The road was long and the travelers weary, but Linglong, possessing a naturally robust constitution, was hardly bothered by the fatigue. With the dazzling scenery to behold, she skipped and hopped along, never feeling the journey tedious, often tugging at my hand, asking this and that, and frequently posing surprisingly childish questions that sent the little eunuch leading the way into fits of laughter.

The Residence of the Zhanshi resembled a vast temple, filled with curling incense smoke and solemn occupants. Even Linglong became unconsciously reverent upon entering. It turned out the Zhanshi here were ranked by grades; the highest being First Grade Zhanshi, followed by Second through Sixth Grades. The Residence had a Fucheng (Prefect), but he was responsible only for management, not instruction. Furthermore, there were quite a number of other clerks (Zhubu) and menial staff, yet counting myself, there were only six Zhanshi in total.

The official system of the Dual-City Kingdom differed significantly from that of the Great Dragon Kingdom in ancient times. Many aspects that I struggled to comprehend still borrowed terminology from the ancient Great Dragon Kingdom; as for what the original terms meant in the Dual-City language, I couldn't be bothered to find out.

My title was bestowed personally by the Emperor, so my rank was not low—Third Grade. Above me were three 'elder brothers': one was the First Grade Zhanshi, Zhong Li, already over sixty years old; the other two were Second Grade Zhanshi, Fang Pu and Yu Li, both around forty or fifty. Below me were two Fourth Grade Zhanshi, Tong Dazhi and Shuhua, who were younger, perhaps only in their forties. A Zhanshi as young and handsome as myself was apparently unique.

Yesterday, after my edict of appointment was issued, dedicated personnel reported the news to the Fucheng. The Fucheng, whose surname was Niu, was extremely enthusiastic upon my arrival and even organized a small welcoming ceremony for all staff of the Zhanshi Residence. However, the three higher-ranked Zhanshi—Zhong Li, Fang Pu, and Yu Li—seemed distinctly unimpressed by me. In contrast, Tong Dazhi and Shuhua were much warmer in their reception. It seemed cliques and factions exist everywhere; perhaps those three high-ranking Zhanshi looked down on us lower-ranked ones, assuming we were merely young, hungry scholars scraping by.

I intended to ignore them, but then I considered that, having just entered this field, it was better not to make enemies. They were veterans, and I might need their guidance later. I must avoid unknowingly offending the Emperor and the Crown Prince; otherwise, I might disappear without knowing why.

“Five seniors, I, Zhao Qian, extend my greetings. From now on, we will all be working together to tutor His Highness the Crown Prince. As I am young and lack experience, I hope my esteemed seniors will not hesitate to offer guidance.” I offered a respectful bow to the five senior Zhanshi.

“We dare not, we dare not. Zhanshi Zhao was personally appointed by the Emperor; you must possess extraordinary qualities. We shall all work together to tutor His Highness the Crown Prince. As for offering guidance, that is too much praise,” the three senior Zhanshi of Second Grade and above stared at the ceiling, ignoring my greeting. It was Tong Dazhi and Shuhua who returned the courtesy with polite nods.

“Extraordinary qualities? I suspect it’s fraud and deception,” the Second Grade Zhanshi Fang Pu suddenly remarked with a cold tone.

The other Second Grade Zhanshi, Yu Li, added, “Brother Fang, you shouldn't judge a man by his appearance through a crack in the door. I hear Zhanshi Zhao currently holds the posts of Superintendent of the Imperial Stables, Director of the Iron Smeltery, Imperial Physician in the Grand Medical Institute, and Captain of the Escape Pod. He has many skills; perhaps we old fellows should be seeking his instruction.”

The Fucheng Niu stepped forward to smooth things over. “Everyone, we are colleagues in this Residence. I suggest we help one another moving forward; there’s no need for instruction or guidance. As long as we successfully educate the Crown Prince, it will be a great merit. If there is any mistake, it means beheading and confiscation of property, so we must be united, cautious, serious, yet lively, and strive for excellence…”

The First Grade elder Zhanshi Zhong Li suddenly interrupted, “Toad croaks, old bird won’t leave the nest. We do not know by what merit Zhanshi Zhao has come to instruct the Crown Prince; we old bones would like to hear your ‘guidance.’”

