The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 102: Fighting for Food

The predecessors were overly emotional and dramatic, smoothly constructing scenes and creating atmosphere, but they were also able to balance emotions and facts.

The exaggerated claims are meant to show that they are not incompetent and are doing their jobs very well. They just want to vividly convey their needs to their boss in today's context.

It was just too vivid, which made the head of the Zhao clan feel immense psychological pressure!
The head of the Zhao family rested his forehead on his hand, his eyelids slightly drooping.

As the performance below gained momentum, he also put on a mask of pain.

I really don't want to watch it!

Around this time last year, he checked his account and found there was a surplus. Keeping it in the warehouse would be a waste, so he asked a few of his old buddies to talk about their respective difficulties, and then he allocated the account balance according to their needs.

When it comes to supporting the army, the Zhao family head has always been generous.

We can be frugal in our own lives, but we can't skimp on military spending!

Food supplies, provisions, whatever you need, we'll provide!
However, once the door was opened, these people took advantage of it!

This year is even worse; they even changed their performance outfits just to hold a meeting!

The meeting went as expected, but when faced with it in person, the Zhao family head couldn't help but feel a bit weary.

Glancing at the burning incense beside him, the time was almost up, and his subordinates had finished expressing what they wanted to say, so the Zhao family head waved his hand.

The three parties below wisely stopped work.

If this continues, Boss Zhao will really get angry, and it will backfire.

They all looked at the Zhao family head with expectant eyes, waiting for him to make the final decision.

However, the Zhao family head's gaze swept over them and landed on Wen Gu, who was sitting at the end of the table. His gaze lingered briefly on the coarse cloth clothes Wen Gu was wearing.

I wonder who secretly informed Wen Gu, their styles are so consistent. I hope Wen Gu hasn't followed these people astray!
The Zhao family head originally thought that Wen Gu had made great contributions and was indeed willing to cultivate this junior, so he allowed Wen Gu to start participating in high-level meetings and get to know these senior figures.

However, this first meeting of the new year did not have a good impact on young people. Wen Gu has remained silent since the meeting began, and it is unknown whether he has suffered a great psychological shock.

Since we're already here, let's encourage the young people to participate and have a say.

So the Zhao family head said, "Wen Gu, you tell us, what difficulties do you have or what plans do you have? Feel free to share."

After saying that, the Zhao family head, still seemingly worried, emphasized, "Calm down!"

Objective statements, subtle expressions!
Don't start crying your heart out right away!
Wen Gu rose, bowed, and did not appear flustered or flustered, nor did he display the exaggerated emotional outpouring of his predecessors. Instead, he exuded the rationality and restraint of a student from a humble background. His demeanor was sincere and upright.

The faces of everyone present instantly turned solemn, and they became wary.

Pei Jun, who was playing a fallen nobleman today, also sharpened her gaze, a glint of cunning flashing in her eyes.

What? Is Wen Gu, this "noble relative of the emperor's family," going to pretend to be a "scholar from a poor family"?

No way?
Is this kid going to try and put on a show like them?

Could this have been premeditated?!
Even the Zhao father and son, sitting at the head of the table, were on tenterhooks.

No way?
Could it be that it has already gone astray in such a short time?

However, Wen Gu, who was standing in the hall, did not say much after bowing.

There was no subtlety involved.

How can you be so subtle about asking for funding?!
Since the senior actors have already given such a passionate performance, this junior actor probably won't have to.

Let's get straight to the point.

So, Wen Gu calmly and composedly took out a manuscript.

The military leaders breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems they're just following the normal procedure; relatively speaking, it's quite subtle.

However, considering what Wen Gu had done before, they remained vigilant and began to speculate.

What exactly was written in the manuscript?
Could it be the Jingxingfang Wanfuyuan that has sparked so much discussion?

But how can the affairs of a small town compare to the important matters of their three armies?

Or perhaps glass and coal? Or something else entirely?

Telescopes and microscopes are not suitable to be discussed here.

What else could there be besides these?

Amidst the speculation, at the Zhao family head's signal, Fusheng quickly went over, took the manuscript, and handed it to him. Without giving it a second glance, he stepped aside and awaited orders.

The head of the Zhao family opened the manuscript, initially thinking it was about matters within the neighborhood. However, upon seeing the illustration on the first page, his expression immediately turned solemn, and he sat up straight, becoming serious.

Seeing the Zhao family head's reaction, the group of people below could no longer pretend and stared at him.

Boss, give us a shout! This reaction is making us anxious!
Young Master Zhao, who was standing nearby, was curious. After a slight hesitation, he tried to get closer. Seeing that his father had not explicitly refused, he craned his neck to look at the manuscript the other man was holding.

Upon closer inspection, I couldn't make out what the painting depicted, but I could make out the four characters "Border Post Station." I was immediately captivated and left my seat to get a closer look!
In that manuscript, Wen Gu proposed the suggestion of "building a defensive post station near the border of Xinzhou".

Several concept sketches, along with some of the detailed facilities, were also drawn.

He wasn't a professional architect, but his drawings were detailed enough to be easily understood, requiring no further explanation.

At least the Zhao father and son understood.

