Chapter 13: Horse Bone

Since ancient times, the Chinese have been particular about the fact that a name without a proper definition is not a proper definition. Mr. Yang felt that the literary style in Shu was flourishing, so of course he had to take a group of people to a bigger city to show off, calling it a “study tour.”

By the way, let the world see that Shuzhong is worthy of being called a land of natural treasures, and the talents it produces are even more top-notch.

Even if you are selling cucumbers, you have to let everyone know that your cucumbers are the best, and then people will buy them. If you just pile them up there without shouting, who knows you are selling cucumbers? Those who don’t know think you are drying them.

Mr. Yang’s sales performance was poor, and he was suppressed by many super-giant families in Chang’an City. You said that one of your disciples was an extraordinary strategist, and immediately a guy who claimed to be a Cui family stable boy jumped out to debate with the disciple. This guy had calluses on his fingers from writing with a pen, but he still insisted that he was a rough person, citing the classics in a mess, and opening his mouth to talk about the scriptures thoroughly, leaving the Shu disciple speechless.

Mr. Yang judged that this guy had not raised a horse for 300 years and did not have this knowledge.

Unfortunately, in Chang’an City, except for the face that Mr. Yang’s ancestors left, the rest of the disciples either lost to the coachman or the housekeeper. The most annoying thing was that there was an old guy who claimed to be the Lu family’s housekeeper. He had a face full of pockmarks, but he had a good mouth. He talked non-stop for more than an hour, from Confucius to poetry, and he had no intention of stopping. From time to time, someone would come forward to ask questions, and the old guy would not refuse them. He would open a classroom on the spot, which was simply not taking the talents of Shu Province into account!

Mr. Yang smiled wryly and took a big gulp of wine.

Is this how Yun family wine is supposed to be drunk? A mouthful of half a jin? Yun Ye was looking forward to the old man’s follow-up reaction.

Mr. Yushan did not have time to stop him, and heard a series of heart-wrenching coughs coming from the old man’s mouth. Mr. Yushan hurriedly patted the back of the old man, and he came to life. He never expected that the first thing the old man said after coming to life was: “Good wine”!

This was completely unexpected. From this one sentence, it was clear that this man was an absolute veteran of the alcohol battlefield.

“Lu Zian is too much of a bully!” Mr. Yuan Zhang, who had not spoken for a long time, shouted.

The whole dining room was silent. Mr. Yuan Zhang was usually quiet and rigid, but he was the best teacher. The students of the academy respected Mr. Yuan Zhang very much. He did not speak lightly, and whenever he did, he was absolutely on point.

Li Gang was furious after a moment’s thought: “That old man with the leathery skin must be Lu Shou, Lu Zi’an. A master of the first generation is so shameless, I am ashamed to be associated with him!”

“That means that the coachmen and housekeepers are either famous or great scholars.” Mr. Li Shi still had a calm expression.

Yang Shou was stunned for a long time, and suddenly burst into laughter: “Haha, my Shu disciple didn’t lose unfairly. Yanling, you can argue with a master of Yi learning for half an hour in public about the “Gan Shi Xing Jing” without feeling sad or ashamed. I am proud of you. What a good Shandong family, what a good Lu Shou Lu Zian.”

Yanling was a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, sitting alone and drinking by himself.

Yun Ye’s eyes lit up. This is a master of astronomy. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to bring him back to the academy? Would something that I, Yun Hou, set my eyes on ever escape from my grasp?

Li Tai, who was sitting next to him, quietly nudged Yun Ye, “Brother Ye, you’re interested in this person? Do you want my help?”

Yun Ye nodded like a pecking chicken: “I’m not just interested in one person, I’m interested in all of them. If you help me get them back to the academy, I’ll personally cook for you and invite you to a barbecue. The conditions are up to you.”

Li Tai nodded modestly, picked up his wine glass, and walked up to Yang Shou. His glass only had grape wine in it, and Yun Ye had forbidden him from drinking hard liquor.

“Prince Li Tai greets Master Yang.”

