Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 241 Impolite, Unwise, and Distrustful—The Crown Prince Laughs and Says, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

The monthly salary of a pavilion chief is 600 coins, that of a pavilion soldier is 300 coins, that of a village chief is 200 coins, that of a detachment chief is 100 coins, and that of a squad leader is 50 coins.

The salaries for these positions were very low. An adult could only afford one shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice per month. Based on the current grain price of 120 coins per shi, even the monthly salary of a village head was barely enough to support a family of five, including a husband, wife, and three children. There was no money left over to buy meat, clothing, bedding, and other necessities.

However, as respectable families, most of them were landlords who had servants to do their work or rented their land to tenants. Even if they were not as wealthy, they were still rich farmers whose income far exceeded their family expenses, so they naturally did not need to rely on these meager monthly stipends to support their families.

However, these positions allowed them to transcend half a class from ordinary citizens, becoming semi-official and semi-commoners.

The path to promotion through the recommendation system for filial piety and integrity was so competitive that even powerful and wealthy families fought tooth and nail for it every year. How could it possibly be available to ordinary, respectable families?
The path to advancement for sons of respectable families was often through serving as county clerks, and by establishing relationships with the three chief officials of the county, they could bring their own sons into the county government as clerks, or even have their sons succeed their fathers after the father's death.

After accumulating wealth over several generations, and maintaining their positions as county officials, such families can be considered powerful and influential.

If one possesses certain talents and learning, one may have the opportunity to use connections to enter the prefecture and serve as a prefectural official.

After generations of hard work, they have served as county officials for generations, and some have even risen to the rank of county magistrate or other official positions with a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain measure). They can then be called a powerful family and finally have the qualifications to cultivate their reputation and win a place for a filial and incorruptible official for their clan members.

But all of this is predicated on the fact that this respectable young man is quite wealthy and has connections in the county. Otherwise, he would not be qualified to serve as a county official, let alone a township head or a village head.

However, now the Crown Prince is giving priority to recruiting men from good families for all positions below the township level. This opens up a path for men from ordinary good families to advance, and at the same time, it also removes some of the power to appoint and dismiss men from positions below the township level from the county magistrate.

Of course, you must have served in the military, that is, served the country, and have a record of killing enemies.

How could these respectable young men not be driven to the brink of disaster?
Of course, the biggest advantage is joining the central army.

Ordinary soldiers in the central army all have official ranks, with a rank equivalent to 200 shi (a unit of grain measure). The starting point is the highest rank among county officials. After a few years of hard work, they can become officials with the same rank as the lowest-ranking county lieutenant and county magistrate, with a rank of 200 shi.

Listen to the shouts of the respectable young men from good families participating in the selection process outside, opposing the reform of the Crown Prince's system?

Those must be rude, foolish, and treacherous villains. And for such people, who are impolite, unwise, and untrustworthy, then don't blame the Crown Prince for laughing and saying, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

After a few rounds of drinks, Dong Zhuo and Cai Yong shifted their conversation from politics to personal matters. Dong Zhuo's face flushed, and his eyes were slightly tipsy. He suddenly leaned close to Cai Yong, a sly smile on his lips, and said, "How are the preparations for Zhao Ji's wedding going? I'm preparing to give her a considerable dowry!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Yong rolled his eyes, slammed his wine cup down, spilling some wine, and said irritably, "What business is it of yours if my daughter gets married? Why should you be the one preparing the dowry?"

Dong Zhuo was displeased. His ferocious face glared at Cai Yong, the fat on his cheeks trembling slightly. He grabbed Cai Yong's shoulder and said, "Hey, you dog-like Cai Bojie, Zhao Ji calls me Uncle, so I should have a share of the dowry. Are you looking down on me?"

When you first meet a good friend, you're naturally polite and courteous. But as time goes on, you become friends who find each other annoying and sarcastic.

These two old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time might have had a "return protection period," but it was clear that after a few drinks, this "return protection period" had long been forgotten. Every now and then, a few swear words would pop out of their mouths. Who would have thought that the world-famous Cai Yong would be arm in arm with Dong Zhuo, barefoot, cursing each other with vulgar and offensive language?

“Of course I despise you.” Cai Yong slapped Dong Zhuo’s hand away, seemingly unconcerned that the strong and fierce general would be angry, and mocked, “Don’t pretend I don’t know that you are something that was looted from the Xiongnu, something stained with weapons and lives. How dare you say you want to add to Zhaoji’s dowry?”

