My name is Wei Qing, and I want to fight the Xiongnu.

There is an innate ambition that will not change because of one's humble origins.

Liu Yangxin solemnly apologized to Wei Qing: "I'm sorry, it was my oversight."

Wei Qing had never expected that a princess of immeasurable nobility would take the initiative to sincerely apologize to a slave as lowly as mud.

He shook his head and said, "No, it was I who asked Your Highness for help, there's no question of Your Highness apologizing."

"Yes, it is precisely because Zhongqing called me Your Highness that I have to apologize. And after returning to Chang'an, I will also tell my grandfather that I will never do anything like this again."

Although Liu Yangxin had felt a bit uncomfortable doing this before, he had been doing this for two hundred years and had never found anything wrong with it.

But her conversation with Wei Qing today made her realize why, no matter how much the pro-war faction shouts, there is no response whatsoever.

Even he himself thought there was nothing wrong with this method, so how could he ask those nobles who were originally in favor of peace to give up their extravagant lives and these readily available privileges to risk their lives and fight to the death with the Xiongnu barbarians?

.......

It's nothing special, I just wanted to show everyone my wife.

..............

It must be emphasized that this book is a "feel-good" novel; the entire tone is designed to make the reader feel good, or to pave the way for exciting moments.

There was no intention to make any political implications from beginning to end, and readers are advised not to overthink it.

If you enjoyed this, please vote for it.

If you're unhappy, feel free to leave a comment or a message in the book review section.

Aside from personal attacks, no matter how much you insult the author, the post won't be deleted, and you won't be banned.

There's no need to make far-fetched connections or bring up things that will make everyone unhappy.

Chapter Seven: The Hundred Schools of Thought

Having abandoned the idea of ​​impersonating a foreigner to enter the Imperial Academy, Liu Yangxin then asked Wei Qing, "Zhongqing, you have lived with Cao... your Uncle Cao for so many years, do you know your Uncle Cao's true identity?"

Wei Qing shook his head: "I don't know. Uncle Cao didn't say, and I didn't ask. But I know that Uncle Cao is very powerful and must have a very high status. I mean, even in Chang'an, his status is very prestigious."

"Oh? How did you figure that out?"

Liu Yangxin originally thought that Wei Qing was unaware of Cao Can's identity and was even planning to surprise him by revealing it. He never expected that Wei Qing had already guessed it.

Seeing the expectant look in Liu Yangxin's eyes, Wei Qing became even more convinced that this woman was severely unbalanced in her studies. Was there any need to ask? It was obvious.

“Your Highness, I met Uncle Cao when I was seven years old and now I am sixteen. Nine years have passed, but Uncle Cao’s appearance has not aged at all. It must be because he is very strong.”

Furthermore, Your Highness's visit to Pingyang County is surely to pay respects to Uncle Cao, isn't it? If Your Highness is willing to condescend to travel all the way from Chang'an to Pingyang County to visit Uncle Cao, it is clear that Uncle Cao's status must be extraordinary.

I've heard that the Marquis of Pingyang's surname is Cao. If that's the case, then Uncle Cao must have some connection to the Marquis of Pingyang, perhaps even being the former Marquis of Pingyang?

Is it really that easy to deduce?

After listening to Wei Qing's explanation, Liu Yangxin thought about it and realized that it was indeed easy to deduce.

Why didn't I think of that?

Am I really that stupid?

That's impossible! The elders all praised her for being clever and quick-witted. Even Empress Lü once exclaimed that she should have given birth to Liu Yangxin, a daughter.

Were all these just smokescreens to mislead us, to make us arrogant and complacent?

Liu Yangxin began to doubt himself.

Wei Qing didn't think that much about it; anyway, the women he knew were all pretty stupid.

No, among the men, apart from myself and Uncle Cao, they're all pretty stupid.

You've seen enough idiots that you're no longer surprised.

The main reason I cared so much about Liu Yangxin was because she was so beautiful. I subconsciously thought that someone so beautiful must also be very smart.

"Does Your Highness mean to recommend me for the Imperial Academy in Uncle Cao's name?"

Hearing Wei Qing's words, Liu Yangxin finally snapped out of his self-doubt.

Looking at Wei Qing, who seemed completely unconcerned, she finally understood: it wasn't that she was too stupid, but that this young man was too clever.

That's why I feel a bit stupid when I chat with him.

No wonder my great-grandfather said he was very strange; he really was.

Wouldn't it be better for a slave to focus all their talents on brute force?

How come you also maxed out your IQ? Do you have so many talent points? You can't use them all?

Liu Yangxin nodded and said, "You guessed right. The Uncle Cao you mentioned is none other than Cao Xiangguo, the second most meritorious official in the founding of the Han Dynasty. As I just mentioned, the Marquis of Pingyang, whom I married, is Cao Xiangguo's great-grandson."

"If you wish, I can arrange for you to be given the surname Cao, and from then on you will be my late husband's sworn brother. I believe that Prime Minister Cao would not object to this."

"That won't work!"

Wei Qing immediately objected, waving his hand hastily and saying, "So, does that mean I have to call Uncle Cao my great-grandfather? That would be a huge loss, dropping me three generations in rank!"

Liu Yangxin: "..."

She was stunned. This actually works?

We can't possibly arrange for you to be Prime Minister Cao's nephew, can we?

