In the county of Ruyang stands the Santou Mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, the rice paddies are lush green and emit a pleasant fragrance. Farmers gather in groups at the base of Santou Mountain, looking up at the narrow mountain path where a young man stands.
With a tall, straight build, the young man cuts a striking figure. His sturdy attire emphasizes his slender waist, and his jet-black hair is meticulously tied high. A dagger hangs at his hip, while a bow and quiver of arrows rest on his back, completing his heroic and impressive image.
The farmers whisper to each other, their words filled with curiosity.
"Whose child dares to enter the mountain alone?"
"He looks familiar, could he be... the son of the county official? I saw him once when I was buying medicine for my mother."
"Is he the kind and intelligent son of the official? How could he enter Santou Mountain, where there are man-eating beasts like hyenas, wolves, tigers, and leopards?"
"Our local hunters don't even dare to enter the mountain alone!"
The murmurs continue, and more farmers join the gathering.
A plain horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by a dozen or so mud-splattered servants, barreled down the muddy road. Unfazed by the grime coating their clothes, they pressed on with urgency.
The carriage screeched to a halt, and the lead servant sprang out, rushing to his knees at the foot of Mount Santou. A look of profound sorrow etched itself upon his face.
"Young master, how could you venture into the mountain alone?"
The old servant's voice trembles, tears in his eyes. He cries, "Madam is critically ill, we have searched all the pharmacies in Ruyang County, and the only herb missing can be found in Santou Mountain. But how can you go alone?"
Behind him, the servants start crying, "Young master, please come back soon."
The old servant cries out even louder, tears streaming down his face, "I know you are filial to Madam, willing to face danger for her, but Santou Mountain is too dangerous. Please think twice!"
The farmers finally understand, "So the son of the official entered the mountain alone to gather herbs for his mother!"
Some of them have tears in their eyes, "I've heard of the filial piety of the official's son, but I didn't expect him to go to such lengths for his mother. Look, the more they call out, the faster he walks, he doesn't want to be stopped by them!"
An old man sighs, "If I had a son like him, I would wake up laughing from my dreams."
In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, loyalty and filial piety were considered the cornerstones of society. Those who embodied these virtues earned immense respect from the people.
Despite the servants' cries, the young man in spring attire continues walking firmly into the dense forest.
A weak voice from the carriage says, "Enough, Steward Lin. If he insists on showing his filial piety, do not stop him."
Steward Lin and his men stop shouting and just weep in anguish.
After a hurried departure from Santou Mountain, the group left the farmers with nothing more to watch. Two men of slight build exchanged a silent look before discreetly slipping away from the rice paddies. Their path led them down a seldom-used path by the roadside.
Just by chance, the entourage of the county official's wife had chosen this very spot to take a break.
Approaching, a farmer whispered, "Steward, everything has been taken care of."
Steward Lin, his tear-streaked face now composed, handed a bag of silver coins to the two farmers, giving them a cold look, "You know what should be said and what shouldn't. Take the money, and refrain from idle chatter."
The two farmers nodded repeatedly, cautiously taking the silver and departing.
Inside the carriage.
The county official's wife, reclining on soft pillows with a pale complexion that suggested a recent recovery from illness, intentionally applied a touch of rouge to her cheeks to hide her fatigue.
"Madam, everything seems to be in order," the maid offering tea to the official's wife showed a hint of joy, "Your efforts have not been in vain."
Upon hearing this, the magistrate's wife opened her eyes, unable to suppress a smile. She reached out to take the teacup, her hand firm despite her supposed illness. "My husband and I have gone to great lengths to secure a place for Yuan Li among the filial and incorruptible," she remarked.
In order to become an official, one had to be recommended for the imperial examination. Wealthy and influential families had no trouble securing a place, but for those from modest backgrounds, securing this opportunity for their descendants required great effort.
The magistrate's wife, Madam Chen, hailed from a family of some influence in Ruyang County, but their standing was nothing to speak of in the broader context. Her husband, Yuan Song, was also an ordinary man, only gaining the opportunity to serve as an official through a well-connected mentor.
