Chapter One: The Downfall of a Bookworm

  In the 16th year of Xian De, Sui Yun wanted to take the imperial examination, so he left Jiang Xia and went to Jian Ye.

  The Book of Southern Chu · Biography of Jiang Suiyun

  In the 16th year of Xian De in Southern Chu, the world was still in chaos, but the situation had become much clearer. The area south of the Yangtze River was mostly occupied by Southern Chu, while the north was under the control of Da Yong. Jiang Xia was a strategic location for defending against Da Yong, and the residence of the Marquis of Zhen Yuan, who guarded Jiang Xia, was an important military location. As a result, security was extremely tight at all times. Although I held a relatively high position as a Western scholar, I still had to obey orders and hide in my study, trying not to go out unless absolutely necessary.

  As I flipped through books, I thought about when I could eat again. Unfortunately, the Marquis of Zhen Yuan, Lu Xing, was an important military official, and according to Southern Chu's customs, his family members had to stay in Jian Ye. Only his 15-year-old son, Lu Can, who was appointed as a guard, stayed by his side. The court allowed this arrangement, but Lu Can, although studying literature with me, also had to learn military affairs as the son of a martial family.

  Today was the day when the Grand Commander of Jiang Xia, Lu Xing, convened a military meeting. Lu Can attended as an observer, and I could only wait for him in my study. We were supposed to have lunch together, but the meeting went on past noon without ending, and none of the participants had eaten yet. If I ate first, Lu Can would surely be jealous when he returned and might even plot against me.

  I thought about how different father and son were - Lu Xing was generous and open-minded, while Lu Can was stingy and calculating. Last time, when Lu Can was scolded by his father, I couldn't help but smile secretly, and the next day, he tricked me into going out for a walk, saying that my mourning period had ended after three years. He took me to the Smoke and Moon Building, where I almost lost my virginity if I hadn't escaped quickly.

  As I sat there thinking aimlessly and flipping through books, I sighed in frustration. The study of the Marquis of Zhen Yuan was not bad, but over the past three years, I had almost read all the books available. After all, it was a martial family, so they mostly had common books. I estimated that they must have ordered a copy of every book from the bookstore, which explained why even the almanac was there. However, there were no truly rare or precious books to be found.

  I touched my flat stomach and let out a helpless sigh.

  I was there watching the shadow of the sun to calculate the time, when Lu Can's attendant, Lu Zhong, came and told me that the military meeting had ended. Lu Xin invited his subordinates to a banquet and asked Lu Can to accompany him, telling me not to wait for him anymore. I happily agreed and didn't care that the food was already cold, so I started eating hastily. Just as I was enjoying my meal, suddenly there was a commotion from the front hall, at first, I didn't pay attention, but later the voices became louder and louder, only hearing the deafening "Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin!" My heart skipped a beat, oh no, there's an assassin here, nine out of ten it's the Marquis of Zhenyuan being attacked, he's my patron now, can't let him be killed by the assassin. I knew I wasn't capable of protecting the Marquis of Zhenyuan, so it was better to hide, but my heart was uneasy, I took a delicate crossbow from the bookshelf, this was a fine product from the Southern Chu workshop, with a range of 100 steps and can shoot five arrows in succession. This was originally a gift from Lu Xin to Lu Can, but Lu Can disliked using it because he thought it wasn't dignified enough, which benefited me instead, who wouldn't use martial arts, this crossbow was my favorite, I loaded the arrow and opened the window slightly to look outside, the study where I was staying wasn't far from the front hall.

  I was watching with great interest when the two assassins suddenly exchanged a look, then pulled out two black beads from their pockets and threw them to the ground. Suddenly, white smoke billowed up, covering an area of over ten square meters in an instant. At that moment, I saw a general wearing a deputy commander's uniform not far from Lord Lu, with a flash of murderous intent in his eyes. A dagger slipped out of his sleeve into his hand. I knew something was wrong and shouted loudly: "Lord Lu, be careful!" As I shouted, I shot an arrow from my crossbow, and a pained cry rang out. When the smoke cleared, the crowd saw that the two assassins were still surrounded, while behind Lord Lu, a deputy general lay on the ground with an arrow in his heart, still clutching a dagger in his hand. The blade of the dagger was gleaming with a blue light, and it was less than half a step away from Lord Lu. Even a blind person could see what had happened.