So, not only will I have to call you grandfather, but everyone in the entire Chang'an noble circle, except for those few old fogies, will have to call you uncle first when they see you!

Even if Wei Qing and Cao Can were not related by blood, and Wei Qing were Cao Can's illegitimate son, he could not possibly be recognized as a member of the Cao family.

Wei Qing knew his reasoning was rather absurd, so he explained, "Your Highness, Uncle Cao has not returned home all these years, but has chosen to live in seclusion in Pingyang County. I'm afraid it wasn't of his own free will."

Uncle Cao has taken good care of me over the years. Although he didn't teach me any cultivation methods, he taught me many principles of being a good person.

In my heart, Uncle Cao is my mentor, and I cannot, under any circumstances, bring shame upon Pingyang Prefecture.

Wei Qing's repeated rejections did not annoy Liu Yangxin; on the contrary, they brought him some relief.

Pingyang Prefecture is very small; in fact, if it weren't for Cao Shen still being alive, Pingyang Prefecture would have completely declined by now.

Therefore, Pingyang Prefecture will not restrict Wei Qing or anything. But on the other hand, precisely because Pingyang Prefecture is so small, if Wei Qing really causes big trouble, it might bring an unbearable calamity to Pingyang Prefecture.

By then, even with Cao Shen and his own lineage, Pingyang Prefecture would not be completely destroyed, but it would be enough to cause it to never recover.

If that didn't work, Liu Yangxin could only think of one last option: "Zhongqing, are you familiar with the various schools of thought?"

Wei Qing said, "I know, I know. Uncle Cao always told me this before, and he also warned me many times that I should try to avoid people from the various schools of thought in the future."

These schools of thought are all too attached to lose; if they defeat the younger ones, the older ones will inevitably follow, like leeches sticking to you. They're like flies; even if they don't kill you, they'll disgust you to death. The key is, you can't kill them all, or people will say you're wiping out entire families over such a trivial matter—it's utterly inhumane.

Whether it was due to past conflicts or other reasons, Cao Can did not have a very good impression of the various schools of thought.

Influenced by Cao Can, Wei Qing also had a poor impression of the various schools of thought.

Liu Yangxin chuckled as well: "The school is indeed quite united, but it's not as bad as Prime Minister Cao makes it out to be. What I mean is, Zhongqing might be able to enter the Imperial Academy as a student of military strategy."

Military strategists are all troublemakers; no matter how much chaos you cause in the Imperial Academy, they won't stop you.

Secondly, even though the military strategists are not as powerful as they used to be, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. With their current strength, even the Lü family would not dare to offend them easily.

Zhongqing, you have killed seven or eight Xiongnu shamans at such a young age. Such an achievement is difficult for even the most talented military strategists to match.

I believe the military strategists would also be willing to accept you into their school of thought.

Although military strategists, unlike other schools of thought, wouldn't readily avenge you for any wrongdoing, they wouldn't restrict your actions.

The military strategists were less a school of thought and more a platform for communication among military families.

This is the only school of thought that can only exist by relying on the imperial court.

Since the military representatives were either highly decorated in battle or held high positions, they all had their own stances.

This resulted in a loose structure within the military strategists' organization; it was more of a platform for exchange than a school of thought.

"If the military strategist is willing to recommend me to the Imperial Academy, I would be extremely honored."

Wei Qing did not refuse this time, but he still felt that things were not as simple as Liu Yangxin said.

Chapter Eight: Zhuangzi's Dream of a Butterfly

As an illegitimate child and slave, Wei Qing never experienced what fatherly or motherly love was.

Shortly after his birth, his mother, Wei Ao, sent him to the home of his biological father, Zheng Ji, because of financial difficulties.

However, the Zheng family never regarded Wei Qing as their own flesh and blood, and his son did not treat Wei Qing as a brother either, but rather abused him like a servant or an animal.

Wei Qing did not hate Zheng Ji; there was no need for him to hate him.

In this era, illegitimate children have never been accepted by society.

Zheng Ji did not regard Wei Qing as his own son, and Wei Qing never called Zheng Ji "father," which was fine.

When Wei Qing was six years old, he started dreaming, and he dreamed every night.

The key point is that every time he wakes up, he can vividly recall everything that happened in his dream, as if he had personally experienced it.

The content of the dream was strange and never connected.

Tonight you might dream of dying a horrible death at the hands of the Xiongnu barbarians, and tomorrow night you might dream of storming into the Xiongnu territory and beheading the Xiongnu chieftain with a single stroke.

The day before yesterday, I dreamed that the alien races around the human world surrendered, and the human race regained its glory of being honored by all nations. The day after tomorrow, I might dream that I am standing in a pool of blood, and the people surrounding me to kill me are the kings and generals of the human race.

He dreamed of ascending to the pinnacle of power, and he also dreamed of being whipped to death by slave owners; he dreamed of leading the strong of the human race to change course, and he also dreamed of the human race, along with the old era, being completely ravaged by the Xiongnu barbarians, their corpses floating for thousands of miles, utterly reduced to slavery.

In these dreams, faces that are both strange and familiar appear.

Some faces are heroes of the human race today, but become collaborators of the Xiongnu barbarians tomorrow; they were invincible legends the day before yesterday, but were defeated and left with nothing but bones in the blink of an eye.

He didn't know which of these dreams was real, which was fake, or whether they were all fake.

But at least one thing is certain: while Wei Qing was struggling in his dreams, he was also constantly learning.