Font
Large
Medium
Small
Night
Prev Index    Favorite Next

Chapter 44: Observing public sentiment

When an emperor goes on tour, it often takes months or even years to prepare. But going out of the palace incognito is completely different.

But even so, by the time Ying Zheng and Fu Su came out, it was already close to noon.

They were followed by dozens of guards who were the most skilled in martial arts and most loyal to Da Qin. Hundreds of people were placed on the outside to protect them secretly.

Once something unexpected happens, the guards will sacrifice their lives to protect Ying Zheng. Hundreds of people on the periphery will fight their way out to save Ying Zheng and return to Lanchi Palace.

Fortunately, the wine shop is not too far from Lanchi Palace, so there shouldn't be any trouble.

Along the way, Ying Zheng was indeed observing the people of Xianyang City.

He saw an old man with a sallow complexion, a man in ragged clothes, a woman who had to go out to work, and a child with no shoes and bare feet.

If you say it's unsettling, it's definitely a lie. But if you want to say how subversive it is, it doesn't matter.

When he was young, Ying Zheng lived in Handan City. What didn't he see at that time? Who among the people of the Six Kingdoms did not have a hard life?

He had no clothes to cover his body, no food to eat, and when there was a battle, he cried goodbye to his wife. After a great battle, not one out of ten was left alive. The battlefield was littered with bones, and the farmland was covered with weeds.

Later, Ying Zheng took charge of the Qin State and spent ten years to destroy the six kingdoms and unify the world. Some Confucian scholars said that the war to destroy the country often killed and injured hundreds of thousands, which was too cruel.

However, Ying Zheng knew that the real cruelty was when the princes stood side by side and fought for years. They could not care for the people internally, and they could not control the barbarians externally. Only through unification can peace be enjoyed. This is a long-term pain rather than a short-term pain.

Ying Zheng looked at Fusu beside him and saw a look of unbearability on his face. He shook his head and sighed.

Ying Zheng asked: "The people are in hardship, can my son have a good strategy for governing the country?"

Fusu immediately said confidently: "Be generous and love others, and practice benevolent government."

Ying Zheng asked again: "Then how should benevolent government be implemented?"

Fusu's tone paused, then he thought for a moment and said, "Rule the country with rituals and music."

Ying Zheng asked again: "Can ritual and music ward off the Huns? Can they deter lawbreakers?"

Fusu said with certainty: "Yes. If everyone in the world knows etiquette, once there is a war, everyone will be enthusiastic. Fathers must protect their children, and husbands must protect their wives. The governor of the county must protect the people of a city, and the generals and soldiers must

Be loyal to the king and serve the country. If you do this, you will fight to the death and fight bravely to kill the enemy. Why should the Huns worry about being destroyed?"

"As for deterring lawless people, it is even simpler. If the country is governed by ritual and music, it will surely be able to achieve the same governance as Yao and Shun. At that time, people will not pick up lost things on the road, and the houses will not be closed at night. How can there be lawless people?"

Ying Zheng couldn't help but sigh slightly: "My son, who cares about the people, is a good person. But he may not be a good monarch."

"A good monarch must climb high and look far, and he must also understand that people's hearts are unpredictable. This child's vision is not high enough, and he is a little naive. If he really ascends to the throne, he will definitely do bad things with good intentions, or be deceived by others."

"Probably because he grew up in a deep palace and had too little experience. Maybe... I should let him go out and experience it?"

Ying Zheng lowered his head and thought deeply, when suddenly Chunyu Yue came with a group of Confucian scholars to pay homage to the emperor.

It turned out that Fusu told Chun Yuyue about the emperor's inspection tour incognito, and Chun Yuyue came with a group of eloquent Confucian scholars.

Now that Fusu has made a remonstrance, and since the emperor has come out, we must hit the target with one strike. We must take advantage of this opportunity to destroy Huaiguzi, and we must not give him a chance to stand up.

Ying Zheng didn't say anything, he just nodded and let them follow him.

It didn't take long and everyone had already reached the vicinity of the wine shop.

Since Wang Laoshi made a lot of money, he bought all the surrounding shops and turned them into a huge store.

He hired people to decorate the wine shop. Now the door is very grand and the decoration inside is also very luxurious.

The wooden pillars are painted with bright auspicious birds, and the ground is paved with flat stones. The exquisite mats are covered with soft cushions made of silk.

The luxury here makes the Guizhou chiefs daunted. Like a few days ago, it would never happen again that a hundred Guizhou chiefs could buy a glass of wine together.

But the dignitaries like it more and more. After they drink the fairy wine once, they often come here for the second or third time. This is not because they like the fairy wine, but because there is a trend in Xianyang: drinking fairy wine

Fairy wine is a symbol of status.

