Chapter 471: Jiangxi Prodigy

Just as Chen Wen was in Yuncheng County, Shandong, clashing with Wu Yong in a dark room, planting the seed of "Northward Aspiration" at the same time.

Far away, thousands of li beyond, in the Jiangnan West Circuit of the False Song, lies Linchuan County.

It was springtime; the old camphor tree outside the school had sprouted new buds, and birds chirped.

Inside the hall, a youth wearing a half-worn blue-collared robe stood before the dais, debating with the schoolmaster whose beard and hair were white.

This youth was about twelve or thirteen years old, his frame still slight, his face gaunt, yet his eyes shone astonishingly, revealing a stubbornness and vigor beyond his years.

"I dare not agree with what the master said."

The youth's voice was clear and ringing, still carrying the unbroken tone of childhood, yet his tone was extremely firm.

"The well-field system described in the Zhou Rituals is indeed the institution of ancient sage kings, but times have changed—how can we cling to the past like marking a boat to find a lost sword?"

"Now the land system is in chaos, annexation rages day by day; the rich have fields stretching to the horizon, while the poor have not even an awl's worth of ground."

"If we cannot reform laws and institutions, restrain the powerful, and survey the fields, then the state treasury will be empty and the people's plight of hardship will never be resolved!"

He held no book in his hand; clearly these words had long been turning in his heart, and now they poured forth, leaving the old scholar momentarily speechless.

The old teacher's face flushed red, and the hand holding the ruler trembled slightly.

"Wang Anshi! You… you, at such a young age, how dare you rashly discuss the institutions of the former kings? Do you not know that 'the laws of our ancestors must not be changed'?"

"Moreover, surveying the fields and restraining the powerful—how easy could that be? This is nothing short of shaking the foundations of the state! You… you are utterly reckless!"

The youth named Wang Anshi, however, showed no fear; instead, he straightened his spine.

"I am not speaking rashly; I am discussing the matter on its merits!"

"If the laws of our ancestors were perfect, why then do we now have so many ills?"

"If we refrain from acting merely because a task is difficult, then there would be nothing at all worth doing in the world!"

"I believe that the way of governance is to adapt to the times and seek only the people's convenience; if a law is not good, then change it—what could be wrong with that?"

"You… you…"

The old scholar, his beard bristling with anger, pointed at the door.

"Get out! Today I punish you to stand beneath the eaves and reflect well; copy the Classic of Filial Piety ten times!"

Wang Anshi pressed his lips, said no more, bowed to the master, turned and walked out of the schoolhouse, standing straight beneath the eaves, his gaze fixed on the distant sky; his eyes showed no regret, but instead burned brighter, evidently still pondering his notion of 'reforming laws and institutions'.

Not far from the school, a seemingly ordinary peddler shook a rattle drum, his gaze sweeping casually over the school's direction.

He took in everything—the earlier debate inside the hall and the scene of Wang Anshi punished to stand beneath the eaves.

This peddler was one of the secret agents planted here by the Chen Dynasty Peace and Stability Bureau.

That night, the peddler, through covert channels, compiled what he had seen that day together with recent gathered information about Wang Anshi's studies, friendships, words and deeds into a brief report, sealed it in a specially made bamboo tube, and sent it northward by carrier pigeon.

Several days later, in an inn of Yuncheng County, Shandong.

Qian Gui entered Chen Wen's room silently and presented a freshly received secret report.

"My lord, an urgent report from the Jiangxi Circuit. Concerning that 'Literary Star' light point."

Chen Wen was perusing news brought by the Ruan brothers of Shijie Village via Zhao Si about recent movements at the water stronghold; hearing this, he took the report and quickly scanned it.

The report detailed Wang Anshi's debate at the school with the master over the 'well-field' system and 'reform', as well as his unyielding defiance even after punishment.

It also included several excerpts of poems Wang Anshi had written in his daily life; though youthful, the lines already betrayed an extraordinary ambition and a vague concern for the people's livelihood.

"Heh, 'If a law is not good, then change it'..."

