Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 129 Old Scholar Zhou Invites Me Late at Night!

On the Qinhuai River.

The moonlight outside the window of Mingyue Tower is as clear as if it had been washed.

Inside the private room, the lights flickered.

Several scholars were drinking and chatting happily, talking about the origins of Jiang Xingzhou.

"Speaking of Jiang Xingzhou, there is an interesting story that Lord Zhou and you all may not know."

A scholar dressed in a lake-blue robe suddenly clapped his hands and laughed.

He picked up the celadon wine cup and took a small sip. After everyone's eyes were on him, he slowly said, "This Jiang Xingzhou is studying in Jiangyin under the tutelage of Master Pei Jingyi."

Master Pei's teaching skills are remarkable. His top disciple, Lu Wenyuan, is likely to enter the Hanlin Academy this year. I heard that even the scarlet robe of a Hanlin scholar has been prepared.

Including Jiang Yan, Xue Chonghu, and others, his students alone numbered five Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and as many as a dozen or twenty Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations)!

The scholar drank the remaining wine in his cup in one gulp and laughed.

"Master Pei?"

"No wonder!"

A collective gasp of realization immediately filled the room.

"Pei Jingyi?"

Hanlin Academician Zhou Dunshi seemed to be lost in thought.

Back in the Hanlin Academy, he and Pei Jingyi were like brothers. However, Pei Jingyi later insisted on retiring to his hometown of Jiangyin, and they rarely saw each other again.

He tapped his cup lightly, then suddenly ordered in a deep voice, "Yang Xianyu."

"Students, listen to my command."

The scholar in blue immediately stepped forward.

"In a couple of days—"

Zhou Dunshi gazed at the shimmering moonlight on the river and said, "Please invite Jiang Xingzhou to the Jiangnan Bookstore for a chat."

Yang Xianyu's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately bowed deeply: "This student will take care of it immediately."

As he turned around, his fingers subtly clenched into a fist in his sleeve—

Zhou Dunshi was a literary giant in Jinling Prefecture, highly respected and virtuous. It was customary for scholars and those who had passed the imperial examinations to visit him with official invitations, and they would have to wait for many days before they could finally meet him.

When have I ever seen him take the initiative to invite a scholar?!

The painted boats on the Qinhuai River sway gently, their candlelight flickering red.

Scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan gazed at the poem "Ode to the Lotus in West Lake" on their desks. Some stood frozen, holding their cups, while others sighed deeply. Some scholars from Hangzhou even covered their faces with their sleeves and wept uncontrollably.

“West Lake!”

The jade cup in Xu Canming's hand crashed to the ground, shattering like a broken piece of paper. "In the end... in the end, I still fell victim to Brother Jiang's cruel hand!"

"[The red flowers reflecting the sun are especially vibrant]"

He recited in a trembling voice, then suddenly laughed bitterly: "What a masterpiece that rivals the creation of heaven and earth! No one can compare to this poem about lotus flowers in West Lake!"

"It's over! The West Lake has been robbed of its beauty by the scholars of Jiangzhou! How can we, the scholars of Hangzhou, face our elders back home?"

The scholars of Hangzhou looked at each other, their faces pale with grief—they had deliberately avoided mentioning "West Lake," preferring to write about "Qiantang River" rather than this sacred place.

Who would have thought that this sacred place in the hearts of Hangzhou scholars would have half of its charm erased by Jiang Xingzhou's single brushstrokes!

Although it did not fully capture the charm of West Lake.

Xu Canming staggered and leaned against a pillar, saying, "But this poem, 'Ode to the Lotus of West Lake,' has already stolen half the soul of West Lake!"

Inside the painted boats of Qinhuai.

The celadon teacup in Gu Yong's hand trembled slightly, Xie Qihe's folding fan had already been closed, and Wang Moqing unconsciously took a half step back.

The young men of the Twelve Families of Jinling held their breath, their eyes filled with barely concealed fear as they gazed at the figure of Jiang Xingzhou, a young man in a blue robe standing in the center of the painted boat.

Can anyone think of,

Three hundred top scholars from ten prefectures in Jiangnan joined forces, yet they were no match for Jiang Xingzhou's single wolf-hair brush from Jiangzhou!
Fortunately,

Fortunately, the venerable scholar Zhou Dunshi intervened, ordering scholars from the seven prefectures to jointly propose a topic, thus bringing the "Twelve Masters of Jinling" poetry gathering to an early end.

