Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 540: Sea Falcon

In late February, the weather had already begun to warm up. In the hall behind the Government Office, three people were discussing the imperial examination.

After some deliberation, Chen Mo said, "Mr. Geng, you have previously served as the County Magistrate of Wutai County in Gaozhou and are quite familiar with the North, so you’ll be in charge as the chief examiner for the northern exams. As for the other examiners, you can select them yourself."

"Understood." Geng Songfu bowed with cupped hands. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Duke Chen, for this major examination, undoubtedly, more individuals from the southern crown prince lineage will participate, and their talents are somewhat superior. We can allocate more admission slots for the provincial exams of Huai and Lin States, and as for the southern exam topics, they will be left to you and Lord Zuo, who has not yet arrived," said Chen Mo.

Chen Cultivator nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of his responsibility, as this was the first reinstated examination since the hiatus of the sixth year of Xuanhe and he was the chief official for the Qing, Yu, Lin, and Huai Four States, attracting the attention of scholars from across the nation.

If this examination was managed well, he would be esteemed by countless scholars and recorded with admiration in future histories.

If poorly managed, it would also tarnish his reputation.

It could be said that for Chen Cultivator, the outcome of this examination was a shared honor and disgrace.

Chen Mo stood up and bowed to the two of them, saying, "This examination must succeed, there is no room for failure, I trouble both of you...

Saying this, Chen Mo shifted his tone and said, "I’ve arranged for Wei Linchun to find a residence in the west of the city. For the next few months until the provincial exam concludes, you both will need to stay there without leaving. Of course, I will have people deliver daily necessities. If there’s anything lacking, feel free to inform the guards outside."

Chen Cultivator and Geng Songfu quickly stood up as well, bowing even lower than Chen Mo, saying in unison, "We will not fail Duke An’s trust."

As for Chen Mo’s instruction to remain in the residence until the provincial exam concludes, both understood.

This was to prevent premature leaks of the exam topics.

Previously, when the Court held the imperial examinations, it was even stricter than this.

After finishing the discussions on the examinations, Chen Cultivator withdrew.

Geng Songfu remained, discussing the matter of Fengzhou with Chen Mo.

"According to reports from scouts ahead, Prince Huai retreated with only a few thousand personal soldiers from Fengzhou. I suspect he likely sought refuge with King Chong," said Geng Songfu.

Chen Mo nodded, "Prince Huai’s two failed surprise attacks on Huai State resulted in the death of his top general, Chu Ce, and the near total annihilation of his army. He surely cannot hold Fengzhou any longer, leaving him with only two choices, to surrender or leave Fengzhou. Prince Huai despises me and certainly won’t surrender."

"After all, they are members of the Imperial Family, so if Prince Huai sought refuge with King Chong, it must have been with King Anping’s tacit approval, otherwise, he couldn’t reach Chongzhou," Geng Songfu stated.

After all, if Prince Huai wanted to reach Chongzhou, he could only pass through King Anping’s fief in Yan State.

"King Anping doesn’t need to be considered for now; he’s a ’peacemonger’, neither supporting anyone nor offending anyone. Currently, the threats to me are only King Chong and Lu Sheng of Huainan." In front of Geng Songfu, Chen Mo did not hide his ambitions.

Having followed Chen Mo for so long, Geng Songfu was well aware of this and asked, "When does Duke An plan to take over Fengzhou?"

After the Chen Army of Huai State devastatingly defeated the Huai Army, they didn’t advance into Fengzhou because Chen Mo was in the north at the time and the Jin Xia Army in Yu State had not yet withdrawn, making it unsuitable to proceed.

When Chen Mo returned, it was right after the New Year, and with the cold weather, the matter was put on hold.

"Soon." Chen Mo planned to head to Huai State after Han Anniang gave birth, overseeing the operation to enter Fengzhou.

...

River Sea, Chaoping County, at the Nangong family’s port—Chaoping Port.

The Nangong Family, who relied on seafaring for their wealth, had accumulated riches over nearly a century that even the Xiao Family in Jiangnan couldn’t match. Otherwise, they couldn’t have singlehandedly supported the water forces of the Celestial Master Army back then, though their historical heritage wasn’t deep enough.

Before the Nangong Family, Chaoping Port was merely a marshy area overgrown with weeds.

Later, under the development of the Nangong Family, this place became an excellent port for mooring boats, with advantages like storm protection, easy access, and significant depth and width, with the port stretching about ten li from east to west and over twenty li from north to south.

The waters were vast, with building structures densely aligned around.

Until today, the waters were always bustling with sails and masts, but now it seemed empty, with the Nangong family’s people and workers ready to unload goods gathered at the dock.

Today was the day for the Nangong family’s fleet to return.

Every return of the fleet was a triumphant one, with goods on board valued at no less than one million taels.

It could be said that the entire populace of Chaoping County subsisted by laboring for the Nangong Family.

Especially after Chen Mo secured the North, the Nangong Family emerged as the undisputed sovereign of the River Sea area, with no one daring to provoke them, not just because of their formidable strength, but also due to having Duke An as a son-in-law.

As a loud cry rang out from above.

Everyone raised their heads to see a large white bird circling the sky.

This bird, called the Sea Falcon, was considered a guardian deity in the River Sea folklore.

There was a local legend that whenever someone got lost at sea, the Sea Falcon would appear and guide them back home.

This legend was not without truth; the Sea Falcon was a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object. With wings spanning over a zhang, it possessed incredible endurance and could fly for thousands of li without eating, drinking, or stopping.

The Nangong Family had once captured one by chance and domesticated it, since then, it had always accompanied the Nangong Family’s fleet on voyages, and the servants of the Nangong Family referred to it as ’Lord of the Sea’.

"Master, it’s Lord of the Sea," said the steward of the Nangong Family to Nangong Jin.

Meanwhile, there was a commotion at the port, as members of the Nangong family exclaimed, "The fleet has returned."

Off in the distance, over the ocean’s horizon, a cluster of black dots appeared; as these dots moved closer to the port, it became clear they were in fact a fleet of enormous warships lined up, sailing across the vast sea, cutting through the waves, delivering a powerful visual impact.

However, as the fleet drew nearer, Nangong Jin furrowed his brow, noticing something was amiss.

He observed that several of the large ships bore signs of repair, with some vessels even missing their sails.

Moreover, if his memory served him right.

When they set out to sea, there were far more ships; the ones he saw now were at least thirty percent fewer than when they departed.

"Why are the ships damaged?"

"Could they have encountered pirates along the way?"

"But weren’t there eight thousand navy soldiers escorting them? What pirate would dare?"

"..."

Soon, more and more people noticed the anomaly of the fleet.

As the fleet reached the port, it became apparent that many people aboard were injured.