Fucheng Niu’s expression turned very ugly, and even Tong Dazhi and Shuhua exchanged worried glances, while Fang Pu and Yu Li wore smirks. I didn't understand what Zhong Li had mumbled; it was probably some local allusion, but certainly nothing good.

Noticing my questioning look, Linglong whispered to me, “I’m sorry, Master. It’s all my fault for being playful and not studying diligently as Father instructed. Although I can write, I don’t know what that old man means. But even with our feet, we can guess—this old fellow definitely doesn't mean well.”

I nodded secretly. If the old Zhong Li wanted 'guidance' from me, he had certainly stumped me. He couldn't possibly ask me to compose impromptu poetry, could he? Asking me to tell a joke, even a slightly risqué one, I could handle—that's my specialty. But composing verses and lyrics? That’s not my field.

Fang Pu and Yu Li chimed in, stirring the pot: “Please, Zhanshi Zhao, recite a poem for us all to enjoy.”

Speaking of poetry recitation in the Dual-City Kingdom made me suddenly want to vomit, because it brought to mind the poems Zhang Wenbing and Niu Pang recited when they encountered the Escape Pod at the Feiyu County Yamen. Perhaps they thought those poems were exquisite, but once I translated them, they became hilarious jokes. Asking me to recite now would be worse than killing me.

“This…” I hesitated, which was actually just buying time.

The disdain was plainly visible on the three old faces of Zhong Li, Fang Pu, and Yu Li. My failure to refute Zhong Li’s cryptic remark earlier had already led them to underestimate me, and now, being unable to recite poetry, their disdain had curdled into contempt.

Fang Pu spoke without mercy: “I heard that Zhanshi Zhao earned his position in the Zhanshi Residence by presenting a divine object that fell from the sky to the Emperor—what everyone calls the Escape Pod. I have investigated; you were originally a feral child born in the forest of Hulu Village in Feiyu County. It’s a blessing you even know your own name. Having you instruct His Highness the Crown Prince risks misleading the nation and harming the people. As high-ranking Zhanshi, we have a duty to verify this for the Emperor. If you are truly just a mere embroidered pillow, the three of us will certainly instruct Fucheng Niu to report truthfully to the Emperor, and then we shall see how you answer to the court.”

This naked insult nearly burst my lungs with anger. I genuinely wanted to lunge forward, rip out the old man’s beard, and beat him soundly. Linglong’s little face flushed red, and she clenched her small fists until they cracked audibly. If I hadn’t held her back in time, she would have surely rushed forward and knocked Fang Pu to the ground.

Despite my anger, what Fang Pu said was largely accurate. Although I wasn't a feral child, I did emerge from the forest. As for recognizing my own name, I didn't even know how to write my name in Dual-City script; he was giving me too much credit. Becoming a Zhanshi wasn't my idea; the Emperor forced it upon me, yet he never bothered to ask if I was literate beforehand. Should I have preemptively informed him that I didn't know the Dual-City script? If the Emperor wished to punish me, wouldn't that also mean punishing himself for his own lack of diligence?

“Zhanshi Zhao, do it then. Could it be you really are just an embroidered pillow? Fucheng Niu, you know what needs to be done in this situation, don’t you?” Yu Li pressed, aggressively.

Fucheng Niu inwardly cried that things were turning bad. The three high-ranking Zhanshi were deeply trusted by the Emperor. Although he was the Fucheng, he had to watch their expressions. But Zhanshi Zhao was also the Emperor's new favorite, whom he equally could not afford to offend. On one side, the three old fellows pressed him aggressively; on the other, the young man was glaring and looking ready to explode in anger—especially that young page boy, who would have charged forward to strike the three elders if he hadn't been restrained. Yet, the three elders were counting on him not daring to strike them, focusing their intimidating gazes all the more on the handsome child.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen, listen to me! Everyone, just listen to me!” Fucheng Niu stood between them, attempting to mediate. “His Highness the Crown Prince will arrive shortly. Everyone must not delay the Crown Prince’s lessons because of this. I suggest we let this matter rest for today. Since we will be colleagues in the same Residence for a long time, there will be plenty of opportunities for mutual learning. There’s no need to rush this moment, no need to rush this moment!”

