Chapter 69: Forced to Accept a Disciple

Smiling broadly, Wang Zhe failed to notice the change in Mr. Master Zhuge's expression, continuing to critique both works in his own style, completely missing the displeasure brewing in Mr. Master Zhuge's heart.

He said with a chuckle, "Though Mr. Your work possesses a certain air of carefree leisure, overall it lacks a bit of that sharp, cutting momentum."

"In comparison, Lord Jiang's poem reveals an unparalleled chill and grandeur that leaves one longing."

"Mr. Master Zhuge, to be frank, based on my reading, you have indeed lost to Lord Jiang this time."

Hearing Wang Zhe's critique, Mr. Master Zhuge's face flushed red then pale in turns, his fists clenched so tight that veins stood out.

He barely suppressed his anger, forcing a smile on his face that looked uglier than crying.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled carefree and modestly replied, "Where, where? It is merely a work of minor talent; Mr. Master Zhuge is the true master, and I dare not accept such praise." His tone was extremely gentle, sounding nothing like someone who had just won a poetry contest.

Mr. Master Zhuge, whose face had turned red and white several times, was clearly unconvinced. Raising his voice, he asked, "Inspector Lord, did you see clearly? Are you certain that I have lost this matter?"

Hearing him raise his voice, Wang Zhe's face immediately darkened with storm clouds. In a stern voice, he said, "Mr., although this official is advanced in years, I do not consider myself to the point of being blind with age."

"Mr., such words are somewhat inappropriate, are they not?"

Mr. Master Zhuge's face instantly lost all color. Stammering, he apologized with a smile, "Lord is joking. I indeed spoke out of turn; I hope you will forgive me!"

Then, Mr. Master Zhuge reluctantly squeezed out a few words, "Lord Jiang is indeed learned; I bow in admiration."

Fortunately, although Mr. Master Zhuge's literary talent was mediocre, he had not forgotten the wager. With a dark face, he handed over the ancient jade, saying, "Take it."

However, when he first produced this ancient jade, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had already seen that it was absolutely a rare treasure of the world.

Yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu still modestly refused, saying, "This was originally a gathering of friends through literature; Mr. need not give it so generously."

Mr. Master Zhuge, however, would not let it go, insisting, "Lord Jiang, what is the meaning of this? Although my skills are inferior, I am not the kind of person who breaks his word. This ancient jade is the wager; please accept it quickly." As he spoke, reluctance was clearly visible in his eyes.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes rolled, and he said, "I am unworthy; how could I take what another loves? This jade should remain for Mr. to enjoy himself."

"If Mr. is not fixated on winning or losing, then please agree to one thing for Jiang Mou, treating it as a replacement for the wager. How about that?"

Mr. Master Zhuge, who was already reluctant to part with the ancient jade, immediately felt as if granted a great pardon. He smiled and said, "Lord Jiang, please speak; I will do my utmost."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then smiled and said, "It is not a big matter. Recently, I discovered something called coal in Shangmu County..."

As he spoke, Jiang Jiang Mingyu recounted Lord Lord Murong Murong Yunhai's introduction to coal word for word.

Finally, he had his subordinate Tu Tu Kesiluo bring out a sample and brewed a pot of coal tea for the two of them right there.

Watching the pale blue flame beneath the small clay stove, both Mr. Master Zhuge and Wang Zhe were seeing it for the first time. They exchanged glances, constantly marveling.

Seeing the timing was right, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled at Mr. Master Zhuge, "This coal is the thing I wish to promote."

"Mr. comes from a great family; naturally, your household possesses extensive property. With deep winter approaching, you will need a large amount of coal for heating."

"Your friends are mostly from distinguished families with wealthy households; the demand for this coal among them, I fear, will not be small either."

"Shangmu County is poor, and the people have no support. Please help Jiang Mou promote this coal; it would count as Mr. doing his part for the common people."

"The sage said, 'If one achieves success, one should benefit the whole world.' In this way, you would not betray the reputation of a talented scholar, would you?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's flattery made Mr. Master Zhuge extremely proud. He did not even think much about it before readily agreeing, "Lord Jiang's words align perfectly with my heart!"

"I can place an order for ten thousand jin of coal right now to prepare for my family's winter. As for helping you promote this coal, I will surely do my utmost and never be perfunctory!"

"However, I also have a small request..." Speaking here, Mr. Master Zhuge pondered for a moment before slowly uttering the second half of his sentence.

Seeing the other party agree so readily, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was also very happy. He spoke enthusiastically, "Mr. please speak; within my ability, I will absolutely do my utmost and never refuse!"

After all, as a transmigrator, he had no attachments and did not care what Mr. Master Zhuge requested.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was full of confidence, feeling that no matter what the request was, he could handle it easily.

A smile plastered on his face, with shrewdness in his eyes, Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought that having Mr. Master Zhuge help promote the coal was truly too important for him.

No matter what Mr. Master Zhuge requested, he would agree first and deal with it later.

Mr. Master Zhuge smoothed his wide robe sleeves and said with a smile, "My request is simple: please accept this unworthy one as your disciple."

What? Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was immediately somewhat surprised. Accepting a disciple? This was completely unexpected.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's blank expression, Mr. Master Zhuge explained somewhat awkwardly, "Lord Jiang knows that I, in the Regional Military Commissioner of Yisimo, still have some literary reputation."

