Chapter 5

The next day, Wang Kefan got up early and, accompanied by two experienced family members, went to the Junsui River to board a passenger boat, heading for Chongyang County along the waterway.

The river was winding, and by the time the boat reached Chongyang, it was already around ten o'clock in the morning. Wang Kefan and his companions went straight to the county office to pay respects to the county magistrate, Xu Bingzhong.

Outside the county office, Wang Kefan handed over his name card, and the gatekeeper quickly went inside to report. Wang Kefan stood by the octagonal wall, looking at various notices posted on the wall.

Most of these notices were government orders, some case summaries, and reward announcements for capturing bandits and pirates.

"There is a Dongting pirate named 'Song Jiang,' who is greedy and murderous, causing great harm to the region. On the Xth day of the Xth month, he led over four hundred bandits to raid XX Fort, killing and injuring over thirty civilians and looting all their property and livestock. ... All villages and towns should be on high alert and help each other. ... Whoever brings the head of 'Song Jiang' will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver..."

"There is a Yuezhou salt smuggler named 'Old Blade,' who is cunning and fierce, lecherous and lustful. On the Xth day of the Xth month, he killed and injured seven salt workers and civilians and abducted twelve women. His crimes are unforgivable, and he must be punished. ... Whoever brings the head of 'Old Blade' will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver..."

This "Song Jiang" seems to be a fan of "Water Margin." From his nickname, it appears he is following the path of killing and arson, hoping to be pardoned and eventually secure a government position. If the Qing army comes, such opportunists are likely to be the first to surrender.

This "Old Blade" appears to be a lecher. Although smuggling salt was a promising career in the late Ming Dynasty, he spends his time abducting women, and he will probably die at the hands of a woman.

At the end, a recruitment notice caught Wang Kefan's attention.

This notice was long and bore the seal of the Huguang provincial governor's office. It was issued just a few days ago, and the paper was still fresh and crisp, indicating it had just been posted. The notice stated that to resist Li Zicheng's bandits, the Huguang provincial governor, He Tengjiao, had decided to form a new army and was recruiting young and strong men from each county.

Wang Kefan read the notice carefully, his eyes thoughtful.

At this moment, someone came out from the county office, wearing a long robe and a tile hat, likely a clerk. Seeing Wang Kefan, he bowed and said politely, "I am Zheng Xuan, currently serving as a clerk in the county's criminal affairs office. I have been ordered by the magistrate to welcome Mr. Wang."

The "magistrate" Zheng Xuan referred to was the county magistrate, Xu Bingzhong.

"How dare I trouble you, sir?" Wang Kefan bowed in return, his manners impeccable.

Zheng Xuan, as a criminal affairs clerk and a trusted confidant of Xu Bingzhong, was not an official but was very sensitive to others' attitudes. Seeing that Wang Kefan did not have the arrogance common among noble family children, he felt a sense of goodwill and said with a smile, "Upon hearing of Mr. Wang's arrival, the magistrate was very pleased. Please follow me to meet him inside."

The two family members were greeted by the gatekeepers, and Wang Kefan entered the county office with Clerk Zheng. They passed through the main gate and the grand hall, arriving at the inner hall. In front of the hall stood ancient cypresses, and a stone tablet inscribed with six characters: "Justice brings clarity, bias brings darkness," a warning from "Xunzi: On Not Being Arbitrary."

Xu Bingzhong was waiting under the eaves, dressed in official attire. Wang Kefan approached and bowed deeply, saying, "Teacher, your student Wang Kefan pays his respects."

Scholars were known as "blue-collared scholars," while the county magistrate was an administrative official. If he were addressed as "Your Excellency," it would sound too vulgar. Fortunately, the county magistrate was both the head of the county and the supervisor of the county school, similar to a deputy education bureau chief in charge of school logistics. Therefore, scholars and the county magistrate interacted based on their roles in the school, which aligned with the Ming Dynasty's emphasis on literature.

Xu Bingzhong extended his hand and said with a smile, "Get up, get up. I didn't expect that the young man I once knew has now reached adulthood. It's truly touching!"

"I have wasted my youth and feel ashamed. I often long to hear your teachings, Teacher." Wang Kefan maintained the proper etiquette of a student, showing great respect.

After the formalities, they entered the inner hall, sat down, and began to converse. Clerk Zheng excused himself and left.

"Since you have reached adulthood, do you have a courtesy name?"

"My father once gave me the courtesy name 'Yuntai,' but I am still young and do not often use it."

