And even if such an official appears, can you guarantee that his superiors will be so honest?
When your family's wealth reaches a certain level, even the royal family might be tempted. Not to mention that your wealth was earned from other countries. When you report the situation in Wei to the local officials, and they ask you to hand over sweet potatoes, corn, and the corresponding planting techniques, can you do it?
If you can't produce it, why would others believe you? They might even think you're teasing them. After all, if they can get sweet potatoes and corn and the corresponding planting techniques, then as long as they hand over such food and planting techniques to the court, they will definitely be promoted and rewarded.
However, you've given them such high expectations, only to tell them you haven't brought back any such food or planting techniques from Wei, and you've only verbally stated so. These officials might take your message to heart, but the huge disparity will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction. They'll undoubtedly try every possible way to extract benefits from you, perhaps even using their power to seize your family's wealth for themselves.
Li Ming looked at Old Man Zhao in disbelief. He had never imagined that the courts of other countries would be so dark. Old Man Zhao's words were like a cold sword, piercing the last remaining fantasy in Li Ming's heart about the officialdom of Tang State.
Li Ming opened his mouth, but his throat seemed blocked. After a long pause, he finally uttered a dry voice: "This...is there no exception? Is there no official who understands the situation and cares about the country? Our Li family has been doing business in this area for many years, and we have family ties with several local officials. Could they be so heartless?"
Li Ming always had a glimmer of hope in his heart, because he grew up with the children of local officials. Li Ming believed that he had a deep friendship with them, and these local officials would never do such a decisive thing to their Li family.
However, Li Ming recalled his father's cautious and almost humble attitude when he went to the officials' houses to give gifts, remembered the officials' seemingly warm but actually distant eyes, and remembered that his family would rather let him stay in Wei, a country he was not familiar with, with his family's wealth, and would not let him return to his own country. Li Ming's voice became lower and lower, and even he felt that his excuse was pale and powerless.
Cui Yuan put his hand on Li Ming's shoulder. He knew Li Ming's confusion. After all, people are more passionate when they are young, but reality is often more cruel than ideals.
Cui Yuan began, "As a pure businessman, we cannot pin all our hopes on so-called friendship. From ancient times to the present, no businessman and official have ever maintained a long-term friendship. And if those officials in the government haven't persecuted your family, it's not because your family's relationship with them is so strong, but because your family hasn't reached the point where they need to take action."
In the eyes of those officials, we merchants are nothing more than lambs to be slaughtered. When our wealth reaches a certain level, we will become fat meat in their mouths. By then, even if your Li family has a deep friendship with them, it will be difficult to escape the fate of being divided up."
Wang An spoke with the compassion of a man who had experienced it, "Brother Li, what does friendship mean in the face of overwhelming interests? Even if it's family, it may not be reliable in the face of enough temptation.
Just think about it, when your family suddenly returns with a huge fortune that far exceeds that of the local wealthy families, it is like a piece of fat meat falling into a pack of hungry wolves. Who can guarantee that those officials who have "made friends" with you will not be the first to pounce on you and bite you?
They might not act immediately, but all they need is a pretext, like suspecting your Li family of colluding with an enemy nation, or falsely accusing you of hoarding goods and disrupting market prices. Even without a reason at all, simply suggesting you're 'ignorant of current events' or 'unfilial', they'll be enough to destroy your family! At that point, your so-called friendship will be nothing more than a soothing trick they use to lull you into lowering your guard."
Cui Yuan and Wang An's words shattered Li Ming's worldview. He felt a chill running down his spine, as if he saw the tragic end of his family's future. At this time, Li Ming could no longer accept this cruel reality. He said in a trembling voice:
"Is there no country in this world where merchants like us can do business with peace of mind and where officials are honest? Is Wei the only country that has a place for merchants like us?"
Cui Yuan replied, "The current Wei State is only able to provide a safe haven for merchants like us because of the new emperor's diligent governance. If the status of merchants in Wei State was similar to that of merchants in other countries in the past, why do you think those merchants fled to other countries to escape the disaster when Wei State was about to fall last year?"
As a young man, Li Ming didn't pay much attention to past events. After hearing Cui Yuan's words, his mentality completely collapsed. He muttered, "Then if the current Emperor of Wei is gone, won't our situation as merchants return to square one?"
Cui Ming knocked Li Ming on the head and said, "You kid are asking for death. We still have to stay in Wei to develop. Don't say anything. You should know that trouble comes from the mouth. If the people of Wei know what you said, they might kill you.
You should know that the current Emperor of Wei is still very young, about the same age as you. Moreover, the royal family of Wei is basically all martial artists, and their lifespan is far longer than that of ordinary people. In addition, the current Wei Kingdom is thriving. If the people of Wei hear you say such words, wouldn't it be a curse for the current Emperor of Wei to die early? "
Wang An, a businessman with a deep understanding of the Wei State, said, "Brother Li, the problem you are worried about will not happen in the Wei State. Although the Wei State did not do well in the past, it was because the previous Wei State emperors did not have much interest in governing the country, so the policies they formulated were basically based on the systems of other countries.
The current Emperor of Wei is different. He is not only diligent and caring for his people, but also well versed in statecraft. The policies he has formulated are extremely beneficial to both the country and the people. Therefore, even if the current Emperor unfortunately passes away, the elders of the royal family will ensure that these policies continue to be implemented and will not allow his successors to arbitrarily change national policies.
Old Man Zhao also comforted Li Ming and said, "Don't think too much. At least we can change our destiny in Wei State now. The rulers of other countries are still stuck in the old concept of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans. Even if we businessmen have more money, we can't change our status.
After all, merchants are the lowest class among those rulers. In many countries, the children of merchants are not even eligible to take the imperial examinations, and can only work as merchants for generations. However, the State of Wei at least offers us a glimmer of hope. As long as we do not violate Wei's laws, our descendants can also enter the academy and become officials in the court. Then, merchants like us can develop into aristocratic families and gradually improve our family status.
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