Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

For a moment, even though Xiahou Lan learned that he would be given important responsibilities after his coming-of-age ceremony, a hint of sadness couldn't help but appear on his face, understanding that in the future, he probably wouldn't be able to listen to the teachings of his teacher as closely as he had in the past.

“Lan will never dare to forget the teachings of the teacher in this lifetime,” Xiahou Lan said, lowering his head.

Seeing this, Li Ji couldn't help but chuckle and said.

“Mingzheng, don't speak so sadly, as if this is the last time we'll meet. Not to mention that you are still a few years away from your coming-of-age ceremony at the earliest, even after that, we will be colleagues, and we will still have a long time to spend together. You should be invigorated and strive to improve yourself and accumulate abilities before truly serving the lord.”

Xiahou Lan was slightly stunned upon hearing this, and the expression on his face changed from cloudy to partly clear, as he suddenly realized.

“Yes, teacher.”

Xiahou Lan's voice immediately became much brighter.

“Let's go, Mingzheng. I haven't been to the RenDe Academy for a long time. Give me a good introduction to the changes in this newly established market.” Li Ji said with a smile.

“Yes…”

Xiahou Lan responded, his expression straightened, as if he was being examined by his teacher, and he continued to lead the way while introducing the surrounding market in detail.

How many taverns, how many teahouses, how many hostels, as well as the outstanding scholars who had been conducting the "Four Crossings of the Red River" sand table exercises for several months, Xiahou Lan recounted them one by one as if they were his own treasures.

Li Ji nodded from time to time and asked, “Are there many situations similar to that of Zhen Yan?”

“Many!”

Xiahou Lan nodded and replied.

“As the reputation of the RenDe Academy grows, it has gradually attracted scholars from the north and south banks of the Yellow River or even from the Jing and Shu regions to Wu County. Moreover, many scholars believe that the academic atmosphere of the RenDe Academy is far superior to that of Yingchuan. Every scholar who passes the ‘RenDe Academy’ examination is not an ordinary person.”

“Therefore, many scholars who lack ability and cannot endure the hardship of participating in 'work-for-relief' projects, or who are seeking fame, or want to join the RenDe Academy to win over talented classmates, naturally have other thoughts.”

Li Ji nodded slightly, not surprised by the emergence of this situation.

The RenDe Academy, which pioneered a new approach and gathered many great Confucian scholars as teachers, coupled with the students selected through the "military" and "political" methods, anyone with a little knowledge understands that those who can enter the RenDe Academy are talents.

In a sense, this has already formed a circle different from Yingchuan, and naturally there is no shortage of people who want to integrate into this circle.

Similar to Zhen Yan's idea, his chances of entering the RenDe Academy to study are slim. More likely, he wants to win over talents.

Whether it is to recruit some poor scholars to the Zhen family as staff, or to form a good relationship with those talents, it is undoubtedly an absolutely profitable business for the wealthy Zhen family.

This made Li Ji couldn't help but sigh secretly that the main trend in the world is undoubtedly still as Sima Qian said, “The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is hustling, all for profit.” This sentence is not only applicable to merchants, but also directly points to human nature.

As long as there is profit to be made, then naturally people will come because of it.

Even though Zhen Yan is far away in Zhongshan State, Jizhou, he still travels all the way to Wu County, which is evident.

Moreover, there is a reason why the aristocratic families are intertwined, and this is undoubtedly the way for aristocratic families to survive.

In fact, Li Ji does not have any prejudice against the aristocratic families. This is an inevitable product of the development of the times, and more than 90% of the talents in this era come from aristocratic families.

Politics is the art of balance and reconciliation.

Similar to Jia Xu's way of slaughtering the aristocratic families cleanly, that is naturally a refreshing thing, turning the hen that can continue to lay eggs into a pot of fragrant chicken soup, which can be regarded as a strong boost to the extremely weak Liu Bei group.

However, this kind of thing can only be done once…

After Li Ji was free from a series of complicated affairs, he couldn't help but think about how to guide and transform the aristocratic families, dismembering the attributes of aristocratic families occupying land, colluding with each other, and harming the countryside, while still making as much use of the talents of the aristocratic families as possible.

However, as Li Ji's thoughts expanded all at once, his pace unconsciously slowed down as his brows furrowed.

Xiahou Lan had been carefully observing Li Ji's expression with the corner of his eye. When he found that Li Ji was not showing any anger, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and gradually slowed down his pace.

After a moment, Li Ji finally spoke.

“Mingzheng, you did a very good job rejecting Zhen Yan's bribe. The entrance examination of the RenDe Academy must appear to guarantee absolute fairness, otherwise, it will make the RenDe Academy appear smoky.”

Xiahou Lan, who was praised, couldn't help but smile and replied.

“Yes, teacher.”

However, what Xiahou Lan didn't expect was that Li Ji's tone changed and he said, “However, Zhen Yan's desire to improve is worthy of praise. It is also inappropriate to reject him in a tough manner.”