Seeing Yang Shou’s surprise, Li Gang smiled and said, “Mr. Yang, this is the fourth son of His Majesty, named Tai, who was made the King of Yue last year.”

Yang Shou quickly got up and bowed to the prince. Li Tai had mastered the Confucian set of rules, and he was completely free of Yun Ye’s painful expression. The fat and plump body actually had a somewhat elegant meaning when he bowed.

His father always liked this clever fourth son, and since he was a child, he had hired a learned scholar to enlighten him. He lived up to expectations and dabbled in all the schools of thought. Li Er was so pleased that he made him the king of Yue and the governor of Yangzhou, overseeing sixteen states, including Changhai, Runchu, Lushu, Haoshu, Shexu, Hangzhou, Xuancheng, Dongmu, Nanhe, etc. You have to know that Li Ke had only been made the governor of eight states.

“Yang Shiyuan has come from afar, and Tai is in the academy, unable to welcome the teacher. Please don’t be offended.”

“Your Highness, I am deeply honored. I came from afar, but I was beaten up in Chang’an. I am ashamed to be favored by Your Highness.”

“According to my teacher, your failure this time is not due to insufficient learning or cultivation, but rather to being inferior in every way to others. How can you be defeated? If you know shame, you will be courageous, and you will try again. Why worry about it?” Li Tai’s performance completely exceeded Yun Ye’s expectations. This guy is completely full of meat and not in the folds. I only see his innocent side on weekdays. When did I ever see him face others as the King of Yue? His mother’s words were so generous and heroic. When I think back, I really don’t have this ability.

“I am already sixty years old. This trip to Sichuan should be the last time in my life. The roads in Sichuan are dangerous, and I am afraid that I will die on the road and my bones will not be buried in my ancestral home. I can only come and go in a hurry. It is only a pity that these talented people in Sichuan have no chance to realize their ambitions and display their talents. I am afraid that they will die with the plants and trees like me.” Lao Yang said these words in a desolate and gentle manner.

Aren’t you planning to promote the talents of Shuzhong? You’re looking for me! My academy is worried that there are only five teachers, and it is impossible to expand. It would be strange if these talents above this level were not recruited. Yun Ye tried hard not to laugh and made a profound look.

“Sir, you’re wrong. There’s no shortage of talented people in Shu who are looking for a place to make a name for themselves. The Ke Wu Academy was just established, and it needs a lot of talent. The head of the Ke Wu Academy, Lord Yun, is here, so there’s no shortage of people to recommend.

Knowing Li Tai’s thoughts, he has not yet developed a strong desire for the throne. Li Er’s favor for him has not yet reached the point of taking the crown prince and replacing him. I don’t know if he will hit his head against the wall when he thinks back to the fact that he exchanged a dozen of the best people in Shu for a barbecue.

Li Gang applauded and laughed, saying to Yang Shou, “I am the headmaster of Yushan Academy, and I am getting old. The other three old friends are also becoming increasingly overwhelmed. As long as you all join Yushan Academy and teach for a few years, I guarantee that you will all have a bright future.”

What a good man! Yun Ye had already forgotten that the four old men had tricked him, and it was a great relief to hear this from his venerable teacher. Yun Ye deeply hoped that these old men would trick him for a few more years, and how pleasant it would be not to be at the forefront of the storm.

“The capital is expensive, and you gentlemen have lived in the capital for a long time, so you still need Yun Hou’s help.” Mr. Yushan has long regarded the famous scholars of Shu as part of the academy, and has begun to fight for the welfare of his fellow townsmen early.

Before Yang Shou could even open his mouth, Yun Ye rushed to say, “Teaching and educating people, studying and learning are all your business. As for introducing you to the government and other miscellaneous matters, leave them to me. I will not disappoint you. There are only a dozen people, not to mention that they are all talented, and I am afraid that they will break their heads to get them. My uncles and aunts will not be kind to the young man, so please ask Master Li to save me.”

Yun Ye’s words were witty and attracted a round of laughter.

The people of Shu also let go of their feelings, and the bold and yet delicate character of the people of Sichuan was revealed.

Only Yun Ye was singing in his heart.

“Horse bone is formed!”