The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 28 - 24 The Eccentric

After exchanging pleasantries, County Magistrate Wu asked, "What brings you to the county government?"

Xu Qing replied, "I'd like to seek the teacher's guidance on the eight-legged essay."

County Magistrate Wu couldn't help but smile, "Your writing skills are enough to pass the imperial examination; what do I need to teach you?"

Xu Qing knew that County Magistrate Wu was also a smart man; beating around the bush too much was truly pointless and did not suit his youthful nature, so he straightforwardly said, "Teacher, I hope to achieve the top score in the provincial examination."

County Magistrate Wu was stunned but then replied, "With your skills, writing another paper like the one at the county exam might indeed secure you the top spot."

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Xu Qing lamented, "Unfortunately, it took me two months to prepare just that one essay. I'm afraid I won't be so lucky for the provincial exam."

County Magistrate Wu said, "That's true, but I do not belong to the East State Academy. I fear I might not be able to help you this time."

It turned out that the current Magistrate of Jiangning Prefecture was from the East State Academy, and he was not from the same school as County Magistrate Wu. Whatever exam questions and literary styles the other side preferred were naturally not County Magistrate Wu's specialty.

Moreover, in the scholarly circles, heterodox thinkers were even more detestable than political rivals.

Defeating political rivals at most resulted in banishing them from office; but for different scholarly factions, there was a ruthlessness to obliterate the entire opposing faction and not rest until it was utterly discredited.

There was absolutely no chance for County Magistrate Wu to pry out Magistrate He's examination questions.

County Magistrate Wu highly valued his disciple Xu Qing and thus explained the intricacies to him in detail.

He was currently in charge of this county examination, and among the successful candidates, Xu Qing had the greatest hope of passing the provincial exam. Even if he wouldn't be of use to himself in the future, he would be a good contact for his descendants.

Xu Qing had come with the mindset of just giving it a try, not expecting too much.

"Thank you, teacher. It seems I can only do my best," Xu Qing said.

County Magistrate Wu also felt some regrets. If Xu Qing could top the provincial exams, perhaps he could top the metropolitan exams next time and become a titleholder of the grand trifecta.

The County Magistrate had the responsibility of overseeing education.

The emergence of such a grand trifecta would be an achievement worth recording in the annals, proving that Wu, during his tenure in Qingshui County, valued literary education.

An achievement was slipping through his fingers.

At this moment, the keen County Magistrate was more concerned about Xu Qing potentially not topping the examination than Xu Qing himself.

Just then, the wily Steward Qian arrived.

He had heard that Xu Qing was visiting County Magistrate Wu and had hurried over to join them.

He was a little late but had roughly grasped the situation.

There must be a problem for Steward Qian to showcase his usefulness. Besides, since Historian Li had provided Steward Qian with many benefits and voluntarily credited him with some ideas, Steward Qian saw that the Li family's influence was on the rise, and how could he not reciprocate the kindness?

"Mr. Ming, I believe for you, securing the top score in the provincial exam is as simple as reaching into a sack to take what you want."

Xu Qing secretly scoffed, "Steward Qian must love reading historical romances; he always takes on the air of a strategic advisor."

But County Magistrate Wu was just the type to fall for it.

If the one comes up with plans doesn't have confidence, how can the lord have any?

In the Battle of Guandu, despite Yuan Shao having the advantage, Xun Yu went straight to listing four advantages and four disadvantages. When it came to Guo Jia, he discussed ten victories and ten failures, making it seem as if it would be outrageous for Cao Cao not to win.

As for the outcome, just ask who won.

After all, if you win, you are justified; if you lose, it's a matter of tactics gone wrong.

Amid his inward sneers, Xu Qing attentively memorized Steward Qian's confident demeanor, intending to replay it after he got home and learn frame by frame with his powerful memory.

Steward Qian spoke eloquently, "Could Mr. Ming have forgotten? The current teacher of Yan family's clan school, Feng Xifeng, is a product of East State Academy."

