NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 76 - My Poem Has Become a Model?
At the Lamplighters’ Government Office!
The Division Head of the Eagle Eye Division, who had not attended the government office for three days, finally made his appearance today.
Ever since assuming office on that day and delivering a profound shock to the entirety of the Eagle Eye Division, everyone had presumed that what would ensue would be a tempest of unrelenting force—yet, contrary to expectations, Xia Chen utterly disregarded conventional conduct, absenting himself from duty for three consecutive days.
Only yesterday did they learn that their Division Head had attended a Literary Gathering, where he claimed the top honor; now, that poem was spreading like wildfire throughout the capital!
“This poem of our esteemed Division Head must be disseminated with utmost urgency—the capital and its surrounding regions fall under the jurisdiction of our Eagle Eye Division; within the span of a single day, it is imperative that every soul becomes acquainted with this poem!”
As Xia Chen entered with Xia Wen in tow, he caught the voice of Zheng Ping, the hallmaster, issuing directives to a group of subordinates; Cui Hu and Lu Shen stood beside him, though neither uttered a word.
The whereabouts of the other two hallmasters, Chen Song and Li Yue, remained unknown.
“What’s all this commotion so early in the morning?”
Xia Chen strolled into the hall with a jovial chuckle, addressing the assembly.
“The Division Head has arrived!”
The wrinkles on Zheng Ping’s aged face instantly blossomed into a beaming smile, his formerly stern visage swiftly adopting a different demeanor.
“Division Head!”
The dozen or so Lamplighters present, whether willing or not, clasped their hands and greeted Xia Chen upon his arrival.
In the three days of his absence, they had come to terms with many realities.
Xia Chen’s appointment as head of their Eagle Eye Division was an unalterable fact, irrespective of their opinions—it was the emperor’s decree, beyond anyone’s power to change!
Even without Xia Chen, another outsider would have taken his place.
For His Majesty had grown wary of the Lamplighters’ internal affairs, necessitating the infusion of external appointees.
“For what purpose are you disseminating my poem far and wide?”
Xia Chen’s gaze carried a hint of peculiarity; though he now held the post of Division Head of the Lamplighters, leveraging his authority for personal gain didn’t sit quite right with him!
“Heh heh! Rest assured, Division Head—no outsider will fault you for this; spreading your work is a directive handed down from above!”
Zheng Ping pointed skyward; while they sought to mend ties with Xia Chen, they weren’t so shameless as to stoop to such flattery unprompted!
Xia Chen grasped the situation in an instant—his poem spoke of serving the nation, fearless of death; with the northwest on the brink of a potential war, its emergence was perfectly timed to rouse spirits and ignite a nationwide martial fervor!
Equivalent to a form of nationwide general mobilization—thus, had this poem of his transformed into a piece of propaganda?
The Lamplighters’ propagation of his poem had become a political mission?
This was something Xia Chen hadn’t anticipated—he hadn’t expected Emperor Wen to seize even this opportunity!
“Our Eagle Eye Division oversees the capital and its environs; other regions fall to the brethren of different divisions. Your poem, Division Head, is guaranteed to spread across Dawu within three days—at that time, your name shall resound among the people of our Dawu realm!”
Zheng Ping sidled up to Xia Chen with a grin, then straightened his posture, adopting a grave expression before bowing deeply once more, his voice booming forth.
“Congratulations, Division Head—your name shall soon echo across the realm!”
“Congratulations, Division Head—your name shall echo across the realm!”
As Zheng Ping concluded, the other Lamplighters—particularly Cui Hu and Lu Shen, who had remained silent, their lips twitching faintly—swiftly rallied, joining the chorus with clasped hands.
“My thanks to all my brothers for your hard work—today at noon, I’ll treat everyone to drinks at Desheng Building!”
Xia Chen chuckled, clapping Zheng Ping on the shoulder—this old fox knew how to play his cards well!
“Let me introduce—this is my younger brother, Xia Wen. Arrange things for him, Zheng Ping; follow the proper procedures and have him join the Lamplighters. No need for a formal post—just let him serve as my attendant by my side. Today’s lunch at Desheng Building can double as his induction feast—can you manage that?”
Xia Chen regarded Zheng Ping with a smile.