His connections were even less extensive than those of Madam Chen.
The maid approached Madam Chen from behind, gently massaging her shoulders and offering words of comfort, "Rest assured, Madam. With Eldest Young Master's reputation and intellect, he is certain to gain admission to the Imperial Academy."
Securing a nomination as a 'filial and incorruptible official' required more than just a good reputation; it also demanded substantial knowledge. In those times, these coveted positions were predominantly reserved for scions of aristocratic families.
Those from less privileged backgrounds were left with the option of seeking entry into the prestigious Imperial Academy, where they could gain the necessary qualifications and receive recommendations from their esteemed teachers to embark on their official careers. The student body of the Imperial Academy was a blend of the affluent and the well-connected, but it also welcomed individuals renowned for their exceptional talents and impeccable reputations.
If the eldest son could gain admission to the Imperial Academy, he would be well on his way to securing a promising official career.
After sipping her tea, Madam Chen expressed her concerns, "It's not that easy. Even for the Imperial Academy, one's family background plays a crucial role."
The Imperial Academy had different levels of schooling: the Guozixue, the Taixue, and the Simenxue.
The Guozixue, the lowest level of the three, was open to the sons of officials of the fifth rank and below. Its curriculum focused on the Confucian classics, preparing students for the civil service examinations.
The Taixue, the intermediate level, was reserved for the sons of officials of the third rank and above. Its curriculum expanded beyond the Confucian classics, encompassing a broader range of subjects, including history, law, and mathematics.
The Simenxue, the most prestigious of the three, was exclusively for the sons of dukes, marquises, and counts. Its curriculum delved into the highest levels of Confucian scholarship, preparing students for the most senior positions in the imperial government.
These three institutions were intended for the children of high-ranking officials and nobles. Without leveraging these connections, entry into the national academy seemed unlikely for her husband, who was just a lowly county official.
Her husband, a mere county magistrate, worried that without cultivating guanxi (关系 guānxi), he might never secure his son a place at the highest institution of learning in ancient China.
———
TNote: Guanxi (关系 guānxi): In Chinese culture, guanxi refers to a network of relationships and connections that can be leveraged for mutual benefit. It's about building trust and reciprocity with others.
———
"Moreover, Ruyang has not only our Chen family but also the Ye and Wang families," Madam Chen rubbed her temples, "With the number of candidates exceeding the available spots, the Ye and Wang families are even forming alliances. Fortunately, Yuan Li is intelligent and diligent, surpassing their candidates. Otherwise, our reputation in Ruyang would be overshadowed by theirs."
The maid whispered softly, "Madam, don't worry. Whenever I see the young master, I feel confident that he will be accepted into the Imperial Academy and learn from a renowned master."
Amused by her words, Madam Chen couldn't help but smile. Despite his young age, Yuan Li's calculated demeanor had already gained admiration, hinting at his future success.
After a few sips of tea, Madam Chen reminded, "Remind the people in the mountains to watch over the young master carefully."
The maid replied with a smile, "I'll do that right away."
"Just a moment," Madam Chen stopped her, gently wiping the tea from her lips with a handkerchief, revealing a rosy and vibrant hue on her lips. She closed her eyes, "Apply some makeup to make it look like I have recovered from a serious illness."
"Rest assured, Madam."
With clean hands, the maid lowered the carriage curtain and carefully applied makeup to Madam Chen.
Meanwhile, Yuan Li briskly entered the mountains.
As he reached a secluded area, over thirty guards swiftly emerged from the thicket. The leader, with a lean face, respectfully greeted Yuan Li, "Young Master."
Yuan Li nodded, "Guard Meng, you've all worked hard these days."
Since this was a show, he couldn't just stay on the mountain for a day. The longer he stayed, the wider and more real his reputation would grow. Yuan Li had already decided to remain in the mountains for three to five days.
Yuan Li's gaze shifted back to the system in his mind.
[Universal Encyclopedia System Activated.]
