Chapter 69

Wang Zhe, smiling broadly, failed to notice the change in Master Zhuge’s expression and continued to critique their works as if nothing were amiss, utterly oblivious to Master Zhuge’s inner displeasure.

He smiled warmly and said: “Master’s masterpiece, though possessing a certain free-spirited ease, lacks altogether the sharp, piercing momentum.”

“In contrast, Jiang’s poem reveals an icy, majestic grandeur that stirs the soul.”

“Master Zhuge, I speak frankly: based on my judgment, you have indeed lost to Jiang.”

Upon hearing Wang Zhe’s verdict, Master Zhuge’s face flushed crimson then paled, his fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged.

He forced back his rage and twisted his face into a smile uglier than a sob.

Jiang Mingyu smiled lightly and feigned modesty: “Oh, no, no—this is but a trifling effort; Master Zhuge is the true master, I am unworthy.” His tone was gentle, utterly unlike that of a man who had just won a poetry contest.

Master Zhuge’s face flushed and paled several times more, his voice rising sharply: “Inspector, are you certain you saw clearly? Are you sure I truly lost?”

Wang Zhe’s face darkened at the raised voice, his tone turning stern: “Master, though I am no longer young, I assure you I have not yet gone blind.”

“Is such a remark appropriate from you?”

Master Zhuge’s face drained of all color; he stammered an apologetic laugh: “My lord, I beg your pardon—I spoke foolishly, please forgive me!”

Then, with obvious reluctance, he forced out a few words: “Jiang, your scholarship is truly profound—I am utterly humbled.”

Fortunately, though mediocre in talent, Master Zhuge still remembered the stakes—he grimly handed over the ancient jade: “Take it.”

Yet when he first produced the jade, Jiang Mingyu had already recognized it as a priceless treasure.

Still, Jiang Mingyu politely refused: “This was merely a literary exchange among friends; no such gift is necessary.”

But Master Zhuge pressed on: “Jiang, what do you mean? Though I am outmatched, I am no oath-breaker. This jade was the wager—take it!” His eyes betrayed clear reluctance.

Jiang Mingyu’s eyes flickered, then he said: “I am unworthy to take what you cherish—keep the jade for your own enjoyment.”

“If you are not so attached to winning or losing, then let me ask you to grant me one favor—let it serve as a new stake, what do you say?”

Master Zhuge, already reluctant to part with the jade, instantly felt as if granted pardon—he beamed: “Jiang, speak! I shall do my utmost.”

Jiang Mingyu smiled and said: “It’s not a great matter—I recently discovered a substance called coal in Shangmu County...”

He then recounted exactly what Murong Yunhai had told him about coal.

Finally, he ordered his attendant Tuxesiluo to bring samples and brewed a pot of tea using coal as fuel.

Watching the pale blue flames beneath the small clay stove, both Master Zhuge and Wang Zhe saw it for the first time—they exchanged glances, marveling endlessly.

Seeing the moment was right, Jiang Mingyu smiled at Master Zhuge: “This coal is what I intend to promote.”

“You come from a distinguished family, with vast estates—winter is coming, and you will need immense quantities of coal for heating.”

“Your friends, too, are men of noble lineage and wealth—your demand for coal will surely be substantial.”

“Shangmu County is poor, its people destitute—please help me promote this coal, and in doing so, you serve the people.”

“The sages said: when one is prosperous, one should help all under heaven. Thus, you preserve your reputation as a scholar, is it not?”

Jiang Mingyu’s flattery delighted Master Zhuge—he agreed without hesitation: “Jiang, your words strike true!”

“I shall order ten thousand catties of coal immediately for my family’s winter use—and as for promoting it, I shall spare no effort!”

“Though I do have one small request...” Here, Master Zhuge paused briefly, then slowly spoke the rest.

Jiang Mingyu, delighted by his swift agreement, beamed: “Master, speak! Within my power, I shall give my all—no refusal!”

As a transmigrator, he had no attachments and cared little for whatever Master Zhuge might ask.

Jiang Mingyu felt confident—he believed he could easily handle any demand.

Jiang Mingyu’s face beamed with a shrewd smile; he knew securing Master Zhuge’s help to promote coal was vital.

Whatever Master Zhuge asked, he would agree first.

Master Zhuge adjusted his wide sleeves and smiled: “My request is simple—please accept me as your disciple.”

What? Jiang Mingyu was taken aback. A disciple? That was unexpected.

Seeing Jiang Mingyu’s confusion, Master Zhuge, embarrassed, explained: “Jiang, you know—I have some literary reputation in Yasimo Regional Military Commission.”

