Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds-Chapter 71: ordinal lasting Union themed uncomfortable Tr tent doing Easter

"Pan’an, you’re a girl. Why are you thinking so much?"

"Your father has his own considerations; it’s not for you to worry about."

Inside the horse carriage, another soft, sweet female voice echoed. Through the gap in the opened reed curtain, one could see that, apart from Ouyang Pan’an who had just spoken, there was another beautiful woman of about thirty in the carriage.

Ouyang Zai was nearly seventy years old. But his heart was not old. After his wife passed away when he was in his fifties, he remarried.

"Mother, you’re mistaken," Ouyang Pan’an argued. "If one doesn’t understand the ways of the world, marrying a military official in times of peace won’t lead to a prominent life. It’s better to marry a scholar, who is both romantic and well-versed in literature. But in troubled times, one should marry a military official; at least it can ensure temporary safety..."

However, before she could finish her sentence, the sound of horses’ hooves echoed from behind. Immediately after, a group of the Night Patrol Department’s Tiqi surrounded them.

"Master Ouyang," one began, "His Majesty has decreed that you submit the national strategy before you depart."

Even when facing the former Zaifu, the Night Patrol Department dared not show the slightest negligence. Thus, the leader of the Tiqi who came to the Station Post was not a mere Captain of a Hundred or a Chiliarch, but the esteemed Command Envoy of the Night Patrol Department.

"National strategy?" Ouyang Zai was momentarily stunned, then a sneer touched his lips. He had reached the pinnacle of civil officialdom. In terms of scheming, few in the world could rival him. Therefore, as soon as Commander Liu uttered those few words, he guessed what national strategy Emperor Chongming was after. It was nothing more than making him, a former Zaifu who had abandoned his post, shoulder the blame!

"His Majesty said," Commander Liu continued, "after your departure, you will be conferred the posthumous title of ’Wenzhong.’ In the three-hundred-year history of the National Dynasty, only a few have received such a distinguished honor."

"Thunder’s roar or gentle rain, all are blessings from Heaven." Having said this, Commander Liu glanced at the women in the carriage and said calmly, "Master Ouyang, please do not make a mistake that you will regret..."

"I remember..." Ouyang Zai slowly dismounted from the old ox’s back and uttered this seemingly unrelated sentence, "when the Emperor was the Crown Prince, I served as the Assistant Tutor of the Crown Prince and lectured him on the classics and history..."

After becoming a Cabinet Scholar, he had also concurrently served as the Assistant Tutor of the Crown Prince, a first-rank official. The late Emperor had intended for him to become the future Zaifu, so he had him enter the Eastern Palace to assist the Crown Prince, hoping he would become a minister who had supported the Emperor from his early days.

More than twenty years had passed. The Crown Prince ascended the throne, becoming Emperor Chongming, yet the kingdom’s fortunes were declining day by day.

"I, too, have listened to Master Ouyang’s lectures on the classics..." Commander Liu nodded slightly, dismounted, and performed the courtesies of a disciple, standing attentively by Ouyang Zai’s side. The two of them looked very much like a master and his disciple.

A February spring rain, as fine as ox hair, began to fall, seemingly out of nowhere.

Two hundred paces ahead, there was a resting pavilion. The two men walked towards it, one following the other. Ouyang Zai walked in front with his hands clasped behind his back, while Commander Liu followed, holding an umbrella.

"When Scholar Su left the Capital..." Ouyang Zai began, "it was also here. I tried to persuade him. He held a piece of paper with a rebellious poem written on it and showed it to me. After reading the poem, I was determined to kill the person who wrote it, but Scholar Su stopped me..."

This rebellious poem should be very fitting for the current situation.

Sitting on a stone bench, Ouyang Zai held a brush but did not write for a long moment. He glanced at the cascade of rain pouring from the corner of the pavilion roof, then finally put brush to paper. As he wrote, he recited: "Behold the world, teeming with thieves! The flawed Heavenly Dao, by common men, shall be mended. A true man bids farewell to his parents, not for a lord, but for all people he strives, ceasing only when all officials are slain. I, a noble man of Han, how did I end up imprisoned as a criminal?"

"The warrior drains his bowl of wine; a thousand-mile journey, no turning back."

"Golden drums thunder, a million voices roar, vowing no rest until the Yellow Dragon is conquered."