Zhong Li, Fang Pu, and Yu Li knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince was due. Their intention was to make this man look foolish in front of the Crown Prince—ideally, the Crown Prince himself would complain to the Emperor, leading to the expulsion of this ignorant country bumpkin who only knew crooked paths, thus preventing him from staining the reputation of the Zhanshi Residence. A Zhanshi so young? The Dual-City Kingdom had stood for a thousand years without hearing of such a thing! The Emperor must have been beguiled by his honeyed words; as loyal subjects, they had a duty to purify the monarch’s entourage.

Seeing that no one heeded his diplomacy and the situation was about to erupt, Fucheng Niu suddenly changed his tone and sternly declared, “Gentlemen, this is the Zhanshi Residence, and I am the Fucheng. I make the decisions regarding all daily work. If you dare disrupt the Crown Prince's study schedule, I will report it truthfully to the Emperor. Let’s see how you explain yourselves to His Majesty then.”

The three old Zhanshi were startled. Although they wanted to assert their seniority, being reported to the Emperor for disobeying the Fucheng and causing a commotion that delayed the Crown Prince’s studies was a serious matter. The three snorted and stepped aside.

Linglong stuck out her little nose and also snorted, even shaking her fair, tender little fists at the three old men. Naturally, I gave those three old fellows no pleasant looks either. They provoked me; let them teach their lessons, and I’ll teach mine. We should mind our own business. Why push things so hard? Damn their mothers!

Conversely, Tong Dazhi and Shuhua gave me sympathetic looks. It seemed these two were not in league with those three shameless ones; they would be my comrades from now on.

Time was pressing, and everyone began heading toward the lecture hall. During the previous commotion, I hadn't noticed that I wasn't the only one bringing a page boy to lecture; all five Zhanshi had a carrying attendant. However, these attendants were not allowed inside the lecture hall; they had designated resting areas. During the Crown Prince's lessons, they had to remain indoors and were forbidden from wandering about lest they disturb the Crown Prince’s studies.

Bringing one attendant earlier hadn't drawn much attention, but it later caught the eye of the three old Zhanshi. This was because my page boy’s bright, large eyes were practically killing the three old men, making it impossible for them not to notice. Now, as I led Linglong toward the hall, the three of them shouted:

“Halt! Audacious! How can a mere servant be allowed freely into the solemn grounds of the lecture hall!”

Linglong tugged my hand in distress. The faces of the few staff members from the Zhanshi Residence looked odd. I surmised they had misunderstood me and Linglong as being involved in a homosexual relationship (bōlí). Thinking about it, Linglong’s presentation as a young boy, her delicate features and refinement, were far beyond what an ordinary young boy possessed.

Fucheng Niu said to me, “Zhanshi Zhao, the rules of the Residence dictate that during the Crown Prince’s study period, all servants must wait quietly in the side chambers. Otherwise, if the Crown Prince’s studies are affected, no one can bear that sin. Even if… even if your relationship is unusual, no one can act carelessly in front of the Crown Prince.”

Fucheng Niu also mistook Linglong for my male paramour. I felt both annoyed and amused, yet I had no way to explain the truth. I could only say, “Fucheng Lord, this person is not a servant, but my assistant instructor.”

“Assistant instructor?” Although Fucheng Niu had learned much knowledge in the Zhanshi Residence, this title was entirely new to him.

I explained, “Yes, that is, someone who assists me in teaching, abbreviated as assistant instructor, my aide. When I lecture His Highness the Crown Prince, I require his help, so he is half a Zhanshi. I request Fucheng Lord permit him to enter the lecture hall.”

“Absolutely not!” The three old men, Zhong Li, Fang Pu, and Yu Li, objected loudly: “Bringing a servant into the lecture hall to teach the Crown Prince—this has never happened since ancient times! What if he is ignorant of the rules and offends the Crown Prince? Fucheng Niu, can you bear the responsibility for that!”

Fucheng Niu shivered. “I cannot bear it. I apologize, Zhanshi Zhao, the Emperor only appointed you alone; he cannot enter the lecture hall.”

