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“Are you sure they won’t be too lively?”
As the ship officially left the harbor, changing course from east to north, the young folks aboard, who had been standing still at the bow, suddenly turned into a bunch of jumping beans.
Jumping around might just be the perfect description by Gan Ning of the girl, Lu Lingju.
These teens had already inquired about everything from the ship’s structure to the crew’s background before sailing, but now that they were really at sea, the experience felt nothing like what they had during the test sail on the Yangtze River, which sparked a whole new sense of novelty for them.
What a truly “vibrant” sight it was!
If Gan Ning claimed he felt no novelty, that would be pure self-deception. After all, there were over three thousand people under his command on this ship, and as their leader, he had to exude some degree of authority. They couldn’t all be acting like a bunch of callow youths.
Just as he was about to ask Tai Shici about this, he heard Lu Lingju’s voice pop up from the upper deck, saying, “Gan Xingba, the lord said that you should do what befits your age. Experience everything so you won’t be easily fooled in the future.”
“Adapting to this sea voyage is just right; in a day or two, they won’t be so enthusiastic about it and will act all steady, not holding us back from tackling Gongsun Du’s matters.”
Then she sighed, “Ah, only youth can feel this way; I guess you wouldn’t understand.”
Gan Ning: “…”
It sounded like she was dissing him not just about age but implying that only youths who’ve experienced everything wouldn’t get played.
Was she saying he got fooled onto this boat because he lacked experiences when he was younger?
She was waiting here, ready to get back at him for laughing at them leaving Lu Yi behind!
Just as he was about to head over to argue with her, Tai Shici stepped in and stopped him, and when he looked up, Lu Lingju had already vanished.
“Alright, they’re just messing around, but they know their limits,” Tai Shici said, smiling at the spirited teens.
Although they seemed curious and retained some childlike innocence, even choosing the warriors for the sea outing based on past fortunes, they weren’t truly dropping the ball on any major matters.
Take the number of soldiers onboard headed for Liaodong, for example.
Out of the twenty ships, the two main vessels were standard large ships, just as Qiao Yan had mentioned, and the others were small warships. With large ships holding three thousand and small ships holding five hundred, their whole operation could muster up to fifteen thousand people.
That number might be tough to gather quietly in Xuzhou and Yang Province, but by leveraging the conflicts in northern and southern Xuzhou, they could shelter some refugees on the ships, making it not impossible. Yet these youngsters still decided on a mission roster of two thousand five hundred.
Sure, having more people could intimidate Gongsun Du and allow for flexible deployments, but it would also increase food logistics pressure and risk leaking their plans for this northeastern raid.
Two thousand five hundred men plus the two big and eighteen small ships was the most suitable number they settled on.
They had already reported this figure to Qiao Yan upon arriving in Xuzhou and actually meeting the ships.
Besides, regarding where they were landing in Liaodong, they had run countless simulations over the years and debated Gongsun Du’s potential responses to ensure their far-reaching strike would leave no room for errors.
Tai Shici felt that their small test in Xuzhou shouldn’t give them delusions of grandeur, thinking they could toy with the prominent figures just because they were young.
It stemmed from Guan Yu’s escape from a trap and Pang Tong not encountering any enemies, solidifying their belief—
That so-called perfect plan didn’t exist; real operations faced various unexpected situations, making it impossible to achieve perfection.
Considering this was their only chance to intimidate Gongsun Du, they had to be extra cautious to meet Qiao Yan’s and Leping Academy’s expectations.
If one had to point out a tiny flaw in their journey, well, it was that—
They almost left Lu Yi behind at the harbor, abandoning their buddy.
That’s all there was to it.
It wasn’t a matter of great importance.
Seeing the lingering worry on Gan Ning’s face, Tai Shici said, “I’ve been under the lord’s command for over two years, and I still haven’t made any achievements. If I can’t pull off a great success on this trip to Liaodong, I’ll lose all face to lead the Divine Bow camp. If these kids screw up, I’ll be ten times more anxious than you, and I won’t flatter or praise them just because of their pedigree. I’m sure you understand that.”
Tai Shici could tell that Qiao Yan bringing Gan Ning here was due to his competence in managing shallow-water ships and superior combat skills at sea.
This was to ensure the opponent’s combat potential during ship deployment while also allowing future orders regarding Gan Ning, thus displaying their prowess during this sea voyage and bringing him fully under their command.
