Time Travel: The Survival of Li Zhi

Huang Cheng really did what he said. As a chief examiner, it was extremely easy for him to eliminate someone in the imperial examination.

As expected, Li Zhi failed the examination.

However, after seeing the test paper submitted by Li Zhi, Huang Cheng was also shocked by Li Zhi's talent. However, when he thought of Li Zhi's inhuman eyes and his disrespectful words to Confucius, Huang Cheng couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Although he had interfered and caused Li Zhi to fail the exam this time, Li Zhi could still take the exam again in three years. With his knowledge and talent, I'm afraid he would have a chance of getting the top spot by then.

This person is extremely talented. If he can successfully pass the imperial examination and enter the officialdom, I am afraid that even if he is in a high position and has great power, he will not be able to suppress him easily! Moreover, this person has no fear of reverence. Once he gains power, it will definitely not be a blessing for the people of the world!

No!

We can’t let him continue with the scientific examinations!

Huang Cheng made up his mind and thought hard about what method he could use to block Li Zhi's path to the imperial examination.

Finally, he thought of a brilliant trick.

Thus, with Huang Cheng's manipulation, Li Zhi, a juren, was recommended and appointed as the garrison commander of Qizhen, just like a huge joke.

It has never happened since the founding of the country that a juren holds a military position.

You know, since ancient times, civil officials and military generals have always been at odds. Civil officials often consider themselves superior and laugh at military generals for lacking wisdom and only knowing how to use brute force; while military generals, on the other hand, sneer at civil officials, thinking that they are weak and have no practical skills.

The two sides have long been at loggerheads.

But now there was an outlier like Li Zhi. The civil servants who were good at writing looked down on him and disdained him, while the military officers were full of hostility and had no trust in him at all.

Li Zhi seemed to be out of tune with the whole world and became the target of public criticism. Both literati and warriors seemed to regard him as a thorn in their eyes and a thorn in their flesh.

He is like Zhu Bajie looking in the mirror, neither human inside nor outside.

Fortunately, Li Zhi was not obsessed with being an official. He entered the officialdom only because of his father's order. Although he was given a military position and sent to the remote town of Qi, he was able to avoid the court where there were open and covert struggles and bloodless killings.

Moreover, Qi Town is a small town and there are no high-ranking officials. Li Zhizheng, a fifth-rank garrison commander, can be said to be the highest-ranking official here.

Under Li Zhi's management and Chen Xi's arrangement, Li Zhi's position in Qi Town gradually became stable.

Li Fu's business also used Qi Town as a springboard to expand to the north.

 …

"Father, I heard from the people below a few days ago that the Tartars on the grassland have been unruly recently. You'd better not go this time." Li Zhi's cold voice sounded.

Li Fu smiled. Although Li Zhi's voice did not contain any emotion, Li Fu still heard concern in it.

"We have to go. This cargo is too important. Once lost, everything our Li family has now will vanish in an instant." Li Fu said.

"But...what if the Tartars really send troops to attack us? Father, no matter how important these money and goods are, they are not as important as life." Li Zhi continued to persuade.

As a veteran who has been in the business world for many years, Li Fu is well aware of the risks involved, but he also knows that the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

"The Tartars come every year, but have they ever been able to get through Xuanzhen? At most they can just take advantage of the periphery. It's okay." Li Fu said in a low voice, as if he was talking to Li Zhi, but also as if he was talking to himself.

In the end, Li Zhi failed to convince Li Fu to stay, and Li Fu left Qi Town with the caravan that day.

On the day of his departure, Li Zhi stood on the city wall and watched Li Fu walk out of the city gate, then gradually go away until he could no longer be seen.

Five days later, a piece of bad news came, shocking the whole country!

The Tatars in the northern grasslands gathered an army of 200,000 and marched southward in one fell swoop. In just three days, they captured Xuanzhen, Shanheguan, and Daxizhen, three important towns and passes!

Afterwards, the surprise attack was launched, and the troops of Tanzhen and Zunzhen that came to support were dispersed. Then they took over the two towns of Tan and Zun without stopping!

