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Fei Qian arrived at Cai Yong's residence with Cui Hou in tow. Though Cui Hou's expression remained largely unchanged, the faint tremors in his hands betrayed his excitement.
Cui Hou raised his head to gaze at the fayue pillars standing before the Cai estate, and a sense of reverence welled up within him. While the Cui family had once produced Cui Lie, who had risen to the rank of Minister over the Masses (Situ), their achievements paled in comparison to the illustrious accomplishments of the Cai family.
The fayue were two pillars erected on either side of the main gate—the left one called fa and the right one yue. They symbolized the family's merits and official history, and households possessing such pillars were referred to as fayue families, a title reserved for generations of distinguished officials who had rendered outstanding service to the empire.
Though the fayue appeared simple—just two towering black pillars over ten feet tall, capped with decorative tiles—their significance was profound. Commoners, no matter how wealthy, were forbidden from constructing such grand entrances with steps. Even the most extravagant mansions built by merchants or the nouveau riche could only have a simple gate in the wall, never a fayue gate.
Observing Cui Hou's expression, Fei Qian felt a sudden pang of introspection. Having visited the Cai estate numerous times, he had never once felt the same reverence for those two black pillars. To him, they had always just been… two big black pillars.
Perhaps this was the greatest difference between a time-traveler from the future and a native of the Han Dynasty. Certain historical artifacts held little emotional weight for him. If a smartphone and a book were dropped on the ground, a modern person would instinctively reach for the phone, while a Han-era native would unquestionably pick up the book.
The gatekeeper soon returned, inviting Fei Qian and Cui Hou inside.
Had Fei Qian come alone, formal announcements would often be unnecessary. Sometimes, Cai Yong would even instruct the servants to let him proceed directly to the study without guidance. But since he was accompanied by Cui Hou, they followed protocol this time and were led by a servant to the side hall of the Cai estate.
Upon meeting Cai Yong, Cui Hou immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply, addressing him respectfully as Cai Zhonglang. Without Fei Qian's introduction, gaining an audience with Cai Yong would have been nearly impossible for Cui Hou. Now, not only was he standing before the esteemed scholar, but he was also on the verge of being praised and remembered by the literati. His excitement was almost unbearable.
Cai Yong nodded and gestured for Fei Qian and Cui Hou to take their seats.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Fei Qian—having received Cai Yong's tacit approval—stood up and unfurled a large map of the Han Empire, preparing to explain his plans in detail to Cai Yong and Cui Hou.
Surprisingly, he had discovered this map in the library tower the previous day. Given that Cai Yong had long been collecting geographical records and compiling historical texts, the existence of such a map was hardly unusual.
Standing before the map, Fei Qian suddenly felt as though he were delivering a presentation in front of a projector at a modern tripartite meeting.
This, too, was a tripartite meeting—albeit of the Han Dynasty variety. The three parties were:
- The Repository (Cai Yong): Possessing an immense collection of books.
- The Strategist (Fei Qian): Orchestrating the plan.
- The Executor (Cui Hou): Responsible for implementation.
Their goal was to reach a consensus on a critical mission.
Cai Yong's library was vast. Even if every single person in the Cai household were mobilized, transporting the entire collection would be impossible. Moreover, once the capital relocation officially began, chaos was inevitable—roads would be clogged, and people's hearts would be in turmoil.
Cui Hou's logistical advantages, however, were different. Since acquiring Fei Qian's exclusive glassmaking formula, he had revitalized numerous trade routes. Merchants never traveled empty-handed; they always carried goods to sell along the way. Thus, the Cui family commanded a considerable number of carts and horses, not to mention their network of affiliated merchants along the routes.
Fei Qian's role was to integrate these resources, devise a rational transportation plan, and coordinate both parties' manpower and materials to safely relocate Cai Yong's vast library out of Luoyang.
Pointing at the map, Fei Qian addressed Cai Yong:
"Luoyang is situated between mountains and rivers. The eastern route is already blocked, and to the southeast, the armies of Dong and Sun lie in wait. Our only path is westward. After passing Mianchi, we'll turn north, cross the river near Shanjin, traverse Hedong and Pingyang, and finally reach Xihe."
Then, turning to Cui Hou, he added:
"Your elder brother currently serves as the Grand Administrator of Xihe. During the journey, copies of the texts may be made, and these duplicates will belong to the Cui family. The originals, however, must be carefully stored in a secure location and returned intact once the chaos in Luoyang subsides."
Suppressing his excitement, Cui Hou rose from his seat and kowtowed to Cai Yong, declaring:
"By the name of the Cui family, I swear that we will safeguard Zhonglang's books with utmost care and return them unharmed once the Luoyang conflict ends. Should we act deceitfully, may the Cui family be ruined and our corpses left unburied!"
Fei Qian nodded slightly. Such an oath was the strongest guarantee Cui Hou could offer Cai Yong.
In this era, vows were not taken lightly. The phrase "a word once spoken cannot be overtaken by four horses" held real weight. Among aristocratic families, trust (xin) was paramount—those without it could not hope to establish themselves in Han society.
By swearing in the name of his family, Cui Hou was pledging the full strength of the Cui clan to this endeavor, leaving no room for deception.
Moreover, the Cui family was not merely providing labor without reward. Fei Qian had explicitly stated that they could make copies of the texts during the journey, granting them access to invaluable knowledge—an immense benefit in an age where ordinary people struggled to find books to copy and study.
Cai Yong stood and approached, helping Cui Hou to his feet.
"In the past, I served alongside Wei Kao [Cui Lie's courtesy name] in court. His eloquence and literary brilliance were unmatched. Who could have foreseen the twists of fate? How lamentable! Now, as we join hands to preserve the legacy of education, let us work together to overcome these trials."
Fei Qian couldn't help but admire Cai Yong's words. The same sentiment, spoken by someone else, would not have carried the same weight.
Cui Lie, despite having risen to the rank of Minister over the Masses, had purchased the position from Emperor Ling—who had even complained that the price was too low. This transaction had tarnished Cui Lie's reputation among the scholarly elite, with even his own son, Cui Jun, mocking him for "reeking of copper."
Cai Yong's words, however, offered Cui Lie posthumous praise, lauding his literary talents. This was tantamount to rehabilitating his legacy. Moreover, by speaking of "joining hands," Cai Yong elevated the Cui family to a level of parity with the Cai family in this collaboration.
Cui Hou bowed again, moved to tears.
"With these words from Zhonglang, my late grandfather would rejoice in the afterlife! The Cui family shall devote itself wholeheartedly to this task, ensuring not the slightest error…"