Pei Man Xilou performed a formal bow, smiling with squinted eyes: “Which department does Sir Xu work in?”

Xu Xinnian politely responded: “The Hanlin Academy.”

“The Great Feng court sends a seventh-grade minor official to receive us?”

A cold sneer came from behind Pei Man Xilou. A youth with an effeminate aura and vertical pupils expressed his dissatisfaction.

“Who are you?” Xu Xinnian asked in return.

The effeminate youth with vertical pupils raised his chin, about to speak, when Xu Xinnian said: “Oh, I forgot, you’re not human.”

The vertical-pupil youth was angered by his cold, mocking tone and snorted: “This young master carries the bloodline of ancient gods and demons. How can you mere mortals compare?”

“Then why aren’t you in heaven? What are you doing in the mortal realm?” Xu Xinnian asked in surprise.

“You…”

The vertical-pupil youth’s face turned red with anger as he glared at Xu Xinnian. In the north, if anyone dared to speak to him like this, they would already be in his stomach.

“Xuan Yin, don’t be rude,” Pei Man Xilou said, eyes squinting and smiling. “Xuan Yin is of the bloodline of the great demon Zhu Jiu. He’s used to looking down on others. Sir Xu scolded him well; he indeed needs a lesson.”

At Pei Man Xilou’s glance, the vertical-pupiled youth fell silent.

“Although Sir Xu’s official rank is not high, he is indeed among the most prestigious. Only top scholars can enter the Hanlin Academy. How can you, a beast, compare?” Pei Man Xilou offered flattering words and said, “I am Pei Man Xilou.”

I didn’t scold him. If I had, you’d have to wait until tomorrow to enter the capital… Xu Xinnian nodded in acknowledgment.

Huang Xian’er smiled cunningly, turning her eyes to look at Xu Xinnian. The first character of the White Hair Tribe’s Pei Man clan was the same as the human Pei surname. Most people from the Central Plains would mistakenly take the Pei Man clan for the Pei clan.

She anticipated seeing this young Great Feng official confuse the surnames, thus embarrassing himself. She would then have the opportunity to show her gentle side, complementing it with seduction to stir this young official’s heart.

Xu Xinnian nodded, “Envoy Pei Man, this official will lead you to the guesthouse to rest.”

Huang Xian’er was immediately disappointed. This young Great Feng official had some real ability, which prevented her from executing her subsequent seduction.

Pei Man Xilou had never intended to use such a small trick to embarrass the prestigious Hanlin Academy scholar. He mounted his horse and led the delegation, protected by two hundred Great Feng soldiers, as they left the dock.

After passing through several small streets, they finally reached the city’s main road. The sight before them left the barbarian and demon delegation members dumbfounded.

The street was unimaginably wide, able to accommodate fifty horsemen riding abreast. Houses lined both sides, stretching as far as the eye could see, with shop signs fluttering in the wind.

Such a prosperous scene was something they had never seen before in their lives.

Huang Xian’er’s seductive eyes became dreamy. She finally understood why her ancestors had so desperately wanted to come south to the Central Plains, longing to seize this land.

But soon after, Huang Xian’er realized something was wrong. The main road was lined with human commoners holding baskets filled with vegetable leaves, rotten eggs, and even stones.

Their faces showed anger, their eyes burning with hatred.

“Kill the barbarians and demons!”

Someone roared, throwing a rotten egg at the delegation. Like a lit fuse, it instantly set off an explosion.

“Kill the barbarians and demons!”

“Get out of the capital!”

“…”

Vegetable leaves, rotten eggs, stones, stinky rice balls, and more flew towards the delegation in a chaotic mess.

The barbarians and demons, known for their impulsive and violent nature, couldn’t stand provocation. They immediately bared their teeth and showed angry expressions.

“Sir Xu, Great Feng’s citizens are very enthusiastic, aren’t they?” Pei Man Xilou said with a smile, using his energy to deflect the filth thrown from both sides.

Xu Xinnian calmly replied: “Indeed, they’re afraid you might not eat your fill.”

Pei Man Xilou choked, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

The barbarians and demons’ border raids were commonplace, all for a mouthful of food.

Huang Xian’er frowned repeatedly, somewhat annoyed. Although she could use her energy to deflect the filth thrown by the human commoners, such treatment was enough to anger even a clay figure.

At this time, she heard Pei Man Xilou ask: “These commoners seem to be particularly considerate of Sir Xu?”

