Chapter 1547 Extra: Correct Question, Correct Answer (Part 2)
Summer of the twelfth year of Yanhuang.
He led his officials on an inspection tour of the Northwest.
The imperial ship passed through Ganzhou and docked for seven days to rest.
The royal court's inspection routes were not fixed, and Shen Tang did not allow local officials to clear the area in advance to create a false impression. The local economy and people's lives were as they were; there was no room for deception. Even if things weren't great, Shen Tang would give officials a chance to explain, but if they tried to fool her, then she wouldn't stand for it. She could tolerate their incompetence, but she wouldn't tolerate their wickedness!
Initially, some officials were concerned about security issues.
Planning the route in advance allows for better preparedness. If the lord simply takes a boat wherever he wants to go, what if he is assassinated along the way?
After he said this, his colleagues looked at him as if he were a fool.
Assassination?
Who to assassinate?
Who will assassinate him?
Even if some brave men were truly courageous enough to storm the imperial ship, wouldn't it be a bit too reckless for them to come and assassinate the 20th-rank Marquis on the imperial ship?
Whether the assassin was smart or not is unknown, but his courage was absolutely unparalleled! The phrase "as bold as a bat" is not enough to describe him.
Shen Tang: "..."
Relying on her fighting skills, she dared to go anywhere.
The royal court's inspections rarely ventured into prosperous areas, preferring instead remote and impoverished mountain villages. The poorer the place, the better it revealed the officials' governing abilities, and the more likely they were to expose their true colors. Don't assume that poor places are devoid of opportunities for corruption; corrupt officials are adept at squeezing every last drop of profit from a meager existence. Shen Tang, of course, paid special attention to them—she had shown compassion for the officials, providing them with high salaries and generous benefits; her subordinates should reciprocate by diligently managing the various regions and accumulating merit!
It's okay if they don't know what's good for them.
Some are sensible people who want to advance their careers.
Ganzhou is not a barren land. On the contrary, its economy is among the best in the northwestern states. Not only is its food production self-sufficient, but it also has surplus grain to sell to neighboring states. In recent years, it has obtained a lot of resources from farmers and has developed local fruits and vegetables in a targeted manner. In addition, it has vigorously recruited celebrities, and private schools are thriving. Every now and then, it holds poetry gatherings, elegant gatherings, and beauty pageants that are both refined and popular.
Oh, right.
Ganzhou also claimed to be the hometown of Gongxi Chou.
Many wandering knights-errant in the world revere Gongxi Chou, so how could they miss this spot when traveling? Ganzhou values both literature and martial arts, maintaining a very balanced approach. Literati hold poetry gatherings and elegant parties, while martial arts knights-errant compete in various arenas, which has even developed into regional leagues.
However, all these competitions must adhere to various rules prohibiting certain actions and must be held in officially constructed venues. Life comes first, friendship second, and competition third. The common people only need to pay a small ticket to enter and watch. Participants receive a share of the prize money, the common people get entertainment, and the authorities also use these crowds to hold markets of various sizes.
It can be considered a win-win situation for all three parties.
"She's still quite quick-witted, but why did Gong Xichou agree to let Ganzhou be her hometown?" Although Shen Tang's inspection focus was on places with poor economies, and Ganzhou wasn't a target, she was already here, so spending a few days checking on the situation wouldn't tire her out.
Ji Moqiu said, "I have a lot of money."
A certain nerve in Shen Tang's body was touched: "A lot of money?"
No, these bastards used local funds to bribe Gongxi Chou, getting him to personally agree that Ganzhou was his hometown and cooperate with the propaganda? Shen Tang's expression turned ferocious, as if he was thinking about how to hold him accountable. Until Ji Moqiu said the next sentence, the officials of Ganzhou were spared from unwarranted disaster: "They were all confiscated and given as tribute to His Highness."
This income is a legitimate endorsement fee.
It's a one-time use item.
After all, Gongxi Chou couldn't possibly create a second hometown.