"But the sea of learning is boundless, and effort never betrays the determined. I wish to bow to you as my master to study poetry and prose, seeking greater progress."

Mr. Master Zhuge pondered for a moment, then cunningly added, "Besides, accepting a famous talented scholar like me as a disciple would also benefit your reputation, would it not?"

"If Lord agrees with a single word, I will immediately order thirty thousand jin of coal. How about that?"

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu chuckled inwardly. It turned out the other party had been conquered by the poem he had previously "borrowed."

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided that since Mr. Master Zhuge had an extraordinary background and wide connections, accepting him as a disciple would be of great benefit to himself.

Thus, Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a smile, "Since Mr. so earnestly pursues learning, then Jiang Mou will shamelessly accept you as my disciple."

Mr. Master Zhuge's face lit up with joy. He immediately bowed and clasped his hands toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu, saying, "Good! Lord Jiang, no, Master! It is settled then."

"Rest assured, I will rush home to fetch silver; I will surely deliver the payment for the coal very soon!"

Having finished speaking, Mr. Master Zhuge excitedly stepped out the door, looking as spirited as a primary school student just praised by a teacher.

Watching Mr. Master Zhuge's receding figure, Jiang Jiang Mingyu chuckled softly, "This Mr. Master Zhuge is truly a person who loves learning without tiring."

Hearing this, Wang Zhe could not help but sneer, "Lord Jiang, saying so overestimates him."

"This Zhu Ge Yu, if he has no ink in his heart, is even worse than that. What he likes to do most is show off his skills in front of others and seek attention."

"People in the city, out of respect for the Master Zhuge family, all flatter him from front to back, thus creating his so-called reputation for talent."

"If the Master Zhuge family did not have immense power in the Regional Military Commissioner of Yisimo, this official would not have gone against his conscience to accompany his nonsense by calling him 'Mr. Master Zhuge' again and again."

Speaking here, Wang Zhe sneered even more disdainfully, "And regarding the matter of him becoming your disciple just now, do not take it as him doing it for the welfare of the people. That is pure nonsense, a joke!"

"In my judgment, he merely wants to learn some superficialities from you and then go out to show them off."

After hearing Wang Zhe's words, a look of understanding appeared on Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face. So that was how it was; no wonder Zhu Ge Yu's poetry was so mediocre and unremarkable.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly criticized in his heart that Zhu Ge Yu was merely relying on his good family background to have some empty fame in the literary world.

Without the Master Zhuge family's power in this locality, a talent like his would have been mocked long ago.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but chuckle inwardly.

A mediocre talent who loved to show off, a prodigal son, actually actively begged him to accept him as a disciple; it was truly amusing.

But on second thought, Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood that for someone like Zhu Ge Yu, reputation and status were far more important than true talent. In that case, it would do no harm to make temporary use of him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded lightly, his mind already made up.

He needed to return to the county as soon as possible to intensify coal mining; as for Zhu Ge Yu, he only needed to be used properly.

When Zhu Ge Yu came to deliver the silver, he would immediately return to Shangmu County.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly plotted over various matters, a fervor for pioneering new things surging in his heart.

Just as Jiang Jiang Mingyu was about to lose his patience waiting, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had already drunk two cups of tea, suddenly brightened with light in his eyes: "The silver has arrived!"

But very quickly, a strange man dressed in official robes rushed in with an aggressive aura.

This man looked to be under forty, stood over six feet tall, and his round, large belly was stuffed with fat.

His huge garlic-shaped nose squeezed his already small eyes into just two slits; the oil on his goat beard gleamed brightly, and his face wore an aggressive expression.

This fat man bowed respectfully to Wang Zhe, who was still savoring Jiang Jiang Mingyu's masterpiece, and then said to Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "You are the Imperial Envoy from Shangmu County, are you not?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu kept smiling: "Indeed it is I. And who might you be, my lord?"

The fat man sneered arrogantly: "I am Huang Huang Chaoran, Chief Clerk of the Regional Military Commissioner of Yasmo!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu bowed to him: "So it is Chief Clerk Huang, my lord..."

Before he could finish speaking, Huang Huang Chaoran impatiently waved a hand to interrupt: "Enough, do not speak such useless words. I ask you, exactly how did my father-in-law He He Dachuan and my brother-in-law He He Muchen die?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu instantly recalled that when He He Dachuan was arrested that day, he seemed to have said there was a high official in the provincial capital backing him. It seemed this so-called backer was the Huang Huang Chaoran before his eyes.

Wang Zhe, sitting behind the desk, hurriedly spoke up: "Chief Clerk Huang, what do you mean by this?"

Huang Huang Chaoran sneered: "What I mean, you must ask this Imperial Envoy."

Huang Huang Chaoran said in a chilling tone: "Three days ago, I sent men back to Shangmu County on business, and only then did I learn that my father-in-law He He Dachuan and my nephew He He Muchen both died in my lord Jiang's coal mine."

"Not only that, but my lord Jiang also heartlessly sold off my father-in-law's residence; truly, his crimes are boundless!"

"My lord Jiang, even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same law as commoners. If you do not explain yourself clearly today, I do not care if you are an Imperial Envoy; even if I take this all the way to the Emperor, I will surely demand you pay with your life for my father-in-law's family!"