235, It's up to you to plan
235, It's up to you to plan
After seeing Zhao Lang's agreement, Lu Mingfei looked at the deeds in the box, thought for a moment, and said, "Your family has quite a lot of properties in Kyoto Prefecture."
"Can you make all the decisions about these farms and shops?"
"Yes, what do you want to do?"
"I have an immature idea here. I wonder if you want to hear it."
"You say." Zhao Lang also wanted to hear what Lu Jieyuan thought about their family's farms and shops.
Lu Mingfei didn't express his thoughts directly. Instead, he analyzed Zhao Lang's current situation and future problems with him. "Zhao Lang, I know you won't be willing to stay here as a hostage forever. Judging from the current situation, the imperial court will definitely not take the initiative to let you leave Kyoto Prefecture."
"So, if they want to leave here in the future, they will definitely use extraordinary methods."
"And once you leave, the imperial court will certainly find an opportunity to reprimand you. If you escape in the future, the emperor will be far away and it will be difficult for him to send people to capture you. However, the shops and properties you left in Kyoto Prefecture will definitely be confiscated by the imperial court."
"So, instead of filling the pockets of the emperor and certain officials, it is better for us to make plans early."
"What do you mean?" Zhao Lang wasn't surprised that Lu Mingfei could see that he was thinking about leaving Jingdu Prefecture. He had already revealed this idea to Lu Mingfei long ago.
"My idea is that we should find a way to turn your family's businesses in Kyoto Prefecture into hidden businesses. Then we can convert some of them into cash, food, and medicinal herbs, and find a place to hide them." Lu Mingfei also had some selfish motives in this matter. "You have a lot of brothers and sisters in your family, right?"
Zhao Lang smiled and nodded. He did have quite a few brothers and sisters in his family.
When he was still in Beijun, his father had already had many children. He didn't know how many more children his father had conceived with his concubines during the ten years or so since he left Beijun.
He even had an extra legitimate brother.
Seeing the smile on Zhao Lang's face, Lu Mingfei felt a little distressed. He reached out and held the man's hand, saying, "Don't smile like that. You have me in the future."
He also knew that Zhao Lang's family had become increasingly neglectful of him over the past ten years in Kyoto Prefecture.
Prince Ding doesn't have only Zhao Lang as his son. There are countless illegitimate children in the mansion, and even two legitimate sons.
Generally speaking, the family property is left to the legitimate son, and the illegitimate son will not get much. However, this does not include the situation where the father is confused or biased. If Prince Ding favors the illegitimate son and wants to give all the property to him, it is not impossible.
Zhao Lang had been a hostage in Jingdu Prefecture for many years, which had brought stability to Prince Ding and his palace. Therefore, in Lu Mingfei's opinion, these properties in Jingdu Prefecture should be given to Zhao Lang as compensation. Perhaps the Prince Ding Palace had already made it so that this legitimate son would never return to Beijun, which is why they gave all these properties to Zhao Lang, the legitimate son.
In that case, there is nothing wrong with them dealing with these industries in advance, right?
Therefore, Lu Mingfei also told Zhao Lang this out of selfish motives, "Don't tell your family about the fact that we are turning these industries into secret industries. We will see what the situation is in the future and then talk about it later."
"The current situation in Great Yan is that there is a war in the north, and rebellions and uprisings are everywhere in the east and south. It is still unknown how long the court can hold out."
"In the future, whoever has money, people, and weapons will be the one who has the final say."
"Zhao Lang, there's a saying, I don't know if you've heard of it, 'Man proposes.'" Lu Mingfei thought of the dream he had. If the world was in chaos, anyone who wanted to achieve great things would have a chance, including them.
When Zhao Lang heard the last four words, his heart skipped a beat. He met Lu Mingfei's gaze and saw a look of determination in the boy's eyes.
Lu Mingfei knew that Zhao Lang understood what he said. He raised his hand to lift Zhao Lang's bangs, raised the corner of his mouth, and said to Zhao Lang: "I hope you will remember what I am going to say next."
"You say." Zhao Lang said.
"If you want to be a man who can accomplish great things, you should at least know the sufferings of the people and understand their livelihood. Don't put yourself in a high and mighty position." Lu Mingfei knew that Zhao Lang was a man with great ambitions. Such a person would never be willing to stay in Kyoto Prefecture as a hostage for the rest of his life.
If Zhao Lang could return to Beijun in the future, he would at least become a general. And if he could move up a level, he would become a king.
But whether you become a general or a king, you must at least take the people and soldiers into consideration. An arrogant and self-centered person cannot be a good leader.
"Rice, flour, and other grains, at the very least, keep people fed and alive. On a larger scale, they are vital to the nation and the people's livelihood. Only with money can we have food and weapons, which allow soldiers to eat and take up arms to fight the enemy."
"Generals and soldiers are also civilians."
