Fu Tinghan pointed towards the north and said, "Liu Yuan has been taught Han culture since childhood and admires the things of our Jin people. I think things like glassware will be very popular in the Northern Land."
Gao Hui looked at Fu Tinghan in surprise. This is not something one can come up with in just a short while. Could it be that Fu Tinghan has long had plans to cultivate his own power?
Fu Tinghan said, "The Xiongnu and Xianbei have plundered a vast amount of treasures from the Central Plains in recent years. If Gao Xiaoshi is willing, why not take a trip to the Northern Land on my behalf and exchange for the treasures that were taken away."
Gao Hui lowered his eyes in thought, then looked up and agreed readily, "Alright, but how does the young master plan to use the money earned back?"
Fu Tinghan said, "The world is bustling all for profit. As long as I can give Xun Xiu, Zhao Ju, and others enough profit, they will naturally be loyal to me. Moreover, one day, Zhao Hanzhang and I will become husband and wife. By then, will their loyalty be to her or me? Can it still be distinguished so clearly?"
Gao Hui’s eyes lit up, praising, "The young master’s strategy is brilliant." It appears now that Fu Tinghan is assisting Zhao Hanzhang, but who knows, in the end, she might just be making a bridal dress for Fu Tinghan?
Gao Hui became excited. If this succeeds, wouldn’t he be the elder by Fu Tinghan’s side?
Zhao Hanzhang has too many people around her, and he appeared too late to stand out, but Fu Tinghan is different, currently having only him around.
Gao Hui hesitated and couldn’t help but look up to examine Fu Tinghan, "How many people has the young master taken in around you now?"
Fu Tinghan sighed, "Back when I sought refuge in Xiping, I only had Fu An by my side and was destitute, so I had no one to help."
He said, "Being a Luoyang person, Gao Xiaoshi should know my grandfather was incorruptible. I don’t have the means or wealth to cultivate connections."
Gao Hui was somewhat angry, "You’ve schemed so much for Zhao Hanzhang, helped her open so many workshops, and yet she hasn’t given you a bit of assets, letting you still be subject to living in Zhao Mansion."
Fu An stood to the side idly but thought to himself: But their young master doesn’t feel oppressed at all. He’s very happy living here.
Fu Tinghan nodded calmly, "So this matter needs to be entrusted to Gao Xiaoshi."
Gao Hui raised his hand in salute, "Young master, Hui, given name Minyan, rest assured, I will not fail your trust. But I’m alone; how shall I deliver the glassware to the Northern Land discreetly from the workshops?"
Fu Tinghan said, "This is not difficult; I can assign Fu An to handle it."
"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 I can trust around me; if you need to find me, just go through Fu An."
Gao Hui promised earnestly, and Fu An saw him out.
Upon returning to the study, he saw the young master already lowered his head and was reviewing documents, "Sir, won’t you consider seeing more people?"
In the past, Fu Tinghan never received invitations from outsiders. He only used people who had already been vetted by Zhao Hanzhang, Ji Yuan, etc. Ji Yuan would list out for him the specialties of people. If he had something to instruct them with, he would select from the list and assign positions and tasks.
So everyone knew Fu Tinghan almost never handled the selection of people.
Many matters brought to him would be transferred to Ji Yuan and others. He wouldn’t speak a good word for them, let alone accept their allegiance.
Therefore, few people sent invitations to him. But since a few days ago, when Fu An started accepting invitations from outsiders and Fu Tinghan began seeing people, more invitations started coming in.
Fu An would compile the incoming invitations into a list and hand it to Ting He, who would then seek Ji Yuan to investigate these people’s backgrounds. Then Fu Tinghan would talk to them based on their background investigation and select people suitable for Zhao Hanzhang’s requirements.
So far, only Gao Hui was suitable.
Fu Tinghan said without lifting his head, "Having the right person is more valuable than having many."
"Perhaps there’s someone even more suitable than Gao Hui?" Fu An didn’t like Gao Hui much, thinking this person too opportunistic and a discredit to the name ’xiaoshi.’ He said, "Luoyang has more than hundreds of thousands of people, and the number of people coming to see the lord is increasing."
"That’s why we must choose quickly," Fu Tinghan said. "Gao Hui is very suitable. Those who come to persuade me and Hanzhang to fight for power at this moment are naturally in it for fame and fortune. Do you still expect to find someone selfless and incorruptible?"
"Gao Hui thought of building workshops independently to earn money to cultivate power, proving he’s not stupid; he’s a Ranger and knows martial arts, capable of self-defense outside; the fact that he attempted to persuade me to part ways with Zhao Hanzhang upon meeting shows he’s thick-skinned enough — he’s very suitable for this role."
"But he’s a Ranger who lacks righteousness," Fu An, being an honest person, had simple thoughts, "He was saved by Miss Zhao in the chaos, shouldn’t he repay a life-saving grace with his life? Yet he incites the lord to seize power from Miss Zhao."
Upon hearing this, Fu Tinghan smiled, placed his pen down, and finally looked at his follower, "There are generals afraid of death in this world; there are civil servants uninterested in politics, naturally, there are also Rangers lacking in loyalty. What’s so strange about that?"
He said, "We need not care what kind of person he is, as long as he is useful to us."
Fu An, "But didn’t the lord and Miss Zhao say before that for officials, talent is important, but character is also crucial?"
That’s why so much money and effort were spent on schools, aiming to cultivate the virtues conforming to their ideas.
Beyond that, he couldn’t understand.
Fu Tinghan said, "That depends on what position they are placed in; for Gao Hui’s position, the requirements can be more relaxed."
"Fu An, you’ve progressed a lot in the past two years. Naturally, both she and I have progressed too," he said. "As long as we can control the people deployed, they’ll be of great use."
"At worst, if Gao Hui betrays me after going out and disappears with the goods, I merely lose a shipment. Compared to the value he might create, it’s negligible."
Fu An seemed to understand somewhat.
Fu Tinghan’s gaze was profound as he said to Fu An, "Since you don’t trust his character, be cautious in your dealings with him, take care not to leak information, especially regarding Hanzhang."
Fu An nodded with a serious face, "Lord, rest assured, I will be careful."
Fu Tinghan then waved his hand, "Go, bring Sima Hou in."
"Oh." Fu An turned to leave but suddenly paused and exclaimed, "Didn’t you say you wouldn’t select anyone else, lord?"
Fu Tinghan said, "We must find a helper for Gao Hui, it’s just a trial; Sima Hou may not necessarily agree."
Sima Hou was a young man in his twenties, about ten years older than Fu Tinghan. He did not use his seniority to pressure Fu Tinghan; it was just a pretext for him to see Fu Tinghan.
Upon entering the study, he fell on his knees with a ’thud’ and prostrated fully without getting up.
Fu Tinghan was startled and hastily urged him to rise, but Sima Hou remained unmoved, and Fu An couldn’t pull him up from the ground despite using all his strength.

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