Chapter 87

PS: This chapter is extremely toxic, may you not be driven mad by it!

Shameless! To start acting so shamelessly and forcefully seize control!

Zhao Chen's heart burned with anger. He forcibly held back the urge to curse and, with great patience, said, "I have already mentioned earlier that once this academy is built, the main subjects to be taught will be the study of natural phenomena and mathematics!"

"Does that mean that the national studies will be changed to the study of natural phenomena and mathematics?" Kong Yingda, upon hearing Zhao Chen's words, suddenly asked.

However, before Zhao Chen could respond, Kong Yingda turned his gaze to Li Er, who was seated on the throne, and asked, "Your Majesty, is this also your intention? Once the academy is established, the study of natural phenomena and mathematics will be the main subjects?"

Li Er took a deep breath, his eyes piercing through the pendant of his imperial headdress, coldly staring at Kong Yingda. He had already explained the matter of the academy clearly, agreeing to the conditions set by the Hidden Sect. Why was Kong Yingda still asking such obvious questions?

However, Li Er glanced at the dozen or so great scholars behind Kong Yingda and sighed inwardly. He then looked at Zhao Chen with a helpless expression and, in a compromising tone, said to Kong Yingda and the others, "Of course not! Confucianism is the foundation of our dynasty. Once the academy is established, Confucianism will be a major subject!"

Upon hearing Li Er's words, Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin were immediately stunned, their mouths agape in disbelief as they stared at Li Er. When they turned their gaze to Zhao Chen, they found him standing silently, his expression uncertain, his eyes unfocused, as if he had suddenly become dazed.

Everyone has something they persist in, and what Zhao Chen persisted in was the study of natural phenomena. This was what he had been determined to do ever since he came to the Tang Dynasty.

The appearance of the Hidden Sect had taken a big step forward in realizing his dream, and it seemed that it was about to come true. Who knew that it would so easily become a stepping stone for others.

"Your Majesty, if that is the case, then this old minister recommends that Master Kong be appointed as the chief administrator of the new academy!" One of the great scholars behind Kong Yingda, not content with just taking over the academy, seized the opportunity to step forward and bow to Li Er, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister recommends that Master Kong be appointed as the chief administrator of the new academy!"

Kong Yingda came from a family of Confucian scholars and was a true representative of Confucianism, proficient in both the Northern and Southern schools of Confucianism. Since the academy would prioritize Confucianism, it was natural that someone like Kong Yingda should be appointed as the chief administrator.

"Shameless, shameless!" Cheng Yaojin was already furious. Before the great scholar could finish speaking, Cheng Yaojin stood up from his seat, pointing at Kong Yingda and the others, and shouted, "Academy, academy! You hypocrites, do you have no brains or hands? Why didn't you build an academy earlier? Now that you see Zhao Chen is building one, you suddenly show up!"

"Your Majesty!" As Cheng Yaojin stepped forward, Qin Shubao also quickly stood up, bowing to Li Er and said, "This old minister also believes that General Cheng's words are reasonable. If Master Kong and the others think the academy is important to the state, why don't they build one themselves? Why are they so fixated on this one?"

"The matter of the academy is crucial to the foundation of our dynasty!" Kong Yingda immediately retorted, "How can we build one casually? That would be a joke!"

"I, Old Cheng, think you just don't have the ability to build one!" Cheng Yaojin laughed contemptuously, looking at Kong Yingda and the others, "You couldn't build an academy, and now that you see Zhao Chen can, you're immediately envious, aren't you?"

Cheng Yaojin's words were like a drop of water in a hot oil pan, immediately drawing a chorus of rebukes from the dozen or so great scholars, igniting a heated argument in the imperial court.

The old generals led by Cheng Yaojin and the great scholars led by Kong Yingda quickly became embroiled in a heated debate.

"Nonsense!" Li Er's face was already ashen, his temples throbbing. He slammed his hand on the desk and glared at the two groups arguing, shouting, "You are all high-ranking officials of the court, yet you are behaving like commoners. Do you think I don't exist?"

Li Er's anger silenced the two groups immediately. Even the usually boisterous Cheng Yaojin had to retreat silently.

"The matter of the academy is crucial to the foundation of our dynasty!" Li Er's gaze swept over Zhao Chen, pausing for a moment before he continued, "This matter cannot be taken lightly. Once the academy is built, Confucianism will be the main subject, and the study of natural phenomena and mathematics will also be taught."

As he said this, Li Er gave Kong Yingda a stern look and said coldly, "At that time, the chief administrator of the academy will be appointed to Master Kong."

