Volume Two: Winds Rise in An西 Prefecture - Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three: Lacking Virtue for the Position

Kueixing Tower, top floor.

Although Master Xu held no actual executive power, the Imperial Tutor was nonetheless a first-rank official.

A Prefect was a fourth-rank official, leaving a gap of three entire ranks between them!

"Master Xu!"

Prefect Xu bowed respectfully. "Years ago, I had the honor of paying my respects to Master Xu in the Capital Prefecture. It has been many years, yet Master Xu's demeanor is even more radiant than before!"

"I am old, old indeed," Master Xu chuckled. "The new Emperor once offered me the concurrent post of Junior Vice Minister of Personnel, but I declined."

"Throughout my life, I have disliked meddling in court struggles, and I despise scheming against others even more."

Master Xu's words were crystal clear; he had no desire to get involved in Prefect Xu's affairs.

"Master Xu jests. You are still in your prime," Prefect Xu said, unperturbed as he continued, "With the renovation of the Xu clan ancestral hall this time, the entire family has been eagerly anticipating Master Xu's return."

"Tomorrow is the grand ceremony for the completion of the ancestral hall, and I have come specifically to inform Master Xu!"

Seeing that the other man was still playing dumb, Master Xu decided to drop pleasantries and asked bluntly, "Is it merely for the completion ceremony of the ancestral hall?"

"It seems I cannot hide anything from Master Xu. There is also a private matter of mine, and I hope Master Xu can assist me," Prefect Xu hurriedly said. "The Governor of Beilu Commandery has been associating too closely with the remnants of the Zhong family. I heard rumors that the new Emperor intends to strip him of his governorship."

"Normally I would not wish to contend for it, but the Xu clan cannot remain cooped up within Anxi Prefecture forever. We must grow and develop, becoming a prominent and prestigious family in Beilu Commandery."

"In that way, the Xu clan can truly step into the public eye, which would also bring great honor to Master Xu."

The clan and Prefect Xu were bound together.

If the Xu clan grew powerful, Prefect Xu would have solid backing. If Prefect Xu grew powerful, the Xu clan could flourish even further.

From a public standpoint, strengthening the clan; from a private standpoint, if he could become the Governor of Beilu Commandery, his high position and great authority would elevate him into the ranks of influential ministers.

While perhaps not comparable to the true power brokers within the imperial court, he would essentially be the equivalent of a regional warlord.

"Xu Guan, with your talent, are you truly capable of becoming a commandery governor?" Master Xu addressed him directly by his given name.

"Master Xu, I have been the Prefect of Anxi Prefecture for several years now. Under my administration, Anxi Prefecture is in perfect order, and doors are left unlocked at night," Prefect Xu said, assuming Master Xu was testing him, and rushed to display his achievements. "Over the years, I have been conscientious and diligent, holding myself to the rules of propriety, walking on thin ice every single day for fear that my governance might fall short!"

"He who holds a high position without virtue invites disaster!" Master Xu shook his head and said, "Your ability is insufficient to govern a single commandery, let alone an entire prefecture."

"Becoming the Prefect of Anxi Prefecture was already sheer, heaven-defying luck on your part."

"If you insist on forcing this, disaster will surely follow."

Prefect Xu was not the only one eyeing the position of commandery governor.

Countless people were staring at that seat, and seizing it meant bearing pressure from all sides.

The new Emperor was deeply suspicious by nature, and Master Xu had no wish to be dragged into this quagmire.

"Master Xu, you..."

Prefect Xu never expected that paying a personal visit would yield such a result.

He had thought that since both he and Master Xu hailed from the Anxi Xu clan, Master Xu would lend a helping hand. Instead, he had received a harsh reprimand!

"Master Xu, there is no need for this!"

Prefect Xu grew slightly angry. "In the Martial Dao, one must strive; in officialdom, one must fight even harder! If I am to remain stuck in the position of Prefect, I will never be reconciled."

"That is your affair, and it has nothing to do with me."

Master Xu waved his hand. "President Bai, see our guest out!"

"Master Xu, are you truly not going to help me?"

Prefect Xu remained unreconciled.

"Show him out!" Master Xu reiterated firmly.

"Prefect Xu, let us go," President Bai advised.

Since Master Xu had made up his mind, what good would further reluctance do?

