Chapter 134: The Proud Yang Xizi

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Liu Bang shook his head. “I only come here once in a while. Wang Kaiyun is the headmaster of Hengshan Academy, and many NPCs come and go around Xiangqi Tower, so you can receive a few quests every day. However, meeting Wang Kaiyun is extremely difficult, and becoming his disciple is even harder. No one has succeeded so far.”

Liu Bang was actually Liu Shuo, one of the Four Young Masters of the Capital. Chen Hao’s exploits in northern Ji had greatly impressed him. When he heard that Chen Hao had sold the headquarters construction blueprint, he assumed Chen Hao had no intention of developing a base of his own, and thus began considering whether he could recruit him.

Seeing Chen Hao near Xiangqi Tower, Liu Shuo was puzzled. Since Chen Baxian had sold the headquarters construction blueprint, why had he come here to study the art of imperial rule? With confusion written across his face, he asked, “Brother Baxian, you came here to study the art of imperial rule. Could it be that you want to develop your own power again?”

Chen Hao answered frankly, “That’s right. If I get the opportunity, I’d like to establish a base of my own.”

Liu Shuo was completely bewildered. “If you intend to develop independently, why did you sell the first headquarters construction blueprint in the Huaxia region?”

Chen Hao spread his hands. “I don’t have enough money to invest. Even with the blueprint, I couldn’t establish a base, so I had no choice but to sell it first. But circumstances are unpredictable. Perhaps one day I’ll be lucky enough to obtain another headquarters blueprint. Then I’ll be able to establish a base of my own. That’s why I came to southern Hunan to try my luck and see whether I can learn the art of imperial rule.”

The main reason Chen Hao had not established a base was his lack of financial resources. Another reason was that, without an official position, establishing a base would be tantamount to gathering followers for rebellion, and the authorities might well send troops to suppress him. The game contained many features waiting for players to discover. At present, no one knew how the authorities would deal with an NPC who established a base, but Chen Hao, possessing memories of the future, naturally would not make such a mistake.

Liu Shuo was shrewd, yet remarkably broad-minded. He did not become angry because he could not recruit Chen Hao. Instead, he laughed heartily. “Well said. Circumstances are unpredictable. You may lack the resources to establish a base now, but perhaps you’ll make a name for yourself in the game someday. Once you’ve tried your luck and completed the quests, let’s find a place to drink and celebrate.”

“Agreed.”

Chen Hao had a favorable impression of this player called Liu Bang, so he readily accepted. When he reached the front of Xiangqi Tower, an NPC dressed like a student stopped him.

“Headmaster Wang is giving a lecture. Please wait here for now. I’ll report your arrival later. If the headmaster is willing to see you, I’ll escort you inside.”

Chen Hao smiled faintly. “Thank you, Senior Brother. I have a letter here from my teacher for Headmaster Wang. I would be grateful if you could deliver it.”

The NPC looked surprised. He accepted the letter from Chen Hao and said, “Wait here. I’ll take it to my teacher.”

After the NPC entered Xiangqi Tower, some of the players nearby grew gloomy, while others looked openly jealous. They had been waiting outside the tower for a long time. Only after completing numerous minor quests and currying favor with the students could they hope to meet Wang Kaiyun even once. Yet Chen Baxian actually possessed a letter addressed to Wang Kaiyun. No one had thought much of him before, but now many believed that he was the player most likely to learn the art of imperial rule.

Liu Shuo walked over to Chen Hao and said, “Haha! Brother Baxian always manages to surprise people. You arrived last, so I thought you had the least chance of success. I never expected you to have prepared in advance.”

Chen Hao smiled. “It was merely good fortune. My teacher in the game happens to be an old acquaintance of Headmaster Wang, so he wrote a letter of recommendation and asked me to deliver it here.”

