TN: bonus chapter!💕

In truth, the sons of the Yuan family and the Zhang family did not make any serious mistakes. As a young person who suddenly achieved success, at most they would go out drinking and bragging with their former classmates and find a few more female lovers. But their family members were a different story. With a family member now being an official——although there was no real power in this position, their name was still known to Lin Yuan.

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They might be able to control themselves, but they could not control everyone in their family. Of the crimes spread by the common people, at least one or two of them were not just rumors and really were committed.

When things came to a head, and it seemed that the situation was unable to be suppressed, those family members who committed major mistakes now carried the banner of righteousness instead. They forced the child who had the official position to death. They thought that with these two dead, they would be all right.

“Execute them all.” Lin Yuan had no expression, as if he was not deciding life or death, but just talking about the weather today.

He was no longer able to feel angry.

No one tried to persuade him to show mercy. Everyone knew that except for immediate family members of the two young men, such as their parents and siblings, everyone else would not be able to escape death.

Only their deaths could preserve the reputation of the two young people who were conferred official positions.

Lin Yuan also said: “Treat their parents kindly and reward them with brocade and gold.”

After all, they were the officials appointed by Lin Yuan himself, and they were also the first batch of officials. The reputation could not be too bad, so Lin Yuan could only fix this mess.

However, recently there were more and more people visiting Song Shizhao. Even if two died and one was dismissed, for those scholars who were frustrated with now having any achievements for half their lives, being an official was still a huge temptation. This temptation was enough to make them forget the threat of death.

Lin Yuan also understood these scholars more and more.

In modern times, when he was a child, he used to watch TV. In particular, the 11th Central TV channel would play opera. He and the other orphans did not have the right to control the remote control, so they could only watch it with the adults. Over time, they could even understand Chinese opera.

He clearly remembered that there was an opera about scholars, and the scholars described were very impressive. There were no officials in the family, and the entire family was poor and lived at the foot of the mountain. The men hunted and the women weaved. After they finished hunting they would read and study. Later, the emperor heard of this family of scholars, and he even personally invited them out of the mountain. The family were unsuccessful in refusing, so they could only follow the emperor outside. And when they left the mountains, they were even frowning, as if they were forced into prostitution.

Now that he thought about it, the writer of this play must have been a scholar, or a scholar with no achievements, as those who had achieved their ambitions couldn’t make up something like this.

The truth of the matter was that if the emperor was diligent he would be so busy he barely had time to rest. How could he be able to have the time to see whether there were talented people in the mountains? Towards whatever kind of talents he wanted, all he needed to do was to just open his mouth, and countless people would rush to him.

If the emperor was not diligent in government, this kind of situation would be even more impossible. With the harem being so much fun, why play with those stuffy old men with faces full of beard?

But this also indirectly expressed the attitude of scholars.

They needed someone who could recognize and appreciate the hero, and they all felt that they were this hero. But they also didn’t want to express such desires too frankly as that would not look too good.

Like a beauty with her clothes half shed, she must be beautiful enough and romantic enough, but also not appear vulgar and cheap.

So they went and asked Song Shizhao for an official position, and they asked in a very subtle and introverted manner. Song Shizhao had recently received many handwritten works from these scholars, some of which were poems, and some of which were opinion essays on political affairs——towards this type Song Shizhao would not read. It was not their turn to point and criticize. He would write down all the names of those who sent such essays and these people don’t even have to think about being an official in this life.

However, Song Shizhao was now fully back in power. Most of the people who saw him lose favor before and went and stepped a foot on him all shrunk again. Apologizing would be impossible as wouldn’t apologizing prove that they were indeed targeting Song Shizhao before? It was better to pretend to be dumb, since in any case, it was not like Song Shizhao could get back at them so obviously. So long as they reined in the young ones at home and didn’t allow anything to go wrong, then nothing would happen.

However, soon someone took over referrals for official positions. Fewer people went to see Song Shizhao for a referral, so Song Shizhao was able to be more relaxed.

Zheng Qingfeng was the man who suddenly took over this job, someone who was notoriously lazy.

