What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 248 Su Mo begins to truly instruct the Empress!
This morning court session lasted only half an hour.

The Grand Secretaries and high-ranking officials had just stepped forward to report several important matters, such as the release of the results of the Immortal Martial Arts Examination before the year-end holiday when the Palace Attendant stepped forward and shouted that if there was anything else, they should speak up, otherwise the court could adjourn.

Many court officials hesitated for a moment, straightened their robes, and solemnly prepared to step forward to present their reports.

The head official immediately shouted for the court to adjourn!
Then the Empress left!

In the Taiji Hall, the ministers stared in disbelief as the Empress turned into the back of the hall, looking at each other, completely confused about what was going on!
Normally, the morning court session lasts for one hour.

After court sessions, the diligent emperor would often summon his officials to the Hall of State Affairs to discuss matters of state.

The Empress's strange behavior today naturally left the court officials baffled.

However, it's better to end the court session early.

For most court officials, the morning court session was an absolute ordeal. They had to get up at the third watch of the night, feeling sleepy, hungry, cold, and exhausted, their legs going numb from standing.

The sooner the court session ends, the better.

As for important matters of the court?

Does it really matter to the vast majority of court officials?
The Empress hurriedly left the Taiji Palace, passed through the Zhu Ming, Liang Yi, and Gan Lu gates, and went straight into the inner palace.

I had intended to go directly to Linhu Palace, but after thinking about it, I decided to return to Ziwei Palace first, change into an ordinary silk dress, dismiss the palace maids who were following me, and head to Linhu Palace alone.

Upon arriving at Linhu Palace, Anwu stood guard outside the palace.

The Empress casually asked, "Lord Su, you're up?"

An Wu hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Su has not yet risen."

The empress looked up at the sky, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The sun was high in the sky, but Su Mo was still sleeping.

Is he a pig?

The magical power I infused into his body could only last for half an hour at most, and it had long since dissipated.

Getting up so late is definitely Su Mo's own fault!
The Empress couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Not only did she have to get up in the middle of the night every day, she also couldn't sleep well and needed Su Mo to stay with her to get some rest.

But we can't let Su Mo enter the harem every day!

Many eunuchs and palace maids in the harem had already begun to discuss it secretly.

Su Mo was already tall and stood out from the crowd, attracting a lot of attention. He appeared in the harem early in the morning on several occasions, which made it difficult for him not to cause controversy.

Some were even so audacious as to claim that Su Mo was the Empress's male favorite!

The Empress ordered An Wu to have several people beaten to death with sticks, which made the other palace maids and eunuchs dare not talk nonsense!
The Empress thought with a wicked sense of humor that even if Su Mo insisted on becoming a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she would find a way to make him attend the morning court session in the Taiji Hall!

Let's see if he dares to sleep until noon!

As the empress pondered this, she stepped into the palace.

Upon arriving at the rear hall, they discovered that Su Mo had already gotten up, was dressed neatly, and was brushing his teeth with salt in front of a bronze plate.

Upon seeing the Empress appear, Su Mo couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

In the past, he would get up and leave on his own; this was the first time he had seen the Empress after falling asleep.

He quickly rinsed his mouth, wiped his face with a towel, and bowed to the Empress, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

The Empress frowned slightly and said softly, "Young Master Su, there's no need for such formalities."

"As I have said, when no one is around, just act as usual."

Su Mo hesitated for a moment: "Is what Your Majesty said true?"

The Empress rolled her eyes at Su Mo: "I'm well-read, I won't lie to you."

Su Mo blinked: "Then this subordinate really takes it seriously?"

The Empress was furious!

Su Mo immediately chuckled: "Why has Your Excellency come to Linhu Palace? Is there nothing to do today?"

The Empress's pretty face suddenly turned serious: "Was the Romance of the Three Kingdoms really written by Su Lang?"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo was immediately taken aback.
The Empress read Romance of the Three Kingdoms so quickly?

She came all this way to find me, could it be just for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?

"Hmm...I guess so." Su Mo shamelessly claimed the copyright for himself, then looked at the Empress with some confusion, "Why did you suddenly ask about this, my lord?"

"Could there be a problem with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"

The Empress nodded slightly, her expression solemn, and said, "There is a serious problem!"

Su Mo was dumbfounded.

