“`html
“Can a strategist really not ascend the throne?”
Under the influence of this thought, when Pang Tong received an invitation for a private meeting from Qiao Yan after the onlookers dispersed, and heard her ask if he was willing to attend Leping Academy, he didn’t need any longer to think it over—he readily agreed.
But Pang Tong wasn’t just an ordinary young man.
He had carefully considered his plans for education and his desire for fame and position, so upon accepting the invitation, he turned to Qiao Yan inquiring about the duration of study at Leping Academy.
“If you want to live up to the name of the Phoenix Chick in five years, you might have a lot to learn,” Qiao Yan looked at him seriously and replied, “However… if you want to know what possibilities lie ahead, I need to know your stance.”
The clearer the label of “her people” is stamped onto these young individuals, the less likely they can be used by others.
But as the complexity of Leping’s personnel increased, it couldn’t yet be deemed solely her talent cultivation base; it could only be said it leaned heavily in her favor.
Just like Zheng Xuan when instructing his disciples, he mostly just recommended those with the intent to serve under Qiao Yan, rather than rounding them all up to keep them confined here.
In the late Han period, with the freedom of education and even crossing regional boundaries to apprentice, the most one could do was recommend each other among mentor-student and peer relationships—there weren’t any binding fates involved yet.
If Qiao Yan truly gathered talents by imposing such restrictions, the allure Zheng Xuan, Cai Yong, and others had over top talents would significantly diminish.
So the question Pang Tong deliberately asked was a probe for his stance.
By virtual age, he was fourteen this year, which was around the age when Qiao Yan had already become Bingzhou’s governor; he wanted to clarify her age limit for employing talents.
Seeing Pang Tong hesitate, Qiao Yan added, “I’ll give you two years, and this time is not just for you, but also for Zhuge Liang. If you find that studying at Leping Academy will gain you something worthwhile in these two years, and if Bingzhou aligns with your ambitions, then you should come to Chang’an.”
Sixteen years old is already an age where he could assist her.
“But some things at Leping Academy are not something your current status can access. If you reach a conclusion in these two years, you can inform me in advance.”
This limitation wasn’t just for Pang Tong; it was a potential rule within the academy.
Since Cai Yong lacked political acumen, Qiao Yan didn’t dare assign him the task of discerning talent but instead handed it over to Cai Zhenji, who diligently maintained this barrier even when Zhaoji needed to go out to gather content for Leping Monthly Report.
Pang Tong replied, “If it’s as you say, then I’m in the know now.”
By laying this matter out, Qiao Yan actually reassured Pang Tong; besides, she hadn’t said he couldn’t leave after gaining something, as long as he kept within established limits—only crossing the line meant she would force him to stay.
What Pang Tong likely didn’t know was that Qiao Yan had both confidence in keeping him and had some other arrangements for him.
Pang Tong’s emergence represented a special power coming under her command.
Just Huang Yueying alone wasn’t enough.
In today’s societal backdrop, Pang Tong serving under her meant that a faction of Jing Province scholars was starting to emerge in her ranks.
Of course, they should standardly be referred to as southern scholars.
And the south didn’t include Yingchuan; it referred to the regions of Jingxiang and Jianghuai.
Under Qiao Yan, northern scholars have already formed an increasingly obvious numerical advantage. Now that Yingchuan scholars were jumping into the pit one by one, she had to strike a balance.
The southern scholars were a splendid choice.
There might even be implications for succession beyond just balance.
Once Pang Tong left, Qiao Yan asked Cheng Yu, “What do you think? If we let Zhuge Liang continue learning under Wenruo and have Pang Tong follow Gong Da, gaining experience through practical affairs, how would that be?”
Cheng Yu chuckled, “Are you planning to have the younger generation replace the old one sooner?”
Qiao Yan coughed, striving to appear innocent, claiming she wasn’t in such a rush.
Succession, or rather competition between the generations, was merely a way to put it.
Currently, she was still quite in need of assistance, so regardless, she wouldn’t expedite the changeover.
Besides, she expected Cheng Yu to work for her until he reached eighty years of age, just like in history.
If it needed to be noted, Xu Shu had indeed graduated under Cheng Yu’s guidance, but he hadn’t replaced Cheng Yu’s position, had he?
