Seventeen, Initial Plan

  What he said was not about the Battle of Changping, but about the war between our dynasty and the Khitan from beyond the pass!

  Fang Yizhi's hand slowly fell, and his gaze at Yu Guozhen was somewhat surprised. In Yu Guozhen's words, almost half of the reason for Zhao's defeat in the Battle of Changping was placed on King Zhao himself. If he was using the past to satirize the present, then that would be a bit too disrespectful to the monarch.

  But Fang Yizhi had no way to refute it. Since the rebellion of Dong Yu, the government army had repeatedly defeated, was the reason simply that the border officials and generals were incompetent?

  That night, Fang Yizhi was almost sleepless. He was deeply influenced by the Donglin Party and remembered its motto "family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs are all related". As a man of insight, he often discussed current events with friends, believing that the Ming dynasty had reached a critical moment of great danger, and he also had the ambition to save the country from disaster.

  However, at this time, the bandit Gao Yingxiang had not yet made a name for himself, and Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were just ordinary bandit chiefs. The defeats of Hong Chengchou at Songshan and Sun Chuanting at Tongguan had not yet occurred. Otherwise, Fang Yizhi would have known that Yu Guozhen's words pointed to something even deeper.

  The next morning, Fang Yizhi had made up his mind to bid farewell today, but before leaving, he still wanted to hear Yu Guozhen's views on the situation in Liaodong.

  "Speaking of beyond the pass, I heard a strange thing. In summer, the daytime in the north is longer than ours in the south. Does Brother Mi know the reason behind this?"

  Yu Guozhen was unwilling to express his views on the current situation, he understood that scholars of this era might turn against him if they didn't see eye-to-eye, Fang Yizhi was the same.

  "It's true, I've heard it before." Since Yu Guozhen didn't want to say anything, Fang Yizhi also stopped asking.

  Two people started from the midnight sun phenomenon in the north, then talked about the polar day and night, and then moved on to the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, and finally got to longitude and latitude. Fang Yizhi had originally planned to linger for a while in the morning and then take his leave, but as they discussed geography, especially when Yu Guozhen talked about the history and philosophers of Western countries, he became so enchanted that he unknowingly stayed at Yu's place for another whole day.

  It wasn't until night began to fall that Fang Yizhi suddenly realized and laughed, pointing at Yu Guozhen: "Brother Guozhen, you're really not kind!"

  "What's the meaning of this?" Yu Guozhen pretended to be stupid and asked.

  "If I'm being honest, every time you deliberately stir up my interest and tempt me to stay...I'd like to see what else you can come up with tomorrow to keep me here!"

  Yu Guozhen burst out laughing, cupped his hands and bowed: "Don't blame me, Brother Mi. Living in the countryside, it's hard to find friends with similar interests, so I wanted to keep you for a few more days. It was just a small trick, but of course, I couldn't fool you!"

  Fang Yizhi smiled but did not speak, thinking that he could set off the next day. However, he ended up staying at Yu Guozhen's place for six whole days. It was only when he really couldn't delay his journey any further that he left. As they parted ways, Fang Yizhi bowed deeply to Yu Guozhen on the bow of the boat: "Brother Guozhen, I have learned a lot from you this time. If there's an opportunity, I will definitely recommend you, so that your talents won't be wasted!"

  Yu Guozhen respectfully declined, in his eyes, this imperial court, from the emperor and royal family to officials and gentry, the entire ruling class had already rotted through, even with the advantage of being a time-traveler, he could not fundamentally save this imperial court.

  To save the country, we must start anew!

  Fang Yizhi did not take Yu Guozhen's excuse as true. Who in this world does not want to serve and be an official?

  "Master Wu, Second Master and Fifth Master request your return to town, as there is important business to discuss."

  He bowed deeply and respectfully to Yu Guozhen, not even daring to look up at him. This was an unavoidable thing, as the heads of Li Jinbao and Xiao Shilang, who had been beheaded by the stone grey powder, were still hanging on the gate of Wuwei County.

