Chapter 222: Big deal, big picture!

After Baochai went down to prepare for the academy, Jia Cong was not idle either.

Taking advantage of today’s free time, I came to the palace.

Led by Xia Shouzhong to the study, Emperor Shunde was reviewing a memorial.

Seeing Jia Cong coming, he put down the memorial and teased with a smile.

“It’s a rarity today.”

“Just now when I heard Otomo say that you are entering the palace, I thought I had misheard.”

“After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I knew that Your Majesty was busy, so I didn’t come.”

“Speaking of which, it is all thanks to you, my dear minister, that you wiped out my nephew in one fell swoop, and the Kaiyuan clan also suffered a significant loss of power.”

“I was able to take back a lot of rights this time.”

As he spoke, Emperor Shunde stepped down from the throne and sat with Jia Cong on the stool brought by Xia Shouzhong.

In his words and actions, he treated Jia Cong as an equal, just like a close friend.

“There are no outsiders here, Your Majesty, there is no need to be so polite.”

“If you are really grateful to me, why not choose an old commander from the Fifth Army Command to take charge of the Beijing Camp?”

Jia Cong was not pretending when he said this.

In the early stages of Shinto’s development, secular authority was crucial.

In just one short year, Jia Cong’s subordinates had reached the fifth level of combat power.

What was being planned was no longer something that the commander of the Beijing camp could help with.

If Emperor Shunde wants it, there will be no loss in returning it.

Given Jia Cong’s current prestige, it doesn’t make much difference whether he is in office or not.

“My dear, you are really…”

Pointing at Jia Cong with a smile, Emperor Shunde shook his head helplessly.

From the perspective of Emperor Shunde.

A master of the fourth realm was appointed as the commander of the Beijing camp. Even the founding emperor of Daqian, who had so many advisers and famous generals under his command, could not dare to think of such a good thing.

If possible, I would like to give Jia Cong more official titles.

Completely tied to the chariot of Daqian, there is no way they would let Jia Cong go easily.

“The Beijing Camp has had a lot of personnel changes recently.”

“The documents for mobilizing troops, organizing the army, and training were all signed with Ma Shang’s name.”

“If I remember correctly, the last time you, the commander of the Beijing Camp, appeared in the Beijing Camp was more than two months ago, right?”

“Others are trying their best to seek official positions from me, but you are the only one who spends the whole day thinking about how to resign.”

After complaining for a few words, Emperor Shunde finally changed the subject.

“That’s it, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

“I know that with your current position, you have to work just as hard as I do.”

“Is there anything you need my cooperation for when you enter the palace today?”

“Your Majesty, there is indeed something I want to do. I want to build a college outside the city.”

“Academy? Doesn’t your mansion already have an academy?”

“This time, the academy is different from the small-scale operations in the mansion. The initial plan is to recruit 300 students and assign more than ten great scholars to teach them…”

Jia Cong outlined his plans for the academy one by one.

Emperor Shunde was greatly shocked when he heard this.

Forget about the silver needed for various subsidies and salaries, Emperor Shunde can afford it himself.

The key is the great scholar Wen Bao who teaches in the academy, as well as the lectures given by great scholars three times a year.

Even the royal family can’t do this.

Only Jia Cong, who first massacred the Bailu Academy and then defeated the Kong family, had this background.

“What you have done is to cultivate talents for the country, which is a good thing. Why do you need to report it to me?”

“Do you think I would object?”

Coming back to his senses, Emperor Shunde spoke with some confusion.

“I will send someone to prepare for the academy.”

“It’s just that the academy is currently lacking a principal. After much thought, I’m afraid that only Your Majesty can take on the role.”

“That’s why I came here to ask for your grace.”

“Before the academy is built, I can write a piece of calligraphy and inscribe a plaque.”

“It would be best if His Majesty could come in person on the opening day…”

“This……”

Emperor Shunde’s breath stagnated when he heard this. Jia Cong’s actions and layouts were always grand.

Even though only 300 students were enrolled in the initial stage, it can be seen from the number of great scholars who taught them.

Once the academy develops, it will surely become a giant that influences the government.

In ten or twenty years at most, a large number of students from academies will emerge in the court.

Emperor Shunde originally planned to win over Jia Cong with kindness and benefits.

But this benefit is really…

“My dear, you are not here to ask me for anything, you are clearly here to give me a favor.”

“The calligraphy plaque is easy to handle. I will definitely be there on the opening day!”

After thinking it through, Emperor Shunde felt calm.

He directly accepted Jia Cong’s favor.

“As for matters related to the academy, you can do whatever you like. I will just take the title of the headmaster.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

After settling the affairs of the academy in a few words, Jia Cong changed the subject.

“I heard that there have been frequent activities of Westerners in the southeastern waters recently?”

“Alas, I have been worrying about this matter recently.”

“India fell, and Siam was threatened by Westerners.”

“Siamese envoys have sent letters asking for help one after another this month.”

“It stands to reason that when a vassal state is invaded, Daqian should raise troops to help.”

“But since the reign of Emperor Taizu, our Daqian navy has not been taken seriously. Whether it is warships, soldiers or artillery, they are not as good as those of the Westerners.”

“Half a month ago, a Western merchant team arrived at the Fujian port and proposed to open trade.”

Emperor Shunde explained the situation in the southeastern coastal areas one by one.

To put it bluntly, even if we don’t fight, it will damage the prestige of Daqian.

The Westerners are ambitious and are coming with great force.

If all the countries in Southeast Asia fall, the next step will definitely be to target Daqian.

But if we fight, the navy will be abandoned and will no longer be a match for the Western fleet at sea.

“I have read many military books, and I know a thing or two about naval warfare.”

“I still have some manpower under my command. If Your Majesty needs it, I can go out to sea to help.”

Nodding slowly, after a general idea came into his mind, Jia Cong spoke.

“it is good!”

“If we really want to fight, I will shamelessly ask you to take action.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Emperor Shunde showed a look of joy.

When fighting a war, high-end combat power is indispensable.

Not to mention that Jia Cong’s subordinates are as numerous as clouds in the fourth realm, the number of them exceeds five fingers.

After chatting for a while about the situation in the West, Jia Cong said goodbye before lunch.

……

“Your Majesty, Marquis Jing’an suddenly established a college…”

After Jia Cong left, he watched Emperor Shunde remain silent.

Xia Shouzhong’s eyes turned, and he stepped forward and started talking.

“I am far inferior to Jia Cong in terms of style and style!”

As expected, Emperor Shunde sighed and was aroused to talk.

“The Kong family has too much influence in Confucianism. We can’t be enemies with Confucianism as a whole, so we should join it!”

“besides……”

“Otomo, do you know who are the most numerous scholars in the world?”

“I think most of them should be smart people.”

“That’s true, but it comes down to it.”

“As for studying and calligraphy, even without having to learn from a famous teacher, the four treasures of the study, namely, writing brushes, inkstones, and paper, are not something that ordinary farmers can afford.”

“The so-called inheritance of farming and studying is nothing more than a self-proclaimed reputation.”

“To study, you must first have a wealthy family, or at least some land.”

“What does His Majesty mean?”

Being reminded of this, Xia Shouzhong suddenly thought of something.

(End of this chapter)