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Fei Qian looked at the seal and ribbon of the Assistant Inspector that he had finally obtained. He couldn't help but feel a bitter smile as he recalled the various expressions of the officials and clerks in Governor Liu Biao's office when they learned that he had been granted the title of Assistant Inspector.
Was it really necessary? It was just a nominal title with no real power...
The initial excitement of stepping into an official position was almost completely worn away by the attitudes of Liu Biao, Yi Ji, and the various factions within the government.
Just among the few people under Liu Biao, there were so many factions! If he were to go to places like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Quan, where there were even more people and even more complex factions, without a keen mind, he would surely be devoured without a trace. It was truly disappointing and disheartening.
Recalling the inexplicable internal conflicts and killings he had read about in the Three Kingdoms period in his past life, now that he was in the midst of it, Fei Qian realized that most of those incidents were caused by factional struggles.
Can't this tradition of internal strife be changed? Why did I encounter it in my past life, and now I'm encountering it here again? When people look at others, they don't look for strengths first, but rather for flaws. Once they find one, they criticize relentlessly, always putting on a self-righteous attitude to lecture others. Those who are better than me must have cheated, and those who are worse are idiots. I never thought such people existed since ancient times...
Why are there so many people who only see the world from their own perspective? Fei Qian was genuinely annoyed.
Have all the so-called etiquette, integrity, humility, wisdom, and courage been eaten by dogs?
They are just a bunch of parasites. Why do I keep encountering people who only care about the immediate gains?
Do they not know what will happen in the future? Do they not know that the land of China will be soaked in blood? Do they not know that from Youzhou to Yizhou, wars will rage everywhere?
Do they not know that human life will be as cheap as grass, and decapitation will be as common as cutting weeds, with barely one household out of a hundred surviving?
This is a nation on the brink of total collapse! This is an era where culture is on the verge of extinction! Even if they don't know the history of the future as I do, they shouldn't be so despicable, showing such malice over a nominal title with no real power.
Although some people hid it well, Fei Qian, having seen much in the workplace, could easily distinguish between genuine smiles and fake ones. The military officials, like Wen Pin, didn't show much reaction since they weren't heavily involved, but the civil officials were a different story...
They were already not very convinced, and with Liu Biao's subtle remarks earlier, it didn't feel like an introduction but more like a provocation...
Moreover, Liu Biao's tactics weren't very sophisticated. If he had the balancing skills of someone like Zhuge Liang, Fei Qian might not have noticed, but with such shallow political maneuvers, Fei Qian couldn't help but feel speechless.
Why give a nominal title like Assistant Inspector? Because Liu Biao was still evaluating Fei Qian. Although Fei Qian had offered a strategy to pacify Jingxiang, Liu Biao wasn't as desperate as Liu Bei, who would cling to any straw. Liu Biao felt he still had some cards to play, so naturally, he wouldn't place a heavy bet on Fei Qian.
Then why not make it clear to everyone that this Assistant Inspector position had no real power? Because although Liu Biao might not know what the Sword of Damocles or the Catfish Effect were, it didn't stop him from using these concepts in practice—look, I, Liu Biao, am brave enough to promote young talent. If you old-timers don't work hard, there are others who can replace you...
And why did Liu Biao take credit for Fei Qian's strategy?
Indeed, Liu Biao had sent Yi Ji the day before to deliberately inquire about the true meaning of "restoring the dignity of Xiangyang." Liu Biao, having just assumed the position of Governor, had only one notable achievement so far: adopting the Kuai brothers' strategy to eliminate the local bandits around Xiangyang. However, no matter how much Liu Biao boasted about this achievement, the fact remained that the Kuai brothers deserved the majority of the credit. But with Fei Qian, it was different—
First, although Fei Qian was a disciple of Cai Yong, he was still a lone traveler in a foreign land, unlike the deeply rooted and influential Kuai family, so there wasn't much pressure;
Second, Fei Qian wasn't well-known in Jingxiang, nor was he as famous as Kuai Liang or Kuai Yue in their hometown, so his credibility wasn't high. Even if Fei Qian told the truth, not many would believe him;
Third, Liu Biao urgently needed something to showcase his great talent and establish a positive image. Fei Qian's strategy, unlike others' vague and general plans, was highly practical, giving Liu Biao the perfect opportunity to shine and issue commands in public...
