Although the peak heat of summer had gradually passed, the weather remained stubbornly hot. In a study at Yushan Academy, Li Pin poured two cups of tea, handing one to Ning Yi.
"When it comes to affairs of state and the world, sometimes I find it amusing to see those who brag endlessly and are incredibly self-assured. Yet, many ideas often emerge from such boasting. If one truly buries oneself in work without discussing anything with others, it's inevitable to become narrow-minded. In the third year of Jinghan, I traveled to the capital for the imperial examination, passed as a *jinshi*, and placed eleventh on the imperial list. Unfortunately... at that time, my radical policy proposals offended Fu Ying, the Vice Minister of Personnel. Although I passed, securing a substantial post proved difficult. A few months later, disheartened, I left the capital, Tokyo, and made my way back to Jiangning."
Li Pin spoke of this, then shook his head, smiling into his teacup.
"Others who sought office after passing the *jinshi* examination sometimes stayed in Tokyo for years, exploring various avenues. I left after just a few months, and sometimes I'm reluctant to mention it, fearing ridicule. However, during my time in Tokyo, witnessing the intricate web of interests among officials left me with truly mixed feelings. Tokyo's atmosphere differed slightly from Jiangning's; if you went there, you'd feel it. The imperial city seemed to cast its influence over everything. Near the Imperial Street, you could see the majestic palace walls daily, and even from places where the palace wasn't visible, if you looked in that direction, it felt as though the palace still stood right before your eyes..."
"Those seeking official posts, those trying to find connections, those discussing affairs of state, striving to 'carry on the lost teachings for past sages and usher in an era of peace for all generations'... these were the topics of conversation in teahouses, taverns, and even brothels. Everywhere you went, you could see the shadow of officialdom. On one hand, there was a sense of vibrancy; on the other, a profound weariness. In short, everyone was anxious, yet no one seemed to grasp the core issues. But life had to go on. I also tried various approaches, devised all sorts of plans, thinking perhaps I could get a promotion by finding Fu Ying's political rivals. Yet, in the end, it was of little use. Perhaps I simply hadn't taken the right path. I initially thought being eleventh on the imperial list would hold some value, but while they didn't outright reject me, they merely prevaricated, offering me various nominal positions but never a substantial one. Their arrangements were watertight, so after a few months, I generally understood that this path was temporarily impassable."
"Why bother trying to find loopholes in their system? You couldn't get in. My family background was reasonably good, and I wasn't short of money if I truly wanted to stay in Tokyo and wait for an opportunity. But I felt it was unnecessary; I might as well use that time to settle down and reflect. So I left Tokyo, traveling through Xu, Tang, Shen, and An prefectures on my way back to Jiangning. During that time, I also encountered floods and witnessed many things. In the years since my return, I've been pondering: how did things come to this state...?"
He took a sip of tea: "Over the past century, our Wu Dynasty has undergone several reforms and innovations, both large and small, with most ending in failure. Yet, in terms of principles, they always revolved around enriching the populace, strengthening the military, and improving the selection of officials. If one were to act, starting with these three points certainly makes sense. However, delving into the root cause – why our dynasty's military and common people are both weak, and why the selection of officials is flawed – has been on my mind every time I've discussed these matters recently."
Ning Yi took a sip of tea, then shrugged: "That reason... isn't it quite simple?"
Li Pin had been waiting for his opinion. Hearing his words, he paused slightly, then chuckled: "It is simple indeed... As you, Li Heng, once said, everything has fundamental rules and root causes. If one can see them clearly, then understanding future developments becomes clearer. I find that very insightful... In fact, looking at our Wu Dynasty now, the reasons are quite clear; anyone who puts some thought into it can see them..."
He paused briefly, picked up a piece of chalk, and drew a triangle on a small blackboard beside him: "Our dynasty was originally founded on military strength. In its early days, our military power was formidable, but subsequent rebellions made Emperor Taizu recognize the drawbacks. Consequently, the policy shifted to suppress the military and promote civil governance, managing the dynasty through a 'strengthening the trunk, weakening the branches' approach. This method eliminated the causes of internal strife, at one point making the populace prosperous and extending the dynasty's lifespan. However, by now, it has also created numerous problems, leaving our dynasty vulnerable to foreign aggression. Under immense pressure, to keep the 'trunk' strong, the 'branches' have become even weaker, and wealth continues to concentrate at the top. Military strength, already suppressed by the 'strengthening the trunk, weakening the branches' policy, is now even feebler. The weaker the military, the greater the external pressure; the greater the pressure, the weaker the military becomes, forming a self-perpetuating cycle from which there is no escape..."
