Chapter 309: I am the master of my own paper
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"Who is it?!" Wu Feng was furious. For the court examination, their scripts had to be immaculate. This blob of ink basically rendered his script useless.
There were about a dozen other candidates who were just as infuriated.
They had suffered the same fate as Wu Feng. One of them had already written more than 300 words. That blob of ink of his paper meant that it was all a waste.
The person responsible was Fang Zhengzhi. He was ecstatic.
Sometimes the believers were rewarded. He had thought that he was going to fail, yet, the reality was a huge surprise.
He was right to snatch this seat.
The question was changed!
As a major in history, Fang Zhengzhi knew little about water security. However, he was well read on governance and management of threats.
He knew what the Emperor wanted.
During the Three Kingdoms Era, Cao Cao had commanded an army of over 800,000 to attack the Eastern Wu. Most of the officials had suggested that they surrender.
However, Zhou Yu knew what his King wanted.
Similar events could be seen throughout history. Emperor Wu of Han’s attack of the barbarians, Kang Xi’s suppression of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories... All of these told Fang Zhengzhi that an Emperor’s ambition was boundless.
Furthermore, the Great Xia Dynasty had remained peaceful for so many years. Their coffers were full. This would fan the ambitions of the Emperor.
He could see this from what Emperor Lin Mubai had said just now.
If one continued to write about peace and diplomacy, even the most well written policy would not be in line with the Emperor’s wishes.
It was simple. He would have to write about battle!
Or at the very least, the idea of it.
He could simply use the threat of an army to suppress the enemies of the empire. Simply by marching to the border could instill fear in the enemies, making them afraid to rise up for generations.
Now that he knew what he was going to write about, it came down to the details.
A plan?
Fang Zhengzhi did not have one. He had no idea that the court examination would be a policy paper. He also did not know that it would be a topic like this.
But it was no matter.
In his previous world, there were many classics that discussed policy. The three most famous were "Early Qin", "Feudalism", and "Six Nations".
"Early Qin" discussed why the Qin Dynasty managed to prosper and its eventual downfall. It was a book on governing policy.
"Feudalism" was a book on revolution.
It analyzed the pros and cons of each revolution and had links to government.
These two classics were of little use, but it did not matter. "Six Nations" was apt! This book recounted how Qin managed to conquer all the other six nations.
It targeted the passive attitudes of the other six nations at the time.
They had all given Qin parts of their land or a number of cities in order to maintain temporary peace. However, they did not expect Qin to grow stronger as a result.
In the end, after Qin destroyed the countries which did not carve out land for them, they managed to turn back to conquer those which did.
Even though it was a novel on the cowardice of the six nations, it all pointed to one lesson...
Do not surrender, fight!
What if the vassal states do not keep in line? Beat them till they do? Pacify? That is something one does when one is not powerful enough. No true Emperor would want to employ such a strategy.
Fang Zhengzhi had no idea if Emperor Lin Mubai was a Holy Spirit. However, he knew that he was not a careless man.
The best example was...
Emperor Lin Mubai had given Fang Zhengzhi his personal token to facilitate his entry into the Ministry Of Rites. This was sufficient to show the Emperor’s decisiveness.
With this in mind, Fang Zhengzhi began to write.
Then, he saw the enraged glances of the candidates around him?
"Is there something wrong, Young Master Wu?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Wu Feng with confusion.
"Nothing!" Wu Feng grit his teeth and forced a smile. He rolled up his script which was destroyed by the ink.
"Then you should continue writing your own paper. Even if you keep looking at me, I will not let you copy my script!" Fang Zhengzhi shifted his table closer to himself.
Wu Feng was furious!
Why would I copy yours? I did not spend my two years as poorly as the others! I had prepared plans for all six ministries!
Do I need to copy your script?
Wu Feng was scornful.
However, he was also infuriated. He realized that Fang Zhengzhi was even more scornful than him. In fact, Fang Zhengzhi’s attitude bordered on condescension.
Clear, unadulterated condescension.
"Just wait and see. When I top the theory examination, we will know who is the one who needs to copy!" Wu Feng turned back to look at his script. As he was about to write, he frowned.
Where was he at?
God damn it!
"Ahem! No communication during the examination!" One of the invigilators coughed lightly when he saw Fang Zhengzhi and Wu Feng talking.
Fang Zhengzhi raised his middle finger at that imperial messenger.
He seduced me.
He did not continue debating with Wu Feng. Fang Zhengzhi realized another problem.
Did this world have the Warring States Era?
Fang Zhengzhi was not very familiar with the history of the Great Xia Dynasty. Even if the Warring States Era existed, it was unlikely that the countries would be called Qin, Chu, Zhao...
If they were, it would be too much of a coincidence.
Without this period in history, the "Six Nations" could not be used either. How was he going to solve this?
Fang Zhengzhi looked into the sky. There were a few leaves floating in the air, blown around by a light breeze.
The world keeps changing - flowers bloom and wilt, spring came and went.
When was he ever going to find himself a wife?
Hang on... he was taking an exam now.
He had to concentrate on that first. How was he going to use the "Six Nations"? Six Nations, Seven Nations, Eight Nations, Three Nations...
I got it!
If there isn’t, I’ll just make up a story.
In many novels, the stories within them were all made up. They were there for the sole purpose of allowing the author to push his point.
