Yu Dongjun felt that he was very lucky. Although he was born in the countryside, he had the opportunity to study and was able to serve in the court and hold a high position.
Back then, almost the entire family spent all their efforts to support his studies. He passed the examination for a student at the age of ten. Later, he took the examination for a scholar, but failed the first time. Fortunately, he was born smart and finally passed the examination on the second try.
After that, he seemed to have a sudden realization and met good people who helped him along the way. He passed the imperial examinations and became a Juren, then a Jinshi, and also made a close friend.
After passing the imperial examination, he was assigned to serve as an official in another county.
He petitioned for the local people, spoke for the people, and worked hard for ten years without anyone knowing. However, he was lucky and had outstanding political achievements. The local situation was discovered by a passing inspector, and he was later directly promoted to the governor of one of the seven prefectures.
In the next three years, he achieved remarkable political achievements, maintained a stable government and won the support of the people. He was promoted to the central government. Later, his career went smoothly and he was deeply trusted by the emperor. He was ranked in a high position and finally became a minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor, assisting the new emperor.
In his decades-long official career, he was able to turn danger into safety every time. His originally sharp edges were polished to become smoother, but the ambition in his heart remained.
The new emperor trusted him very much, but he never overstepped the boundaries during the new emperor's growth.
He gradually handed over power to the other party, and as a result, the new emperor respected him a lot after he came to power and would consult him when encountering important matters.
Through his subtle influence, Yu Dongjun allowed the new emperor to achieve his various reform goals according to his ideas without leaving any trace.
Although he has resigned from his official position and is retired at home, no one dares to disrespect the reputation of Mr. Yu Dongjun.
He was leisurely flipping through the book in his hand when suddenly, a sound of hurried footsteps came from far away.
"Sir! Mr. An has passed away!"
The book in Yu Dongjun's hand immediately fell to the ground. He stood up in shock, "What did you say?!"
Yu Dongjun hurried to An Jingzhi's house, where he heard wailing. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Brother An, why are you so anxious?"
"teacher!"
Zhang Sanlang hurriedly supported Yu Dongjun.
He inherited his father's connections and received help from his wife. Later, he was accepted as a disciple by Yu Dongjun and became one of the most powerful figures in the court.
As for his elder brother, after inheriting the title of viscount, he became resentful and angry, squandered the family fortune, and perhaps lost his mind, even sold the title of viscount. When the new emperor learned about it, he was furious and directly stripped him of his title.
"I'm fine." Yu Dongjun waved his hand and steadied himself.
When the Ping'an Escort Agency was first established, it relied on the protection of Marquis Chang'an and Xie Guangwu.
Later, they helped Xie Tianying and made contributions on the battlefield. With the plaque bestowed by the old emperor, no one dared to attack them.
Later, Yu Dongjun, Xie Tianying and Zhang Sanlang all became forces that could not be underestimated in the court. They also happened to have a good personal relationship with An Jingzhi, and no one dared to offend the Ping'an Escort Agency.
An Jingzhi held no official position in his life, but people who came to the capital and couldn't find a way would send him a visiting card, trying to find a way.
After An Jingzhi passed away, Yu Dongjun often came to his grave to reminisce about the time they spent together.
"Brother An, we've been brothers for life. To be honest, I owe so much to so many people in my life, and there are so many people I need to be grateful to."
"Brother An," he poured a glass of wine in front of An Jingzhi's grave.
"In this life, besides my parents who gave birth to me and my brother and sister-in-law who paid for my education, the person I'm most grateful to is you. I know myself well. When I was young, I was just full of passion but not flexible enough."
"Back then, when I passed the imperial examination and was sent out to serve as an official, I toiled away for ten years as a county magistrate. If you hadn't frequently written to me and comforted me, I probably wouldn't have been able to stay grounded."
"I do have ambitions, but it's not easy to be ignored. Every time I go to the capital to report on my work, I always have to drink with you. Then I take advantage of you and take a ride back with the Ping An Escort Agency. You never mind, always saying it's just on your way. But how many on your way are there? I understand. You're just trying to save my pride."
"We've been brothers for decades. You know me well. I'm not obsessed with power, but if I don't climb the ladder, I won't have a say, and many of my ambitions won't be realized. I want to work for the welfare of the people, but my hands are tied. Even if I pay out of my own pocket, I'm still questioned by my superiors. It's really frustrating."
"I think if I hadn't had your encouragement during those ten years, I would have either been mediocre, my ambitions dulled by the days that seemed to end, or I would have become corrupted like those people."
"Later, I was promoted to prefect and then transferred to the capital to serve as an official. I didn't make a single mistake. I was like a man who has accumulated a lot of experience, and each step he took was steady and correct."
Yu Dongjun was muttering while paying tribute to An Jingzhi. He drank half a pot of wine without realizing it and his head was a little dizzy.
He suddenly shook his head and smiled. "Everyone is praising me. They say I'm a young talent who passed the imperial examination at the age of ten. Later, I was able to endure loneliness, was down-to-earth and steady, and was able to govern the local area well for ten years without any change."
"They think I'm lucky and down-to-earth, so I was able to achieve success through hard work."
"I've always chosen the right position in every change at court, and they say I'm shrewd and calculating."
"Hahaha, but you and I are the only ones who know this. No, no, there's no such thing as good luck. There's no such thing as cunning or foresight."
"It's all because of you, Brother An. If you hadn't always helped me make the right choices, given me advice, and helped me analyze the situation, how could I, Yu Dongjun, be where I am today?"
"After Brother Xie passed away, many people forgot about it and said that it was because of me, Yu Dongjun, that no one dared to touch the Ping An Escort Agency. They didn't remember how much contribution the Ping An Escort Agency had made to the court, nor did they know how much contribution you, An Jingzhi, had made to the court."
"Without the Ping An Escort Agency and An Jingzhi, what would I, Yu Dongjun, be?"
"My parents gave me life, and my brother An knows me best."
He staggered towards An Jingzhi's grave and poured another glass of wine.
"Another toast to brother An."
"You've shamelessly taken advantage of Brother An so much in this life. Let's be good brothers in the next life. This time, I'll let you take all the advantage back!"
The servant standing by saw Yu Dongjun's staggering figure and hurried forward to persuade him, "Master, you can't drink anymore. You are old, and the doctor said that you should not drink too much."
"Go back."
Yu Dongjun walked away step by step with the help of his servants. Before getting on the carriage, he looked back deeply, as if Brother An was standing there looking at him.
He shook his head and laughed, laughing at his own age.
An Jingzhi watched Yu Dongjun leave quietly.
It turns out that without the original owner's troubles, Yu Dongjun could have reached such a high position.
Yu Dongjun said that it was thanks to him that he helped Yu Dongjun analyze the situation and make decisions for him, but in fact, those were all Yu Dongjun's own inner inclinations, and An Jingzhi just helped him say it out in advance.
Because he saved the lives of Yu Dongjun and Xie Tianying, the court would have experienced some turmoil after the old emperor's death. However, with his intervention, the imperial power was smoothly transferred, and the world was even more likely to rise to a prosperous era.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com