Cheng Yu slowly approached, cupped his hands, and declared loudly!
“Gentlemen, could you please go inside the Prefect's Mansion and inform General Zhenbei that Cheng Yu, Cheng Zhongde, from East Commandery, Yanzhou, has come to pay his respects?”
The guards stationed at the entrance did not neglect their duty upon hearing this.
Their Lord had strictly ordered them that if anyone came to pay respects, they must not be rude and must treat everyone with courtesy.
Anyone who dared to disobey would be punished; minor offenses would result in expulsion from the Prefect's Mansion, while serious offenses would lead to public execution.
The lead guard cupped his hands in return and politely said!
“Please wait a moment, sir; I have already sent someone to inform him.”
Cheng Yu nodded slightly, his face still calm and composed.
Inside the room where political affairs were handled in the Prefect's Mansion, Tian Feng sat at the head of the table, looking at the documents in his hands, appearing somewhat lost in thought.
Just then, a voice came from outside the room!
“Reporting to the Strategist, there is a man outside the Prefect's Mansion who calls himself Cheng Yu, Cheng Zhongde, from East Commandery, Yanzhou, and wishes to see the Lord.”
Upon hearing this, Tian Feng slowly put down the task in his hand, his brows furrowed as he fell into deep thought.
This name seemed somewhat familiar; he felt as if he had heard it somewhere before.
A moment later, Tian Feng's eyes lit up; he had finally recalled it.
When he was in Luoyang, there were often gatherings of famous scholars, and he had indeed had some contact with this person.
However, their relationship was not close, but this person had displayed remarkable intelligence and talent, making him a rare individual. His visit this time was likely to pledge allegiance to the Lord.
With a smile on his face, he immediately spoke!
“Please invite him into the Prefect's Mansion, treat him with respect, and do not neglect him.”
The guard standing outside the Prefect's Mansion immediately withdrew after receiving the order.
Tian Feng stood up, handed over the matters to others to handle, and left the place, heading towards the reception hall within the Prefect's Mansion.
In the reception hall, after Cheng Yu was invited in, he took a seat to the side. A maidservant brought him refreshments and tea.
Cheng Yu drank the tea, clearing his mind and calming his spirit, waiting for the person he had in mind to arrive.
A moment later, footsteps were heard from outside the hall.
Upon hearing the sound, Cheng Yu immediately stood up and looked at the person who walked in. He saw that the other person was about thirty years old, dressed in a grey-blue gown, with a dignified and somewhat rigid appearance.
He was a little surprised; he seemed to know this person. He had met him a few times in Luoyang; his name was Tian Feng, Tian Yuan Hao, and he was from Jizhou.
What made him remember was that this person had a rigid personality and had often offended people at scholar gatherings, frequently causing heated arguments.
Cheng Yu dared not be negligent, so he immediately cupped his hands and politely said!
“Brother Yuan Hao.”
Tian Feng laughed heartily, also cupping his hands, and politely said!
“Brother Zhong De, long time no see.”
“I never expected to meet you here today.”
Cheng Yu smiled and nodded upon hearing this, indicating that the other party remembered him.
He couldn't help but feel a lot closer, at least in this unfamiliar place, he could still meet someone he had encountered before.
So, the two sat down and began chatting animatedly, discussing some interesting past events from Luoyang.
After a period of lively conversation, their relationship became even more harmonious.
Cheng Yu looked distressed and sighed!
“Alas,”
“The world is in turmoil now, with rampant bandits, rebel armies rising everywhere, and the court vying for power and profit. The Eunuchs are causing chaos, suppressing court officials, and eliminating dissidents!”
“We, as capable individuals, have not been given important positions by the court. Instead, we are constantly ostracized, forced to resign from office and return to our hometowns, becoming ordinary people without achievements.”
Tian Feng empathized deeply upon hearing this. He, too, had felt the corruption of the court in the past, believing it was beyond salvation. Deeply saddened, he had resigned and returned home.
Fortunately, he had met the enlightened lord in his heart, and now, following him, he had his own ideals and ambitions.
He appeared relatively relaxed, almost wishing for the world to continue in chaos, so that his ideals and ambitions could be realized.
Looking at Cheng Yu's sorrowful expression, which was exactly like his own in the past, he couldn't help but offer comfort!
“Hey, Brother Zhong De, there’s no need to be so sad about these things!”
“the court's current chaotic state is not new. Civil and military officials are achieving nothing, the Eunuchs are disrupting the imperial order, and the Son of Heaven is only obsessed with pleasure.”
“Since great deeds cannot be accomplished, we only need to find someone worthy of allegiance, serve and assist him, and simply watch the world's changes unfold.”
“Wouldn't that be wonderful?”
Upon hearing these words, Cheng Yu's eyes lit up. Tian Feng's thoughts were indeed exactly like his own.
The current situation was certainly irreversible; the entire court was already in a state of internal and external turmoil. Internally, there were various treacherous officials harming the country, and local Prefects held their own armies.
Externally, bandits were rampant, causing chaos in the commanderies. Coupled with the Xi Liang Rebels attacking Chang'an, if the front line couldn't hold, Luoyang might even fall. Even if it could hold, after these rebellions, the world would definitely be in chaos.
His eyes showed anticipation as he looked at Tian Feng beside him and quickly asked!
“After hearing Brother Yuan Hao's words, my mind has become much clearer.”
“To be honest, I came here this time specifically to pledge allegiance to General Zhenbei, hoping to secure an official position under his command so that I can wholeheartedly assist him.”
Tian Feng laughed heartily upon hearing this, quickly patting the other's shoulder, and said cheerfully!
“Good, good, good.”
“With Zhong De's assistance, my Lord will surely be like a tiger with wings.”
At this point, he paused slightly, and Tian Feng's voice continued!
“However, the Lord is not in the city. A few days ago, he went to the villages below to inspect people's livelihoods and build some water conservancy projects. I don't know when he will return.”
“But rest assured, I will send someone to inform him then, and my Lord will definitely return.”
Cheng Yu nodded upon hearing this, his admiration for Liu Jin growing. He hadn't expected him to inspect people's livelihoods in the villages, which showed he was a person who cared for the common people and had great potential for the future.
He said with a smile!
“There’s no need to inform him. It’s not too late to wait until the Lord finishes his work and returns. I will stay in the Prefect's Mansion during this time and serve as a minor official.”
Tian Feng nodded upon hearing this. With the other's talent, he would surely be recognized by Liu Jin. Becoming a trusted aide was only a matter of time, let alone serving as a minor official.
As for arranging a position, he was not qualified; it had to be decided by Liu Jin.
As a trusted confidant, he already understood what he could and could not do and naturally would not do anything out of line.
So, the two continued to chat in the Prefect's Mansion, discussing the great affairs of the world.
Three days later!
At the Li Family Village river area, Liu Jin, surrounded by the crowd, was inspecting the installed Waterwheels and Turning Wheels, finding no issues.
Moreover, they were all slowly operating, transporting all the water towards the dry land.
Even some dry ditches gradually began to fill up, crisscrossing and extending, saturating the entire parched earth.