Chapter 651: Shumin Academy

He Lingchuan's neighbor, Little Fatty's father, was publicly sent to Yuheng City because the official account books couldn't be kept up. Many accounts meant many miscellaneous items.

"Why is Yuheng City expanding? I thought Panlongcheng valued the old capital of Xiji more." He Lingchuan calculated the positions of the two places in his mind, "Is it because Yuheng City is on the border, only a river away from the Jin Tao Nation?"

"The old capital of Xiji is in the west but on the plains. If Panlongcheng wants to guard the gateway to the western mountains, it only needs to hold the Dragon Throat Pass. Yuheng City, as you said, is a border fortress. But I see Commander Zhong operating Yuheng City, and the focus is not on guarding against the Jin Tao Nation."

"Oh?" He Lingchuan hadn't been in for a long time and didn't know what had happened in the new territory east of Panlongcheng, "Can you tell me?"

"The two masters who returned from Yuheng City these days said that the Xiji Nation is actually suffering from banditry, and even Yuheng City has been plundered by bandits from the south."

He Lingchuan asked curiously: "Bandits plundering a military town? Unheard of."

When he was the young master in Heishui City, although there were always sand bandits on the Red Cliff Road, they only robbed merchants and didn't disturb the border towns, fleeing when they saw officials.

Bandits, after all, are usually loose and hard to organize into decent local armed regimes to wrestle with officials.

So the sand bandits on the Red Cliff Road had an old saying: The people (bandits) do not fight with officials.

"The southeast of Xiji seems very special, with fierce bandits running rampant, and the government troops have no good way to deal with them." Sun Fuling smiled, "These fierce bandits even threaten the southern trade route. I heard that Xiji built official roads to take a detour just to avoid them, but they still went to plunder the southern trade route."

He Lingchuan nodded: "I went to Yunzhen Island to buy things, and Fatty Bai always gave excuses for price hikes, saying that bandits were rampant on the southern road and things couldn't be transported over."

Besides the Ghost Shadow Cicada molts, there were many delicious fruits, all of which were bought and hiked in price every time!

"Now Xiji belongs to Panlongcheng. I don't know what plans Commander Zhong has for these fierce bandits."

He Lingchuan thought for a while: "Commander Xiao, who was originally stationed in Yuheng City, has been transferred back. I don't know who will be sent over next time."

Sun Fuling gave an "hmm," rested her elbows on the wooden armrest, supported her chin, and looked up at the sky: "It's been a long time since we had such good weather."

Above her head was the ink-blue sky, with stars twinkling like diamonds set on black velvet.

He Lingchuan's gaze moved from her tight and well-shaped jawline to the night sky, looked at it casually, and then was stunned.

"Eh?" He couldn't help but point, "When did that star light up!"

Thanks to the missions he carried out in reality, he could already distinguish the position of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper from the night sky at a glance.

However, there was another bright star twinkling beside the Tian Shu star, and its brightness far exceeded the nine stars!

"When did this star appear?" Sun Fuling was also observing carefully, "Doesn't seem to have seen it."

But He Lingchuan knew that it was the Heavenly Luo Star!

The Heavenly Luo Star only appeared when the Great Fang Hu moved; why was it shining brightly tonight? Could it be that Zhong Shengguang or the Red General activated the Great Fang Hu?

No, with their caution, they wouldn't do this easily unless they were fully prepared.

Then, the most likely thing is...

Punishment Dragon Pillar? Shao Jian had left for a while; did someone start using the Punishment Dragon Pillar he spread out? He Lingchuan's thoughts turned.

The Great Fang Hu always rushed to what he needed; in reality, he had to deal with the array eye of the Spirit Gathering Array, so did Panlongcheng provide corresponding help? "In the academy, or in Panlongcheng, is there any expert proficient in celestial phenomena?"

"Celestial phenomena?" Sun Fuling said without thinking, "Yes, Dean Xu."

Xu Shichu? He Lingchuan had heard his public lecture on ancient demon immortals, which mentioned Zu Ju. So Dean Xu was so widely read?

Sun Fuling seemed to see through his thoughts: "The Dean is learned and talented, and is proficient in astronomy and calendar calculation."

"Divination?"

"... This, we all think Mr. Wen Daolun is better, but the Dean doesn't think so." She rolled her eyes at He Lingchuan, slightly annoyed, "Picking on my words?"

She glared, and He Lingchuan immediately said: "Don't dare, don't dare."

He hurriedly returned to business: "I want to find Dean Xu to ask for advice on some questions."

"Personnel transfers in the academy are frequent, and we have to organize major exams; Dean Xu has been so busy recently that his heels are hitting his head."

He Lingchuan bowed to her repeatedly: "Master Sun, please help, you are supernatural, you must be able to help me make an appointment."

Sun Fuling smiled, and there were shallow dimples on her face: "I spent a lot of effort to make an appointment for you, what's the benefit?"

"A lot of effort," the emphasis was on the word.

The Master Sun he met at the beginning didn't seem like this? Who did she learn bad things from?

"Then, at your disposal?" He Lingchuan patted his arm and said heroically, "I'm such a big person, you can use me as you like."

He didn't dare to say this to Li Qingge, but Master Sun was a serious person, so she definitely wouldn't "use him as she liked," right?

Sun Fuling glanced at him, and that look made him a bit guilty.