"Your Majesty!" As Li Er spoke, Kong Yingda and the others immediately showed signs of excitement. Qin Shubao's face, however, changed abruptly. He took a step forward, about to speak, but was met with Li Er's icy gaze, which made him pause. He then looked at Zhao Chen, who had fallen into a daze, sighed heavily, and retreated to the side.

Zhao Chen's mind was in chaos. Ever since Li Er had said that Confucianism would be the main subject in the academy, he had stopped listening to anything else. The recent turmoil around him went unnoticed.

He was now preoccupied with a single question: What was he doing? Or rather, why was he so determined to promote the study of natural phenomena in the Tang Dynasty?

Even when Li Er had sent him to a remote corner, he had not lost heart. He could find ways to get money and people for the Institute of Natural Phenomena.

To promote the study of natural phenomena, he could overlook Li Er's indifference and the casual removal of his life by Li Shimin, even though it was just a life on a gold medal, it was still a life!

But why was he so relentless in promoting the study of natural phenomena? What benefits would it bring him?

He had a time-space supermarket and lacked nothing. Whether or not he promoted the study of natural phenomena, he could still live a good life. In fact, if not for promoting it, he could live even better.

He couldn't understand! He really couldn't understand why he was doing this.

From the beginning, no one had taken him seriously. When the treasury was empty, he had offered a gold mine. Later, at Old Qin's request, he had unhesitatingly offered the steel-making technique.

Now, he had also unhesitatingly offered the three high-yield crops that could solve the hunger of the people of the Tang Dynasty. There were too many things. He had only been in the Tang Dynasty for a few months, but in that time, he had brought so many benefits to the Tang Dynasty. Who remembered?

When it was time to turn against him, they did so without hesitation. What was he in the Tang Dynasty? Apart from Old Qin, Sun Simiao, Cheng Yaojin, and a few others, who else took him seriously?

Disappointed! Disheartened!

Zhao Chen raised his head and took a long breath, as if expelling all the frustration of the past few months.

Since they couldn't be satisfied no matter what, why should he continue to try?

For a long time, he had been trapped in a dream of changing the era, unable to break free. Now was the time to wake up! If Kong Yingda and the others wanted the academy, let them have it!

If they had the ability, they could build it themselves. Even if they built a Potala Palace, it would have nothing to do with him.

If Li Er didn't take him seriously, then he wouldn't serve him anymore. If this place didn't want him, there were other places that would. The world was vast, and with a time-space supermarket, where couldn't he live a carefree life?

Kong Yingda and the others, having just received Li Er's promise, were overjoyed. If it weren't for the imperial court, they would have celebrated on the spot. The dozen or so great scholars, like victorious generals, bowed to Li Er and returned to their seats with a victorious air.

Except for Yan Shigu, who gave Zhao Chen a contemptuous glance, the others didn't even bother to look at him.

Zhao Chen merely smiled. Once he had resolved his thoughts, his view of the world around him changed. To him, these people were nothing but clowns!

"When I came from the mountains, I will now return to the mountains!" Before Kong Yingda and the others could sit down, Zhao Chen suddenly looked up at Li Er on the throne, took out a gold medal from his neck, and a document from his chest, and said calmly, "This is what Your Majesty gave me. It is now useless to me!"

As he spoke, Zhao Chen placed the document and the gold medal on the ground.

"Brat, are you crazy?" Cheng Yaojin, seeing Zhao Chen's actions, immediately opened his eyes wide and quickly picked up the document and the gold medal, shoving them back into Zhao Chen's chest, gritting his teeth, "Don't be foolish! It's just an academy! I'll lead the Right Wuwei Army to build it in a few days!"

"Uncle Cheng, my decision is final!" Zhao Chen took out what Cheng Yaojin had just put in his chest and said, "During my time in the Tang Dynasty, only you and Uncle Qin have truly been good to me. I will remember this. If there is a chance in the future, I will come to visit you and Uncle Qin again!"

Hearing Zhao Chen's words, Cheng Yaojin felt a lump in his throat. Although he was usually boisterous, even a fool could see that Zhao Chen had lost hope in the Tang Dynasty. It was the people in the court and the emperor who had repeatedly pushed this young man to the brink of despair.

"Brat, do you know what you are saying?" Li Er's fists suddenly clenched. How could he not see the disappointment on Zhao Chen's face? But as an emperor, how could he lower his proud head in front of the entire court?

"Your Majesty, do you want to cut off my head?" Zhao Chen suddenly laughed lightly, waving the gold medal in front of Li Er, and said with a smile, "There are still two lives left on this! If Your Majesty wants to cut, go ahead! After one life, there is still another!"

Shock! Absolute shock!