Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 63

"..." Upon hearing this question, Zhao Yi instinctively wanted to spout some grand principles from books and passionately recount his ideals, but when he thought of what had happened at home in recent months, he hesitated.

"Does this question require some thought?" Lu Wei asked again after receiving no response for a long time.

"The fact that I couldn't answer immediately already speaks volumes."

A fleeting hint of resentment crossed Zhao Yi's face, and he shook his head:

"Put yourself first, then the public good!"

This youngest son of Lord Pingyuan grew up in an environment of praise and privilege, so he had the utmost admiration for his father, the source of all this goodness.

But since Lord Pingyuan, Zhao Sheng, died, although his privileged life continued, the genuine boasting faded year by year.

The reason he spared no expense in supporting scholars was fundamentally to restore the prestige he once enjoyed when he was still the son of Lord Pingyuan.

He likes fame.

What if there is a conflict between public and private interests?

Lu Wei smirked and asked a new question. This time, Zhao Yi didn't answer at all, but simply looked up and stared at Lu Wei:

"What is the purpose of Steward Lu's visit?"

"I'm here to give you a chance, young master." The steward silently calculated the other party's thoughts and strictly controlled the conversation within a certain range.

"Although the Farmer's School is one of the most prestigious schools of thought among the Hundred Schools of Thought, is it not a bit too arrogant for them to think they can give me a chance based solely on that?"

Zhao Yi's expression was slightly gloomy, but even so, he did not turn hostile.

"Does my lord know why you have spent countless sums of money yet still cannot win the hearts of the people like Lord Pingyuan did in the past?"

"Why?" He frowned.

Lu Wei slammed the white jade cup onto the bronze table, a strange light flashing in his eyes: "Because you only have money, but no power!"

"Can you help me gain power?" Zhao Yi's body stiffened.

"That is precisely why I came here!" The chief steward accepted the scrutiny of the other party with composure: "However, not the power of the Zhao state, but the power of the peasants!"

"The power of the martial arts world can influence the imperial court, especially if that power is in your hands, young master."

Upon hearing such remarks, Zhao Yi's expression shifted between light and dark. He rose, knelt before Lu Wei's bronze table, and, just as Tian Mi had done when Lu Wei attended the banquet at Lieshan Hall last time, personally poured a full wine cup for the steward: "Please speak in detail, Your Excellency."

"In the city of Handan, there are no fewer than three hundred peasant disciples. If this number is included in the entire state of Zhao, the number would reach several thousand."

"These people are nominally affiliated with the Farmer's School, but the Farmer's School headquarters in Qi has not established effective leadership in Zhao. You should know the reason for this, my lord."

Lu Wei was very close to Zhao Yi at this moment. He removed all the extra items in front of him and used his index finger to dip in wine to draw a rough map of Handan on the bronze table.

With each stroke, the wine freezes, and the lines become clearly visible.

"The Zhao state had strict control over the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), second only to the tyrannical Qin state. Coupled with the continuous warfare over the past decade, any Jianghu organization that grew too large would become a target for purges."

Zhao Yi was filled with excitement as he watched this extraordinary skill. He had practiced martial arts, but his talent was only average, so he couldn't achieve anything significant.

"Indeed, under the dual pressure of the Zhao court and the flames of war, even the Farmer Clan, with tens of thousands of disciples, can only abide by the local rules."

"But if these thousands of loose disciples were to come under your wing, things would take a turn for the better."

After Lu Wei's men completed the map, they dropped a single drop of wine onto it, the location of which was Zhao Yi's residence, where he was currently located.

"By recruiting thousands of disciples as retainers under the guise of nurturing scholars, your reputation will be renowned throughout Handan."

"This..." Zhao Yi swallowed hard. "What does Steward Lu want?"

"Hehe, your involvement in farming would greatly benefit farmers, and I have no desire for it. However, I have one request..."

Lu Wei stared at Zhao Yi with a smile on his face: "The Farmer's Clan has never participated in the courts of various countries. This is the Farmer's Clan's rule of survival... Today, I am willing to break this rule for you, young master. Therefore, these disciples can no longer act as members of the Farmer's Clan."

"I am foolish and do not understand what the steward means." After thinking for a while, Zhao Yi clasped his hands and bowed.

“Young master can establish a new organization on his own, filled with disciples of the Farmer School. I will send people to help you.”

Lu Wei dipped his finger into the wine glass, then pulled it out and dripped another drop of wine onto the ice map on the table.

“This place is…” Zhao Yi looked at the drinks area and blurted out, “Tantai!”

"This organization, named after Tantai, has a much brighter future than the one that raises a hundred scholars for the young master."

------

Tonight, the Tan Tai was still not full of guests, but the lights were much brighter than in previous days.

Because the owner of the Tantai, Zhao Yi, came here in person to enjoy the music and dance.

This is extremely rare, as Zhao Yi had always only cared about taking gold and silver from the altar, leaving all other business matters to the original manager.

Sitting on the second floor of the stage, Zhao Yi looked at the musicians whose gazes kept drifting towards him and said in a lack of confidence, "These women are just dancing for entertainment at best. How can they form an organization?"

"Young master should know that my family has a Four Mountains Hall, which operates gambling dens and brothels in the lands of Han and Wei."

Lu Wei sat down next to Zhao Yi, speaking in a relaxed tone: "Young Master himself is a beneficiary of this altar, how can you underestimate its role?"

"Making money and gathering intelligence?" Zhao Yi recalled the large amount of knowledge he had crammed after talking with Lu Wei yesterday, but still shook his head: "Knights-errant value integrity and each has their own martial arts skills. Their role cannot be replaced by these musicians and dancers."

"They are easily able to leak organizational information for various reasons: such as being moved by emotions, being threatened, or being bribed."

