Chapter 0076: Lecherous Man

Chapter 0076: Lecherous Man

Xiao Rong watched as Qu Yunmie finished an entire jar of wine. Even the least intoxicating liquor could make one feel dizzy if consumed in large quantities.

When Qu Yunmie reached for a second jar, Xiao Rong seized the opportunity to speak up, "Your Majesty, I have a request that might be a bit presumptuous."

Qu Yunmie paused mid-reach for the jar.

There it was. No matter when Xiao Rong came to him, official business always turned into personal matters.

After a moment of silence, Qu Yunmie nodded calmly, "Go on."

Xiao Rong: "This expedition has been meticulously planned, but the enemy's tactics and the battlefield's unpredictability can still catch us off guard. Though I cannot fight alongside Your Majesty, I am deeply concerned about your safety and that of our troops. Therefore..."

He paused briefly before cautiously continuing, "Could Your Majesty arrange for General Jian to send daily military reports back to Chenliu? Setting up temporary relay stations along the way and selecting good horses and capable officers would not delay things more than three days. This way, any developments can be quickly addressed here in Chenliu. What do you think?"

Qu Yunmie silently processed this for a moment. "Every day?" Xiao Rong nodded.

Qu Yunmie: "Where would we find so many reports to write?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

You little hamster brain, can't you read between the lines?

After a pause, Xiao Rong sighed, "If there are military reports, I'll read them; if not, I'll look for signs of safety."

Qu Yunmie looked slightly taken aback.

Throughout his countless battles, he had never reported his safety to anyone, nor had anyone asked him to do so.

Xiao Rong waited for Qu Yunmie's response. After a moment, Qu Yunmie finally adjusted to the idea and waved his hand generously, "Sure, but there's no need to trouble General Jian. I can write them myself!"

Xiao Rong: "............"

A smile had just appeared on his face because Qu Yunmie agreed, but it froze in place.

What use is your writing if you can't even read the minds of your subordinates?

However, he couldn't say it so bluntly. Although Xiao Rong often argued with Qu Yunmie, those arguments were usually about themselves or people outside the Northern Pacification Army. They had never disagreed over internal matters.

Who knew how Qu Yunmie would react if he found out Xiao Rong doubted his own men. He might think Xiao Rong was making trouble.

After a strange silence, Xiao Rong smiled again, "That's great, but Your Majesty may sometimes be too busy. The purpose of these reports is to confirm Your Majesty's safety. An extra layer of assurance wouldn't hurt. How about this: Your Majesty writes one report, and General Jian writes another. One will be sent openly, and the other secretly. If I receive only the open one and not the secret one, I'll know something is wrong."

Qu Yunmie: "..."

He looked at Xiao Rong suspiciously, "Why do you sound so sure something will happen to me?"

Then he paused, his confusion growing, "One open, one secret—are you worried about someone in the army?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

Impressive, the hamster has evolved.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Rong succinctly replied, "Better safe than sorry."

Qu Yunmie felt uncomfortable about Xiao Rong doubting his subordinates, but he remembered Li Xiuheng and Zhuang Weizhi kidnapping Xiao Rong. He couldn't blame Xiao Rong for thinking this way.

Straightening his lips, Qu Yunmie finally agreed. With his goal achieved, Xiao Rong stood up happily, praised Qu Yunmie's generosity, and left.

Qu Yunmie watched him go, then glanced at the two jars of wine on the table.

One was empty, while the other was just opened. Neither was fully consumed.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed, and the grand marketing campaign for the anthology of a thousand scholars finally began.

Ten days ago, idle scholars started gathering here for the event. Despite the clear date, the aristocrats liked to make grand entrances.

They deliberately avoided showing up on the first day, instead arriving on the second or third day. If they encountered acquaintances, they would bow casually and say they didn't really want to come but had nothing better to do, and since so many friends were here, they decided to join in. As for the ten thousand gold pieces, they scoffed, saying scholars valued knowledge over wealth and cared little for material possessions.

They were simply here to socialize.

Many shared this mindset. When they entered Treasure Street and saw the central square with its towering pile of gold, even the most reserved among them couldn't help but gape.

There's a saying about a child carrying gold through a crowded market, meaning such a sight would surely attract thieves and trouble. Over time, this saying evolved from cautioning against flaunting wealth to urging humility.

Regardless, the principle remained: one piece of gold could incite murder, and here were ten thousand pieces. Even gods and ghosts would struggle to pass by without temptation.

But no one dared to act, for outside the mountain of gold stood layers of heavily armored soldiers from the Northern Pacification Army, each wielding a sword whose glint reflected off the gold.