The players nearby grew even more agitated. Their gazes toward Chen Hao became distinctly hostile. Every one of them had paid a heavy price to learn an A-rank special skill. If someone had made comparable sacrifices and gained an opportunity, they would not have been jealous. But Chen Baxian had clearly arrived last, and now he seemed to have the greatest chance of all.

Why him?

Chen Hao did not mind their jealousy. No one would dare cause trouble inside the academy. If he became the only player capable of using the art of imperial rule, once word spread, many expert players would learn that he possessed this A-rank special skill and might choose to join his faction.

Chen Hao also wanted to see how Liu Bang would react. He had been observing Liu Bang all along, and when he saw that Liu Bang remained calm throughout, his favorable impression of him increased by another ten percent. He was just about to continue speaking with him when the NPC who had gone inside to announce his arrival came out.

“Chen Baxian of Qilu, Headmaster Wang will see you.”

Wang Kaiyun had a thin, austere face, and his hair and beard were already white, but his spirit remained vigorous. After Chen Hao stepped forward and saluted, Wang Kaiyun smiled.

“I have not seen your teacher for more than ten years, though our letters have never ceased. This is the first time he has asked me for a favor.”

Chen Hao understood what Wang Kaiyun meant. Wang Kaiyun had once served as an adviser to Zeng Guofan. If Li Pisen had asked him for help back then, he might have achieved considerable success, but Li Pisen had never done so. Now, for Chen Hao’s sake, Li Pisen had taken the initiative to write and request assistance. Wang Kaiyun wanted Chen Hao to remember the affection behind that gesture.

Chen Hao solemnly clasped his hands. “I would never forget my teacher’s kindness in raising and guiding me.”

Wang Kaiyun nodded. “It is best that you remember it. I already know what you have done, and you clearly possess considerable ambition. Your teacher and I have been friends for many years, but I cannot agree to send one of my disciples to assist you.”

Chen Hao was deeply disappointed. If he could not recruit one of Wang Kaiyun’s disciples, he would probably suffer in his dealings with the bandit leaders of the northeast. Even Li Pisen’s personal letter had failed to persuade Wang Kaiyun, so Chen Hao himself had even less hope. He could only place his hopes on remaining under Wang Kaiyun’s tutelage long enough to learn the art of imperial rule.

Wang Kaiyun seemed to see through his thoughts. He smiled and said, “The reason I cannot agree is that what you intend to do is far too dangerous. I cannot make that decision on behalf of my disciples. Yang Xizi is the most suitable person to accompany you to the northeast. I will tell him about this matter. If he is willing to go, I will not stop him. If he is unwilling, neither will I force him.”

Damn. He is already so old, yet he still knows how to keep people in suspense.

Chen Hao silently grumbled, forgetting that he himself enjoyed doing the same. When Li Pisen asked Wang Kaiyun to send one of his disciples to help, Wang Kaiyun had naturally thought of Yang Du first. Unfortunately, Yang Du was talented and arrogant, and regarded it as his duty to set the world right. Persuading him would not be easy.

Wang Kaiyun instructed the student who had escorted Chen Hao inside, “Go and summon your Senior Brother Yang.”

After the student left, Wang Kaiyun asked Chen Hao to sit down and sighed.

“When it comes to the art of imperial rule, Xizi is no longer inferior to me. However, he is gifted and arrogant, always eager for quick success, and often fails to consider matters thoroughly. If he could work with someone who possessed profound wisdom and foresight, great ambitions, yet kept his edge concealed, the future of the two of them would be limitless.”

Many players who wished to learn the art of imperial rule had studied these words of Wang Kaiyun’s. Historical records stated that Wang Kaiyun had once compared Yang Du with Cai E, believing that Yang Du was too eager for quick success while Cai E was steady and composed. The two men complemented each other effectively.

In the game, both were top-tier NPCs. A player would be overjoyed to recruit even one of them; hoping to bring both under his command was sheer fantasy. In Chen Hao’s memories, Yang Du had been recruited by a player called Xuanyuan Sword. No player had ever managed to recruit the other top-tier NPC, Cai E, who, according to the historical storyline, would die of tuberculosis in 1916.

