Chapter 141 Lujiang County

The capital of Lujiang County was Shu County.

Lu Kang is already 64 years old, which is an absolutely elderly person in this era. He is older than both of Jinmao’s grandfathers.

Unlike ordinary old people, Lu Kang has gray hair but a strong body. Last year, she gave birth to a son and named him Lu Ji.

After several months of fighting, Lu Kang felt overwhelmed as soon as he took a break. Even facing his beautiful concubine, he became powerless and turned from active to passive.

Having consumed too much energy in the past few months, Lu Kang left many government affairs to the Zhou family to handle, while he played with his young son and occasionally showed off his masculinity.

The days passed very pleasantly.

this day.

"Governor Jin is going to visit Lujiang County?"

"Do you know what's going on?"

Zhou Jie replied to Lu Kang truthfully: "Reporting to the governor, Jin Yangzhou wants to discuss the issue of military farming in Lujiang County."

Suddenly, Lu Kang was very angry: "This is simply nonsense!"

These days, Jiujiang County's vigorous military farming campaign has caused a sensation not only in the six counties of Yangzhou, but also in several nearby states.

No matter how Jinmao appealed to the higher authorities, it was really excessive for him to do this as he had not yet been issued the formal appointment documents.

Lu Kang and Zhou Xin were very supportive of defending the city and suppressing the bandits, and both submitted petitions to speak for Jin Mao. In addition, the people of Jiujiang County were almost wiped out, and farming was indeed a good way to recover quickly.

Those who disagreed were simply some people in the surrounding counties who were jealous.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that once Jinmao digests Jiujiang County, it will be more powerful than any other prince.

By then, even if Jinmao has no actual name, it will not be easy to replace him.

What made Lu Kang angry was not this, but that under his eight years of governance, Lujiang County had been prosperous, with the common people and the gentry living in harmony, and there was no need for the military farming system to create conflicts.

This is a difference in political views!

Zhou Jie said cautiously: "Your Excellency needs to make preparations early. I heard that the governor of Danyang, Zhou, has been under great pressure from Jin Yangzhou because he has been reluctant to implement the military farming system. I am afraid he will not be able to stay in office for long."

"How dare he?!"

Lu Kang was shocked and angry, and couldn't help but think of what Wang Lang and Sheng Xian had said during this period.

"Could it be..."

Lu Kang immediately dismissed the inappropriate thoughts and said to Zhou Jie, "Thanks for reminding me. I will make preparations early."

The next day.

Lu Kang didn't wait for Jin Mao, but waited for Wang Lang instead.

Since the end of the war, Wang Lang wanted to take the opportunity to take office as the governor of Kuaiji County, but Jin Mao forced him to stay and asked Wang Lang to help implement the military farming system in Jiujiang County.

How could Wang Lang agree to this? He came to Lujiang County in a fit of anger.

He certainly couldn't go back to his hometown, so he went to Luoyang to file a complaint. Wang Lang was afraid that he would be killed by bandits from Yuzhou on the way, so he simply came to Lujiang County to appease Lu Kang.

However, Lu Kang refused to listen to Wang Lang's nonsense and instead scolded him for not helping Jinmao.

Wang Lang refused on the grounds that it was beyond his job duties.

Lu Kang didn't say any more nonsense and stopped the meeting.

Lu Kang met with Wang Lang today, and it was obvious that he was still affected by the news.

"Greetings, Sir." Wang Lang was very humble and saluted Lu Kang with the etiquette of a subordinate addressing his superior.

"Are you trying to frame me as disloyal, Lord Wang?" Lu Kang stood up and stepped aside, refusing the courtesy.

Wang Lang said with a sad face: "How can a stray dog ​​like me have the face to call myself a governor?"

Lu Kang was silent.

Wang Lang stopped trying to disgust people and said, "I came here today because of the matter of Jin Yangzhou."

"I heard that Jin Yangzhou wants to implement the military farming system in Lujiang County. This is against the law. I ask Governor Lu to refuse it!"

Lu Kang said without comment: "I know my limits."

Wang Lang did not persuade him any further and continued to discuss scriptures with Lu Kang until nightfall.

Lu Kang was disgusted by Wang Lang's behavior, but he admired Wang Lang's talent in studying the classics. He couldn't help but sigh: "Talented people don't sympathize with the people, and people who sympathize with the people don't study the classics."

"It is not a good thing to be in a high position at a young age."

Lu Kang decided to teach Jinmao a lesson.

Two more days passed.

Jin Mao came to visit Lu Kang under the escort of 800 cavalrymen.

The eight hundred cavalrymen were all personal guards, and more than three hundred war horses were captured from Zu Lang.

The gate of the county governor's mansion was wide open, and Lu Kang came with the civil and military officials of Jiujiang County and representatives of various prominent families to welcome them. This was the highest level of courtesy given to Jinmao.

"Thank you for your concern, Governor Lu."

Jin Mao quickly dismounted and walked over, bowing and saying, "Hello, everyone."

Everyone returned the gift one after another.

Only Lu Kang said lightly: "Jin Yangzhou doesn't need to do this, etiquette cannot be abolished!"

Jin Mao turned his head and looked at Xi Zhicai, and both felt that this trip would not be smooth.

After some pleasantries.

The county magistrate's office was divided into two rows, left and right.

Without waiting for Jin Mao to speak, Lu Kang took the initiative to mention Lu Xun and brought the two closer together.

"Xun'er's greatest luck in life is that he can be adopted by Jin Yangzhou as his adopted son."

Jin Mao smiled and said, "I am also very happy to accept Lu Xun as my adopted son."

Lu Kang nodded with a smile and asked, "How will you teach Xuner to become a talent?"

