Chapter 39: Academy Opens, Li Zhi Becomes a Disciple

But it didn't matter. Currently, the Taixi coal from He Lanshan was enough to use.

According to the current situation, it could be used for at least another thousand years. Of course, that was only based on the current production volume.

So Su Liang didn't need to worry about those coal mines in Shanxi; he had to leave some for future generations, right?

After Wang Xing reported four million gold, the noble clans were silent and no longer bid. It wasn't that they didn't have that much money, but in such a short time, they really couldn't produce that much real gold and silver.

Likewise, they were reluctant to use fixed assets to bid; everyone thought that there was nothing valuable left in Su Liang's eyes.

In the end, the seven-colored Qilin was won by Wang Xing for four million gold.

Although the noble clans were unreconciled, they had no choice.

At this moment, they all cast their gazes into the Glassware Shop, all wanting to see what other good glassware there was, so they could strike first.

Within a quarter of an hour, all the glassware in the Glassware Shop was sold out.

Su Liang thus made ten million gold in a day!

A long time later, Li Yuan walked up to Su Liang and looked at him with great interest: "Su Liang, do you know why I came out to find you?"

Su Liang didn't need to think to know that no matter why, it was definitely because of the glassware.

"What, is the Retired Emperor interested in glassware? Do you want me to give you a few pieces?" Su Liang asked with a smile.

"Hmph... I don't need you to give me any. Since you can take out a seven-colored Qilin, there must be other glassware."

"It's just that since you have such things, why didn't you tell me sooner? Otherwise... otherwise the noble clans wouldn't have spent only this much money today." Li Yuan sighed helplessly and shook his head slightly.

When the Great Tang was first founded, Li Yuan needed to rely on the power of the noble clans to stabilize his throne.

But it was different now; the Great Tang's foundation was stable. Although Li Yuan was the Retired Emperor, from the bottom of his heart, he still wanted to contribute more to the Great Tang.

Based on his understanding of the noble clans, it would have been good if Su Liang had told him about this earlier.

Su Liang also understood Li Yuan's meaning, so he changed the subject and asked, "Hehe... when does the Retired Emperor plan to move to my Furong Garden? My Furong Garden has quite a few good things."

"Oh? You kid have finished your work recently?" Li Yuan asked with narrowed eyes.

"Hmm... about that, most things have been arranged properly," Su Liang said.

"Hasn't the Retired Emperor wanted to stay in that Furong Garden for a while for a long time?"

Hearing this, Li Yuan nodded slightly, then said happily, "Young Master Su, what other good glassware do you have?"

"Hehe... I don't know what kind of glassware the Retired Emperor wants? However... my Furong Garden has prepared a top-quality glass night pot for the Retired Emperor," Su Liang laughed.

At the same time, in the Ganlu Hall of the Taiji Palace.

"Haha... Hahaha, a piece of glassware actually sold for four million gold!" Li Er laughed loudly.

He then looked at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui meaningfully and said, "Hehe... the noble clans are worthy of being noble clans; their foundation of thousands of years is still not shallow."

As the words fell, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also looked at each other.

Fang Xuanling then looked at Li Er and said, "Your Majesty, why don't we also hold an auction? Didn't Su Liang give Your Majesty a lot of glassware?"

"That's right... Your Majesty, Su Liang made a full ten million gold today; the wages for road construction have all been earned back."

"Hahaha..." Li Er laughed loudly upon hearing this: "Good, another day we will also hold one, while Su Liang's glassware hasn't been dumped in large quantities yet."

"Hehe... Su Liang gave a lot of exquisite pieces," Fang Xuanling lamented.

Not long after, Su Liang returned to Furong Garden.

At the same time, Wang Xing also had people send the four million gold to Furong Garden one after another.

Although Su Liang was as rich as a nation, it was his first time seeing so much money. What surprised Su Liang the most was that the four million gold Wang Xing brought was real gold.

Not replaced by copper coins or silver!

That night, in Furong Garden, the Six Young Masters of Changan had all gathered here.

It wasn't for anything else, but for the matter Su Liang had mentioned a few days ago about letting them go to Hokkaido. Knowing Su Liang was busy, they hadn't come to disturb him.

During this period, everyone had also discussed it with their own fathers. Although the young dukes had hereditary titles, they didn't have any official merit. If they wanted to enter the court as officials in the future, they must have corresponding merit, so the dukes had agreed.

