NOVPUBAfterward, the cheers of the masses and the shouts of the soldiers all informed Ju Shou of one thing: that Liu Bei truly had the people’s hearts in Mount Tai, and this posed a serious threat to Yuan Shao’s ambitions.
"Lord Xuande is really playing for keeps, Zizhong, it’s time to spend some money; I can’t hold on any longer," Chen Xi turned and said to Mi Zhu.
"A mere several hundred million, my Mi Family can handle it," Mi Zhu instantly teared up with gratitude upon hearing Liu Bei’s public acknowledgment, "I would like to thank the Zhen Family and the Mi Family for their financial support." What the Mi Family needed most at the onset of its rise was reputation, and what better way to earn it than by investing a significant amount of money to support education?
Scholars are the most precious group of people in this world, and they are also the ones most concerned about their reputation. If the Mi Family could just sustain funding for five years, once the first generation of students graduates, nobody would look down on the Mi Family, even if it started as a business. For once the scholars stand up to defend the Mi Family, whether they are merchants no longer matters—what matters is righteousness!
However, thinking of the Zhen Family, Mi Zhu felt a bit conflicted. Had he not invested enough money? The Zhen Family had contributed more, after all. Why did they have to show up in everything, establishing rules, forming trade associations, and now even getting involved in funding education?
That’s precisely why Chen Xi could joke with Mi Zhu, who without a second thought assured with a pat on his chest, promising to single-handedly take care of the entire academy in Mount Tai of Qingzhou—how much praise would that garner?
Chen Xi was taken aback, then smiled, "Zizhong, hogging everything for oneself isn’t always good. The calamity that befell the Chen Family led to a tragedy for all merchants of the world. Even now, any slight act of charity by a wealthy merchant could be construed as harboring ulterior motives, and if they do nothing, they are deemed uncharitably rich. You must be well aware of these hardships."
Mi Zhu was startled, breaking out into a cold sweat. He had only seen the day the Mi Family became a great clan drawing near and had not thought about the dangers behind it. Merchants were marginalized for a reason by this era, from top to bottom. During the Spring and Autumn Period, merchants were not excluded, but the clampdown on merchants began in the Warring States Period, and various laws restricting merchants emerged then.
The root cause was that the Chen Family’s ancestors had played too hard, bamboozling all other merchants. Over several generations, they bought up the loyalties of Qi State’s people, eventually buying Qi State itself. The transaction was legal, legitimate, and reasonable. In the end, King Zhou An had no choice but to hold his nose and recognize Tian He as the Marquis of Qi.
After this episode, merchants suffered. Any prosperous merchant was targeted, and periodic culls were carried out like cutting grass because such behavior was abhorred by every state.
In short, since then, during the Feudal Era, any merchant who did good deeds without notice was likely labeled with ulterior motives. For this reason, many records show that when a village path or bridge needed repairs, the government would ask certain merchants to pay for them. It wasn’t to extort money from the merchants, but purely to give them face. Of course, there were indeed extortions, but being asked to do the repairs was actually a way to honor you...
"Thank you for the advice, Zichuan," Mi Zhu said as he bent over in a bow.
"No need, no need, your wealth is still very important for Lord Xuande’s foundation, and with the Zhen Family shielding you, you won’t have any problems," Chen Xi said nonchalantly. He dared let Liu Bei declare those words without fearing that Ju Shou hearing them would cause any dissatisfaction with the Zhen Family since Ju Shou had already understood the previous situation: the Zhen Family had spent two billion to buy peace.
Regarding why other families believed that the Zhen Family spent two billion instead of making peace with Qingzhou, the main reason was that Luo River Trading Company, second only to the Five Great Merchants, publicly disclosed assets belonging to the Zhen Family. This firm, often involved in large loans and collateral deals, would naturally have two billion in reserve funds. Well, that was Zhen Mi’s dowry...
