NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 83 - A True Man Should Master the Art of Defeating Ten Thousand Foes!
“Division Head!”
Cui Hu hurriedly saluted as he saw Xia Chen enter.
Hearing the sound, Xu Xingchen set down his brush and rose to offer a salute as well.
Xia Chen nodded in acknowledgment. At that moment, Lu Shen stepped in; upon seeing Xia Chen, he quickly reported.
“Division Head, all those from the two halls suspected of forming factions for personal gain have been apprehended. What should be done next?”
“Interrogate them first, then gather evidence of their crimes. For those with severe offenses, execution is the only outcome; for those with lighter offenses, strip them of their Lamplighters’ status. As for Chen Song and Li Yue, classify them as Lu Li’s faction. Over the years they’ve served as hallmasters, their hands can’t possibly be clean—investigate thoroughly, then send the evidence to the Commander-in-Chief!”
Xia Chen sat down and spoke calmly, yet his words sent a chill through everyone present—especially Xu Xingchen and the others, who gained a deeper understanding of Xia Chen’s authority.
With just a few words, the fates of two Lamplighters’ hallmasters, over a dozen Thousand Households officers, and more than fifty Hundred Households officers were sealed. Many of them might have minor infractions, not warranting death, but such was the consequence of backing the wrong side in a political struggle.
“Understood!”
Lu Shen felt a profound chill within. Had Xia Chen not shielded him this time, he could well imagine the fate awaiting him—imprisonment in the Lamplighters’ Dungeon. For while Li Yue and Chen Song were not part of Lu Li’s faction, he was undeniably Lu Li’s adopted son, a prime target for the purge by all rights!
Thanks to a few sentences from this young man before him, he had escaped calamity.
With this thought, Lu Shen felt a surge of relief!
“Go attend to your duties!”
Xia Chen waved his hand; Lu Shen and Cui Hu exited his courtyard.
“How does it feel?”
Xia Chen turned his gaze to Xu Xingchen and asked.
“It’s manageable. These case files aren’t major incidents—they’re not particularly complex!”
Xu Xingchen replied modestly. With his prodigious intellect, these files posed no challenge; he could unravel their intricacies and spot logical flaws with ease.
“Good work. Let me introduce you—this is Yu Shaoqian, formerly of the Imperial Academy as well. From now on, you two will assist me with these documents together!”
Xia Chen nodded. Xu Xingchen had already noticed the figures behind Xia Chen, still clad in prison garb.
“Greetings, Brother Shaoqian! Two years ago, your bold and forthright words earned my deep admiration. Seeing you today, it seems you’ve turned misfortune into fortune, rescued by the Division Head!”
Xu Xingchen smiled and saluted.
“You know me?” Yu Shaoqian was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected to encounter an acquaintance after two years in prison.
“I too hail from the Imperial Academy. Two years ago, when you submitted your petition, I was studying there!”
Xu Xingchen replied with a smile.
“I never imagined I’d meet a fellow alumnus right after leaving prison—what a twist of fate. But why…”
“I rarely ventured out at the Imperial Academy and didn’t enjoy mingling with other students, so I remained obscure. It’s perfectly normal that you’ve never heard of me, Brother Shaoqian!”
Xu Xingchen seemed to anticipate Yu Shaoqian’s question and responded with a smile.
Yu Shaoqian glanced at Xu Xingchen. He’d never heard of this man before, yet Xu Xingchen knew him—clearly not someone truly detached from worldly affairs. Either he lacked talent, or he harbored grand ambitions.
Yu Shaoqian leaned toward the latter; otherwise, among the countless students of the Imperial Academy, why would this young Lord Xia have chosen him as a clerk?
Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen began conversing to get acquainted. Through their discussion, Yu Shaoqian grew increasingly certain that Xu Xingchen was no ordinary man—whatever topic he raised, Xu Xingchen could engage and offer his own insights.
Likewise, Xu Xingchen discerned through their talk that Yu Shaoqian possessed genuine ability. Their conversation ranged from Confucian classics to state policies, eventually delving into the grand affairs of the realm.
Both understood that they would be colleagues henceforth, potentially working together for a long time. Deep down, they were proud individuals who dreaded the prospect of a foolish coworker dragging them down.
