bullyxtreme Chapter 170 Those who wish take the bait
Chapter 170 Those who wish take the bait
On the banks of the Weishui River.
The sun shone on the sparkling water. A white-haired old man sat quietly on the shore, holding a long fishing rod and fishing with full concentration.
If you observe carefully, you will be surprised to find that the fish hook he uses for fishing is a straight hook, which is very different from ordinary fish hooks.
This old man was Jiang Ziya. After being driven out of the palace by the guards of Xibohou Mansion, he came to the bank of Wei River and settled down.
In order to create an image of himself as a great man, Jiang Ziya would go to the river every day and fish with a straight hook.
People living nearby would often gather in the distance and watch Jiang Ziya fishing with curiosity.
They talked a lot and were full of curiosity and awe towards Jiang Ziya.
After a while, the sound of horse hooves broke the tranquility of the Wei River.
A luxurious carriage slowly drove up and stopped at the shore where Jiang Ziya was fishing.
The car door opened, and King Ji Chang of Xibo and San Yisheng got out of the car together, and their eyes went straight to Jiang Ziya who was fishing.
Ji Chang looked towards Jiang Ziya and saw an old man in a white robe that fluttered in the wind, his white hair sparkling silver in the sun.
He has a kind face and bright eyes, as if he can see through everything in the world.
Jiang Ziya's celestial temperament made Ji Chang feel amazed and he thought to himself:
"This old man is dignified and self-assured. He must be an extraordinary person."
San Yisheng also noticed Jiang Ziya. He walked to Ji Chang and whispered:
"My Lord, this man is the Jiang Taigong mentioned by the fisherman."
Ji Chang nodded and looked at Jiang Ziya again, feeling very curious.
So he took a deep breath, straightened his robe, and then walked forward, bowed to Jiang Ziya, and said respectfully:
"Old man, I heard that you come here to fish every day, using a straight hook and no bait. I wonder what the meaning of this is?"
Jiang Ziya slowly raised his head and his eyes fell on Ji Chang.
He saw that the visitor was dressed in luxurious clothes, with gold and silver threads sparkling in the sun, revealing his extraordinary status.
Looking at his steps again, they are calm and his demeanor is extraordinary, and every step reveals a kind of calmness and majesty.
A gleam of light flashed in Jiang Ziya's eyes. He narrowed his eyes slightly and began to guess the identity of the person in front of him.
San Yisheng, who was standing by, saw Jiang Ziya staring at his master without saying a word, so he spoke out to remind him:
"Old sir, my master is talking to you, why don't you respond?"
When Jiang Ziya heard San Yisheng's voice, he slightly turned his body, his eyes fell on San Yisheng, and then turned to Ji Chang.
He caught the word "Marquis" in San Yisheng's words, and his heart moved.
Considering that this place was Xiqi, Jiang Ziya already had some guesses in his mind.
Then Jiang Ziya smiled slightly and said in a mysterious tone:
"I am just a fisherman, there is no deep meaning. I just like the tranquility of the Wei River. I come here to fish every day just to cultivate my character."
Ji Chang heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Jiang Ziya finally responded. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes full of respect, and asked gently:
"Old sir, I see that you have an extraordinary temperament and I believe you are extremely intelligent. With such talent, why don't you become an official, assist a wise ruler, and seek benefits for the people of the world?"
Jiang Ziya was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then a deep light flashed in his eyes. He stroked his beard and spoke slowly:
"To be honest, when I first came out of seclusion, I also thought about assisting the wise master. But I was driven out before I even entered the mansion."
"So, I came to this riverside, settled down here, and lived a quiet and comfortable life. I fish every day, cultivate my character, and live a life without competing with the world."
After hearing Jiang Ziya's words, Ji Chang was deeply touched. His brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of shock and regret flashed in his eyes.
He took a deep breath, turned the sigh in his heart into respectful words, and said slowly:
"Old sir, there are people in this world who can reject a wise man like you who has extraordinary wisdom and temperament. They are really blind and don't know the real talent!"
"With your talent and wisdom, you are capable of assisting a wise ruler and creating a great cause for generations to come. However, it is a pity that you were buried because of a momentary prejudice."
Seeing this, Jiang Ziya waved his hand gently, still smiling, and said gently:
"My Lord, you are too kind. I am already over fifty years old and have long since become indifferent to the troubles of this world."
"To me now, the things of the past are nothing but passing clouds, and are no longer worth mentioning."