"Indeed, that is the case, but Feng Xifeng never teaches the East State school of thought to outsiders; he only teaches the common eight-legged essays. He once said the East State school of thought is esoteric and incomprehensible; unless one can catch his eye, he refuses to teach it. Many powerful families and scholars from Jiangning Prefecture have offered large sums of money for his true teachings, but he wouldn't impart them." County Magistrate Wu, suddenly remembering this information, hurriedly added.

And indeed, he spoke the truth.

Feng Xifeng was a man of aloof integrity, never currying favor with the powerful.

He had not even once visited his fellow-disciple who had become the Magistrate of Jiangning after a whole year in position.

He even went so far as to say that he, being merely a Scholar, while the County Magistrate a Second Rank Scholar, had unequal status and thus no face to pay a visit.

Master Qian said: "Others seek to study under Feng Xifeng, he surely refuses them, but it will be different for the worthy nephew Xu Qing." He didn't wait for County Magistrate Wu to ask before explaining the reason.

Previously, Feng Xifeng had been teaching at a private school, intending to take in a pupil as his Disciple—it was the young brother-in-law of Guo Zhuang. But then Zhao Bao had someone break his legs before the county examination, which drove him to madness.

For this, Feng Xifeng had repeatedly filed complaints with the County Government, but it all amounted to nothing in the end because of the lack of evidence and the assaulters voluntarily confessing and paying compensation.

This was one of Feng Xifeng's greatest resentments in life.

Xu Qing and Historian Li just happened to resolve this grudge for Feng Xifeng, removing a heavy burden from his heart.

Moreover, as the principal actor in this matter and of a young age, Xu Qing could somewhat be considered a prodigy. Taking the initiative to seek instruction, Feng Xifeng had no reason to refuse.

Following this, Master Qian volunteered himself, "Mr. Ming, Feng Xifeng and I are drinking buddies, let me take the worthy nephew Xu Qing to meet him."

County Magistrate Wu naturally agreed.

...

...

So Xu Qing and Master Qian went to the Yan family's clan school.

He remembered the pupil he had met during the county examination, Yan Shan, who was of the Yan clan.

Upon arriving at the clan school, Xu Qing just happened to see Yan Shan coming out looking rather disheveled.

"Brother Yan." Xu Qing could not ignore him and greeted him directly.

"Worthy brother Xu, are you here to see me?"

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Xu Qing could not admit otherwise and awkwardly claimed to have business at the Yan clan school, intending to visit Yan Shan afterwards, and it just so happened that they met.

Hearing whispers from clan members nearby, who recognized Master Qian, Yan Shan came to an understanding, "Are you here to seek instruction from Teacher Feng?"

"Yes."

Yan Shan showed an expression of realization, patted Xu Qing on the shoulder, and whispered, "If you're here for the prefectural examination, brace yourself. I just got a cold reception."

Xu Qing said: "Thank you for the warning, brother. I'm not insisting on it, I'm just here to try my luck."

Since Yan Shan was also here for the prefectural examination, it dispelled Xu Qing's embarrassment.

Actually, if it hadn't been for Xu Qing, Yan Shan might not have been willing to come.

After losing to the principal actor in the county examination, upon returning, his clan elders had revealed the connection between Feng Xifeng and Magistrate He, encouraging him to have a try. Yan Shan was not a stubborn man, so he went with the intent to give it a shot but did not even make it through the door.

Xu Qing and company walked into the clan school, and Yan Shan, as if possessed by a sudden impulse, wanted to see what would happen to Xu Qing, so he followed them in.

From the courtyard, the sound of poetry floated out: "Under my pen, lies a host of three thousand records, in my breast, commands a million troops..."

The song carried the desolation of bugle calls, the vigor of iron horses and soldiers, not the usual demeanor of an ordinary Scholar...

Master Qian did not find it odd and announced without hesitation: "Old Feng, the nephew of the county's Historian Li, Xu Qing, has come to visit you. Open the door."

Yan Shan thought: "Master Qian doesn't know the situation, oof. With Teacher Feng's temperament, he would not care for even a County Magistrate's face, let alone an Archivist's."

Just as the thought passed, the door opened.

Yan Shan was stunned.

"Ah, what!"