The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 193 - 171. Joined the Xiuwen Pavilion as an external Scholar Zhao

The Golden Triad Strategy!

In the Xiuwen Pavilion, when Zhao Douan proposed this complete set of strategies that intertwined and influenced each other,

the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and in the minds of the scholars, it was nothing short of an awakening.

To gild the Capital with a layer of gold?

Just the thought of it was enough to make people yearn... and the most terrifying part was that what Zhao Douan had said seemed...

actually...

feasible.

We need not mention the first two strategies, but the construction of a "market" wouldn’t require much investment, not a lot of money, just one official document.

Furthermore, some suddenly remembered that when Zhao Douan previously discussed the "spread of farmland taxes," he had mentioned not increasing taxes for merchants.

At that time, no one thought much of it, simply assuming "merchants don’t own farmland," so naturally, they wouldn’t need to pay according to farmland taxes.

But thinking about it now...

This was clearly a move to stimulate and encourage merchants to join the market led by the court.

Otherwise, if taxes were imposed from the start, enthusiasm would be dampened; as for how to collect taxes after the market is established, that’s a matter for the future.

"The Golden Triad Strategy, the Golden Triad Strategy..." Han Cong murmured, repeating the name over and over.

Suddenly looking down at the ten-strategy memorial draft in his hand, he happily discarded the draft like waste paper.

"With these three strategies, my ten strategies might as well be waste paper."

He couldn’t hide his disappointment, and only then understood that Zhao Douan’s criticism of his shortcomings at noon was not because he had always been at the bottom.

It was...

a view from a higher plane.

This feared officer from the Capital, scorned by countless scholars as ignorant and uncultured, had strategies in his chest that far surpassed that of these scholars.

Who would believe it? Who could believe it? Yet it had actually happened.

"These are your ideas?"

The female chancellor with plum blossom makeup on her brow came back to her senses and looked at him with complex eyes.

Zhao Douan smiled and said,

"I dreamed it, and an old immortal surnamed Zhang bequeathed the dream to me."

Everyone: ...

Nobody believes that.

Mo Chou rolled her eyes, clearly not falling for such an obvious quip. An old immortal surnamed Zhang? Heavenly Master Zhang?

You’re worthy of knowing such an old immortal?

Besides, stepping back ten thousand steps, even if Heavenly Master Zhang is highly accomplished in cultivation, it’s doubtful he would understand governance.

The key point is, the Golden Triad Strategy was something even the elite scholars from Xiuwen Pavilion couldn’t think of. Who else could have come up with it?

That he plagiarized it from someone else? Unrealistic.

Then... could it truly be his own idea... Mo Chou found it hard to believe that a martial artist, a feared officer, a prodigal bully...

Even if he had read many books in secret, it seemed too monstrous.

But she had to admit it.

A thought suddenly occurred to her:

What would Your Majesty’s expression be when he emerges from seclusion in a few days and learns of this?

By the side of the female official, the Grand Scholar in red robes who sat at the head of the room remained silent, but his gaze towards Zhao Douan was even more complex.

Grandmaster Dong remembered the words he had spoken with the other party at the palace gates some time ago.

He had asked the other party to read more books and subtly hinted that civil officials were superior to military officers... and to not entertain inappropriate ambitions.

Now, those words felt like a slap in the face of the elderly man.

Who said Zhao Douan was ignorant? Inferior to scholars?

What is it now, then?

Grandmaster Dong suddenly felt old, thinking that perhaps the young Your Majesty had better judgment than himself and really didn’t need the assistance of this old man.

Your Majesty, where did you dig up this notorious yet accomplished individual?

In the room, other scholars felt a similar turmoil; they wanted to protect the dignity of the literati, but they were rendered speechless by the three golden volumes on the screen.

"Lord Zhao," Guo Jieyuan said excitedly:

"Then in your opinion, where should the market be opened? How should we lead it?"

Zhao Douan smiled and replied:

"I don’t know enough about the various regions of Great Yu, so I can propose strategies, but specific implementation is not my strength.