After all, Zheng Qingfeng was a well-known romantic talent in Pingjiang when he was young, and his name was bigger than that of Song Shizhao, a foreigner. In addition, Pingjiang’s big families were all related to each other in some way, and scholars were more willing to go his way.

“I see that he can’t sit still anymore.” Song Shizhao said to Lin Yuan, “He has taken a risk. If he’s lucky, you will see him. If not, his actions would be that of stepping over authority.”

Lin Yuan took a sip of tea and ordered the servants to bring in some snacks. The monarch and his minister sat in the hall chatting. He smiled and said, “He has shared a lot of the burden for you. Are you not happy?”

Song Shizhao had now found a new way to get along with Lin Yuan. Which was to be straightforward——speaking whatever that needed to be said. It was not a good thing for the monarch and his ministers to doubt each other, especially in his current position. Just a little carelessness and what would greet him would be an abyss. He was not afraid of death, but he had yet to see the unity of the world, and he was reluctant to die.

Song Shizhao said: “This person is usable, but his method is too ugly, and in the future he will not be lacking in scoldings and curses.”

Song Shizhao felt thay Zheng Qingfeng was truly a smart person. This job looked good on the surface, but anyone with a brain would know that this was a thankless task. He knew very clearly that Lin Yuan would not confer an official position again, and yet he took the job. When the time came and the scholars were unable to get an official position, they would not dare to scold Lin Yuan, so their anger would be aimed at him instead.

The disadvantages were clear, and the benefits were also obvious. He had finally succeeded.

At least Lin Yuan would remember him and remember him well. If there was something to be done in the future, there would always be one or two things where his name would come up.

At that time, those would be the days when he would finally welcome success.

There was never a shortage of smart people in this world, only a shortage of luck.

For example, Lin Yuan allowing Toqto’a to stay. Was it really because he valued Toqto’a’s knowledge on flood control and water conservancy? Or his abilities on the battlefield?

Lin Yuan was not short of generals, even if Chen Baisong and Zhu Yuanzhang were gone, there would be many who would rise up from the bottom of the ranks.

Fame and fortune shook the will. Even if there was danger and death at any moment, so long as there was prosperity and a bright future ahead, some people would still rush forward, throwing themselves at the opportunity like a moth to the flame.

Just like Zhu Yuanzhang cut down so many corrupt officials in history, but did the people wanting to be officials lessen?

Tens of thousands of heads were chopped off, and still there were so many people who wanted to be officials.

In front of power, life and death, pride and self-respect, could all be left behind.

Song Shizhao sometimes envied Toqto’a, and felt that Toqto’a had really good luck in this life. He was born into aristocracy, and his uncle who controlled the court was overthrown by him. How young was Toqto’a at that time! Later, Toqto’a took his uncle’s place but even if he fell from his position in the end, he was found by Lin Yuan and used to appease the Mongolian people. Although he would never become a powerful minister in the future, so long as he did not make a big mistake, Lin Yuan would continue to favor him, and the glory of three generations of his family could be expected.

Lin Yuan put down his teacup: “If Mister has the time, then help me go visit that Lord Zheng for me. Have a nice chat with him and make him feel at ease.”

This was to officially give Zheng Qingfeng the right to receive those scholars. Even if someone raised this issue in the future, Zheng Qingfeng would have the excuse of acting on his orders, and not be accused of stepping over authority.

Song Shizhao quickly said yes.

He could see that Lin Yuan’s heart had softened once again and was willing to protect Zheng Qingfeng.

Otherwise, if someone sued Zheng Qingfeng for stepping over authority in the future, even if Lin Yuan wanted to protect him, he would not be able to.

Sometimes Song Shizhao felt that more and more he couldn’t see through Lin Yuan.

He still remembered the first time he met Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan was just a boy, so to say that he was smart? It was only in the scope of teenage boys. He was not a genius, nor was he stupid, and on top of that he possesed a lot of unnecessary kindness.

But now, he couldn’t see through him anymore.

After Song Shizhao left, Lin Yuan had someone invite Song Lian over.

Song Lian was very famous, but Lin Yuan didn’t really know him well.

Although his name as a child prodigy had spread far and wide, Song Lian was already 47 now, and had nothing to do with children.