The people below were restless and anxious, thinking to themselves: What did Wen Gu write in it? Boss Zhao must tell us about it.

To everyone's surprise, after the Zhao family head finished reading the manuscript...

Snapped!
It closed again.

The Zhao family head skipped over the topic, had Wen Gu return to his seat, and looked at the others: "Do you have anything else important to discuss?" The others present were confused: Huh???
Is it that we don't intend to let them know for the time being?

The more this was the case, the more certain they became that the manuscript was plotting something much bigger!
"Master, won't you tell us?" someone asked, staring at the manuscript.

The head of the Zhao family waved his hand absentmindedly: "Get to the point."

The council chamber fell silent for a moment.

They wanted to continue wailing and crying their hearts out, but everyone's attention had already shifted, and they could see that the Zhao family head's mind was no longer on this.

The Zhao family head wasn't in the mood to waste any more time with these people, and quickly ended the meeting. "Alright, that's enough for today. It's cold and windy, so please put on more clothes and go home."

He added, "Leave the review behind."

Soon, only the Zhao family father and son and Wen Gu remained in the council hall, while Fusheng stood guard at the door.

Those who had already left the council hall turned back to look at Fusheng, who was guarding there.

"How much do you think we'll get this time?"

"It's very likely to be less than expected!"

Zhao Laoda's account balance has increased, but they may not be able to receive the expected amount this time.

Zhao Laoda has never been short of funds for maintaining the army, but in this day and age, people feel more secure when they have more money in their pockets!

The rice jar must always be full of rice; if it's too small, everyone from generals to soldiers will feel anxious!
"This is bad!" someone said.

"I never expected that Wen Gu would be so capable, achieving his goal with just a few sheets of paper!"

"It depends on how big his appetite is and how much he can eat."

The less Zhao Laoda said, the more it proved how much he valued it.

The extra items in the Zhao family warehouse are generally allocated according to their importance.

The city defense army, the hunting army, and the patrol command are all in similar situations. Basic military spending will not be reduced, but who doesn't want more? So they all cried their eyes out at today's meeting.

I never expected that Wen Gu would suddenly get involved in this!
The pie in front of us will probably be taken a bite by Wen Gu first!

“The head of the family is not the kind of person who would show favoritism in such matters,” the other person said calmly.

Therefore, what Wen Gu wrote about that made the Zhao family father and son change their attitude was definitely not a matter of a small workshop!

The thought of the telescope and microscope from before only fueled everyone's curiosity about what Wen Gu had actually written.

"Could it be some kind of divine artifact?" some speculated.

Even if it doesn't reach that level, it will definitely play an important role!

They didn't miss the change in the Zhao family head's eyes the moment he saw the manuscript!
"It's a pity that Wen Gu was left behind!"

If Wen Gu had come out with them, he could have shamelessly asked.

Wu Yang, the garrison commander of Shuocheng, walked out in hushed tones with several colleagues.

"We'll have to change our approach next year."

The others strongly agreed.

Everyone knows the truth. These days are tough, and Boss Zhao is just giving them an opportunity to make a splash and get some extra support.

Making jokes once or twice is fine, but if they do it every time, even Boss Zhao will get tired of it, and they won't achieve their goal.

This experience has been very insightful. They put in so much effort to perform for so long, but Wen Gu, who remained silent, was still given the attention he deserved.

and so……

We still need to come up with something useful!

After leaving the courtyard, they went their separate ways.

Wu Yang took the outer robe handed to him by his attendant and put it on, covering up his patched old clothes.

Within Boss Zhao's courtyard, you can act however you want; they're all family, so there's no fear of losing face. But outside, you have to consider your reputation, otherwise you'll be embarrassing Boss Zhao!

Those who don't know the truth might think that following Boss Zhao means you'll only be able to wear tattered clothes.

As Wu Yang walked out, he kept thinking about Wen Gu.

At the beginning of winter, Wen Gu led a group of refugees heading north through Shuocheng, but he was on a mission and did not encounter them, though he had heard of the deeds of this young master.

At the time, I just casually praised him, saying, "He's a capable person."

Who would have thought that so little time had passed before this young master was eating at the same table with them! Fighting for food from the same bowl!
The attendants beside him glanced at their general. General Wu's face was full of emotion.

As close attendants, they knew what to ask and what not to say. Therefore, during the casual conversation on the return trip, General Wu's attendants did not inquire about the specifics of the meeting, but rather asked gossipy questions:
"Master, before we came you mentioned that young master from the Zhao family. He was allowed to go and broaden his horizons. You think highly of him. Did you take good care of him? How did that young master behave today?"

General Wu chuckled sarcastically.

It's not satirizing the past, but rather self-mockery:

"take care of?"

do you need?

Who's taking care of whom?!
That brat dared to steal food from the same bowl as them on his first appearance at the meeting!

They'd been howling and acting for so long, but Boss Zhao hadn't said a word. Wen Gu, that kid, remained silent, not uttering a single word, but the patriarch and young master reacted the most strongly!
General Wu was overwhelmed with emotion:
"As the old saying goes, a biting leopard... cough! It remains silent until it makes a startling sound!"

(End of this chapter)