Having won the skirmish, Zhong Li and the other two were immensely pleased. My teeth itched with anger. If Linglong couldn't enter, I would be in danger. How could I even manage the chalkboard writing? Wouldn't that invite even more suspicion and scorn from them? Therefore, no matter what, I had to bring Linglong in.

I said to Fucheng Niu, “Fucheng Lord, this is my established rule for teaching. If I am not allowed to bring my assistant instructor inside, then I shall cancel the class!”

“Insolent!” Zhong Li exploded. “You scoundrel, you dare cancel the Crown Prince’s lesson? Are you tired of living! Guards! Seize this arrogant man immediately and wait for His Highness the Crown Prince to arrive to deliver his punishment!”

How could I allow them to seize me just like that? A knife was too obvious, so I certainly didn't dare bring one into the Inner City, but I always carried my laser gun. Since I currently lacked superpowers, this device was my only reliance.

I drew the laser gun and flashed it before everyone’s eyes: “Which one dares! I’ll vaporize him right here!”

The others didn't know what I was holding, but seeing my fearless demeanor, no one dared to test it. A stalemate ensued. Just then, an announcement sounded from outside the Residence: “His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”

Everyone forgot about fighting and hurriedly went outside to greet the arrival. Ma Xiaoda entered the Zhanshi Residence accompanied by Bai Shi and his entourage, wearing a triumphant expression. He probably slept well last night, as he looked refreshed today. “Teachers, no need for formalities.”

Servants were required to kneel before the Crown Prince, but the Zhanshi only needed to stand and bow. As Ma Xiaoda entered the Zhanshi Residence, his eyes searched around. Upon seeing me, a smile crossed his face. Then, he spotted Linglong in her boy’s attire behind me and exclaimed with delight, “Little Fourth… Brother, you’re here too! Quick, come in, come in!”

Ma Xiaoda might put on the airs of a Crown Prince with others, but he knew this Miss Linglong wouldn't bow to his authority. Moreover, children rarely find someone willing to genuinely play and laugh with them. He was very casual with the friends he made in Feiyu County, never treating himself as the Crown Prince in front of them, and they never treated him as such, which made him very happy. Otherwise, every meeting would involve bowing and scraping, which annoyed him.

Everyone in the Zhanshi Residence was dumbfounded. Whenever the Crown Prince met them before, he always looked gloomy, as if he owed someone eighteen strings of cash. Today, not only was his face beaming with excitement, but he had also called a servant ‘Brother’! A brother to the Crown Prince—that was unthinkable!

The old faces of Zhong Li, Fang Pu, and Yu Li stretched longer than a donkey’s, and a cold sweat began to break out on their bodies. The Crown Prince called the Zhao Zhanshi’s servant ‘Little Fourth Brother’? What was the meaning of this? They couldn't figure it out, yet the Crown Prince’s intimate manner couldn't be faked. Could he have mistaken the person’s identity? Looking at the little servant’s expression, he seemed quite at ease with the Crown Prince’s address. If it were an ordinary servant mistakenly addressed, they would have knelt by now. This led to only one conclusion: this person and the Crown Prince already knew each other, and their relationship was extremely close. But the Crown Prince rarely left the palace, staying within the East City’s Crown Prince Hall—how could he have known this ‘Little Fourth Brother’? This person was completely unheard of!

The staff of the Zhanshi Residence naturally did not know that the Crown Prince had secretly slipped out of the palace to Feiyu County; they only assumed the Prince had been ill for some time, delaying his studies. At this moment, Fucheng Niu was even more bewildered. What in the world was happening? He was just a servant, or at most, as they suggested earlier, not an ordinary servant but an 'assistant instructor.' But was an assistant instructor worthy of such enthusiastic reception from the Crown Prince? Furthermore, how could the Crown Prince, confined to the deep palace, know him? Could it be? Could it be that the Crown Prince and this pretty little page boy were having a secret affair?

Fucheng Niu dared not think further. To voice such a possibility was a capital offense. Even if he discerned the truth, he absolutely could not utter a single syllable, nor could he give the slightest hint. Otherwise, the Emperor, for the sake of royal dignity

Niu Fucheng was momentarily stunned. The lectures given by the Academicians here were strictly by the book, although the very first session for every Academician was meant to be a free-form demonstration of their expertise. Once the Crown Prince and the assembled Academicians were satisfied, his future curriculum would be set. But why was this Academician Zhao, even before beginning his official lessons, demanding a blackboard and white chalk?