I must rely on you all for that.

However, I do think we should start in a place that the court can fully control and one that is next to a river...

At the inception of the market, the fastest way to gather Silver Coin is through trade, which heavily depends on transportation.

Later, we should encourage ’invention’ to let those merchants who create good products make more money, for a hopeful future."

Guo Jieyuan nodded continuously and began taking notes,

ready to refine Zhao Douan’s words from today into a memorial that could be implemented.

After Zhao Douan finished speaking, Grandmaster Dong suddenly looked towards the corner at the record officer whose wrist hurt from writing:

"Bring a scholar’s waist card for Lord Zhao."

Everyone was shocked, then quickly realized what had happened.

Zhao Douan also raised his eyebrows and said,

"Grandmaster, what is this..."

Grandmaster Dong stood with his hands behind his back, looking deeply at him, and said,

"Your Majesty brought you here before, and now it seems I was negligent.

Now that Your Majesty is in seclusion and should not be disturbed, if Lord Zhao wouldn’t mind, please carry a non-official scholarly waist card for now, so you can enter the Xiuwen Pavilion freely and unobstructed.

In the coming days, as new policies are formulated, we may often seek your opinions."

So... I’m a "scholar" now? Eh, although it’s a non-official position...

Although, it might be temporary.

Although, the Xiuwen Pavilion is still just a nascent form of the cabinet.

But...

This is Great Yu dynasty’s highest decision-making institution... Have I really just stepped into it?

Even if I can only be a scholar for a short time, unable to hold the position long-term.

Zhao Douan fell silent for a moment, then facing everyone’s complex gaze, he cupped his fists:

"To share Your Majesty’s concerns is within my duties, so I shall not refuse."

Everyone: ...

Seeing the atmosphere suddenly turn awkward, Zhao Douan smacked his lips and, after answering a few more scattered questions, bid his farewells and left.

Today’s discussions had been concluded.

Observing the situation, Grandmaster Dong also declared the "meeting adjourned," instructing everyone to go back and properly digest the information, and once again emphasizing the importance of keeping the details confidential.

Zhao Douan wasn’t afraid of leaking secrets; the entire plan was an overt scheme.

Concealing it temporarily, the moment it was implemented, it would still be impossible to hide.

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After receiving a scholar waist card from the record-keeper and signing his name, he completed the procedure to enter the pavilion.

Stepping out of the Xiuwen Pavilion, the night had grown deep.

Zhao Douan looked up, took a deep breath of fresh air, and saw the starry sky above, while the distant palace shone brightly.

"Why haven’t you left yet?"

Behind him, Big Qingyi came out, his voice taunting, "Scholar Zhao?"

"Eh—" Zhao Douan replied with a smile:

"Can you say that again for me to hear?"

Mo Chou, irritated, chest heaving, turned and walked away, wondering why His Majesty valued such a person.

...

...

Zhao Douan had been sent back by someone arranged by Grandmaster Dong.

After everyone else had dispersed, Grandmaster Dong too got into his carriage and slowly headed back to his residence.

Ultimately an ordinary elder without cultivation, he was exhausted after a long day and, though he lay with his eyes closed, thinking of the Golden Three Strategies, he couldn’t fall asleep.

A wave of excitement in his heart was impossible to suppress.

Suddenly, after the carriage had rolled along for a while, it slowed down, and the personal driver said:

"Grandmaster, Mr. Yuan’s carriage."

Grandmaster Dong opened his eyes, raised his hand to lift the curtain, and saw a carriage bearing a coat of arms approaching from the side.

It quickly came to a stop, parallel to his own.

The window of the opposite carriage opened, revealing a man with a refined appearance touched by the weight of years.

Yuann Li smiled:

"Grandmaster, returning to your residence so late? The first day of opening the pavilion seems to have brought forth many suggestions from the scholars."