When the officials of Ganzhou lobbied Gongxi Chou, they presented him with a thick plan, which roughly estimated the economic value that could be brought by turning Ganzhou into Gongxi Chou's hometown (a holy site for wandering knights). The wandering knights are truly poor in some ways and truly rich in others. If this plan succeeds, the subsequent economic value it will bring to Ganzhou will be more than a hundred times the endorsement fee, making it a worthwhile investment.
It seems that some of the New Year's gifts were sent from Ganzhou at the beginning of the year.
The implication was that they were inviting Gong Xichou to come and make an appearance.
Imagine a group of wandering knights who idolize Gong Xi Chou fighting a tournament, only to be suddenly informed by the organizers that Gong Xi Chou himself will be presenting the final prize. Who wouldn't fight tooth and nail? Who wouldn't be eager to participate? It's unbelievable how much money they could make!
Ji Moqiu: "Ganzhou dares to challenge Yanzhou."
Shen Tang: "..."
So it seems that this deal in Ganzhou was very profitable.
Among the northwestern states, Yanzhou has always been the most prestigious, economically dominating the others and making them unable to hold their heads high. Why? Naturally, it's because the former capital of Kang, Fengluo, is located within Yanzhou's territory. Ganzhou is also close to Yanzhou, and it was one of Shen Tang's targets for establishing a capital there back in the day.
From officials to ordinary citizens, everyone in Ganzhou was holding their breath in resentment.
They were so close to becoming the capital!
Kangguo moved its capital to Huangting, and Fengluo, as the former capital, remained a prosperous place. However, without the glory of being the capital, Ganzhou had always wanted to surpass Yanzhou, causing officials from both places to dislike each other. In earlier years, they would subtly exchange barbs and sarcasm, but in the last two years, officials from Ganzhou have stood up straight and walked with an air of authority.
Shen Tang leaned closer to Ji Moqiu: "He offered it as tribute to me?"
Ji Moqiu also revealed a smile that could only be understood but not explained.
The brothers didn't separate, so Ji Moqiu naturally managed the finances. He didn't want small amounts of income, but he definitely wanted the large amounts.
Ji Moqiu's greatest hobby was offering tribute and sacrifices.
These all naturally ended up in Shen Tang's private treasury.
Shen Tang could barely suppress the smile on her face.
"Where is Gongxi's enemy?"
Come to think of it, the last time we met was at the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
After the New Year, they disappeared somewhere.
Ji Moqiu said, "He said he was going out to clear his head."
Shen Tang: "He's unhappy? Is it because of me?"
Ji Moqiu sighed, "It has nothing to do with Your Highness, it is for my sake."
Gong Xi Chou had disliked Xun Ding, this extra person, for almost twenty or thirty years, and now, upon meeting him, he still didn't give him a friendly look. However, Xun Ding, drunk during the New Year's Eve vigil, couldn't help but retort to Gong Xi Chou, a single sentence that broke Gong Xi Chou's defenses. Unable to bear the injustice, Gong Xi Chou ran away from home.
Shen Tang: "What did you say? It's so powerful?"
Even someone like Gong Xichou, who never engages in internal strife, broke through his defenses.
Ji Moqiu said awkwardly, "Children speak without thinking, children speak without thinking."
The content of their argument is really like a conversation between elementary school students.
Gong Xichou: 【…Xun Yong'an, you're just an extra!】
Xun Ding retorted, his neck stiff: "You're the one who's adding to the mix!"
[A backlash? Who are you blaming for being an extra?]
[The rebound was ineffective, I saw my older brother... sob...]
A huge leaf hung down from the roof beam, coiling around Xun Ding's mouth like a serpent, forcibly silencing him. Xun Ding struggled for a moment, then met Ji Moqiu's ambiguous smile and felt guilty for three seconds.
Gong Xichou clenched his fists in anger.
Brother, say something! Aren't you going to explain?
Ji Moqiu said, "I am a divine servant, do I need to explain that?"
