Chapter 50: Another Clash with Yang Yi (Part One)

Chapter 050: Another Duel with Yang Yi, Second Update, Seeking Support

After a brief silence, an uproar broke out. Zhuge Qiao hurried forward, pushing and pulling Wei Ba aside, his face flushed with anxiety. “Brother Wei, are you mad? Do you insist on inviting humiliation?”

The young girl behind Ma Dai turned pale, biting her lip in contemplation. She leaned close to Ma Dai and whispered a few words in his ear. Ma Dai listened, his eyes flickered, then he glanced back at the girl. She looked at him pleadingly, nodding repeatedly. Ma Dai sighed, stood up from his seat, and strode to stand before Wei Ba, his voice stern. “Wei Ba, mind your manners. Today is the Chancellor’s selection for officials—military posts are tested by archery and strategy, civil posts by poetry and essays. There’s no mathematics on the agenda. If you wish to seek advice on mathematics from Officer Yang in the future, there will be plenty of opportunities. Don’t complicate matters. Step back now.”

As he spoke, he winked at Wei Ba, signaling him not to be stubborn. The matter with Yang Yi would be handled next. Zhuge Qiao, hearing this, hurried to drag Wei Ba away, eager to remove him from the scene of trouble.

Such reactions were only natural. Yang Yi, though lacking in character and overly contentious, had reached his position in the Chancellor’s office not through the prestige of the Yang family of Xiangyang, but through his extraordinary mathematical abilities. It could be said that, for calculation and mathematics, Yang Yi was second to none in the Chancellor’s office—no one dared claim first. Even across all of Shu Han, or the whole realm, his talent was among the rarest. True mathematics, like martial arts, relied on inheritance; it could not be mastered just by reading books. A challenge to Yang Yi in mathematics would undoubtedly be self-inflicted humiliation, as Zhuge Qiao had said. While Wei Ba’s disgrace might not matter, Wei Yan was not one to let things go; it could easily lead to further trouble as he sought to restore his honor.

Wei Ba was silent for a moment, then bowed in acceptance. “Understood. Thank you, Captain Ma.” He glanced at the girl who was pressing her hand to her chest, exhaling softly, and nodded to her. She forced a strained smile, a mixture of apology and satisfaction.

Wei Ba could guess the source of her apology and her satisfaction, but he chose not to say more. The situation was stirred by his own careless words, already causing a considerable commotion. Though it seemed smooth on the surface, hidden troubles loomed beneath. If he could step back and resolve it here, he would welcome it. Ma Dai’s intervention deserved respect; later, Wei Ba could use this opportunity to offer conciliatory words to the girl and let the matter rest.

Ma Dai, seeing Wei Ba yield, was satisfied. He turned, intending to persuade Yang Yi, but Yang Yi, wearing a cold smile, brushed Ma Dai’s hand aside and beckoned to Wei Ba, not even glancing at Ma Dai.

“You, come here.”

Ma Dai’s face reddened instantly. He knew he was not of the Jingxiang faction and lacked scholarly credentials, so he always respected Yang Yi. Stepping forward to defuse the dispute between Yang Yi and Wei Ba was partly due to the girl’s entreaty, but also out of concern for Yang Yi. To challenge Wei Ba in mathematics, given Yang Yi’s status, would be a hollow victory, but if he lost, it would be a great embarrassment. For this reason, Ma Dai had intervened, only to find Yang Yi unwilling to give him any face, not even allowing him to speak.

Awkwardly, Ma Dai still forced himself forward to block Yang Yi’s path, speaking in a low voice, “Officer Yang—”

“Captain Ma, what are you doing?” Yang Yi interrupted rudely. “The Chancellor appointed you as examiner for military posts, but did not give you authority to supervise me. Do you intend to take over my duties as well?”

Hearing this, Ma Dai opened his mouth but could not utter a word. He looked at Yang Yi, then silently bowed and stepped aside. Yang Yi’s words were venomous; if Ma Dai persisted, it would seem he was seeking to usurp authority. They appeared to be equal examiners, but Ma Dai knew, in the Chancellor’s eyes—or in everyone’s—Yang Yi’s status was certainly above his own.

Being so pointedly reminded, Ma Dai felt humiliated and resentment welled in his chest, though his face showed nothing as he stood respectfully aside, watching events unfold. He even secretly hoped Wei Ba would lose badly, so that Wei Yan’s anger would be provoked, and the debt could be repaid to Yang Yi in full.

The possibility of Wei Ba defeating Yang Yi, of making Yang Yi lose face, never crossed Ma Dai’s mind; he dismissed it outright. To anyone with sense, such an outcome was impossible—only a madman would hope for it.

