Giant Ship Across the Song Dynasty: My Supplies Come from My Motherland

Chapter 143 Some things still require the help of that person.

Putting aside all the miscellaneous matters, Lin Zhou still had a lot to do these next few days.

The day after becoming the top scholar, he had to thank his teacher. His first stop was Teacher Li. Teacher Li was currently obsessed with the war and the market, constantly thinking about reforming the system and launching a financial plunder against the Jin Dynasty, completely disregarding the fact that such financial plunder is predicated on the ability to achieve maximum success on the battlefield.

But it didn't matter; he was only just beginning. He would definitely catch up later. However, Lin Zhou, being a complete idiot, didn't understand any of this academic stuff. He could only agree with Professor Li the whole time, saying "uh-huh, okay, okay" repeatedly. In the end, Professor Li kicked him out, telling him to go back to his studies and serve the Song Dynasty.

The second step, naturally, was to go to Headmaster Chen's place.

"Teacher Li has gone mad lately, he's been holding back with all his might, waging a financial war against the Jin Dynasty. You know, if you're waging a financial war against them, their iron cavalry will just come crashing down on you—"

Lin Zhou was complaining to Headmaster Chen with his limited wisdom, but the old man was not impatient. He just stroked his beard and looked at Lin Zhou with a smile, quietly waiting for him to finish speaking.

"Pingzhi," Headmaster Chen turned around, took a seal, and placed it in his hand. "Yizhi is the kind of person whose blood is still hot. Don't worry about whether he's mature or not. If even he doesn't have this heart, then the Song Dynasty is truly doomed."

Lin Zhou looked down at the seal in his hand: "What's this?"

"Originally, the seal was prepared for you by your father and elder brother, but you have no relatives in Lin'an, so I will do it for you," said Headmaster Chen with a smile. "Now that you have become the top scholar, you must guard against arrogance and complacency."

"Aren't you just trying to annoy me? Who do you think I am, a top scholar?"

Chen Shanzhang didn't say anything, but patted Lin Zhou, then got up and walked towards the back mountain. The two arrived at the experimental field, where a large patch of lush green modern seeds had already sprouted. Chen Shanzhang squatted down and stroked the tender seedlings as if they were his offspring.

"The current emperor is indeed somewhat different, and so is Qin Hui."

With no one around, the old man suddenly became more relaxed and spoke freely, no longer feeling ashamed in front of others, and even a little excited.

"You may not know, but at the end of last year, the Emperor wanted to promulgate a new tax system, reducing agricultural taxes and increasing commercial taxes. In the past, Qin Hui would have already been shouting in court that he could never repay the Emperor's kindness, but Qin Hui refuted the Emperor."

"Huh?" Lin Zhou was taken aback and sat up abruptly. "What makes him so special? He's the emperor."

"Ha ha ha ha----"

The old man patted Lin Zhou's head affectionately, as if he were patting a son: "Since the Zhou Dynasty, the imperial court has been a battleground between the emperor and the prime minister. Do you know anything about the Three Kingdoms period?"

"Of course I know."

Who do you like?

Lin Zhou thought for a moment: "When I was a child, I liked Liu Bei because I thought he was benevolent and righteous. Later, I came to like Cao Cao because Cao Cao and I shared the same interests."

"Hmm? You also kill people in your dreams?"

"I'm a good wife."

Headmaster Chen stood up, stroked his beard, and remained silent for a moment: "Hmm—"

"Headmaster, you like it too?"

"When I was young—hey!" He coughed. "Why bring that up! I'm telling you that the most powerful people in the Three Kingdoms period were two prime ministers, one surnamed Dong and the other surnamed Cao."

"A lovely little girl and a loving wife."

"No interruptions!"

Although the old man didn't know what a loli was, what kind of good thing could be associated with "married woman"?

"Give merchants a little incentive so we can raise taxes!"

"Hey kid, you've got to be clever when it comes to money."

"That's because the teacher is right. It's not that I'm good at understanding things so quickly, it's that your analysis is spot on."

After saying that, Lin Zhou scratched his head: "But—it seems like Qin Hui isn't too happy about it. Doesn't he represent the interests of businessmen?"

"If it were you, who would you rather side with right now? Qin Hui could guarantee you wealth and status, but the government could ensure your continuous promotion." Headmaster Chen clapped his hands: "That's exactly what we're fighting for. When we talk about striving for fame and fortune, at the very least, it all comes down to people. So all the struggles are about people, about winning people's hearts. Take Pengju for example, alas—"

At this point, Chen Shanzhang sighed deeply: "He—if he had lived two more years, he might not have died."

19

"Huh? Why?"

"Because you came." Headmaster Chen smiled helplessly: "You have a way to make him earn military funds. With money, he won't take away the landlords' profits, and the landlords won't force the officials to deal with him."

