Chapter 195: 133. Chapter 132: The Son of Heaven, Flowing with the Tide, Stopping at Obstacles

133. Chapter 132: The Son of Heaven, Flowing with the Tide, Stopping at Obstacles

The seventh day of the tenth month, Start of Winter.

The first phase: water begins to freeze; the second phase: earth begins to freeze. In Zhili, the cold had already turned biting, especially at dawn—farmers who once waded barefoot through streams for a shortcut now mostly sought bridges to cross.

Of course, the north and south differed.

The south still held residual warmth, with crisp air and cool winds, little rain and dryness—the perfect season for touring mountains and waters.

The north, meanwhile, gradually took on winter's chill, a desolate feeling rising.

Travelers moving from south to north at this time felt the climatic contrast most acutely.

A carriage bearing a yellow flag marked "Ministry of Rites Imperial Examination" moved slowly along the official road.

This yellow flag identified candidates heading to the capital for the exam, known as the public carriage—each provincial administration issued silver and fire tokens to candidates, allowing them to borrow carriages at relay stations along the way.

The imperial examination was held in February, meaning over a hundred days remained until the spring trials.

Travel in winter was difficult and prone to catching cold.

Arriving in the capital too late in spring left no time to review and deepen one's knowledge.

Thus, traveling to the capital in late autumn to prepare became the choice of most candidates.

The dawn had not yet broken; the road remained dim.

A morning breeze swept past.

Li Kun, driving the carriage, couldn't help shivering and pulled his coat tighter.

Logically, coming from Henan, the climate should not differ much—but he distinctly felt it grew colder the farther north he went.

Perhaps… he was thirty-eight this year, no longer able to endure the cold, Li Kun stroked his beard and sighed.

Unfortunately, the public carriages available via fire token at relay stations were only carriages, with no relay attendants to drive them.

He should have waited until daylight, when it was warmer to set out.

Li Kun drifted into idle thoughts and absentmindedly cracked the whip twice against the horse.

Dawn light grew faint, the chill receded, replaced by cool, pleasant air.

Travelers and carriages on the road gradually increased.

After all, this was Zhili territory—many rose early to chop firewood or till fields, and even more climbed mountains to pray to gods and Buddhas.

Carriages were luxurious and grand; porters carried burdens, hunched and ragged.

Li Kun observed both, shaking his head repeatedly in sighs.

Just as his thoughts swirled, a man suddenly blocked his path.

"Esteemed sir, could you spare a moment?"

Li Kun pulled the reins and looked to the roadside.

There, a large carriage was stuck beside the road; the driver wore a look of distress.

Before Li Kun stood a man in Confucian robes and headgear, gesturing wildly—he was clearly the one who had stopped him.

He was barely in his twenties, with a pale, clean face, flowing robes and sash, every gesture elegant and poised.

Truly, he stood above the mundane, exuding grace.

Seeing his distinguished bearing, Li Kun dared not rely on his age to act superior.

He quickly stepped down to bow: "I am no esteemed sir—what may I do for you?"

He did not reveal his own name.

On the road, caution came first.

The man returned the bow formally: "Do not call me 'esteemed sir.' I am Gu Assistant County Magistrate, bowing to you, sir."

After bowing, Gu Assistant County Magistrate gave a wry smile and explained: "I am no different from you—I am also a candidate heading to the capital for the examination."

"Our carriage, jolted along the road, was poorly maintained and broke down here."

"But I had arranged to meet a friend today, who planned to host a banquet for me—if I am late, he will be displeased."

"That is why I boldly trouble you—please allow me to ride with you."

Li Kun heard this and relaxed slightly.

As long as it wasn't some wandering swordsman, it was fine.

This small favor, combined with both being candidates and his outstanding manners, made Li Kun unbothered.

Still, he retained a final trace of caution.

He pulled out his fire token and showed it to Gu Assistant County Magistrate warmly: "It is but a small service."

"I am Li Kun, styled Shujian, from Ningling County, Henan."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate understood immediately—he was being asked to verify his candidate status.

He promptly pulled out his own fire token and smiled: "How fortunate—I am from Wuxi, and I too am the third son, styled Shushi."

Bo, Zhong, Shu, Ji—both used "Shu" in their styles, meaning they were both third sons.

