The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 127

Wang Yangming had a feeling that Zhou Hengqi was brewing something, which could be gleaned from their conversation after they got drunk.

So when Zhou Chu sent a letter to Wang Yangming informing him that he had become the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Wang Yangming was not too surprised.

Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, experienced a dramatic transformation, and in just six years, wielding a three-foot-long sword, he seized power from the various feudal lords, making him arguably the first emperor after Yao and Shun.

Even someone as great as Wang Yangming held Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, in awe. As Wang Yangming grew up, he gradually realized that the gap between himself and this emperor was not only not narrowing, but was actually widening.

Wang Yangming was increasingly moved, no wonder that many emperors throughout history had at most compared themselves to Emperor Wen of Han, but never dared to compare themselves to Emperor Gao.

They're not even in the same league.

Although Zhou Chu was still quite immature, he gave Wang Yangming the feeling of a powerful emperor. Many people around him were willing to do things for him, and he never mistreated anyone around him.

In Zhou Chu, Wang Yangming even saw a kind of great trend. At the time, this feeling was not too strong, but now, looking back, Wang Yangming felt that it should be a feeling that the great trend was irreversible.

It seems that there's nothing Zhou Hengqi can't do if he sets his mind to it.

In addition, Wang Yangming also felt the flavor of his philosophy of mind in Zhou Chu. Although Zhou Hengqi never said anything, his words and deeds were always harmonious and consistent, unlike Tang Bohu's fragmented manner.

As for why Zhou Hengqi was so familiar with his disciple Shen Lian, Wang Yangming no longer wanted to delve into it. He knew very well that Zhou Chu's suggestion was the most suitable path for Shen Lian.

Even though he was hunted down by the Embroidered Uniform Guard back then, he never held a grudge against them.

He knew that the Embroidered Uniform Guards were merely following orders.

"Chunfu, on your journey to the capital, you must protect Hengqi well and listen to him in everything. Hengqi has extraordinary talent, and whether our Great Ming can complete its transformation may depend entirely on him."

Wang Yangming said to Shen Lian.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian's expression hardened. This was the first time he had ever heard his teacher speak so highly of another person.

He had heard his teacher mention Zhou Chu before; he was about the same age as him. How could such a person receive such high praise from his teacher?

However, Shen Lian was different from others in one respect. He was not resentful, nor did he compare himself with Zhou Chu. Upon hearing his teacher say this, Shen Lian's only thought was to see Zhou Chu as soon as possible. If it was really as his teacher said, then he would follow this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard wholeheartedly from now on.

At this moment, inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Yang Shen looked at Wen Zhengming.

"You mean the other person is the Hermit of Hengshan?"

Zhou Chu nodded.

“That’s right. My teacher, Wen Zhengming, took the imperial examinations many times but failed each time. Yet he never bowed his head to you Jiangnan gentry. You should know that with my teacher’s talent, if he had just lowered his head, he would have entered officialdom long ago.”

Zhou Chu's words were based on evidence.

It's not that Wen Zhengming could have easily succeeded in the imperial examinations and risen to prominence simply by bowing slightly and acknowledging any examiner as his teacher.

Even if one fails the exam, one can still be recommended by high-ranking officials in the court to enter the capital as a tribute student and embark on an official career.

But Wen Zhengming never thought of doing that.

Even though he's over fifty now, all he's thinking about is fighting again next year.

Zhou Chu even knew many things that others didn't, such as the fact that in the original history, Wen Zhengming still failed the provincial examination the following year.

In the end, Li Chongsi, the Minister of Works, could no longer stand it and directly recommended him to enter officialdom as a tribute student. However, Wen Zhengming did not serve for long before he resigned and returned to his hometown because he could not bear the flattery and infighting in officialdom. He was quite unrestrained.