Chapter 304 - 221: The Birth of the Fourth Child_2
Mu Zixuan smiled and said, “Prince, it seems that Ming’er really likes the name you picked for him.”
Lu Chen lifted his hand and gently touched Lu Ziming’s small face, smiling as he said, “Ziming, you have really helped daddy a great deal.”
Seeing this harmonious scene, Yelv Nanyan couldn’t help but touch her own belly. She also wanted to have a child with Lu Chen, but nearly a year had passed, and there was still no response from her belly. She began to wonder if she was too old and had lost the ability to conceive.
At this thought, Yelv Nanyan sighed softly in her heart.
Lu Chen stayed in the delivery room for about two hours. Once Mu Zixuan had fully recovered both physically and mentally, he then left the delivery room and went to his study.
Entering the study, Lu Chen opened the system panel again to check where the talents he needed were located.
[Literature Saint Grandmaster implanted identity: Universal Academy’s headmaster Zhuge Zhongguang, who has already received your information. He is currently in the Great Wu Dynasty and will soon head to Da Yue. Should you require his immediate presence in the North Country, host can issue a direct command once.]
[Five thousand civil officials’ talents implanted identity: They are currently tutors and students at the Universal Academy in the Great Qian Dynasty. If their immediate presence in the North Country is needed, the host can issue a direct command once.]
Seeing the system interface, Lu Chen was momentarily stunned.
Universal Academy?
As someone who had transmigrated to this world since childhood, Lu Chen was naturally aware of this academy’s name. It was said that the students of this academy harbored very lofty ideals, aiming for a world of great unity, which put them at odds with the typical ruling class.
Although the Universal Academy was within the borders of Great Qian, the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty had always had reservations about it and had wanted them to leave the dynasty for good. If not for a Grandmaster Literature Saint at the academy, the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty would’ve probably dissolved it with military force long ago.
The Universal Academy certainly had many talents, and in recent years, they had also engaged in politics, but no ruling class of any dynasty favored them. Even if they held official positions, they wouldn’t hold significant ones.
Those with the notion of “a world of great unity” were considered outliers in the current world, unlikely to be accepted by rulers.
If the world achieved such unity, what would sustain the ruling class’s power? Therefore, the status of the Universal Academy in this world has always been somewhat awkward.
Despite the abundance of talents in the Universal Academy, they were not put to significant use, which led to a decline in popularity over the years. There were fewer and fewer people willing to go there to study.
After entering the Universal Academy, the students held ideologies that contradicted those of the ruling class. It was impossible for those in power to let them hold office; hence, they were not put to significant use. All their learning amounted to naught.
Reflecting on his understanding of the Universal Academy, Lu Chen’s lips curved slightly upward.
A world of great unity…
This ideal was indeed too advanced for its time; no wonder the ruling class was unwilling to let the students of the Universal Academy become officials.
To be honest, if these students of the Universal Academy were not arranged by the system, Lu Chen, as the seignior of a feudal state, would not want to employ these literati whose heads were full of visions of a world of great unity.
In an era with such low productivity, how could one achieve a world of great unity?
To achieve such a world would mean that the ruling class must cede their interests and share their resources with the common people. How then could the ruling class enjoy life?
Lu Chen himself was a beneficiary of the status quo. He could never uphold the idea of a world of great unity.
Yet, he still needed officials who would fight for the interests of the common people. Only by having officials serve them would the people of the North Country trust him as their North Prince, and his rule would be more secure.
Thus, while to other ruling classes the people of the Universal Academy might be a cancer, to Lu Chen, they were a treasure.
With this in mind, Lu Chen immediately said to the system, “Send out the summoning order, have them relocate to the North Country within half a year.”
As Lu Chen’s words fell, the system’s notification sounded once more.
[The summoning order has been issued, and all members of the Universal Academy have received your command.]
Meanwhile.
In a tavern within the Great Wu Dynasty.
A woman dressed in a purple gown with a stunningly beautiful countenance was seated at a table, and facing her was a white-haired, elderly man.