Li Kun took Gu Assistant County Magistrate's token, examined it closely—it bore the official mark of the provincial administration—and finally relaxed.

He smiled at once: "Please, sir, take your seat—I'll drive."

Now that names and status were known, no need for such formal "esteemed sir" and "your honor."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate immediately declined: "Morally, I am the one troubling you, Brother Li, adding to your burden."

"Emotionally, you are fourteen years my senior—I should treat you as an elder brother."

"Morally and emotionally, I should be the one driving for you."

Seeing his handsome face and impeccable manners, Li Kun could not help but feel fondness.

He laughed: "Since we travel together, let us drive together."

The Doctrine of the Mean always persuaded.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate gratefully agreed, then returned to instruct the driver to guard the carriage until help arrived.

Then Li and Gu climbed onto Li Kun's carriage, sitting left and right.

The horse, whipped twice, snorted in protest, and the carriage resumed its slow pace.

Li Kun sat sideways, legs dangling outside the carriage.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate sat cross-legged, removed his official hat, and tidied his hair, disheveled from dragging the carriage.

"By the way, Brother Li—when we exchanged names, you said you were Li, but your fire token bears the surname Li?"

Gu Assistant County Magistrate asked casually.

He did not suspect deception—he had already seen the token, so there was no need to hide anything.

He was merely curious.

Li Kun only shook his head and sighed: "It's a long story."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate became interested.

He looked at Li Kun with curiosity and smiled: "Such a fine morning, such a fine autumn—perfect for idle talk."

He sensed Li Kun was merely reflecting, not hiding anything.

Indeed, Li Kun sighed again, then began: "My sixth-generation ancestor, named Lu Heisi, was born at the end of the Yuan."

"He read little but understood principles, tilled land in Xin'an, and earned his living as a gardener."

"Then war erupted—my ancestor, who had long aspired to serve the state, joined the founding emperor…"

Gu Assistant County Magistrate listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions.

"... After the war, the founding emperor granted my ancestor the rank of Battalion Commander, bestowed one catty of silver, and issued an edict restoring his family."

"But an accident occurred when the edict was read."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate's expression turned peculiar—he already suspected the outcome.

As expected.

Li Kun sighed a third time: "The edict's closing words read: 'By imperial decree, Li the old vegetable grower of Shuinan Village—so ordered.'"

"The character 'Lu' had been miswritten as 'Li'!"

Gu Assistant County Magistrate burst into a cough.

It was impolite—he quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve, masking it.

Once composed, he spoke: "So you are the descendant of a founding hero—I deeply apologize for my ignorance."

He then asked curiously: "Did your ancestor not protest?"

Li Kun shook his head: "According to my ancestor's tomb inscription, when he argued his surname, the founding emperor tossed his brush and said, 'Let him be Li.'"

He could not help feeling melancholy.

Imperial bestowal of a surname was an honor—but one granted by a clerical error made the change humiliating.

As the saying goes: "Those of the clan who value propriety find their hearts unsettled."

Daily life was filled with countless embarrassments.

Li Kun's mother was surnamed Li—parents sharing the same surname was considered unethical in Henan—"Thus, our family often married into Li households, yet after death, our ancestral tablets bore the name 'Lord Lu.'"

This was called: live under the sovereign's name, die under the ancestor's.

Even after his parents' passing, Li Kun faced a major dilemma: how to inscribe their tombstone.

Thus, even at nearly forty, Li Kun refused to abandon his pursuit of scholarly distinction.

The founding emperor's scribal error could not be corrected by family whim—it required the emperor's personal approval to restore the original surname.

Without passing the imperial examination and reaching a certain rank, how could one gain the authority to petition the emperor for a surname restoration?

Founding hero? A Battalion Commander sent back to his hometown, now six generations removed—beyond a few scattered riches, what path remained?

Gu Assistant County Magistrate, well-versed in worldly affairs, naturally understood the difficulties.

He also understood why this Li Kun stubbornly insisted on calling himself Lu.

Seeing Li Kun's low spirits, he sympathetically said: "The Founding Emperor was misinformed—there's nothing to be done. When Brother Lu triumphs on the imperial examination list, you may petition to correct the ancestral name, claiming it was a phonetic error passed down."

This was a reminder to Li Kun of the ways of the bureaucracy.

