Chapter 82: I’ve contributed so much to the Empress, to the Great Wu Empire, and to the ordinary people. Can’t I enjoy some benefits for myself
Mo Rushuang’s emotions were a bit fiery as she loudly questioned: “Mr. Lin, can you justify the empress’s favor, can you justify the common people suffering, can you justify the soldiers who died on the border?”
“I certainly can!” Lin Beifan laughed lightly, “There is no one in this world who can justify the empress, justify the people, and justify the soldiers who died on the border more than me!”
Mo Rushuang looked at Lin Beifan in shock. She never thought that such words would come out of his mouth. You sold the country out, and you still justify it?
Lin Beifan asked while writing, “Is three million tribute a lot for Darro?”
“Yes!” Mo Rushuang nodded without hesitation.
“As far as I know, Darro is just a small country on the edge of the Great Wu Empire, with poor land, scarce resources, and a population of over ten million. The annual treasury income is only eight million taels of silver! If there is a famine, this income will be reduced! The three million compensation already accounts for half of the treasury income!”
Lin Beifan nodded, “It seems that you are not so ignorant. So let me ask you again, how do you think Darro will raise this huge amount of money every year?”
“First, through national treasury funds! If there is not enough silver, then it will be collected through taxation, fees and other means from the people to make up for the funds!” Mo Rushuang said without hesitation.
Lin Beifan asked, “Are the people of Darro suffering?”
“Yes, of course!” Mo Rushuang nodded. “Their conditions are so harsh that they can hardly even farm. We can barely solve the food problem by farming, but they have to rely on the heavens for food!”
Lin Beifan asked again, “If three million more is added each year, will they suffer more?”
“Yes, only more suffering and they may not survive!” Mo Rushuang nodded again.
Lin Beifan asked for the third time, “If you were them and couldn’t survive, what would you do?”
“Of course, I would rebel!” Mo Rushuang said without hesitation.
At that moment, Mo Rushuang was stunned!
Lin Beifan smiled slightly, “Look at you, even if you can’t survive, you will rebel, let alone the people of Darro? If they rebel, they will be fighting against us – the Great Wu who burdens them and destroys their hopes for a living!”
Mo Rushuang remained silent.
“So, this tribute is actually a declaration of war!” Lin Beifan sighed, “The people of Darro cannot bear it and will definitely rise up to hold us, Great Wu accountable! And there will be another war on the border region, which will happen within the next three years!”
“The peace we fought for with tens of thousands of soldiers, this hard-won peace, is destroyed for only a mere three million taels of silver each year. Do you think it’s worth it?”
“Not worth it!” Mo Rushuang’s voice was weak. “It’s completely not worth it, and even extremely not worth it!”
“Launching a national war would consume resources and money worth millions. This is just the visible loss, the unseen damage would be even greater and far-reaching. The number of casualties in this war would be in thousands and countless families will be shattered, and people will become displaced. It will cause instability in the country and affect the lives of ordinary people. Great Wu is already chaotic enough, and it cannot be further destabilized. That’s why I spare no effort and spare no cost to abolish this indemnity. It’s for the empress, it’s for the prosperity of the country, and it’s for the benefit of the common people. Do you think I am wrong?”
“You are not wrong! You did the right thing!” Mo Rushuang said in shame.
“Well, finally you speak like a human being,” Lin Beifan responded.
Mo Rushuang asked, “But why open a commercial port and allow merchants from both countries to do business? Great Wu will also send scholars to teach there. Isn’t this equivalent to strengthening their country? What if they use their strengthened power against us?”
“That’s just one aspect of it. You don’t know the other side of the story,” Lin Beifan shook his head.
“Trade between the two countries is beneficial to both, but more so to Darro Country. They have people, but lack many resources, and we can trade resources for their labor. In other words, we give them food, money, and everything they need, but they have to work for us. With this, the people of Darro Country are forced to work, and they won’t have the energy to fight a war. Plus, with the material wealth obtained from Great Wu, their lives will be prosperous and they will be content. Will they want to go to war? Once the war starts, their lives will be destroyed, and they will not be willing to fight again.”
Mo Rushuang nodded, “They definitely won’t.”
“That’s right. As for the scholars teaching there…”
“Just to educate them on the rituals of Confucius and Mencius, and the ways of the sages, so that everyone can be knowledgeable and reasonable! When there are conflicts, everyone can sit at the negotiating table and talk things out, instead of resorting to violence!”
