Chapter 319
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 319: Jiang Ziya Fishing, the Willing Take the Bait
“This is my first time navigating this raft. I apologize for disturbing you, sir!”
“Sir?”
Luo Ji’s lips curled slightly at this address.
He instinctively observed the white-robed young master.
Although this white-robed young master was quite disheveled from wrestling with the raft and the long pole, his every move exuded a temperament somewhat different from most people in this era.
If one had to describe it, he seemed like a scholar.
Unlike the scholars currently cultivated for efficiency within his civilization, this person before him exuded the refined elegance of a traditional scholar.
“A white silk robe, and this jadeite plaque…”
Luo Ji couldn’t claim that everyone in the Myriad Worlds Civilization knew him, but it would be too strange for a resident of Mirror City not to recognize him.
The other party just called him ‘sir,’ clearly not recognizing him. In other words, he wasn’t from Mirror City.
And for someone not from Mirror City to be able to afford a white silk robe and a jadeite plaque, this white-robed young master’s identity was practically obvious, wasn’t it?
As thoughts raced, Luo Ji subtly swiped his finger, discreetly opening the white-robed young master’s attribute panel.
Looking at the attributes on the panel, his pupils suddenly constricted sharply.
[Name: Lu Yang
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Loyalty: 77
Bravery: ★★
Intelligence: ★★★★☆
Spirit: ★★★☆
Endurance: ★★☆
Leadership: ★★☆☆
Talent: King’s Assistant: When serving in a corresponding position, assisting the monarch, the entire civilization’s development speed increases by 40%, and his own efficiency in handling internal affairs increases by 40%.
Skills: Task Arrangement (Passive): The efficiency of tasks arranged by him increases by 30%.
Resourceful and Decisive (Passive): When handling governmental affairs, the probability of errors decreases by 40%.
Tactics: None]
“No worries, sir, you need not mind.”
As he spoke, Luo Ji waved his hand.
While closing the attribute panel, he also thought to himself.
“Can this be considered ‘Jiang Ziya fishing, the willing take the bait’ for me?”
Glancing at his crooked fishing rod, Luo Ji couldn’t help but chuckle.
Just drifting casually on the lake for a nap, taking a break, and he could actually catch such a big fish.
This was truly astonishing.
However, his chuckle caused Lu Yang, who was poling the boat, to misunderstand.
He heard him ask with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.
“May I ask why you are laughing, sir?”
Seeing Lu Yang’s mortified expression, Luo Ji instantly understood that the other party had misunderstood and thought he was mocking him.
At this thought, he couldn’t help but respond in a refined manner.
“Seeing the anger on your face, sir, I imagine you have misunderstood me.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“This misunderstanding, I will naturally explain clearly later…”
As he spoke, Luo Ji’s tone shifted slightly.
“But before that, I have a question I wish to ask you, sir.”
“What question?”
“Have you, sir, read the Four Books: ‘Great Learning,’ ‘Doctrine of the Mean,’ ‘Analects,’ and ‘Mencius?’”
“I’ve dabbled a little.”
“You are too modest, sir.”
A hint of understanding flashed in Luo Ji’s eyes upon hearing this.
These Four Books were certainly not created by him, but rather by Zhou Dongnan when he was developing the Four Treasures of the Study.
His goal was probably to develop the entire culture in one go and, through this method, see if he could attract some talented civil officials.
Unfortunately, when he was doing these things, he clearly didn’t use much thought, directly copying the Four Books from his Celestial Dynasty’s ancient Four Books and Five Classics.
But the problem was, were these four books something ordinary people could understand in a short time?
Clearly, he was thinking a bit too optimistically.
Moreover, in that era, those with the ability and time to study these were always the children of aristocratic families, which was indeed very similar to his Celestial Dynasty’s ancient times.
As a result, Zhou Dongnan’s wave of cultural promotion ended in dismal failure.
After that, he seemed to have no interest in cultural projects anymore, directly becoming a complete war fanatic.
No matter what happened, one word, fight!
And on the court of Great Zhou, the few civil officials, whose status was already not high, saw their presence and influence plummet even further thereafter, eventually almost becoming mere decorations.
This was probably one of the main reasons why Lu Yang, Shen Jun, and their generation, starting from their fathers, no longer entered officialdom.
And once they became idle, with nothing to do and no worries about food or drink, it was impossible for Lu Yang and their fathers to just sit at home doing nothing every day, right?
Thus, reading became their primary means of passing the time.
As a result, after many years of reading, they actually gained some insights, and this directly influenced the next generation, which could be considered an unexpected delight.
And now, it was clearly going to benefit Luo Ji.
“Sir, how about I tell you a story?”
“What does this have to do with the misunderstanding?”
“After you listen, the misunderstanding will be resolved.”
“Then please proceed, sir. I am all ears.”
As he spoke, Luo Ji sorted through his thoughts and, after making some adaptations, narrated the story of Jiang Ziya fishing.
After listening, Lu Yang frowned slightly.
“The fish in your story, sir, are you referring to me?”
“Indeed.”
Luo Ji replied, shaking his head.
Being refined for so long was inexplicably a bit fun and addictive.
Given Lu Yang’s intelligence, it was naturally impossible for him not to understand the allegory in Luo Ji’s story.
Immediately, his gaze towards Luo Ji changed repeatedly.
The black silk robe and the jade thumb ring on his thumb were enough to prove that the other party was either rich or noble, but his identity…
Just as Lu Yang was thinking this, another raft quickly glided over from a distance.
The moment it approached, 3 guards with swords quickly jumped onto it, shielding Luo Ji behind them.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
“Your… Your Majesty?!”
Hearing this address, Lu Yang’s face instantly changed.
He immediately knelt and saluted.
“This commoner, Lu Yang, greets Your Majesty! I apologize for my offense earlier! Please forgive me!!”
It wasn’t that he was stupid, who could have imagined that the dignified Emperor of the Myriad Worlds Civilization would be so idle as to cross his legs and lie on a raft for an afternoon nap?!
Seeing this, a mischievous thought arose in Luo Ji’s heart, and he feigned annoyance, saying.
“Daring to crash into my raft and then question me, you are truly the first…”
As Luo Ji spoke these words, the 3 sword wielding guards’ eyes immediately filled with obvious killing intent towards Lu Yang.
One of them even drew his bronze sword an inch.
As a young master of an aristocratic family, when had he ever faced such a situation?
His face had completely lost its color.
After all, he was still young.
He had talent, but facing such sudden circumstances, what was often needed was experience.
Just as he was contemplating whether to offer his family’s assets to preserve his own life, Luo Ji, standing there, suddenly changed his tone.
“However, considering your knowledge, I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. So, will you take the bait?”
Towards the end, Luo Ji’s tone clearly carried a hint of amusement.
Listening to this change in tone, and recalling the story of “Jiang Ziya fishing, the willing take the bait,” how could Lu Yang not know that Luo Ji was half-jokingly, half-seriously teasing him?
However, he still couldn’t relax.
After a moment of thought, a hint of determination flashed in Lu Yang’s eyes.
“This commoner, Lu Yang, is willing to serve Your Majesty!”