This feeling is like the 8848 of later generations.

Of course, the extremely noble fairy wine is paired with luxurious furnishings. The price of the fairy wine has soared tenfold. Now, even if Wang Laoshi does not mix it with water, his profits are higher than before.

Li Wen was right. This guy was a business wizard.

Ying Zheng did not enter the wine shop, but watched from a distance. There were many Xianyang people around, who were also watching.

People don't dare to go in. It is said that after entering, you have to pay even if you don't drink. But...it's always okay to stand at the door and take a look, right?

Chunyu Yue suddenly sighed and said: "The people's blood and sweat, the people's fat and the people's anointing."

Ying Zheng whispered a few instructions to the guards next to him, and then led Fusu to a secluded place.

After a while, the guard brought over a commoner who looked frightened.

Ying Zheng said: "Don't panic, we are just asking a few questions."

Although the people did not know Ying Zheng's identity, looking at the ostentation, they knew that he was either rich or noble. So they hurriedly saluted and said, "My lord, feel free to ask."

Ying Zheng said: "Recently, this fairy wine has defrauded many people into bankruptcy. Why don't I see anyone going to the government to complain?"

The people were stunned and said, "I have never heard of losing all my property."

A Confucian scholar couldn't help but said: "A cup of wine costs ten thousand yuan. Ordinary people, who has a family with ten thousand coins? Doesn't it mean that one cup of wine will make you bankrupt?"

The people laughed: "Those who are willing to drink are all rich and powerful people, and they don't need ten thousand yuan. As for ordinary people, who will lose everything and drink this? If you can really become an immortal, then that's it. The owner of the wine shop has long said that

Yes, although this wine is delicious, it is just delicious. Although we are illiterate and look stupid, we are not stupid enough to risk our lives for a glass of wine."

"By the way, this wine has now cost as much as 100,000 yuan a cup. Those who can afford it are the real nobles. The squires in the fields and the merchants who do business no longer dare to think too much."

Ying Zheng glanced at the Confucian scholar and said calmly: "It seems that the head of Guizhou is smarter than you think."

Chunyu Yue twisted his beard and said: "Even though the princes and generals drank this wine, the wine shop is so luxuriously decorated and the price of this fairy wine is so high. Over time, extravagance has become prevalent. It is a disaster for our country, Da Qin.

Bless you. Huaiguzi is such a scourge."

As soon as these words came out, the people suddenly looked at Ying Zheng and his party with vigilance, and said sternly: "Could it be that you are other alchemists?"

Ying Zheng was stunned when he heard this: "What other alchemist?"

The people said: "Everyone in Xianyang City knows that Master Huaiguzi is at odds with other alchemists. You are confusing right and wrong and wantonly slandering Master Huai. Who are the other alchemists?"

Chunyu Yue was a little bit dumbfounded.

Ying Zhengze said with great interest: "Whether we are other alchemists or not, it doesn't matter. But what is your relationship with Huaiguzi? Why are you so excited when you heard that someone slandered him?"

The common man said: "I am not related to Mr. Huai, but he gave me a way to live. How can I not be grateful?"

Chunyu Yue said with some surprise: "Can a shameless villain like Huai Guzi be willing to do good?"

The people glared angrily and said, "Lord Huai has never given charity to us, but he is not a shameless villain either."

Chunyu Yue smiled slightly and said, "I made a mistake. So, may I ask, how did Huai Guzi give you a way out?"

The people said: "I am a hawker in the city. I steam some corn and sell it every day to make ends meet. Ever since Mr. Huai gave Wang Laoshi the order to open a wine shop, this street has become lively."

"Nobles, princes, and ministers, who wouldn't go out without cheering and cheering? Naturally, they will be entertained with fine clothes and fine food, and their coachmen, servants, and guards will all have to buy some food from my stall."

"In the past few days, I have made more money than in the past month. If I continue like this, I will have enough money to marry a wife by the end of the year."

"I'm not the only one on this street. Tea sellers, cake sellers, even cloth sellers, and charcoal sellers all come to join in the fun. A wine shop gives everyone a way to survive."

"As for luxury, it's all paid by the princes, so what does it have to do with me? We, the common people, only care about how to survive, but don't care about extravagance. If officials are more luxurious, we can live a good life.

I would rather they spend money like water every day."

Ying Zheng sighed and said: "So this is what the leaders of Guizhou say from the bottom of their hearts. Today is an eye-opener for me."

Chunyu Yue and others looked at me and I looked at you, and they all felt a little boring.
Chapter completed!
Prev Index    Favorite Next