Section 9, The First Accidental Encounter

While feeling some regret, Jia Yucun did not hesitate at all, striding swiftly up the steps, while signaling the maid to hurry and lead the little girl to follow closely.

In a moment, it was difficult to ascertain the truth of the other party's words. Although it could be generally determined that the other party should not be involved with the bandits, the lack of understanding of their background made it impossible to feel at ease.

Feng Ziying did not expect that by opening his mouth, two groups of people would actually come. Do they really think of his home as a sanctuary?

I am Jia Hua from Huzhou. This trip was originally to escort the daughter of Dong Weng to the capital. I have long heard of the beauty of Suzhou and Hangzhou in the south, and Linzhang in the north, and I wished to disembark and take a look, while also purchasing some items. I did not expect that under the bright daylight... Jia Yucun did not reveal the identity of Miss Lin, but only spoke of himself.

We, two individuals from Jinling, came to Linqing as it is a northern trade port. We intended to conduct an investigation, but just a few days after our arrival, we encountered such events. We are currently residing at Huifulou in Bixia Palace Alley. Today, we originally planned to visit Guozixiang and Mashijie to understand the market situation, but unexpectedly...

He can be considered a person of considerable experience, having mingled in the capital for several years and witnessed some grand occasions. Upon seeing this individual with his sword-like brows and starry eyes, straight nose and square jaw, and his extraordinary and refined demeanor, Feng You's impression improved significantly

The provincial examination is the most intense; passing it grants the title of "juren" and establishes eligibility for official positions. Generally speaking, one only needs to refine their qualifications slightly, and they can basically become an official.

"Then how can you prove that you are not a band of rogues?" Feng Ziying, however, did not let the other party off easily, at the very least wanting to gauge their true intentions.

The founding emperor of this dynasty came from a merchant background, and his attitude towards merchants was far better than that of the previous Ming dynasty. However, the deeply ingrained notion that merchants are unworthy of entering the grand hall still persists, leading the gentry class to maintain an inherent disdain and contempt for merchants.

It seems that Mr. Jia is indeed a scholar, Feng Ziying remarked in a nonchalant manner

Jia Yucun did not expect that the other party, despite their young age, would be so aggressive. After a moment of surprise, he slowly said: "Today, with the chaos in the city, you should be aware of it. If I were an accomplice of the bandits, would I bring along two women, one old and one young? Moreover, you can probably tell from my accent that the bandits in the city today all speak with a dialect from Lu. Even if the bandits are foolish, they would not choose someone with a Jiangnan accent like mine, accompanied by an old and a young woman, to act as an accomplice, would they?"

Feng Ziying was still observing the man with the surname Jia, and for a moment, he did not react, pondering that this person might be of scholarly background, with an even stronger air of officialdom.

Such affluent families do not easily allow outsiders to enter. Even if one were to knock on the door, it is not guaranteed that they would receive shelter. Unexpectedly, however, two individuals took the lead and surprisingly received permission to enter.

The person who had previously pleaded now clasped his fists and bowed deeply, and then spoke earnestly: "Thank you for your timely assistance, I, Xue Jun, have no way to repay you, if only..."

Both Feng You and Fu Bo had unsightly expressions, but this was not the time for hesitation or indecision. Feng Ziying was too lazy to say much, and even before the newcomers could speak, he waved his hand and said: "Let them all in, quickly close the door!"

"And what about the two of you?" Feng Ziying turned to the other two.

Jia Yucun was also taken aback. Although he knew that this young boy was likely the master of the residence, he was merely an immature lad of about eleven or twelve years old. In such circumstances, it was evident that it should be the vigorous middle-aged man who took charge. Unexpectedly, it was this young boy who spoke first.

The purpose of my trip to the capital was originally to leverage the connections of the Lin and Jia families to seek a restoration, so naturally, I cannot add any more trouble.

The county examination, the provincial examination, the district examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination are essentially a continuation of the previous Ming dynasty system. The county and provincial examinations serve as qualification tests; passing the provincial examination essentially grants one the status of a scholar, thereby confirming their identity as a literate individual, yet it still does not guarantee a position in government.

Feng You sheathed his waist knife, his sharp gaze sweeping over the few newcomers.

I am Xue Jun from Jinling. My family has been engaged in business through the generations. I have long heard of the great reputation of Linqing and originally intended to come to Linqing to explore and see if there were suitable opportunities for livelihood. I did not expect to encounter such matters instead

This individual, however, is quite eloquent, managing to cleanse himself of all entanglements, yet leaves one unable to inquire deeply into his origins

Although this family does not resemble merchants, it cannot be said that they do not have relatives and friends engaged in commercial activities. If one were to become aware of the Lin family's connections, it would inevitably lead to unnecessary troubles for the Lin family.