From now on, they would be colleagues, and he had to clear up Gan Ning’s confusion.
Besides, Gan Ning, despite his reckless vibe, wasn’t a complete oaf.
Since that’s the case, this pre-sailing phase was the perfect time for him, Gan Ning, and the youths to bond and truly begin to cooperate.
Just as Tai Shici finished speaking, Zhuge Liang called out from the upper deck, “Could the two generals come up so we can discuss the situation on the Changshan Islands? Once we check the state of the ships, it’ll be time to talk business.”
This voyage was set for quite some time, and Lu Lingju’s playful antics, while seemingly random, also allowed the crew and soldiers on board to adjust to her presence and small-scale operations.
During this surprise check, the ship crews from Hanzhong and Xuzhou, along with the soldiers sent from Qiao Yan, could be assessed clearly for their adaptability.
The lord is right; people should do what’s appropriate for their age, and everyone has their way of handling things.
She was no exception.
Sea voyages could really make one feel both anxious about the ever-changing waves and full of heroic spirit from the grandeur of it all.
As she returned to the big ship from a nearby small warship, she glanced back at the now-fuzzy shoreline, unable to distinguish Xuzhou’s scenery. All she could see was this sea waves embracing a full-fledged armed force heading north.
At this moment, she felt that the ambition to surpass her father might have slipped away.
She and Lü Bu had their own paths to earn battle honors.
So she had her own way to face the challenges ahead.
“Do you think they can successfully fulfill the lord’s expectations?” Lu Lingju asked her sister Qiao Ting, who couldn’t see the Xuzhou shore.
Two years earlier, when the governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, passed away, and Ze Rong the bandit stirred chaos in Xuzhou, the two sisters had received Qiao Yan’s mandate to stir up a big show down here, allowing Qiao Yan to gain profit and establish a foothold in southern Xuzhou.
Thanks to their clever manipulations, the two sisters didn’t reveal their true identities in this place.
To this location, they were still two merchants who had arrived from the direction of Yizhou, occasionally coming to Xuzhou for business.
Even with Jia Xu and Pang Tong giving Zhang Yi battle guidance, it seemed they weren’t too much needed on this side, but the military base at Hailing already represented control over Xuzhou and served as the launch site for their expedition to Liaodong, along with surveillance over Yang Province.
If Zhang Yang’s earlier management of the shipbuilding and cooperation with Zhang Yi were for the first two purposes, then the Qiao sisters weren’t completely disconnected from their involvement, which meant Qiao Yan had high hopes for the two of them in the third aspect.
Meanwhile, the situation in Xuzhou had shifted with the Northern forces taking the initiative, breaking the balance. On the Yang Province side, how could Sun Ce’s assassination and his ensuing purge of the Yang clan not create opportunities for maneuvering?
Two merchants who had already established a bit of influence in Xuzhou would logically extend their power toward Yang Province; from a business perspective, this didn’t seem far-fetched.
But before throwing themselves into the chaos in Yang Province, the sisters first made a trip to Xuzhou to meet Jia Xu, the cunning strategist. After getting some useful advice from him, they sent off the teenagers setting sail at the edge of the shoreline of Hailing County in Xuzhou.
Of course, the departing kids were unaware of this send-off, and it was just the two sisters watching those ships set off.
Seeing the departure, knowing that all factions under Qiao Yan were exerting their skills, they felt a bit more confident about their next tasks.
Besides, theoretically, Yang Province was still under the jurisdiction of the Chang’an court. Even if something went amiss in their operations, it shouldn’t pose a life-threatening issue.
Nonetheless, considering Qiao Yan’s rapid advance into Yingchuan, even if she and Yuan Huan clarified that it wasn’t a predestined invasion, and that news didn’t reach Chang’an directly, the chance of being caught transmitting messages via carrier pigeons still existed.
They needed to conduct themselves carefully to avoid bringing any negative impacts to Qiao Yan.
In the sisters’ view, those twenty ships had long since vanished, leaving only the coastline battered by years of currents, with a tide retreating back into the sea. The sound of ocean waves filled the air, invoking a sense of boundless vastness.
Qiao Lan replied to Qiao Ting, “They will eventually go through storms. Just like when we came to Xuzhou, we had no idea we’d achieve such results. They too will surprise us.”
