Lord Lu was so angry that his face turned blue and his eyes were spitting fire!
I don’t know what kind of magic Gu Jiu used, but he actually tricked Zhou Shi’an into resigning from his official position and teaching at Shanhe Academy.
It's so infuriating!
It's hard to win over a talented person, only to have him poached halfway through. This is a painful experience for anyone.
Lord Lu couldn't get angry with Zhou Shi'an, so he could only sulk alone, with a stern face and ignore everyone.
Zhou Shian knew he was in the wrong.
"I am deeply grateful for your care over the years. If you have any requests, no matter when or where, I will never refuse."
Lord Lu suppressed his anger and said, "Can't you wait a little longer? Wait two years before talking about resigning?"
Zhou Shian shook his head. "I've wasted too many years. I can't waste any more."
He actually said that being an official is a waste of time!
Lord Lu wanted to get angry, but in the end he just sighed.
"You really won't consider it again?"
"I have failed your cultivation, please forgive me."
Zhou Shi'an made up his mind to teach at Shanhe Academy.
Even ten oxen couldn't pull him back.
Lord Lu waved his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it. A forced melon is not sweet. I won't force you, but don't forget to come and visit me often. Although you are no longer in the officialdom, the affection between you and me remains."
"Thank you, sir!"
Zhou Shian felt relieved.
"When are you planning to move to Shanhe Academy?"
"We'll move there tomorrow."
"So anxious?"
"I want to settle down as soon as possible and write books in peace."
"Alright! Now that you've made the decision, there's no need to drag it out. I'll have the housekeeper help you move tomorrow."
"Don't bother. The academy will send someone over tomorrow to help with the move."
"The academy is the academy, and I am the official. Anyway, it's settled. I'll arrange for someone to help you move tomorrow."
"Thank you, sir." Zhou Shi'an agreed reluctantly.
After settling down in the academy, Zhou Shi'an closed the door and began to concentrate on writing books without being disturbed.
Having lived for most of my life and experienced all kinds of ups and downs, I have a lot to say and a lot to write.
Looking in the mirror at his graying beard, Zhou Shi'an felt that his remaining days were numbered, and he dared not waste a single moment. He wished he could write down everything he wanted to write in one breath.
…
Lord Lu was still furious.
He sent a visiting card to Gu Jiu, wanting to have a talk with him.
You can't be such a vulgar person.
Gu Jiu received the post and threw it aside.
She jokingly said, "Lord Lu is planning to bring an army to punish me, but why doesn't he think about how he stole the money from me in the first place?"
That year, Gu Jiu personally stepped in to persuade Zhou Shi'an to teach at Shanhe Academy.
Zhou Shi'an agreed, but before signing the agreement, he was fooled by Lord Lu and tricked into working in the Secretariat.
At that time, Shanhe Academy was eager to recruit talents, and it was really shabby to have only Yang Yuanqing, the Sanyuan Gong, to support the academy.
At the beginning, Gu Jiu was very angry.
This time, let Lord Lu taste the feeling of being intercepted.
Xu Yousi asked, "Does the princess want to see Lord Lu? The people from the Lu Mansion are waiting for news at the gatehouse."
Gu Jiu picked up the visiting card again and glanced at it. "It's rare that Lord Lu has condescended to send a visiting card. Of course I must meet him and make a welcome. Tell the servants of the Lu Mansion that I will be waiting for Lord Lu at Xiaozhu in three days."
…
The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.
Lord Lu took a four-wheeled carriage and came to Xiaozhu in the mountains.
It is late autumn and the leaves are turning yellow and falling.
The wheels crushed the leaves, making a crunching sound.
Lord Lu closed his eyes and rested.
He didn't open his eyes until the carriage drove into Xiaozhu.
"My princess is waiting in the flower hall. Please come this way, sir."
This is Lord Lu's first time visiting Xiaozhu, so he can't help but be curious.
Pavilions, towers, bridges and flowing water all reveal exquisite luxury.
When they arrived at the flower hall, Lord Lu was shocked by the floor-to-ceiling glazed windows on three sides.
"Please, my lord. My princess is waiting inside."
Lord Lu walked into the flower hall and smelled the fragrance of tea.
"The princess is in good spirits!"
"Your Excellency's presence at my humble abode is a great honor to me. Please take a seat, Your Excellency!"
Gu Jiu stood up to greet him.
The maid made tea and the servant girl played the piano.
The melodious sound of the piano is refreshing.
Lord Lu sipped the fragrant tea and kept saying, "What a good tea!"
"The farm in the south has two tea plantations. The tea isn't the best, but the good thing is that you can drink fresh tea all year round."
"I've heard that the princess has bought several manors in the south, but I didn't expect she also bought a tea plantation."
Gu Jiu picked up the teapot and added water. She said slowly, "A few years ago, there was a drought in the south. The quantity and quality of tea declined, and the price was not high. Many tea merchants were struggling and had to sell assets to get through the difficult times. I happened to have some spare money at that time, so I bought two tea mountains and hired people to plant and pick tea. The tea business seems to be incredibly profitable, but it actually requires huge investment. The advantage is that it provides jobs for most of the local population, allowing local people to earn hard-earned money."
