Chapter 146 Encountering the Minister of Agriculture Once Again

"My Lord, Young Master, Master Liu, Wang Zhihong, the Chief Administrator of Zhongzhou, requests an audience!" reported the steward from the public hall, bowing.

"Wang Zhihong? Isn't he the former Assistant Magistrate of Sanyuan? Ah, I have some impression. Isn't he the youngest son of that old codger Wang Gui? Show him in," Gongsun Wuda waved his hand, then hopped his horse across the river to break Liu Yitiao's chariot.

Gongsun Helan also had some acquaintance with Wang Zhihong and could not afford to drop his manners. He propped himself up on his double crutches, returned to his seat, and waited in a leisurely manner.

"Uncle Gongsun, you just mentioned that Lord Wang is the youngest son of Wang Gui. Please forgive this junior's shallow knowledge, but who exactly is this Wang Gui?" Liu Yitiao moved a pawn forward one step, then raised his head to softly ask Gongsun Wuda for instruction. Anyone who could catch Gongsun Wuda's eye must be an extraordinary figure, and Liu Yitiao was eager to find out more.

Previously, he only knew that Wang Zhihong hailed from a prominent Chang'an family, but just how prominent that family was remained a mystery, stirring Liu Yitiao's curiosity.

"Big Brother, let me explain this," Gongsun Helan set his crutches aside and said to Liu Yitiao, "Lord Wang Gui is currently the Minister of the Ministry of Rites within the Department of State Affairs. Although he is a civil official, his temper and courage are not a whit inferior to Old Man Wei's. He is someone who dares to glare and bristle at His Majesty. Big Brother, you must be careful if you ever meet him in the future."

"Hmph, what little Laning says is indeed true. That old man Wang is extremely stubborn. Once that obstinate streak of his flares up, he gives face to no one. However, his character is quite good, and he is very talented. Although the Emperor is not particularly fond of him, he holds him in high regard and has repeatedly appointed him to crucial positions. Ah, within this city of Chang'an, he can certainly be considered a notable figure." Gongsun Wuda picked up his tea bowl, took a hearty gulp, and launched an attack with his horse.

Minister of the Ministry of Rites? Dares to scold Li Shimin? On par with Wei Zheng? What an impressive fellow. Liu Yitiao's eyebrows twitched, a flash of joy crossing his face. It seemed he really had found the right teacher for Liu Ertiao.

While they were talking, Wang Zhihong, led by Gongsun Li, entered the main hall.

"Junior Wang Zhihong pays his respects to Uncle Gongsun." Wang Zhihong walked up to Gongsun Wuda, bowed deeply, and his expression was full of respect.

"You may rise, Worthy Nephew. Take a seat over there." Gongsun Wuda gently placed his chess piece onto the board, sat up straight, and gestured to Wang Zhihong.

Once Wang Zhihong was seated, Liu Yitiao and Gongsun Helan also cupped their hands and greeted him, saying, "Greetings, Lord Wang."

"Greetings, Young Master Liu. Greetings, Young Master Gongsun." Wang Zhihong returned the courtesy with cupped hands. When he looked at Liu Yitiao, his gaze was full of gratification. This Liu Yitiao truly had not disappointed him; in just a few short months, he had made such a huge name for himself in Chang'an City and had even attached himself to a powerful household like the Gongsun estate. He had cured the personal illnesses of Empress Zhangsun and Crown Prince, truly remarkable.

After the servants brought Wang Zhihong a cup of tea, Gongsun Wuda spoke to him, "It has been some days since we last met, Worthy Nephew Zhihong, and you appear even more steady, possessing much of your father's demeanor. Haha, quite rare. How is my old brother Wang's health these days?"

"Thanks to Uncle Gongsun's blessing, my father's health is still quite robust. It is just that he has been busy with official duties lately and has had no time to visit Uncle Gongsun. Please forgive him," Wang Zhihong replied with a cupped-hand salute.

"Enough, enough. I already know that old man's disposition in your family. You don't need to cover for him anymore," Gongsun Wuda waved his hand and said, "Even you, Worthy Nephew, take after your father to the exact ten parts; you are both fellows who never visit a temple without a purpose. If you have something to say, just spit it out directly. You don't need to beat around the bush with me."

"This," seeing Gongsun Wuda speak so bluntly, Wang Zhihong smiled wryly and cupped his hands. "Uncle Gongsun has discerning eyes. Other than wishing to visit Uncle Gongsun, the junior has come today to meet an old acquaintance from Sanyuan. Uncle Gongsun may not know this, but the junior shares a master-disciple bond with Young Master Liu's younger brother. Liu Ertiao is precisely the junior's first official pupil. Now that the provincial and metropolitan examinations are drawing closer, the junior wishes to check on the recent progress of my pupil."

"Oh? There is such a thing?" Gongsun Wuda turned his head to look at Liu Yitiao. Seeing Liu Yitiao nod, he nodded along, thinking to himself that Liu Yitiao was truly resourceful, having already secured such a promising path for his younger brother back in Sanyuan. To study under Wang Zhihong meant that while his future official career might not be entirely smooth sailing, it would certainly have many fewer thorns.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Wang. Yitiao expresses his utmost gratitude on behalf of my second brother," Liu Yitiao rose, bowed deeply to Wang Zhihong, and felt that this fellow Wang Zhihong was indeed quite decent. However, in his heart, Liu Yitiao remained skeptical about whether he had truly come for Liu Ertiao's sake.

"Young Master Liu is too polite. Ertiao is Wang's pupil; this is only what Wang ought to do. Besides, if Ertiao achieves good results in this year's metropolitan examination, Wang, as his teacher, will also share in the glory, won't he?" Wang Zhihong said to Liu Yitiao with a smile.

