Yanzhi Prefecture in Youzhou, being close to the border and far from Yihe City, was relatively untouched by the chaos and bloodshed that plagued the heartlands of Youzhou, making it almost an earthly paradise. However, some scions of military families still found themselves caught in the crossfire and lost their official posts. Thus, in recent days, many scholars from other regions had flocked into Yanzhi Prefecture with official documents, filling up the various administrative positions. Most of these newly appointed officials bore letters of recommendation from the prestigious literary figures like Huang Chan and official seals from the governor’s mansion.
Hong Shandong, the prefect of Yanzhi Prefecture, had been busily receiving and sending off these officials for the past ten days, his head in a whirl. Summer had just begun, and he had already consumed countless pots of cooling tea to soothe his nerves, fearing that he might slight any of the influential newcomers. The new Prince of Liang, known for promoting scholars and suppressing warriors, had been merciless in Youzhou, targeting martial artists. Hong Shandong dared not show any arrogance at such a critical time. Yanzhi Prefecture governed seven counties, but only one was considered a top-tier county, meeting the requirement of producing 100,000 dan of grain according to the Liang dynasty’s statutes. In Beiliang, even half of that was considered a first-rate county. This wave of scholars entering the prefecture for official posts included one county magistrate, three county vice-magistrates, six county clerks, and one county military commander. Fortunately, they were all assigned to mid-tier or lower counties, sparing Prefect Hong the pain of having them placed directly under his jurisdiction. It was customary for new officials to visit the prefect, Hong Shandong, upon their arrival, but two officials—a county clerk and a county military commander—did not show up, likely due to their scholarly pride, heading straight to their posts instead. Hong, himself a scholar by origin, was not too concerned about such formalities. As long as there was a semblance of peace within his jurisdiction, he was content.
Bishan County was a barren and desolate place, despite being the largest county under Yanzhi Prefecture. The local power factions were tightly knit, making life difficult for any county magistrate. There was no chance of enjoying the prosperity of a clean magistrate accumulating ten thousand taels of silver over three years. With the recent upheaval in Youzhou’s officialdom, from top to bottom, the county magistrate and county military commander of Bishan County had fled without anyone needing to say a word. Those with the means sought higher positions elsewhere, while those without the capability took lower posts in other places for better opportunities. As a result, the old county office of Bishan County, where the magistrate, vice-magistrate, and county clerk gathered, was filled with unfamiliar faces staring at each other in bewilderment.
The county magistrate, Feng Guan, was a scholar from the Shangyin Academy, already in his thirties. It was said that even Grand Sacrificial Official Wang had recognized his talent, making him a highly sought-after figure in Beiliang. Prefect Hong had accepted Feng’s gift upon meeting but secretly returned an even more valuable one. The county vice-magistrate, Zuo Jing, was somewhat less renowned. He had come to Liang with the Lu family of Qingzhou and had no notable achievements to his name. However, since he had connections with the Lu family, which was related to the imperial family, no one dared to underestimate him.
The county military commander, Bai Shangque, liked to carry a personal sword and was the bold one who did not visit Prefect Hong. He was tall and strong, not considering himself a scholar, and even in the county office, he looked at people askance. The remaining county clerk, Xu Qi, held a mid-level position among the county’s high-ranking officials. Young and handsome, he did not wear a sword or jade. Among the four county officials, Feng Guan, proud of his talent and being the magistrate, was indifferent to everyone. Zuo Jing had tried to befriend Bai Shangque, but the latter did not reciprocate, so he turned to Xu Qi instead. Eventually, their efforts paid off, and they often left the office together to drink on the streets. However, during their conversations, Zuo Jing repeatedly tested Xu and found out that he was a scion of a military family seeking refuge in this remote area. Initially, Zuo hosted the drinking sessions, but later, the young clerk began paying for them. At first, Zuo was somewhat uneasy, fearing that this young military scion might be too rough and prone to violence. But as they drank more together and became closer, Zuo became more confident that this novice official was easy to deal with and willing to take losses, though he secretly looked down on him, considering him merely a fool to be used for drinking companionship. Otherwise, with scholars taking over Beiliang’s administration as a trend, how could a minor military scion like Xu Qi hope to achieve anything?
