Chapter 549: If you don’t say it, then I’ll say it!

Chapter 549: If you don’t say it, then I’ll say it!

They looked at each other, their eyes full of hesitation and worry. Everyone was wondering in their hearts, not knowing what Gao Yao's attitude was. Gao Yao was usually deep-minded and ruthless, and his treatment was almost unprecedented in everyone's life. But once Gao Yao was annoyed, Gao Yao's methods were something everyone present had never seen before. Therefore, no one dared to speak first, for fear that they would offend Gao Yao as soon as they opened their mouths.

Zhang Liang, one of the court officials, stood quietly in the crowd, watching this embarrassing scene. He frowned slightly, and a trace of worry appeared in his eyes. He knew the complexity of this matter, and he also understood that Gao Yao's move must have a deep meaning.

Seeing that no one was the first to speak, Zhang Liang hesitated for a moment, feeling torn. On the one hand, he was worried that if he spoke up rashly, he would get into trouble; on the other hand, he felt that the court could not remain silent forever, and someone had to step forward to break the deadlock.

Finally, Zhang Liang gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and stepped out of the crowd. He walked steadily to Gao Yao, then bowed respectfully to him. He bent his waist very low, lowered his head, and people could not see the expression on his face.

"Prime Minister!" He raised his hand slowly to salute.

"I do have some ideas about this matter!"

Zhang Liang's actions naturally attracted Gao Yao, who was frowning slightly and thinking about something. Hearing this, his originally furrowed brows relaxed slightly, a glimmer of expectation flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.

He waved his hand gently and said in a steady and magnetic voice: "Oh, tell me about it!" As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Liang who stood up with interest, his eyes full of encouragement and trust.

Gao Yao looked at Zhang Liang with great satisfaction. After he discovered Zhang Liang, he had promoted Zhang Liang to a core position in a short period of time, allowing him to participate in the decision-making of many important affairs. Zhang Liang did not disappoint Gao Yao's expectations, and showed his outstanding talents and wisdom in military strategy. He was able to come up with unique insights and effective solutions every time, which made Gao Yao value him more and more.

As for Zhang Liang, he had no choice but to stand up this time. He was deeply grateful to Gao Yao. Gao Yao's appreciation and promotion were like a bright light in the dark, giving him a stage to display his talents. He often thought that he must do his best to give Gao Yao advice and help him achieve a great career, in order to repay this kindness.

But in the officialdom, there are always changes and undercurrents. As the saying goes, "A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind", this long-standing saying is applicable most of the time.

Zhang Liang's rapid rise was like a dazzling new star, shining brightly in Gao Yao's court, which naturally aroused the jealousy and fear of others. Among them, Han Xin, Xiao He, and Cao Shen were the most afraid of Zhang Liang. Although they never showed it in front of Gao Yao, they could not help but be afraid of him in private.

Zhang Liang and Han Xin were in completely different situations. When Han Xin fled to Gaoyao, he was penniless and had nothing. At that time, Gaoyao was only below Zhao Tuo, and his status was far from being as respected as it is today.

Han Xin had just arrived, and with his military talent and passion, he gradually emerged under Gao Yao's command. And Cao Shen was half of Han Xin's teacher on the military road. Cao Shen had rich combat experience and profound military accomplishment. When Han Xin first entered the military field, Cao Shen patiently taught him the methods of arranging troops and marching and fighting strategies, which saved Han Xin from many detours.

Xiao He was half of Han Xin's guide. It was Xiao He who had a keen eye and constantly explored Han Xin's talents. These things could not be done by relying on Gao Yao's trust alone, so to some extent, Han Xin owed him a favor.

As time went by, the relationship between Han Xin, Cao Shen and Xiao He became deeper and deeper. So even though the three of them had become different factions, there was no open conflict. At most, they plotted secretly, and the relationship between them was still there.

Zhang Liang's sudden appearance broke this original balance. His talent and strategy made Gao Yao look at him differently, and he was even more inclined to listen to Zhang Liang's opinions on some matters. This made Han Xin, Xiao He, and Cao Shen feel a little jealous, mainly because Zhang Liang's foundation was too shallow, but he was fully trusted by Gao Yao.

Zhang Liang naturally understood what these people were thinking, but he only wanted to serve Gao Yao and did not want to get involved in these meaningless disputes. But now, this matter was of great importance, concerning Gao Yao's future and the fate of the entire force.

If he did not come forward to put forward his own ideas, it would be very likely that things would develop in an unfavorable direction. Therefore, although he knew that standing up might bring him more trouble, in order to repay Gao Yao's kindness and for Gao Yao's great cause, he still resolutely stood up.

"Prime Minister, I dare to think that this matter is really inappropriate. Recently, various families have jointly established colleges, and these colleges have begun to recruit a large number of students. Those students are full of longing and hope to get a position in our southern border and make a big splash in the officialdom."

"But here lies the problem. The knowledge and studies taught by the academies are very different from the way our Southern Territory governs various places. Our Southern Territory has its own unique customs, governance models, and rules and regulations, but many of the things taught in those academies are mechanically copied or borrowed from other places, and do not conform to the actual situation in our Southern Territory at all."

"After learning those things, most students are not competent for the corresponding work in actual work. They have a lot of theoretical knowledge, but they don't know how to apply it to the actual government affairs. It's like holding a sharp sword but not knowing how to swing it to kill the enemy."

"What's more serious is that the students of these newly established colleges are likely to come into conflict with Shangshan College. Shangshan College has always been an important base for cultivating talents in our Southern Territory. It has a profound foundation and fine traditions, and the students trained there are also able to adapt well to the governance of the Southern Territory. However, the students of those new colleges have different ideas and concepts. Once they enter the officialdom, they are likely to have friction and conflicts with the students of Shangshan College, which is extremely detrimental to the harmony and stability of the officialdom in our Southern Territory."