In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

Zhao Yu remained calm.

Instead, he caught Cao Cao's eye and began to lay out his plans.

"Father-in-law, you are wise. What I want to build is never the kind of pedantic academy that teaches people to read and recite poetry and compose couplets, or to indulge in pointless whining."

"Whether it was the Central Plains, Jiangdong, or Liu Bei's Jing and Yi provinces, those powerful families had long regarded those classic texts and knowledge as their private property, as stepping stones to elevate their social status."

"They would rather spend ten years teaching their children to write a flowery but useless poem than share any resources with the millions of people of the Han Dynasty."

In my opinion, it's just a difference in background; with proper education, I don't think they're any worse than them.

"Moreover, if we build a conventional academy as you previously suggested, it will only produce a group of pedantic scholars who only know how to talk nonsense and harm the country. We can't compete with the aristocratic families in terms of pure conversation, and we can't help you, Father-in-law, realize your grand ambition of becoming the Duke of Zhou of the Han Dynasty."

"Oh?"

Seeing Zhao Yu's long speech, Cao Cao was clearly intrigued.

Background, background—who in the whole world understands the issue of background better than him? And who understands the bitterness and constraints behind it better than him?

"If you don't teach Confucianism, then what exactly are you teaching in this academy?"

"What I want to build is 'practical learning' that teaches people how to do things!"

"I want to teach military science! I want to instill the most correct values ​​in them, train them in batches, and upon graduation, they can be directly placed into the army as platoon leaders and staff officers, leading troops into battle without a problem."

"Yes, yes, besides that, there's also the Medical Department. I've been wanting to talk about this ever since Red Cliff. Our soldiers are so miserable; thousands of them can't even get a single Medical Department."

"Prime Minister, you are a seasoned warrior, you surely know better than I do that after every battle, the actual number of soldiers who die on the battlefield is not the majority. Many die from knife wounds, gunshot wounds, and their wounds worsen after leaving the battlefield."

Military doctor?

This time, it really hit Cao Cao right in the head.

In this era, military medicine is truly a "lowly profession."

If a scholar were to become a military doctor, it would be considered a demotion.

But the army is in dire need of doctors. In the past, when there was a severe shortage, even veterinarians who treated livestock were brought in to fill the gaps.

Cao Cao nodded in agreement.

"That's good. Training more medical officers will not only soothe the morale of the troops, but also greatly benefit the preservation of the soldiers' fighting strength."

"That's right. Prime Minister, you have issued so many 'Decrees for Seeking Talents' over the years, but how many of them have actually attracted great talents?"

Most of the talented people in the world are in the hands of powerful families. Some may claim to serve us, but frankly, they're only after their own families' interests. Since they won't provide them, then we'll cultivate our own talent.

"When hiring, don't ask about background or social status! Even if he's the son of a pig farmer or a farmer, as long as he learns the skills, Prime Minister, you can give them a job."

They don't understand the ways of aristocratic families; all they know is that this favor was bestowed by Your Excellency, Prime Minister.

They only recognize the decrees of the Han Dynasty and obey the orders of the Prime Minister; they will never be manipulated by powerful families!

This is the academy I wish to build in Hanzhong!

silence.

The candlelight reflected on Cao Cao's face, which changed from initial mockery and wariness to later solemnity and surprise, then to complete understanding, and finally to relief and certainty.

Looking quietly at Zhao Yu in front of her, she couldn't help but think about Zhao Yu's background.

Born in Jiangdong, he was just a lowly executioner. Both his parents died in the war, leaving him an orphan with no powerful family background. Now, he could only rely on himself.

He recalled the past: the Battle of Red Cliffs that made him famous, the way he carried him out of the inferno despite the danger, the way he stepped forward to block Zhuge Liang's repeated attempts to trap him, and the time he was chased by Ma Chao at the Wei River and had to cut off his beard and abandon his robe. If it weren't for Zhao Yu, he would have been beheaded long ago.

"Without this kid, I would have died countless times over..."

This thought had raced through Cao Cao's mind countless times.

Thus, Cao Cao's suspicious mind naturally and logically completes a set of "ultimate mental constructs":

The son-in-law is going to great lengths to set up the academy; he must have ulterior motives. Clearly, this kid is isolated and helpless, and wants to use the name of running a school to cultivate his own loyal followers in this enclave of Hanzhong!

But so what?

Cao Cao laughed wildly to himself.

He is my son-in-law, the person I can entrust my life to and trust the most!

His direct descendants are none other than my direct descendants, aren't they?

The stronger his foundation, the more secure my position in this Han Dynasty.

Once he understood this, all of Cao Cao's doubts vanished.

"Bang!"

He slammed his wine glass on the table, tilted his head back, and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha."

"Good! Good lad! I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

"You're right! If these aristocratic families won't provide me with talent, then I'll stay with you and raise them myself! I approve of building the academy!"

"The location and planning of this academy are entirely up to you, Zhao Yu! Anyone who dares to interfere will have their head chopped off first!"

After saying this, Cao Cao turned around and walked behind his desk. He took out a blank edict bearing the seal of the Prime Minister from a blind man's eye and pushed it directly in front of Zhao Yu.

"Here you go. Building an academy is no small matter. Write down what you need and collect it yourself."

Even if you were to flatten all the mountains in Hanzhong, I'd still cover for you.

To Cao Cao's surprise, Zhao Yu looked down at the edict; it was somewhat useful, but not much.

He then pushed the edict back untouched.

"I appreciate my father-in-law's kindness, but I cannot accept this."

"Why? This is no small sum."

It's so simple here.

"Firstly, there's my family wealth. The money you bestowed upon me before, the dowry from Sun Quan, the profits from the soft jade and glass we made in Ye City, and the commissions from those iron mines—I haven't even spent a fraction of it yet."

Within the thirteen provinces of the Great Han Dynasty, if we're talking about wealth, I wouldn't dare say I'm number one, but no one dares to say they're number two either.

"I can afford to build an academy myself; there's no need to use public funds."

Of course, there's also the most important point—if I personally fund the construction of the academy, no one in the world can use it against me.

"If the treasury is used, the officials and censors in Xuchang will surely impeach the prime minister like mad dogs, saying that you used the national treasury's money to seek personal gain for your son-in-law."

"By paying for it myself, I will not give those powerful families any ammunition to attack you."

Of course, Zhao Yu silently added the most crucial sentence in his mind:

You feel most comfortable when you spend your own money.

If the imperial court's money was used, those bigwigs in the Ministry of Revenue would come to audit the accounts and interfere every now and then.

I can teach whatever I want with my own money. Even if I'm teaching people how to dig coal and make gunpowder on the playground, I don't have to worry about anyone's opinion!