I’m on my knees; I couldn’t keep the drafts after all. The internet was down yesterday, and I couldn’t read novels or play games, so I wrote two chapters, thinking I could save them. But today, before dawn, I’ve written for so many years, and this is the first time before dawn...
Just arriving in Jinan, a frail young man intending to transfer to a carriage, reeked of alcohol, his eyes bleary, coughed lightly twice, "Hua Zi, why aren’t you taking your master to the North Sea? What are you wandering here for?"
"Master, master, come and look," the young page boy pulled at his master and pointed to a notice on the wall.
The slender young man known as ’master’ squinted at the Talent Recruitment Order posted on the wall, then touched his bare chin and said, "Finally, someone dares to do this. Let’s go and see Liu Bei; just for this Talent Recruitment Order, your master here will help him establish a foundation not inferior to that of King Zhao of Yan." The young man’s previously dispirited figure suddenly perked up, and after he properly adjusted his headgear, he exuded a confidence that seemed to look down upon the world.
"Wen Ruo, ah Wen Ruo, you left too soon. If you had stayed for another month and seen what Liu Xuande is like, it would have been great to also visit Cao Cao!" The youth’s pale face glowed with a hint of color, his eyes shining. He slapped his page boy’s head lightly, "Let’s go, that bastard Yuan Shao has upset your master so much. Once we get to Liu Xuande’s place, we’ll start by dealing with Yuan Shao."
After finishing, the young man cast a distant glance toward the north, sneering continuously, "The foundation of King Zhao of Yan, it happens to span Jizhou and Qingzhou. It’s only right that I eliminate you. Let’s go, Hua Zi."
Yet another top strategist who could see that any feudal lord who established a base in the north would inevitably clash with Yuan Shao, and who also started planning to undermine Yuan Shao’s foundation when Yuan Shao was unstabilized and had yet to build his own strength.
Liu Ye looked at the Talent Recruitment Order on the wall, turned around, and walked back. Mann Chong had sent a letter saying that Xun Yu had invited them to Cao Cao’s place, and after his own investigation, he found that Cao Cao was indeed a hero of the age. Just when Liu Ye was considering visiting Cao Cao, he saw the Talent Recruitment Order posted on the wall of his own house.
As Liu Ye walked back, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. The Liu Clan’s world was not yet in decline; why should he switch allegiance to others? He was a legitimate Han Imperial Kinsman. Mixing with others was never as good as staying with his own family. Moreover, his family had a fearless spirit. Without territory, without reputation, what was there to fear? Four hundred years ago, the old Liu Family started with nothing and still conquered the world, and now at least the Emperor’s surname was Liu! That was the greatest reputation!
"Housekeeper, pack up the family wealth, sell the property, we’re going to Mount Tai," Liu Ye said directly to the housekeeper as he entered the house.
"Yes!" Although the housekeeper was shocked by Liu Ye’s decision, he did not raise any objections.
[Liu Xuande, oh Liu Xuande, I have high hopes for your ambition. If your own abilities fall short, fear not, for there are many capable people in this world. Relying on our old Liu Family’s name, we can still lead a comfortable life. Mount Tai is not a bad place, it’s just a little small. Are those bastards from the Imperial Clan Court blind!]
Liu Ye picked up a piece of silk and began to write to Mann Chong, all the while cursing those from the Imperial Clan Court for their lack of vision.
Liu Ye’s letter was brief, with only two lines: "My brother has issued a Talent Recruitment Order, you know what this means! Come back quickly and join me at Mount Tai!" After finishing, Liu Ye handed the silk to the servant, instructing him to deliver it to Mann Chong with utmost speed.
For Liu Ye, who spent most days indoors, Mann Chong, who wore a perpetual zombie expression, was his closest friend. Although Mann Chong looked at everyone as if they owed him millions, Liu Ye just had a good relationship with the man; it was that simple.
Mann Chong, too, had no friends. Nine out of ten people who spoke with him admired his talent and feared his authority, and it was precisely because of this that he delved into the law. The more he studied, the more awe-inspiring he became, eventually exuding an aura of unapproachability. Even dogs would take a detour upon seeing him, a true star destined for solitude.