“Or maybe not just surprises. After studying long at Leping Academy, they ought to seize the opportunity to show their skills now.”
Qiao Lan often felt that the lord’s words transcended this era’s understanding, as if she was just a few steps ahead of others.
She thought that places on the Xuzhou-Yang Province shoreline that were once submerged might become land above the waves in hundreds or thousands of years as the tides receded and elevations changed.
Just as the voices submerged beneath the waves would eventually have their chance to surface.
Perhaps they were among those originally swept away.
As Lu Lingju and the others prepared to graduate, Leping Academy’s next round of recruitment had quietly begun, and the incoming freshers would not all belong to noble families.
Someone had to take the initiative and give these newcomers a chance to dig deeper later on.
So why worry about whether things will succeed?
Someone had to jump in and try boldly first.
That’s what Qiao Yan thought.
Regardless of whether Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, and who should have been the East Wu’s chief commander, Lu Yi, could deliver satisfactory results in this youth stage, she was already ready, and whatever the final outcome, would be acceptable to her.
Instead of stressing over what they might achieve, she’d rather focus her attention on the present.
On the state of Yu Province.
Having reclaimed Yingchuan, her plan to resettle the refugees from the drought and locust plague and develop their living conditions around Luoyang was now a necessity.
Only once she firmly grasped Huan Yuan Pass could she stabilize support towards Yingchuan so that Yu Province wouldn’t turn into Cao Cao’s puppet.
Friendship was one thing, and interests were quite another.
“Once we return to Sili, I’ll recommend you for the role of Prefect of Yingchuan.”
As Qiao Yan spoke to Yuan Huan, she noticed a hint of reluctance on his face. He replied, “Whether it’s out of guilt for Yuan Gonglu’s death or thinking this position should go to his son, you should let me finish.”
“Some things may not be clear to Yuan Gonglu’s son, but with you, I can explain, such as how Chang’an’s preparations for drought relief are not just this year, so I need someone who can support the people’s livelihoods in Yingchuan, not to act out some father-son inheritance drama.”
Qiao Yan had no need to elevate Yuan Yao to achieve cohesion with Yuan Shu’s remaining troops.
There was no way to gauge how many capable people were even available.
Qiao Yan’s words were quite straightforward.
But while expressing her distaste for Yuan Shu, Yuan Huan’s focus turned first to her comments about the drought lasting for years with a worried expression.
Indeed, if true, it would not bode well for the already tumultuous Yu Province!
Qiao Yan didn’t leave Yuan Huan much room to ponder and continued, “Secondly, with Yuan Gonglu’s death, the leadership of the Runan Yuan Clan will inevitably fall to Yuan Benchu. Though he had previously gained the upper hand over his brother, now it’s truly justified.”
“This means it may be challenging to reclaim Yu Province by relying on the Runan Yuan Clan’s reputation. Instead, we might as well support the Chenjun Yuan Clan. I hope you won’t mind my frankness.”
Yuan Huan shook his head, “The lord is joking. Being so direct puts my mind at ease.”
And it also made him recognize Qiao Yan’s sincerity.
He wouldn’t fail to notice Qiao Yan’s shift in support.
Someone sitting in her position couldn’t act based purely on idealistic notions, especially not when it came to appointing officials—careful consideration of interests was a must.
While the Chenjun Yuan Clan revered simplicity, self-restraint, and public service, they were hardly ineffectual in producing political results.
Otherwise, during Emperor Xuan of Han’s reign, a member of their clan wouldn’t have been accomplished enough to be titled Marquis within the walls, nor would Yuan Huan’s father have risen to the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture.
This indeed was a side with more value for Qiao Yan’s support.
This value also implied she wouldn’t casually abandon her interests in Yu Province.
That was why Yuan Huan felt assured.
Qiao Yan added, “Thirdly, during your time as Prefect of Yingchuan, I need you to maintain our relations with the families of Yingchuan.”
Between scholars and other scholars, among noble families and noble families, before her printing press could manifest enough transformative change, there were still quite clear operational unwritten rules.
Bringing in scholars from Chenjun to govern Yingchuan would undeniably be more effective than her randomly reallocating officials from Guanzhong.
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A general stationed here could do a better job, you know.
Besides, there’s this little special moment we’re at.
