Chapter 86: A Modern Integrated Building Complex
“A dignified Grand Secretary Zhaoxue actually climbed a tree and jumped over a wall?”
Qi Zheng was stunned for quite a while. He could be considered to have gained a whole new understanding of Chen Bai.
The steward thought to himself, Wasn’t that exactly it? “Your Highness, did you perhaps push Grand Secretary Zhaoxue too hard?”
What grand secretary would behave so… so…
Qi Zheng: “…”
Could that really be the case? As soon as the thought appeared, Qi Zheng gave a cold snort. He should look at what filthy thing Chen Zixiu had done first. That book was still hidden by him now, and he did not dare let anyone else find out about it.
“He may escape today, but can he hide tomorrow?”
At this moment, Chen Bai was carrying a box of books into Green Bamboo Book Studio.
Speaking of Green Bamboo Book Studio, it was extremely famous in Shangjing.
There were two reasons. First, Green Bamboo Book Studio might truly have achieved the saying, “In laughter and conversation, there are great scholars; in coming and going, there are no common men.” It was an elegant place in the hearts of Shangjing’s scholars.
When Chen Bai came to find scholars to copy books, he did it sneakily, afraid of tarnishing the scholars’ reputations. That was why last time, he had not dared leave his own name.
Second, Green Bamboo Book Studio was opened by Zhu Shimo, the Bamboo Gentleman among Great Qian’s Four Gentlemen.
Speaking of Zhu Shimo, one had to mention his lofty integrity.
It was said that Zhu Shimo was born into an ordinary family, but because of his profound learning, countless nobles eagerly sought his talent and wanted to take him in as a guest retainer.
But he rejected them all. His reason was simply that he only wanted to read quietly. That was all.
If that were all, then a scholar wanting only to read would not be much. At most, one could say he regarded money like dirt, did not care for empty fame or wealth and power, and possessed noble character. It might not necessarily be enough to deserve the word “bamboo.”
But if you knew who the people he had rejected were, you would not think that way.
The Nine Ministers had tried to recruit him. He refused. The Three Dukes personally visited him. He refused. The king asked him to enter official service. He refused as well…
His reason had never changed: he wanted to read in peace.
From this, it could be seen that he truly was a scholar who wholeheartedly wanted only to read. He was not some fame-seeking person holding out for a better price.
For a person to do one thing to the extreme was indeed worthy of respect. Zhu Shimo could cast aside all worldly temptations solely to read the books of sages. That truly made others feel far inferior. This was also the origin of his title “Bamboo” and the most fundamental reason why he ranked third among the Four Gentlemen.
Chen Bai covered himself up and entered the book studio sneakingly.
The old man managing the book studio came over. “Sir, are you here to read?”
Chen Bai lowered the hand covering his face and whispered furtively, “It’s me. I’m here again to ask someone to help me copy books.”
But Chen Bai froze when he saw the old man’s face darken slightly. “Do not defile this pure and quiet place of books. Leave quickly.”
Chen Bai: “No, wait…”
Last time, this old man had said the same thing. Had Chen Bai not explained a whole set of great principles to him? After talking until his mouth nearly blistered, he had finally convinced the old man that scholars also needed to eat, especially poor and destitute scholars. They needed a bit of money to buy books, didn’t they? Otherwise, if they could not even afford books, how could they read?
He was not here to humiliate scholars. He had sincerely come to help scholars.
Last time, he had talked his mouth dry before persuading the old man. Why was it not working again this time?
Chen Bai rolled up his sleeves. Watch him repeat his old trick and have a proper discussion of reason with this old man.
In any case, he had already entered the book studio. Trying to chase him out? No way. “If you don’t let someone copy books for me, I won’t leave.”
The old man’s temples twitched. He had never seen such a shameless grand secretary.
Did Chen Zixiu think that just because he had not left his name, the old man truly did not recognize him? He had merely not exposed him.
Although their argument was quiet, it was not as if no one heard it.