"What Lord Wang says is true. Only a few days ago, this junior intended to bring Ertiao to Chang'an to pay a visit to Lord Wang, so that the boy could seek instruction from you in person. It was simply delayed because of the affairs concerning His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress—" Liu Yitiao walked back to his seat, cupped his hands to Wang Zhihong once more, his words full of apology.

"It's no matter, no matter," a bead of cold sweat trickled down Wang Zhihong's temple. How could he dare compare this matter with the affairs of the Crown Prince and the Empress? He hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Ertiao's priority right now should still be reviewing his books. Once he arrives in Chang'an, I fear I won't have much time to instruct him."

With that, Wang Zhihong drew a thin booklet from his bosom and handed it to Liu Yitiao, saying, "These are some test-taking pointers that Wang specifically compiled for Ertiao a few days ago. Young Master Liu can pass this to him. If he reviews according to this booklet, I imagine passing the provincial and metropolitan examinations will not pose a major problem."

"Many thanks, Lord Wang, for your trouble." Liu Yitiao accepted it with both hands, then offered a cupped-hand salute of thanks. He carefully tucked the thin booklet into his bosom, knowing this must be Wang Zhihong's privately guessed examination topics—much like the key points and difficult concepts outlined by various subject teachers for students before the college entrance examinations. While it might not be immensely useful for enhancing a student's innate capability, it was an infallible weapon for passing tests.

"My Lord, the wine and food are fully prepared," Gongsun Qi entered and reported.

"Then bring them out," Gongsun Wuda stood up, glanced at Wang Zhihong, and smiled. "Worthy Nephew Yitiao has just returned from the imperial palace, and I was just about to host a welcome banquet for him. Since Worthy Nephew Zhihong has also arrived, let us all share a few cups together."

"It is precisely what I desire, though I dared not ask. Then this junior will impose upon your hospitality." Wang Zhihong stood up and bowed to Gongsun Wuda, successfully freeloading a meal.

Once the wine and dishes were served, the four of them took their seats in order of seniority. Gongsun Wuda took the prime seat at the head of the table, while Wang Zhihong, Liu Yitiao, and Gongsun Helan occupied the guest seats in sequence.

After they were seated, Gongsun Helan set aside his crutches, picked up a wine flagon, poured a cup personally, and handed it to Liu Yitiao. Then he poured a cup for himself, raised it toward Liu Yitiao, and said, "Come, Big Brother, your younger brother toasts you first! Not for anything else, but for this pair of crutches you made for me! It has spared your little brother from the misery of being bedridden. I'll drain this first as a toast!" Without waiting for Liu Yitiao to speak, Gongsun Helan tilted his head back and gulped it down.

"Mm, mm, this is only proper! Worthy Nephew Yitiao's pair of crutches has also helped me enormously, putting many of my worries to rest. Come, come, I too ought to toast Worthy Nephew!" Gongsun Wuda also raised his wine cup, signaled to Liu Yitiao, and then raised his cup to tilt his head back and drain it.

"Haha, Uncle Gongsun and Worthy Nephew Helan flatter me. It's just a little trinket, no need to take it to heart." Liu Yitiao smiled faintly, raised his cup, nodded at them, and drank it down as well.

"This contraption actually came from the hands of Young Master Liu?" Wang Zhihong pointed at the crutch beside Gongsun Helan and asked with curiosity. When he saw Gongsun Helan walking with it earlier, Wang Zhihong had found it quite amazing. He had seen crutches before, but something like Gongsun Helan's was the first he had ever laid eyes on, and it was obviously far more practical than those ordinary single crutches.

"A trivial craft, not fit for grand occasions, making Lord Wang laugh." Liu Yitiao nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

"Young Master Liu is too modest," Wang Zhihong looked at Liu Yitiao and said, "Though trivial crafts are humble, their utility is plain for all to see. To say nothing of past things like paddle-wheel boats, overturning carts, stone mills, and water mills, even the newly emerged Liu-style plow is technically a trivial craft. Yet its utility and the contribution it makes to the development of our Great Tang's national strength are of incalculable magnitude. That Young Master Liu was able to create it is truly the fortune of the common people of our Great Tang, and the fortune of the Great Tang Empire."

"I agree with Lord Wang's words!" An old man with completely white hair and beard walked in uninvited and said loudly to Wang Zhihong, "Young Master Liu's plow can at least double the national strength of our Great Tang. To be able to forge such a plow fills my heart with boundless admiration. What is even rarer is Young Master Liu's noble character, being willing to unconditionally donate his 'Liu-style Plow Workshop' and the manufacturing method of the Liu-style plow to the imperial court. Such moral integrity is truly awe-inspiring!"

Damn it all! Hearing these words, Liu Yitiao really wanted to walk up and spit right in this old man's face. If not for him, would Li Shimin have learned about his Liu-style plow so quickly? Would he, Liu Yitiao, have needed to hand over the 'Liu-style Plow Workshop' under the coercion of their sovereign and ministers? To take advantage and then sit here making sarcastic remarks—Liu Yitiao despised this old man in his heart.

"Old Su? What kind of wind blew you to this general's residence? Quick, please take the seat of honor, Old Su." Seeing this old man, Gongsun Wuda hurriedly stood up to greet him, ushered the old man to the head seat, and seated himself to the side.

"Lord Minister of Agriculture!" Wang Zhihong and Gongsun Helan both rose to pay their respects.

Unexpectedly, this old man held a minor rank yet carried a massive aura, even forcing Gongsun Wuda, a general, to yield his seat. Liu Yitiao glanced sideways at Su Bingren, and quite reluctantly, stood up to bow to the old man who had caused him to lose a fortune.