Qiao Yan turned to Yuan Huan and explained, “I don’t know if you remember, but by the end of this month, the two-year ban on alcohol will be lifted. However, given the natural disasters happening right now, I’d prefer to extend it for another year.”
“We both know how Yuan Gonglu has been enforcing rules around here, and I can’t pry too much into the business in Yu Province, so about Yingchuan…”
There are already a few folks in Chang’an shaking things up who have done a bit of business with her, but in Yingchuan, they’re largely still following the loose rules set by Yuan Shu, so her alcohol ban hasn’t really stretched this far.
But now, that’s about to change.
She needs Yu Province to adapt gradually; they’re going to start receiving orders from the Chang’an court. They can’t keep going along with Yuan Shu’s relaxed order anymore. She absolutely needs a Yingchuan Prefect who can clearly communicate her intentions and actually get these people to obey.
Whether others can handle it is hard to say, but Yuan Huan definitely can.
Yuan Huan understood Qiao Yan’s intent and replied, “That makes sense.”
If it weren’t for Yuan Shu just wanting the title of Prefect of Yu Province while playing both sides during the court’s weakened control over the regions, Yu Province wouldn’t be getting into such a disaster, and we wouldn’t have to witness those embarrassing army mutinies.
As Chang’an’s strategies started to show a real chance of stabilizing the situation, the actions of those enforcing the law began to make sense.
It’s true that maintaining the alcohol ban is still necessary.
At most, as resources accumulate in Chang’an, they might loosen it a bit; it wouldn’t make sense to jump back to the old ways overnight.
After all, with disasters happening, there’s just not that much grain to waste on brewing alcohol.
“And there’s one more thing that makes it even more suitable for you to take on the Yingchuan Prefect position,”
Qiao Yan continued, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed that general sent over from Nanyang to help out here. He’s not exactly young anymore, but I’ve seen his energy and impact; his management of troops is exceptional.”
There’s no doubt about Qiao Yan’s military prowess, and Yuan Huan wouldn’t dare challenge her judgment.
What Yuan Huan doesn’t know is that Qiao Yan’s assessment of Huang Zhong’s capabilities also includes consideration of this famed general’s historical achievements.
He couldn’t help but ask curiously, “If the Grand Marshal thinks he’s a gem, why not recruit him personally? Why lead me to him instead?”
Qiao Yan chuckled, “I see that Liu Jingsheng probably sent him to Yu Province as a bit of an assignment, which doesn’t necessarily mean he’s in a favorable position. However, since Huang is loyal to Liu Jingsheng, my approach could lead to recruitment, or at least, let Liu Jingsheng know I’m up to something.”
“If I were to take the commander he sent to Yu Province, imagine how he’d be thinking about fighting his way to safety!”
It was all said with a hint of teasing, yet strangely, Yuan Huan felt no arrogance in her tone; it was oddly reminiscent of the reassurance he felt when she suddenly came to the rescue in Linying.
Qiao Yan added, “Let’s not put too much pressure on him right now; let you slowly get to know General Huang. With the drought being a pressing issue, there’s really no need to mobilize troops unnecessarily. Gathering commanders for personal use at this point would be a bit wasteful.”
If Qiao Yan wasn’t surprised or pleased with Huang Zhong’s emergence, she’d be lying through her teeth, but some things just need to be taken slowly.
Yuan Huan nodded, signaling he understood Qiao Yan’s reasoning.
With these four reasons in mind, it was clear why she insisted Yuan Huan become the Yingchuan Prefect.
Yuan Huan wasn’t someone who couldn’t handle a situation.
If this weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have thought about disregarding Yuan Shu’s strategies when sent to confront Liu Bei’s forces.
Even though he was seen as Yuan Shu’s strategist, would he really struggle if he were to step into the position of Yingchuan Prefect?
He had enough family background and personal capability for the job, and he thought if he got support from Chang’an in following laws and adapting to the situation, he could really stand up to the responsibilities of managing the local populace.
Qiao Yan added, “I initially intended to appoint Zilong to the position of Jingzhaoyin, aiming to help him showcase his military might, but now I plan to adjust it to take the title of Jianwei General stationed in Luoyang.”
With this last bit, Yuan Huan’s remaining concerns were put to rest.
