novelSusiti Chapter 6 Yang Benyuchi, a man of Guan Zhong's talent
Chapter 6 Yang Benyuchi, a man of Guan Zhong's talent
"System, what are the selection rules? Are three people always selected each time?" Liu Xiao asked.
[Ding! Each time the host balances, they can choose one character. For every three characters balanced, the system will randomly select one more (less than three characters will be counted as three).]
"I see, then let's extract Gao Jiong," Liu Xiao said, suddenly realizing.
Liu Xiao looked again and again. Apart from Dugu Jialuo, who had a chance of possessing god-level charisma, only Gao Jiong could reach the god-level.
Gao Jiong possessed both literary and military talents, and was insightful in handling affairs. After being appointed to a critical post, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to promoting virtuous and upright officials, taking the well-being of the world as his own responsibility.
"Treason, plotting rebellion, plotting against the emperor, heinous acts, immorality, disrespect, filial impiety, discord, injustice, and internal strife" are the Ten Abominations (this Ten Abominations has been revised and amended by various dynasties, so there are multiple versions). Gao Jiong was the first to establish the Ten Abominations system and wrote it into the Kaihuang Code, which effectively maintained feudal rule. In the second year of Kaihuang, he also built a new capital, laying the foundation for the prosperity of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty.
Yang Jian's inner monologue: I've been working for the Tang Dynasty all along (crying).
In military affairs, Gao Jiong quelled the rebellion of Yuchi Jiong, and also played a role in the southward campaign to pacify Chen and the counterattack against the Turks.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained Gao Jiong.]
Gao Jiong: Command 96, Military Strength 82, Politics 100, Intelligence 96.
Implanted identity: A student of Mingde Academy, who, having received kindness from the host during a time of hardship, decides to join the host's cause after achieving academic success and is currently studying at Mingde Academy.
"He's a man of both literary and martial talents. He should go to Mingde Academy as soon as possible. After all, I don't have many hobbies. I just like reading history books and learning foreign languages," Liu Xiao thought shamelessly.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained Yang Yichen.]
Implanted identity: Yuchi Yichen, a Xianbei general whose ancestors had assimilated into Han culture, serving as a colonel in the Jizhou Prefecture army.
He was also a famous general of the Sui Dynasty, who defeated the Turks and fought in all directions. Unfortunately, he encountered Yang Guang and died in office.
However, Yang Yichen's original surname was Yuchi. Because he lost his father at a young age and was cautious, honest, and skilled in riding and archery, he inherited his father's title and was raised in the palace, where he was given the surname Yang.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained Liu Muzhi.]
Implanted identity: Cousin of Liu Youzhi, a strategist under the King of Ji; returned from his studies abroad and recommended to the King of Ji by Liu Youzhi.
Liu Yu's chief steward was considered to be of above-average ability even among high-ranking officials.
Liu Xiao was quite pleased with his luck, having successfully avoided the cannon fodder group in the fourth group and even intercepted two Heavenly-level talents.
[Ding! System has completed one balance check and is currently upgrading. Please do not use the system until further notice, except for five-dimensional detection.]
"I hope this upgrade will be a boost to my unification of the world," Liu Xiao thought to himself.
"Your Highness, there is a caravan outside. The leader, who calls himself Jin Huan, requests an audience. He says he is the son of Jin Mantang and has a letter from his father to present," a burly man said as he appeared at the door.
It seems that Guan Zhong and his group have arrived, Liu Xiao thought to himself with delight.
"Then I'll trouble Uncle Qian to invite them in. That person is indeed an old friend of mine," Liu Xiao said with the air of a little adult.
"System, detect Qian Zhenggang's four-dimensional ultrasound." Liu Xiao thought to himself.
[Ding! Qian Zhenggang, Command 85, Martial Prowess Rank 4, Politics 68, Intelligence 65.]
As Liu Xiao expected, Qian Zhenggang was the strongest bodyguard his father had arranged for him in public. He was a fourth-rank official, and judging from his reputation in the north, he must be a fourth-rank official with extremely strong abilities.
"Buhuai greets Your Majesty." A handsome young man with dark skin bowed and said.
"No need for such formalities, Brother Bu Huai. The journey must have been fraught with trouble, Brother Bu Huai." Xiao Liu Xiao hurriedly jumped off the stool and pulled Jin Huan's hand to sit down.
Jin Huan felt a warmth in his heart when he saw that this action was the same as before. A maid had already prepared tea. Looking down, he saw that Jin Huan's face was covered with yellow and black marks, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Jin Huan couldn't help but blush. He was only thirty years old and often acted impulsively and recklessly. He had been traveling a long way and was covered in dust. When he arrived in the capital and heard that the young master had fainted from fright, he rushed over without even bothering to wash up. He wiped his face haphazardly with a handkerchief, but he didn't manage to clean it properly, and now he had made a fool of himself with a dirty face.
"Get Brother Bu Huai a wet handkerchief," Liu Xiao said, waving his little hand as if imitating an adult.
"Is there anything that makes you feel unwell, Your Highness?" Jin Huan asked cautiously.
"It's nothing, I just had some wine at noon and got a little agitated. The imperial physician has already checked my pulse, and I just took some calming medicine, so I'm fine now," Liu Xiao replied, taking a sip of tea.