Although the old man’s hair and beard were completely white, he appeared to be very spirited and did not look like someone who is one hundred fifty years old at all.
At this time, the woman spoke, “Grandmaster Zhuge, since the Great Qian Dynasty cannot accommodate you, why not move the Universal Academy to the Great Wu Dynasty?”
“The doors of the Great Wu Dynasty are always open to the Universal Academy.”
Hearing Wu Junwan’s words, Zhuge Zhongguang smiled faintly, stroking his snow-white beard.
How could Zhuge Zhongguang not know what Wu Junwan was plotting? Wu Junwan had no interest in the Universal Academy; what she truly wanted was to use it to garner the support of him, the Literature Saint and Grandmaster.
Zhuge Zhongguang then replied, “I appreciate Princess Junwan’s kindness, and
I take it to heart. However, the Universal Academy advocates peace, and the Great Wu Dynasty wages war every year, which is inconsistent with the Academy’s ideology.”
“If the Universal Academy were to move to the Great Wu Dynasty, there could be conflicts between the scholars of the Academy and some people of the Great Wu due to ideological disagreements.”
Seeing Zhuge Zhongguang’s polite refusal, Wu Junwan was still somewhat unreconciled and continued, “Grandmaster Zhuge, as far as I know, the situation at the Universal Academy is quite bad at the moment. There are rumors in the Great Qian Dynasty that the Academy is not abiding by rituals and respect for the Rites, leading to heavenly calamities, and the common people are all calling for its abolition.”
“If the Universal Academy does not move out of the Great Qian Dynasty, it will eventually be abolished one day. Why does Grandmaster Zhuge insist on staying in the Great Qian Dynasty?”
Upon hearing these words, Zhuge Zhongguang’s face still bore a smile. As he was about to speak, suddenly, his mind blanked, and he paused as if he had remembered something important.
Wu Junwan naturally noticed the change in Zhuge Zhongguang’s expression and tentatively asked, “Grandmaster Zhuge?”
Zhuge Zhongguang quickly regained his composure and once again revealed a benevolent smile, and this time, his smile was even more pronounced, indicating he had indeed recalled something pleasant.
“Again, I thank the princess for her invitation, but I have made up my mind and will not be leaving the Great Qian Dynasty for the time being. As for whether the Universal Academy will move out of the Great Qian in the future, that is a matter for another time.”
Having said this, Zhuge Zhongguang stood up and continued, “Princess Junwan, I will now be heading to the Da Yue Dynasty and will no longer delay in the Great Wu.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Junwan immediately said, “In that case, I shall not keep you any longer. Safe travels, Grandmaster Zhuge!”
Afterwards, Zhuge Zhongguang left the tavern and led the disciples of the
Universal Academy straight to the Da Yue Dynasty.
Watching the hurried carriage downstairs, Wu Junwan furrowed her brow slightly.
She indeed wanted the Universal Academy to move to the Great Wu Dynasty for the sake of winning over Zhuge Zhongguang, the Literature Saint and Grandmaster, but it seemed that he was unlikely to come to the Great Wu Dynasty.
With this in mind, Wu Junwan sighed and said, “It seems that Zhuge Zhongguang has no interest in the Great Wu at all.”
Hearing Wu Junwan’s words, her protector Pei Hong reminded her from behind, “Your Highness, Zhuge Zhongguang broke through to the Grandmaster Realm decades ago, and he must be close to reaching the Heavenly Human Realm by now. A powerhouse like him tends to have a stubborn personality and is not so easily swayed.”
Wu Junwan calmly said, “That’s true.”
“Well, it’s not necessarily a good thing for the Universal Academy to move to
the Great Wu anyway. If we can’t win them over, then so be it.”
“He just mentioned going to the Da Yue Dynasty, from the look of it, he probably plans to move the Universal Academy there. I have a good relationship with the Yue Emperor. If the Universal Academy really moves to the Da Yue, I still might have a chance to win him over in the future.”
With these thoughts, Wu Junwan’s mood improved somewhat.