If not for the war's reach, Ling Li truly wouldn't have returned to Yu State.

Certainly, his status as an Advanced Scholar far exceeded most of his peers, yet he couldn't overcome his own shortcomings.

Moreover, he held pride in his heart; rather than compare himself to fellow students who also failed, he measured himself against the successful Advanced Scholars.

Thinking that if they succeeded, why should he not?

And thus, he found himself stuck in this dilemma.

Now, at forty-three, while others at this age are enjoying the warmth of their family, with wives, children, and even grandchildren,

he remained unmarried, without even a child.

The family proposed matches for him, but he swore that unless he made it to the list of Advanced Scholars, he would never marry, so he refused them all.

For this reason, how could he bear to return home?

After learning all the information about Ling Li, Chen Mo looked at Ling Li, whose beard was slightly unkempt, and said: "Now that you've returned, why think about seeking refuge with me?"

Chen Mo glanced at Ling Li's power, 109, Seventh-Grade Martial Artist.

Truth be told, Ling Li, a grown man, returned from the Capital in a dejected state, embarrassed to stay home, had nowhere else to go, and saw that Chen Mo was recruiting, so he decided to try his luck here.

Ling Li naturally couldn't speak the truth; after thinking for a while, he said: "A common man like me has wandered half his life in vain, never meeting a wise lord. Recently, seeing Marquis recruiting talents, I believed I possessed some abilities, so I learned about Marquis,

knowing that Marquis has the grand ambition to unite the world, and realizing Marquis is the wise lord I seek, I came to offer my allegiance. Marquis has a heart as vast as the ocean and surely would not refuse talents at the door."

Hearing this, Chen Mo raised his eyebrows; after all, he's a learned man, and given his age, he speaks quite eloquently.

Chen Mo, intrigued, said: "Since you consider yourself a talent, let me ask you, given the current world situation, how do you perceive it?"

Ling Li: "..."

He spent the better part of his life focused on examinations and never cared to understand the current world affairs.

Chen Mo saw him hesitating for a long time without speaking, frowned and asked again: "Let me ask you once more, now that Qing, Yu, and Lin Three States are in my hands, what should be done next?"

Ling Li knew this; the Advanced Scholar exam required knowledge of current affairs. He said: "If order is chaotic, it must be reestablished, laws enforced strictly, chaos requires stringent measures, first stabilize the hearts of the people in the Three States, then gather the hearts of the Longyou people.

The common folk, though, can be foolish and struggle to distinguish right from wrong, hence starting with the gentry and influential clans; if they are won over, the common people will naturally follow blindly.

After stabilizing the people's hearts, focus should shift to livelihood, starting with agricultural production, and improving irrigation..."

This was what Geng Songfu had mentioned in his letter to Chen Mo previously; he followed this method with good results.

"Have you held official positions?" Chen Mo glanced at him.

Ling Li shook his head awkwardly; when he first failed the Advanced Scholar exam, his family had arranged for him to be a County Magistrate in Yu State, but he was fixated on becoming an Advanced Scholar, looked down on the position in the secluded county, wanting to be a Capital Official, so he refused.

"Here's the deal..." Chen Mo tapped his fingers on the table, saying: "In Jun County near Jiapin County, there's a vacancy for a County Magistrate; are you willing to give it a shot and fulfill your ambitions?"

"Jun County?"

Disappointment flashed in Ling Li's eyes; Jun County is a small county with less than five thousand people and nothing noteworthy local. He felt disdain.

Chen Mo naturally noticed his reaction, but when Geng Songfu came seeking refuge, he started from being a County Minister, and the latter was an Advanced Scholar; Ling Li was just an Advanced Scholar, and Chen Mo was letting him start as a County Magistrate, which showed significant emphasis.

"Not willing?" Chen Mo said.

Ling Li rubbed his hands, saying: "Marquis, I feel I could shoulder a heavier burden."

This was almost a straightforward statement.

"That's simple." Chen Mo smiled: "Coincidentally, I'm preparing to establish a County School, not yet starting the pilot project, so how about beginning this at Jun County; if you manage it well, there will be substantial rewards."

Wanting to progress.

Fine, first get the task done for me.

Thus, Ling Li could only bow to Chen Mo: "Thank you, Marquis."

Chen Mo stepped down from the podium; after all, Ling Li, being of Advanced Scholar descent, must be treated well given the current shortage of talents. He patted Ling Li's shoulder, saying: "Work well, talents are currently scarce around me, many vacancies, don't worry about doing well without getting promoted."

Hearing this, Ling Li felt a bit relieved, saying: "Then... I shall go assume my role immediately."

Ling Li adapted to his new identity rather quickly.

"No rush." Chen Mo smiled: "Since you're of Advanced Scholar descent, do you have any Advanced Scholar friends in Yu State here; if you successfully recommend someone, I'll credit you."

"This..." Ling Li hesitated.

"Is there any difficulty?"

Ling Li nodded: "Marquis might not know, I have been away from Yu State for many years, with little correspondence, so..."

Chen Mo understood: "It's alright, you may go."

"Understood."

...

On November 15th.

Chen Mo took the Divine Brave Guard to the banks of the Huai River, sending Zuo Lianglun in a small boat to the middle of the river to sign a non-aggression pact with the people from Prince Huai's Mansion.

Chen Mo didn't personally go to sign because Prince Huai also sent an envoy.

The saying goes "King to King."

Prince Huai sent just an envoy; if he personally went to sign, it would seem unreasonably subservient to Prince Huai.

The steps to signing the pact weren't complicated.

At the auspicious hour, Zuo Lianglun and the envoy from Prince Huai each drew a cup of water from the Huai River, then both cut their palms, letting blood drip into the cups of Huai River water.

Facing the heavens, they pledged to the Huai River, stating that within the five years specified by the pact, neither side will invade the other, swearing under the witness of heaven and the Huai River, anyone breaking this oath shall be struck down by divine punishment.

Finally, each drank the blood-tainted Huai River water, confirming the pact's terms and signed the non-aggression treaty.

After signing, the guards accompanying Zuo Lianglun sent a signal to the shore.

Chen Mo received the signal and immediately ordered the release of Liang Song.

Thus, the agreement was completed.

The next day, Prince Huai's Mansion and Chen Mo together announced the Huai River Oath to the world.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo released information that Liang Song's wife, Ning Clan, had died in April of the eighth year of Xuanhe in Longmen County, stating that previous rumors of capturing Liang Song's wife were untrue and transferring Ning Clan's remains to Prince Huai that day.

The news caused a stir in the world.

Recent events have been too fantastical.

First, Chen Mo issued a proclamation against bandits, leading the world to mistakenly believe he sought to crusade against Longyou, yet he surprised by launching a sudden attack on Linzhou.

This made people again think that after capturing Linzhou, he would join the Celestial Master Army to threaten Huai State.

Yet now he's signed a so-called non-aggression pact with Prince Huai's Mansion...

This made those who didn't understand mistakenly think that the two sides had formed an alliance.

ps: Thanks for the alliance master's reward of "Xiaolang," many thanks!!!

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