At this moment, a plain-clothed man walked out. At his waist hung a black iron sword ornament. Although he was dressed simply, it could not conceal his handsome, elegant bearing. He had a distinctive grace, entirely different from that of ordinary noble young masters.
“Let someone copy the books for him. Some poor scholars in the book studio do indeed need a little support.” His tone was merely a little cold.
Chen Bai froze. Who was this person? Green Bamboo Book Studio was famous for its moral integrity. How could it agree so easily?
As a result, the old man answered respectfully, “Yes.”
Chen Bai was stunned. He had pestered him for so long without seeing the slightest effect.
Chen Bai kept giving the old man looks, asking, “Who is he?”
The old man smiled, and even his tone carried some pride. “The master of this book studio, the Bamboo Gentleman.”
Chen Bai’s mouth formed an O. The Bamboo Gentleman Zhu Shimo, who was as famous as Meng Huanchao and Lan Ruoyun?
Earlier, Zhu Shimo had said those poor scholars also needed some support, right? This Zhu Shimo was not quite the rotten, stubborn rock lump the rumors made him out to be.
The old man was reaching out, ready to take the book box from Chen Bai, but Chen Bai moved aside.
He had met Meng Huanchao, gentle as jade and clear as a jade tree. He had met Lan Ruoyun, like an orchid in an empty valley, a beauty of the world. Now that he had encountered Zhu Shimo, how could he let him go so easily?
Zhu Shimo was no ordinary person. It was said that no matter what official or noble wanted to meet him, if he said he would not meet them, then he would not meet them. He had never cared what the other party’s identity was. Today was a chance encounter. If he missed this chance, Chen Bai felt he probably would not get another.
Chen Bai handed the book box in his hands to the person in front of him, his eyes constantly sizing him up.
The old man’s face darkened. “Grand Secretary Zhaoxue, you are at least a well-known grand secretary of Hongwen Pavilion. How can you lose a scholar’s integrity and behave so shamelessly?”
He directly called out Chen Bai’s name.
The young man, however, said, “No matter.”
He reached out and accepted the book box Chen Bai offered.
Chen Bai could not help pausing, because he had been observing rather carefully. Zhu Shimo’s hands were somewhat different from his person. The calluses on his hands were quite thick.
Calluses from holding a brush?
But the position did not seem right. They looked more like calluses left from years of gripping a sword.
Strange. He had never heard any rumors that Zhu Shimo knew martial arts.
Because they were standing close, Chen Bai’s nose twitched slightly. It was not some strange scent of books and ink, but a faint medicinal fragrance.
Moreover, although Zhu Shimo’s face was calm and pale, there was indeed a hint of hidden pallor.
It was as if he had been injured.
Chen Bai shook his head. How could a scholar who quietly stayed in his book studio reading all day have any chance to be injured?
Throwing that thought out of his mind, Chen Bai said, “I wonder if the Bamboo Gentleman has time. These books of mine are quite disordered and need to be properly sorted out. Why don’t we find a place and drink some tea…”
Zhu Shimo froze for a moment. Never had someone made their shameless conduct so obvious in front of him. In the past, whoever met him would put on airs, wishing to leave the image of a broad-minded scholar before him.
Zhu Shimo replied faintly, “No need.”
Then he carried the book box and walked inside.
Chen Bai curled his lips. “How nice drinking tea would be. I am a person who loves making friends the most.”
The old man beside him could not hold back and muttered, “Shameless.”
Chen Bai pretended not to hear it. After saying farewell, he walked outside. “What a pity. I happened to meet the Bamboo Gentleman, yet couldn’t chat with him. Truly a pity.”
“Still, apart from Meng Huanchao, it seems the Bamboo Gentleman has never taken anyone as a close friend. So I suppose I’m not being treated differently, right?” He comforted himself. “I wonder if the Bamboo Gentleman has any special preferences. Looks like I’ll have to go back and ask Meng Huanchao.”
Even by the next day, Chen Bai still could not stop thinking about it.
When he arrived at the Crown Prince’s residence, Chen Bai struck first. “Your Highness, I am here to learn swordsmanship.”
