Chapter 86: Confucius Temple

Chapter86: The Confucius Temple

The twenty-third day of the third month, the eleventh year of Jiaqi. Rain.

Auspicious for sacrifices, auspicious for travel.

The continuous rain curtain struck the blue porcelain tiles, the sound crisp as striking a chime stone.

A Confucius Temple with mighty dougong brackets and deep overhanging eaves lay hidden within the hazy mist.

The solemn and dignified shrine enshrined in orderly fashion the Four Sages, Ten Philosophers, and Seventy-Two Disciples of Confucianism.

Before each statue hovered a play of light and shadow—some seated cross-legged playing the zither, some standing turning scrolls, some debating classics and canons—postures varied, the air thick with scholarly grace.

Enshrined at the very center of the shrine was a white-bearded elder, holding a writing tablet, his brows and eyes gentle and warm.

Gu Yong had deliberately swapped his usual silk brocade azure robe for a thin cotton-linen shirt, standing before the image of the Supreme Sage, performing the disciple's rite, bowing in devout worship.

"Young Master Gu, your literary fortune flourishes of late; all matters shall surely proceed smoothly."

The old temple keeper standing by with hands clasped smiled obsequiously: "When the court next opens a special examination, Young Master Gu will certainly have his name on the Golden List."

"No need for the temple keeper to comfort me; a man like me, implanted with a chip, will never enter officialdom in this lifetime."

Gu Yong waved his hand with a smile, his wrist flipping beneath his sleeve; when his fingers emerged, they were already pinching a bank card.

The glittering gold card, amidst this hall full of bookish aura, seemed not the least bit discordant.

"Still, offering a bit of sincerity for the Confucian school is permissible."

"On behalf of the ten thousand impoverished students of the Confucius Temple, I thank you, Master Gu."

The old temple keeper's face was full of admiration; he accepted the card with both hands, his address shifting from 'Young Master' to 'Master'.

Without seeing how he moved, the light-shadows of the ancient sages on both sides simultaneously ceased their actions, cupping their fists in salute toward Gu Yong.

Leaning against the doorframe, Li Jun took in the entire scene, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking sneer.

The hall is full of gentlemen, but money makes the big brother.

Reading books like this, it's fucking interesting.

Gu Yong, who had only woken up in the Teaching Workshop this morning, now wore a humble mien, returning the salutes of the worthies on the altar one by one, worshipping his way from this shrine all the way out to the mountain gate.

Only after passing through the archway of the Confucius Temple did Gu Yong straighten his back, glancing at the listless Li Jun beside him, and smiled faintly.

"This is, after all, the holy land in the hearts of tens of thousands of students in Chengdu Prefecture; give it some face, at least crack a smile. Our Shu Road Logistics may be doing business, but fundamentally it is an industry of the Confucian teaching."

Upon hearing this, Li Jun raised a hand to rub his face, but only managed to rub a yawn out of himself.

Though the skirmish at Five Streets had passed days ago, he still felt a bone-deep weariness.

The five-layered illusion Mu Chi had laid down had consumed too much of Li Jun's mental strength.

Gu Yong's mood seemed exceptionally pleasant; he paid no mind to Li Jun's lapse, stepping down along the mountain stone stairs.

"Though the Confucius Temple bears the name 'temple', its essence is unlike those Buddhist and Daoist temples that just scam money. Here is also a private academy, specifically for the children of poor families who cannot afford chips to study."

"For these students of lowly origin, this is their only hope to turn their lives around. Who knows, one day they might break the lock and ascend the sequence, becoming a Confucian overnight?"

"Moreover, that old temple keeper is a good man. Don't look at his vulgar money-grubbing appearance; from what I understand, most of the donations this Confucius Temple receives go toward subsidies for those poor scholars."

Li Jun's brow arched. "A man like that is rare indeed."

"That's why we must strongly support such things; do not neglect a small good deed, for this is the teaching of the Sage."

Gu Yong laughed aloud, yet a secret gloom flickered in the depths of his eyes.

It was true the Confucius Temple's academy specifically recruited poor students, and the subsidies were real.

But the purpose was not merely to leave a glimmer of hope for these poor children; the more important reason was to maintain the genetic diversity of the Confucian sequence.

That was why there were so many public welfare academies and imperial colleges throughout the provinces of the Great Ming Empire; behind them all stood the great clans providing support.

This was a death order the Donglin Party issued to Confucian clans everywhere; in the end, it was to stabilize the population base.

As for whether these academies could produce talent, that depended on the attitude of the local clans.

If one or two monstrous geniuses truly emerged, capable of breaking the lock and ascending the sequence under such conditions, it was simple.

Just have them change their name and surname, and they would naturally become clan members.

But these words, Gu Yong had no need to tell Li Jun.

Gu Yong and Li Jun descended the mountain steps one after the other, separated by two stone steps.

"You've held the Security Department for nearly half a month now; what movements have there been recently among the companies in the various prefectures of Shu, particularly Tianfu Heavy Industry?"

Hearing Gu Yong's question, the corner of Li Jun's eye twitched involuntarily.

Since returning from Mianzhou County, he had stayed in the Teaching Workshop for four days, and rested for quite a few more after killing Mu Chi.

The time he had actually spent in the Security Department was far too short; how could he possibly answer these questions?

Gu Yong seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, seeing the embarrassment on Li Jun's face clearly; his tone hardened. "You are the Director of the Group Security Department, not the old Hunsui Paoge anymore; just knowing how to fight won't do."

Before Li Jun could speak, Gu Yong had already shifted the conversation.

"However, this can't be blamed on you; it's normal to be unskilled at the business when you've just taken office. I also know you dislike these things, so I specifically found you a helper."

Gu Yong beckoned, and a middle-aged man who had been waiting eagerly ran up the stone steps, stopping before Li Jun.

"Young Master Yong, Director." The man nodded and bowed, his face piled with smiles.

Gu Yong introduced him: "Qian Zhongxiao, a nephew of Steward Qian of the main household; he is far steadier in his work than his elder brother Qian Jindong."

Li Jun smiled a non-smile. Qian Jindong was killed by him, and now another cousin was brought in to be his subordinate.

This was not just to hollow out his authority, but also a warning to him.

But Gu Yong's little power plays looked like a joke in Li Jun's eyes; he didn't take them to heart at all.

It just meant that on the day Shu Road Logistics collapsed, he might have to kill one more person.

"Manager Qian, then I'll have to trouble you to put your mind to the Security Department's affairs."

Qian Zhongxiao had braced himself to accept Li Jun's sarcasm, but never expected the other party to be so calm. At this moment, his heart did not lighten but sank sharply, his expression becoming even more obsequious.

"Rest assured, Director. Henceforth, matters great and small, I will certainly consult you before arranging them. As for Qian Jindong, though we are both of the Qian clan, our kinship is not close."

Li Jun waved his hand. "Relax, I've always dealt with matters, not people. I'm truly not good at department management; since Young Master Yong had you assist me, you just go ahead boldly."

"The Director is magnanimous, the Director is magnanimous."

Seeing Li Jun's open expression, as if he truly hadn't seen the deeper meaning, Qian Zhongxiao's wariness dissipated considerably, his hunched spine straightening a few degrees.

"Alright, we're all colleagues from now on; there's plenty of time for you to exchange pleasantries."

Gu Yong stopped, turning to look at Li Jun. "The subsequent rebuilding of the Security Department will be entrusted to Steward Qian; there is a more important matter I need you to handle."

Li Jun frowned. "Another job?"