The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

Li Fu smiled.

"Old Lu, you still underestimate your influence."

A famous scholar in the Central Plains, a doctor of the Imperial College.

Who are the doctors in the Imperial College?

Confucius' descendant, Kong Yingda, is also a doctor of the Imperial College.

Lu Deming is old and highly respected.

If he speaks, the doctors in the Imperial College will have to think carefully about whether this thing can be done, not to mention the scholars in the world.

The attitude of the Tang Dynasty towards foreign races is already there, and these great scholars in the Imperial College also have this attitude. Let alone scholars, even farmers will be affected by their attitude and reject these Japanese fiercely.

"Most of the 18 scholars of the Qin Palace are now in the Imperial College." Li Fu said: "At the beginning, the Qin Palace opened a literary institute to recruit famous and talented scholars from all over the world. These people are role models for scholars all over the world."

"The power of role models is very great."

Lu Deming is also one of the 18 scholars of the Qin Palace.

When he entered the Qin Palace, he was already 70 years old.

He is the oldest among the 18 people.

Although it is said that when it comes to studying, regardless of age, the most experienced ones come first, but among these 18 people, Lu Deming is a well-deserved senior.

"The Japanese came to the Tang Dynasty and wanted to learn, but the court refused them. I guess some people felt embarrassed. It's not impossible to learn. After all, Confucianism emphasizes education. Most people think that the Japanese are uncivilized. Some people want the reputation of education."

"It's okay to learn, but it depends on what to learn."

"If they just learn some classics, history, and collections, it's fine. Let them learn. Reading makes people wise and reasonable. Learn more Confucian classics, improve their own literary cultivation, and establish good morals. That's good, don't you think?"

Lu Deming looked at Li Fu and thought about what he said.

"Just learn Confucianism?" Lu Deming asked, "I'm afraid that their minds may not be on this."

"Oh, even you know that their minds are not on this. It seems that their minds are quite obvious."

It seems that scholars also know that just reading those books will not make the country rich and strong.

It's just an image created by the upper class for the convenience of management.

The people need to live, while the emperor and the court officials need Confucianism.

"If you want to learn from the Central Plains dynasty, it is not enough to just learn Confucianism." Lu Deming said: "Learning these can only enable their court to better manage the entire country, and the people at the bottom are actually what they should be."

"If you want to have enough food, you have to learn to plant. If you want to wear good clothes, you have to learn the most advanced sericulture and textile. If you want a strong army, you have to learn the art of war. If you want solid armor and sharp weapons, you have to learn smelting and casting. If you want to be rich, you have to strengthen the circulation of goods and increase foreign exchanges. You have to learn to build ships. Many kinds of industries are within their goals."

"Is this what Huairen wants to say?"

Lu Deming thought for a while and understood Li Fu's reasoning.

There are so many scholars in the world, and there are many who understand the truth, but there are also many pedantic Confucian scholars who just study hard.

What to teach and what not to teach is mainly within the scope, and the initiative is in their hands.

Li Fu nodded frantically.

"Yes, yes, yes, that's what I mean."

Li Fu finally showed a comfortable smile on his face.

"Because only by combining with each other can a backward country become strong rapidly in a short period of time."

"And the surrounding countries are strong, which has never been a good thing for the Tang Dynasty. Even if they are not strong now, they will rise in a few years or even more than ten years. It will be a great threat to the Central Plains. For the sake of future generations, the same is true."

In the academy, in the study.

There are no outsiders, just the two of them, and these topics are not taken into consideration, and they chat openly.

It's not in the court, in front of hundreds of officials, what face do you want? What style do you want?

This is what is called less people to discuss things, and it is easier to make decisions.

When there are many people, some people can't get over it.

Too many people have to eat without loss for the sake of face.

"Letting the Japanese learn these is equivalent to what? It is equivalent to the Turks on the northern grasslands, who learned the advanced technology of the Tang Dynasty, returned to the grasslands, forged armor, forged weapons and blades, formed a strong army, and then..."

The rest, even if Li Fu didn't say it, Lu Deming knew it.