To the east of the central square was the theater Xiao Rong owned. It had two and a half floors, with the middle floor open for VIPs and performers, the upper floor for regular patrons, and the third floor partially used for storage and partially as an excellent viewing spot for the square, accessible only to Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong sat there with Yu Shaoxie, smiling at the stunned crowd below.

Today was the second day of the event, and after a quiet start yesterday, the atmosphere was now bustling.

Yu Shaoxie stared at the pile of gold, unable to hide his twitching lips, "Too ostentatious."

Xiao Rong: "How else can we attract attention and show our determination? This proves that the Northern Pacification King isn't bluffing—he truly has ten thousand gold pieces here."

Yu Shaoxie: "..."

And this ten thousand gold was only gathered recently.

Originally, there was no plan for this, but Yu Shaoxie returned victorious from Huaiyin with Sun Renluan's promised three thousand gold pieces, plus the needed grain and logistics troops.

Xiao Rong had demanded so much just to get Sun Renluan to pay, never expecting South Yong to actually cough up the funds. But Yang Zangyi provided a perfect opportunity, and they took full advantage.

Gold, grain, troops—these were the major items. Yu Shaoxie also brought back two warships, two pleasure boats, several chests of treasures, and three secret recipes.

Two were compensations from the Yang family—one was the improved crossbow formula, and the other was the method for making tofu.

Xiao Rong: "…"

Heaven knows what he felt when Yu Shaoxie proudly presented the tofu recipe. Especially since Yu Shaoxie had put in considerable effort to obtain it, believing that Xiao Rong, who loved food, would surely enjoy this new delicacy. ... Never mind.

Rubbing his aching insides, Xiao Rong looked at the third item—this was what he truly wanted.

Before Yu Shaoxie set out, Xiao Rong had specifically given him the bamboo flute hairpin and instructed him to give it to Sun Renluan at a critical moment, to show that Xiao Rong did not blame the court. He understood clearly that Yang Zangyi's actions were separate from the court. Despite his earlier words, he would still strive to support the court, but on one condition: Sun Renluan had to help him accomplish something.

The most valuable things are often free, a principle Sun Renluan fully agreed with. Upon learning what Xiao Rong truly desired, Sun Renluan breathed a sigh of relief. To him, it was like giving it away for free. That day, he ordered the third secret formula to be handed over to Yu Shaoxie.

As for what the third formula was—it was the method for making Xiao Gong paper.

Papermaking is an art, not as simple as printing. Anyone who knew how to make paper would recognize its value, especially since Xiao Rong bore the Xiao surname. Even if he himself knew his paper had nothing to do with the Xiao family, once they found out, they would undoubtedly accuse him of stealing their family's secrets.

Now, he no longer had to worry about that. With Sun Renluan's help, the formula was officially given to Xiao Rong by the Xiao family, allowing him to use and sell it freely.

The Xiao family was furious. When Xiao Rong arrived in Jinling, Sun Renluan had asked them to reach out to him, but they looked down on him and did not want to acknowledge this poor relative. They never invited him, thinking that sending an invitation was already lowering themselves. They even delayed sending the invitation, planning to invite him just before he left, but then unexpected events occurred, and Xiao Rong fled overnight. Sun Renluan nearly imprisoned the Prime Minister, and everyone else was on edge, except the Xiao family, which remained relatively relaxed.

They believed that as Xiao Rong's clan, Sun Renluan could not hold a grudge against them. In fact, they thought Sun Renluan might need their help to persuade Xiao Rong to settle matters. The Xiao family, despite having many ancestors who served in Chang'an, were originally from Linchuan, part of the southern aristocracy. After the Yong Dynasty moved its capital, conflicts arose between north and south, leaving the Xiao family caught in the middle, shunned by both sides. Their descendants were mediocre, and their influence in the court had waned.

Thus, they saw this as an opportunity to regain their status. Initially, they only planned to acknowledge Xiao Rong as a branch of the family, but now they decided to go further, adding his name to the main lineage.

Of course, it couldn't be the eldest son's line; they couldn't let a branch inherit the family. But they could place him in the second or third son's line, giving him the status of a direct descendant without causing much trouble.

In a hidden corner, the Xiao family was arguing fiercely over this matter, none willing to accept a stranger into their family. Some wives even threatened to return to their natal homes. Then, Yu Shaoxie went to Sun Renluan with the hairpin. ...

