Thief Emperor

Chapter 323: Managing Jiangdong
The Great Zhou Dynasty began to conduct imperial examinations more than a hundred years ago, but the current imperial examinations are still in a relatively crude stage and not many people are admitted in a year.

The other way to become an official, apart from the imperial examination, was through recommendation by high-ranking officials. This was the broadest path to advancement in that era.

Even Li Yun himself actually became an official through this channel. He was recommended by Su Jing and was appointed as the Sima of Yuezhou by the court.

At that time, General Su had just come out of retirement and he easily put down the rebellion in Yuezhou, so his words still carried some weight in the court.

This kind of recommendation also ensures that those wealthy families will prosper forever.

However, if the cost of books and knowledge could be suppressed and the imperial examination system could be expanded and improved, these aristocratic families that have existed for hundreds or even thousands of years would actually have no basis for existence.

It's not that they will disappear overnight.

But most of the clans will gradually die out.

After all, your family has at most a few hundred or a thousand people. Compared with the people of the world, the number is too small. Even if there are talents in proportion, you will soon be eliminated by the times.

After the decline of the aristocratic families, they will be replaced by the gentry families.

Although the pronunciations are similar, they are actually very different.

A large aristocratic family can easily influence a region, and even the rise and fall of a dynasty, but the aristocratic family...

The entire aristocratic class combined might have some power, but each individual aristocratic class was actually insignificant.

After all, there were also gentry in this era.

The Gu family of Shidai, the Xue family (Li Yun's wife's family), and the Zhuo family of Wujun can all be considered as aristocratic families.

The power of this kind of aristocratic family is far inferior to that of big families like Cui, Zheng, Li, and Wang.

As for the improvement of printing technology, Li Yun had no idea whether it could reduce the knowledge cost and how much it could be reduced, but he always had to give it a try.

When he came into this world, he was always going to bring some changes to this world. If he wanted to fundamentally change the world, there was no other shortcut but to start with education.

Little by little, this old world is changing.

Li Yun stayed in Yuezhou for a whole day. On the second day, he was ready to leave. Du Qian saw him off all the way. When they arrived at the city gate, they bowed to each other and said goodbye. Du Qian asked, "Where are you going, Erlang?"

"I'll go to Wujun to take a look."

Li Yun smiled and said, "It's the end of the year, I should go and see what the salt road there looks like. Besides, the Zhuo family has been deeply involved in business over the years, and I have to think of a way to deal with the copper I got in Xuanzhou. The Zhuo family may be able to help."

The seizure of Yi'an Copper Mine could not last long, after all, there was no legitimate reason for it, and the troops Li Yun left in Yi'an were only a colonel's battalion.

This captain's battalion can be regarded as an overwhelming force in Yi'an, but in the eyes of external forces, it may not be that strong.

If Li Yun's power does not progress further within one or two years, he may not be able to control this copper mine.

If the imperial court does not take it back, other forces will intervene. Therefore, Li Yun must convert the resources of this copper mine into his own usable resources as soon as possible.

As to whether to mint coins, sell them, or use them for other purposes, there is no set rule yet. Mr. Zhuo of Wu County has been engaged in business for many years and he probably has the means to do this.

Li Yun's trip to Wujun was, firstly, to inspect his salt road to see if it had been embezzled by local people, and secondly, to deal with some auxiliary matters concerning the army.

For example, there are definitely more craftsmen who make armor and weapons in Wujun than in Wuzhou. During this trip to Wujun, Li Yun will ask them to do all these things.

By the way, let’s see whether Wujun is suitable as the base camp and whether we should “move” our own nest there.

Li Yun has moved many times since he started to make a name for himself.

From Cangshan Mountain to Lingyang Mountain, then to Yuezhou, and to Wuzhou.

Every relocation is actually a violent turmoil. Now Li Yun needs to find a place that can serve as a permanent base camp, and then settle down there, starting from this base camp and begin to expand in all directions.

Wujun and Jiangning can both be options.

Wujun is relatively easier. After all, Li Yun has been to this place before and it is basically under his control.

Du Qian nodded silently.

He still approves of Li Yun's current actions. No matter how turbulent the external situation is, Li Yun has always been developing and growing slowly and steadily.

When Li Yun was about to climb onto his horse, Meng Hai trotted over from a distance and handed him a letter.

"General, it has just been delivered."

Li Yun took the envelope, first glanced at it, then opened it and read it. After reading it, his eyes fell on the signature of the letter.

The signature is four words.

Zhou Chang of Qingzhou.

Li Yun touched his chin and thought for a while, then handed it to Du Qian, smiling and saying, "It seems to be the son of the Pinglu Jiedushi, who asked me to meet him. Brother Du, take a look." Du Qian took the letter, read it, lowered his head slightly, paused for a moment, and said, "It's appropriate to meet with the Zhou family at this time, but the meeting place is in Jinling..."