He replied, “With General Zilong in Luoyang, I doubt many troops from Yanzhou would dare to recklessly move into Yu Province, and we might still have a chance to push back into Runan in the future.”
Yet, that was easier said than done, and this was simply Yuan Huan’s way of expressing loyalty to Qiao Yan.
What made it easier for Yuan Huan to take the position of Yingchuan Prefect was that Yuan Yao didn’t voice any objections to Qiao Yan’s proposal of taking him along to Chang’an with Liu Qi; in fact, he seemed quite eager to leave Yu Province.
“If Yuan Yao were a minor lord with real potential, I might be a bit worried, but it seems unnecessary now,” Qiao Yan remarked after sending Yuan Yao off to pack.
With someone as straightforward as Dian Wei, he wouldn’t think much about the deeper meanings in Qiao Yan’s words.
This moment, he thought, was quite fortunate for Zhao Yun, who had spent a long time alongside Qiao Yan. If he were to receive a general’s title now, that would truly be a matter to celebrate; on the flip side, if this Jianwei title turns out to be more significant than his own Yamen General title, he might consider requesting a change.
Though he had these thoughts, he knew Qiao Yan had already done him a great favor; hearing her say those lines, he could only respond, “That lad might’ve been dreaming of Chang’an since he admired the scenic new roads last time, just itching to enjoy it every day!”
Seeing Qiao Yan glance at him with a warning look to stop rambling, he corrected himself, “You know it’s best to know your place. Maybe it’s because he was scared out of his wits by the rapid attack in Pingyu, thinking it’s better to take a secure job than risk everything.”
Yuan Yao really was thinking along those lines.
He was brought out from the other end, narrowly escaping a death sentence; in his relief, he didn’t want to go through any more scares.
Last time he enjoyed such fortune wouldn’t guarantee him another shot at it!
Who knows if he’ll follow his father’s tragic path?
He also realized he didn’t have the guts to hold down a fort somewhere, so he thought rather than be seen as a target, it’d be wiser to make himself a well-off recluse while the Chang’an court possibly felt guilty about not saving his father.
Why did Qiao Yan insist on having Yuan Huan stay in Yingchuan?
Wasn’t Yuan Huan already here assisting with disaster response? There was nothing more to discuss; just let him carry on!
As Qiao Yan announced their journey from Yingchuan, Yuan Yao, barring any need to carry Yuan Shu’s coffin, would’ve left way before Qiao Yan’s advance party.
However, what he didn’t expect was that he thought he would be personally escorted to Chang’an by the Grand Marshal, have an audience with the Son of Heaven, and perhaps even find a suitable burial site for his father in the city as a way for the court to express sympathy towards him, the orphan following Yuan Shu’s former title of Prefect of Yu Province.
The reality was quite different—
Qiao Yan didn’t go straight back to Chang’an with the troops but had to stay behind to discuss the rebuilding of Luoyang with Sima Fan, while also taking in the local residents who had planned to move away due to disasters. Dian Wei was assigned to escort Yuan Yao to Chang’an.
This was nothing like the treatment he expected.
But curiously, Qiao Yan had her reasons: as per her explanations, entering Tong Pass would also involve sending along a justification for the military situation in Yu Province, so he wouldn’t have to speak on it personally.
It certainly seemed justified to remain there, as it saved him from having to go back to Chang’an to report.
“Was that your only reason?”
Guo Jia, who had run back after delivering news to the court and obtaining marching orders, arrived having missed the earlier drama between Qiao Yan and Cao Mengde but now had a part in handling the aftermath.
Even if he missed the fireworks, he wasn’t late for the cleanup, and he turned to Qiao Yan saying, “I’d say three purposes.”
“Your meeting with Cao Mengde was partly to stabilize the Yu Province situation quickly and limit casualties amidst a drought, but it does come off a bit presumptuous, like you were naming your territory without asking. If you waltz back to Chang’an afterward, you’d surely hear some grumbling.”
“As for that young Yuan fellow heading to Chang’an, it’s obviously a way to diminish the Yuan family’s grip on power, preventing the heirs of those four esteemed families from taking any position in the capital. Of course, some might see that as you keeping him at bay, which is also a chance to see how many fools there are in Chang’an.”
