Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 525 - 475: Recruiting

In the courtyard of the Governor Mansion, Xi Yangyu was having a drink with Prince Yue, Li Hui.

"...During my early years of travel, I once stayed overnight in a remote mountain in Jing Country. In my dream, I saw a creature as large as an elephant but with a short snout like a pig’s. Its teeth resembled saw blades, and when it spoke, it would turn its entire body inside out through its mouth. Now that I think about it, it might have been a ’Tuan’ mentioned in ’The Book of Changes’. The Tuan text refers to the great symbol (the hexagram itself), and the Yao text to the lesser symbols (the individual lines)—the image being a representation of myriad things.

"’The Hesitation’ is an exotic beast that has been extinct for many years. It was very timid and would be startled by the slightest rustle of leaves. Consequently, it would climb to the treetops daily to look around and ensure there was no danger before climbing down. Still feeling insecure, it would climb up again. Its constant indecisiveness is why the term ’to hesitate’ came into being. Fortunately, in my early years, I acquired a piece of its leather from a merchant in Zhou Kingdom.

"If Your Highness is interested, once the plague subsides, I will send it to the Prince Manor."

With a graceful demeanor, Xi Yangyu fanned himself and spoke eloquently, moving from Mind Study to Daoist scriptures, and then from Daoist scriptures to Exotic Beasts.

Li Hui, always with a smile, occasionally nodded and responded, "That would be much appreciated, Mr. Xi."

"Chatting with Mr. Xi always broadens my horizons. If only I weren’t burdened by this princely identity, I’d wish to traverse the world as the inspectors do."

"Traveling the world has its pros and cons. With venomous creatures, wild beasts, and evil cultivators, the dangers are still too great."

Xi Yangyu laughed. "Your Highness, as a Prince, you nominally govern Xiangzhou as its Governor-General and are the military commander of the seven prefectures of Du Xiang, Wey, Li, Wei, Ming, Xing, and Bei. You hold high authority and an esteemed position.

"A gentleman does not stand beneath a collapsing wall. Such matters should be left to your subordinates."

"Master, your words are identical to those of the old master in my manor."

Li Hui gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Perhaps these years in the Academic Palace were the happiest and freest days of my life."

Upon hearing this, Xi Yangyu’s eyes twitched slightly, but he merely sighed softly.

Li Hui casually picked up a porcelain wine cup from the table, admiring its pattern, and suddenly said, "Mr. Xi, you are exceptionally knowledgeable. During my time overseeing the military in Xiangzhou, I chanced upon a folk tale."

"Oh?"

Xi Yangyu forced a smile. "What is it?"

"It concerns the era of Former Sui. At that time, the governor of Ye City, Yu Chijiong, was wild and unrestrained. He plotted to coerce the common people and soldiers of Ye City into a rebellion. Eventually, his plot was uncovered, and Ye City was burned to the ground by the Former Sui court. The people of Ye City were subsequently relocated to Xiangzhou.

"This matter is fraught with doubt. How could Yu Chijiong, merely a governor, persuade the entire city’s population and its soldiers to join him in rebellion? And upon learning of the rebellion, why did the Former Sui court opt for the most violent and harsh measure of burning the entire city, instead of only punishing the ringleaders?

"I’ve checked the Book Collection Pavilions of both the Academic Palace and the Imperial Palace, but their records on this are mostly vague."

Li Hui glanced at Xi Yangyu, who still showed no reaction, and continued, "I found this quite intriguing, so I had my subordinates investigate further. They visited the elderly in the mountain villages around Xiangzhou and heard another version of the story.

"Ye City was then known as the Buddha City, and its inhabitants devoutly worshipped Buddha. The Buddha they worshipped was called the Thousand-Headed Buddha, shaped like a Buddhist Tower, possessing a thousand heads and ten thousand arms—resembling a Buddha, yet not quite one.

"At that time, Yu Chijiong witnessed the true form of the Thousand-Headed Buddha and nearly went mad.

"What terrified him more was that, apart from himself, not a single person in the entire city found anything abnormal about worshipping such an ’entity.’

"So, he ordered the entire city to be set ablaze. The precarious Former Sui court, in order to cover up such an evil, strange tale, also described the event as a failed rebellion."

Having said that, Li Hui took out a stone box sealed with a Sealing Demon Talisman from his robes, gently placed it on the table, opened it, and pushed it towards Xi Yangyu. "This is the Buddha statue of the Thousand-Headed Buddha that my men confiscated from that mountain village."

Inside the stone box, cushioned by pure white silk, lay a conical stone Buddha statue. The carving was crude, its surface bearing many marks of erosion from wind and rain, yet one could still faintly discern countless Buddha heads and hands.

Li Hui smiled. "Here’s another rare artifact. Consider it a return gift for that Hesitation beast’s leather of yours, Mr. Xi."

Xi Yangyu stared intently at the Buddha statue. After a moment, he reluctantly withdrew his gaze and managed a smile. "Your Highness’s generosity truly overwhelms me."

"Why speak of being overwhelmed? Mr. Xi, you were the teacher who enlightened me in Mind Study. Please, accept it."

"In that case, I shall respectfully comply."

Xi Yangyu slowly closed the lid of the stone box and stood up. "I suddenly recall some documents from the Academic Palace that I have yet to attend to. Please allow me to take my leave."

"Take care, Teacher."

Li Hui watched Xi Yangyu’s retreating figure. Only after he had completely disappeared, and the guard, who stood like a wooden stake in the corner of the courtyard, nodded to him, did Li Hui slowly exhale a turbid breath.

Dealing with intelligent people is exhausting.

The conversation just now, while seemingly unremarkable, was a mutual probing between Li Hui and Xi Yangyu.

Currently, the overt and covert struggles between Prince Yue and the Crown Prince were becoming increasingly apparent. Both sides were recruiting supporters in the imperial court, even extending their influence into the army, the Garrison, and the Academic Palace.

Prince Yue had always wanted to win Xi Yangyu over to his side.

Xi Yangyu had first mentioned Tuan. Tuan means ’that which speaks of the image’; it signifies determining good or ill fortune. As the Academic Palace Director, Xi Yangyu held a transcendent position. He did not wish to become embroiled in the unpredictable struggle for succession while His Majesty was at the zenith of his power and the Mountain Master had not yet retired.