Cai Zhaoji's words began to flow more freely, becoming more frequent and dense.
It seemed...
She had already figured out a way to deal with the negative impact of the Yuedan Evaluation and clean up the mess for YuDi.
"YuDi, elder sister has thought of a way."
"This Yuedan Evaluation has gathered scholars from all over the world, yet it has led to conflict and widespread rumors... all of which are unfavorable to my elder brother, and unfavorable to YuDi!"
"If we are to restore the prestige of the Yuedan Evaluation and reunite the hearts of scholars across the land, then we must invite that person out of seclusion in advance. I had originally arranged for him to come to Xudu City half a year from now to comment on YuDi at the Yuedan Evaluation. Now... it seems this timing must be brought forward a bit."
To comment on Lu Yu?
That person? Who was it?
Lu Yu lightly tapped his forehead...
Speaking of commentary, the Han Dynasty greatly favored this practice. For example, Sima Yi at this age had already received the appraisal of Cui Yan, a renowned scholar from Qinghe, who was called "Da Shuaiguo."
Whenever people mentioned Sima Yi, they would say, "This man is the second son of Sima Fang, the Governor of Jingzhao. It is said that he received the appraisal of Cui Yan, a renowned scholar from Qinghe!"
Just this one sentence was enough to make Sima Yi famous in Xudu!
Indeed, the Yuedan Evaluation this time had its prestige damaged due to the attack on the Fengping Terrace, and the authority of Zhaoji-jie's commentary was also greatly affected.
But in fact...
As long as a more formidable renowned scholar reappeared to comment on people at the Xudu Yuedan Evaluation, then... scholars from all over the world would flock to it.
However...
It sounded simple, but it was difficult to execute.
In this era, there were not many people who were more qualified to comment on individuals than Cai Yan, Cai Zhaoji, the leader of the northern scholars and a celebrated talent.
"Zhaoji-jie said? Could it be..." Lu Yu asked back, deliberately pausing when mentioning this person's name, appearing exceptionally solemn.
That's right!
Even Lu Yu had to show great respect to this fellow.
"Zheng Xuan?"
Lu Yu immediately uttered his name...
As expected, Cai Zhaoji gracefully nodded. It was him – Zheng Xuan, the "Spirit of the Classics"!
Huo... As expected.
Lu Yu gasped, muttering inwardly that Zhaoji-jie's influence was truly immense.
One should know that this Zheng Xuan was extraordinary. He, along with Lu Zhi, was a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Ma Rong.
Lu Zhi was already considered a representative figure of the Confucian school, but in terms of his status in the hearts of scholars, he was nothing compared to Zheng Xuan!
The so-called ancient text classics were mostly Confucian academic scriptures!
This legendary master of classical studies, known as the "Spirit of the Classics," was on a level that not only Zhaoji-jie but even Cai Yong could not hope to match!
Before Lu Yu could speak further...
Cai Zhaoji's words continued, solemnly introducing this "Spirit of the Classics" Zheng Xuan.
"Back when Qin unified the six states and burned books and buried scholars, the Six Classics and the Hundred Schools of Thought were all destroyed. Later generations discovered some hidden scriptures in cliffs and walls."
"For example, during the reign of Emperor Jing, King Liu Yu of Lu Gong discovered ancient text commentaries in the old house of Confucius, obtaining dozens of chapters including the 'Shang Shu,' 'Li Ji,' 'Lun Yu,' and 'Xiao Jing.'"
"Liu De, the King of Hejian Xian, was studious and fond of antiquity. He obtained many old books from the pre-Qin period from the common people, including the 'Zhou Guan,' 'Shang Shu,' 'Li,' 'Li Ji,' and 'Meng Zi.'"
"During the reign of Emperor Xuan, a woman from Henei found one chapter each of the 'Yi,' 'Li,' and 'Shang Shu' in an old house, all in ancient text."
At this point, Cai Zhaoji paused.
"However, these ancient texts and documents were extremely obscure and difficult to understand. Even if discovered, very few people could grasp their meaning. Therefore... Zheng Xuan, under the guidance of his master Ma Rong, annotated many scriptures, making the abstruse classical studies easy to understand, thus becoming a master-level textbook highly regarded by Confucian disciples."
"These ancient text classics, annotated by the Spirit of the Classics Zheng Xuan, serve as textbooks for scholars, making them relatively easy to learn. It is for this reason that Zheng Xuan holds an extremely special position in the hearts of scholars and Confucian students. The late Marquis of Feiting, Cao Teng, once said that all students at the Imperial Academy are people who understand classical studies! Therefore, Zheng Xuan is the teacher of every scholar! If he were to take action, the prestige of the Xudu Yuedan Evaluation would not only remain intact but would instead shine brightly!"