Huang Xian’er then noticed that when throwing vegetable leaves and rotten eggs, the surrounding commoners deliberately avoided this young official, but the accompanying Great Feng soldiers didn’t receive the same treatment.

With this discovery, Huang Xian’er narrowed her eyes and observed for a while, noticing more details.

The commoners weren’t just being considerate; they were even particularly careful when throwing, very cautiously avoiding him.

The human commoners seem to adore him, fearing to hit him…

Huang Xian’er scrutinized Xu Xinnian with surprise, becoming extremely curious about him.

Merely being a Hanlin Academy Scholar couldn’t possibly make human commoners treat him like this. He might have another identity. And one that the human commoners recognize… Pei Man Xilou squinted his eyes, speculating internally.

Xu Xinnian chuckled, “They’re not being considerate of me. They’re being considerate of the sign hanging on the horse.”

Sign?

Huang Xian’er was stunned. She and Pei Man Xilou only then noticed that there was indeed a wooden sign hanging on the horse’s neck. They hadn’t noticed it before.

Xu Xinnian leaned down, took off the sign, and showed it to them.

The sign had five characters: “Brother of Xu Silver Gong.”

Brother of Xu Silver Gong?! Huang Xian’er’s voice was soft and coquettish, like a spoiled child: “What does this mean?”

Pei Man Xilou’s squinting eyes opened slightly wider, finally understanding: “No wonder, no wonder! So Sir Xu is the brother of Great Feng’s Silver Gong Xu Qi An.”

The White Hair Tribe had a secret room specifically for storing confidential documents. Behind this room was the tribe’s vast intelligence network, and the head of this network was none other than Pei Man Xilou, known as the bookworm among the barbarians.

He had personally written about that legendary Silver Gong of Great Feng.

Rising at the end of the imperial examination year, in less than a year, he had gone from an unremarkable constable in Langle County to become Great Feng’s most dazzling new star.

His talent was terrifyingly extreme, but what people feared most was not his combat ability, but his reputation that could be described as having universal appeal.

After the Chu Province massacre case, his reputation reached its peak, a peak that made people sigh in admiration.

How great was this reputation? Pei Man Xilou’s evaluation at the time was that all million citizens of the capital adored him. Now, after witnessing the power of a wooden sign, he decided to add another line when he returned to the barbarian tribes: His blessings extend to his family.

Huang Xian’er had also recalled that legendary Silver Gong and looked surprised.

In our divine race, only leaders have such prestige… Huang Xian’er became increasingly excited about this trip to the capital.

The barbarians, possessing the bloodline of gods and demons, had always called themselves the divine race.

Amidst the welcoming crowds of the capital’s citizens, Xu Xinnian led the barbarian and demon delegation into the guesthouse.

After settling the delegation, Xu Xinnian, who had been sent by Emperor Yuan Jing to do this tiresome task, was forcibly detained by Pei Man Xilou for half an hour before he could hurriedly take his leave.

He didn’t return to report to his office either, skipping work for half a day and leisurely returning home.

…

“The elder brother is already a rare talent, I didn’t expect this younger brother to be sharp-tongued and quite talented as well,” Pei Man Xilou said, sitting in the courtyard drinking tea after seeing Xu Xinnian off.

During the half-hour, every allusion he mentioned, the other could follow up. When discussing the history and classical texts, Xu Xinnian spoke eloquently. When talking about the old grudges between Great Feng and the northern divine race, he would even use flowery language, with barbed words, cold mockery, and sarcasm.

Huang Xian’er sat on a stone bench, deliberately striking a seductive pose that mesmerized the surrounding posthouse attendants. Hearing this, she snorted coquettishly:

“Just an unromantic bookworm.”

She had continuously given hints and tried to seduce him along the way, but that bookworm had turned a blind eye. It was like casting flirtatious glances at a blind man.

Huang Xian’er ate dried fruits and meat jerky from the stone table and asked: “Tomorrow we’ll enter the palace to see the human emperor. What’s your plan? If you’re not confident about bringing back reinforcements in the short term, remember to let me know early.”

Pei Man Xilou dismissed the posthouse attendants in the courtyard and said with a smile: “How do you plan to deal with it?”

Huang Xian’er yawned, her posture lazy and charming:

“Then I won’t return to the north. I’ll pick a high-ranking official in the capital and become his concubine. Isn’t that better than returning north to be punished? And there’s no need to fear retaliation from our people, right? With the Director overseeing the capital, no one from our divine race would dare come.”