“It’s just healthy competition,” she replied.
This couldn’t help but evoke thoughts after Li Ru and Jia Xu’s reported decision of having each bring a disciple to her.
Plus, with Pang Tong looking seemingly silent and inconspicuous at first glance but revealing sharpness when discussing his ideas, he also had a knack for military strategies—he bore some resemblance to Xun You.
After all, two years were afforded to him and Zhuge Liang for further knowledge accumulation—should Qiao Yan need to adjust any immediate decisions, it wouldn’t be too late.
But no matter how she looked at it, she felt that having Xun Yu mentor Zhuge Liang while Xun You mentored Pang Tong would make for a fascinating contest.
And when Pang Tong’s introduction leads to the recruitment of Jingxiang scholars, it would likely reshuffle a portion of her power in her ranks.
But she knew all too well the severe consequences of Yuan Shao’s lax competition among various factions of scholars—she must be vigilant about these developments beforehand.
Moreover, in the current situation, her own decisions regarding broader strategies were validated by one success after another; these scholars had plenty besides strategy that needed their attention; she was young enough and didn’t need to fret over succession issues—
Securing a voice in one side’s power was secondary.
Defeating their opponents and crafting her own achievements were far more crucial.
Cheng Yu agreed with Qiao Yan’s view on healthy competition.
With internal potentials competing and boosting strength, they could become a nightmare for opponents when united.
However—
“Does that mean Pang Tong would be at a generational disadvantage compared to Zhuge Liang?”
After all, Xun You was the nephew of Xun Yu.
Qiao Yan waved her hand, “If we must label it that way, let’s just add a Poetry Classics class under the guidance of Master Ciming for them.”
Xun Shuang was still in Chang’an, but due to his titular position as a Golden Purple Grandee being a fake one, he was soon to set off for Leping.
Since Xun Shuang didn’t want to be idle either, Qiao Yan had agreed with him to open a course at Leping.
With Xun Shuang’s achievements in classics, he could offer many subjects, but some were still a bit too advanced for the students at Leping Academy.
Moreover, it was best not to overlap with Zheng Xuan’s or Cai Yong’s classes, which would effectively reduce the teaching time and workload of these three.
After negotiations between her and Xun Shuang, the course was ultimately determined to be Poetry Classics.
Before being forcibly conscripted by Dong Zhuo, Xun Shuang wrote a work called “Poetry Transmission,” which was his commentary version on the Poetry Classics.
Not to mention, Xun Shuang’s achievements in the Book of Changes were especially outstanding, and he even built a new framework by incorporating some Yin-Yang theories, but there was still Zheng Xuan in the vicinity, who was also a master of the Book of Changes.
This kind of in-depth discussions should better be reserved for their own students, rather than forcing Leping Academy’s students to listen to one version of Yi at one time and another version the next.
Qiao Yan had it tough.
She dreaded showing up for inspections at Leping Academy to find the two old gentlemen clashing, and it’d be awkward to pick sides.
Dissecting Poetry Classics was much safer.
Having Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang still attend Xun Shuang’s class counted as half a mentor-student relationship; if they truly had one mentoring Xun You and another mentoring Xun Yu, they’d each focus on their own.
After hearing Qiao Yan say this, Cheng Yu had nothing additional to remind her of.
He reported to Qiao Yan about the recent statistics on farming households ahead of spring plowing, farmland demarcation, and agricultural tool lessons, then prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to rise, Qiao Yan summoned her attendant to call “Yuan Feng” over for a moment.
Cheng Yu was aware of Yuan Feng’s true identity.
He knew that Qiao Yan wasn’t planning to directly expose Tian Feng’s identity at this point, so clearly, summoning him wasn’t about stripping away his disguise.
Thinking that, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Tian Feng.
But he thought and thought, yet sat back down immediately.
Looking into Qiao Yan’s playful gaze, Cheng Yu calmly replied, “Let me see if this Mr. Tian Yuanhao has the potential to become my colleague.”
Qiao Yan felt that he might run off due to the pressure before becoming a colleague, but she also accepted Cheng Yu’s choice to observe.
