Chapter 78 Talent Poaching (1/2)
Chapter 78 – Talent Poaching
Julu City.
For almost a month, Tong's daily schedule and lifestyle were repetitive, tedious and tiring.
5 AM in the morning, he woke up for breakfast and morning workout. Occasionally, he sparred with Zhou Cang with real weapons to sharpen their senses.
7 AM, Tong attended the morning assembly with Zhang Jiao to help his father brief the daily tasks of the officials.
The meeting always ended before 9 AM, then Tong stayed in the government hall to settle the internal domestic issues, drafted the new constitution and laws, or consulted with Lu Zhi about the future plans.
After lunch to 7 PM, Lu Zhi reserved this time of the day, so he could impart his knowledge to Tong. Lu Zhi usually taught him about traditional customs, history of China, and culture of various regions. Lu Zhi also took several historical scrolls from Luo Yang with him when he evacuated from the capital, so he had more than enough materials to teach Tong for an entire year.
Although deep down within Tong's heart, he thought some of the subjects were useless, yet he noted down all lessons from Lu Zhi anyway because he had to blend in with the natives if he wanted to be a good sovereign in the future.
After the class and the dinner, from 7.30 PM to 10 PM, Tong visited the city garrison camp with Lu Zhi to train the newbie intelligence agencies. Lu Zhi took charge of the training program while Tong stood at the side to watch and learn at the same time.
At first, Tong thought that it would be enough to rely on the rats from the slums to gather information within other cities, but Lu Zhi disagreed with him. He pointed out that hoodlums and thugs from the slums could double-cross Tong at any time if their identities were exposed to his enemies or they were bribed. Best spies should be the agents that were personally trained under Tong or Lu Zhi's guidance first before they were sent to action.
10.30 PM to 11 PM, Tong usually returned to his room and collapsed head-first on his pillow from exhaustion. Sometimes he found Hua Shi on his bed, begging to be spoiled by him again. Hua Shi usually used her one-night tickets that she had saved up for the night entertainment at this occasion.
Then the circle repeated.
…
February 3rd.
Reply letters from Liu Bei and Gao You had arrived. Both of them declined the invitation from Lu Zhi.
Gao You had explained in his letter that he was working as an assisting teacher with his senior brothers, so he could not come to Julu. Secondly, he found several individuals that were more talented than him, therefore he wanted to polish these young scholars first. Once they graduated from him, he would recommend them to work at Julu in the future.
Meanwhile, Liu Bei gave Lu Zhi a simple excuse. He described in his letter that his mother was sick, and he wanted to take care of her. As a result, he could not travel to Julu at the moment.
Lu Zhi was satisfied with Gao You's reply, but Liu Bei made him annoyed because he understood Liu Bei's temperament and character better than anyone else.
From Lu Zhi's evaluation of Liu Bei, that man wanted to be a leader of an army or a viceroy of a province right away without having experience of working under someone else first. He wanted to become someone big before he had even earned it! For this reason, he rejected his invitation to work under Tong.
Tong also dissatisfied with Liu Bei's rejection. The Liu Bei assassination before he grew up plan failed before Tong even started the first phase of the plan.
”I'm sorry. None of them is coming.”
Lu Zhi apologized to Tong. He was embarrassed that the two disciples of his refused his invitation.
”It's alright, master. For the staff shortage issue, I have another idea. You have told me once before that the capital is in turmoil, right? Can I trouble you one more time to write letters to your colleagues? Tell them that I can give them a sanctuary for them and their families. All they have to do is help me with the domestic management.”
Lu Zhi stared at Tong in astonishment. He had never thought about this before.
”That's a good idea. I have friends that can't decide where to settle down a new home. I'll make them move here!”
Seeing his master had an enlightenment, Tong was reminded by his instinct that he had forgotten something important. After 10 seconds, he recalled the memory.
”Master, by chance, do you know a person named Sima Fang or someone from Sima family?”
”Sima? Sima Fang?”
Lu Zhi was not familiar with the name. He had heard about this Sima Clan somewhere or had talked to someone with the surname Sima, but he was not that close to the person.