You have to understand, the Anli Company that my own mother founded has been in business for nearly twenty years. The Gongsun clan of Liaoxi is based in Lingzhi City, which guards Lulong Pass—the strategic gateway connecting Hebei and the Northeast. With these two advantages combined, the Anli Company has basically monopolized most of the business in Liaodong, with branch offices stretching all the way from Lelang to Yecheng!

So-called Korean ginseng, Liaodong’s fine horses, maidservants from the Three Han, Wuhuan’s horse slaves, chestnuts from Youbeiping, grain and silk from Hebei, ironware from Qingzhou—in my own mother’s words, doing business as an aristocratic family in the Han Dynasty is practically like picking up money off the ground!

You’re telling me a hundred million coins can’t be scraped together?!

In fact, after two years as a clerk, how could Edward Benson not know that this is the real reason his family’s status in the clan has become increasingly important—the clan’s very own God of Wealth is right here!

Of course, what Edward Benson doesn’t know is that, at first, the clan did try to take over the business for themselves, but after several attempts, they realized that when it comes to business, this widow known as Gongsun Da-niang is truly a first-rate expert. Even with the whole clan working at it, they couldn’t earn as much as what Gongsun Da-niang could distribute as dividends.

So, about twelve or thirteen years ago, back when Edward Benson was still wearing a child’s topknot, the Gongsun clan—including the main branch in Liaoxi, as well as the Liaodong and Donglai branches—reached an agreement to officially hand over all business operations to his mother for unified management, with profits distributed proportionally among the clan. From then on, their family’s status in the clan became truly prominent.

But… so here’s the thing, back to the present: the Marquis and Prefect simply isn’t interested in the fabulously wealthy Edward Benson, but instead favors his loud-voiced cousin William Benson. This is exactly what his mother said years ago when she caught a cold!

And what’s even more shocking is what happened next. About ten days ago, his cousin Henry Benson, who had just gotten married with his mother’s financial support and had been given a courtesy name by the clan elders, was suddenly granted leave by his father-in-law, the Marquis Prefect—who even wrote a personal letter, sending him to Mount Goushi in Luoyang to study the classics with the renowned scholar and statesman Samuel Clark of Youzhou!

This is exactly what his own mother said back then, making Edward Benson shiver all over, unable not to believe those ghost stories!

In fact, Edward Benson can still recall, just a few days ago, when his mother summoned him back to Lingzhi from the commandery city and said to his face:

“Some things you already knew back during the great plague, so I won’t bother hiding it from you anymore. Now you understand why I didn’t let you go to Qingzhou to study the classics with Arthur Grant back then, right?”

“Of course you have to study the classics. I’ve figured it out—this stuff is basically your diploma in the Han Dynasty. If you don’t study it, you can’t become a high official. There’s no dodging it.”

“Arthur Grant is amazing, I know that. He’s from the same school as Samuel Clark, and his reputation in classical studies is even greater.”

“I’m not bragging, but with my business connections, back when you just came of age three years ago, I could have found dozens of powerful aristocratic families in Qingzhou directly connected to Arthur Grant to recommend you as a personal disciple. So why did I hold you back?”

“It’s simple. When you go to university, you don’t just look at the teachers—you look at your classmates too. With William Benson and Abraham Lincoln as your classmates, do you know what kind of network that is? There aren’t many top prospects in the Three Kingdoms, and Youzhou has only two—one for the early period, one for the later. I’ve already set it up for you!”

And sure enough, his mother prepared several carts of wealth for him, including high-end goods like Shu brocade and pearls, and had him personally escort dozens of guests to the commandery city to bribe the Marquis Prefect, hoping he could join his already-prepared cousin William Benson as an “on-duty trainee” to study the classics with the great scholar Samuel Clark at Mount Goushi in Luoyang.

And then?

And then he got stuck here at Lulong Pass!

Damn those Xianbei dogs! Of all times, why did they have to raid the border now? I’m supposed to be delivering gifts and bribes before the New Year! I’m supposed to be going to Luoyang to study! And to meet the legendary Mr. Lincoln!

Besides, this time my mother really poured her heart into planning my future—after finishing my studies, I could aim for a 300-dan reporting officer position, then use the triennial reporting system to go to Luoyang, get a post as a Three Bureaus Gentleman, and as long as I make it, I’d come out as a 600-dan court official. With some more achievements, I could go straight for a 2,000-dan post!

As for surviving the chaos of the Three Kingdoms and preserving the family name, let’s not even mention that for now. Reporting officer, Three Bureaus Gentleman, 600-dan, 2,000-dan… As someone who’s already tasted the flavor of power, I really want to try these things.

A real man, born in this world—if he doesn’t become a 2,000-dan official, a lord of a commandery, isn’t that a wasted life?!

Yet, at this critical moment, I’ve been blocked here at Lulong Pass by these Xianbei dogs for six whole days without moving! If I have to wait until after the New Year and miss the chance to catch a ride with cousin William Benson, what then? Money and silk are useful, but they might not be enough to buy the favor of two 2,000-dan officials… What if I miss the timing, and the Marquis Prefect isn’t willing to write a letter of recommendation just for me? Or if he does, and by the time I get there, Samuel Clark just waves his hand and says this term is full and he’s not accepting any more students?

So damn those Xianbei dogs! Are they really going to ruin my future?!