Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

After listening to Daiyu's explanation, Jia Jing paused slightly in his teacup, his expression becoming somewhat serious.

He didn't reply immediately, but slowly put down the teacup in his hand. The bottom of the celadon cup touched the rosewood tabletop, making a very soft sound.

On the surface, Daiyu's words seem to be her reflections on reading.

But upon closer examination, each point is actually aimed at Jia Jing's current predicament, offering his own insights in a very subtle way.

Especially the third point, she said that Lu Zhi valued morality over skills and law over power, and was too upright.

This might also be a reminder to Jia Jing, as a top military official wielding great power...

To achieve lasting success, one may not only need competence, loyalty, and integrity, but also to understand power politics and tactics, and to know how to cultivate one's own political influence.

Of course, this is not to persuade Jia Jing to become a powerful minister, but to point out the cruelty of political struggle. If you want to do things for the country, you can't do it without uniting a group of your own people!

Perhaps it was because Jia Jing's public image was too upright and righteous that she worried he was too rigid and incorruptible, and disdained power and intrigue!

In the sunlight, Jia Jing looked at Daiyu's fair and delicate face, illuminated by the sunlight.

Her temperament was elegant and graceful, exuding an ethereal, pure, and spiritual aura. Her bright, dark eyes were striking. She was looking serious, but then she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Um?"

Daiyu frowned at the laughter, feeling a little puzzled.

Especially Jia Jing's cold and clear face, when he suddenly smiled, created a strong sense of contrast, like the first rays of dawn.

Daiyu's arched eyebrows trembled slightly, and she softly scolded:

"What is Third Brother laughing at? Did I say something wrong, or even something too childish, that made him laugh?"

Jia Jing said softly:

"Lin Daiyu is intelligent and insightful; her ability to glean such wisdom from Lu Xuan Gong's book and his person is truly beyond my expectations!"

After saying this, Jia Jing paused, pondered for a moment, and then solemnly instructed:

"In fact, Duke Xuan may not be ignorant of the art of power; on the contrary, he understands the advantages and disadvantages too well, which is why he always tries to have the best of both worlds."

"One must maintain the dignity of the court, protect the ministers, and carefully balance the distribution of punishments and rewards. In the end, trying to please everyone often results in accomplishing nothing."

As Han Feizi said, "Law, tactics, and power are all indispensable; they are all tools of emperors."

"Duke Xuan's discussions on 'law,' 'trust,' and the fairness of rewards and punishments are all extremely insightful. However, when it comes to 'technique,' he advised Emperor Dezong to 'be sincere,' to rely solely on sincerity to move people."

"But is the king's art of controlling his ministers something he disdains to talk about, or something he disdains to do?"

"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Without mastering the art of employing people, and without being good at distinguishing between the loyal and the treacherous, and dividing and ruling them, how can one ensure that good laws are implemented? This is indeed the impracticality of Confucian officials that my sister mentioned."

"The Legalists are different. After discussing 'law,' they also discuss 'power.' Power refers to the authority of the monarch, which is more powerful than a thousand troops."

"Duke Xuan was a man of great eloquence throughout his life. Emperor Dezong of Tang listened attentively at the time, but forgot about him in an instant."

"He offended Lu Qi and a close minister of Emperor Dezong, and was demoted again and again, from prime minister to deputy prefect of Zhongzhou."

"Even with a wealth of knowledge, if one loses power and risks losing even their life and fortune, how can they possibly save the world?"

"His political views were not adopted, and his policies could not be implemented, all because he had no power and no influence in the court."

"He didn't believe in 'power,' but since he didn't use that power, it was left for the enemy to use. In the end, he was won over by people he looked down on, such as Lu Qi and Pei Yanling, which ultimately harmed him."

"Duke Xuan's memorials were full of wise and insightful advice on specific matters."

"It's a pity that he was too Confucian and disdained the law, and he didn't know that our Han dynasty had its own system, which was originally a mixture of the ways of the hegemon and the king, but he relied solely on moral teachings."

"The basic strategy for governing a country is to combine Confucianism with Legalism, to use both rites and laws, and to integrate name and reality."

When Daiyu first heard Jia Jing's words of praise, her heart trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but feel happy, feeling that her hard work in studying over the past few months had not been in vain.

It was only later, after hearing Jia Jing explain the governing principles of "outward Confucianism and inward Legalism" from the perspective of Legalism, that I realized I had ultimately been somewhat superficial.

She understood the principles that Jia Jing understood, and even acted upon them very well, to the point that she was "deceived" by his outwardly strong personality.

However, upon closer reflection, it makes sense. The third brother's current position couldn't be solely due to his outstanding abilities.

He was just used to being serious and dignified, and rarely showed his cunning and scheming in front of us, so we thought he was only tough and not gentle, and lacked cunning in the court!

Previously, the third brother had described Bao Yatou as a Confucian and himself as a Taoist, boasting that he used both Confucianism and Taoism!

Now it seems that he was more than just a follower of Confucianism and Taoism!

He's only read books and newspapers for a few months, yet he thinks he can offer him some advice. He really lacks self-awareness and is arrogant!

Seeing Daiyu fall silent, Jia Jing, fearing it would dampen her enthusiasm for learning, comforted her:

"Sister Lin, there's no need to belittle yourself. With your current knowledge and talent, you've already far surpassed ordinary young ladies."

"They are in no way inferior to ordinary officials in the imperial court!"

This was not merely Jia Jing's words of comfort, but rather a testament to the considerable political wisdom and vision that Daiyu inherited from her father, Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai was born into a noble family, but he passed the imperial examination with his own talent and became the third-ranked scholar.

As he held the important position of Salt Commissioner, which was crucial to the national economy and people's livelihood, he would inevitably discuss the court's salt administration, grain transport, and other political affairs at home from time to time.

As his beloved daughter, Daiyu was "pretended to be his son" from a young age, and was taught to read and write. She also received an elite education from Jia Yucun, a scholar who had passed the imperial examination.

Moreover, growing up in such a family atmosphere, her understanding of officialdom far surpasses that of ordinary young women from wealthy families, and her political sensitivity and vision are fundamentally different from those of the latter.

Putting aside everything else, among the women in the Jia family, only Yuan Chun, who had been immersed in the palace for many years, could rival her; the others were probably a bit weaker than her.

According to the original work, Daiyu's "political mind" is a kind of "latent" wisdom deeply rooted in her background, upbringing, and sensitive nature.

It doesn't flaunt its abilities, yet it reveals itself through its accurate insight into economic trends and its thorough understanding of human nature.

From his first visit to the Jia family mansion, where he was "careful at every step and attentive at all times," to his appreciation of the gifts given by the eunuchs and his keen observation of events such as Yuan-chun's visit to her family.

All of this demonstrates that she is well-versed in human relationships, insightful about the fickleness of human nature, and possesses the potential to manage a large family.

Especially her masterpiece, "Apricot Curtain in Sight":

Apricot-lined curtains beckon guests to drink; a mountain villa lies in sight. Water chestnuts and duckweed float on the water; swallows perch on mulberry and elm beams. A patch of spring chives is green; the fragrance of rice blossoms wafts for miles. In this prosperous age, there is no hunger or cold; why then the need for busy farming and weaving?