The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 203 - 112: The Fourth Demon God Visualization Map_3

Chapter 203: Chapter 112: The Fourth Demon God Visualization Map_3

"Marquis Wuding, Eunuch Zhao, please make way. I have official business with scholar Xu Qing." At this moment, Academician Zhou arrived and eased the situation for Xu Qing.

Xu Qing, like a man granted amnesty, promptly followed Academician Zhou, and instructed Su Lianqing and others to move the luggage to a residence he had prepared in advance in the Heavenly Capital.

...

...

Upon arriving at the Zhou residence.

Prior to this, Xu Qing had already observed the changes in the dark Qi fortune through the bronze mirror.

Though the attitudes of Eunuch Zhao and Marquis Wuding were enigmatic, the feedback from the Qi fortune indicated, at least, an absence of malice.

Could this be genuine?

Xu Qing came to respect the two men.

An opponent who knows when to be humble and when to assert is even more fearsome.

He understood that the current cordial demeanor of the two old men was temporary, likely due to Feng Xifeng.

Upon deliberation, Xu Qing immediately realized that it was a terrible thing for the two, who had just been reinstated, if Feng Xifeng were to interfere at this juncture.

"Better to make an error in action than to make none at all. The Emperor sending old Feng now as Imperial Censor may signal more a warning than an intent to replace anyone," Xu Qing murmured inwardly.

The two were Emperor’s confidantes sent to South Zhili, and as long as the Emperor did not wish to replace them, their status would remain secure.

Both understood this logic, hence their appearance to welcome him was likely not only a show of goodwill but also to demonstrate allegiance to those above.

Ultimately, it was more performance than substance.

The best actors, indeed, are found in officialdom, no falsehood in this.

Within the Divine Soul of Xu Qing, the Vajra Bell rang, his thoughts becoming even more lucid.

Once in Academician Zhou’s study, Xu Qing bowed and said, "Thank you, Sir, for your intervention."

Academician Zhou smiled, "We haven’t seen each other for a long time. You’ve grown distant from me."

Xu Qing coughed, "Then shall I call you ’Uncle’?"

Academician Zhou grinned, "Call me that if you wish."

After exchanging pleasantries, the initial alienation quickly dissipated. Academician Zhou brought up official matters, "After the academy examination, I’m immediately to serve as Governor of Lingnan Province, which has not yet recovered its Essence Qi after last year’s military disaster. The Court wants me to govern the region. What are your thoughts, Gongming?"

Xu Qing replied, "I’m not particularly insightful, but former Scholars Han and Su, after arriving in Lingnan, focused on education to pacify the locale. Since there are precedents set by these virtuous predecessors, my opinion is that you may consider their methods."

Academician Zhou stroked his beard, "Your thoughts align with mine. However, the literary culture has always been weak in Lingnan, and scholars from the Central Plains are unwilling to go there to educate the populace. Without scholars, achieving educational reforms will be difficult."

Indeed, the Court had sent Academician Zhou to govern Lingnan by taking into account previous experiences.

Academician Zhou, having been an Academic Administrator, was naturally a professional in this aspect.

However, the Xinan school of thought which Academician Zhou came from was primarily composed of the scholar-gentry class, rarely from poor families, so even for him finding allies within his own school was challenging.

Besides, when it comes to educating, quantity of scholars was more important than quality.

Xu Qing caught the subtle hint; such challenging tasks were endurable only by the most underprivileged scholars, and the Recovery Society was precisely a club mainly composed of such scholars.

Old Zhou was poaching from his territory.

After mulling over it, Xu Qing saw it as a good opportunity.

Firstly, having the foundation of the Lotus Sect in Lingnan, he could use this occasion to consolidate the remaining forces of the Lotus Sect in Lingnan and strengthen the base; secondly, the Recovery Society advocated practical affairs and helping the people, making it a prime opportunity to realize the Society’s ideals.

Furthermore, Xu Qing could ensure the members of the Recovery Society had nothing to worry about back home, enabling them to work in Lingnan without concern.

Xu Qing immediately made his stance clear, "The rise and fall of a nation is every man’s responsibility. If Sir requires scholars, the students of the Recovery Society will surely follow without hesitation."

Academician Zhou’s eyes brightened, "Such spirit in declaring ’The rise and fall of a nation is every man’s responsibility.’ Truly, Gongming is a gentleman who cares for the masses. I will discuss this with Scholar Shen and seek to credit you for this idea."

Scholar Shen was Shen Mo, the favored student of the Grand Secretary, who had served for ten years as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and was now the Fourth Rank Minister of the Ministry of Rites; critically, he was also the tutor to Prince Yu.

The Emperor had five sons but had not yet designated an heir. However, being the eldest, Prince Yu was naturally the favored successor of all the civil servants of the Court.

After Xu Qing pronounced "The rise and fall of a nation is every man’s responsibility," streams of Holy Virtue began to appear within the bronze mirror.

He was not surprised at all.

However, to garner Holy Virtue, the circumstances had to align with the era; it was not a matter of merely uttering a slogan to obtain it.

Without the intervention of Academician Zhou, Xu Qing could not have harnessed the Holy Virtue within the phrase.

If the task was completed well, naturally, more would come.

Understanding the nature of the Recovery Society, Academician Zhou thought of Xu Qing’s society when this opportunity arose. In his eyes, Xu Qing was no longer merely a junior but rather a potential collaborator on the political stage.

Especially in South Zhili, if a society of scholars like the Recovery Society could grow strong and be well-utilized, even without holding an official position, Xu Qing could still command influence in the court.

In fact, this was also the prototype of the political factions from Xu Qing’s previous life.

The front figure is but the face, while the real power lies with the party boss behind the scenes.

One on the outside, the other within.

However, matters of staffing are intricate and cannot be summed up in a few words.

Without substantial personal strength, even if Xu Qing remained the head of the Recovery Society, others would not truly respect him.

Hearts may change, but the principle of the survival of the fittest remains unchanged.

Based on this matter, Academician Zhou and Xu Qing thoroughly discussed their strategies.

With the state of Absolute Focus and aided by the Vajra Bell, the more they conversed, the clearer Xu Qing’s ideas became, from time to time proposing inspirations that enlightened Academician Zhou.

Internally, this made Academician Zhou somewhat envious.

An outsider, it seems, can never truly compare to one’s very own son-in-law.

To this thought, Academician Zhou couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss, as if the finest plants had thrived in someone else’s courtyard.

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