Chapter 438: Friendship as Firm as Metal and Stone

False Song, Bianjing, Li Yuan's residence.

In the study, the lamp light was like beans.

Li Yuan hunched over a pile of scattered rubbings and ancient texts, his brow furrowed, holding a magnifying glass, carefully comparing the damaged inscription on a newly obtained stele rubbing.

This is a rubbing of a tomb epitaph from a former dynasty he recently acquired, said to come from Within the Passes; the text is archaic and the engraving technique worthy of study, absorbing him so much that he forgot his daily evening tea.

The brushwork of the 'Yuan' character here differs slightly from that recorded for the Eternal Harmony era in the Metal and Stone Record...

He muttered to himself, his fingertip lightly tracing the yellowed paper, trying to capture the trajectory of the artisan's knife a thousand years ago.

A soft knock sounded, interrupting her contemplation.

The old servant reported from outside the door:

"Ah Lang, Master Lu has come to visit."

Li Yuan raised her head, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes, which quickly turned into a barely perceptible pleased expression.

"Please, hurry."

She carefully moved the rubbing aside and tidied the slightly cluttered desk.

Lu Ming still wore a half-worn blue-green robe, entering the study with ease, gaze sweeping over the rubbings and ancient texts on the desk, revealing just the right amount of interest.

"Brother Li, you're still buried in ancient texts late at night—truly tireless in your studies. It seems I've come at just the right time; do you have any new treasures to let me feast my eyes upon?"

Li Yuan rarely showed a hint of a smile, pointing to the rubbing on the desk.

"Lu, worthy brother, your timing is perfect. This is a newly obtained rubbing of a former dynasty's tomb epitaph, with several doubtful points unresolved; your expertise in metal and stone studies is broad, perhaps you can dispel my doubts."

Lu Ming stepped forward willingly and stood shoulder to shoulder with Li Yuan before the desk.

He was not merely paying lip service; after receiving the task to contact Li Yuan, he, under Wang Ru's arrangement, underwent intensive training by the experts of the Tranquil Peace Office, and indeed attained considerable proficiency in metal and stone studies, sufficient for such a conversation.

The two leaned over the lamp, their heads nearly touching, pointing and discussing the rubbing's inscription: the origin of a variant character, the effect of erosion on meaning, and the possibility of corroborating a passage with historical records.

In the study, only the sound of turning pages, low voices of discussion, and the occasional faint crackle of bursting lampwicks remained.

The atmosphere was harmonious and focused.

After an unknown amount of time, the preliminary discussion of the rubbing came to a temporary end.

Li Yuan ordered the old servant to brew a fresh pot of hot tea, and the two sat down to drink tea together.

The warm, fragrant steam from the tea also seemed to ease Li Yuan's usual tension.

She rarely took the initiative to bring up a topic, her tone carrying a touch of the scholar's characteristic earnestness.

"Reading these ancient dynasty steles, one often feels time slipping away and achievements easily decaying. Even nobles and ministers, their tombs are not free of wild weeds and eroded inscriptions. Only the principles contained within and the recorded historical facts might be passed down to posterity."

Lu Ming held the teacup, gaze calm, and continued his words:

"Brother Li's words are absolutely correct. Metal and stone artifacts can verify classics and history, correct errors, and are certainly valuable. However, I believe their true value may lie more in the two words 'observing the winds'."

"Observing the winds?"

Li Yuan blinked in surprise, showing a questioning look.

"Exactly."

Lu Ming spoke slowly.

"Observing the carvings of an era reveals its craftsmanship level and the livelihood of artisans;"

"Observing the content of the inscriptions reveals the rites, customs, governance, and people's livelihood;"

"Observing the reason for erecting the stele—whether to record merit, proclaim virtue, or redress grievances—also allows a glimpse into the societal conditions and the joys and sorrows of the people of that time."

"Take this tomb epitaph, for example: the deceased once served as a local county magistrate, and the text mentions 'encouraging agriculture and sericulture' and 'promoting waterworks'—just a few words, yet surely these were the key duties of local officials then and the people's livelihood depended on them."

He naturally steered the discussion from textual criticism of metal and stone toward a broader realm concerning practical affairs and people's livelihood.

Li Yuan listened, lost in thought, and unconsciously nodded.

"Worthy brother, your argument opens a new path and is indeed sound. Truly, metal and stone are dead things, yet behind them lie the living smoke and fire of human life."

Seeing that Li Yuan accepted, Lu Ming went further, his tone still calm, like casual conversation.