  Looking at the two assassins struggling to break through, and finally dying in battle, Lord Lu ordered his generals to take care of the aftermath, and then summoned me to his White Tiger Hall where he handled military affairs. He looked at me with a complex expression and asked: "Thank you, Random Cloud, for saving my life." I humbly replied: "It's all because of your lordship's great virtue that you were able to avoid the villain's trap, and I just happened to be lucky." Lord Lu asked suspiciously: "How did you know that those people wanted to assassinate me?" This was a question he couldn't figure out. How did I know? Of course, it was because of what I saw, but I couldn't say that. That's my secret defense mechanism. Let's just say that my six senses are naturally different from ordinary people. My hearing can pick up the sound of falling leaves and flying flowers within a hundred paces. My eyesight can see everything clearly within several miles. My sense of taste can distinguish between things as soon as they touch my lips. My sense of smell can track down a scent for dozens of miles. Sometimes I even doubt whether I'm human or not. But I also know that if others found out about these things, they would be jealous and resentful. You wouldn't want someone to be able to eavesdrop on your private conversations, right? In order to keep this as a secret defense mechanism, I've never told anyone about it, except for my deceased father. No one else knows. So I made up a lie: "It just so happens that I was holding a crossbow for self-defense, and when I saw those two assassins release smoke, I couldn't help but feel suspicious. I thought to myself that no matter how skilled the assassins were, they would still have trouble escaping in this situation. Releasing smoke must be an attempt to create an opportunity for someone else. So I assumed there must be another assassin hiding around your lordship, and in my haste, I shouted out a warning. I remember that at the time, there was no one behind you, so I thought the assassin must have come from there. That's why I randomly shot an arrow, and fortunately, your lordship's virtue is great, which allowed me to kill the assassin."

  Lu Xing's ambiguous nod allowed me to leave. Later, I heard that the assassin who attempted to kill Lu Xing was a spy from Da Yong, who had bribed a general and planned to assassinate the Marquis of Zhenyuan, then attack while Jiangxia was in disarray. However, their foolproof plan failed, so they retreated.

  Afterwards, Lu Xing thought I was clever and wanted me to join his staff, but I declined. I couldn't use the reason that Da Yong would send assassins after me if they found out I saved Lu Xing, so I said it was because my father had always regretted not having an official title before he passed away, and I decided to take the imperial examination instead.

  Lu Xing not only sent someone to obtain the examination qualification for me in my hometown of Jiaxing but also gave me travel expenses two months before the exam. He even arranged for me to follow his logistics personnel to ensure my safety on the road. However, I managed to come up with an excuse, saying I had caught a cold and could rest for two days before continuing.

  I finally regained my freedom. I'm not stupid; in the ninth year of Xian De, Nan Chu surrendered to Da Yong and gave up its imperial title, now calling itself a vassal state. There were rumors that the ruler of Nan Chu wanted to reclaim the imperial title, which would certainly provoke Da Yong and lead to endless wars.

  Although I didn't want to go to war, I knew a thing or two about military strategy. Da Yong was strong, while Nan Chu's rulers were indulgent and its generals cowardly. Even under the command of the famous General Lu, there were many timid officers who had narrowly escaped execution due to their family connections.

  At this time, taking the imperial examination would only make me a minister of a doomed state.

  Sitting on the deck of a passenger-cargo ship, I was enjoying the cool night breeze along the river. This type of mid-sized boat had its hold full of cargo, while the upper cabins were divided into small rooms for passengers to use. It was absolutely more comfortable than those specialized passenger ships, only it cost a lot more. However, now that I have several hundred taels of silver on me, it's enough to splurge once in a while.

  Looking at the clear and cold moon, the vast starry sky, I couldn't help but feel poetic, reciting:

  "Soft grass, gentle breeze by the shore,

  Alone on a boat, under the night sky.

  Stars hang low over the vast plain,

  The moon surges forth from the great river's flow.

  What is fame, what is success?

  A life of leisure, free from worldly cares.

  Like a bird soaring through the skies,

  Unfettered, wild and carefree."

  Just as I was repeating my recitation, I heard someone clapping behind me, calling out "Bravo!" I turned around to see a young man standing there. Although the moonlight was dim, with my keen eyesight, I could clearly see that he was a handsome and majestic youth. Despite wearing casual clothes, his demeanor was extraordinary, and I couldn't help but feel that he was even more dignified than Lord Lu. Moreover, he seemed to have an astonishing charm about him, like a breath of fresh air on a spring morning.

  I felt a bit self-conscious looking at myself, with my average build, only not so weak that I'd fall over in the wind. My features were still passably handsome and refined, but compared to this young man, I was just a bookish scholar. In these tumultuous times, it's the brave and handsome young warriors who capture the hearts of girls.

  How do I know? It's because the maidservants at Lord Lu's estate never looked at me with any interest.

  I stood up and apologized: "Sorry to disturb your rest, I'm really sorry."

