Taiheiki

Chapter 23 Scholars
Just when Wei Cong thought the matter was over, he heard Deng Zhong say to the steward, "How about this? The five of them are now Mr. Wei's people. You arrange a secluded courtyard for them. From now on, they won't see outsiders. Their food and daily routine will be as my concubines. The indentures will be sent to Mr. Wei tomorrow!"

"Follow the order!"

"Mr. Wei, is this okay? You can come pick me up when you return from your journey!"

Wei Cong was completely stumped this time. He could have enjoyed the food and drinks, wiped his mouth, picked up his pants and left, but he couldn't completely ignore the five living beings. After all, they were intelligent beings: "You treat me too well, I really can't accept it!"

"Why do you say that, sir?" Deng Zhong said with a smile, "Sir, you have done me a great favor. How can a few women repay you? If my family, Deng from Nanyang, can make further progress this time, it is all because of your kindness!" Seeing that Wei Cong was still a little puzzled, he explained with a smile.

For modern people, the rise and fall of great families like the Deng, Liang, and Dou clans hinged on the struggle for power at the center, such as whose daughter became empress and, subsequently, who became a general. This assumption is certainly true. However, during the Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, this wasn't necessarily true. During this period, these powerful families were highly localized. Given the opportunity, their outstanding members naturally hoped to gain access to the imperial center through officialdom, marriage, or military merit. By seizing central power, they could gain greater benefits, expand their family's influence, and transform themselves from local families into top-tier, national aristocratic families, perhaps even seizing imperial power.

But this doesn't mean they would, like the gentry of the later Tang and Song dynasties, simply leave their family homes and relocate to areas surrounding the capital to maintain their cultural and network advantages in order to maintain their influence over the central government. Quite the contrary, these powerful families were reluctant to relocate to areas surrounding the capital if possible. Even if they gained power at the central level, they remained in the capital only temporarily, devoting most of their energy to controlling the prefectures and counties where their families were located. To break this control, the Western Han Dynasty even had to resort to the "relocation of the mausoleum" system—using state violence to force these powerful clans to leave their hometowns and relocate to areas around Chang'an. This was unthinkable in the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Under such circumstances, the families of the Han, Wei and Jin dynasties appeared to be particularly tenacious. Even a family like the Anding Liang family, which was entirely exterminated by Emperor He of Han, did not actually disappear from the stage of power for long. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Liang Hu was selected as a filial and honest official and was promoted to the position of Minister of Selection. Later, he was appointed as the Governor of Liangzhou and Youzhou. He was a famous calligrapher at the time and Cao Cao liked him very much. During the Western Jin Dynasty, Liang Fen, the father-in-law of Emperor Huai of Jin, was also from the Anding Liang family and was promoted to one of the Three Dukes.

The reason is simple: Emperor Huan of Han only exterminated the branch of the Liang family in Luoyang, leaving those in their home province of Liang Province largely unscathed. Since they controlled the power of selection and appointment in the local prefectures and counties, it was natural that their descendants would be recommended for promotion. So why didn't Emperor Huan of Han eradicate the Liang family in Liang Province as well? One reason is that the two sides were indeed quite distant in terms of blood relationship; another reason is that Liang Province was already unstable during the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the extermination of a powerful family that controlled the local prefectures and counties would likely lead to a costly rebellion that could potentially cost the entire empire.

Therefore, children of top families like Deng Zhong actually have a normal attitude towards changes in central power. They are well aware that central power is temporary, and their hometown prefectures and counties are the long-term solution. No one can always be a Three Dukes, a general, or marry their daughter to the emperor to become empress or empress dowager. Everyone will eventually step down from the core of power. Moreover, the emperor changes his ministers with each dynasty. When the emperor gets older, he will often purge the powerful relatives of the previous dynasty to make room for his own relatives and confidants. Therefore, being too close to the emperor and being too involved in central politics is not necessarily a good thing. Therefore, the truly wise people in the aristocratic families often prefer to manage their family's prefectures and counties - such as lecturing, compiling and writing Confucian classics, managing farms, commerce, and military affairs. These are the real things that can be passed down from generation to generation and carry forward the family's prosperity.

For the Nanyang Deng family, over a hundred years had passed since the founding of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Nanyang was the largest county in China, with a population of 244 million, representing over % of the Eastern Han Dynasty's total population. There wasn't much land left for them to annex. By Deng Zhong's generation, the family's focus had shifted to commerce and finance.

