Chapter 1269: Superintendent of the Imperial Academy

"If possible, help me persuade Ximen."

Tang Yi froze. "What about Mr. Ximen?"

Xuan Wei shook her head. "Nothing has happened to him. I only hope you can persuade him to leave me."

Tang Yi was astonished. "At a time like this, how could Mr. Ximen leave Your Majesty? If even he leaves, wouldn't Your Majesty be in even greater danger?"

Xuan Wei said, "If he follows me to the Qi capital, I'm afraid he may be in danger."

Tang Yi understood and agreed.

After Ximen Qingkong returned, Tang Yi explained that Shangqing Sect was leaving. Ximen Qingkong expressed understanding. He knew Tang Yi was different from him: she could not think only of herself, but had to consider her sect. Many things were beyond her control, and she could not simply act according to her feelings.

Ximen Qingkong had only one sentence for her. "Take care on the road."

Tang Yi hesitated before finally asking, "Does Sir think Her Majesty will go with you?"

Ximen Qingkong was silent for a while. "What she wants most right now is to restore her state."

Tang Yi understood. He knew perfectly well that Xuan Wei, as she was now, would not leave with him. "If that's the case, has Sir never considered leaving on your own?"

Ximen Qingkong said, "No. I won't leave her."

Tang Yi said, "The greater situation is already lost. Restoring the state will be extraordinarily difficult. If Sir leaves, Her Majesty might be able to act without restraint. With Sir beside her, there may be things she finds difficult to do. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ximen Qingkong fell briefly silent, but his answer remained the same. "I won't leave her. I'm not much use. I can't help her with anything. The only thing I can do is support whatever choice she makes."

Tang Yi grew somewhat anxious. "What if Her Majesty does something you don't want to see?"

Ximen Qingkong said, "If she doesn't want me to see it, then I'll pretend I didn't. As long as she's happy."

Tang Yi was speechless. She truly did not know what else to say. Her warning had already been obvious enough.

She felt that the destruction of Wei had driven Xuan Wei almost into obsession. From Xuan Wei's attitude, Tang Yi could even see what she might be willing to do for the sake of restoring the state.

If Xuan Wei went elsewhere, no other state would give her room to wield power again. Qi was different. She was married to a prince of Qi, and Xuan Wei was very likely to use that connection as leverage.

At present, all the other states were merely watching the war. Only Qi was still fighting Jin with everything it had. Xuan Wei continued fantasizing about using Qi's strength to recover her lost territory.

As long as Qi did not fall, Xuan Wei was unlikely to leave.

And precisely because of that, she might eventually be unable to resist Hao Cheng. Sooner or later, she might yield to him and repair their relationship.

Tang Yi had already faintly realized this when Xuan Wei asked her to persuade Ximen Qingkong to leave. Xuan Wei knew very well what might happen once she reached the Qi capital. Some things might be impossible to avoid.

With Ximen Qingkong at her side, Xuan Wei would find it difficult to do something that betrayed him. If he left, she would no longer have such scruples.

Perhaps she was also afraid Hao Cheng would not tolerate Ximen Qingkong and that Ximen Qingkong would be in danger.

Now that their conversation had gone this far, Tang Yi could tell Ximen Qingkong was not stupid. He had understood her hints. He too had probably realized what might happen.

But Tang Yi truly could not bear to see him like this. He was the number-one expert on the Golden Core Ranking. How had he reduced himself to such a state? Unable to stop herself, she warned him once more. "Her Majesty is no longer the person she once was. She has fallen into an obsession and cannot pull herself free."

Ximen Qingkong said, "It's all my fault. I'm useless. I can't help her. Otherwise, why would she ever have been driven this far?"

Tang Yi had no answer. She sighed. "Perhaps a man really should have some ambition. With Sir's strength, have you never thought of establishing a sect? Preserve yourself for useful work. Perhaps one day you could still help her."

Ximen Qingkong said, "I don't have the mind for that. These years, if I hadn't stayed by her side, I would have had only two possible endings: either become someone else's hired blade or withdraw into the mountains and live in seclusion."

"Sect Leader Tang, once you truly fall in love with someone, letting go isn't so easy."

Tang Yi could not persuade him. She did not know whether she should call him foolish. Perhaps, somewhere in her heart, she too hoped she might one day meet a man foolish enough to treat her this way.

