Li Zhu cursed Yuwen Guo countless times in his heart, but in the end, considering that Yuwen Guo had not only brought him a stunningly beautiful woman, but also such a talented person, he forgave him...
He forgave Yuwen Guo not because of a beautiful woman, absolutely not...
Li Zhu comforted himself while pondering which poem would be most suitable to memorize. He didn't dare to casually boast about poems from before the Tang Dynasty, since most people would likely know them, but there weren't many quatrains from after the Tang Dynasty that he could readily offer…
Suddenly his eyes lit up, because he thought of a Song Dynasty poem that was quite suitable for the current situation, requiring only a slight modification!
Thinking of this, Li Zhu stood up, looked out the window, and pondered for a moment before his powerful voice resounded throughout the room.
"In my drunken stupor, I pick up my sword by lamplight; in my dreams, I hear bugles echoing through the camps. Eight hundred miles of roasted meat are distributed among my troops; fifty strings of music resound beyond the Great Wall; autumn brings the review of troops on the battlefield."
My horse gallops swiftly like the wind, my bowstring twangs like thunder. I'll accomplish the affairs of the king and the world, winning fame both before and after my death. I'll end my life on horseback!
As the Song Dynasty poem ended, the three people sat there in a daze. Yuwen Guo's daughter, a talented woman, had stars in her eyes at this moment, feeling that this kind of man was the perfect match for her!
Chen Qingzhi himself was deeply moved by this poem. The magnificent and passionate scene in the military camp seemed to be vivid in his mind, and the lofty ideals and ambitions were a true reflection of his heart at that moment.
This Song Dynasty poem ignited the passion in his heart. He felt that Li Zhu understood him, and he was determined to dedicate his life to repaying Li Zhu's kindness in recognizing his talent!
Yuwen Guo finally obtained a complete poem, and his excitement was beyond words. It also contained the bitterness of unfulfilled ambitions, which expressed his resentment at failing to preserve the previous dynasty...
Li Zhu glanced at the three people, thinking that this was a pretty good show. He'd give himself 99 points, leaving 1 point to avoid getting arrogant...
He changed the last line, "Alas, my hair has turned white," to "This life will end on horseback," because the last line was really inappropriate for Chen Qingzhi, who was young at the time. Moreover, the original meaning was to create a stark contrast between ideals and reality, which he didn't need, nor did he need the previous meaning. So he changed this line, also to encourage Chen Qingzhi to spend his life on the battlefield and conquer the world...
"Cough cough..."
Li Zhu coughed twice, startling the three people awake, then sighed and said...
"Poetry and prose are really not my forte; this poem is truly an embarrassing attempt..."
Thump!
This time, Chen Qingzhi actually knelt down on both knees and kowtowed deeply to Li Zhu, which stunned Li Zhu, who didn't know what he meant!
"Your Highness, I will follow you in battle for the rest of my life. Your Highness's direction is the direction in which my iron hooves will charge..."
This vow carries immense weight; it's as if he's staked his entire life on Li Zhu. Even if Li Zhu asked him to commit suicide now, he probably wouldn't hesitate for a second!
"Brother Chen, there's no need for formalities between us brothers. I know your intentions; you've done me a great favor this time. To express my gratitude, let's drink until we're both drunk..."
"We won't leave until we're drunk..."
After clinking glasses, the two drank in one gulp. The gathering was a great success, with both host and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves. In particular, Li Zhu felt he had found a true ally. Chen Qingzhi's current fame wasn't enough to attract attention, so he was still an unemployed young man. But Li Zhu knew how much potential this guy had, and he certainly wouldn't let such a talent slip away easily…
Then Li Zhu looked at Yuwen Guo and asked...
"Prime Minister, are you able to find enough blacksmiths and laborers?"
"It's not a big problem, it mainly depends on what you want to do..."
Yuwen Guo replied confidently, "As the prime minister, I certainly have the ability!"
"I need to make some pipes and dig some biogas digesters..."
"Biogas digester?"
The three of them stared blankly at Li Zhu, not knowing what he was talking about!
Li Zhu then gave a brief explanation of the structure of a biogas digester, which took a long time to make the three people understand what a biogas digester was!
"Your Highness, what are you digging these up for?"
Yuwen Guo asked, puzzled.
"First, I want to provide work relief so that some people can receive some wages to get through this cold winter. Second, I want to solve the heating problem for the people..."
Li Zhu's words shocked the three men once again. This work-for-relief program had a great impact on them. How come they had never thought of using this method to solve the problem of displaced people across the country?
"How will this biogas digester solve the heating problem?"
Yuwen Guo asked in confusion!
"Prime Minister, how do you explain this..."
Li Zhu pondered how to explain the principle of biogas. It's just a simple biogas digester; as long as there's waste, it can produce a continuous supply of biogas. This stuff is great for heating and cooking...
Most importantly, the materials are readily available; there's plenty of human excrement and poultry/livestock waste. All that's needed is to collect and organize them…
To make the three of them understand, Li Zhu went to great lengths to explain everything clearly…
In the end, the three of them were once again speechless with astonishment. They even doubted whether Li Zhu was human, how could he come up with such a thing? Chen Qingzhi, in particular, was filled with admiration for Li Zhu, feeling that such a person was a wise ruler...
Chen Qingzhi left the East Palace drunk, but as he walked alone on the street, he kept thinking about the words Li Zhu had told him before he left!
"Brother Chen, pay special attention to two people on your trip. One is Liu Zhiyuan, who may be an important general under Shi Jingtang. He must be killed; don't give him a chance to live a single day longer. The second is Guo Wei. He may have just joined the army, but he is ambitious and should not be underestimated. He is an excellent fighter. Try to subdue him; if you can't, then just kill him as well..."
Li Zhu's words echoed in Chen Qingzhi's mind. Although he was puzzled as to why Li Zhu had given such instructions, he would carry them out without hesitation...
He is now going back to prepare for his journey to Youzhou. This journey is fraught with uncertainty, and he must travel as fast as he can to reach Youzhou before the news of Shi Jingtang's death arrives. Only in this way can he leverage public opinion to successfully reach the people and use his military achievements to enhance his prestige within the army!
Li Zhu watched Chen Qingzhi leave, his eyes filled with deep reluctance. He didn't know whether this departure would bring good or bad fortune. He felt it was a bit much to fool an unemployed youth like this, but he had no other choice. What could he do when he had no one else to rely on?
"Prime Minister, he will live, won't he?"
Li Zhu asked Yuwen Guo softly beside him.
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