Li Pin exhaled, looking at the blackboard: "If we can solve the commercial issues and give some consideration to the 'weak branches,' our dynasty will naturally have the capacity to address military strength. This is a problem that any policy aimed at enriching the people must solve... If we can make our military strong enough to deter foreign aggression, our dynasty will naturally gain breathing room. This is a problem that any policy aimed at strengthening the military must solve. The selection of officials is also for enriching the people, strengthening the military, and extending the dynasty's lifespan... Unfortunately, these are all just empty words."
He dropped the chalk. "If we talk about a single policy, it seems everyone has a method, and even implementing several policies concurrently wouldn't be an issue. But our dynasty's 'strong trunk, weak branches' situation is already established. It's like a large tree: if the trunk isn't full, any slight nutrient will be completely absorbed by the strong trunk, leaving nothing for the weak branches. The real problem is how to guide this strong trunk to naturally direct nutrients toward the weak branches. What do you think, Li Heng?"
Ning Yi thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Mm, that makes a lot of sense. And you're saying... to get those big landowners and merchants who have become the 'strong trunk' – like our Su family – as well as the imperial relatives and wealthy idlers, to willingly take out the money they've earned and return prosperity to the people..."
Li Pin smiled, not denying it: "It does sound a bit like idealistic scholarly talk, but there's no other way. Of course, things always move forward; it's impossible to go back. Everyone says our Wu Dynasty flourished under Emperors Heng and Hui, with a rich nation and strong populace. But thinking about retreating is impossible. The problem lies in how to guide it to the next step, to make these people willingly put their money out. If it doesn't form a cycle, it's impractical and of little use; everything requires considering a continuous flow of implementation. Therefore, there needs to be a method to make these people take out money, invest it in impoverished areas, and then it must be ensured that both sides can profit, allowing it to continue endlessly, without diminishing the wealth of the 'strong trunk,' but alleviating the situation for the 'weak branches'... Perhaps, we could consider having the court intervene first."
"Wang Anshi's reforms..." Ning Yi murmured, frowning slightly. Li Pin turned his head: "Hm?"
While there was no Wang Anshi in the Wu Dynasty, decades earlier, a chancellor named Tan Xi, also known as Tan Ziyong, had attempted something similar. His reforms sought to involve the court in numerous businesses to revitalize the economy. Ning Yi smiled: "Doesn't what you're suggesting, Dexin, resemble Chancellor Tan's ideas from back then?"
Li Pin nodded: "I have indeed thought repeatedly about Chancellor Tan's reforms from that time; they were very enlightening. Perhaps Chancellor Tan's intentions were similar, but he didn't anticipate the immense resistance, the failure of policies to be implemented, and the feigned compliance from below. Thus, the foremost priority for affairs of state, in the end, was to purify officialdom..."
"That's true," Ning Yi nodded. "But the method was wrong. The economy cannot be played with like that."
"Hm? Economy?"
"Uh, that is to say, the commercial system: the circulation of goods, the circulation of currency, the entire system..." Ning Yi explained with a smile, "Any commercial system that allows privilege to intervene is not a normal commercial system. Privilege, in this context, can only be poison, especially privilege held by the court or officialdom."
"So, Li Heng, you also believe the government shouldn't compete with the people for profit?"
"That's not the reason," Ning Yi shook his head. "Didn't you say there should be fundamental rules? The fundamental rule of economics is greed. Merchants pursue profit; their sole aim is profit, everything else can be vague. Greed, in many situations, can be positive. If I work in a shop and want to buy a piece of clothing, I work hard, find ways to earn money, or gain my master's appreciation to earn more. This is good greed. There are many other ways, like stealing or robbing, but that leads to prison, which isn't worth it. So, one can only play by the rules of the game. I've done all this work, and it's worth that much money, enough for that piece of clothing. Greed that keeps people within the rules of the game is good greed..."
"But the court isn't part of the game's rules; they're still acting as referees. If you let them join the game, eventually no one else will be able to play... As I said earlier, merchants pursue profit; their sole aim is profit. If you show someone profit and teach them greed, and then they turn around and see they have a 'death-exemption medal' and a knife in their hand, why would they not simply take the profits if they can do so easily? If it truly worked out so ideally, wouldn't it be the same as simply asking big landowners and merchants to hand over their money?"
He paused briefly: "Chancellor Tan's reforms didn't fail because the rule of law was insufficient. People will always find loopholes. Greed is too powerful; once that emotion takes hold, all they see is profit. This emotion can make people very proactive, and it's a huge driving force. But the key is: it's best not to let those with privilege harbor this emotion. If that privilege isn't sufficiently restrained, then ultimately, no one will be able to play the game..."
