Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 11: Academic Research
In the wine house, Zhang Yu stared at the young man in front of him with curiosity. He thought that meeting Zhang Liao a few days ago was a pleasant surprise, but he never thought that today he would meet Hao Zhao, who was famous because of Zhuge Liang.

"Thank you Mr. Zhang for your help today. I would like to toast you all with a glass of wine!" Hao Zhao was well educated and was not at all stage-shy. He raised the wine jar and toasted.

"please!"

Zhang Yu raised his cup in response and asked, "I saw that the horse sold by Bodao was strong and slender, why didn't he keep it for himself? Is there something wrong with his family?"

Hao Zhao hesitated for a moment, as if he had something to hide.

"I'm just asking casually. If you find it inconvenient, you don't have to answer." Zhang Yu said.

Hao Zhao gritted his teeth and said truthfully, "To be honest, my dear, my father was selling horses for someone else. He encountered a butcher on the road and lost both the man and the horse. In order to repay the debt, my family sold the land, houses and servants. Now my mother is sick and bedridden, and I have younger brothers and sisters to take care of, so Zhao had no choice but to sell my beloved horse."

No matter how outstanding a person's future is, there will always be low points. It is no joke that a penny can make a hero fall!
Li Song sighed with the same feeling and said, "Heaven is cruel and it is always hard on people with bad luck!"

Zhang Yang poured a glass of wine for Hao Zhao and said to him in comfort, "Life is full of ups and downs. Bo Dao is still young, so he may be able to revive the family!"

"I hope so!" Hao Zhao smiled bitterly.

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment and asked, "What are Bodao's plans for the future?"

"First, I need to cure my mother's illness. Then I will see if I can redeem a few acres of land and do my best to raise my younger siblings!" Hao Zhao said.

"It's not a long-term solution!"

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Bo Dao is good at martial arts and has a lot of strength, which is a good asset for him to start a career. Now he is going back home to farm and do farmer's work. Isn't it a pity? In my opinion, if Bo Dao wants to revive his family business, he still needs to venture into the world."

Farming and farming are all hard-earned money, just like working in a factory in later generations, which can barely make a living, but expecting to make a fortune or a lot of money is probably just a pipe dream. In the social situation of the Eastern Han Dynasty, to make a fortune and revive the family, one still has to find a way out and venture into the world.

"I would like to hear Mr. Zhang's advice!"

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, "When I was in the market, I heard from horse merchants that there are many horses in Bingzhou, so the price of horses is very low. Because there is a shortage of fine horses in Jingchu, Jiangling, and Jiangdong Wujun, a common horse can be worth ten thousand coins. If it is a top-quality horse, it should be worth a hundred gold coins."

"My Zhang family has lived in Yunzhong for a long time. We often trade cattle and horses in Bingzhou. Now we want to trade in the Central Plains. If Bodao is interested in venturing out, he may join my Zhang family in doing business."

There was a clear difference in the attitudes towards merchants between the two Han dynasties. The Western Han Dynasty adopted a policy of suppressing merchants, with a tax rate of 20%. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the commercial tax was as high as 50%. The Eastern Han Dynasty was more tolerant of merchants, with the commercial tax maintained at around 10%, and it also developed salt, iron and the wealthy families.

Therefore, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, commercial trade was quite developed. Not only the gentry would participate in business, but the troops stationed in the border counties would also indirectly participate in business. For example, the officers of Juyan Lake would collect fish and shrimps in the lake and cooperate with local merchants. The army would provide cattle, sheep and other commodities, which would then be sold to the Central Plains by merchants in exchange for huge profits.

Once Bingzhou opens to trade, merchants will flock to it, exchanging iron pots, salt, and wheat for cattle and horses from the Hu people. Zhang Yu and Zhang Ji both saw this, and in the future, the Zhang family would probably form a joint caravan with the nobles of the border counties, specializing in the trade route from the border counties to the Central Plains.

Zhang Yu invited Hao Zhao to join the caravan, largely because he wanted to win Hao Zhao over so that he could recruit him into his team when the time was right in the future.

Hao Zhao hesitated for a long time and said, "Trading horses is a good way to go. But my mother is ill and my brother and sister-in-law are still young. Although Zhao wants to venture out, he dare not go far away!"

Seeing that Hao Zhao was worried, Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Put your family first. Bodao can go home and take care of your family first. When your mother recovers, or when you are interested in making a living, you can come to Dalu Mountain to find me!"

"I will remember your kindness today and repay you in the future!"

