bullyxtreme Chapter 86 Someone naturally went to great lengths to help.
Chapter 86 Someone naturally went to great lengths to help.
Chapter 86 Someone naturally went to great lengths to help.
No matter how spectacular or incredibly foolish something may seem, at the very beginning, it usually boils down to just three words: "unwillingness to accept defeat."
Everyone here is a smart man. After seeing the headmaster's expression, Mr. Li naturally had some thoughts in mind. He was unwilling, but he was like a headless fly, not knowing what to do.
"Yi Zhi ah————"
Headmaster Chen patted his shoulder, looked up and sighed deeply. The starry sky was now indistinguishable between starlight and tears.
Mr. Li laughed at this moment. He walked to the outside of the academy's mountain gate, slid down the steps with the help of a thick pillar, leaned his head against the pillar, and looked empty and lonely.
"Yun Nian—Yun Nian—" He called out the headmaster's courtesy name again and again, his voice filled with sorrow, bringing tears to the eyes of all who heard it.
"Yun Nian—Save the country! Yun Nian!"
Standing beside him, Headmaster Chen gazed at the lights of Lin'an City from the mountain gate, and the two old men were ultimately speechless.
That deep-seated sense of powerlessness, but they did not give up at this moment, but kept searching for a solution in their hearts.
"Money, we need money," Mr. Li said firmly. "The Song Dynasty was ultimately built on money, and I don't believe the Emperor is truly willing to accept this."
"Yizhi—" Headmaster Chen placed a hand on Mr. Li's shoulder: "What do you want?"
"Yun Nian, I want to do something, I want to accomplish something. I can't go on like this." Mr. Li took a deep breath and said, "Today someone enlightened me. It's not wrong to not do what can be done, but if I know what can be done and don't do it, how can I face my ancestors in the afterlife? I've spent my life studying, yet I can't establish a moral compass for the world. I've lived in vain!"
"What are Yi Zhi's plans?"
"Yun Nian, please help me."
"you say."
"The steel mill outside the city, I want it! Whether you seize it by trickery or deception, bring it to me. Whoever it belongs to, I want it from you." Mr. Li's eyes blazed with fury: "I want to try!"
Headmaster Chen pursed his lips, stroked his beard, squinted at his younger brother who was his close friend despite their age difference, and suddenly laughed: "Alright, since Yi wants it, I'll throw away my pride. I still have some influence left."
"Don't disappoint me."
The next morning, with spring approaching, Lin'an City was in a state of languid relaxation, waiting for the nine-day spring break. But on this morning, when everyone thought they would get off work and then have a holiday, the Ministry of Works was greeted by a strange newcomer.
Chen Shouchang, courtesy name Yunnian, served the emperor like a teacher and father for nearly thirty years, holding a position of exceptional stature. The Song Dynasty valued literature over military prowess, and Chen Shouchang was a scholar, a top-tier one at that. From Bianjing to Nanjing Yingtianfu and then to Lin'an, Chen Shouchang consistently led the Song Dynasty's educational system.
With countless talented students and officials serving in the imperial court, even Qin Hui would have to bow three times and greet him as "Good morning, Grand Tutor."
He was sitting in the main hall of the Ministry of Works, flipping through a book on bridge and road repairs, without saying a word. The Minister of Works stood beside him, bowing slightly, serving him like a son serving his father.
The old man looked up and smiled; his smile and glance showed his deep understanding of human nature.
"Sir—would you like some tea?"
Bu Ying, the Minister of Works, was the top scholar in the imperial examination in the third year of the Jingkang era. He was a student of Chen Shouchang. His parents died early, and he and his sister almost starved to death in those turbulent years. Later, he sought refuge with Chen Shouchang. With the help of his teacher and his own efforts, he gradually rose to the position of Minister.
Today, the teacher is sitting there with such a straight face, so he has to treat him like his own father.
"A magnificent piece of writing."
"My beloved teacher—"
Chen Shouchang took the teacup and casually placed it aside. The officials around him, skilled at reading people, had already gone out to attend to their business, leaving only the master and apprentice.
"I've come today to tell you something."
"Master, please tell me, is there something I have done wrong?"
"Good, very good." Chen Shouchang said with a smile, "I heard there's a steel mill being built outside the city?"
"Ah—this—I'll have to check."
The Minister of Works quickly picked up a booklet from the side and began to examine it. After a while, he stepped forward and handed the booklet to Headmaster Chen: "Master, it is indeed there."
"Hmm." Chen Shouchang nodded. "Whose is it?"
The Minister of Works was stunned and couldn't react immediately: "This—this—this belongs to Prime Minister Qin."
"Alright, Qin Hui." Chen Shouchang laughed. "Go tell him. I want it. Ask him if it's possible, how many coins it costs, and I'll give it to him."
"Ah?" The Minister trembled, his face changing drastically. "Master, what do you need this for?"
"Do I need to inform you before doing anything?" Chen Shouchang frowned slightly. "If you can't do it, then forget it. I'll do it myself."
"No, no, no—this disciple will go and discuss this with Prime Minister Qin immediately."
