Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 65: The poem is completed in Dazhou, causing a great stir in Jiangzhou! (Second update, please vote!)

Jiangzhou Prefecture.

The Prefect's Office.

Xue Chonghu was in the yamen, reviewing a document entitled "Memorial on the Floods in Jiangzhou," his wolf-hair brush moving swiftly across the scroll.

Suddenly, his wrist paused, and a drop of thick ink spread across the paper.

"Boom--!"

The deep, resonant sound of the bell came from the direction of the Jiangzhou Confucian Temple, spreading out in layers in the twilight and startling the crows roosting under the eaves of the government office.

Xue Chonghu's white beard suddenly moved without any wind.

He saw the withered crown of thorns on his desk sprouting new buds at a speed visible to the naked eye, amidst the lingering charm of the Wen Zhong bell.

Why is the bell ringing at the Confucian Temple?

Duke Xue frowned slightly and put down his brush.

He was very familiar with this bell; it was the Wenzhong (literary bell) of the state Confucian temple, which would ring only in response to a piece of writing of the "Dafu" level, and it rang four times in a row.

This is a prefecture-level Confucian temple; it will never receive any acclaim unless it produces writings by officials of the rank of "Dafu" or above.

But since it is neither a literary gathering nor an imperial examination, who would want to produce an article at this time?

He walked to the front of the hall with his hands behind his back.

Not far away, the Confucian Temple of the prefecture was bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, its glazed tiles gleaming like blood and fire.

Logically speaking, a talented scholar who can write a "high-ranking" article would choose a time to make a name for himself, such as the prefectural examination or literary gathering, to publish his article. Why would he waste such an opportunity?

In February, the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination will be held!
During this period, there are also major poetry gatherings in the prefecture and city, such as the "Grain Rain Poetry Gathering" and the "Grain in Ear Poetry Gathering".

There's no reason to be so impatient and let such a great opportunity slip by, allowing "Dafu" articles to appear out of thin air!

"Someone is coming."

Xue Chonghu paced back and forth, "Go check if there's anything unusual at the Confucian Temple today. Has anyone accidentally struck the Confucian bell?"

"Boom--!"

Before he could finish speaking,
The even deeper, more resonant bell tolled once more, echoing through the sky and spreading like ripples across the Jiangzhou Prefecture.

The Duke of Xue, who had been in charge of Jiangzhou Prefecture for several years, suddenly narrowed his eyes—the Wenzhong bell rang twice!
The seriousness between Xue Chonghu's brows finally dissipated, and a long-lost smile appeared on his lips.

If someone accidentally knocks, the abbot and caretaker of the state Confucian temple will immediately drive them away and will not tolerate it.

Whatever the reason, ring the Wen Zhong bell!

The article by "Dafu" is definitely going to be a sure thing!
There's absolutely no way it could be wrong!

"it is good!"

Xue Chonghu clapped his hands and shouted softly, his eyes gleaming, "Two chimes of the literary bell, and it must be a piece of writing from a 'high-ranking official'!"

The officers below the hall could no longer contain themselves.

Prefect Cui Chengye was the first to rise and bow deeply to the ground: "Congratulations, Prefect! Your esteemed position has been blessed with flourishing culture and education, and a magnificent chapter has been bestowed upon your residence! This is all thanks to your virtuous teachings!"

"This must be an article from the Da family!"

I wonder which great scholar made the move?

Registrar Liu Mingchuan stroked his beard and pondered, "Could it be a new work by the academy's headmaster Zhou?"

Clerk Zhao Shiheng shook his head: "Headmaster Zhou went into seclusion last month to study, and he only left for literary gatherings. This is not his usual practice!"

Who knows which renowned figure from Jiangzhou Prefecture possesses such great fortune?!

At this moment, the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture was shaken by the sudden sound of the bell.

In the mansions of various prominent families, in teahouses and restaurants, the scholars and officials who were enjoying tea and playing chess all put down their teacups and chess pieces, looking towards the direction of the Confucian Temple with surprise and uncertainty.

"Da Fu's articles?"

Old Master Li of the Li family in the south of the city suddenly stood up, so shocked that the purple clay teapot in his hand shattered on the ground with a "crack." "Quickly go and investigate! See which family's prodigy has such great talent!" In the Zhang family academy in the west of the city, the scholar who was giving a lecture suddenly stopped explaining.

How fortunate I am!