Su Mo had read a lot of the first volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, including the novel "Nangong Shoots the Moon," and with the help of old men like Wang Xiuzhi and Ding Yu, and the fact that it was set in a fictional world and promoted loyalty to the emperor, he was sure he hadn't done anything wrong.

What is the problem?
The Empress then said in a deep voice, "Although Su Lang described this Romance of the Three Kingdoms as a story, in my opinion, its value is no less than that of Sun Tzu's Art of War!"

"Even surpassing Sun Tzu's Art of War!"

Su Mo was dumbfounded.

Unexpectedly, the Empress gave such a high evaluation to half a volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms wasn't really that amazing, was it?

In my previous life, very few young people would have bothered to watch this.

Is it even more powerful than Sun Tzu's Art of War?
Of course, Sun Tzu's Art of War isn't actually that great, and even fewer people read it.

The Empress looked directly at Su Mo: "My lord, once you finish writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you must keep it safe and not let outsiders read it easily!"

"Uh... Also, remember to send the second volume to me."

Su Mo blurted out, "This humble servant plans to print Romance of the Three Kingdoms into a book and sell it!"

The Empress frowned, looking at Su Mo with suspicion: "This book contains all kinds of knowledge, including political intrigue, military strategy, tactics, and even the way of ruler and minister. How can it be given to others?"

Su Mo hesitated.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms was key to subsequent public opinion channels!
The original plan was to serialize it in a tabloid to quickly promote the publication.

If they cannot be printed and sold, it will have a huge impact on newspaper sales.

Su Mo is not incapable of writing other novels, such as Journey to the West or Dream of the Red Chamber; he can generally recall the plots.

The problem is, won't this take another two or three months, or even several months, to finish?

Su Mo is very lazy!
Therefore, Su Mo thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "In my humble opinion, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is just an ordinary story and does not deserve such praise from you, sir."

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms does contain elements of strategy and military tactics, but its main purpose is to promote loyalty to the emperor and teach people benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness!"

"Printing it into a book and letting more people see it will be more beneficial than harmful to the Great Wu Kingdom!"

The Empress's expression shifted slightly.

Su Mo immediately felt that there was a chance, and then added, "Besides, the reason why powerful families are difficult to deal with is that they monopolize knowledge."

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms is easy to understand, making it perfect for enlightening the people!"

"Once the people are enlightened, will Your Excellency still fear that the court will lack capable officials?"

The Empress felt that what Su Mo said made sense, but something seemed off.

Although she had not received a systematic imperial education before, the Empress knew that enlightening the people was not necessarily a good thing.

For example, the great Confucian scholars who taught her once mentioned unintentionally that to govern a country, one must employ a policy of keeping the people ignorant. However, when the empress pressed for the reason, the great Confucian scholars who taught her refused to elaborate.

She frowned as she looked at Su Mo: "Confucius said, 'The people can be made to follow a path, but they cannot be made to understand it.'"

Su Mo already knew that this world was not what it seemed. The Four Books and Five Classics did exist and were required subjects for the imperial examinations, but their contents were slightly different.

I've never heard of the Tao Te Ching, this classic of Taoism, it's quite strange.

Upon hearing the Empress's question, Su Mo hesitated for a moment.

That's it!

Since I've traveled through time, I should leave something behind for this world.

The education system that keeps people ignorant is deadly!
We need to discipline the Empress and correct her worldview.

His expression suddenly turned serious. He stared at the Empress for a long time, until her pretty face became increasingly suspicious, before Su Mo said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, I cannot agree with what you have said."

"Although I am not well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, I once heard a white-bearded Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly wisdom speak of the Analects..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Empress suddenly stared at him intently and asked suspiciously, "Isn't he an old man with a white beard?"

Su Mo frowned, then emphasized, "That white-bearded old man doesn't understand the Analects!"

"This time it was the white-bearded Taoist priest who said it!"

He paused, then coughed twice: "However, that's not the point!"

"The key point is that the Analects as described by the white-bearded Taoist priest is not like this." "This humble servant clearly remembers that the white-bearded Taoist priest said, 'If the people can be commanded, then let them be! If the people cannot be commanded, then understand!'"

The Empress was dumbfounded.

How come the same sentence, spoken by Su Mo with different pauses, has completely opposite meanings?

The Empress hesitated for a moment: "Is Confucius's meaning truly as Su Lang said?"

Although she favored Su Mo, the teachings she received since childhood were quite different from what Su Mo said. Naturally, the Empress would not easily overturn the worldview she had formed over the past thirty years just because of a single sentence from Su Mo.