The Minister of Works is in a difficult position, torn between his superior and his mentor. He dares not offend either side, but compared to his mentor, discussing this matter with Qin Hui is less risky. After all, he can still negotiate with the Prime Minister, but if he tells his mentor it's no good, he'll likely be branded as disloyal and unfilial for life.
He sighed and went straight to the Prime Minister's residence. However, seeing Qin Hui was not as troublesome as it was for Cao Wenda, since their ranks were clearly different.
Upon seeing Qin Hui, Minister Bu bowed slightly and said in a low voice, "Prime Minister—"
"How are you? What happened?" Qin Hui glanced at him, his eyes full of doubt. "Why do you look so pale?"
When Minister Bu lowered his voice and told Qin Hui about his mentor's request, Qin Hui was stunned: "A steel mill? What does he need a steel mill for?"
"I don't know. This morning, my teacher went to the Ministry of Works, and then—"
"I understand." Qin Hui raised his hand. "Go and tell him I've given it to him."
"Ah? Your Excellency, you—"
"I said I'd give it to you," Qin Hui sighed. "The Grand Tutor himself has spoken; how could I refuse? Go ahead."
Minister Bu's first reaction was that something was wrong. Qin Hui was definitely not someone who could be easily persuaded. He stood there and refused to leave. Although he was afraid of offending this powerful prime minister, he still thought of his mentor.
"Prime Minister, do you see any compromise solution?"
"I told you to go!" Qin Hui glared, no longer bothering with formalities. "Can't you hear what I'm saying?"
"I'll go right away—"
The Minister of Works left, and Qin Hui smashed the cup on the table. He thought to himself that this matter must be related to Lin Zhou. Why did the old man come to ask for it the day after Lin Zhou went to the academy?
Either that guy bragged about something, or he said something to Chen Shouchang.
"Someone, go and summon Cao Wenda."
Early in the morning, Cao Wenda was summoned to Qin Hui's presence, panting heavily. Upon hearing the news, he turned deathly pale.
"Oh dear—that ancestor!"
"Go and summon him." Qin Hui's face was extremely pale. "I want to know what he said to that Chen Shouchang."
"I'll go right away!"
Cao Wenda rushed out quickly. The festive New Year atmosphere along the way was like a death knell to him. His mind was full of thoughts about what that bastard Lin Zhou had done. In the blink of an eye, he had ruined the steel mill that the Prime Minister had been paying close attention to.
Lin Zhou had just lit firecrackers for the Lunar New Year at the door and was scolding Brother Ying for sleeping in late that morning when Cao Wenda rushed in, looking flustered.
"Oh, our ancestors!"
"Huh? Brother Cao, what's wrong?" Lin Zhou was still holding a pancake. "What happened?"
"Oh my god—what are you doing?!" Cao Wenda was almost crying.
It should be noted that even when Prime Minister Qin confronted his ministers in court, he never had such a livid face. This morning, Cao Wenda could tell that the Prime Minister had murderous intent.
A person who harbors murderous intent, especially a powerful prime minister, might suffer a severe blow himself. It would be considered good if he were seriously injured; he might even lose his life.
"What are you doing? Nothing much, just having breakfast, and then—it's the Little New Year today, the academy is closed, I'm going to go shopping later to buy some New Year's goods, what's up?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong? Let's go! The Prime Minister wants to see you."
"Qin Hui wants to see me? Why?"
Don't ask!
Lin Zhou pursed his lips: "Wait a minute, I'll go put on a coat."
He went upstairs, tucked his pistol into his belt, put on his thick coat, and then went back downstairs: "Let's go."
Along the way, Cao Wenda kept complaining about his father, Lin Zhou, saying that the steel mill that the Prime Minister had been longing for had been taken away by the Grand Tutor that morning.
"Huh? Grand Tutor? Who's the Grand Tutor?"
"Who? Chen Shouchang, the headmaster of your academy."
"Headmaster Chen? What does he need a steel mill for?"
"You're asking me!?"
Soon, the two arrived at the Qin residence. This was Lin Zhou's first time visiting the Prime Minister's residence. He looked around it from all angles. In terms of grandeur, it seemed inferior to "Dare to Do It." But then again, it was the residence of the Jin Kingdom's princes, and even Wanyan Gou had to address Prince Rui as "brother."
If Qin Hui dared to exceed that level, he would definitely be overstepping his bounds.
Even so, the place was still frighteningly large, with pavilions and towers, it was simply too decadent.
Upon entering, both men were searched, and Lin Zhou's pistol was naturally found. The guard asked coldly, "What is this?"
"This is your M————"
Before Lin Zhou could utter a single curse, Cao Wenda covered his mouth and said to the guard with a grin, "This is the son-in-law of the Prince of Rui, and this is a token from the Jin Kingdom."
Hearing this, the guard snorted and returned the gun to Lin Zhou. Lin Zhou pointed at his nose and cursed, "You bastard, smile! Smile for me, do you hear me? I told you to smile for me!"
The guard's anger level visibly rose, but Cao Wenda dragged Lin Zhou inside.
Just before entering the archway, he turned back and spat at the guard: "You think you're superior just because you're a watchdog?"
Cao Wenda's face was extremely ugly, because he was also the Prime Minister's dog, only not a watchdog but a lackey.