I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 459 - 255: I’ll Just Bamboozle You with the Works of the Marquis_2

Chapter 459: Chapter 255: I’ll Just Bamboozle You with the Works of the Marquis_2

When he looked up after finishing reading, Gu Shanhai’s figure was already gone. Only then did he come to his senses, realizing that more than half a "two hours" had passed.

After reading, he felt as though he had experienced a life from another world.

Therefore, he hurriedly began to pack up his stall, planning to visit Gu Shanhai.

"Xiao Lu, why are you closing up shop already?" The person at the neighboring stall asked with some confusion, as it was unusual to pack up so early on a normal day.

"I have something to do, I have something to do," Jiang Lu didn’t explain further and left on his own accord.

"Not steady at all, no wonder you are approaching the age of thirty with nothing accomplished," someone nearby muttered disapprovingly.

Jiang Lu didn’t care about this at all; his mind was set on seeking a master!

However, he also knew one thing: one cannot visit a prospective master empty-handed; it was necessary to bring a gift.

Usually, the gift would be dried or cured meats, with ten strips of dried meat being the standard offering. Beyond that, some may offer silk, gold, silver, jewels, etc. The more one gave, the more it signified respect.

With his financial means, Jiang Lu had no way of purchasing even ten strips of dried meat. As someone from the lowest social stratum, he would only indulge in meat during the holidays.

’Selling the little farmland at home.’ Having been educated, Jiang Lu naturally understood what had to be sacrificed.

He recognized the genius of the "Governing the State" treatise and knew he couldn’t miss this opportunity laid before him.

...

In the evening, Jiang Lu stood respectfully knocking on the door of the house where Gu Shanhai lived.

In his hand was a bundle containing ten strips of dried meat.

Gu Shanhai opened the door, saw the gift in the other’s hand, and smiled, "It seems this fish isn’t so dumb after all."

"You jest, sir, dumb, truly dumb," Jiang Lu offered the gift, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery.

After accepting the gift, Gu Shanhai invited him inside.

"Have you thought it through?" seated in the main seat, Gu Shanhai asked in an even tone, "I’m no sage; I can’t teach you that much, nor can I help you progress far in your career."

"Sir’s talent and grace, my admiration, if only for fame and profit; why would you bother luring me for more than a month?" Jiang Lu spoke, then solemnly added, "Sir doesn’t scorn Jiang Lu’s lack of accomplishments despite approaching the age of thirty; how dare I speak of this with insincerity?"

In Jiang Lu’s eyes, Gu Shanhai was almost like a philanthropist; otherwise, why would he seek him out? Since the other party placed such importance on him, he definitely must offer his respects.

"So be it then," was what Gu Shanhai meant to accept him as a disciple.

Since one was truly poor and the other unknown, there was no such fanfare; Jiang Lu served Gu Shanhai tea and bowed, which settled their master-disciple relationship.

"My lineage is from Xuanzhen, having transformed the Five Elements, you can call yourself a member of the Five Elements Sect. As for the senior brother above, let’s not mention it, for he is gone."

"Besides, what you will learn from him will be different, so you need not concern yourself with these issues."

Gu Shanhai said casually, pondering that he had finagled another disciple. A bit older, perhaps, but as the saying goes, "the elder doesn’t care about the younger," and he himself wasn’t young. After all, Jiang Lu wasn’t yet thirty, nearing that age stage.

"Do you have any questions about today’s ’Governing the State’?" Gu Shanhai asked after sipping his tea.

"There are some, I ask the teacher for clarification."

After establishing their master-disciple relationship, Jiang Lu changed how he addressed him.

As for the previous expert teacher, his treatment was different from Gu Shanhai since they were not in a master-disciple relationship. The former was more akin to running a school, and he was not a fully enrolled student, more an auditor.

At Gu Shanhai’s, it was different; they were a legitimate master and disciple, and Jiang Lu would inherit his mantle and would even have to provide for Gu Shanhai in his old age.

Therefore, he naturally grew closer to Gu Shanhai and didn’t hesitate to ask questions directly.

After a question and answer, Gu Shanhai nodded in satisfaction, "What you have learned is not bad. Since that is the case, take the remaining fifteen strategies home and review them. Come back tomorrow at 03:00, how about that?"

