Who can see Chu Fan these days? Even the court ministers of Wei State rarely see Chu Fan. If Chu Fan is required to personally handle everything, what is the point of him being the head of the Royal Government Affairs Office?
Chu Zhenglin said, "If Cheng Daru has any plans for cooperation with the State of Wei, he can just tell me directly. Our Majesty is in the palace carefully planning the future of our State of Wei and does not have much time to deal with these matters.
Furthermore, His Majesty has granted our Royal Government Affairs Office sufficient authority to handle all external affairs on His Majesty's behalf. Therefore, if Cheng Daru has any plans or suggestions, please feel free to bring them to our attention. Our Royal Government Affairs Office will seriously consider them and respond accordingly."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Daru sighed helplessly. Julu Academy had originally obtained the privilege of being able to go up to Tengwang Pavilion on Chuitai Mountain to view the martial arts secrets of Wei State. Therefore, there have been people from Julu Academy staying in the Royal Yuya Villa of Wei State since the opening of the Royal Yuya Villa.
Cheng Yao had long heard of the Wei Emperor, knowing that he rarely attended morning court and that the Imperial Government Affairs Office indeed had the authority to handle all foreign affairs. Cheng Yao's request to meet Chu Fan was simply to see if he could meet this legendary emperor, whose reputation was so legendary throughout Wei.
Of course, it doesn’t matter if we can’t meet. As long as we can reach a preliminary agreement with the prince of the Royal Government Affairs Office, the purpose of Julu Academy will be achieved.
Cheng Yao said, "Since the prince has said so, Cheng Mou will not beat around the bush. We at Julu Academy hope to move our headquarters to Kaifeng City in the Wei Kingdom. I wonder if the prince can provide us with some policy support and convenience."
Chu Zhenglin was slightly taken aback by Cheng Yao's words. He had never imagined that Cheng Yao would make such a bold proposal. Although Julu Academy was a sacred place for Confucianism, they had always upheld the principle of neutrality. Previously, because the Wei Kingdom did not have an imperial examination system, the royal family of Wei State had wanted Julu Academy to open a branch in Wei State, but the academy had politely declined.
His younger brother had only been on the Wei throne for a little over two years. Why had Julu Academy suddenly changed its stance, even considering moving its headquarters to Kaifeng? Were they abandoning their neutrality and siding with Wei? What could have caused such a drastic change?
Chu Zhenglin was shocked and replied, "Cheng Daru, is what you just said true? Are you talking about moving the main campus of Julu Academy to Kaifeng City? Cheng Daru, are you kidding me?"
Cheng Yao shook his head and replied, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so surprised. Our Julu Academy made this decision after careful consideration by all the great scholars in the academy. And Cheng Mou wouldn't dare to joke with Your Highness about such a thing."
Chu Zhenglin saw that Cheng Yao's words didn't seem to be meant to tease him, so he asked seriously, "May I ask Master Cheng what happened that caused Julu Academy to make such a drastic decision? Are you willing to abandon even the principle of neutrality you've always upheld?"
Cheng Yao was also very frank. Since he was the one who needed help, he naturally had to make things clear.
Cheng Yao sighed and said, "Your Highness, to be honest, if we don't make a choice, then a neutral organization like Julu Academy will very likely become the target of various forces. Since the beginning of this year, after the rumors of gold and silver mountains in Japan were spread, the friction between the various forces on the Shengwu Continent has become more frequent, and the situation of Julu Academy has become increasingly difficult.
Although Julu Academy claims to be neutral, every nation fears that we might suddenly side with one side and become a hostile force. Furthermore, in these turbulent times, the status of warriors and soldiers is rising, while the status of Confucian scholars is gradually marginalized. Julu Academy urgently needs a strong backer to ensure its own security and development.
After hearing what Cheng Yao said, Chu Zhenglin agreed with it in his heart. It was just that Wei State had not yet completely launched a war with other countries. After a few months when Wei State had completely launched a war, Wei State would definitely not allow a neutral force like Julu Academy to exist.
The so-called neutral forces simply try to play both sides, so they stand to gain no matter which side wins or loses. However, such forces can only survive in times of peace. Once war breaks out, no matter how they claim to be neutral, they will secretly turn to one side for self-preservation.
The most important point is that His Majesty has already formulated a strategic plan for the unification of the Shengwu Continent. If he encounters a so-called neutral force during a campaign, will he just leave it alone because it claims neutrality? Chu Zhenglin would never do such a thing. Since the Shengwu Continent is to be unified, the entire continent can only have one power, the Wei court, and no other power independent of the imperial power will be allowed to exist.
I believe that the great scholars of Julu Academy also knew this, so they made such a choice.
Chu Zhenglin continued to inquire, "Then why did Julu Academy choose the Wei Kingdom as its backer? And not the Canglan Empire or other empires on the Shengwu Continent?"
Cheng Yao said with a sad expression, "Cheng Mou is also dissatisfied with the prince. Now the only way for our Julu Academy, or for us Confucian scholars, to stand out is the Wei Kingdom. If our Julu Academy does not choose the Wei Kingdom, then the Confucian scholars in Julu Academy will have no chance of making a name for themselves."
Chu Zhenglin smiled and said, "Cheng Daru, you don't look like you're coming to the State of Wei to negotiate. How can one party in a negotiation start by devaluing itself? Shouldn't one first demonstrate one's own value and advantages, letting the other party see the benefits, and then bargain?"
Chu Zhenglin even suspected Cheng Yao had a grudge against Julu Academy and was deliberately trying to devalue it. You know, in any negotiation, people generally don't expose their weaknesses. Instead, they try to hide their shortcomings and elevate their value, hoping to gain greater benefits. Why would they expose their weaknesses right off the bat?
Cheng Yao smiled bitterly and said, "Cheng Mou still understands a bit about the current situation of the Wei Kingdom. Even if Cheng Mou praises Julu Academy even more, will the Wei Kingdom give it more support?"
Chu Zhenglin shook his head and said, "That's definitely impossible. Cheng Daru must have been in Kaifeng City in Wei for quite some time. The current Wei State no longer values Confucianism as much as it once did, and places more emphasis on practical learning. So no matter how much Cheng Daru exaggerates the value of Julu Academy, Wei State will not change its policy, nor will it expend huge costs to support an academy that is no longer of much value in the eyes of the imperial power."
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