The serene high walls and deep courtyard, the spacious chambers and dwellings, together encircle the domain of power. Just like the vermilion gate, it is certainly not something ordinary families can possess or dare to possess. Even truly wealthy sea merchants, in this thriving Ming Dynasty, do not dare to transgress in matters of clothing, food, and living. Because although the laws of the Ming Dynasty appear vague and lenient, oftentimes ignored, when the time comes for scrutiny and accountability, it will be like Taishan crumbling the local tyrants.

"Li Wenxi's Collection? Mr. Pu'an, Li Chun? I seem to have heard my mentor Mr. Liu Daxia mention, saying in his youth, he studied under Mr. Pu'an with great respect..."

Shi Wende's gaze flickered; the extent of what he knows about Li Chun, the top scholar in the first year of Tianshun, was just this much. The gate to the officialdom was always only slightly ajar to him, the descendant of sea merchants.

Being able to call Liu Daxia his "mentor" is due to the support two years ago during the Zhejiang Renzi Ke provincial examination, supervised by Liu Daxia. He barely ranked at the end among the 104 scholars selected from over 800 examinees in Zhejiang.

Afterwards, relying on the status of "scholar" and calling Liu Daxia "mentor," he leveraged his sea merchant family's wealth to find a way; with great effort and expense, attempted to meet the Right Governor of Zhejiang leisurely once. Otherwise, even with all the money, given his family's unsavory sea merchant background, connecting with the "governor" line would be impossible, and he wouldn't even be able to enter the door.

"..."

At this moment, before the "Viceroy Wang" who governed one province and was reading "Li Wenxi's Collection," Shi Wende stood respectfully in the courtyard, "bowing and listening, more respectful in demeanor and mannerisms, daring not to utter a word" to remind. He suppressed all distractions, patiently waiting for the governor to notice him.

Yet the Right Governor Wang Zhe remained focused, reading the "Li Wenxi's Collection," as if engrossed in a profound book. At times, encountering intriguing passages, he would lightly read aloud, just enough for Shi Wende to hear.

"'Farewell to Zhang, Chief of Staff, Returning to the South County'... The responsibilities of the southern capital long fulfilled, a devoted heart to the emperor and country. The stele of stag in the western capital, the eastern land civilians honoring the armored prince..."

"Hmm, the South County is Jingzhou. The responsibilities of the southern capital, Nanjing, elevated to Chief of Staff, surname Zhang... Oh! It must be the Minister of War in Nanjing, Zhang Chun, retired in the fifth year of Jingta (1454), Mr. Zhang Zhizhong... Zhang and Li both hail from Hu Guang, and Zhang traditionally supports newcomers... With such a relationship, writing a farewell poem is expected!"

Right Governor Wang Zhe nodded slightly, connecting Zhang Chun and Li Chun in the network of relationships. In this "hometown, contemporary, faction, old acquaintance, disciple" scholar-official network, the "hometown" is the first most common and generally stable connection.

Wang Zhe hails from Northern Shanxi, previously serving as Assistant Governor of Shanxi, and this is the first time holding office in the South. He isn't as familiar with the Southern scholar-officials' relationship network, hence the need to read commonly circulated "collections" to supplement his understanding of Southern officialdom's interpersonal knowledge.

Otherwise, if he were born into a Southern scholarly family, these connections would be ingrained from an early age, with elders in officialdom telling him, remembered as instinct. Therefore, each time he visits with fellow scholar-officials, he could quickly arrange the other's network, connect via a certain line, and continue expanding the interpersonal "web"!

"'Farewell to Xu Qi, Contemporary, Returning Home'... Passed light and gathered platforms, fifth chapter... The emerald pest enters Yue Mountain... Blue flowers see the moon and sympathize with me, determined heart joins ranks facing the imperial screen..."

"Platform fifth chapter? Yue Mountain? ... Let me think, Li was the top scholar in the first year of Tianshun, and the fifth platform chapter is Xu Qi, whose hometown is in Wu Yue... Oh! It is indeed Mr. Xu Jingwen of Hangzhou Prefecture! Mr. Xu is a noble family of Zhejiang, generations farming in Yu Hang, passing down with culture and virtue... Well, if there's another provincial examination... Ha! Mr. Liu hosted one last year, no need for me to labor..."

Wang Zhe gently stroked his beard, with a thoughtful look. Thus, through the "contemporary" connection, he linked a local noble family in Zhejiang with Li Chun. And now, by clarifying Li Chun's relationship network through "Li Wenxi's Collection," it is essentially clarifying Liu Daxia's network.

Left Governor of Zhejiang, Liu Daxia, was his predecessor governing Zhejiang for two years, hosting a provincial examination. The Xu family of Yu Hang has the contemporary background of Liu Daxia as a mentor; if they have eligible disciples, as long as their knowledge isn't too deficient, they will certainly be admitted as scholars.

These are the innate unwritten rules of this era, "Heaven and Earth, Monarch, Kin, Teacher," with layers interlinked, irrespective of the integrity of scholar-officials. When local officials want to carry out their duties, the first thing they must do is untangle the local scholarly family networks, to decide to what extent to show leniency, to what extent to enforce the law, and whether to wield Thunderbolt's heavy hand.