But Lin Yuan knew that Song Lian majored in Yuan Dynasty history and was one of the three great poets in the early Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang even hailed him as the “head of the founding civil officials”, so whether it was literature or politics he was a capable man in both.

But Lin Yuan also knew why Song Lian lost power in the end.

He participated in the case of Hu Weiyong. Not only did his family die, Song Lian himself was also exiled to Maozhou, Sichuan.

Lin Yuan had to be more alert.

Corrupt officials could never be killed completely. He did not hope that in the end, he could only raise his butcher knife like Zhu Yuanzhang.

Song Lian was more than 40 years old, his appearance mediocre, but his aura very good. That was, one could pick him out of the crowd at a glance. In fact, he could be called refined and cultured. Although the description “refined and cultured” was overused, of the many people Lin Yuan had seen, only Song Lian could stand up to these two words, making people feel like a spring breeze had just blown by when they saw him.

“Lord Lin.” Song Lian was about to kneel, but Lin Yuan quickly helped him up and laughed, “Mister Song, please sit down.”

Song Lian sat down readily, neither humble nor overbearing, demeanor refined and cultured.

Lin Yuan: “I was too busy a few days ago and I didn’t have time to call you to have a chat. It is Yuan’s fault.”

Song Lian also chuckled: “Now Pingjiang and other places are all tied to my Lord. Song is not a person who doesn’t understand reason and can’t distinguish priorities.”

He also relied on this period of time to figure out the people around Lin Yuan.

Song Shizhao was now very favored. If he was said to be very favored before, now he was even more so.

Having just arrived, he naturally needed to socialize with Song Shizhao. The two of them also called each other brothers in private. After all, they were both surnamed Song. Maybe they shared the same ancestor hundreds of years ago.

Lin Yuan and Song Lian exchanged some more polite talk before getting to the point.

“Since Mister Song is here, Yuan has something that I must ask for your help.” Lin Yuan said politely.

Song Lian also replied politely, cupping his hands, “My Lord can be straightforward.”

Lin Yuan: “I brought a group of people over with me who are all literate. I want to ask Mister to lead them in introducing literacy to the common people.”

Song Lian was a little confused: “Introducing literacy?”

How many common people were there? Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands? How could they spread literacy to all?

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “Not exactly. I would like to trouble Mister to think about how to make them understand some truths, so as not to be used by traitors and thieves.”

This was asking Song Lian to brainwash the common people.

But this was a good job, and the risk was not high. Although it was a bit troublesome, it was a great and beneficial thing for the people.

Song Lian thought for a while and agreed.

He had just arrived, and the most important thing now was to make achievements, not to show off.

Sometimes it was not a good thing to be in the limelight.

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For example, Zheng Qingfeng’s choice was made because he had no other choice.

Just don’t know what Zheng Qingfeng would end up like in the end.

Song Lian smiled. It was only because he had gotten a good job, so he had the free time to worry about others.

He was truly too idle.

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“Young master, the new pen.” The young attendant placed the pen on the table with a smile on his face, “Shopkeeper Wu knew that you had become an official, so he sent the best of this year.”

Pens, inks, papers and inkstones of different materials, large and small, were lined up on the table. Even when the family was at its richest, Feng Yu had never experienced such a thing before. He put down the book in his hand and walked over to examine it all carefully.

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Feng Yu was one of the three scholars who had been given an official position. He was not old, twenty-five or so, with a white beardless face——growing a beard was a hobby and there were also people who didn’t have this hobby. He held a pen in his hand and rubbed it with his fingertips continuously. He never thought he would have today.

The Feng family was not any powerful big family. Other big families had hundreds of people, and even if they didn’t have much money or power, with their numbers, others would still give some face. As for a family like theirs, that kind of thing was difficult. The Feng family did not have such numerous descendants and Feng Yu was the only son of his parents. There were seven sisters above him. Although his parents also had brothers and sisters, his aunts and uncles also didn’t have many children.

People outside all laughed and said that their Feng family had given birth to seven fairies.

His seven sisters were all married to scholars, and they all tried their best to get books from their husband’s family for him to read, hoping that one day he would become successful and bring honor to their ancestors. That way they would also be able to stand with their backs straight at their husband’s house.