He paused, looked into the distance, as if he had penetrated the boundaries of time and space, and continued:
"I am now sitting by the Wei River, fishing and cultivating myself every day, keeping the fish company and the wind as my friend, and I feel very satisfied."
"As for assisting a wise ruler and creating great achievements, that is determined by fate and cannot be forced by human power."
After Jiang Ziya finished speaking, he glanced at Ji Chang inadvertently, but thought to himself:
"Ji Chang, Ji Chang, wasn't it you, the Marquis of Xibo, who drove me out?"
"If the guards you selected weren't so incompetent, I wouldn't have ended up in this situation, fishing here day after day, like a free wandering crane."
Although Jiang Ziya thought so in his heart, he did not show it on his face and still maintained that calm and detached look.
When Ji Chang saw how open-minded Jiang Ziya was, he admired him even more.
He knew that this old man was no ordinary person, so he decided to invite the old man to assist him in achieving great things.
After thinking it over, Ji Chang took a deep breath, bowed, and said solemnly:
"Old sir, I am Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo. I am deeply impressed by your indifference and talent. Therefore, I would like to invite you to come out of seclusion and work together for a great cause!"
"I wonder if the old gentleman would be willing to lend me a hand."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya's gaze lingered on Ji Chang for a moment, and a hint of complacency flashed in his eyes, as if he had already anticipated Ji Chang's request.
However, he knew very well that he could not agree easily. This was not only related to his identity and dignity, but also to his future status and voice in Xiqi.
Jiang Ziya smiled slightly, stroked his beard gently, and spoke slowly:
"My Lord, I can naturally feel your sincerity. However, I, Jiang Ziya, have been a free and unrestrained person all my life and have long been accustomed to a free and unfettered life."
"The disputes and red tape in the officialdom are indeed a bit difficult for me to adapt to."
When Ji Chang saw Jiang Ziya's tactful refusal, he felt a little disappointed, but he did not give up.
He knew that Jiang Ziya's wisdom and talent were crucial to his cause, so he continued sincerely:
"Old sir, I know you are indifferent to fame and fortune, but right now, I urgently need a wise man like you to guide me."
"I implore you to reconsider my invitation, for the sake of the people of the world and for the future of Xiqi."
After hearing this, Jiang Ziya's eyes flashed with admiration, but his expression remained calm.
He looked at Ji Chang deeply, as if he was thinking about something. After a moment, Jiang Ziya slowly spoke:
"My Lord, your words are sincere, but I am too old to handle such an important task."
"However, if you don't mind, I am willing to help you with your plans and do my best to help you."
Ji Chang was overjoyed when he heard this. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying gratefully:
"Thank you, old sir! With your help, Xiqi will surely prosper! Old sir, I will grant you the position of Prime Minister, responsible for all government affairs in Xiqi."
When Jiang Ziya heard Ji Chang's promise, he nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Thank you for your trust, Lord. I will do my best to plan for Xiqi and seek the well-being of the people."
San Yisheng, who was standing by, saw that the Marquis and Jiang Ziya had reached a consensus, stepped forward, bowed and said:
"Congratulations, Lord Marquis, for finding such a talented person! Today, Xiqi is fortunate to have such a great man. This is truly a blessing from heaven."
Then, he turned to Jiang Ziya who was standing beside him and said respectfully:
"Congratulations, Prime Minister. Your arrival will surely inject new vitality into Xiqi and lead Xiqi to a brighter future."
After hearing this, Ji Chang showed a satisfied smile on his face and nodded slightly to express his approval of San Yisheng's congratulations.
Jiang Ziya looked at San Yisheng with a smile, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. This man knows how to adapt to the times!
After a while, Ji Chang looked at the fishing rod with a straight hook hanging in Jiang Ziya's hand and asked curiously:
"Prime Minister, do you think we can still catch fish? We have been standing here for so long, and the lake is as calm as a mirror. It seems that no fish have taken the bait."
Jiang Ziya smiled slightly, stroked his beard, looked deeply at the lake, and said slowly:
"My Lord, I am not fishing for the fish. I fish with a straight hook, and those who are willing will take the bait. Now that my wish has come true and those who are willing have taken the bait, this fishing rod is useless."
After hearing this, Ji Chang's eyes flashed with realization, and he smiled and said:
"The Prime Minister is truly an expert! Now that this matter has been resolved, the Prime Minister should return to the Xibo Marquis's residence with me."
Jiang Ziya nodded, gently placed the fishing rod in his hand on the shore, turned around and walked side by side with Ji Chang.
Then, several people got on the carriage and rushed towards Xiqi City.