Hao Zhao was not a stupid person, so how could he not know that Zhang Yu was helping him? He could not help but show gratitude on his face and bowed to express his gratitude.

Zhang Yu helped Hao Zhao up, shook hands with him and sat down with him, saying, "Bo Dao is a man of justice who helps others, and I admire him."

After sitting down, in order to bring the two closer together, Zhang Yu took the initiative to talk to Hao Zhao about the story of Zhang Liao's help, and told him about the same experience of his own Zhang family falling into poverty.

After the banquet, the young Hao Zhao, under Zhang Yu's interaction, took the initiative to call Zhang Yu "brother" and humbly called himself "younger brother".

During this period, in order to show his concern, Zhang Yu asked someone to pay 10% of the business tax on Hao Zhao's behalf.

After doing this, Hao Zhao became even more grateful when he left. He said that after he had dealt with his family affairs, he would take the initiative to visit Zhang Yu in Dalushan regardless of whether he went out to make a living or not.

After parting with Hao Zhao, Zhang Yu was worried that Wen Shao would do something strange, so he stayed overnight in a deserted village outside the city.

The next day, Zhang Yang said goodbye to Zhang Yu and returned home with about 20 riders. Zhang Yu, Li Song and Zhang Maoshan changed into clean clothes and went to Dalu Mountain to visit Wang Hong.

It was noon, the weather was pleasant in early spring, and Zhang Yu walked leisurely, holding the reins.

The fields beside the country road are endless, with canals connecting the fields and paths crisscrossing each other, and the people are working in the fields.

Li Song looked out over the endless fields and said with a sigh, "The fields stretch across the country, tens of thousands of people live there, and the manor is as big as a city. The prosperity of the Wang family cannot be achieved in just a few generations!"

Zhang Yu said slowly: "The Wang family has been prosperous since the pre-Han Dynasty, and has been around for hundreds of years. The classics and farming have been passed down from generation to generation, supplemented by military achievements, so they can be so prosperous. However, there are so many people like the Wang family of Qi County in the Han Dynasty in various counties in the Central Plains!"

The Wang family of Qi County did not become a wealthy family until the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. After that, they experienced the turbulent times of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Even in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Wang family of Qi County still produced many officials. For example, Wang Bo in the early Tang Dynasty was from the Wang family of Qi County.

Although the Wang family of Qi County is not as prominent as the Central Plains families at present, after hundreds of years of operation, the Wang family has already accumulated extraordinary foundation. With just a little opportunity, the Wang family may be able to take off.

Li Song said with envy: "A man should establish the Wang family's business!"

Zhang Yu remained silent, thinking to himself, "If I want to accomplish great things, I must rely on the help of prominent families and powerful people!"

This trip to Jinyang gave Zhang Yu a deep understanding of what a prominent family is. These large families that integrate economics, politics, and academics have very strong strength.

The 0.2/80 rule is often used in later generations to describe capitalist society, but in Zhang Yu's eyes, the Eastern Han society was a society where % of the wealthy families owned % of the wealth.

The Cao family of Qiao County alone could spend 100 million yuan to buy the position of Taiwei from the imperial court. Not to mention the top families such as Yuan, Yang, and Huan, how much money would they have?
In the chaotic times at the end of the Han Dynasty, nothing could be accomplished relying solely on the big families, but nothing could be accomplished without the support of the big families!
If I want to have a place in the future troubled times, I need the support of the big families in Bingzhou before I can say that I have a foothold here!

Under the guidance of passers-by, Zhang Yu, Li Song and the other two followed the mountain road and walked for about two incense sticks before finally arriving at the house halfway up the mountain.

Although it is called a house, the area is not very large. The house can be divided into two parts, the inner and outer parts, which are built with bricks, tiles and trees, and built on the slope with a beautiful environment. The outer courtyard is mainly for outsiders to live in, while the inner courtyard is for Wang Hong and his family to live in.

After handing the horse to his attendant Zhang Maoshan, Zhang Yu went forward and knocked on the door.

"Knock knock~"

The door of the house was slowly opened, and an old man in his fifties looked Zhang Yu and the other two up and down and asked, "Who are you?"

Zhang Yu bowed and said, "My surname is Zhang, my given name is Yu, and my courtesy name is Ji'an. I was recommended by Governor Guo of Dingxiang, and I came here to study with Lord Changwen!"

As he spoke, he presented the silk scarf written by Guo Yu himself.

The old man glanced at the material of the scarf and said, "Young man, you can give it to the owner of the house yourself."