Sitting below, the Crown Prince found the situation highly amusing. He sought originality; hearing the demand for a blackboard and white chalk now, he initially suspected the man intended to draw. He waved his hand dismissively, "Go prepare it quickly, prepare it quickly."

Once the Crown Prince had given assent, no one dared object. A black wooden board was easy enough to find, but white chalk required Niu Fucheng considerable effort, eventually leading him to send someone to the apothecary to procure several pieces of soapstone as a substitute.

During this interval, I meticulously re-examined the curriculum I had just formulated, confirming there were no oversights before finally settling my mind. Telling stories to Ma Xiaoda did not make me nervous; but now, over ten pairs of eyes were fixed upon me. Besides the five fellow Academicians, there were the Scribes, the Chief Clerks, and a host of officials whose names I could not recall—the sole student, after all, was the Prince.

Finally, the necessary items were assembled. Following the pre-arranged plan, I would lecture at the front, while Linglong would inscribe the main points on the blackboard behind me. What neither of us had anticipated was that teaching here generally required no writing at all. However, Linglong’s role as my assistant had already been announced to Niu Fucheng and the others. It would be difficult to justify her not making an appearance now, and it might lead people to suspect my assistant was a fraud. Furthermore, I myself was not entirely clear on the material I was presenting; I had only managed to commit it to memory after reviewing it once at Zhu Da’s pirated bookstore. If I didn't have it written down, others might understand even less.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, today your humble servant will expound upon the first stratagem of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea (Mántiān Guòhǎi)."

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Linglong swiftly wrote four large characters on the blackboard behind me: ‘’. I glanced back briefly, memorizing the appearance of these characters. Since I would be staying here for some time, it was best to learn their script.

Upon hearing that the lecture was on military strategy, Ma Xiaoda’s eyes immediately widened. He exclaimed excitedly, "Excellent! Excellent! I thought you were going to drone on with zhi hu zhe ye [classical literary filler]! Military matters are what I love studying most."

I began reciting with a learned air, "When preparations are too meticulous, the mind grows lax; what is commonly seen arouses no suspicion. The hidden lies within the manifest, not opposite to it. The Great Yang, the Great Yin."

Linglong transcribed this passage onto the blackboard, and the assembled Academicians were dumbfounded. Was this not zhi hu zhe ye taken to an even greater extreme? Ma Xiaoda also wore a look of confusion. How was this different from what the other Academicians did? In fact, it seemed more frustrating and dull because he couldn't fathom what Linglong was writing.

Ignoring the general bewilderment, I continued the narrative, recounting the tales of He Ruobi seizing Jingkou through wit, Qi Jiang borrowing wine to send her husband off, and Lü Zi’s crossing the river in white robes. The last story recounted Lü Meng of Wu crossing the river in disguise to seize Jingzhou during the Three Kingdoms period.

Liu Bei had borrowed Jingzhou from Eastern Wu and long refused to return it, even assigning the great general Guan Yu to govern it. Retrieving Jingzhou had always been a constant worry for the ruler and ministers of Eastern Wu. Sun Quan therefore appointed Lü Meng as the Grand Commander of the Navy, tasking him with finding a way to reclaim the territory. Guan Yu knew Lü Meng was a skilled commander and prepared his defenses meticulously. Seeing no immediate opportunity, Lü Meng suddenly feigned illness and returned to the capital for treatment. The commander who succeeded him was the obscure junior officer, Lu Xun. Upon hearing this, Guan Yu visibly relaxed.

After taking command, Lu Xun immediately sent envoys to Jingzhou bearing gifts and courtesies for Guan Yu, adopting an extremely humble posture. Guan Yu took him even less seriously. It was at this point that Lü Meng secretly returned to his forces. Warships were disguised as merchant vessels, and the soldiers all donned white robes, posing as merchants. They crossed the Yangtze River in one sweep, seizing the Shu army’s beacon towers. The Wu forces crushed Guan Yu, forcing his retreat to Maicheng. Lü Meng employed political disguise, diplomatic disguise, and military disguise—a three-pronged approach that finally won back Jingzhou.