“Ah?”

Xiahou Lan asked blankly. “Teacher, did I do it right or wrong?”

Li Ji looked back at Xiahou Lan, who always looked like a naive young man in front of him, and for a moment he even found it difficult to associate him with the calm and composed demeanor he had shown in the teahouse when he was chatting and laughing with other scholars.

Immediately, Li Ji explained with a smile on his face.

“Since the scholars have the need to improve, then what reason do we have to stop a scholar from improving? So, I will come up with some professional plans for the training class later, and then Mingzheng will go to the station to rectify them one by one.”

Training class?

Xiahou Lan was still somewhat confused when he heard this, but he understood that what the teacher did must have profound meaning, so he firmly remembered this matter.

It's just that there is really not much profound meaning in it…

If you say that this is all about making money, then that is an overestimation of Li Ji's intentions. It is just a way to generate revenue for Wu County's finances.

Li Ji is a pure and considerate person. This is completely out of kindness to help those scholars who are eager to improve and have money.

Moreover, for Li Ji, this is still an almost monopolistic industry.

It can allow that part of the scholars who are effective for Liu Bei but are not suitable to become officials to set up training classes. As long as Xiahou Lan is at the station, then it is the most authoritative.

Even if someone imitates it, it is destined to be impossible to compete with the training class with official background.

As long as Li Ji makes a slight start, I believe that Mi Zhu, who has the nature of a businessman, will naturally understand how to expand the training class industry.

The system of academies, which is almost like a university, plus the training class system, is enough to crush the current mainstream private school system.

Li Ji casually wrote this matter in his memorandum bamboo slip, and then continued to visit the market with Xiahou Lan.

It's just that Xiahou Lan's popularity is far higher than Li Ji expected. Almost every scholar saluted Xiahou Lan wherever he went.

This made Xiahou Lan, who was leading the way, subconsciously want to retreat behind Li Ji and highlight Li Ji.

However, Li Ji, who just wanted to inspect in a low-key manner and feel the atmosphere of ordinary scholars, reached out and gently pushed Xiahou Lan from behind, but stopped Xiahou Lan's behavior.

It had been several months since Li Ji last appeared in the RenDe Academy. Even though many scholars had seen Li Ji at that time, few of those scholars had been waiting in the same place for several months.

In addition, during this period of time, new scholars have been pouring into the vicinity of the RenDe Academy, and even fewer people know what Li Ji looks like.

Suddenly, Li Ji paused, pointed his finger in front of him, and asked.

“Mingzheng, who is that person?”

Xiahou Lan looked in the direction Li Ji was pointing. What he saw was an old Taoist with a childlike face and white hair, wearing a white Taoist robe, exuding an ethereal aura.

Moreover, this Taoist was also holding a wooden staff with the words "Relieving the World and Saving the People" hanging on it, and there were three or five scholars gathered in front of him who seemed to be very convinced.

Xiahou Lan shook his head with a frown and replied.

“I have never seen this person before.”

Li Ji rubbed the fan bone with his thumb and said to Liu Wu behind him. “Go and see what that Taoist is doing.”

“Yes, sir.”

Liu Wu, who had been keeping vigilant on Li Ji's left and right, took the order and strode towards the old Taoist.

Liu Wu's approach did not arouse the old Taoist's vigilance.

It's just that when the old Taoist glanced at Liu Wu and then noticed Li Ji standing in the distance and not approaching, his eyes paused slightly.

Then, the old Taoist suddenly threw the pole in his hand towards Liu Wu, and then ran swiftly in the direction away from Li Ji.

This scene not only stunned the few scholars who were originally gathered in front of the old Taoist, but also Liu Wu was a little unable to react.

Li Ji's face sank…

In this era, the most underestimated are the Taoists. They are either skilled or good at pretending to be ghosts and gods, with unclear intentions.

And this old Taoist only glanced at Li Ji and immediately ran away like a mouse seeing a cat. How could Li Ji not be suspicious, and immediately said in a deep voice.

“Guilty conscience, catch him!”

As Li Ji shouted in a deep voice, not only did Liu Wu quickly chase in the direction of the old Taoist, but the three teenagers who were perfectly integrated into the crowd near Li Ji also moved and outflanked the old Taoist in different directions.

It's just that the old Taoist looked old, but his movements were more agile than ordinary people. In just a few blinks of an eye, he ran out of Li Ji's sight.

Li Ji naturally didn't give chase. Instead, he led Xiahou Lan to the side of the scholars who hadn't yet reacted, and glanced at the objects in their hands.

Yellow talismans, clear water, willow branches, and some ashes…

After Xiahou Lan used her influence to inquire, the results were just as Li Ji had expected. The old Taoist priest had been using talisman water to treat the illnesses of these three scholars, and they were deeply convinced of its effectiveness.