Although Wang Kefan had a courtesy name, Wang Min deliberately did not use it, treating him like a child, a sign of disrespect. However, Wang Kefan, having just arrived from the future, did not notice this until Xu Bingzhong asked about it today.

"Yuntai? That's excellent. It seems your father has high hopes for you! With the country in turmoil, it is time for a revival. You should strive to build a career and leave a legacy like the heroes of Yuntai."

The "Yuntai heroes" were the great contributors to the revival of the Han Dynasty under Emperor Guangwu, whose portraits were displayed in the Yuntai Palace, a story that has been celebrated for a thousand years.

"Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance!" Wang Kefan was enlightened. The Ming Empire was in crisis, and wise men could see it clearly. Wang Rui, using "Yuntai" as his courtesy name, must have寄托了他心中的志向。

汉朝因光武而中兴，南明却即将覆灭，多了自己这只穿越而来的蝴蝶，汉家江山还有机会翻盘吗？……

“我和令尊已经两年未见，如今北方不靖，你可有他的消息？”提起故交好友，许秉中也非常关心。

“家父很久没有书信寄来，却有一些流言蜚语……”汪克凡顺着话头，把最近横石里发生的事情一一禀告。

“汪旻竟然如此可恶，凭空污人清白！”许秉中怒气勃发，他和汪睿是同案举子，同气连枝，私交甚厚，汪睿被人泼了污水，许秉中的名声也跟着受损，岂能轻易咽下这口气。

“士林子弟岂能轻易变卖田产，贤侄尽管放心，此事我必还你个公道……”话说到一半，许秉中心思转动，突然有些犹豫。

山西的局势他更加清楚，邸报上写得明明白白，大同文武都降了李闯，此时为汪睿强行出头，万一他真的已经降贼，这件事就没法收场了。

正在上不来下不去的时候，汪克凡及时递过来一架梯子：“多谢老师仗义执言，不过汪家族中流言四起，家母为之心力憔悴，想搬到崇阳来静一静，家中的田产无人照看，还是卖掉了事。”

“哦……，既然这样，还是以令堂的身体为重，田产这些身外之物，卖了就卖了吧。”许秉中暗地里长出一口气，承诺道：“卖田之事不用担心，我署中郑选乃积年老牍，刑名钱谷样样精熟，明天让他去一趟横石里，帮衬你家把田产卖个好价钱。”

“全凭老师做主。”汪克凡再次起身行礼。

郑师爷他刚刚见过，是个精明干练的角色，有他出面，就不怕汪家搞什么小动作。

“你母子既然搬来崇阳，日后可有什么打算？嗯，你是在山谷书院就学吗？”

山谷书院是崇阳县本地的痒学，因北宋书法家黄庭坚得名（黄庭坚号山谷），文风鼎盛，人才辈出，在湖广一带名气很大，类似于旧时空的省重点。汪克凡得病以前，就在这所书院读书。

“是的，晚生就读于山谷书院，不过，我打算退学！”汪克凡突发惊人之语。

“为什么？云台，你可不能意气用事，令堂我会着人照看，令尊的消息我也会帮你打探，总之万万不可退学！”许秉中惊讶痛惜之余，苦口婆心地劝告着。

汪克凡的回答却让他更加吃惊：“天下大乱，文事荒废，再读书也没什么用处。我看县衙外有一张征兵告示，湖广巡抚衙门正在编练新军，不如就此投笔从戎……”

明末科举无法正常进行，汪克凡很清楚，如果继续钻研八股，就只能参加满清的科举了。

何腾蛟编练的新军反倒是个机会，对于一个在部队中呆了多年的穿越客，在明末乱世中掌握一支军队，应该是最正确的选择。

“糊涂！”许秉中终于有些恼怒，斥道：“堂堂圣人弟子，岂可弃文就武，与武弁同流？纵然科举之路暂时阻断，我辈也应潜心研读，以求义理！”

明朝历来重文轻武，文官对武将的鄙视已经浸入骨髓，虽然崇祯末年因为长期战乱，武将的地位迅速上升，但文官对武将只是虚与委蛇，心底还是一百个瞧不起。

汪克凡更让他失望，科举不成就想去当丘八，书读的也太功利了些，有失儒家弟子修身养性的本心。

“义理践履，兼之为上。”汪克凡声音不高，态度也非常恭敬，许秉中却不由得一愣。

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"Principles and practice, both are important." Wang Kefan's voice was low, and his attitude was very respectful, but Xu Bingzhong was taken aback.