Now it was Gongxi Chou's turn to run away, wailing and cursing as he went: "Brother, you've disappointed me so much!"
Xun Ding: [Won't this cause trouble?]
Ji Moqiu said: "Perhaps they are in pain but unaware of it."
Xun Ding seemed to have heard something terrifying. He said awkwardly, "[...I don't think Second Brother seems to have that kind of brain.]"
Ji Moqiu: [He definitely didn't.]
Xun Ding, puzzled, asked: "Nothing?"
My younger brother, Gongxi Chou, is devoid of romantic feelings.
[No romantic feelings? Then where did his romantic feelings go?]
As one of the Yuan Consorts, Xun Ding knew as much as his father and the others, but he wasn't completely ignorant either. He knew that his elder brother, Ji Moqiu, was of extraordinary status and that the man had a deep connection with the Lord, perhaps even a karmic bond from a past life. Therefore, Xun Ding believed that the "threads of affection" his brother spoke of couldn't simply refer to the emotional entanglement between men and women, but rather to some real, existing "organ."
Ji Moqiu: [It was lost during reincarnation.]
【Huh? This thing can be lost too?】
Is this really that unreliable?
Yes, you can.
After all, it was His Highness who personally took it away back then.
Is it possible to get it back?
Xun Ding felt he had found the root cause of Gong Xi Chou's lack of intelligence; if Qing Si returned, perhaps that guy's brain would return with her.
Ji Moqiu shook his head, his expression carrying a profound meaning.
Perhaps it was reincarnated as well.
[Perhaps it will fall into the hands of some lucky person.]
They can only return when the host reaches the end of its lifespan.
It's just a fleeting feeling, nothing important.
My feelings for Your Highness have never been based on romantic love. Whether they are present or not will not affect the final outcome.
Ancient beings judged love very crudely, judging it solely by the threads of affection.
Where there are threads of emotion, there is feeling; where there is feeling, there will inevitably be threads of emotion. The saying that plants and trees are without feeling refers to the fact that they do not possess the threads of emotion that all ancient beings had. Even when Her Highness was undergoing tribulation in that life, she did not develop the threads of emotion that belonged to her.
Even amidst the turmoil of love, her heart remained empty.
This is completely different from the demands of Heaven.
His Highness refuted it, and the Heavenly Lord's response left everyone powerless.
What you're doing doesn't count as affection; you're just observing, learning, and imitating to make yourself appear as if you have 'affection.'
This is not the outcome that Heaven desires.
Ji Moqiu snapped out of her thoughts.
After all, times have changed, and none of that matters anymore.
The important issue is that his younger brother, Gongxi Chou, has run away from home and may not be willing to return anytime soon, while Ganzhou is already urging Gongxi Chou to help with the publicity campaign. If Gongxi Chou breaches the contract, he will face a lawsuit. The lawsuit itself isn't the main concern; the key issue is the financial compensation.
Will the money that was offered as tribute by Jimo Qiu be returned?
That is definitely not possible.
Sigh, we still need to bring my younger brother back.
Ji Moqiu stroked his wooden cane, thinking of his younger brother who wasn't actually that far away. While boating on the lake, Gongxi Chou sneezed, and a fisherman in the same boat angrily threw a fish at him: "Gongxi Chou!"
This guy scared his fish away.
Gong Xichou: "...You've got some nerve?"
The fisherman sneered.
Gong Xichou: "..."
The story is rather absurd. Gong Xichou shed his skin a few days ago, and the temporary blindness caused him to abandon the land route and choose the air route. As a result, he was shot down by some ignorant person who mistook him for a big bird. Gong Xichou was furious and wanted to retaliate, but unexpectedly, the other party opened his mouth and called out his identity.
Haha, it turns out to be someone I know.
It was accidentally given to Qi Cang, who escaped back then.
