Longzang

Chapter 1002 Unrecorded in History

When asked by the King of Zhao, Wei Yuan replied, “Throughout history, what the people really wanted was simply to survive. If they could eat their fill and stay warm, they would consider it a rare and prosperous era. Some rulers even dared to call it a prosperous era simply because they didn’t let their people starve to death en masse and could eat chaff and drink thin gruel.”

For ordinary people, rebellion only arises when they are truly destitute. Therefore, providing relief to the poorest of the poor eliminates the source of unrest. This is the first point.

King Zhao, well-versed in history, said, “I agree with that point. However, Zhao has been at peace for twenty years now, and before I met you, my son, the country had never suffered from war. In times of peace, many of these poor people are idle, lazy, and unruly. Should we provide them with relief as well?”

Wei Yuan said, "You just said something like, 'Poor mountains and bad waters breed unruly people,' which is precisely the reason why we should provide relief. First, there are poor mountains and bad waters, where people struggle to survive and have no choice but to be stingy with every penny, and only then do so-called unruly people emerge."

King Zhao said, “Being born in a poor and desolate place is also a kind of karmic retribution. It is their destiny, and they should live and die on their own. From a Buddhist perspective, the cause of the past life is the effect of the present life. Perhaps these people committed too many evils in their past lives, which is why they are being punished in this life.”

Wei Yuan said, "Destiny and reincarnation exist naturally. Poor mountains and bad waters are also part of heaven and earth. Some mortals are born into royal families, while others are born in dangerous mountains and poor lands. This is indeed their own fate, and they cannot blame others."

But I am just a commoner, so I can think that way; you, as the king, cannot think that way. It is the king's responsibility to either transform barren mountains and fertile fields into clear waters, or to relocate the people there to prosperous and habitable lands. If these things are accomplished, and if there are still those who are lazy and live in hardship, then that is their own fault, their own doing.”

King Zhao pondered for a long time before saying, "What you say makes sense, but transforming barren mountains and bad waters into habitable places is no less difficult than changing the world itself!"

"It is precisely because this is something that the local people cannot do on their own that it is the responsibility of the ruler. In these places, we cannot teach people how to fish, but we can teach them how to fish."

King Zhao said, "Even if it's just about extending a helping hand to the poorest people—oh, you mean that kind of welfare you mentioned—very few people throughout history have done it, and no emperor of a great nation has ever done it. So why should I do this?"

Wei Yuan said, "It is precisely because this event is unprecedented that he can be called a great emperor throughout the ages!"

King Zhao's breathing suddenly became heavier. After a moment, he calmed down and said with a wry smile, "This is usurpation. Only Tang can call himself emperor."

"A king for all ages?"

"That doesn't sound so good."

King Zhao rose and paced back and forth in his study, deep in thought. After a moment, he said, "Regarding the welfare you mentioned, there's something I don't understand. I just did some calculations, and if the scope were expanded even slightly, the national treasury's annual revenue would immediately be insufficient to cover the expenditures. No matter how much tax is increased, it won't make sense."

Wei Yuan said, "Why expand the scope? At this time, we only need two things for welfare: first, eliminate the poorest people; second, make everyone literate. This won't cost much money, but it will gain a lot of popularity. As long as Zhao grows more cotton, mulberry, and other precious trees, it will have enough tax revenue to pay for it."

"Isn't enlightening the people a good thing?"

Wei Yuan said, "You don't intend to go against the tide, so why be afraid? Whether the people are enlightened or not, justice resides in the hearts of the people."

King Zhao sighed and said, "I am not worried about myself, but what if my descendants become incompetent and domineering? What if they want to indulge in pleasure and occasionally want to be above the law?"

As long as the people remain unenlightened, the masses will be nothing but a disorganized mess. When I die, I can simply divide them into several groups and let them fight amongst themselves, and my descendants will be able to secure their rule. For example, I can let those from the south and north of the mountains fight each other, those from the east and west of the river contend, or even divide them by skin color and customs. Just like those who eat pork can be mortal enemies with those who eat beef.”

"This..." Wei Yuan was speechless.

King Zhao said, "I wish to be an emperor for all ages, but I wish even more that my kingdom will last for ten thousand generations, and that for all future generations, all the rulers on this land will bear the surname Li! I am not a sage, and I also have my own selfish desires."

