Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 251: Provocation
It's really outrageous!
These sons racked their brains, took huge risks, and created such a good opportunity for their father's career, yet they were very likely to be rejected.

Other people's fathers all worked hard to advance their careers.

This is really...sigh...

But upon closer reflection, it seems quite normal.

Those who could study at Wuming Academy were all children of meritorious officials, powerful figures, or relatives of the emperor.

He was extremely wealthy and had many wives and concubines.

What reason is there left to strive?

In fact, Wang Shouyi and Huangfu Shangde did not want to work so hard. They were forced to. Wu Jieyu was too domineering. If they continued to be decadent, they might lose their homes.

Others may not have this need, and of course, they won't make the effort for it.

This old man is hopeless; nothing he tries works!
Therefore, they first need to motivate their fathers.

However, they could not tell Cui Gu'er and his friends the truth, so they chose to take advantage of the conflict between the Nameless Academy and the Imperial Academy, and let Cui Gu'er and his friends encourage their father.

It's really about casting a wide net, hoping to motivate as many people as possible.

This task was assigned to Huangfu Sengnian and Li Jieman. Huangfu Sengnian was responsible for provoking the other side to attack their father, while Li Jieman was responsible for encouraging them to motivate their father. This Li Jieman was lovable and simple-minded, and his greatest skill was blending in with everyone, able to fool them without them even realizing it.

But first, they had to convince Wang Maozhong to approve their plan, because if Wang Maozhong didn't take action, their father wouldn't be able to get into the Ministry of Works.

After Wang Shuang returned, he told Wang Maozhong about this trick.

Wang Maozhong suddenly realized, slapping his forehead, "That's right! How come I didn't think of that? Just replacing them is much better than forcing them to learn!"

This could be said to be his favorite way of doing things, and he happily patted Wang Shuang's head.

Wang Shuang shrank back, then asked nervously, "Father, do you have someone in mind?"

Wang Maozhong was taken aback, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, don't get involved in this."

Wang Maozhong always treated his son like a disposable tool.

Wang Shuang was used to this, and with her head down, she said timidly, "That won't do."

Wang Maozhong frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Wang Shuang said, "Father, it would be best to choose from among the parents of students at our Wuming Academy."

Wang Maozhong asked in surprise, "Why is that?"

Wang Shuang said, "Because this is a study of aerodynamics that I did with Baodi and the others. If it were just for Father alone, I would feel embarrassed."

Wang Maozhong said nonchalantly, "There's no need to be embarrassed. If their fathers are capable, they can use it too!"

Wang Shuang said, "That's true, but the orphan and Baodi will definitely be unhappy. If they start arguing, they might not get anything done."

"You want Father to invite Master Cui?"

Wang Maozhong chuckled twice, "That drunkard, if you let him build ships, I guarantee he won't be able to get the shipyard open. You don't know anything, kid. We need to find some shrewd and capable people, like those people from Cui Shendao... um... cough cough."

Wang Shuang said, "I know, but let me put it this way, Father, it would be best if you chose from our academy. Otherwise, I might not be able to provide you with much help, since I haven't contributed much."

Wang Maozhong frowned and asked, "Is someone forcing you?"

Wang Shuang nodded repeatedly.

Wang Maozhong then asked, "Who?"

Wang Shuang said, "Apart from Que Ge'er and the other two, the others probably have some complaints."

Wang Maozhong frowned.

Wang Shuang said, "Father, if you choose their father, they will work even harder and can tell their father what they have learned every day. The key is that we are of one mind, so we are not afraid of betrayal."

That's true. If they chose their fathers, they wouldn't need to go to the nameless academy to study; they could learn directly from their sons, which is what happened to me.

Wang Maozhong pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, Father will listen to you and choose from your academy."

Wang Shuang said excitedly, "Thank you, Father."

After Wang Shuang finished his task, Huangfu Sennian, Li Jieman, and the others immediately got to work.

Go find Wu Chongwen and the others, and demand that they admit their mistakes.

Ultimately, the imperial court recognized their scholarship.

As expected, Wu Chongwen and his comrades refused to acknowledge it, stating that the court only superficially recognized it and had not mandated that officials study it.

During the argument, Huangfu Sengnian directly attacked Xu Daoxuan, arguing that it was Xu Daoxuan who asked his father for help and interfered, which made the officials unwilling to study at the Wuming Academy.

Linghu Baodi and the others immediately followed, focusing their firepower on Xu Daoxuan.

Because these spoiled brats despise asking their fathers for help.

Xu Daoxuan naturally denied it, and that was not the case either. How could he possibly have affected his father's position in the Ministry of Works? But Huangfu Sengnian insisted that it was Xu Jin who had taken the lead.

Wu Chongwen and the others also chimed in, accusing Wang Shuang of asking Wang Maozhong for help first.

The two sides began arguing about their father.

It would have been better if they hadn't competed; once they did, the students from the nameless academy immediately fell into a disadvantageous position.

Since everyone's fathers are now involved, why don't you send your fathers to cause trouble at the imperial court?
Using this as a pretext, the students of the Imperial College began to ridicule the other person's father relentlessly.

indeed!

