The fiercest soldier of the border army

Tang Shun's voice wasn't loud, but every word he uttered was clear and distinct, reaching everyone's ears.

The scholars who were sitting and chatting in the guest room all looked up.

"To seek instruction? We scholars are all refined gentlemen. To want to settle a dispute over a single word is the behavior of a brute."

The scholar in blue robes sitting to the side shook his head disdainfully, clearly not taking Tang Shun seriously.

"A crude and uncouth soldier like him is unworthy to stand in the hall of the military governor's mansion?"

"The people of the North don't even know etiquette, nor do they know whose connections they went through to meet the Crown Prince."

For a moment, Tang Shun stood in front of the guest room, feeling as if he had been abandoned.

These scholars were all arrogant and disdainful of Tang Shun.

It seems that only in this way can they demonstrate their sense of superiority and nobility.

Shi Hanshan stood up, walked to Tang Shun's side, and said in a low voice, "Ignore them. The rivalry between civil and military officials is nothing new. Failing to appear before the summons and causing trouble will not do you any good."

Tang Shun nodded slowly, "Commander, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

What he needed to do was to make a big fuss and attract the attention of the powerful figures in the military governor's office.

If the scholar doesn't accept the challenge and slunk away, how can that be acceptable?

Moreover.

The scholars before me wore wide-sleeved Confucian robes, holding jade fans or scrolls, their brows furrowed with self-satisfaction and disdain.

These people have never set foot on the border, yet they dare to say that military men don't understand how to govern a country.

They never experienced hunger or cold in their lives, yet they taught the people how to plow in spring and harvest in autumn.

That's a joke!

Tang Shun walked straight up to the scholar in blue, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sir, since you find us uncouth, I have a question I would like to ask you to answer."

The scholar in blue stroked his beard and sneered, "Go ahead and ask. I don't have much time. You're only allowed to ask once."

Tang Shun nodded, bowed even deeper, and cupped his hands, saying, "Oranges grown south of the Huai River are sweet oranges, but those grown north of the Huai River become bitter oranges. Why is that?"

The scholar in blue was taken aback, then raised his voice and replied, "It's just that the local customs are different, hence the different names."

Tang Shun asked with a composed expression, "Do you gentlemen also think so?"

A scholar chimed in, "That's just how it is. Heaven is round and earth is square, each has its own merits, they're just called different things."

"Thank you for your explanation, sir, but—you're wrong!" Tang Shun straightened up, his voice suddenly becoming more forceful. "This is due to changes in geography, climate, and soil."

"The south is humid and hot, which is suitable for growing oranges, while the north is dry and cold, so oranges cannot grow, hence the name 'bitter orange'."

"This isn't a matter of terminology; it's the truth. If you don't even understand this, how can you talk about governing the country and ensuring its stability?"

The scholar in blue blushed and opened his mouth to argue, but Tang Shun stared at him and he couldn't say a word.

He snorted heavily, "Just opportunistic tricks."

"We Confucian scholars follow the fundamental principles of classical learning; the distinction between oranges and trifoliate oranges is nothing but a deceptive trick!"

"Besides, who can prove whether what you're saying is true or false?"

Most of the scholars present looked displeased.

Clearly, there's a sense of irritation at being disturbed by insignificant people.

Tang Shun didn't take it to heart and continued, "Since that's the case, let me ask you another question."

"Gentlemen, you claim to be well-versed in classical texts and possess extraordinary talent, is that correct?"

As the words fell, some frowned, some sneered, and most simply looked up and sized him up, as if they were looking at a reckless madman who didn't know his own death.

One man, fanning himself with a folding fan, scoffed, "A warrior who understands classical texts? Have you perhaps read the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, the *Book of Rites*, or even deciphered the hexagrams of the *I Ching*?"

Another scholar sneered, "You're nothing but a glib tongue! You treat us like dirt, like country bumpkins."

