EMHTC -Chapter 99 The Boss is Magnanimous!

The Jinyiwei Commander cast an intrigued glance at Xu Yanmiao. “Why Yangzhou?”

“Because I’ve observed that Yangzhou has many wealthy salt merchants. They’re so rich that I’ve heard they donated 300,000 taels of silver to build the city walls of Yangzhou’s new town. These people, flush with wealth, live decadently. There’s even a saying:

‘Among Yangzhou salt merchants, the one in the sedan is a debt demon,
those carrying the sedan are ox demons,
those accompanying it are fart demons,
the gatekeeper is a lie demon,
and hidden in their homes are spirit demons.’

They’ve always frequented brothels and pleasure houses, indulging in women whom they regard as top-tier beauties. Once they hear of foot binding, how could they resist?”

History also confirms Yangzhou’s trajectory—it became synonymous with beauty, known for “Suzhou faces, Yangzhou feet.”

Disgusting! Vile!

Xu Yanmiao waved his hand decisively. “In any case, Yangzhou must be a key area for prevention!”

The Jinyiwei Commander nodded thoughtfully.

Xu Yanmiao added, “Moreover, Yangzhou is both prosperous and culturally vibrant. If its people strongly oppose something, the scholars from Yangzhou participating in the imperial exams will undoubtedly support anti-foot-binding policies in the future. As long as enough officials voicing opposition rise through the ranks every three years, the trend of foot binding can be suppressed.”

“But… Yangzhou City is right there. If someone casually goes to check it out, won’t the lie be exposed?”

At this point, Xu Yanmiao, who had experienced the modern world, had a lot to say: “No problem. Given the distance covered by carriages and boats, even if someone specifically goes to investigate and debunk the rumors, it’ll be hard for them to cause much of a stir.”

He thought back to modern times: With a billion internet users, even the smallest rumor could spark nationwide buzz. Local people coming forward to debunk it often didn’t help, and even official clarifications left many clinging to their belief in the falsehoods.

Of course, he couldn’t use modern examples here.

Xu Yanmiao switched to another analogy: “For example… if you say an emperor has a dignified and handsome appearance, no one will care. But if you say an emperor has a face like a shoehorn, the rumor will spread like wildfire—and it’ll persist for hundreds of years, no matter how much debunking you try.”

The Jinyiwei Commander fell silent.

It was difficult to argue with that.

Xu Yanmiao provided another example, this time from The History of Chu: “Take the case of Great Chu after the migration of nobility to the south. You know Emperor Xuan of Chu, right? Official records say this: At the time, Great Chu was controlled by eunuchs. The emperor, at their mercy, feigned madness and stupidity when he was still a prince. He would shout in the marketplace, snatch food from others, sleep in public for days on end, and even warm himself by a fire in summer, claiming he was cold. The eunuchs underestimated him and pushed him to the throne, only for him to secretly seize power and execute them. He then ruled with great diligence, reviving the dying Great Chu for several decades.”

The Jinyiwei Commander nodded. “That’s true. What’s the issue?”

Did the historical records get something wrong? Did Xu Yanmiao know some insider secrets thanks to his mysterious tool?

Xu Yanmiao explained: “The issue is that when people mention this emperor now, their first thought isn’t the official history—it’s the gossip.”

He continued: “The first thing that comes to mind is the tale of how the emperor dared to eat excrement.”

【According to unofficial histories, Emperor Xuan of Chu feigned madness so convincingly that he once slept in a pigsty and ate pig feces.】

Xu Yanmiao added: “The second thought is about how he dared to streak through the streets.”

【Another unofficial account claimed that Emperor Xuan of Chu was so audacious that he ran naked through the capital during broad daylight, with his hair loose and his feet bare, exposing himself to everyone.】

The official record might not always be reliable, but the unofficial stories were undeniably colorful.

The Jinyiwei Commander understood.

So, once rumors about Yangzhou spread, the first association people would have with the city would be: “That place where scholars, merchants, and even commoners enjoy torturing women by making them bind their feet.”

And the people of Yangzhou wouldn’t sit idly by while their reputation was smeared. They would fight back.

And as they fought back, leading a wave of intellectual discourse, the scholars of Yangzhou would further stigmatize the practice of foot binding.

The Jinyiwei Commander’s voice was noticeably more enthusiastic than before: “I’ll write a memorial to the emperor immediately to seek approval!”

Spreading rumors—or rather, fabricating charges—was a core skill of the Jinyiwei!

“Have you heard? Foot binding has been popular in Yangzhou for a long time!”

“I’ve heard that the merchants and wealthy families over there are ridiculously rich. It’s normal for the rich to indulge in extreme practices. The filth and scandal in their households… ugh, it’s just that no one brought it to light before.”

