Chapter 84 Plagiarism
The elder of the clan was named Zhao Enhong. He had passed the imperial examination and was very gentle and generous. He always smiled when he saw people and had never had a quarrel with anyone. He was very respected in the clan.
"The master mentioned this before." Zhao Enhong took the strategy with both hands and flipped through the pages. "Your ideas are very good and well-organized."
Zhao Jue was not surprised to hear Zhao Enhong praising him. With Marquis Cheng'en guiding him, there would be no problem with this plan.
"This is the inspiration I got from my second brother. He proposed focusing on education and governance, and I think what he said makes a lot of sense. Over the past two hundred years, the clan has cultivated many talents, gradually strengthening the power of the Zhao family."
Zhao Jue continued to use Zhao Yi's example: "For example, the Chen family of the previous dynasty produced many brave and skilled generals. They almost monopolized military power and formed a situation where they shared the world with the imperial family. No one could shake the Chen family's position."
The smile on Zhao Enhong's face froze for a moment, and he put down the strategy in his hand.
Zhao Jue spoke eloquently, "Our Zhao family cannot follow the example of the Chen family. If we become more powerful than our master, we will surely draw the jealousy of the royal family and usher in a catastrophic disaster.
But we can get an inspiration from it, for example, cultivate a specialty, learn it to the extreme, and then use the strength of the whole family to develop it. The whole Zhou Dynasty is the only one like this, and it will be passed down from generation to generation and will prosper forever.
You see, many of the time-honored brands in Beijing have been passed down for centuries, and they have relied on their expertise to achieve stable development to this day."
"That's a good idea," Zhao Enhong asked in a friendly manner. "But I have a question. If you tie the entire clan to a hemp rope, and the rope breaks one day, have you considered the consequences?"
Zhao Jue frowned tightly. If the hemp rope broke, everyone on it would fall to their death.
only--
"Once we monopolize an industry, others will have to come to us to buy. The family will naturally become more and more prosperous. How could the hemp rope break?"
Zhao Jue's face was gloomy, revealing his displeasure at being questioned. "Especially since the shops are spread all over the place, more and more manpower is needed. The unsuccessful branches of the clan can sell their labor in exchange for wages, which means everyone has a living."
Zhao Enhong smiled when he heard this and said, "Don't take what I said to heart. It's very likely that I'm worrying too much."
"Isn't that right? If we act with hesitation, our family will eventually decline." Zhao Jue picked up the gilded silver box with flower, bird, and peacock patterns and handed it to the servant standing by. "Elder, this is my welcome gift to you. I hope you will take good care of me from now on."
"Young General, you're too polite." Zhao Enhong glanced at the exquisite treasure chest, and a hint of ambiguity appeared on his face. "As your elder, I haven't prepared any gifts for you. Instead, I accepted your generous gift. This is against the moral code."
Zhao Jue said with his hands behind his back, "Could it be that the elders have other concerns?"
The smile on Zhao Enhong's face disappeared.
Zhao Jue said, "Elder, the other elders are enjoying their grandchildren, but you are the only one with no children to spare."
Zhao Enhong's face suddenly changed because his only grandson had a hidden illness and could not have children.
That would have been fine, but his grandson was afraid of losing face and was unwilling to see a doctor or take medicine.
Even after several years of marriage, there is still no news of good news.
"Your grandson is twenty-two years old and currently serving under General Liu?" Zhao Jue suggested. "I'm about the same age as your grandson. Why not transfer him to my camp? I can persuade him to stop focusing solely on building a career and to also bear a child for you to enjoy family happiness."
Zhao Enhong's expression seemed to relax a little.
"You are sensible and farsighted. Since you agree with my strategy, I'd appreciate it if you could speak well of me to my grandfather." Zhao Jue said meaningfully, "I've gotten what I wanted, and you've got a large family. Isn't it better to have the best of both worlds?"
Zhao Enhong sighed and accepted the generous gift with a smile: "Then I will borrow the young general's good words."
When Zhao Jue saw Zhao Enhong accept it, he felt relieved.
He bowed and said, "You have just arrived in the capital, and I believe you have many things to deal with. I will not bother you any more and will take my leave first."
Zhao Enhong called the servants to send Zhao Jue away.
——
Duke's Mansion, Lanxue Garden.
Liu Yue entered the room carrying a bowl of medicine and saw Shen Qingtan sitting on a spring stool beside the short couch, sewing clothes, while Zhao Yi leaned on the couch reading a book. Gradually, his eyes fell on Shen Qingtan, and he quietly watched her sew.
The bright spring light outside the window shines on them, giving people an inexplicable sense of warmth and tranquility.
Liu Yue hesitated for a moment before speaking to break this unusually harmonious scene.
"Second Master, it's time for you to take your medicine."
Zhao Yi raised his eyes to look at Liu Yue and pointed at the table with his finger.
Liu Yue understood and quickly placed the medicine bowl on the kang table.
Zhao Yi took the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp. There was a bitter taste in his mouth and he frowned slightly.
The next moment, a white and tender hand holding a piece of lactose was handed to him.
Zhao Yi paused and asked gently, "Didn't you give me all the stock? Where did you get this from?"
Shen Qingtan curved his lips and said, "I saw you were keeping it and not eating it, so I took it from you."
Zhao Yi's eyes flickered for a moment, and he subconsciously glanced at the corner. But in an instant, he quickly regained his composure and returned his gaze to her face. Seeing that she didn't look strange, he knew she was deliberately teasing him.
Shen Qingtan was very perceptive and immediately caught his unnatural expression for a moment. Following his gaze, he saw a closed cupboard in the corner of the wall.
A "menhu cabinet" can be used as a desk, with drawers placed under the table. The secret is that there is a storage space under the drawers, called a "mencang". Whether you want to store something or take something out, you must first pull out the drawers.
When she got married, there was already a closed cupboard there, but since it belonged to Zhao Yi, they had never touched it.
Shen Qingtan's eyelashes trembled, as if he had discovered some important secret.
Zhao Yi said calmly: "Really?"
"Of course." She pretended not to notice, placed the lactose in his palm, and changed the subject: "As soon as the elders arrived in Beijing, Zhao Jue immediately paid them a visit. Do you think the time for submitting the strategy will be brought forward?"
Zhao Yi coughed lightly and was about to speak when he heard a knock on the door.
Jiang Mu passed a message to Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan outside: "Second Master, Second Madam, the elders have arrived at the mansion. The master wants you to take the prepared strategy to the main hall."
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