His words finished, the brush stilled. He closed his eyes, and a few old tears smudged the freshly dried ink.

Commander Liu remained silent. After a long while, he finally spoke, "This rebellious poem, written by Xu Xing... your disciple has seen it and read it. However, in my eyes, he is merely a prisoner. He cannot escape the prison, nor can he transform into a dragon. He is just a pitiful creature, a trapped beast fighting desperately..."

"But he has now slapped you in the face!" Ouyang Zai opened his eyes and smiled. "Having left prison, he became the renowned King Xing Tian. He chose the right path. The people of Guanxi Road have long harbored resentment against the Imperial Court. When he entered Guanxi Road, it was like a fish to water; the gentry quickly supported him, allowing him to establish a firm foothold..."

"Now, he has even forced this old man to write a national strategy for His Majesty." He sounded as if he were mocking, yet also gratified.

King Xing Tian’s rebellious poem also had some connection to him. If he hadn’t agreed to Scholar Su’s plea back then and granted Xu Xing the privilege of using brush and ink in the Sky Prison, perhaps this rebellious poem would never have come into being.

"Master Ouyang..." Commander Liu reminded him, seeing that time was passing and his patience wearing thin, "His Majesty is still waiting in the palace."

This scapegoat... only a senior minister of the state like Ouyang Zai could bear its weight.

"No rush, no rush," Ouyang Zai said. "This old man will grind the ink and write now. As for this poem, it is a gift for you, Commander Liu."

Ouyang Zai rolled up the calligraphy and handed it to Commander Liu.

"Thank you, Master Ouyang." Commander Liu paused for a moment before accepting the scroll.

Grand Scholar of the Cabinet, Ouyang Shuda, was not only the foremost civil official in the Imperial Court but also a renowned literary figure. His calligraphy was priceless, each character worth a thousand pieces of gold. Countless people admired Ouyang Shuda’s calligraphy and sought his work. However, as a Zaifu, Ouyang Shuda understood the need for discretion and rarely gifted his calligraphy or paintings.

Yet, today, Commander Liu did not wish to accept this scroll. It wasn’t because Ouyang Zai had lost his power and influence, leading to people becoming indifferent and his home deserted. Rather, this piece of calligraphy was too conspicuous, too glaring—a veritable hot potato. If he accepted it, he would be hoarding a rebellious poem. If Emperor Chongming found out, he would undoubtedly be held accountable. If he didn’t accept it, and if Xu Xing’s army were to storm Shenjing in the future, without this scroll... he feared he might not be able to save his own life.

Scholar Su and Ouyang Zai had shown kindness to King Xing Tian. This, he understood with perfect clarity.

"It seems..." Ouyang Zai stroked his short beard and chuckled, instantly discerning Commander Liu’s thoughts upon seeing his reaction. "Commander Liu is no fool. Your thoughts and observations are astute."

"Outlaws and rebels can be crushed by the Imperial Court with a flick of the finger," Commander Liu said, accepting the scroll. He shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. "But when an official becomes a rebel and achieves such a status, who wouldn’t be wary of him?"

As Emperor Chongming’s foster brother, he knew the Emperor’s character inside out. With Emperor Chongming on the throne, the likelihood of the Imperial Court’s downfall was not insignificant. In all matters, one must have multiple contingency plans. Before today’s Imperial Court assembly, his Night Patrol Department had learned that many officials in Shenjing had secretly sent messages to Xu Xing. However, he neither stopped this nor reported it to the Emperor. This was because most of the officials sending messages were part of his faction, his allies. It was like Emperor Chongming wanting to execute a few Corrupt Officials to replenish the National Treasury and his private treasury. But how could they be executed? They simply couldn’t be! Under his ’twisting of black and white,’ Upright Officials and those who did practical work became branded as Corrupt Officials, while actual Corrupt Officials were portrayed as Upright Officials. Killing Upright Officials was tantamount to nurturing Corrupt ones. Of course, killing these Upright Officials wasn’t entirely unjust. Take King Xing Tian, Xu Xing, for example. He could be considered an Upright Official, yet he too had coveted some silver and taken sides. Bribery and corruption were the entry ticket to the higher echelons. The civil and military officials in the Imperial Court were merely divided into the greatly corrupt and the slightly corrupt.