Chapter 68: The Best of Times
, one fat and one thin.Then Zheng Lao San, with his chubby fingers, pointed at the thousand-mile sound transmission device in Jiang Wang's hand, seemingly a bit embarrassed: "It looks very valuable."“...After chatting with Xue Rushan, Jiang Wang finally understood one thing - the chief examiner position for the Nanjiang official examination was originally something Shi Mingcheng was bound to get.
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Su Guan'ying and Shi Mingcheng, one a minister of state affairs and the other a commander of nine battalions, naturally cooperated closely and worked together to govern Xia. However, there was inevitably competition between them. As both figures held high positions within the Daqi court and shared political power, their rivalry was inevitable.
Rumors about the upcoming official exam in Nanjiang have been circulating for a while, but specific details haven't been released because there is disagreement between the Governor-General of Nansha and the Military Governor.
Su Guanying and Shi Mingcheng both had their own interests. Under the shared understanding of promoting the official examination in Nanjiang, they also had many disagreements, which greatly delayed the progress of the examination.
The position of the Governor-General of Nanhua has a natural advantage.
Shi Mingcheng's focus differs. While he grasps the entire official examination process layer by layer, he leans more toward controlling the chief examiner's position. Over time, these two major figures have engaged in countless clandestine battles.
And today Su Guanying effortlessly passed the position of chief examiner to Jiang Wang, which effectively struck a blow against Shi Mingcheng.
If Shi Mingcheng were to clash with the powerful Marquis Wuan because of this, all the better.
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If Shi Mingcheng endured this time, she wouldn't lose anything. She might have lost the military post but not the governorship; in the end, she would still be the victor.
It wouldn't be accurate to say that Su Guanying used Jiang Wang as a scapegoat.
Being in charge of this Southern Border official examination would be tremendously beneficial for Jiang Wang's career within the Qi state's bureaucracy. If handled properly... To put it simply, with regard to the enormous profits of the Southern Border, he already has a pair of perfectly reasonable chopsticks, ready to feast at any time. Looking further ahead, if he intends to join the military affairs hall or the political affairs hall in the future, the student connections he's weaving today could be powerful support.
Whether your goal is for looks or for a relationship, you always need people to support your political ideals.
If only she had known this beforehand, Jiang Wang said she would never have agreed to Su Guan Ying's proposal.
His purpose in coming to Nansha was truly pure, firstly for the Yan Lian family, and secondly to immerse himself in cultivation. He had absolutely no intention of getting involved in the power struggles within the Nanjiang officialdom. If he truly wanted to navigate the treacherous waters of court politics, he could have done so long ago in Linzi. Why wait until now
Of course, perhaps in the eyes of some. Compared to the relatively stable officialdom of Qidi, Nanzhang is a vast undeveloped land. Martial Anhou, who shone brightly in the Qi Xia War, chose to go to Xia at this very time point, which is a highly politically astute act.
Even Xue Rushi thought so.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so eager to volunteer.
As soon as Jiang Wang arrived in Nansha, he got the position of chief examiner for the imperial examination. This decisive and ruthless move undoubtedly made people even more certain that he had come to Nansha to share the spoils.
You say you are young and famous throughout the land, that you came to Nansha only to cultivate in peace. Who would believe such words
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There were some things that couldn't be explained clearly, so Jiang Wang simply chose not to explain. He just specially prepared a gift and had it delivered to the Winter Silence Army stationed at Changluo Mansion.
No matter what Shi Mingcheng thought, he acted appropriately. If not for the worry of losing any buffer room, he would have even considered visiting in person.
All I ask is that these individual governors and military commanders keep him out of trouble.
The day after Xue Ruoshi left, Gu Yong also came to visit.
He, with the cultivation of an outer courtyard disciple, chose to surrender after the dust settled on the battlefield in Minxi. His surrender came later than Xue Rushui's, and his accomplishments were far less than Xue Rushui's, so after the war he was only made a city lord.
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Of course, I also want to take it a step further now...
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Gu Yongye was not the last.
At first, when he and Chong Xuan were accepting the surrendered generals in Xià land, almost all of them lined up to visit. The shameful history of being forced to surrender by Jiang Wang's swordsmanship was now a glorious honor.
I was threatened personally by Marquis Wuan!
I surrendered to Marquis Wu'an back in January!
And so on, the earlier it is, the louder the voice.
That's one of the difficulties of navigating official circles. Everyone has their own interests, and those who want to rise quickly in officialdom must carefully balance the interests of all parties involved.
The saying "when one person achieves enlightenment, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven" is a saying. Conversely, if chickens and dogs can't ascend to heaven with you, how can they help you achieve enlightenment
In the midst of repeated visits, Shi Mingcheng's general also came once.
However, he didn't say anything else, just sent a gift, saying it was to celebrate the completion of the Marquis Wu'an's mansion here in Laoshan.
The meaning is also quite clear. This big and strong, usually portrayed as a fiery figure, Dongji Army commander fully acknowledges Jiang Wang's position as the chief examiner for this official examination, and has no qualms about it whatsoever.