The room was filled with young students, but the old teacher trembled and murmured, "It's been many years since I've seen such a literary talent from Dazhou. The literary tradition of Jiangzhou Prefecture is flourishing. How fortunate we are!"

"Boom~!"

Above the Confucian Temple, the third bell tolled, echoing across the Jiangzhou city. Wave after wave of sound swept across the vast plains of Jiangzhou.

The evening clouds hung low.

The entire city seemed to be waiting for an unsolved question.

While the officials in the government office were still immersed in the joy of the three chimes of the bell,

"Report——!"

A piercing scream shattered the festive atmosphere of the government office.

A Jiangyin mulberry wood archer captain, covered in blood, staggered into the hall, his armor shattered and his body drenched in blood.

With each step he took, a shocking trail of blood was left on the bluestone ground.

It was clear that they had just broken through the encirclement in a fierce battle.

"Mr. Governor!"

The soldiers knelt on the ground, weeping and wailing, “After the Jiangyin ship passed through the Jiangyin Lock, it was besieged by two hundred demon soldiers on the Yangtze River! Three hundred students are in imminent danger!”
County Lieutenant Zhao led his men in a desperate fight to break through the enemy lines, and ordered several of us to split up and seek reinforcements from the prefecture and county!

My lord, please send troops immediately!
If no reinforcements arrive soon, all three hundred students from Jiangyin will likely perish at sea, with none escaping alive!

"How dare you, you fiend!"

Xue Chonghu slammed his fist on the table and roared, the teacup in his hand shattering into dust with a "crack".

Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply—there were more than three hundred students on that official boat from Jiangyin!
His two legitimate sons, Xue Fu and Xue Gui, as well as Jiang Xingzhou, the son of his sworn brother and the top scholar in Jiangyin, were all on the boat!
A sudden gust of wind rose outside the hall, causing the lanterns under the eaves to sway wildly, illuminating the faces of the officials ashen white.

"Bring me the mirror!"

Xue Chonghu shouted.

Lei Wanting, the Commandant of Jiangzhou Prefecture, a veteran who had served on the border for twenty years, suddenly stood up and hurriedly took out a bronze mirror specially made by the Jiangzhou Prefecture camp—the [Demon Aura Bronze Mirror].

This mirror was forged by a great Confucian scholar of the previous dynasty using the fierce aura of the battlefield. Although the image is hazy, like looking at flowers through a fog, one can still glimpse some of the battles taking place within the territory of Jiangzhou Prefecture.

At this moment, Lei Wanting poured his talent into the bronze mirror, causing strange ripples to appear on its hazy surface.

The reflection shows the towering, turbid waves and the silhouette of a magnificent, towering ship made of locust trees standing majestically in the middle of the river!
That was clearly the transformation of the Jiangyin warship!
The treetops shone with a dazzling light, and barely discernible dark shadows could be seen falling from the ship.
They could almost hear the screams of the helpless students on the ship, fighting desperately without any support, as they fell into the river one after another.

"The examination transport ship in Jiangyin County has turned into an old locust tree demon?!"

Xue Chonghu felt a sharp pain in his heart.

"The boat carrying the child from Jiangyin was attacked, and now the entire ship has transformed into a demonic locust tree covered with demonic flowers!"
The warship may have already fallen!
Three hundred students, one hundred elite archers and yamen runners from Jiangyin! In such a short time, the entire army was wiped out?

The officials Cui Chengye, Liu Mingchuan, and Zhao Shiheng were all horrified and terrified when they saw the warship turn into a locust tree.

They had fought on the battlefield for many years, but had they ever seen such a strange and eerie scene?

"Commander Lei Wanting!"

You quickly beat the camp drum and lead a battalion of three thousand county soldiers!
Open the armory, deploy a thousand sets of Xuanjia heavy crossbows, and obtain the demon-slaying oil!

Lead your troops by water and rush to the river's center to provide immediate relief! Once on the river, slaughter any demons you encounter without mercy!

Xue Chonghu clutched his chest, which felt like it was being stabbed with a knife, grabbed a military command token, and issued a series of orders.

"Yes, my lord!"

Commandant Lei Wanting received the tiger tally.

"Prefect Cui Chengye, immediately summon all the officials in the prefecture to the ferry to await orders!"

"Yes, my lord!"
-
Second update! Requesting monthly votes!
(End of this chapter)