"My father has a good friend named Bao Shuya. Through business dealings with him, my father also met his friend Guan Zhong. My father saw that the two of them seemed to have the talent to govern a country, and he intended to introduce them to the lord. Here is a letter. Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya, along with three friends, are waiting outside." Jin Huan's cheeks were gently wiped by the maid with a damp handkerchief. The occasional touch of her fingertips and the faint fragrance made the blush that had just faded quickly return.
"Since it was Uncle Jin who recommended you, then I, Xiao, thank you very much. Please come in quickly," Liu Xiao said, feigning surprise.
"System, detect Jin Huan's four dimensions," Liu Xiao commanded internally.
[Ding! Jin Huan, Command 69, Martial Prowess Rank 8, Politics 86, Intelligence 79, Commerce 90.] At the age of thirty, to achieve such a level in all four attributes is truly outstanding.
A short while later, the burly man Qian Zhenggang led a group of five people in.
The man at the head of the group had a handsome appearance and wore a simple robe, yet he possessed an air of otherworldly elegance. Historical records describe Bao Shuya as having a unique appearance and a refined demeanor, and this man was likely the one in question.
A step behind was a young man with a broad forehead and a round face. Although he was thin, he gave off a handsome and dashing feeling. His three wisps of beard made him look refined and cultured. He wore tattered clothes, but his eyes were bright and piercing.
Looking further ahead, three more people walked over. Some were short and dark-skinned, yet spoke with composure and their every move was pleasant. Others were disheveled, dressed in short clothes, with raised eyebrows, unkempt yet spirited. Still others had upright faces, exuding both the humility of Confucianism and the incorruptibility of Legalism.
"Bao Shuya, Guan Zhong, Xi Peng, Ning Wei, and Dong Guoya greet the Crown Prince," the five men said respectfully, bowing.
The system detected the four-dimensional attributes of the five people. Liu Xiao stood up to return the greeting and said, "Gentlemen, there is no need for such formalities. Please take your seats quickly." He then gave the system the order.
[Ding! Bao Shuya, Command 75, Martial Prowess 83, Politics 98, Intelligence 94.]
Guan Zhong: Command 90, Strength 76, Politics 105, Intelligence 102.
Xi Peng: Command 69, Military Strength 69, Politics 97, Intelligence 92, Diplomacy 95.
Ning Wei: Command 65, Military Strength 76, Politics 98, Intelligence 93, Water Conservancy 90.
Dongguo Ya: Command 62, Strength 65, Politics 95, Intelligence 91.
Liu Xiao swallowed hard. A Heaven-level talent with special attributes? This is really tempting!
Seeing the abilities of the five people, Liu Xiao became even more diligent, showing increasing respect and courtesy. He frequently offered his own insights and cracked jokes. He also instructed the steward to arrange accommodations for everyone. Just then, dinner was prepared, and some more wine and dishes were added, which everyone enjoyed immensely.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, everyone's faces showed signs of intoxication. Only Liu Xiao, having been frightened and given a calming soup, was spared from drinking alcohol. However, due to the many events that had occurred in the day, a hint of weariness unconsciously appeared on his face.
Everyone was good at reading people's expressions. Seeing that Liu Xiao was tired, they all got up to take their leave. The last one to leave was Guan Zhong. He stood up drunkenly, tapped the table three times, and his eyes were full of amusement and anticipation.
"I've heard that the Crown Prince is known as a child prodigy. I, Guan Zhong, will definitely seek his guidance someday." Guan Zhong bowed and stumbled back into the house.
The faint sounds of clappers and gongs mingled in the stillness of the night. It was past midnight but not yet the third watch. Guan Zhong, by candlelight, held a book and occasionally picked up his pen to make annotations. A breeze slipped in through the half-open window, stirring the flickering candlelight, just as it stirred Guan Zhong's inner turmoil.
The clash of sticks and gongs signaled the approach of midnight, a time of peace and tranquility.
Guan Zhong sighed, then laughed self-deprecatingly. How much knowledge could a nine-year-old child possibly have? Today, he was just intoxicated and had a strong desire to play. Besides, he had heard that the Crown Prince had been frightened today, so he might be a little slow on the uptake.
Guan Zhong blew out the flickering candle and was about to close the window and go to his bedroom when he vaguely saw a glowing bottle floating towards him. Guan Zhong rubbed his eyes, but the bottle had already floated right in front of him.
"I've heard that Master Yiwu has a refined taste for reading at night. The Fifth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism once struck a stone awl three times at midnight to preach the Dharma. Now, I, Xiaokong, have a thirst for knowledge, but I have no one to enlighten me. So I made this firefly lamp and came here specifically to seek your guidance," said Liu Xiao, a precocious child.
"Hahaha, Your Highness truly lives up to your reputation as a child prodigy! Please, Your Highness, play a game of chess with me!" Guan Zhong said with a hearty laugh.
"If you are good at playing chess but not good at playing the chessboard, I would be extremely honored," Liu Xiao said, and the two of them burst into laughter.
The two were playing Go this time, but Liu Xiao's terrible Go skills were quickly exposed, and he was almost driven to the brink of defeat.
"You should hear about what happened today, sir. The Crown Prince killed the Heir Apparent of the Prince of You. I believe there must be something fishy about this." Liu Xiao took the lead in bringing up the topic.