Pei Man Xilou smiled and said: “To make Great Feng send troops to aid our divine race, concessions are inevitable. The purpose of our coming here is nothing more than the four words ‘bargaining and negotiation.’

“The divine race needs Great Feng’s help, so we’ve lost the initiative. To make us equal, we need to first strike at their morale and arrogance. If they respect us three parts, they’ll concede three parts at the negotiation table.

“Of course, your Fox Clan will need to exert effort outside the negotiation table. Among the three poisons of wine, lust, and wealth, lust comes first.”

The vertical-pupil youth Xuan Yin, finding a chance to interject, snorted coldly: “Humans are as lowly as ants. In ancient times, they were livestock raised by our divine and demonic ancestors for blood and food. Even now, after the era of gods and demons has ended, human commoners are still food.”

He knew the delegation had come to Great Feng for aid this time, but he still looked down on individually weak humans.

Pei Man Xilou glanced at him and smiled with squinted eyes:

“Such words are fine to say in private, but if you dare to speak so recklessly in public, I’ll skin you alive.”

Xuan Yin pouted: “I know, that’s why I waited until the posthouse attendants left before speaking.”

Pei Man Xilou took out a small box from the tribute gifts they had brought. He carefully and solemnly opened the box, which contained several books.

These books all shared a common name: “The Great Compendium of Beizhai.”

“Beizhai is my study. I’ve loved reading since childhood, not seeking deep understanding, just memorizing by rote. Later, I went south with my tribesmen to raid human scholars. For the first three years, I listened to their lectures. For the middle three years, I debated with them. For the last three years, no scholar that could be captured in the north could match my knowledge.

“That year, I was eighteen. To study in the South, I even dyed my hair black. At twenty, I suddenly had the idea to write a book. After ten years of study in the Central Plains, I compiled my knowledge into a book, revising it again and again. At that time, I hadn’t thought of a name for the book.

“It wasn’t until I returned to my tribe and back to my Beizhai study that I suddenly understood what it should be called. Over the next six years, I poured my heart and soul into it, and ‘The Great Compendium of Beizhai’ was finally born.

“This book is voluminous, with 308 volumes, encompassing agriculture, industry, commerce, history, astronomy, and geography. Doesn’t Great Feng say we barbarians and demons have no history? We do because they haven’t seen the Great Compendium of Beizhai yet. If Great Feng’s historians see this book, they’ll surely be overjoyed.

“Of course, what I’m most proud of in my life is still the military treatise. I’ve read almost all of Great Feng’s military books. Not to mention works of the past, the only truly noteworthy military book of the present age is ‘Six Essays on Military Strategy’ by Zhang Shen, the great Confucian scholar of Cloud Deer Academy. What it says is not bad, but it focuses too much on the role of cultivators in warfare.

“It ignores the importance of ordinary soldiers in war. If you remove cultivators and only consider ordinary soldiers, his ‘Six Essays on Military Strategy’ becomes nonsense.”

Huang Xian’er was dozing off listening to this, but perked up at the mention of military strategy and asked:

“The role ordinary people can play in battle is already small. What’s wrong with focusing on the role of cultivators?”

Pei Man Xilou shook his head:

“Do you know why Wei Yuan could win the Battle of Shanhai Pass? How did he earn his reputation as a military god of his generation? Only Wei Yuan could use ordinary soldiers to create divine strokes. He is a true military leader. If you remove cultivators and only use ordinary soldiers, give Wei Yuan 500,000 troops, and he could sweep across the Nine Provinces.

“I’ve studied that battle from years ago. The various forces involved over a million troops, accumulating an incredibly frightening number of ordinary soldiers. When this force is perfectly controlled and deployed, it becomes invincible.”

Very impressive, but I don’t understand… Huang Xian’er said charmingly: “How about I try to seduce Wei Yuan? If we can win him over, our mission will be truly accomplished.”

“Do you have a death wish?” Pei Man Xilou asked in return.

Huang Xian’er giggled coquettishly, exuding charm.

Of course, she was just speaking casually. To be chosen as one of the leaders of the delegation, she was an extremely intelligent demoness.

…

The next day, the barbarian and demon delegation entered the palace for an imperial audience. They passed through the Meridian Gate, crossed the Golden Water Bridge, and had an audience with the emperor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Along the way, Huang Xian’er showed no awareness of meeting a nation’s ruler. She cast seductive glances and flirted with guards, officials, and every man she encountered.

Entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony, distinguished officials lined both sides, with Emperor Yuan Jing seated high on the dragon throne.