  "I see," Yu Guozhen said lightly, gazing at the gradually disappearing silhouette of the Simingwa ship and Fang Yizhi standing at the stern waving at him. He let out a faint sigh.

  Fang Yizhi was indeed one of the most outstanding Confucian scholars of this era. In these few days of interaction, the two had a lot in common on some aspects but also had intense debates on others.

  For example, Fang Yizhi wanted to subsume all natural studies under the Book of Changes, which Yu Guozhen felt was somewhat forcing people's will.

  In addition, there are also some differences in the attitudes of the two towards the Donglin Party and the eunuch party, but Yu Guozhen has done a good job of concealing his own attitude.

  The eunuch party is certainly not a good thing, but can the Donglin Party be noble? Or to put it another way, how much better is the current Donglin Party than the eunuch party?

  It has been several years since the Chongzhen Emperor ascended to the throne and eliminated Wei Zhongxian and his cohorts. Many Donglin scholars have been reinstated, but how much have their actions helped the Great Ming?

  United in attacking dissent, extremely enthusiastic, competing for power and profit, actively participating, but when it comes to contributing a single copper coin to the national treasury, they all cry out in anguish as if being robbed of their interests.

  Even Fang Lizhi is no exception on this issue.

  "Fang Yizhi is relatively open-minded and fair in handling matters within the Donglin Party, it's always been like this...it seems that there's no hope for the Donglin Party." Yu Guozhen thought to himself.

  In his initial plan, he originally had the idea of using Fang Yi Zhi to take Dong Lin for himself, but now this idea has changed.

  "I don't know what Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle have summoned me for." Yu Guozhen asked as they returned to Xiang'an Town.

  Yu Yiqin smiled and beckoned him to sit down, but Yu Guozhen still maintained a respectful demeanor and didn't immediately take a seat. This attitude of his made Yu Yixuan extremely satisfied, and he couldn't help but nod his head in approval.

  "We discussed it, Guo Zhen, you're still young, the position of head of the Yu family is not suitable for you yet. But to outsiders, I'm still considered the head of the Yu family. Internally, all the people, wealth and property of the Yu family will be at your disposal." Yu Yiqin saw that he didn't sit down, so she got straight to the point.

  Although he was mentally prepared, Yu Guozhen still looked surprised when he heard the words.

  He originally thought that his uncles would agree to cooperate with him in training the family guards and provide financial support, which was the greatest gain. Unexpectedly, Yu Yiqin and Yu Yixuan made such a decision!

  It was just Yu Yiqin alone, of course, who couldn't make such a decision. It must have been Yu Yixuan's suggestion. So these few days, Fang Yizhi has been entertaining him, and every day he invites Yu Yixuan to accompany him.

  "Guo Zhen, I've been listening to your discussions with Fang Mi about the current situation, and overall, you're not bad. The world is going to be in chaos. Seeing Yu Guo Zhen looking at him, Yu Yixuan cleared his throat: "In our Yu family, only you have talent, so go ahead and do it!"

  Yu Guozhen nodded slowly, since it was so, he wouldn't drag his feet either.

  "Second Brother, Fifth Uncle, is that what you mean? That the Yu family's people, wealth and goods are all at my disposal, and even the two of you are no exception?"

  "Yes, we two are no exception."

  "Where is your uncle?"

  Although his uncle Yu Yi Jian was only a concubine, he had always been tight-lipped and rarely expressed his own opinions on major events. However, this time it was really important, and Yu Guo Zhen must get confirmation in person.

  "On your uncle's side, we'll persuade him. If he's unwilling, then we'll just have to separate households." Yu Yixuan said lightly.

  "Is that so? Then what I'm going to do next... will Second Brother and Fifth Uncle support me?"

  "We support everything except for things that bring about our own destruction!"

