Chapter 125 Gambling
"What's the reason? Is it just for the victims, or are you one of them?" Zhao Yushu also stopped. The afternoon sun was a little hot.
"Let's go, it's quite sunny." Dean Wang started to move. "Both. The White Horse Academy never participated in court disputes, but most of the people who graduated from the academy became officials. This is very contradictory."
Zhao Yushu nodded. The friendship between classmates and the affection between teachers and students were an extremely united group not only in this era, but also in previous lives. Everyone shared resources and exchanged information, and the more advanced the institution, the more obvious it was.
Therefore, the academy tried hard to be impartial, but when it came to court disputes, how could the scholars who had already left the academy not take sides? If everyone connected together, there would be many factions, and the academy's self-isolation would seem to be empty in name only.
"Duke Yue's memorial crossed the line." Dean Wang gave the reason, or conclusion.
Duke Yue's idea crossed the bottom line of Nanyang Academy, so no matter how ulterior motives of General Sun were, Dean Wang decided to stand on General Sun's side.
"At least so far, our positions are consistent." The lives of 50,000 refugees are General Sun's bargaining chip. In the face of this bargaining chip, Zhao Yushu had to take sides.
"Yushu, I kind of regret letting you stay for a few days."
"Dean Wang, I'll have to complain to the teacher then."
"Haha, brat, I'm not afraid even if you sue me. Let's go back and have some rest. We'll be busy tonight."
When I returned to the academy, letters were sent out one after another, and replies were brought back almost at the same time. With a few tense conversations at the young master's welcoming banquet, the camps had gradually become clear, and I had to hurry to get information and take sides.
Zhao Yushu had always disliked this kind of gathering in his previous life, but in this life he had already attended three of them within just twelve hours, and except for breakfast, he had never missed a single meal. He couldn't help but wonder why he was transported to a low-magic plane. If he were a high-magic, he could just find a cave and seclude himself for thousands of years. Wouldn't that be great... No, he would be bored to death.
Wang Buzhi started bathing, changing clothes and meditating since the evening. In his words, he rarely has the opportunity to see such a grand scene. Even if the protagonist is Lao Zhao, it cannot prevent him, the young master Wang, from showing up and leaving a good impression on the wealthy dogs.
Zhao Yushu curled his lips and said, "You are already engaged, why do you still want to leave a good impression? Aren't you afraid that your future father-in-law will think you are frivolous?"
But to be honest, Zhao Yushu found that most of the men he met since he traveled through time seemed to be more handsome than himself. When he was pinching his face, should he have pinched the face of Yanzu or Yu Yan?
The banquets in the academy were naturally much simpler and more elegant than those in the government office. There were not many dishes and wine, and no music, singing or dancing. The main focus was on appreciating flowers and appreciating the moon, and the purpose was to be elegant.
Dean Wang carefully selected a few students with good literary talent and quick minds to recite a few poems to warm up the atmosphere. A group of wealthy people also joined in with a few doggerel. Of course, Lao Zhao did not plagiarize again, as this was not an occasion where he needed to show off and get slapped in the face.
"Is Nephew Zhao married?" Everyone present were people that Dean Wang had designated to call uncles and aunts. There was nothing wrong with calling him Nephew Zhao to get closer to him, but what did you mean by asking whether he was married or not?
"Uh, not yet."
"That's just right!"
Stop! Don't be too late! Zhao Yushu hurriedly winked at Wang Bushi, come on, brother!
Wang Buzhi immediately understood and stood up to toast him with a glass of wine to block the way. Until the banquet was almost over, a group of people were still chatting. Zhao Yushu was a little confused. Why weren't they talking about business?
"Brother Zhao, what are you waiting for?" Seeing that Old Zhao looked a little anxious, Wang Buzhi asked sideways.
"Shouldn't we talk about serious matters?"
"What serious business?"
"Uh, what did the dean ask them to do?"
"Of course, it's to admire the moon."
Zhao Yushu gave him an expression that said, "I'd be a fool to believe you." Wang Buzhi smiled and said, "Don't worry, we'll be there soon."
"Alas." A middle-aged scholar beside Dean Wang was drinking peacefully when he suddenly sighed and put down his glass. Secretary Zhao Yu remembered that when he introduced this person just now, he was a scholar with a wealthy family and was also a well-known kind person.
"Why is Mr. Meng sighing?" Here it comes. Mr. Meng starts the conversation, and the other agents take over, and the main show begins afterwards.
"I'm sorry to bother you all, but I suddenly remembered that there are tens of thousands of disaster victims outside the city who have no food or clothing, while we are here reciting poems and appreciating the moon. I feel so ashamed."
Immediately, a group of people began to express their admiration. Zhao Yushu couldn't help but give a thumbs up. It was amazing. With such acting skills, he would have won an Oscar in his previous life.
"Mr. Meng, we also want to do our best for the victims, but the governor won't allow it. Moreover, what the young Duke said in the government office today made us nervous."
Zhao Yushu understood what was going on. Whether it's you, Old Meng, or Dean Wang, your position now is to provide disaster relief, but if you can't get past the prefect, don't blame others for not helping you.
To choose sides, both sides have to have enough strength to compete.
Dean Wang chuckled and said, "I have some ideas."
Mr. Meng immediately responded: "Brother Wang, please tell me."
Dean Wang stroked his beard and said, "The little Duke has lived in the southeast for generations. This is his first time in Nanyang. After finishing his business, he will go back to the southeast and continue to be his little Duke."
The local bullies looked at each other without answering, waiting for Dean Wang to continue.
"Taishu Lan took office with 5,000 soldiers and horses, and he came with great momentum, but the military power is ultimately in the hands of General Sun. As a prefect of a county, his job is to govern the area. If he starts a war right after taking office, once it is brought up in the court in the future, it will be said that the Seventh Heaven cultivators enjoy killing people and deliberately forced tens of thousands of disaster victims to revolt. I'm afraid his career will be over."
It was so cruel that Zhao Yushu almost cried out. Dean Wang made a bunch of assumptions, but no one dared to take his words as just assumptions.
The young duke is just a passer-by, who comes to gild himself and then leaves. The Duke of Yue can only extend his hand so far. Prefect Lan came here with the emperor's order, but the emperor's order cannot directly let him kill people. Instead, it leaves enough room for interpretation. If it is done well, it means that the emperor is wise, but if it is done wrong, it means that you, Lan Rong, are abusing your power. There are countless people in the court waiting to take advantage of your misfortune. As long as Prefect Lan is not stupid, he will not stand on the opposite side when the situation is unclear, otherwise he would not have released grain to appease the victims.
In other words, Dean Wang was determined to cause trouble, while Governor Lan's attitude was still ambiguous, which meant that the Duke of Yue was doomed to fail in the eyes of the locals.
Dean Wang still has a trump card that he has not played, which is General Sun. This big man who holds military power is already on his side. Judging from this card alone, Duke Yue has no chance of winning.
Zhao Yushu quickly calculated the current situation. He knew that General Sun's goal was to deal with the Duke of Yue. He would not let the young Duke Wang Shaolin get away directly. The matter must be made a big deal.
Zhao Yushu thought of the girl in red in the morning. Which side did this card belong to?