Chapter 341: A Young Tiger Roars in the Valley

Chapter 341: The Cry of the Milk Tiger in the Valley

Inuyama City, Xuan Ai Bureau Office.

"Master, these are the two new edicts I have recently promulgated, to be implemented by the newly established companies under the Xuan Ai Bureau."

Inside the study, Yang Bai Ze spoke to the projection before him: "As of now, we have opened a Temple of the Masters, gathering over a thousand offenders of tender years. At the same time, nearly three thousand people have been arranged to work in Chongqing Prefecture, and they should arrive in succession within these next few days, barring unforeseen circumstances."

"If the effects of these two trials prove significant, I plan to add another batch of enlightenment private schools in March, to educate an even younger demographic."

Pei Xing Jian stroked his flower-white beard on his jaw, smiling with satisfaction: "The situation in the criminal districts across the empire has already taken on the trend of burning oil. You choose to draw the fire from the bottom of the pot, slowly lowering the risk—this entry point is not bad. However, how does the common folk react?"

"There is some resistance, but Inuyama City is rather peculiar in the entire Wo region. One of the four major Wo companies, the Hwang Sei Group, which has the strength to lead resistance, has already been chased away by Li Jun under some pretext. Thus, this time it is only some small enterprises and workshops grumbling, so the implementation has been relatively smooth."

Yang Bai Ze whispered: "However, I have already arranged for the garrison to monitor their movements. If anyone proves unruly, we will naturally find a way to clean them out."

"So it seems, sending you to Inuyama City was a good move on my part back then?"

"Master, your foresight is unparalleled."

"There, you brat still flatters with such stiffness, making this old man's butt ache."

Pei Xing Jian twisted his body, changing to a more comfortable sitting posture, and said lazily: "Using those bald donkey's words, every sip and bite is a predetermined fate. Your smooth progress is also because you once formed a bond of merit with Li Jun in Mianzhou County. However, I must remind you, this kind of 'bond of merit'—the more you use, the less remains. The measure you must grasp well."

"The student understands, so I have already asked someone to purchase a martial arts injector among the prestigious families in North Zhili."

Pei Xing Jian laughed: "Do you need me to make some introductions? I still have some acquaintances in North Zhili."

Yang Bai Ze shook his head: "These minor matters need not waste Master's favor. As for dealings with those people, it is best to speak with silver notes."

"Not bad, your eyesight has improved too, able to see through the true faces of those dressed-up beasts."

Pei Xing Jian's expression darkened slightly: "I heard that Li Bufeng, that bastard, has designated your Inuyama City as the sole pilot for the new policies in the Wo region?"

"Yes." Yang Bai Ze nodded in reply.

"That brat, back when he and I were classmates at the New Donglin Academy, I already saw he was no good man. I did not expect that after so many years, half our lives are buried in the earth, and he still acts so unseemly."

Pei Xing Jian cursed and ranted: "Li Bufeng doing this, isn't he pushing you to the edge of the storm? Even if you have my support, you can't withstand being sabotaged by him like this! Leaving so many people unchosen, he fixates on you, his nephew—does he still have any face left?"

"Damn it, the more I think about it, the angrier I get."

Pei Xing Jian's beard and hair stood on end, clearly enraged. "Xiao Bai Ze, do not fear. I shall summon him here and give him a thorough scolding, to vent your anger."

"Master, do not be angry."

Yang Bai Ze quickly stopped him: "Minister Li sought my opinion, and I agreed voluntarily."

"You did so willingly?"

Pei Xing Jian's eyes widened: "What is the meaning of this, child? Do you not understand the principle that the bird that sticks its head out gets shot? I sent you to accumulate merit, not to risk your life!"

"Of course, the student understands the reasoning, but the current state of the empire does not allow us non-Donglin Party members to bide our time and nurture our ambitions!"

Yang Bai Ze spoke with firm resolve: "If I choose to proceed step by step, following others, although the risk is smaller, I would miss this precious opportunity and fade into obscurity. Only by taking the lead and striking decisively can I possibly rise to prominence and make a name for myself!"

