Chapter 181
When it comes to the academy, Qiao Yan’s mind automatically jumps to phrases like “slap in the face” and “don’t underestimate the youth,” probably influenced by some prior experiences.
After all, Leping Academy is still an academy, and Lu Lingju, who three years ago she humorously labeled as part of the kindergarten, is now officially enrolled in serious courses. It’s not surprising to see a more social scene now.
Thinking about it, the main crowd in Leping Academy is from Bingzhou…
Bingzhou is in the northern frontier, and Yang Province is the southern wilderness, so it’s common that they don’t get along.
But when Qiao Yan’s gaze shifted to Lu Yi, who would later be known as Lu Xun, she suddenly realized that what she was witnessing might not be about discrimination or bullying at all.
Because standing there was Guo Huai.
Back in the day, Guo Huai got teased by Guo Yun about whether he could apprentice under Cai Yong, and now he had grown from a three-year-old to a nine-year-old.
Three years ago, when Qiao Yan led the army to attack the Xianbei royal court and return, she had seen Guo Huai in Yanmen County.
This kid wasn’t shy or afraid of battle; observing his sharp performance and courteous demeanor, it was hard to imagine he was the type to look down on Lu Yi and block his path.
This created quite the interesting scene for Lu Lingju.
At this moment, just out of Qiao Yan’s view, a look of speechlessness flashed across Lu Yi’s face.
Despite his youth, he was quite mature.
Years ago, after his father passed, he lived with his uncle, Lu Zhi, and studied in Shuxian.
When Yuan Shu mobilized troops in Lujiang, it shattered his momentary peaceful life, watching his uncle desperately coordinate defenses for Shuxian.
His mind had matured rapidly over those months.
But even someone as precocious as him hadn’t anticipated that Shuxian would promptly face the arrival of reinforcements from Sun Ce in the west, along with his aunt, Lu Yuan, coming from Bingzhou to take some Lu family members away to escape the chaos.
His uncle refused to leave but accepted that with the conflicts between the various counties in Yang Province and Yuan Shu, unrest was inevitable, especially with Liu Biao from Jing Province as a not-so-great neighbor. Thus, he allowed Lu Yuan to take dozens of people away.
Including Lu Yi.
Once they arrived in Bingzhou, it was natural for Lu Yi to be enrolled in Leping Academy.
Everything was fresh and exciting for Lu Yi, especially the library designated for kids under fifteen, which he found immensely interesting.
But the classmates in the academy seemed overly enthusiastic.
As he was nestled in the library flipping through books, he overheard that girl, Lu Lingju, directing a group of classmates, discussing how to help him quickly integrate into the group. According to her, it meant—
“That new guy, Lu Yi, is way too quiet. His name has ‘Yi’ in it but he’s as stiff as a board. We need to give him a chance to show what he’s got! How about one of us provokes him so he can show us his real skills? Then we can justifiably say he can study with us.”
“What if he can’t deliver?” someone questioned.
Without a second thought, Lu Lingju shot back, “How is that possible? Lu’s got the skills; even his nephew can’t be too shabby!”
This kind of rob-the-narrative logic coupled with Lu Lingju’s expression made Guo Huai, who clearly saw the flaws, stunned into silence.
Unbeknownst to them, their planning was fully visible to Lu Yi, and Lu Lingju went on confidently, “Besides, even if he can only write one-two-three, can’t we think of something nice to say? He’s the first southern kid to come to Leping Academy; everything’s tough at the start; we can’t let him feel out of place here. If he backs up a rodent, we should praise him for being wise to the ways of the world, got it?”
“…” Lu Yi, tucked away in the attic, was utterly boggled by the Bingzhou mentality.
Under Lu Lingju’s leadership, the plan to integrate the new student into the group seemed all but settled.
Now there was just the matter of who would take on the role of provocateur.
In the storybooks Qiao Yan had them write, that role would typically be the villain.
Of those present, the most fitting would probably be the eight-year-old Dian Man.
He shared a sturdy build like his father Dian Wei, and stepping up wouldn’t lack a bit of intimidation.
However, under everyone’s gaze, Dian Man’s face turned beet red.
Now, Lu Lingju found herself in a bind.
This kid’s skin was a bit pale and he was shy; if he started to lose steam mid-challenge, it’d turn oddly awkward, and their shake-hands-and-make-up scene would seem absurd.
Way too easy for people to catch on to the theatrics, right?
Thus, she turned her attention to option two—Linghu Hua, eldest son of the acting official from Shuo Fang, Linghu Shao.