However, there was one thing about Xu Qi that pleased Zuo Jing: when Zuo criticized current affairs, Xu Qi, if he did not understand, would willingly listen to Zuo’s explanations. After all, Bishan County’s affairs were not too burdensome. Feng Guan took the initiative to handle them, while Bai Shangque was often absent. Zuo Jing and Xu Qi had plenty of time for drinking and chatting, finding leisure in their busy schedules—or perhaps busyness in their leisure.
The street in front of the county office, known as Gulu Street, was not long, with only a few small shops. There was only one tavern, which served only a few types of wine, such as the Green Ant. Zuo Jing could not stand the cheap Green Ant, which burned his throat. Today, he ordered a pot of the newly arrived Jian Nan Spring wine from the tavern. As he ordered, he deliberately glanced at Xu Qi’s face, noting his expression of slight discomfort but trying to hide it. Zuo suppressed a smile, and as he drank the good wine, his mood became even more pleasant. After finishing a cup, Xu Qi, understanding the situation, promptly poured another cup for him. Holding the cup, Zuo did not drink immediately, leisurely saying, “Last time, I mentioned how Biyan’er and Tan Tan Weng publicly broke up, which was a great relief. Today, I will tell you about the subsequent waves. This Prime Minister Zhang, who controls the speech in Liyang, finally got his chance. With a single stroke, this knife fell in the court, not killing anyone, but causing two nobles and sixteen officials to lose their positions. Xu Qi, tell me, isn’t that impressive?”
Xu Qi smiled faintly and said, “Impressive indeed. It’s a ruthless counterattack, not inferior to Chen Zhibao’s plum wine.”
Zuo Jing had intended to ask and answer himself, but being interrupted, he instinctively wanted to glare. However, he quickly restrained himself. The person sitting in front of him was an official of the same rank. He slowly took a sip, building up his mood, and continued, “The court officials were both humiliated and anxious, but this was not a big deal. Soon, there was a new turn of events. Biyan’er wanted to dig the Lotus Seed River to control the Guangling floods. The Minister of Works, known for his silent meditation, surprisingly spoke out directly, presenting the pros and cons clearly and strongly opposing the Prime Minister. In my opinion, the two standing emperors of this dynasty, the Human Cat, no matter how he died, is finally dead. As for this Purple-Bearded Official, who still holds the title of Prime Minister, his days are numbered, like the fading light of dusk.”
At this point, Zuo Jing, the most likely successor to the county magistrate position within the county office, sighed deeply. As a scholar, no matter how he criticized Biyan’er verbally, how could he not admire him in his heart? If one does not enter the Wudi City in martial arts, one is not a hero. If one does not know Biyan’er in literature, how can one talk about being an official? Zuo Jing took a sip of wine and clicked his tongue. However, he heard a question that ruined the mood, “Left My Lord, Prime Minister Zhang is too far from me, Xu Qi. I’m more curious about the current Jianghu.”
Zuo Jing couldn’t help but think to himself, what right did Xu Qi have to talk about such things? Even Biyan’er and the Tai’an City were far from him, let alone the Jianghu, how could he be any closer? However, despite his disdain, Zuo Jing was drinking someone else’s wine and maintained a smiling face, slowly saying, “As for the Jianghu, I have heard something about it, although I haven’t paid much attention. Since you asked, I can tell you a few words. Coincidentally, with the changes in the court, there has been a new ranking of the Jianghu from the Guangling Circuit. The rankings of generals and ministers are not worth mentioning, as they are all expected figures. The only new ones are our dynasty’s Yin Maochun and Beiman’s Dong Zhuo. Let’s talk about the martial arts ranking you asked about. It’s indeed a rare masterpiece that hasn’t been seen in a hundred years, increasing from ten people to fifteen…”
Xu Qi, who was ruining the atmosphere, laughed and asked, “So many, isn’t that a bit cheap?”