"The people are the masters of this world. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it." Lu Mingfei didn't say anything more, knowing Zhao Lang would understand him. Therefore, he planned to transform Prince Ding's assets in Jingdu Prefecture into silver, grain, medicinal herbs, and other things they could control, hoping to turn these into Zhao Lang's capital and backing.
Since Prince Ding has selfish motives, he will help Zhao Lang plan.
Listening to Lu Mingfei's words, Zhao Lang didn't say anything this time. He just looked at Lu Mingfei without saying anything. In his heart, he really wanted to ask Lu Mingfei again, if he left Jingdu Prefecture and returned to Beijun one day, would you be willing to go to Beijun with me?
However, he was afraid of hearing an answer he didn't want to hear.
In the end, he kept this question in his heart and did not ask it.
"Okay, I'll remember what you said." Zhao Lang nodded.
That night, the two of them talked in the study for half the night.
Zhao Lang returned to Prince Ding's mansion and sat alone in the study for a long time. When the servant outside reminded him, he got up and went out. He went back to his room, changed into ordinary clothes, and took a carriage to the Imperial College.
***
After seeing Zhao Lang off, Lu Mingfei lay down on the bed and went to sleep.
However, because his mind was full of thoughts, he didn't fall asleep until almost dawn.
He slept until noon that day and lay in bed for a long time before getting up to eat lunch. Then he changed into his going-out clothes and took a carriage back to the Imperial College to see his teacher. There, he talked with his teacher about his answers to the examination papers and the upcoming palace examination.
After meeting his teacher, he went to the library to exchange a batch of books.
If he met someone who recognized him on the road, he would quickly slip away before anyone could ask him questions.
He asked Brother Ma to help find someone in advance. When he returned to the courtyard where the four of them used to live together, he found that only Ye Zhuoran was waiting for him there.
As soon as Ye Zhuoran saw him, he grabbed his hand and said with a pout, "I thought you would never come back here again!"
"I'm back, aren't I? Are you the only one here? Aren't Ling Xuan and Senior Brother back yet?" Lu Mingfei looked at the yard which was no different from before.
After they moved in here, they planted a pear tree in the yard.
This pear tree has been planted for two years, but it has not yet blossomed and borne fruit. I don’t know who will benefit from the fruits in the future. Lu Mingfei thought to himself as he looked at the pear tree.
"They haven't come back yet. Lingxuan was feeling a little unwell, so I stayed with him for a day and he asked me to come back here to study." Speaking of Zhang Lingxuan's illness, Ye Zhuoran also looked a little worried.
"I haven't looked for you guys at home these past two days, so I really didn't know about this. I was wondering why you guys didn't come to see me these past two days. It turns out that Ling Xuan is sick."
"He asked me not to tell you."
"The eldest senior brother hasn't come back either. Could he be sick too? I remember that day when they came out of the Imperial Examination Hall, they both looked fine." Although he hadn't lived here for a long time, Lu Mingfei had always kept the room here for him, and he hadn't packed up his things in the room.
He brought Ye Zhuoran to the room where he lived and opened the door. He found that it was still clean inside.
"Did you have someone clean up the house for me?"
"It's not me, it's Ling Xuan. He said that he didn't know when you would come back, and you might want to come back here to rest for a while, so he kept asking people to clean the house for you." Ye Zhuoran said truthfully, without any intention of stealing other people's credit.
"Big Brother, I haven't seen him, I don't know how he is doing."
"Then I'll go to Mr. Fu's place tomorrow morning and visit my senior brother." After the imperial examination, Lu Mingfei had not returned to Mr. Fu's place yet, so he should find some time to go back.
He found a stool for Ye Zhuoran to sit on, and Lu Mingfei sat down on another stool. "How about you stay here by yourself?"
"...It's okay, just like that." Ye Zhuoran was not sure what to say, it's definitely not as good as when you all are here together.
But he also knew that several of his good friends had already passed the provincial examination. If all went well, they would be able to pass the palace examination and be awarded official positions. They would definitely not have to come back to the Imperial Academy to study in the future.
He is nothing like him. After failing the provincial examination, he has to stay here for another three years. After three years, he has to continue to take part in the metropolitan examination. This has already widened the gap between him and his friends by three years.
"I've compiled some of my notes from the provincial examination. I'm giving them to you. Take them and read them slowly." Lu Mingfei pulled out a stack of notes from his backpack and handed them to Ye Zhuoran, saying, "If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to come to my house and find me."
"I should be studying at home during this period and not coming here very often."
"Okay." Ye Zhuoran held the things in his hand, his heart heavy. He looked at his friend who was still thinking about him at this time, and said with moved eyes: "Ming Fei, thank you."
"Thank you for what." Lu Mingfei flicked the head of Ye Zhuoran, the little fool, with his hand. What was he so moved about! Author's gossip: Thanks to Bole 9492239 (9492239) for supporting me. Muah! To know more exciting content, please leave me a message on Liancheng Reading
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
