My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 300 Exploiting the Virtuous Bodhisattva

Buddhism was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty and its development was unstoppable. It reached its peak during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, with everyone from the emperor to the common people believing in Buddhism.

In the face of Buddhism, which originated in China, native religions and cultural ideas were almost powerless to resist.

Taoism was targeted by the imperial court for its frequent rebellions, and as a religion, it had a major drawback: it did not provide a good explanation of where people go after death.

As for Confucianism?

They were powerless against Buddhism.

At first, Gao Yu thought that the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties were too chaotic, and that the Buddhist concept of 'reincarnation' could meet the spiritual needs of the common people in their suffering.

Even during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, when Taoism was revered and Buddhism was suppressed, Buddhism still flourished.

The historical status of Song Dynasty Confucian scholars is very high, and Zhu Xi is even more respectfully called "Master Zhu" and is considered a sage.

Why is this happening?
Because during the hundreds of years of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Tang Dynasty, Confucianism suffered repeated defeats and was completely defeated.

It was the Song Dynasty Confucian scholars who absorbed the advanced ideas of Taoism and Buddhism, integrated them, and ultimately achieved the unity of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, allowing Confucianism to continue and even become a prominent school of thought in China once again.

They truly carried on the legacy of the sages.

But Gao Yu thought about it again...

I decided to abandon this somewhat unrealistic idea.

Although Confucianism is now being defeated by Buddhism, it has not declined to the extent it was in the early Northern Song Dynasty. Therefore, it is difficult to expect that contemporary Confucian scholars can be as humble as the Song Dynasty scholars and actively absorb the advanced viewpoints of other schools of thought.

Gao Yu was not a great Confucian scholar; he didn't have such great abilities. He wouldn't suddenly become enlightened and be able to unify thoughts and doctrines just because he met Bodhidharma once.

Some things are destined to be beyond what can be achieved in one step.

"Does my lord wish to go to Lu County?"

"not going."

Gao Yu shook his head, then instructed, "First, do as I say and settle the people in various parts of Qingzhou."

Investigation is like a ten-month pregnancy, and problem-solving is like childbirth; investigation is the solution to problem-solving.

Gao Yu has a bunch of problems to solve right now, so he needs to investigate them thoroughly and repeatedly. Once he has a clear understanding of the issues through investigation, he can then solve them naturally.

May thirty.

Gao Yu summoned his men; after being idle for so long, he was finally about to take action.

"Gentlemen, please follow me to Dongyang City."

Dongyang City was the seat of Qingzhou.

Upon hearing this, Yang Kan couldn't help but advise, "Why must Erlang go to Qingzhou? The bandit leader Xing Gao has been frequently plundering in Qingzhou..."

Yang Yin, Cui Xian, and the others, however, were intrigued when they heard Gao Yu say he was going to Qingzhou. They exchanged glances, seemingly showing interest.

Gao Yu shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zu Xin. However, it is precisely because of this that Qingzhou is in dire need of reconstruction. His Majesty sent me here to protect the borders and people of Yan, Xu and Qingzhou. I have heard that there are many bandits and rebels in Qingzhou. My trip here will be just in time to quell these bandits."

Bandits are so great.

A group of low-class bandits wreaking havoc on the people provided Gao Yu with a perfect opportunity to win their hearts and minds, and also served as a training ground for his troops.

Capturing these bandits would allow them to be assigned to the Xuanjia Army soldiers, who would soon become the first batch of imperial guards, serving as their retainers – a win-win situation.

Everyone knows it too.

For Gao Yu

There is something more important to do right now.

That is, how will the officials of the Tian Ce Mansion be assigned after the establishment of the mansion?

This involves the issue of profit distribution among Gao Yu's subordinates.

However, Gao Yu still did not announce this most important matter, only leaving behind the words, "I will make arrangements for everything after I arrive in Dongyang City."

This is a clear signal.

Gao Yu is about to officially establish his residence in Dongyang City!
After explaining everything, Gao Yu returned to his residence. Liu Taozhi had been having the servants extract sugarcane these past few days, a skill he had learned from India. After dismissing the servants, Gao Yu taught Liu Taozhi the method of purifying sugarcane and making white sugar, also known as the 'sealing mud method'.

"It may take several months. Once the rock honey has been purified into white crystals, you can collect it and take it to Jiankang to sell!"

"Remember, bring back all the money you earn in the form of silk and grain."

Society as a whole is still in the stage of manor economy.

Not to mention the Southern Liang Dynasty, even in many places in the Northern Wei Dynasty, the 'Wuzhu' coins minted during the Han Dynasty were still in use. Copper coins did not circulate because there was no commercial activity at all during that era.

A simple economic loop can be completed within the manor, and externally it mainly involves bartering.

Cloth and grain were the real hard currencies.

It wasn't until the prosperous Tang Dynasty that a "citizen" class gradually emerged in places like Chang'an and Luoyang. It wasn't until the Song Dynasty that the economy truly entered the market, and copper coins began to become the hard currency for commodity transactions.

Before the Song Dynasty.

town.

They mostly refer to military towns and were purely for military purposes.

It was only from the Song Dynasty onwards that towns like Jingdezhen, which clustered together for commercial production, began to emerge.

That's why Gao Yu repeatedly emphasized to Liu Taozhi not to use copper coins, but to exchange them for cloth and grain. Copper coins were useless, and people would even dislike them if they were used as rewards.

"Please rest assured, my lord! I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Liu Taozhi was handling the matter.

Gao Yu was quite reassured; otherwise, he wouldn't have focused on training Gao Yu from the very beginning.

After explaining all of this...

Liu Taozhi left, and Yang Changchu also arrived at Gao Yu's residence. He had specially sent someone to deliver the message.

"I will set off for Dongyang City tomorrow."

Gao Yu looked at her, sighed, and said, "When I get there, I will establish my own residence and send someone to Luoyang to meet the Emperor and deliver the message."

Before Gao Yu could finish speaking...

Yang Changchu then said, "Should you send someone to bring your family members from Luoyang over? The Princess Consort of Guangping has probably already given birth to a child?"

Gao Yu shook his head.

He hasn't received the message yet.

However, judging by the timeline, it should be May.

After all, she was diagnosed with pregnancy last July, and her first child may have already been born into this world.

Both logically and emotionally, Gao Yu needs to take him over as soon as possible.

Then...

Gao Yu then added, "I will also have someone bring Yuechan over."

He had no intention of hiding it from Yang Changchu.

The marriage between Gao Yu and Erzhu Yuechan had already been arranged, and Yuan Ziyou had also mentioned it in court.

This can be considered the official characterization.

Gao Yu will definitely marry Erzhu Yuechan.

Firstly, it proves that I am a person of my word and not a person who breaks their promises.

Secondly, it's also necessary to appease Erzhu Rong. Although there's already a rift between them, it's not yet time for a complete falling out. Marrying Erzhu Yuechan will have some effect.

P.S.: I originally wanted to write something about culture and thought, but my knowledge base is still too limited, so this is just a starting point.

Let me do more research and the male protagonist gain more influence before I consider organizing matters related to ideology and culture.

(End of this chapter)