After another stretch of silence, she gave him one final warning. "Do not leave Her Majesty's side so easily again. Hao Cheng may intend her harm. That is all I can say. We part here. I hope fate allows us to meet again. Shangqing Sect will always welcome Mr. Ximen."

In the end, she still concealed what Hao Cheng had done to Xuan Wei.

Ximen Qingkong nodded. "Safe travels."

Tang Yi turned and left. Not far away, the people of Shangqing Sect were already waiting for her. She mounted her horse and led the group away in a thunder of hooves across the vast grasslands.

Ximen Qingkong stood atop a grassy rise and watched them go.

...

Wu Calendar Year 535.

The State of Jin destroyed Wei.

The State of Wei fell, collapsing with astonishing speed.

From this point onward, Wei's territory was incorporated into Jin. While preparing for war against Qi, Jin also began administering its newly acquired "granary."

To consolidate that granary quickly and repair the damage left by war, Emperor Taishu Xiong dispatched large numbers of officials to take posts throughout the former Wei territories. Most of the students Shao Pingbo had brought to Jin in earlier years were among those assigned there, and most received modest promotions.

Taishu Xiong also publicly acknowledged Shao Pingbo's contributions and intended to place him in an important post. Shao Pingbo accepted the merit but refused any substantive office.

Shao Pingbo declined, and the assembled ministers voiced their agreement. The matter came to nothing.

Yet Shao Pingbo's genuine refusal to contend for authority won goodwill from those same ministers and finally put their minds at ease.

As a result, the students Shao Pingbo sent into former Wei territory were not deliberately obstructed. For the sake of their friendly relations with Shao Pingbo, the court ministers even took fairly good care of those students. Whenever one of the students encountered trouble, Shao Pingbo would visit the relevant minister together with the Princess, and the matter was usually easy to discuss.

Taishu Xiong, however, was infuriated.

What he valued was Shao Pingbo's ability, yet Shao Pingbo refused to put that ability to use. It was simply outrageous.

But Shao Pingbo remained exactly like this.

After his frustration passed and he calmed down, Taishu Xiong decided to establish an academy. He named it the Imperial Academy and appointed Shao Pingbo Superintendent of the Imperial Academy, giving him full responsibility for planning and establishing the institution.

This time, Shao Pingbo did not refuse. He accepted the appointment.

Even so, there had been considerable back-and-forth before he agreed.

Either he would not do it at all, or he would serve as Superintendent of the Imperial Academy for life.

So long as Shao Pingbo was willing to devote himself to building the academy properly, Taishu Xiong had no objection. If other matters arose later, he could simply make Shao Pingbo hold additional posts concurrently.

The ministers were equally delighted.

Shao Pingbo actually wanted to run off and become a schoolteacher.

Such an idle post posed no threat to them. If he was willing to spend his entire life as a teacher, why would they object?

They happily approved.

And so the matter was settled.

Shao Pingbo became Jin's Superintendent of the Imperial Academy, appointed for life.

From then on, Shao Pingbo had something to occupy him. He searched everywhere for instructors with genuine expertise and devoted himself entirely to the academy, asking nothing about court politics.

...

In Nanzhou, inside a quiet chamber, Niu Youdao's cultivation was interrupted.

He held an intelligence report in one hand. After reading it, he gave a bitter smile.

"So that's why he'd suddenly become so obedient. He had another plan."

"That bastard truly is an outstanding man of his generation. He has vision beyond this age. I suppose he was forced onto this road too."

Guan Fangyi looked surprised. "Isn't the Superintendent of the Imperial Academy just a schoolteacher? What authority does he have? Is it really as formidable as you're making it sound?"

Niu Youdao asked in return, "Those students of his I told you to watch—what do you think of their ability?"

Guan Fangyi said, "They're quite capable. Most have already been transferred by Taishu Xiong to serve in former Wei territory."

"Exactly." Niu Youdao nodded. "They've already caught Taishu Xiong's eye. That's probably where the idea for this Imperial Academy came from."

"The states have been locked in repeated wars for so long, yet no one else thought of this. Why did Taishu Xiong suddenly decide to establish an academy, and one funded and run by the state at that? Shao Pingbo must be behind it."

"And the entire Jin court is actually pleased to see it happen. Not one person is trying to stop him. In other words, not a single one of them has seen Shao Pingbo's long-term design."

