of the people in the cart and, knowing that they had come to take the exam, told them that if they had spare money, they could stay at an inn in the city, and if they were short of money, they could stay at a temporary post station.

After finding out the location of the temporary post station, Jingxiang drove there.

The post station was located in the eastern suburbs outside the city. It consisted of dozens of rows of newly built wooden houses surrounded by a fence.

It wasn't spacious, but it was clean.

A wooden sign stands in front of the gate, with the words "Shan Shi Shi Zi Zhu Xie Yuan" written on it.

Jingxiang helped his wife out of the carriage and then held the sleeping child in his arms. Weizhuang also jumped off the carriage shaft and stretched his frozen legs.

But as soon as he reached the door, he was stopped by a soldier.

The soldier looked Jing Xiang up and down, noticing that he was traveling with his family and carrying an infant in his arms. He said, "Sir, the post station is only for candidates taking the imperial examinations, not for their families. If you have family with you, you will have to find accommodation elsewhere."

Jing Xiang was taken aback and said, "I have traveled all the way from Bianzhou to take the exam, but I cannot find a place to stay for the time being. Could you please make an exception for a few days? I will leave as soon as I finish the exam."

The soldier looked troubled and said, "Sir, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, it's just the rule. The commander has ordered that we must verify your identity and confirm that you are a candidate for the imperial examination before you can stay. You have your family with you, and I really dare not let them pass without my permission."

Seeing this, Wei Zhuang stepped forward and spoke up in their defense: "Sir, this family has come all the way from Bianzhou, and they've run out of money. They're truly unable to seek justice. Please, sir, grant them a few days' grace!"

The soldier shook his head again: "Sir, it's not that I'm unreasonable. It's just that I dare not change the rules set by the commander. How about—sir, please wait a moment while I go in and ask the person in charge if we can make an exception?"

As he spoke, he turned and walked towards the inn.

Just then, a young man dressed in a blue cotton robe walked out of the post station.

The man was tall and slender with delicate eyebrows. Although he was dressed simply, he possessed a calm and composed demeanor.

It was Li Cenji.

Having finished dealing with the town's affairs today, he went to the post station as usual to check on the preparations of scholars from various places for the imperial examinations.

He was dressed in a slightly worn casual outfit, the wide sleeves of which covered his robust physique. He was not accompanied by any attendants, and at first glance, he looked like a civil official in charge.

Upon seeing him emerge, the soldiers felt as if they had been granted a pardon and immediately tried to call out "Commander."