The Frail Scholar at the End of Ancient Times

Chapter 61: One More

Chapter 61: One More

Young Master Zhao was uncharacteristically troubled. He had indeed considered it, even reserving a few positions, but he never envisioned the current situation. This cousin of his had a truly unconventional approach! The position of Foreman wasn’t even a proper official role; it was merely a clerk. The position was minor, the work abundant, and people of status looked down on it. Young Master Zhao patiently explained its drawbacks.

Wen Gu was unconcerned. "This is Xin Prefecture City. My cousin is the Young Master of the Zhao Clan, and I have my aunt and uncle supporting me. What is there to fear?"

Young Master Zhao looked at Wen Gu and laughed heartily. "Good! That's right! What is there to fear?" In the territory of the Clans and noble families, who would be foolish enough to offend someone with connections? Do as you please; even if you’re just a petty foreman, who can look down on you? Very well, if you could bring five hundred people here during these chaotic times, you must have some ability. Let me see just how capable you truly are! However, this matter doesn’t need to be settled immediately. "How about this: consider it some more. You can walk around the city these two days, and I’ll assign a few guards to show you around." After witnessing the various troublesome matters in the market districts, perhaps this cousin will change his mind.

Wen Gu thanked him. With the matter concluded, he didn't want to delay his cousin with important affairs and was about to leave when he noticed the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the surrounding walls. The seal used was "Zhao's Qingjin." Zhao Yao, Zhao Qingjin. It was Young Master Zhao's own seal. In the past, during peaceful times, the imperial court favored civil officials over military ones. Compared to martial arts, Cousin Zhao excelled more in calligraphy and painting. Although Wen Gu didn’t praise him directly, the admiration and envy in his eyes were evident to everyone.

Seeing this, Cousin Zhao couldn't help but smile. "What, are you interested in calligraphy and painting?" he asked. "I'm extremely interested!" Wen Gu, who had been about to walk out, turned back. Wen Gu asked, "Cousin, are there any gentlemen here who teach calligraphy and painting? As the saying goes, one should balance work and rest. When I relax, I enjoy writing and painting." Young Master Zhao held his cousin in high regard. Among the noble families who had pledged allegiance to the Zhao Clan now, there were many leisurely scholars of calligraphy and painting. However, he needed to choose carefully. "Alright, I'll pick a calligraphy and painting teacher for you. Wait for him when you get back." "Hey! I’ll be waiting for real!" Without further ado, Wen Gu quickly left.

After he departed, a scholar accompanying Young Master Zhao stroked his long beard and said with a smile, "This young master’s temperament seems rather... exceptional and extraordinary." "Isn't that so?" Young Master Zhao looked at the book listing vacant official positions on his desk and casually tossed it aside. It was no longer needed.

Meanwhile, after Wen Gu left his cousin's office, four guards arrived shortly after. The guards assigned by Young Master Zhao were not ordinary; all four were from the Xin Prefecture Patrol Division. The city had the City Defense Army, primarily responsible for security within the city and defense outside. The Patrol Division was more specialized, handling certain specific investigations and patrols. Troublesome matters that the City Defense Army couldn't handle were dealt with by them. It was a new military institution established after the Zhao family took control of Xin Prefecture.

Wen Gu didn't try to curry favor with them. He called Tietou and, with the guards, went to explore Xin Prefecture City. With local guides, Wen Gu gained a preliminary understanding of the market districts he was interested in, including who resided in the "luxury areas," whether they were easy to provoke, and the complexity of the "slum areas." As expected, vacant districts were easier to manage and could be developed according to his own plans. The vacant districts in the city had their gates closed and were under lockdown. As more people arrived from the south, these district gates would be unlocked sequentially. Wen Gu inspected the places he deemed important, and he was quite satisfied.