But Feng Yu never revealed this to his friends. If one studied just to be an official, then there was nothing lofty about this person.

People would say that he considered benefits and rewards too much. Could such a materialistic person be a good official? The imperial court’s examination was the same as furniture now, so for ordinary scholars, no matter how talented they were at literary works, they would still have no chance to achieve any success.

Over time, it seemed that being an official had become a shameful thing. How could you study the books of sages just to be an official? This reason was not decent! So these scholars gathered together, feeling that if they studied for the sake of becoming an official, it would be too vulgar, and such an official would not be a good official.

Until now, Feng Yu still felt a little dazed. He still remembered that day he attended the literary meeting.

Although the Feng family was not a big family in Pingjiang, it still had some reputation after several decades. The original invitation was for his uncle, but his uncle fell ill——it was so coincidental that he didn’t think about it too carefully when he left. He only felt excited for his uncle’s illness coming at such a right time.

Now thinking about it again, it should be a result of his father’s schemes.

He went to the literary meeting full of confidence. Feng Yu felt that it would be very simple to use his ability to suppress those former friends into being unable to raise their heads.

He even didn’t hold much regard for Song Shizhao. In the eyes of these young talents, Song Shizhao was just an official in charge of merchants. Merchants had been lower class citizens since ancient times. Even if the Yuan Dynasty showed disrespect for class superiority by raising the status of merchants, in their eyes merchants were all low-level people.

But after seeing the real person, Feng Yu realized how narrowminded he was.

The term “eyes being obscured by a single leaf” seemed to be tailored for him. (TN: unable to see the wider picture)

The knowledge they were so proud of was just like children’s play in front of the other.

Feng Yu watched Song Shizhao smile, and he didn’t know why, but his whole body stiffened. He felt that that smile was one of mockery, mocking at their stupidity.

Just like a tiger watching a group of kittens fighting, he was too lazy to bother with them at all.

His family members once said that he had a man’s body but a woman’s mind. He had always been prone to thinking more than others since he was a child, so after seeing Song Shizhao’s smile, the blood that boiled all over his body cooled down like ice had been thrown on him.

Feng Yu picked up a pen and wrote “to believe oneself infallible” on the paper.

His attendant was shocked when he saw these four words, but he didn’t dare to say anything or ask.

Feng Yu’s last stroke broke and the piece of writing was ruined. He put down his pen, turned his head and asked his attendant: “If the tiger goes down the mountain, what would you say would happen?”

The young attendant didn’t understand, but he still responded: “A mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, and tigers must fight for territory wherever they go.”

Feng Yu: “…..You are right.”

The South Bodhisattva was now a tiger descending the mountain. These scholars were just people who overestimated their own capabilities, wanting to compete with him for territory. However, the South Bodhisattva was still using gentle methods at this moment. If he did not see any results for a long time and felt that it had become troublesome, even if he truly raised the butcher knife, so long as he found an excuse, could anyone really oppose him?

The troops stationed outside the city were not for show and play.

At night, Feng Yu walked out of his house and walked towards Song Manor.

He would not think that it was because he had great skills and good luck that he was given an official position like the other two conferred officials.

He and those two people were the three targets prepared by the South Bodhisattvas. If the people below wanted to climb up, they must step on their heads. If they didn’t want to be stepped on, they could only turn against their old friends.

For the sake of profit, people could turn into beasts.

No matter how good the surface seemed to look, when the surface appearance was finally torn apart, what was underneath was only hideousness.

Feng Yu said to the doorman: “I hope you will inform Manager Song of my visit.”

The doorman said with a smile: “My lord, you came not at the right time. My master has gone to rest so please come back tomorrow.”

Feng Yu lowered his head, even facing the doorman of Song Shizhao’s house, he didn’t dare to be even a little arrogant. He said politely: “I have important matters to discuss with Lord Song. Since Lord Song is resting, this official will wait.”

He stood in the cold wind at the door of Song Shizhao’s house all night.

When Song Shizhao “heard the news” and came out to see him the next day, he discovered that after he was invited into the corner room by the doormen, he had fallen into a fever, speaking nonsense in his subconscious.

