Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 105 The Deer Cry Banquet! The Prefect's Extermination of the Entire Family—Leaving the Zhao Family with a Final Act of Dignity!

Jiang Xingzhou's eyes suddenly flashed with a cold light, like a three-foot-long sword being drawn from its sheath, piercing straight into Zhao Huai's eyes.

What a fine canal transport commissioner!

Zhao Zilu first framed the old scholar with his poems at Zuixianlou, and then instigated him to cause trouble in court. It was clear that he wanted to nail him to the pillar of shame for "failing in literary reputation".

In this holy dynasty where "a single word of praise or criticism carries greater weight than nine tripods," ruining a person's reputation is worse than killing their parents!
Now, this old scoundrel, with a flick of his python robe, casually says, "I was young and impetuous, and I have offended many people," and thinks he can turn this huge slander into a child's play.
What a pipe dream!
Even more vicious is that
This old scoundrel actually bowed and apologized at the "Deer Cry Banquet" in Jiangzhou Prefecture, in front of hundreds of scholars and literary figures from the five counties of Jiangzhou Prefecture, on the grounds that his grandson had "offended him in his youth"!
Those scholars who have come from afar, who would care about the squabbles among the students? Even if you told them, they wouldn't care.

They will only see,

At this Deer Cry Banquet, the fifth-rank official of Jiangzhou Prefecture, who was in charge of the canal transport, was so humble that he bowed and scraped before a young man in white, a scholar!
The boy remained cold and unyielding, refusing to budge an inch!

What a brilliant move – a strategic retreat!
In just a few words, he was to portray him among the scholars and officials of Jiangzhou Prefecture as an arrogant and narrow-minded spoiled brat who had gained power by taking advantage of the prefect Xue and the courtier Zhou!

This forced Zhao Zilu of the Zhao family, one of the ten great families of Jiangzhou Prefecture, to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors, and forced Zhao Huai, the transport commissioner, to publicly apologize.

really.

As soon as Zhao Huai finished speaking, the entire room erupted in uproar.

Inside the Deer Cry Pavilion,

The heads of the noble families and the scholars all wore expressions of surprise and shock, their wine cups tilting slightly, the fine wine splashing onto their brocade robes without them even realizing it.

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt as they looked at Jiang Xingzhou.

They were utterly baffled as to why Zhao Huai, a high-ranking official of the fifth rank and the transport commissioner of Jiangzhou, would be so humble and subservient to a mere scholar.
Even if Jiang Xingzhou was the top scholar in the imperial examination, he was still not worthy of such behavior from a fifth-rank official with real power!

Could it be that the top scholar in the imperial examination has such domineering power behind him?

Is it because of Prefect Xue and Lord Zhou?
Several retired ministers frowned and plucked their beards as they returned to their hometowns. A fifth-rank official in charge of the Grand Canal was forced to bow down to a scholar in plain clothes. This was unprecedented in Jiangzhou Prefecture in the past hundred years!
This trend must not be allowed to continue!

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Xingzhou's eyes, and he sneered inwardly.

What a cunning old fox!
Since Zhao Huai intends to stage this "humbly submitting to a lower position" act to gain sympathy at the Deer Cry Banquet, then don't blame him for overturning the stage!

He immediately bowed in greeting.
"Lord Zhao Huai, you flatter me!"

Jiang Xingzhou's voice was clear and melodious, like a jade chime striking ice, each word reaching the ears of all the guests.

"However, sir, I'm afraid you've made a mistake in offering your apology."

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly changed the subject and said with a smile: "Brother Zilu and I were the top scorers in the same year in five counties of the same prefecture. We became close friends after chatting and laughing together at Zuixianlou!"
Young people laugh and swear, and even if their words are vulgar, are they ever truly serious?

At this point, he was heartbroken and sighed deeply:
"only,
During the prefectural examination, Brother Zilu, not knowing the gravity of the matter, dared to make irresponsible remarks about national policies and ridicule the imperial examination on his exam paper!

The poor are likened to caterpillars, while the wealthy are likened to wasps!

Such rebellious words could not possibly have failed to enrage the academy lord and the prefect. As a result, Brother Zilu was punished by the prefect, forbidden from taking the exams, and forced to reflect on his actions behind closed doors.

"I also want to go to the Zhao residence to persuade Brother Zhao Zilu not to be so rash, but he has just finished the exam and hasn't had time yet. In a couple of days, I will definitely bring gifts to visit the Zhao residence and greet Brother Zhao."

Jiang Xingzhou's face showed three parts regret and seven parts helplessness, as if he was truly lamenting the loss of his "close friend".