Chen Wen set the report down, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, a hint of a complex smile appearing in his eyes.

"At such a young age, to have such insight, such courage, such… stubbornness. No wonder, no wonder…"

He did not speak the rest, but his heart already understood.

Given this youth's character and thoughts, should he ever gain power, he would surely stir up a tremendous storm in the False Song court.

And this storm is precisely an important link in the Iron Crow Army's 'script', and also a superb variable that Chen Wen can leverage, utilize, and even… guide.

This youth's growth must be continually monitored, recording changes in his words, deeds, and thoughts.

Chen Wen ordered Qian Gui.

"But remember, observe only, do not disturb; absolutely must not let him notice."

"His path, let him walk it himself. We need only ensure that at crucial junctures of his life, he is not prematurely strangled by the Iron Crow Army's power, nor… led into a completely uncontrollable dead end."

"Subordinate understands."

Qian Gui replied solemnly.

"Additional personnel have been assigned to ensure the observation remains covert and continuous."

Chen Wen walked to the window, opened it, and gazed far southward.

His 'Shi Yong', though too distant to clearly discern the details of that 'Literary Star' light point in the Jiangxi Circuit, could still vaguely feel that the momentum of reform and upheaval was slowly and steadily accumulating and growing.

Like magma surging underground, one day it will burst forth, burning away the thickets—and perhaps… harming itself as well.

"The Jiangxi prodigy… Wang Anshi…"

He murmured to himself.

"May your fervor one day be put to proper use, rather than… merely leave regret."

Just as he was pondering, hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Shi Dun pushed the door open and entered, his face bearing a hint of excitement and gravity.

"My lord, Ruan Xiaoqi has arrived; he's downstairs, saying he has urgent news to report!"

Chen Wen raised his eyebrows, instantly withdrawing from his distant thoughts of the Jiangxi prodigy and returning to the present situation in Shandong.

"Please have him come up."

Moments later, Ruan Xiaoqi burst in in a flurry, still bare-chested, his body dripping with moisture and reeking of fish, yet his face was full of excitement.

"Brother Chen! Something big has happened!"

He had no time for pleasantries, lowered his voice, and spoke urgently.

I was fishing at the harbor today when I ran into a suspicious-looking group of strangers speaking with the accent of Beijing's Daming Prefecture, piloting a fast boat, sneaking around near that desolate island in the harbor's center, as if they were scouting the terrain!

I felt something was off, so I dove underwater nearby and faintly heard them mention something like the 'Shengchen Gang', 'June', 'Huangni Gang'... and they also brought up the name 'Liang Zhongshu'.

I remember, Elder Brother Chen, you're well-informed, so I hurried over to tell you!

Shengchen Gang? Huangni Gang?

Chen Wen's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

The crucial juncture foreshadowed in the karma fragments has finally begun to surface!

He looked at Ruan Xiaoqi and nodded approvingly.

"Brother Xiaoqi, this information is extremely important! Thank you for your hard work!"

He pondered for a moment, then asked.

"Have you informed Chao Tianwang and Scholar Wu about this matter?"

Ruan Xiaoqi scratched his head.

"Not yet. I feel this matter is strange, so I came first to seek Elder Brother Chen's advice."

"That's the right thing to do."

Chen Wen patted his shoulder.

"This matter is of great importance; we must be cautious."

"You go back first and pretend nothing happened."

"Tomorrow, I will personally go to Dongxi Village to visit Chao Tianwang, and then confer with Scholar Wu as well."

"Good! I'll follow Elder Brother Chen's lead!"

Seeing Chen Wen place such importance on it, Ruan Xiaoqi felt even more certain he had come to the right person, and without lingering further, he bade farewell and left.

After seeing Ruan Xiaoqi off, Chen Wen looked at Shi Dun and Qian Gui, a hint of sternness curling at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems the stage of the Iron Crow Army has already been set up."

"This 'Shengchen Gang'... is our opportunity to take the stage and perform the first act of this opposing show!"