Dong Zhuo was taken aback, and after thinking about it, he realized that this seemed rather unlucky. Who would send plundered spoils as a dowry on someone's daughter's joyous wedding day?
"Then I'll just send someone to buy it. I will never allow Zhaoji's dowry to be less substantial than others'. If you dare to refuse again, I will... I will smash your Jiao Wei Qin... No way! That's right, I'll stay at your mansion, eat and drink your food, and eat your Cai Bojie's family out of house and home!"

Cai Yong looked at Dong Zhuo's utterly ineffective coercion and couldn't help but show a helpless expression, feigning disdain for this childish fellow.

He was aware of Dong Zhuo's feelings for him.

Cai Yong fled to Yangzhou to avoid disaster. If he hadn't taken the eldest son of the Gu family of Wu County as his disciple, he might have starved to death long ago. Where would he have any extra money at home?

The Crown Prince promoted him from the position of Prefect of the State to a rank of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain). Although he had only served for a few months last year, he received a full year's salary, 78000 coins and 432 shi of rice, as well as 20000 coins and 1000 shi of rice as a New Year's Day gift. Although he seemed to have nearly 100,000 coins and 1,500 shi of rice, most of it was to be used to repay the money he had spent on the care of the Gu family in Jiangdong over the years, the money spent on the care of his daughter by the Yang family of Taishan, and the assistance he had received from other friends during his years of exile.

Although these people were not actually required to repay Cai Yong, he still insisted on repaying them, otherwise he would sever ties. Unable to resist his stubbornness, his friends had no choice but to accept Cai Yong's money, but resolutely refused to accept interest.

Even so, these debts have not yet been paid off.

Although Cai Yong's mansion was bestowed by the imperial court, it required him to spend his own money on daily maintenance. The servants and maids in the mansion were also expenses. Cai Yong also liked to buy books and musical scores, which were huge expenses. Where did he get the extra money?
Dong Zhuo was well aware of this, so he took the initiative to offer to add some dowry to Cai Yan's marriage.

Marrying off a daughter is a lifelong event. Although the ownership and disposal rights of the dowry belong to the woman, the size of the dowry represents the woman's status in her natal family and determines her treatment in her husband's family for the rest of her life.

Although the treatment in the palace is not determined by the dowry, the daily rewards for the palace maids and eunuchs naturally involve expenses, so how could the dowry be meager?

Seeing that Cai Yong was no longer insisting, Dong Zhuo put his arm around Cai Yong's shoulder again and said with a smile, "Hey, at worst, I'll just consider it as me seeking a backer for my granddaughter to enter the palace in advance. I think Zhao Ji is virtuous and kind, with the demeanor of an empress. In the future, when Bai'er enters the palace, I might need Zhao Ji to take care of her a bit."

After the previous battle ended, Dong Zhuo submitted a memorial to the Crown Prince, stating that if the court's financial resources were limited, there was no need to bestow too much favor upon him. Moreover, if His Highness the Crown Prince did not mind, he hoped to send his granddaughter Dong Bai to the palace when she turned thirteen six years later, so that she could contribute to His Highness's lineage and the stability of the country.

As for Liu Bian, seeing how eloquent Dong Zhuo was, linking sending his granddaughter to the palace to contributing to the stability of the country, he was naturally willing to form a marriage alliance with Dong Zhuo.

Whether it's to have children for him or to further solidify the relationship with Dong Zhuo, marrying Dong Bai is a sure-fire way to make money.

But Cai Yong suddenly elbowed Dong Zhuo, and immediately felt a sharp pain in his arm, making him gasp.

Damn it, I completely forgot that this guy was wearing black armor!

Cai Yong felt that Dong Zhuo was simply courting death by discussing the future empress's choice in broad daylight without any regard for others. He quickly stopped him and cautiously looked around to make sure no one was around before letting out a sigh of relief and saying, "Remember, you must not speak carelessly about matters of the harem!"

Dong Zhuo waved his hand casually, looking at Cai Yong with a half-smile. He didn't believe that Cai Yong didn't harbor some ambition.

Cai Yong didn't offer much explanation. To say that he had no desire for the Empress's position would not be entirely true.

Xun Ciming, who isn't a famous scholar of the world, who isn't a great Confucian scholar of our time!

Last year, outside the east gate of Luoyang City, before His Highness the Crown Prince, my carriage yielded to yours. But now, my daughter will never again yield the position of Empress to your daughter!
(2478 words)
(End of this chapter)