Chapter 46 Li Bohan

  "Alas, talented people..."

  As the site expanded, various matters also increased, and handling them became more and more complicated. Zhao Wu's ability was already quite strained.

  Riding on a green cloud, proceeding on the road to Lingzhou City, Li Zhong couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

  After all, it's just that I'm not strong enough myself.

  In this era, a king chooses his ministers, and the ministers also choose their king. As long as you are strong enough, you will naturally attract enough talent. Otherwise, you can only gaze longingly into the distance.

  It was for this reason that Li Qiu did not show any intention of recruiting Xun Yu.

  Even this time going to find Li Bo Ran, he still had to have Li Zheng personally appear, no one else would do.

  Counting the people under his command, Zhou Fei, Zhou Lin and Zhao Wu were all born as household slaves. Although they had worked for a big family like Fu's before and had some experience, after all, they couldn't compare with real talents. Controlling one county was already barely enough.

  For example, Zhang Shan and Bai Lang were either wandering knights or slaves by birth, all of whom were grassroots at the bottom. Except for being slightly smarter, or knowing a bit of gangster style, daring to fight and kill, there are no other advantages.

  To support the growing grassland, their ability is no longer sufficient.

  So, in the absence of being able to obtain the service of great talents for the time being, one can only cultivate useful personnel by oneself.

  Li Cong heard that the angel had arrived, and when he went to Lingzhou, he rode an ordinary warhorse, without revealing the existence of the Qingjia War Rider. Now, however, there was no such concern, but rather a grand entrance on the extraordinary Qingjia War Rider, which was unlike any ordinary mount, into the Hu Qiang School Lieutenant's mansion.

  Xun Yu was busy spreading rumors these days and wasn't in the government office at this time.

  Li Zheng didn't ask any questions on purpose, just let the servants take care of Qingyun, and then called a guide to lead him to Li Bohan's mansion.

  Li Boren had been an official before, but he didn't have any family members. He was just a lonely old man living by himself. Neither Li Zheng nor the powerful families in Lingzhou knew why this was the case.

  Li Bo Ran's mansion was not luxurious, at first glance, the courtyard wall was mottled and worn out, that wooden door also looked very old, there wasn't even a plaque on the door.

  It's unknown to others, and they might even think this is an abandoned courtyard.

  He knocked at the door, and after a moment, he heard a creaking sound, and an old servant-like face appeared from the crack of the door.

  "Who is this little brother looking for?"

  The old servant asked slowly and clearly.

  "Underneath Li Zhēn, there is an important matter to ask for advice from Old Master Lǐ Bó Rán."

  Li Zheng took a step forward and bowed.

  The old servant uttered an "oh" and opened the door, inviting Li Zhēng and his entourage to enter the courtyard.

  After entering, Li Zhēng raised his head and couldn't help but praise with a series of "tsks".

  The courtyard was very spacious, with dense trees and flowers. However, the fallen leaves and weeds among the trees and flowers were not cleaned up, and there was only a small stone path winding deep into it, which was still tidy.

  The path winds along the valley, no different from this outside.

  As the old servant, Li Zhēng walked along the stone path for a while, a faint reading sound reached his ears, and when he looked up, he saw an ancient small building.

  Under the guidance of the old servant, Li Zhēng skirted around the small building and suddenly found himself in a bright open space.

  In the backyard, under several thick trees with trunks as wide as a man's hug, on an empty ground, seven or eight young men were kneeling and sitting at this time. These young men were all holding bamboo slips and reading aloud.

  Li Yuan Li Bo Ran's familiar figure also appeared in front of him, the old man sat on the ground, holding a bamboo slip that had been opened, and beside his hand, there was a ruler.

  The old servant stopped here and said: "When the master teaches students, he doesn't like to be disturbed. Please forgive me, young master."

  Li Zhonghui smiled casually and said: "Old Master teaches and educates people, that is a great virtue. We stand aside and wait for a moment, what's the harm?"

  This stop is just half an hour.

  Li Bohan clapped his hands and said to the students, "Take a short rest first, and then I will answer your questions for you."

  The students bowed and some were still pondering the words on the bamboo slips, while others gathered in groups of three or five to start discussing. The whole atmosphere seemed very harmonious and relaxed.

  Li Bo Ran put down his bamboo tablet, slowly stood up, patted the dust off his body and walked over.

  "Old gentleman."

  Li Zheng took the lead in making a bow, with great respect and reverence.

  Li Bohan smiled and returned a courtesy, saying: "So it's General Li."

  Li Boren and Li Zhong walked into a small building on the side.

  As soon as he entered the door, Li Zhēng's gaze was involuntarily attracted. All around the hall were bookshelves, with row upon row of neatly arranged bamboo scrolls.

  A whiff of fragrance wafted from the tip of his nose, a mixture of bamboo and ink that was both refreshing and intoxicating.

  In an instant, Li Zhēn seemed to be in the midst of a sea of books, this feeling was truly wonderful.

  Sit.

  Li Bo Ran greeted them with a expressionless face and several people took their seats as host and guest.

  "I don't know what instructions General Li has for coming to my humble abode this time?"

  Li Bo Ran's tone was very indifferent.

  "I dare not." Li Zhēng cupped his hands and smiled, saying: "This time I've come to pay my respects to the elder sir, there is a major matter that I wish to ask for guidance on in person."

  "Oh?"