Her words flowed gracefully. While Cai Zhaoji's statements might have sounded somewhat exaggerated, almost deifying Zheng Xuan.
However, in reality, it was not exaggerated at all!
Lu Yu knew that this Spirit of the Classics was formidable. If he were to preside over the Yuedan Evaluation, the effect would be far beyond a gathering of northern scholars!
It was possible that countless scholars and renowned figures from all four seas and the entire land would gather in Xudu City.
Such a grand event... might be unprecedented and unrepeatable?
Moreover... this was also a great opportunity to win over the hearts of the people and the scholars!
With the decisive battle between Cao and Yuan imminent, this would be very beneficial for the public opinion orientation of the entire country!
Hoo...
Lu Yu took a deep breath and asked curiously, "Zhaoji-jie, can we invite this Spirit of the Classics?"
In Lu Yu's memory, Zheng Xuan had remained in seclusion and refused official appointments from the Yellow Turban Rebellion onwards.
In the second year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao, as the Great General, recommended Zheng Xuan as a talented scholar and requested him to be the Zhong Lang Jiang, but Zheng Xuan remained unmoved and politely declined.
In the third year of Jian'an, Emperor Liu Xie summoned Zheng Xuan to be the Da Si Nong, ranking among the Nine Ministers, and provided him with a carriage for travel. Officials of the prefectures and counties along the way would escort him. However, Zheng Xuan accepted the appointment and used an excuse to return to his hometown!
In memory...
It was during the fifth year of Jian'an, during the Battle of Guandu, that Yuan Shao, to bolster his prestige and win the hearts of scholars and the reputation of the world, forced Zheng Xuan to accompany his army. Unexpectedly, in June of the same year, Zheng Xuan died in the army, causing Yuan Shao's plan to backfire, failing to win the hearts of the people and instead losing the hearts of scholars across the land!
Thinking this way, to invite this Spirit of the Classics? How much influence would that require?
Zhaoji-jie's weight might not be enough anymore?
"Elder sister also... doesn't know." As expected, Cai Zhaoji hesitated. "We had originally agreed for him to come in half a year, but now we have to move it forward. I can only send a letter to ask for Elder Zheng's opinion."
It was very clear that Cai Zhaoji's words lacked confidence.
Lu Yu's eyes spun...
"I have a way..." He immediately smiled slightly... "This way, Zhaoji-jie, have someone send a letter to the 'Spirit of the Classics,' and perhaps include that book I gave to Zhaoji-jie..."
The book? Cai Zhaoji paused slightly, then blurted out, "The Interpretation of the Analects!"
"Exactly..." Lu Yu's lips curled into a slight smile, and he said, "Seeing this Interpretation of the Analects, I don't believe our 'Spirit of the Classics' wouldn't want to come to Xudu City to discuss Confucian classics with me!"
Speaking of which, the full title of the Interpretation of the Analects that Lu Yu gave to Zhaoji-jie was "Yu Dan's Interpretation of the Analects," which was a classic from the program "Lecture Hall of a Hundred Schools."
In the "Lecture Hall of a Hundred Schools," Lu Yu was most impressed by "Yu Dan's Interpretation of the Analects" and "Yi Zhongtian's Interpretation of the Three Kingdoms"!
Zheng Xuan, a master of classical studies?
He dedicated his life to interpreting Confucian classics.
Let him discuss the Analects with Yu Dan, and debate on the high ground!
As for whether this is like luring the snake out of its hole, or entrapment, it doesn't matter!
Thinking of this, Lu Yu smiled slightly, feeling that this matter was feasible and could be done!
"This..."
Cai Zhaoji, however, murmured. She had read the "Interpretation of the Analects" written by Yu Di.
At the Yuedan Evaluation, she used it to refute He Yan's "Collected Interpretations of the Analects." If... she were to present this "Interpretation" to Zheng Xuan, perhaps... due to its profound arguments, Zheng Xuan might indeed come to Xudu City to debate with Yu Di.
Thinking of this, Cai Zhaoji gave a faint smile. In fact, she had a small secret wish...
That was to ask the "Spirit of the Classics" Zheng Xuan to bestow a "courtesy name" upon Yu Di.
This was ten times more important than the Yuedan Evaluation!
"Since that's the case... then..."
Cai Zhaoji was about to speak when at this moment...
"Young Master Lu, there is an urgent dispatch."
A Long Xiao Cavalryman hurried over. Upon seeing Lu Yu, he cupped his hands in salute and quickly took out an urgent dispatch from his embrace, adding, "It is a carrier pigeon from Youzhou. It seems to be... General Qin's personal letter!"
General Qin? Qin Yilu, the cuckold?
Lu Yu's eyes spun...
If he hadn't written, Lu Yu would have almost forgotten about this guy.
