"Lord!"
Cui Hu quickly bowed when he saw Xia Chen enter.
Xu Xingchen heard the sound, put down his pen, and stood up to bow.
Xia Chen nodded. Lu Chen happened to come in at that moment and quickly reported to Xia Chen!
"Lord, the two major halls suspected of forming factions for personal gain have all been arrested. What should we do next?"
"First, interrogate them, then collect their criminal evidence. Those with serious offenses will be executed. Those with minor offenses will have their Lantern Bearer status revoked. As for Chen Song and Li Yue, they will be considered Lu Li's cronies. These years, as hall masters, they surely haven't kept their hands clean. Investigate them, then send the evidence to Commander!"
Xia Chen sat down and spoke calmly, but his words made everyone present feel a chill, especially Xu Xingchen and the others, who gained a deeper understanding of Xia Chen's power.
In just a few words, the fates of two Lantern Bearer hall masters, over ten thousand-households, and more than fifty hundred-households were decided. Many of them might have had minor issues, but most were not guilty of capital crimes. However, this was the consequence of choosing the wrong side in a political struggle.
"Understood!"
Lu Chen felt an extreme chill in his heart. If Xia Chen hadn't protected him this time, he could imagine his fate would also be the Lantern Bearer Prison. Because Li Yue and Chen Song were not Lu Li's cronies, but he was Lu Li's adopted son, a certainty, and originally, he should have been among those to be purged!
Just a few words from this young man in front of him saved him from a disaster.
Thinking of this, Lu Chen felt somewhat fortunate!
"You may go and attend to your duties!"
Xia Chen waved his hand, and Lu Chen and Cui Hu exited his courtyard.
"How do you feel?"
Xia Chen looked at Xu Xingchen and asked.
"It's fine. These case files aren't major cases and aren't particularly complex!"
Xu Xingchen replied modestly. He was as intelligent as a demon; these case files were naturally not a challenge for him. He could unravel them and find the logical loopholes within.
"Hmm, good. Let me introduce you. This is Yu Shaoqian. He also came from the Imperial College before. From now on, the two of you will help me handle these documents together!"
Xia Chen nodded, while Xu Xingchen had already noticed the people behind Xia Chen, as they were still wearing prison uniforms.
"Greetings, Brother Shou Zong. Your bold words two years ago greatly impressed me. Seeing you today, Brother Shou Zong, you have probably turned misfortune into a blessing and were saved by Lord!"
Xu Xingchen smiled and bowed.
"You know me?" Yu Shaoqian was a little surprised, not expecting to meet an acquaintance after two years in prison.
"I also came from the Imperial College. When Brother Shou Zong submitted his memorial two years ago, I was also studying at the Imperial College!"
Xu Xingchen responded with a smile.
"I didn't expect to meet a fellow student right after being released from prison. What a coincidence. But why..."
"I rarely went out at the Imperial College and didn't like to socialize with other students, so I remained unknown. It's normal that Brother Shou Zong hasn't heard my name!"
Xu Xingchen seemed to know what Yu Shaoqian wanted to say and responded with a smile.
Yu Shaoqian glanced at Xu Xingchen. He had never heard of this person's name before, but the other party knew him. Clearly, he wasn't truly oblivious to the outside world. The other party either had no talent or had grand ambitions.
Yu Shaoqian believed the latter was more likely. Otherwise, with so many students at the Imperial College, why would this young Lord Xia choose him to handle documents?
Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen began to get to know each other through conversation. Through their discussion, Yu Shaoqian became increasingly certain that Xu Xingchen was no ordinary person. No matter what he talked about, the other party could join the conversation and express his own views.
And Xu Xingchen also discovered during their talk that Yu Shaoqian was a truly capable person. The two discussed everything from Confucian classics to national policies, and eventually even talked about major events in the world.
Both knew that they would be colleagues in the future, and perhaps work together for a long time. Both were inherently proud people and did not want their colleagues to be fools who would hold them back.
Through their conversation, both silently raised their evaluations of each other by several notches in their hearts.
"This Yu Shaoqian, Yu Shou Zong, is indeed worthy of being the person who made a name for himself in the Imperial College two years ago. A great reputation is never undeserved. These two years of imprisonment not only didn't cause his knowledge to decline but also gave him a sense of profound enlightenment in prison. The entire person has changed greatly from before. It seems there are still some talented people in the world. Indeed, one cannot underestimate the heroes of the world."