Zheng Ping glanced at Xia Wen behind Xia Chen—the youth’s tender features betrayed a guileless grin, resembling nothing so much as a simpleton.
Then, looking back at Xia Chen, he hastened to reply with a laugh.
“With the Division Head personally vouching for him, it’s naturally no issue! I’ll have the clerical matters sorted this afternoon—no, before the induction feast at noon!”
Zheng Ping thumped his chest, his tone hearty and obliging.
Such was the perk of power—the Lamplighters, a coveted post that ordinary folk vied desperately to enter, was but a single word from Xia Chen’s lips.
Behind him, Xia Wen gazed at Xia Chen with unabashed admiration—his Third Brother was truly formidable! These were the Lamplighters, each a proud and unruly lot, yet Third Brother had tamed them into submission.
“I want to be this awe-inspiring too—I’ll learn well at Third Brother’s side, and whoever disobeys, I’ll thrash them into compliance!”
At this thought, Xia Wen grinned, his smile radiating pure, unassuming honesty.
Yet the other Lamplighters regarded Xia Wen with odd expressions—this youth, with a physique suggesting fifteen or sixteen years, bore a face so youthful it belied his true age.
“This must be the son of Xia Han, the Junior Minister of Rites!”
Cui Hu, who had held his tongue thus far, spoke in a measured tone.
“Indeed—he’s my Third Uncle’s child. Ah, since we’re all colleagues here, I’ll be frank—alas, this lad had a falling-out with my Third Uncle. He yearned to venture forth and defend home and country, but my Third Uncle staunchly refused. The two clashed fiercely at home, and in the end, my little brother slipped away in secret!”
Xia Chen chuckled, making no effort to conceal the truth—for it was hardly something concealable—though certain realities naturally remained unspoken.
The gathered Lamplighters’ expressions grew stranger still, scarcely heeding the latter half of Xia Chen’s explanation.
“He… he’s broken through to the Eighth-Rank Realm?”
Cui Hu could no longer restrain himself, voicing the question.
“If my memory serves, our Lamplighters’ records indicate that the eldest son of Junior Minister Xia—Young Master Xia Wen—is only eleven years old this year, correct?”
Another couldn’t hold back, his face etched with incredulity.
“An eleven-year-old at the Eighth Rank—how is that possible?”
“But the Marquis of Zhendong’s household stipulates that only those who’ve reached the Eighth Rank may venture into the world!”
“He’s far too young—what manner of prodigy is this?”
…
The Lamplighters—figures feared and whispered of among the common folk—now bore visages transformed by disbelief.
Every gaze brimmed with astonishment.
Even Cui Hu and the taciturn Lu Shen fixed their eyes upon Xia Wen, unable to look away.
As Lamplighters, they maintained dossiers on the capital’s noble scions—a matter hardly secret.
“Not so young—I’ll be twelve in a few months!”
Xia Wen stepped out from behind Xia Chen, scratching his head with a guileless grin, his demeanor utterly harmless.
Yet his words struck the assembly like a blow—the world had gone mad! Was this the caliber of the Marquis of Zhendong’s direct bloodline—so monstrously gifted, one after another?
For context, within the Lamplighters’ ranks, some in their twenties or thirties lingered still at the Eighth-Rank Realm!
The disparity was stark indeed!
“To Desheng Building today—all of you must come!”
Xia Chen called out while clasping his hands in salute, his demeanor devoid of the slightest trace of official authority, yet the assembled clearly dared not disregard him—that day, the impression Xia Chen left upon them had been exceedingly profound; nowadays, all were aware that this superior, though outwardly appearing gentle, harbored an exceedingly ruthless heart within, coupled with considerable shrewdness, and was assuredly not as innocuous as his surface suggested.
“Young Master Xia Wen’s induction feast—we wouldn’t dare miss it!”
The throng of Lamplighters hastened to clasp their hands in return, their gazes toward the tender-faced Xia Wen now tinged with newfound respect.
“Report, Division Head—outside the government office stands a man named Xu Xingchen, seeking an audience with you; he claims you summoned him!”
A Lamplighter strode in to report; Xia Chen’s lips curved into a smile—one scholar, one warrior, both now ensnared within his grasp. The weather was fine today, and his spirits soared!