With a deadened heart and a staggering gait, Prefect Xu walked out of Kueixing Tower.

The Yingtian Restaurant would not help him, and neither would Master Xu. Could it be that truly no options remained?

Was he really supposed to admit defeat?

To lose eligibility for the competition before it had even begun!

...

Inside Kueixing Tower, Master Xu looked at President Bai. "Your teacher once studied alongside me, and I have exchanged letters with you on several occasions. Strictly speaking, you can also be considered half a student of mine."

"Bai Zhiyi (President Bai, whose courtesy name is Zhiyi), you have strayed far from the person you were when we first met."

A chill ran down President Bai's spine. "Master Xu, I was wrong!"

"Shucheng was entirely right. Since the world is thus, one should strive to change the world, rather than wallow in the mire alongside it," Master Xu said with a hint of sorrow. "You are inferior to Lu Shucheng!"

"Though advanced in age, your character lacks resilience."

"If you remain stubbornly set in your ways, you will never hope to become a Grand Academician in this lifetime."

Like a chastised student, panic surfaced on President Bai's face. "Master Xu, I will surely mend my ways henceforth!"

"The meaning of Zhiyi is the unity of knowledge and action. I hope you will match your words with deeds."

...

The Prefect's Residence.

With a dark expression and veins bulging on his forehead, Prefect Xu carried a pent-up rage with nowhere to vent.

"Master, the steward of County Vice-Administrator Wang from Changshui County is here to see you," a young servant reported.

"How long has he been waiting?" Prefect Xu asked with a gloomy face.

"For several days now!"

"Let him in."

After all, this was the steward of his own subordinate; Prefect Xu felt it prudent to grant an audience.

Half a quarter of an hour later, footsteps sounded.

As soon as the steward of County Vice-Administrator Wang entered, he fell to his knees and prostrated himself. "Lord Prefect!"

"Rise. What brings you here on behalf of Vice-Administrator Wang?" Prefect Xu demanded.

"There is an extermination emissary in the Changshui County Extermination Office named Lu Jiucheng. This fellow is arrogant and domineering, running amok in Changshui County, and has actually beaten Vice-Administrator Wang's nephew to a pulp. To make matters worse, the newly appointed head of the Changshui County Extermination Office, Chen Xuanfeng, is shielding him fiercely."

"Vice-Administrator Wang wishes for Lord Prefect to step in and help resolve this matter."

"Ideally, Your Lordship would make a trip to the Anxi Prefecture Extermination Office to strip Lu Jiucheng of his official post, and simultaneously dispatch a few experts to assist Vice-Administrator Wang in slaying this scoundrel," the steward said cautiously.

"Outrageous!" Prefect Xu flew into a rage, kicking the steward sprawling to the ground. "Go back and tell that Vice-Administrator Wang that he is a county-level vice-administrator, yet he cannot even handle a single extermination emissary."

"What a trash! And yet he comes begging at my door. If he is incapable of being a vice-administrator, I will have someone else take his place!"

A dignified vice-administrator actually being bullied by an extermination emissary from a county office—it was enough to make people die of laughter.

Prefect Xu already had troubles mounting up to his ears recently; having such trivial matters brought to his doorstep was simply courting death!

"Lord Prefect, calm your anger!"

Flat on the floor, the steward shivered uncontrollably, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Vice-Administrator Wang has prepared a modest sum of silver, hoping that Your Lordship might spare a thought for him and lend a hand."

If not for the sake of Vice-Administrator Wang, one had to look at the face of the silver.

Naturally, one could not phrase it quite like that; the favor was still ostensibly for Vice-Administrator Wang.

The steward hurriedly retrieved several banknotes from his bosom, got up tremblingly, and offered them to Prefect Xu.

"Hmph, three hundred liang of gold—is this how Vice-Administrator Wang does things? It seems he truly no longer wishes to hold his office," Prefect Xu raged.

Was this treating him like a beggar?

Three hundred liang of gold was actually not a small sum, translating to roughly thirty thousand liang of silver.

However, Prefect Xu had suffered massive financial deficits lately. Between renovating the ancestral hall and running about to buy intelligence regarding the commandery governorship, the silver he had spent was astronomical.

"Vice-Administrator Wang will offer further monetary tokens afterwards; he earnestly begs Your Lordship to extend a helping hand."

The steward was nearly frightened out of his wits.