"The master is giving a lecture in the side hall. You can wait outside the hall." Zhang Yu asked, "What's the old gentleman's name?"

"My surname is Wang, I dare not accept your words, sir!"

"Yu meets Mr. Wang!"

After being honored, the old man relaxed a little and reminded, "The master doesn't like to be disturbed when he is teaching!"

"promise!"

Under the guidance of the old man, Zhang Yu led Li Song to the side hall and waited for Wang Hong to finish his lecture.

Zhang Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his back straight. His height of more than eight feet made him particularly eye-catching compared to Li Song's seven feet height.

A young maid passed by the side hall and glanced at Zhang Yu. She was attracted by Zhang Yu's sharp and heroic face and couldn't help but look back a few more times.

The figure disappeared into the inner courtyard, and the maid found a maid dressed slightly more maturely and whispered, "Another person has come to study!"

The older maid was concentrating on tending to the flowers and plants. She said, "In the past, when so many people came, you didn't talk too much. Why do you talk so much when so many people come today?"

"Sister, you don't know, that young man is tall and strong, and very handsome." said the maid.

"It seems my sister misses a man!"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Haha~"

……

Zhang Yu was unaware of the movement in the inner courtyard. He waited quietly outside the hall, listening to the deep voice coming from inside.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of adjourning was heard in the hall.

With the sporadic voices, two scholars hurried out of the hall. They were surprised to see Zhang Yu waiting there.

"Lu Bu!"

There was a hint of anger in the surprised voice. Zhang Yu looked closely and found that it was Wen Shao, the second-generation official whom he met in the East Market of Jinyang. He felt helpless. He used a fake name to deceive Wen Shao, but he met him again unexpectedly.

"How dare you be here!"

Remembering that he was teased by this person, Wen Shao suddenly became angry and couldn't help but ask loudly.

"What's all the fuss!"

Wang Hong stepped out of the hall and asked.

"Greetings to Lord Changwen!"

Zhang Yu and Li Song bowed and greeted him.

Wen Shao was afraid that Wang Hong would blame him, so he led the scholars around him and left quickly.

"Who are you two?" Wang Hong asked.

"Reporting to Lord Changwen, I am your student Zhang Yu and Zhang Ji'an. I have heard that you are well-read and knowledgeable about ancient and modern times, so I and my student Li Song have come to learn from you."

As he spoke, Zhang Yu handed over Guo Wei's letter.

"This is the student recommended by Zixuan (Guo Xuan's pen name)!"

"come in!"

As they sat down in the hall and exchanged pleasantries, Zhang Yu finally got a clear idea of who Wang Hong was.

Wang Hong has a standard "official appearance", with thick eyebrows, big eyes, regular facial features, and a beautiful beard under his chin, which makes him look majestic.

"What have you two learned? What do you want to learn?" Wang Hong put down the letter and asked.

"Sir, when I was young, I studied the Han Dynasty classics with Bo Ji Gong, but my study time was short and I have not been able to understand the secrets of the classics. I still need your guidance."

Li Song said: "I heard that you are good at the "Book of Filial Piety" and the "Spring and Autumn Annals". I would like to study these two classics with you."

"it is good!"

"Where's Ji'an?"

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "The Hu bandits have been invading our borders for years. I have the ambition to become a champion marquis. I wonder if you can teach me the art of war?"

"Ok?"

Wang Hong was a little surprised. He had returned to his hometown to teach for two or three years, and many students followed him to study "The Book of Filial Piety" and "The Spring and Autumn Annals", but very few of them were willing to join the army and make meritorious contributions.

"How is your martial arts?"

Zhang Yu's words were full of confidence. He said, "I am not a talented student, but I can wear two crossbows and shoot from left to right. Last month, the Hu people robbed my horse, and I shot and killed three people and took the horse back!"

Hearing this, Wang Hong was greatly surprised and looked at Zhang Yu again.

Although he and his brother Wang Yun entered the government with the knowledge of classics, it does not mean that they are not good at martial arts. On the contrary, they have been practicing martial arts since childhood, and the art of riding and shooting is not a problem. Perhaps outsiders do not know the difficulty of "double belts and two crossbows, riding and shooting on both sides", but as an expert, how could Wang Hong not know the value of it?

"He can shoot with both hands, and he is a brave general!"

Wang Hong stroked his beautiful beard and said with a smile: "Ji'an wants to learn the art of war, I will teach him!"

"Thank you for your teaching, sir!"

(End of this chapter)