Don't casually blame the Founding Emperor—otherwise, it'll become "the ancestral law cannot be changed."

But if you claim it was merely a phonetic error, the matter will be a hundred times easier to resolve.

Li Kun was startled.

His family had long been impoverished; otherwise, he wouldn't be using a rented official carriage.

He had no grasp of these bureaucratic machinations—now, with the reminder, he immediately grasped the crux.

Li Kun nodded, slightly shaken, then quickly bowed and thanked him.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate remained as unperturbed as ever, dismissing it as trivial and refusing any thanks.

With this incident as groundwork, the two gradually grew more familiar.

They began exchanging scholarly views.

From Chen Hao's "Collected Explanations" to the "Complete Compendium of the Four Books and Five Classics," from examination essays to policy treatises on classics and history.

When discussing policy treatises, someone inevitably couldn't help pointing to the mountains and rivers.

"... Not only that—I personally witnessed Zhang Jiangling's tyrannical rule; this time I shall go to Beijing and personally petition Master Yaoquan to intervene."

Zhang Jiangling naturally referred to Zhang Zhang Juzheng; Yaoquan was the style name of Shen Shen Shixing.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate spoke as if it were self-evident, his entire demeanor glowing with brilliance.

Li Kun listened intently, stealing a glance at Gu Assistant County Magistrate.

Was this an open declaration of political loyalty, an invitation to allies—or a demonstration of connections, an attempt to recruit personal networks?

The first sentence was a blatant expression of discontent toward the current Grand Secretary.

The second revealed his close ties with the Minister of Personnel, Shen Shen Shixing.

Regardless, a palpable aura of celestial favor radiated from his words.

He suddenly realized: though Gu Assistant County Magistrate's appearance and speech were extraordinary, it was his air of a leader of opinion that truly made him so dazzling.

Li Kun was not well-versed in court politics; after some thought, he asked curiously: "What exactly does Shuoshi mean by Zhang Jiangling's tyrannical rule?"

Gu Assistant County Magistrate shook his head repeatedly: "There are many."

"Intimidating His Majesty in the Western Garden."

"Disrupting governance in the Southern Zhili."

"Instituting the Kaocheng System to seize power within the Grand Secretariat, demoting colleagues."

"..."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate was about to continue.

The carriage suddenly halted, cutting him off.

He looked up in confusion and saw a line of soldiers and two prisoner carts slowly blocking most of the road.

Only half a lane remained open for pedestrians and carriages to pass alternately.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate squinted at the procession, took the reins from Li Kun's hand, and whispered: "Let's go—detour around."

Li Kun continued gazing curiously.

Especially at the group of Embroidered Uniform Guards and eunuchs ahead.

He asked: "Who are these people?"

Gu Assistant County Magistrate sneered: "Who? Naturally, a wrongful case from Huguang."

Li Kun froze.

He asked in confusion: "A wrongful case?"

Gu Assistant County Magistrate pointed to the two prisoners in the carts and explained: "These two are the Prince of Dong'an and the Prince of Prince Wugang of the Chu princely house."

"The former is accused of plotting to assassinate the imperial envoy and raising troops in rebellion."

"The latter has even more charges."

"As for why it's a wrongful case—well, it's because Zhang Jiangling has oppressed the imperial clans..."

Mid-sentence, he turned and saw Li Kun's bewildered expression, and fell silent.

The phrase "even more charges" implied the imperial envoy had fabricated accusations.

But whether this case or the following remark, neither was something this unseasoned companion could comprehend.

So Gu Assistant County Magistrate paused, then swallowed the rest.

Li Kun seemed to grasp something.

He comforted: "Shuoshi, don't be indignant. I've heard His Majesty took the granddaughter of Grand Secretary Li into the palace this year—perhaps within two years, things will change."

"At that time, Grand Secretary Zhang Jiangling will surely return power to His Majesty."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate nodded absently, brushing it off.

Li Kun turned back and resumed driving.

His bewildered expression vanished instantly; his gaze grew deep, as if pondering deeply.

Each man harbored private thoughts, falling into brief silence.

The imperial road beneath the Son of Heaven was always the smoothest.

Moreover, carriages bearing the yellow banner of the Ministry of Rites' metropolitan examination could avoid many bribes and extortions—this was why some regions called such carriages "official carriages," just like the modern phrase "eating from the state treasury."