But Linghu Hua happened to be teething recently; when he opened his mouth, it was like a whistle, and provoking him would be hopeless.
Ultimately, the choice fell to Guo Huai.
Son of the Bingzhou Yanmen Prefect, a member of the Guo family from Taiyuan, he clearly had it together. Provoking a southern noble lad; what could be more suitable?
With no way out, Guo Huai put on an act of bullying the younger one.
Meanwhile, Lu Yi stood before him—composed like a rock, somehow managing not to crack a smile at this farce.
Yet, when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.
Facing this kind of classmate’s banter for the first time, Lu Yi was utterly at a loss for words to contribute to the performance.
His reaction left Lu Lingju in a panic.
She stared at Lu Yi’s face, recalling that line about Yuan Shao, “jewels outside but rotten inside.”
She couldn’t help but wonder if her plan to promote Lu Yi’s talents had backfired.
Reasonably, this kid looked pretty studious, so shouldn’t he dazzle in moments like these?
In a twist, just as Lu Lingju planned to pull Lu Yi aside to encourage him to toss something out there, a small figure unexpectedly dashed into the scene, blocking Lu Yi’s path.
The little tyke, barely three or four years old, was running and shouting, “You won’t bully my nephew—”
Before he could finish, he tripped and fell flat on his face.
In the next moment, he was covering his face and crying.
Lu Lingju: …
Lu Yi: …
Lu Yuan, who was there to check on his nephew: …
Amid the silence and the wailing of little Lu Ji, a slight cough stood out.
Lu Lingju instinctively turned to see Qiao Yan leaning against the wall, arms crossed, seemingly having watched the spectacle for who knows how long.
She quickly straightened up, casting Qiao Yan an innocent look and squeaked out, “My Lord.”
Noticing Qiao Yan’s gaze shifting from her, she cautiously stepped back, leaving Lu Yi and Lu Ji in the middle.
It wasn’t a big deal if this little mishap happened, but having Qiao Yan catch wind of it could lead to trouble.
But she certainly couldn’t say she was stirring up trouble; it was just a tiny glitch in the script!
Right, just a little glitch!
“This academy is quite lively, isn’t it?” Qiao Yan commented as she walked out with Lu Yuan.
Recalling that ridiculous scene, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh.
Those little ones had been in Leping Academy for almost three years, but clearly, three years weren’t enough for them to grow up to be fully independent.
Even just now, despite appearing incredibly calm, Lu Yi wasn’t at an age yet where he could really be of use.
When she set out to cultivate talent, she promised herself ten years of training—there was still time.
Thank goodness she had enough patience.
Seeing the atmosphere in this academy also eased some of Qiao Yan’s always-tense mindset.
At least, as far as she could see now, no one was rearing to go down the wrong path.
Lu Yuan replied, “Indeed lively. I think Lu Yi will get along well with them.”
After this little misadventure, Lu Yi probably had a pretty good idea of the personalities of his future classmates, realizing that the northern kids meant him no harm.
Lu Yuan thought for a moment and then asked, “But do you really not think it’s too early for Lu Ji to stay at the academy?”
Qiao Yan replied, “He seems quite interested in astronomy; staying under Mr. Bojie and Mr. Zheng’s influence wouldn’t hurt. I’ll have someone keep an eye on him. Though he’s young, he stands up for… his nephew; quite commendable.”
This suspicious pause in her words elicited a smile from Lu Yuan.
In cases like Lu Yi and Lu Ji being like older nephews to their uncles, it wasn’t all that rare, especially in the case of cousins.
Lu Yi’s grandfather was significantly older than Lu Kang, who was the younger brother, and Lu Ji was a late-born child of Lu Kang, hence this mix-up seemed reasonable.
Xun You and Xun Yu shared a similar situation.
Qiao Yan couldn’t help but ponder whether those two had a similar upbringing to Lu Yi and Lu Ji, but felt that the propriety of the Yingchuan gentry probably didn’t need to be as playful as Lu Ji.
It was a shame that nowadays, Lu Ji couldn’t be famed for keeping oranges for his mother after seeing Yuan Shu at age six, earning a title like “the Orange Keeper.”
But having started his education early alongside Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan, when he got a bit older, sending him to the Academy of Sciences to work under Ma Lun and Liu Hong might yield more than just an “Astronomical Chart.”
As for Lu Yi, Qiao Yan held him in particularly high regard.
