"Your grandfather has already arranged it for you," Liang Run said, "He has adopted many children and is arranging for people to teach them various skills."
"This will have to do for now."
Liang Run discussed some matters with Zhao Yao. Soon, they arrived at the West Market.
Zhao Yao followed Liang Run to have breakfast, while Tong Xi went to Yu Meiren’s family home to deliver some items. During breakfast, Zhao Yao discussed in detail with Liang Run about forming a delegation to the Western Regions.
"Yao Yao, the matter of the Xiongnu, the court will be keeping a close eye on it, I suppose," Liang Run said, "His Majesty should have sent spies to gather information on the Xiongnu. You don’t need to do these things, do you?" Liang Run felt there was no need for Zhao Yao to do these things.
"That’s true, but having one more person watching the Xiongnu means gaining more intelligence about them, which gives the people of Great Zhou an extra measure of safety," Zhao Yao said with a very serious expression, "Father arranging people to investigate the Xiongnu is his business; me arranging people to go to the Xiongnu for business to gather intelligence is mine. We don’t interfere with each other."
"Yao Yao, what I mean is that there’s no need for you to worry about the Xiongnu at all."
"If one day the Xiongnu wish to invade Great Zhou from the south, I might be on the battlefield. Do you think I should worry about it?" Zhao Yao said calmly, "Second Uncle, this is called taking precautions. And the matter of the Xiongnu is not just related to the court; it concerns all of us."
"I was narrow-minded." If the Xiongnu were to invade Great Zhou from the south, it would throw the whole world into chaos, and the people might suffer again.
"Therefore, we must thwart any thoughts of the Xiongnu invading Great Zhou from the south," Zhao Yao said, his gaze suddenly becoming very sharp, "Ideally, we should utterly eliminate them."
"Yao Yao, that’s impossible."
"I know, so it’s best to drive them far away, making sure they don’t dare think of invading the Central Plains for decades, maybe even centuries," Zhao Yao said, a fierce glint in his eyes, "It’s best if just mentioning the Central Plains makes them fearful."
Liang Run suddenly laughed, "Yao Yao, I didn’t expect you to be someone who cares about the world."
All along, Yao Yao’s actions were in preparation for his future as a prince going to his domain. But Yao Yao wanting to form a team to do business in the Western Regions wasn’t just about making money; it was more about gathering intelligence on the Xiongnu, which had nothing to do with his future domain.
Zhao Yao felt his second uncle’s comment was strange, and asked in a matter-of-fact tone, "Isn’t that to be expected?"
He continued, "Isn’t there a saying, ’Every man has a responsibility for his country’s rise and fall’? And I’m not an ordinary man; I’m a prince of Great Zhou, so I should be even more concerned about the nation’s affairs and the people’s safety."
"It’s been hard-won for the world to be peaceful and for the common people to live stable lives. If the Xiongnu move south, then the people will suffer again. By then, Great Zhou might be in chaos."
Zhao Yao lamented, "How can a towering building fall and leave no egg unbroken?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Run felt a tremor in his heart.
"So, it’s very important for Second Uncle to form a team to do business in the Western Regions!"
Liang Run nodded solemnly, "I understand."
Zhao Yao did not speak further about the Xiongnu matter and asked about the construction progress of the manor.
Liang Run informed Zhao Yao that the construction of the manor was going very smoothly and very quickly. In just another two months, it should be completely built.
Zhao Yao hadn’t expected it to be so fast and thought his father’s appointed people were indeed quite formidable.
After breakfast, Zhao Yao took Liang Run to see Mr. Xiao.
Mr. Xiao had been waiting at home for quite some time.
Previously, Mr. Xiao had visited Liang Run and even went with Liang Run to the health hall.
Mr. Xiao’s three friends are now teaching at the health hall.