The girl, seeing Ma Dai rudely and unceremoniously rejected by Yang Yi, grew furious, but as Yang Yi pressed closer to Wei Ba, her worry for Wei Ba returned. She rushed to Ma Dai, pleading anxiously. Ma Dai could only shake his head helplessly, indicating he was powerless.

Yang Yi strode to Wei Ba, basking in the attention of the crowd. Seeing Wei Ba’s calm face, his anger grew; he wished to shame Wei Ba utterly. “You wish to learn mathematics? Very well, I always appreciate ambitious juniors. To be honest, my views align with the Chancellor’s—I do not see much use in poetry and essays; no matter how well written, they are mere diversions for leisure. Mathematics, though a minor art, solves many practical problems.”

Wei Ba smiled silently, serenely, neither nervous nor arrogant, as if simply listening to a lesson. Had he not issued a challenge earlier, one might think he was just a junior listening to a senior’s advice.

Yang Yi, too, felt this. After suffering a setback at Wei Ba’s hands last time, he had brooded over it. The problem Wei Ba posed was not difficult; Yang Yi solved it soon after, but it had disrupted his focus, allowing Wei Ba to launch a surprise and overturn all his plans, making him a laughingstock.

Fu Xing was snatched by the Wei father and son; the young lady from the Peng family was claimed by Wei Ba; Yang Yi himself was dragged before the Chancellor like a chicken. He had been humiliated beyond measure. He had clashed with Wei Yan countless times, but never so disgracefully.

He had been waiting for a chance to restore his honor, and now it was before him. Not even the Chancellor himself could persuade him to let it pass. This time, he would ensure the Wei father and son lost thoroughly.

Zhuge Qiao saw the fierce fighting spirit in Yang Yi’s eyes and could only smile bitterly. Today, Yang Yi and Ma Dai were examiners, but the one truly in charge was him; those he selected would eventually help him transport grain from Chengdu to Hanzhong. He had not expected the animosity between the Yang and Wei families to erupt so violently at first meeting, with Yang Yi disregarding his status to intervene. If word reached the Chancellor, he would surely be reprimanded.

Zhuge Qiao stepped forward to block Yang Yi. “Officer Yang, the Chancellor awaits the results of the examination—we should not complicate matters now. There will be plenty of chances for mathematics later.”

Yang Yi glanced at Zhuge Qiao and sneered. On any other day, he might have given Zhuge Qiao face, but not today. Wei Ba had made a mistake in desperation, challenging him in mathematics—a rare opportunity. If he let it go, when would such a chance come again? Given Wei Ba’s ability and courage, he would not repeat such an error.

This was an opportunity not to be missed. To make the Wei father and son lose face—such a chance was once in a lifetime. As for Zhuge Qiao’s face, that could be dealt with later.

He spoke coldly, “Bosong, a gentleman may be slain, but not humiliated. I have served in the Chancellor’s office for years—if not with merit, then with hard work. Knowing my limited learning, I rely on my modest grasp of mathematics. If a junior challenges me openly and I do not dare respond, how could I remain in the Chancellor’s office, how could I face my colleagues?”

Zhuge Qiao frowned and was speechless. Yang Yi had made his point clear; if Zhuge Qiao continued to intervene, it would be equivalent to helping Wei Ba shame Yang Yi, even suggesting Yang Yi should be expelled from the Chancellor’s office. Though he did not wish to see Wei Ba suffer, he could not let Yang Yi be humiliated. If he had to offend someone, he would rather offend Wei Ba, for offending Wei Ba did not mean offending Wei Yan—and even if it did, it was preferable to offending Yang Yi.

Zhuge Qiao stepped aside, immediately finding a young man to report the situation to the Chancellor’s main tent, so the Chancellor could be prepared and not be caught off guard.

“Wei Ba, do not be afraid. Though my relation with your father is ordinary, we are close enough in age that I count as your senior. I will not make things difficult for you. How about this: I will pose ten questions—if you answer two, I will recommend you to the Chancellor. How does that sound?”

Yang Yi’s words were courteous, seemingly generous, but the implication was deadly. Ten questions, and if you answer just two, I will recommend you—he had already placed himself in a position of certain victory. The demand appeared low, but it was naked contempt. Everyone could guess that, with Yang Yi’s temperament, his ten questions would be extremely difficult; Wei Ba might not answer even one. Thus, the promise to recommend him would be an unattainable prize, while Wei Ba would lose completely, his reputation in ruins.

Yet, the offer was so tempting, devoid of any hostility, imbued instead with a senior’s care for a junior—making it impossible to refuse. If Wei Ba dared not accept and retreated without a fight, his disgrace would only be greater.

Everyone looked at Wei Ba with sympathy. With a single sentence, Yang Yi had cornered him—whether he accepted or not, he was destined for humiliation today.

――――――Second update, seeking votes for support! Please recommend!