kvmb Chapter 654 Faith
Chapter 654 Faith
"Teacher, it's cold outside the city. Shall we go into the city first?"
Zheng Qing spoke up.
"Row."
Li Mingyuan nodded, and the group then walked into the city. Qingying was in charge of driving the carriage for Li Mingyuan and his companion.
Zheng Qing helped Li Mingyuan walk into the city, observing Li Mingyuan's steps discreetly, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.
How decisive and efficient our teachers were back then!
Now... as his body ages, the teacher is no longer as agile as before. He walks very slowly, and his back is somewhat hunched. He looks like a very old man.
Only his eyes remained bright and spirited, seemingly brimming with boundless fighting spirit.
"teacher."
Zheng Qing suddenly said, "When the news came from the capital, I thought I would never see you again!"
Zheng Qing was referring to the time when Li Mingyuan was dismissed from his position as prime minister. Zheng Qing was well aware of how serious the consequences would be for Li Mingyuan, who had served as prime minister for more than ten years and had offended almost all the nobles in the capital, after losing his position as prime minister!
When he held the position of prime minister, those nobles would still be somewhat cautious and dare not openly attack Li Mingyuan. But once he lost his position, those nobles had no more scruples.
They dared not risk public condemnation by killing Prime Minister Li Mingyuan, but they certainly had the guts to kill a commoner like Li Mingyuan.
When Zheng Qing first learned that Li Mingyuan had been dismissed from his post as prime minister, he almost thought that his teacher had died in the capital.
Fortunately, he received a letter from Li Mingyuan not long after, which relieved him.
"With Li Qiao here, those nobles won't be able to take my life."
A hint of desolation flashed in Li Mingyuan's eyes. Although he had saved his life, he would never be able to realize his ambitions after leaving the capital. This was no less of a blow to him than losing his life.
The pain of having decades, or even most of one's life, was all for naught was something only Li Mingyuan himself truly understood.
"Brother Li, you are truly skilled."
Zheng Qing gave Li Qiao a thumbs up. Li Qiao's ability to escape with Li Mingyuan amidst the encirclement and suppression of countless powerful families in the capital was beyond question.
"Not bad, not bad!"
Li Qiao grinned and said, "I'm not bragging, but I could crush all those good-for-nothings in the capital with a single finger. It's just that Uncle Li told me not to commit any more killings, otherwise I would have already wiped out all those good-for-nothings in the capital."
Upon hearing Li Qiao's words, Zheng Qiuyan, who was standing to the side, widened her eyes. She was unaware of the identities of Li Mingyuan and Li Qiao, and her father had never mentioned that he had a prime minister as a teacher.
Just by listening to Li Qiao's description, you can tell how amazing what he did was.
What kind of place is the capital?
That place is a gathering place for the world's most talented people. It's no exaggeration to say that more than half of the high-level martial artists in the Nine Provinces gather in the capital. Yet this middle-aged man, who looks like a farmer, is able to dominate the capital...
For a moment, Zheng Qiuyan couldn't tell if Li Qiao was bragging or not!
"Father."
Zheng Qiuyan couldn't help but look at Zheng Qing and ask, "May I ask what your master's name is?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Qing laughed: "I forgot to tell you, my grandmaster's name is Li Mingyuan."
Li Mingyuan!
Zheng Qiuyan's delicate body trembled, and her pupils contracted.
For most Xia people, the name Li Mingyuan is probably a household name.
For no other reason than that he was the former prime minister of the Xia Kingdom, the head of all officials, and a figure second only to the emperor!
For the people of Qingzhou, the name Li Mingyuan holds even greater significance.
The younger generation of people in Qingzhou may not know the name Li Mingyuan, but the older generation all fondly remember the time when Li Mingyuan served as the prefect.
When Li Mingyuan governed Qingzhou, it was the time when the people of Qingzhou enjoyed the best standard of living. However, not long after Li Mingyuan left, the people of Qingzhou returned to a state of misery. Therefore, the older generation of Qingzhou all miss Li Mingyuan. Whenever they mention Li Mingyuan's name, their eyes will shine with nostalgia and respect.
It can be said that the name Li Mingyuan has become a kind of faith in Qingzhou. Many Qingzhou people even enshrine longevity tablets of Li Mingyuan in their homes, which shows the love and respect that the people of Qingzhou have for Li Mingyuan.
Zheng Qiuyan never expected that the frail, seemingly kind old man before her was actually the world-renowned Li Mingyuan.
What he never expected was that his father, a mere prefect, had been taught by the once-famous prime minister, Li Mingyuan.
"Grandmaster, are you really Li Mingyuan?"
Zheng Qiuyan stared wide-eyed and asked incredulously.
"Li Mingyuan is no celebrity, why would I need to impersonate him?"
Li Mingyuan replied in a half-joking tone.
Upon seeing this, Zheng Qiuyan couldn't help but feel that Li Mingyuan was showing off. If Li Mingyuan wasn't a celebrity, then were there any celebrities in the world?
It is no exaggeration to say that during Li Mingyuan's tenure as prime minister, his reputation was greater than that of the emperor.
Because he not only gave the people of Kyushu a way to survive, but also opened up a path to upward mobility for countless students from poor families. Countless students from poor families benefited from him and regarded him as their mentor.
If we include all the students from impoverished families who have benefited from Li Mingyuan, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Li Mingyuan has students all over the world!
How could someone like that not be a celebrity?
"My name is Li Qiao. Have you ever heard of me, Niece Zheng?"
Seeing Zheng Qiuyan's shocked expression, Li Qiao stared at her expectantly and said...
“Never.”
Zheng Qiuyan shook her head.
Li Qiao was struck dumb. He was the one who protected his uncle and fought his way out of the dragon's den and tiger's lair in the capital. This niece Zheng had never heard of his reputation. She was simply ignorant and a typical example of someone who was all talk and no action!
As they spoke, the group arrived in Taicang County. Looking at the bustling city, Li Mingyuan couldn't help but say, "Young Zheng, you've done a good job governing Taicang County!"
Li Mingyuan, who had served as an official in Qingzhou, Liangzhou, and Yuezhou and as prime minister for decades, had incredibly keen insight.
Just by looking at the faces of the people in the city, he could tell that Zheng Qing had governed Taicang County quite well.
Having just left Liangzhou, he knew all too well how miserable the people of Liangzhou were. Everyone looked pale and listless, and the shops on the streets were deserted. The people simply didn't have any money to buy anything from the shops.
In contrast, in the city of Taicang, although not everyone had a rosy and full complexion, most of the people passing by had smiles on their faces. Although the shops were not bustling with customers, there were occasionally a few customers coming and going, presenting a completely opposite situation to Liangzhou.
"They're nowhere near as good as the teacher!"
Zheng Qing humbly said, "When you governed Qingzhou, everyone in Qingzhou could eat their fill, but I... have worked hard for a long time, and the people's living standards are still far from what they were back then."