It wasn't their fault, yet they had to pay the price. And Xiao Rong, the ungrateful one, didn't care about being acknowledged by the family. What he truly wanted was the formula for Xiao Gong paper!

If they knew that Xiao Rong wanted the formula merely to lay the groundwork for his future actions, not to sell Xiao Gong paper, but to use its name to claim he had improved it, thereby lowering paper prices, they would be even more infuriated.

But that was no longer Xiao Rong's concern. He had the formula, given willingly by the Xiao family, and they could no longer control him.

Having just obtained the formula, paper production hadn't started yet. Besides, Chenliu already had enough novelties; one more wouldn't hurt.

Xiao Rong looked down at the bustling crowd below. Almost every newcomer was stunned by the piles of gold, trying to maintain their composure but eventually heading towards the notice board with the first question of the essay competition.

The first question was straightforward: "What is virtue in governing with morality?"

Many scoffed at this question, as scholars often discussed such topics. They couldn't believe the Northern Pacification King would use such a basic question. Those hoping to compete with northern scholars lost interest, but someone softly exclaimed.

The notice board not only displayed the large question but also three small articles beneath it. Upon closer inspection, these were essays based on the question, each with a note: "Articles submitted on XX day for selection, randomly displayed for visitors."

This XX day was yesterday, and people hadn't noticed that someone had already submitted an essay. They were curious about the content.

The first article drew everyone's attention due to its radical stance, criticizing long-held values and implying that everyone else was foolish.

Everyone: "..."

The second article was different. Its tone was normal, but its views were unconventional. It suggested that people should stop reading because it made them think too much. Ignorance meant no questioning of virtue, thus leading to contentment and good governance. Why force oneself to read and ponder virtue?

Everyone: "........"

What kind of madness is this?

These two articles infuriated the crowd, who turned to the third one. This one used elegant language and mature viewpoints, earning widespread approval. However, the last paragraph silenced them.

The author humbly stated that his views were immature, as he was only fourteen years old. If anyone disagreed, they were welcome to correct him.

Everyone: "..."

They silently returned to the beginning of the article. The handwriting and phrasing suggested an adult, not a child. How could a child speak so sensibly?!

He must be lying, shamelessly pretending to be a child to gain favor!

Angry, some left to write a better essay for the Northern Pacification King. Xiao Rong watched them leave, smiling satisfactorily.

Yu Shaoxie: "... Yi Er is still young. Aren't you worried that putting him under such pressure will affect his character?"

Xiao Rong replied calmly, "Even if I didn't, he would already be in the fire."

Yu Shaoxie paused, considering Xiao Rong's position and his relationship with Xiao Yi. He understood Xiao Rong's point but still felt it unnecessary to be so high-profile. Everything could proceed gradually, allowing Xiao Yi more time to learn before appearing publicly. Xiao Rong's reason was to find Xiao Yi a good teacher sooner, but Yu Shaoxie suspected he wanted Xiao Yi to become independent faster.

Recalling his own experience, when he left the fiefdom to Yu Shaocheng, Yu Shaoxie aimed to teach him independence. They were brothers but separate individuals. He couldn't always keep Yu Shaocheng by his side, especially with his dangerous endeavors.

Thinking this, Yu Shaoxie glanced at Xiao Rong. Was he avoiding involving Xiao Yi, or simply not wanting to keep him close?

There was no answer, as Yu Shaoxie didn't ask Xiao Rong. Even if he did, Xiao Rong wouldn't respond.

These days, Chenliu was incredibly lively, with more people arriving upon hearing from friends and relatives. While the ten thousand gold required answering three questions, many came to showcase their literary skills.

For the first five days, only the first question was posted, with new articles appearing daily. Initially, it was a daily rotation, but later, it became hourly. Some even stayed on Treasure Street, cheering good essays and criticizing poor ones. The central square gathered many people, with scholars debating passionately, while vendors outside provided tea and snacks.

Though this seemed to compete with the sponsors inside, no one minded due to the sheer number of people.

Zhao Xingzong, a native of New Peace, came from humble origins. His ancestors once served as Censors, responsible for ensuring military officials' obedience, but their honesty led to imprisonment.

The Zhao family, overwhelmed by political intrigue, returned to New Peace, avoiding several disasters, including invasions and natural calamities.

Despite setbacks, Zhao Xingzong, carrying the family's hopes, was determined to succeed. Now of age, he was ready to pursue his dreams but felt conflicted.

Is he going to follow in his ancestors' footsteps and work directly for the emperor, or is he going to learn from their mistakes and find a place with fewer schemes to work?