This was a simple concept.
In primary school, they were tasked to write an essay. The topic of the essay was observing the growth of plants.
One could not possibly buy a seed and watch it grow and bloom.
It would take too long. The essay would never be submitted on time.
The problem he had was solved.
There was no way Fang Zhengzhi would write out the history of the Warring States Era. Only an idiot would do such a thing.
He would use an analogy.
He would use the Seven Kingdoms to describe the Great Xia Dynasty’s current predicament. They had the barbarians to the north, the mountain range to the south, the demons in the distance, and the problems from the seas in the west.
He did not need to assign each kingdom their counterpart in this world. Anyone reading it would simply link the various problems to the seven kingdoms in their heart.
This technique was not something the average reader would understand.
However, since his reader was Emperor Lin Mubai, he had nothing to worry about. If the Emperor was not able to make such links, he would not be able to sit on that position for long.
He would have been usurped long ago.
Fang Zhengzhi smirked to himself as he thought about this. He had decided to base his policy paper off the "Six Nations".
Even though it needed to be changed a little, this was easy for Fang Zhengzhi.
He was a first-class honour student of history, having read countless classic literature all these years. He even managed to memorize the Law of Dao.
His train of thoughts could not be stemmed.
His brain was filled with ideas in an instant.
He immediately began writing, his mind guiding his hands across the paper.
"Woosh woosh woosh..."
The brush swept across the paper.
All of the furious candidates who were interrupted by Fang Zhengzhi’s outburst were stunned by this sight. They had heard about Fang Zhengzhi’s speed before.
Now, they saw it for themselves.
It looked like he was spasming.
"So fast?!"
"Didn’t he say he didn’t prepare? Why is he able to begin writing so quickly? Furthermore, it doesn’t look like he’s writing a paper, it looks like he’s copying one!"
"Could it be that he is just trying to fill his paper with something because he has nothing to write?"
"I think that it is possible!"
All of the candidates were doubtful. After all, Fang Zhengzhi’s speed was unbelievable.
Wu Feng was trying to regain his train of thought when he heard the wooshing sound of the brush.
He turned to look.
It was Fang Zhengzhi.
"That speed..." Wu Feng’s jaw dropped as he looked at Fang Zhengzhi. Then, he turned to look at his blank script. He then looked at another person nearby.
It was Nangong Hao.
Nangong Hao was calm as water in his white robe.
Nangong Hao was the complete opposite of Nangong Hao. Ever since the beginning of the exam, Nangong Hao’s pen had not even moved.
He shut his eyes, deep in thought.
He looked like a statue in the middle of the examination square.
Just at this moment, a fallen leaf fell lightly on Nangong Hao’s shoulder. It was so natural that it made people feel that the leaf was on his shoulder all along.
Any other candidate would have swept the leaf off their shoulder. However, Nangong Hao remained still as a statue.
"Chirp chirp..." A bird chirped in the distance.
Then, a red beak, green feathered, three tailed kingfisher landed on the outskirts of the square. This was a common bird in the palace gardens and did not attract the attention of the candidates.
However, Wu Feng’s eyes widened.
Because...
He saw the three tailed kingfisher hop towards Nangong Hao. Before long, it had hopped onto Nangong Hao’s shoulder, picked up the fallen leaf with its beak and hopped away.
"This, this is... Natural Heart Dao!" Wu Feng’s expression changed.
As the disciple of one of the four sages, he knew that one’s heart would continue to change as they progressed. Some would become more aggressive, others more peaceful. Some would become more passionate, others more serene.
This had to do with the kind of Dao they cultivated.
However, one kind of person was an exception.
They were never changed by their cultivation. Their personality and hearts stayed the same throughout, regardless of external stimuli.
It did not seem like much.
However, these people were the most terrifying talents in the world. They could learn any Dao or technique.
They could cultivate and train with the demonic and evil arts.
Killing could cause them to improve, but so could healing and helping others.
No matter what they did, it would be combined with the Dao in his heart. It would become a part of his cultivation, regardless good, evil, peace or violence.
This was the Natural Heart Dao
"I see, I see!" Wu Feng finally understood what Nangong Hao was doing the past four years. He finally understood why Nangong Hao had rejected the invitation from the Heaven Dao Pavilion four years ago.
Back then, Nangong Hao had only said one thing when he rejected them.
Poor foundation!
At that time, most people did not understand what he meant. Nangong Hao was able to suppress intermediate Rewind State cultivators as a pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State. If his foundation wasn’t good, whose was?
Almost everyone felt that Nangong Hao was finding an excuse for himself to not enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
But now, Wu Feng understood.
Nangong Hao was not finding an excuse for himself. He was speaking the truth, but it was not something anyone had expected.
In four years...
Natural Heart Dao!
This was what Nangong Hao considered a good foundation.
In the Heavenly Reflection State, Nangong Hao was able to understand the Natural Heart Dao. This made him the same level as Wu Feng’s master!
Sage!
This was something everyone wanted and worked for. That word meant that one was a peerless power.
Wu Feng stared at Nangong Hao with jealousy. However, he suppressed this jealousy, because, his brain told him...
Nangong Hao was not to be antagonized!
Wu Feng looked back at Fang Zhengzhi, his lips twitching as he smiled bitterly.
"I think both you and I are just here as fodder for this man!"