Chapter 2381 2103: The Long Road Ahead

"Master, my father came to see me earlier." Lul Xun said suddenly after finishing a book beside him, "I felt my father looked vigorous, but there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes."

"Oh, now that you mention it, I saw him two days ago as well." Chen Xi raised his head and thought for a moment, seeming to recall that Lul Jun was exuberantly explaining something to Shixie, but it should be related to ship trading.

Later on, Chen Xi also saw Gongsun Gong gripping Lul Jun's hand with excitement, as if they had reached a significant agreement, but judging by Lul Jun's expression, he seemed a bit unhappy, perhaps he was at a disadvantage.

Thinking back, Chen Xi seemed to have seen Lul Jun walking alongside Zhen Yan on the road, the two seemed to regret not meeting earlier.

So upon reflection, Lul Jun was indeed quite impressive, as he made new friends so quickly.

"Uh, it's alright, your father looks in good spirits recently, the melancholy in his eyes is probably due to the shipbuilding issue." Chen Xi laughed and said, Lul Jun's ability to make friends was quite remarkable, as he quickly mingled with a group of people.

"Oh," Lul Xun dragged the sound, unsure if he should continue speaking, he always felt that his father would accomplish something significant, which perhaps also counted as the admiration a son holds for his father.

"Study well, I have something to attend to, if you can't figure anything out, come find me, if you can't find me, ask Cai Zhaoji, oh, your fiancée is also at Cai Zhaoji's place, also don't bully your junior sister, by the way, I heard you're transcribing books recently?" Chen Xi taught Lul Xun for a while before getting ready to leave, instructing several matters.

"Okay, Master." Lul Xun nodded and said, "I have indeed been transcribing books recently."

"Hmm, a waste of time, find someone to print a set instead." Chen Xi was totally uninterested in transcription, thinking it was a complete waste of time.

"Adding annotations, so I must transcribe them myself." Lul Xun lowered his head and said, "The printed version already has someone else's annotations, but I need to add my own."

"What book?" Chen Xi asked casually.

"The Art of War by Sun Tzu, I want to add my knowledge of warfare and understanding of certain parts, but the printed version doesn't allow me to add notes." Lul Xun said cautiously.

"Annotating The Art of War by Sun Tzu, good idea." Chen Xi stroked his chin, "Go find Cai Zhaoji, she has specialized printed versions of The Art of War ready for annotation."

Lul Xun was stunned, what does this mean.

For a period of time, Cai Zhaoji needed to add annotations to the classic books compiled by Chen Xi, so she translated and simplified Chen Xi's books into classical Chinese, then added annotations to the classics.

That was when Chen Xi started printing books that had just one sentence per page with large blank spaces for adding notes, and Cai Zhaoji always managed to fill them with her tiny script.

"Master doesn't have one?" Lul Xun curiously asked.

"I don't have them, they were printed for Cai Zhaoji, there should be leftover copies of The Art of War by Sun Tzu." Chen Xi nodded and said, then looked up at the beams of the house, Chen Xi had many things left unsaid.

For instance, perhaps because too much was absorbed from Chen Xi here, Cai Zhaoji's annotations in the printed books varied greatly, making it hard to imagine they came from the same person, so Chen Xi printed extra copies to let Cai Yan play with.

"Oh, then I'll go find Aunt Cai." Lul Xun nodded, gathered his things, and stood up respectfully before speaking.

"I've always been curious, what kind of mindset you all have calling Cai Yan aunt, remember to bring a gift when you go, say it's for the Second Miss." Chen Xi watched Lul Xun with slight curiosity, "Also, besides The Art of War by Sun Tzu, what else do you have?"

"Theory of Practice and Theory of Contradiction." Lul Xun swiftly ignored the previous question and quickly answered the second one.

"Oh, then go ahead, though Theory of Contradiction and Theory of Practice are not complete, and much content was actually omitted, plus Zhaoji performed significant ornamentation and enhancement, but essentially, those two books are considered banned books. If you only see the surface content it's fine, but delve deeper, and you might be horrified." Chen Xi sighed and said.

Lul Xun looked at Chen Xi confusedly, to him Theory of Contradiction and Theory of Practice were just that, among those top-tier collections they were quite good, but to say banned books, Lul Xun couldn't understand, books at the banned level should be the psychology books Ji Xiang saw, right?

"Haha, you're not going to compare the psychology books that the Ji Family Lady read with these two, are you?" Chen Xi said irritably.

Lul Xun nodded, thinking that Chen Xi was about to say that Ji Xiang was reading the forbidden book of forbidden books.

"The psychology books that the Ji Family Lady read can't even hold a candle to the original versions of 'On Contradiction' and 'On Practice.' Compared to the redness those two books represent, psychology is really just rubbish," Chen Xi said casually. "But since it's been reduced to this extent, no one will be able to grasp its core. You can just treat it as classic philosophy works."