Only then did Huang Xian’er slightly restrain her seductive manner, still greeting the emperor in a coquettish voice.

Then came the tribute from the barbarians and demons to Emperor Yuan Jing. Besides gifts, there were also three charming Fox Clan women, high-grade spiritual vessels.

It was normal for foreign tributes to include beauties.

After the old eunuch finished announcing, Emperor Yuan Jing spoke with satisfaction:

“I hear the northern war is raging fiercely. I am deeply concerned, but with the autumn harvest approaching, the people are busy, and we cannot spare troops to go north. I’ve ordered the Hanlin Academy to compile military treatises, hoping they can help you resist external enemies.”

First, he expressed the court’s difficulties, saying it was not suitable to start a war near harvest time. Then he offered military books, showcasing Great Feng’s military prowess.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! May Great Feng and our divine race form an eternal alliance and friendship!” Pei Man Xilou knelt prostrate, extremely respectful.

Throughout the audience, even until leaving, Pei Man Xilou didn’t mention a word about requesting aid.

He certainly could keep his composure!

The court officials were surprised, some sneering, some mocking.

In their view, the barbarians and demons were even more crude than warriors. The correct approach would have been to urgently request the court to send troops for aid.

They didn’t expect this Pei Man Xilou to be so composed, but even so, he would eventually have to speak up. Showing such restraint in court had little significance.

After leaving the palace, the vertical-pupils youth Xuan Yin could no longer hold back and hurriedly asked:

“Big Brother Pei Man, didn’t you say Great Feng’s military strategies were terrible? Weren’t you going to defeat them in their proudest field to win respect? Why didn’t you say anything just now?”

Huang Xian’er giggled:

“What’s the point of showing off to those people? Even if you show off to the heavens, they’ll turn a blind eye. They’ll still treat you the same way.”

She turned to look at Pei Man Xilou and said, “Who do you plan to target first?”

Pei Man Xilou said calmly: “The Imperial College!”

…

Shortly after noon, news spread from the Imperial College that the barbarian delegation leader, Pei Man Xilou, had visited the Imperial College and debated knowledge with the Grand Sacrificer, emerging victorious.

“His learning is both broad and deep; I am not his match…” This was the Grand Sacrificer’s evaluation.

He didn’t leave after that but openly gave lectures at the Imperial College and left his work “The Great Compendium of Beizhai” there.

A mere barbarian wrote a book?

The Imperial College students were initially furious, but as the reputation of “The Great Compendium of Beizhai” grew, the curses gradually subsided, replaced more by shock at a barbarian’s knowledge.

“The Great Compendium of Beizhai” was voluminous, its breadth and depth of knowledge astonishing. It was not something that could be compiled overnight.

Books of this scale were usually only compiled by the imperial court. It was unimaginable that it was independently compiled by a young barbarian.

Based on this book alone, Pei Man Xilou could rank among the great Confucian scholars of the age.

Most shocking was that several volumes of “The Great Compendium of Beizhai” detailed the history of the barbarian and demon races, their origins, and evolution. Especially the detailed recent 800-year history was no worse than the history books written by Great Feng.

It was a resounding slap to the face of the Imperial College and Great Feng’s scholars.

Pei Man Xilou’s fame suddenly skyrocketed.

“It’s hard to believe that the crude barbarians have such a scholarly talent?”

“That Pei Man Xilou is from the White Hair Tribe, known for their intelligence, but someone like him is extremely rare.”

“If I could author such a book, I would surely go down in history. This barbarian is too formidable.”

“I’m ashamed. When I was his age, I was still studying. Now I’m old and no longer have the energy to write books.”

“This man is detestable. First, he debates knowledge with the Grand Sacrificer, then pretends to be generous by leaving ‘The Great Compendium of Beizhai.’ This is slapping the face of our Great Feng scholars.”

It was precisely because of his barbarian identity that having such knowledge highlighted the “incompetence” of Great Feng’s scholars, as the vast majority of scholars couldn’t achieve such a feat.

“Among the younger generation, only Princess Huai Qing’s scholarship could be comparable to this man.”

“Princess Huai Qing studied at both the Imperial College and Cloud Deer Academy, while this man is self-taught from a barbarian background. The difference is clear.”

The barbarian and demon delegation’s arrival in the capital attracted much attention, not only from official circles and scholars but also from commoners in the capital.

Their topic of discussion had originally been whether the court should send troops to aid the barbarians and demons. Gradually, news of a highly learned northern barbarian spread through taverns, brothels, and other places.