This time, they would go to Hokkaido together; firstly, they could expand the territory for the Great Tang, and secondly, they could look after each other.

"Brother Su, when are we going to that Hokkaido?" Cheng Chumo asked, looking at Su Liang.

"Wait a few more days. Isn't the warship not finished yet? There is less than a month until the warship is built, so it won't be too late for you to go then," Su Liang said indifferently.

Su Liang also couldn't understand; weren't these people playboys? When did their temperaments change?

"Then... then is Brother Su going with us?" Cheng Chumo frowned and stared at Su Liang with anticipation.

"I'm afraid I can't go with you. If nothing goes wrong, Xue Rengui will be back in two months."

"I promised Xue Rengui that after he returns from Su Pi, I will accompany him to Longmen County to propose marriage!" Su Liang said helplessly.

"Propose marriage?"

Everyone frowned upon hearing this. They had seen Xue Rengui several times and didn't know he already had a sweetheart.

At this moment, Cheng Chumo still wanted Su Liang to go with them, so he tentatively asked, "Brother Su... look, how about... how about I discuss it with my father and let him go to propose for Xue Rengui? My father is a duke after all, and he has both face and substance. Brother Su, you can rest assured."

"That's right... Brother Su, otherwise I'll let my father go too?" Qin Huaiyu followed up.

"Don't try to persuade my brother-in-law anymore. When has he ever broken his word?" Zhangsun Chong saw Su Liang silent and said, "Besides, Brother Su didn't say he wasn't going."

"We can just wait; it won't be too late to go after Xue Rengui returns."

At this moment, Su Liang looked at Zhangsun Chong with slight surprise. Since when did this brother-in-law understand him so well? Could it be the credit of Zhangsun Yue and Zhangsun Wuji?

Su Liang had his own plan. Currently, the warship needed a month to be built, and the mortars also needed a month; these were all within Su Liang's plan.

However, Su Liang planned to set off after the road was completely built.

At this moment, the "Great Tang No. 1" warship was being built by the Chan River in Taoyuan County. After it was built, it could be launched from the Chan River, then sail along the Wei River into the Yellow River, and finally reach the Bohai Sea. This would take a month.

Moreover, the training of the Divine Machine Battalion also needed some time. Su Liang planned to take the Divine Machine Battalion to the seaside for training.

In short, the final time would be around June. Su Liang could also take the women along for a trip by then.

"You don't need to say anything more. We'll talk about it when the time comes. Anyway, there is still some time, so don't be so anxious," Su Liang said indifferently.

"Also... the Taoyuan Academy opens in two days. See if there is anything you can help with, and go help out."

As Su Liang's words fell, everyone nodded silently. They naturally understood what Su Liang said. Afterward, they left one after another.

In the blink of an eye, the day for Taoyuan Academy to open arrived.

For this, Li Er specifically instructed Su Liang to prepare for the opening ceremony. Although the opening of Taoyuan Academy was definitely a big event in the eyes of Li Er and the others, it would surely shock the entire Changan City.

But such a thing was just a small matter in Su Liang's eyes.

Su Liang originally didn't want to be so high-profile, but he couldn't refuse Li Er and the dukes and ministers. They naturally regarded this auspicious event that would change the Great Tang as extremely important and couldn't tolerate the slightest negligence.

As time progressed, the court officials slowly appeared in Taoyuan Academy. Their arrival instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Su Liang, as one of the protagonists of this event, was definitely the finale.

At this time, Su Liang was in a brand-new white robe, holding a folding fan in his hand, and that was all.

The people Su Liang invited had already arrived here. Cheng Yaojin and a group of military generals, as long as they were in Changan, basically all came. Among the civil officials, except for a few like Li Gang who didn't have a good relationship with Su Liang, the others also arrived one after another.

Just at this moment.

A sharp voice came, and then Li Er's figure slowly appeared before everyone. The group immediately went out to welcome him.

Su Liang looked at Li Er in astonishment. Not only had Li Er arrived, but even Empress Zhangsun and Li Chenggan and others had come.

Not only that, even Li Zhi had come.

Before the ceremony, to show his importance to this matter, Su Liang had sent out invitations widely.

Su Liang also had people he wanted to invite; Su Liang even didn't let go of people like the Five Surnames and Seven Clans and invited them all. As for whether they came or not, that was their business.

Li Er coming was naturally expected, but as for Li Zhi, Su Liang hadn't even thought about it.