  The young man shook his head and said: "Those words, if I hadn't been resting, wouldn't I have missed such a good poem by the young master? Is it really your work?"

  I was delighted in my heart, but modestly said: "My humble work is hard to enter the grand hall, I'm afraid it's not good enough for your honor."

  The young man looked me up and down for half a day before saying, "Young master, you are so young and yet your literary talent is so outstanding, I am truly impressed. My name is Li Tianxiang, and I am a merchant under the rule of the King of Shu. This time, I have come to Jianye on business. May I ask your esteemed surname and given name, and what brings you to Jianye?"

  I muttered to myself, this person has a Shu accent, but I feel a bit awkward listening to him. However, it's not my business, so I politely said: "Late-born Jiang Zhe, styled Suiyun, this time I came to Jianye for the imperial examination."

  Li Tianxiang's eyes flashed with a hint of strangeness, saying: "Young Master's talent is unparalleled, I suppose it was a breeze for you to pass the imperial examination."

  I smiled awkwardly, if it wasn't for the sake of saving face, I wouldn't have participated in the imperial examination anyway. I had a way to avoid being selected as an official and let others not be able to say anything about it.

  Li Tianxiang saw my embarrassment and didn't mention the imperial examination again. He sighed and said: "Alas, this time coming from Shu, seeing the tense situation in the Central Plains, almost encountering war in Jiangxia, business is getting harder and harder to do. The other day, the ruler of Southern Chu issued a decree to increase tariffs, fortunately, the king of Shu sent an envoy to negotiate with Southern Chu, otherwise our cargo ships would have lost money!"

  I said casually: "Actually, the king of Shu doesn't need to bother, Southern Chu and Shu are interdependent, as long as they make this relationship clear, the ruler will definitely lower tariffs, and may even offer preferential treatment for trade."

  Li Tianxiang smiled and asked: "How can I put it, I don't quite understand."

  It's rare to meet someone who wants to know my opinion, so I proudly said: "This has to start from the current situation. Today, South Chu and Da Yong are facing each other in the south and north, but this is just a surface-level thing. Regardless of military strength or civilian support, South Chu can't compare to Da Yong and can only defend itself without being able to attack. As the saying goes, 'the strong cannot last long, the weak cannot be defended.' Everyone knows that if things continue like this, South Chu will eventually perish. That's why our current ruler is seeking peace with Da Yong, giving up the emperor title and calling himself a national master in order to seek temporary safety. However, the situation has changed now. Shu is under your country's rule, with strong soldiers and sufficient supplies. Although Shu can only be a small, isolated regime due to geographical constraints, it poses a powerful threat to South Chu from a superior position. If Shu were to unite with Da Yong, Da Yong would launch a fierce attack on the Yangtze River, while Shu would descend along the river, and my South Chu would inevitably perish. Even if Shu strictly defends its territory, and my South Chu unites with North Han in the north, once Da Yong's army attacks South Chu, North Han will respond from the north, and Da Yong will face the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. As long as we can hold out for more than three months, Da Yong will definitely retreat."

  Li Tianxiang's face turned solemn, and after a long while, he said: "If it's like this, won't the world be forever impossible to unify, and only we common people will suffer?"

  I comforted him, saying: "What I said was just an ideal situation. Now the rulers of Southern Chu are somewhat arrogant, thinking that the Yangtze River is a natural barrier to rely on, and the crisis is hidden. If there are wise men in Dayong, there is still a possibility of unification."

  Li Tianxiang seemed somewhat curious and asked: "Young master just said that it's hard for Da Yong to have a successor, how can you say that Da Yong still has the possibility of unifying the world?"

  Although the Great Yong is in a state of war, its advantages are obvious. With wise and virtuous rulers above and a large army of one million below, as long as the strategy is correct, it can unify the world within twenty years. The current situation in the world is that Shu is the key. It's just that Shu is easy to defend but hard to attack. If you want to seize the world, first, you must make friends with Northern Han and stabilize the rear. Then, you must separate Shu from Chu.

  Li Tianxiang asked in doubt: "Isn't it better to make friends with the Northern Han, or is there a way out? The Shu and Chu are interdependent, how can they be separated?"