"I ask you, do you know poetry, books, rites, and music? Do you understand the proper relationships between ruler and subject, and the ethics between father and son?"

The scholars, one after another, launched a verbal and written attack on Tang Shun.

For a time, Tang Shun became the target of public criticism.

The noise from the side room attracted the attention of the guards of the governor's mansion. Some of them came to observe for a while, and then hurriedly ran away.

Tang Shun smiled, remaining unmoved, and did not back down in the face of the scholar's questioning.

His laughter was short and cold. "Guanzi said: When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame."

"Now the Northern Court has suffered from war, and the people are displaced, starving to the point of eating tree bark, and freezing to the point of losing fingers and cracking skin."

"Instead of thinking about how to feed and clothe them, you're here asking me if I understand poetry, literature, etiquette, and music?"

He surveyed the room, his voice rising: "You are all lazy and ignorant, spending your days seeking fame and fortune, relying solely on being born into privilege!"

"Do you think that by simply wearing an official hat, sitting in the hall, and being entertained by merchants, you can govern the prefectures and counties?"

"You don't even know how to distinguish between oranges and trifoliate oranges, let alone how to cultivate the land?"

Tang Shun pressed on, demanding, "I ask you all here, who dares to say they understand the people's livelihood?"

The hall was completely silent.

Some people gripped their books tightly, their faces filled with anger, while others looked ashen and wanted to argue back.

However, Tang Shun's barrage of words continued unabated:

"When you wield your ink, have you ever walked along muddy country roads? Have you ever seen a mother weeping uncontrollably while holding her starving child?"

"Have you ever smelled the stench of rotting corpses mixed with the wind and snow?" Tang Shun stepped forward. "I have. I have personally buried my fallen comrades, and I have personally witnessed civilians die under the swords of the Xiongnu!"

"On the battlefield, I heard no poetry, nor saw a pen; I only saw people living or dying."

He stopped in his tracks, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Now tell me, you well-read scholars, what can you use to defend a city? What can you use to feed a hundred thousand people?"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Even the sound of the wind passing through the copper bells on the eaves could be heard clearly.

Shi Hanshan stood to one side, watching Tang Shun's straight back, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

He thought he was tough enough, but now he understood what it meant to be a person who truly dares to speak out.

At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.

It wasn't the slow, gentle rhythm of a palace attendant, but rather a steady, powerful stride, each step a pause, like the beating of a drum on the blue bricks.

The hall door was pushed open.

A red figure entered the guest room.

He was a middle-aged man around forty years old, wearing a red four-clawed dragon robe and a jade pendant with a coiled dragon around his waist.

He was followed by Li Qing'an, the military governor of Beiting, and an aide.

His identity speaks for itself!

It is none other than the Crown Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty!

He was concurrently appointed as the Grand Commander of the three military routes of Hedong, Hexi, and Beiting!

The crown prince stood at the door, his face showing no anger, but rather a slight smile.

He clapped his hands twice, the sound clear and bright:

"Well said!"

Everyone was suddenly awakened and hurriedly got up and knelt down in worship.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Tang Shun also turned around, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a salute, his movements were crisp and clean, neither humble nor arrogant.

The Crown Prince did not immediately tell them to rise. Instead, he slowly walked into the hall, his gaze lingering on Tang Shun for a moment before sweeping over the scholars who bowed their heads and dared not raise them. A slight smile appeared on his lips.

"I listened in from next door for a while," he said. "There are some things that no one has dared to say for many years."

He stood in the center of the hall, no more than three steps away from Tang Shun.

Tang Shun looked up and met those eyes.

The crown prince smiled and said nothing more, only saying, "Get up, all of you."

Everyone thanked them and rose to their places. The atmosphere had changed. It was no longer one of contempt and oppression, but rather a reverence born of suppression.

Tang Shun returned to his original spot and sat down, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword.

He knew that his words could no longer be dismissed as those of an insignificant warrior...