"When the princess does business, she always seems to consider the employment issue."
Gu Jiu chuckled softly, "A market can't be supported solely by the aristocracy. Only when the common people have money and are willing to spend it, will the market grow and the profits increase. Whether it's tea, meat, vegetables, or cloth, it all depends on volume. Volume requires population support. Similarly, if the court wants to collect taxes, it has to rely on the common people to have food and money. After all, the court can't collect a penny of tax from the aristocracy."
This is so embarrassing.
Lord Lu coughed twice and said, "The tax collection problem is a problem that has accumulated over hundreds or even thousands of years. It cannot be solved overnight."
Gu Jiu smiled, "I understand the logic. When Taizu founded the country, he needed the support of the aristocratic families, so he tacitly allowed the aristocratic families to follow the old rules without paying taxes, and tacitly allowed the aristocratic families to hoard land and keep slaves. The advantage is that the Great Zhou Dynasty is stable and all opposition forces are wiped out. The disadvantage is that over time, it will inevitably drag down the court's finances. When wars and famines occur, the court's ills are difficult to correct, and with internal and external troubles, the dynasty is on the verge of collapse. This is also the fundamental reason why no dynasty can escape the fate of three hundred years."
In summary, land annexation is serious and the gap between the rich and the poor is huge.
The people who could not survive could only rebel and seek a way out.
Lord Lu looked solemn, "Does the princess have any good ideas?"
"Your Excellency, have you seen this? Since you can't affect the interests of the noble families, then find a way to give the common people a way to survive and make money."
Gu Jiu looked at Lord Lu with a smile.
Lord Lu raised his eyebrows, "I didn't expect the princess to be so profound in her words."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Although I don't have much contact with you, I trust your character. Even if you tell His Majesty what I said, I don't have to worry. Your Majesty has always known what I am doing."
"That's why the princess's business was able to expand rapidly and never suffered any suppression from the imperial court."
"This princess is not only doing business, but also helping the common people. What reason does the court have to suppress the business under my name?"
Lord Lu laughed. "The Shanhe Academy's newspaper, published by Shanhe Academy, often publishes articles that violate taboos, yet it has never been suppressed by the Newspaper Bureau. This is obviously because Shanhe Academy adheres to the principle of providing free education, which is deeply appreciated by Your Majesty. As the saying goes, taking from the people and giving back to the people, not only benefits the students, but also saves the princess from disaster."
Gu Jiu pursed her lips and smiled, "Lord Lu has a far-sighted vision, and this princess seems unable to refute it."
Lord Lu raised an eyebrow, "Madam, did you really establish the Shanhe Academy to avoid disaster?"
"To be precise, running an academy can achieve multiple goals. It can prevent disasters, discover talents, and provide an ideal place for children to study."
"Yet it costs a huge sum of one million taels every year."
"worth!"
Lord Lu shook his head repeatedly. "How much of a return would it take to make an annual investment of one million taels 'worth it'? It's more about reserving talent than discovering it."
Gu Jiu filled the teacup with water and asked, "Sir, are you here today to attack this princess?"
Lord Lu shook his head again, "I am trying to assess the extent of the princess's ambition."
"Oh? Then, I'd like to ask, does your Excellency have an answer?"
"The princess is trying to overthrow the dynasty," Lord Lu said firmly. "She's more dangerous than the rebels who started a rebellion."
"No!"
Gu Jiu looked calm and was not frightened by Lord Lu's words.
"The dynasty is continuing the old path of the previous dynasty, while I am trying to find a new path."
"Your new path may lead the dynasty to irreparable ruin."
"I remember that you didn't say that in front of His Majesty. You clearly said that we could try a new path. Why are you being so stubborn and conservative today?"
Lord Lu laughed heartily, "Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from the princess."
Gu Jiu listened quietly to what was said next.
"The princess wants to seek a new path, which means that you and His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin have only one path to take."
Gu Jiu nodded without denying, "This road has already seen the light of day."
Lord Lu pondered and said, "I would like to hazard a guess that the reason His Majesty changed his mind was probably because of Young Master Yu."
Gu Jiu remained silent.
Lord Lu shook his head and smiled, "What is the attitude of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin?"
Gu Jiu didn't rush to answer, but instead asked: "From what standpoint do you ask this question, sir?"
Lord Lu said as a matter of course: "The status of an important official of the court."
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow, "Isn't he your Majesty's confidant?"
"He is not only His Majesty's confidant, but also an important official of the court."
"One day in the future, if someone is replaced in the palace, what will you do?"
"Of course, I will do my part."
"What is duty?" Gu Jiu kept asking.
Lord Lu said solemnly, "It is my duty as a subject to protect the Great Zhou for Your Majesty."
Gu Jiu laughed, "My attitude is the same as His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin's."
Lord Lu was obviously a little surprised.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I know what you are thinking. Liu Zhao is not as conservative as you think. He is willing to listen to other people's opinions."
"That's why I'm worried. I'm worried that taking too big a step, rushing for success, will ultimately backfire."
"Thank you for the reminder, sir. I will reflect on myself frequently and strive to make small progress."
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