"Sir, you have been fishing here every day with a plain hook and no bait," Jiang Lu observed as he looked at the extraordinary individual in front of him, who had been continuously fishing for over a month.
Gu Shanhai replied slowly, "Why do you think I am fishing?"
"This..." Jiang Lu was puzzled. With your situation, if not fishing, then what?
"Jiang, have I heard correctly that you are a relative of the Royal Family?" Gu Shanhai asked further.
Before Jiang Lu could respond, a neighboring vendor chid in jestingly, "In Cansang Village, who isn’t a relative of the Royal Family?"
The villagers living in Cansang Village all shared the surna Jiang, descendants of Prince Dong Xian of the Long Dynasty. As the population increased, they beca collateral relatives, unable to inherit titles or claim distinguished ancestry, and gradually, they beca indistinguishable from ordinary folks.
They rely bore the title of a relative of the Royal Family, which was sowhat intimidating.
However, the title was genuine, with family records to prove it.
Jiang Lu, looking resigned, then said, "It’s only the grace of my ancestors, not worth ntioning."
He didn’t know why Gu Shanhai was asking about this. In his younger years, he had studied under a renowned teacher and learned military strategies. Adding his family’s military doctrines, he was quite capable. Although he was now a leader of soldiers, he did not have any Daoist Soldiers under his command.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want them, but as a commoner, he simply wasn’t entitled to keep Daoist Soldiers, and he couldn’t afford them either.
Now, having fallen on hard tis, he earned his living by selling the vegetables he grew, far detached from any royal arrogance, just like all his neighbors.
Indeed, Gu Shanhai was fishing right behind his stand. Their street, built along the river, facilitated occasional exchanges between the two.
In their interactions, Jiang Lu could clearly perceive Gu Shanhai’s significant abilities.
"Uh, perhaps my question was poor," Gu Shanhai smiled.
Over the month’s observation, Gu Shanhai had concluded that Jiang Lu was indeed a good person, genuinely valuing relationships, and well-regarded in the area.
Years ago, he had even been recomnded for a filial piety examination, but for so reason, he had failed to secure an official position.
In the Long Dynasty, securing an official position wasn’t through imperial examinations but by recomndation. Your appointnt depended on a recomndation, followed by an investigation of your local reputation and conduct. Only if these were satisfactory could you enter the court to serve as an official; otherwise, talents could go to waste.
"Now that you are of age, why are you still alone?" Gu Shanhai inquired.
He ant to ask why Jiang was yet unmarried at thirty.
"A great man needs no worry to find a wife!" Jiang Lu responded, sowhat embarrassed. Typically, n married at sixteen, and staying single like him was rare.
"Admirable ambition, but looking at you, Jiang, it seems you have talent. Why have you fallen into such straits?" Gu Shanhai’s words ca off a bit insensitive. His earlier statent could be seen as teasing about marriage, but now he bluntly pointed out Jiang’s modest earnings.
Hearing this, Jiang Lu’s expression dimd, "Bad fortune, alas."
"A fine man sighing, truly unseemly," Gu Shanhai remarked and casually pulled out a book, saying, "You’ve gifted vegetables for half a month, so in return, from my ’Sixteen Strategies,’ I’ll gift you one."
"Please don’t joke, Sir," Jiang Lu, startled, replied instantly.
"I never jest. Do you want it or not? If not, I will not give it," Gu Shanhai teased again.
"This... Sir, how would you instruct ?" Jiang Lu’s deanor shifted upon hearing this, aware that a strategy from the talented Gu Shanhai wouldn’t be simple.
"Not at all, but among these sixteen strategies, which one do you desire?" Gu Shanhai asked.
"But Sir, I don’t even know what these sixteen strategies are. How can I know which one I want?" Jiang Lu was puzzled.
"What’s so hard? Just pick a number from the sixteen," Gu Shanhai suggested he draw one.
At that mont, Jiang Lu hesitated in his mind, having no clue about the strategies.
Finally, he bit the bullet and declared, "Sir, I would like the first strategy."
"Are you sure?" Gu Shanhai asked with a hint of jest.
"Yes, I’m sure," Jiang Lu stated, knowing he had to make a decisive choice.
"Alright, you chose it yourself." Gu Shanhai stood up, packed up his fishing gear, and handed Jiang Lu a piece of cloth with tiny characters, adding, "These fish are truly foolish to not take the bait. I won’t co tomorrow."
Jiang Lu respectfully received the cloth from Gu Shanhai and watched him leave, puzzled.
Why would the fish be foolish for not taking the bait?
Then he looked down at the strategy on the cloth, his pupils narrowing.
The strategy was titled "Governing a State."
"Governing a state is like managing a household. To manage a household, one must establish fundantals; once established, all things align..." Jiang Lu read silently, pondering each word repeatedly. In that mont, he envisioned a book written by a legendary sage, his own early teacher paling in comparison.
In that instant, he understood why Gu Shanhai had remarked the fish were foolish for not taking the bait.
Gu Shanhai wasn’t fishing for fish; he had been evaluating him all month.
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