Pei Xing Jian gazed at the determined young man before him, his eyes involuntarily blurring.

When had he, too, once been like this, full of vigor and ambition, heart soaring above the heavens?

Thinking himself a newborn milk tiger, he believed that his roar alone could intimidate all beasts.

But as the years grew, he came to understand that the beasts kneeling did not necessarily signify submission—they might be gathering strength for the next strike.

Pei Xing Jian slowly said: "It is good that you have such spirit, but the sea of officialdom swallows most those who advance with sharp intent. It is those who lag behind, the mediocre, who are more likely to survive to the end."

"The court is a bottomless sea of officialdom, and also a sky-reaching ladder that cannot be climbed and then descended. If I climb slowly, there will come a day when someone drags me down."

"History is cyclical!"

Pei Xing Jian emphasized: "The power of the eunuch factions once shone like the sun at its zenith, at its most prosperous time even the current Donglin Party could not rival it, yet they vanished without a trace. Bai Ze, no one can forever occupy that highest position."

"But I do not wish to fall from the ladder on the day I am dragged down, a fall so swift that I cannot even fully recall this life."

Yang Bai Ze grinned, a childish innocence suddenly appearing on his face, waving his hand and speaking aloud: "If possible, I hope to have the chance to descend from that sky-reaching ladder myself, letting all those below step aside and make way!"

He looked at the silent Pei Xing Jian and said in his hometown's accent: "Grandfather Huchou often said, in life one must dare to gamble. The more you bet, the fuller you eat. The less you bet, the more you eat chrysanthemum greens. But if you do not dare to bet at all, even drinking a sip of northwest wind requires watching others' expressions."

Yang Bai Ze controlled two mechanical arms to lift the hem of his long robe and slowly knelt before Pei Xing Jian.

"Master, let me gamble this time."

Pei Xing Jian stared at the still youthful face before him, unable to bear asking: "This gamble, the stakes are life and death. You are only in your dancing elephant years—do you not fear losing your life because of it?"

"If you had asked me a few years ago, the student would surely have wailed and rolled on the ground, begging you to let Minister Li return me to the imperial homeland, or at least place Inuyama City last in implementing the new policies."

Yang Bai Ze's smile was radiant, carefree: "But after that night in Mianzhou County, I am no longer afraid."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xing Jian sighed long and said wistfully: "Back in the days, our Confucian predecessors bound the sequence's rites and the court's offices together. Now it seems, this decision was a misfortune rather than a blessing."

"If not for these shackles, we could have become Confucian merchants, great rich men, living days as carefree as immortals. We need not watch helplessly as those greedy maggots of the Donglin Party devour this empire to nothing, while we exhaust ourselves to prop up the collapsing mansion."

The old man inside the door sighed, his heart full of thoughts.

Outside, wind and snow battered the windows, crackling.

"It seems I am truly old, beginning to lament these old, rotten past events."

Pei Xing Jian mocked himself with a smile, when he heard Yang Bai Ze tease: "If Master wishes to live a hundred years, it is quite simple. Even immortality is not difficult—I heard you once studied such topics in the Donglin Party."

"It was Li Bufeng who told you, wasn't it? I knew letting you follow him, it wouldn't take days before your old man's foundations were all laid bare."

Pei Xing Jian glanced at Yang Bai Ze, gave a cold snort: "Though my research back then failed, you go inquire—those Daoist sequence people were terrified, fearing that one day in Baiyu Capital, it would not be the sound of Daoist scriptures echoing, but the voice of Confucian classics."

Yang Bai Ze could not help but laugh: "Of course. Master's former glory and deeds, even Minister Li speaks of with great admiration."

"He had better truly admire, or else when he dies in the Wo region, I will not go to collect his bones!"

Pei Xing Jian said, unable to suppress a laugh.

"Master." Yang Bai Ze suddenly called out softly to the old man.

"Hmm?"