Then everyone bowed one after another.

"Hehe... fellow ministers, rise. This time I am the same as you. I am just here to observe the ceremony; you don't need to be so restrained."

Looking at Li Er's appearance, everyone wouldn't think Li Er was just here to observe the ceremony.

Li Er walked slowly to Su Liang, then looked at him and said in a low voice, "Su Liang, running an academy benefits the country and the people. What is your direction for running the academy?"

Asking about his goal for running the academy, sigh... didn't Li Er know it in his heart? This was clearly establishing prestige in front of the noble clans. Su Liang laughed lightly, then looked at Li Er with burning eyes.

"To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a life for the people, to continue the lost teachings for the past sages, and to open up peace for all generations." Su Liang's pursuit was nothing more than these four sentences.

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Just these four sentences from Su Liang were things that these old scholars who had studied for decades couldn't say; they didn't have such insights.

Li Er was stunned upon hearing Su Liang's words. The expression with which he looked at Su Liang was already different. Before, he knew Su Liang wanted to change the current state of the Great Tang, but... but he hadn't expected Su Liang's ideal to be so grand.

"What Su Liang said is not bad. I just want to ask, are the words you just said your true thoughts?"

Su Liang nodded upon hearing this and admitted it directly. Anyway, since he was the one who said these words first, they were naturally his true thoughts. Su Liang's greatest dream was also these four sentences.

Although Su Liang felt it was difficult to achieve these things by himself, what did it matter? A person must have a dream; what if it comes true?

Just at this moment, a slightly childish voice suddenly sounded...

"Brother-in-law... can you be my master and teach me to read?"

Su Liang didn't need to look to know who it was. At this moment, the only one who could call Su Liang brother-in-law was the eight-year-old Li Zhi.

As Li Zhi's words fell, Li Er and Empress Zhangsun were excited. Nowadays, Crown Prince Li Chenggan and Prince of Wei Li Tai had grown up and each had their own ideas.

But Li Zhi was different; now was the time to teach him well. Although becoming Su Liang's disciple was against the rules, the two of them didn't have the slightest objection at this moment. As the saying goes, those who are capable are teachers. If he could receive Su Liang's personal instruction, it would naturally be the best.

But Su Liang was dumbfounded...

A teacher for a day, a father for life; this sentence wasn't just something to say.

In the future, whenever something happened to Li Zhi, whether it was a big thing or a small thing, Su Liang definitely wouldn't stand by and watch.

After all, Su Liang had never thought about someone wanting to become his disciple before, so he couldn't make a decision for a moment.

Empress Zhangsun also looked at Su Liang and said, "Son-in-law, just agree to it. It just so happens to help me manage Zhi Nu well."

Then Su Liang looked at Li Zhi's sincere appearance and nodded.

He then bowed to the group around him, looked at Li Zhi, and said, "Today, Li Zhi voluntarily becomes my disciple, entering my Su Liang's school to seek knowledge and Dao. I shall teach him everything I know, not wasting our master-disciple relationship."

"The related etiquette can be omitted."

In Su Liang's eyes, such things as becoming a disciple just needed to be said casually.

How could Su Liang think like this? Li Er looked at Su Liang helplessly upon hearing this and waved his hand, then arranged for people to hold a master-disciple ceremony in Taoyuan Academy...

Sigh... having to worship Confucius and all kinds of etiquette, Su Liang felt like a tool person being manipulated by them. For nearly an hour, Su Liang felt he was about to fall asleep.

Just at this moment.

Someone shouted "Ceremony complete" from the side, instantly startling Su Liang from his drowsy state.

Sigh... it was finally over.

Su Liang sighed helplessly and shook his head.

He hadn't expected the master-disciple ceremony to be so troublesome. If he had known, he would have inquired about it clearly beforehand and wouldn't have felt so tired.

The people paying attention to this master-disciple ceremony were not just those present.

Although Prince of Wei Li Tai and others didn't arrive, they definitely sent people to pay attention to what was happening here.

They were definitely paying attention to Su Liang; after all, Su Liang's move was to shake their foundation. How could they not pay attention to Su Liang?

Li Tai naturally didn't dare to do anything too excessive to Su Liang, but the noble clans might not.

Currently, they didn't know the cost of glassware. If they really knew, they would definitely kill Su Liang without hesitation.

This was treating their noble clans completely like fools!! ===== CHAPTER 40 =====