In the end, the scholars of the ten prefectures in Jiangnan were spared the last shred of dignity.

The poetry gathering of the "Twelve Masters of Jinling," which was supposed to last a day and a night, is finally coming to an end.

They both breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their chests.

Otherwise, if Jiang Xingzhou were to take the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, from Suzhou to Yangzhou, from Hangzhou to Changzhou, one prefecture after another, like waves of wheat being harvested in autumn, he would cut them down one after another in the literary world.

I fear that the scholars of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan will be ashamed and bury their heads in their sleeves, driven to the brink of collapse!
It is likely that all the scholars in Jiangnan will know that Jiang Xingzhou, the number one talent in Jiangnan, has swept through ten prefectures and is unstoppable.

Of course, no one can stop it now—

Jiang Xingzhou of Jiangzhou Prefecture has cast a shadow over the hearts of all the scholars and literati in the ten prefectures of Jiangnan. They turn pale at the mere mention of his name and are filled with dread at the mere sight of him.

On the painted boats of the Qinhuai River, the air is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the lights reflect on the river waves.

The poetry recital's host, Xie Yunmiao, held the list of participants in her hand, her voice clear and melodious, each word like pearls falling onto a jade plate:

"This poetry gathering of the Twelve Masters of Jinling has now come to a successful conclusion."

The champion, Jiang Xingzhou of Jiangzhou, for three poems in the "Mingzhou" style and one poem in the "Dafu" style, will be awarded three hundred taels of gold!
The second-ranked official, Han Yugui of Jiangzhou, was awarded thirty taels of gold for his essay, "[Dafu]".

Third, Xie Qihe of Jinling was awarded ten taels of gold for his two poems [written outside the county].

also--

Lu Ming of Jiangzhou, Tang Yanqing of Suzhou, Zhu Hezhi of Yangzhou, Xu Canming of Hangzhou… each of you has written a piece on leaving your county; I will bestow upon each of you one hundred taels of silver!

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Jiang Xingzhou's name resounded like thunder, causing a slight tremor in everyone's hearts.

Three essays on Mingzhou, one on Dafu—such talent cannot be described as merely "crushing," but rather as utterly...surpassing and crushing.

Han Yugui was very satisfied with this, his face was flushed, and he had drunk quite a bit of wine, so he was already tipsy.

Xie Qihe lowered his eyes, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

The other scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan were either stunned, sighed, or forced smiles and offered their congratulations.

The lights on the painted boats of the Qinhuai River are gradually fading.

As the poetry gathering came to an end, the city of Nanjing was bathed in the soft moonlight.

A river breeze swept by, dispelling some of the effects of the alcohol, but it could not dispel the heavy sense of shock in everyone's hearts.

"Brother Jiang, farewell!"

"Brother Tang, until we meet again!"

The scholars bowed and took their leave, their voices revealing a mixture of weariness and reverence.

Someone looked up at the moon and suddenly sighed:
"I have always prided myself on being a talented scholar from Jiangnan, and I was quite pleased with myself for writing an essay on leaving the county after only passing the county examination. But today I realize that I was just a frog in a well!"

"Brother Jiang's work is truly exquisite; I will certainly study it carefully when I get back."

"I will come again to learn from Brother Jiang another day."

Before the words were even finished, someone had already turned around in a hurry.

Beneath the wide sleeves of the scholars' robes, their fingertips were still trembling slightly.

At this moment, they were relieved that the poetry gathering was over and that they no longer had to suffer under Jiang Xingzhou's talent.

But they had to admit that Jiang Xingzhou's figure, like the bright moon over the Qinhuai River, hung high above them, out of their reach.

The banks of the Qinhuai River were teeming with people.

Tens of thousands of Nanjing residents slowly dispersed under the moonlight, still enthusiastically discussing the grand poetry gathering.

This clash of top scholars, this poetry gathering with three poems in Mingzhou, is something I'm afraid I'll never witness again in my lifetime.

"I told you! Young Master Jiang is the first person to pass all ten essays in a row in the 'Jiangnan Elegant Gathering'!"

The tea shop owner, Mr. Wang, slapped his thigh, spitting everywhere, "Today's scene, tsk tsk, the ten scholars were utterly defeated, truly 'taking the head of a general from among ten thousand troops is as easy as taking something out of a bag'!"