  Li Bohan swept his sleeves and said: "Is there any other important matter that can stop General Li?"

  "But it's about Lingzhou's educational issues."

  Li Zhēng could hear the unfamiliar estrangement in Li Bó Rán's tone, of course, Li Zhēng also knew why.

  At first, Li Jing made a promise to stabilize the situation in Lingzhou before going on an expedition to rescue Fu Xian. At that time, Li Bo also represented the entire Lingzhou aristocracy and expressed support. But as soon as Li Jing returned, he immediately changed his face and vigorously rectified the Lingzhou aristocracy.

  This is no different from greatly damaging the old man's face, and it's no wonder that the old man would feel estranged and resentful. To be honest, if Li Zhēng didn't have his own plans, he would probably despise himself for being untrustworthy.

  But Li Zhong won't specially explain this, it's unnecessary, later on this old man will gradually see what Li Zhong will do.

  So, he didn't beat around the bush and said straightforwardly: "Lingzhou County has jurisdiction over a dozen or so towns and several tens of townships, but there is only one place that teaches and educates people, which is Mr. Lao's place."

  Li Bohan heard this and slightly nodded his head: "So General Li means...?"

  "My intention is to popularize education throughout Lingzhou." Li Zhēng looked straight at Li Bórán and said, "For now, due to financial constraints, I plan to establish only one academy in each county. Once our finances are sufficient in the future, we will gradually expand to every town!"

  "Oh?!"

  Upon hearing this, Li Bo Ran's expression changed in an instant, and he immediately stood up, his previous calmness thrown out the window. However, it took him a while to regain his composure before slowly sitting back down.

  "Do you know what this means?"

  Li Bohan frowned and said.

  "Of course, I know." Li Zhuang smiled freely: "I know that the inheritance of my Chinese culture has always been in the hands of scholars from aristocratic families. What I'm doing is undoubtedly breaking this monopoly, and to some extent, offending all the aristocratic families under heaven!"

  "How can you still do this, knowing what you know?!" Li Bo Ran's eyes shot out with an inexplicable light: "I've lived for over 60 years, traveled the world in my youth, and later became an official. I'm confident that these eyes of mine haven't gone blind yet. I can see that General Li has great ambitions. If so, do you know the consequences of offending the powerful families of the world? It's something you cannot afford to bear!"

  "Haha..."

  Li Zhēng burst out laughing and said disdainfully, "What's it to you? I'm just that kind of person. As long as I think it's right, I'll do it. Today the heavens are chaotic, it's the perfect opportunity to break all old rules. Why shouldn't I do it?"

  Li Bohan heard this, stared at Li Zheng for a long time, didn't see him retreat in the slightest. After a long while, Li sighed slightly: "I'm old, my ambitions have turned to smoke and clouds. Young man, things aren't as simple as you imagine, even if you have great courage and determination."

  "Do you know why I, an old man, only teach these seven or eight students in this Lingzhou city? Do you know the great Confucian scholar Ma Rong of You Fufeng? Or the current great Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan of Qingzhou? Or perhaps Lu Zhi and his son Lu Shu? They all once established academies, recruiting students, but look at them now!"

  "Who among Master Ma's disciples became famous? They were all from noble families! Were those commoners who sought knowledge all fools?! No, no! They too had great talent, but no opportunity to rise, no opportunity to rise! What about Zheng Kangcheng? Isn't he the same? What is he doing now? Tilling the soil in the countryside, teaching a few dozen students, but what's the use of that?! And Lu Zhi? Among his students who became famous, weren't they all from families with social standing?"

  Li Zhēng listened to Li Bó Rán's words, as if he saw the entanglement and resentment in his heart. That kind of helplessness made him turn white-haired, aged at heart, with great ambitions no longer present, and feeble in old age.

  Yes, the cultural heritage of this era is in the hands of aristocratic families, and the ladder to advancement is also controlled by them. How difficult it is for ordinary people from humble backgrounds to rise up!

  But Li Zhēn's heart was very determined, and he said: "Old sir, the common people of humble origins have no way to rise up, so I will give them the opportunity to rise up. The aristocratic families monopolize everything, so I will break all of this!"

  "Old sir!"

  Li Zhong suddenly stood up, tall and slender, and bowed, saying: "I beg the old master to come out of the mountain, for me, for yourself, and for the poor common people of the world, to preside over educational work!"

  Staring blankly at Li Zhēn, Lǐ Bó suddenly began to tremble all over. He stood up shakily and walked forward, grasping Li Zhēn's arms, looking at his firm face, and suddenly burst out laughing loudly.

  A line of old tears bursts forth in a smile!

  "Alright, I'll accept your challenge!"

  Li Bo straightened his back and laughed loudly: "Let old me see if I can see that scene in my dream in my lifetime!"

  "I can, I must!"

  Leaving Li Bohan's mansion, Li Zheng stood in front of the gate for a long time, sighing.

  Times are difficult and there is no way for advancement. Li Zhēn can imagine what he would be like in this era if there was no war riding system.

  At most, it's a life of being someone else's thug, without a good background, don't even think about standing out!

  He also thought of his elder brother Fu Xie, perhaps this era was not without open-minded family sons. For example, the example Li Bo Ran mentioned earlier.

  Ma Rong, Zheng Xuan and Lu Zhi all made efforts for this, but none of them succeeded.

  But Li Zhong believed in himself.

  As long as there is absolute power in hand, everything can be broken and a world that one idealizes can be created!