He knew in his heart the sordid conflicts between him and Zhao Zilu.
In reality, no head of a prominent family or a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations would truly care.

However, the Jiangzhou Prefecture examination questions were something that all the candidates had personally experienced and took very seriously.

really!

The four words "recklessly discussing national policies" struck like a thunderclap, causing everyone present to change color abruptly.

Inside the Deer Cry Pavilion,

The glass cups on the sandalwood tables of the scholars clattered together, and the chopsticks in the hands of several patriarchs fell to the table with a thud. They looked at each other in horror.

An old scholar was so shocked that he jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "Is this really true?!"

On the imperial examination stage, did they ridicule the national policy of the imperial examination?

Has this young master of the Zhao family lost his mind?!
Which of you gentlemen here did not fight your way out of the imperial examinations amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood?
The examination paper for the prefectural examination!

That will be stored in the archives of the Jiangzhou Prefecture government, and will be personally reviewed by the Jiangnan Circuit Inspector in the future to prevent any cheating in the imperial examinations!
Every word on the exam paper was written by the examinee himself!
The evidence is in black and white, irrefutable!
There is no room for excuses!
Now, the reigning empress is promoting new policies, regarding the imperial examination as the foundation of the nation, breaking down barriers based on social class, and widely recruiting scholars.

This Zhao Zilu actually dared to openly criticize national policies on his exam paper!

Although, in private, which of the powerful families of the Great Zhou Dynasty hasn't done a few things to support their relatives and exclude those from humble backgrounds?

But such private matters,
It's always been something you do, but you can't say about it!
Let alone having it written in black and white, openly and legitimately on the imperial examination papers?!
"That's absolutely foolish!"

Some of the more experienced and prudent individuals at the table chuckled coldly and shook their heads in silence.

The most shameful things were written in the most exposed place—on the examination papers for the prefectural exam!
No wonder Magistrate Xue wanted to deal with him.

"What a courage!"

Someone slammed their fist on the table and shouted, "Slandering national policies is punishable by death!"

"Lord Xue only punished him by banning him from taking the exam?"
Why didn't Dr. Zhou punish him severely?
The two officials did not imprison him or bring him to justice. They are truly benevolent and have given the Grand Canal Commissioner, Zhao Huai, a tremendous amount of face!

Zhao Huai, the transport commissioner, suddenly darkened his face, as if someone had splashed thick ink on his face, leaving him filthy.

He stared intently at Jiang Xingzhou—what a sharp tongue!
With just a few words, he managed to reverse the thoughts of all the prominent family heads, scholars, and renowned figures in the room.

From "A fifth-rank transport commissioner bowing and apologizing to a scholar who had just passed the imperial examination"
It was twisted into "What crime should Zhao Zilu be charged with?"

At this moment, everyone in the room was talking loudly, and not a single person said a word of grievance for Zhao Zilu, who was banned from taking the exam!

Zhao Huai, the transport commissioner, was about to offer a few words of explanation when...
at this time,

Shen Zhiyun suddenly chuckled and interjected:
"Speaking of Brother Zhao Zilu, I also have something to tell all the seniors and classmates!"

His eyes swept over the assembled officials.
"On the day of the Taihu Lake demon disaster, Professor Zhou personally led more than a thousand students from the academy to Wuxi to provide assistance."

"I and more than ten classmates went to Zhao's residence to invite him to come along—"

At this point, his tone suddenly turned cold.

"But he said he would 'shut himself in and study hard to prepare for the prefectural examination'!"

"What a terrible situation! He secluded himself to study in the face of disaster! In a fit of anger, I tore off my sleeve on the spot and severed all ties with him!"

The pupils of all the family heads and scholars in the room suddenly contracted.

Severing all ties!

That's when one is so enraged that they treat each other like strangers or enemies, which is why they would do such a thing.

“Now that Zhao Zilu has been banned from taking the imperial examination for mocking the examination system on his examination paper, I am also heartbroken.”

Shen Zhiyun lowered her eyes, sipped her tea, sighed, and looked around at the room. A cold star seemed to flicker in her eyes. "Several years ago, Brother Zhao and I discussed the Dao. He once said, 'A scholar should take the world as his responsibility!'"

However, on the day of the Taihu Lake demon disaster, he refused to go to the national disaster under the pretext of "preparing for the exam behind closed doors".

Even more ridiculous,
This person, who was so "diligent in his studies," openly ridiculed the imperial examination policy on his examination paper!

Why has Brother Zhao Zilu become so unfamiliar and narrow-minded? I am utterly perplexed!

