A special thank you to my patrons:
—Cain, Shahzaam, Splendid, Jacob Mooe, Varun Madhu, Gonzalo Sumalavia, kevin Williams, Jose Carrillo, ZaberZ, Jose Sierra, Salim, Silver, ManyEB, Александр Радняный, John Doe.
You can read 50 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
—————————————————————
Fei Qian glanced at Cui Hou, a problem he had considered before.
For Cui Hou, if Fei Qian's goal was merely ease of control, he could ignore him. Cui Hou's desire for higher status and greater power left him with two options: pledge loyalty to Fei Qian or seek another patron.
Fei Qian only needed to intervene if Cui Hou showed signs of betting on another side.
This approach had its benefits—simple and effortless—but it also had drawbacks, seeming somewhat cruel and selfish.
It was like knowing a young man's hot-blooded nature, tempting him with beauty, and then condemning him for falling astray, saying, "I knew you had ulterior motives all along…"
Whose fault was it?
Who should bear the blame?
Such methods aligned with Confucian ideals, which emphasized self-cultivation and discipline. How one cultivated their character or restrained their desires was their own responsibility. Aside from family or mentors, few would intervene.
Placing fine food before the glutton, beauty before the lecher, or wealth before the greedy—was this a test of character to select talent?
This was the Han dynasty's mindset, the Han dynasty's way. But it didn't align with Fei Qian's perspective, particularly the perspective shaped by his experiences in later eras.
Most importantly, it didn't suit Fei Qian's current situation.
No one wants to ruin their hand, especially when they hold few cards. Fei Qian's deck was limited, so he had to play each card carefully.
Cui Hou currently controlled all of Fei Qian's wealth. If minor issues caused a rift between leader and subordinate, it might not be as fatal as Guan Yu's fallout, but it would certainly waste precious time.
And for Fei Qian, time was the most valuable resource.
Testing a subordinate's loyalty in this way was too costly at this stage. So, Fei Qian decided to use this opportunity to address the potential for Cui Hou's wavering, minimizing future risks.
Fei Qian shifted his gaze and asked, "Yongyuan, do you know where the term 'merchant' comes from?"
Cui Hou was taken aback, thought for a moment, and shook his head.
He had never considered it, nor studied it. Everyone called those who traded "merchants." Who would bother to investigate why?
Fei Qian explained, "Seven generations before Shang Tang, his ancestor Wang Hai tamed oxen in Shangqiu. He used ox carts to transport goods, trading with other tribes. He was the ancestor of merchants. Because Wang Hai was from the Shang clan, the term 'merchant' (shangren) came to be."
The group nodded in sudden understanding.
"Then why could Wang Hai, or the merchants of Shang, trade goods?" Fei Qian asked, looking at Cui Hou.
By now, everyone realized Fei Qian's words were primarily directed at Cui Hou. Though they didn't fully grasp his intent, they remained silent, listening and watching.
"…Because of what farmers produce?" Cui Hou glanced at the pot nearby and answered.
Fei Qian nodded, then shook his head. "Yongyuan, you're both right and not entirely right. Strictly speaking, it's the labor of all people. And this 'labor'…"
"Farmers tilling fields is labor. Women and children weaving is labor. Drivers guiding horses is labor. Scholars writing is labor. Even you and I, charging across battlefields to reclaim our land, are laboring… And Yongyuan, your trading back and forth is also labor," Fei Qian said, looking at Cui Hou.
Fei Qian had simplified the concept of labor as much as possible, though it was still somewhat complex. Fortunately, Cui Hou, seasoned in commerce, quickly grasped the core, his face lighting up. "My lord, you mean… my trading is like farming, a form of labor?"
Though Confucian disdain for merchants wasn't as severe in this era as in later times, the saying "The gentleman understands righteousness, the petty man understands profit" had begun to cast merchants as profit-chasers, as "petty men." Some rigid scholars, steeped in rote learning, started looking down on those engaged in commerce, influencing broader perceptions.
Hearing Fei Qian equate commerce with agriculture was, for Cui Hou, not quite ecstatic but enough to make him stand a little taller.
At least he could confirm that Fei Qian didn't view money with the contempt of some scholars, who acted as if seeing or speaking of it polluted their eyes, ears, mouth, and soul. Instead, Fei Qian saw Cui Hou's work as equal to that of farmers and other trades.
"A skilled farmer who refuses to till his own land, choosing instead to work for an enemy state, is useless no matter how many there are. A scholar full of knowledge who only devises plans for an enemy state, no matter how talented, deserves death. In ancient times, many merchants were sages. Zigung's efforts elevated Confucius' influence, and Duke Taozhu's wealth was used for virtuous deeds. Pursuing profit isn't wrong—it depends on where that profit is directed."
In ancient times, China had a deeper understanding of wealth than many others. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, figures like Zigung and Fan Li had profound insights into commerce. But as Confucianism rose, partial misinterpretations of Confucius' teachings and the central authority's desire to control the populace through household registration tied people to small regions for generations, discouraging trouble. Merchants, with their mobility and worldly exposure, were harder to manage, so they were often suppressed, stifling early sprouts of capitalism in China's feudal system.
Fei Qian looked at Cui Hou earnestly. "Our foundation is too weak now. To muster troops for Shangjun quickly, we've made these arrangements, which aren't particularly praiseworthy. Only when we reach the grasslands and pursue profit for our nation will we achieve something truly worth celebrating. And the Cui family will surely gain both fame and fortune."
Cui Hou fell silent, clearly pondering Fei Qian's words. After a moment, he stood, bowed deeply to Fei Qian, and said, "My lord's words today, Hou will engrave in his heart and never forget."
Fei Qian stood to help him up.
*****
T/N: Use this code "SANTA" for 50% discount for your first month.