Rumor had it that Xuanyuan Sword possessed deep official connections. After the Revolution of 1911, he established a base relying on southern Hunan and northern Jing. In addition to recruiting Yang Du, he was also the only player to learn the art of imperial rule. Since an A-rank special skill was unique, he had published the entire quest procedure on the forums.

Chen Hao had always intended to come to southern Hunan and seek out Wang Kaiyun precisely because he knew certain details of the quests. Now that he had Li Pisen’s letter, much of the trouble had been spared.

Before long, Yang Du entered, dressed in a long gown. After saluting Wang Kaiyun, he glanced at Chen Hao and said, “Many outsiders have gathered outside Xiangqi Tower, and they have long been a nuisance to you, Teacher. Why have you received an outsider as an honored guest today?”

Wang Kaiyun laughed. “Xizi, stop talking nonsense. This is Chen Baxian, a disciple of Master Li Pisen of Qilu. He has come to deliver a letter from Master Li.”

“Oh? Since you are a disciple of Master Li of Qilu, you must possess some ability. May I ask which classic you have studied?”

Yang Xizi was indeed sharp and overbearing. If Chen Hao had not known that this was simply his nature, he would certainly have taken an instant dislike to him. Even though he hoped to recruit Yang Du this time, Chen Hao could not yield before him. An NPC like Yang Du would only be convinced by someone even more arrogant than himself.

Confronted with Yang Du’s provocation, Chen Hao merely smiled. “I have a passing familiarity with the Four Books.”

Yang Du showed contempt. “Master Li is one of the foremost scholars of the present age, yet as his disciple you have learned only the Four Books. What an impressive accomplishment.”

Chen Hao smiled calmly. “In the Three Kingdoms, Master Zhuge once said that among Confucians there are those who are gentlemen and those who are petty men. The gentlemanly scholar cultivates himself and governs the realm, while the petty scholar clings to the classics and talks grandly without substance. Now that the Western powers regard our Huaxia as a piece of fat for the taking, and the nation faces calamity, I wish to join the military and serve the imperial court. My learning is indeed inferior to yours, Brother Yang.”

“Hahahaha!”

Yang Du did not grow angry at Chen Hao’s mockery. Instead, he burst into laughter. After a cold snort, he said, “Master Zhuge certainly spoke well. But what great deed have you accomplished, Brother Chen? You constantly claim that you wish to serve the imperial court, yet you cannot even study the classics properly. Are you not precisely the sort who talks grandly without substance?”

Chen Hao answered proudly, “It is true that I have accomplished nothing remarkable. However, some time ago I joined Commander Nie’s forces in Zhili. Leading twelve cavalrymen, I rode across northern Ji and slaughtered more than eleven hundred Boxer rebels. May I ask what great deed you have accomplished, Brother Yang?”

Yang Du’s face instantly flushed crimson. In the game, Chen Hao was only seventeen years old, and Yang Du had assumed that someone his age could not possibly have achieved anything significant. That was why he had mocked him. But after hearing that Chen Hao had led twelve cavalrymen in killing more than a thousand enemies, Yang Du, who possessed no comparable feat of his own, could not refute him no matter how eloquent he was.

At a loss for words, he said coldly, “Twelve cavalrymen killed more than a thousand enemies? Do you think you are some peerless general? Who would believe such a ridiculous lie?”

“That is enough. Stop arguing.”

Wang Kaiyun raised the letter in his hand. “Xizi, Master Li made it clear in his letter. Though Baxian is young, he is a rare military genius. Everything he has just said is true. He has also come to southern Hunan with a plan that requires your assistance.”

Yang Du might have been arrogant, but he was straightforward. Upon hearing that Chen Hao had truly led twelve cavalrymen in eliminating more than a thousand enemies, he clasped his hands and said, “I spoke disrespectfully just now. I hope Brother Chen will forgive me.”

To be continued.

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