Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 121

...

"My two senior uncles, Master has accompanied Master Feng Hu Zi to Haiya Pavilion. There is an important guest in the reception room who needs to be received by you."

The disciple, signaled by Fu Nian's gaze, found Yan Lu and Zhang Liang, reported the sword-viewing process to them, and then made Fu Nian's request.

"Okay, I understand. I'll go."

Yan Lu placed the scroll in his hand into Zhang Liang's arms, stepped forward, and asked in a gentle voice, "Which faction do you belong to, esteemed guest?"

"It is Lu Wei, the head of the Gonggong Hall of the Farmers."

Yan Lu and his disciple walked down the corridor, one after the other. Behind them, Zhang Liang, holding the Lingxu Sword in one hand and a scroll in the other, was about to walk in the opposite direction when he heard the conversation behind him. He raised an eyebrow and shouted loudly:

"Senior brother, I'll take care of this person!"

"Oh?" Yan Lu, who had been called, turned around and saw his junior brother throw the sword and the scroll over. He quickly and somewhat hastily hugged them to his arms, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Senior brother," Zhang Liang walked past him, smiling as he gently patted Yan Lu's shoulder, "Although the lower-level disciples of the Confucian and Agricultural Schools occasionally interact, the higher-level disciples consistently keep to themselves."

"Senior brother, you've read the classics, but I'm afraid your understanding of farming is limited. I'll take care of the reception this time."

"I actually know a little about this farmer, Lu Wei..."

Watching his junior brother and the disciple who came to deliver the message walk away, Yan Lu muttered something to himself, then shook his head, smiled, and turned to leave.

Since my junior brother wants it, let's give it to him...

After spending most of the hour in the hall, Lu Wei, accompanied by several guests who were trying to get close to him, stepped out of the main entrance and saw a handsome young man walking towards him:

"Have friends come from afar."

The newcomer was dressed in a green robe, with his long hair tied back. His eyes were filled with deep meaning. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Zhang Liang, a Confucian scholar. I have come to welcome our distinguished guest on the orders of my senior brother, Fu Nian."

"Would Master Lu like to take a look at the scenery of Little Sage Village?"

"So it's Mr. Zhang Liang." The hall master also cupped his hands in greeting: "I've heard that Xiaoshengxianzhuang is a scenic wonder of Shandong, and I've long admired it."

The other guests then sensibly excused themselves, leaving the two of them alone.

"In that case, Liang has come at just the right time. Please."

Zhang Liang, with a gentle expression, led Lu Wei along the long, flat bridge on the east side towards the backyard of Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

The handrails made of fine golden sandalwood and the embellishments of white jade stones make this wide wooden bridge in the lake a scenic spot in itself.

The occasional golden-red fish leaping out of the lake and splashing into the water adds a unique charm.

The two walked along, and Zhang Liang introduced the flowers, plants, and trees within sight.

"That building is the Six Arts Hall."

The six arts of a gentleman are: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics.

"Confucianism has always been committed to the Way, based on virtue, relied on benevolence, and engaged in the arts. The Six Arts are skills that every Confucian disciple must learn."

"Confucius's wisdom is truly extraordinary." Lu Wei responded with great interest: "The agricultural school originated from the officials in charge of agriculture and grain, who sowed the hundred grains, encouraged farming and sericulture, and ensured sufficient food and clothing."

"Indeed, they do not live as freely as the Confucians."

“Master Lu, why be so modest?” Zhang Liang shook his head: “If strong men do not plow, there will be people in the world who suffer from hunger; if women do not weave, there will be people in the world who suffer from cold.”

"The hard work and diligence of farmers truly make them a model for all people!"

Having used Zhang Liang to say what he wanted to say, the Hall Master achieved his goal and smiled, saying, "I have learned a lot from what Zifang said."

When Lu Wei changed his story and claimed that he had never told him the word, Zhang Liang understood the implication, but he remained calm and continued to lead the hall master around the manor without making a sound.

"This is the 'Guanran Tower,' a place for Confucian disciples to cultivate their minds."

"This is 'Mingrun Hall,' a place where disciples study on their own."

"Wendao Academy is a place for imparting knowledge, teaching skills, and resolving doubts."

...

The two walked all over the Little Sage Village, and in the end, they circled back to the outside of the main hall:

"The Confucian school is small and sparsely populated, so it can be traversed in a day. It is said that the Daze Mountain can accommodate 100,000 disciples of the Farmer School, which must be a grand scene."

“Zifang is joking. Dazeshan is poor and cannot compare to this elegant place.” Lu Wei smiled happily: “If Zifang visits Dazeshan, I will personally explain the Six Schools of Farming to you.”

“In that case, it’s a deal.” Zhang Liang narrowed his eyes and readily agreed: “When I travel, I will definitely visit Hall Master Lu.”

They only discussed refined matters today, completely omitting other topics. However, they could both clearly sense from certain remarks that they both harbored some interest in that country to the west...

"Zifang, please wait."

At dusk, Lu Wei bowed and took his leave at the side gate of Xiaoshengxianzhuang. Zhang Liang watched him until his figure disappeared from sight before turning back.

Farmers can form alliances!

...

When Master Lu returned to the inn in Sanghai City, Li Shiqi had already ordered a meal on the first floor.

The two parted ways after entering Xiaoshengxianzhuang. Li Shiqi went to catch up with old friends, while Lu Wei wandered around to the hall to watch Feng Huzi evaluate swords, which led to what happened next.

My plan to treat everyone with the courtesy due to ordinary guests was thwarted by the old man, but it wasn't a big deal. Today's first meeting with Zhang Liang was quite fruitful.

"Master, I have found out about Fu Nian's two junior brothers."

