Zhang Yue looked at the Disciple kneeling before him, speechless for a long time. He was a Grand Censor, one of the three highest officials in the Imperial Court, and a pillar of the Legalist school. How could he not know the current situation of Great Jin?
But he was powerless to change any of it. The forces in the Imperial Court were intricate and complex. The late emperor had tried to weaken the noble families but failed due to various checks and balances, dying in frustration.
The current emperor, Zhao Zhi, was supported by the aristocratic families to ascend the throne. Although he wished to inherit his predecessor's will, his abilities were limited, and his health was too poor. Managing Imperial Court affairs with a sickly body was unsustainable.
Now, the Imperial Court's power was controlled by the aristocratic families. If not for the support of the meritorious gentry and those loyal to Great Jin, perhaps the emperor's decrees would not even leave the palace gates.
In the Imperial Court, the Huang-Lao school was dominant, while the Military and Legalist schools were in decline. The Confucian school, due to its doctrines and its failure in the succession struggle, was not reused. As for the Mohist school, it was too pathetic to even mention.
However, most Disciples of the Huang-Lao school came from aristocratic families.
Great Jin's days were numbered; it was a somewhat sorrowful thought.
Zhang Yue, ever since he entered officialdom, had served the country with great diligence and achieved much. Yet, in the end, he became a casualty of the power struggle between the imperial authority and the aristocratic families, forced to retire to his hometown.
"So, where do you want to go?"
"Disciple wishes to go to Yue Province."
"Yue Province? That's in the southeast, bordering the Shan Yue, and numerous pirates from the Southeast Sea frequently harass its coastal defenses. What would you do there?"
"Disciple has a plan. First..."
"Enough. Since you've made up your mind, so be it. You don't need to sweet-talk me. I'll help you one last time, then return to my old home in Yu Province to retire and cultivate new talents for our Legalist school."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Zhang Yue surveyed the small courtyard. Years ago, he was suppressed by political rivals and lived in seclusion here. To cultivate a reputation for integrity, he had arranged it quite simply. Over a decade had passed in a flash. It was here that he had taken Wang Jin as his Disciple. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but lament how time flew.
"Zi'an, after I leave, tear down this courtyard."
"Disciple obeys."
"Also, Disciple recently acquired several bright pearls, a few exquisite jade artifacts, and several calligraphies and paintings by Liu Zhuang, a talented scholar from the previous dynasty. I implore Teacher to take them with him for appreciation before he departs."
Zhang Yue smiled at this, patted Wang Jin's head, and playfully scolded him.
"Although your teacher enjoys wealth, I will not accept money from you. I watched you grow up, and I treat you like my own child. Keep these things; your teacher has enough money."
"However, your Senior Brother Zhi Du is about to be promoted to Court Minister Assistant. You can send him some congratulatory gifts."
Wang Jin was overjoyed to hear this. His Senior Brother, who shared the same name as a famous official from the Han Dynasty, being promoted was also good for Wang Jin. It's easier to get things done when you have someone in the Imperial Court.
After seeing Zhang Yue off, Wang Jin returned home to pack his belongings and await his appointment.
He planned to bring his trusted subordinates, personal servants, and the people from the salt fields to Yue Province.
As for the Wang Family members, the Old Master found it hard to leave his homeland and did not wish to travel far, so the remaining Family members would stay to accompany him.
Just as Wang Jin was mentally preparing for his journey to Yue Province, a commotion erupted outside the door, with his Third Uncle Wang Cheng's voice being the loudest.
"Nephew, Nephew..."
A group of people burst in, led by his Third Uncle, followed by his Third Aunt, Wang Jin's father Wang Zhen, and two of Wang Zhen's concubines.
Wang Cheng, dragging his corpulent body, rushed in, shouting at Wang Jin.
"Nephew, you can't take all the people from the salt fields! Even if you do, you must leave behind the method for refining snow salt. Our Wang Family cannot be without a salt field!"
"Brother, Brother, say something!"
...Wang Jin looked at the noisy crowd before him, his eyes gradually turning violent, and the pressure around him dropped.
Seeing his son's expression, Wang Zhen quickly said to Wang Cheng.
"Third Brother, don't speak yet. Let Jin'er tell us what to do."
Wang Jin raised his hand and pointed to a seat.
"Sit first. Come, Third Uncle, let me ask you."
"Did you all decide this yourselves, or did you ask the Old Master?"
Wang Cheng, sensing the tense atmosphere, stammered.
"We... we thought of it ourselves. We didn't... didn't ask the Old Master."
Wang Jin glanced at Wang Cheng with disdain and said.
"Third Uncle, do you know why the Old Master never mentioned this? Because you can't protect it. You have no brains, no influence. The Old Master could do it, but how many years can he last? The Cao Gang can continue to operate as long as you have money to spend, that's enough."
"Why can I do it? My teacher is one of the three highest officials in the Imperial Court, a pillar of the Legalist school, and his Disciples are all over the world."
"Tell me, what makes you think you can?"
Wang Cheng seemed to be enraged by this blatant contempt and shouted.
"What kind of talk is that? This salt field belongs to the Wang Family, not just to you! All the expenses of the Wang Family, from top to bottom, depend on selling salt. If this salt field is gone, what will we do..."
Wang Jin's head throbbed. No longer suppressing his anger, he slapped Wang Cheng's fat face and roared with a ferocious expression.
"You fat pig! I call you Third Uncle out of respect, but if I didn't, what are you? How dare you shout at me?"
"What I'm willing to bestow upon you is yours. If I'm not willing, then just watch. If I give it to you, can you protect it? Are you good at business or at maneuvering? Leaving it to you is a path to death!"
Wang Jin had no respect for this elder. In this large Wang Family, only his grandfather, Wang Zhuo, caught his eye.
He didn't even care for his own father, Wang Zhen.
"Ah, you dare hit me!"
"Hit you? I could kill you and it would be fine. According to Great Jin's law, a scholar who mistakenly kills a commoner can pay a fine to be acquitted."
Wang Cheng was startled by Wang Jin's words.
"Brother, Brother, control him!"
Wang Jin looked at Wang Zhen and said.
"Go back to your room. Don't cause trouble."
Wang Zhen quickly got up and left, his two concubines following closely behind.
"Ah, you..."
"Wang Jin! How dare you be so rebellious and beat an elder? Aren't you afraid the Old Master will blame you? This Family is still run by the Old Master. How dare you be so presumptuous?"
"You have no respect for your elders! You are arrogant and rude!"
Hearing Wang Cheng's clamor, Wang Jin stood up, slapped Wang Cheng's fat face hard, and said with a wild expression.
"What is my status, and what is your position? Elder? I am a scholar accepted by the Imperial Court, destined to become an official. I will be recorded in the county annals, and the Family genealogy will reserve a page for me. The Family will be honored because of me."
"And you? What do you know besides eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling? What can you do? Never mind me hitting you; even if I killed you, the Old Master would have to tolerate it, and even clear me of the crime, so I wouldn't bear the guilt. Do you understand that? Don't you understand what's important in this Family?"
"A grandson who can revitalize the Family, and a son who is a good-for-nothing. How do you think he would choose? Hmm?"
"Now, quickly go back, clear the water from your head, shake off any improper thoughts, and then continue to muddle along and wait for death."
With that, he no longer paid attention to the red-faced Wang Cheng, stood up, and walked out.