[Mission: Enroll in the Imperial Academy.]
[Reward: Soap Recipe.]
Yuan Li held a secret: he didn't belong to this era.
In his previous life, he was a skilled battlefield logistics officer. After transmigrating, he found himself in Northern Zhou as a wailing infant, with an inactive system lodged in his mind.
However, since its activation, the system had provided no assistance to Yuan Li. It merely displayed three lines of text, coldly dangling the reward in front of him to entice him to complete tasks.
Yuan Li was wary of this thing in his head, but he shared its goal of enrolling in the Imperial Academy and obtaining the title of "Filial and Incorruptible Official." He decided to see what changes would occur if he did manage to enter the academy.
Undoubtedly, the soap formula presented a significant allure to Yuan Li.
When Yuan Li realized that this era was on the brink of chaos, his goal shifted to amassing troops and horses to secure a foothold in the tumultuous times ahead.
Yuan Li's expertise from his previous life lay in raising and training soldiers and maintaining logistics. He was well aware of the exorbitant costs involved.
The problem was, as the son of a mere county magistrate, he simply didn't have the means.
Yuan Li regretfully withdrew his gaze from the system.
Santou Mountain was the largest mountain in Ruyang County, stretching not only within Ruyang County but also crossing over to the neighboring Sanchuan County.
Unknowingly, the group trekked northward, led by Yuan Li who had amassed a significant amount of herbs along the way. As they ventured deeper, the vibrant foliage of the uphill terrain gave way to a shaded area.
A wave of coolness washed over them, marking a stark contrast to the previous warmth. Yuan Li shivered, his gaze drawn downwards. The lush vegetation they had just passed through was replaced by a desolate scene: sparse patches of greenery, exposed ground, and a scattering of dry branches and withered grass.
Suddenly, Meng, the guard, changed his expression and pointed ahead, saying, "Young Master, look quickly."
Following his gaze, Yuan Li saw a group of raggedly dressed people climbing towards the mountain from within the dense forest.
These people were thin, almost skeletal, holding axes or stone knives, their mouths dry as they thirstily swallowed saliva. Strangely, all of them were sturdy men in their prime.
They appeared hostile.
Frowning, Yuan Li gestured for his companions to stay quiet and quietly followed them.
As they approached the farmland of Ruyang County, Yuan Li thought to himself as he tightened his grip on the dagger at his waist.
After observing the group, Guard Meng recalled something, "Young Master, in Hanzhong last winter, not a single snowflake fell, and since spring, there hasn't been a drop of rain. The fields are dry, and with severe drought, there will likely be locusts. Many people are fleeing to Luoyang to escape. Judging by their appearance, these people are most likely refugees from Han Zhong."
Yuanli pondered, "But how did they end up in the mountains of Ruyang County?"
Guard Meng ruefully explained, "You see, Luoyang is the imperial city and cannot easily accommodate refugees. These people, with nowhere else to go, fled to the surrounding counties. Since Luoyang doesn't take in refugees, neither do the surrounding areas. Some of these refugees starve to death, while others turn to banditry in the mountains. Looking at them, they seem like a group of mountain bandits."
Yuan Li's gaze lowered, and he sighed deeply.
Ever since learning of his time travel to ancient times, Yuan Li knew he would face a cruel and unforgiving world.
In this world, it will only get harsher than the future, with the common people having even fewer rights. This was precisely why Yuan Li wanted to secure a place for himself in the chaotic times - he couldn't save everyone, but he aimed to save as many as possible.
Despite being mentally prepared, witnessing such scenes still pained him deeply.
However, Yuan Li quickly suppressed these emotions. When unable to accomplish anything, excessive sentimentality was merely a facade.
Meng, the guard, asked, "Young Master, if these people are indeed mountain bandits, should we continue following them?"
"Continue," Yuan Li decisively replied, "but for now, do not harm anyone. Take two men, bring some rations, pretend to be farmers, and approach them to see their reaction. If they only take the food without harming anyone, then share half of our provisions with them."
