Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1003 How to Conquer
Le Qui Ly was indeed confident. The Kingdom of Annan was influenced by the Chinese and also respected "Heaven, Earth, King, Parents, and Teachers". The King of Zhou, Zhu Su, opened the Academy, presumably to win over the Annan nobles with the relationship of "teacher" and make them closer to the Ming Dynasty.

It does not conflict with his purpose.

His purpose was to use the new learning to increase his prestige, and he had no intention of opposing the Ming Dynasty. He even wanted to please the Ming Dynasty so that his future actions would gain the support of the Ming Dynasty, his suzerain state... Therefore, to some extent, Zhu Su's move to win over the Annan nobles was also beneficial to him.

The Ming Dynasty even tried to win over ordinary nobles. As a powerful official in Annan, if Li Jiyi showed obedience to the Ming Dynasty, would he be afraid that the Ming Dynasty would not respond with goodwill?

After thinking for a while, he said, "Go and call Cheng'er and Cang'er."

"Yes." The servant took the order and left.

After a while, the two young men came to Li Ji's study. They bowed to Li Ji's study and said in unison, "Father, you called us?"

These two people are none other than Li Ji's two sons, the eldest son Li Cheng, and the second son Li Cang.

"Yes." Li Ji's hands were behind his back. He looked at his eldest and second sons carefully, and then said, "Cheng'er, Cang'er."

"His Royal Highness King Zhou of the Ming Dynasty is currently teaching in my country, Dayue."

"Father hopes that you two can go to Wuqu and become disciples of His Royal Highness the King of Zhou."

Both of them were shocked. Li Cheng subconsciously said, "Father, I have no talent for the new school of Daming. This matter of becoming a disciple..."

Li Ji's eyebrows raised, his face immediately showing impatience, and he scolded: "Father has already made arrangements, how can I allow you to mess around?"

"I don't have any talent, it's just that my heart is not in it... As long as I put my mind to it, why worry about not being able to learn it?"

"...Yes." Li Cheng retreated in fear.

"Father." Li Cang said respectfully, "Do you hope that my brother and I can become disciples of King Zhou?"

"Not just disciples, it would be best if you work hard to become the disciple of King Zhou." Li Jilin said.

In ancient times, "disciple" and "protégé" both referred to a teacher's students. They seem to be exactly the same, but in fact they are not the same.

The so-called disciples refer to people who have been taught by a great scholar and agree with the great scholar's knowledge. For example, when Zhu Su gave a lecture, the Annan students in the audience, who had listened to his lectures, could call themselves "disciples of King Zhou" if they wanted to. Zhu Su did not necessarily know them, and basically no one would give them face because of the title of "disciples of King Zhou".

Disciples are quite different. In ancient times, great scholars gave lectures and "taught thousands of students". It was impossible for so many students to listen to the lectures at the same time. Great scholars "sat in a high hall, with a crimson curtain in front, teaching students, and female musicians behind. Disciples passed on the teachings in order, and few people entered their rooms". Therefore, "crimson curtain" is often used in later generations to refer to teachers or the place where teachers give lectures. It was impossible for more than a thousand people to come to such an elegant and sacred place to listen to the lectures. Only those who had performed the formal ceremony of paying respect to the teacher were qualified to enter the room and listen in person. These students who could come in and listen in person were called "disciples", also called "disciples who entered the room".

The relationship between the "disciple" and the "teacher" is much closer, and the relationship between the "disciple" and the teacher can be described as that of a father and son. Of course, the reputation of the "teacher" will also be used by the "disciple". When the disciple walks outside, he will be regarded as the spokesperson of the "teacher" to a certain extent.

"If I can be accepted as a disciple by the prince of the Ming Dynasty, my Li family will be more secure in the future."

Li Cang showed a look of understanding, and said to Li Jili: "In this case, son knows what to do."

"Don't worry, father. I will do my best to win the favor of His Royal Highness King Zhou of the Upper Kingdom and ask him to accept me as his disciple."

"You are a teachable boy." He was quite satisfied with the reaction of his second son. He glanced at his eldest son, Li Cheng, and said with a frown, "You are the elder brother, so you should know better to consider the overall interests of our Li family."

"How come you are not as good as your brother... You must behave well when you go to Wuqu this time."

"Focus on the real thing, and stop fiddling with your tricks all day long."

"Don't let your father down!"

"Yes..." Li Cang hung his head.

"Okay, go ahead." Li Jiqi waved his hand. Li Cheng and Li Cang bowed and left the study.

