After consulting with his fellow scholars, Scholar Hu went to his family ancestral hall to see Grandmaster Hu.
At this ti, Grandmaster Hu was praying for blessings from his ancestors in the ancestral hall. Hearing the commotion, he slowly rose to his feet.
Scholar Hu hurriedly stepped forward to support Grandmaster Hu and briefly recounted the situation to him.
Grandmaster Hu nodded: "At critical monts, one must dare to make sacrifices; this is the rationale for ensuring the family’s long-term prosperity. How are the clan’s younger branches that I asked you to arrange doing in the Recovery Society now?"
"They quite like the teachings of the Recovery Society and have integrated well. Heeding your advice, I have rely been supporting them financially without any other interference."
Grandmaster Hu acknowledged: "One must look to the long-term implications when doing things. What seed like a superfluous move at the beginning, now appears to be a stroke of genius."
Scholar Hu was puzzled: "They are not core mbers of the Recovery Society; how much influence could they have?"
Grandmaster Hu replied: "We don’t need them to have great influence over the Recovery Society, as long as they can develop steadfastly within it. Besides, next, we must grant them a rit."
Scholar Hu asked, "rit?"
Grandmaster Hu explained: "I observe that Xu Qing, despite his fierce actions, strives for completeness in everything he does. Since he intends to reasure the land, the original clerks of the Governnt Office can no longer be used. His first target will be you, and next will surely be those clerks. Otherwise, the reasuring of lands in Jiangning Prefecture cannot be carried out at all."
Scholar Hu was startled: "But you had previously instructed to secretly incite those clerks to facilitate future resistance against Xu Gongming."
Grandmaster Hu stroked his beard: "If Zhang Tai’a hadn’t announced support for Xu Gongming, it would be perfect to use those people to trouble him. With that, Xu Gongming’s influence in the Governnt Office would significantly dwindle, and we would not need to fear him. Now, with Zhang Tai’a expressing his position, Xu Gongming has the backing of central authority in Jiangning Prefecture. Even if you joined forces, it would only be like throwing eggs against rocks. Naturally, those clerks will be eliminated by Xu Gongming, making room for the Recovery Society mbers who have no hope in the Imperial Examination."
For ordinary scholars without prospects in the Imperial Examination, their opportunities are limited.
And the Recovery Society, which emphasizes practical knowledge and not origin, provides at least a psychological refuge for the lower-class scholars.
With Xu Qing’s prestige, it is entirely feasible for these impoverished scholars to take over the positions of clerks in the Governnt Office.
Moreover, Governnt Office work is straightforward, and as long as the scholars study earnestly, they are generally unlikely to make mistakes.
Furthermore, if one wishes to continue with the Imperial Examination, one could simply choose not to register and take a temporary assignnt in the Governnt Office instead.
Scholar Hu said regretfully, "If it weren’t for the Recovery Society, even if Xu Gongming reasured the lands in Jiangning Prefecture, we would still have ways to prevent him from proceeding."
He couldn’t help but admire Grandmaster Hu’s keen insight, noticing the exceptional nature of the Recovery Society and planning ahead.
Grandmaster Hu gave Scholar Hu a glance and shook his head: "The affairs of the world are not about contesting for temporary victories or conflicts of pride. The foundation of our scholars in worldly society does not lie in how much land, population, or grain we obtain; these are ultimately of little significance."
Scholar Hu was curious: "If not for these, then what do we compete for?"
Grandmaster Hu replied: "See those vines clinging to the big tree, they grow well without their own efforts. What we are like is the vine, and what we need to do is to attach ourselves to the big tree. Whether it’s Xu Qing, the Magistrate, or even the lords in the court, let alone Your Majesty, they are not just renowned; they are in fact the big tree."
As he said this, his voice deepened: "What we truly fear is thinking oneself to be the big tree when we’re actually the vine. Do you understand?"
Scholar Hu’s expression was shocked, "I understand now, Father."
Grandmaster Hu replied: "You are young; it is reasonable not to understand. Fortunately, this ti you’ve learned to assess the situation rightly, which will ultimately not bring disaster to the family."
Scholar Hu asked: "Why didn’t you remind earlier? What if I had made a mistake?"
Grandmaster Hu laughed heartily.
A chill ran down Scholar Hu’s back.
He bowed to Grandmaster Hu, knowing from today onwards, he was truly considered the Family Head by Grandmaster Hu.
Scholar Hu was filled with emotion; indeed, the old man’s decades of bureaucratic experience were not in vain.
Yet, he felt dejected, knowing that he could never be that great tree.
Why could Xu Gongming?
Thinking of Xu Qing’s actions, fierce and vigorous, and now it seed, each step was thodical—could this man truly possess miraculous talent?
Upon deeper thought, it all ca down to Xu Gongming’s extraordinary personal abilities, which allowed him to leverage the situation.
Just like in worldly society, the Tai Chi’s notion of ’leveraging a small force to move a heavy weight’ requires one’s own strength to bear that heavy weight.
If it were him following Xu Qing’s steps, he would surely be shattered to pieces.
Because he lacked the robust talents and martial arts that Xu Qing possessed.
However, if he now cooperated with Xu Gongming in re-surveying the lands and set an example for the world, the well-heeled families of South Zhili would surely be uncomfortably envious.
With this thought, Scholar Hu actually felt a touch of pleasure from the idea of revenge upon being abandoned by them.
Scholar Hu then bid Grandmaster Hu farewell; he was ready to go to Yingtian Prefecture to et Xu Gongming.
Grandmaster Hu watched him leave, looking leisurely to the Sky Do, murmuring softly to himself: "Zhang Tai’a, you too are an early bloor. Encountering such a person, is your heart more filled with joy or... with fear?"
As he spoke, he started to laugh.
To witness this commotion, he would strive to live a few more years.
...
...
In Yingtian Prefecture, at the Xu Mansion.
Xu Qing was in his private courtyard, transporting Qi-Blood along the pathways dictated by the Innate Finger Cultivation Technique. Soon, Innate Qi gathered, refreshing his mouth and throat.
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