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Chapter 262 Recruiting Talented Individuals
"Academies and free schools?" Zhu Yu hadn't heard Lu Qing mention them before, so he quickly asked, "Who set them up? Whose idea was it?"

“Naturally, it’s him and me together.” Lu Qing smiled. “He has a better reputation than me, so it’s easier for him to recruit truly talented scholars. He’s willing to go to the academies set up elsewhere to recruit talented people for us, select those who have been overlooked without the recommendation of high-ranking families, and elevate these unpolished gems with keen insight and teach them with pure and profound knowledge.”

As for me, I had more freedom of action than him, and I took care of the trivial matters of selecting sites and building academies and free schools.

Overall, everyone was doing their job.

As for the idea, it wasn't really anyone's idea; it was just a matter of mutual agreement.

Zhu Yu nodded slowly.

Through these months of getting to know each other, she has gained a very clear understanding of Lu Qing's mind. Among the people she knows, if Lu Qing is ranked second, she really can't say who deserves to be ranked first.

Hearing him say that he and Lu Chao had secretly built academies in various places to cultivate talented people from less privileged backgrounds, Zhu Yu was truly impressed by his vision.

The Dajin government has always used a recommendation system for selecting officials. On the surface, it requires officials in each prefecture to regularly search for talented and virtuous individuals within their jurisdiction and recommend them to the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel then conducts multiple rounds of screening and selection before finally choosing and appointing the recommended individuals.

The problem is that there are too many people in a state to count. Children from ordinary families can barely manage to read a few characters in a private school and recite a few passages of the Thousand Character Classic. There is simply no spare money or time to carefully support a child's education.

Even among the poorer families who were slightly better off than ordinary commoners, there were occasionally some exceptionally talented young people, but they were often not considered worthy of the attention of the local officials because of their low social status, so how could they easily obtain the qualification for recommendation?

On the contrary, those young masters from wealthy families, as long as they are not too dissolute and are not notorious troublemakers in the surrounding area, can always get a minor official position if they put on a decent appearance and their families give them more money. Even if they end up as minor officials who are not valued, at least they will not end up as commoners.

That's why Cao Tianbao's mediocre nephew, Cao Chenfeng, was able to thrive in the capital just because he had such an outstanding uncle. If he hadn't encountered that incident before and fallen into someone else's trap, he would certainly not have fared too badly with General Cao's help in the future.

In this way, those noble families no longer need to worry about their descendants being unworthy, leading to the decline of their family fortunes and eventual ruin. However, it also means that countless talented people will be buried as a result.

Without a recommendation, it's like a piece of jade buried dozens of meters deep in a mine pit; without a miraculous opportunity, it will probably never see the light of day.

More importantly, those scions of high-ranking families would inevitably follow the lead of their elders and attach themselves to the faction of the Duke of Yan, making it extremely difficult to get them to work for others.

In this situation, Lu Qing and Lu Chao secretly established an academy, bypassing the sons of high-ranking families and cultivating and recruiting talents useful to them from the common people. This move was tantamount to bypassing the defenses erected by the Duke of Yan's clique and cultivating their own power.

This guy made so many preparations and considered everything thoroughly, but because he was worried that he couldn't beat the Duke of Yan, he was thinking about how to "let himself go" before the defeat was already decided!

Anyway, Zhu Yu now has a more optimistic view of their prospects.

"So, Lu Chao made a special trip there this time to select some retainers?" She roughly guessed Lu Chao's purpose for the trip. "Are we going to Xinzhou later? Are you going to select some retainers there?"

I don't need it.

"My goals are different from Lu Chao's. He's after the world, so naturally he needs many strategists around him who will come in handy in the future. As for me, I'm just seeking a truly carefree life for myself." Lu Qing smiled, shook his head, and looked at Zhu Yu's face. "Besides, one person who truly understands me is enough."

I've found the one who truly understands me; one shouldn't be too greedy.

His words were quite frank and straightforward, and they struck a chord with Zhu Yu.

Conquering the world is difficult, but maintaining it is even more difficult.

If one is not a person who truly has the world in their heart and aspires to this goal, even if they gain the world, it is nothing more than finding a tedious job to satisfy their vanity.

Knowing what you want is very important in life.

Fortunately, what she and Lu Qing wanted coincided.

After their conversation, Lu Qing burned the secret letter as usual. Although no one else could understand its contents except him and Lu Chao, it was always better to be cautious in such matters.

While eating, Zhu Yu heard what happened after he fell asleep.

After she fell asleep, Yan Shu, having heard that they had returned, ran over to chat with Zhu Yu. Upon learning that she was too tired and had already fallen asleep, she returned to her room somewhat forlornly.

After three or four days of rest, and with the medicine prescribed by Yan Daoxin, both internal and external, Yan Shu is walking much more nimbly than before. Judging from this, she will be fully recovered in a few more days.

Just now, Lu Qing also sent a letter to Lu Chao, saying that Yan Shu would have a hard time returning to the capital of Jin Kingdom without some external help.

Within the capital, things are relatively easier. With Yunyin Pavilion and Liu Yueyao, they can surely find a way to help Yan Shu infiltrate Prince Yi's mansion.

The most difficult thing now is to get her back to Jin Kingdom safely and smoothly, and back to the capital.

Although it can be seen from Lu Chao's letter that Yan Shu has not yet been discovered after running away, the matter could be exposed at any time, and every day that is waited increases the risk.

"However, we can't let Yan Shu go back without knowing why. Once she goes back, it will be very difficult for us to see her again, let alone even exchange letters."

Zhu Yu pondered, "So before I go back, there are some things I need to clarify with her again."

This time, it's not just the Shuo Kingdom that's been framed and is at risk of being accused of treason; the Jie Kingdom is the main target. So, since we've managed to get my father's support and Yan Shu is in the middle, maybe we can form an alliance with the Jie Kingdom in a short time?

After all, our goals are the same: to clear our names and expose the mastermind behind the attempt to frame the Jie and Shuo kingdoms!