“Lastly, Sima Jian’s a capable guy; he definitely has an eye for talent, yet he seems a bit outside looking in. Now that his second son’s gone with your flotilla to Liaodong, it’s high time he got closer to you. And with him supporting the troops sent to Yingchuan, he’d be a good chance to have a word.”
Qiao Yan smirked slightly, “True, those three can definitely be counted. But you missed one thing.”
She paused in front of the long-abandoned Southern Palace in Luoyang, pushed open that little door she once used to find the Imperial Seal and look for Liu Bian and Yuan Ji, and walked down that slightly overgrown path, heading south toward Lantai and Yutang Hall.
When she had come to Luoyang after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, she had a crucial meeting with Liu Hong here, which now felt like a distant memory.
She was no longer that Marquis of Leping who needed to tread carefully to gain the emperor’s trust; now she was a player in this swirling tide of the times.
Amongst the chaos of war and disaster, this was precisely the right time for her to take the next step forward.
And she wasn’t planning to set up a mini-court in Luoyang while letting Liu Yu rule Chang’an, nor was she trying to intimidate Yanzhou or Ye City from here; rather, she had already decided to push for the large-scale printing of the “Emergency Compilation” as the first official text, which was nearing execution.
Even though this had already been agreed upon with everyone involved, she could bet there would still be some sort of whining when it was time for implementation, potentially suggesting that it undermined their interests.
“We can utilize the larger population around Luoyang to help restore livelihoods here, while serving as a special trial site for the “Emergency Compilation.” On the flip side, we’ll let the Chang’an court know that if anyone has issues with my decisions, they can come to Luoyang and speak to me directly.”
Guo Jia replied, “So they have two options: either they recognize that now is not the time to bother you about something so significant and hold back their grievances, or they…”
Qiao Yan suddenly motioned for him to hush, “This is something only the heavens, the earth, you, and I need to know; no need to say it out loud.”
This setup could potentially trigger some internal rifts at a specific moment, but who knows when that might crop up?
From the establishment of the Chang’an court to now, more than two years had passed.
Perhaps back in the beginning, they thought they could stabilize matters through her capabilities and snatch back the rightful authority from the Ye City court.
But being human, greed is inevitable.
Qiao Yan wielded power that went beyond even the three dukes, so how could she not raise suspicions?
This sort of internal conflict was bound to arise in the development process; the only difference is how quick it would come.
In that case, why not let it unfold in the direction she needed?
When she tossed one bait after another into the Chang’an pressure cooker, she would see who would react differently, allowing her team to catch the details in the gradual triggers.
This was certainly more advantageous than an unexpected outburst.
Upon hearing that, Guo Jia promptly shut his mouth, deciding not to continue discussing that topic.
Suddenly, it struck him as he glanced around, “Speaking of which, during Dong Zhuo’s uprising years ago, compounded by the palace changes before he arrived, the Han’s Imperial Seal went missing. After all these years, no one has revealed its whereabouts. I wonder where it could be.”
“Zhang Rang did earn the favor of Emperor Xiaoling, but really, he got what he deserved. When Emperor Xiaoling died, it felt like the Imperial Seal was buried with him.”
Qiao Yan replied, “It might appear one day, but as long as it doesn’t show up in Ye City, that’s good news for us.”
She certainly couldn’t tell Guo Jia she hid it long ago, using it to trade for agricultural techniques.
Whether it ever sees the light of day in Luoyang is a big unknown, so she might as well think of it as a secret only known to the heavens and earth.
Besides, given the current situation, hard power is what matters. If the Imperial Seal were to surface now, it might help lessen the downsides because she had Liu Yu as a cover but could also lead others to believe the Han Dynasty could still continue.
Why should she bother taking such a thankless risk?
At that moment, she couldn’t help but think that Cao Cao had truly done her a huge favor.
With Yuan Shu’s demise and the loss of most of Yu Province’s territory, it turns out the title of Prefect of Yu from the Chang’an court wasn’t a surefire lifeline; meanwhile, her three provinces were still steadily developing.
How could this not be a case of mutual ups and downs?
She lifted her gaze to the remnants of the fire-scorched plaque still hanging over Yutang Hall, barely legible now, and said, “Let’s keep this place sealed for now and rebuild a base of operations in the old location of the Imperial Academy.”
“Years ago, carriages were bustling through the Academy grounds; now, I hope the tens of thousands living in Luoyang will be the ones frequenting this place.”