Zuo Jing sneered, “Cheap? This time, the martial arts ranking is more valuable than ever! In the past, the Liyang martial arts ranking of ten people, and even the last Beiman ranking, did not include the three major schools of thought, let alone dare to touch places like Wudi City and Wu Family Sword Tomb. This time’s fifteen martial arts experts are truly the top experts in the world!”
Xu Qi lowered his head, took a sip of wine, and then smiled with his eyes narrowed.
Zuo Jing glanced at the young clerk across the table. The plain-looking Zuo County Magistrate couldn’t help but feel some resentment. This young noble from a military family had a face that could easily deceive women. At some point, the young master of the tavern also came over, not knowing how to bring a pot of Green Ant wine, which couldn’t sell for a few copper coins. He just sat there, not trying to get a free drink, just smiling foolishly. Zuo Jing, finding him annoying, decided to ignore him. Not wanting to waste his breath, he couldn’t stand the young master’s eager gaze. Zuo Jing twitched his mouth, saw Xu Qi ask the Innkeeper for another pot of Jian Nan Spring wine, and finally smiled, saying, “The old eccentric Wang Xianzhi is still the undisputed number one in the world, no one can shake him. Even the Peach Blossom Sword God, Deng Tai’a, who returned from visiting the immortals and flipped the Southern Sea with a single sword, has to settle for second place.”
The young master of the tavern, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, exclaimed in surprise, “How come Tuoba Pusa became third?”
Zuo My Lord was too lazy to bother with this shallow-minded frog in the well, speaking slowly, “What’s so strange about it? Beiman’s Tuoba Pusa pushed Deng Tai’a to third place. The top three martial artists in the world have changed positions, but the people are still the same three, unshaken. After talking about these three land immortals, let me now speak of the next five. The person who compiled the rankings must have had some reservations. The leaders of the three major religions, Buddhism, and Daoism, are not in the top ten. For example, the white-robed monk from the Two Chan Temple, who has been sealed off, Li Dangxin, the national teacher of Beiman, Yuan Qingshan, the Qilin immortal, and Li Yufu, the new master of Wudang, are all outside the top ten. Alongside Duanmao Dengmao and our Beiliang’s Xu Yanbing, they share the five positions equally. If it were ten years ago, wouldn’t these five people have been firmly in the top five immortals?”
The young master of the tavern was delighted and said, “Our Beiliang is amazing! Both Master Li and General Xu are on the list. Brother is happy today, I’ll treat you to some drinks later, definitely the best Green Ant, you won’t find a place to sell it in the whole Bishan County! Left My Lord, hurry up and tell us, who are the other seven heroes?”
Zuo Jing wanted to tease him, narrowing his eyes and said, “Bring the wine first, otherwise no talk.”
The young master was eager and said, “What’s the rush? I’ll definitely treat you to two pots of Green Ant wine later! Do you think I dare to cheat you, Left My Lord?”
Xu Qi opened the second pot of Jian Nan Spring wine, filled Zuo Jing’s cup, and no longer wanted to argue with a country bumpkin, took a big sip, his face full of pleasure, and then said, “Fourth is Cao Changqing, the Confucian sage of Xichu. Fifth is Luoyang, the demon head of Zhulushan. Eighth is Hong Jingyan, the master of the water clock. Ninth is Gu Jiantang, the Grand Guardian. Tenth is the master of the Plain King Sword, the current head of the Wu Family Sword Tomb!”
The young master was puzzled, counted on his fingers, and asked, “What about the sixth and seventh? County Magistrate My Lord, did you drink them away?”
Zuo Jing was about to use his chopsticks to pick a peanut from a small porcelain dish, pretending to hit the fool, rolled his eyes and said, “The seventh is the new King of Shu, who left our Beiliang, Chen Zhibao.”
The young man grinned and said, “What do you mean our Beiliang? County Magistrate My Lord, you must have gotten drunk from drinking. It should be our Beiliang.”
Zuo Jing was slightly startled, his drunkenness almost gone, but soon recovered his calm and smiled, “The sixth is our Beiliang King.”