Shen Zhiyun's timely finishing blow

This caused the expressions of the family heads and scholars of Luming Pavilion to change again.

"With such a great disaster upon us, Professor Zhou led his students to Taihu Lake to exorcise the demon, yet he actually refused to go?"

"Such a selfish, arrogant person, only being banned from taking exams is too lenient a punishment!"

"I remember a few years ago, there was a scholar in Yangzhou Prefecture of Jiangnan Circuit who criticized the imperial examination system in his article and made the absurd statement that 'people from poor families are not fit to serve.' He was immediately stripped of his academic title and exiled to Lingnan Circuit to serve as a border soldier!"

A retired official slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "If it were me, I would probably sentence him to prison on the spot!"

During the banquet, the guests were in an uproar, all cursing and swearing.

If it were only Jiang Xingzhou's words, it could be argued that he was a poor scholar who had an old grudge against Zhao Zilu of the Zhao family and framed him because of a personal grudge.

Shen Zhiyun, who was the top student in the Jiyang examination and second in the prefectural examination, was also from a prominent family and had a long-standing friendship with Zhao Zilu of the Zhao family. Yet, she publicly severed ties with him!
It is evident that Zhao Zilu's despicable character had reached the point of being notorious and universally reviled among his classmates in the prefecture and academy.

There is absolutely nothing suspicious about it!

"Lord Zhao,"

Xue Chonghu tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his voice unhurried, "Today's Deer Cry Banquet is a joyous occasion for the talented young men of Jiangzhou."

He glanced at his grandson indifferently and said, "Your grandson's matter is your responsibility to discipline him upon returning home."

"Yes, yes! Lord Xue is right, this humble official understands!"

Zhao Huai, the transport commissioner, had a glint in his eyes, but dared not say another word and hastily slunk away.

His face turned ashen, and he was filled with deep regret.

Jiang Xingzhou was quick-witted and sharp-tongued, his words like knives.

Unexpectedly, Shen Zhiyun from the prestigious Shen family of Jiyang also stepped forward and exposed a major scandal involving Zhao Zilu.

Although the Zhao family was wealthy and powerful, they also had relatives and friends in the three provinces and six ministries of the imperial court.

However, if you really anger Xue Guogong, the prefect who holds military and political power in Jiangzhou, you'll definitely be in deep trouble.

He didn't dare to get entangled with Jiang Xingzhou.

As dusk settled, the gilded plaque of Zuixianlou was finally illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun.

The Deer Cry Banquet at Zuixianlou has finally come to an end.

Brocade boots trod over scattered floral stationery pieces on the floor—all impromptu poems written during the banquet.

The heads of various noble families and scholars, drunk and carefree, rode away in carriages and on horseback, their arms around the shoulders of their servants.

The newly appointed scholars emerged from the vermilion gates of Zuixianlou in twos and threes, their blue robes still stained with damp ink and wine.

The long street is like a river, and the neon lights are like waves.

Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a green robe, led the way, his clothes fluttering, holding a wine pot in his hand, and the jade pendant at his waist jingling softly.

Han Yugui pointed at the lamplight with a fan, while Gu Zhimian recited new verses with his hands behind his back, followed by dozens of scholars chatting and laughing.

The night breeze, carrying the scent of wine, splashed youthful exuberance onto the crystal-clear street. Even the passing night watchman couldn't help but stop and stare.

"That old scoundrel Zhao Huai, for his indulgence and cover-up, has really suffered a great setback today!"

Gu Zhimian laughed loudly, his sleeves fluttering in the night wind. "The moment Brother Jiang uttered the phrase 'recklessly discussing national policies,' that old man's face turned pale and then red, as if he had swallowed a fly!"

Han Yugui snapped his folding fan shut and continued, "The most ruthless thing was Brother Shen Zhiyun's cry of 'severing ties'—Zhao Zilu's hard-earned literary reputation in Jiangzhou has been completely wasted tonight!"

The scholars burst into laughter.

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly stopped and bowed solemnly to Shen Zhiyun: "Today, I am very grateful to Brother Shen for speaking up for justice." The night wind lifted the blue ribbon that tied his hair, making him seem even more unfathomable.

Today's matter was not well resolved when other scholars intervened.

Han Yugui, Cao An, and others were his fellow townsmen and classmates from Jiangyin.

Xue Fu and Xue Gui were members of the Xue family, and they were as close as brothers.

Gu Zhimian was from a poor family in Jiangyin, just like him, who came from humble backgrounds.

The people who helped him were his accomplices.