After a general tour of the inner city, he went to the outer city to check on the condition of the others in his group. According to Xin Prefecture's procedures, they would be quarantined for two days before being settled separately. Those willing to farm were directed to do so; several villages were designated nearby to house the refugees. Those unwilling to farm would enter the city and be assigned to various districts, but they would have to earn their own food, drink, and rent. Numerous tasks in the city required manpower daily; as long as one had strength and ability, they wouldn't starve.Outside the city. After Wen Gu left with Young Master Zhao, the people in the group, while obediently following local procedures, were restless and filled with joy. The only one with a long face was probably Daoist Master Qingyi. The Daoist Master was currently sitting in his horse-drawn carriage, his expression gloomy. He had figured it out. That "dog scholar" tricked me! He let those ignorant villagers flatter him, and because he hadn't enjoyed such good service for a long time and still harbored ambitions, he had become a little conceited. Daoist Master Qingyi cursed inwardly. It was just a few days of arguing with you; you first let me float, then slapped me back down... You dog!

The Daoist Master felt a sense of despair. With the "dog scholar's" current status and background, could he truly establish himself within the Zhao Clan? Just as he was contemplating whether to defect to another faction, he suddenly heard He Da's excited voice from outside: "Leader Wen!" Daoist Master Qingyi lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage. Seeing Wen Gu's figure, he sneered. He had changed his appearance and was accompanied by imposing guards, looking quite like a young master from a noble family. It seemed he was getting along well with the master of the Zhao Clan.

As they were still in quarantine, Wen Gu did not approach too closely, speaking to his group from a distance, separated by guards. He mainly wanted to reassure them. Knowing that Wen Gu had not abandoned them and was planning their subsequent resettlement, the people in the group no longer thought about other matters and waited for Wen Gu's news. After giving a few instructions to Escort Leader Lin and Zhou Shan, Wen Gu's gaze fell on Daoist Master Qingyi. "Daoist Master, please rest assured. I will fulfill the promise I made to you." Daoist Master Qingyi, who was contemplating running away, exclaimed, "Huh? Really??" What had the "dog scholar" promised him? First, to build a Daoist temple. Second, to equip the alchemy room with as many items as possible. With Wen Gu's current status, fulfilling these would not be difficult. If he had joined another faction, he might not even find an alchemy furnace, let alone build a Daoist temple. Competitors might also cause trouble.

Daoist Master Qingyi was conflicted. He's drawing another pie for me! He knew that this "dog scholar" definitely had other motives, but this pie was truly delicious... Given the "dog scholar's" personality, the more he gave, the more he would take back; he would certainly exploit people! But, this pie was truly delicious... Daoist Master Qingyi was wavering.

Wen Gu toured both within and outside the city. He returned to the Zhao family and, when his cousin had leisure time, he went to him again to confirm his intentions. Young Master Zhao was not surprised. He took out a map of the Xin Prefecture market districts. "See which one you like and pick it yourself." Wen Gu pointed to the vacant square he had previously favored. Young Master Zhao gestured.

Soon, a scholar beside him retrieved a drawing from the bookshelf and handed it over. Wen Gu was envious again. As expected, having many talented people around was convenient. After Cheng Zhi, he would also train Little Brother He. Turning his attention back to the present, on the table lay the drawing of the vacant district Wen Gu had chosen. Unlike the city market map, this one detailed the various specifics within the vacant district, such as which houses and courtyard walls were still intact and how many wells there were.

Young Master Zhao pointed to two relatively well-preserved houses within the district. "Keep these two for yourself; use them as you please." He looked at the drawing in front of him and still felt it was rather shabby and presentable. "Just this? What else do you want?" he asked. "Uh... if Cousin thinks it's not enough, then please allocate more building materials, or..." Wen Gu appeared embarrassed and pointed to another district next door. "How about assigning this one to me as well?"

Young Master Zhao looked at the second district Wen Gu pointed to. It wasn't large and was also vacant, located close to the city wall and the City Defense Army. It could be said that no outrageous activity could occur in that location; everything would be under supervision. However, Young Master Zhao still didn't understand. He requested the drawing of the second district as well. Inside, there were only two or three houses with slightly better preservation; others were mostly just stone and earth walls and foundations. He looked at Wen Gu again. Wen Gu nodded firmly. He was serious, not joking.

