The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

"..." Jiang Zhe frowned, looking at Wang Yun without saying a word.

"Husband..." Xiu'er called out from inside, sounding puzzled.

"..." Wang Yun sighed, glanced at Jiang Zhe, and said, "Shouyi, come with me!"

Jiang Zhe nodded, went back into the house and said something to Xiu'er, then left with Wang Yun. He seemed to have a feeling that the old man wouldn't do anything to him now.

Xiuer sat on the couch, frowned and thought for a moment, then hurriedly put on a robe and went out.

Wang Yun led Jiang Zhe to the tree in the courtyard, where there was a stone table and two stone benches.

"Sit!" Wang Yun said, gesturing to the dishes on the stone table. "Shouyi, would you be interested in having a drink with this old man?"

Drinking in the middle of the night? Is he crazy? Jiang Zhe didn't say anything, but looked around and thought to himself, what's this old man up to?

Wang Yun poured a cup of wine for Jiang Zhe and himself. Seeing that Jiang Zhe did not thank him, Wang Yun frowned, then shook his head with a wry smile and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Shouyi..." Wang Yun pointed to the large tree and asked, "Do you know what this is?"

"A tree! I don't know what kind of tree!"

Smiling, Wang Yun shook his head and said firmly, "This is the Han Dynasty!"

How inexplicable! Jiang Zhe glanced at the tree and saw that it had lost all its leaves and even its branches were withered. But that wasn't the point. What did this have to do with the big man?

"Though the branches wither and the leaves fall, life still remains!" Wang Yun stared intently at Jiang Ze.

Jiang Zhe immediately understood Wang Yun's meaning; the old man was using a tree as a metaphor for the burly man...

Jiang Zhe shook his head and said calmly, "It's a pity that only the branches and leaves of this tree have withered, while the great man has damaged his very foundation!"

"..." Wang Yun was stunned, silently took a cup of wine, poured it, and drank it all in one gulp.

"The Han Dynasty has endured for four hundred years; it must not be destroyed in our hands!"

Jiang Zhe glanced at Wang Yun; this old man was truly loyal to the Han Dynasty…

"During the meal, you only mentioned the shortcomings of the Han Dynasty... Do you have any good solutions?" Wang Yun asked Jiang Zhe. "...Don't be wary, the person in front of you is just Uncle Xiu'er... Speak freely!"

"Speak freely?" Jiang Zhe's expression immediately became very strange.

"Say...it's just the two of us here! I've dismissed all the servants in the manor!"

"Isn't this simple..." Jiang Zhe said tentatively, "Eliminate the eunuchs and the empress's relatives..."

"Simple?" Wang Yun gave a wry smile. "Easier said than done!"

"Are you sure you're not trying to fool me?" Jiang Zhe looked at Wang Yun strangely as he drank glass after glass.

"Shouyi doesn't know..." Wang Yun shook his head and said, "The national treasury is empty... We have no choice but to impose heavy taxes..."

"It's a pity that most of it was used for royal luxury!" Jiang Zhe's true nature kicked in again.

"You..." Wang Yun pointed at Jiang Zhe, frowned, and said, suppressing his anger, "All land under heaven belongs to the emperor, and the emperor rules the world. A little extravagance... a little extravagance..." He awkwardly uttered the word "a little," then changed the subject, "It's all the instigation of treacherous officials at the emperor's side! We, as citizens of the Han Dynasty, should naturally serve the Han!"

Jiang Zhe rolled his eyes at Wang Yun, finished his drink, shrank back, and thought to himself, "What's wrong with this old man in the middle of the night?"

"Does Shouyi know anything about taxation?"

"I know a little..." Jiang Zhe thought for a moment and said, "The people collect taxes from the country, and the country uses those taxes to benefit the people!"

"..." Wang Yun glanced at Jiang Zhe and said strangely, "Where did you hear that?"

"Is...is there something wrong with it?"

"Taxes! Are they used for military affairs, disaster relief, domestic affairs, etc... or for the people?"

"..." Jiang Zhe was speechless. Good heavens, this is the Three Kingdoms period! Why did I bring in the later social period?

"...Still for the people?" Wang Yun stroked his long beard and said, "Shouyi probably meant disaster relief..."

"Yes...yes..."

"Hehe! No need to be so formal!" Wang Yun looked at Jiang Zhe's expression. "Where was your arrogance when you called me an old geezer at the banquet?"

"That was because I was so angry with you that my inner universe exploded..." Jiang Zhe pouted.

"Let me ask you again, do you know the importance of taxes?"

Jiang Zhe nodded and looked at Wang Yun, who was gesturing for him to speak frankly, and said, "Military equipment, domestic affairs... the former strengthens the military, the latter strengthens the country... disaster relief..." He glanced at Wang Yun.

"This kid!" Wang Yun coughed awkwardly. In recent years, the national treasury has been empty. If there had been real disaster relief, the Yellow Turban Rebellion probably wouldn't have occurred.

"I observe that you are uneducated, yet you seem to understand the ways of the world... During the banquet, you said that incompetent officials are harming the people. Well then, I would like to ask you, if you were in an official position, how would you handle it?"

