Chapter 12: How Dares This Upstart Lay Claim to the Title of Overlord?

Zheng Yanqing had always harbored a sense of wariness toward Pei Shiju.

He was different from Dou Wei. To put it bluntly, Dou Wei was a scholar. He possessed great wisdom, but at the end of the day, he remained a scholar. That was why Zheng Yanqing could speak freely in front of Dou Wei without caution.

But Pei Shiju was different; he was a politician.

After writing the poem "Parting Thoughts" for Pei Shiju, Zheng Yanqing had inquired about the man's background. If one included the Tang Dynasty as recorded in later historical texts, Pei Shiju had served under three dynasties and five emperors, yet he had remained standing throughout—a miracle in itself.

Pei Shiju had started as a military aide to Gao Zhen, the Prince of Beiping in Northern Qi. After the fall of Northern Qi, he served the Northern Zhou and caught the eye of Yang Jian, who was then the Governor of Dingzhou. When Yang Jian became Prime Minister, Pei was recruited to serve in the Prime Minister's secretariat. While Yang Yong was still Crown Prince, Pei Shiju had proactively defected to Yang Guang’s camp, and history proved that his judgment was sound.

This man possessed exceptional talents in both civil and military affairs.

What was most terrifying, however, were his methods. In the early years of the Kaihuang era, the Hedong Pei clan was not yet centered on the Dongjuan branch. In fact, the entire Dongjuan branch was facing suppression from the Xijuan and Zhongjuan branches, and its status was precarious. Quietly and methodically, Pei Shiju accepted the Southern Wu-surnamed members of the Pei clan into the Dongjuan branch. For instance, the high official Pei Yun was a representative of those southern Pei clansmen.

During the conquest of Chen, Pei Yun returned north.

The strength of the Dongjuan Pei clan surged instantly. Not only did this neutralize the pressure from the Xijuan and Zhongjuan branches, but it also propelled the Dongjuan branch to become the leading lineage of the clan, and Pei Shiju naturally became the clan patriarch, securing the status of his branch.

Being around such a person would surely be stressful.

Zheng Yanqing felt a throbbing headache; from the bottom of his heart, he wanted to avoid meeting Pei Shiju. Yet, given his own status, he seemed to have no reason to refuse. Thinking about it, it was truly a vexing matter.

Without realizing it, Zheng Yanqing had turned onto Jianguo Gate Avenue.

As he neared the city gate, a sudden, rapid sound of horse hooves came from behind.

"Zheng Yanqing, stop right there!" someone shouted.

Yanqing instinctively pulled on the reins and turned back, only to see over a dozen magnificent warhorses charging from the other side of the Tianjin Bridge, quickly reaching the gate. The leader appeared to be about fourteen or fifteen years old, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a resolute, sharp appearance.

Stopping his horse about ten meters away from Yanqing, the youth watched as his followers swarmed up, surrounding Zheng Yanqing in the middle.

The guards at Jianguo Gate wanted to step in to question them, but the gate commander grabbed them, shaking his head repeatedly. "Are you trying to get yourselves killed?"

"But they..."

"Act as if you didn't see anything!" The commander pointed at the leading youth. "That is the grandson of General Mai. We cannot interfere."

Upon hearing this, the guards shivered and retreated back into the gatehouse.

Zheng Yanqing looked at the group, confused, and was certain he did not know this youth.

He cupped his hands in a salute from his saddle and was about to ask who they were, when the youth shouted, "My name is Mai Zhong. Are you Zheng Yanqing?"

Mai Zhong?

Yanqing was surprised. In the legends, the "Little Tyrant of Chang'an" was supposed to be a pampered fop in silk robes. But this Mai Zhong was burly and robust, with a bronzed complexion that clearly came from long exposure to the sun. He couldn't be called handsome, but he possessed an air of martial vigor.

He rode a black steed with white-spotted hooves, wore a green robe over soft black rhinoceros-skin armor, and looked menacing and full of murderous intent.

"I am Zheng Yanqing!"

Yanqing remained calm and replied, "I know who you are, the grandson of General Mai. However, I do not understand—we have never met, so what is your purpose in surrounding me under Jianguo Gate with so many men?"

Mai Zhong was clearly here to cause trouble. Zheng Yanqing knew his objective well but feigned ignorance.

Mai Zhong said, "I had planned to find you in the next couple of days. Even if I couldn't kill you, I would at least break your dog legs. But I've changed my mind... Zheng Yanqing, I will give you two choices. Either let me break your limbs, or pack your bags immediately, leave Luoyang, and crawl back to your home in Xingyang. Choose."