Song Shizhao leaned closer and heard him mumbling.

“My lord…..I want to resign…..I want to resign…..”

Song Shizhao said to his servants: “Send for a good doctor for Lord Feng.”

Among so many scholars, only this one could see clearly. Song Shizhao looked at that flushed face and felt that it would be a pity if he was told to die. Maybe he could still be a useful talent.

Feng Yu returned to being an ordinary citizen that night.

According to the better sounding rumors, because Feng Yu felt that his virtue was not worthy of his post, he insisted on resigning from his post, crying and making trouble until he was able to resign successfully.

This was how it was spread outside.

It was said that Lin Yuan liked Feng Yu very much, otherwise he would not be appointed as an official at just the first meeting. After all, there were not many officials appointed by the South Bodhisattva himself, and each of them held heavy powers, so as one who cherished talents Lin Yuan was quite courteous towards Feng Yu.

However, Feng Yu felt that he did not have this talent, and that he had unfairly taken the position. Since he could not do things well and let down the South Bodhisattva, he insisted on resigning. Lin Yuan tried to get him to stay countless times, but Feng Yu refused every time.

In the end, the two of them even cried together with their arms around each other——this last part was added by the common people themselves.

Feng family——

“Say, what is wrong with him! It’s so hard to finally have an official in the family! Even if there is no real power, whoever gets real power immediately after becoming an official?” Feng Yu’s father and uncles got together, all complaining with dissatisfaction as they looked at Feng Yu lying in bed drinking porridge.

“Do you know how many people outside are staring at this official post? How many people want it? There are so many scholars in Pingjiang, could it be possible that you will still have a seat in the future?”

“If not for you being ill, you should be kneeling now!”

“You don’t consider for yourself, but couldn’t you at least consider for your cousins?”

………

Father Feng had been in high spirits for the past few days, but his son went out for one night and the official position was gone just like that. His originally highly held head was lowered once again.

In order to pay for studying, there was not much money left at home. Becoming the disciple of a teacher required money. And a good teacher was not cheap. Visits to classmates also required money. Pen, ink, paper, inkstone and all kinds of books required money. Still, it was all spent so that the child could one day be an official and pull along the whole family.

Feng Yu listened quietly, and after a while, he said, “How many scholars are there in Pingjiang?”

The elders were taken aback.

Feng Yu also said: “Do you still remember, towards the previous decrees, just how loud was the opposition among the scholars?”

Scholars all had stinking habits. After reading too many books, they become arrogant. They feel that they know everything about the world without having to even go out the door and could even criticize and boss around the people above them.

“If I resign this official position, I can still keep this family safe.” Feng Yu’s eyes were empty and numb. “If I don’t leave, the Feng family will be over. Without me, the family still has my cousins. As long as they follow the South Bodhisattva, there will always be a day when success will come. Talk less and do more. The South Bodhisattva likes to do practical things, even if one does not have an official position, as long as one does things well and enters the eyes of the South Bodhisattva, why worry about no future?”

Feng Yu took a few deep breaths, his heart feeling painful.

It was not as if he really wanted to give up the chance he finally got with difficulty, did he?

Feng Yu: “You blame me now but it won’t be long before you can see the end of the Zhang family and Yuan family.”

The Zhang family and the Yuan family were the other two families who had been given official positions.

A few days after Feng Yu said this, there were countless rumors on the street.

The common people were actually not all that good at making stories.

These rumors were all manipulated by someone behind the scenes, saying that the Zhang family and the Yuan family bullied others because they had an official in the family. Therefore, their eyes grew on the top of their foreheads, committing things like oppressing the common people and humiliating their former classmates.

The rumors intensified, and with no one to stop them, the common people believed this to be true.

A few more days later, the Zhang family and the Yuan family carried out funerals one after the other.

It was said that the child who became an official in their family had contracted a disease and did not survive.

Only then did the Feng family understand what Feng Yu meant.

Feng Yu resigned and gained himself a good reputation. And it would be easy for the rest of the people in his family to gain an official position in the future.

However, even if the Zhang family and Yuan family cut their wrists and forced their children to die, there would still be no future for them.