Thus, Li and Gu traveled without obstruction, arriving smoothly at Tongzhou in Shuntian Prefecture before noon.

Li Kun learned that Gu Assistant County Magistrate's so-called friend had already reserved an entire estate for a banquet.

This was beneath the Son of Heaven's gaze—how much must it have cost?

No wonder he was a celestial favorite with connections from Southern Zhili to Beizhili—Li Kun was utterly awed.

Li Kun dropped Gu Assistant County Magistrate off outside the estate, then headed to the post station to return the carriage with his fire permit—no one would risk his career over a few taels for a carriage.

But Gu Assistant County Magistrate laughed heartily: "My servants will handle that. You've helped me all the way—how could I begrudge you a midday meal?"

"You, Sir Ju Jian, are such a talent—I must introduce you to some friends. You, the brilliant and outstanding, will complement each other perfectly!"

Saying this, he seized Li Kun's hand, refusing to let him go.

Then he leaned out and called to the servants waiting at the gate: "Hurry and summon your master to greet me—tell him I've brought a beauty to join us, so we must add one more seat!"

Indeed, Gu Assistant County Magistrate's bearing and demeanor, combined with his sincere air of friendship, were devastatingly persuasive.

Li Kun couldn't break free; in moments, he was pulled from the carriage.

Before they had taken a few steps,

a clear voice rang out from the estate gate: "This morning, a fortune-teller told me my fate carries the Peach Blossom Calamity—truly so!"

Li Kun saw a man in brocade robes, about twenty-one or twenty-two, smiling calmly, striding forward.

"I said, Shuoshi, why are you so late? Turns out you've found a new love and been dallying on the road! Poor me—I'm starving, my belly pressed against my back!"

The newcomer joked with Gu Assistant County Magistrate.

Then he turned to Li Kun, bowed formally: "I am Li Sancai of Lintong, style name Daofu. I salute you, noble sir."

He looked at Li Kun, then pointed to Gu Assistant County Magistrate: "In my youth, I was ignorant and playful. Only Shuoshi sternly admonished me, urged me to study, guided me in every matter, constantly warned me—truly a beneficial friend, but in truth, a strict teacher."

"Since you are Shuoshi's friend, you are also my friend."

Saying this, he seized one hand of Gu Assistant County Magistrate and one of Li Kun, drawing them both into the estate.

His manner and timing were perfectly judged.

Added to his peerlessly handsome face,

anyone who saw him couldn't help but feel fondness.

Li Kun's face wore a bewildered expression as he introduced himself.

But inwardly, he marveled: these two clearly intended to form a society—let's hope it's legitimate.

Well, I'll eat and leave afterward.

At this moment, Gu Assistant County Magistrate, after Li Kun finished speaking, finally found his chance to speak.

He looked at Li Sancai, feigning displeasure: "Why are you the only one here to greet me? Are the others too ashamed to come out? Is my ranking this year so low, my foundation so weak, they refuse to greet me?"

In truth, he had barely passed the provincial examination this year.

But last year, Southern Zhili had been in turmoil, with rumors that the central court intended to suppress Southern Zhili candidates.

Many students with better scholarship than him were unsettled and failed.

He barely scraped through to pass.

Only his ranking was near the bottom.

Facing Gu Assistant County Magistrate's teasing, Li Sancai did not respond with his earlier cheerfulness; instead, his expression grew serious, his mood darkening.

He glanced at Li Kun, hesitating.

But after a moment, he spoke: "Today, the Hanlin Academy had some trouble—they say they're too occupied."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate was stunned.

The Hanlin Academy was so idle—how could they be too occupied?

He asked curiously: "What happened?"

Li Kun silently perked up his ears.

Li Sancai suddenly gripped both their shoulders, pulling them close, and whispered: "It's said that today, the junior scholars..."

"... gathered outside the Zhao Wenhua Palace to petition over the demotion of Xiong Xiong Dunpu last month."

Although the Ming History records Li Sancai's native place as Tongzhou in Shuntian, in July 1979, when the Nangle County Cultural Center in Henan Province relocated its premises, they discovered the tomb stele of Wei Wei Yunzhen, inscribed with "Li Sancai of Lintong," clearly indicating Lintong as his native place and Tongzhou merely as his residence—thus the Ming History's account on this point is erroneous.