The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The next morning.

The dew in the courtyard hadn't dried yet, but Jiang Lin was already sitting on his own bamboo recliner.

Holding the account books from the past few days in his hands, he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Qian Duoduo stood to the side, her abacus clicking away, the clear sound of which, to Jiang Lin, was even more melodious than the songs sung by the top courtesan of Fanlou.

"Headmaster, based on the current number of pre-orders, even if our glass workshop operates around the clock, the orders will still be booked until next year."

Jiang Lin closed the ledger and stretched contentedly.

At this rate, let alone paying off the debt, it's entirely possible to buy a large mansion with a lake view in Bianjing within three years, hire dozens of maids to serve him, and retire early.

"Tell Shen Kuo to take it easy and not to overwork the craftsmen. Make sure they get full pay for overtime."

Jiang Lin casually gave the order, picked up the teacup, and was about to bring it to his lips.

Qian Duoduo did not leave, her face showing some bitterness, and she hesitated to speak.

"Spit it out." Jiang Lin didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Headmaster, there are some rumors circulating outside... and they're not pleasant to hear." Qian Duoduo cautiously observed Jiang Lin's expression. "Those Liao envoys haven't left; they've been spreading rumors everywhere in restaurants and teahouses these past two days."

"They say our Jing Shi Academy is 'using its expertise to its advantage,' that it has good things but refuses to share them with friendly nations, which is contrary to the etiquette of a superior nation like China."

"There are also many merchants who are envious of our business, and they are secretly stirring things up, saying that we are... hogging the profits."

Jiang Lin scoffed lightly and blew on the tea foam.

"What's wrong with eating alone? Let them make their own food if they dare."

He had seen many such commercial propaganda wars in later generations.

It's nothing more than moral blackmail. As long as you're thick-skinned enough, morality can't blackmail you.

"Let them shout, just ignore them."

Qian Duoduo said with a bitter face, "If it were just shouting, that would be fine, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate, carrying a hint of murderous intent.

Wang Shao strode in, still wearing his training clothes, his forehead covered in sweat, but his expression was frighteningly cold.

"Headmaster, something's happened."

Without wasting words, Wang Shao took out an urgent letter stained with mud from his pocket and slammed it on the stone table.

"This was delivered by a fast horse from my former comrades in the Western Army."

"The Liao Kingdom has increased its troop presence on the border."

Jiang Lin's nonchalant expression finally faded somewhat, and he sat up straight: "Reinforcements? For a few pieces of glass?"

"Not entirely, it was a test." Wang Shao's voice was low. "The Liao people created friction on the border, using the pretext of searching for contraband to detain three of our Song Dynasty's merchant caravans."

He paused, then looked up at Jiang Lin with a sharp gaze.

"These three caravans are all wealthy merchants who bought our Tiangong Liuli at the auction a few days ago."

"The Liao people have declared that this glass was obtained by 'stealing Liao secrets,' and they demand an explanation from us, otherwise... they won't release this person."

Jiang Lin tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table.

The pace is very slow.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

So that's where they were waiting.

When they can't win in business competition, they start using the state apparatus to threaten people's personal safety?

"It's okay if you come at me."

Jiang Lin narrowed his eyes, his tone icy, "But to harm my clients is to ruin my reputation and cut off my source of income."

Wang Shao's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his face filled with murderous intent: "Headmaster, should I go...?"

"What are you going to do? Go to the border and kill people?"

Jiang Lin rolled his eyes at him. "You're a student now, not a killer. Use your brain."

As they were talking, the courtyard gate was kicked open again.

This time, it was Su Shi who came in.

This usually jovial and talented man had his face flushed red, clutching a copied document in his hand, trembling with anger.

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

Su Shi rushed up to Jiang Lin, slammed the document on the table, and the impact made the teacups jump.

"My esteemed teacher! Those corrupt officials in the Censorate have jointly submitted a memorial impeaching you!"

Jiang Lin picked up the document and glanced at it.

Good guy.

It is a lengthy text of several thousand words, rich in allusions and elegant in language.

The central ideas are threefold:

First, the Jingshi Academy secretly hoarded strange and ingenious skills, using them to amass wealth instead of presenting them to the imperial court, revealing its ulterior motives.

Secondly, refusing to sell glass angered friendly nations and caused unrest on the border, making him a traitor to the country.

Third, Your Majesty, please thoroughly investigate the academy and give the Liao Kingdom an explanation to ensure peace on the border.

The signature was a string of familiar names, all old scholars from the conservative faction of the old party.

"These old fools!"

Su Shi was so angry that he spun around on the spot, his sleeves flapping loudly. "We refused to sell to the Liao Kingdom to prevent the Song Dynasty's wealth from flowing out! And what do they do? They help outsiders attack their own people!"

"What kind of logic is this? Huh? What kind of absurd logic is this!"

Seeing Su Shi's furious reaction, Jiang Lin calmed down instead.

He was a history professor in his previous life.

He knew all too well the moral character of these civil officials in the Song Dynasty.

In the midst of factional strife, what is right or wrong? As long as they can eliminate dissidents, they are capable of anything, from colluding with foreign enemies to even betraying their own fathers.

The pressure from the Liao Kingdom was an external factor, while the old faction's use of others to kill was an internal factor.

These two forces cooperated perfectly.

He, a newly emerged "elite" with both money and prestige, and who had not yet chosen sides, became their perfect target.

"Zizhan, sit down."

Jiang Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Su Shi, panting heavily, forced himself to sit down, still indignant: "Sir, we can't just let this go! I'm going to write an article to condemn them!"

"If verbal abuse were effective, what would be the point of having an army?"

Jiang Lin laid the impeachment document flat on the table, his fingertips tracing over the shocking charges.

There's no way to avoid it.

Since the officials want to see him, this so-called "thorough investigation" is probably just a move by the officials to go with the flow.

To break this deadlock, empty talk won't work.

We need to find their Achilles' heel.

"Wang Shao," Jiang Lin suddenly spoke.

"The students are here."

"Go find your acquaintances in the Imperial City Guard. I need to know who has privately met with the Liao envoys these past few days."

Wang Shao was taken aback, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Understood!"

"Zizhan".

"Students are here!"

"Write a letter for me to Lord Ouyang Xiu and ask him just one question—who shouts the loudest in the court?"

After giving his instructions, Jiang Lin picked up the impeachment document again, his gaze falling on the last line of inconspicuous small print.

I didn't notice it at first glance, but now that I look closely, I realize that this is the real killer move.

The text read:

[An investigation has revealed that Jing Shi Academy secretly drew up weapon manuals, with ulterior motives, seemingly indicating treason.]

Jiang Lin's fingers stopped.

Weapon atlas?

He drew glass kilns, distillation apparatus, and even sketches of simple microscopes in the academy.

But he never drew any blueprints related to weapons.

He's never even drawn a kitchen knife.

This is fabricated out of thin air.

This is a frame-up.

If it's just greed or arrogance, at most you'll be demoted or fined.

However, "possessing weapons manuals with the intention of treason" was a capital offense in the Song Dynasty, punishable by death.

The other party didn't just want to smear him.

This means they want to kill him outright.

Jiang Lin stared at the line of words for a long time. His originally lazy gaze gradually faded, replaced by a chilling aura.

He slowly raised his head and looked at the azure sky outside the courtyard.

"interesting."

Jiang Lin's lips curled into a very faint smile, his voice so soft it was as if he were talking to himself.

"Since you want to play dirty tricks... let's see who's dirtier."