Abraham Lincoln is now like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river—barely able to protect himself. As for Jiangdong’s The Jefferson Family, from the very beginning, they were cast aside by Ryan Clark. The structure of Jiangdong’s The Jefferson Family is a court controlled by the Jiangdong gentry clans. In fact, the most powerful force in all of Jiangdong is not the The Jefferson Family family, but those gentry clans attached to the The Jefferson Family. Because these clans have long fought with the local Shanyue tribes, every family keeps its own private soldiers. I recall that by the end of the Three Kingdoms period, nearly all of Jiangdong’s military strength was controlled by the The Miller Family alone... and this The Miller Family is one of the ancient gentry clans of Jiangdong.

Why did those gentry scholar-officials all surrender during the Battle of Red Cliffs?

It wasn’t that they were disloyal, but because their first concern was not the The Jefferson Family regime, but their own families.

Even if they submitted to George Washington, they could still rely on their own troops to remain unshakable in Jiangdong... That’s why Benjamin Franklin advised Thomas Jefferson: anyone in Jiangdong can surrender, but the lord must not!

Therefore, Ryan Clark could not possibly choose Eastern Wu either.

As for the likes of John Adams and James Madison, there would be no chance for Ryan Clark to rise to prominence...

Given all this, it seems that the only option left for Ryan Clark is George Washington. But Ryan Clark knows very well that although George Washington claims not to care about background and promotes men of humble birth, there is one condition: talent! Just as George Washington’s edict for recruiting the talented says, anyone with a special skill can be employed. So, what strengths does he have that could make George Washington value or even heavily use him?

Lowering his head, Ryan Clark opened his palm.

Suddenly, he clenched both fists, twisted his waist, and punched the air.

In chaotic times, to stand out, one needs either martial prowess or wisdom!

Wisdom...

Ryan Clark didn’t dare claim he was outstanding. After all, if he were truly skilled in intrigue, he wouldn’t have been betrayed by a friend.

Martial prowess, then?

Ryan Clark seemed to gain a bit more confidence.

In his previous life, he had apprenticed under a local master of White Ape Tongbei Fist for three years. But in the era when martial arts were in decline, no amount of training could stop a bullet. So, after growing up, Ryan Clark gave up martial arts and focused on his career.

He vaguely remembered that in the second year after starting work, he visited his master for New Year’s greetings.

When the elderly master learned he had given up martial arts, the look of sorrow and confusion in his eyes...

In the era of declining martial arts, it had become just a way to keep fit, or even a gimmick for fame.

But in this era...

Ryan Clark couldn’t help but close his eyes, trying hard to recall his martial arts training from those years. Fortunately, even though he later gave up, what he had learned was deeply etched in his memory. The problem was, his current body was just too weak! To pick up those skills again would require ten, twenty, even a hundred times the effort! Martial arts require wealth, and he had a long road ahead!

Besides these, Ryan Clark had a wide range of interests.

Criminal investigation is a high-pressure job, always hovering on the edge of life and death.

If you don’t want to be crushed by that pressure, you have to learn to relax... Some people drink; some indulge in pleasures. But Ryan Clark’s way of relieving work stress was different: reading and collecting books! He read all kinds of books, collected all kinds of books, regardless of their value—if he liked them, he would buy and keep them... Eventually, Ryan Clark’s home became like a small library, filled with all sorts of books.

“The Great Wall wasn’t built in a day!”

Ryan Clark muttered to himself, a faint smile appearing on his delicate face.

Chris Clark was burly and looked strong and powerful. But if you looked at Ryan Clark, you’d never imagine he was related to Chris Clark. As the saying goes, sons take after their mothers. Ryan Clark looked more like The Bolton Family... But due to congenital malnutrition, he appeared extremely frail.

Thin arms and legs—if you tried to squeeze them, you wouldn’t get even a few ounces of oil!

This body, this physique...

In such chaotic times, he probably wouldn’t live long.

Ryan Clark stood in front of the only bronze mirror in the house, looking at the blurry reflection, and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

...

Strengthening the body is no simple matter.

Ryan Clark stretched his muscles a bit in the cramped room and was soon panting heavily. White Ape Tongbei Fist emphasizes the basics, but Ryan Clark’s foundation was just too poor! How bad was it? Even Ryan Clark himself was embarrassed to explain.

After resting on the bed for a while, Ryan Clark gradually recovered his energy.

Stepping out of the room, he saw Chris Clark preparing to extinguish the stove and pack up his tools.

“Dad, you’re closing up already?”

“Yes, aside from your Uncle Uncle Harris, not a single customer has come all day. I doubt anything else will happen today. I’ll tidy up, and tomorrow your mother and I will go to Zhongyang Temple to get some talisman water, so we’re done for today... Little Ryan, are you planning to go out?”

“Yeah, I’ve been cooped up at home for days. I want to take a walk nearby!”

“Going out is good. Staying home all the time might make you sick... But come back early, or your mother will worry.”

Ryan Clark flashed a bright smile, nodded in agreement, and walked out the gate.

“This child, after that serious illness, has become much more cheerful than before!”

Watching Ryan Clark leave, Chris Clark also showed a gratified smile.