Peace Order-Chapter 1642 - 41: Prince Qin Through the Eyes of Money
"Truly, a remarkable person."
At the beginning, led by Qu Hanxiu, numerous great Confucians and literati were extremely indignant, strongly condemning, and continually writing brilliant pieces to criticize Prince Qin’s acts of ritual breakdown and musical chaos.
Prince Qin’s reaction was, in fact, no reaction at all.
His Highness Prince Qin was very busy and had no time to pay attention.
This indifference only infuriated the literati more, but at the same time, they felt a slight relief because, although they appeared very angry, they were actually holding back, worried about overstepping and having His Highness Prince Qin hold them accountable.
They were ready to turn and flee at the first sign of trouble.
Seeing that Prince Qin seemed unconcerned, they became even more enthusiastic.
They wrote brilliant pieces and rallied many partisans, creating quite a spectacle, and eventually, these things reached Red Emperor Ji Zichang in the Central State. Upon hearing this, Ji Zichang was astonished, as the one-and-a-half-year-old little prince babbled, calling for his godfather.
Ji Zichang looked at his precious daughter and couldn’t help but suspect that his good brother was rubbing his hands together over the tribute because of the million taels of silver that had previously been a matter concerning his daughter.
Then, taking advantage of the moment, applied one idea universally, and came up with another one as well.
No surprise, it’s you.
Ji Zichang had grown a beard and appeared much more composed, giving a carefree smile, and said lightly and casually, "Prince Qin indeed loves money."
"But he takes it rightly."
Then he gave three thousand gold as the gift money for himself, Noble Consort Wen, and the little princess.
For a moment, the literati and Confucians were dumbfounded.
Even His Majesty the Red Emperor Ji Zichang gave money, and yet you still don’t?
What does that mean?
Do you look down upon His Highness Prince Qin, or are you contradicting Red Emperor Ji Zichang?
The two brothers, one soft and one hard, with daggers placed fore and aft, left these many dignitaries caught in the middle, unable to advance or retreat, ultimately obediently paying up.
The so-called "as above, so below" is just like this.
It’s not about going along with the king’s preferences.
It’s just that, when even His Majesty does so, what opinion do you have if you don’t?
Public opinion, the Confucian scholars follow the crowd, all flock as friends.
This truly gives them an unspeakable sense of security, more than the gold itself.
A hundred people paid up, and there was already over a hundred thousand gold, exchanged for over a million taels of silver. Only after Qu Hanxiu paid, he walked in pompously and noticed that those common folk were also inside.
Thus, the great Confucian became furious and found someone from the Heavenly Strategy Mansion, scolding them:
"Everyone said a thousand gold is needed to enter, why are these mud-legged peasants allowed in?"
He was dragging along a man of gentle demeanor, with a simple appearance, roughly in his early thirties, who listened earnestly to Qu Hanxiu’s questions and said, "Do you think that great Confucians and gentlemen are different from ordinary folks?"
Qu Hanxiu said, "Naturally this is so."
"We have studied hard since childhood, apprenticed under masters, and throughout our lives, we conform to the teachings of the Saints, serve the country and the people, naturally having paid a thousand gold to enter should set us apart from these common folk."
The gentle scholar praised, "Indeed, indeed."
Qu Hanxiu continued, "It is always said, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, with scholars at the top, and our lifetime of hard study brings forth the Saints’ teachings, renowned across the lands, with writings radiant, to be passed down through the ages, are such things comparable to these common people?"
The scholar praised enthusiastically, "Ah yes, yes, yes!"
"What you said is absolutely correct!"
"This young one deeply agrees."
Then, changing his tone, he said, "That’s why a thousand gold award is collected from you."
Qu Hanxiu paused, and the scholar sincerely smiled and said, "If you don’t pay this money, don’t give a thousand gold as remuneration, how can it highlight your lives of hardship as great Confucians; if you don’t spend this money, how can it show that you gentlemen are different from mud-footed folks?"
"Like delicacies of abalone, they naturally fetch a high price."
"Right?"
This person’s words were sharp, and Qu Hanxiu couldn’t say anything for a while. Conversations lingered like incense, yet it was not until later known, it was the Academy’s Wen He.
The world praised Wen He’s eloquence and he was a famous gentleman of the time.
Unlike Yan Daiqing of the Western Regions.
Rumors further speculated, if Wen He stands for Righteousness, then he is the eloquent Academician Wen Qingyu; if he schemes, then he is the ancient poison warrior Yan Daiqing of the Western Regions.
Historically famous literati read this passage and merely smiled lightly, not believing it.
Laughable, eloquent, gentle, and amiable Wen Qingyu, how could he be the one who burnt a city and schemed against the Western Regions Yan Daiqing? 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
After collecting all this silver, there were some other gains.
Some literati and great Confucians residing in foreign lands also sent salutation cards. After Yan Daiqing sorted through them, this gentle gentleman was silent for a long time, his face showing an emotion hard to describe with words, containing sadness, indignation, powerlessness, joy, all at once.
Prince Qin was puzzled and asked, "Daiqing, what’s wrong?"
"Could it be that the gold and silver collected are not enough?"
Yan Daiqing replied, "It’s not that it’s not enough."
"Lord, guess how much gold and silver gift money we collected?"
Li Guan said, "It should be one hundred and eighty thousand gold, calculated at just ten to one, and it should be one million eight hundred thousand tales of silver."
The Prince Qin, who was adept in military strategy, calculated quickly in his mind, although this sum was not enough to influence world affairs, yet it sufficiently eased urgent needs, and filled many deficits.
Yan Daiqing took a deep breath and said, "Wrong."
"Wrong?"