Yuan Li's expression turned cold, "If they intend to kill and plunder, eliminate them on the spot to prevent harm to the people of Ruyang County."
Guard Meng respectfully agreed, "Understood!"
Taking off their outer garments, Guard Meng and his two men rolled in the mud, then packed rations, water bags, and some silver coins into their bags, approaching the disaster-stricken people from another direction.
In reality, such a test of humanity was not fair to the disaster-stricken people.
They were in extreme hunger, thirst, and poverty, making them more prone to impulsive behavior than usual.
However, Yuan Li couldn't ignore potential dangers just because of their pitiful state and couldn't allow them to harm innocent people.
Soon, Guard Meng and his companions encountered the disaster-stricken individuals.
As Yuan Li had predicted, as soon as the disaster-stricken people saw the bags carried by Guard Meng and his men, they became agitated, staring intensely and increasing their saliva consumption, eyes glinting with a green hue.
Someone even reached out towards Guard Meng with a stone knife, prompting Guard Meng and his men to prepare for action before the leader of the disaster-stricken people intervened.
The leader, a skinny youth with sharp eyes, threateningly demanded, "Drop everything you have and get out of here!"
Guard Meng's face turned pale, exchanged a glance with his companions, remembered the Young Master's instructions, and reluctantly placed their belongings down before turning to leave.
The leader quickly snatched the bags, rummaged through them, took out the food and water, and threw the remaining items back at Meng and his companions, saying, "We only need food and drink, nothing else. Take your money and go!"
The three guards swiftly turned around and caught the bags. They lowered their heads, looking at the money pouches and exchanging puzzled glances.
Then, they glanced at the refugees who had already begun to eat their rations and returned to Yuan Li's side, their minds in a daze.
Yuan Li had observed the entire scene. He gazed thoughtfully at the leader and said, "Let's go and meet them."
Inside the huddle of refugees, people were wolfing down their dry rations, but each person only received a small piece, about the size of a palm. They wrapped up the rest, seemingly intending to save it for later use.
Upon hearing the sound, the group raised their heads, their faces filled with vigilance, and held their weapons in front of them. As Yuan Li and his guards appeared, their expressions changed abruptly, becoming tense and uneasy.
They seemed to mistake them for someone else, and there was even a hint of hatred in their eyes.
The young man standing in the middle, his face covered in dirt and grime, looked more composed than the others. He immediately identified who was in charge and stared intently at Yuan Li, his voice hoarse and dry like a withered tree, "Who are you?"
Yuan Li took off his water bag and threw it to him, indicating that he meant no harm. "Sir, are you refugees from Hanzhong?"
The young man caught the water bag with one hand but didn't drink it. Instead, he became even more cautious. "So what if we are? So what if we're not?"
The refugees fell silent. The young man suddenly pulled out the cork and took a swig from the waterskin, his throat gulping greedily before he forcibly restrained himself and tossed the waterskin to his companions.
Yuan Li threw them a few more waterskins and asked the young man, "What is your name?"
The young man paused. "Wang Er."
Yuan Li asked again, "Why did you come into the mountains? Why are there only a few of you? Why didn't the elderly and children at home come with you to escape?"
After three questions, Wang Er's muscles, which had just relaxed, tightened up again, and he remained silent.
Yuan Li was patient. "If there are only a few of you, we will give you some food, but not much. If you still have wives and children, then I will provide you with a livelihood."
These words pierced the hearts of the refugees who had suffered in the storms and rains. Many of the refugees were clearly moved, and they all turned to look at Wang Er. Wang Er pursed his lips and asked, "What kind of livelihood?"
"Come work on my farm," Yuan Li said. "In addition to cultivating the fields, you men will also guard the house and yard. Other than that, you will be provided with food, lodging, and wages. It's not much, but you won't have to worry about going hungry or cold."
Wang Er hesitated for a moment. "Become your retainers?"
Retainers and servants were household servants.
In times of peace, they were just servants who guarded the house and yard. But in times of trouble, with a wave of their arms, the retainers became private soldiers.