As he was struggling with this decision, a piece of news reached his ears: the rough-and-tumble Northern Pacification King was planning to host a thousand-man literary gathering. Moreover, he had announced that whoever could solve the three questions in the anthology would win ten thousand gold pieces.

Zhao Xingzong's eyes lit up, and he immediately packed his bags and prepared to head north.

He wasn't after the ten thousand gold pieces, nor was he interested in observing the Northern Pacification King's character. He was simply there for the spectacle. ...

When crossing the wharf, Zhao Xingzong noticed many scholars dressed similarly to him. He worried about being stopped, but it turned out that there was no need for concern. Xiao Rong had just escaped danger not long ago, and Southern Yong was in turmoil, with no time to bother with the wharf.

He passed through without any issues and continued northward until he finally arrived at Chenliu. There, Zhao Xingzong was stunned by the laborers busily reinforcing the city walls.

They were actually eating, not just thin gruel, but real millet rice!

Though it was only a small bowl, it was still food. Many laborers didn't eat it themselves but quickly wrapped it up to take home for their families.

Zhao Xingzong was shocked. Is the Northern Pacification King really treating those conscripted laborers so well? He couldn't help but inquire further, wondering if they got food every day or just these two days to make a good impression on the scholars attending the literary gathering.

The person he asked rolled his eyes: "Do you think everyone is like the governor of Yiyang, who conscripts laborers and doesn't even feed them properly? The Northern Pacification King not only feeds us but also pays us for our work! Go away, I hate people like you."

Zhao Xingzong: "…………"

He deduced that this person was originally from Yiyang and had likely come here because life there was unbearable. Such people were known as refugees.

It wasn't unusual for refugees to be conscripted into labor, but it was rare for them to be fed and paid. No wonder the Northern Pacification King could offer ten thousand gold pieces as a prize; he must be genuinely wealthy.

If the Northern Pacification King hadn't paid these refugees, Zhao Xingzong wouldn't have thought anything of it, as everyone else did the same. But since he did, Zhao Xingzong couldn't help but blink, feeling a bit pleased.

A few coins might not improve their lives, but at least they could have another meal. Something is always better than nothing.

Leaving the city gate, Zhao Xingzong was about to find a place to settle when he heard nearby Northern Pacification Army soldiers reminding him: "If you're participating in the literary gathering, there are inns on Treasure Street. Everything you need—food, lodging, entertainment—is available there, and it's close to the venue of the gathering."

Zhao Xingzong was taken aback. He looked at the soldier, who pointed in the direction of Treasure Street with one finger.

Zhao Xingzong: "…Thank you?"

The soldier waved his hand, indicating it was no trouble, and then proceeded to remind the next person.

Something felt odd, but Zhao Xingzong followed the advice anyway. Compared to wandering aimlessly, he figured the Northern Pacification King wouldn't let his men mislead him. Finally reaching Treasure Street, he was amazed by the bustling crowd.

What a neat street.

How strange the storefronts are. So many scholars!

He hadn't been to Jinling, but he imagined it looked something like this. The entire street was crowded, and everywhere he heard scholars talking, each discussing different topics.

Scholar A: "No, no, no, the second piece from yesterday evening is the best!"

Scholar B: "Buying stationery sets comes with sachets, but what use do I have for sachets? I'd rather have an oiled paper umbrella."

Scholar C: "Seats in the theater are hard to come by now. Even if I offered more money, I can't get in. Who owns this theater? Don't they know who I am?"

Scholar D: "Where is that restaurant? They should have given clearer directions. I've circled this place three times already!"

Zhao Xingzong: "…………"

He didn't understand any of these four sentences, but he wasn't worried. He slowly closed his jaw and walked in confidently.

There seemed to be plenty of excitement to see. He had arrived! ...

Over the next few days, Zhao Xingzong was incredibly busy, waking up early and returning late at night.

His daily routine began with visiting the square to read the articles from the previous day. Fortunately, someone was always watching over the square now. If the articles were mediocre, they were ignored; if they were good, they were copied and circulated among the crowd. As a result, fewer people were needed to watch over the square, and people could pass by without distraction.

After reading the articles, he rushed to the library. The library built by the Northern Pacification King was small, accommodating only fifty people at a time. Initially, those without seats had to stand, which affected everyone. Eventually, the Northern Pacification Army sent guards to maintain order, allowing only fifty people in per day, closing the doors once full.

Many complained about those inside not leaving, leading to a new rule. A manager was appointed to keep track of faces. Anyone staying for half an hour without leaving was asked to go.

Even with this system, the number of people who could enter was limited, so queuing early was essential.