One should know that this fellow was not a famous general in history. Lu Yu had not expected much from him. If it weren't for Yang Xiu "going through the back door" and recommending this disciple and former subordinate of the Hongnong Yang clan to him!
This cuckold who couldn't even protect his wife, Lu Yu wouldn't even give him a second glance!
Of course, by chance... sending him to Youzhou was based on theoretical analysis, to try his luck!
Let alone others, even Lu Yu did not hold much hope.
Now... he sent a letter back?
And from Youzhou, this...
Lu Yu vaguely felt that this was a major event, and his expression immediately became much more serious.
Seeing Yu Di's expression.
Cai Zhaoji gently patted his shoulder.
"Yu Di should go attend to important matters. As for Zheng Xuan and the matter of restarting the Yuedan Evaluation, elder sister will handle it!"
Speaking of this, Cai Zhaoji's eyes involuntarily glanced at the thorny branches on the ground.
"You are not allowed to do this again in the future!"
"If you dare to hurt yourself again, then elder sister will learn from you and also carry thorns to ask for forgiveness. I will ask forgiveness from the gods, for teaching a younger brother who does not cherish himself!"
Uh...
As Cai Zhaoji's words blurted out, Lu Yu felt... although it was very warm, why did it carry a hint of heartache?
He didn't want to hurt himself at all!
With his delicate skin, how much blood would be lost from a single prick? How many blood packs would he need to consume to replenish it? Only a fool would carry thorns to ask for forgiveness!
As for Zhaoji-jie!
That was even less possible!
Her skin was not just her own, but also her brother's... cough cough...
Lu Yu couldn't think further; if he thought more, it would be too much.
Cough cough...
In short, Lu Yu felt that he and Zhaoji-jie would surely have a "friendship like Guan and Bao" in the future...
Also, picking flowers and admiring jade!
"Zhaoji-jie, don't worry, little brother will never do it again."
Having received Lu Yu's firm reply, Cai Zhaoji let out a sigh and looked at Yu Di deeply once more before slowly leaving.
She felt that her life was owed to Yu Di.
After Cai Zhaoji had walked far away, Lu Yu took the letter from the Long Xiao Cavalryman and murmured.
"Call Cheng Sima and Imperial Uncle Liu to the study!"
...
...
Outside Lingling Commandery, Shen Tingling!
This Shen Tingling also had a special name – Shen Xianling.
This name expressed the hopes and wishes of the people of Wu for this mountain ridge. On Shen Xianling, there was also a temple, a temple of Emperor Guangwu of Han!
Today, Shen Tingling was very famous!
However...
Its fame was not due to the temple of Emperor Guangwu of Han or the wish for "immortals," but rather for two events in Jiangdong.
The first was that Taishi Ci's fierce battle with the Little Hegemon Sun Ce took place at the foot of this ridge!
The second was that the Lu family, one of the four great families of Jiangdong, sold off their assets and spent a fortune to purchase this "Shen Tingling." This was done under the witness of the four great families, with clear documentation, honestly and without deception!
This matter sounded very absurd...
After all, apart from the legend of "immortals," Shen Xianling was just a barren mountain. How could it compare to real gold and silver?
Of course...
Due to the purchase of this Shen Tingling, the Lu family, one of the four great families of Jiangdong, became a laughingstock of all of Jiangdong!
Lu Xun and Lu Ji were under great pressure!
"Boyan, what does this say?"
At this moment, Lu Xun and Lu Ji, leading a small number of Lu family clansmen, ascended the ridge and looked at a stone tablet. Lu Ji asked.
The process of climbing the mountain was arduous, but what was more arduous was that the Lu family now had nothing in Jiangdong except "Shen Tingling," "Qionglong Mountain," and "Yan Ou Ridge." Even if they returned to Wujun, they had nowhere to go.
The Lu family had been completely removed from the four great families of Wujun!
Hoo...
Lu Xun let out a long sigh. He was tired, and the clansmen behind him were also tired. They wanted to cry, to cry out loud, and then burst into tears!
But after their tears had dried up, they realized it was meaningless!
Because they still had to travel, so they wiped their tears and continued to climb the mountain, through dust and wind, working from dawn till dusk!
Especially at night, enduring the night wind, they were so cold they couldn't bear it, but they still tried their best to adapt and get used to it!
These clansmen were the most loyal clansmen...
They always believed in Lu Xun as their clan leader.
Other clansmen who harbored dissent had long since scattered like birds and beasts.
As for Lu Xun, while others believed in him as a clansman, he believed in the "Jiangdong Mineral Distribution Map" drawn by his elder brother Lu Yu. Shen Tingling clearly marked that there was a gold mine here!
Hoo...
Lu Xun sighed deeply and looked up at the stone tablet.
"It's nothing, just some inscription. It records old affairs about Shen Tingling! There are events from the reign of Emperor Guangwu, and even older events!"