However, she didn’t need to express high expectations to Lu Yi, who was still just a kid, nor did she need to share them with Lu Yuan to prevent any premature boosting of ambition.
Clearly, it was still Lu Yuan who held more importance to her.
When she set off for Liangzhou, Lu Yuan had already taken on the responsibility of holding down the fort. During the Jing-Yang unrest, Lu Yuan also moved south to foster connections with Sun Ce, ensuring that Sun Jian’s death wouldn’t fall onto Qiao Yan’s head while also bringing Lu family members to Bingzhou.
When she looked at Lu Yuan, she felt he appeared calm and approachable, a stark contrast to when he had come to her seeking permission to go out.
This demeanor suited him perfectly for roles involving planning and diplomacy.
At least it kept Sun Ce from suspecting her of harboring… ulterior motives during this visit.
Qiao Yan smoothly shifted the conversation, saying, “So tell me about what you’ve seen on your journey south.”
Lu Yuan could tell Qiao Yan wasn’t interested in the news already gleaned from the reports sent to Bingzhou, like the scuffle brewing between Sun Ce and the fierce Wei Baihu of Wu County, nor did she want insights that could simply be deduced, such as Sun Ce’s temperament.
She wanted to hear more personal thoughts from Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan replied, “If I had to say, it’s only one thing: though Wu and Huai lands are rich in talents, few would be suitable for your use; you must choose wisely.”
Qiao Yan chuckled, “You came from Yang Province, yet you judge the talents of the Wu as if you’re impartial; don’t you find that a conflict?”
“There’s no contradiction,” Lu Yuan replied. “Since coming to Yang Province, capturing Lujiang and Danyang has shown me that Sun Ce, desperate to stake a claim in those counties, is plotting further engagements at Yuzhang and Kuaiji to prepare for a northern repulsion against Yuan Shu and a western offense against Liu Biao. I’ve dealt with the Yang defenders numerous times.”
“If you overlook your and Mr. Wenhe’s strategies regarding the southern landscape, Sun Ce is a youthful prodigy, with the ability and bravery for warfare. Even if he never becomes your ally, it’s wise to stay on good terms. Oddly enough, by the time I left, only one person had devoted himself to Sun Ce.”
“That person is named Yu Fan, son of Yu Xin, the Prefect of Rizhao. Well, Zhou Gongjin, already present in Shuxian, counts too, though he’s still young and lacks much reputation—hardly someone to call a prominent figure.”
“As for two others who’ve joined Sun Ce, one is Zhang Zhao from Xu Province’s Pengcheng, and the other is Zhang Hong from Guangling, both of whom fled to Jiangdong to escape chaos some years back. Xu Province residents, despite facing imminent danger, are still making quick choices. However, the Wu talents—”
“Most of them focus on their little piece of land, living in naivety thanks to the natural defense provided by the Yangtze River. Even if you place the Lord against Sun Ce, I doubt they’d respect him much. There won’t be many who will leave Jiangdong to join you. If you personally go, it could appear that you have ulterior motives, so it might be best to let that thought go for now.”
Lu Yuan felt no qualms about her assessment.
After reaching this conclusion, she continued, “Let Sun Ce’s blade cut through these so-called talents from their comfortable shells and see if any fish slip through the net afterward.”
Seeing that Qiao Yan was still listening, Lu Yuan pressed on, “Interestingly, the one who once praised you, my Lord, as a budding phoenix with a clear voice, Xu Shao, has a cousin, Xu Jing, who is currently positioned in Wu County under Xu Gong.”
Upon hearing Xu Gong’s name, Qiao Yan’s eyes momentarily flickered.
But perhaps because that fleeting expression was too quick, and the night too dark, Lu Yuan didn’t catch the change.
She simply continued, “Xu Wenxiu and Xu Shao have long been at odds; when the latter held a high position, he pressed down on the former quite a bit. Now that the world is chaotic, his choice to hide in Yang Province isn’t flawed, but it’s clear that Yang Province isn’t exactly peaceful either.”
Lu Yuan smiled, “That’s precisely it! This guy truly doesn’t seem to know how to pick his spots or read people.”
“If someone else were in Xu Wenxiu’s shoes, while they could use their talent for giving figures from the era the title of ‘heroes’ during times of chaos to earn their favor, Sun Ce would likely hold him in high esteem right away. Instead, Xu Gong, offering him refuge, speaks ill of Sun Ce, and Xu Jing doesn’t give any advice to counter that. I think he either needs to switch places to avoid trouble or he’s about to run out of the opportunity to be a talent scout.”