"Yes, teacher." Jiang Lu estimated his finances and, after a moment of hesitation, agreed with clenched teeth. If someone was willing to teach, he certainly couldn’t refuse just because of livelihood concerns.

"What’s wrong, any difficulties?" Gu Shanhai raised an eyebrow.

"No, teacher, I will definitely be there tomorrow," Jiang Lu naturally couldn’t admit his lack of money.

However, Gu Shanhai was perceptive. He saw the other’s embarrassment at a glance and smiled, "Since you have come, I can’t let you go back empty-handed, especially since you are my disciple."

Saying so, Gu Shanhai took out some broken silver.

"Teacher, this shouldn’t be, it really shouldn’t be. How can a student accept silver from a teacher?" Jiang Lu was startled upon seeing this.

Gu Shanhai, with a pleasant expression, said, "It’s not given for nothing. If you can’t pass the assessment at the end of the month, I will beat you to death."

"..." Upon hearing this, Jiang Lu was choked up, but then he didn’t hesitate to kneel down to Gu Shanhai, "I will forever remember the teacher’s kindness deep within my heart."

"Get up now, let’s leave it at this," Gu Shanhai was somewhat speechless but then thought that before the other had risen to prominence, he truly had a hard time.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be achieving nothing by now.

"Yes, teacher." Jiang Lu wasn’t the type to make a fuss and thus accepted the silver given by Gu Shanhai. However, more than the silver, he treasured the "Inexpensive Sixteen Strategies" and kept it close to his chest.

Relative to money, this book was the most precious.

"If the teacher has no other matters, then your disciple will take his leave." Jiang Lu knew it was getting late and didn’t want to trouble Gu Shanhai further.

Gu Shanhai casually waved his hand, signaling him to scram.

After Jiang Lu had left, Gu Shanhai began to review.

’Marquis Zhuge Wu Hou’s "Inexpensive Twelve Strategies" is indeed useful. Later on, if I add in the complete "Art of War in Twenty-Four Essays" and "Generals’ Garden" for teaching, even if not much, at least he won’t be lacking in knowledge at the start.’

Gu Shanhai saw the other’s shortcomings; the military theory he had learned was definitely not the complete version, as he was merely an auditor and the family teachings were probably quite rudimentary.

They couldn’t compare to Zhuge Wu Hou’s military theory.

In this world, being of a higher level didn’t necessarily mean stronger military theory, as it relied on Transcendent abilities rather than genuinely operating like ordinary people.

’If need be, modernized training can be used, anyway, I can also teach something about the military and politics.’

Gu Shanhai wasn’t proficient, but he knew the theory.

After all, he had spent many years in The Sun Never Sets Dynasty and Dashu Dynasty, absorbing a lot, just without practical experience.

’But then again, why haven’t the barbarians been suppressed yet?’ Gu Shanhai only knew that after suppressing the barbarians, there would be a peasants’ rebellion, but he didn’t know what period of the barbarian suppression he was in now, whether it was the early, middle, or late stages. If it was the early stage, it could mean years or even over a decade of fighting before it stops.

Otherwise, how could just a few days of battle severely wound the entire Long Dynasty such that it couldn’t suppress a peasants’ rebellion and needed to have each region raise its own militia.

’Well, it probably won’t last much longer, Jiang Lu might be a late bloomer, but if it gets delayed by over a dozen years, it will be too late. At most, it should be over in a year or two.’ Gu Shanhai had already made inquiries; the Long Dynasty had been at war with the barbarians for nearly ten months now.

The fighting was quite fierce. Gu Shanhai wasn’t too clear on the cause but guessed it might be a full-scale invasion by the barbarians, just not expecting such fierce resistance and even managing to suppress them in return.

In this world, the existence of military majors and Daoist Soldiers did not lead to corresponding developments in other areas, but rather suppressed quite a bit, keeping the entire Long Dynasty still in a state of extremely low productivity from ancient times.

As for logistics, there was no worry. Some military majors and Daoist Soldiers were skilled in hoarding grain or smelting, creating an even greater gap between the common people at the bottom and the military majors and Daoist Soldiers.

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