  "What's difficult about this? I've heard that recently, some people in the Southern Chu court want to restore the imperial title. If Da Yong appears helpless at this moment, it will be hard for them to fight, and the ruler and ministers of Southern Chu will inevitably be confused. If Da Yong sends more spies to bribe the favored officials with sweet words and generous gifts, urging Southern Chu to restore the imperial title, then the rift between Southern Chu and Shu will inevitably deepen, and even Northern Han will not be immune to suspicion. At that time, Da Yong can temporarily acknowledge Southern Chu's claim to the throne, and the two countries can divide the land along the river. Then, they can join forces to attack Shu, and the ruler and ministers of Southern Chu, being short-sighted, will inevitably fall into the trap. Although Shu is difficult to conquer, it will also be hard for them to resist the joint attack of the two countries. At that time, Shu will inevitably harbor resentment towards Southern Chu. As long as Da Yong's strategy is correct, they will inevitably gain control over most of Shu. Then, Da Yong can launch a pincer attack and inevitably destroy Southern Chu. By then, we can nurture our strength and wait for the right moment to strike, and one swift victory will be enough to conquer Han. What worry is there that the world won't be at peace?"

  Li Tianxiang listened with a delighted expression, saying: "It seems that as long as I get along well with Shu and Southern Chu, no matter how great Da Yong's abilities are, they won't be able to do anything. Fortunately, Brother Jiang, you're not a subject of Da Yong. If you went to Da Yong and received heavy use, our Shu country would be in danger."

  "I'm not going to Da Yong, I've heard that it's a place where military achievements are valued, and someone like me who is weak in literature and martial arts will be at a disadvantage. After a few years, when I have earned more money, I'll buy a few acres of land in the countryside, marry a gentle and virtuous wife, and that will be the joy of life."

  Li Tianxiang smiled and said: "Then I'll congratulate you on getting what you want, but from your plan, Da Yong shouldn't need twenty years, right?"

  I'm already feeling sleepy, so I said: "Originally, it wasn't necessary, but if we can conquer South Chu within five or six years, that would be about right. However, I've heard that the Emperor of Great Yong is getting on in years, and although Crown Prince Li An is the heir apparent, his reputation and military achievements are far inferior to those of his younger brother, Prince of Yong, Li Zai. When Great Yong was first established, Emperor Li Yuan favored his second son, Li Zai, because of his outstanding contributions, so he granted him the title of Prince of Yong with the intention of making him the heir. However, after Great Yong's institutions and systems were all in place, Li Yuan followed the tradition of 'the eldest inherits' and made Li An the crown prince instead. As a result, it's hard to avoid internal strife, and who knows, maybe Great Yong will even break apart because of this. That's why I said that within twenty years, there won't be any major upheavals, assuming we can avoid internal conflicts."

  Li Tianxiang slightly lowered his head and said after a long while: "Yes!"

  I didn't understand what he meant and was too lazy to think about it, so I bid farewell and returned to my cabin. The next day when I got up, I heard that Li Tianxiang had already disembarked ahead of schedule, which was really strange.

  My plan was originally good, but who knew that heaven's will is hard to predict. On the first day I arrived in Jianye, I became a poor guy.

  Looking back, when I first saw Jianye, I saw the majestic city of tiger and dragon, and I was really tongue-tied. So after checking into the hotel, I went out to play. At Fuzi Temple by the banks of the Yonghuai River, I met a lucky star who was destined for me, but at that time, he was my unlucky star.

  I was strolling along the street when I saw a crowd of people gathered ahead. My curiosity got the better of me, and I pushed my way in to see what was going on. It turned out that a young boy was selling himself into slavery to pay for his father's funeral. Suddenly, memories of my own father's passing came flooding back. If I hadn't had the opportunity to enter the Town Far Hou Fu, I might have ended up in the same situation. Overcome with emotion, I pulled out 100 taels of silver and handed them over to the boy. His delicate face lit up with gratitude as he bowed respectfully and said, "Young master, after I've buried my father, I'll come serve you. May I ask where you reside?" I smiled awkwardly, noticing the jealous glances from the surrounding crowd. Thinking that I had already broken the ancient rule of not flaunting one's wealth, I didn't dare reveal where I lived. Without answering, I hastily retreated and ran back to my inn. To quickly return to the guesthouse, I walked with my head down, moving swiftly. As I turned into an alleyway, I felt someone approaching from behind. Before I could even turn around, something hard poked me in the waist. Then, I was dragged into the alleyway and hit on the back of the head. When I came to, I found myself lying on the ground with empty pockets. With a sorrowful face, I returned to the guesthouse, grateful that I had stored 10 taels of silver in my cabinet earlier. However, this amount would only last me a month at most. What was I going to do? After a sleepless night, I finally thought of a solution: I would participate in the imperial examination and strive for a high ranking position. That way, I would have an official salary to spend and an official residence to live in. I figured that the Southern Chu dynasty wouldn't collapse anytime soon, so once I had saved up enough silver, I could resign from my post and retire. By then, no one should be able to bully me, a man without an official position.