The grasslands didn't have strong armor and sharp weapons, but they still invaded the Central Plains for so many years..

If there is, it would be terrible.

Since ancient times, the Central Plains dynasties have strictly controlled the goods going to the grassland.

Especially salt and iron.

This is also because there are no iron mines on the grassland.

"You can't grow food on the grassland, and there are no iron mines. It's still like this. Japan is different." Li Fu narrowed his eyes.

"They have mines and land, and they can grow food, but the land is small and there are not many people, so the output is enough."

"In the future, when there are more people, no matter what, it will not be enough. If there is not enough food and use, you have to find a way to get it." Li Fu said: "With the vast land of the Central Plains next to it, anyone will have crooked thoughts."

Lu Deming agreed and nodded.

Don't think that scholars are pedantic. Ordinary people don't think so much. The most thinking is still scholars.

"Then, I have to go back to Chang'an." Lu Deming sighed.

"It's not that troublesome. A letter can solve it." Li Fu smiled and said, "No need to go back and forth."

Lu Deming nodded.

Li Fu reached out and patted the box on the table.

"Remember to use this, it's a good thing." Li Fu smiled and said, "The caravan brought back this high-quality Hui ink from other places. I don't care so much. I'll give it to you. You can use it when you write a book."

With Li Fu's handwriting, it would be a waste to use such good ink. It would be better to give it to Lu Deming.

As for himself, when he feels that his "work" is passed down and it is not embarrassing to put it in front of others, he can use it again.

"Oh, it's a good thing." Lu Deming smiled and said, "You are really willing to give it up."

"Why not? If I like it, I can ask the caravan to get it. The tea house is in Huizhou. It's easy to find someone there to make some Hui ink or something?"

Xuancheng is really a good place. Hui ink, Xuan paper...

Pen, ink, paper and inkstone are all very famous.

Then we will also move the papermaking workshop there.

"It's easy to say, but it's not simple." Lu Deming smiled: "One ounce of lacquer is obtained by walking a hundred miles and cutting a thousand times on the lacquer tree. The lacquer used in Hui ink requires people to walk a hundred miles and cut a thousand times on the lacquer tree to get one ounce of raw lacquer, and this raw lacquer is not something that everyone can get."

"This raw lacquer is indispensable for making Hui ink. Tung oil burns and produces smoke. When raw lacquer is added to tung oil, the smoke will be darker. This kind of Hui ink will fall on paper like lacquer, with a black and smooth color that will not fade for a long time."

However, he really likes these things like the Four Treasures of the Study.

And Hui ink is too expensive.

One ounce of gold and one ounce of ink are not enough to describe this thing. One pound of gold and one ounce of ink is more like it.

This ink, from the beginning of production to the present delivery to the table, cannot be made without two years.

"That's why I said it's suitable for you." Li Fu smiled and said, "This thing is precious and should be used in the right place. It's ruined in my study."

After Li Fu finished speaking, he stood up with a smile.

"Okay, I'll go back first. Old Lu, tell your friends and colleagues to be careful of the Japanese envoys in Chang'an City. These people are not tall, and they are all used to grow their minds."

Or as the old saying goes, minds are like weights. If they grow too much, the people they press won't grow taller.

Lu Deming watched Li Fu leave with a helpless smile on his face.

After sending Li Fu away, Lu Deming began to think about writing letters to his colleagues in Chang'an City to ask about those Japanese people.

When Li Fu returned home, Li Shao was discussing with Old Zhao about giving rewards to the servants in the house.

After the matter was settled, the accounting office also moved quickly, and the money could be paid out from the warehouse today and distributed.

Li Fu saw Lao Zhao and remembered something.

"Lao Zhao, after this incident, I found that there are still not enough people in the kitchen when something happens."

Lao Zhao was stunned, and then responded tentatively.

"Then, I will assign some more people to help in the kitchen. However, on weekdays, there is not much work in the kitchen. This time, the housewarming banquet was held in the house, and because we have to take care of the meals of the Qianniu Guards in the palace, the kitchen yard seems to be much busier."

Li Fu shook his head.

Lao Zhao, Lao Zhao, you are so stupid.