The only thing that comforted Zhao Xingzong was that the aristocrats didn't care about the library, leaving it mostly to the commoners. At least the competition was less fierce.

After spending half an hour in the library, Zhao Xingzong was ushered out. Seeing the queue outside, he felt a sense of superiority, walking with a lighter step.

Next came lunch. After two days of reading the displayed articles, Zhao Xingzong knew he wouldn't win the ten thousand gold pieces, but he decided to continue participating. With so many books in the library, he wanted to finish reading before leaving.

After lunch, Zhao Xingzong wiped his mouth and headed to the theater, where tickets were scarce. Despite being there for several days, he hadn't managed to get a seat yet. Unlike the library, anyone could enter the theater, and the locals of Chenliu didn't need to rush between venues; they could simply queue at the theater.

The theater performed only twice a day, a rule that drew many complaints. Some even reported it to the authorities, but the theater remained unchanged, ignoring all protests.

Zhao Xingzong had heard that the same play was performed every day. Could it be that captivating? He became even more eager to see it. ...

On the way to the theater, Zhao Xingzong saw another notice board. Chenliu had many notice boards—on the square, on Treasure Street, at the government office, and at the city gates. These boards posted various rules, official documents, and some peculiar content.

For example, this one: "The Wonders of Wool: Did you know wool can be spun into thread? Do you know how to process wool to make it softer? Do you know which type of wool is used for bedding and which for clothing?"

Zhao Xingzong: "……"

Apart from the notice board on the square, the others had someone standing beside them, reading the notices aloud. Zhao Xingzong often saw locals timidly pointing at a paper, and the reader would recite it expressionlessly. Once finished, the locals would bow gratefully, and the reader, accustomed to this, would quietly wait for the next group.

Most of these locals were shy, but some were bold enough to stay and listen. They didn't cause trouble; they simply waited for others to ask, then listened along.

Initially, Zhao Xingzong didn't understand why they did this, but later he realized.

They were secretly learning to read. ...

Seeing this scene, Zhao Xingzong didn't know how he felt. Chenliu was different from other towns in every way, and these commoners seemed different too. No, perhaps they were the same, but because they were in Chenliu, they could do these things. Commoners in other towns simply didn't have the choice to be bold or timid.

Shaking his head, Zhao Xingzong quickened his pace. This time he had arrived earlier, and since the play had been running for several days, there were slightly fewer people today, so he managed to get a spot.

Sitting in a small corner on the second floor, Zhao Xingzong awkwardly adjusted his chair. Although he had managed to get a seat, it was a bit cramped.

He couldn't help but glance at the man sitting at the same table as him. This person was also dressed in scholar's attire, but he was tall and burly, and his posture was particularly relaxed, spreading his legs wide and taking up space meant for two people.

Noticing Zhao Xingzong looking at him, the man returned a provocative stare. He raised an eyebrow, implying, "What's your problem? If you're not happy, let's settle it one-on-one."

Zhao Xingzong was already intimidated; after all, this man looked really fierce and capable of fighting. But before he could silently concede defeat, the man opposite Zhao Xingzong suddenly coughed. The burly man immediately showed a look of annoyance and turned his head away.

The other man pressed his fist to his lips and coughed again, then casually kicked the burly man's knee. The burly man reluctantly pulled his legs together, still spread apart but no longer occupying space for two.

The burly man glared at the person beside him and said through gritted teeth, "Why do you always blame me? It was clearly him who—"

He didn't finish his sentence because his knee was kicked again. The man lifted his head, and Zhao Xingzong's jaw dropped once more, for this person was incredibly beautiful. Seeing him, Zhao Xingzong finally understood what it meant to be unparalleled in beauty and unmatched in the world.

Xiao Rong didn't even glance at the scholar opposite him; he only whispered to Qu Yunmie, "The first three acts change every five days. If you don't watch today, you'll have to wait until you return to Chenliu. Are you going to waste your time watching strangers?"

Qu Yunmie was quite indignant, but he knew Xiao Rong was right. The play was arranged by Xiao Rong, with stories narrated by him and lyrics filled in by others. In a sense, it was also Xiao Rong's creation. With his imminent departure for battle, he shouldn't let a stranger ruin their enjoyment.

Qu Yunmie thought about it and decided to focus on the play. But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhao Xingzong's dazed expression and the drool almost dripping from his mouth.

After a moment's pause, nothing Xiao Rong said mattered anymore.

Qu Yunmie growled, "What a lecher! If you don't want those eyes of yours, I'll dig them out for you!"