Chapter 201: The Mad Girl and the Mad Old Man
Jin Sui, who had spent the night drawing the academy’s blueprints, presented a plan that included an overview of previous branch academies, recruiting artisans from across the land, and offering low tuition fees to avoid competing with established academies that revered Confucius.
“We will only recruit from commoners. Our academy will not teach ‘all professions are inferior, only scholarship is noble,’ but rather the three hundred and sixty trades.”
“Back then, Dong Zhongshu presented Confucianism to Emperor Wu of Han, and from then on, only Confucianism was honored, discarding the hundred schools of thought. While Confucianism can govern the world, it requires other disciplines to make a nation prosperous.”
“For example, the Investigation of Things from the Mohist school is the best knowledge for building cities, constructing fortifications, making weapons, improving farming tools, and reclaiming land for road construction. It could have formed a complementary pair with Confucianism, one for civil matters and one for military.”
“Yet, it has been suppressed to the point of being considered mere craftsmanship! And our border city needs these artisans the most! The Four Books and Five Classics cannot stop the iron cavalry of external enemies, nor can they conquer the seas or defeat the Japanese.”
“I want to build an unprecedented grand academy in the border city to help Your Highness strengthen the army and enrich the people.”
“I want to cultivate high-yield fine breeds and improve farming tools, so that all people in the world can have abundant food and clothing.”
“I want to improve tools and increase efficiency, so that our goods can be sold all over the world and commerce can flourish.”
“I want to create more powerful weapons for the army, reduce the sacrifices of soldiers, not only to guard the border well, but also to let those barbarians know that the Huaxia border must not be violated!”
“I want to make the Han people the most noble race in the world, so that wherever Han people go, they will be treated as honored guests, instead of becoming Han slaves, cheaper than cattle and horses…”
Jin Sui spoke with increasing passion, not even realizing that tears were streaming down her face.
What she wanted to build was not just an academy, but a brand new nation, a nation even stronger than the prosperous Tang and powerful Han dynasties.
This was not a proposal for building an academy at all, but a blueprint. A blueprint that made Gu Changxiao’s blood boil!
He felt how narrow his previous thoughts had been! Merely returning to Chang’an and contending for power with Prince Yu.
Now, Sui Sui has shown him how a truly wise and mighty ruler of a nation should act.
“Is ten thousand mu enough? I’ll give Sui Sui twenty thousand mu!”
Jin Sui pondered seriously, “That works too! Agricultural science needs a lot of experimental fields to cultivate fine breeds anyway.”
Gu Changxiao suddenly moved closer, and Jin Sui’s heart trembled, “What are you doing?”
He took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears, “Sui Sui has great ambitions, and I am ashamed that I cannot match them.
It is not that Sui Sui is helping me make the border city strong, but that we will work together to make our border city truly Li Da Wu Qiong City!”
Jin Sui gave a dry laugh, “I’m starting to understand Lord Cheng’s feelings. That name does sound quite strange.”
Gu Changxiao disagreed, “Not strange at all! When Li Da Wu Qiong City becomes as strong in military and prosperous in people as Sui Sui described, with commerce flourishing throughout the land.
At that time, people all over the world will proudly say that there is a magnificent Li Da Wu Qiong City in the Northern Border of Great Xia!”
As he spoke, he handed her a cup of tea, “Sui Sui’s throat must be dry, right?”
Jin Sui took it without suspicion and drank, “It really is dry…”
Before she could finish speaking, she felt a bit dizzy. Medical knowledge told her that the tea she had just drunk contained a sleep-inducing ingredient.
She looked at Gu Changxiao in disbelief, “What are you doing?”
Gu Changxiao stepped forward and hugged her, preventing her from collapsing to the ground, and said with concern, “I just want you to get a good night’s sleep. Sui Sui, you are too tired.”
Jin Sui didn’t realize it herself, but Gu Changxiao noticed that when she was passionately discussing the academy’s plans, her excited state clearly indicated she hadn’t slept all night and had been agitated the entire time.
This is very harmful to her health.
We clearly agreed when we parted that you would get a good night’s sleep.
It’s not easy to drug Sui Sui. Gu Changxiao lovingly carried her to his bed, held her small hand, and kissed it.
“If you blame me when you wake up, hit me or scold me, it’s all fine. I just don’t want you to exhaust yourself like this, burning the candle at both ends.”
Unfortunately, Sui Sui was already fast asleep and didn’t hear a word.
He had his secret guards watch the courtyard, and then he personally went to inform Grandpa Ling after getting dressed.
When Grandpa Ling heard that his granddaughter had fallen asleep at the Prince’s Residence, he was both surprised and angry. Upon hearing that she had stayed up all night writing the academy’s charter and collapsed from exhaustion at the Prince’s Residence, he became very worried.
“This child is just like that. Like a mule going uphill and a horse going downhill. Once she sets her mind to something, she has to see it through without stopping.
Alas, I’ve always advised her to take it slow. She always says time waits for no one. I don’t know what she’s in such a hurry for. Please take care of her, Your Highness.”