Wei Yuan sighed, "Then let's compromise. Let's announce the benefits first. Your prestige can rise to another level. Of all the previous kings of the Great Zhao, only Emperor Gaozu could surpass you. It wouldn't be too much to add 'Ancestor' to your title from now on. Hmm, Zhao Wenzu, how about that?"

King Zhao glared at Wei Yuan, then immediately summoned someone to draft an edict in front of Wei Yuan and issued it.

After this matter was settled, King Zhao asked, "Put your brains in and help me think of a way to ensure that the Li family's rule will last for ten thousand generations." Wei Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "Didn't you just say that? Divide the family into clans and let them fight amongst themselves, and the Li family will be able to secure their rule?"

"This is a last resort; is there a better way?"

Wei Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Yes. It is to enlighten the people, and then the monarch should work hard to govern and cultivate. With the royal family's accumulation over the years, the bloodline must be good and the resources must be the most abundant. So as long as each generation is diligent, they can definitely surpass the wealthy and powerful families. The number and rank of high-level cultivators in the royal family should also be the most."

After saying that, Wei Yuan emphasized, "As long as future generations work hard."

King Zhao sighed and said, "Have you forgotten the Martial Ancestor? This is simply impossible."

Wei Yuan then remembered that among the descendants of the nine royal families, as long as they were even remotely related to the throne, their path to immortality was basically cut off at the Dharma Aspect level. Those who could cultivate to the Imperial Realm as rulers of the nine kingdoms were, in fact, all destined for immortality.

At this point, Wei Yuan had no other choice, since it was only natural for an emperor to want his descendants to rule the world forever.

Fortunately, the important matter of welfare was settled. Just as Wei Yuan was about to take his leave, King Zhao said, "My reputation is very good now, but yours is not so good. Should I send some of my court writers to lend you a hand?"

Wei Yuan was not a pedantic person, and immediately said that this was for the best.

Upon leaving the Zhao Palace, Wei Yuan soared into the sky, heading at full speed towards the Western Jin Dynasty. In the Western Jin, public sentiment was turbulent, and many scholars and literati launched a scathing attack on Wei Yuan, finding fault with everything he did. Some even went so far as to record Wei Yuan in local historical annals.

Local history compilation is not as rigorous as national history, but national history draws heavily on local history content. In this way, it cleverly nails Wei Yuan to the pillar of shame.

On his way to the State of Jin, Wei Yuan, like the most miserly hoarder, meticulously calculated his remaining fortune. There were only a few days left until the one-month deadline, but his fortune was still nearly twenty million short of the one hundred million mark.

Wei Yuan has exhausted all available means, leaving only direct military attack on various countries. But even if Wei Yuan manages to sweep across the nine kingdoms and change the world, his initial luck will be negative, given the continuous warfare and the lack of a just cause for Wei Yuan.

Just then, amidst the everyday hustle and bustle, a task was completed, and the report was delivered to Wei Yuan. This report was marked as the most important; it had to be presented to Wei Yuan immediately upon completion, and all other matters had to be postponed.

This task was to calculate the loss of life and fortune caused by the attacks on Wei Yuan by scholars and literati throughout the Western Jin Dynasty.

To this end, Wei Yuan specially dispatched almost all of his Dao Foundation Warriors and also sent out all his Dharma Aspect level Dao Soldiers to collect data for a full twenty days throughout the Western Jin Dynasty. Now, the results are finally in.

Upon opening the report, Wei Yuan's eyes instantly flashed with murderous intent.

Wei Yuan's various beneficial measures implemented in the eight southern commanderies of Jin were even better than those in Zhao. However, because he wanted scholars and Confucianists to reduce rents and grain taxes and return the land they had annexed, he was met with fierce criticism and attacks from them, and surprisingly only gained a meager three or four million units of Qingqi.

Compared to the Zhao state, Wei Yuan has lost more than ten million people and resources.

Wei Yuan looked at the report quietly, feeling neither sorrow nor joy, and was already planning his next move.

These aristocratic scholars did not anticipate that although they held the power to write history at will, Wei Yuan had no desire to be remembered in history.

　PS: Today's little roll

　　
　
(End of this chapter)