As early as the Shang Dynasty, a geographical passage existed from the Central Plains through the Fangcheng Gap into the Nanyang Basin, then along the Han River to southeastern Hubei. This passage, later known as the "Fangcheng Xia Road," held crucial strategic importance for the rulers of the Central Plains during the pre-Qin period, as Daye, in present-day southeastern Hubei Province, was rich in copper resources.

Later, the Chu State rose in the Han River Basin, annexing the Hanyang consorts and gaining control of the Nanyang Basin. This became the Chu's base for hegemony in the Central Plains, and the Chu people invested significant manpower and resources in repairing this road. Therefore, for a considerable period, the Nanyang Basin was considered part of Chu territory, and the prosperity of Wancheng was largely built on this trade route. The bills proposed by Wei Cong could greatly improve the efficiency of long-distance trade. For Deng Zhong, this was a lasting benefit, far more practical than having a queen.

"If Mr. Wei doesn't mind that Deng Zhong is stupid, please come back to Wancheng to live permanently in the future. I will take him as your teacher!" Having said that, Deng Zhong bowed down.

"No need to be so polite!" Wei Cong quickly extended his hand to support him. "You and I are of the same age, so why not just call each other brothers? Calling me sir would be too formal!"

Deng Zhonglian said he didn't dare, but after several attempts at refusing, he finally agreed. The two of them each announced their courtesy names, with Deng Zhong's courtesy name being Shimao. Unknowingly, their relationship became closer.

At this time, a burst of voices came from the hall. Deng Zhong frowned and shouted, "Brother Meng De and I are drinking here. Whoever is making noise here, get out!"

"It's Mr. Wei's follower!" the manager stepped forward and whispered.

"Brother Meng De's follower?" Deng Zhong glanced at Wei Cong and said, "Then let him come up!"

A moment later, Zhao Yannian came up, followed closely by Wang Shou. They bowed to Wei Cong first, and Wei Cong nodded. "What's the matter?"

"Reporting to you, sir!" Zhao Yannian raised his head. "Just now, the host of this place entertained me with wine and food, and also gave me generous clothes and knives. I think it is rude to accept rewards without any merit! Disrespect will lead to chaos. I have come to the hall to report this, and I would like your instructions!"

Wei Cong was stunned when he heard this, and subconsciously glanced at Deng Zhong, thinking to himself that this man was really a good person. He even gave gifts to the guards around him. "Brother Shimao, what are you doing——"

"Oh!" Deng Zhong laughed. "This is just a common practice at home. When distinguished guests visit, we not only treat them to food and wine, but also present them with a gift of gifts from our entourage. I guess the servants saw that Brother Meng De and his party had come from afar and were exhausted, so they presented them with clothes and shoes. Brother Meng De, don't mind it!"

"Thank you, Brother Shimao!" Wei Cong smiled and turned to Zhao Yannian: "This is all out of kindness, just accept it!" Zhao Yannian glanced at Wei Cong before thanking Deng Zhong and leaving. Deng Zhong poured Zhao Yannian a glass of wine and said with a smile: "Brother Mengde, this subordinate really has the style of an ancient scholar!"

"Oh? Why do you say that, Brother Shimao?"

"Your Excellency is able to restrain himself with etiquette and laws, and does not change even in the face of adversity. Aren't you a gentleman?" Deng Zhong said with a smile.

Wei Cong nodded inwardly upon hearing this, his opinion of Zhao Yannian subtly shifting. Unlike foreign religions like Buddhism and Christianity, traditional Chinese thought did not consider all people equal. However, this inequality was not based on bloodline, economic or social status, but on morality and talent.

Therefore, ancient China applied two different requirements to scholars and common people: "No punishment for high officials, no ritual for common people." This wasn't just a matter of class inequality; ritual often encompassed a wider range and was more stringent than law. Scholars were required to consciously abide by ritual and law, or they would lose their status as scholars. Unlike common people, they could still evade criminal law.

For example, when a Han Dynasty emperor wanted to execute a minister, he didn't even need to conduct a trial, convict, or sentence him to death. All he needed was an imperial edict of condemnation, and the minister would commit suicide at home. Being condemned by an imperial edict would result in imprisonment, and into the hands of jailers. This was a profound humiliation for the scholar-official class, and as such, they were expected to resist humiliation and defend their dignity with their lives. While commoners who violated criminal laws could flee to the mountains and forests, scholars who wished to avoid losing their status as scholars could only commit suicide. Those who, like Sima Qian, chose to endure castration rather than suicide, faced the humiliation of being looked down upon by the world. Therefore, in his "Letter to Ren'an," he repeatedly emphasized that his endurance wasn't due to fear of death, but rather to his unfulfilled ideal of "understanding the changes of the past and present, and forming his own unique opinion." Yet, the words are filled with a sense of despair and pain that can be felt even today.