When the scholars discussed this matter they all felt happy and refreshed.

They believed themselves to be no worse than the sons of the Zhang and Yuan family, so after seeing these two die, they all felt that breath of anger being let out.

People are very strange creatures, they envy those far from them, but feel jealous of those near them.

When one day an old friend became successful, they would be so jealous their heart and soul would feel like it was being clawed at. But if they didn’t know this person at all, they wouldn’t feel anything.

Feng Yu watched them shed a few hypocritical tears over the death of their former friends, and then begin to discuss who would be better to take over these seats. When they finished discussing, they would go to Manager Song and have him make recommendations for them.

Feng Yu lay on the bed with his eyes open, tears falling down the corners of his eyes.

He felt lamentable.

If he hadn’t resigned, he would also end up with the same ending today.

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He would die, and the Feng family would be over.

Even if his parents would try to protect him, his uncles would force him to die for the future of his cousins.

The Zhang family and the Yuan family were ruined, one stumble and they were unable to rise back up again. Perhaps after a few years, no one would remember that there were two young men who were once officials in their family.

TN: bonus chapter coming up!

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“This is the money the people use now.” The official below carefully presented a string of copper coins to Lin Yuan.

After Lin Yuan took it over, he took a closer look. The front of the coin was inscribed “the most upright treasure”, and the back was “luck” and “authorized currency”, and there were also banker’s anti-fraud numerals.

This was the copper coin of the Yuan Shun Emperor period.

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Lin Yuan had never made copper coins before——it was not stable enough, and the territory was not big enough, even if he made the money himself, it was not easy to circulate.

Made into paper money? The acceptance by the people would probably be fine. After all, the Yuan Dynasty did a good job on banknotes, but anti-counterfeiting was too troublesome.

Lin Yuan felt that it was a step backwards if he used copper coins and gold and silver.

After all, there were already banknotes, and if they went back to using copper, gold and silver, Lin Yuan couldn’t help feeling that it would be a pity.

Lin Yuan asked: “Can the common people outside still use money?”

Was this money available in the surrounding prefectures and counties, or was it only used in Pingjiang?

This was the first time the official saw Lin Yuan and his heart practically felt as if it would jump out of his chest. He deeply felt that this was the closest moment he was to promotion in his life. He quickly said: “Only food is exchanged outside, and one can’t even buy a catty of grains with a hundred coins. Not even the cheapest grain.”

Lin Yuan nodded: “This money can no longer be used.”

The official swallowed and said: “Yes, yes, my Lord is right!”

Lin Yuan looked at this official, who was about 60 years old. If this was peaceful times, he would be at the age when it was time to retire and honorably return to his hometown. However, the retirement of officials at this time was different from modern times. There was no fixed time for retirement. However, for most officials, if their children were capable, they would retire in advance. After all, if the elderly don’t step down, the newcomers would not be able to come up. No emperor would be willing to let all the members of a single family be high officials. But as minor officials, then it would be fine. To the emperor, it was just a few more people to do chores.

But there were also some who knew that their children and grandchildren would not be able to take over their positions. So despite being seventy or eighty years old, so long as the emperor did not say anything, they would pretend not to know their age and continue to work.

“Then, we’ll still make copper coins.” Lin Yuan said to the official, “On the front engrave “God Bless China”, and on the back engrave…..we’ll discuss it in a few days…..”

He still had to think about it. To make copper coins, he needed to have an era name. Should he become the emperor at this time?

It was inconsistent with his plan so Lin Yuan could only say to the official: “Use the current reign money for now.”

The official didn’t know what Lin Yuan was thinking, but it was not like he could ask, so he said quickly: “My Lord is right!”

Lin Yuan was amused by this sixty year old man, and asked him with a smile, “Where are you from?”

The official quickly said: “This official is a native of Pingjiang, my surname is Sun, Sun Zhilin!”

This person had a loud voice, and when he spoke it sounded like a roar. As his face flushed red, he actually looked a few years younger.

“What did you do before?” Lin Yuan asked again.

Sun Zhilin’s eyes bulged bigger——he was born with small eyes and it always seemed like he was squinting at people. In order not to make Lin Yuan feel that he was being disrespectful, he bulged his eyes vigorously and did not dare to blink: “This official was originally in charge of farmsteads!”

