Although Wei Jie’s seniority was somewhat higher, he was too young. In non-specific situations, Fu Tinghan didn’t want to call him maternal uncle to show respect; he called him Master.

Wei Jie didn’t mind either. He walked into the study and discovered that his study’s arrangement was different from others’—there were no floor mats at all, only high chairs and high tables, rather like barbarian style.

Fu Tinghan saw him pause while looking at the tables and chairs in the room, so he turned sideways, “Let’s talk here.”

Only then did Wei Jie see that on the left side, separated by a screen, there was a raised wooden floor with mats spread on it and low tables.

But there wasn’t even a single teacup on it, so he knew people didn’t usually sit there.

He smiled slightly and wasn’t in a hurry to sit, but asked, “It’s already late at night. Master Fu hasn’t gone to sleep yet?”

“Couldn’t sleep, so I got up to calculate some things. I’ll sleep when I feel drowsy.”

Only then did Wei Jie sit down on the mat and sigh, “I also can’t sleep.”

Fu Tinghan sat opposite him and had Fu’an fetch a pot of hot water, “Is it because you’re not accustomed to the change in environment?”

Wei Jie shook his head, “These past two years of wandering, constantly changing lodgings—how could I still have such delicate habits? It’s just that I talked too deeply with Magistrate Zhao tonight, which made my heart surge, and so I cannot fall asleep.”

Wei Jie raised his eyes to look at Fu Tinghan, asking curiously and sincerely, “Does Master Fu also follow Magistrate Zhao?”

Fu Tinghan nodded and admitted frankly, “Yes, I follow her.”

Wei Jie then showed a smile. He didn’t have the surprise others showed when hearing this definite answer, but just nodded, “A scholar dies for one who understands him. Magistrate Zhao is indeed worth following. It’s just that people in this world always like to judge matters based on previous fixed impressions. Since Empress Lü, men in the world have been very wary of women participating in government. But as I see it, Emperor Gao and Empress Lü shared the world.”

Fu Tinghan also nodded, “Husband and wife are one body, the couple’s joint property. Saying it belongs to both of them isn’t wrong. But because it encompasses the entire world, it’s also more complex. Rather than saying they shared the world, it’s better to say their powers were equivalent, and their responsibilities were also equivalent.”

Wei Jie’s eyes brightened slightly, and he nodded repeatedly, “Exactly. Then does Master Fu think that in the future, you and Magistrate Zhao might diverge like Emperor Gao and Empress Lü did?”

Fu Tinghan said, “There will always be times when opinions don’t align, but I wouldn’t say we’ll completely diverge.”

“When opinions differ, whose do you follow?”

Fu Tinghan lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then said, “If I cannot persuade her, then I’ll follow hers.”

Wei Jie was stunned and asked, “When she also cannot persuade you, you still follow hers?”

Fu Tinghan nodded.

Wei Jie was puzzled, “I thought Master Fu would say to consult with the ministers, and follow whoever has more supporters.”

Fu Tinghan said, “Wouldn’t that throw the world into chaos?”

He said, “Control disagreements between two people within those two people. Involving a third person may not resolve the conflict but could instead intensify it, let alone involving all the ministers. The more people involved, the more complicated the thoughts, and the more out of control things become.”

Yes, isn’t the current chaos in the world partly because there are too many people governing the court, with complicated thoughts and endless conflicts?

Wei Jie looked at him and asked, “Why is Master Fu willing to step back?”

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and said, “Because I believe in her—her wisdom, her methods, and her character will be superior to mine.”

Fu Tinghan had self-awareness. He was a very specialized person. The opinions he gave might not be the most suitable for the current situation.

Wei Jie sighed inwardly and had even more confidence in Zhao Hanzhang. If the emperor and Gou Xi could also trust each other like this and cooperate fully, why worry about not pacifying the world?

Fu’an brought over a kettle of water. Fu Tinghan took it and personally poured Wei Jie a bowl of hot water, “It’s late at night—not good to drink tea or wine. If you’re thirsty, have some plain hot water.”

Wei Jie came back to his senses, looked down at the steaming tea bowl, and said, “Magistrate Zhao has the ambition to pacify the world.”

Fu Tinghan’s hand holding the teapot paused, then he looked up and smiled at him, “Among those who have suffered from this chaotic world, who doesn’t have the wish to pacify the world?”

Wei Jie shook his head, “Hers is an aspiration, not just a wish.”

He said, “But pacifying the world isn’t easy, especially since she’s a woman. Tonight I heard her speak—these two years she wants to focus on civil administration, encouraging the people in agriculture and sericulture, to stockpile money and grain to deal with natural disasters. But I think what she’s thinking shouldn’t just be dealing with natural disasters.”

“If, as the expert she mentioned said, next year Yu Province and areas north will have a locust plague due to drought, with several major provinces affected, then the Xiongnu, to quell the people’s resentment and to seize grain to feed their army and people, will definitely send troops south.”

Whenever natural disasters occurred, the nomadic peoples of the north loved to move south.

First, to divert conflicts under their rule; second, since they couldn’t find food in their own territories, they’d go south to plunder.

“This is an opportunity for Zhao Han to compete for the Central Plains, and also an opportunity for Dajin to recover Bing Province and Ji Province,” Wei Jie said. “But the emperor and Gou Xi cannot completely trust each other. I’ve heard that because of killing Yan Heng, Gou Xi completely lost the army’s loyalty, and because of Gou Chun, he completely lost the people’s hearts. The emperor took the opportunity to take charge of Yan Province affairs and has gotten very close to several of Gou Xi’s generals.”