Only Shen Zhiyun, a direct descendant of the Shen family of Jiyang, had never had any connection with him.

It was precisely this "complete lack of connection" that made the phrase "severing ties" the sharpest knife, nailing Zhao Zilu's character to the spot, and no guest at the Deer Cry Banquet doubted Zhao Zilu's despicable character.

"Brother Jiang, you flatter me. It was nothing more than a small favor."

Shen Zhiyun immediately returned the greeting with a cupped hand and a smile.

When he severed ties with Zhao Zilu in the past, it was out of momentary anger and impulse, without thinking too much about it.

However, his "speaking out for justice" today was intentional, as he sided with Jiang Xingzhou.

That fool Zhao Zilu was truly blinded by fame and fortune. In order to compete for the top spot in the county-level examination, he dared to offend Jiang Xingzhou to the death.

Don't they realize that Jiang Xingzhou is a prodigy who can single-handedly subdue students from five counties in a prefecture?

Such a person is bound to rise rapidly in the future and has a good chance of being placed in the imperial court.

Zhao Zilu is finished!
He might as well establish a good relationship with Jiang Xingzhou as soon as possible. With the title of "classmate" in the future, Jiang Xingzhou might remember their past relationship and help him out a little, which would make his career path smoother.

The night is like water.

Jiangzhou Prefectural Government Office.

Prefect Xue Chonghu's black boots stomped on the bluestone slabs of the government office hall, each step like the pounding of a gavel.

The candlelight in the hall flickered under the pressure of the wind he stirred up, making his ashen face look like that of Yama, the judge of the underworld.

"What a fine Grand Canal Transport Commissioner Zhao Huai—!"

Xue Chonghu stood with his hands behind his back in front of the hall, the candlelight casting two flickering, cold flames in his eyes.

He had previously issued a reprimand to Zhao Huai for his "lax discipline of his grandson," ordering him to strictly discipline Zhao Zilu.

That reprimand letter, titled "Not Strictly Instructing His Grandson," was the last bit of dignity he left for the Grand Canal Commissioner.

who ever thought,
At today's Deer Cry Banquet, Zhao Huai actually dared to bare his teeth at Jiang Xingzhou in front of him and make slanderous remarks!

If Jiang Xingzhou hadn't decisively retaliated and crushed Zhao Zilu, he would probably have been branded with the stigma of "spoiled brat with powerful backers."

I fear the city will be in turmoil tomorrow.
The prominent figures of Jiangzhou Prefecture all suspected that Xue Chonghu was behind it all, allowing Jiang Xingzhou to bully the Zhao family, the transport commissioner!
"Ha! That old fool who doesn't know his place!"

Xue Chonghu suddenly sneered, tapping his knuckles on the desk, making the teacup clink.

The reason he didn't punish Zhao Zilu severely, sentencing him to prison and sparing his life was that he didn't want to completely break ties with the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office.

He had no leverage over the Zhao family—once he broke ties with them, but without sufficient reason to completely destroy them, they would inevitably become a major threat lurking in his heart.

After all, if you don't kill the snake, you'll only get hurt.

No one could predict when Zhao Huai would suddenly turn on him!
But that old scoundrel Zhao Huai,
They actually mistook Xue Chonghu's forbearance for retreat?! They mistakenly thought that Xue Chonghu, the prefect of Jiangzhou, was someone whose whiskers could be stroked?!

Xue Chonghu sat upright in his armchair, tapping his knuckles lightly on the armrest, and said in a deep voice, "Has Jiang Xingzhou returned to the manor? Summon him to see me immediately!"

"As ordered!"

The squad leader obeyed the order and rushed off. Before long, Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a green robe, came running under the moonlight.

"Nephew, I pay my respects to Uncle Xue."

The young man stood below the hall, bowing deeply with his hands clasped. The night wind ruffled his unbound hair, but could not conceal the sharpness between his brows.

The inner hall of the government office.

The candlelight cast a deep shadow on Xue Chonghu's brow. He stroked the celadon teacup with his fingertips and said in a deep voice:

"Nephew, Zhao Zilu has disgraced your literary reputation, yet this prefecture did not take advantage of the prefectural examination to imprison and punish him. Do you have any complaints?"

Jiang Xingzhou did not answer, but his gaze slightly shifted, sweeping over Captain Lei Wanting, who was standing to the side of the hall.

The black iron armor gleamed coldly, and the captain remained as silent as a mountain.

He had some things on his mind that he didn't dare to say in front of outsiders.

"But it doesn't matter."

Xue Chonghu suddenly put down his teacup and laughed, "Commander Lei has been guarding the border with me for many years. The number of barbarian heads he has slain is no less than the number of sages you have read."

