Careerist in Qin Dynasty

Chapter 178 Abnormality in Wei
Lu Wei had heard of Confucian strictness in diet before.

“I never tire of fine food and never tire of fine food.”

"Speechless when eating and sleeping"

"Eating conditions are related to tin. Don't eat fish that are tired and rotten, don't eat them if they look bad, don't eat them if they smell bad, don't eat them if they're not cooked well, don't eat them from time to time, don't eat them if they're not cut right, don't eat them if they don't taste good."

"Only drinking without limit is inferior to chaos."

But after the meeting in the library today, when the three Confucian masters and Lu Wei had dinner in the side hall, the rules were not very strict.

There was an inn where the manager, Chef Ding, personally brought the food with his waiters. The quantity was not large, but everything was exquisite.

Chef Ding's extreme pursuit of delicious food makes him strive for excellence for any guest, regardless of status. It is this belief that makes Fu Nian entrust him with all the food at Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

Of course, the Confucian representative who made the specific arrangements for this matter was Zhang Liang, and in his contact with Cook Ding, he was keenly aware of the extraordinary nature of Youjian Inn.

The secret is that Zhang Liang still chooses to be an observer and is not in a hurry to get in touch.

When the chef showed up to deliver the meal, Lu Wei glanced at the fat shopkeeper intently, and Master Zhang San, who was paying close attention to Hall Master Lu calmly, immediately remembered this in his heart.

According to his observation of Youjian Inn after arriving at Xiaoshengxian Manor, the chef was not a farmer's disciple, let alone a Taoist or Legalist.

It should be the Mohist Mo Xia.

"There is an inn where the chef Ding's craftsmanship is unique to Songhai. Brother Lu, you can taste more of it when you come to Songhai in the future."

The cook did not stay long after delivering the dishes. After he left, Fu Nian sat upright and raised his hand to indicate the exquisite dishes on the table.

Lu Wei chewed slowly, and after swallowing the food in his mouth, he followed Fu Nian's words and boasted about the cook, and then mentioned Confucian food culture.

After patiently listening to Lu Wei's description of the Confucian rules that the public thought were so strict that they were close to rigid, Fu Nian's expression remained unchanged and he responded solemnly:
"A gentleman has nothing to eat and nothing to ask for, and nothing to live in peace. He is quick to do things but cautious in what he says."

"The core of Confucian food culture is etiquette. If you are not disrespectful to etiquette, you can be flexible. We are of the same generation today, and we are not living in the royal family. We can speak as we please if we have restraint."

"Elder brother is usually rigorous in his studies." Zhang Liang smiled warmly, and after Fu Nian finished speaking, he said curiously, "I just realized today that I can be so flexible and comfortable."

“Change can only occur when things don’t change.”

It was Lu Wei who said this, and Fu Nian nodded in agreement.

If the foundation of scholarship is not strict, it will be difficult to have the foundation to create and develop on your own after completing your studies. This Confucian leader pursues etiquette, but he also strives to adapt Confucian etiquette to the ever-changing times.

In the past, Confucius was eager to serve as an official and govern and put his political wisdom into practice. Fu Nian, as the head of Confucianism of this generation, naturally had the same leadership as the sages.

Among Confucianists, it was not only Zhang Liang who was observing this era, Fu Nian was also doing the same, but the latter was hidden under his identity and academic research, making it even harder to be discovered.

After finishing their meal, they refused to stay and came down the mountain from Xiaoshengxian Village. In the stronghold of Songhai City, Li Shiqi and Ziwu had already returned.

The former, Li Sheng, was discussing with Lu Qing the management of the farm in Songhai City, while the latter was playing swordsmanship in the backyard.

Lu Wei made two moves with Ziwu, and then went to the accounting room to listen to the discussion between the two principals.

After the emergence of paper provided ideas, it was not difficult for others to imitate them in the world of the Qin Dynasty where technology was skewed.

After all, the world's technological level is unimaginably advanced, but it lacks a broad enough imagination.

However, low cost and mature technology that has been developed for thousands of years are the advantages of farmers. Some people may be able to make rough paper for daily writing, but small workshops cannot crack the higher-grade fine paper.

The sale of paper in Songhai can be relaxed, and Lu Wei will leave it to Li Shiqi to handle this aspect.

Profitability in business development is certainly important, but for Songhai, profit is not more important.

The next day, the master of the hall took Ziwu on a big boat and went out to sea for a tour. He didn't gain much, but he mainly felt the power of the broader wind and waves.

Due to various reasons, even the coastal state of Qi has made very little efforts in ocean development.The land has not yet been clearly explored. The dangers lurking on the ocean and the uncertainty of the future determine that it will not be the primary target in people's sight.

Ziwu has always been very curious about things big and small that he has never seen or heard of, but this curiosity only lasts for three minutes in most cases, but when it comes to going to sea, he is full of energy and never tires.

However, a sea-going ship cannot travel too far in a day's round trip, and ordinary ships, even the large ships that can be found in Songhai City, cannot carry enough people, food, and fresh water to maintain long-term reserves for going to sea.

Only that big ship that can be called a moving island more than ten years later: the mirage can sail to the bluer deep sea.