"Therefore, I often think that we scholars, while burying ourselves in classics and researching metal and stone is certainly our duty, but if we can learn from the past to understand the present and ponder more on the current 'winds,' perhaps it is more crucial."

"Take 'encouraging agriculture and sericulture,' for example: this is what virtuous officials of old did; shouldn't today's local officials emulate it? 'Promoting waterworks' is even more fundamental to the people's food and clothing. As for the 'green sprout money' recently debated at court, was its original intent not precisely to relieve the peasants' shortage between harvests, and thus an extension of 'encouraging agriculture and sericulture'?"

He did not directly judge the merits or demerits of the 'green sprout money,' but placed it within a larger historical and practical context, guiding Li Yuan to contemplate the policy's origin and purpose.

Li Yuan was indeed led into this line of thought, and she pondered:

"Worthy brother's words are like a sweet dew dripping onto the crown. Indeed, the way of governance lies in being practical and benefiting the people. Whether ancient or modern, what virtuous officials seek is nothing more than local peace and the people's happy livelihood. Any policy, stripping away its name and examining its root, should be measured by whether it benefits the people's livelihood."

The more he spoke, the clearer his eyes became, as if some of his inner confusions had been sorted out.

"Merely knowing is easy; putting it into practice is hard. How to truly implement good laws and good intentions, preventing clerks from exploiting them for profit, is where the true test of a ruler's wisdom lies."

Lu Ming smiled and nodded, said no more, and just right lifted the teacup and took a sip.

"Brother Li, your insight is profound; I have been instructed."

He knew, the seed had already been sown.

Excessive indoctrination would only arouse suspicion; now, guiding him to think spontaneously is the best strategy.

This conversation lasted about an hour.

Only when the night had grown deep did Lu Ming finally rise to take his leave.

Li Yuan personally saw him to the door, her demeanor warmer than before.

"Conversing with you, worthy brother, has been immensely beneficial. Should I gain anything in the future, I hope you will not hesitate to instruct me."

"Brother Li, you're too kind; we're merely exchanging pointers."

Lu Ming returned the salute with clasped hands, his figure merging into the night of Bianjing.

Li Yuan stood at the doorway, watching that fading silhouette, her heart unable to calm for a long time.

She returned to the study, gazing at the rubbings covering the desk, her eyes seeming to pierce through these old papers and reach toward a farther place.

"Observing the winds…… practical…… benefiting the people……"

He softly repeated those few words, his eyes flashing with the light of thought.

Chen Dynasty, Separate Villa.

Wang Ru presented the detailed record of this late-night lengthy talk between "Lu Ming" and Li Yuan.

"Your Majesty, 'Lu Ming' reports, this contact was extremely successful. Li Yuan has fully accepted his 'Pure Friend' identity, the conversation went deep, and he successfully guided him to link metal-and-stone textual research with practical livelihood, and regarding policies such as 'Green Sprouts Money', he has developed more thoughts based on 'pragmatic' and 'beneficial to the people'."

Chen Wen flipped through the record, giving a slight nod.

"Excellent. Entering the Dao through the arts, discussing antiquity to understand the present, nourishing things silently. This is the supreme strategy of infiltration."

He could feel that the intangible progress of growth within him, due to this successful, deep-level cultural and ideological infiltration, had solidly advanced another small step.

This indirect method of prompting the target's self-awakening brings a "growth" feedback that seems especially pure.

"Issue an order to commend 'Lu Ming', instructing him to maintain this level of interaction pace and propriety."

Chen Wen ordered.

"At the same time, direct the Jing'an Office to continue providing necessary scholarly support to 'Lu Ming', ensuring that in his interactions with Li Yuan he always retains scholarly appeal and guiding influence."

"Yes!"

Wang Ru bowed, accepted the command, paused, then added.

"According to observation, the Iron Crow Army's surveillance of Li Yuan still exists, but the focus seems still on his official dealings and contacts with other factions at court. For this purely literary exchange of metal and stone, they have shown no particular interest."

Chen Wen said lightly:

"This is their limitation. They maintain the superficial script trajectory, lacking sufficient sensitivity to the minute ripples deep within an individual's thought that could cause future deviation. And this is our opportunity."

He walked to the window, gazing at the southern sky cut off by the light curtain.

A bond over metal and stone, shared interests.

Beneath this elegant exterior, the undercurrent of thought is quietly changing the course of the riverbed.

This silent contest is far more thrilling than the clash of blades.