When Zhu Hao returned to the palace, it was already dark.
When he wanted to eat something casually to deal with it, he had to sit down at his desk to write a play and prepare to make money during the free time before winter.
For people of this era, after the busy autumn, there is a long and boring winter. Although people can go out of their homes at this time, the weather is cold and freezing, the crops stop growing, and the snow and ice in the north makes it difficult to walk.
Everyone can only sit idle, and even the number of people living by the Han River has plummeted...
The winter leisure season is the spring of the entertainment industry. People have nothing to do, and listening to books and watching plays have become the main pastimes.
Jinghong did not stay at the palace that day.
Zhu Hao is now a day student, and the same is true for Jinghong. As an official son, he has carriages to transport him back and forth. Basically, he has a holiday cycle of ten days. Now he can stay in the palace for a day or two, which is considered good.
"Ahem..."
There was a coughing sound in the yard.
Zhu Hao recognized Tang Yin's voice and hurriedly came out of the house to greet him. He thought Tang Yin was here to care about his situation when he went out of the city to celebrate his grandfather's birthday. When they met, he found that Tang Yin's face was not very good-looking.
Entering the dormitory, Tang Yin, who was wearing glasses, looked around. In Zhu Hao's opinion, he looked a bit like an intellectual from later generations, and then Tang Yin sat down on Jinghong's bed.
"News just came that Yuan Changshi has driven through Jingshan County. He will make a day's journey tomorrow and reach Anlu Prefecture City before dark."
Tang Yin seemed to be just telling Yuan Zonggao's situation, but in disguise he was talking to Zhu Hao about "business".
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "It's a good thing that Yuan Changshi is back. The palace should be prepared, right?"
Tang Yin said angrily: "You said that phone call earlier, weren't you just talking to me? Now Yuan Changshi is coming back, and the palace is about to select a new instructor. There are many things... Is it too late to dig a well when I'm thirsty?"
This is what makes Tang Yin angry.
They said they wanted to join forces to deal with Yuan Zonggao.
But now that Yuan Zonggao and his people have arrived at the border of Anlu Prefecture, they will return to Prince Xing's Mansion in the blink of an eye, but he has no preparation at all. This is a bit nonsense.
Zhu Hao could see that Tang Yin was aware of the crisis. He may have thought deeply about it in the past two days. He felt that Yuan Zonggao's return would have a greater impact on his status in the palace. After thinking about it, now that there is no place for him in the world, how can he revive the palace?
It is said to be Tang Yin's last refuge.
Even if fighting with an old Confucian official who recommended him to the palace would damage his face and reputation as a great talent of the Tang Dynasty, in order to ensure his survival, he still faced the difficulties with determination.
I had made up my mind, but found that I had no idea how to compete with Yuan Zonggao.
Originally, he was pushed to the top by Zhu Hao.
"Mr. Lu, you haven't thought about how to compete in the past few days, and you just ignored it just to make up your mind?" Zhu Hao joked with a smile.
Tang Yin's face turned red and he felt a little embarrassed.
It's okay to be taught a lesson by a young man, but the question is...is Zhu Hao considered a young man? He is obviously still a child!
I don't think someone will one day get so involved that I have to listen to a child's advice. If he doesn't give me advice, I won't be able to survive?
What happened to this world?
Seeing that Tang Yin was about to explode again, Zhu Hao stopped saying some "sarcastic words" and said with a smile: "If you want to compete with Yuan Changshi, the key is to find strategies for the other party and know your enemy and your friend..."
"Humph, stop talking nonsense and get straight to the point... You brought this up, so don't use some clichés to try to frustrate me."
Tang Yin can no longer listen to nonsense like "taking a long-term view" and "knowing your enemy and yourself". When things come to a close, what is needed is pragmatism.
Zhu Hao picked up the brush again and wrote one word on the white paper where he was going to write the drama: "Things!"
Tang Yin stood up, took a look, and asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"
Zhu Haodao: "May I ask Mr. Lu, how many relatively important things are there in the current Xingwang Mansion?"
This is a question that is neither simple nor complex.
Tang Yin has been in the palace for some time, and recently he has taken on the responsibility of Prince Xing's right-hand man. If he doesn't even know what is important in the palace, then his job as an aide will be in vain.
"There are three main things..."
Tang Yin sorted out his words a little, "The most important thing is the prince's teachings. I didn't think so in the past. Recently, King Xing has repeatedly asked about it. It seems that His Highness has put all his attention on the prince's studies."
Zhu Hao nodded and wrote on the white paper: "Your Majesty's lessons."
Tang Yin was inspired and continued: "The next more important thing is to collect food for the imperial court to help His Majesty in the northwest battle. The two thousand taels of silver have been converted into necessary military supplies and are being transported north."
Zhu Hao wrote again: "Money and food."
"Furthermore... the autumn harvest is coming soon, and the rent needs to be collected early, but the palace does not need to pay taxes to the court, and the grain will be deposited directly into the government treasury."
After Tang Yin finished his summary, Zhu Hao did not start writing.
