Chapter 89: Parting with a Cup in Hand for the Eastern Journey (Part 5)

When Han Gang's group arrived at the East Gate, Wang Zhao and Wu Yan had not yet arrived. Instead, they saw another group of people seeing someone off, which turned out to be Liu Zhongwu. This young officer, who had gained the favor of Xiang Bao, was surrounded by a group of people, bidding farewell with deep emotion. Xiang Bao did not come to see him off, but he did send a trusted subordinate. Both groups were crowded near the city gate, but they did not even exchange greetings, acting as if the other did not exist.

"Do you want to go with him? It would be nice to chat along the way," Wang Hou joked, his voice a bit louder. Liu Zhongwu seemed to hear it, his head moved slightly, then quickly turned back.

Han Gang smiled easily, "I don't mind, but he probably won't. You know how narrow-minded Xiang Bao is. If Liu Zhongwu walks with me, he'll face a lot of trouble when he returns. Look, he's already gone!"

Liu Zhongwu seemed to be in a hurry, as if he were fleeing. Among the large group of friends seeing him off, over a dozen accompanied him on his journey. They were all close relatives and friends, and according to custom, they would return after sending him off for five to ten miles. On Han Gang's side, Wang Hou had also prepared a farewell banquet at the Ten Mile Pavilion.

Parting is a sorrow that can make one lose their soul. In ancient times, with inconvenient transportation, once parted, it was hard to know when one would see each other again. But this did not apply to Han Gang. All the young people present were in their prime, and Han Gang was just making a quick trip to the capital and would return soon. There was no melancholy of a ten-mile farewell, but rather a joyful atmosphere wishing Han Gang a smooth journey.

A chorus of shouts from the city center reached the city gate. Han Gang and his group looked in the direction of the sound and saw Wang Zhao and Wu Yan riding side by side, heading towards the city gate. Walking beside them was Liu Xishi, the imperial envoy of the Qin-Feng Circuit.

'Who would have thought he would come!'

The desk of the Qin-Feng Circuit's governor was completely occupied by a large piece of paper, eight feet long and four feet wide. The high-quality paper, treated with alum and wax, contrasted with the dark, somber lacquer of the desk. The pavilions, terraces, flowers, stones, and figures on the paper were meticulously sketched, each vivid and lifelike.

Li Shizhong, dressed in a simple blue robe, with a wooden pin in his hair, looked like an ordinary scholar. He stood in front of the desk, holding a rabbit-hair brush, staring intently at the painting. The fire in the study was not burning brightly, but Li Shizhong's forehead was covered with fine sweat. The young servant grinding ink and adding water stood quietly, not daring to make a sound.

A painting titled "The Drunken Guest Forgetful of His Return" had taken Li Shizhong over three months to complete. The first draft and the second outline were completed quickly in the first month, despite his busy schedule. But since... since... well, Li Shizhong admitted, since the name Han Gang entered his ears, one messy thing after another happened. Before he realized it, Wang Zhao, whom he had suppressed for nearly a year, turned the tables after taking Han Gang as a disciple. Not only did he connect with Zhang Shouyue and Wu Yan, but he even rushed to Guwei before the New Year. How could Li Shizhong have the heart to continue painting...

Without announcing himself, Yao Fei walked straight into Li Shizhong's study, giving the servant grinding ink a glance to signal him to leave. He then reported the news he had just received to the Qin-Feng Circuit's governor in a low voice.

Hearing the voice of his trusted retainer, Li Shizhong kept his head down, still looking at the painting. After a moment, he dipped his brush in ink and added a few strokes to the painting, creating a simple yet vivid image of a drunken guest. Putting down the brush, he turned and smiled, "Han Gang set off today, isn't that something we already knew? Let's not talk about this. Xiangqing, come and look, is there anything that needs to be changed in this painting?"

Yao Fei sighed softly. Perhaps Li Shizhong thought he had hidden his feelings well, but Yao Fei had long seen through it. The Qin-Feng Circuit's governor was secretly quite wary of the young scholar, who was only in his early twenties. Otherwise, he wouldn't have suddenly felt better on the day Han Gang left for the capital. It seemed he was about to ruin Li Shizhong's good mood: "Sir, Liu Xishi also went to see him off."