(Lu Xun's statement that "rituals and rites eat people" is not without reason, but in ancient times, rituals and laws did have their rationale. After all, if power is not exercised by those who can strictly restrain themselves with this "ritual and rites that eat people," any political system will collapse due to the unlimited expansion of the desires of those in power. Therefore, in modern times, Zeng, Zuo, and Hu would say that "the great changes have not happened in three thousand years" because they discovered that the old trick of restraining people with rituals and laws, which has always worked, is no longer effective. The newly born capitalism not only does not use rituals and laws to restrain desires, but instead encourages people to indulge their desires and use desires to make themselves stronger. But that is another story.)
Judging from Zhao Yannian's economic and social status, despite his unchanging title, he was essentially a retired soldier, a landless peasant, and a member of the lower social strata. Yet, he was able to hold himself to the standards of a scholar, observing propriety and abiding by it. In Deng Zhong's eyes, this is the saying, "A gentleman is content with poverty, while a villain is prone to licentiousness." Such a person would have been selected as a filial and honest official during the Han Dynasty, and naturally could not be simply dismissed as Wei Cong's subordinate.

"Brother Shimao!"

"What's the matter?"

"I came to Wancheng this time to bring an artifact!" Wei Cong briefly explained the advantages and disadvantages of the four-wheeled carriage and its structure, and concluded, "This bill of exchange method can only be fully utilized if long-distance trade flourishes. For long-distance trade, carriages are used on land and boats on water. This four-wheeled carriage is definitely something your family could use!"

"Oh, I didn't expect Brother Meng De to know about artifacts. That's great!" Deng Zhong was delighted. "Why don't you just stay in Wancheng permanently, Brother Meng De? Let's work together to build something great!"

"This..." Faced with Deng Zhong's sincere invitation, Wei Cong couldn't help but be moved this time. No matter from which perspective, Deng Zhong was a hundred times better than Cai Buyi in terms of building a career. However, if it weren't for Cai Buyi's help when he first crossed over, he wouldn't have had this opportunity. If he abandoned Cai and joined Deng, it would be a bit embarrassing.

"Well, this time when I go back, I'll give Cai Buyi some money as a thank you for taking care of me all this time. I'll just repay the favor!" Wei Cong made up his mind and said to Deng Zhong with a smile, "Since Brother Shimao is so kind, I won't refuse. However, I was staying with a good friend in Xinye for a while, so I have to go back and say goodbye to him first and settle all my affairs before I can come to Wancheng to join Shimao!"

"Good!" Deng Zhong clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Where are the beautiful dancers in the hall? Come up! Whoever can make Brother Meng De enjoy himself tonight will be rewarded with a hundred pieces of silk!"

"Wait!" Wei Cong barely managed to speak when he was enveloped by the scent and bodies of the young women. Everywhere he looked was smooth skin, beautiful faces, voluptuous bodies, and flattering smiles. If he had any other thoughts in his mind, they had long since been cast aside. That night, he had only one thought in his mind: how great it was to be a member of the ruling class!

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The wheels creaked rhythmically as they rolled over the rammed earth. Zhao Yannian rode a green mule at the head of the team, while the others, riding mules and horses, were spread out between two carriages, protecting their masters.

Wang Ge glanced at his companions in front of him with a furtive look, then whispered to Wang Shou beside him with a beaming expression, "Uncle Shou, did you know that Young Master Wei was helped onto the carriage this morning by those two ridiculously pretty ladies? His legs were shaking as he walked. I bet those two ladies didn't let him rest all night. Alas, he's not living in vain!"

Hearing Wang Ge's words, Wang Shou, who usually loved to smile and make up dirty talk, did not respond. Instead, he tightened the reins, slightly increasing the distance between him and the carriage in front. Then, he said seriously, "Boy, listen to my advice. From now on, never say dirty words about Wei Langjun again. No, it's best not to even think about it. Do you understand?"

Wang Ge was frightened by Wang Shou's seriousness. He nodded and said, "I remember it. But why? You've made jokes about the county magistrate a lot in the past, haven't you?"

　Many thanks to book friends Wei Qingqingluo, Wanyan Yinghuang Third Prince, Galaxy Host Eating Steak, Dabao's Father, 156471 and others for their rewards and votes, and we look forward to more and more!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)