The north wind blew the snow, and everything in sight was desolate.
A farmhouse surrounded by a bamboo fence sat nestled among the fields. The area was sparsely populated; as far as the eye could see, this was the only household.
A young man, roughly in his late teens, sat on a ridge covered in winter snow. He stared blankly, looking as if he had been struck by lightning—the very definition of “bewildered.”
His name was Xun Ye. He was a transmigrator who had caught the tail end of the trend. He had been in this world for six years, or perhaps sixteen; regardless, he had been here for many years.
He lived alone with his father, depending on each other. While they didn’t lack food or clothing, their circumstances weren’t particularly grand. He couldn’t compare to those “Long Aotian” types who, after transmigrating, slept in the laps of beauties and woke to hold the power of the world in their hands.
According to his father, when he was a child, he was like a soulless human shell. He was late to learn how to walk and never spoke a word. No matter how others tried to coax him, he gave no reaction. If he hadn’t known how to swallow when being fed, he probably wouldn’t have survived.
Fortunately, the heavens weren’t ready to take him. A high fever “burned” his soul back into his body after it had been away for years. Only then did he become the healthy, hearty eater he was today.
The family only owned some farmland and had no visiting relatives. He had always believed this was a peaceful, steady world of a “farming novel.”
His father was handsome, elegant, and every bit the refined gentleman. Even a suit of plain cloth couldn’t hide his extraordinary temperament. Combined with the obscure, difficult books in the study, Xun Ye thought there might even be some elements of the imperial examinations or court drama involved.
After several years of observation, he felt he had discovered the truth of this world.
His beautiful father was a hidden master who had withdrawn from the world. In his youth, he must have been a brilliant talent with overwhelming power. After seeing enough intrigue and deception, he had become utterly disillusioned with the imperial court. Thus, he had retired at the height of his career to live in seclusion in this scenic place.
It was reasonable, logical, and consistent. Otherwise, Xun Ye really couldn’t understand why his beautiful father—a peerless genius who was well-versed in the classics and knowledgeable in both ancient and modern history—would be farming in a remote mountain valley.
Living in seclusion had its risks. To ensure his beautiful father wouldn’t be forced back into service, Xun Ye worked hard to train his body once he regained control of his limbs. He practiced in the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer. In just a few years, he was literate enough to write large characters and skilled enough to catch rabbits. He was the epitome of a new generation’s “twenty-four filial sons” candidate.
As a senior member of the “Appearance Association,” he was proud!
Xun Ye smoothly accepted the reality of his transmigration. Using his clever brain, he deduced his family’s situation and threw himself heart and soul into a new ancient life he had never experienced before, determined to be a good “extra” in this ancient society.
A beautiful father should spend his time in the study reading, writing, and composing books. Crude labor like farming could be left to the son who had been a “dead weight” for so many years.
What is the point of raising a son? To show filial piety to the father, of course!
He learned to grow vegetables, plow the fields, and hunt. From the time he first woke up and his limbs wouldn’t obey him to now, where he could climb mountains and cross rivers as if flying, he was always ready to inherit the family’s land.
If one day his beautiful father decided to leave seclusion “to continue the lost teachings of past sages and establish peace for all future generations,” he could remain in the valley to guard the family estate.
What was wrong with farming? There was great wisdom in farming!
If it really didn’t work out, it wasn’t impossible for him to follow the “peasant son’s path to the imperial court” like his father.
With such an excellent father, the son surely wouldn’t be lacking.
He never expected his reasoning to be wrong from the very beginning.
The beautiful father had indeed gone into seclusion because the court was a mess, but it wasn’t the kind of “mess” Xun Ye had imagined.
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, eunuchs and imperial relatives took turns in power, and there were the two famous Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions. It was completely different from his imagined scenario of scheming civil officials, ambitious generals, a young and ignorant emperor, and a powerful regent.
His original vision was a peaceful and harmonious farming life, but in the blink of an eye, it had turned into the warlords’ struggle at the end of the Han. Was this reasonable?
In a chaotic era, “bleached bones lie scattered in the fields, and for a thousand miles, no cock crows.” It had absolutely nothing to do with peace and harmony.
If you were to ask why he finally discovered he was in the late Han, it started this morning.
The snow had stopped and the sky was clear—perfect weather for visiting friends and relatives. Even their home, nestled in a mountain valley, received a guest.
