Volume One: The Overseer and the Student Chapter Fifty-One: Qi Changfeng (Part Two)

There is nothing new under the sun.

The ordeal that befell Qi Changfeng has played out countless times throughout history, and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future.

It happened during a reconnaissance mission beyond the border. The squad of soldiers he led encountered a group of northern Mongol cavalry, and a fierce battle broke out at once.

It just so happened that among his team was a relative of a high-ranking officer—someone sent to the frontlines for a quick bit of glory before a smooth promotion. But as it turned out, the man was utterly unfit for military life. The moment real combat erupted, he lost all composure, unable to fight alongside his comrades, and Qi Changfeng’s men even had to divide their attention to keep him alive.

Though the skirmish ended with the Mongol riders withdrawing after leaving several dead behind, the border troops paid a heavy price—some men fell, two of them dying solely to protect that well-connected officer.

What Qi Changfeng could not fathom was that, upon returning and truthfully reporting the events, his superiors repeatedly rejected his account.

The reason, of course, was only too clear: he had credited himself and his men with the victory, while the connected officer not only received no merit but was facing severe punishment. This was unacceptable to those above.

Qi Changfeng, recounting this, downed another cup of wine, his eyes reddening. “I just can’t understand it. He made a grave mistake and got two of our brothers killed because of it... I simply reported the truth, but was rebuked for supposedly abusing my power and suppressing others...

“Later, in a fit of anger, I took the matter to the Deputy Commander, and that coward was finally expelled from the army. My brothers were recognized for their valor, and I myself was promoted from squad captain to centurion... but I had to surrender my original post in the process.”

Huang Ming looked at him and sighed as well. “And then you had to do what they said—come to the capital to seek another way forward?”

“No, at the time the general told me that after becoming a centurion, I’d be appointed as a regional constable somewhere in Jiangnan. All I needed was to report to the Ministry of War in the capital, receive my commission, and then take up the post... But each time I went to the ministry, they found some excuse to turn me away, and today I couldn’t even get through the gate.”

Huang Ming gave a wry smile. Even as a man from another world, he could see the reason behind it all—how could someone who had served so long in the army not understand?

Seeing Qi Changfeng’s continued bewilderment, Huang Ming patiently explained, “Haven’t you thought about it? At the level of regional constable, appointments are no longer decided by your superiors alone.”

“What?”

“There are countless centurions in the realm, but very few officers with real authority. What’s more, we’re talking about military posts in the prosperous Jiangnan region. Even your commander in Datong wouldn’t have the power to assign someone there at will.

“And from what I know, it’s not only military officers—many civil officials too possess nothing more than a title, with no actual appointment. What can these people do? All they can do is seek connections at the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of War, hoping for a real post, even if it’s a lower one.”

Qi Changfeng didn’t understand the twists and turns of bureaucracy, but he wasn’t stupid. With Huang Ming’s hint, realization quickly dawned.

He slammed his cup down and said, “You mean I was played from the very start? This so-called promotion to centurion was just a pretext to get rid of me?”

“Exactly. You offended too many people. The deputy commander goes without saying, and your direct superior—a centurion with real authority, I presume—then the deputy general you angered with your report, and even the commander of Datong himself…”

“How could this be…”

“Don’t you see? Originally, it was all tacitly understood—a bit of credit would be given to a soldier involved in the fight, and then, using that as leverage, he’d be promoted. But you disrupted everything, almost let things spiral out of control, and made the army restless. No one would have patience for you, no matter how skilled you are or how many merits you’ve earned.

“You must realize, there are many people in the army just like you—only they better understand the importance of timing and going along to get along.”

Huang Ming’s words left Qi Changfeng dumbfounded; he sat there in a daze, unable to recover for a long while.

As a soldier’s son, he had always been taught that only martial skill and bravery would allow him to rise above others—he’d never thought much about anything else. Only now did he realize how naive he had been, how different reality truly was.

When he finally came back to himself and lifted his cup again, Huang Ming continued, “As for this supposed post as constable in Jiangnan, I bet there are at least a dozen men across the country promised that same position. But there’s only one vacancy—so you all compete as best you can. Without connections, all you can do is wait.”

Qi Changfeng’s eyes widened. “Then I suppose I’ll never get that post in my lifetime… Might as well return to Datong…”

“Do you really think you can? Do you think they’ll let you go back?”

Those two questions struck him to the heart, leaving him speechless, his eyes filled with frustration, confusion, and anger. “Then… I have almost no money left… What can I possibly do?”

He had already sold off all his family’s property to come to the capital; the money was just enough to cover the journey and rent a small house outside the city for a month or two.

“Brother Qi, do you trust me?” Huang Ming saw the time was right and suddenly asked.

“Of course I trust you. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in the dark, waiting around until I was penniless.”

“Then I think there’s no hope in waiting any longer. You should give up on that post for now and focus on making a living.”

Qi Changfeng gave a bitter smile. “Making a living… I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood, then served in the army. Aside from fighting, I have no other skills. I probably couldn’t even farm properly—how am I supposed to support myself?”

“You underestimate yourself, Brother Qi. You’re a skilled martial artist with years of real combat experience—something few can claim. If nothing else, you could easily work as a bodyguard.”

“A bodyguard… but I have no connections or recommendations. Who would hire me?”

After Huang Ming’s gentle yet relentless dismantling of his confidence, Qi Changfeng truly began to doubt himself.

And that was precisely the effect Huang Ming had hoped for. Otherwise, how could he persuade such a capable soldier to set aside his pride and future to serve as a bodyguard for the son of a eunuch?

He raised his hand unhurriedly and pointed to himself. “What about me? Brother Qi, would you be willing to accept a humble position in my household as a bodyguard?

“Don’t worry, you’d have little to do most days—just escort me to and from the Imperial Academy, and be by my side when needed. As for your wages, twenty taels of silver per month—what do you say?”

The truth was finally revealed—Huang Ming had spoken his true purpose at last.