Li Shizhong's face darkened instantly, the relaxed expression on his face turning gloomy. But after a pause, he laughed carelessly, "So what if he's an imperial envoy? He's just a messenger to the emperor! Think of Zhong E, who captured Suide with the emperor's secret order. Wen Kuanfu and Wen Yanbo still forced the emperor to demote Zhong E to Suizhou for two years, and even the messenger who delivered the secret order, Gao Zunyu, was sent to Qianzhou as a supervisor, and only recently transferred to the Western Capital."

If a real conflict were to arise, Li Shizhong would not fear Liu Xishi at all. Although the emperor behind Liu Xishi was the supreme ruler of the land, he was not invincible. As long as right and wrong were clearly distinguished, the emperor could not act arbitrarily. "There are virtuous officials and loyal ministers in the court. Even the emperor cannot do as he pleases, let alone a mere imperial envoy!"

"Sir, please be careful with your words!" As Li Shizhong's trusted advisor, Yao Fei was often troubled by the Qin-Feng Circuit's governor's loose tongue. Many things could be understood in the heart, but why say them out loud? However, if Li Shizhong were not so agitated, he wouldn't have said so much.

Li Shizhong was skilled in administration and military affairs, leaving a good record wherever he served. Yao Fei had assisted many high-ranking officials over the years, and among them, Li Shizhong's abilities were top-notch, making him an outstanding official.

However, Li Shizhong, who dared to submit memorials on state affairs at the age of fifteen, never stopped talking after entering officialdom. He often boasted and bragged in front of the emperor and the prime ministers. As a result, he was known in the court and the country as a capable official who liked to make grand statements.

Yao Fei often sighed for Li Shizhong. Because of his loose tongue, he often clashed with the current prime ministers and was often demoted due to his words. If not for this, with his sufficient experience, achievements, and age, Li Shizhong would not have remained outside the ranks of the prime ministers and high officials. He had been a court attendant for almost twenty years and had served as a governor several times, but he could never take the final step to reach the top!

"I'm afraid that if Han Gang goes to see Wang Dacan, and with him running errands for Wang Zhao, it will stir up a great storm in Qin Prefecture."

"Wang Anshi?" Li Shizhong snorted coldly, "What can he do? Among the officials outside the capital, Han Zhiyu and Han Qi oppose the reforms, Fu Yanbo and Fu Bi oppose the reforms, and Wen Kuanfu and Wen Yanbo also oppose the reforms. In the palace, the Empress Dowager and the Empress, who supports the reforms? Wang Anshi is now causing chaos in the court, making the whole country boil. I said long ago that Wang Anshi's eyes have more white than black, much like Wang Dun, and he will eventually bring chaos to the country."

"Sir, you are right!" Yao Fei knew that Li Shizhong had dealt with Wang Anshi long ago, but they did not get along. To be precise, Li Shizhong found Wang Anshi disagreeable. Even when they were just starting their careers, Li Shizhong had said that Wang Anshi would eventually bring chaos to the country.

This was not a secret.

Twenty years ago, when Bao Zheng was appointed as a vice-premier, many people said, "The court will now be busy." Bao Zheng was very upright and demanded the same from his colleagues. He was strict with himself and others, and as an imperial censor, his numerous memorials and remonstrances made his colleagues in the court suffer, even the Emperor Renzong. Such a person being appointed as a vice-premier naturally caused concern. However, Li Shizhong said, "What can Bao Gong do? The current Wang Anshi from Ning County, with his eyes mostly white, much like Wang Dun, will one day bring chaos to the country."

In fact, similar statements were not uncommon in the court and the country. Not to mention others, both Fu Bi and Wen Yanbo had been criticized, and Han Qi, who had served three emperors and established two, had been accused of having rebellious intentions in memorials that could stack as high as himself. It was just a matter of speaking one's mind, and out of a thousand statements, not one might be true. Li Shizhong just happened to be right.

"But Han Gang is personally appointed by the emperor. His name will leave an impression on the emperor."

Li Shizhong