"Isn't it?"

Lady Li, the silk shopkeeper, put her hands on her hips and sneered, "Yesterday there were some filthy people gossiping, saying that the Duke of Xue's mansion was working behind Young Master Jiang's back? They must have no real talent or learning, they would never dare to compose a poem on the spot!"
Today, everyone should open their eyes wide and see clearly who lacks real talent and ability!

A young man resembling a scholar on the street corner suddenly unfolded his folding fan and interjected, "Even if the twelve families of Jinling join forces and the scholars of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan gather, they are nothing but chickens and dogs in front of Young Master Jiang!"

"Dare to tarnish Young Master Jiang's literary reputation again!"

Granny Zhang, who sells steamed buns, picked up a rolling pin, her copper-coin-sized earrings jingling as she swung them. "I'll tear his mouth apart first!"

In the lamplight of the Confucian Temple Street in Jinling City, the three characters "Jiang Xingzhou" were deeply imprinted in the memories of the city's people and scholars, along with the cries of vendors selling sugar figurines and rouge, and the fragrance of osmanthus wine.

Those doubts and rumors have now vanished like shattered lamplight reflections on the river, and no one dares to mention them again.

When Han Yugui returned to the Jinling Inn, he was completely exhausted, drunk, and utterly drained.

He staggered and fell into bed, as if sinking into a bottomless abyss of dreams, falling into a deep sleep, completely unaware even when Qingfei called him to have his meal.

With nothing to do, Qingfei carried a gilded lacquered fruit platter to pass the time in the cabin of the boat on the river. She pushed open the door and entered.

On the plate are candied fruits and fresh fruit, and a cup of "pre-rain Longjing tea" is still steaming.

She gently placed the celadon teacup on the table.

As she bent down, a strand of her hair fell, spotless, and she exuded the unique fragrance of locust blossoms, characteristic of a virgin locust fairy. It was fresh and elegant, like wisps of smoke that soothed the soul and left a lingering aftertaste.

"Is Young Master Han still not awake?"

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly noticed a cool, subtle fragrance lingering around his nose. His hand holding the scroll paused slightly, and he looked up at Qing Fei, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he asked.

"He's asleep and hasn't woken up yet! I guess writing that article exhausted his creative energy and he's really tired. I'm afraid he won't wake up for another two or three days!"

The girl tilted her head, curiously examining Jiang Xingzhou—

He leaned back in the rosewood armchair, his long fingers twirling the fresh grapes she had just brought him, then tossed them into his mouth, his toes tapping lightly to the rhythm.

The candlelight on his desk illuminated his handsome features, showing no sign of intellectual exhaustion.
"Young master, you have written three Mingzhou poems in a row. Why do you not show any signs of exhaustion or creative burnout? You remain as usual, with no change in your expression."

Qingfei couldn't help but lean closer, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity, "Why don't you even yawn once?"

Jiang Xingzhou smiled but did not answer. He lay back in the rosewood armchair, leisurely turning the pages of his book.

On the table,
Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings rang out.
The mayfly, a tiny insect, was perched atop the first page of the book "Ode to Lotus in Jiangnan," its thin, cicada-wing-like membranes gleaming with the golden light of the three characters "Morning Enlightenment."

Its antennae trembled slightly, as if it were in a trance, staggering in the fragrance of ink, repeatedly caressing the line "The red flowers reflecting the sun are especially red".

Nanjing, night.

The lights flickered on the Qinhuai River, and the vermilion walls of the Confucian Temple gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Inside Wuyi Lane, the bluestone walls are deep and secluded. The gate of the Xie family mansion is wide open, and twelve palace lanterns hang high under the eaves, illuminating the courtyard as if it were daytime.

The twelve families of Jinling gathered here, all dressed in black, and no one spoke. Only the night wind rustled the copper bells under the eaves, making a soft, tinkling sound.

The Twelve Families of Jinling were the most powerful and influential clans in Jinling Prefecture, whose members had held high office for generations and were closely connected.

Above the main hall.

Wang Su, a Hanlin Academician of the Prince's Mansion, and Xie Yuheng, a Hanlin Academician of the Xie Mansion, sat upright in the head seats, their brows furrowed and their eyes as deep as abyss.

On either side, the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) sat upright with their eyes lowered, while the Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations) stood solemnly on either side, holding their breath; the atmosphere was as still as iron.