These three reasons were why Liu Biao couldn't resist the temptation to take credit for Fei Qian's strategy.
But Liu Biao was also afraid that Fei Qian would oppose him and expose the truth, so he sent his trusted aide Yi Ji to test whether Fei Qian would publicly promote the strategy to pacify Jingxiang in front of others.
As a result, Fei Qian not only understood Liu Biao's intentions but also refrained from mentioning anything about the strategy in front of Yi Ji. Instead, he "asked" Yi Ji to bring back a message to Liu Biao to "rest assured."
That's why today's formal ceremony to appoint Fei Qian as Assistant Inspector took place. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened...
From beginning to end, it was a transaction between Fei Qian and Liu Biao, but this also suited Fei Qian's intentions.
Liu Biao used Fei Qian's strategy to build his image and secure his position, while also using the nominal title of Assistant Inspector to pressure the old clerks and send a strong signal to the observing gentry that he was recruiting talents...
For Fei Qian, this exchange secured at least a long-term meal ticket and a protective talisman. As long as Fei Qian didn't do anything reckless or Liu Biao didn't fall from power, no one would openly move against Fei Qian. As for behind the scenes...
It was a barely equivalent exchange, with each getting what they needed.
Fei Qian didn't have much of an opinion about Liu Biao in this regard. After all, he hadn't placed much hope in Liu Biao to begin with, so there wasn't much disappointment.
Those in power naturally have to play some games. Fei Qian had his contributions swallowed by superiors more than once in his past life, so he didn't mind it happening once more here.
What mainly dissatisfied Fei Qian was that he had encountered such situations in his past life, but he never expected to encounter the same kind of mediocre people here—those who couldn't achieve much and could only elevate themselves by tearing others down!
Fu Xun and Yi Ji performed decently, and Pang Ji also hid his intentions well, but the other clerks in the Governor's office left Fei Qian utterly speechless...
A bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well! If you have the ability, show it! If you have the talent, display it! Why do you have to find balance by targeting a newcomer like me?
These clerks only know how to find opportunities to criticize others, always looking for a chance to pull someone down. What kind of future do they have? If Liu Biao, as the new Governor, hasn't given you a chance to showcase your abilities, what about Wang Rui, who was here before Liu Biao? Didn't he give you a chance either?
When I left the Governor's office, groups of three or five were glancing at me, thinking I didn't notice. They were pointing and gesturing behind my back, thinking I wouldn't find out. Do you think I won't hear all sorts of rumors about me in the market within three days? Do you think someone won't come to me under the guise of asking for advice on administrative matters, only to try to teach me a lesson?
It's all so tiresome.
If I were to borrow Liu Biao's influence to find a few foolish scapegoats and slap them a few times, things would probably quiet down. But Fei Qian felt that doing so would be utterly meaningless.
If I were to do that, wouldn't I be lowering myself to the same level as these barking people?
Might as well let it be. After all, the transaction with Liu Biao has been preliminarily settled, and I've also received a reply from Pang Degong. I might as well take this opportunity to step away from this chaotic game and go to Lushan to live in seclusion with Pang Degong for a while.
If I want to play, I should find companions of similar caliber. There's no need to follow Liu Biao's intentions and waste time competing with a bunch of parasites. Liu Biao's move was somewhat intended to use me to "clean out the parasitic clerks," but why should I engage in such a pointless task?
Perhaps Liu Biao was hinting that if I could overthrow someone, I would gain their real power. But as far as I'm concerned, a nominal Assistant Inspector is just that—a nominal title. This meager, chicken-rib-like thing isn't something I, Fei Qian, care much about...
Constantly slapping the faces of small-time people holds no interest for Fei Qian.