"Ming Dynasty?" Li Jili murmured.

If these two sons can use Zhu Su's relationship to help the Li family gain the support of the Ming Dynasty, then it would be fine for me to secretly push these Dai Viet nobles to get close to the Ming Dynasty...

……

"If we want to win over the nobles, we must do it openly and make the Li family think that we are beneficial to them and not harmful."

In Wuqu Port, inside the villa where King Zhu Su of Zhou lives, Zhu Su is discussing his next plan with Sanbao, Li Jinglong, Gou'er and other close associates.

"The power of Annan has almost been handed over to the Li family. We want to win the hearts of the Annan nobles, but we can't hide it from the Li family, who are the local snakes."

"Instead of doing this, it would be better to be open and honest and make a big show of winning over the Annan nobles for our Ming Dynasty. As long as the Li family thinks that this is beneficial to the Li family, the Li family will add fuel to the fire."

"For this... we need to help Li promote new learning and take control of Annan's government as he wishes. Secretly, we need to use Li's help to increase the prestige of our Ming Dynasty in Annan." Zhu Su said.

Everyone nodded to show that they understood the deep meaning behind Zhu Su's announcement that he wanted to recruit disciples in Annan.

"However, the Li family is still far from being able to control everything in Annan."

"As the prince of the Ming Dynasty, as long as you make friends with a certain noble family, that noble family will surely gain great prestige in Annan. Nowadays, there are many Annan noble families who have come to Wuqu Port for this reason."

"If Your Highness turns a blind eye to these people and takes the initiative to get close to the Li family, will it arouse the Li family's suspicion?" Huang Guan asked.

"Moreover, Your Highness is close to the Li family, presumably because he wants to take in Li's children as his apprentices. If so, if the Li family really does something illegal in Annan in the future, wouldn't Your Highness be the one to bear the brunt of it?"

"Of course, we cannot take the initiative to get close to the Li family." Zhu Su replied. "In the eyes of the Li family, the Ming Dynasty must support a noble family in Annan. In my opinion, we can support other families first to alert the Li family."

"What I mean is that we should support the Ruan family first." Zhu Su said.

"The Ruan family?" Huang Guan asked doubtfully.

"The Nguyen family and the Le family were originally allies," Zhu Su introduced briefly. "The head of the family, Nguyen Duo Fang, was a general of Annan together with Le Qui Ly. After Le Qui Ly rose to power, Nguyen Duo Fang became jealous. Although they did not openly turn against each other, secretly, the Nguyen family and the Le family were already at loggerheads."

"This is a hidden danger of Le Qui Ly. We can pretend to win over the Ruan family and make Le Qui Ly anxious. When he comes to contact us and expresses his willingness to obey our Ming Dynasty, we will help the Le family get rid of the Ruan family..."

As Zhu Su was speaking, Li Jinglong interrupted him and said, "Your Highness, if this is the case, wouldn't it be better to let the Li and Ruan families fight each other?"

"The conflict between the Le clan and the Nguyen clan is of no benefit to the Ming Dynasty. At most, we will only gain an Annan court that seems to be submissive to the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Su said. "And the Ming Dynasty wants to take back the Annan homeland, not just a submissive vassal state."

"The Li family has evil ambitions. If they become the only powerful family, then the Ming Dynasty can defeat them openly and honestly... Haven't you heard of Duke Zheng defeating Duke Duan in Yan?"

"Jiujiang knows about it." Li Jinglong thought for a moment and then withdrew.

"But... Your Highness wants to win over the Annan nobles. If our Ming army really invades the border in the future, will they really be loyal to the Ming because of what we did today?" Huang Guan said worriedly.

"Annan has been separated from China for a long time. Even if the Li family seizes power, the Annan nobles will probably be inclined to the Li family, who are from Annan... At most, they will nominate and support a descendant of the Chen family. How can they expect the Ming Dynasty to replace them?"

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that what you have done will be in vain."

He was well-read and well-versed in history, so he knew how difficult it was to get the nobles of a country to turn to another country. Even if the nobles of this country were already corrupt, there would still be a few people who were unwilling to give in.

For example, in the previous war when Ming Dynasty annexed Goryeo, it was the Korean king who spent a lot of effort and several years to plan, and only then used the rebel Lee Seong-gye to break the hearts of the Goryeo nobles... And the depth of Goryeo's sinicization and its admiration for China were far beyond what Annan could compare to.

Annan only submitted to China on the surface, but actually called itself Dai Viet in secret, and its ruler arbitrarily called himself "Emperor". How could such a country easily agree to China's rule?

