Da Tang Si Zi: My Six Super Rich Little Nuggets!

Chapter 181 The Qu Family Precepts

Qu Youjiu never dreamed that his career in officialdom had become stagnant, never to be stirred again.

What lofty ambitions? They were nothing more than repeated setbacks in his official career, like an eagle with broken wings that could no longer fly.

He had sighed repeatedly at his shadow under the moon, believing that he was destined to die in poverty.

He often carried a pot of turbid wine, took his sword and wandered through mountains and rivers, composing poems to watch the sunset, forced to stay away from the core of the turbulent court power struggles.

However, fate sometimes likes to play tricks. When he woke up, he found himself in a completely different time and space, where the dynasty seemed to be Tang but was not Tang, and the system seemed familiar but was not familiar.

His abundant talent and ambition to govern the world were accepted and relied upon by the world.

Who could have imagined that the down-on-his-luck scholar of yesteryear would one day become a high-ranking prime minister, whose decisions affect the lives of millions? He could hardly believe it was real.

He once wandered the world, finding solace only in poetry, wine, swords, and songs; now, he stands in the imperial palace, listening to the officials respectfully address him as "the savior of the world."

Looking back at the shadows of history, it is the desolation and disappointment that have laid the solid foundation for our current success.

He shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "Qu Youjiu, you've actually bowed and scraped before the powerful and wealthy, but you seem to be quite happy with your scheming?"

When discussing political affairs with his ministers in the court, Qu Youjiu always seemed to have plenty of energy, while his colleague Huai Shen seemed somewhat overwhelmed.

Qu Youjiu: "Huai Shen, have you reviewed all these memorials?"

Huai Shen: "Brother Youjiu, I have tried my best, but there are so many things to do that I am really overwhelmed."

Qu Youjiu: "We are both prime ministers, yet you always seem so cautious. Remember, we must always work together to maintain the stability of the court."

Lu Huaizhen: "I understand, but my abilities are limited, and I'm afraid I can't compare to you."

Qu Youjiu: "Everyone has their own strengths. Although you are not good at making decisions, your composure and restraint are also what the court needs."

Qu Youjiu often works overtime, so he's always alone in the shared study, staring at the mountain of documents, his lips twitching:

"These memorials are more numerous than the wine menu in Chang'an restaurants, but they all need to be dealt with. After all, the position of prime minister is not given for nothing."

After saying that, he picked up a brush and began to review the documents quickly and accurately, flipping through them faster than the waiter in the kitchen serving dishes.

Before long, the memorials on the table had been cleared away, and he clapped his hands in satisfaction:

"With this kind of efficiency, even if he were a prime minister or a bookkeeper on the street, he would still get a big red flower at the end of the year."

Qu Youjiu: "Qi Huan, come here for a moment."

Qi Huan entered the study and was somewhat surprised to see Qu Youjiu looking relaxed.

Qi Huan: "Brother 'Youjiu,' you're incredibly fast!"

Qu Youjiu: "How do you think my talents compare to those of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying?"

Qi Huan: "The laws of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying are good, but your laws are more adaptable to the changing times. Although they need to be constantly adjusted, you are indeed a 'capable minister who can save the times'."

Qu Youjiu: "Haha, 'The Prime Minister Who Saves the Times,' I like this title!"

Qi Huan: "The governing principles you formulated for the emperor were indeed effective and laid the foundation for a prosperous era. You always accomplished your missions exceptionally well."

Qu Youjiu: "Haha, but no matter how great the emperor's talent and ambition, he will never allow the power of the prime minister to surpass that of the emperor. We, the emperor and his minister, still need to be careful in our dealings."

Qu Youjiu was not only busy with his own affairs, but he also wrote many memorial articles that were like "life tips".

For example, reminding colleagues every now and then:

"Watch your mouth! Talk less! Work more!"

In the imperial court, it's no joke that careless words can lead to disaster. Praising the emperor wrong today could mean changing your household registration tomorrow.

His articles were full of wisdom, always making the officials and civil servants break out in a cold sweat.

Everyone knows that these words convey the chilling atmosphere of Wu Zhou returning to the Tang Dynasty, where "one wrong move and your head will be gone."

Qu Youjiu not only advised people to live long, but also worried a great deal about his descendants.

In his "Last Will and Testament," he both criticized the famous officials of the previous dynasty and gave advice to his descendants:

"Look at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. These two old men worked hard their whole lives, but their descendants squandered their wealth to the point that they could win first place. Isn't that tragic?"

So, you lot, stop with the lavish funerals and competitions. When I pass away, just make sure the coffin lid covers me. Don't cause trouble for the living family, understand?

Qu Youjiu particularly liked to use common sense to frighten his descendants:

"If you two start arguing over something as shameful as dividing the inheritance, I'll definitely come back in a dream to deal with you!"

These words made Qu Youjiu's descendants murmur to themselves:

"Our dad is really something, he won't let us have any peace even after he's gone. He's always trying to control us."

However, this admonition saved their lives. Not only did the family not collapse, but even the trivial matters in the backyard were greatly reduced.

Qu Youjiu summarized it brilliantly himself:

"Be efficient in life, and don't squander your family fortune when you die. This is the essence of the Qu family's ancestral teachings!"