This inflated sense of worth offers no benefit at all in the current environment.
But just as Lu Yuan said, this news was merely a casual gossip for Qiao Yan.
She had long passed the stage where a Monthly Appraisal could boost her status; even if Xu Jing really was killed by Sun Ce due to his poor judgment, it didn’t particularly affect Qiao Yan’s reputation.
As for the matters in the southern regions, she mainly just nudged things along in a general direction, and couldn’t possibly get involved with every little detail.
Still, she thought she should keep an eye on the Xu Jing and Xu Gong situation.
After all, Sun Ce met his end at the hands of Xu Gong’s subordinate.
And Sun Ce, at least in Qiao Yan’s plans, couldn’t afford to die just yet.
It wasn’t hard to conclude who was more controllable between Sun Ce and Sun Quan.
However, there might be something she could meddle with.
According to Lu Yuan, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, who had moved from Xuzhou to Jiangdong years ago, were now under Sun Ce’s command. With these two and Zhou Yu, a person of both literary and martial talent, it wouldn’t be difficult for Sun Ce to establish himself in Yang Province and face off against Liu Biao and Yuan Shu.
In such a situation, it would be best if a strategist from Xuzhou didn’t fall into Sun Ce’s hands.
That would be Lu Su.
But she pondered that, with Sun Ce taking Jiangdong early, neither he nor Zhou Yu had the chance to work under Yuan Shu for a while, so they probably wouldn’t see Lu Su anytime soon.
Once a grand commander in Dongwu, Lu Su was still a major landowner in Donghai County and wouldn’t casually leave his territory, not even Qiao Yan could pull him to Bingzhou right now.
And likewise because of geographical reasons—
Before Liu Yao was appointed as the Governor of Yang Province, Tai Shici from Donglai wouldn’t rush to Yang Province because of the conflict between Liu Yao and Sun Ce; it wouldn’t make sense for him to join Sun Ce’s ranks without any prior acquaintances.
Getting an early start in expanding territories in Jiangdong was Sun Ce’s luck.
Losing the support of both Lu Su and Tai Shici was Sun Ce’s misfortune.
But as the saying goes, with gain comes loss, who knows how it will ultimately unfold?
And even though she practically controlled two provinces, she wouldn’t underestimate the various heroes out there, nor dismiss the luck of some people.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
After some consideration, she chose to write a letter to Mi Zhu, asking him to recommend Lu Su to Tao Qian.
Tao Qian was in a phase of aggression, willing to utilize even dangerous characters like Zang Ba, Sun Guan, and Ze Rong; Lu Su would surely not be an issue!
Though young, Lu Su already displayed a generous and heroic demeanor, and his visionary perspective on the world would be a great asset for Tao Qian.
With Lu Su around, Tao Qian would be better equipped to guard against Yuan Shu, just in case Yuan Shu decided to send troops north when cornered by Sun Ce, invading Xuzhou.
More importantly, the goodwill and support shown by the Donghai Mi Clan towards Bingzhou might exceed what Tao Qian could tolerate. To ensure the Mi Clan’s safety, Mi Zhu should ideally add another layer of security.
Recommending a talented person to Tao Qian would be the best way to show goodwill.
Then Qiao Yan considered writing a second letter.
This one was for Cao Cao.
To her view, the elongated geography of Dong Commandery was certainly not why Cao Cao failed to notice that Zheng Xuan and others had passed through.
Cao Cao proved his governance skills while he was the Prefect of Jinan, so Dong Commandery, being just a district, would not pose any issues for him.
Rather than being negligent, Qiao Yan figured it was more like he chose to turn a blind eye and let them through.
With that in mind, it would be good to send a thank you note.
In the letter, she mentioned that she still owed a meeting gift to Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang, and now was a good chance to ask if they needed anything sent to Leping Academy for their studies.
Cao Ang shouldn’t have to consider it because he was busy helping his father, but Cao Pi was already five years old, and Cao Zhang was four; it would be nice to send one over to keep Lu Ji company.
If evaluated by today’s standards, that was quite a hefty gift.
After all, becoming a disciple of Zheng Xuan or Cai Yong was not something ordinary people could enjoy.
Likewise, they couldn’t be treated like the powerful figures from the northwest that Qiao Yan viewed merely as tools; they’d be proper students.
Moreover, sending along a deluxe edition of the Four Types of Agriculture as a gift was no small favor either.
