Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 387 Each has his own strengths

"What? His Highness wants to establish a new school, and my son was chosen?"

When Minister Lu heard the reason why He Hu came, he was immediately incredulous.

He had no idea that Princess An Jingchang was going to establish a new school.

He also allowed his third son Lu Liang to attend school.

Minister Lu looked at He Hu and couldn't help asking, "Guard He, is this a mistake?"

He Hu said calmly, "What are you talking about, Minister? Do you think we have poor taste?"

Minister Lu quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I just don't understand how my son deserves to be able to study at this academy..."

For a moment, Minister Lu thought a lot of things. He even felt that the eldest princess was taking the opportunity to win him over so as to implement various new policies.

After all, the new political reforms involve many aspects, and if we want to truly implement them and benefit the country, we need to do a lot of things.

He Hu just smiled when he heard this and said, "Mr. Lu San has strengths that others don't have, so he will naturally be chosen."

He Hu took out the application for admission and said, "Mr. Shilang, as your guardian, please sign this!"

Minister Lu took the application and looked at it. It was so formal. Did he really want Lu Liang to study in the academy?
However, he was a little hesitant. If he signed it, would it involve other things?

He was also worried that Lu Liang would bring shame to their Lu family. After all, the students who could enter the school run by the eldest princess would definitely be good.

What other special skills does my son have besides tinkering with flowers and plants?
Seeing Minister Lu hesitant, He Hu could not help but whisper, "Your Excellency, there is nothing to worry about. This is just an enrollment procedure. This matter has nothing to do with the affairs of the court."

Minister Lu's eyelids twitched, but he finally picked up the pen and signed.

Seeing this, He Hu happily took the application form, then said goodbye and left.

Minister Lu was still a little dazed. After seeing He Hu off, he hurried to find Lu Liang.

At this time, Lu Liang was ordering his servants to arrange his flowers and plants with great concern.

Seeing his father coming, Lu Liang said respectfully, "Father."

Minister Lu looked at Lu Liang and inexplicably felt that he did not seem to fully understand his son.

Minister Lu couldn't help but whisper, "What did that Guard He see in you when he came to see you?"

Lu Liang smiled when he heard this, and said in a good mood: "Because I can grow flowers!"

Minister Lu's expression changed when he heard this. The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. He said in a deep voice, "Do you think your father is a fool? The eldest princess is running an academy. Do you think she wants you to be a gardener? At this time, you are still trying to fool your father?"

Lu Liang restrained his smile. He didn't know whether his father was a fool, but he was not a fool.

He just wasn't good at studying for the imperial examinations, but that didn't mean he was stupid or ignorant.

He Hu's previous words had already made Lu Liang understand some things.

The princess needs someone who is good at farming, or rather, the one in the court needs...

He wasn't going to grow flowers or plants when he went to that academy, but he was chosen because of this aspect of his.

Lu Liang couldn't help but say, "How dare I hide this from my father? I won't let you down."

Minister Lu's expression changed. He looked at the flowers and plants and asked, "Don't you want these flowers anymore?"

Lu Liang said: "I'm afraid I won't have time to take care of them in the future, so I can only sell some of them and keep some at home..."

Minister Lu was slightly surprised. In the past, Lu Liang treasured these flowers and plants very much, but his sudden change of attitude made him a little uncomfortable.

However, thinking that Lu Liang can go to school and make some changes may not be a bad thing.

Lu Liang added, "I plan to report to the academy this afternoon."

"So urgent?" Minister Lu raised his eyebrows.

It was rare for him to see Lu Liang so active in studying.

Lu Liang said: "I dare not neglect it."

Minister Lu stroked his chin and said, "The academy that the eldest princess wants to establish was probably also instructed by His Majesty, so it's really hard to delay. Okay, I'll call Steward Lin over later. He can help you with anything you need. After we get to the academy..."

Minister Lu kept giving instructions for a while, but after all, it was his own son who was going to study, and he was still very worried.

In the afternoon, Lu Liang said goodbye to his parents and relatives and took a carriage to the location of the school.

Minister Lu also equipped Lu Liang with two large carriages, one for passengers and one for luggage, so as not to lose face.

Lu Liang sat alone in the spacious carriage, with two pots of flowers and plants placed beside him.

Originally, Lu Liang wanted to bring more flowers and plants to the academy, but he was afraid that he would not be able to take care of them, so he only brought two of his favorite rare flowers and plants.

The carriage headed north, passing through streets and heading towards the northern district of Tai'an City.

There is a green mountain in the north city, shrouded in clouds and mist, which is quite spiritual.

This was originally a royal garden, but now it has been divided out by An Jing and used as the territory of the Qiuzhi Academy.

At the foot of the mountain, on a wide mountain road, there stands a newly erected jade archway.

The words "seeking knowledge" shine brightly on the plaque.

The jade pillars on both sides are also engraved with words that exude spiritual charm:
There are roads and diligence in the mountain of books, and there is no end to learn to work hard.

Anyone familiar with this font will know at a glance that it was written by the current Emperor An.

