Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1354: Chapter 1306: Seizing the Initiative

Though restraint is a form of refinement, Jia Xu chose another path for Lu Yu. To Jia Xu, this closed-door disciple of his is very important and has always performed well, so Jia Xu feels he should offer some comfort at times.

”Uh, in that case, I have a cousin who is quite nice,” Xun Yue understood the situation and continued to sell his case to Jia Xu. After all, Lu Yu is full of potential. He had seen the strategy paper from yesterday. Though it took an unconventional approach, achieving such at the age of thirteen was already impressive.

”Oh, when spring is in full bloom, I’ll have someone organize a spring gathering, and you can bring your cousin along,” Jia Xu said expressionlessly. Holding a spring gathering would indeed help avoid any awkwardness.

”Zichuan, what do you want to say?” Lub Su looked curiously at Chen Xi’s expression.

”I just wanted to say that Wang Lii, after all, is a verbal arrangement by Duke Yana Fang. Although the future is uncertain, if she stays at the Lu Family, not much will change for a long time,” Chen Xi raised his head, pondered, and said.

Li Youu and Lub Su both envisioned Mi Zhen in their minds. From a straightforward, somewhat unruly girl, she had transformed into a clever, understanding young lady who knows how to act appropriately, which made them nod in acknowledgment.

”Someone should remind the Zijia not to keep Wang Lii at home all the time. It’s good for her to go to school with other girls. We do have the largest women’s academy in the land here,” Chen Xi suddenly said with a smile.

Although Chen Xi’s words could be seen as boasting, it was indeed the largest women’s academy in the land. Although it probably had only a few dozen actual students, most women would come to listen when they had time and wouldn’t when they didn’t.

However, Cai Yan didn’t mind. For her, it was just a hobby. If someone came to listen, she would lecture; if no one came, she wouldn’t. Her life was straightforward, but perhaps precisely because of this undistracted way of life, she learned and retained so much knowledge.

”That’s good; when the time comes, I’ll bring some more people over. Maybe there’ll be a suitable match. Zichuan, I remember your family has many nieces and cousins,” Xun Yue shamelessly suggested turning the spring gathering into a matchmaking event. The Xun Family was indeed vast, with many suitable candidates.

”My nieces, cousins, and so on,” Chen Xi chuckled, turning to Xun Yue, ”I nurture them to be independent and let them develop on their own as much as possible.”

”I feel like your family is being chaotic again. Can’t the Chen Family be a bit more peaceful?” Xun Yue said speechlessly, looking at Chen Xi.

Now, Chen Xi was the head of the Chen Family, with actual power. If he said he wanted to cultivate the family’s girls to be independent, he truly was doing it. At least the girls born during Chen Xi’s lifetime would definitely be raised according to his requirements.

”As if the Xun Family is peaceful,” Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said, as if he didn’t know what Xun Shuang had been up to, distributing the Xun Family’s classic books as if he had no friends.

Lately, the Confucian School had been suppressed repeatedly, and Xun Shuang’s distribution of the family’s books wanted to achieve something clear. More importantly, Xun Shuang was very cooperative with Liu Bei’s side’s promotion.

The situation was pretty much that all those participating in the spring examination, regardless of their family or school of thought, could come to the Xun Family to read their classic books if willing. Moreover, suitable scholars didn’t need to perform the disciple’s rites to have Xun Shuang personally resolve their doubts.

The latter was initially an empty promise, but Xun Shuang, having taken Hua Tuo’s medicine, was full of energy and wouldn’t refuse any scholars who came with questions.

The strength of Xun Shuang was evident from Xun Yu’s presence, who almost suppressed the sages of the previous generation. Speaking such words was extremely tempting to scholars, and since Xun Shuang indeed selflessly helped those scholars, his reputation soared greatly recently.

For Xun Shuang, reputation no longer held meaning, but Chen Xi clearly understood what Xun Shuang was aiming to achieve with these actions, to gain an upper hand in future school debates.

As Xun Shuang said, the Xun Family’s academic learning had already reached its pinnacle, and it was time to innovate. Now, with the Hundred Schools of Thought on the rise, Xun Shuang could already see the signs. Given this, why not take a gamble?

Now, when the Xun Family’s legacy is almost at its peak, he threw out their core classic books. Although others might absorb these classics and make immense strides, Xun Shuang was betting that no one could surpass the Xun Family using their classics within fifty years.

Within fifty years, with the selected candidates now having access to the Xun Family’s core classics, the books they would eventually bring back would far exceed the Xun Family’s current collection. As for the parts left behind, Xun Shuang believed that only the Xun Family could gather them completely; others would at most have fragments!

Hence, Xun Shuang gambled without further words, taking such a bold gamble. Having already glimpsed the future, the Xun Family would remain intact for fifty years. Taking this opportunity to place a big bet, turning it into a complete turnaround, and leaving sufficient foundations—why not?

Moreover, like other aristocratic families, the Xun Family believed their family’s learning was the best. Just as Confucian scholars could rule the land with half of ”Analects,” Xun Shuang genuinely considered ”Xunzi” the finest among the Hundred Schools of Thought’s classics!

”Uncle, isn’t it good this way? Having a place for resolving doubts is beneficial for the entire Lord’s rule and the whole land,” Xun Yue said with a smile. What Xun Shuang was doing was good for anyone on Liu Bei’s side.

Of course, such good deeds not only benefit others but also themselves. Xun Shuang had done it impeccably, leaving no room to find any flaw within.

Chen Xi rolled his eyes again, turning to Lub Su, ”Zijing, will you join the spring gathering?”

”Don’t tease me,” Lub Su said with a rueful expression, ”It’s not good for me to go, and there’s nothing suitable for me either.”

”Oh, but I heard you got along well with Xu Ning. What’s the matter? This time Xu Ning did well; how about I give you the papers, and you mark them?” Chen Xi chuckled knowingly. He was aware of Lub Su’s plight; but still, if he kept trying, descendants would surely come.

After all, Lub Su in history did leave a posthumous child, indicating there was hope, albeit a faint one.

”Let’s forget it; I’m still thinking of convincing my grandmother,” Lub Su said with resentment. Although his wife indeed came from a humble background, he, too, was once from a humble background. Now that they’ve prospered, there were no offspring, and to set aside his wife because of this left Lub Su quite bitter, yet he managed to hold it in.

”You should quickly take some concubines,” Li Youu said coldly, glancing at Lub Su.