Inside the hall, dozens of scholars, including Xie Qihe, Xie Yunmiao, Gu Qingyang, and Wang Moqing, knelt on the ground, their faces pale and their fingers trembling slightly beneath their sleeves.

"absurd!"

Wang Su slammed his fist on the table in anger, causing the sandalwood table to tremble and the teacups to clatter.

"How dare you use the thousand-year-old reputation of my 'Twelve Masters of Jinling' to promote a nobody from a poor family?" His hair and beard stood on end, his eyes burning with rage. "Have you all been blinded by greed!"

The scholars below the hall prostrated themselves even lower, and cold sweat seeped from Xie Qihe's forehead.

This gathering of twelve poets from Jinling was originally a regular poetry gathering for scholars and young men from prominent families to compose poems and enjoy the scenery.

Can be biased.
But it was Jiang Xingzhou, a scholar from a humble background, who amazed everyone with his three essays from Mingzhou.

Now the whole city is singing its praises, even the shopkeepers, storytellers, courtesans, and peddlers are all reciting Jiang Xingzhou's tales and mocking the twelve young masters of Jinling.

"Our Jinling family has never done such a foolish thing as working for others' benefit."

Wang Su sneered, "It would make outsiders think that none of my twelve families are capable!"

"Brother, don't be anxious!"

Xie Yuheng stroked his long beard, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Just who is Jiang Xingzhou?"

Xie Qihe and Wang Moqing exchanged glances, their faces pale and their eyes filled with unshed tears.

They've been wronged!
"grandfather!"

Wang Moqing crawled half a step on his knees, his voice trembling, "The Jiangnan Elegant Gathering published ten articles by Jiang Xingzhou in a row."

We believe that the powerful nobles in the court are secretly obstructing and deliberately suppressing the gentry in Jiangnan in an attempt to seize the title of one of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan!
In desperation, that's why... that's why I thought of using the poetry gathering as a pretext to lure him into revealing his true colors by having him compose a poem on the spot in front of everyone!

Wang Moqing's throat bobbed, his forehead touching the ground: "But who could have imagined—that he could write such amazing articles, even those of the highest rank!"

The scholars below the hall prostrated themselves on the ground, their expressions a mixture of frustration and resentment.

They were raised by powerful families from a young age, were well-versed in literature and poetry, and even became scholars. Yet, even writing a short essay about leaving the county required them to rack their brains and spend months refining it.

But that boat on the river—

How could a scholar from a poor family write so many excellent essays?

"I've inquired and found out that Jiang Xingzhou has been living in the Xue State Duke's mansion since he was ten years old... Xue State Duke Xue Chonghu is the core figure of our Great Zhou Noble Group in Jiangnan!"

Xie Qihe gritted his teeth and whispered, "Jiang Xingzhou had never written an article above the county level before he was fifteen years old. Only this year did he write ten articles above the county and prefecture levels."

Since he had close ties with nobles, we naturally suspected that one of them was writing the letter behind the scenes!

Xie Qihe clenched his sleeves, his knuckles turning white: "Who knew... we'd kicked a hornet's nest!"

A poetry gathering meticulously planned by the young men of Jinling turned out to be a stepping stone for Jiang Xingzhou to become famous in Jinling!

The Twelve Families of Jinling have utterly lost face today!

In the hall.

It was deathly silent, like an abyss.

The assembled scholars, Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations) listened to the defense of Wang Moqing, Xie Qihe, and other members of the Wang and Xie families, but none of them spoke, and all fell into a long silence.

They were also experienced, having climbed the ladder step by step through years of hard study, and naturally knew the difficulty of writing a [Dafu] essay.

The way of writing is like climbing the stairs to heaven!
Only those who have passed the imperial examinations and are qualified to write poems and essays for the county.

Only those who have passed the imperial examinations have accumulated sufficient knowledge and experience, and have a limited chance of gaining access to the inner workings of the imperial court.

A Hanlin scholar might occasionally obtain a work by [Mingzhou];

As for the title of "Protect the Nation"—it's highly unlikely for anyone who isn't a Grand Secretary of the Hall of Fame or a great Confucian scholar of our time!

Even so, a burst of inspiration is still needed. How many times in a writer's life can such a moment of brilliance occur?