As the saying went, one could hide for a while, but not forever.
Qi Zheng snorted through his nose. “I did not know Grand Secretary Zhaoxue also had a hobby of climbing trees. I have had all the trees near the courtyard wall cut down. Let’s see what excuse you can come up with next time.”
“…”
Chen Bai rubbed his nose and quickly changed the subject. “Your Highness, lucky I climbed over the wall yesterday, otherwise you would never know what I almost missed.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
His originally gloomy mood was actually amused by Chen Bai. “So according to you, you did the right thing?”
Chen Bai did not care about Qi Zheng’s deliberately restrained tone. “Yesterday, I went to Green Bamboo Book Studio and met our Great Qian’s Bamboo Gentleman, Zhu Shimo. Tsk, tsk. He’s a bit different from the aloof and cold figure everyone talks about. He’s rather down-to-earth. I originally thought someone like him would be extremely rigid, but he really isn’t.”
“And Your Highness probably doesn’t know this, but Zhu Shimo knows martial arts. Judging from the sword calluses on his hands, they should be from years of practicing day and night.”
Qi Zheng scoffed. “Zhu Shimo knows martial arts? Don’t speak nonsense. A scholar who only reads sage books—where would he find the time to practice martial arts?”
Chen Bai laughed too. “Your Highness, now that isn’t right. How can you be so certain about something you have never seen? I personally saw the sword calluses on Zhu Shimo’s hands. Moreover, Zhu Shimo’s complexion had a pallor to it. He should have been injured recently.”
Qi Zheng frowned. “…”
In everyone’s impression, Zhu Shimo only had books in his heart. That was all. He was completely book-obsessed.
A person who cared nothing for external things was suddenly said to have spent enormous effort practicing martial arts?
Seeing that Qi Zheng did not speak, Chen Bai grew a little indignant. Why didn’t he believe him?
Turning grievance into motivation, Chen Bai began to swing his sword hard.
Who knew what he was angry about, but by the time he finished practicing, his arms hurt terribly.
Chen Bai left in a hurry, because he wanted to find Meng Huanchao and ask him. He had to prove to Qi Zheng that he had not been talking nonsense.
When Chen Bai reached Cloud Ascension Academy, Meng Huanchao was teaching the students.
Chen Bai did not disturb him and instead went downstairs to stroll around.
Downstairs had changed greatly again, and Chen Bai froze as he looked around.
Those sage disciples were actually gathered in twos and threes, playing chess. He walked over and saw that they were all playing gomoku, xiangqi, and go…
It seemed that the match between the academy and Ruo Hong had left quite a deep influence.
In fact, its influence was even more far-reaching than Chen Bai imagined. For example, xiangqi was being studied by the Military School as if it were a treasure. Go was being studied by the Daoist School, the Five Elements School, the Astronomical School, and others…
Chen Bai looked around and clicked his tongue in wonder. “It’s just entertainment. Why are they taking it so seriously?”
By the time Chen Bai finished walking around and went upstairs, Meng Huanchao’s class was almost over.
Chen Bai went straight to Meng Huanchao. “Lord Meng, let me ask you something. I heard your relationship with the Bamboo Gentleman Zhu Shimo is pretty good?”
People in Shangjing probably all knew that Zhu Shimo did not like socializing. He had always lived alone in his book studio, quiet and clean. But the people of Shangjing also knew that only Meng Huanchao, the number one confidant under heaven, was a guest who could enter the Bamboo Gentleman’s inner room.
Tsk, tsk. Look at Meng Huanchao. To live life to his level was truly impressive. Being the confidant of everyone under heaven was not an empty title. Even someone as cold and detached as Zhu Shimo had failed to resist him.
Meng Huanchao looked at Chen Bai in slight surprise. Had he discovered something?
That should not be possible so quickly. Zhu Shimo’s concealment skills were quite good. People often said great recluses hid in the marketplace. For Zhu Shimo to hide so well while under so many people’s eyes, he definitely had some ability. Otherwise, Meng Huanchao would not have specially created an opportunity to get acquainted with Zhu Shimo and learn from him.