"Me?" Jiang Zhe thought for a moment and said, "I just need to do more practical things for the people!"

"Easy for you to say!" Wang Yun stroked his beard and smiled. "And how much do you really know about the ways of officialdom?"

Jiang Zhe immediately retorted, unconvinced, "That depends on what kind of official they are!"

"Oh?" Wang Yun was taken aback and asked, "What...what's the difference?"

"Of course there's a difference!"

"What if..." Wang Yun hesitated, looking at Jiang Zhe, "What if I appointed you as a county magistrate?"

"Less talk, more action!"

"Hmm?" Wang Yun was completely bewildered, and asked again, "What if one were to become the governor of a prefecture?"

"Talk more and do more!"

"..." Wang Yun glanced at Jiang Zhe, "What if you were in my position?"

Jiang Zhe glanced at Wang Yun, "Less talk, less action!"

"..." Wang Yun pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, and whispered sharply, "This is the way to protect oneself! Not the way to be an official! Shouyi must not learn this!"

This...this old man is quite capable...Jiang Zhe was somewhat surprised.

Wang Yun glanced at Jiang Zhe, thinking to himself, "What a pity! This boy is quick-witted, but he has gone astray. What a pity!"

Shaking his head, Wang Yun looked at Jiang Zhe and said, "You said before that you've never studied?"

"..." I'm a college graduate, after all! Jiang Zhe nodded awkwardly, "I didn't study..."

"What a pity..." Wang Yun sighed. "Tomorrow I will give you a few books; you should read them carefully, they will be of great benefit!"

"What the hell?!" Jiang Zhe was dumbfounded.

"Come out!" Wang Yun called softly towards a certain spot.

Jiang Zhe turned around and saw Xiu'er walking out gracefully. He immediately stood up and went over to her, saying, "It's windy at night, what are you doing out here!"

"Isn't it because I'm afraid of what I might do to you!" Wang Yun said self-deprecatingly.

"I've misunderstood Uncle... I'm so ashamed..."

"That's enough! I only called your husband out for a brief chat. Shouyi, please sit down. I have some things to say to you."

Seeing that there were only two stone benches, and Xiu'er wouldn't go back to her room now, what should they do? Jiang Zhe sat down, patted his knees, and said, "Come on, Xiu'er, here..."

Xiuer glanced at Wang Yun, her face immediately turning bright red. What a scoundrel! In front of her uncle!

Unable to resist Jiang Zhe's call, Xiu'er went over.

"..." Wang Yun stared blankly at the two of them, then coughed a few times.

"This..." Jiang Zhe glanced at Xiu'er and said, "I wonder if... Uncle has any further advice to give..."

Upon hearing the word "uncle," Xiu'er, nestled in Jiang Zhe's arms, gently rubbed against his chest as a gesture of gratitude.

"Uncle..." Wang Yun was very pleased, and said seriously, "In my opinion, Shouyi does have some talent, but he must not be arrogant. You must know how many capable people there are in the world! You spoke frankly about the shortcomings of the Han Dynasty, and although your words were disrespectful, they were ultimately true... However, you are unaware of the dangers in the court, and you asserted that all officials in the world are incompetent... This is not advisable!"

"I...I just..." Jiang Zhe was embarrassed. Adding the words "the world" made the old man's compliment seem quite easy.

"Very well! You are still young and do not know the wise men of the court, so I will not blame you!" Wang Yun looked at Xiu'er's shy yet happy appearance and sighed in his heart. Xiu'er's father was just like Jiang Zhe, talented, but unfortunately he was too arrogant and hated evil, which is why he ended up in such a state.

With a sigh, Wang Yun said earnestly, "We are all citizens of the Han Dynasty, and it is our duty to serve the Han. After upholding righteousness, we must not utter any rebellious words! Otherwise, I will certainly not be lenient!"

Upon hearing this, Xiu'er immediately understood that Wang Yun had forgiven Jiang Zhe, and hurriedly tugged at Jiang Zhe's clothes.

"Uncle is right!" Jiang Zhe said with a wry smile.

Seeing Xiuer tugging at her husband's clothes, Jiang Zhe didn't blame her; on the contrary, he was used to it. Wang Yun was secretly pleased for Xiuer.

"Enough! It's late, you two should go and rest!" Wang Yun stood up, and Xiu'er quickly stood up as well, pulling Jiang Zhe along.

After a moment's thought, Wang Yun said, "Without reading, one cannot understand the principles of the world! Furthermore..." He glanced at Jiang Zhe, a slight smile appearing on his face, "Now that you are my nephew-in-law, I certainly cannot ignore you! Starting tomorrow, you will follow me to broaden your horizons! The world is far more complex than you make it out to be!"

"..." Jiang Zhe opened his mouth, no...

"Oh!" Wang Yun clapped his hands, frowned, and said, "I forgot you all had to pay respects to your loved ones. Very well! The day after tomorrow will do!"

"Keep this firmly in mind! Uphold righteousness!"

Seeing her husband's dazed expression, Xiu'er quickly said, "Uncle, don't worry, Xiu'er will always remind you..."

Jiang Zhe: "..."

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