The farmsteads belonged to the government. Every year, the money and grain earned in the farmstead had to be handed over to the granary. This job could not be said to be good or bad.

The good thing was that there must be some opportunities to embezzle money or grain. Although it would not be too much, it would also definitely not be too little.

The bad thing was that there was no access to the center of power while being in this position. Even the minor officials below had more speaking power than him.

A group of officials went down in Pingjiang, so he finally had a chance to be promoted.

Lin Yuan asked him: “How is your family now?”

Sun Zhilin smiled brightly: “Very good, in fact, better than before! This is all because of my Lord, and the people of Pingjiang know this! No one is more wise than my Lord.”

It was not an unpleasant thing to be praised by others, and Lin Yuan was also used to it. After a few more words with Sun Zhilin, he then let him go.

It would be best to not hurry on making new money.

After the copper coins were released, circulating it was still a big problem.

Money was only meaningful if it circulated, otherwise it was dead money.

He could not be in a hurry. Indeed he couldn’t be in a hurry.

Lin Yuan sat in tje chair with no expression on his face, thinking about what he had done along the way.

Some things had been carried out too urgently.

It shouldn’t be so urgent.

He must seriously reflect on himself.

He wanted to change everything that should be changed at once, but he never considered that with the world being so chaotic and the people’s hearts being so unstable, good things sometimes could turn into bad things. If there came along people with evil intentions…..

Lin Yuan finally discovered that Song Shizhao was right about one thing, that the people were too tired.

The people needed to recuperate, and Lin Yuan had become too fast for the people to keep up.

Lin Yuan felt a little weak, leaning back on the chair. The tea on the side was already cold, but without him saying anything, the servants did not dare to come in to change the tea. He finished the cup of cold tea and felt that both his throat and stomach were cold.

He hadn’t felt this powerlessness for a long time.

Was he wrong?

Lin Yuan felt that his thinking was correct, and that what should be changed should be changed.

But he shouldn’t be so fast, and the methods he used shouldn’t be so straightforward and brutal.

Lin Yuan instructed his servants: “Invite Manager Song to come over.”

The servant responded with an affirmative, and within half an hour, the person he wanted to see had already arrived.

Lin Yuan personally invited Song Shizhao in.

“Mister.” Lin Yuan stood in front of Song Shizhao and said, “After thinking about it, I found that it is Mister who is reasonable.”

Song Shizhao was now very clear about his position, and he dared not act spoiled in front of Lin Yuan, so he quickly said: “This official also thought about it. This official was wrong and my Lord’s direction is right. It is this official who is too ignorant.”

The two looked at each other, and Lin Yuan sighed: “Today’s Pingjiang is not my Pingjiang.”

This piece of land belonged to him, but the people have not given him their hearts. For Gaoyou, the South Bodhisattva was the life-saving medicine and the only vitality they could grasp in their hands, and therefore they could quickly keep up with Lin Yuan’s pace. But it was not so much as keeping up, in truth, it was because they didn’t think about anything. Whatever Lin Yuan said to do, they would do it. And as a result, Lin Yuan felt that such efficiency was normal.

But it was not.

Pingjiang was a counterexample.

The people of Pingjiang lead a quiet and peaceful life, and they were all considerably well off. Even the most ordinary households didn’t have to worry about food and clothing. Even small households had servants, and those who were a little wealthier had a collection of books at home——in this era, not everyone could have a collection of books. Generally speaking, books were passed on from father to son, from son to grandson. Only through passing down from generation to generation, could a family be regarded as having a foundation of profound learning inherited over the generations.

And only dozens of books could be called a collection of books.

Although movable type prints already exist, books had always been things of the ruling class and not everyone could read them. Otherwise there would not be so many illiterate people.

During peaceful times, books were wealth. The more books in a family, the more noble the family and the higher the social status.

Back then, when father Lin asked to marry Yang shi, what he valued was the collection of books in father Yang’s hands. The Yang family was poor and could barely even eat, and yet they still weren’t willing to sell their books. They would rather starve to death with those books.