Spies, after all, also needed to communicate more to improve. Of course, whether Zhu Shimo could see anything from him was another matter.
Chen Bai could not hold back and asked directly, “Just tell me whether the Bamboo Gentleman has practiced martial arts. I saw the sword calluses on his hands, but Qi Zheng insists that he is a scholar who reads sage books and would have no time to practice martial arts.”
Meng Huanchao was also quite straightforward. “You weren’t wrong. Zhu Shimo has indeed practiced martial arts. His swordsmanship is above first-rate, and in terms of mastery of the Stone-Grinding Sword Technique, there is probably no one who can surpass him.”
Chen Bai was delighted. He sat back and waited for Qi Zheng to come and reason with him. While he was at it, he even shared the saliva chicken he had brought for Chen Xiaobu with Meng Huanchao.
Only, after waiting for half a day, no one came.
No matter. Chen Bai cheerfully went to visit in person.
Qi Zheng was indeed quite busy. In the morning, he had to teach a certain ungrateful person swordsmanship, so everything else had piled up in the afternoon.
When Chen Bai arrived at Qi Zheng’s residence, Qi Zheng was somewhat surprised. This fellow had even climbed over a wall just to escape from his residence, yet now he had obediently come knocking?
The sun truly had risen from the west.
Chen Bai coughed lightly and said casually, “Your Highness, do you know who in this world understands Zhu Shimo best?”
Qi Zheng looked at Chen Bai with an expression that said, What trouble are you stirring up now?
Chen Bai continued, “Of course it is Meng Huanchao, the only person who can enter the Bamboo Gentleman’s inner chamber. But do you know what Meng Huanchao told me?”
“Meng Huanchao said that Zhu Shimo not only knows martial arts, but his swordsmanship is above first-rate. As for that Stone-Grinding Sword Technique, no one in the world can surpass him.”
Look, look. This fellow Qi Zheng had not believed him. Now he knew who was right and who was wrong, didn’t he?
Chen Bai lifted his head proudly. He was exactly this kind of serious person.
Qi Zheng, however, frowned. “Meng Huanchao really said that?”
Swordsmanship above first-rate? That was not something someone like Chen Zixiu, who fished for three days and dried the nets for two, could achieve. Above first-rate meant that apart from astonishing talent, one also needed a famous master’s guidance and had to have undergone arduous tempering from childhood.
Stone-Grinding Sword Technique unmatched under heaven? Without a famous master, relying solely on the little figures drawn in a sword manual was absolutely impossible.
If someone could truly reach such heights just by imitating the postures of little figures in a sword manual, then that person simply would not be human.
But…
Zhu Shimo was born into an ordinary family. That was something everyone knew. Where would he have gotten a renowned sword master to teach him?
He had practiced swordsmanship bitterly since childhood, yet no one knew? Zhu Shimo was a famous person, not some unknown nobody. For such important information to never have spread at all?
That was impossible. Especially for a swordsman above first-rate, his name should have long since become known throughout the world.
Unless…
He had deliberately gone to great lengths to hide it from everyone.
But Zhu Shimo had no reason to do that…
“Your Highness?” Chen Bai called out when he saw Qi Zheng lost in thought.
Only then did Qi Zheng come back to himself. “You came here specially to tell me this?”
Chen Bai said, “This is no small matter. It concerns my credibility. Now Your Highness knows I wasn’t talking nonsense, right?”
Qi Zheng: “…”
Shouldn’t the main point now be why Zhu Shimo had gone to such trouble to hide the fact that he knew martial arts?
Qi Zheng shook his head. “Since you’re here, help me copy some memorials.”
Chen Bai: “…”
Pah. That was the work of a young palace attendant.
Chen Bai hurriedly said, “I still have to go back to the academy. Mo Qianji has finally come out of his room.”
Now that he thought about it, why had he insisted on running all this way back just to prove himself in front of Qi Zheng?
Clearly, discussing the construction of the fief with Mo Qianji was the more urgent matter.
After saying that, Chen Bai turned and ran.
