Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 123 Moonlight

After February, the weather began to gradually warm up.

February 10th was an auspicious day, and after consulting with Li Shimin, Lin Chuan set the opening date of Gewu Academy on February 10th.

There are many things to prepare before the start of the semester, especially for logistics departments such as the canteen, dormitory, and security, which need to be prepared in advance.

However, Li Shimin valued the academy highly, and these miscellaneous matters were handled by people arranged by Zhang Anan, so Lin Chuan didn't need to worry about them.

Lin Chuan is in charge of student recruitment.

As the Institute of Natural Sciences gradually became known to the court officials, especially with the advent of movable type printing, the officials began to take this research institute, which was not even part of the court's official staff, seriously.

As a result, the Gewu Academy has also attracted a lot of attention.

However, very few people actually want to send their children to the Gewu Academy, especially high-ranking officials, who look down on the Gewu Research Institute at all.

The Tang Dynasty now has three schools: the Imperial Academy, the National Academy, and the Four Gates Academy. The Imperial Academy has also added a School of Calligraphy and a School of Law. The Imperial Academy is specifically for the sons of powerful and wealthy families, and only the sons of officials of the third rank or above can enter.

The entrance requirements for the Imperial Academy and the Four Gates Academy decreased in that order, while the Calligraphy Academy and the Law Academy were established for the sons of officials of the eighth or ninth rank, demonstrating a strict hierarchy.

These schools had a total of more than two thousand students. Apart from a few families like the Yan family, which had a long tradition of scholarship or clan schools, most of the children of officials entered these schools according to their rank.

Although Lin Chuan was famous, he was known for his miscellaneous studies and mathematics, so his Gewu Academy naturally didn't attract much interest.

But there were naturally people who were interested. A group of captains and squad leaders from the Right Guard came to Lin Chuan's house carrying some things.

According to convention, Lin Chuan should no longer hold the position of Chief Secretary of the Right Guard, regardless of his title or official rank. However, Cheng Yaojin did not mention it, nor did the Ministry of War, so Lin Chuan still holds the position of Chief Secretary of the Right Guard.

However, since returning from Longyou, he has never been to the Right Guard's camp again, nor has he inquired about the Right Guard.

The days in Youwuwei were the most relaxed days Lin Chuan had ever had. Although he had suffered a lot during the trip to Longyou, he was only physically tired.

When he got home, he saw about twenty fierce-looking men in the main hall of the front yard. It took Lin Chuan a while to recognize these captains and squad leaders of the Right Guard. It wasn't that he was forgetful or looked down on them, but when they were in the Right Guard, they mostly wore armor and often didn't have the opportunity to bathe for ten days or half a month.

Now, the fierce-looking men have changed into long robes, and instead of swords, they wear jade pendants at their waists. Their beards are neatly groomed, and even their hair is tidily wrapped in cloth.

The fact that he can still recognize it shows that his memory is exceptional.

Seeing the group of men with somewhat shifty eyes, Lin Chuan said to Lin Jiu beside him, "Uncle Jiu, quickly have someone prepare wine and food. These are all my comrades-in-arms from the army. It's a rare treat that they've all come; we must drink until we drop today!"

"I'll go right away!" Lin Jiu replied with a smile.

After Lin Jiu left, Lin Chuan invited everyone to sit down and chatted with them about the Right Martial Guard.

The most important spring plowing season of the year is just around the corner. Apart from the palace guards, most of the soldiers are busy going back to farm. There are only a few hundred people on duty in the Right Martial Guard camp. These captains originally went to Cheng Yaojin's house to ask for help, but after being scolded by Cheng Yaojin, they were kicked out and told to come to the Lin family to find Lin Chuan.

"Any child between eight and ten years old, as long as they can recognize a few words, just send them over! This is such a small matter, why would Uncle Cheng need to ask? Uncle Cheng not having his men beat the older brothers out is already out of consideration for our many years of friendship!"

Listening to their awkward account of their search for Cheng Yaojin, Lin Chuan could imagine Cheng Yaojin's speechless reaction, and jokingly remarked.

"It was my stupidity! It's not the General's fault!"

"....

Seeing Lin Chuan's quick agreement, the apprehension on everyone's faces disappeared. Only a few people looked a little off. Qin Gui, the captain of the vanguard, was one of them. After hesitating for a moment, he awkwardly asked Lin Chuan, "Chief Secretary Lin, my son is just eleven years old and can recognize a few characters. What do you think—"

"Send them over! Fine, send them over as long as they're under thirteen!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

Seeing that Zhou Lin, the Left Battalion Commandant, still looked distressed, he asked helplessly, "Old Zhou, what's wrong with your eldest son?"

"Chief Secretary Lin, the eldest son is the right age, but I can't read a single character. There's no teacher in the village. He can wield a broadsword for half an hour without getting out of breath, but he just can't read—" Zhou Lin said awkwardly.

"Alright, it doesn't matter if you can't read, just send them all over. If you don't take them, Old Zhou, your eldest son won't be able to enjoy his drinks later!" Lin Chuan waved his hand impatiently.

Now no one is frowning anymore.

There's no need to prepare elaborate meals for these people; Lin Jiu, having served as a soldier himself, naturally knows how to prepare appropriately.

The large basin of meat and a whole jar of wine were brought in, instantly putting aside the man's initial awkwardness about the Lin family's extravagance. He picked up the wine jar and started challenging Lin Chuan to a drinking contest.

They drank until midnight, and a group of captains and squad leaders were completely drunk, while Lin Chuan was also unconscious.

The next morning, Lin Chuan was woken up by the urge to urinate. It was still dark outside the window, obviously before dawn. Just as Lin Chuan was about to get up, he realized something was wrong.

There's someone else in her arms!

Seeing Mei Xiang burying her face in her chest, Lin Chuan's gaze unconsciously fell on himself.

Fortunately, she was still wearing her undergarments, and when she looked at Meixiang, she was still wearing a neat ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was still in a bun.

"My lord was very drunk last night. I was afraid he would throw up, so I stayed by his side. I didn't expect him to fall asleep—" Mei Xiang explained in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

The girl in his arms, Mei Xiangyan, had a shy and bashful face, as beautiful as a peach blossom. With the faint moonlight streaming into the room through the window, Lin Chuan looked at the charming girl in front of him and began to feel aroused.

Having transmigrated to the Tang Dynasty for over a year, he finally found two beautiful wives, but could only wait anxiously for them to grow up. Only he knew how agonizing this life was.

I brought Meixiang back from Qunfang Pavilion, and I never intended for her to be a maidservant forever. Now that she's in my arms, why would I push her away again?

He wasn't in a hurry to urinate anymore. Lin Chuan reached out and cupped the girl's face in his arms, saying softly, "Anyway, we're both drunk, so whatever you say goes! But your husband gets into bed easily, and if we go any further, we'll have to leave something behind!"

"My lord—" Mei Xiang called softly, her face flushed.

The moonlight outside the house shyly hid behind the clouds, as if it couldn't bear to look at the spring scenery inside the house.

When the sky was high in the sky, Lin Chuan, feeling refreshed, got out of bed. Seeing that Mei Xiang was still fast asleep in the quilt, he didn't wake her. He then dressed and washed his face.

Upon arriving at the front yard, Madam Li was leading a large group of people, preparing to leave. When she saw Lin Chuan, she asked in surprise, "Isn't the eldest son going to court today?"

"I'm taking the day off!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.