Ju Shou also understood this, so he never thought that the Zhen Family would make peace with Liu Bei. As for the Zhen Family’s appearance in Fenggao, didn’t you see all the merchants of the world showing up there? For merchants, as long as there’s money to be made, it doesn’t matter whether there are grudges or not—even deep-seated ones could be set aside if the profits were substantial. But Ju Shou did not believe that any benefits could override what had been done to Qingzhou previously; it wasn’t just a small amount of money.
"I guess I was a bit too eager," Mi Zhu said with a wry smile, "Zichuan, you might not understand this kind of eagerness."
"The glory of a noble family, the hope that shines upon the family’s name, and the blessings for the progeny are all worth a lifetime of strife," Chen Xi said without even looking back.
"Zichuan, you really do know everything!" Mi Zhu said, pulling a face. In his view, Chen Xi, born into a noble family, would not likely pay attention to the kind of ordinary life he had always been enjoying.
"Don’t worry, Zizhong, the money you’ve spent won’t be wasted. Just those two sentences spoken by the Lord earlier, from now on when your family sells goods in Qingzhou of Mount Tai, even if your price is a bit higher, the people of Mount Tai will recognize your products. Once the news of your support for education spreads, your shop’s business will prosper even more," Chen Xi said, glancing at Mi Zhu before turning away and speaking indifferently.
"What?" In an era without advertisements, Mi Zhu, who relied on the notion that good wine needs no bush, did not understand the importance of making things widely known.
"It means, aren’t you envious that Zilong gets gifts from people as he walks? You will have that too, as long as they know you are Mi Zizhong," Chen Xi said, still facing Liu Bei, without turning around.
"For General Zhao to have such good fortune is truly a great joy in life," Mi Zhu said with obvious envy. Anyone would feel the same upon seeing Zhao Yun, with beauties throwing themselves at him on the streets and shopkeepers refusing to take his money, even going so far as to forcibly give him extra. The people of this era were indeed very simple and pure.
"You will have it too. Zilong has given them the soil for survival, and you have given them the hope for development. In a couple of days, I’ll burn something for you. Stick it on your association’s main hall, and your business will get better," Chen Xi said with a smile.
"Many thanks," Mi Zhu said, giving a clasped fist salute.
Zhuge Jin, looking at Fa Zheng standing below Liu Bei in the First Sequence, thought, "That young man is probably even younger than I am, yet he already holds the position of Prime Minister of Qi State. Mount Tai truly does not care about age when it comes to heroes."
"Fa Xiaozhi," Zhuge Liang whispered the name to himself.
"Chen Zichuan is also merely about my age, truly a heaven-sent genius. Kongming, there’s no hope for me to surpass him now. The future of our Zhuge Family rests on your shoulders," Zhuge Jin said with a boisterous laugh, "Kongming, I will ask you one last time, are you truly not returning to Xuzhou?"
"I plan to visit Chen Zichuan. I don’t intend to go back to Xuzhou. If uncle asks, please tell him ’Kongming has found like-minded companions and does not wish to wait for the so-called right moment any longer,’" Zhuge Liang said, his head still unmoved, "However, big brother, are you truly not going to stay here with Lord Xuande? His dream encompasses your ideals."
"Kongming, we are from a noble family. You have chosen freedom, which means someone must bear the responsibilities. If both of us pursue our own freedom, who will carry the burden for the Zhuge Family? The Zhuge Family has been declining for too long, and there is a chance for revival in our generation. The family will not allow the best of us to join a single power, for they have invested too much in us. Noble families have their own rules," Zhuge Jin said, patting Zhuge Liang’s shoulder.
"Thank you," Zhuge Liang said, looking at his brother Zhuge Jin.
"Until we meet again, let not personal matters interfere with official duties. We are the Zhuge Family," Zhuge Jin said calmly, then glancing back at Liu Bei, "He will make a good Lord, but unfortunately, he’s not suitable for me, not suitable for me."
Zhuge Jin slowly packed his belongings, leaving Zhuge Liang alone to bear the accountability to the Zhuge Family. (To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