Qi Zheng watched Chen Bai run off without the slightest regard for his image and shook his head. “This Chen Zixiu. Why does he always do things so haphazardly? He is at least a well-known grand secretary.”
The corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward.
After saying that, he called the steward over. “Send people to keep watch outside Green Bamboo Book Studio and monitor Zhu Shimo’s every move. Record every detail of his daily life and report once every day.”
The steward was stunned. Why send people to investigate such a person who had no concern for worldly affairs and possessed such noble integrity?
The steward acknowledged the order with a puzzled expression and went down to make arrangements.
…
When Chen Bai returned to the academy, he saw Mo Qianji, who had shut himself away for several days.
The fine young man had actually lost a whole circle of weight.
Mo Qianji was even more excited than Chen Bai. “That planning drawing you gave me, are the plans and mechanisms on it all real? Can they all be realized?”
Chen Bai thought to himself, If they couldn’t be realized, why would I spend so much effort drawing that planning map for so long? He replied, “Of course.”
Mo Qianji already looked as if he wanted to start work immediately, unwilling to delay even a moment.
Chen Bai thought, Unexpectedly, this young man is rather impatient. He said, “Hold on.”
Mo Qianji looked confused.
Chen Bai continued, “First, we need to sign a confidentiality contract. This construction will involve many unique secret formulas from our academy. These things cannot be leaked. In other words, other than you, not even the rest of the Mohist School can know. Understand?”
Mo Qianji: “…”
Although Chen Bai’s words were a little mysterious, Mo Qianji still understood the principle. Just like their Mohist mechanical arts—they were never passed on to outsiders either.
Chen Bai took out several thick pages of contracts he had prepared long ago. “Come, come, young man. Let’s sign the contract first.”
Mo Qianji: “…”
This person was at most only one or two years older than him. Why did he speak in such a…
For sage disciples, their identities themselves represented a kind of credibility. But for Chen Bai, if no contract was signed, he did not feel at ease.
There was naturally a reason why Chen Bai wanted Mo Qianji to sign a confidentiality contract.
Cement alone could already be considered an extraordinary thing. Not to mention that cement alone definitely would not be enough for building the fief.
For example, concrete, bricks, tiles, and the like—he would have to make those too. If conditions allowed, he even wanted to fire glass himself. But unfortunately, to make glass, one had to build an ultra-high-temperature kiln, which was still rather difficult in ancient times.
For similar things, he could only buy them himself. It was hard to explain the origins of these unidentified things, so he needed Mo Qianji to sign the highest-level confidentiality agreement.
Of course, the necessary coaxing still had to be done.
“Any mechanisms used in the future will be the academy’s highest technology and highest secrets. Everything related to them must not be passed on.”
“The benefit is that if you want to continue studying these mechanisms, I won’t stop you.”
“…”
Mo Qianji was actually made by Chen Bai’s words to feel that the atmosphere had become heavy, as if what they were about to do was the most secret and extraordinary thing in the world.
After Mo Qianji signed the contract, the construction of the fief officially began.
Of course, before starting, Chen Bai had to go ask for construction funds.
Qi Zheng had handed the construction of the fief entirely to him, so naturally he had to ask Qi Zheng for the funding.
Chen Bai rubbed his nose. How many times had he run back and forth today?
By the time Chen Bai arrived at Qi Zheng’s residence again, it was almost evening.
“Mo Qianji has already thoroughly understood the planning map I gave him. Now construction can officially begin.”
“That means we can start firing bricks, tiles, cement, and all of that…”
Qi Zheng watched Chen Bai count on his fingers and asked, “And then?”
Chen Bai: “…”
Why was this person so lacking in tact?
Chen Bai simply stopped beating around the bush. “Aside from the formulas and construction techniques, all of these require manpower and materials, right? Where will the manpower and materials come from?”
“Let me say this first. It will cost a little money. But I also guarantee that every coin will be worth it. Oh, right, I still haven’t asked you. Our grapes and rabbits have already expanded across several mountains. How much money have we made?”