Lu Ji sighed, "I can understand these, but... I am curious, if this mountain was once so famous, then even if there was a gold mine, it might have already been dug up. How could it still be buried here, as my elder brother said!"
Lu Xun did not answer this question... He just gazed at the path up the mountain.
Shen Tingling originally had no path. As more people walked, a path formed. And the location marked by Lu Yu was vague. How easy would it be to find the mineral veins?
In fact...
They had already been on Shen Tingling for half a month. The mountain was full of rocks, and the fog was heavy during the day. Searching aimlessly like this was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The clansmen of the Lu family were doing their best. No one dared to be idle. Since they had chosen to believe their clan leader, and since they had already sold off their assets, there was no reason to give up!
They formed groups of three or five and tried to dig on each mountain.
For half a month, everyone was exhausted, and the Lu family's food was almost gone!
Finally...
Someone broke out.
Just as Lu Ji finished speaking.
A clansman roared, "There is no gold mine on this mountain at all, clan leader, you... you are lying! Gong Ji is right, if there were, why... why didn't anyone notice it before? We... we have been here for half a month, where is any gold mine? On the contrary, our food is running out. If we continue like this... we will die, we... we... Please, Clan Leader Lu, let us go back, let us go back!"
One stone caused a thousand waves...
The reason why it was difficult to lead a team was that one person's panic could quickly spread to more people.
Suddenly, everyone became agitated, and each of them wanted to go home.
Even Lu Ji was on the verge of giving up...
But only Lu Xun's face was grim. He said with great certainty.
"We cannot go back!"
"Why? Why can't we go back? There is... there is nothing here!"
The clansman roared indignantly!
Lu Xun's eyes narrowed, and he drew the sword at his waist. "Because we no longer have a home!"
In fact, he wanted to say, because... his elder brother Lu Yu said that if he said there was a gold mine here, then... then there must be a gold mine!
The two words "Lu Yu" meant too much in Lu Xun's heart... He was the only hope for the Lu family's rise, and the last straw that Lu Xun could grasp at this moment!
"From now on, anyone who dares to mention retreating will be executed without mercy by me in the capacity of the Lu family's clan leader!"
At this, those who were originally agitated clansmen lowered their heads and remained silent!
The clansman who had been roaring lost the last trace of color from his face. He covered his face, crying and shouting, "There is no gold mine here. For a whole half a month, there has been nothing but stones! Stones everywhere! These worthless stones!"
"Then keep searching!" Lu Xun's tone became even more stern. "Even if we have to split the entire mountain in half, we will find the gold mine."
His words were incredibly serious and meticulous!
In his opinion, not only was there a gold mine in this mountain, but also the hope of the Lu family!
The entire Jiangdong, whether it was Yan Baihu's troops, Liu Yao's troops, or Xu Gong's, Wang Lang's!
These remaining forces who were sworn enemies of the Sun family... these tens of thousands of troops hidden in the forests and mountain strongholds...
Lu Xun had contacted them and wanted to incorporate them into the Lu family according to Lu Yu's plan.
But...
For these leaderless legions, they only cared about two things.
First... the people they served must avenge their former lords, be enemies of the Sun family, and annihilate the Sun family as a price!
Second, it was money and food!
That's how it was in troubled times. No matter how grand your promises were, if you had no money and no food, no one would be loyal!
It could be said...
The current Lu Xun could not produce these funds and food.
And...
These three mountains, bought with the sale of assets, were his last hope!
"If there are conditions, dig out the gold mine. If there are no conditions, create conditions and dig out the gold mine!"
Hoo...
Thinking of this, Lu Xun let out a long sigh again. Who knew the pressure on him!
"Rest here... we will continue climbing the mountain in half an hour!"
Lu Xun left a sentence and walked towards a nearby lake. He was thirsty... walking in the mountains consumed a large amount of water!
He needed to replenish his water supply promptly...
Therefore, wherever he went... the first thing he did was to find a water source.
And at this moment, Lu Xun saw a lake before him. Who knew how this lake formed in such high mountains, and even more incredibly, the water was flowing!
Bending down...
Lu Xun cupped his hands and scooped up water to wash his face.
He knew... the days ahead would be harder and harder!
Fear and unease had already appeared in the hearts of the clansmen, so... they were bound to continue to spread!
And he had to suppress all doubts and anger!
As the clan leader of the Lu family, as the executor of his elder brother Lu Yu's plan, he... he had to maintain twelve-point spirits!
But...
Just as he bent down.
Beneath the lakebed, at knee height, mixed in the silt, there seemed to be something!
It looked golden like sand, but it wasn't as fine as sand!
It was as big as a grain of rice...
Even...
When he cupped the silt, he could feel a slight stinging sensation in his hand!
This is...
Lu Xun's eyes widened. He seemed to see... he saw... gold!
...
...