Young Master Zhao pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers on the drawing, and then said, "Alright, they're all yours!" He then circled the two houses in the second district and gave them to Wen Gu. These were directly given to Wen Gu and would belong to Wen Gu's personal property in the future. "Thank you, Cousin!" Who wouldn't like to be given houses directly? Wen Gu bowed exaggeratedly.

Young Master Zhao smiled. "Alright, stop fooling around. I can hardly bring myself to mention these things outside." He then looked down at the drawings of the two districts on the table and suggested, "That area is not facing the main street; you can merge them into one district for easier management." Combined, the area of the two districts was still not as large as those in the central city. However, Wen Gu did not plan to merge them. He pointed to the district near the city wall. "I want to build a Daoist temple here. Can a Daoist temple be built in Xin Prefecture City?"

Young Master Zhao's brows immediately furrowed. "A Daoist temple?" Whether it was a Buddhist temple or a Daoist temple, frankly, under the current circumstances, he was reluctant to see them established. They could easily cause trouble. Perhaps other clans revered Buddhism or Daoism, or used them as a tool to control public heart, but their Zhao Clan currently had no such intentions. It was fine to build a small Buddhist shrine or Daoist temple within their own residence, but to specifically construct a Daoist temple was another matter entirely.

Wen Gu suddenly seemed to recall something and said, "Oh, the Daoist temple I'm talking about might be different from the ones you've encountered before. There's a Daoist priest in the team I brought, and I want him to refine some things. Having a Daoist temple would be better." He mentioned the fine salt refined by Daoist Master Qingyi and their experience going to Jin Wu City, where they narrowly escaped danger thanks to the fine salt.

"Jin Wu City? Fine salt? Do you still have some? Let me see," Young Master Zhao asked. "Yes, but it's in the room, in a small porcelain bottle," Wen Gu replied. Young Master Zhao sent someone to Wen Gu's small courtyard to retrieve it and also had someone bring fine salt from the kitchen. Given their current status, they naturally used refined fine salt. But when the two were placed side-by-side and carefully compared, the one in Wen Gu's hand was indeed slightly cleaner and finer. Even a tiny difference was still a difference.

Young Master Zhao didn't care about this slight difference in their salt. He just thought that the person guarding Jin Wu City was probably the seventh son of the Ren family, a cautious and sharp individual who had once intercepted a talented person coveted by the Zhao family. With Ren Qi's sharpness, he might have already discovered the issue with the fine salt and been furious. Fortunately, Wen Gu had escaped quickly.

Young Master Zhao became pleased. "Good, very good! Build it!" Just for the fact that Wen Gu and the Daoist priest managed to anger Ren Qi once, and could escape to Jin Wu City to avoid disaster and emerge safely, they could be given the opportunity to build a Daoist temple! If any issues arose later, they could deal with them then. "Control the influence," Young Master Zhao reminded him. If they incited public sentiment, Wen Gu and the Daoist priest would both suffer when his father took action. "Understood!" Wen Gu promised. He had so many tasks for that "dog Daoist" that he wouldn't have time to incite public sentiment.

Wen Gu inquired about the construction requirements for houses in the city. Generally speaking, whether it was houses or a Daoist temple, as long as it wasn't too ostentatious, there weren't many other restrictions. The current times were unusual, and the rules were not as stringent as before. With the management rights of the two districts secured, Wen Gu didn't leave immediately. He looked at the blank spaces on the drawing and leaned closer, saying, "Cousin, your literary talent is extraordinary. Could you do me the favor of giving it a name?" This was no trivial matter; the inscriptions and names given by the heirs of noble families had special significance and served as a form of protection. This was the most valuable thing today.

Young Master Zhao looked at Wen Gu and, after a long while, smiled and said, "Alright!" Besides wanting to see what Wen Gu could truly accomplish, he also thought about the situation where, as the Young Master of the Zhao Clan, he would perform a sacrificial ceremony outside the city during an important occasion this year, and Wen Gu coincidentally brought five hundred people. Auspicious time, auspicious omen.

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote on the paper— "Jing Xing" (Auspicious Star) "Qing Yun" (Auspicious Cloud).

Jing Xing Qing Yun, may you welcome joy upon looking up. May your blessings be complete and all matters proceed smoothly.

(End of this chapter)