Chapter 601 - 338: Only Advance, No Retreat

By the time the Holy Emperor’s decree arrived in Shu State, it was already the twenty-ninth day of the ninth month.

Only one day remained until the Annual Examination.

Tomorrow, the scholars from the Prefecture City and surrounding counties and towns would all gather at the examination grounds—a large courtyard located between the Governor’s Office and the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office.

The examination would last for two days. They would enter at 5:00 AM, the exam would begin at 1:00 PM, and it would end at Noon on the second day.

Originally, Ma Shuhan, the Academic Administrator Officer of Shu State, had scheduled the Annual Examination for the twenty-eighth, but for some unspeakable reason, he had postponed it by two days. The scholars in the Prefecture City were not merely understanding or supportive of this change; they simply had no time to pay attention to it.

The reasons behind Liu Hong’s death had already spread far and wide: colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, manipulating grain prices, attempting to spread a plague, and so on. Each and every one of his crimes was posted on the notice board outside the Governor’s Office.

Listed alongside him were the crimes of those who had been taken away by the Imprisonment Department. Ye Jingxiao, the Vice Inspector General of the Inspectorate Office, had colluded with Lin’s Grain Store to frame loyal officials. Mr. Lingchuan from Guiyun Academy had secretly sold ironware to Poshisu Country on behalf of Commander-in-Chief Zhu Hao. Sun Wutong of the Sun Family had also played his part...

Except for a few individuals who were sentenced to exile, the rest, such as Ye Jingxiao and Zhu Lingchuan, were to be escorted to the Capital Prefecture to await execution after autumn.

As soon as these matters came to light, they caused an uproar throughout Shu State. The commoners cursed them incessantly. Although the soaring grain prices in the Prefecture City had not resulted in mass starvation, the people would never forget the panic of those days. This was true for everyone, whether they had managed to buy grain or not.

"I originally thought that bastard Liu Hong was a good official, but I didn’t expect him to be so despicable behind the scenes."

"To think I was actually grateful to him for opening the granaries, stabilizing grain prices, and providing disaster relief. Turns out none of that was his true intention."

"Now I finally see clearly. In this Shu State, the only ones who truly treat us commoners well are the Xiao Family."

"If Marquis Xiao hadn’t been unable to stand it anymore and confronted Liu Hong, the grain prices would still be sky-high. Many people would have definitely died back then."

"Don’t forget, it was also Marquis Xiao who discovered the plague first and ordered the Government Office and Physicians to investigate inside and outside the Prefecture City overnight."

"Marquis Xiao and the Xiao Family have protected Shu State for years. We... alas, we truly owe the old man an apology."

"There’s also General Jinghong. The Commander-in-Chief who tried to flee this time was killed by her..."

The common people on the streets held deep grudges against Liu Hong and the others, and the scholars were no exception. Most likely, the more they thought back on all the things they had done to try and save Mr. Lingchuan, the more ashamed they felt, prompting them to write articles cursing the traitors.

Sayings like "you may know a person’s face, but not their heart" were spread countless times. Even a few teachers at Guiyun Academy had voiced their criticisms of Zhu Lingchuan.

However, with the Annual Examination approaching, Mr. Yue Ming, Mr. Zhuo Ying, and others could only try to find ways to force the many scholars to focus. But clearly, it was of little effect.

"Dean, just let them be.

"The crimes Liu Gongmo committed this time are truly too massive. Even I want to curse him a few times."

Mr. Yue Ming naturally understood this reasoning. He sighed and said, "Don’t you join in and add to the chaos."

Mr. Zhuo Ying raised an eyebrow. "Adding to the chaos? Isn’t there enough already right now?

"Before the Holy Emperor’s decree arrives, the Governor’s Office is completely leaderless. Yang Ye alone is already finding it more than he can handle.

"The situation at the Inspectorate Office is slightly better, but I heard the Capital Commandery has been deeply affected.

"Although the commoners over in Guangyuan County haven’t made many moves, those Noble Families have caused quite a few disturbances. They are mostly people in the same boat as Zhu Hao.

"Salt, tea, water transport, carriages, and so on... the Capital Commandery is raiding one or two large clans almost every day. Some are killed, while others are exiled."

At this point, he pointed toward the Xiao Family with feigned mystery and said, "I heard from people over in Guangyuan that Commander Li is making such moves because of Xiao Jinghong."

Mr. Yue Ming frowned slightly. "Xiao Jinghong?"

After thinking for a moment, his brow smoothed out. "It must be that after she killed Zhu Hao last time, she heavily pressured the Capital Commandery."

Mr. Zhuo Ying smiled and nodded. "Although that girl is a woman, she acts decisively and without hesitation. She has a bit of Xiao Fengchun’s flair.

"On the other hand, Marquis Xiao... Dean, have you heard about the Xiao Family’s recent moves?

"You should know a bit, seeing as you and Marquis Xiao are considered bosom friends."

Hearing this, Mr. Yue Ming glared at him. "I am not familiar with him!"

However, he had indeed heard about the Xiao Family’s recent situation. Ever since Liu Hong’s death, people from several families in the Prefecture City had flocked to visit the Xiao Family, all bringing copious amounts of gifts.

Take the Wan Family, for example. Not only did they gift the Xiao Family medicinal ingredients from their Medicine Hall, but they also brought ten thousand silver coins. The other few families did the same. It was as if the previous attacks the Xiao Family had endured from the various Noble Families of Shu State had never happened.

After a moment of silence, Mr. Yue Ming spoke. "Liu Hong is dead, and the Jing State Liu Family behind him has also fallen. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this was the work of the Xiao Family.

"At this time, their visits to the Xiao Family are nothing more than an attempt to mend relations with them."

Mr. Zhuo Ying sneered. "A bunch of fence-sitters. Since they weren’t implicated by Liu Hong, they will sooner or later be settled by Marquis Xiao." He toyed with the teacup in his hand and changed the subject. "However, with Qingzhou not coming to the academy these past few days, I’m still a bit unaccustomed to it."

"With the Annual Examination approaching, it’s normal for Qingzhou to study harder," Mr. Yue Ming said.

"With Qingzhou’s knowledge, if he can’t make it into the top three of the Annual Examination, who else could?"

"Hard to say." Mr. Yue Ming thought of the Academic Administrator Officer who hadn’t been affected by Liu Hong, and said with a slight sigh, "If Ma Shuhan doesn’t play any tricks, even if Qingzhou doesn’t make the top three, he will still rank among the best. I’m just afraid that Ma Shuhan won’t act according to common sense."

Mr. Zhuo Ying snorted. "Would he dare?

"Previously, he had Liu Hong backing him up. Now that Liu Hong is dead and the Governor’s Office is controlled by Lord Yang, how could he still be allowed to act recklessly?"