Xu Xingchen praised in his heart and secretly glanced at Xia Chen. This Xia Chen indeed had a unique eye for recognizing talent.
However, as a consort, recruiting so many talented people, could it be that his guess was correct and this Xia Chen had rebellious intentions?
On the other side, Xia Chen was looking at Zhang Wenliao.
"Can you read?"
"No, I can't!"
Zhang Wenliao shook his head. He was 21 years old this year and had previously been involved with gangs. How could he have had the chance to learn to read?
Xia Chen glanced at the two Imperial College scholars who were chatting happily and finally decided to let Yu Shaoqian do it.
"Shou Zong!"
"Lord!" Yu Shaoqian quickly walked over.
"Besides handling documents these few days, you will spend two hours each day teaching Zhang Wenliao to read and write. Try to make him recognize all common characters within a month!"
Yu Shaoqian looked at the ruffian-looking Zhang Wenliao in surprise. Asking him to teach someone to read and write was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. It seemed his Lord also valued this hooligan greatly.
"No problem!"
Although Yu Shaoqian thought this in his heart, he quickly nodded.
"Lord, didn't you say you'd let me be your guard? I'm a rough man, reading and writing this..."
Zhang Wenliao squirmed when he heard this. Wasn't reading and writing torture?
"You, a martial artist at the Ninth-Rank Realm, still want to be my guard? Are you protecting me or am I protecting you?"
Xia Chen raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat amusing.
Zhang Wenliao's face instantly flushed red when he heard this.
"Hahaha, my third brother isn't wrong. I don't know what my third brother sees in you. With your level, you can't even beat me!"
Xia Wen, who was beside them, also couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, then slapped Zhang Wenliao's shoulder.
Zhang Wenliao immediately felt half of his shoulder go numb and was greatly alarmed. This person, who looked like a little kid, he had previously thought was just a relative with connections.
But the slap just now felt like a mountain pressing down. Was this Divine Power? It was a bit too terrifying!
"Xiao Wen, you also have a task!"
Xia Chen turned to look at Xia Wen.
"Starting tomorrow, you will explain 'Nine Yang Art of War' to Zhang Wenliao and the two of them. Teach them exactly how the elders in the clan taught you!"
Xia Chen then pointed to Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen. Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen were both stunned. This 11-year-old child was going to be their teacher?
"Third Brother, explaining the Art of War to them isn't a big problem, but the Art of War is a bit too boring. I prefer practicing boxing and using boxing to be invincible under heaven!"
Xia Wen waved his fists. The young man was intelligent, but his Heart-Nature was not yet settled. He didn't like scholarly things and believed that if a problem could be solved with fists, it should never be solved with words.
"A true man should learn to be an enemy of ten thousand. No matter how powerful your fists are, can one person resist a thousand armies and ten thousand horses?"
Xia Chen said in a deep voice, looking at Xia Wen and Zhang Wenliao, his tone extremely serious and earnest.
"Within 30 years, while martial power is important, the Art of War is the Great Dao. If your Art of War truly reaches a divine level, leading a grand army, even the Old Celestial Master of Tianshi Mansion, or Abbot Longshu of Tianlong Temple, would have to avoid your sharp edge. That is the true enemy of ten thousand!"
Xia Wen and Zhang Wenliao listened to Xia Chen's words with longing in their hearts. Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen also changed from their initial indifference to solemn expressions.
They didn't know if what Xia Chen said was true, but they both knew how powerful the Old Celestial Master and Abbot Longshu were!
And Xu Xingchen also keenly noticed one point: Xia Chen just said that within 30 years, martial power was not as good as the Art of War. What did this mean? Why did he specifically mention a time? Could it be that after 30 years, this situation would be reversed?
... ...
【Zhang Wenliao, in his youth, was a common rogue. Later, due to a great offense, he was imprisoned. Fortunately, he met the Grand Ancestor, who rescued him and had someone teach him how to read and write. The Grand Ancestor generously imparted the Xia family's Art of War to him, saying: "A true man should learn the art of being an enemy of ten thousand, and should not merely indulge in the courage of a common man."
Wenliao was deeply grateful for the Grand Ancestor's appreciation and recognition. From then on, he diligently pursued his studies, tirelessly reading, and eventually achieved success.
— Xia History, Volume 19, Biography of Zhang Wenliao】
PS: I've finally finished this chapter. I can't take it anymore, I'm going to sleep. I'll see how my condition is tomorrow. If it gets more serious, I'll take a day off. Thank you for your understanding, brothers!