Gu Changxiao quickly replied, “You are too kind, Daoist Master. Sui Sui is dedicated to me and the border city. It is my duty to take care of her.”
Perhaps influenced by Jin Sui, Grandpa Ling went to select a site for his Taoist temple that very day, preparing to begin construction as soon as the ground thawed in spring.
Even Jin An studied and practiced martial arts with more diligence today. He already knew his sister’s work style. Those who were not close to her would only find her actions lazy and unseemly.
Only those close to her knew how serious she was when she was focused! She truly forgot to eat and sleep, so it was no wonder the Prince worried about her health.
As for Gu Changxiao, there was even less to say. If Sui Sui was working so hard, how could he slack off! Previously, he had only one goal: to return to Chang’an.
Now, he had more burdens on his shoulders. He wanted to make the border city the most prosperous city in Great Xia, and he wanted to eliminate the influence of the gentry in Prince Yu’s faction, bringing peace and prosperity back to the land of Great Xia!
More importantly, he wanted to build a navy to destroy the country of Japan, thus resolving Sui Sui’s inner demons.
Jin Sui slept soundly, not even tossing and turning. After waking up, she felt refreshed and opened a blind box. It was rare to open a blind box during a nap!
Realizing she was sleeping in Gu Changxiao’s bedroom and remembering the sleep-inducing medicine he tricked her into drinking, she wanted to grab Gu Changxiao and scold him. It was too much to use her trust to drug her!
However, as soon as she opened the door, guards brought a steaming hot tomato pot, thinly sliced lamb, tender and chewy fish balls, refreshing konjac noodles, and crispy fried tofu skin…
This was much better than drinking coffee and eating energy bars in her space! She instantly felt her stomach rumbling with cravings. She would eat first, and then go scold him!
Halfway through the meal, guards brought a small pot of osmanthus rice wine. After drinking a bowl, half of her anger subsided.
After eating her fill and drinking, she received a note from Gu Changxiao. Upon opening it, she read: “Is Sui Sui still angry? There’s a surprise in the bathroom. Sui Sui can go relax.”
Jin Sui snorted, “I’m not bathing at your place!”
But she was still curious and went to take a look. She saw a warm bath filled with flower petals, and beside it were unopened hair care oils, soaps, and other toiletries from the Rouge Shop.
What surprised her even more was that there were her clothes, both bathrobes and change of clothes.
When did Gu Changxiao prepare these?
Jin Sui was a little tempted. Although she could bathe in her space, she had never had a flower petal bath! Should she leave it for Gu Changxiao to use? What a waste!
She decided to brew a pot of red date and pear tea to take with her, then closed the door and entered the pool. Bathing is a very enjoyable thing. Many people have this experience: they don’t want to start bathing before they begin, but once they start, they are reluctant to stop.
Jin Sui was feeling this way now. It was too comfortable! In this era, bathing in winter was definitely something only the wealthy could afford, as it consumed a lot of water and firewood, and if not properly warmed afterward, it was easy to get sick.
As far as she knew, it was common for people in the Northern Border to not bathe for an entire winter.
Bathhouse culture had not yet become popular. Should she suggest to Yan Shiyi that he invest in building a large bathhouse in the city?
She almost dozed off in the bath again. After changing clothes and drying her hair halfway, she put on her cloak and hood before going out.
As a result, she heard from a guard that an official was waiting for her.
“Waiting for me? Are you sure it’s for Miss Ji and not for Your Highness?”
The guard respectfully replied, “It is indeed for Miss Ji.”
Jin Sui went to the front hall and saw the official holding a blank land deed. “Your Highness said he wants to give Miss Ji twenty thousand mu of land to build an academy. I am here to wait for Miss to choose the location together.”
Jin Sui recognized this official. He was one of Lord Cheng’s subordinates, named Huang Dequan.
Jin Sui was greatly surprised by Gu Changxiao’s efficiency! She had mentioned it in the morning, and by the afternoon, he had sent someone to select the land!
“Thank you, Official Huang. Please wait a moment while I have a carriage prepared.”
Official Huang was greatly moved that Miss Ji remembered his name.
“I dare not accept your thanks, Miss. This is my duty. The carriage has already been prepared. If Miss is ready, we can leave immediately.”
Jin Sui had nothing to prepare. She had her space with her, so she could get whatever she needed.
The carriage was very warm, with animal hides lining the walls to block the wind, but she could tell that the hides had been recently nailed on.
Official Huang saw her observing the carriage and smiled, explaining, “Your Highness specifically had this carriage modified. From now on, this carriage will be exclusively for Miss Ji.”
To be honest, Jin Sui was no longer angry. Gu Changxiao, this fellow, did something infuriating, and then thought of ways to apologize. If she were to get angry again, she would seem petty.
However, she still had to warn him. If he ever used her trust to drug her again, she wouldn’t hesitate to drug him back! If it came to drugging, she didn’t believe anyone in the world could surpass her!
“Where is my Grandpa’s Taoist temple being built?”
“It’s in the east of the city. Daoist Ji said he wants it to be by the sea, for good feng shui.”