"No, I mean, we can add one more person to the kitchen. Of course, after all, they are responsible for the family's meals, so they need to have decent character and be more careful." Li Fu said, "I think that the lady in the farm, the eldest lady of the Yang family, is quite good. You can go and discuss with her and ask her if she is willing to work in the house. As for the wages, it's the same as other people in the kitchen. There is no need to sell her body indenture, just sign a work document."

Li Shao stood aside, watching her husband and the old ladyZhao talked to him, and felt that something was wrong.

She had seen all the people in the manor, and if she recalled, they were worthy of the name.

The eldest lady of the Yang family was in her thirties and had a son who studied in the academy.

Her husband mentioned her and asked her to work in the kitchen of the manor...

Then look at the expression of housekeeper Zhao...

Li Shao realized it.

This is a good thing.

"Well, we really need to add one more person in the kitchen." Li Shao said, "Recently, I see that my husband sleeps late at night. If he is hungry or thirsty, someone will have to stay in the kitchen to guard. In this way, during the day, the kitchen staff will have to leave one person to rest." Li Shao said, "Since we are selecting people from the manor to enter the manor, we only need to do the work during the day, and the people in the manor can rest until the night guard."

The couple sang in unison, which made Old Zhao unable to do it.

But he also had some idea in his mind, and he could see that his husband was trying to help him.

"Then, I'll go ask." Lao Zhao bowed and responded.

"Well, do it as soon as possible. In two days, Fang Xianggong and Du Xianggong will be here, and the kitchen still needs to be busy." Li Fu found a lame excuse.

There are many people in the house, even if the kitchen needs help, just assign them casually.

However, for Lao Zhao's lifelong event, if there is no job, it's easy to do, then create a job, and this is not just a matter of Li Fu, the husband, saying a word.

Lao Zhao went out to do things.

In the study, Li Shao looked at Li Fu.

"Husband, what's going on, is there a sign?" Li Shao's eyes smiled like a bright moon.

"A little bit. This was when you were in Chang'an. I came back early and had something to do with Lao Zhao. He was not in the house. Xiao Tao found him when she sent someone to look for him." Li Fu smiled and said, "When the people in our house went to the manor to look for Lao Zhao, he was at the door of the manor. It had been such a long time, and he didn't even go in."

"After all, he is the chief steward of the Jingyang Palace. He can also manage the affairs of the manor. Alas, why doesn't he know how to use his status and power?"

It can only be said that he used it, but not completely.

"Butler Zhao is a very honest man with good character and trustworthy. It's not his fault that things haven't progressed." Li Shao said with a smile: "As the husband, you just need to give him a push."

"I'm not pushing him now?" Li Fu also smiled: "When people come to work in the house, they will have more contact with each other on weekdays, right? There's no need for Lao Zhao to rack his brains to find an excuse to go to someone's door."

"Anyway, I agree with this. In fact, I owe Lao Zhao." Li Fu sighed: "If Lao Zhao hadn't existed before, this family would have to fall apart."

"I, Xiaotao, and Shitou were all raised by Lao Zhao. It wasn't easy for him. It wasn't easy for him to do this for so many years. Now, it's time to live a good life, solve personal problems, and have someone who understands you. "Li Fu said: "In the future, I want to have my own children."

Li Shao nodded: "Looking back on your life in the past, it was indeed not easy. If the eldest lady of the Yang family enters the house, I will pay more attention. This is the matter of the inner house, so you shouldn't interfere too much. When the time comes, just leave it to me."

"That's what I meant. Between me and Lao Zhao, you can say whatever you want. Our friendship is there, but in front of the eldest lady of the Yang family, I really can't say anything. It all depends on you, Madam." Li Fu bowed his hands in a formal manner, which made Li Shao laugh.

Lao Zhao was busy in the house first to let the servants collect the reward money. This is a serious matter.

After he was done, he could go to the farm to find the eldest lady of the Yang family to ask if she was willing to enter the house.

Looking at the people queuing up to collect the reward money in front of him, Lao Zhao felt that their movements were really slow.

The accountant on the side also saw it.