"..." Lul Xun looked at Chen Xi expressionlessly and asked a question that Chen Xi couldn't answer, "Master, is there really such a big difference in foundation between an ordinary aristocratic family and a top-tier aristocratic family? If a top-tier family were to go all out, wouldn't it be enough to severely deplete everyone's vital energy, even if they can't overturn the Central Plains?"

Chen Xi was speechless. If these books were written by the former heads of top-tier aristocratic families, then you're right. Figures of Ma Lie's caliber could topple this era with ease. This is no longer about any so-called foundation of aristocratic families; this is a heaven-reaching power.

"Alright, alright, they're all gone now. Their successors are unworthy and cannot inherit from their predecessors. Even if there is a heaven-reaching method, it's futile without a heaven-reaching person. There is no invincible doctrine in this world, but there are invincible people." Chen Xi patted Lul Xun on the shoulder and said, "Write the annotations well, and let me take a look when you're done."

Lul Xun nodded. Even the classics he was reading now allowed him to feel the wisdom and will within them. These people, in their time, were absolutely invincible. Even in the era of the sage founders, they were unparalleled.

"Then I'll go to Aunt Cai's place now." Lul Xun respectfully saluted and prepared to leave.

"By the way, I heard you met with Ma Youchang. How did it go?" Chen Xi asked with a smile.

"Hmph, he's nothing more than sharp-tongued and lacking in foundation," Lul Xun said with dissatisfaction.

Listening to this, Chen Xi laughed heartily. Just by observing, it was clear that Lul Xun probably didn't gain any advantage in the conversation, which was normal. Some people are naturally talented in certain areas, and it's obvious Ma Su was among the outstanding ones.

"Lacking in foundation, but being able to fully utilize what he's learned is already an ability." Chen Xi nodded. "Alright, you go on, and I'll go see your father so you won't have to worry."

Lul Xun was actually quite worried about his father. In his impression, his father was very low-key, very weak, and almost didn't communicate with people. This time when he saw his father, it felt like he had become a different person, constantly making new acquaintances.

This was simply unimaginable for a family like the Lul Family. Lul Xun, not being blind, naturally saw the look of worry in Lul Jun's eyes.

Although Chen Xi often seemed unreliable, Lul Xun's years of experience told him that Chen Xi could definitely resolve this. Although it didn't feel good asking his teacher for help, sometimes it's more appropriate to inform the teacher and seek assistance.

"'On Practice,' huh?" Chen Xi mused, "Indeed, it's very suitable for Ma Su. It's good for him to read and learn more; he is indeed a talent."

On the other side, Ma Su, who was self-studying, was distractedly looking at military strategies. He thought that by providing the most correct and appropriate answer the other day, he would leave an impression on the two. But now, nothing had happened. Did he overestimate himself?

"Youchang, why the long face?" Ma Liang asked his brother, who looked melancholic. He always thought his brother was exceptional, especially his response to Liu Bei and Chen Xi last time. Ma Liang thought he couldn't have done better, but even so, his brother remained glum.

"I guess I'm just ordinary. Let's continue reading," Ma Su sighed, then took out the notes he copied for himself and began to peruse them.

When Chen Xi found Lul Jun, Lul Jun was happily drinking with Liu Zhang, and they were both in high spirits. Chen Xi even saw Liu Zhang pouring wine for Lul Jun, which from any perspective, indicated that Lul Jun was doing well.

In reality, Chen Xi had no idea that Lul Jun had already spoken circles around Liu Zhang. As the ruler of Yizhou, Liu Zhang was extremely satisfied with Lul Jun's warship plans and was particularly dazzled by the mysterious southern islands rumored to be filled with spices and gold and silver jewelry.

However, Liu Zhang was now a pauper, having all his money and grain hoarded by his subordinates, unable to afford anything. Thus, Liu Zhang toasted Lul Jun, hoping he could get a discount on the Seventh Generation Ship. But since Lul Jun was already in debt because of the Seventh Generation Ship, he couldn't agree to Liu Zhang's terms and ended up making excuses to dismiss this broke lord.

[This miser Liu Jiyu, even worse than Shi Weiyan, he's so broke yet still claims to be the Governor of Yizhou in the Land of Abundance.] After brushing off Liu Zhang, Lul Jun painfully paid the bill, feeling disgruntled, then took out a ledger from his sleeve, marking an X over Liu Zhang's name. The Lul Family Shipyard, the Lul Family's Maritime Business, and the Lul Family's Seventh Generation Ship didn't need paupers!

[Shi Weiyan, now that's someone efficient, offering ten billion cash for the full technology of the Fifth- and Sixth-Generation Ships alongside three Seventh-Generation Ships, even renovating ports, and will send cash on a following ship. That's the kind of tycoon we need. I'll give him the technology for the Fifth and Sixth Generation Ships, hold off on the Seventh Generation, and try to get the government to ban its sale, then just hand him a tech set to settle it.] Lul Jun pondered as he flipped through the records.

Seventy billion in cash… truly a long way to go through scamming, huh.