Li Shiqi was unaware that Lu Wei had already met with Zhang Liang; he only explained the situation in detail based on the information he had gathered...

Chapter 143 Quicksand

The information Li Shiqi gathered about Yan Lu and Zhang Liang was rather superficial, especially the information about Yan Lu, which was even more vague.

This future Confucian 'Second Master' was already living a low-key life at the prime of his life. He rarely went out, and apart from academic exchanges, outsiders rarely even had the opportunity to speak with him.

In the eyes of most people in Xiaoshengxianzhuang, Zhang Liang's family background was nothing more than that of a deceased member of the state of Han. Very few people knew about his "family of prime ministers," and Li Shiqi's friends were unaware of this.

The survey results were of no help to him, but the head of the hall did not say anything about it and instead praised him lavishly.

After dinner, Li Shiqi wanted to return to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to continue his late-night conversation with his friends by candlelight, while Lu Wei strolled alone on the streets of Sanghai in the afterglow of the setting sun.

This is a special city, special because the Master knew in advance that the mirage designed jointly by the Yin-Yang School and the Gongshu School would be built and launched here.

After the Mo Family's mechanical city is breached in the future, the remaining disciples of the Mo Family will also flee to Sanghai, making Sanghai a gathering place for anti-Qin elements.

With heroes from the Qin state, Confucianism, Yin-Yang School, Gongshu School, Mohism, Taoism, Shu Mountain, and the remnants of the Xiang clan all gathered here, Lu Wei had to prepare for the peasantry here at least ten years in advance!

The branches of Gonggongtang are scattered throughout the world, and establishing one in Sanghai is just a piece of cake.

As for the person in charge here, Li Shiqi, who has close ties with the local powerful Confucian families, is very suitable.

Li Shiqi is a pure Confucian scholar, but he has no martial arts skills. Therefore, he needs to be assigned a martial arts assistant: Ziwu.

Upon returning to Daze Mountain, he summoned Ziwu's Zhaodan to the State of Qi under the pretext of helping him forge a suitable scabbard.

After the scabbard was finished, he was exiled to Sanghai!

Stepping onto the Silver Water Bridge in Sanghai City, Lu Wei pondered his initial plan as he strolled along the riverbank. Just as he was watching the river flow by, his gaze inadvertently swept over a passerby crossing the bridge... Lu Wei was startled.

Without batting an eye, he took out money from his pocket and bought a steamed cake from a stall on the bridge, then tore off small pieces and threw them into the river to feed the fish.

Behind him, a white-haired, aloof and cold man in a black and gold floor-length coat, followed by a male and female subordinate in strange attire, walked across the bridge.

'Wei Zhuang has appeared in Sanghai at this time...'

Lu Wei calmly finished feeding the whole steamed cake, clapped his hands, activated the Breath Concealment Technique, and followed at a distance.

'Has Quicksand become an assassin organization? Have they received a big order?'

Following Wei Zhuang, Chi Lian, and Bai Feng was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous act. Yet, the Hall Master still did it, because he suspected that besides killing them, the Quicksand organization might also be there to see old friends.

To verify this conjecture, he did not follow the trio too far, but instead turned onto a small path by the sea and waited on the only road leading back to Xiaoshengxianzhuang from the city.

As expected, Zhang Liang, who had been chatting happily with Lu Wei during the day, strolled down from Xiaoshengxianzhuang as if taking a leisurely walk.

The direction they were heading was the same as the one where Wei Zhuang and the other two went—Guanhai Cliff.

"It's so late, is Zifang still going to the city?"

As Lu Wei emerged from the alley, Zhang Liang was slightly taken aback by his sudden appearance. He then chuckled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "So it's Hall Master Lu Wei."

"Is Hall Master Lu waiting for someone?"

"Yes, I'm going to see a friend." The sect leader took a few steps closer, revealing the same smile: "Zifang too, right?"

“Indeed, several old friends have come to Sanghai.” Eighteen ruby ​​gems on the emerald green leather scabbard of Zhang Liang’s Lingxu sword glittered in the setting sun. “My senior brother’s succession ceremony has attracted many old friends, and I need to go and greet them.”

"Zifang, you'd better be careful. The city is not peaceful right now."

Lu Wei stopped three steps in front of him: "It is said that there is an assassin organization that has recently come to Sanghai, making it a dangerous place."

"Master Lu truly lives up to his reputation as the most outstanding talent in the Farmer's School; his intelligence-gathering ability is indeed extraordinary." Zhang Liang clasped his hands in a fist salute again: "I will certainly pay attention."

After saying their goodbyes, the two went their separate ways.

'I have never seen this Master Lu in Korea, nor have I heard of any farming settlements in Xinzheng City.'

'But he seems to know a lot about the secrets of quicksand...and about me too....'

Zhang Liang didn't turn around to look, but only turned his head to watch the sunset, and quickened his pace.

Making someone wait too long often leads to unpleasant consequences.

...

"You're late."

At the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea, Wei Zhuang and Chi Lian faced the ocean, while Bai Feng stood guard atop a tree trunk extending from the cliff face.

"It's not too late to meet a new friend on the way."

The sun had already set below the horizon, leaving only its crimson rays to illuminate the last glimmer of light of the day.

Zhang Liang realized that Wei Zhuang had no intention of competing in swordsmanship this time, so he quickly walked to his side and stood together to face the fading sunset.

"You're always punctual, so it seems your new friend today is a bit of a surprise?"

Wei Zhuang's tone remained unchanged, still indifferent.

"It's quite unexpected." Zhang Liang didn't deny it: "Brother Wei Zhuang, are there any peasant factions within the territory of Han?"

"The Farmer's School, whose ancestors were immortal and whose spirits were said to have graced all things under heaven? They could be found everywhere except in the Qin state."