Chapter 29: How Can One Remain Untouched?
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Zhongli Xiu gave a bitter smile. “By making this gesture, I only hope Your Excellency will remember that my family may have made no great contributions, but we have certainly endured our share of hardship. In the future, please do not make things difficult for us in public…”
Liang Xiao understood at once and replied, “I will first take ten thousand dan of grain from your family’s granary, so as not to cause too much commotion and arouse suspicion. As for transporting it, the sooner the better.”
“After conscription is over, those idle vagrants who fail to meet the requirements can work in place of receiving relief, repairing the city walls and expanding the urban districts. This will be a vast undertaking. Your family may take full responsibility for purchasing the earth and stone needed for the construction.”
“From now on, whenever my side engages in commercial activity, the Zhongli family may participate. For instance, you may transport certain new specialties to other commanderies and counties for sale, earning a profit from the price difference.”
Zhongli Xiu nodded slightly, feeling somewhat consoled.
The earth and stone supplies would not be difficult to handle; the Zhongli family could make the necessary arrangements in advance.
Transporting and reselling goods was also a steady, long-term business. As for how much income it might bring, Zhongli Xiu did not place much hope in it.
Liang Xiao’s assurances were like a pill that settled his heart. At the very least, they showed that Liang Xiao understood the principle of returning a favor.
Liang Xiao continued, “I have already dispatched a trusted subordinate to the capital to report the situation. Within a month, I believe the head of the Zhongli family will be glad of the choice he made today.”
Zhongli Xiu was skeptical.
He had sent someone to report to the capital? Could it be that the Son of Heaven truly intended to cultivate him?
Still, Pei County lay nearly a thousand li from the capital, with the surging river between them. Even traveling by express courier, the journey there and back might take a month or more.
How could Liang Xiao deal with both internal and external troubles in the meantime?
“Your Excellency, you must be wary of assassins within the county and bandits beyond its borders…” Zhongli Xiu reminded him.
Liang Xiao merely smiled and nodded, forming an entirely new opinion of the head of the Zhongli family before him.
After Zhongli Xiu departed, Zhuo Zifang emerged from behind the folding screen, his face full of approval.
“This man is certainly surprising. He handles matters with great caution—an oddity among merchants.”
Liang Xiao said, “The Zhongli family’s willingness to cooperate so fully is proof of their sincerity. We should strongly support them and make them our partner caravan.”
Zhuo Zifang replied, “For now, our priorities remain stabilizing the military and administration and winning the people’s hearts. But Pei County must also consider a way forward. It would be best to develop some distinctive industries, making it easier to obtain money and grain from outside and attract talented people. Otherwise, we will merely exhaust our existing resources.”
Liang Xiao recalled the plans he had drawn before coming here and said thoughtfully, “Let us first see how the recent conscription is progressing. We seem to have underestimated the strength of popular support.”
Zhuo Zifang smiled knowingly.
That was, of course, a good thing.
Zhongli Xiu returned to the main hall of his residence, downcast and silent.
Donating five thousand taels had been a decision he made only after deep consideration.
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It was no small sum. The Zhongli family’s immense wealth was significant only in comparison with Pei County and the surrounding towns.
What truly troubled him was that, in a moment of madness, he had promised to transport grain for Liang Xiao.
If anyone discovered the matter, it would mean that the Zhongli family had become irrevocably bound to Liang Xiao.
“Why are you so unhappy, my husband?”
Madam Qin brought their beloved son, Zhongli Qingfeng, into the main hall and asked with concern.
“My wife, I…” Zhongli Xiu glanced at mother and son, suddenly at a loss for words.
“We have been married for years. Is there anything you cannot tell me?” Qin asked, puzzled.
Zhongli Xiu lowered his head in shame and stammered, “I… I am sorry to both of you.”
Mother and son exchanged bewildered glances.
Qin’s heart gave a sudden tremor.
Could it be that…
“Father?”
Zhongli Qingfeng looked disappointed.
Had his father not gone to the county office to meet Liang Xiao?