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Of course, what he thought in his heart remained unknown to outsiders. At least on the surface, the matter had been brushed aside lightly.
“Your Hou Mansion is really lively these days, the threshold is almost worn down by people.” Lian Que said with a smile.
At this moment, he is blacksmithing.
Jiang Wang had people set aside a courtyard in the Bie Yuan for him to practice alchemy. It was equipped with all necessary tools: furnaces, grinding stones, iron hammers, etc. Although not as refined as those in Nan Yao Lian's workshop, it still had everything he needed.
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Zhu Yao stood in a horse stance beside him.
The fire was roaring, and the surrounding temperature was high. The thin boy's face and body were constantly sweating, but he didn't move at all.
Jiang Wang used a stick to tap his arms and legs, regulating his stance, and said, "I came to Nansha seeking tranquility, but it seems even that is impossible."
“As someone as popular as you, how could you possibly be calm Wherever you go, that's where the center of the storm is. Just like this piece of iron...”
Lian Que casually used a wallet to throw the red-hot iron block into the bucket of water, producing a violent sizzling sound: "It's so hot, how could it be still"
“When this official exam is over, I will shut myself away from visitors.” Jiang Wang said, and then asked, “After researching for so many days, have you come up with anything”
"I told you so, the Li clan of Great Yan is gone. What inheritance, what honor, it's all just empty talk." Lian Que was surprisingly open-minded: "The water from Chi Tan is very suitable for quenching, arguably one of the best for the job, and it reacts differently at various temperatures. Finding this, I've already made a profit."
Jiang Wang curled her lips. “Still thinking about watching you achieve everything in one step Awakening and reincarnating as someone else... Even Xie Ai from the Snow Country directly became the Winter Emperor.”
"I would like to, too. Unfortunately, I wasn't diligent enough in my past life and didn't arrange things well," Lian Que laughed heartily.
"Then work hard this life, and make plans for the next life early." Jiang Wang tapped Chu Yao's forehead: "Stay focused and calm, don't get distracted."
It's hard to ask a restless nine-year-old child to stand still quietly, while I chatter away and there's the constant clang of hammering.
But Chu Yaoao had worked hard, but she never complained.
Then Lian Que said, "But since the War of Qi Xia, my cultivation has progressed very quickly. I wonder if it has something to do with Big Yan's Lian clan... What did you see during that time when you quelled the water calamity"
Jiang Wang pondered, "I saw the phantom of a chiwen with the head of a dragon and the body of a fish weeping as it went east, just like in legend. On your talisman, I sensed the duty and responsibility of the Yan clan. Your cultivation speed has increased, probably because your talisman bears some of the burden."
The sparrow seemed to ponder for a moment: "Should I go test the waters"
"... Let's talk about it after the divine presence arrives."
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“Divinity is not so easily attained. Do you think it’s all up to you” Lian Que clipped out the cold iron and threw it onto the anvil, then called out, “Chu Yao, can you attain divinity”
"Of course!" Chu Yao didn't understand the concept of 'divine presence' at all, but she responded loudly.
Once he spoke, his strength abandoned him, and he could no longer stand. He collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
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The sparrow pecked with laughter, a fire furnace within his body. He picked up the hammer and slammed it down hard —
The iron block instantly became a flat sheet of metal.
"Iron forging, alchemy, cooking, doing things requires paying attention to the fire, even more so in life."
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Have you ever walked at night
“I’m saying, on a deserted path with no lights, no moon, no sound. You look in any direction and it's pitch black... what do you say that's like”
The woman speaking sat on a straight-backed stool. Her voice, however, was wavering and never quite came to the point.
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“Like a monster with its jaws wide open, ready to swallow you whole,” she answered herself.
She gently flicked her finger, sending a spark into the smoking pot.
Her jet-black lips held a white jade mouthpiece, with a strange contrast, an extraordinary beauty.
She quickly took a few puffs and lit the tobacco.
"Sigh"
She exhaled a long plume of smoke.
He raised a finger and shook it gently.
"No no no, you have no power, you are just an ordinary person."
You, who are incapable of resisting the darkness, walk alone on a moonless night. Just as you're passing, a group of boisterous men come your way. What do you think Are you afraid
The smoke that she exhaled dissipated.
Then a man's puffy, slightly plump face appeared on the opposite side.
A smile broke out on this face: “No, why go out at night Why go to a deserted place You could go home earlier.”
The man's hands were spread wide, bound to a standing wooden pole by ropes soaked in tung oil, unable to move.
The woman took another drag of her cigarette and glanced at the man's silk robe. "Have you ever worked late into the night Could you afford a house in a bustling area, or are you stuck living on the outskirts where people rarely go Have you ever lived in something like that—a flimsy shack built with straw, with only one rickety door that would collapse if you pushed it gently…" Have you experienced any of that"
“No…” The man shook his head. “No…”
So you can't understand.