As their chat progressed, each silently elevated their estimation of the other by several notches.
“This Yu Shaoqian (Brother Shaoqian) truly lives up to his reputation from two years ago, when he stirred the Imperial Academy. His fame is well-earned; these two years of imprisonment haven’t dulled his scholarship—they’ve given him a profound awakening in the dungeon. He’s transformed significantly, proving there are indeed talented individuals in the world. One must never underestimate the heroes of the realm.”
Xu Xingchen marveled inwardly, stealing a glance at Xia Chen. This Xia Chen’s knack for recognizing talent was indeed remarkable.
Yet as an Imperial Son-in-Law, recruiting so many capable individuals—could it be that his suspicions were correct, that Xia Chen harbored disloyal intentions?
Meanwhile, Xia Chen was eyeing Zhang Wenliao before him.
“Can you read?”
“No, I can’t!”
Zhang Wenliao shook his head. At twenty-one, he’d spent his life among gangs—where would he have had the chance to learn?
Xia Chen glanced at the two Imperial Academy scholars engrossed in lively conversation and ultimately decided to summon Yu Shaoqian.
“Shaoqian!”
“Division Head!” Yu Shaoqian promptly approached.
“Besides handling documents these next few days, set aside two hours each day to teach Zhang Wenliao to read and write. Aim to have him recognize all common characters within a month!”
Yu Shaoqian cast a surprised look at Zhang Wenliao, whose rough demeanor suggested a street thug. Teaching him to read and write— wasn’t this a bit like using a cannon to swat a mosquito? It seemed their Division Head placed considerable value on this ruffian.
“No problem!”
Though Yu Shaoqian harbored these thoughts, he nodded promptly.
“Division Head, didn’t you say I’d be your guard? I’m a coarse fellow—reading and writing, that’s…”
Zhang Wenliao squirmed at these words; wasn’t this just torture?
“A Ninth-Rank martial artist like you, serving as my guard? Are you protecting me, or am I protecting you?”
Xia Chen raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat amusing.
Zhang Wenliao’s face flushed red at this remark.
“Hahaha, my Third Brother’s not wrong! I don’t know what he sees in you—with your skills, you couldn’t even beat me!”
Xia Wen, standing nearby, chuckled and slapped Zhang Wenliao’s shoulder.
Zhang Wenliao instantly felt half his shoulder go numb, his heart seized with shock. This boy, who looked like a mere child—he’d assumed he was some privileged relation.
But that single slap felt like a mountain crashing down. Was this innate divine strength?
It was downright terrifying!
“Xia Wen, you’ve got a task too!”
Xia Chen turned to Xia Wen.
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll teach Zhang Wenliao and these two the Nine Yang Military Strategy. Teach them exactly as the clan elders instructed you!”
Xia Chen pointed at Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen, who both froze. This eleven-year-old boy as their teacher?
“Third Brother, explaining military strategy to them isn’t an issue—it’s just that military strategy’s a bit dull. I’d rather practice fists and conquer the world with my punches!”
Xia Wen waved his fists; though clever for his age, his temperament was still unsettled. He found scholarly pursuits tedious, believing that if fists could solve a problem, words were unnecessary.
“A true man should master the art of defeating ten thousand foes. No matter how strong your fists are, can you stand alone against an army of thousands?”
Xia Chen spoke in a deep voice, looking at Xia Wen and Zhang Wenliao with utmost seriousness.
“Within the next thirty years, while martial prowess matters, military strategy is the true path. If you can master military strategy to a divine level and lead a grand army, even the Elder Celestial Master of the Celestial Master’s Mansion or Abbot Long Shu of Tianlong Temple would have to steer clear of your might. That’s the real art of defeating ten thousand foes!”
Xia Wen and Zhang Wenliao listened, their hearts stirred with longing. Yu Shaoqian and Xu Xingchen, initially dismissive, grew solemn.
They couldn’t vouch for the truth of Xia Chen’s words, but they knew well the formidable reputations of the Elder Celestial Master and Abbot Long Shu!
Xu Xingchen, ever perceptive, caught a subtle detail—Xia Chen had said “within the next thirty years, martial prowess matters less than military strategy.” What did that mean? Why specify a timeframe? Could it be that after thirty years, the balance would shift?