But just like she dared to give a curved plow to Sun Ce, the Four Types of Agriculture was the least weighty of her three agricultural guides. Sending it to Cao Cao as a New Year gift would mainly help the people of Dong Commandery improve their lives just a little bit.
What was wrong with that?
This Four Types of Agriculture eventually made its way into the hands of Zao Zhi.
Zao Zhi served as the Commandant of Tuntian under Cao Cao. During the earlier attack in Wei County of Jizhou, he showcased exceptional agricultural management skills, winning Cao Cao’s trust.
That was back in the May to June timeframe of last year.
The autumn harvest from August to October in Dong Commandery successfully absorbed the wave of refugees, and with the increased population, the governed area naturally expanded into Jiyin and Dongping.
But starting next year, he would face greater pressure to cultivate farmland; suddenly having a guidebook before spring plowing was like receiving an added boost.
He flipped the cover and saw the name Cui Shi written on it.
This notable figure from Qinghe who had passed away two decades ago had somehow had his agricultural writings appear in front of scholars like this, which left Zao Zhi quite amazed.
As the paper used for Leping Academy’s documents spread more widely, some keen-eyed folks managed to uncover the materials utilized.
Yet paper, before it reaches the optimal quality, required numerous large-scale productions and a sufficient number of skilled professionals for the upgrade.
Anyone who could confidently dedicate their manpower to this like Qiao Yan could be counted on one hand.
And if considering sufficient materials, only her family remained.
This meticulously edited edition of the Four Types of Agriculture was a special product of Leping.
When this book arrived before Cao Cao, he couldn’t help but feel like, compared to aiding agricultural production in Dong Commandery, it seemed more like Qiao Yan was showcasing her strength.
But he chuckled to himself, thinking if a New Year gift wasn’t finely packaged, it wouldn’t be very Qiao Yan-like.
She had clearly been hindered by the battle in Liangzhou last year and only found time to return to Bingzhou at the end of this year’s New Year, with no hesitation in delivering the overdue New Year gifts.
However, this year she didn’t send furniture to Liu Xie but annotated books to Liu Bian instead.
Back at the end of December last year, she sent a batch of dark purple pearls produced from lands west of Liangzhou to Liu Xie.
Preparing this for Liu Xie seemed logical, as this item was known to treat stomach weakness and coldness, which implied——
Your Majesty, please take care of your health; I, Qiao Yan, will surely come to your rescue soon.
But now in Chang’an, the one in power wasn’t Liu Xie but Dong Zhuo, so this item would probably end up in the latter’s hands.
That made for quite a mockery.
The dark purple pearls had a cooling and lung-soothing effect, fitting perfectly for Dong Zhuo, who had been getting increasingly anxious due to the stabilizing situation in Liangzhou.
Though he might not have extinguished the fires of worry before new anxieties cropped up.
Cao Cao learned of this gift from the letters exchanged with Qiao Yan, making it hard to assess whether it was a classic example of Qiao Yan’s wit.
And upon her return to Bingzhou, she also sent New Year greetings to what she called “Prince Bian.”
Specifically, she had someone make a trip to Luoyang to tidy up the tomb of Emperor Ling, which was located on Mangshan, offer sacrifices, and then sent a handful of yellow earth from the grave to Liu Bian in a brocade box.
It was unclear whether this was a jab about Liu Bian moving from Luoyang to Ye City or a critique of him usurping the throne through improper means.
But Qiao Yan’s official explanation was that this was to alleviate Liu Bian’s longing for the former emperor and home.
By comparison, both Sun Ce and Cao Cao felt that the gifts they received were not ordinary at all.
Having this psychological comfort from the comparison, Cao Cao inquired of Zao Zhi, “Are you confident we can expand the farmland a bit more this year?”
Zao Zhi, keenly aware, sensed that Cao Cao’s inquiry probably wasn’t asking if they could increase land within Dong Commandery but whether he could expand the Tuntian area if Cao Cao pushed the boundaries of Dong Commandery.
But it wasn’t surprising that Cao Cao had such thoughts; although the borders of Yanzhou weren’t plagued with the same strife as Jingzhou or Yangzhou, or even the mixed battles seen in Liangzhou, the main issue currently was the inaction of the ruling prefects.
Guo Jia had smoothly escorted Zheng Xuan to Bingzhou, using routes through Jiyin and Chenliu as proof of that.
Since these governors couldn’t accomplish anything and were only making life more difficult for the common folk, it was better to bring them under his control and then seek a position of Yanzhou’s governor from the court.