It is easy to conquer a country, but it is difficult to occupy it. Especially in Annan, Zhu wanted to make the country a county, not to divide it like Goryeo and grassland, nor to support a puppet controlled by the Ming Dynasty like the Timurid Empire.

It is even more difficult to win the hearts of local nobles.

"Well, I am aware of this matter, so winning over the Annan nobles is also a cover. I think..."

Zhu Su was halfway through his words when someone came in and whispered something to him. Zhu Su was overjoyed and stood up and said, "Let's stop here for now."

"I need to see someone. We'll talk next time."

After saying that, he stood up and left the villa, and came to a secret dark room.

There is only one thing that Zhu Su cares so much about now.

Huang Huai is here.

"Student Huang Huai pays respect to His Majesty King Zhou."

Huang Huai was a young man with a square face and an ordinary look. He was a little short and thin, probably because his family was not well-off, but it was in line with the short stature of the Annan people. Although his face was ordinary, his eyes were much calmer than those of his peers.

Even now that he was in this foreign land far away from his hometown, his face still showed the fatigue from the long journey by boat, but when he saw Zhu Su, who held a high position, he saluted Zhu Su very calmly. His courtesy was very thoughtful and there was not a single mistake.

Zhu Su nodded secretly, and was very satisfied with Huang Huai's psychological quality. Then he sat opposite him and said, "Since you are here, you know what I want you to do?"

"Understood." Huang Huai nodded, and finally revealed a bit of excitement in his eyes. He said: "Your Highness wants to let me help our Ming Dynasty recover the Annan homeland and restore the old Tang Dynasty."

"I need you, a scholar, to hide your identity and do insider work... Are you willing?" Zhu Su looked straight into Huang Huai's eyes.

"I am willing." Huang Huai answered firmly. "Since it is for the country, there is no distinction between high and low."

"So many people are willing to work hard for their country and serve their duty in an enemy country. Students can do the same. Students read the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, but they don't understand them. How are we scholars superior to others?"

"Good!" Zhu Su praised, and looked at Huang Huai with an expression that could not be concealed. As expected of a famous official in the future, China has never lacked talents, but what it lacks is always a good mentor.

"In that case, you will change your name to Fan Huai, and I will arrange for you to become the son of a merchant named Fan in Annan..."

"Of course, this merchant named Fan is actually a lieutenant of the Imperial Guards of the Ming Dynasty... You can check your 'origin' in Annan with this lieutenant, and make sure there are no mistakes."

"And three months later, I will publicly recruit students here in Wuqu Port. There will be an exam then."

"I will not show favoritism to you or expose any evidence against you, but you must pass the exam and become my student, and further become my 'disciple'..." Zhu Su instructed.

"Yes." Huang Huai agreed very respectfully. Then he asked, "Your Highness, is it inappropriate for a merchant's son to be like this?"

"I heard that the nobles in Annan are quite proud of themselves. As a son of a merchant, it is probably difficult for Huai to gain the favor of the nobles in Annan."

Zhu Su once again looked at Huang Huai with approval. As the future Prime Minister of the Cabinet, Huang Huai's political and business skills were much higher than Xie Jin's. No wonder Huang Huai could become a senior official for several dynasties, while Xie Jin was like a meteor, flashing only for a moment in the long river of history...

"No problem." Zhu Su explained to Huang Huai. He smiled proudly: "What I want is a merchant's son."

"But they were able to trample on this group of self-righteous frogs in the well."

"I'm afraid you will be ostracized by many nobles in the future. However, I want you to never be influenced by them or give in to them."

"Moreover, you must be better than the nobles of Annan. You must stand out among the many Annan scholars and be the best."

"Can you do it?"

Huang Huai thought for a while and said, "Huai, I will do my best."

Although he did not say anything confident, his eyes showed the pride that only belongs to a scholar.

Yes, which young man of this age doesn’t have his own pride?
"Okay, you go ahead." Zhu Su said to Huang Huai. As the first-class scholar in the future of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Su had enough confidence that he was better than the corrupt aristocratic children of Annan.

He just wanted Huang Huai to give those Annan nobles a slap in the face and let a student from a merchant family to confidently surpass many other children of noble families.

This will certainly arouse dissatisfaction and jealousy among the children of the Annan nobles. With a little fanning the flames, it will easily divide the Annan nobles and the poor students.

Zhu Su never thought of winning over the Annan nobles. The people he wanted to win over were always the poor families in Annan...

(End of this chapter)