Su Mo looked at the Empress with a serious expression: "Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing Su Mo's sudden change in address, the Empress's expression instantly turned solemn.

"How to interpret this statement is not actually the point!"

"The key point is that only that kind of understanding is beneficial to His Majesty and to the Great Wu Empire!"

The Empress felt a chill run down her spine, and her beautiful face became even more solemn!
Su Mo then said in a deep voice, "Powerful families, relying on the doctrine of keeping the people ignorant, have monopolized knowledge and cut off the channels for ordinary people to rise in society!"

"Even those with exceptional talent who are self-taught must rely on powerful and influential families in order to stand out in the imperial examinations and gain the court's favor!"

"That is why His Majesty can only employ people from powerful and aristocratic families, or scholars recommended by them!"

Su Mo took a deep breath: "Only by enlightening the people and enabling more people to acquire knowledge can we break the monopoly of knowledge held by powerful families!"

"Therefore, the poor scholars who benefited were naturally not grateful to the powerful families, but to the sages who gave them knowledge, provided them with opportunities for advancement, and made good use of them!"

Leng Liuxi also took a deep breath, and then actually took the initiative to give Su Mo a slight curtsy: "What you say is very true, Su Lang. I have learned a lot!"

"Su Lang's words are the true way of an emperor!"

The key to understanding the words of sages is not whether they make sense, but whether they benefit one's own rule!
The Empress has learned another lesson from Su Mo!
As expected of the great talent of the Imperial Tutor whom I discovered long ago!

The Empress almost suggested that Su Mo become the Imperial Tutor again!
Su Mo quickly stepped aside, not daring to accept the Empress's courtesy, and said in a deep voice, "This is merely the opinion of this humble servant, how dare I accept such courtesy from you, sir!"

The Empress chuckled: "Fine! Let Su Lang do whatever he wants with this book, I don't care anymore!"

She paused, then asked, "I almost forgot to ask you, sir, how is the wool spinning project progressing?"

Su Mo nodded: "It went fairly smoothly."

"This humble servant has transported 30,000 catties of woolen robes and undergarments from the artisan camp, and is preparing to rent shops outside Baiyujing and Yanyulou to sell them."

After pausing, Su Mo continued, "This humble servant has also prepared several wool cloaks to send to Princess Leng and Lord Nangong. They will surely set off a wool clothing trend among the female relatives of officials."

The Empress's eyes lit up: "My lord's way of making a living is truly remarkable."

"We should follow the same principle as Zhang Xuzu and others who flaunted their bicycles in the city, and as they previously gifted soap to the female relatives of officials: spread the word widely!"

After a pause, the Empress complained to Su Mo, "Why didn't you send me the wool cloak, the copper movable type, and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms together, so I could try them on and see if they fit?"

Su Mo's heart skipped a beat.

He didn't prepare a wool cloak for the Empress!
The wool cloak that the Empress brought out last time was incredibly exquisite.

The cloaks meticulously sewn by the artisan soldiers for Princess Baicheng, Nangong Sheyue, and others were made with the finest and softest cashmere, but their craftsmanship could not compare to that of the royal artisans!
Seeing the Empress pause in surprise, her pretty face seemingly about to change color, Su Mo quickly explained, "The woolen cloak that this humble servant prepared for Your Majesty has also been placed in the carriage."

“This humble servant rushed to the palace in a hurry, but had not yet taken it apart.”

"Once I return and take off my wool cloak, I will naturally bring it to you, sir, as soon as possible!"

The Empress then relaxed her expression and softly snorted, "Why didn't you say so earlier, Su Lang!"

"I almost misunderstood you, my lord. I thought you had forgotten to prepare a woolen cloak for me!"

Su Mo looked aggrieved: "Didn't this humble servant just want to find another reason to request an audience with Your Excellency in the palace?"

"Hmph! I never expected you to think of me in such a way, sir!"

The Empress quickly said, "It's my fault, I misunderstood you, Su Lang. Please don't be angry with me."

Su Mo's face darkened: "How dare this humble servant!"

The Empress glanced at him and quickly changed the subject: "I have already made proper arrangements for the list that Su Lang submitted last time."

“The wool spinning and papermaking matters have been settled. Now it is time for you, sir, to take on the responsibility of being the head of the Qinghefang household.”