Three or five articles are already a blessing from heaven!
This is the most common situation for scholars in the Great Zhou Dynasty when writing poems and essays.

Anyone who can break this ironclad rule is—possessing extraordinary literary talent and unparalleled genius!

Xie Yuheng, a Hanlin scholar from the Xie family, suddenly stopped and flicked his sleeves.

"Everyone!"

His gaze sharpened as he swept over the silent Hanlin scholars in the hall. "This matter may not necessarily be a disaster!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall looked up abruptly.

"Now that it has been confirmed that Jiang Xingzhou has no powerful noble group backing him, then this extraordinary literary talent is ultimately just the talent of a mere scholar!"

Xie Yuheng sneered, "No matter how much the Duke of Xue's mansion values ​​him, do you think they would give up their entire fortune for him?"

The candlelight in the hall suddenly came on.

These words caused a glint of light to appear in everyone's eyes.

Not bad!

Yes!

What good is a mere poor scholar, even if he possesses extraordinary literary talent?
The Twelve Families of Jinling have dominated Jinling City in Jiangnan Circuit for thousands of years. Their disciples and former officials are spread throughout the court and the country. Even the ministers of the three provinces in the current court have to give them some face.

Jiang Xingzhou had no powerful Zhou noble group backing him up; no matter how you look at it, he was just a poor scholar going to take the imperial examination.

"What are your thoughts, Brother Xie?"

Wang Su's eyes flashed as he spoke.

"Such an amazing talent, why not recruit him into our prestigious Jinling family clan?!"

Xie Yuheng laughed.

"Thank you for your insightful opinion, Brother!"

Wang Su clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes flashing with sharpness. "This boy comes from Jiangnan. Such talent should be used by our Jiangnan aristocratic families!"

Xie Yuheng stroked his beard and chuckled, "My granddaughter, Weiyu, is of marriageable age."

Wang Su understood and replied, "I have a daughter in my royal household, Wang Wan, who is a concubine. She can also be allowed to take me as a concubine."

“Send someone to talk to him.”

If he is sensible, he can form a marriage alliance with the twelve families of Jinling. We will certainly not hinder his path to becoming a Juren or Jinshi, and we can even give him a helping hand!
If he doesn't know what's good for him... hmph!

These words revealed the methods and tactics of powerful families in Jiangnan.

Either become a son-in-law or live a life of luxury;
Either
The hall fell silent for a moment, then the clapping and laughter of the Wang, Xie and other members of the twelve Jinling families rose and fell.

"Excellent! Such a scholar from a humble background would be most eager to marry into our powerful and prestigious families if given the chance!"

A glint of light flashed in Xie Qihe's eyes.

If this son could become my son-in-law
Why worry that they can't write brilliant articles and become famous throughout the world?

Wang Moqing's smile deepened: "At that time, the essays of my twelve families will all be polished by this boy. How can the sons of my prominent families in Jiangnan not become famous throughout the land and rise to high positions in the imperial court?!"

At the third quarter of midnight,

At midnight, the lights of the Jiangnan Bookstore were still shining brightly, illuminating the carved window lattices.

More than three inches of crimson wax had accumulated on the candlestick, winding down like the tears of a beautiful woman.

Hanlin scholar Zhou Dunshi returned to his study, sat alone at his desk, and carefully examined the four articles that Jiang Xingzhou had written at the poetry gathering by candlelight.

These four poems and essays, which he copied by hand, are laid out on his desk, their ink still carrying the scent of swords.

The line "The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky" from "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" truly captures the essence of nature!

The poem "Sending a Letter to the Twenty-Four Bridges of Yangzhou" captures the ethereal beauty of the Twenty-Four Bridges under the bright moon, a sentiment that has resonated through the ages.
"Looking at the Tide: The Southeast's Strategic Advantages" is a masterpiece of war poetry and strategy, rarely seen in the world!

"Ode to Lotus in West Lake" is the pinnacle of talent in praising lotus in West Lake!

"What a magnificent poem about Jiang Xingzhou! Each one is a masterpiece, yet each is unique!"

Despite having read it several times, upon rereading it now, this literary giant from Jiangnan still showed a rare look of trepidation in his eyes.

Every piece is a masterpiece; given time, they will surely become famous throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty!
Suddenly, the beaded curtain was rolled up, and the night breeze, carrying the scent of ink, rushed in.

