All Heavens: From Joy of Life to The Great Feng Night Watchman

Page 464

"I am Zhao Shou. I will not disturb you any longer, Brother Li. Please continue!"

Zhao Shou quickly said something and stood obediently to the side, his eyes fixed on the newly completed manuscript.

"This is Wei Yuan, the most powerful minister in the court. You don't need to pay him any attention. With me here, he wouldn't dare to do anything to us scholars."

Wei Yuan arrived just a few breaths later, and Zhao Shou had already seized the initiative. What do you mean by "you scholars"? I, Wei, am also a learned man.

What do you mean by "the most powerful minister"? It's as if Wei came here to cause trouble.

At this moment, Wei Yuan regained his refined demeanor and casually said, "I have come to invite Mr. Li to the Night Watchman's Office for a chat."

But the moment he looked at Li Chang'an's manuscript, his gaze burned with renewed intensity, as if he had found a kindred spirit.

He glanced at Li Chang'an again. He looked to be less than twenty years old, yet he could write such a masterpiece. Could it be that he had actually fought a battle in his dream?

Wei Yuan, who was originally concerned about Li Chang'an's background, has now stopped worrying about it and is now focused on recruiting him first.

Based on Wei Yuan's years of experience in judging people, if Li Chang'an could be recruited into the night watchman's office, it would help him solve a lot of troubles, so he had to win him over.

Both he and Zhao Shou came with the aim of recruiting Li Chang'an, so open and covert struggles and sarcastic remarks were inevitable.

Not long after, Li Chang'an divided the manuscript in his hand into two parts. "Due to limited time, I have only written six chapters. Please give me your feedback."

He handed three chapters on military strategy to Wei Yuan and three chapters on governance to Zhao Shou, wanting these two men to see for themselves that these manuscripts were written by him.

After Wei Yuan and Zhao Shou finished reading, they exchanged their readings and then reluctantly put the manuscripts back on the table.

The three then discussed the contents of the book for a long time, and eventually Wei Yuan and Zhao Shou both believed that the book was indeed written by Li Chang'an himself, because he explained the viewpoints in it very clearly.

Because when Li Chang'an wrote this book in his previous life, he had discussed it countless times with Prime Minister Zhuge, and could be said to know it by heart.

Two hours later, Wei Yuan and Zhao Shou exchanged a glance. At first, they were both shocked and couldn't believe it, but now they both believed that Li Chang'an did indeed have the strength to establish a sect.

"Brother Li, would you like to visit the night watchman's office when you have time?"

"Brother Li, Yunlu Academy is the place you should be going."

Wei Yuan surprisingly addressed Li Chang'an as "Brother Li," which greatly surprised Zhao Shou!

It is common for scholars to discuss teachings among themselves, and there is no problem if one is learned enough. However, Wei Yuan, who wielded immense power, never did so.

Could it be true, as Zhang Shen said, that these views on military administration and leadership were so brilliant that even Wei Yuan was captivated by them?

In fact, Wei Yuan had already figured it out: if Li Chang'an joined Yunlu Academy, he would be on equal footing with Dean Zhao and the Four Great Confucian Scholars.

If he still considered Li Chang'an as an equal to Yang Yan and other Jinluo, then Li Chang'an would be his nephew or niece. Now it seems that Li Chang'an is quite arrogant and probably unwilling to accept such treatment.

Of course, most importantly, Li Chang'an has the capability.

Li Chang'an said, "Let's go take a look at them all, and go to whichever is closest first."

Afterwards, the three of them first went to the Night Watchmen's Office, where Wei Yuan personally explained the structure and status of the Night Watchmen's Office and what they usually did.

Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou followed behind in trepidation. Neither of them expected that the dignified Duke Wei would personally invite Li Chang'an over, and with such courtesy!

"Brother Li is a great hero in Jianzhou, and so is my Night Watchman's Office. As the saying goes, we are loyal to the emperor, and the Night Watchmen are indispensable in handling major cases."

Zhao Shou said, "The duties of the Night Watchmen's Office include supervising officials, protecting the royal family, guarding the capital, and participating in major cases, which are only some of the responsibilities..."

The three then arrived at a pavilion with an extremely high threshold.

"Dean Zhao, it is not convenient for outsiders to enter here. Please wait outside for a moment."

Wei Yuan said something, and then he and the two night watchmen led Li Chang'an into the pavilion.

A couplet in the lobby on the first floor is very eye-catching: "I am willing to dedicate myself to the world with a sincere heart, without seeking personal gain."

Li Chang'an knew that Wei Yuan had written this himself. Of course, such words could only be slogans. There is no one in the world who does not seek his own interests. Even if there were, they would not be in the secret service agency or the night watchman's office.

Then, two clerks came in carrying two brocade boxes. Li Chang'an immediately raised his eyebrows. Wasn't this the qualification test Xu Qi'an took when he joined the night watchmen?

Wei Yuan remained calm, showing no sign of joy or anger, and continued to talk about his experience writing the couplet. The two night watchmen behind him were secretly worried, as they were about to drag Li Chang'an into the night watchman's office without him even realizing it.

Those who pass the qualification test become members of the night watchman's office.

Wei Yuan suddenly changed the subject, talking about the boxes in the hands of the two officials in front of him. "One of the boxes in their hands is empty, and the other is not. You choose one of them to ask a question. One of them will only tell lies, and the other will only tell the truth."

As expected, the old man casually threw out the intelligence test question, clearly intending to take advantage of Li Chang'an's unpreparedness and start the aptitude test directly.

However, Li Chang'an had read the script. In the original novel, Xu Qi'an was given the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to conduct the aptitude test.

A typical night watchman would come up with the answer within twenty breaths, but Xu Qi'an, a policeman who had tackled countless logic questions in civil service exams, gave the answer in twelve breaths, not even counting the time the clerk spent in a daze.

Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou stared intently at Li Chang'an, wondering how long it would take for this prodigy, who had written a masterpiece that had astonished the Duke of Wei, to come up with an answer.

Wei Yuan appeared casual, but he was also watching Li Chang'an's actions out of the corner of his eye. He saw Li Chang'an casually pick a clerk and ask, "If you were him, tell me which box is empty."

When Li Chang'an said "him," he pointed to another official. At this moment, Wei Yuan's eyelids twitched involuntarily, while Nangong Qianrou and Yang Yan took a deep breath at the same time, because this answer was correct.

Back then, Yang Yan took nineteen breaths, Nangong Qianrou took fifteen breaths, while Li Chang'an blurted it out almost without thinking.

Looking at Li Chang'an's tall figure, Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou felt their admiration deepen. He was indeed a master!

The clerk who was asked the question paused for a moment, thought for a while, and then said, "His box is empty."

Li Chang'an nodded, pointed to the box in the hands of the official being questioned, and said to Wei Yuan, "There's something in here."

"Haha, Brother Li is indeed quick-witted. This little game has stumped many night watchmen."

Then, the four of them continued to walk up. On the second floor, there was an ancient bronze mirror hanging on a pillar. When Li Chang'an saw the mirror, he knew that this was the "questioning the heart" part.

The purpose of this mirror is to prevent people from doing things against their conscience; they will do what they think in their hearts.

In the hall on the second floor, there is a Buddha statue with a rich and solemn appearance. Incense smoke curls on the altar, which is filled with offerings.

Li Chang'an looked at the Buddha statue, his heart unmoved. The Buddha of this world was also a super-grade cultivator, and there was nothing to respect about him.

Wei Yuan and the others remained completely unmoved, clearly showing no respect for the Buddha.

The third level enshrines the Taoist deity, dressed in a Taoist robe, holding a wooden sword, and standing on auspicious clouds.

Upon seeing Dao Zun, Li Chang'an took a few steps forward and stood beside him.

"Lord Wei, if I were to stand here one day, I would surely be more imposing than the Daoist Master."

Li Chang'an cultivates Taoist magic, and his system contains a large number of advanced Taoist techniques. It will not be difficult for him to surpass the Taoist Venerable in the future.

However, Wei Yuan's lips twitched involuntarily. He thought to himself, "This kid must be practicing fake Taoist arts, how could he be so disrespectful to the Dao Venerable?"

"Hehe, Brother Li is indeed as imposing as the Daoist Master."

Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou kept swallowing hard, they had never seen a cultivator who dared to rival the Dao Venerable.

Li Chang'an added, "If I were standing here, I would definitely have that beautiful national teacher sculpted beside me as well."

Wei Yuan quickly grabbed Li Chang'an and said with a strange expression, "Brother Li, stop talking, let's go upstairs."

Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou couldn't help but feel moved. Brother Li truly trusted them; he dared to say such things to their faces.

The fourth level depicts Confucian sages, dressed in Confucian robes and wearing Confucian hats, with solemn expressions, gazing into the distance.

Li Chang'an stared at the sage, remaining silent for a long time.

Wei Yuan stroked his chin. "This is a Confucian sage. It seems Brother Li has great respect for him."

However, Li Chang'an ignored Wei Yuan's words, shook his head and sighed, "Useless, just a scholar... Let's continue upstairs."

Wei Yuan's pupils shrank sharply, and the two night watchmen were also ashamed. This Li Chang'an cultivated martial arts, Taoism, and Confucianism, but he did not respect the Taoist and Confucian sages. Just who was he?

Just as everyone was about to head to the fifth floor, Wei Yuan stopped Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou, saying, "You two don't need to go up."

Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou accepted the order and stopped following, clearly Wei Yuan didn't want the two of them to see certain things.

Yang Yan thought to himself, "The top layer contains a statue of the founding emperor of the Great Feng Dynasty. If Li Chang'an doesn't kneel... hiss!"

Nangong Qianrou's eyes darted around, but what she was thinking was, if Lord Wei doesn't kneel... Hiss!

On the fifth floor stood a man in a dragon robe, imposing and majestic, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

When the two reached the fifth floor, they first looked at the clay sculptures for a while, and then began to stare at each other.

"Lord Wei, this clay sculpture is quite imposing."

Wei Yuan said with a half-smile, "Of course, he's the most difficult to mold."

Li Chang'an continued, "I imagine Lord Wei must look extremely imposing standing there!"

Wei Yuan almost stumbled, giving Li Chang'an a meaningful look. What a madman who has no emperor, no father, and no regard for gods and Buddhas!

But then he looked down at his straight knees and decided not to say anything more.

My knees are too stiff, I can't kneel down!

"Brother Li is too kind. Let's continue walking inside."

The two walked around the emperor's statue and went deeper into this floor. The space inside was larger, and dappled sunlight streamed through the openwork windows, illuminating a wooden table in the room, on which a poem was carved.

"Having slaughtered the enemy chieftain's million soldiers, the blood still lingers on the sword at his waist. Returning with a golden mace in hand, none of the court officials dare to utter a word."

Li Chang'an said with a smile, "Lord Wei has quite the imposing manner. He is loyal to the country, his achievements are unparalleled, and he oversees all officials... He is arrogant and disdainful of everyone."

The poem is placed here to evoke empathy. With the bronze mirror here, if one can empathize with the poem, one will surely find something to express.

"Pen and ink are at your service."

As Wei Yuan had expected, Li Chang'an indeed sensed something. Wei Yuan couldn't help but be curious about what Li Chang'an would write.

Li Chang'an wrote with flowing, unhindered strokes, expressing his true views on imperial power.