Jin Mao had never really thought about this. After he adopted someone as his adopted son, he forgot about it because he was busy with other things. Now that the old matter was brought up again, Jin Mao was a little embarrassed and said, "I haven't thought about it yet."

Lu Kang immediately frowned: "Don't you think highly of my Lu family? Do you despise my children so much?"

"May I ask why you adopted Xun'er as your adopted son?"

"Are you bullying me because I lost my father when I was young and had no one to take care of me?"

"If you really don't have time, I can take care of him. When Xun'er comes of age, it won't be too late for him to serve you again!"

Lu Kang said angrily: "Let's stop with the matter of the adopted son!"

Jin Mao quickly apologized with a smile: "What are you talking about? You know about the previous battle. How can I have the time to take care of Lu Xun?"

“It’s different now. I’m free and can teach Lawrence Lu.”

Lu Kang's expression eased a little, and he asked, "How will you teach?"

Jin Mao counted on his fingers and said, "First learn to read, then learn to count, and then I will teach him the art of war and how to govern the country..."

Jinmao has said all that can be thought of. He believes that with such practical education, Lu Xun will definitely become a great man who will surpass history.

Unexpectedly, Lu Kang asked: "Why don't you teach anything about virtue?"

This question confused Jinmao. As for ideological and moral education, one cannot bring the red revolutionary ideas of later generations here, right?
It’s too advanced!
Then, Jin Mao remembered one of the enlightenment education here and said, "I can teach him with "Encouraging Learning"."

There was a burst of suppressed laughter from the audience. How could one article "Encouraging Learning" be enough?
Lu Kang did not laugh, but asked: "How deep is your understanding of "Encouraging Learning"?"

How deep can it be? Jin Mao quickly changed the subject and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely hire a famous teacher to teach Xun'er's morality."

"I came to see you today about something very important."

"It's the military farming system, right?" Lu Kang said, "I don't agree with that."

Jin Mao never expected that Lu Kang would decisively refuse, and he couldn't help but ask in a daze: "Why?"

Lu Kang did not find many reasons and simply explained the situation in Lujiang County.

"The people of Lujiang County have become accustomed to the existing system. If we rashly change it, there will be unrest."

Jin Mao didn't want to give up just like that, so he asked, "Don't you want the people to live a better life?"

"Can the people under your rule really live and work in peace and contentment, and have they all got enough food?"

"Don't you think it's a good thing for the people to live better?"

Jin Mao swept his arm across the tribes of Lujiang County and said, "Do you have to let the people be sucked dry by these blood-sucking worms before you will change?"

The various clans in Lujiang County dared to be angry but not to speak, except for the Zhou family who showed no expression.

Lu Kang chose his words carefully and said, "That's not the case."

"Lujiang County is different from Jiujiang County. There are not so many refugees, not so many captives, and not so much lost land."

Lu Kang asked in return: "Are you going to seize the land of the great families and return it to them?"

"What's the difference between this and robbery?"

Jin Mao vehemently denied: "That's different!"

"Kuaiji County has already proven that the military farming system is feasible, so Lujiang County does not have to follow the same path as Jiujiang County."

Lu Kang shook his head and said, "That's because you have a high prestige in Kuaiji County, so the big families in Kuaiji County are willing to help you."

“Without their help, would you be where you are today?”

Jin Mao wanted to say no, but he did deprive the powerful families in the three counties of their rights, which led to his current status.

What Lu Kang said was correct. It was true that some powerful families and wealthy people were sacrificed, and that was undeniable.

But it certainly won’t be in the future!
Lu Kang took the opportunity to use "Encouraging Learning" as an example.

"The one who borrows a carriage and horses is not good at running, but he can travel a thousand miles. The one who borrows a boat and oars is not good at swimming, but he can cross rivers and lakes. The gentleman is not born different, but he is good at borrowing from things."

What this means is that a gentleman is not naturally stronger than others, but is good at making use of external things.

It means that Jinmao cannot always exclude the gentry, but should be good at leveraging their power so that it can go further.

Jinmao is not exclusive to the gentry, and Gu Yong is the best proof of this.

However, Jinmao decided to fight back after Lu Kang changed the concept.

Of course, the three clans cannot be exterminated. Lu Kang has done nothing wrong and is very popular among the people. Doing so will only bring ruin to Jinmao's reputation.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. A river is formed by the accumulation of small streams.”

Jin Mao refuted with the words of "Encouraging Learning": "How can you know if the military farming system is good or not if you don't try it?"

“Without today’s efforts, how can there be a bright future?”

Lu Kang was still using "Encouraging Learning" to refute.

Jin Mao was no match for him in this regard, so he stopped him and said, "I am not as good as you in knowledge, but you are not as good as me in practice!"

"If you think the military farming system is too early, Lujiang County can first implement the old system of Kuaiji County."

"You don't want the people to go hungry, do you?"

Lu Kang fell into deep thought. As long as the military farming system was not implemented, it would be a good thing for him.

But success and failure are both due to Xiao He. The more Lu Kang relied on the gentry in the past, the more he is implicated now.

With only a few parties opposing, Lu Kang found it difficult to make a decision.

Jin Mao and Xi Zhicai looked at each other, murderous intent flashing in their eyes.

If win-win cooperation is not possible, then the people in Lujiang County are useless and can only be eliminated by finding a reason.

In the crowd, little Zhou Yu, who had been listening, pulled his uncle Zhou Chong.

The latter understood and stood up and said, "The Zhou family is willing to follow the old system of Kuaiji County."

As the largest aristocratic family in Lujiang County, the Zhou family's words had an immediate effect.

The objections disappeared immediately.

(End of this chapter)