The young man opened his mouth wide, his eyes wide with surprise.
Zuo Jing looked askance at him, not hiding his mockery, snorted coldly, “Don’t believe it? Pei Ju, do you dare not believe it or just don’t want to believe it?”
The young man, surnamed Pei, grinned foolishly and said, “Great news, I believe, I believe. If I don’t believe, I’ll take your surname, County Magistrate Zuo!”
Zuo Jing couldn’t help but show off his knowledge, sneering, “Pei was indeed a big surname twenty years ago, but now it’s not even worth a fart, worse than my surname Zuo in the genealogy of our dynasty by more than sixty places.”
Pei Ju nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking rice, and said, “Right, right. Surname Pei is indeed shameful, not welcomed anywhere. I wish I could find a lady from a noble family one day and marry into her family, changing my surname.”
Xu Qi sighed softly and said, “Sixth. It seems Huang Sanjia was intentionally lenient.”
Zuo Jing asked in confusion, “What did you say?”
Xu Qi shook his head and smiled, “I just think no matter which position, being on the martial arts ranking is enough to scare people.”
Facing the County Magistrate, who looked down on everyone, and the Xu Qi, who was always friendly to everyone, Pei Ju still had the reverence of an ordinary person towards their parents’ official. For this young man who was always easygoing and spoke without restraint, he had the habit of climbing the pole. These days, they occasionally got along, always acting carelessly and speaking without restraint. He grabbed a handful of peanuts into his mouth, mumbling, “Not only is it scary, if I saw one, wouldn’t I be scared out of my wits? If I wasn’t scared to death, I’d have to beg them to take me as an apprentice, just learning one or two moves, then going out to travel the Jianghu, who can’t I beat? If I can’t beat them, I can still bring out my master to support me, who would dare to bully me? That’s not just rushing to reincarnate?”
Xu Qi wanted to say something but finally couldn’t help himself and said, “With such thoughts, you won’t be able to learn good swordsmanship or become a master.”
Pei Ju rolled his eyes and said, “I don’t practice swordsmanship anyway. Look, among the top three in the world, only one practices swordsmanship. Including the fifteen great experts, there’s only that old man from the Wu Family Sword Tomb, who is also at the bottom of the top ten.”
Xu Qi smiled and said, “That’s true.”
Pei Ju suddenly lit up, staring intently at the erudite County Magistrate, eagerly asking, “What about the Beauty Ranking? Who are the beauties?”
Zuo Jing, being a man, smiled knowingly, took a sip of the mellow wine, and savored it for a moment, saying, “This Beauty Ranking hasn’t changed much. It’s just that the Princess of Jing’an, Pei Nanwei, who died for love, is no longer there, and the Princess of Xichu, Jiang Si, has been added.”
Pei Ju thought for a moment, “This one I know. She flew her sword through the eighteen gates of the imperial city. Who dares to marry her? What about our martial arts alliance leader, the Purple Robe of Huishan? Isn’t she also said to be so beautiful that she could bring down a nation?”
Zuo Jing smiled softly and said, “If you dare not marry the Princess of Xichu, then this lady of the Snowy Peak will have men daring to approach her? You should know that although Xuan Yuan Qingfeng did not make it into the top fifteen martial artists, she and Nan Gong Pushi were separately highlighted by the reviewers. They said the former was just one step away, and the latter was just one floor away, both having the potential to reach the pinnacle of martial arts as women. It depends on who gets there faster. If one is a step behind, they will fall behind in every step, making it hard to keep up. In my opinion, the old fox who made the rankings had ulterior motives, hoping these two beauties would fight each other. Pei family boy, I ask you, without considering those who are out of reach, if you met two beautiful girls on the street, and you couldn’t have them, would you be happy to see them fighting each other on the street?”
Pei Ju just grinned, the answer obvious.