“Nonsense! How could crude barbarians have any learning to speak of? Making the Imperial College’s Grand Sacrificer admit defeat? Which fool made up this rumor?”

Upon hearing such rumors, not a single person believed them, scoffing at the idea.

In the eyes of the common people, the Imperial College was the official academy, a place that produced literary talents.

Scholars held a very high status.

But precisely because of this, when the news was confirmed, angry curses filled the streets. The capital’s citizens, in their leisure time, no longer discussed whether to send troops, but instead jointly criticized the Imperial College, accusing them of disgracing the nation and Great Feng.

They were called useless officials, a bunch of incompetents.

“Even Xu Silver Gong, a mere warrior, could become Great Feng’s Poetry Champion. You can see how poor the Imperial College scholars are, a bunch of good-for-nothings.”

“You sound like you’re looking down on Xu Silver Gong.”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m just angry at the useless Imperial College.”

“What a great shame, to lose in scholarship to a barbarian. What a great shame! Are there no capable people left in our Great Feng?”

…

At the guesthouse.

The vertical-pupil youth Xuan Yin returned from outside, carrying a small box of books on his shoulder. He deliberately put it down forcefully to make noise and loudly laughed at Pei Man Xilou and Huang Xian’er in the courtyard:

“Those useless scholars at the Imperial College, I just said I was borrowing books for Big Brother Pei Man, and they didn’t dare stop me. Don’t mind the harsh words outside about Big Brother. It shows they fear you. They fear your knowledge.”

Although he thought reading was useless, being able to strike a blow at the humans’ pride in the field of scholarship was extremely satisfying and uplifting.

“Just exchanging books, just exchanging books…” Pei Man Xilou treasured the books in the box like precious gems.

“That so-called Grand Sacrificer is supposed to be the most knowledgeable person, but even he is no match for you, Big Brother. It seems the human scholars are nothing special,” Xuan Yin laughed heartily.

How exhilarating!

“The Grand Sacrificer is deeply learned, but human literary ways are prosperous. He doesn’t represent all of humanity. There’s an extraordinary woman in the palace whose scholarship is truly formidable.”

Pei Man Xilou picked up an annotated copy of the Four Books and began reading with great interest.

Three days had passed since the “debate” at the Imperial College. The barbarians and demons in the delegation were both shocked and delighted to find that their leader, Pei Man Xilou, had suddenly become a hot topic.

He had become the center of attention, bringing a huge shock to the humans.

Huang Xian’er, fiddling with some rouge bought from a shop, casually asked: “Now that you’ve gained enough fame, is it time for negotiations?”

These past few days, she hadn’t been idle either, having sent extremely beautiful fox women to many Great Feng officials.

“Not enough yet.”

Pei Man Xilou didn’t look up, reading while speaking:

“I heard there’s a literary gathering in the imperial city the day after tomorrow, coincidentally related to the northern war. Literary gatherings are good for gaining fame. Xian’er spread the word that I wanted to seek guidance on military strategy from Zhang Shen, the great Confucian scholar of Cloud Deer Academy, at the gathering. Hope he can attend.”

“The great Confucian scholar from Cloud Deer Academy might not bother with you,” Huang Xian’er said lazily.

“If I issue a challenge and he doesn’t come, wouldn’t that benefit me even more?” Pei Man Xilou smiled, then remembered something and said:

“Oh right, we can’t go up to Qingyun Mountain, we’d be suppressed if we went. Go find that Xu Xinnian, I’ve inquired, he’s a student of Cloud Deer Academy.”

“Good!”

The vertical-pupil youth became excited. He could feel that Big Brother Pei Man was becoming “powerful” in the eyes of these humans.

Big Brother Pei Man’s plan was progressing smoothly.

…

One wave had barely subsided when another rose. While scholars were still studying and copying “The Great Compendium of Beizhai,” immersed in the vastness of this masterpiece, they were suddenly shocked by Pei Man Xilou’s bold move to seek guidance on military strategy from the great Confucian scholar Zhang Shen.

What did this barbarian mean?

After slapping the face of the Imperial College, was he going to slap Cloud Deer Academy’s face next?

This stirred up excitement. Regarding Pei Man Xilou’s actions, the Imperial College scholars were both angry and expectant.

Cloud Deer Academy was not to be trifled with.

That barbarian, not knowing his limits, sought guidance on military strategy from Zhang Shen, the great Confucian scholar of Cloud Deer Academy. He was asking for trouble.