Yang Xianyu was followed by a young man in a blue robe, whose steps seemed to exude a talent.

"Jiang Xingzhou, a junior scholar, pays his respects to Elder Zhou."

Jiang Xingzhou bowed his head——

The four poems on the table moved on their own without any wind, and the stale ink in the inkstone rippled.

Zhou Dunshi's fingers trembled slightly in his sleeve, but a kind smile appeared on his face: "Sit."

The rosewood armchair exuded the coolness of the night. Jiang Xingzhou sat upright like a pine tree, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes as he looked up: "Why did the old master summon me in the dead of night?"

Before he could finish speaking, he realized he had been impolite and immediately stopped talking.

Although he was in the Xue family mansion and studied under the Hanlin scholar Pei Jingyi, he was used to speaking off the cuff.

But the esteemed Hanlin scholar Zhou Dunshi before him, with his purple-gold fish-shaped pouch gleaming dimly in the candlelight, was ultimately different from Mr. Pei.

"Twenty years ago, an old friend of mine also came here to discuss scholarship with me. We can be considered old friends. Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and today feels just like the past."

Zhou Dunshi's gaze suddenly fixed on the boy's brow bone, and he sighed.

Jiang Xingzhou was taken aback, but remained silent.

Does this mean that Zhou Laohanlin knew his predecessor's father, Jiang Yan, or that they were old acquaintances?

"I have a teacher-student relationship with your father, Jiang Yan. I am even more like a brother to your mentor, Pei Jingyi."

You are a blood relative of an old friend, how can I sit idly by and watch you fall into danger?
I summoned you here tonight because there's something I need to tell you.

Zhou Dunshi stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe swaying slightly in the candlelight. The bright moon outside the window added to the solemn atmosphere.

"The officialdom is like a knife, and the path of literature is like an abyss."

Now, you have become famous overnight in Jinling City at the Jinling Poetry Festival, but you have also unintentionally offended the Twelve Families of Jinling!
They were utterly humiliated!
With the combined efforts of twelve families, you have achieved literary fame. How could they willingly accept such humiliation?

Revenge must be taken!

These twelve powerful and prestigious families of Jinling, though outwardly known for their scholarly traditions, were ruthless and vicious.

Those who follow the way prosper, those who oppose it perish.

If they can be used by them, they will spare no expense to coerce or win them over.

If you cannot use it for your own purposes, at best it will tarnish your literary reputation, and at worst it will destroy your very foundation.

Suppressing those talented but unsuccessful people from humble backgrounds is like treating them as ants in their eyes; they probably wouldn't even bother with the pretense.

Having lived in Nanjing for decades, I've witnessed far too many sordid things like this.

The reason for hosting the "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" was precisely to help the scholars of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan gain fame and establish themselves in their own right.

"What advice do you have for me, sir?"

Jiang Xingzhou remained silent for a moment, his brows furrowed with a frosty look in the candlelight.

"Jinling Prefecture in Jiangnan Circuit, a place of great power and influence—"

Zhou Dunshi slowly raised his hand, his withered knuckles tapping lightly on the table, the sound as deep as an ancient bell.

"Three-thirds of the twelve families in Jinling are powerful clans that have been prominent for thousands of years. They are wealthy, influential, and deeply entrenched in the government and the country. The people of Jinling fear them like tigers."

Three-tenths of the power rested with Prefect Wei Guanlan, who held military and political power and was a formidable figure in the region.

The other three were under the jurisdiction of the educational commissioner, Du Jingchen, who was in charge of the literary tradition and was revered by scholars.

As for the remaining point… it's nothing more than the title of a leisurely old man like myself. Though I am a Hanlin Academician, it's merely an empty name, not a reliable credential! At most, the only thing I can offer you is the title of one of the "Four Great Talents of Jiangnan."

Zhou Dunshi shook his head slightly, his gaze distant.

"If you want to establish yourself in Nanjing and not be afraid of the infighting among the twelve powerful families in Nanjing, you must choose one to rely on in order to be as stable as a rock."

There are only two months left until the autumn imperial examinations!

After safely navigating these two months, passing the imperial examinations with top honors, you will be free to roam the ten circuits of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The day your name is on the honor roll is the day the hidden dragon emerges from the abyss!
"For the mere twelve families of Jiangnan and Jinling to think they can control you again is nothing but a pipe dream; it's impossible!"

(End of this chapter)