It was a pity that father Lin’s plan fell through. After Yang shi got married, father Yang relied on father Lin’s betrothal gift for temporary relief, and then adopted a boy from another branch of the Yang family. The collection of books and family properties were naturally passed on to this boy.

If there were too many scholars, the people would become rebellious. They felt that they understood ten thousand truths and were just lacking in luck. In such a case, each and every one could rocket straight up into the sky.

Instead, people who didn’t read books were obedient. They didn’t understand any big truths. They only knew what the people above said to be the truth.

It was only then that Lin Yuan understood why the ancients had always restricted the people from reading——in addition to the expensive pen, ink, paper and inkstone, the most important thing was governance.

Lin Yuan said to Song Shizhao: “There is something to trouble you, Mister.”

Song Shizhao: “This official will definitely carry it out properly.”

Lin Yuan: “Hold a literary meeting, those scholars…..should be harnessed.”

Lest they get in the way, having high standards but little ability, speaking of major principles and the words of the sages every time they opened their mouths. In Lin Yuan’s eyes, they were not as useful as the farmers who planted the land. At least farmers could produce food. What could these people do?

Unable to produce, only knowing to follow what the books say without any flexibility, and even as officials——Lin Yuan was afraid that they would go out to harm a whole region of people.

Song Shizhao smiled and said: “Then leave it to this official.”

So Song Shizhao chose more than 20 families, and invited their sons or grandsons to participate in the literary meeting. A literary meeting was an elegant event, that was, a group of people sitting inside chatting and drinking while writing a few poems or writing a few words. If one wanted to be slightly bolder, they could call over some courtesans, and any written poems could be sung by these courtesans. Having one’s poems be known in such a way would just be an apocryphal story of the literati.

Lin Yuan sometimes didn’t understand these people. This group of people looked down on courtesans the most, but it was this group of people who also praised courtesans the most.

Ten out of ten exemplifying an ancient version of “that smells delicious”. (TN: internet slang used for someone who refused to do something only to do it later and end up face-slapping oneself)

All those who received invitations sent by Song Shizhao went, and they were all very excited.

After all, although Song Shizhao was left out in the cold before, he was recently brought back to the side of the South Bodhisattva again. Compared to before, his treatment was obviously better than before.

Was it still a bad thing to hug such a golden thigh?

Besides, the South Bodhisattva had not yet started holding an imperial examination, and there was no other chance to get promoted. But so long as Song Shizhao was willing to recommend them, would it not be easy to become an official based on their ability?

Song Shizhao first chatted with each one of them, visiting them from house to house. He was able to call out the names of every one of them. He even knew who their father was, whether there were any famous people in the family, and the book collections of each family, praising this group of scholars so much that they couldn’t help feeling smug.

Then Song Shizhao said: “Now that the South Bodhisattva has arrived in Pingjiang, there are many things to do. Unfortunately, there are not enough people to do it.”

This group of scholars began to sigh along with him and said, “How can this be good!”

“Yes, after all, there are few scholars, and even fewer people understand the truths. What do the common people know? They are just ignorants.”

………

Song Shizhao praised them again, saying that they were all rare talents, and he was afraid that they would not be willing to help out. After all, scholars were proud and noble, and if he rashly invited them to be officials, he feared that they would feel humiliated.

This group of scholars also said: “How can this be, Manager Song, everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world. Although we are scholars, we also know the priorities, how can we be that unreasonable?”

So Song Shizhao was happy, and immediately chose a few people to go with him to see the South Bodhisattva.

Before the other scholars could speak, he took the chosen ones away.

Lin Yuan also conferred them with official positions——positions had no real power and only looked good on the surface.

When these scholars came home, they finally woke up from their daze. They were actually officials now?

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

As soon as they appeared, the other scholars looked at them in envy and jealousy. The most powerful thing about scholars was their pen and mouth. They united together and planned to drag those people down from their high seats. As for who would go up on these seats when the time came, then that would be decided later.

But in this way, these people began to become Lin Yuan’s yes-men.

After all, they had also discovered that it was not difficult to be an official. So long as the South Bodhisattva saw them in his eyes, they could amaze the world with a single brilliant feat.

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