Chapter 8: The County Magistrate's Invitation
"Your Excellency, the County Magistrate, I can testify that Brother Su Lin truly attained enlightenment through the sacred words. Just now, I witnessed Brother Su Lin's enlightenment; his aura was overwhelming, and a beam of golden light burst forth from his mind!" Dong Zijing hurriedly spoke in defense of Su Lin.
Xu Xiucai, the county magistrate and the county deputy have just left and are not in the county office. These two scoundrels can be imprisoned first, but your merit can only be rewarded when the county magistrate returns to personally issue the commendation. Head Constable Tian said this and was about to step forward to apprehend Jiang Yang and Jiang Hai, but Xu Lingxiao stretched out his hand to block him, exclaiming: "No. I want to hold these two scoundrels here and wait for my uncle to return, so he can see for himself."
Xu Lingxiao was puzzled when he saw County Magistrate Xu walking cheerfully towards the county office, hand in hand with Su Lin, chatting and laughing, while County Assistant Li Ting could only stand by respectfully accompanying them
On the contrary, Su Lin remained calm and, with a cupped fist salute, addressed County Magistrate Xu Wenliang: "Student Su Lin has met County Magistrate Xu. In response to County Magistrate Xu's words, the student indeed gained wisdom through the teachings of the sages"
Upon seeing County Magistrate Xu return, Xu Lingxiao hurriedly sought to take credit. However, at that moment, County Magistrate Xu was engrossed in a lively conversation with Su Lin, only slightly raising his head to nod at Xu Lingxiao and saying: "Understood, I will have Li Ting record twenty points of merit for you shortly"
"Elder brother, I told you! Brother Su Lin truly possesses wisdom through the sacred words, yet you refuse to believe it," Dong Zijing said proudly to her elder brother Dong Feng. When County Magistrate Xu invited Su Lin to the county office as a guest, she did not accompany him; instead, she looked at her elder brother Dong Feng, who was dumbfounded, with a beaming smile.
But who would have thought that he hurriedly brought the two thieves to the county office, only to find that County Magistrate Xu had gone out, and even the County Deputy Li Ting was absent as well. He felt frustrated and said, "What on earth could be such an important matter? Both my uncle and County Deputy Li Ting are not here."
Despite holding the title of Jinshi and being unperturbed by honor or disgrace, Magistrate Xu now appeared with tears streaming down his face. He grasped Su Lin's hand tightly, unwilling to let go, as if fearing that Su Lin would vanish the moment he released him. He persistently pulled him toward the county office, saying, "Su Lin, accompany me back to the county office. I wish to have a heartfelt discussion with a talent like you. Moreover, I must report this immediately to the Prefect, no... I will report it directly to the Emperor. Yes, Su Lin, accompany me back to the county office. I wish to have a heartfelt discussion with a talent like you. Furthermore, I must report this immediately to the Prefect, no... I will report it directly to the Emperor. And the Holy Temple... truly the sacred words that enlighten, this is a great fortune for our entire human race!"
Scholar Xu Lingxiao and County Magistrate Xu Wenliang are uncle and nephew. After Xu Wenliang passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, he was appointed as the county magistrate of Fengle County. Coincidentally, in the same year, Xu Lingxiao, the son of Xu Wenliang's elder brother Xu Wentao, also achieved the status of a scholar and thus followed Xu Wenliang to Fengle County to gain experience and earn a reputation.
Due to the fact that Fengle County is a small county on the border of the Wu Kingdom, it is less than one hundred miles from the Great Wall of the Wu Kingdom, and is not far from the southern barbarian tribes and demon clans. Therefore, it is common for small groups of barbarian soldiers to take advantage of the gaps in the Great Wall and invade. This makes it an excellent place for ordinary scholars and candidates to earn merit by defeating enemies.
Uncle! Look, in just three days, I have captured the two notorious bandits, Jiang Yang and Jiang Hai.
The county magistrate's esteemed presence truly brings glory to this humble establishment!" Dong Feng hurriedly welcomed him, greeting with a smile, and said to County Magistrate Xu Wenliang, "Your Excellency, do not listen to this young man Su Lin's nonsense. He is only fifteen years old and has yet to attain enlightenment; how could he suddenly become enlightened? He even dares to claim that it is the sacred words that have enlightened him.
Students gain enlightenment through the words of Confucius, "A gentleman is not a mere tool," understanding the principle of being "not a tool"
What is going on with this ... ... and the - picture - book? That brat Su Lin actually ... ... has he really gained wisdom through the sacred words?
