Chapter 167 Mr. Zhao, the Grand Tutor invites you
Teachable!
In the box, Han Zhou pressed the wine cup heavily on the table, with mixed feelings in his heart.
Before this, he had never thought that he would be persuaded by Zhao Duan.
No.
It is not persuasion, but an ineffective rebuttal to the criticism, like a wake-up call from a Buddhist monk.
Just as Zhao Duan guessed, his purpose today was to try to persuade Zhao Duan under the pretext of "asking for advice" and pull him into his own camp to assist in implementing the "Ten Strategies".
But who could have expected that the final result would be that he himself was convinced.
Ten strategies? Worse than shit!
Along with this, there are doubts that follow one after another.
How could a military officer have such profound insights in these areas?
This profound theory was never expressed by other scholars, including Grand Tutor Dong.
But it came out of the mouth of an "unlearned" warrior, which is unbelievable.
"Your Excellency's admonition today was truly thought-provoking. It now appears that I, Han, have indeed been away from the mundane world for too long, just as Lord Zhao said..."
Han Zhou smiled bitterly, bowed respectfully and saluted him.
Then, finally unable to bear the doubts, he asked:
"I wonder how Envoy Zhao came up with this?"
Zhao Duan was calm and collected. He accepted the other party's greeting calmly. After hearing the words, he was silent for a moment and said:
"Maybe I've seen too much."
Han Zhou was stunned and subconsciously thought that what this meant was that Zhao Duan had only a short time to gain power.
More than a year ago, he was just a foot soldier in the imperial guards and had not escaped from the bottom of society.
The feelings are naturally deeper.
In addition, compared with the nobles in the Hanlin Academy, Zhao Duan is also a person who does "practical things".
I'm used to seeing the intrigues and evil people...
Well, considering his reputation, he's a pretty sinister guy himself...
However, only Zhao Duan himself knew the true meaning of his sigh, which had been written too many times in the history books he had read.
"Is that so?" Han Zhou nodded, then looked dejected.
"As the envoy said, the court is in a predicament, but there is no solution."
Zhao Duan said nothing. Is there no solution?
Of course not.
Not to mention that Zhang Juzheng's reform method is more suitable, just take the word "money". If the court needs money, is the only way to do it to plunder from others?
Do you know something about economics?
Wealth can not only be "distributed", but also "created".
However, there is no need to tell Han Zhou about this.
Zhao Duan himself also needs time to think.
After all, although Zhang Juzheng's plan was better, in reality, it was just as difficult to implement and had many drawbacks.
He had an idea, which was to add some economic elements to this plan.
Since it is a matter of money, the most direct solution is of course to make money.
In the private room.
Seeing that Zhao Duan remained silent, Han Zhou felt even more bitter and did not expect Zhao Duan to come up with any good solution.
It is easy to criticize and find faults, but it is difficult to construct and create.
Ultimately, it still depends on these scholars to find a solution.
Thinking of this, he cheered up again. If the ten strategies were not suitable, he would think about them again. There is always a way out.
At this moment, footsteps were suddenly heard outside the box, followed by a knock on the door.
They both turned their heads at the same time, and Han Zhou said in confusion, "Come in."
When the door opened, I saw another familiar face standing outside.
"Wang You? Why are you here?" Han Zhou was stunned.
At the door stood a scholar who was about 28 or 29 years old, dressed in fine clothes, with fair skin and the appearance of a nobleman.
It was Wang You, the second-ranked scholar among the Xiuwenguan scholars, the son of the current Minister of Rites and also a descendant of a prominent family.
Zhao Duan's impression of him was that he was casual and relaxed during meetings in the museum, and that he was arrogant as described in Mochou's information.
"Oh, why can't I be here?"
Wang You looked arrogant, and glanced around the room with a half-smile on his face:
"I was wondering why you chased after His Majesty's carriage the moment you left the palace. I thought you were trying to stop His Majesty and say something, but I didn't expect you were secretly forming a clique."
Han Zhou looked embarrassed, stood up and said:
"Envoy Zhao and I are..."
"No need to explain," Wang You waved his hand, interrupting him and said:
"You want His Majesty to adopt your strategy? Are you worried that we might obstruct you, so you're seeking external help? No need to explain. Ha, I've underestimated you, Han Banshan, in the past. Well, I'm just stopping by to take a look. You guys continue."
After saying this, the son of the Shangshu, a nobleman, turned around and left downstairs.
It seems like he came here just to confirm the situation.
"Envoy, don't bother with him."
Seeing this, Han Zhou stepped forward, closed the door, turned around and said:
"I didn't know he would come."
"No problem," Zhao Duan said casually, smiling.
"This Wang You... is indeed as arrogant as the rumors say."
Just now, apart from glancing at him at the beginning, the other party only talked to Han Zhou and didn't look at him at all.
There is no targeting, or rather, no one cares to target it, but it is completely ignored.
Han Zhou sighed:
"Wang You is indeed arrogant and very prejudiced against family background. When I first met him, he never even looked me in the eye."
Later, because of her outstanding talent, she was recognized by Wang You and was barely worthy of his attention... But it's not easy to say this directly.
Zhao Duan smiled and said nothing.
It was obvious that in the eyes of the Shangshu's son, he was not worthy of being on equal terms with him.
"The arrogance of scholars..."
Zhao Duan shook his head and stood up to say goodbye:
"I'm full and thank you for your hospitality. I'll take my leave now."
He was also busy thinking about new strategies for improvement.
Han Zhou personally sent him downstairs, and after watching him leave, Han Zhou sighed softly while standing at the bottom of the restaurant, then turned and got into the car:
"Return to Xiuwen Pavilion!"
