Decree of King Qi for the Recruitment of Worthy Men

When he reached the entrance of the village, Zhao Liang saw a large crowd gathered, all craning their necks to see something. So this was where everyone had gone. He hurried over, wedged himself through the throng, and managed to squeeze to the front. There, pinned up, was a parchment made of sheepskin with several lines of writing on it. A group of people clustered around, chattering noisily, debating what it all meant.

As soon as the villagers noticed Zhao Liang had joined them, they called out, “Zhao Liang, come read this for us! Uncle Tianli only knows a handful of characters, but he insists on showing off, stumbling over the words and can’t make sense of it.”

Zhao Liang stepped forward, cleared his throat, and began to read aloud, his diction crisp and clear: “The King of Qi seeks to restore the royal house. All men of learning and martial talent are invited to come to Linzi to enlist; the King of Qi promises to employ and value them highly. To prevent impostors, all applicants must first undergo selection in the nearby towns and cities.”

When he finished, some listeners seemed to grasp a little, while others understood nothing at all, and the crowd erupted again: “Zhao Liang, we don’t get a word! Say it in plain language, not that official gibberish.”

With a smile, Zhao Liang explained, “Our King of Qi wants to govern Qi well. Anyone who can read, write, or command troops should go to Linzi—there’s a chance to be appointed a high official.”

He hadn’t finished explaining before cheers broke out and the villagers began discussing the matter in excited tones.

Seeing the commotion, Zhao Liang quickly gestured for silence and continued, “But I’m not done yet. Don’t get ahead of yourselves. To keep pretenders at bay, you have to prove your abilities first.”

No sooner had he spoken than the crowd burst into laughter and teasing.

“Uncle Tianli, that means you!” someone called.

“Old Fourth, how did the King of Qi know you’re always putting on airs? He even left a message just for you!” another joked.

Flushed with embarrassment, Tianli retorted gruffly, “Stop spouting nonsense! The King of Qi, with all his wisdom, would hardly bother with my petty affairs, let alone issue a special decree just for me!”

“The King of Qi must have the eyes of a hawk to see right through you from so far away!” someone else continued the tease.

Sensing things were not going his way, Tianli hastily shifted the focus, turning to Zhao Liang. “Say, Little Liang, you’ve studied with Master Jiang for years—you’re bound to have plenty of learning. Why don’t you give it a try? Who knows, maybe the King of Qi will take a liking to you and make you a prime minister or general. That would bring honor to our Tian family village and make your ancestors proud!”

The others seized on Tianli’s words, encouraging Zhao Liang with more good-natured banter.

“That’s right, Zhao Liang. As the saying goes, whether you’re a mule or a horse, you have to take a walk to find out. It’s time you saw the world,” said Uncle Tian Er, sitting on a large stone nearby, leisurely puffing on his pipe.

Xiao Hong, standing to one side, also urged him, “Brother Zhao Liang, you should give it a try! I’m sure you’ll succeed—maybe the King of Qi will really make you a great general!”

Zhao Liang, hearing the encouragement from his fellow villagers, felt his heart stir. But then he thought better of it—this was no small matter. He would need to consult with Tian Yi and Master Jiang first.

“This isn’t a trivial thing. I’d better discuss it with Uncle Tian Yi and Master Jiang before making any decisions. Excuse me, everyone; I’ll be on my way.” With that, he parted the crowd and jogged back to the charity house. As soon as he reached the door, he ran straight into Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran, surprised at seeing Zhao Liang back so soon, asked, “Oh, finished your stroll already?”

“Master Jiang, there’s something I’d like to talk with you about. Let’s discuss it inside,” he said, tugging at Jiang Ran’s sleeve and leading him indoors.

“What’s got you all mysterious?” Jiang Ran asked with curiosity as they entered.

Once inside, Zhao Liang explained, “Master Jiang, I just saw an official notice at the village gate. The King of Qi is recruiting talented men—anyone with ability can go try out, but first there’s a selection in the nearby towns.”

When Jiang Ran remained silent, Zhao Liang continued, “I’ve been in Tian family village for over a decade, and I’d like to see more of the world and meet heroes from across the land. Haven’t you always said that a true man should set his sights far and wide?”

Jiang Ran stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Hmm. I’ll need to discuss this with your Uncle Tian first.”

Knowing Jiang Ran’s influence, Zhao Liang quickly added, “I know Uncle Tian can be loud and hot-tempered, but he doesn’t make decisions—everything goes by your word. If you agree, he’s sure to go along.”

“All right, enough of your flattery. Go on outside for now—we’ll talk after I’ve discussed it with your Uncle Tian this evening,” Jiang Ran interrupted, putting a stop to Zhao Liang’s cajoling.

Seeing his attempt at persuasion go unrewarded, Zhao Liang left the room somewhat dejected. He thought he should inform Bai Ling as well—if he went to enlist, he’d be gone for days and didn’t want her to worry.

So he made his way toward the mountain peak, avoiding the main road to keep from running into Tian Yi. By the time he reached the summit, it was already past midday.

Bai Ling had been waiting for some time. When Zhao Liang finally arrived, she couldn’t help but chide him, “Brother Zhao Liang, what took you so long? Where have you been?”

Zhao Liang told her about the enlistment. After listening, Bai Ling encouraged him as well. “Brother Zhao Liang, you should go. The world is vast, and there are countless talented people. Only by venturing out can you broaden your horizons.”

With Bai Ling’s support, Zhao Liang’s resolve to enlist became even firmer. After chatting for a while, he bid Bai Ling farewell and returned to the charity house.