However, during the two years that Xu Lingxiao followed his uncle Xu Wenliang to Fengle County, he had no opportunity to kill the notorious bandit, and could only capture some petty thieves to earn a little fame. A few days ago, at a literary tea gathering in Fengle County, Xu Lingxiao boldly declared in front of his uncle Xu Wenliang that within ten days, he would definitely capture the notorious bandits Jiang Yang and his brother Jiang Hai, who were threatening the village.
Although County Magistrate Xu deduced from the residual aura of sacred power in Su Lin's room that Su Lin had attained enlightenment through the Sacred Words, his speculation was merely about the words of a Half-Saint. After all, achieving enlightenment through the words of a Half-Saint already signifies an extraordinary talent; with diligent effort, one could at least attain the status of a Hanlin Scholar or higher. As for enlightenment through the words of a Sub-Saint or the true Saint Confucius, County Magistrate Xu did not even dare to imagine such a genius appearing within the jurisdiction of Fengle County. After all, achieving enlightenment through the words of a Half-Saint already signifies an extraordinary talent; with diligent effort, one could at least attain the status of a Hanlin Scholar or higher. As for enlightenment through the words of a Sub-Saint or the true Saint Confucius, County Magistrate Xu did not even dare to imagine such a genius appearing within the jurisdiction of Fengle County.
Su Lin nodded with a smile, acknowledging that he understood what his words of enlightenment meant to County Magistrate Xu. The words of a Hanlin scholar could resonate with a child of enlightenment, as they were already sufficient to be considered an achievement for a county magistrate. Moreover, Su Lin's true words of enlightenment would likely be enough to allow County Magistrate Xu to accumulate enough merit on the official ranking list to be promoted to the position of prefect or even governor.
Yes
Just three days later, Xu Lingxiao discovered two individuals in disguise at the market. He recognized them on the spot and, using his scholarly powers and divine abilities, displayed great prowess by capturing them. Naturally, he could not miss the opportunity to take credit in front of his uncle.
Indeed! Su Lin, oh Su Lin! This county has also heard of you. At the age of fifteen, you have not yet attained enlightenment. A few days ago, you used the character 'Qin' obtained through your father Su Jingtian's entry to exchange for the qualification to register for the county examination. This county never expected that today you would be able to attain enlightenment through the sacred words. Quickly tell me, which sentence from which semi-saint's teachings led you to this enlightenment?
Dong Feng, who had never received a proper glance from County Magistrate Xu, was astonished to see the usually stern and imposing magistrate treating Su Lin with such kindness. From the looks of it, if not for the significant age difference, it seemed as though he would have liked to call Su Lin his brother.
"So it turns out that a gentleman is not a tool, as Confucius said..." Magistrate Xu was momentarily taken aback before he grasped Su Lin's arm with a voice that nearly turned into a scream, wanting to confirm once more, "Su Lin, what did you say? Are you using Confucius's saying 'a gentleman is not a tool' to open the wisdom of *maps* and *books*? The true words of a sage to enlighten?"
Thus, when Magistrate Xu heard that Su Lin had gained enlightenment through the concept of "a gentleman is not a tool," he was momentarily taken aback and found it hard to respond.
The words of the Half-Sage and the Sub-Sage can also be referred to as the words of the Sage that enlighten the mind, yet it is uncertain how much they differ from the true words of enlightenment by the Sage. Within the Nine Nations, while the words of the Half-Sage that enlighten the mind are rare, they are not entirely absent. However, those who have truly enlightened the mind with the words of Confucius are only Mencius and Zisi.
Heaven bless my Wu Kingdom! No... it is Heaven that blesses our human race! After thousands of years, a true genius has indeed emerged, one who enlightens others with the words of a true sage.
Su Lin responded honestly, neither servile nor overbearing
At the entrance of the Fengle County government office, Xu Lingxiao was holding down the two notorious bandits, Jiang Yang and Jiang Hai, and enthusiastically said to the head of the field, "Old Tian, where is my uncle? Today, I have fulfilled the boast I made back then by capturing the two bandits, Jiang Yang and Jiang Hai. I have also gained an additional twenty points of merit."
After speaking, County Magistrate Xu no longer paid attention to Xu Lingxiao, but instead invited Su Lin to the inner hall of the county office. Xu Lingxiao, who had expected to receive praise from County Magistrate Xu, was now glaring in anger, and only then did he notice that the person his uncle regarded with such special attention was actually the young man he had mocked earlier while capturing the two thieves at the market.