"As long as there's even a small loophole to exploit, the rule of law will never be enough. When the privileged class engages in business, it's like letting wolves into a sheepfold. Instead of considering more privileged intervention, it might be more beneficial to eliminate the privileges that are already in place... Simply put, it's like asking the referee to join the game – how can the game be played then? As for supervision, it would only make simple matters more complicated, and disruption would be inevitable."
Outside the window, a brother and sister squatted in the corridor beneath the windowsill, eavesdropping. The boy poked his sister's shoulder and whispered, "Sister, sister, is he saying our family's business should be shut down?"
"This barbarian..." Zhou Pei blinked, a little annoyed, then glanced at her brother. "But there's some truth to what he's saying. You should remember it and think it over carefully. Don't be too quick to believe, but don't dismiss it just because of who said it. That's how you'll achieve great things in the future."
"Oh." Zhou Junwu nodded, then untied the pouch at his waist, took out a glutinous rice cake, and began eating it in small bites. Zhou Pei watched him, exasperated.
"Letting the referee join the game..." Inside the room, Li Pin was silent for a long time, then laughed, his expression somewhat complex. "That comment, Li Heng, truly hits upon the fundamental principle. If I were the referee, and I stepped onto the field, it really would be..."
He was a thoughtful man. While he might not abandon his ideas about economic guidance, Ning Yi's words made him consider the consequences. "It's surprising that after years of pondering, Li Heng could see the most difficult point at a glance. Perhaps this is also due to Li Heng's different way of looking at things?"
"After all, it's a very interesting matter. Our dynasty pays hundreds of thousands in tribute to the Liao state annually, yet we earn millions from trade. In the end, we still profit. The importance of merchants and the benefits of commerce are now understood not only by you, Brother Dexin, but by many others. Our dynasty differs from previous ones; we do not suppress commerce. Chancellor Tan's reforms, though problematic, clearly demonstrated the court's emphasis on commerce, but..." Ning Yi thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, I was just thinking, what happened to that Fu Ying now?"
Ning Yi, discussing commerce, suddenly shifted to that question. Li Pin was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Li Heng, you truly are remarkable; nothing escapes your notice! Fu Ying, the Vice Minister of Personnel, was investigated for corruption in March this year and sentenced to exile by the Dali Temple last month. Once this flood situation passes, I probably..." He felt a slight pang of melancholy, but ultimately, he was pleased. "I'm probably planning another trip to Tokyo, to make some arrangements and see if I can secure a substantial official post. I've waited five years for this; I hope you don't say I'm too addicted to officialdom, Li Heng."
Ning Yi also smiled: "In that case, congratulations, Brother Dexin."
"Too early, too early... But how did Li Heng figure that out?"
"Trade secret." Ning Yi had merely noticed some clues from Li Pin's expression and casually asked, making a joke. Li Pin shook his head and chuckled for a moment, then took a sip of tea: "Back to the main topic, back to the main topic. Since Li Heng understands the advantages and disadvantages, have you ever considered if there's a compromise, if the court were only to provide guidance?"
"That... would be a joke."
"Even if it's a joke."
"Alright, well, since you're going to be an official anyway, it's good to discuss it," Ning Yi nodded with a smile. "Personally, I think there is, and there isn't."
"Why do you say that?"
"It's actually very simple: if the court and Confucian scholars consciously raise the status of merchants, then the practice of commerce will naturally flourish even more. If you want to actively guide without interfering or destroying, this is the only way..."
Upon hearing this, Li Pin frowned: "Merchant status... this matter... after all, merchants prioritize profit..."
"It's not about merchants prioritizing profit," Ning Yi took a sip of tea. "The state also prioritizes profit. In recent years, commercial development has improved the status of merchants compared to previous dynasties. If they were to actively ease restrictions a bit, commerce would certainly grow. But this is also where it's impossible... they wouldn't dare."
"Who?"
"Those at the top: the court, His Majesty, the Confucians... you and I, or rather, everyone, wouldn't dare loosen control..."
In the corridor outside the window, Zhou Junwu, squatting by the wall, paused slightly: "Sister, he's talking nonsense again. I'm not afraid at all! Our family is in business, and Grandpa Consort's family does even more..."
"Quiet." Zhou Pei shushed him softly, then thought for a moment: "I'm not afraid either... He's trying to provoke us."
Then they heard Ning Yi's slightly teasing voice from inside.
"If they were to let go, *bang*, the Wu Dynasty, this country... it would all be gone."
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