Just as Gong Xichou was about to raise his hand, Qi Cang threatened him, holding up his fishing rod: "Wait, Gong Xichou, times have changed. Do you intend to treat human life like dirt under Shen Youli's rule? If you dare to lay a hand on me, although I am no match for you, I can still hold out until the authorities are notified."
Gongxi Chou: [...]
One sentence silenced him completely.
He never intended to kill Qi Cang.
To put it bluntly, Gongxi Chou disliked creating karma through killing. On the battlefield, life and death were determined by the duties of a military officer, and the people killed could not be counted in one's personal karma. Outside the battlefield, without the identity of a military officer, there was naturally no reason to kill at will.
Military generals kill to survive.
All killings beyond the realm of survival are acts of killing.
He doesn't intend to kill anyone, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to hit someone.
Of course, they didn't end up fighting.
Instead, he calmly went boating and fishing.
Gong Xichou: "..."
It can't be considered fishing either.
Don't think he didn't notice that old man Qi Cang had secretly conjured up the Martial Spirit Totem's claws. The soft, sucker-like octopus tentacles quietly reached into the water, catching river fish one after another, soon filling the cabin. Finally, he used the octopus tentacles as oars to row the boat.
Gong Xichou: "..."
The fishing boats docked, and people were already waiting at the simple pier.
Gong Xiqiu realized that they were several children of different ages, including both boys and girls. As the fishing boat docked, the group went to greet them.
Each of them was carrying a wooden bucket.
Yes, it's for holding fish.
Qi Cang directed a few men to go to the cabin to catch fish, which would be an extra meal that evening.
Gong Xichou: "You adopted him?"
Has Old Deng started doing charity work?
Qi Cang: "He is a student."
There was a small private school on the mountain, established before the unification of Kangguo. However, due to poor conditions, it hadn't been well-maintained, and there weren't many students, so it was just used as is. Later, when Kangguo unified and established three public academies in various places, it didn't affect this place. The three academies couldn't be built in a day or two, and they couldn't accommodate all the students, so for a long time, they still needed the support of many private schools.
Officials in Ganzhou also understood this principle.
While establishing three academies, they also encouraged private education.
The private school on the mountain also received financial support.
As the first batches of students left, this mountain academy gained some reputation in the Ganzhou education circle, and the number of students increased. With more students, there were also more mouths to feed, and Qi Cang, when he was bored and went down the mountain to fish, would not forget to give them extra food: "They really have a good appetite."
A half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home.
Qi Cang's complaints were not taken seriously by most of the students.
The group walked up the mountain path.
This mountain path was dug out by Qi Cang's soldiers out of boredom, just to make it easier for these little rascals to go down the mountain to visit their relatives. Gong Xi Chou was blind, but he also found the mountain path steep and difficult to walk along: "Why don't you go down the mountain and set up an academy?"
Qi Cang sighed, "There's nothing I can do. You shouldn't be asking me this."
If you want to know, ask the first headmaster who founded the academy what he was thinking.
Before long, Gong Xiqiu heard the sound of reading aloud.
Walking through the bamboo corridor and through the bamboo courtyard, you can see several bamboo houses across the lotus pond, and a few more unfinished bamboo houses in the distance.
Several students, looking distressed, were busy running around, trying to slack off, but then they noticed Qi Cang returning with the students who had been catching fish. They immediately kept their eyes glued to the ground, not daring to lose focus for a moment: "Making a mistake and being punished is a good thing, and the academy also needs to expand, so it's killing two birds with one stone."
Gong Xichou: "..."
Qi Cang pointed to the lotus pond.
He said, "See? The academy is going to expand its enrollment in the second half of the year, and there aren't enough teaching bamboo houses... This lotus pond is a punishment for these naughty ancestors. If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll think they can bully me... Oh, I forgot that you snake can't be seen yet."
Gong Xichou: "..."
Qi Cang is a martial arts instructor at this academy.
A group of students were most afraid of him.
There was only one exception.