As a member of a hospitable Chinese family, they couldn’t avoid tradition. When receiving relatives, the younger generation had to go out and greet them.
Well, the second cousin who came to visit was named Xun Yu—the very same Xun Yu of the “he could never forget those melancholy eyes of Xun Yu” fame.
Why was it the late Eastern Han?
The cold wind whistled. Xun Ye sat there in a daze, looking for all the world like he’d been struck by lightning.
He knew his beautiful father was named Xun Yue. He knew their home was in Gaoyang Neighborhood, Yingyin County. He knew the world outside wasn’t peaceful. But no one had told him that their “Xun” was the “Xun” of the Xun clan of Yingchuan.
Then again, his beautiful father always thought he was a bit simple-minded. Even the farming chores were something he had to fight to take over. No one would discuss deep political turmoil with a half-grown child who had been “stupid” for ten years. It was already quite good that he knew this year was the sixth year of Zhongping.
But with so many emperors and era names in ancient history, he had no idea which year the sixth year of Zhongping actually was.
He blamed his lack of knowledge. If he had known that Zhongping was an era name from the end of the Han Dynasty, this wouldn’t have happened.
So, where had the wheels of history turned to now? Could he still farm in the valley in peace? Could anyone tell him what was actually happening outside?
[Beep—]
[Dedicated to imperial education, creating virtuous lords and enlightened monarchs. The Qiangu Yidi Fudao Ban is at your service.]
Xun Ye: ??
Xun Ye: !!
What the hell?!!
Xun Ye jumped up from the ridge in fright. He didn’t hear clearly what the sudden voice said. He grabbed a nearby branch and looked up, down, left, and right. After confirming there wasn’t even a rabbit around him in any direction, a chill surged from the soles of his feet to the tips of his hair. “Who is it?”
A low, raspy voice drifted eerily from behind him, “A~ ghost~ of~ course~”
Xun Ye’s heart pounded as if it were about to jump out of his chest. He turned around, closed his eyes, and started swinging the branch wildly. “Be gone! What manner of demon are you!”
No demon was struck, but the snow on the ground was sent flying in all directions.
Amidst the scattered snowflakes, four phantom figures quietly manifested.
Li Shimin pressed a hand to his forehead. “How old are you, and you’re still bullying a child?”
Liu Che folded his arms. “How can someone who is to conquer the world be frightened? He clearly hasn’t been scared enough.”
Ying Zheng glanced at them and spoke coolly, “Noisy.”
Zhao Kuangyin rubbed his nose and stood on the ground, acting as if he didn’t exist.
Xun Ye instinctively backed away. “You all…”
[Zzt… Zzt… Zzzzt…]
Electronic sounds mingled with static noise. After stuttering for a while, it finally forced out the rest of the words.
[Mentor Team: Qin Huang Ying Zheng, Han Wu Liu Che, Tang Zong Li Shimin, Song Zu Zhao Kuangyin.]
The clothing styles of the four emperors were distinct; their identities could be distinguished at a glance.
Xun Ye looked at the legends who had floated out of nowhere, feeling his heart and soul leaking from all sides due to the cruel reality. He had no ring or jade pendant on him; why would a Golden Finger grandpa find him?
Qin Huang, Han Wu, Tang Zong, Song Zu? Was this a textbook recital? Why didn’t they bring Genghis Khan along too?
I mean, is this Han Dynasty even legitimate?
If he had seen these greats at any other time, he would have been excited enough to spin around them. It just so happened he had only just learned the era he lived in was the late Eastern Han.
Did they think he hadn’t been stimulated enough?
Liu Che circled the numb-looking young man a few times, teasing with great interest, “Why aren’t you talking? Where did that ‘demon’ shouting momentum go just now?”
The land he was about to fight for was his Liu family’s empire; he couldn’t afford to be short on courage.
Xun Ye looked away, telling himself in self-delusion: If something as outrageous as transmigration could happen, it was perfectly normal for Qin Huang, Han Wu, Tang Zong, and Song Zu to appear before him all at once.
Be calm. Be cool. Nothing strange here.
…Like hell there isn’t!
Li Shimin pushed Liu Che aside and said good-naturedly, “Don’t be afraid. You already know our identities. In this world, only you can see us, and we cannot harm you.”
Zhao Kuangyin sat down on the ridge and suggested methodically, “Perhaps we should first explain the current situation.”