  Yu Yiqin and Yu Yixuan were both convinced by their nephew's endless tactics, the complete destruction of the Fourth House, the downfall of the Water Bandits, and the fact that Fang Yizhi, a renowned figure, regarded them as mentors. These three things combined made them realize that standing in opposition to Yu Guozhen would bring no benefits whatsoever.

  Since it's like this, I'd rather fully support Yu Guozhen than write two characters that don't come out right.

  "I'm going to Anhui next to deal with the water bandits." Yu Guozhen said slowly, "Last time there was a Xiao Shilang and also an older brother Xiao Silang. This person is a scourge, if we don't get rid of him, he'll come back for revenge sooner or later!"

  As soon as Yu Guozhen spoke, a phrase emerged in the minds of both Yu Yiqin and Yu Yixuan: "Cut the grass and eliminate the roots!"

  It's because Xiao Si Lang will come to avenge, and fundamentally wants to cut the grass and eliminate the roots. This nephew's heart is indeed as hard as iron and stone!

  "How can we find that thief in the midst of Chaohu Lake?"

  "I previously investigated and found out the three usual hideout locations of their gang, and also spread the word that all water bandits were killed on the spot. Therefore, Xiao Si Lang will not have any suspicions, even if he does have some suspicions, in these few days without the government coming to search and confiscate, he would have let his guard down."

  Yu Guozhen's words made Yu Yixuan's eyes widen, he had learned about the situation from his second brother, originally thinking that killing all the water bandits was just to avoid some trouble, now he knew that at the time Yu Guozhen had already decided to cut the grass and eliminate the roots, even doing a fake setup in advance!

  "On the official side, after the event, let Wu Shu go to make some arrangements, just say it's for revenge on behalf of the Fourth House, and then give them some silver, share the credit with them, I think there won't be any problem." Yu Guozhen said again: "As for this matter, do Erbo and Wushu think it should be done?"

  "We'll do it," said the Yu brothers in unison, looking at each other and speaking in a low tone.

  "It's settled then, we have our own fishing boat at home and can hire a few more sailors when the time comes. Another thing, the equipment used by our family's guards is no match for those of the water bandits, so Second Uncle will get the town's blacksmith to forge some knives and swords."

  Yu Yiqin responded with a sound, this matter is not difficult, although the imperial court prohibits civilians from owning firearms, generally speaking, the imperial court still turns a blind eye to swords.

  "The third thing is that the number of family servants is insufficient. Fifth Uncle has read Qi Shaobao's military book and he is very particular about selecting soldiers. Our family's servants are used to being servants but not suitable for being soldiers, so I intend to recruit some young men. It is said that in Shandong, Dengzhou, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming have rebelled, and refugees from the Jiaodong area are scattered everywhere. Fifth Uncle will personally recruit a batch of young refugees from Jiaodong, aged between 14 to 16 years old, about one hundred people or so, it's alright if they bring their families along."

  "Ah……that's a hundred households……this is unlikely to work, first of all, if a hundred households of refugees move into Xiang'an, it will be too big of a commotion and the government won't be able to keep it under wraps. Secondly, although our family has some money and grain, it's still far from enough to support a hundred households' food and clothing."

  Yu Guozhen smiled and stretched out a finger: "These two are actually the same problem, lacking silver. If we have silver to grease palms, the government will not investigate this matter deeply, and may even give us a banner of merit. After all, refugees can easily cause civil unrest, and by taking them in, we are solving a big headache for them. As for the silver, Fifth Uncle need not worry, please take a look."

  He said, while taking out another cloth bag from his bosom. As soon as the bag came out, Yu Yiqin and Yu Yixuan were stunned. After Yu Guozhen opened it, there were indeed round and smooth pearls in the bag, just like last time!

  "Second Brother and Fifth Uncle thought that the pearl last time was really left by my father, but it's not true. This pearl is actually raised by myself. With this skill, do we still need to worry about having no silver?"