"ah???"

Lin Zhou never expected that he would be so capable. But it seemed that Headmaster Chen really didn't mean to deceive him.

"But how am I supposed to make money? I'm just doing small-scale operations."

Chen Shanzhang looked at Lin Zhou, took out a wooden stick, and started digging at the ground: "New crops will bring increased grain production and reduce the number of farmers cultivating the land. Then, the acreage and population will increase, and the extra people will flock to the towns. At this time, your steel mills and shipyards can absorb a large number of people, and they will come here to create a lot of things —"

The old man listed off the details for Lin Zhou: "If you had come before the Northern Expedition, this year would have been the time for the Song Dynasty's counterattack, with unstoppable momentum. What a pity, it's too late—but not too late. Although the Emperor hasn't said anything to me, I think it's clear he no longer wants to support Qin Hui; he wants to take back what Qin Hui has. What will happen after he takes it back, I can't say, but—"

"Where there are variables, there is hope, isn't there?"

"So Qin Hui just admitted it like that? That can't be, can it?"

"Of course, this is not something you can participate in." Headmaster Chen stood up, stretched, and loosened his limbs. "Just listen to the wind whisper."

Lin Zhou seemed to understand, but it was the first time he had ever truly felt the turmoil of events. He had thought that nothing concerned him, but now he realized that he had long been caught up in this storm.

One or two steel mills may not seem like much, but what he provided was the entire steel industry chain. A meal may seem insignificant, but what he provided was a roadmap that would influence the next century.

From the moment he gave these things away, he became a link in the chain of this era. He even shook the unbreakable strategic alliance between Ninth Sister and Qin Hui.

Only then did Lin Zhou realize that even these two top surrender factions had conflicts of interest.

"Then what should I do?"

"Let's avoid the limelight," the old man laughed. "These days will be a break for us."

"Understood." Lin Zhou looked up at the old man. "Shall I hide here for a while?"

"I told you I'd keep you here for the study tour because I was afraid you'd embarrass me."

"OK!"

With the Grand Tutor's words, no one would say anything. After all, Lin Zhou, the top scholar, was a genuine disciple of the Grand Tutor and the current emperor's junior brother. If word got out that his skills were too poor, it would be a laughing stock.

The academy was practically the safest place right now. When Lin Zhou saw Cao Wenda's lifeless state yesterday, he thought he was overthinking things. But after the old man's words, he realized that his status as the top scholar was merely a byproduct of the power struggle.

"It's quite nice to stay here and farm with my old man."

"Study tour!"

"Study—study my ass!" Lin Zhou waved his hand. "I can't even recognize all the characters. I'm going to take a nap."

"You scoundrel!" Headmaster Chen shook his head silently.

For a while afterward, Lin Zhou was essentially detained by the Grand Tutor. The fundamental principles of morality and ethics applied—heaven, earth, ruler, parents, and teacher—meant that even the Emperor himself couldn't summon him. No matter who came, the old man's answer was always the same: "No." Many people wanted to visit the top scholar, but this old man turned them away. Even when the Emperor sent someone to invite him, the old man would say, "This boy's studies are not up to par. He needs to study in seclusion. Your Majesty, please summon him again in a few days. We must not allow him to ruin the reputation of our school."

With things having come to this point, naturally no one dared to cause any more trouble, which gave Lin Zhou a considerable amount of buffer time.

This stay lasted for seventeen or eighteen days. During this half month, Lin Zhou spent his days chatting with his only two classmates in class, then going to the mountains with the old man to plant vegetables, and telling the old man about the details of planting.

The old man even said that Lin Zhou hadn't learned anything from him, but rather that he himself had learned a lot from him and should call Lin Zhou "teacher." The moment he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, startling Lin Zhou.

"Fine, old man! You're deliberately trying to kill me!"

Upon seeing his reaction, Headmaster Chen simply burst into laughter.

Just as the old man and the young man were behaving inappropriately, Hongliu came knocking on their door.

"Brother Lin————" After Hongliu came over, the old man strolled down the back mountain with his hands behind his back, leaving the space to the young man.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"News has come from the front: my grandfather—my grandfather is injured, and his life hangs in the balance. I'm worried about my father."

"How did you get injured, Marshal?"

"I don't know—what should I do?"

Lin Zhou's eyes darted around: "Give me a token, will you?"

Hongliu was startled, then looked back for a while, and finding no one, she began to untie the straps of her bodice around her neck, her face flushed, muttering, "At a time like this, still thinking about such improper things—"

"Desire!" Lin Zhou grabbed her hand. "I want you to give me a keepsake that your grandfather will recognize! He knows your undergarment, right?"

Hong Liu was stunned for a moment, then reacted and stepped forward, delivering a powerful punch that made Lin Zhou's vision go black.