In this era, all noble families and wealthy merchants kept retainers in their homes.
Yuan Li said gently, "That's right."
The refugees looked at each other. Wang Er gritted his teeth and questioned, "We don't even know who you are, how can we trust you?"
Meng Huwei snorted from the side, "This is the eldest son of the Prefect of Ruyang County, you should believe him now, right?"
Wang Er was stunned, his expression immediately softening visibly, and he bowed deeply to Yuan Li. "So it's Yuan Lang of Ruyang, it's really true that seeing is believing."
Yuan Li blinked, understanding that this was the effect of his "reputation."
In this era, as long as a person's reputation for loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness spread far and wide, they would not be considered a bad person by the common people. How bad could someone who was so filial to his parents be?
Yuan Li felt the usefulness of reputation for the first time.
Wang Er and his group had already believed Yuan Li, so they came out of hiding. According to them, there were many more refugees who had been placed by them to hide at the foot of the mountain, all of them women, children, and the elderly, numbering about a hundred people.
Yuan Li, feeling a sense of responsibility, instructed Meng, his guard, to accompany Wang Er and bring the refugees back. When the night deepened, they would be transported to the farm.
That night, Yuan Li and his guards dug up some wild vegetables and boiled them into porridge to temporarily satiate the refugees' hunger. Many of them trembled as they received the bowls and chopsticks.
As their lips touched the porridge, they began to sob softly, unsure whether they were overjoyed at the prospect of not starving to death or grieving for their loved ones who had not survived until now.
Wang Er also devoured a bowl of wild vegetable porridge. Liu Dagen approached him and whispered, "Wang Er, if we follow the county magistrate's son, will then we still going to rob that corrupt official?"
"Of course we will," Wang Er sneered. "Han Zhong is suffering from a severe drought, yet that dog official has sent cartloads of silver and jewels to Luoyang. I wonder who he wants to cover up the disaster for. Even if we die, we must rob the dog official of the ill-gotten gains he has squeezed from the people before we die! However, Young Master Yuan is the son of the county magistrate, and we cannot let him get into trouble. Let's do this without telling Young Master Yuan and not implicate our benefactor."
Liu Dagen nodded vigorously. "I understand. Don't worry."
Wang Er calculated that the corrupt official's caravan should reach Luoyang in two or three days.
Once they had robbed the caravan, they would not take the corrupt official's dirty money. They would give it to Young Master Yuan and ask him to save more refugees in Han Zhong.
With Young Master Yuan's kindness, he would surely extend a helping hand to them.
*
Hundreds of miles away, in Luoyang, at the Prince Chu's Mansion,
Chu Wangye and his wife Yang Shi were also thinking about Yuan Li.
Yang Shi's eyes were swollen red, as if she had not slept for days and nights. Her voice was hoarse and weak. "I have sent a trusted messenger to Ruyang. Once the Yuan family agrees, we will make preparations. Feng'er is not in good health and cannot personally to complete the marriage. Fortunately, Cizhi will be back soon. Let him to complete the marriage on behalf of his brother."
"Will Chu Hechao listen to us?" Chu Wangye snorted. "Let him to complete the marriage on behalf of his brother. I'm afraid he'll scare the Yuan family's son into calling off the wedding immediately."
Yang Shi was silent for a moment. "Then what can we do? Our Feng'er..."
She choked up and couldn't continue.
Prince Chu's face darkened. After a long while, he changed the subject. "What is that Yuan family boy like?"
Yang Shi's expression softened slightly. "He's a good boy, but his family background is not very good."
Prince Chu said, "It's hard for these two children."
Yang Shi shook her head, not wanting to say more. She took out an old almanac, looked it over carefully, and then a smile appeared on her face. "My lord, what do you think of this auspicious day?"
Prince Chu took a look and was surprised. "Six days from now? My lady, isn't that a bit too rushed?"
Yang Shi said softly, "My lord, if we wait any longer, Feng'er won't be able to hold on."
Chu Wangye's eyes welled up with emotion. After a while, he nodded silently.