"'On Dismissing the Governor of Jingzhou Li Renyi'... Jia Jiao confronted treacherous ministers at court, already aware of Han Zi's demotion to Yang Mountain. The intestines happily received the tortoise insignia, claiming the heavy plow, bowing to the jade class. In just the territory, mixed with teachers and travelers daily, in the beast year, benevolence dwells among the wild fields. Flies dot the wall, who can sleep, up in the mountains, patrons lift the viewing in return..."

"Haha! Intestines happily received, benevolence dwells in the beast year, flies dot the wall... Such scolding, satisfying, satisfying! In the second year of Jingta, the two capital cities' Imperial Censor Li Renyi, Mr. Li Shijie, fearlessly impeached the power-seizing minister Shi Heng, who attempted to harm Yu Zhongsu. As a result, he was demoted to Xiangyang as the prefect... It wasn't until Shi Heng rebelled and was executed for his crimes, and Emperor Xianzong ascended, that Mr. Li Shijie was restored to the post of Prefect of Jingzhou... This collection of poetry truly reveals Mr. Li's spirit, worthy of calling him a great man, a gentleman of pure conduct, making the petty and treacherous tremble!..."

For this piece of poetry "scolding the treacherous ministers," Governor Wang Zhe applauded, a relaxed smile even appearing on his face. It is evident that Li Renyi and Li Chun here are opposing Shi Heng's faction. And among all the network of relationships, the faction that has shown the same political inclination or had the same enemies is incredibly strong, even allowing the descendants of two families to remain interconnected for generations.

As for Great General Shi Heng, a military meritocrat, he was promoted to General of the Five Army Camps, Marquis Wuqing, for defeating Wala. Following this, he exerted great effort in the "Door Seizure" to restore Supreme Emperor Yingzong, and eventually plotted against the minister who had once elevated him, Yu Zhongsu, to solidify Yingzong's power.

In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty's scholar-official class, this is undoubtedly a case of military merit treachery and martial chaos, deserving of both corporal punishment and condemnation, eternally nailed to the pillar of shame! Therefore, even though Shi Heng defeated Wala in Shanxi, safeguarding Wang Zhe's hometown of Wenxi County, it did not alter Wang Zhe's perspective as a scholar-official in the least! Naturally, the military discipline of the Ming Army in foreign campaigns, described as "bandits come like combs, official troops come like lice," indeed has little to do with goodness...

"'Sending the Governor of Zhengzhou Hong Youyue Back to Office'... An old friend is in charge of the ancient Yingyang County, rain and dew spreading spring in one locale. Ministers repeatedly laud the governance of officials, the clan's northern house tending to farming and mulberry. In desolate stations, soldiers' dust settles quietly, water dries up in the great ditch, grass and trees grow lush. Returning with grace, the city is full, Guo Xi's letter should uplift the worthy..."

"Zhengzhou Governor? Then it's the Prefect of Kaifeng, or Magistrate of Zhengzhou. Surname Hong... Hmm, during the Jingta or Tianshun periods... Some thirty or forty years ago?..."

Governor Wang Zhe mulled over it a while, but could not recall who this was. Yet it does not matter, it is likely unrelated to the Zhejiang officialdom. Here, "old friend" simply refers to the vast network of "former acquaintances" within the scholar-official network, scattered across the thirteen provinces, with bonds sometimes very close, sometimes quite distant, which can hardly be discerned from poetry, serving only as a vague reference.

Away from political considerations, Governor Wang Zhe took the time to truly savor the literary brilliance of this poem.

"Rain and dew spreading spring... fine wording!... desolate stations, soldiers' dust settles quietly, water dries up in the great ditch, grass and trees grow lush... excellent sentence!... To be able to write such serene and joyful benevolent lines, he is indeed worthy of being from Dragon Peak Academy, Mr. Li Wenxi!"

Savoring this poem, Governor Wang Zhe sighed deeply, his eyes showing a longing expression.

In fact, in this era, the purpose of "collections of essays" is firstly to serve as a "resume," recounting the previous posts held by scholar-officials. Secondly, it is to map "connections," clarifying one's relationships with other scholar-officials. Thirdly, to outline the "ideology," demonstrating one's political stance and tendencies. Regarding the last item, it is "literary talent," inviting admiration from contemporaries or future generations through poetic creativity...

"Smooth administration and harmonious people, clear governance and capable officials. Encourage farming and mulberry, quell military affairs. Uplift from above, comfort the common people below. Allow farming and studying to thrive, let citizens live peacefully and happily. Silence the cunning and treacherous, make merchant and trade abide by tradition... This is indeed the duty of administering one region, educating the populace!"

Saying this, Governor Wang Zhe sighed lightly and set down the collection of essays. Having perused these poems, besides the networks of "old acquaintances, contemporaries, factions, former acquaintances, disciples" in the scholar-official connections, only the last, most numerous and varied in relationship, "disciples," remains. And Mr. Li's disciples include Mr. Liu, who presided over provincial exams in the indiscriminating tradition, with a group of Jiangsu and Zhejiang disciples, one of whom is waiting in the court...

Thinking of this, Governor Wang Zhe smiled faintly, suddenly turning his head. His gaze intense, he looked at Shi Wende, who had been waiting a long while and now standing with sweat soaking his clothes, smilingly asking.

"Si Cheng, you've been following the traditions, absorbing for quite a while, what do you think?!"