Tang Yin looked over, his eyes full of doubts, as if asking, why don't you write?
Zhu Hao pointed at the word "qianliang" with the other end of his brush, meaning that the autumn grain storage was also included in the two words.
Tang Yin suddenly smiled bitterly: "Zhu Hao, what are you doing? Don't you think that there are things that I don't know about... Prince Xing hid it from me and didn't tell the truth?"
Zhu Hao spread his hands: "Mr. Lu, you are the one who said three things. I only remembered two, so you think I missed it? How many major events in the palace should be divided into, how important are they? Just know it in your heart."
?”
Tang Yin felt speechless.
"Then what else do you think is going on?" Tang Yin asked directly.
Zhu Hao wrote three words "Yuan Zonggao" on the paper.
Tang Yin was startled.
Is this considered a big deal?
Zhu Hao said: "Everyone in the palace is preparing to welcome Yuan Changshi back, and they are also specially preparing for the reception ceremony and banquet. Isn't this a big event?"
Tang Yin almost wanted to walk away.
Arguing with Zhu Hao about such trivial matters made him feel powerless.
"Then what do you want to say? You don't want me to pick one of them, go against Yuan Zonggao, try to drive him out of Prince Xing's Mansion, and Prince Xing will obey my words from now on, right?"
Tang Yin was so angry that he simply said all his true thoughts.
It’s outrageously direct…
Zhu Hao nodded with satisfaction, as if to say, congratulations on your correct answer.
After all, Tang Yin has self-cultivation. He can see it. Zhu Hao seems to be confident. That only means that he is too anxious. To deal with Yuan Zonggao, doesn't he just start from the affairs of the palace? He does not pay attention to the major events that are happening or are about to happen in the palace.
To find a breakthrough, do we have to find a solution from outside the palace?
"These three things..."
Tang Yin looked at the words written on the white paper and suddenly felt something was wrong, "Zhu Hao, what's your font?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Does it look familiar? I imitated the handwriting of the great Tang Yin and Tang Bohu of the time... so that if someone finds this note, they will not think it was written by me."
Tang Yin: "..."
"You've already seen it, why keep it?" Zhu Hao picked up the paper, put it on a candle and lit it. Only after it burned to ashes did Tang Yin react.
This kid actually imitated my writing? To the point where I couldn't even detect the clues? This... what kind of monster is this kid?
"Bang bang!"
Zhu Hao patted the table with the bluestone paperweight: "Let's get down to business."
Tang Yin became serious and said: "Among these three things, Yuan Changshi returned to the palace, and I couldn't use it... The money and grain provided by the palace to support the northwest front line were not in my hands. Even if the autumn grain was put into the warehouse and everything went as usual, I couldn't interfere. The only thing now is
What I can start with is the prince's lessons. As you said before, the prince's attitude towards me is crucial, so these days I have also been thinking about how to change the teaching methods."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhu Hao, like an innocent boy who had just confessed his love to the girl he loved. He was full of expectations, waiting for the other party to give a positive answer...
And I'm afraid the answer is no.
That kind of hesitation...
It’s a little bit cute!
However, Zhu Hao always gave Tang Yin unexpected remarks: "Mr. Lu, I dare to ask, what do you think Yuan Changshi will do first after returning to the palace?"
Tang Yin was a little embarrassed.
I analyze it carefully with you, but you always tell me that some of these things are true or not. It sounds reasonable, but it is almost nonsense!
"Zhu Hao, can you seriously discuss the issue with me? What's the point of raising such a specious question? How do I know what Yuan Changshi will do first when he returns to the palace? Do I need to infer what he did first when he entered the palace?
Should you step with your left foot or your right foot?" Tang Yin sounded impatient.
This was the reason why Zhu Hao refused to tell Tang Yin directly.
Tang Yin still placed himself in an exorbitant position, talking to his nominal disciple. Both parties seemed to have equal status, but in fact they still looked down upon Zhu Hao.
You can't correct your mentality. You always pretend to come to me to ask for advice. It seems that you respect me, but have you considered that I will tell you the correct strategy? Will you strictly implement it according to what I say? Are you sure you don't?
Because of your arrogance, you will execute my plan according to your way, and it will be a thousand miles wrong?
Zhu Hao spoke calmly: "Although Yuan Changshi has only been away from the palace for half a year, a lot of things happened in the palace during this period. Shouldn't the first thing he did after returning to the palace be to establish his authority?"
"ah?"
Tang Yin was startled.
"Zhu Hao, the new official has three things to do when he takes office. I know that Yuan Changshi wants to establish his authority after returning to the palace, but do you need to say this?" Tang Yin thought about it for a while. Zhu Hao's analysis was reasonable, but he didn't think it was.
What useful information this is.
Zhu Hao said: "If I don't tell you, how can you think about this? The next question is, if he wants to re-establish his prestige among the people in the palace, what should he do? In other words, who should he operate on first?
?”
Tang Yin thought about it again and pointed his finger at himself: "Me?"
Zhu Hao smiled slightly contemptuously, and Tang Yin immediately realized that this was not an accurate answer.