The candlelight on the table flickered suddenly.

Jiang Xingzhou saw the fine knife marks on Lei Wanting's armor and suddenly realized—it was Xue Chonghu's knife!

To tear open the brocade-like facade of the Zhao family mansion, one must ultimately use a blood-stained knife.

"I believe that if we rashly imprison Zhao Zilu, we will completely break ties with Zhao Huai of the Zhao family! There is no need for that at present."

Zhao Zilu is merely a son of a concubine in the Zhao family; punishing him will not harm the Zhao family in the slightest!

The candlelight illuminated the boy's calm face: "The Zhao family has a complex and intertwined network of connections. Cutting off its branches now would only alert the enemy."

If we really have to take action, we must have the means to bring down Zhao Huai, the transport commissioner!

"Good! You've kept your composure; you're a promising young man!"

Xue Chonghu suddenly clapped his hands, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, "Only those who can endure what ordinary people cannot can accomplish great things."

The reason this government spared that纨绔's life is precisely because we have no leverage over him.

If you cannot kill your opponent with swift and decisive action, then you should not easily lose your temper or reveal your true intentions.

Lei Wanting's armor trembled slightly. He clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "My lord, there is something I am unsure whether I should speak of."

His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he were weighing his words.

Why are you stammering?

Xue Chonghu's fingertips paused, and the teacup stopped in mid-air.

The candle flame suddenly burst open with a spark.

"The attack on three hundred students in Jiangyin shocked the entire Jiangnan region!"
My subordinate led a team to search through the entire prefecture and five counties, investigating for a full two months.

We couldn't find any clues or even the slightest trace!

This matter has left me quite puzzled.

A rebellious scholar, a demon general, and two hundred demon soldiers appeared on the river and attacked the government's warships. This was a very large force.

How could they have secretly and stealthily infiltrated the territory of my Jiangzhou Prefecture?

Lei Wanting's muscles taut beneath his armor, his voice kept extremely low.

"Your subordinate has thought about this carefully today."
Suddenly it occurred to me that the Zhao family, the Grand Canal Commissioner, held great power over the canal transport, and almost all kinds of ships traveling to and from the south and north were under his command and control.

They certainly have the capability to hide such a demon army within Jiangzhou Prefecture!

"However, the Zhao family is one of the ten great families of Jiangzhou, with generations of officials and scholars. How could they possibly collude with barbarians and traitorous scholars?! I have never dared to think in this direction!"

Lei Wanting's knuckles turned white from clenching his fists.

These words were meant to be buried deep within the armor, never to be uttered again.

The ten prominent families of Jiangzhou—which one didn't have disciples and former officials all over Jiangzhou? Which one didn't have several relatives by marriage who worked in the three provinces and six ministries? Their roots were intertwined, intermarried, and deeply entrenched.

If he, a mere sixth-rank military officer, dared to provoke the ten great families of Jiangzhou Prefecture, he would likely "fall off his horse and die" tomorrow.

But at this moment.
Lei Wanting glanced at Xue Chonghu's truly enraged face and said, "This humble general dares to suggest investigating the Zhao family!"

"Within Jiangzhou Prefecture, only the ten great families have the strength to cover up for the demon army."

This Zhao residence is the most suspicious!
The blood of three hundred students from Jiangyin must not have been shed in vain!

A cold glint suddenly appeared in Xue Chonghu's eyes.

Lei Wanting suddenly felt a tightness in his throat—the governor's gaze was like a steel knife scraping his bones, making the flesh beneath his armor ache.

"Take my command and investigate the Zhao family in secret."

Xue Chonghu slid a bronze command arrow from his sleeve, its tip gleaming faintly in the candlelight. "Remember, don't alert the enemy!"

The evidence must be irrefutable!
If this is truly verified, capturing that traitorous intellectual will be an immense achievement!

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Lei Wanting knelt on one knee, received the order with both hands, and was overjoyed.

His body trembled slightly beneath the iron armor—not from fear, but from a long-lost excitement.

When Lord Xue uttered the words "rebellious scholars," he was already plotting to exterminate the entire family!
With Prefect Xue backing him up, he dared to make a move against the ten great families of Jiangzhou Prefecture. Once it was confirmed that the Zhao family was connected with the rebellious scholars and demons, this immense achievement would be enough to secure him a promotion!
Moreover, the wealth of the Zhao family, who were in charge of the grain transport, was simply unimaginable.

His old wound beneath his armor suddenly burned, the pain more intense than strong liquor.

(End of this chapter)