Jin Sui exclaimed happily, “Then let’s choose our site in that direction too! I had forgotten about that. In the future, the shipbuilding workshop will need to connect to the river channel and the sea. Being closer to the sea is better.”
The carriage drove towards the main road to the east. She then asked which areas had fewer military farms and if any refugees were reclaiming land.
She wanted to avoid occupying farmland from military farms and refugees as much as possible. Official Huang knew the wilderness near the border city like the back of his hand.
“Miss Ji, please rest assured. Not to mention twenty thousand mu, it would be very easy to allocate even a hundred thousand mu of wasteland around our border city.”
Jin Sui chuckled. It was true. When she first went to the seaside, she also thought the outskirts of the border city were too desolate! She could walk for a whole day without seeing a single person.
At that time, she had thought, if only one day those desolate lands could all become urban areas, how wonderful that would be!
She never expected it to be realized so soon. She believed that once her Grandpa’s Taoist temple and her academy were built, that area of wilderness would prosper within a few years.
Official Huang further suggested, “If you want to be near the mountains, there is also a forest area that can be included. Beyond the forest is the pasture.”
Jin Sui raised her hand as if to slap her thigh, but then remembered that she was now ‘Miss Ji’ and needed to maintain some restraint, otherwise her Grandpa would get angry again.
“We must have the forest! Agricultural science needs forests to grow fruit trees, and pastures are even more necessary. Animal husbandry is also a major field of study. Oh my, will twenty thousand mu be enough for all this?”
Official Huang quickly replied, “Miss Ji, please rest assured. Your Highness has already considered this. He said that if you need forests and pastures, these two areas will be granted to you separately and will not be counted within the twenty thousand mu.”
Jin Sui was finally relieved. In fact, even if they were included within the twenty thousand mu, it wouldn’t be enough. She thought of the prestigious academies in her previous life, which were only a few thousand mu.
It was just that the border city had plenty of land, unlike other places! If this were Chang’an, even a first-rank duke would not be able to get twenty thousand mu to build something.
Halfway there, Jin Sui encountered Grandpa Ling and his entourage. She quickly invited Grandpa Ling into the carriage to help her choose the site, “Grandpa, help me divine the feng shui! We must choose a place with good feng shui.”
Grandpa Ling scoffed, “Twenty thousand mu of land! What kind of feng shui do you not have? Do you still need divination? Just use horse racing to mark the boundaries.”
Jin Sui initially planned to use the carriage to mark the land, but finally accepted Grandpa Ling’s suggestion. She had over a dozen soldiers hold red silk cloths as flags and help her mark the land by riding horses.
Because it was getting late, the carriage would move too slowly to cover twenty thousand mu, and it would take two days.
Official Huang followed, panting, making marks and writing on the land deed. With the help of over a dozen people, this major task was finally completed before dark.
Jin Sui sighed, “This is the speed of our border city!”
In Chang’an, it would be considered fast if the construction of an academy, from preparation to site selection and construction, was completed within five years. The border city had no mechanical issues to hold things up.
As soon as she wrote her proposal, Gu Changxiao gave an order, and Official Huang, with the land deeds, finalized such a major matter in just one day and one night.
“The ground is frozen and we can’t build houses yet, so let’s level the roads first! Once the roads are repaired, it will be convenient to transport materials in the spring of next year.”
Grandpa Ling quickly said, “Then include the main road of my Taoist temple as well, and let’s repair them together.”
The grandfather and granddaughter stood on the mountainside looking down. Grandpa pointed to a piece of land, “This will be Grandpa’s Taoist temple in the future!”
Jin Sui pointed to the area with red silk flags, “And this will be my granddaughter’s academy in the future.”
The grandfather and granddaughter looked at each other, childishly high-fived, and said in unison, “We’ll be neighbors from now on!”
After saying that, they both burst into laughter. Grandpa laughed heartily to the sky, and Jin Sui also laughed heartily to the sky.
Midway through their laughter, Grandpa slapped her, “How can a young lady laugh like that? You should cover your mouth with a handkerchief and smile without showing your teeth! You’re laughing like a wild girl!”
Jin Sui playfully flicked his beard, “How can a Daoist Master laugh like that? You should laugh with an immortal-like demeanor. You’re laughing like a crazy old man!”
Official Huang, standing nearby, twitched, unsure whether to step forward and mediate.
He looked at Jin Sui with a mixture of awe and admiration. Who would have thought that this young lady before him was formerly our Lord Li!
I even called her Your Highness for so long!
A group of people appeared in the wilderness, with two people on the back of the leading horse.
“Grandpa, Sister!” Gu Changxiao arrived with Jin An.
Jin Sui squinted at Gu Changxiao, this guy is definitely doing this on purpose! Don’t think I won’t settle the score with you just because my Grandpa and brother are here!
At this moment, rumbling horse hooves could be heard from beyond the border. She quickly took out her telescope to look.
Grandpa was very surprised, “Where did you get that? Let me have a look too.”
Jin Sui dodged Grandpa’s attempt to snatch it while adjusting the angle, and finally got a clear view.
“It’s Han Xing! Han Xing and the others are back.”
