Fu Tinghan pointed north. “Liu Yuan was educated in Han culture from childhood and admires our Jin people’s goods. I imagine things like glass would be extremely popular in the northern territories.”
Gao Hui looked at Fu Tinghan in surprise. This wasn’t something one could think up in a moment—could it be that Fu Tinghan had long been thinking of cultivating his own power base?
Fu Tinghan said, “The Xiongnu and Xianbei have plundered massive amounts of treasure from the central plains these past years. If Knight-Errant Gao is willing, why not make a trip north for me and exchange those plundered treasures back?”
Gao Hui lowered his eyes in thought. After a moment, he looked up and agreed in one breath. “Very well. But how does Young Master intend to use the money earned?”
Fu Tinghan said, “The world bustles, all for profit; the world rushes about, all for gain. As long as I can offer Xun Xiu, Zhao Ju and others sufficient benefits, they’ll naturally pledge loyalty to me. Besides, Zhao Hanzhang and I will eventually become husband and wife. When that time comes, will it matter whether their loyalty is to her or to me?”
Gao Hui’s eyes brightened as he praised enthusiastically, “Young Master’s strategy is brilliant!” Right now it looked like Fu Tinghan was helping Zhao Hanzhang, but who could say in the end she wouldn’t be making a wedding dress for him?
Gao Hui grew excited. If this succeeded, wouldn’t he be one of Fu Tinghan’s founding veterans?
Zhao Hanzhang had too many people around her, and he’d appeared too late—it would be very difficult to stand out now. But Fu Tinghan was different. Currently only he was at his side.
Thinking of this, Gao Hui paused and couldn’t help looking up to study Fu Tinghan. “How many people has Young Master recruited so far?”
Fu Tinghan sighed. “When we fled to Xiping years ago, I only had Fu’an by my side and nothing to my name, so I don’t have anyone who could help.”
He continued, “Knight-Errant Gao, since you’re from Luoyang, you should know my grandfather was incorruptible. I have no assets with which to cultivate connections.”
Gao Hui felt somewhat angry. “Young Master schemes so much for that Zhao Hanzhang, helping her open so many workshops, yet she hasn’t given you any assets, forcing you to remain housed in the Zhao residence.”
Fu’an stood to the side with his head down, bored, thinking to himself: But our young master doesn’t feel subordinated at all—he’s quite happy living here.
Fu Tinghan nodded calmly. “So this matter must be entrusted to Knight-Errant Gao.”
Gao Hui raised his hands in salute. “Young Master, my courtesy name is Minyan. Rest assured, I will not fail your trust. But I’m just one man—how can I transport glass to the northern territories? And how will you secretly extract the glass from the workshops?”
Fu Tinghan said, “This isn’t difficult—it can be handed to Fu’an to handle.”
“You go back and wait for news. Once I’ve arranged everything, I’ll have Fu’an contact you.” He said, “Fu’an is the only one at my side I can trust. In the future, if you need to find me, just go through Fu’an.”
Gao Hui solemnly agreed. Fu’an then escorted him out.
He turned back to the study to find his young master had lowered his head to review documents again. “Young Master, won’t you interview more people?”
Previously, Fu Tinghan never accepted cards from outsiders. He only used people already screened by Zhao Hanzhang, Ji Yuan and others. Ji Yuan would list what each person was skilled at, and when Fu Tinghan had tasks, he’d pick people from the list and assign positions and duties.
So everyone knew Fu Tinghan hardly involved himself in personnel selection.
Many matters brought to him he simply forwarded to Ji Yuan and others without saying a single good word for them, let alone accepting their allegiance.
So very few people submitted cards to him anymore. But since Fu’an began accepting cards from outsiders a few days ago and Fu Tinghan started meeting people, more and more cards kept arriving.
Fu’an would compile the submitted cards into a list and give it to Ting He, who would take it to Ji Yuan to inquire about these people’s backgrounds. Then Fu Tinghan would conduct interviews based on their background investigations, screening for people who met Zhao Hanzhang’s requirements.
So far, only Gao Hui qualified.
Fu Tinghan didn’t look up. “Quality over quantity when it comes to suitable people.”
“Perhaps there’s someone even more suitable than Gao Hui?” Fu’an didn’t much like Gao Hui, feeling this person was too mercenary, unworthy of the title knight-errant. He said, “Luoyang has over a hundred thousand people. Recently more and more people have been seeking to meet you, Young Master.”
“That’s exactly why we need to select someone quickly,” Fu Tinghan said. “Gao Hui is very suitable. Someone who would come at this time to urge me to compete with Hanzhang for power is naturally after fame and fortune. What kind of person with high moral character did you expect to select?”
“Gao Hui could think of having me independently build workshops to earn money and cultivate influence, showing he’s not stupid. He’s a knight-errant, knows martial arts, and can protect himself outside. Meeting me for the first time, he tried to persuade me to break with Zhao Hanzhang—his face is thick enough. He’s very suitable for this role.”
“But he’s a knight-errant yet lacks righteousness,” Fu’an was honest with simple thoughts. “When he was swept along by the chaotic army fleeing for his life, it was Miss Zhao who saved him. Shouldn’t he repay a life-saving debt with his life? Yet he’s inciting you to seize power from Miss Zhao, Young Master.”
Fu Tinghan laughed at this and put down his brush, finally looking at his long-time attendant. “There are generals in this world who fear death, officials who ignore government affairs, so naturally there are also knight-errants who don’t value righteousness. What’s so strange about that?”
He said, “We don’t need to worry about what kind of person he is, only whether he can be useful to us.”
Fu’an: “But didn’t you and Miss Zhao say before that for officials, both talent and moral character are important?”
That’s why they spent so much money and effort on the academy—to cultivate character that aligned with their values.
The deeper implications he couldn’t understand.
Fu Tinghan said, “That depends on what position we put them in. For Gao Hui’s position, we can relax the requirements.”
“Fu’an, you’ve grown considerably these past two years. Naturally, she and I have also been growing,” he said. “As long as we can control the people we send out, they’ll be of great use.”
“In the worst case, if Gao Hui betrays me after going out and disappears with the goods never to return, I’ve only lost a batch of merchandise. Compared to the value he might create, it’s truly negligible.”
Fu’an seemed to understand but not quite.
Fu Tinghan’s gaze grew deep as he said to Fu’an, “Since you don’t trust his character, you must be careful in dealing with him and avoid leaking information from our side, especially information about Hanzhang’s side.”
Fu’an nodded solemnly. “Young Master, rest assured, I’ll be very careful and cautious.”
Fu Tinghan waved his hand. “Go then, invite Sima Hou in.”
“Oh.” Fu’an turned to leave but suddenly made a sound of realization. “Young Master, didn’t you say you wouldn’t select anyone else?”
Fu Tinghan said, “I still need to find a helper for Gao Hui. I’m just testing him—Sima Hou may not agree.”
Sima Hou was a young man in his twenties, about ten years older than Fu Tinghan. He didn’t adopt the airs of an elder to pressure Fu Tinghan—that was just an excuse to meet him.
As soon as he entered the study, he dropped to his knees with a thud, then prostrated himself fully and refused to rise.
Fu Tinghan was startled and quickly told him to get up. Sima Hou didn’t move. Fu’an exerted all his strength but couldn’t pull the man up from the ground.