The boy spoke with a haughty arrogance, looking down on everyone. He was overbearing, treating Zheng Yanqing as if he were nothing. Yanqing frowned and said with a calm smile, "Young Master Mai, I don't understand what you mean."

Mai Zhong’s face shifted, appearing ready to erupt.

But he took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I don't play games. Zheng Yanqing, I don't like the look of you! Before, I wanted to kill you because I heard you harassed Miss Cuiyun; but I heard you were laughing and talking with her at the Dating Restaurant this afternoon, so those rumors must be false... Even if they are rumors, I still don't like you.

I despise you poor scholars. You rely on a handsome face, write a few good characters, compose a few pretentious poems, and then fish for fame, thinking you are something special... I don't want to see you in Luoyang again. Make your choice."

In truth, it was simple: this young master was jealous.

But faced with such a provocation, Zheng Yanqing would never bow his head. Even without the matter of seeking a master in Luoyang, a person needed their dignity. If he yielded now while Mai Zhong was acting so arrogantly in front of so many people, how could he ever establish himself in Luoyang?

"Young Master Mai, aren't you being a bit too domineering?"

Mai Zhong pointed with his horse whip. "I am just that domineering. It was the same in Chang'an, and it is the same here in Luoyang."

Yanqing sneered, "Young Master Mai, have you ever heard of the Five Constants of Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parent, and Teacher?"

"What?"

"These are the foundations of humanity. Apart from Heaven and Earth, there are only three people who can order me to leave Luoyang: the Emperor, my parents, and my teacher. Unfortunately, you are none of these, so you have no right to demand I leave."

Yanqing sat steadily on his horse, a mocking smile on his face.

The onlookers heard him, and some began to cheer aloud. The Three Bonds and Five Constants were the ethical pillars established by Dong Zhongshu of the Han Dynasty, the very foundation scholars prided themselves on. Yanqing's words echoed the unyielding spirit of "A scholar would rather die than be a servant to the nobility." Many scholars nearby couldn't help but praise him.

Mai Zhong’s dark face turned bright red—not from shame, but from fury.

"Zheng Yanqing, I am trying to talk to you reasonably, and you dare to insult me?"

Yanqing’s smile vanished. He said coldly, "Mai Zhong, keep your mouth clean. Who do you think you are, calling yourself 'Master' this and 'Master' that? If not for your luck in having a grandfather who was a bandit to back you up, you would have been beaten to death long ago... The 'Little Tyrant of Chang'an'? Bah! Do you even know what a 'tyrant' or a 'king' is?

He who possesses the world is a King; the leader of the feudal lords is a Tyrant. You are merely the descendant of a fierce bandit. How dare you claim such titles? You should know that only the Emperor and the saints dare to call themselves tyrants!"

Zheng Yanqing’s words were sharp and venomous. He knew that when dealing with a spoiled brat like Mai Zhong, being polite would only be mistaken for weakness.

Who are you? Your grandfather was nothing but a bandit in the south, and you dare call yourself a tyrant? You have neither the world nor the leadership of the lords; what right do you have?

These words were so cutting that even if Mai Tie Zhang heard them, he wouldn't dare jump out to find trouble.

Mai Zhong was not a scholarly person; in terms of eloquence, he was no match for Zheng Yanqing. He knew the weight of the words and dared not refute them. His face turned a deep purple, and he roared in frustration.

"Zheng Yanqing, I will not argue with you. Since you are seeking death, I will grant it!"

As he spoke, Mai Zhong drew a shimmering, thick-backed saber. It resembled a standard horizontal saber, but the spine was twice as thick, making the edge appear sharper. It was about 1.2 meters long and weighed at least thirty to forty catties. The blade was diamond-shaped, meaning it was not just for hacking, but also for agile, intricate techniques. When Yanqing learned swordplay from Wang Zheng, he had been warned: any uniquely shaped weapon surely had unique techniques—one must be cautious.

Zheng Yanqing’s expression darkened. "Then I shall accept your challenge!"

Judging by his weapon, this guy definitely possessed immense arm strength. Yanqing had just begun to grasp the essence of internal force and felt his courage swelling. Since Mai Zhong was pushing him, there was no choice but to tear off the mask of civility.

Without hesitation, he drew his own horizontal saber from the saddle.