"If I were to build my team around women, I would be ridiculed by the court and would not be valued."

“Musicians and dancers have their roles, and wandering knights have theirs,” Lu Wei said, resting his chin on one hand and looking down at the performance with great interest. “Besides, didn’t I say that we should include disciples from the Farming School?”

"The music and dance of the Zhao state are renowned throughout the world. As the pinnacle of Zhao dance, the Tantai Terrace should be showcased beyond Handan and shown to the seven other states."

"As for you, young master, you only need to be the nominal master of this altar. The Farmer's Family will take care of all other matters for you."

"Those treacherous rogues are not worthy of being your retainers."

"The most elite peasant heroes are already on their way from the Yan Kingdom."

"At that time, the name of Prince Yi of Zhao, known for his loyalty and righteousness, will spread throughout the seven kingdoms."

"With your status as a young master, once you gain fame, you will naturally acquire power in the court!"

Chapter 85 Forced

Lu Wei didn't know how much of the promise he made to Zhao Yi would actually come true.

The reason he suddenly came to visit was that after investigating Tantai's background and observing Zhao Yi's residence for two days, he decided to act in this way.

In reality, even Lu Wei, the head of the Gonggong Hall, couldn't fully gather the disciples of the Zhao peasant school, let alone hand them over to this "Little Lord Pingyuan".

We can only use the disciples in Handan City to deal with the situation for now. I have already sent someone to Ji City to deliver a message. Once the war is over, A Yu should be able to bring people over.

As for cooperating with Zhao Yi, he was sincere.

Even if this cooperation can only last two or three years, I don't know how it will benefit the farmers, but it will definitely be profitable for Lu Wei.

This is not because of the acquisition of Tantai: although Tantai is a large Feixue Pavilion, at least half of its revenue is used to maintain the luxury of Tantai itself. After deducting various other costs, the remaining profit is only enough to support Zhao Yi's scholars.

If we further subtract various knife coins and silver coins from these profits, the gold portion is even smaller.

Why not select some people to establish a branch in Ji City, giving the Yan people a little shock with Zhao Wu, and all the gold collected will go to Luqiu Pavilion?

Aside from the Tantai, the greatest benefit Zhao Yi could bring to Lu Wei was actually to win over Li Mu!

This is a fortune that ten altars could not match!

Given Zhao Yi's status, it would be much easier for him to get in touch with Li Mu than for a chivalrous figure like Lu Wei.

If in the future Li Mu is punished and sentenced to death by the King of Zhao, and the Chief Steward can secretly take away this Lord Wu'an through Zhao Yi, then even if it means paying compensation or losing some peasant disciples, it doesn't matter!

In the original story, Li Mu did not die and was only forty-nine years old. After being saved, he could easily serve the steward for another forty years.

Although he was also training the Yan brothers and Lü Chen, three talented generals, in Daze Mountain, in all honesty, even if they grew up, it would be difficult for them to reach the level of Li Mu.

Ordinary generals and captains can be honed into elites through battlefield experience, but true strategic-level marshals require innate talent.

With an experienced general in command, we will be invincible, whether we choose the right time to launch an uprising or to fight the wolf tribes of the northern grasslands!

Lu Wei had not forgotten that the foreign tribes chasing after the water plants were gradually growing stronger; they were his destined enemies.

I wonder what the wolf pack's reaction would be if they saw the 'wolf hunters' still alive when they led their army south.

Fantasy is fantasy, but Lu Wei needs to carefully plan how to proceed and cannot underestimate the importance of this matter. Zhao Yi was of immense value before he could obtain Li Mu.

This is the top priority for the next three years!

Thinking of this, Lu Wei glanced at 'Little Lord Pingyuan' beside him:

"Young master, why not start your journey to fame with this war between Zhao and Qin?"

"What does Steward Lu mean?" Zhao Yi turned his head.

"Instead of wasting gold and silver on supporting idlers, young master, you should donate it to Sima Shang at the front!"

“No…” Lord Xiaopingyuan shook his head, clearly expressing his opposition this time: “Dismissing my retainers without cause will ruin my reputation.”

"Besides, with the King of Zhao still alive, my actions would raise suspicions that I am secretly colluding with the army!"

If your father were alive, he might be suspected for doing this, but based on what you've said...

Lu Wei lowered his left hand from the table, narrowed his eyes, and smiled slightly: "The matter of retainers is easy. You only need to spread the word that you are preparing to go to the front line to join the army and fight the enemy, and you can make mediocre people resign on their own initiative."

"The rest are all true heroes."

"As for King Zhao's suspicion... how can a renowned scholar who is not feared be called a renowned scholar?"

"In this time of crisis, you took the initiative to donate supplies, and King Zhao was overjoyed. Even if he was wary, it was not a matter of life and death."

"If Lord Pingyuan were still alive, he would certainly not miss such a chance to gain fame without any danger to his life!"

“This…” Zhao Yi still hesitated.

"If you are still worried, send a generous gift to Prime Minister Guo Kai and ask him to sound out the King of Zhao before you can proceed with your plans."

Having said that, Zhao Yi gritted his teeth and said, "I'll send someone to do it as soon as I get back!"

"Hmm." Lu Wei responded softly, reached into his robes, and pulled out a bottle of pills. Judging from the sound inside, there were about three pills.

It's time to give them red dates:

“I see that you also practice martial arts, but you are distracted by trivial matters and therefore cannot master the essence. Why don’t you try this pill?”

"This is..." Taking the bottle and uncorking it, Zhao Yi felt his weak internal energy begin to stir just from the scent: "Such a generous gift..."

He subconsciously licked his lips. Although he didn't know what it was, Zhao Yi knew from his body's reaction that it was a rare treasure. He couldn't wait to swallow it and taste the power-enhancing pill that the steward had spent so much money to buy.