They only hoped that the great Confucian scholar of Cloud Deer Academy would temporarily set aside his pride. If he disdainfully refused the barbarian’s “request for guidance,” it would become a stepping stone for the barbarian to gain fame.

In the imperial study, a small court meeting was held.

Emperor Yuan Jing sat behind his desk, his face stern as he swept his gaze over the officials below.

“What are your thoughts on recent events, ministers?”

He was referring, of course, to Pei Man Xilou’s series of high-profile actions: defeating the Imperial College in scholarship, releasing “The Great Compendium of Beizhai” to gain fame in Confucian circles, and now seeking guidance from the great Confucian scholar Zhang Shen at the literary gathering.

“This man intends to gain fame in the capital, nothing more than establishing prestige to increase his bargaining chips for negotiations.”

“Hmph, does he think the court will yield because of this? Wishful thinking.”

“Even if he truly defeats Zhang Shen, we won’t concede an inch.”

Emperor Yuan Jing frowned. The more they spoke like this, the more it showed they were increasingly wary of Pei Man Xilou, treating him as a great figure, a great Confucian scholar.

Once their mindset became problematic, it would affect negotiations.

Negotiating with an unknown young man is different from negotiating with a world-renowned great Confucian scholar. How could their mindset be the same?

Prime Minister Wang stepped forward and said solemnly: “We need to curb his momentum, preferably crush his spirit and destroy the influence he’s built.”

Emperor Yuan Jing snorted coldly: “Now we can only hope for Zhang Shen.”

Wei Yuan shook his head and smiled.

…

At Princess Huai Qing’s residence.

Huai Qing, dressed in a plain palace gown, held a volume of “The Great Compendium of Beizhai” borrowed from the Imperial College, reading diligently.

Xu Qi An and Lin An sat at the same table, one with furrowed brows, the other with slightly knitted brows.

Piaopiao, taking advantage of Huai Qing’s distraction, peeled a grape and put it in Xu Qi An’s mouth. He spat out the seed and asked, “Is this book really that amazing?”

Huai Qing nodded slightly, not looking up, and said: “If Pei Man Xilou were born in Great Feng, he would surely become a renowned Confucian scholar of his generation, leaving his name in history.”

Xu Qi An took a deep breath: “For this man to create ‘The Great Compendium of Beizhai,’ his knowledge of military strategy must be profound. Daring to challenge Zhang Shen shows he has considerable confidence. Zhang Shen’s ‘Six Essays on Military Strategy’ is widely circulated, so Pei Man Xilou knows Zhang Shen, but the latter doesn’t know him.”

To be fair, he didn’t want to see the barbarians gain an advantage. Great Feng sending troops was inevitable, but they couldn’t let the northern barbarians and demons off so easily.

Over the past twenty years, the barbarians and demons had frequently raided the borders, burning, killing, and even eating people. In Chu Province, Xu Qi An had personally seen refugees, displaced and homeless, exposed to the elements.

He had also seen how poor households suffered due to continuous warfare.

Looking across Great Feng, Chu Province was one of the poorest states, suffering from years of warfare. All of this was thanks to the barbarians.

Huai Qing pursed her delicate lips, her tone unusually serious:

“Master Zhang went to the battlefield in his early years but later resigned from office due to an unsuccessful career. He has insights into military strategy, but that was decades ago. In these decades, he’s been living in seclusion at the academy, likely having lost touch with military ways.”

Xu Qi An’s heart sank.

In fact, speaking of military strategy, the only one he knew from his previous life was Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Not only did he know it, he had even memorized it.

Of course, Xu Qi An himself wouldn’t have memorized such things; it was part of his teacher’s extracurricular assignments.

After so many years, he had forgotten most of it.

Thanks to the transformation of his primordial spirit after reaching the Spirit Refinement realm, transcending ordinary people, he could recall the contents of the Art of War.

Moreover, with the Nine Provinces possessing supernatural powers, in his view, this world’s military strategies tended towards grand, forceful approaches. For example, a fourth-grade expert on the battlefield could mow down cavalry formed of ordinary soldiers.

There was no need for intricate tactics.

The Art of War, born in the mortal world, leaned more towards “micromanagement,” focusing on details.

“Join me at the literary gathering the day after tomorrow,” Huai Qing said.

“If Zhang Shen attends, Er Lang will participate. I can’t disguise myself as him,” Xu Qi An frowned.

“Then disguise yourself as someone else, acting as my guard,” Huai Qing’s mind was quick, offering a suggestion.

“Alright.”