Since his previous conflict with Pei Xingyan at Changxia Gate, he had been reluctant to carry weapons. Weapons in hand often escalated conflicts. But yesterday, Shen Guang had warned him to be careful, and Wang Zheng had insisted he carry it.

Mai Zhong laughed instead of getting angry. "Zheng Yanqing, you have guts... Since I came to Luoyang, you are the first person who has dared to fight back."

Zheng Yanqing replied, "Though I lack the strength to truss a chicken, a man of integrity cannot be humiliated. If I must, I will paint the ground red with you."

The implication was clear: you only bully those weaker than you who lack the courage to resist.

Mai Zhong sneered repeatedly, suddenly spurring his horse to charge at Zheng Yanqing. The surrounding followers retreated in unison, clearing a space. It seemed Mai Zhong was not the type to gang up on people; the behavior of his personal guards showed that he exercised strict discipline.

Yanqing flipped his saber, the edge pointing forward.

Just as Mai Zhong’s black steed was about to lunge, a sharp, piercing whistle tore through the air.

A streak of light appeared out of nowhere and slammed into the ground in front of Mai Zhong’s horse. The black steed, startled, reared up with a long neigh. Fortunately, Mai Zhong was an expert rider and managed to pull the reins and calm the horse. He stood his ground, his face filled with shock and rage.

"Which bastard dares..."

He wanted to ask who dared to ambush him, but halfway through, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. He swallowed his words, and a look of genuine fear crossed his face.

The crowd parted. Zheng Yanqing looked on to see a man in white robes riding a thin, old horse, moving leisurely toward them. He held a giant bow, larger than a standard one. Hanging from his horse were two tiger-skin quivers filled with arrows. His face was weathered, with a high nose, deep-set eyes, and a short beard. He wore a simple white robe that gave him a somewhat bedraggled look.

Behind him followed several burly soldiers: one holding a pair of steel whips, another with a heavy horse-spear as thick as a goose egg, and a third holding a sword.

The man in white looked slightly intoxicated, his eyes half-closed. Although he didn't say a word, Zheng Yanqing felt a wave of immense pressure radiating from him.

Passing the giant bow to a guard, the man in white smiled.

"Mai-zi, causing trouble again?"

Mai Zhong quickly jumped off his horse. Not just him, but all his guards dismounted and knelt on the ground.

"Grandpa Yu, how would I dare cause trouble?"

Zheng Yanqing was puzzled, wondering who this man, who felt like a dormant lion, could be.

"Mai-zi, you aren't a child anymore," the man sighed. "The General is serving in Runan; can’t you stop making him worry so much?"

"I..."

Before Mai could speak, the man in white turned his gaze to Zheng Yanqing. His tiger-like eyes suddenly widened, flashing with a brilliant, piercing light. His hair seemed to bristle, and Yanqing felt a crushing pressure. His horse, Yuti Jun, neighed and backed away repeatedly. Horses were highly intuitive, and a fine steed like Yuti Jun had senses sharper than any human; its reaction proved the man’s power.

"A fine horse, but it lacks the tempering of the battlefield, missing a bit of grit."

The man in white suddenly laughed and pointed at Zheng Yanqing. "You have quite the nerve, child, to call that old man a 'fierce bandit' in public. If he heard you, he would probably be quite proud."

The "old man" he referred to was undoubtedly Mai Tie Zhang. For someone to address him like that, their status must be comparable...

Zheng Yanqing looked at the man in white with caution, remaining silent.

The man turned back to Mai Zhong. "Mai-zi, do you know where this is?"

Mai Zhong was stunned and replied softly, "Luoyang!"

"Wrong!" The man’s voice rose sharply. "This is Jianguo Gate. If you follow this street down, you reach the Duan Gate of the Imperial Palace. Mai Zhong, do you know what the Duan Gate is?"

Mai Zhong shivered and lowered his head.

"When you were causing trouble in Chang'an, I didn't see it, and I couldn't be bothered to care. But this is Luoyang. If you brandish weapons here and happen to startle the Imperial carriage, how many heads do you have? And you, young man... put away that pathetic blade of yours."

Zheng Yanqing instinctively sheathed his saber, his heart pounding.

The pressure from this old man was too overwhelming—it could easily interfere with his own will. Mai Zhong called him "Grandpa Yu." After a moment of thought, Yanqing’s eyes widened in astonishment. Among the civil and military officials, a Duke and General surnamed Yu—could it be Yu Zhongwen?