Fu Tinghan held his steaming tea bowl in a daze. If it weren’t for Zhao Hanzhang telling him, he wouldn’t have known these things. Wei Jie had fled to the south—how did he know?

Wei Jie raised his eyes to look at him and said, “And at that time, if Bing Province and Ji Province can be recovered, putting aside distant matters, Bing Province and Si Province will definitely belong to Magistrate Zhao. By then, the entire Central Plains will be in her hands.”

“At that time, she and the emperor Gou Xi will each occupy half the world. She’ll want to hide herself as she does now—that will be impossible,” Wei Jie asked. “Has Master Fu considered how many people will be willing to follow her to go further at that time?”

Fu Tinghan raised his eyebrows and asked, “You think no one will choose her?”

“Naturally there will be some,” Wei Jie said. “People like me who are convinced by her great way and willing to be driven by her won’t be few, but those who don’t agree with her and oppose her will be even more numerous.”

“Especially, how many talented people in the world can personally meet her? Without having met her, they’ll all be hearing things secondhand. I’m afraid not many will be willing to acknowledge her.” Wei Jie said, “Although it’s cruel, this is the reality. Between people of the same ability, men are just more convenient than women and more easily gain people’s trust.”

“Not all men are willing to submit to a woman, be driven by her, and fight for her.”

Fu Tinghan rubbed the bowl with his thumb, remaining silent.

Wei Jie asked him, “Has Master Fu thought of a way to break this situation?”

Fu Tinghan raised his eyes and said, “I have.”

Wei Jie sat up properly, leaning forward slightly, “I would like to hear the details.”

Fu Tinghan said, “What you just mentioned was the scholar class, but scholars are also influenced by others when making decisions and driven by interests. Those who dare to look down on her, question her, and refuse to submit to her will only come from one class. But in this world, scholars actually only make up a small part. Besides them, there are also farmers, craftsmen, and merchants.”

“I dare not guarantee merchants, but for farmers and craftsmen, I can ensure that now under our rule, and in the future throughout the entire world, they will only acknowledge Zhao Hanzhang. They will submit to her from their hearts, respect her, and hold her up as a deity.”

Wei Jie’s eyes flashed, and he smiled slightly, “There are also quite a few people among the aristocratic families who agree with her, but it’s still not enough. If she wants to ascend to the great throne in the future without any mishaps, she still needs a place of literary excellence and a person of literary excellence. That person must be absolutely loyal to her.”

Fu Tinghan instinctively looked him over, “You?”

Wei Jie directly shook his head, “No, this person should preferably come from the Zhao clan, or else be her confidant who absolutely trusts her political views.”

Fu Tinghan then thought of Zhao Cheng.

Wei Jie observed his expression and smiled, “It seems Master Fu already has someone in mind.”

Fu Tinghan was about to speak when Wei Jie raised his hand, “You don’t need to tell me who it is. Just have a clear idea in your mind. I’m just still a bit curious—how does Master Fu plan to make farmers and craftsmen only acknowledge Magistrate Zhao?”

Fu Tinghan said, “In terms of tolerance toward the people and a heart that loves the people, there should still be people in the world who match her. But in terms of a common people’s heart, I think no one can compare to her.”

“She has the heart, and we also have the ability to make the common people under our rule live better than those under others’ rule, with more hope…”

Setting aside other things, during the Republic period, the party’s policies and strategies for treating the common people could be referenced. Fu Tinghan wasn’t familiar enough with these matters, but Zhao Hanzhang definitely was.

She loved history. When working as a librarian, she had felt plenty of Braille in this area and listened to many related history books. Fu Tinghan had discussed with her—she had everything clear in her mind.

Sometimes what everyone competed for was morale and the people’s will. As long as the common people had hope in their hearts, knew that working hard would make life better and better, and that even if they themselves couldn’t enjoy it, their children and grandchildren could, then they would be willing to work hard for it, even sacrificing their lives.

Now, the atmosphere in Dajin wasn’t good—extravagance and decadence were the trend. And Zhao Han was too cruel. Even when Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t excellent, she stood out. Moreover, when she worked hard to become excellent, she stood out even more.

It was just that now wasn’t the time to stand out. When doing things, she could only keep a low profile, striving for gentle rain that soaks silently.

Although Fu Tinghan wasn’t very familiar with this, he at least had some knowledge in this area. Moreover, he was currently majoring in the crafts path. Now all the craftsmen in Yu Province and Luoyang were under his management. As a manager, he still needed to have some ideas.

Some concepts Wei Jie had never heard of. He couldn’t help but listen attentively and then couldn’t resist asking more deeply. The two talked more and more spiritedly. When Fu Tinghan came back to his senses, the rooster had already started crowing.

Hearing the cock crow, Fu Tinghan stared blankly and turned his head to look outside the window.

Outside the window, there was only faint moonlight, shining on the trees in the courtyard. The shadows cast down swayed back and forth in the night wind. He felt the coolness and couldn’t help but pull his collar closer, looking at Wei Jie, whose interest in conversation was still strong, “Master Wei, dawn is almost breaking. How about we stop here for tonight?”

Wei Jie also turned to look out the window and said decisively, “Since dawn is almost here, how about we continue? After dawn, we’ll have breakfast and then go to sleep.”

Fu Tinghan thought about it and felt his idea was good, so he nodded. The two continued discussing how to gradually improve the power systems under current production capacity.

Outside the room, Fu’an’s whole body shook. He groggily opened his eyes, made an effort to listen, and not hearing his master call him, with the study still transmitting that sleep-inducing low murmuring sound, his head tilted to the side and he fell asleep against the door again.