The Six Arts of the Gentleman in the Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty

Chapter 1213 Rules [Please Subscribe*Please Vote for Monthly Tickets]

Chen Ping was well aware of the consequences of his wicked scheme. Once such a morally reprehensible plot was hatched, no noble or respectable person would want to associate with him again.

He was just so afraid of being poor that he had to seize every opportunity to get ahead.

If it weren't for his father-in-law's support, he wouldn't have been able to travel thousands of miles to Bingzhou with his superior. After all, Qin had unified the world, but high positions were ultimately reserved for the people of Qin, not for someone like him with no background or status.

Bingzhou was a huge gamble for him.

As for whether it was a vicious scheme or something else, he didn't care. Could it be worse than using straw mats as doors?

Soon, Chen Ping's information was delivered to Li Ren.

Given the capabilities of the Bingzhou Military Intelligence Bureau and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it wouldn't be difficult to find out Chen Ping's background. Moreover, Chen Ping was just a clerk in the Bingzhou State Commandant's Office, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard naturally had information on him.

After reading Chen Ping's information, Li Ren was also somewhat surprised. He came from humble beginnings, yet he was able to take a gamble and travel thousands of miles to Bingzhou. He seized every opportunity to enter the State Commandant's Office. Although he was just a clerk, he was still a seventh-rank official in front of the Prime Minister. The State Commandant's Office was on the same level as the Prime Minister's Office. Even an ordinary clerk's status was no lower than that of some officials.

Chen Ping lowered his head, knowing that whether he would rise like a roc soaring in the wind or fall into the mud depended on Li Ren's attitude.

Moreover, he came to Bingzhou because he believed that Bingzhou would not judge a person's worth based on their background, nor would it reject him because of his treacherous scheme.

After all, their emperor was once known for his ruthless schemes, and Bingzhou's rise to power also involved some underhanded tactics.

"I was just kidding. Actually, I'm not familiar with Sui-kun!" Li Ren suddenly laughed loudly.

Upon hearing Li Ren's words, Chen Ping felt as if the sky had collapsed, as if struck by lightning, and as if he had lost his parents.

He thought that as the lord of Bingzhou, Li Ren must know and be familiar with Wei Jiu. Moreover, Li Ren had been stationed in Qi and had dealt with the navy many times, so he should be familiar with Wei Jiu.

“I’ll lie to you one more time. With your status, you’re not qualified to negotiate with the Water Lord. Even if you come up with a plan, and Bingzhou and the Navy use it, it won’t have anything to do with you. You’ll be working for nothing!” Li Ren continued.

Chen Ping stared blankly at Li Ren; this was a chasm of social status.

Even if it was his plan, even if it was highly feasible, or even 100% feasible, his status was too low. Even if it was adopted by Bingzhou and the navy, it would be impossible to credit him.

After all, for a powerful state like Bingzhou and its navy to resort to the schemes of a mere clerk would be incredibly embarrassing for the military commander and the staff of the navy.

More likely, his plan will be stolen by someone else.

Li Ren had been observing Chen Ping's changing expression; he had indeed become much younger.

The difference in social status cannot be bridged by intelligence.

If Bingzhou were the former makeshift government, it might have suddenly become a rising star. But the current Bingzhou is no longer the makeshift government it once was; it has its own rules and regulations.

If Chen Ping were to pass this plan on to his superior, his superior would be given an important position, and Chen Ping would also be promoted, transforming from a clerk into an official.

But in the end, they were young and lacked the patience to endure.

Chen Ping was furious, but there was nothing he could do; this was the downside of his status.

"Very angry, very furious?" Li Ren asked with a smile.

Chen Ping remained silent.

“That’s right, the imperial court isn’t as easy to navigate as you think!” Li Ren shook his head. “Go to the Bingzhou Academy, learn the rules first, and then we’ll talk!” Chen Ping was stunned. He wasn’t stupid; this was giving him a chance.

The Bingzhou Academy was not open to just anyone. Along with the Gaoquesai Military Academy, one was for literature and the other for military affairs, making them the two major cradles of talent in Bingzhou.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chen Ping bowed deeply.

“It’s a good thing for a young person to show their talent, but the tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind. You should be glad that you have a good boss and a good fellow villager, otherwise…” Li Ren didn’t finish his sentence.

But Chen Ping understood that if his superior was narrow-minded, he would be expelled from the council hall without even having a chance to speak, and might even lose his job and have to go back to where he came from, or worse.

"Thank you, General!" Reminded by Li Ren, Chen Ping turned and bowed to his superior in gratitude.

"Be more mindful in the future; etiquette and rules are essential!" The boss shook his head. If they weren't from the same hometown, he wouldn't be so magnanimous.

"Yes!" Chen Ping nodded hurriedly.

He made the right bet; Bingzhou wasn't as dark as it seemed, and it was willing to give young people like them and those from humble backgrounds a chance.

His scheme might be attributed to someone else and become one of the navy's future sources of revenue, but he also gained the opportunity for promotion.

After studying at the Bingzhou Academy for three years, one could at least become an official in charge of a region, truly transforming from a clerk into a government official.

Another point is that the Bingzhou Academy is known as the cradle of Bingzhou's civil officials. There, he can receive the most comprehensive training, get to know the real power figures of Bingzhou now and in the future, and with this status, even if he is demoted to a local post in the future, his promotion speed will be faster than that of ordinary officials.

This is Li Ren and his fellow villagers paving the way for him and building his network of connections.

"Work hard and don't let the general down!" The superior patted Chen Ping on the shoulder, not taking all the credit for himself.

Although he could also recommend Chen Ping to enter the Bingzhou Academy, he only had a few recommendation slots, so Chen Ping would never get a chance. Besides, his recommendation was not the same as Li Ren's.
"Yes!" Chen Ping bowed his head in gratitude once again.

Li Ren smiled, not taking Chen Ping's gratitude to heart. To a big shot like him, Chen Ping was just one of the geniuses he had ever seen, someone he played chess in his spare time.

After the meeting ended and everyone dispersed, Li Ren went directly to the Bingzhou Palace.

He wasn't lying to Chen Ping. He wasn't very familiar with Wei Jiu, and Wei Jiu was the Water Lord appointed by the Qin state. Although Bingzhou also acknowledged him, he was still a lord appointed by another state. It wouldn't be a good thing for him to rashly contact Wei Jiu.

Especially since Yan Yan had no children, while Lord Xinling's lineage truly had the qualifications to inherit the royal power of Bingzhou, under these circumstances, as the Commandant of Bingzhou, his every move would have a huge impact and would reveal different information to others.

Therefore, he went to Yan Yan, and Yan Yan gave the order to cooperate with the navy, which was the only legal and compliant way.

"Chen Ping? Chen Ping from the Household Gate of Wei?" Yan Yan was surprised after hearing Li Ren's report.

There were many capable ministers and generals in the early Han Dynasty, but in this chaotic world, it was not something he could find just by looking for them. Moreover, the name Chen Ping was very ordinary, and he might not be able to find the same person.

It was lucky to have met Cao Can before, but I never expected that Chen Ping would also come to Bingzhou and serve as a scribe under the State Commandant's Office.

"You're young and impetuous, and you lack experience!" Li Ren continued.

Since you've already made the recommendation, why not give it a push and see it through to the end?

(End of this chapter)