…
Wait for the carriage to return to the north gate of the capital.
Han Zhou skillfully stepped over the threshold and entered the empty "office", and sure enough, he saw that Master Dong had not left yet.
Still flipping through the thick memorials in front of him.
"Han Zhou?"
The old man, in his eighties, with a face as red as a date and wearing the robes of a university scholar, looked at him in surprise:
"What's up?"
Han Xueshi, a gentleman of modesty, suddenly bowed and said:
"I have come here to request the Ten Strategies be taken away for further revision."
Master Dong was surprised and asked doubtfully:
"What happened?"
He had already read the Ten Strategies. Although some of their contents were indeed extreme, they were still effective ways to save the current crisis.
Not long ago, he was still telling the story passionately, but now he wants to get it back after just over an hour. There must be something fishy going on.
Han Zhou said with shame:
"I feel ashamed. I was not thoughtful enough before. Only after being rebuked by Lord Zhao did I suddenly realize that this method was inappropriate."
"Are you talking about... Zhao Duan?" Grand Tutor Dong was startled and pointed at the chair.
"Sit down and tell me in detail."
"Yes." Han Zhou sat down. He had nothing to hide, so he immediately recounted how he tried to win over Zhao Duan and how he was refuted one by one.
Finally, he said:
"Envoy Zhao's words are thought-provoking. I have the audacity to ask for the Ten Strategies back and make further revisions."
Opposite, the old man sitting in the big mahogany chair was in a daze.
His eyes involuntarily fell on the "manuscript" in his hand, which was left by Zhao Duan and was filled with many scattered sentences.
Thoughtful.
…
…
"Sir, you are here?"
At the Pear Blossom Hall, when Zhao Duan arrived, his men who were sitting around eating pears in the hall stood up one after another.
Confidential Secretary Qian Kerou held up a cut pear soaked in ice water, like she was presenting a treasure:
"Please, sir. Hehe, the price of ice in Beijing has dropped sharply recently, so we bought some to chill the pears."
"Well, not bad." Zhao Duan opened his mouth and the food came, and the taste was refreshing and refreshing.
"Sir, is the Xiuwen Pavilion interesting? What are they talking about?"
Chen Juan came over and asked with a grin, Hou Renmeng and Old Man Zheng also pricked up their ears.
Everyone knows that our master went to Xiuwenguan today.
"Oh, they are all a group of scholars, discussing things like governing a country, which is unspeakable."
Zhao Duan kept his mouth shut and abided by the confidentiality regulations.
Although in his opinion, what they discussed this morning was worthless...
Everyone seemed to understand what he said, but they didn't care. In their opinion, the things those scholars studied were strange and bizarre.
Even if we, the warriors, heard it, we wouldn't understand it.
As for the adults, they probably didn't understand much and just went there to join in the fun.
After all, civil officials and military generals are not the same group.
After everyone left, Zhao Duan sat alone in the main room, eating chilled pears and writing and drawing with a brush.
He entered a state of contemplation, and as time passed, his ideas about the new policy became clearer and clearer.
…
Evening, Zhao's house.
A family of three is eating at the dining table.
"Are you tired today, Dalang?"
Eugene Hua observed his expression and said considerately, "I'll get you some water later so you can take a bath."
"Nothing, just thinking about something." Zhao Duan said casually.
Beside him, Zhao Pan was trying to make conversation, trying to highlight his presence:
"Brother, I heard that the Xiuwen Pavilion is holding a meeting today? Did you know?"
The women in the family did not know that Zhao Duan had gone to Xiuwenguan today - Zhao Duan did not tell them about work matters.
"You also know Xiuwenguan?" Zhao Duan asked with a smile.
The girl puffed up her cheeks and remained calm:
"Now, scholars in the capital are all talking about it. Servants can hear it when they go out to buy vegetables. They say it's the future cabinet. Anyone who can get in will be very powerful. For example, that great talent in the capital, named Han, has got in.
But you, big brother, have never liked scholars, so you probably don't recognize them."
I didn’t recognize him before, but I got to know him at noon… Zhao Duanxin said.
Eugene Ikebana:
"What's so good about scholars? Scholars are always unfaithful. Dalang has unparalleled martial arts skills, which makes him a real man."
The beautiful stepmother is biased. Zhao Duan doesn't like scholars, so she hates them too.
Zhao Duan smiled and put down his chopsticks:
"It's hot, I can't eat, I'm going to the courtyard to cool off."
The stepmother called the servants and gave him some ice watermelon. Then she looked at her daughter and said curiously:
"It's almost dark, why are you wearing that heavy hairpin? It might get damaged."
Eugene Hua didn't wear a hairpin tonight.
"Mom, don't you wear it every day..."
Zhao Pan's expression froze, he turned his head away silently, and angrily took off the golden hairpin named "Yuye".
She wore it this time, but Big Brother didn't seem to notice at all.
Zhao Duan had just walked into the courtyard and was about to sit down when the doorman suddenly rushed in:
"Da Lang, someone is looking for you outside."
Huh? Zhao Duan raised an eyebrow, confused.
When I walked to the door, I saw a carriage parked outside the courtyard.
Next to him was a servant who looked vaguely familiar.
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed that this was the person who had called him over when he met Grand Tutor Dong at the palace gate.
Master Dong’s men?
Zhao Duan's heart moved, and he had a vague guess.
The man bowed respectfully:
"Master Zhao, the Grand Master invites you to the Xiuwen Hall to discuss matters with the scholars."
(End of this chapter)
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