Smack! Ma Xiaoda exclaimed, slapping the table in realization, "A brilliant stratagem! Truly brilliant! Academician Zhao, quickly explain the literal meaning of the characters on the board to me."

My intention in focusing on this story for Ma Xiaoda was precisely to make him see the current situation clearly, urging him against rash action, and encouraging him to emulate Lü Meng—to learn this stratagem of Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea. Ma Xiaoda was an intelligent child, though only eleven; he was mature enough to grasp my meaning immediately.

On the journey back to the capital from Feiyu County, Ma Xiaoda had listened to my accounts of the Three Sovereigns, Emperor Wu of Han, the Three Kingdoms period, and the glorious Tang Dynasty. The figures within those stories had already taken vivid life in his mind. Hearing this engaging tale now, he found a method within the story to deal with the villainous Pang. The excitement radiating from him momentarily deeply impressed the other Academicians, especially Zhong Li, the old man over sixty, who had taught three generations of Crown Princes and had never seen one so genuinely interested in the curriculum.

I explained the literal interpretation of the translated text to Ma Xiaoda: "When defenses are too thorough, the will slackens; things commonly seen fail to arouse suspicion. The hidden resides within the light, as if open and honorable. Secret or confidential matters are never exposed to the outside. This applies to the most open and upright individuals, and even more so to the most gentle and lovely. It holds true in warfare, whether righteous or unrighteous. This is the nature of humanity, and the nature of the Dao."

Ma Xiaoda savored the words, deep in contemplation. He suddenly rose and began pacing the empty lecture hall, occasionally muttering to himself: "When preparations are too meticulous, the mind grows lax; what is commonly seen arouses no suspicion. The hidden lies within the manifest, not opposite to it. The Great Yang, the Great Yin. Marvelous! The conspiracy is hidden within the light, yet the exterior appears utterly transparent. However, the sullied heart is never exposed to the outside. If this is true for the most upright man, how much more so for a treacherous dog of a villain! The nature of humanity, the nature of the Dao—this is exquisitely taught. This stratagem, Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea, is magnificent!"

This was the first time the Crown Prince had exclaimed 'Good' or 'Marvelous' regarding an Academician's lecture, and even more so, 'Too good' and 'Too marvelous.'

The rest of the assembly was also stunned into silence. They had never heard of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, nor of Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea. Yet, the underlying military principles were undeniably profound and worthy of admiration. But even if they were made to understand these principles, they knew they could never deliver the lesson with such vividness, imagery, and engrossing power. Conveying principles through narrative—this technique had never occurred to them.

Zhong Li, Fang Pu, and Yu Li felt extremely awkward. Fortunately, they had not pressed the new Academician too hard earlier. Had they done so, relying on the Prince's favor, he could have easily embarrassed them. As for the rudimentary assessments like composing poetry or couplets, they would have been utterly unable to respond. But given the lesson just presented, these three elder Academicians had never encountered anything like it. At this moment, not a shred of disdain remained in their hearts.

The Thirty-Six Stratagems—this single stratagem had elicited thunderous applause. What would the remaining thirty-five entail? Everyone's mind raced with conjecture.

Ma Xiaoda suddenly stopped pacing and turned to Niu Fucheng, asking, "Niu Fucheng, what is Academician Zhao’s current rank?"

Niu Fucheng truthfully replied, "Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, Academician Zhao is currently of the Third Rank."

Ma Xiaoda declared, "Good. I, your Crown Prince, now bestow upon Academician Zhao the rank of First Rank Academician. From now on, his sole duty will be to instruct this Prince in the art of military strategy and command. The Thirty-Six Stratagems—ha! If just this one stratagem can capture that dog villain, what can the full thirty-six achieve? Hahahaha..."

Ma Xiaoda laughed heartily and departed, leaving everyone present with a stomach full of unanswered questions. They would never have dreamed that the 'dog villain' the Prince mentioned was Grand Tutor Pang. Such a thought was beyond their wildest imaginings; they assumed the Prince must have been referring to the nations of Wanma or Jin.