The Empress said with a bitter expression, "Princess Baicheng has requested to see me many times, but I'm almost afraid to meet her."

Su Mo asked instinctively, "Why?"

The Empress snorted: "What else could it be but asking me for military pay!"

"I have no money!"

Leng Liuxi couldn't help but complain to Su Mo: "The year-end gifts for the officials will cost tens of thousands of taels of silver. The year-end banquet, the palace opera performances, and so on will also cost a lot of silver."

"The decorations and repairs within the palace for the New Year, as well as the preparation of candles, charcoal, and other supplies, also amount to a considerable expense!"

Her eyes were watery, and she looked at Su Mo pitifully: "Su Lang, hurry up and sell the wool sweaters, and also collect the taxes from Qinghefang, so as to relieve my urgent need!"

Su Mo...

The Empress really does see herself as an ATM!

However, he was somewhat surprised.

The empress, who usually bestows only ten taels of silver or even three copper coins as imperial rewards, was actually willing to give 100,000 taels of silver to her officials as a hair-waxing gift this time.

How much winter reward could a sixth-rank Jinyiwei commander receive?

Just as he was about to speak, Leng Liuxi suddenly said, "We already have more than three hundred rickshaws. I plan to follow your example and open a passenger transport company in Qinghefang as a pilot project."

"At that time, Su Lang, you must keep an eye on things for me and make sure that the eunuch in charge of the business doesn't take my money."

Su Mo was speechless.

He wouldn't have remembered if the Empress hadn't mentioned it!

The empress in front of him, who was both beautiful and ambitious, still owed him more than six thousand taels of silver!

Su Mo, the rickshaw driver, only charged her twenty taels of silver, the cost price, and Leng Liuxi even wrote her an IOU. If she were to become a merchant instead of the Great Wu Emperor, she would definitely be a cunning and unscrupulous one!

Su Mo hesitated for a moment: "My lord, I have invested heavily in Lonely Peak Mountain and am very short of funds. You owe me money..."

Empress: "I have no money!"

Su Mo...

The Empress then added, "Don't worry, my lord, once my freight company becomes profitable, I will repay you with the money!"

Su Mo looked at the Empress with a dark face: "My lord is better at business than I am!"

"This technique of using a hen to lay eggs is something I admire to the core!"

The Empress covered her mouth and smiled: "It's all thanks to Su Lang's excellent teaching!"

Su Mo was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.

I won't feel at ease if I don't offer any benefits!
He then said, "My lord, the smooth progress of the wool spinning and weaving is largely due to the contributions of Yin Rou, a junior officer of the Fengming Division."

"I believe that promoting Officer Yin by two or three ranks would better reflect Your Excellency's appreciation for talent and your clear sense of reward and punishment!"

Leng Liuxi remained silent.

What does it mean to be promoted two or three levels?

The Fengming Division was far smaller than the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but its importance and power were even greater.

The two commanders who held the main power, the left and right commanders, were only of the fifth rank.

It can be said that he held a low position but wielded great power!
If a junior officer were to rise two ranks, he would become a trial centurion.

They are comparable to the regular centurions or even probationary chiliarchs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!
Yin Rou was promoted from captain to junior officer in less than three months!

However, it would be difficult to refuse Su Mo's request for a reward on behalf of his subordinates, lest it hurt Su Mo's feelings and affect his authority in front of his subordinates.

She thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "That junior officer has followed the young master in his work diligently and conscientiously. He has indeed made great contributions and deserves to be rewarded."

"However, I shouldn't interfere too much with the appointment of the flag officer. You can go and find Nangong Sheyue, Su Lang."

Nangong Sheyue was steady and knew exactly what official position to promote Yin Rou to; it was impossible for her to be promoted two ranks at once.

Su Mo was taken aback: "This subordinate is going to find Lord Nangong?"

Leng Liuxi laughed and said, "That's right!"

"She owes you a huge favor, so naturally she will grant your request!"

Su Mo was completely dumbfounded.

When did Nangong Sheyue owe me a favor, and such a big one at that?
Could it be that the Empress discovered that Nangong Sheyue had deliberately increased the cost of making the Divine Arm Bow?

Besides that, Su Mo really didn't know what other favors Nangong Sheyue could owe him.

I'm the one who owes her more.

He had been subtly reminded several times of Leng Xi's true identity to prevent him from making a fool of himself in front of the Empress. This favor was truly immense!
(End of this chapter)