Chapter 13

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"He is a truly surprising person, with a maturity and composure that is quite astonishing. His words and actions are not what one would expect from a twenty-year-old young martial artist from the countryside. He gives me the impression of a wise middle-aged man, experienced and steady."

"I haven't seen someone like him in a long time."

In the evening, in the villa where the Liu family was hosting guests, Li Chunjiang was chatting with two elderly men. One of them was his uncle, Li Changgeng, the current head of the Li family in Macheng, who had previously served as the governor of Jiangxi and Shandong, and as the minister of four departments. The other was Mei Zhihuan, who had served as the governor of Southern Jiangxi and Gansu.

"You are the same age as him, being born in the same year. It's quite amusing to call him young," Li Changgeng said to his nephew with a smile.

Mei Zhihuan added, "It's even more amusing that you didn't come to us just to talk about a stranger, right?"

"Uncle, you may not know him, but Uncle Mei does. Wasn't the masterpiece that Dong Qichang gave you the one you previously gave away?"

"You mean that young man?" Mei Zhihuan was slightly surprised.

"You gave Dong Qichang's painting to a young martial artist from the countryside?" Li Changgeng smiled, sensing that there must be a story behind this. Li Changgeng and Mei Zhihuan were of similar age and were relatives. Li Changgeng's wife was the daughter of Mei Guozhen, the former deputy minister of the Ministry of War and Mei Zhihuan's uncle. Mei Zhihuan, Li Changgeng, and Liu Zhongying, who was from the same hometown, were known as the Three Friends of Xiling.

At the same time, the Li and Mei families were also related to the Liu family. Mei Guozhen's other daughter was married to Liu Qiao's uncle, Liu Chengxi.

Li Changgeng was Mei Zhihuan's cousin-in-law.

Mei Zhihuan's mother was the daughter of Liu Shouyou, making her the aunt of Liu Chengxi, Liu Chengqi, and Liu Chengye, among other Liu family brothers. This meant that Liu Jun's grandfather, Liu Chengye, was Mei Zhihuan's cousin, and Liu Jun's father, Liu Xiude, had to call Mei Zhihuan "Uncle," while Liu Jun had to call him "Great Uncle."

Liu Chengqi, the old patriarch of the Liu family, and Mei Zhihuan were cousins, and Li Changgeng and Liu Chengxi were brothers-in-law. In a way, they were all elders to Liu Qiao.

Mei Zhihuan nodded with a smile, "That young man is indeed quite remarkable. I haven't seen such an outstanding young person in many years, calm and composed. When he said he was coming to the Liu family to celebrate the birthday, I didn't realize he was Liu Chengye's grandson. In that case, we are also relatives."

Mei Zhihuan's mother was the daughter of Liu Shouyou, making her the aunt of Liu Chengxi, Liu Chengqi, and Liu Chengye, among other Liu family brothers. This meant that Liu Jun's grandfather, Liu Chengye, was Mei Zhihuan's cousin, and Liu Jun's father, Liu Xiude, had to call Mei Zhihuan "Uncle," while Liu Jun had to call him "Great Uncle."

Moreover, the relationship between the two families was not distant. If they still maintained contact, they would be quite close.

"Liu Lao Ye's refusal of Liu Jun's request to recognize him as a relative is actually a loss for the Liu family. In time, I am sure the Liu family will regret today's decision."

"He is just a martial artist, and it's not as mysterious as you make it sound. Without the support of a clan, a young martial artist has no chance of making it," Li Changgeng said.

"Don't underestimate him," Mei Zhihuan replied, recounting how he encountered a group of bandits on the road, and Liu Jun used his intelligence to repel them in a critical moment. "That young man has courage and wisdom. Giving away a gift worth hundreds of taels of silver, which is not a small amount for him, shows that he is willing to take risks. Such a person just needs an opportunity. Once he gets it, he will surely stand out."

"But opportunities are rare."

"I can give him one," Mei Zhihuan said to Li Chunjiang with a smile. "Gongji, since you admire Liu Jun so much, help him out."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I think he has the makings of a great military leader. I plan to recruit him into my local militia, where we need people with courage and wisdom. However, I don't want to meet him immediately. You can approach him, saying you are helping him find a job, and send him to Baosheng Fort. After a few years of training, I will recommend him to the court for an official position, giving him a chance to advance."

Li Chunjiang smiled, "Uncle, I also want to join your local militia for some training. Will you accept me?"

"I can't accept you. You are a scholar, aiming to become a top imperial scholar," Mei Zhihuan said with a smile.

"In today's world, wars are everywhere. Our country also uses scholars to lead the military. Even as a civil official, one must command troops. Didn't you, Uncle, manage the people and lead the troops when you served in various places? I have read many classics and am confident I can pass the imperial examination, even if I can't become a top scholar. I really want to join your local militia for some training, as the imperial examination is still far away," Li Chunjiang replied.

"You are thinking long-term," Li Changgeng said, though he was Li Chunjiang's uncle and usually very fond of his nephew, he was more open-minded than most elders and did not immediately oppose him. "Although the local militia is not an army, it often has to deal with bandits and thieves, which is not easy. Once you join the military, there will be no room for personal connections; everything must follow the rules. Can you endure the hardships?"

"If I can't endure a little hardship, how can I achieve anything in my career?"

"Good, I like to hear that. In today's world, the Jurchens are causing trouble outside the borders, and bandits are rampant in the Central Plains. There is no peace. Being an official is no longer about just teaching the people in the government office. In the north, one must resist the Jurchens, and in the Central Plains, one must deal with bandits. Without these skills, one cannot be a good or long-lasting official. Since you are willing to train, come, but remember, once you join, there will be no Uncle Mei."