Fortunately, Tian Feng indeed had experience with big events in Hebei, so he settled into Qiao Yan’s office, hearing her praise his record-keeping efficiency, only to respond, “You flatter me, my lady. I’m merely writing down what I hear. If you made me vocalize it, I’d probably just go mute.”
Qiao Yan replied, “You’re just being overly modest.”
“`
“Wow, it’s amazing you can take notes that fast and without a hitch! You must be some kind of genius!”
Tian Feng nearly cracked a smile, but he managed to keep his serious face on despite the sudden bombshell thrown at him.
Still, his mind was spiraling with thoughts of being found out until Qiao Yan asked, “With such talent, it would be a waste to just be a recorder. If not for the debate I came to see, I might have missed you entirely. You say you lack skills, but if given a chance for systematic learning, would you be interested?”
As his heart raced, Qiao Yan scanned him up and down, continuing, “They say age comes with wisdom, and you’re hardly old enough to be called that, at least not compared to Mr. Yuan Fang. Anyway, you’re both at Hongwen Hall now, why not learn a thing or two from him while he recruits talent?”
“Mr. Yuan Fang is already over sixty; I’d like to find him a subordinate. Since you work with him at Hongwen Hall, you can learn from him and lend a helping hand. What do you think?”
Tian Feng felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him.
Who would have thought he’d just wanted to sneak into a farm tool shop as a simple worker?
Why did every step he took have to feel like a fabled adventure?
It all started with him being randomly picked by the lucky Zhang Niujiao, probably due to his sheer luck.
Then he got swept up in the emperor’s ascendancy and followed Minister Ling Tai to Chang’an.
With the newly established Hongwen Hall, he ended up here as a transferred hand.
Now, thanks to the showdown between Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, he found himself aptly taking notes, and suddenly he’s being sent off to assist Chen Ji!
He worried that if this trend continued, before Yuan Shao showed up to take him back, he might accidentally end up as the head of Hongwen Hall…
But thinking it over, with just his note-taking talents, it seemed highly unlikely he could replace Chen Ji, so he brushed away that thought.
Well, it wasn’t the time to worry about future developments; he should focus on how to respond to Qiao Yan’s “What do you think?” question.
Tian Feng really wanted to refuse.
But then again, Chen Ji held the esteemed position of Grand Minister in Chang’an, and as a subordinate, he was still under Liu Yu’s trusted aide, Qi Zhou.
Anyone would agree this job was perfectly tailored for someone like Chen Ji, showcasing how much Liu Yu and Qiao Yan thought of him.
If he hesitated even a moment to respond, it would seem like a slight to Chen Ji.
Becoming Chen Ji’s assistant could also keep him low-profile, while refusing the offer would likely get his background fully aired out.
He forced a smile and replied, “Being valued by you, my lord, truly is a blessing. But if the Grand Minister’s matters are hectic, I wouldn’t want to intrude; I could simply be a clerk.”
Qiao Yan didn’t press him, saying, “Then focus on learning as much as you can from him.”
Tian Feng left, feeling relieved.
However, on his way back to Hongwen Hall, he couldn’t help considering just bailing out completely.
Given his current position, slipping into the Chang’an market might be quite feasible.
But just as he entertained that idea, he ran into Xun Yu, who happened to emerge from a nearby office and immediately called him over to help carry a few ancient texts to the reading area at Hongwen Hall.
Recognizing Tian Feng first and relaying the info to Qiao Yan, Xun Yu quickly found an excuse to keep him there.
In fact, he even added another person to help carry the books, claiming they had too many to handle.
Tian Feng: “…”
Staring at Xun Yu’s composed and graceful face, he couldn’t spot any hidden intentions, questioning whether he was overthinking things.
Maybe he was just imagining things.
When he returned to the entrance of Hongwen Hall with the books in hand, he saw that the area had been cleared for the decorative couplets. Once Qiao Yan’s twelve characters were ready, they’d hang there.
Thinking of Qiao Yan’s line “Chatting and laughing like talented scholars, gracefully passing like dragons,” Tian Feng couldn’t help but sigh.
Oh, dear lord… with an emperor at the helm, why did the situation in Chang’an contrast so sharply with Ye City?
But before he could finish his sigh, Chen Ji called for him.
To Tian Feng’s eyes, the old gentleman hardly fit the description of someone needing an assistant because he was too old, as Qiao Yan suggested.
