Chapter 2038: Chapter 1817: The Calm Before the Storm
Sima Yi, who was currently making efforts to study, naturally didn’t know that his first wife, who gave birth to Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, and Princess of Nanyang, Zhang Chunhua, was being led astray by Ji Xiang.
Despite both being Women’s Precepts, the core ideas taught by different people are definitely different. As they say, the classics annotate me, and I annotate the classics. Those who stand at the peak in various industries cannot be mediocre. Ji Xiang’s Women’s Precepts naturally include her own thoughts.
As mentioned earlier, all human cognition carries bias. Feelings of closeness and distance inevitably prevent impartiality. Mann Chong’s Spiritual Talent is said to adhere to the path of law, unbiased, yet even he cannot avoid showing favoritism towards Liu Ye. Such things are simply unavoidable.
Furthermore, Zhang Chunhua was young. Though she somewhat had her own opinions and was indeed intelligent, her inner nature was not inherently aligned with the righteous and grand path. If guided by a good teacher, she might balance Yin and Yang and walk a path that is relatively proper.
However, Ji Xiang, such a character, would not be considered grand and dignified in any era. As someone born from the Xuanyuan High Priest background, she abandoned certain things in her educational method, leading to a moral and ethical view lighter than normal people’s.
Someone whose ego is close to a super-ego state, ignoring moral and rational constraints, would provide education that couldn’t possibly be the same as a normal person’s.
Naturally, Zhang Chunhua, whose nature was somewhat inclined to darkness from the start, involuntarily leaned to one side under Ji Xiang’s guidance. After all, it’s the same study, the same material, but learning from Ji Xiang is clearly easier than learning from other teachers, so why not learn from Ji Xiang?
Thus, the naturally intelligent Zhang Chunhua consciously chose Ji Xiang’s educational method, because truly no other education method suited her more than Ji Xiang’s slightly dark style.
Without warning, Sima Yi, who was commanding the army and conducting training, suddenly felt cold sweat soaking his back, then his head involuntarily began scanning side to side, while Fa Zheng, eating beside him, watched Sima Yi’s exaggerated head movement with great interest.
"Zhongda, what’s wrong with you?" Fa Zheng asked Sima Yi with great interest, "Why do I feel like you’ve suddenly been startled?"
"I also don’t know what’s happening, just feel a great ominous danger approaching." Sima Yi rarely showed a trace of panic on his face; he truly felt a malicious intent approaching him.
"Huh?" Fa Zheng, due to Sima Yi’s panicked behavior, couldn’t help but show a hint of a smile. "I don’t know if you’re truly scared, but your recent head movement was mysteriously scary and laughable."
Sima Yi’s face darkened upon hearing this, but considering it was Fa Zheng speaking, he didn’t argue too much. The opponent had strength and capability. Through extensive interactions in recent times, Sima Yi discovered that this young man, only three years older, possessed insights that were simply unsettling.
Originally, Sima Yi thought the counterpart was only adept in Military Strategy and Ingenious Strategy. But recent interactions had utterly surprised him; the opponent’s military strategies were truly awe-inspiring, while other aspects like Political Strategy, Dispatch, Planning, Farming for civilian support—these, though claimed not to be the counterpart’s forte, seemed considerable to Sima Yi.
This made Sima Yi abandon most ideas of contesting him, primarily because Sima Yi discovered the counterpart, besides jesting harshly with him, was greatly humble in military and domestic affairs, rarely showing an arrogant demeanor.
In other words, Sima Yi felt that apart from being a bit sharp-tongued when dealing with people, Fa Zheng was also quite personable, and in human interactions, approachable. Thus, Sima Yi had no intention of confronting Fa Zheng.
In reality, Fa Zheng wanted to tell him that humility was not his nature, mainly because he felt a bit self-conscious stuck among Chen Xi’s group, hence the need to be modest and humble.
"As reported by the Scout Cavalry, those from the Northern Frontier will arrive in no more than two days. By the way, where is Mao Xiaoxian? Even though he’s hidden well, I’ve caught onto his tracks, yet he hasn’t shown up, really disrespecting me." Fa Zheng didn’t continue to dwell on Sima Yi but decisively switched topics.
"Probably also in the next day or two. After all, by that time, we’ll have to greet returning warriors and accompany the coffins as soldiers who fell in the Northern Frontier are repatriated back to the Central Plains; then arrange for not less than 400,000 captives. All these are very troublesome matters, though Mao Xiaoxian knows you and I are here, I fear he also worries it might not be handled well." Sima Yi simply explained twice.
"But after all this time, he’s not sent anyone to meet me either, really showing no respect. When we do meet, some derision is inevitable." Fa Zheng said with a mouth invite, understanding this principle but feeling no satisfaction nonetheless.
"Well, by then, let’s see your real skills. Mao Xiaoxian is extremely low-key; as of yet, I don’t know his exact abilities. Hence, if you happen to confront him, I’m pleased to observe." Sima Yi said calmly, as if eager for Fa Zheng and Mao Jie to face off, allowing him to gather both sides’ combat powers.
"Just kidding, I wouldn’t neglect the bigger picture for such." Fa Zheng replied casually. Though dissatisfied with Mao Jie, he knew now was not the time to exploit the situation.