But she quickly bit her lip: "In a few days, I also have to send a batch of books to Yuheng City to be printed and used as teaching materials there, and by the way, set the exam questions for next spring. Will you accompany me?"

He Lingchuan looked sideways: "Teaching materials and exam questions are all compiled by you? Master Sun, what kind of official are you in the academy?"

He originally thought Sun Fuling was just an ordinary master in the official school, teaching books and managing children. Now it seems, not just that?

That's right, now that I think about it, she is the direct disciple of the academy dean and is familiar with Wen Daolun; these are all top-tier in Panlongcheng.

So, how could she be just a teacher?

"Finally remembered to ask today?" Sun Fuling hummed, "I am a Doctor of the Academy."

"Ah!" He Lingchuan was a bit surprised, "So it's Master Sun, disrespectful!"

The "Doctor" here is not just an academic degree, but a proper academic official, not only preaching and teaching, but also managing books and classics.

This is a high-salary position, no wonder Master Sun's firewood and charcoal at home were so many that they couldn't be burned and piled up in the corners, and finally sent to him, and she bought wine, meat, and snacks at will. It turns out she has a high salary.

"He Lvshuai is polite." The donkey cart entered the Chengnan Square and didn't go directly to the academy, but instead listened to Sun Fuling and turned to the market first.

"If you want to ask someone to do something, it's not good to go empty-handed." Sun Fuling pointed him, "Go to the seventh shop to buy cloud cakes; don't buy their signature sesame flavor, but peanut paste; then buy a jin of butterfly cakes, and want the scorched sugar flavor."

"Then go to the opposite side of Fatty Bai's shop and buy two boxes of tea transported from Xincheng in the south. Now that the southern trade route has been opened, Dean Xu has recently become obsessed with tangerine tea."

He Lingchuan bought them one by one and got back on the cart.

This time the donkey cart stopped directly at the gate of the academy.

Ahead was the main gate of the academy, red walls and gray tiles, with years of history, and the brick corners were white, and the front four pillars were all four people hugging, looking thick and magnificent, but the newly brushed wood paint couldn't hide the original vicissitudes.

There were brick carvings on the walls on both sides of the gate, one side was a dragon head, and the other side was a divine bird, both very figurative.

"This place has been here for more than three hundred years, established long before the Xiluo Nation. After Commander Zhong took over Panlongcheng, he started to expand, retaining the old gate, old buildings, and numerous ancient trees of the academy." Sun Fuling patted the pillars: "Every year, freshmen walk in from the main gate for the first time, and they have to pass through these 'Questioning Pillars'."

Questioning?

Under the heavy eaves of the academy gate, only the signboard was brand new, which was "Shumin Academy," blue background with gold characters, grand and imposing.

He Lingchuan had passed through the south city countless times, and even went to the government office on the side twice, but had never entered Shumin Academy. Probably because he had studied for more than ten years, subconsciously he didn't want to walk into school again.

Now, he followed Master Sun and obediently crossed the threshold.

Just like most schools he had seen before, behind the academy gate was a large square, the bluestone ground was exceptionally flat, and there were towering trees that were hundreds of years old.

In the middle of the square was a square pond, and the koi were so fat that they could hardly swim.

It was getting dark, and He Lingchuan also saw several young men holding bamboo leaf brooms cleaning the square. In the academy, this swishing sound sounded particularly comfortable.

"I thought there were only children in the academy." There were so many strong young men? And several people stole glances at Master Sun. He Lingchuan gave them a fierce glare, and these guys honestly swept the floor.

"All ages are here. The oldest student I have taught is already seventy-two." Sun Fuling walked lightly to the back, "Commander Zhong has been in office for seventeen years and has always encouraged commoners to study and practice, so the students are actually mainly young and strong, and they can apply what they have learned very quickly."

Land in Panlongcheng is expensive, but the academy occupies forty acres, an area comparable to two government offices, which shows Zhong Shengguang's importance to the academy.

The entire academy is divided into four large courtyards, and the structure is quite strict.

There were many teachers and students coming and going, all greeting Sun Fuling.

Master Sun's popularity in the academy was really good.

As soon as he entered the academy, the noise and rush outside seemed to disappear, and the fragrance of grass and leaves lingered around him. Walking on such a school road, with a beauty by his side, He Lingchuan only felt his mind was peaceful, and the troubles in reality were thrown aside.

He started a topic: "There is also an ancient spiritual tree in the capital of Beijia, known as the 'Questioning Tree'."

"The one on Mount Xu?" Sun Fuling had obviously heard of it, "I heard it was originally the guardian tree of the Dahan Sect, experienced a world-shaking catastrophe, and helped the Dahan Sect defeat the Heavenly God. I didn't expect that when the northern demon nation occupied Mount Xu, they didn't cut it down."

"Originally they wanted to cut it down; I heard that the mountain spirit and the Treasure Tree King pleaded for it, and the Demon Emperor spared it. Now it is a major scenic spot on Mount Xu."

"You know this too?" Sun Fuling smiled and praised him, "It seems you haven't put down your books. Originally I was worried that your mission was heavy and you had no heart to take care of other things."

He Lingchuan gave a bitter smile: "Know yourself and know your enemy, only then can you survive." In fact, every time he entered Panlongcheng, he would change two new books at the head of the bed. Needless to say, this was Master Sun's masterpiece.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 652 =====