"Shao Pingbo already has experience with this from Beizhou. He knows how to do it and will get started very quickly."

"Just watch. It won't take long."

"Once he selects a group of useful men, once Taishu Xiong begins favoring Imperial Academy students whenever local officials are appointed, the great ministers at court will probably start trying to stuff their own sons and grandsons into the place."

"Their children and grandchildren will all become Shao Pingbo's students. Their studies and future careers will be in Shao Pingbo's hands. Every one of those ministers will have to treat him respectfully. Who would still dare offend him lightly?"

"In wartime, every city and stretch of territory conquered creates an enormous demand for officials. The ranks turn over quickly, and there is a shortage of capable people everywhere. Anyone with even a little ability can easily be put to use."

"How old was Luo Zhao when he became Grand Commander-in-Chief of Song?"

"While everyone in Jin is busy fighting for the world, Shao Pingbo is hiding behind them, busy sowing seeds."

"If he keeps sowing this widely, a whole generation of people will inevitably rise."

"Years from now, when the court turns over, no matter which faction they belong to, most of the officials in the capital may well be students of Shao Pingbo. Most of the local officials may be his disciples as well."

"What do you think the result will be then?"

"The more territory Jin conquers, the greater his influence becomes."

"This is what you call subduing the enemy without fighting."

"Funny, really. Jia Wuqun cornered him, and somehow ended up forcing him onto this road instead."

"That fellow truly finds a way wherever he goes."

Guan Fangyi did not seem particularly impressed. She clicked her tongue twice. "No one else can see it, but Master Dao saw through it at a glance. Looks like our Master Dao is still the formidable one."

The teasing in her voice was obvious.

"Ah." Niu Youdao could not help sighing.

There were some things he could hardly explain.

Without knowledge from another age, he might not have understood what Shao Pingbo was doing either.

...

The destruction of Wei also made Qin anxious.

Although Qin had harvested one season's grain domestically, the vicious cycle continued and expenses still exceeded income.

One could almost feel the hungry green eyes of the two wolves behind them—Han and Yan.

At last, Yucang moved against Ma Chang'an as well.

Ma Chang'an followed Tian Zhengyang's path.

Luo Zhao was directly promoted to Grand Marshal of Qin, given command of the army, and ordered to continue the war.

...

At Lingxiao Pavilion, Sect Leader Guan Jitai's face was grim.

Feng Guan'er had come to him, hoping Lingxiao Pavilion could help Luo Zhao.

Qin had already executed two Supreme Generals over failures in the campaign. After learning that Luo Zhao had also failed to take Xiping Pass, Feng Guan'er began fearing for Luo Zhao's safety and came to plead with Lingxiao Pavilion.

"Guan'er, are you talking in your sleep?"

"That is Qin's affair. Luo Zhao already divorced you. What does it have to do with you?"

"Is a matter like this something you can interfere in?"

Guan Jitai flung his sleeve and left, refusing to concern himself with it.

Feng Guan'er departed in dejection as well.

After leaving Lingxiao Pavilion, she tried to travel to Qin.

Before she got far, however, Lingxiao Pavilion's people seized her and brought her back.

Lingxiao Pavilion had no desire to interfere with whether she lived or died, but she was the granddaughter of the previous Sect Leader. If she became tangled in some chaotic affair and fell into another party's hands, Lingxiao Pavilion would be placed in an awkward position.

And so Lingxiao Pavilion put her under house arrest in the Song capital.

...

Inside a quiet chamber, Niu Youdao held a letter Yuan Gang had left behind, his face dark.

Yuan Gang was gone.

The letter said he had learned Feng Guan'er was under house arrest and had gone to the Song capital. He knew Niu Youdao would stop him, so he had left secretly.

He had taken a flying mount with him.

A full day passed before anyone discovered the letter. Yuan Gang had always been free to come and go here, so by the time they realized what had happened, it was already too late to chase him.

Niu Youdao had previously instructed Duan Hu that any news concerning Feng Guan'er was to be shown to him before it was passed to Yuan Gang.

But Niu Youdao was publicly dead, and Duan Hu still did not know he was alive.

That momentary oversight gave Yuan Gang the opening he needed, and no one managed to stop him in time.

[End of Chapter 1269]