Under the archway, there were several burly soldiers standing there guarding the mountain gate.

At first glance, it looked quite impressive. Lu Liang's carriage stopped in front of the mountain gate.

A soldier came forward to check his identity, and Lu Liang quickly revealed his identity.

The soldier confirmed the identity of the visitor and said in a neutral tone, "Students enrolling are not allowed to bring servants or servants. We will have someone arrange for your carriage and luggage... Please get off and walk up the mountain."

Seeing this, Lu Liang did not dare to rely on his status. He got off the car obediently and held the two pots of flowers in his arms.

Before Lu Liang could go up the mountain, he heard the sound of carriages and horses from behind.

Lu Liang stopped to watch and saw another carriage coming.

After the soldiers went over to check the identity, a man dressed in brocade and gold and silver excitedly got off the carriage.

The man looked around, and when he saw Lu Liang, his gaze paused.

"Huh? Mr. Lu San, you're here to enroll as well!"

Lu Liang blinked, not remembering who the other person was. "Your Excellency is?"

"It's me, Yang Yi. We met during the Mid-Autumn Festival! I even bought flowers from you." Yang Yi said with a smile.

Lu Liang thought about it and vaguely remembered it, so he said embarrassedly: "It turned out to be Young Master Yang. Sorry, my memory is a bit bad."

Only the flowers and plants that Lu Liang grew could be remembered clearly, but outsiders who were not familiar with him could not remember them at all.

Yang Yi said indifferently: "Are you here to enroll as well?"

Lu Liang nodded when he heard this.

Yang Yi couldn't help but ask: "Because you can grow flowers?"

Before coming, Yang Yi felt that there would be students as special as him.

Lu Liang's eyes moved slightly, and he asked, "Where is Young Master Yang?"

Yang Yi smiled and said, "I know how to do business!"

Yang Yi waved his hand, and the gold, silver and jewelry on his body sparkled, some of which were spiritual objects.

"Master Lu, perhaps you tend to forget things easily," Yang Yi said quietly. "I started doing business when I was four years old. Of course, back then, I just played around with the kids from wealthy families... Today, I'm a wealthy man. People call me Yang Baiwan..."

When Lu Liang heard this nickname, he immediately thought of such a person.

Yang Yi was born into a merchant family, but his family background was quite ordinary. His father was just an unknown small merchant.

However, Yang Yi is extremely talented in business. He became famous for his business at a young age. Now, at the age of thirty, he has become a well-known wealthy businessman in Tai'an City.

Yang Yi said quietly, "Come to think of it, when Her Royal Highness the Princess's people found me, I was shocked. I never thought I could even get into some kind of academy... I just happened to be free, so I came here to see the world."

He had already made enough money and was thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity to perhaps improve his status.

In front, there were soldiers leading the way for the two of them.

Yang Yi followed Lu Liang in a very familiar manner, chatting and laughing as they went up the mountain.

Soon, they arrived at a bamboo forest halfway up the mountain.

Passing through the bamboo forest, a row of thatched houses comes into view.

Outside the thatched hut, there were some people, including men, women, young and old.

The soldier said, "This is your residence. Those are also students who have enrolled. You can get familiar with it."

After saying that, the soldier turned around and left quickly without further explanation.

Yang Yi blinked, thinking he had seen it wrong. He had seen the mountain gate archway so majestic before, so why was their residence so shabby?
Isn't this a test for them? Yang Yi couldn't help but think of one possibility, and only one possibility.

After all, the newly established school of the eldest princess is so simple, what else could it be but a test?
Yang Yi restrained his expression and walked over with a smile.

I glanced around and actually found a familiar face.

Yang Yi was slightly surprised and asked, "Old Feng? Why are you here too? Don't tell me you're also a recruited student!"

Feng Yan was a famous storyteller in Tai'an City. His storytelling skills were extraordinary and he was favored by many princes and nobles.

When Yang Yi was free, he often went to listen to stories and gave Feng Yan a lot of money.

Even though he was as smart as he knew that this school would recruit people with unusual specialties, he never expected to meet Feng Yan here.

He felt that his brain was not enough and he couldn't figure out the princess's intention of establishing this new school.

"Greetings, Young Master Yang." Feng Yan stood up and bowed. "Thanks to your highness's appreciation, I am fortunate to be able to study at the academy. Please take good care of me in the future."

The art of language, the power of public opinion, the role of propaganda...

An Jing learned a lot of new knowledge from Lu Zheng, and when he asked people to recruit students for the school, he also asked his subordinates to pay attention to selecting various special talents.

A storyteller may not have a high status, but if used well, he can play a big role.

Tai'an City has a large population, so naturally there are some geniuses of all kinds.

On just the first day, the school attracted many people to report.

These people have different identities and statuses, and all have their strengths, but the most important thing is that they have no major flaws in morality and their thoughts are malleable.

In terms of talent, the Imperial College actually had many outstanding students, but cultivating those students and changing the thoughts of those Confucian scholars was no easier than cultivating these people.

(End of this chapter)