Xun Ye took a deep breath and then nodded heavily. “This Majesty is right.”
He had been bewildered many times today. If there were any more thunderbolts, please strike them all at once. Don’t strike right when he’s just adjusted his mindset.
He was just an ordinary transmigrator; don’t hurt him like this.
Ying Zheng just floated high and cold, looking as if he had no intention of speaking. Liu Che and Li Shimin started bickering as they spoke, so the heavy responsibility of introducing the situation fell to Zhao Kuangyin.
The matter was actually quite simple, just as the system had introduced. They were mentors for the Qiangu Yidi Fudao Ban. They were supposed to appear over ten years ago, but unfortunately, the system malfunctioned, and things accidentally ended up like this.
Xun Ye thought about the electronic voice that had stuttered for a long time [Zzt… Zzzzt…] before getting the mentor team out, and thought to himself: It would be a miracle if it didn’t malfunction when it’s lagging like that.
The question was, what had he done to deserve this? Why would a tutoring class seek him out? Did he look like an Eternal Emperor?
The unlucky guy who had been mysteriously bound issued a question from his soul. Liu Che looked him up and down several times and then replied very honestly, “Sorry, I don’t see it.”
Xun Ye: ??
Angry enough to ascend to heaven on the spot.jpg
“He’s talking nonsense, don’t take it seriously.” Li Shimin was also fed up with Liu Che’s personality. They had just arrived; why couldn’t he speak properly instead of always bullying people? “Although the tutoring system often malfunctions, it has never failed in its selection.”
He wasn’t just humoring a child; it was the truth.
Thinking the worst, even if the system really chose the wrong person, could the four of them, with all their experience as emperors, fail to train a reliable successor?
Relax, don’t feel pressured. No one is born knowing how to be an emperor. If you don’t know, you just learn slowly.
Being an imperial tutor was completely different from being an emperor. They had finally finished discussing how to teach a toddler from scratch, only for the toddler to turn into a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth in the blink of an eye.
All four of them had raised children. They knew that boys this age were mischievous and rebellious. If they were unlucky enough to encounter one with a stubborn streak, it would be over. The “father and son” would be at odds for a lifetime, and if they weren’t careful, they’d turn into enemies.
They had to build a good relationship now before the boy started his rebellious phase, rather than waiting until then to feel impotent rage.
Xun Ye didn’t know what the legends were thinking. He had probably been stimulated so much that he was numb. He couldn’t even feel nervous facing four legendary emperors. “Majesty Li Shimin, have you heard the story of ‘one monk carries water, two monks haul water, and three monks have no water’?”
In his shallow understanding, he felt the effect of four greats teaching at once might not be as good as one dedicated great.
One great could teach however they wanted, and if the teaching was poor, there was no shifting the blame. With four greats teaching at once, setting aside whether they would argue, who would be responsible if the teaching really failed?
Who created this tutoring class? From the looks of it, they hadn’t studied education or management. No matter how strong the faculty, they shouldn’t be wasted like this.
Li Shimin spread his hands. “There’s no other way. You’ll just have to work hard and be proactive so that none of us have a chance to shift the blame.”
Xun Ye took a deep breath, his expression looking as if it were about to crack. “Rely on me? Are you serious?”
His Majesty Li Shimin sat down next to Zhao Kuangyin. “Serious.”
Xun Ye: …
That system was clearly beyond the norm. The legends had already appeared and likely wouldn’t leave anytime soon. There was no point in obsessing over too much; it was better to ask what to do now.
Inside the house, Uncle Xun Yu, who was talking to his father, had just said “Yingchuan is a place of four wars and is not suitable for a long stay.” Barring any accidents, the world was about to fall into chaos. It was true he had watched many TV dramas about the Three Kingdoms, but dramas wouldn’t teach him how to survive in a chaotic era, let alone how to become some “Eternal Emperor.”
Eternal Emperor—that term was fine for describing the men in front of him, but it felt completely out of place on him.
Your Majesties, is the teaching starting from absolute zero?
Ying Zheng lowered his eyes. “First, tell us the current situation.”
Xun Ye gathered his spirits and introduced himself. “My name is Xun Ye, my father is Xun Yue, and this is Gaoyang Neighborhood, Yingyin County. For now, the world is still somewhat peaceful.”
Liu Che drifted down, bypassing the cold First Emperor. “Kid, what year is it now?”