“But the sea of learning is boundless, and effort never betrays the earnest. I wish to study poetry and prose under you, to achieve greater progress.”

After a moment’s thought, he added slyly: “Besides, taking me—a renowned scholar—as your disciple would enhance your own reputation, would it not?”

“If you agree now, I’ll order thirty thousand catties of coal immediately—how’s that?”

Jiang Mingyu smiled inwardly—he realized Master Zhuge had been won over by the poem he’d “borrowed.”

Weighing the advantages, he decided: since Master Zhuge came from a powerful family with wide connections, accepting him as a disciple would benefit him greatly.

So Jiang Mingyu smiled: “Since you pursue learning so earnestly, I shall humbly accept you as my disciple.”

Master Zhuge beamed, bowing deeply with clasped hands: “Yes, Jiang—no, Master! It’s settled!”

“I’ll rush home for the silver—I’ll send the coal payment at once!”

With that, Master Zhuge turned and hurried out, his expression gleeful, like a child just praised by his teacher.

Watching Master Zhuge’s retreating figure, Jiang Mingyu chuckled: “Master Zhuge is truly a tireless learner.”

Hearing this, Wang Zhe snorted: “Jiang, you overestimate him.”

“That Zhuge Yu has less talent than a beggar—he loves nothing more than showing off before crowds, seeking attention.”

“The people of the city flatter him only because of the Zhuge family’s influence—that’s how he earned his so-called reputation.”

“Had the Zhuge family not held such power in Yasimo, I would never have humored him with ‘Master Zhuge’ this whole time.”

Wang Zhe sneered further: “And this business of becoming your disciple—don’t think for a moment he wants to help the people. That’s nonsense, a joke!”

“From my judgment, he merely wants to learn a few tricks from you, then parade them abroad for glory.”

Jiang Mingyu’s expression cleared—he now understood why Zhuge Yu’s poetry was so mediocre.

Jiang Mingyu privately scoffed: Zhuge Yu was nothing but a man who rode his family’s status to gain false literary fame.

Without the Zhuge family’s local power, his talent would have been mocked long ago.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mingyu smiled inwardly.

A talentless, show-off playboy had voluntarily begged to become his disciple—how amusing.

But then he realized: for a man like Zhuge Yu, reputation and status mattered far more than true ability. If so, using him temporarily posed no harm.

Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly—he had made his decision.

He needed to return to the county quickly and accelerate coal mining; as for Zhuge Yu, he would simply be used wisely.

When Zhuge Yu came to pay the silver, he would immediately return to Shangmu County.

Jiang Mingyu quietly planned his next moves, his heart alight with the zeal of pioneering something new.

Just as Jiang Mingyu was growing impatient, urgent footsteps sounded outside.

Jiang Mingyu, who had already drunk two cups of tea, suddenly brightened: “The silver has come!”

But soon, a strange man in official robes stormed in.

He was under forty, over six feet tall, his round belly bulging with fat.

His bulbous nose squeezed his small eyes into slits; his goatee glistened with oil, his expression fierce.

The fat man bowed to Wang Zhe, still lost in admiration of Jiang’s poem, then turned to Jiang Mingyu: “You’re the imperial envoy from Shangmu County, aren’t you?”

Jiang Mingyu smiled: “Indeed. And you are...?”

The fat man sneered arrogantly: “I am Huang Chaoran, Chief Secretary of Yasimo Regional Military Commission!”

Jiang Mingyu bowed: “Ah, Chief Secretary Huang...”

Before he could finish, Huang Chaoran waved him off impatiently: “Enough with the formalities—I ask you: how did my father-in-law He Dachuan and my brother-in-law He Muchen die?”

Jiang Mingyu instantly recalled: when arresting He Dachuan, the man had mentioned a powerful patron in the provincial capital—this man was clearly that patron.

Wang Zhe, seated behind his desk, spoke up: “Chief Secretary, what are you implying?”

Huang Chaoran sneered: “That’s what you should ask this imperial envoy.”

Huang Chaoran’s voice turned cold: “Three days ago, I sent men to Shangmu County—and learned my father-in-law He Dachuan and nephew He Muchen both died in your coal mine.”

“Worse—you had the audacity to sell off my father-in-law’s estate. Such crimes are unforgivable!”

“Jiang, even the Son of Heaven is subject to the law—if you don’t explain yourself today, I don’t care if you’re an imperial envoy—I’ll drag you before His Majesty myself and demand your life for my family!”