Returning to the shore in the evening, several merchants wandering between the piers caught Lu Wei's attention:

"Are those people locals from Songhai?" The hall master asked, staring at the man in brocade robe who was holding a bamboo slip and a carving knife and lowering his head to record something.

"No, they are merchants from Chu." Ziwu glanced at them and replied calmly: "These people came to Songhai City once last year."

"Li Sheng sent you to investigate?" Ziwu's question and answer prompted Lu Wei to further investigate.

"Yes", Ziwu Lisuo added the information: "The merchants holding bamboo slips and carving knives at the dock behaved very strangely, and they also deliberately observed the passage of our ships. After I reported it to Uncle Li, he instructed us to proceed with the details Check.”

"But there were no follow-up results. They just blatantly recorded some basic ship information on the dock. Everything else was normal. They left after the goods they brought to Songhai were sold out."

"It's not just us, they will also observe and record things at Little Sage Village, but they are more cautious: they only watch during the day, and only go back to the inn to record at night."

"Have you also observed Confucianism?" The master of the hall was moved in his mind, and he made some guesses about the actions of the merchants in brocade clothes who were looking towards him intentionally or unintentionally.

Obviously, the reason why these people were observing at the dock was for the Songhai Branch of the Farmer, but the rough surveillance actions and the usual actions of some strong merchants proved that they were really just ordinary merchants.

'But since the Confucian family is also under surveillance, the ovary will definitely be able to provide me with effective information! '

Regardless of whether a smart person or a fool, there is always logic in doing things. People who act illogically are either madmen or geniuses of another type. Their lack of logic is a kind of logic in itself.

Although he did not have close contact with them, Hall Master Lu guessed that these merchants were of little value.

If they are worth a lot, the thing itself won't be worth much.

Ignoring them, Lu Wei and Ziwu returned to the branch.

There was no merchant surveillance near the branch like those at the coastal wharf. Such strangeness reminded the hall master of one person: Xiao He.

Before he met Xiao He, two strange things happened between Chen Sheng and the Xu family assassin: they were for testing and they were for help.

This only records merchants from other countries who are not doing other things, and there is a vague similar meaning in it.
In the early morning of the third day, when Hall Master Lu came to visit Xiaoshengxian Manor again, he happened to meet Zhang Liang practicing sword dancing in the morning.

After the two briefly exercised their bodies, they no longer played chess, but walked side by side along the back mountain trail.

"A merchant who behaves strangely? Liang does know about this."

Zhang Liang, dressed in swordsmanship uniforms, has lost his gentlemanly gentleness, and his whole person shows the heroic spirit of a young man with high morale.

They are not in the Little Sage Village and no one will disturb them. The conversation between them is direct and decisive: "Although we cannot leave Songhai to investigate in depth, the clues of these people point to Daliang of Wei State."

"That's it. The clues about the ovary are very helpful. Thank you very much."

The land of Wei coincides with the Chen Sheng incident, and his guess before coming to visit Zhang Liang was indeed correct.

"Brother Lu, you don't have to be polite. Liang is also very interested in this matter."

Zhang Liang chuckled softly: "If Brother Lu finds out anything interesting, I hope you can tell Liang."

"It's natural." Lu Wei raised his eyebrows and said suddenly: "Didn't Zifang say he was going to visit Daze Mountain last time? In that case, it's better to choose the right time. When I return this time, Zifang might as well How about coming with me?"

The hall master's tone seemed to imply kidnapping: "After traveling to Daze Mountain, wouldn't it be nice for you and me to go to Daliang together to investigate the unusual behavior of merchants~"

"Brother Lu's kindness is accepted by conscience."

His smile was much gentler, and Zhang Liang looked normal and replied: "But Liang joined Confucianism only a short time ago and has not completed his homework. He really can't travel far."

"It's a pity, but since that's the case, I can't persuade you more."

From Xiao He to Zhang Liang, no one wanted to be taken home to entertain him, and Hall Master Lu Wei was not a bad person~
Changing other topics, the two chatted until the bottom of the mountain.Since Zhang Liang was going to the market to gather information, and considering that the two of them would spend a lot of time together in the future, the master of the hall did not follow him, but returned to the branch stronghold.

It took a total of twelve days to stay in Songhai City to inspect various matters of the branch. After Lu Qing made a detailed assessment of this coastal city, he returned to Daze Mountain first.

Lu Weiduo stayed for ten days, and his main actions were spent accompanying Ziwu on the sea trip to learn the meaning of the sword and visiting three Confucian masters in the Little Sage Manor.

During this period, he met Master Xunzi once in the library. Xunzi took the initiative to talk to Lu Wei. The main content of the conversation was the "Confucius Viewing the Teapot".

Fu Nian had taught it in advance, and the hall master pretended to understand and respond to the picture very well, which made the old man laugh out loud.

This made Lu Wei feel lucky, and he couldn't help but have a fourth understanding of Fu Nian's words last time: This Confucian leader might have expected this, so he gave me a detailed description of this picture in advance. explain.
Being able to take charge of Tai'a and be the head of Xiaoshengxian Village, Fu Nian possesses the political wisdom suitable for this position.

'My great-grandfather has too many things~'

(End of this chapter)