As for how Cao Cao perceived the ongoing confrontation between the two factions of the Han Dynasty and how the appointment of officials had become a farce, only he truly knew.
Zao Zhi was a competent Tuntian Commandant, not a schemer; he didn’t notice any complex emotional shifts in Cao Cao’s contemplation after the question but immediately gave a confident answer—
“Absolutely!”
He had the confidence to keep up with Cao Cao’s pace.
Likewise, Chen Gong had the ability to help Cao Cao deal with the court in Ye City after actions were taken.
Cao Cao was satisfied with these two answers, contemplating the expansion plans for the year ahead as he walked back home.
His eldest son, Cao Ang, had been sent on an inspection to Dong’e and wasn’t home; the only children at home were Cao Pi and Cao Zhang, the two sons of Bian.
As he stepped into the courtyard, he spotted the one he lovingly referred to as “Yellow Moustache,” Cao Zhang, rushing over with his little short legs, while Cao Pi strolled behind at a leisurely pace, properly greeting him.
Cao Cao observed his two sons and couldn’t help but feel a stark contrast between the energetic and the calm.
Recalling that he was sending a son to study, there was no way he could let Qiao Yan’s Leping Academy be wrecked.
He immediately made the decision.
Send Cao Pi to Leping!
Almost simultaneously, another New Year gift arrived at the recipient’s hands.
This gift, however, was not sent by Qiao Yan but by Guo Jia.
The recipient was currently Xu Yu, who was residing in Langya County.
Even though Guo Jia had gone to Qingzhou last year to fetch Zheng Xuan, and passed through the borders of Xuzhou on the way back, he was very clear about separating business from personal matters, and didn’t even give a heads up when he crossed paths with his good buddy.
Now that he had fulfilled his responsibilities, it was time to send a friendly note.
He thought about what Xu Yu had mentioned in his letter from August last year and decided to mail him the monthly reports from Leping from September to January, along with several handwritten copies of children’s literature from Leping Academy.
He certainly wouldn’t admit that he remembered he should send some “warmth” to Xu Yu just after seeing Qiao Yan send gifts to Cao Cao and Liu Bian; instead, he’d claim he wanted to wait until the new issue of Leping Monthly Report was out before sending it along.
When Xu Yu received this New Year gift, looking at the words in the letter, he could guess just how half-hearted Guo Jia had been in making excuses, shaking his head in exasperation.
After quickly scanning through the content of the five monthly reports, he couldn’t help but be astounded by Leping’s comprehensive advancements, though he didn’t show it on his face. Instead, he passed it on to the side to Zhuge Liang.
To Xu Yu, deciding to choose Xuzhou to make his rounds was perhaps his wisest decision.
Zhuge Liang’s talent was anything but simple, despite what he had praised in letters to friends.
Though still young, he had his own criteria for evaluating the knowledge he absorbed and possessed remarkable critical thinking and organizational skills.
Anyone who could engage in a suitable environment would surely grow to be a pillar of the nation.
Xu Yu observed that when he sent the reports and books to Zhuge Liang, although the lad was especially keen on a book about woodworking machinery at first glance, he set it aside to study the current situation of Bingzhou revealed in the monthly report.
For a child, possessing the ability to restrain one’s own interests was undoubtedly a skill.
He kindly asked, “What do you see?”
Zhuge Liang’s gaze lingered on one page for a long time; it recorded the water conservancy projects developed in both Bingzhou and Liangzhou, and he replied, “This Qiao Bingzhou is already ahead of others. Water management is not trivial work but rather a method to fend off natural disasters; sadly, other regions are still struggling to make ends meet, showcasing a stark contrast.”
When drought arrives, even a place like Xuzhou won’t have any luck.
Especially in places like Liangzhou and Bingzhou, such diligent efforts are incredibly precious.
You’re right, but what I’m more concerned about is this line here.
Xu Yu pointed to a small line on the next page, “Regarding the expansion of the academy upon Zheng Xuan’s arrival at Leping, it’s filled with scheming.”
Yet, no one could guard against such cultural plunder elsewhere.
Getting Zheng Xuan to come here was a talent in itself.
A unique skill among the provincial governors!
Suddenly, Xu Yu heard a sigh from Zhuge Liang, who said, “Before I leave Xuzhou for the next place, I’ll persuade your uncle to take you all for a trip to Leping.”
No matter what the future holds or whether you serve the governor of Bingzhou… your talent shouldn’t be stifled from the start.
