You Have Science, I Have Martial Arts-Chapter 576 - 263: Too Excited to Sleep All Night (2)
"That’s great, I’ve had enough of these hard days."
"Stop, you shouldn’t say that!"
"Exactly, exactly, drink up, no talk of state affairs."
Then the tavern was once again filled with laughter and chatter, and the topic turned to women, particularly the racy stories involving big shots, which made everyone feel their blood boil and faces flush.
Ye Qingzhou listened critically for a while longer before standing up to leave the tavern: "It seems that in this world, the Xuanyuan Sword is the divine artifact that governs the rise and fall of dynasties... but wait, doesn’t that mean I have to become emperor to obtain this sword?"
What a hassle.
Just thinking about it gave Ye Qingzhou a headache.
He was not skilled in military or political strategy, nor did he understand the art of governance. The only thing he was good at was cutting people down. He couldn’t possibly conquer all the warlords and unify the world single-handedly, could he?
......
At this time, the Shen Family mansion.
Nephew Shen Peng came to the study: "Uncle, the matter you asked me to investigate, I have found out."
Seated at the table, Shen Huaimin put down the bamboo slip in his hand: "Speak."
"Over at the Northern Domain Protectorate, I had someone check the Document Library, and there is no such person as Ye Qingzhou."
"Oh."
Shen Huaimin’s reaction was very indifferent.
This puzzled Shen Peng a bit, and he hastily reminded: "Uncle, I suspect there is something amiss with this person’s identity and background."
"So what?"
Shen Huaimin maintained an unconcerned expression. Seeing that his nephew still didn’t understand, he sighed deeply and asked him in return, "Is the head of Wuh Wei fake?"
Shen Peng shook his head: "That is indeed real. Over at the Donghu, the Owl Feather Division has confirmed the news of Wuh Wei’s death."
"Then isn’t that settled? Ye Qingzhou might have a fake name and a fake identity, but as long as his skills are real, it’s fine."
Shen Huaimin’s words enlightened Shen Peng.
The latter finally understood: "Uncle’s lesson is correct. For our Shen Family, whether his identity is real or fake is irrelevant, as long as the person is useful."
"You are teachable."
"Uncle, if there’s nothing else, I will take my leave first."
"Wait, take two hundred thousand coins from the mansion’s treasury, then go to Ji City and ask Vice Protector Liu to help add Ye Qingzhou’s name to the register."
"Does writing a name on the list cost two hundred thousand coins?"
"I want this identity to withstand the Court’s scrutiny, understand?"
Shen Peng was astonished: "Uncle intends to recommend Ye Qingzhou?"
"Indeed."
"This... isn’t it giving him too much recognition?"
Shen Peng couldn’t help but be surprised.
In the Da Liang Kingdom, there is no imperial examination. The only proper way for officials to get promoted is through the recommendation of "Xiao Lian," where local officials from each commandery recommend talents to the Court.
As a result, many of the renowned ministers and nobles in the court were mostly recommended through Xiao Lian and have significant political influence.
In the Da Liang Kingdom, Xiao Lian is recommended yearly, meaning each commandery can recommend talents to the Court, but there is a limit to the number of people, leading to intense competition.
If you’re not from a noble or rich background, don’t even think about it.
Even though Shen Huaimin is the Governor of Yu Yang Commandery, there are many noble and rich families’ sons in the commandery who need his "care," yet the yearly quota is limited.
This time, the Xiao Lian identity for Ye Qingzhou was squeezed out from elsewhere by Shen Huaimin.
Shen Huaimin was willing to offend others to do this, demonstrating how much he valued Ye Qingzhou.
Shen Peng himself, as Shen Huaimin’s nephew, didn’t have a Xiao Lian identity, so why did Ye Qingzhou, who was just the Shen family’s son-in-law, deserve it?
At this moment, Shen Peng was feeling quite sour inside but couldn’t express it.
Naturally, Shen Huaimin saw through his nephew’s thoughts at a glance and reprimanded him with a glare: "Look at your lack of ambition... the court situation is unstable right now. Even if you obtain a Xiao Lian identity, what could you achieve with it? It’s better to place your bets on Ye Qingzhou. I perceive this child to be extraordinary, perhaps he can lead our Shen Family through this crisis and even achieve great success."
"Is he really that formidable?"
"He can take on a hundred men alone, what do you think?"
Clearly, Shen Huaimin was far more insightful than Shen Peng. He was well-read in history and knew how terrifying someone like Ye Qingzhou would be on the battlefield, destined to achieve great deeds.
The Shen Family today, though maintaining the title of a noble family, was already on the decline.
The reason was simple: throughout its history, the Shen Family had always taken the path of civil officials. In times of peace, they could depend on the imperial power, relying on political struggles to form cliques in the court, gaining whatever they desired.
But now the Da Liang Kingdom was in decline, tottering on the edge of collapse. The rebellion by the Profound Celestial Sect three years ago had already stripped the Court of its last fig leaf, revealing its weakness to the world and losing its authority to suppress popular unrest.
In the upcoming chaotic times, heroes would surely rise across the land. Attempting to engage in political maneuvering while others engage in warfare would be futile. No matter how eloquent you are, capable of turning black into white, it wouldn’t make a difference.
Your opponent could directly overturn the table, turning you from alive to dead, silencing you entirely.
Three years ago, on that fateful night, if not for the timely intervention of the Northern Domain Protectorate, Yu Yang Commandery nearly fell into the hands of the Rebel Army of the Profound Celestial Sect.
However, Anle City, just across the river from Yu Yang, was not so fortunate. Not only did the county seat fall, but even the County Magistrate’s family suffered disaster, with everyone, including a three-year-old child, perishing together.
After walking through the Ghost Gate, Shen Huaimin awoke from the former glory of the Shen Family and realized that times had changed, and if the Shen Family did not adapt, it was likely to face extinction.
Just as Shen Huaimin was instructing Shen Peng, a servant came to report: "Master, the son-in-law has returned."