Lin Beifan spread his hands. “You see, I proposed these conditions in order to prevent decades, or even hundreds of years, of war in the future! This is equivalent to saving tens of millions of families and ordinary people, laying a solid foundation for the long-term peace of both countries, and creating favorable conditions for the stability of the Great Wu Empire!”
“You tell me, did I do anything wrong?”
“You… you didn’t do anything wrong!” Mo Rushuang lowered her head in shame once again.
“Since I didn’t do anything wrong, how can you accuse me of betraying my country?” Lin Beifan bellowed.
Mo Rushuang panicked. “I only heard it from the common people…”
“You should know that most common people are short-sighted and narrow-minded, only caring about immediate interests, and are not capable of considering long-term benefits!” Lin Beifan said disdainfully.
“If I really betrayed my country, could the entire court and military not notice it? Would the Empress not notice it? They are the smartest people in the world, and the long-term stability of the country depends on them! If they don’t object, then why can’t we think about it and consider why they didn’t object? Could the entire court be foolish?”
“Uh, you’re right!” Mo Rushuang muttered reluctantly.
“So, in the future, when you encounter situations like this, you must think carefully and explore more knowledgeable opinions. Don’t just blindly follow others, or you might be sold without even knowing it!” Lin Beifan warned.
“But, it seems like you also received money from the Darro envoy…”
“What’s wrong with that?” Lin Beifan became agitated. “I’ve contributed so much to the Empress, to the Great Wu Empire, and to the ordinary people. Can’t I enjoy some benefits for myself? Isn’t that fair?”
Mo Rushuang felt ashamed and wished she could disappear.
In the end, she had no choice but to leave.
“Mr. Lin, I’m sorry for disturbing you. I know I was wrong. I’ll go rest in my room now,” she said, before fleeing.
Watching the figure of the fleeing person, Lin Beifan chuckled, “You’re easier to handle than those old foxes in the court!”
He lowered his head and continued practicing calligraphy.
Soon after, Li Shi Shi came over with a cup of bird’s nest, smilingly saying, “Husband, the bird’s nest has arrived! Drink it first, then continue writing!”
“Good!” Lin Beifan nodded. He put down his brush, walked over, and sat down next to Li Shi Shi, scooping up some of the bird’s nest and taking a sip. He frowned slightly, “The taste is off! It’s not made by you or Xiao Cui!”
“Indeed, it wasn’t made by me or Xiao Cui, it was made by Miss Rushuang!” Li Shi Shi smiled and said, “She knows about your situation, and she felt guilty so she specially made this bird’s nest to apologize to you!”
“Hmm,” Lin Beifan nodded and continued drinking the bird’s nest.
Li Shi Shi said with admiration and infatuation, “Husband, you are a man of great vision and consideration for the people. You are truly the only one who thinks so deeply for the welfare of Great Wu and the common people among all the civil and military officials in the court!”
After speaking, she held onto Lin Beifan’s hand tightly and emotionally said, “Husband, no matter how people view you, no matter what the future holds, I will live and die with you!”
Lin Beifan was deeply moved! With a wife like her, what more could he ask for? He finished the bird’s nest in three sips and then hugged Li Shi Shi. “Shi Shi, it’s already late at night, let’s rest!”
“Hmm, please have mercy on me, husband!” Li Shi Shi blushed and lowered her head.
The two quickly returned to their room without turning on the light and went to sleep.
On the other side, Mo Rushuang had a hard time falling asleep. She thought about boldly questioning Lin Beifan today and felt so embarrassed that she buried her face in the pillow.
“I’m so stupid! I didn’t think it through and went to question Mr. Lin. He must have thought I was so foolish at the time, right?”
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became! However, she did not regret it. Because of this, she saw the truth of the matter and also saw Lin Beifan’s true face, which suddenly lifted her spirits.
“Mr. Lin is not a traitor, he never betrayed his country!”
“Everything he said was for the sake of Great Wu and the people! However, outsiders don’t understand him and he is unreasonably burdened with a lot of derogatory terms!”
“Although he is corrupt, he only takes corrupt officials’ money and does not touch the common people!”
“His greed is not without principle…”
At this moment, the Prince Hamu, far away in Darro country, suddenly sneezed.
燕窝 (yàn wō) is a type of Chinese delicacy made from the edible nest of the swiftlet bird. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine and is considered a luxurious ingredient due to its high price. It is usually cooked in soups or sweet desserts.