He looked at Li Yun and asked, "Do you want to reply to the other party and change the meeting place to Wujun?"

Li Yun shook his head and said with a smile: "I was originally thinking whether I should go to Jinling to take a look before the New Year. Now it just happened that I made up my mind."

"Before the New Year, I will go to Jiangning to see this Mr. Zhou."

Du Qian did not persuade him any further, but nodded and said, "Then Erlang should take more people with him. We can use this opportunity to settle the accounts in Jiangning and punish the rebels in Jiangning."

"Bringing too many people, it seems like I'm afraid of them."

Mr. Li stroked his chin and thought for a while, then whispered, "I will lead two brigades. We have enough horses, so we can ride over there. Jiangning is not my territory, but it is not the Zhou family's territory either. There is no need to be timid."

With Li Yun's personal fighting power and the quality of his guards, even if something happened in Jiangning City, more than 200 people would be enough to break out of Jiangning City.

Besides, it is unlikely that they will have a falling out if they ask me to meet them at this time.

Mr. Li looked up to the north and said with a smile, "I haven't been to many big cities. The last time I went to Gusu City, I had broadened my horizons. Now I will go to Jiangning to see what this big city in the south looks like."

This statement was a little humble. Although Li Yun had never seen a big city in this era, he had seen many huge cities in another world.

To be honest, the productivity gap is too big. The county towns in that world can be compared to many big cities of this era.

Du Qian touched his temple, thought seriously, and asked, "Do you want me to go to Jiangning with Erlang to take a look?"

"Need not."

Li Yun waved his hand and smiled, "Brother Du, have you forgotten? You are going to write a letter to accuse me. Now we should not get too close. When Brother Du's family arrives, nothing will change. It won't be too late for Brother Du to go to Jiangning."

Du Qian nodded and whispered, "Erlang, don't be too impulsive at this time. If you can avoid direct conflict with them, you should try your best to avoid conflicts. We... need some time."

Li Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that kind of reckless person, so you don't have to worry about it."

At this point, Li Yun jumped on his horse, looked around, and said with emotion: "The two generations of Jiedushi have very smart ears and eyes. I have only been back to Yuezhou for a day or two, and they were able to deliver the letter to me accurately."

“Two generations of business naturally have a deep foundation.”

Du Qian smiled and said, "In a few years, Erlang might be better than them."

Li Yun nodded slightly, waved to Du Qian on his horse, then rode away from Yuezhou with the men from the two brigades.

Li Yun now has a total of six or seven thousand soldiers under his command, but he has no cavalry and not many horses. Fortunately, they are enough for two brigades.

It is worth mentioning that the two brigades following Li Yun have now completely become his personal guards, led by Yang Xi. What makes this guard different from ordinary armies is that the selection conditions are a bit harsh.

For example, you must be able to ride a horse.

It was personally reviewed by Yang Xi, and there were requirements for strength and speed.

Moreover, basically everyone has seen blood on their hands.

These are the elite soldiers among all the generals under Li Yun.

A group of more than 200 people rushed all the way from Yuezhou to Wujun and stayed in Wujun for two or three days.

During the past two or three days, apart from inspecting the salt road, Li Yun spent the rest of his time at Zhuo's house, communicating in detail with Master Zhuo.

As for the Yi'an Copper Mine, the Zhuo family was fully capable of handling the subsequent processing work, so Li Yun did not hesitate and temporarily handed over the Yi'an Copper Mine to the Zhuo family.

For this purpose, Mr. Zhuo also sent his other son, Zhuo Guangxian, to Xuanzhou to take over and process the copper in the copper mine.

After staying in Wujun for two days, Li Yun left Wujun on the third day and prepared to rush to Jinling.

Before leaving, Master Zhuo gave him a shiny fur coat, put it on him, and accompanied him all the way out of the city.

When they arrived at the city gate, Master Zhuo took out a small box from his sleeve and handed it to Li Yun. He lowered his head and found it: "Envoy, the Zhuo family has several properties in Jinling City. Although they are not luxurious, they are safe to live in after all."

"When you arrive in Jinling, you can stay at the hotel."

Li Yun didn't hesitate to take it, said thank you, and then waved to Master Zhuo.

"Farewell."

Zhuo Guangrui bowed deeply to Li Yun and said respectfully, "I wish you a safe journey, sir."

Li Yun had already ridden a long distance on his horse at this time and did not hear what Master Zhuo said at all. He thought of the place where Mr. Zhou had agreed to meet him, and his imagination ran wild.

Jinling City, on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

(End of this chapter)