Qi Zheng coughed. “Talking about money is vulgar. I’m having your share cleared up. Once it’s ready, I’ll have someone send it to the Court Commandant’s residence.”
Qi Zheng thought to himself, A little money? Then it did not matter. Ever since express delivery and buses were opened, tsk, tsk, the industries in his fief had earned quite a bit.
Especially the rabbits. They were simply a golden nest, far too good at reproducing. One litter had seven or eight rabbits, and they gave birth several times a year. Most importantly, they only needed to eat grass, which cost nothing. If not for express delivery and the buses, he might have been worrying about how to sell them all.
As for how much money he had earned? At present, at least one quarter of the meat consumed in Shangjing was supplied by him.
Chen Bai thought to himself, True, talking about money is vulgar. “Then it’s settled. I’ll go to the steward for all future expenses.”
“By the way, this is the budget list. Take your time looking it over.”
Chen Bai also found it a little strange. With Qi Zheng’s stingy personality, he had actually agreed so readily this time.
What he did not know was that Qi Zheng had been feeling a little too pleased lately every time he saw the money earned each day.
Chen Bai waved his hand. “Then I’ll go focus on construction.”
Qi Zheng did not even want to look at the budget list. It was just a bit of money. He was now extremely rich. Let’s see if Chen Zixiu still kept saying he was stingy.
But after casually glancing at the budget list Chen Bai had left him, Qi Zheng’s entire body trembled.
He even could not help rubbing his eyes, thinking he had seen wrong, and pressed the budget sheet over his eyes.
“How much is this? A tiny bit of money? Chen Zixiu said this is only a tiny bit of money?”
Qi Zheng still refused to believe it. “I must have seen wrong. The unit is silver. It must be silver.”
When the steward came, Qi Zheng’s face was so dark it could not be darker. He was still muttering nonstop, “Chen Zixiu, that prodigal. Even mountains of gold and silver would be squandered by him. This is only the preliminary budget? Is he planning to build an immortal palace?”
Qi Zheng had thought he had earned quite a lot of money. Every day, he had even been happily delighted. In the end, one budget list from Chen Bai let him know that, in Chen Bai’s eyes, money was never enough to spend.
He felt that he was about to gain a reputation for extravagance and waste.
The steward’s face was also somewhat pale. “Your Highness, Grand Secretary Zhaoxue came to withdraw money from me earlier and said Your Highness had approved it. But the amount Grand Secretary Zhaoxue withdrew was truly… truly…”
He did not dare say it. His Highness would definitely erupt in thunderous fury. His Highness hated extravagant and excessive people the most.
Only…
Qi Zheng’s expression changed again and again. In the end, he gritted his teeth. “Give him however much he wants.”
If he did not produce something worthwhile, just wait and see how Qi Zheng would deal with Chen Zixiu.
When the steward left, he still could not believe it. From behind him, he could still hear Qi Zheng calling Chen Bai a prodigal, one word after another.
Meanwhile, Chen Bai had already received the money and was recruiting workers on a large scale.
As for burdening the people and wasting resources? No one should say that. He was formally paying wages. He was providing jobs to the common people, and the wages he offered were fairly decent. In a certain sense, he was even helping improve the people’s lives.
Burdening the people and wasting resources referred to the old practice of forcibly conscripting commoners to build projects without giving them compensation. There was an essential difference.
He was not worried about public opinion on this point. Besides, even if someone wanted to splash dirty water on him, wasn’t Qi Zheng standing in front to shield him? Qi Zheng was now Great Qian’s heir apparent. Without the resolve to sacrifice themselves for righteousness, those people probably would not dare say anything recklessly.
As for whether the completed fief would satisfy Qi Zheng?
Tsk, tsk. His modern integrated complex, combining commerce, education, and entertainment—if even that could not satisfy a group of ancient people, then they could go live in their original thatched huts, because there would be no way to communicate with them anymore.
This moment also marked the true beginning of a miracle belonging to this era.
Everything before this, in Chen Bai’s eyes, had merely been small fusses and minor skirmishes.