In just a few days, the north lost five cities!

The Tartar army was sure to win every battle and every attack. Riding on the momentum of their winning streak and with tremendous force, they crossed the Beihe River and headed straight for the capital!

When the emperor heard the news, he was so shocked and angry that he vomited blood and fainted on the spot.

For a time, everyone in the South felt insecure.

 …

"Sir, let's run away! The Tartars are about to attack us! If we don't run away now, it will be too late!"

Li Zhi glanced at the people kneeling down below. They were all officials of all ranks in Qi Town.

Li Zhi said calmly: "I remember that if you lose a city or a territory, you will be beheaded..."

Someone below said quickly: "The Tartars are not good at business, and after they capture the city, they just plunder some people and property. I think they will leave after plundering. When they retreat, we will come back immediately. This way, it can be regarded as our recovery of lost territory..."

"Qi Town is the last barrier of the capital now. If I retreat, the Tartars will be able to march straight in. What should we do when the capital is conquered?" Li Zhi continued to ask.

"You are worrying too much, sir. The city walls of the capital are repaired and reinforced every year. The Tartars will definitely not be able to take them down." Another person spoke up.

Li Zhi nodded and said, "So, we just open the door and let them rob. But what about the civilians?"

"Ah, we admire the kindness of the garrison commander, but how can our small town stop the powerful Tartars? Please keep me here and plan for the future."

"Please don't be impulsive, sir. The morale of the Tartars is high, and Qizhen will never be able to be defended!"

The people below tried to persuade Li Zhi one by one, fearing that Li Zhi would defend Qi Town to the death.

Li Zhi's calm eyes swept over everyone present, and he slowly said: "A few days ago, my father said he wanted to go to Xuanzhen. I persuaded him for a long time, but he still went. Now he has been captured by the Tartars and is being held hostage by the Tartar army..."

Hearing Li Zhi's calm and cold voice, the people below had a bad feeling in their hearts.

Li Zhi continued, "I can give up defending the city...but I must save my father!"

The emotionless voice echoed in the room, and everyone in the room showed a look of fear.

"grown ups!"

Finally, one person couldn't bear it anymore, stood up, and just started to speak.

A flash of knife light passed by, and before the man could say anything else, Li Zhi chopped off his head.

The hot blood spilled on the ground and the head rolled to Li Zhi's feet.

Li Zhi stepped on it, then said calmly: "Remember, this is a notification, not a discussion."

Looking at Li Zhi's brutal appearance, everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

"Someone! Please go and have a rest, sir."

Li Zhi clapped his hands, and a group of soldiers came in and took out the officials of Qi Town, who looked like eggplants hit by frost.

After those people left, Li Zhicai asked a dusty man standing beside him, "Have you confirmed what happened to my father?"

The man fell to his knees with a plop.

He said with a sad face: "I deserve to die. I failed to protect the master and watched him being captured by the Tartars..."

He had snot and tears running down his face and kept knocking his head.

Li Zhi closed his eyes when he heard this, and did not look at him. He just listened to the man's kowtow. After a long while, he said, "Did my father leave any message?"

"Yes...yes, the master asked the young master to leave immediately and go back to Jiang Province!" the man said hurriedly.

"Go and get ready. Follow me tomorrow to rescue my father. If my father is rescued, I will ensure that you will be rich and prosperous for the rest of your life." Li Zhi's cold voice revealed a chill that made people shiver.

The man also understood the meaning of Li Zhi's words. If Li Fu could be rescued, it would be good. If Li Fu could not be rescued, or Li Fu was killed, then he would have to be buried with him!

But he was a slave of the Li family, and his life and death were no longer his own. What's more, although it was Li Fu who asked him to come back to deliver a message, he could not clear himself of the crime of abandoning his master and running away. He had no choice but to kowtow heavily to Li Zhi, then got up and left.

After that man left, Li Zhi was the only one left in the room.

Li Zhi slowly stood up and whispered, "Father, I always listen to you, but today I want to rebel..."

His voice was very low, and he seemed to be talking to himself.