"Where are you, esteemed sir?" Feng You's gaze fell upon the young man in front of him, who appeared to be in his thirties

Yet I heard him say that he was sending the daughter of the Eastern Elder to the capital, such a person actually has an Eastern Elder, could it be some official's friend?

The middle-aged man who claimed to be named Xue Jun exuded a dignified and composed demeanor, yet he lacked a certain scholarly air, giving Feng Ziying the impression of someone who had long been accustomed to the commercial world

Feng You glanced at the frowning Keng Ge'er, who was momentarily silent, and then spoke in a deep voice: "What kind of people are you, and why have you come to this place?"

"I dare not, indeed I have studied for a few years, but my life has been one of turmoil and wandering, better left unmentioned." Jia Yucun was reluctant to speak of his past, feeling somewhat ashamed to bring it up; having been a successful candidate in the imperial examination, he was dismissed from his official position after only one year, thus breaking the record for his cohort.

The Huishang merchants, as the name suggests, naturally originate from Huizhou Prefecture. In contrast, the Dongting merchant group is not derived from the Dongting Lake in Hunan and Hubei, but rather from Dongting Mountain by Taihu Lake. Notably, the Dongting East Mountain area is densely populated and narrow, with its inhabitants engaging in trade in all directions, earning the reputation of "Drilling Through the Sky at Dongting"

These two clearly represent a master-servant pairing, claiming to be merchants from Jinling, yet among the merchants from Nanjili in Lingqing, Jinling merchants do not rank highly; it is the merchants from Huizhou and the Dongting merchant group that stand out as the leaders.

Once the provincial examination is passed, it truly becomes a different world, akin to a fish leaping over the dragon gate. Even the most down-and-out individual can secure a position as a seventh-rank county magistrate. As for whether one can remain in the capital to enter the Hanlin Academy or take a chance at becoming a shujishi, that will depend on one's fortune and connections

In fact, Feng Ziying had never considered that these three individuals were accomplices of the bandits; he merely had an instinctive desire to learn more about their backgrounds.

Feng Ziying stood at the corridor observing the middle-aged man, who was dressed in a gray silk long robe. Although his speech was not overly pedantic, it was nonetheless cultured and polite, indicating that he was not an ordinary merchant.

He always felt that this merchant with the surname Xue possessed a demeanor that was distinct from ordinary traders. Although it may not be related to bandits, he should be a character of some significance.

It is understood that the three of them could do little later on, as a young man accompanied by an elderly person and a young child, if the bandits truly had such thorough preparations to infiltrate, he would also accept it

According to the customs of the Great Zhou, only those who have been part of the Hanlin Academy are eligible to enter the cabinet. This means that anyone who has not been refined at the Hanlin Academy of m.hetushu.com is ineligible to serve in the most central cabinet of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Even if one can hold a position in the Six Ministries or as a governor, they cannot become a cabinet scholar.

Jia Yucun said little, merely stepping forward to slightly bow and clasp his hands in a gesture of respect.

Jiangnan is a place where merchants gather, with significant merchant influence in regions such as Huizhou, Suzhou, and Longyou. The Huizhou merchants and the Shanxi merchants are the two largest merchant groups within the Great Zhou influence.

The Great Zhou dynasty continued the system of the Ming dynasty, particularly valuing scholars due to the merchant background of the Zhou Taizu's family. From the establishment of the dynasty, a new imperial examination system was initiated.

Dong Weng Linhai is the Salt Inspector of Yangzhou, holding a prestigious position and wielding significant power over salt distribution. Although it is said that most of the salt in the northern regions comes from Shanxi and Shaanxi, the waterway along the Grand Canal is highly convenient, and there are indeed many daring salt traders who secretly transport salt to Linqing Prefecture.

Feng Ziying, relying on the sensations left by this body after being immersed in the Guozijian, sensed that this Jia Yucun was likely not an ordinary student or scholar. At the very least, he must have passed the provincial examination and become a juren, as evidenced by the demeanor he displayed, which was neither servile nor overbearing. Even in such a perilous situation, he was able to maintain a certain poise, which was remarkable

When Jia Yucun saw the two people rushing out from the alley opposite, pleading at the door, he knew the opportunity had arrived

With the creaking sound of the door closing, the group of talents finally breathed a slight sigh of relief