Like the father of Cui Gu'er and his ilk, they were truly a disappointment.

In the end, the nameless academy suffered a complete defeat.

It was supposed to be a victory, but it ended up in such a sorry state.

The students of the nameless academy were furious.

Li Jieman began to use this as an excuse to mislead everyone, saying that we needed to motivate our fathers and make them surpass their fathers, otherwise we would always be bullied by them. This immediately won everyone's approval.

Song Guogong Mansion.

Li Lingwen was of very high status. His grandmother was Empress Zhangsun's cousin. After helping Li Longji launch the Xiantian Coup, he, like Wang Shouyi, sought wealth and status while protecting himself, and obtained a position in the Imperial Household Department.

However, unlike Wang Shouyi, he was not greedy for money. He preferred birds and beasts and lived in a farm in the suburbs most of the time so that he could play with his hawks and hounds every day.

Today, as usual, he stroked his beloved dog with one hand, held food in the other, and teased a large eagle flapping in front of him.

"Humph!"

"This is infuriating!"

Upon hearing the noise, the hounds rushed to the door, only to see two young men enter; they were the brothers Li Tong and Li Xun.

The eagle landed on Li Tong's shoulder, while the dog barked around Li Xun.

Li Lingwen was quite annoyed: "How many times have I told you two lads not to come here unless it's absolutely necessary? You've already lured away so many of my lackeys."

Li Tong and Li Xun remained silent, but with a slight wave of their hands, the hounds left their side.

Li Lingwen was very frustrated. He spent every day with them, but they loved to follow those two brats around and were practically obedient to him. It was infuriating!

Seeing his two sons looking sullen, he sat down and asked, "What happened? Were you punished by your teacher at the academy?"

After asking the question, he picked up a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Tong said, "If I were to be punished by the teacher, it would be because I did something wrong, and I wouldn't be so angry."

"What is it?" Li Ling asked casually.

Li Tong said, "Father, have you heard that Uncle Wang has been appointed as the Minister of Works?"

Li Lingwen nodded slightly.

Li Xun then asked, "Does Father know that Uncle Wang also sent Que Ge'er to the Ministry of Works to explain pneumatics?"

Li Lingwen nodded again. "Was it successful?"

Li Tong snorted, "It was going very smoothly at first. Brother Que had silenced those uncles and elders, but... but the Minister of Works, Xu, was firmly against it."

Li Ling clicked his tongue, his displeasure evident, and said, "What does this have to do with you?"

Li Tong added, "How can it not be related? That Physician Xu did it all for his son."

Li Ling asked, puzzled, "What does this have to do with his son?"

Li Xun said, "Xu Daoxuan and his group mocked our knowledge as useless, saying that we were just giving common sense a name, and that they would only acknowledge the usefulness of our knowledge if the imperial court approved it."

His Majesty had already approved it, but it was all because of Physician Xu's interference.

"We're going to confront Xu Daoxuan and his group today, telling them he got help from Father. But Father, do you know what they said?"

Li Ling asked absentmindedly, "What do you mean?"

Li Tong said with a tense face, "Are they bullying us because we don't have a father?"

Li Lingwen glared angrily and said, "I'm not dead yet."

"No no no!"

Li Xun said, "They are openly and secretly mocking our father for being useless, saying that we are capable and that we should let our father take action."

Li Tong added, "And they even said that all our father does is cockfighting and dog walking."

Li Lingwen frowned slightly, his expression gradually becoming serious. "Then what did you say?"

Li Xun and Li Tong exchanged a glance.

Li Tong said, "Then let's talk about Shuang Ge's father and Que Ge's father."

Li Xun said, "It's a pity that although Uncle Wang is the Minister of Works, he's not very useful. He can't fight against everyone. He's still no match for them."

Li Lingwen stood up and asked, "They're talking about your father. Why are you mentioning Wang Maozhong?"

Li Tong hurriedly defended himself, saying, "We went as a group, not just referring to our father."

Li Xun asked, "Wasn't Xu Daoxuan referring to you when he said that?"

Li Tong gave him a light kick.

Li Xun nodded and said, "Yes, yes, yes, there are many of us, they're not just talking about you, Father."

Li Ling asked, "Really? How come I didn't know that Wang Maozhong was also interested in cockfighting and dog racing?"

Li Tong blinked, then suddenly pointed at the eagle in the sky, "Qiuqiu!"

The two brothers then gave chase.

"These two brats."

Li Lingwen cursed, then said, "You little Xu Jin, you dare to pull the tiger's head? When I helped His Majesty ascend the throne, you didn't even know where you were? This is truly outrageous."

The ungrateful orphan Cui returned home and told Cui Shendao about it.

"Father, do you know what they said?"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Hah!"

A snoring sound left the passionately talking Cui Gu'er completely bewildered.

"Father? Father?"

After shouting for a while, Cui Gu'er picked up a blanket and covered Cui Shendao with it, muttering to himself, "Perhaps Xu Daoxuan and the others are right."

He walked out dejectedly.

(End of this chapter)