“The sixth year of Zhongping.” Xun Ye pointed to the farmhouse nearby. “My cousin Xun Yu is inside talking to my father. From what he says, things are about to get messy outside, so it shouldn’t be time for him to assist Cao Cao in conquering the world yet.”
The Majesties nodded. “Continue.”
“That’s all.” Xun Ye instantly deflated. “I don’t even know which specific year the sixth year of Zhongping corresponds to. You’d be better off asking the carriage driver in the courtyard than me.”
He wasn’t exaggerating; the Xun family’s driver really knew more than he did.
Liu Che clicked his tongue. “What have you been doing for the past ten years?”
“Living in seclusion, being a ‘hidden master’ with my father.” Xun Ye scratched his head sheepishly, then stood up and showed off with some pride, “Do you see the fertile fields around us? That is the empire I have plowed for Your Majesties.”
As far as the eye could see, there were rolling hills in the distance, a river winding through the mountains and slowly flowing away. On both sides of the wild path were neat farmlands, all the result of his hard work over the years.
The Majesties were stunned. Even the First Emperor, who spoke the least, couldn’t hold back. “You planted all of this?”
Xun Ye nodded proudly. “All of it.”
Li Shimin opened his mouth and, after a good while, managed to find something to praise. “Good physical strength. You’re a good prospect for martial arts.”
Xun Ye laughed happily. “That’s what my father says too.”
His childhood name was A-Jiao—the “Jiao” that refers to a very strong ox.
His beautiful father had originally given him this nickname because he wanted him to be as sturdy as a bull calf. After all, his condition as a child was hard to describe; the hope of him making a living with his brain was slim, so being as strong as an ox was at least a way to survive.
Over the past few years, finding that he had endless “ox-like” energy every day, his father would occasionally tease him, saying his name had been well-chosen.
The Majesties were quiet for a while and decided to let the ignorant farm boy off. They would analyze the outside situation themselves.
The sixth year of Zhongping—knowing this point in time was enough for them.
In April of this year, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, died of illness. Prince Liu Bian succeeded the throne and changed the era name to Guangxi. In August, after the eunuchs were wiped out, the era name was changed to Zhaoning. After that, Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Liu Bian was deposed as King of Hongnong and later poisoned, and Prince Liu Xie succeeded the throne, changing the era name to Yonghan.
The snow on the ground was deep, suggesting the end of the year was near.
At the end of this year, the court abolished the three era names of Guangxi, Zhaoning, and Yonghan, reverting back to the sixth year of Zhongping. So, even if the little simpleton didn’t know about the many changes in between, he wasn’t wrong.
Era names changing back and forth wasn’t worth noting; what needed attention was Dong Zhuo entering the capital.
Currently, Dong Zhuo had only just arrived in the capital, and Luoyang had not yet been burned. No matter how chaotic the world became, the great clans had ways to protect themselves.
Just like this simpleton’s father—finding a scenic place to live in seclusion would suffice.
That is, until Dong Zhuo entered the capital. That Liangzhou warrior, despised by the great clans, did not follow convention. In just a few days, he completely destroyed the authority of the court through bloody means, thus raising the curtain on the chaotic era of the late Han.
With years of war combined with natural disasters, the population in the late Han plummeted. After only a few years of stability, the Uprising of the Five Barbarians followed. Their ultimate goal in coming here was not just to push the little simpleton to a high position, but to reduce civilian casualties as much as possible, while also cultivating a brilliant and martial emperor.
Xun Ye squatted nearby obediently, listening to the greats’ discussion. As he listened, he began to catch on.
Being a teacher and being a father were two different mindsets. A teacher could just teach casually; if the student didn’t learn well, it was because the student was “rotten wood that cannot be carved.” Being a father was different; that was true, heartfelt devotion.
From what the Majesties were saying, if the student didn’t learn well, the teachers would likely feel the need to resign in shame. All four had to bring out their best skills to teach.
These weren’t just mentors—they were “Golden Thighs” fallen from the sky!
The little simpleton slapped his forehead in realization and immediately dropped to one knee, shouting with great solemnity, “Godfather above, please accept your child’s bow!”
The Majesties: ??
Xun Ye met four pairs of confused eyes and realized that when taking Godfathers, he had to be fair to everyone. He hastily corrected himself, “Four Godfathers above, please accept your child’s four bows!”