Could it be that…
Zhongli Xiu summoned his courage, raised his head, and looked at them. “I—I acted on impulse. I never imagined things would develop this way…”
Qin grieved for a moment before letting out a melancholy sigh.
“My husband, I know I am no longer young and beautiful, and I have never been a jealous woman. Bring her here…”
“What?” Zhongli Xiu’s brows twitched. Realizing her misunderstanding, he slapped his forehead. “What are you two thinking? I only went to the county office!”
He immediately recounted his discussion with Liang Xiao.
“I was hotheaded for a moment. Why did I agree to transport grain for him? The Zhongli family may never again be able to remain uninvolved.”
Qin consoled him. “Since he controls life and death throughout Pei County, and since he purchased his office, he probably will not be transferred by the court this year.”
Zhongli Xiu gave a bitter smile. “And what of it? You do not understand how treacherous officialdom can be. The Zhongli family cannot place its hopes in any man’s wisdom or mercy.”
Zhongli Qingfeng, however, was unconcerned.
“Father, when I traveled throughout the realm, I also came to understand the state of the country. With chaos clearly approaching, the Zhongli family possesses wealth but no power. We are destined to become lambs awaiting slaughter in the eyes of the powerful. How could we possibly preserve ourselves by remaining aloof?”
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“I do not think Liang Xiao is an ordinary man. He surely harbors great ambitions. In time, he may rise to the highest ranks of the court, perhaps even stand on equal terms with the Sima family. At the very least, he could establish himself as the ruler of a region! There is nothing wrong with staking the family’s future on him. And if Little Sister truly loves him and they marry, that would be better still!”
“The Zhongli family’s ten years of stability have certainly depended on your capable leadership, Father, but a secure commercial environment has been equally indispensable. If the northern frontier had fallen some time ago, could we really have preserved ourselves by remaining aloof? Even after the Xiongnu withdrew, did Yuan Bailong not take ten thousand taels from our family in the name of aiding the front lines?”
Zhongli Xiu said nothing, but his heart was surging.
His eldest son’s words were not without merit. The Zhongli family had money but no power. In peaceful times, they could avert disaster by spending their wealth, but once war broke out, they would inevitably be at the mercy of others.
He was also forced to admit that some of Liang Xiao’s policies had genuinely moved him. At the very least, Liang Xiao was the only county magistrate in the past decade who had truly done practical things for the people.
If this young man really could rise swiftly through the ranks and reach the highest offices, then the Zhongli family…
“Let me consider this carefully,” Zhongli Xiu sighed. Then he seemed to remember something and added sternly, “Nothing has been decided yet. Do not tell Xue’er for now, or she will act rashly again!”
That same day, the authorities issued a public notice thanking the Zhongli family for donating one thousand taels of silver. The news quickly spread.
That afternoon, Zhongli Wanxue was practicing calligraphy in the courtyard.
“Save the common people and bring peace to the realm…”
“A true man is born into this world…”
“Through the rise and fall of ages, the sleeves of history are stirred by the wind…”
Gentleness shone in the young woman’s eyes, touched with such joy that it might have captivated all who beheld her.
“Miss…”
Her maid hurried in from outside, her face filled with urgency.
“The authorities have issued a notice. The county magistrate is calling upon every household to make donations. Your father has donated only one thousand taels on behalf of the Zhongli family, and has promised to sell grain to the authorities!”
“My father donated one thousand taels?”
Zhongli Wanxue set down her brush, her face full of disappointment.
One thousand taels was no small amount, but it was far from enough to resolve Liang Xiao’s immediate crisis.
She glanced at the sky. Dusk had already fallen, and determination gradually filled her eyes.
The Zhongli family’s ten thousand dan of grain was soon purchased with Liang Xiao’s own funds and transported back to the Pei County government granary.
That night, while Liang Xiao was drawing plans, a guard from the Liang residence hurried in with an urgent report.
“My lord, the young lady of the Zhongli family has come to visit in secret!”
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