Upon hearing that Qiao Yan would have Tian Feng shadow him, Chen Ji exclaimed, “That’s great! Just look at the current bunch hanging around in Hongwen Hall; some of them are worse than those two kids today. Once I teach you, you can start…”
Recently, with Qiao Yan promising to have his work “Chen Zi” copied multiple times on mulberry bark paper, Chen Ji felt rejuvenated, strutting around like he owned the place.
But why was Qiao Yan assigning him a disciple over forty? After glancing at the “motley crew” in Hongwen Hall, he boldly declared, “Let’s take on a battle of wits!”
Tian Feng decided he’d start working out with these officials in Chang’an to find a chance to escape!
Comparatively, Liu Ru had it much easier being a scholar in someone else’s territory.
First, he mentored Qiao Ting on piecing together fragmented info, then taught her how to discreetly share news with those who needed to know.
After finishing, he began his morning practice of the Five Animals Play in the courtyard.
When Qi Zhou woke up, he caught a glimpse of Liu Ru wrapping up, looking quite composed and at ease.
Having spent several days together, Qi Zhou had adjusted to Liu Ru’s demeanor, yet couldn’t help but remind him as he passed, “Tomorrow’s the decree announcement; put on a serious face, we don’t want the people of Yizhou laughing at us.”
Liu Ru leisurely replied, “Rest assured, I’ve named myself with a bright character in my style to remind me to stay clear-headed when the time calls for it. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Besides, why would he be the one getting laughed at?
Clearly, there were others targeted for that honor.
The capable individual identified by Liu Ru and Qiao Ting happened to be Zhao Wei, who had received unexpected news from their insider at the relay station yesterday —
Liu Yan’s elevation to Grand General wasn’t merely a gesture of goodwill from the Chang’an court; it was a mutual decision.
He was planning to send his young son to Chang’an as a hostage to secure an alliance with the court.
Chang’an accepted his goodwill, thus returning the favor.
The reason he only needed to send his little son was that compared to Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, Liu Yan had been exceptionally well-behaved.
At most, Zhang Lu stirred up a little trouble in Liangzhou.
Overall, Liu Yan didn’t seek to rebel, didn’t support the court of Ye City, plus he was kin to the Han Dynasty.
Considering the transactions that would need to continue between the two regions, harsh restrictions weren’t necessary.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wei’s face fell.
Sending the little son to Chang’an as a hostage?
That might not be too difficult for Liu Yan, but for Zhao Wei, it was a different story!
Over the past few years, Liu Yan’s favoritism toward the Eastern Region’s scholars had become painfully evident.
Had the people of Yizhou expended so much effort to keep him comfy in Chengdu? Didn’t that count for anything?
If not for Dong Fu alerting Liu Yan of Yizhou’s potential, he might have already become the Governor of Jiaozhou.
And if it weren’t for their support, Liu Yan would have likely been devoured by the southern barbarians, rebels, and local tyrants before he could gather his Eastern Region troops.
No one does that to a trusted ally!
If it weren’t for the arrow wound Liu Yan had, which the doctor Zhao Wei bribed had predicted would worsen in another year or two, and the fact that he coincidentally had a son who got along with the Yizhou scholars, Zhao Wei would have warned Liu Yan a while ago.
But now… now he wanted to send Liu Zhang to Chang’an?
After learning that the envoy coming to Yizhou for the decree had made special visits to Liu Yan’s sons, and after observing Liu Ru frequently attending the Shu embroidery shops and taverns, inquiring about grain yields, Zhao Wei became even more convinced of this news.
This situation is really bad.
Once Liu Yan’s eldest son, Liu Fan, takes over, he would undoubtedly follow Liu Yan’s every command.
The scale of the Eastern Region’s forces was growing, controlling the crucial access points in Yizhou.
Yet some of the Yizhou people hadn’t quite caught on to Liu Yan’s machinations, instead rallying around him, becoming obstacles to their own interests.
This left him with only Liu Zhang as an opportunity.
But just the thought of Liu Zhang potentially being whisked away after tomorrow’s decree announcement, rendering all his hard work over the last six months futile, set his heart racing with anxiety.
No way, he couldn’t let that happen!
He needed a way to turn the tide!
