To reach Shangjing from Youlingfang required crossing the river.

After crossing, they still had over four hundred li to travel. Though the distance wasn’t too great, pushing hard might get them to Shangjing within ten days.

Zhong Zhengyuan was puzzled. “Why not go directly?”

Chen Changsheng said, “The mortal world is full of affairs. The path lies beneath our feet. Since we’re here, why miss the journey?”

Zhong Zhengyuan found some reason in it, yet he suspected Chen Changsheng was talking nonsense.

After some thought, he figured wandering more wouldn’t hurt, since there was no rush.

The river was wide, its waters churning. By its bank, they found a boatman to ferry them across.

The boatman began to set off when a voice called out. He stopped to look.

A moment later, the boatman lifted the curtain and said, “Gentlemen, a young brother urgently needs to cross. Might you share the boat?”

Chen Changsheng didn’t mind. “What do you think, Master Zhong?”

“Plenty of room,” Zhong Zhengyuan replied.

Soon a man in plain clothes boarded. Entering the cabin and seeing the two, he froze.

These men looked exceptional at first glance.

Ji Xingsheng came to himself and clasped his hands. “Ji Xingsheng thanks the two masters.”

“The boat rocks. Sit first, then speak,” Chen Changsheng said.

Ji Xingsheng agreed and took a seat. He glanced again at the two before him.

One elderly, one young. What united them was their remarkable poise and spotless appearance.

Ji Xingsheng said, “Your accent suggests neither is local.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “I come from Anning County.”

“Anning County?”

Ji Xingsheng thought, then understood. “Could it be in the Southern Region?”

“You know it?”

“My work relates to geographical maps. So I’m somewhat familiar.”

Zhong Zhengyuan spoke. “All maps of the Southern Region fall under statistics. Surely your rank can’t be low.”

“You’re not wrong, sir.”

Ji Xingsheng said, “I now hold deputy fifth rank, but I’m only an overseer.”

“Few your age reach deputy fifth,” Zhong Zhengyuan noted.

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This was no small feat. Advancing in rank proved difficult; some officials spent their whole lives yearning for deputy sixth without success.

Ji Xingsheng said, “Just good fortune.”

Chen Changsheng observed Ji Xingsheng. “An overseer should serve in the Ministry of War. Why journey here?”

Ji Xingsheng explained, “A landslide blocked the waterway years ago, changing parts of the map. I came surveying, and to visit home. Now I return to report.”

“I see,” Chen Changsheng nodded.

Deeply curious, Ji Xingsheng silently pondered the two men’s identities.

Usually, mentioning his deputy fifth rank brought awe and respect. Yet these men seemed indifferent to his status.

He searched his mind for any high officials who matched their appearance in Shangjing City but found none. Still, he felt certain they held significant stature.

“Might I ask where you masters travel?” Ji Xingsheng inquired.

Chen Changsheng answered, “Likely the same as you.”

“Shangjing?…”

Ji Xingsheng guessed the elder man must have held high position in the court.

He would ask someone upon returning.

Chen Changsheng asked, “The frontier war sounds grim. Does the court move?”

Ji Xingsheng answered at once. “The frontier grows grave, but the court…” He glanced at Zhong Zhengyuan thoughtfully.

“Military men fight bravely but lack cunning. Civil officials scheme well yet fail in practice—all talk on paper.”

Zhong Zhengyuan eyed him but stayed silent.

Ji Xingsheng caught that gaze. He grew more certain: the elder must be returning to assume high rank.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Surely talents exist?”

Ji Xingsheng treated it as a test. “Only a few true men.”

Intrigued, Chen Changsheng said, “Share their names.”

Ji Xingsheng smiled modestly. “These are my humble thoughts, masters. If mistaken, I beg your forgiveness.”

“I consider Liu Huaizhang, Magistrate of Shangjing County, one. Though merely a county magistrate, he acts decisively with sound strategy, unafraid of His Majesty’s power. Bold in word and deed, no courtier matches his nerve.”

“Then, Tutor Fan from the Hanlin Academy. Less outspoken than Liu, he possesses unique insights. His reforms strike at core issues across the land…”

“Yet most impressive is the newly appointed Shaoqing in the Court of Judicial Review. Barely past twenty, already Shaoqing rank. He acts with thunder, flawless in work, adept in politics, argued with scholars without losing ground. Even His Majesty holds him dear.”

“A twenty-year-old Deputy Chief of the Court of Judicial Review?” Chen Changsheng questioned. “So exceptional?”

Ji Xingsheng grew animated. “More than exceptional! He arrived in the capital just four years back. Started as a Hanlin scholar, solved major cases, and joined the Court of Judicial Review.

He sighed sentimentally. “Chang Shan was my classmate at the Hanlin. Now he’s Deputy Chief already.”

Chen Changsheng stiffened abruptly. “You just said who?”

Ji Xingsheng flushed. “Apologies! I meant Cheng Shan—the present Deputy Chief.”

Chen Changsheng pressed, “By chance, is he from Yan County?”

“Do you know Chang Shan, sir?”

“Met him lightly. Not close.”

Chen Changsheng never anticipated Chang Shan rising so high in years. It defied his predictions.

Zhong Zhengyuan noted Chen Changsheng’s reaction. “So he was your friend?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Met some times at a temple.”

Zhong Zhengyuan nodded and fell silent.

Ji Xingsheng listened, confused. It seemed the elder revered the younger man. That reversed order baffled him.

Zhong Zhengyuan couldn’t resist. He silently divined about the Deputy Chief.

‘A Taoist past…’

He gazed at Chen Changsheng, suspecting long-laid designs behind this. Chang Shan felt like no accident.

He ceased divining. “That move played brilliantly, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Changsheng looked baffled. “When did I make any moves?”

Zhong Zhengyuan just smiled, offering no explanation.

Chen Changsheng shook his head. He didn’t know what Zhong Zhengyuan imagined.