The only person not intimated by Mann Chong’s zombie-like demeanor was Liu Ye, who would always stick close by. As a result, friendless Mann Chong finally had a friend, and because of this, Mann Chong would never forget to share any benefits he reaped with Liu Ye.
This was why, after secretly assessing the situation in Cao Cao’s camp for a month and determining that Cao Cao was indeed a hero-king, Mann Chong hurriedly informed Liu Ye. Instead of visiting Cao Cao himself, he waited at the inn for Liu Ye to join him.
After waiting for five days, Mann Chong did not see Liu Ye, but he received a letter. Seeing the fear on the face of the servant handing him the letter, Mann Chong managed to force a slight smile, which sent the loyal servant of Liu Ye trembling.
Having read the letter without comment, Mann Chong realized that he was surrounded by king-material figures on all sides—one side calling him as a brother, the other being Xun Yu. Wait, who was Xun Yu?
Mann Chong turned and strode away, not caring about Xun Yu’s business. After all, Xun Yu meant nothing familiar to him, but Liu Ye was his only buddy.
The Magistrate of Fufeng stared at the announcement pasted on the wall of the county office, casually took off his official robe, handed it to the county lieutenant beside him while stretching lazily, "The young master is done with this; I’m off to Mount Tai. I refuse to believe that issuing a Talent Recruitment Order would still leave one in fear of the noble families."
Having said that, he turned and left. After acting as a figurehead magistrate for three months, Fa Zheng had already lost his temper. Sixteen-year-old Fa Zheng was in the full flush of youth, completely indifferent to his superior’s opinions.
"Jia Fu, do you think your master could sneak off to Mount Tai now? I can’t stand to stay in Chang’an anymore. I see Lyu Bu going to Wang Yun’s place all the time, and Minister Dong also visited a few days ago. I reckon in a couple of months, when Lyu Bu and that maid are all lovesick, Dong Zhuo will be able to take the woman away. Chang’an is no place to stay anymore," Jia Xu said to his servant holding the Talent Recruitment Order, still maintaining his usual silent and unhearing demeanor.
"King Zhao of Yan built a platform to attract the wise; what kind of platform will Liu Xuande construct this time? Go and dig the tunnel quickly. Even resorting to such a despicable trick as the beauty scheme, and Li Wen Youi does nothing about it. This guy has completely given up, lost even the will to survive," Jia Xu instructed Jia Fu to continue digging the tunnel, having already decided on his escape. What did the death or survival of Dong Zhuo have to do with him? Let him be; when Dong Zhuo falls, he would be a free agent again, and no one can hold anything against him for joining anyone else.
"Talent Recruitment Order?" Li Ru quietly put down the document in his hand and looked at the ceiling beams blankly, "Wang Yun, do you really think I can’t tell what you’re up to? To dismantle the Flying Bear Army is but to prepare for an abdication. Well, let it be. Zhongying is beyond counsel now. After his death, all the machinations against him throughout his life will crumble, followed by his demise under chaotic blades. I no longer have any desires left. How I wish the old Zhongying was still here..." A flush of unnatural color appeared on Li Ru’s face.
Huang Zhong gripped his battle saber, sighed at the Talent Recruitment Order on the wall. When would his son’s illness ever end? He had even arranged a marriage with a reputable woman to bring joy, yet the boy’s condition didn’t improve and instead, he fainted during the wedding ceremony and had been unwell ever since.
Was the Huang Family really going to end its lineage here? Thinking of this, Huang Zhong suddenly lost interest in the Talent Recruitment Order. After a lifetime of hard work mastering martial arts and finally grasping the essence of sword technique by watching the flow of the Yangtze River, ready to show the world his skill, his son now lay critically ill. Wasn’t attaining nobility and high office all for the sake of securing wealth and honor for one’s descendants? But now, with his lineage on the brink of extinction, for whom would he seek ennoblement and high office?