The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror

"According to the reports from our brothers of the Red Flower Society, suddenly, many rumors about the young master have appeared..." Su Lianqing rushed over from Lingnan with military provisions and reported the news she gathered along the way to Xu Qing.

In her judgment, the news first originated from the territory of the Shui Xi An family, at the Long Chang Inn.

Xu Qing received the news, feeling both amused and exasperated.

Eating his flesh could grant immortality?

Were they treating him like Tang Seng?

But who could blame Xu Qing for causing such a celestial phenomenon that startled the Wenqu Star.

Fortune and misfortune are interdependent.

The dire mountains and unruly waters of the Qian Nan Province are rife with unorthodox practices and demons. These people have always acted lawlessly, so it's not surprising that they believe the rumors.

Unfortunately, these people probably don't realize that Xu Qing is not Elder Tang, but rather Elder Sun with a copper head and iron arms.

Xu Qing said slowly: "The An family are truly cowardly rats, thinking a mere rumor could scare me away. This time, you and I will go to the Long Chang Inn together."

To be honest, among the subordinates, Su Lianqing is the most competent when employed.

Yan Shan's talents are not lacking, but his methods lack the ruthlessness and meticulousness of Su Lianqing.

"Certainly."

Xu Qing immediately added: "The terrain of the Qian Nan Province is complex, and even if the Tusi is conquered, it's hard to manage. The existence of the Tusi has its significance. To replace the Tusi system with a formal administrative system is indeed a long and arduous task. After we intimidate the Tusi this time, the focus should still be on establishing long-term business relations, forcing them to rely on us."

Su Lianqing understood that this was a strategy to remove the firewood from under the cauldron.

Once the Tusi become accustomed to the profits in commerce, their intentions and efforts to resist will diminish.

Why did Heshan Tao incite Yang's rebellion?

Because after the East Sea Gang was co-opted by the Court, Lingnan and Southern Fujian opened the seas, reestablished the Market Shipping Department, greatly reducing the smuggling profits of Heshan Tao and the local aristocratic families.

That is the fundamental reason.

As for retaliating against the Court, that is the superficial cause.

Yang's rebellion was also considered from an economic perspective.

Although Yang's overall strength is strongest, all trade routes are blocked by the Court and major Tusi like the An family. Without causing a stir and gaining benefits, over time, their position would naturally be replaced by the An family and other major Tusi.

Ultimately, the Tusi were meant to rise and fall as the Court intended.

But the current head of the Yang family is unwilling to accept such a fate, hence the bold uprising.

Anyway, since Emperor Chengzu set a good precedent, is it certain that a local Vassal King won't succeed in rebellion?

What difference does it make if a person doesn't have dreams?

In terms of independence, the Tusi might even fare better than Chengzu did during his rebellion.

...

...

After two days, the rumors about Xu Qing being a longevity medicine intensified, even astonishing Lord Zhou, who came to inquire Xu Qing.

Xu Qing, naturally fearless, assured his uncle to focus on internal affairs as his nephew-in-law is temporarily handling external matters, and there's no need to worry.

Incidentally, Xu Liushou also performed the martial art of pulling a willow tree out by its roots, leading the troops impressively, directly intimidating the Juzhou soldiers. Everyone, having witnessed this scene, was utterly convinced.

Some even couldn't help but doubt whether Xu Liushou was indeed Wenqu Star?

Isn't he Mars?

Some scholars explained, saying that a Confucian Master would be someone like Xu Liushou, with high combat power. Xu Liushou embodies the ancient Confucian tradition of the Gongyang School, unlike today's Cynics.

This scholar was a Scholar named Yang, not a member of the Recovery Society, but purely because he had failed the provincial examination multiple times and harbored great resentment towards the modern eight-legged essay exams.

If not for Xu Liushou recognizing his talents and inviting him to join the military as a strategic advisor, he would have been recently studying the history of late Tang private salt dealers' rebellions.

Don't misunderstand; it's purely about learning how to smuggle salt to lift oneself out of poverty, without any other intentions.

Whether marrying factions through salt smuggling or engaging in armed struggles, these occur naturally.

In any case, Scholar Yang is highly dissatisfied with the current imperial examination system.

Though the difficulty level of the provincial exam in Qian Nan Province is already very low, it's impossible to withstand Scholars from other provinces with advanced examination skills obtaining household registration here to vie for Qian Nan Province's Scholar slots.

The mere act of household registration immigration for the imperial examination poses significant obstacles, but it's not impossible to maneuver.

Moreover, in Qian Nan Province, the real rulers are the Tusi, and the scholars have to stand aside.

The Tusi don't even have to sit for the imperial exams; the Court often opens back doors for the Tusi, who don't even bother to acknowledge it.

To put it bluntly, in their eyes, becoming an official for the Court is akin to turning from person to servant.

This naturally provides opportunities for scholars from other provinces to exploit loopholes.

Indeed, the ability of civil servants in this dynasty to exploit systemic loopholes is extremely formidable.

Scholar Yang holds contemporary Cynic civil servants in contempt but is utterly impressed with Xu Qing, both mentally and physically subdued by Xu Liushou.

He now has no other thoughts, just wanting to follow Xu Liushou closely.

Therefore, even as a strategic advisor, Scholar Yang hasn't settled down.

The outside rumors say Xu Liushou is a longevity medicine, but Scholar Yang, inebriated, directly claimed Xu Liushou has the demeanor and stature of a dragon and phoenix, not to be underestimated as mere longevity medicine.

If Scholar Yang weren't just slightly drunk, he might have directly claimed that Xu Liushou's fate is the fate of Ziwei, and Wenqu Star is nothing!

However, in the Southwest, skepticism towards royal authority is common, and peculiar remarks about the Court are frequent.

Many great talents and Great Scholars of this dynasty have experienced being exiled to various southwestern provinces, and in their daily teachings, naturally included odd remarks.

So, seeing something strange was not considered strange.

Particularly in neighboring Ba Shu, where Taoist culture is rampant, lawless acts are plenty.

With everything prepared, Xu Qing, accompanied by Su Lianqing, several shopkeepers sent by tea merchants, and a group of attendants set off for Long Chang Inn.