But that's rare, right Who in their right mind would work at night... uh, I mean, we could implement a curfew, no going out after dark.
“You are a rare talent.”
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"I sincerely consider the well-being of the people."
"Okay, what I just said wasn't quite accurate. It wasn't a deserted path, it was a bustling street. It wasn't a moonless night, it was filled with lights and revelry. And it wasn't unnoticed; there were many people around, many passing by..."
At this time, you can see the woman's face.
She wore a jade ring to hold back her hair. Her brows and eyes were cold, aloof, and beautiful with a sense of world-weariness.
She tapped the ash tray and said, “But that you are powerless is true, as are those who came face to face with you. And everything that happened after...you being eaten, that's also true.”
"How, how could this be" The man's expression was strained: "In broad daylight, how could this happen The court wouldn't allow demons to run rampant."
"Of course, of course." The woman nodded and lifted the corner of her mouth, revealing a polite smile. "Formal introductions. My surname is Zhao, my name is Zhao Zi. The best 'Zi' in Liang Shi. Yes, just one character."
"My name is Chen..."
"Well, Xiao Chen, it's nice to meet you," said the woman named Zhaozi. "I have a question I'd like to ask you."
The man's Adam's apple bobbed. "Please... I mean..."
"Do you think the world is fair"
The man thought seriously for a moment before replying: "It's fair. You reap what you sow."
The smoking woman pondered: “Why did you slap that woman who passed by yesterday”
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“I was just joking with her, and she scolded me.” The man still felt indignant when he thought about it: “Sir, you tell me, what is my status, and what is hers Of course, I also did something wrong, and I can apologize to her.”
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A woman sighed softly: "So it is said, this world is unfair, but those who have power don't feel so."
"How is that possible This world is fair. My power was earned through my hard work."
"Good." The woman smiled. "Thank you for clearing that up for me."
"No need for formality. My lord, is there some misunderstanding between us My father is Jiang Yongzhifu..."
The woman hadn't finished listening.
Having extinguished her cigarette, she rose from the stool, moving gracefully toward the exit. All that remained was a single sentence: "Burn him. Burn him for twelve hours straight."
The man surnamed Chen shouted, "No, wait, sir, there's room for negotiation! We can talk terms!"
But the woman has already left here.
This is an abandoned temple, covered in cobwebs and dust. The statues have had their eyes eaten away by something, staring blankly ahead. One ear is also missing, so it probably can't hear any prayers.
Three people walked in from somewhere. One dressed as a fisherman, one as a merchant, and one as a laborer. They circled the man bound to the stake for a while, carefully calculating his weight before starting to rub a white ointment all over him.
“What! What are you doing! Why!” The man tied to the stake struggled desperately: “What do you want Money I can give you money, a lot of it! Techniques Weapons Women You name it!”
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The fisherman and Li Fu remained silent.
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A peddler, dressed in fine clothes, said calmly, "It's time for you to see the truth of this world."
"What truth What truth! What have I done for you to treat me like this Tell me! Tell me!"
“That woman She’s just an ordinary mortal, while we are all extraordinary cultivators! Do you really care about mortals Besides, I didn’t kill her, she’s perfectly fine! Even if she’s guilty, my crime isn’t punishable by death. What have I done to deserve death Whether it’s Xia Law, Qi Law, or the Three Punishments Palace Law, my crime isn’t punishable by death. You want to talk about the law! What are you doing, stop smearing me! Stop it! This isn’t fair, this isn’t fair!”
“You got it right.” The peddler-like man covered his mouth with one hand, making his remaining voice a muffled ‘mumble’, and with the other he slowly applied white petroleum jelly to his face, saying, “That’s unfair, that’s the truth of the world.”
After wiping meticulously, he took out a square cloth and began to wipe his hands. Once all five fingers were clean, he covered the white square cloth over the man's face.
His finger brushed lightly, a wisp of flame leaped out, and the grease on the man's body began to burn.
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Then the three of them slipped out.
Ritsuko, who was walking at the back, was dressed in a traditional attire and had even thoughtfully brought along a temple gate.
The screams of Jiang Yongzhi's son echoed within this dilapidated temple.
“Wouldn’t you burn him ahead of time”
"How is that possible I calculated the amount perfectly, it should be enough to burn for twelve hours."
"I just looked at you, and it seems like you put on a little more."
Is it
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"Really, I saw it too."
"It's not just me who did it, okay You all did too!"
But we all measure out our portions very carefully.
"I'm very standard too! If you don't believe me, just stay here and watch. Less than half an hour is my responsibility!"
“Let's just go, it's creepy...”
“No, now that you say it, it's creepy. Wasn't this corpse-burning ointment your research”
"A gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen, do you understand"
The voice gradually faded away.
Will a fair world ever come
I don't know who is asking.
Of course.
I don't know who answered.ng the crimson blood to envelop it. He sighed, “This is where the line is drawn.”Cheng Fei didn't speak anymore.He was unhappy about being chased by Yao Qi, feeling rather humiliated, but the fortune...