Chapter 104: An Unexpected Encounter

If we were to compare the ranks of the academicians of the Jixian Hall, they would certainly not match the status of the Governor of Henan, Wei Ren Shi. Many Jixian academicians held other official posts, yet no one truly knew what Zhang, the scholar, officially did.

But Wei Ren Shi never intended to have Zhang intervene to block the matter with the prefecture.

Today, Wei Ren Shi came to seek Zhang’s help with a specific purpose: to request from the Metropolitan Water Conservancy Bureau a professional who understood how to reinforce and repair river embankments, a specialist in hydraulic engineering.

Judging from Zhang’s reaction upon hearing this, it was clear he was both upset and helpless. This gave insight into the current state of the Tang bureaucracy.

Shaking his head and setting aside those concerns, Wei Ren Shi glanced toward the entrance.

Soon, a figure appeared there.

As Liu Yuxi entered the courtyard, he first saw Wei Ren Shi, slightly startled, then his face broke into a joyous smile, and he quickly strode forward.

“Registrar Liu, I never expected to meet you here today. Truly, this is fate between us,” Wei Ren Shi greeted him warmly.

Unexpectedly, Liu Yuxi did not reply but instead took a quick step forward, grasped Wei Ren Shi’s hands with enthusiasm, and looked at him with deep emotion.

“This is Mengde…” Zhang the scholar looked at Liu Yuxi in surprise.

Liu Yuxi released Wei Ren Shi’s hands and said to Zhang, “Mengde pays respects to Scholar Zhang.”

“Come, sit down. Today there is wine, so join me for a few drinks,” Zhang invited Liu Yuxi. “Mengde, how did you become so close with this young man?”

Liu Yuxi sat down and smiled, “Scholar Zhang, you may not know, but there are few people I admire in this life; young lord Wei is certainly one of them!”

“Oh?” Zhang’s curiosity deepened, “And why is that?”

“Because Lord Wei has repeatedly proposed strategies that benefit the nation and the people. Since I have been governing Weinan and implementing these plans, I have grown ever more convinced of their merit,” Liu Yuxi explained. “I have already tested some, and by the end of the year, more will be verified. If things proceed swiftly, results may appear as early as next year.”

“What are these strategies that benefit the nation and the people?” Zhang inquired eagerly. “Please, Mengde, tell us in detail!”

“I have been administering Weinan for some time now, and I increasingly believe these methods are effective. Should they be fully adopted, our great Tang will gain countless fertile fields!” Liu Yuxi said to Zhang. “After witnessing Lord Wei’s improved plow designs, I personally traveled from Weinan to Fuchang to meet him. He taught me techniques for building dams to silt up land, and methods to reclaim barren lands. The first not only reduces flood disasters and regulates droughts but also accumulates river sediment, transforming it into fertile soil. The latter can restore once barren lands into arable fields. Upon returning to Weinan, I began implementing these two projects, and they have already shown initial success. This transfer of mine is entirely thanks to these achievements.”

“Damming and silt accumulation?” Zhang’s interest was piqued. “What exactly is this method? And how does the land reclamation work? There are countless uncultivable barren lands in the Tang. If these methods truly work, wouldn’t it add countless fertile fields to the empire?”

“Exactly!” Liu Yuxi poured wine for the two before him and carefully explained the damming and siltation technique, as well as the methods for improving barren land.

After listening, Zhang first slapped the stone table with excitement and exclaimed, “Excellent!”

Then, his expression shifted to one of incredulity as he stared at Wei Ren Shi in astonishment. “All these ideas were yours? You…”

Zhang looked at Wei Ren Shi as if he no longer recognized him.

After a long pause, he sighed, “To turn wasteland into farmland—such genius at this age, yet you remain a mere merchant in Luoyang, oppressed by the prefectural government?”

Zhang regarded Wei Ren Shi with an almost uncanny stare. After a moment, he asked, “Who exactly are you?”

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the doorway.

“He’s a little fraud! Scholar Zhang, please do not be fooled!”

All three men in the pavilion were taken aback and simultaneously turned their heads.

At the entrance stood Fang Xuezheng from Fuchang County School, along with Cui Huiyuan and a group of students from the same school.

The speaker was Cui Huiyuan.

“Respectfully informing Scholar Zhang, he was originally a student from Fuchang County School who submitted a poem written by someone else at the county’s poetry gathering,” Cui Huiyuan stepped forward and bowed to Zhang, “Upon hearing that we were to visit the Jixian Hall Academy, he felt unqualified and secretly followed us here, pretending to be part of our group. After we entered, he even sneaked in behind us.”

Cui Huiyuan continued, “Earlier, when Scholar Wang examined him, he denied coming with us and claimed to be here looking for you. It seems he is lying again! I dare to remind Scholar Zhang not to be deceived by him!”

“Yes, he just said he was looking for Scholar Zhang. Since you don’t recognize him, it proves he’s lying!” others chimed in.

Zhang was stunned, and so was Liu Yuxi.

Wei Ren Shi looked utterly bewildered.

“Submitting a poem written by someone else at the county’s poetry gathering?” Zhang stared at him in disbelief, then glanced at Wei Ren Shi.

“That’s right. Some days ago, the Fuchang County School held a poetry gathering open to all scholars, regardless of school affiliation,” Cui Huiyuan explained. “The poem he submitted was obviously not his own work. Yet he stubbornly refused to admit it. Afterwards, unwilling to continue in the official poetry events, he left early.”

Zhang, intrigued, asked again, “Oh? You could tell it wasn’t his own work just by hearing it? Please recite it.”

Just as the person was about to speak, Fang Xuezheng interrupted sternly, “Lord Wei is gifted. He was tested on the spot recently and composed two poems to meet the requirements of the Jinshi scholar Zhang. This proves his innocence. If your poems are inferior, should your conduct also be? Why cause such a fuss here?”

Though these words seemed to defend Wei Ren Shi, he felt no gratitude. Why hadn’t they spoken up sooner? They clearly doubted him before, only now that it reached the scholar’s ears and they saw his acquaintance with Zhang did they speak out.

Unfortunately, this group of hot-blooded bookworms lacked the discernment to see the true nature of his relationship with Zhang.

Thinking this, Wei Ren Shi glanced at Miao Yuanqi, who was quietly retreating in the background. He realized Fang Xuezheng had noticed and deliberately cut off the students’ words, subtly signaling them. This cunning fellow recognized the situation but instead of standing with his classmates, he quietly distanced himself, showing no loyalty.

Fang Xuezheng then stepped forward and bowed: “I, the humble scholar Fang Yicheng, greet Scholar Zhang. Today, with Scholar Wang’s permission, I brought several students from Fuchang County School to broaden their horizons, but we unexpectedly caused this embarrassment. These students are young and impetuous; their rashness offended Scholar Zhang. Please forgive them.”

Cui Huiyuan caught Fang’s hint and stopped speaking. But some had not caught on, and one student added, “Please forgive us, Scholar Zhang! But he said he came looking for you, and since you don’t recognize him, it must mean he’s truly a fraud. Please don’t be deceived!”

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