Qi Cang directed his students to take the fish to the private school's kitchen so the cook could prepare it to provide the students with some nutrition. Just as he came out, he saw a little rascal sitting on a stone tablet, with Gong Xichou's foot planted on the tombstone. This sight made Qi Cang's eyelids twitch wildly.
He quickly stepped forward to separate Gong Xichou: "You're slacking off again!"
The child sitting on the stone tablet lifted his eyelids.
But she still answered, "I've finished my work."
The private school needed beautification, including paving stone paths. Qi Cang punished students who misbehaved by making them go down the mountain to collect pebbles from the riverbank, specifying the size and shape of each pebble. This one child in the entire academy was particularly cunning, always doing things secretly. But no matter how clever he was, Qi Cang always managed to catch the culprit. And he punished him, doubling the punishment. Now, two pebble paths had already been created through this punishment.
Besides the pebbles, the children also contributed to the lotus pond.
The child once suspected that he had a grudge against the martial arts master Qi Cang in his past life. However, considering that Qi Cang had helped him, who was from a poor family, by introducing his mother to a job as a kitchen helper at a private school and waiving his tuition fees, allowing him to study at the private school, the guess that he had a grudge was untenable.
His first meeting with Qi Cang was also a coincidence.
His surname is Qiao, and his mother calls him Qiaozi.
Qiao Zi was born posthumously and lived with his widowed mother.
Poor mountains and bad waters breed unruly people. The villagers are all bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. If it were in the chaotic years of the past, this widow and her orphan would have been devoured to the bone. Fortunately, under the rule of Kangguo, order prevails, and the unruly villagers and bullies do not dare to be too arrogant. The mother and son, relying on each other for survival, still have a chance to live. Qiao Zi was born weak and sickly, and it was not easy for Qiao's mother to raise him. He almost died from a high fever because they had no money for treatment.
Fortunately, Qi Cang appeared at this moment.
Qiao's mother said that Qi Cang saw Qiao Zi as if he had seen a ghost, but he quickly calmed down and asked Qiao's mother about the situation. He kindly took out money to help the mother and son get through the difficult time, and Qiao Zi was also saved from the brink of death.
He even kindly introduced a job to Qiao's mother.
They then took Qiao Zi to the dean to plead for her to become a transfer student.
It has been almost half a year now.
Qiao Zi's poor health didn't diminish his shrewdness. He keenly noticed that the martial arts master Qi Cang treated him with special favor and extreme tolerance. This made Qiao Zi wonder if this fellow had some connection to his ancestors. When he asked his mother, she also said she didn't know, how could their ancestors have had such an opportunity?
Qiao Zi refuted all of his conjectures.
In the end, only one answer remained—
That old bastard Qi Cang is after me.
[Really?]
Qiao Zi was born on the Ghost Festival in the sixth year of Yanhuang.
I'm only six years old.
In the end, he chose not to think about it anymore.
If Qi Cang really had malicious intentions, he could simply report it to the authorities.
Since Ganzhou couldn't handle it, he went to the capital to appeal his case.
After half a year, he gradually integrated into the academy life and showed amazing talent and comprehension, learning everything at an astonishing speed. If it weren't for Dean Mei Meng's repeated checks that he hadn't yet opened his Dantian and condensed his literary heart, everyone else would have suspected that he had photographic memory using his literary heart.
Thanks to these, he is currently in the third grade.
Qi Cang liked to watch him punish.
Although he was troubled, he didn't lash out, and even found enjoyment in dealing with the situation. For example, there was a small playground nearby where students liked to play after class. Next to the playground was an unmarked grave that the martial arts master would clean every month. Qiao Zi would sit on the gravestone whenever he was unhappy. Every time this happened, the martial arts master would have a strange expression.
Strange……
If your complexion looks strange, that's a good sign.
Gong Xiqiu, his eyes veiled by a thin gauze, was "looking" at the boy sitting on the grave mound, and he caught a whiff of the scent of an "old friend".
Gong Xichou: "Is that right?"
"He's even urinated on the grave."
(ω)
(End of this chapter)
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