Since there was free wine to drink, Zuo Jing talked more, telling the two young and ignorant men many new things about the Jianghu. For example, Song Nianqing of the Eastern Yue Sword Pond died for no reason, and Xie Lingzhen, the sword expert of the Western Shu Chun Tie Caotang, also died mysteriously. These sects lost their pillars, and their status in the Jianghu plummeted, no longer as dominant as before. They were far behind by Longhu Mountain and the Wu Family Sword Tomb, having to compete with many newly emerged sects for the top ten. Beiliang was undoubtedly the biggest winner in this ranking of Liyang and Beiman. There was also a previously unheard-of Fish Dragon Gang that suddenly became famous, although they were at the bottom, but what of it? When they go out, they always introduce themselves as one of the top ten martial arts sects in the entire Liyang Jianghu, not foolishly saying they are the tenth. When the County Magistrate said this, Pei Ju was already thinking about whether he should go to Lingzhou and join the Fish Dragon Gang. At the end of the casual conversation, Pei Ju suddenly slapped his thigh and asked belatedly, “County Magistrate My Lord, why isn’t that great demon, the Human Cat, on the ranking? Was he pushed down? Has he fallen out of the top fifteen?”
Zuo Jing couldn’t help but laugh and point his chopsticks at this young man who was stuck in his corner and could only be a frog in a well for life, “You’re so stupid!”
Xu Qi, the county clerk of Bishan County, simply smiled it off.
Pei Ju suddenly held his stomach and said he needed to go to the toilet, and before anyone could stop him, he was gone like a flash.
After finishing the last cup of Jian Nan Spring wine, Zuo My Lord suddenly realized that the silly kid wasn’t really stupid but had used his cunning to avoid the two pots of Green Ant wine he had promised. Zuo Jing smiled, got up from the table, and said that Xu Qi wanted to sit a little longer, so the County Magistrate left the tavern alone, muttering, “Stupid or not, the tavern is here, where can he run? He can’t hide forever. I, a sixth-rank county magistrate, not only can I drink your two pots of cheap wine, but I can even take half of your tavern if I want.”
After Zuo Jing left the tavern, the young man immediately ran back to the table and sat down, laughing, “Xu Qi, do you think this guy is stupid? He doesn’t even understand the principle of changing the morning and evening portions. He just wasted all those scholarly books he read.”
Xu Qi smiled and asked, “Does the principle of changing the morning and evening portions have any additional meaning?”
Pei Ju, with his legs crossed, picked up the Jian Nan Spring wine bottle, tilted his head back, and drank the last few drops at the bottom of the bottle, feeling satisfied. He wiped his mouth and said, “You must have read even fewer books than me. The story of changing the morning and evening portions goes like this: a monkey trainer gives the monkeys three acorns in the morning and four in the evening, but the monkeys refuse. The trainer then says he will give them four in the morning and three in the evening. When I was a kid and first heard this joke, I thought the monkeys were really smart. They could get an extra acorn in the morning, which was better than anything. Even if they could get three more in the evening, getting them early was more reassuring. Besides, in our world, who isn’t full of lies when doing business? So, the monkeys were smart, and that county magistrate was really stupid. I don’t know how he became a county magistrate. In my opinion, I could do a better job as a local official.”
Xu Qi looked out the window and said calmly, “That’s what you said. But sometimes, in doing things and being a person, you don’t have to be that smart.”
Pei Ju spat and sneered, “Xu Qi, Xu Qi, you’re not making any sense. If you’re not smart, how can you stand out? Even the stray dogs on the street know to bite the poor beggars. Have you seen them dare to bite me or the county magistrate?”
Xu Qi remained silent and walked out of the tavern.
Walking on the sparsely populated street, he raised his head, letting the sunlight Thorn his eyes, unmoved.
Pei Ju leaned out the window, watching the figure gradually disappear into the distance. The young master of the tavern, who had always been jealous of Xu Qi’s appearance and official position, muttered to himself, “What’s the use of looking like a proper gentleman? Do you think you can talk to me about principles?”
Xu Qi walked alone.
Hey.
Wen Hua.
Your brother is already nominally the sixth in the world.
If there comes a day when I am still alive and you are also alive, then I will take the share you refused.
Together, we’ll make a claim for the number one spot in the world. That’s not too much to ask, right?
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