Grandmaster Dong returned the smile, though his expression showed a bit of complexity:

"Are you also just returning from the Imperial Court of Supervision? Could it be that you intentionally waylaid this old man?"

Yuann Li laughed openly:

"The supervision of new policies by Xiuwen Pavilion concerns the entire court. Every move is significant."

He admitted as much candidly.

Grandmaster Dong chuckled:

"You are quite forthright, but matters of the pavilion are to remain within. I’m afraid you’ve made a wasted trip."

Yuann Li wasn’t surprised; he hadn’t expected to get any information in a few words.

Moreover, it was only the first day of the pavilion’s opening. The new policies were still in discussion, with at most a vague direction determined—nothing could be finalized so quickly.

Therefore, although he said he came to inquire, it was more accurate to say that he cared.

"Given how tightly sealed your lips are, Grandmaster, I’d guess that today’s discussions likely focused on administrative reforms? Scholar Han is quite talented; I suppose he must have impressed greatly," Yuann Li made small talk.

Grandmaster Dong internally agreed, thinking you’ve guessed right and wrong...

Nevertheless, once the Examination Method was implemented, Yuann Li’s Imperial Court of Supervision’s authority would be restricted, so his interest wasn’t surprising.

"By the way, you’ve had many dealings with Zhao Douan. How do you assess him?"

Grandmaster Dong chatted for a bit, then suddenly changed the subject.

Yuann Li was taken aback, unaware Zhao Douan had been to the Xiuwen Pavilion today. After some consideration, he said:

"Has Grandmaster Dong heard some scholars criticizing him again? Ha, in my view, Zhao Douan is not at all what people say on the outside. He is quite clever, especially in matters of business and rivalry. He’s very strategic..."

He paused, recalling Grandmaster Dong’s dislike for Martial Artists, and added a coat of gloss to Zhao Douan’s reputation:

"Last time, while he was detained at the yamen for several days, I visited him and discovered his passion for reading. Days in the prison, and yet he never let go of the books...

His knowledge is naturally far from that of a true scholar, and some of his tactics for fighting are not presentable nor comparable to the administration of the scholars in Xiuwen Pavilion...

But all in all, he does possess a heart for learning..."

"In prison, he still did not let go of the books..." Grandmaster Dong focused on the key point, as if enlightened.

It seemed that he had finally found an acceptable explanation.

"Thank you for enlightening me, Mr. Yuan. I am utterly exhausted. I must bid you farewell."

Grandmaster Dong spoke, then let down the curtain and departed.

Yuann Li watched him leave, with a touch of perplexity.

"Thank me for enlightening? What did I clarify?"

Even with Big Qingyi’s wisdom, he couldn’t fathom.

...

On the other side.

On a street in the Capital, Wang You sat in his carriage, processing the shock he had received that day.

This included the performance of Zhao Douan, but what shocked him even more was the "Golden Three Strategies."

If they were actually implemented, many influential families would likely be affected... As someone born into such a family, Wang You was feeling conflicted and complex.

At that moment, the carriage suddenly slowed down.

"Young Master, it’s people from the Li family," the driver whispered.

Which Li family?

Wang You was puzzled, first ordering the carriage to stop, then he lifted the curtain. By the light of the moon, he could vaguely see a sedan chair appear opposite him.

Great Yu officials rarely used sedans, but there were some exceptions.

Wang You immediately understood the other party’s identity and furrowed his brows.

But he saw the sedan on the opposite side stop, the bearer carrying a lantern lifted the curtain, revealing a middle-aged man seated inside. He was nearly forty, with a mild appearance, a high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes.

The middle-aged man smiled:

"Mr. Wang, no, I should call you Scholar Wang, may I request that you step out for a chat?"

Wang You didn’t move, his gaze wary.

He stared at this man from the opposite side, the former playboy of the Capital, known as "Young Master" during the late Emperor’s time, and the son of the current Prime Minister, Li Yanfu—it was Li Yinglong.

His expression indifferent: "Mr. Li, are you waiting for me?"