Chapter 177 Where did these kids learn these terms?
Meanwhile, in Kunning Palace, a scene of warmth and joy unfolded.
The Empress held Qionger Princess's small hand, her eyes full of doting affection as she looked at her daughter whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Even Emperor Ren, despite his myriad daily duties, managed to steal some time to enjoy this rare family moment.
Among all the Imperial Heirs, Qionger Princess was one of his most beloved daughters.
Compared to the Seventh Princess, who often gave him headaches, Qionger was much more obedient.
"Qionger, come, let Imperial Father test you. What have you been learning at the Imperial Academy recently?"
Emperor Ren leaned back on the soft couch, holding Qionger Princess in his arms.
After recovering, Qionger Princess became even more radiant.
Hearing him, she showed no shyness and crisply recited a passage from "Zizhi Tongjian" about the reforms of the previous dynasty.
After reciting, she tilted her small head and added, in a surprisingly serious manner,
"Imperial Father, your daughter believes that the reason these reforms failed, while seemingly due to touching the interests of the old gentry, was fundamentally because they failed to form an effective business closed-loop and lacked a sustainable profit model, leading to a financial chain rupture..."
"Pfft—"
Emperor Ren spit out the mouthful of tea he had just drunk, nearly choking.
Business closed-loop? Profit model? Financial chain?
What kind of words were these?
Why did he not quite understand?
The Empress was also bewildered, looking at her daughter with a very expressive gaze.
Was this still the little girl who would only cry for candy?
"Cough, cough."
Emperor Ren cleared his throat, trying to maintain his dignity.
He couldn't possibly say, "I don't understand, tell me what this is all about."
"Well said... well said! Hmm, unique insight! Truly my daughter!"
Although he was completely confused, it sounded incredibly impressive.
The Empress also shared in the pride, smiling as she said,
"Lord Shen's teachings are indeed extraordinary."
Of course, Shen Yulou's 'teachings' to her were even more extraordinary.
She dotingly stroked Qionger's head.
"Qionger has learned so well, what reward would you like?"
Qionger Princess's eyes lit up, and she immediately bounced off the soft couch, tugging on Emperor Ren's imperial robes playfully.
"Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, I want to go out of the palace! I want to eat that Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles next to Jue Wei Lou!"
Emperor Ren and the Empress were startled again.
"Noodles?"
The Empress frowned, "What's so good about that? If you want to eat it, Imperial Mother will have the Imperial Kitchen make it for you."
Noodles were commoner food; few people in the palace ate them.
"It's different!"
Qionger Princess shook her head like a rattle-drum. "Mr. Shen said that the noodles there have stories, they have souls! They are completely different from the gaudy stuff from the Imperial Kitchen!"
Emperor Ren's mouth twitched.
Gaudy stuff... Is that a word to describe food?
What on earth had Shen Yulou been teaching?
However, seeing his daughter's expectant face, and Emperor Ren was indeed in a good mood today.
He waved his hand grandly: "Alright! Granted! Today, we shall go on a incognito visit and try those'story-filled' noodles!"
...At the Grand General of Cavalry's Residence.
Zhang Tianbao stood in the center of the hall, spitting excitedly, his small face flushed red.
And his father, General Grand General of Cavalry, who was known for his ruthlessness on the battlefield.
He sat upright, his expression changing from initial impatience to surprise, and now to complete shock.
Because his son was discussing military strategy with him.
"Father, look, in that battle you fought against Western Liang last time, you shouldn't have clashed head-on with them from the start.
We should have drawn cards first, accumulated strength, and when our hand was good, found the right opportunity to focus fire on their main general!
It would be best to first use a strategy like 'cutting off grain and grass' to restrict their supplies, and when they are hungry, take them out in one fell swoop!"
General Zhang's head was buzzing.
Draw cards? Focus fire? Cutting off grain and grass? Take out in one fell swoop?
The words that popped out of this kid's mouth, damn it, he didn't understand a single one!
Yet, the underlying meaning of his words precisely hit the painful point of his command error last time!
This... what kind of divine military strategy was this?
He had no idea that when Shen Yulou taught these children, he didn't stick to the textbook at all.
Things like "The Art of War" and "The Thirty-Six Stratagems" were directly re-imagined and integrated into the three kingdoms kill.
Although the children only understood bits and pieces, they basically remembered these terms.
After playing a few rounds, they also had a general understanding.
They couldn't be called military experts, but they could speak eloquently in front of their fathers, which was the effect they wanted.
No one expected children to be exceptionally brilliant, but seeing such progress made the parents happy.
Parents satisfied, children happy, and he earned money—this was Shen Yulou's educational philosophy.
Although Tianbao was less than ten years old, his gaming talent was maxed out.
Now, using game tactics to review a real war, though naive, the originality of his thinking and the shrewdness of his perspective simply left General Zhang in awe.
"Good boy!"
General Zhang slapped his thigh and stood up excitedly, "Tell me! Who taught you this?"
"Mr. Shen!" Tianbao said, as if it were the most obvious thing.
For a moment, the entire family's gaze towards Tianbao changed, and their admiration for Shen Yulou grew even stronger.
They were truly glad they hadn't taken this kid back earlier, otherwise, compared to the children of other generals, wouldn't he have been far behind?
"Good! This Shen Yulou really has some skills!"
"Some of the things you're saying I don't even understand, but I think they're very impressive."
"Father, this idiom is called 'bù míng jué lì' (unclear but awesome), Mr. Shen also taught me this."
"Good, good, good, Father has learned a new word."
General Zhang strode like a dragon and walked up to his son, waving his hand grandly.
"Tianbao, tell me, what reward do you want?!"
Tianbao had been waiting for this very sentence. He puffed out his small chest and loudly declared,
"Father! I want you to take our whole family to eat Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles!"
"Just that?" General Zhang was taken aback, then burst into laughter, "Alright! Father will personally take you!"
...At dusk.
Boss Chu of Jue Wei Lou stood with his hands behind his back at the brightly lit entrance of his restaurant.
Looking at the platters of glistening roasted chickens and Four Happiness Meatballs prepared in advance in the kitchen, a smug smile played on his face.
The weather was good today; business was sure to be excellent.
He squinted at the deserted noodle shop next door, where Boss Wang was also busy at his doorway, looking dejected.
Boss Chu sauntered over and spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh, Old Wang, preparing so many noodles, if they don't sell, they'll all go bad."
"Look at this weather, nobles and dignitaries all love to come out to eat.
If my place fills up later and I don't have enough tables and chairs, I'll have to borrow a couple from you."
Boss Wang, now backed by the Princess, had a very stiff backbone. He merely snorted in response.
"Even if all my noodles go bad, they're not worth much money.
But your roasted chickens and meatballs, if they're left unsold, that would be a truly heavy loss!"
Boss Chu sneered, "My dishes can be left unsold? You just wait and see."
As the two were bickering, suddenly, a magnificent carriage stopped at the street corner.
A chubby little boy with a tiger-like head led a large family, walking grandly towards them.
"Customers, please come in!" Boss Chu's eyes lit up, and he immediately put on a smiling face to greet them.
However, the family didn't even glance at him, walking straight into... the Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles shop next door.
Boss Chu's smile froze on his face instantly