"I understand."

Liu Jun spent the night at an inn in Suokouhe Town. Liu Lao Ye had accepted the precious painting without hesitation but refused to recognize the Xibay Liu family. He even didn't invite Liu Jun to the birthday banquet. With a distance of over fifty miles, Liu Jun couldn't travel in the dark, so he had to stay overnight, even though he disliked the Liu family's attitude.

He had come with high hopes but was now extremely depressed.

He didn't expect the Liu family to refuse him so decisively, without giving him any chance.

With the recognition failing, Liu Jun had to consider his next steps.

If it were a peaceful era, not being recognized might not matter much. He could use his knowledge from the future to start a business or something. But this was the late Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty would fall in five years. Eastern Hubei was a strategic location, and it would be a battleground for various forces. As a commoner, how long could he survive wave after wave of turmoil?

Originally, if he could connect with the Liu family, his safety for the next few years would be secured. But the Liu family didn't consider him a part of their clan. He needed the Liu family, but the Liu family didn't need him.

Today you ignore me, but tomorrow I will be out of your reach.

Liu Jun thought of this as he left the Liu family, but it was just a moment of anger.

At the Liu residence.

"He is staying at an inn on East Street, and he is very calm, unusually calm, which is surprising and hard to believe," the steward reported to Liu Chengqi in his study.

"Have you found out the origin of the painting?"

"Not yet, but it is indeed a genuine work by Dong Qichang, a masterpiece of great value."

Liu Chengqi, leaning on his cane, said, "This Liu Jun is not simple. I kept the painting, a very valuable item, but he didn't show any dissatisfaction, especially after I coldly refused his request to be recognized as a Liu family member. He is a young man with great composure. None of the young people in our Suokouhe Liu family can match him."

The steward was surprised, not expecting the old patriarch to praise the young man so highly. "Then why did you refuse to recognize him?"

Liu Chengqi shook his head, "Some things are not that simple. It involves other matters." He didn't elaborate on the specific matters, but they were indeed very important.

The matter involved a significant issue. Although Liu Chengqi was the great-grandson of Liu Tianhe, the hereditary position in the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) was passed down to his uncle, Liu Shouyou, rather than his father, Liu Shouji. Liu Shouyou had three sons: Chengxi, Chengyou, and Chengye, while Liu Chengqi's father had eight sons, including Liu Chengqi.

Eventually, the hereditary position in the Jinyiwei was passed to Liu Chengxi after Liu Shouyou.

Initially, Liu Chengxi married into the Xu family, the former chief minister Xu Jie's family, taking Xu Jie's great-granddaughter. Later, Liu Chengxi passed the martial imperial examination and became the first in the examination, inheriting the position of Jinyiwei commander and becoming a vice marshal. However, after Liu Shouyou was dismissed from office, Liu Chengxi was also affected and returned to his hometown. When the Liu family lost power, his wife, Lady Xu, divorced him and returned to her family. He later remarried to Mei Guozhen's daughter.

Originally, Liu Chengxi's hereditary position would be passed to his son, but his son was always sickly and unable to take the position. Therefore, Liu Chengqi's son, Liu Qiao, who passed the martial imperial examination, eventually inherited the hereditary position in the Jinyiwei.

Years passed, and Liu Chengxi had long passed away. Now, his only sickly son was also on the verge of death. Although he had been married for a long time, he had no children. As he was about to die, he proposed to adopt a nephew from the clan as his heir.

By bloodline, the first choice would be Liu Chengxi's brother, Liu Chengyou's son, but Liu Chengyou had only one son and could not give him up. Therefore, they had to choose from Liu Shouji's sons' grandsons to inherit the main branch of the Liu family.

The main branch of the clan was very important. Liu Chengqi and his brother Liu Chengxi had agreed that since Liu Chengxi's son was sickly, the hereditary position would be passed to Liu Chengqi's son, Liu Qiao. However, it was agreed that after Liu Qiao, the position would be returned to the main branch of the Liu family.

Therefore, this was not just about adopting an heir but also about inheriting the hereditary position in the Jinyiwei, which Liu Tianhe had worked hard to obtain. Although it was not a noble title, it was essentially a hereditary position. Liu Chengqi and Liu Qiao did not want to give it back to the main branch.

Their plan was to adopt one of Liu Qiao's sons to be the heir of Liu Chengxi's son, Liu He, thus keeping the position within the family.

If Liu Jun's family were recognized, it would complicate matters. After all, Liu Chengqi had eight brothers, and all of them would want the benefits of the adoption. However, there were no better candidates. The main branch had two branches, one with no descendants and the other with only one son, so it was their turn. Among the eight brothers, Liu Chengqi was the eldest, and choosing from his family was reasonable.

But if Liu Jun's family returned, the situation would change. Liu Chengye was from the main branch, though a secondary son, he was still part of the main branch. Liu Xiude had three sons, and Liu Jun, the second son, was outstanding and could be a good heir for the main branch. As a young martial artist, he would be a suitable candidate to inherit the hereditary position in the Jinyiwei.

Liu Chengqi did not want to see this happen. Although he admired Liu Jun, he still refused his request without hesitation.

Thinking of the many disputes and scandals that had occurred in noble families over the inheritance of titles, Liu Chengqi knew that even though the Liu family was only fighting over a hereditary position in the Jinyiwei, if not handled properly, it could still lead to a messy situation. He could not allow this to happen and had to nip it in the bud.