“It’s not just the rich merchants! I’ve heard that even the scholars there are obsessed with women with bound feet. Apparently, they even write poetry about them! Lines like, ‘Don’t spare perfume to anoint the lotus steps, always dreading the silk socks gliding away like ripples.’ Tsk, tsk, you can tell how much they adore them just by that.”

“Ugh—‘perfumed’ feet, really! The rotting flesh and sweat trapped under those bandages during every step—no matter how much perfume you add, how fragrant could it possibly be? These people must have a bizarre taste!”

The rumors spread like wildfire, sparking widespread discussion.

Thanks to previous efforts to discredit foot binding, the practice had already become something frowned upon by the general public. Now, hearing suddenly that Yangzhou residents supposedly adored bound feet, everyone found themselves with a new topic to gossip about.

During tea breaks and meals, it became the talk of the town.

At literary gatherings, someone would always bring it up.

Even in rural areas, during breaks between farming, farmers sitting on the field ridges would wipe their foreheads with sweat cloths and chat with one another. Inevitably, someone would exclaim: “Did you hear? People in Yangzhou are really into bound feet!”

Others would respond with shock and amazement, asking repeatedly if it was true. The farmer would nod emphatically, as if they had personally been to Yangzhou to verify it.

As for the people of Yangzhou: “Who?! Who is spreading these lies?!”

The entire population of Yangzhou was outraged.

Supporting foot binding? What a joke! Before the scandal with Prince Fu came to light, they didn’t even know what foot binding was!

Besides, the practice was so cruel and harmful! How could they possibly like it? Their aesthetic tastes were perfectly normal!

At this point, whether they truly disliked it or secretly liked it but dared not admit it, the entire city united to defend its reputation.

Over a hundred wealthy households publicly declared their stance: They would absolutely never bind their daughters’ feet, and their sons would neither marry nor take concubines with bound feet. If anyone broke this pact, they would pay a fine, with the money distributed to impoverished women.

Countless Yangzhou scholars also sprang into action, organizing literary gatherings where they composed poems, songs, and essays. Their core message was either to condemn the ideology of foot binding or to scorn the practice itself. As for those like Prince Fu who coerced women into binding their feet, they became the targets of relentless criticism, resulting in timeless works that ensured Prince Fu’s infamy for generations.

Because of this movement, for the next thousand years, Yangzhou firmly rejected foot binding. In fact, the city came to revere women with large feet, associating big feet with good fortune and blessings.

As the second-largest city after the capital and the cultural hub of Jiangsu, Yangzhou’s reaction had an immeasurable impact on scholars and intellectuals across the nation.

The Donglin School was the first to respond. They harshly condemned foot binding on moral grounds, using skillful rhetoric to elevate the argument: “To bind one person is to harm one family; to bind one family is to harm one city; to bind one city is to harm the entire nation. It defies human reason and spreads harm for a thousand years.”

The Changzhou School, not to be outdone, approached the issue from a practical perspective, arguing: “Bound feet make women weak and frail, prone to illness. It pollutes the body above and corrupts the offspring below. A mother without bound feet produces strong descendants, while a mother with bound feet weakens her lineage. A nation filled with frail citizens will have weak officials and incompetent soldiers, tempting neighboring countries to invade. Therefore, foot binding is the cause of national ruin!”

The Taizhou School, the Four Masters of Wu, the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou… some funded the printing of 500,000 copies of On Foot Binding to distribute nationwide, while others created paintings depicting the tragic consequences of foot binding to evoke public sympathy.

“At this point, any scholar daring to express a liking for bound feet would be universally condemned!”

Xu Yanmiao was very satisfied with this outcome.

The prevalence of foot binding in history was largely thanks to scholars who praised it through poems and writings. Conversely, when foot binding was abolished, the contributions of scholars advocating for its end during that period were also critical.

So…

“I told you, scholars are incredibly useful! If you want to suppress something, you’ve got to rely on their pens and voices!”

The commander of the Jinyiwei came looking for him. “Master Xu, His Majesty summons you.”

Xu Yanmiao instinctively broke out in a cold sweat.

【Don’t tell me it’s more overtime?!】

By the time he was nearing Wuying Hall, he was already inwardly lamenting the workload that awaited him.

Inside the hall, the elderly emperor…

“…Actually, this time it’s not about that.”

But the emperor couldn’t deny that Xu Yanmiao was particularly meticulous, methodical, and effective—a reliable talent who made things easier for him.

Of course, it would be even better if Xu didn’t keep grumbling about the lack of overtime pay and the heavy workload.

The emperor’s eyes twinkled with a smile when he noticed the young man enter. “You look like a silly one, but you even know how to manipulate public opinion.”

Xu Yanmiao: “…”

He muttered inwardly: 【Where do I look silly?!】

On the surface, he worked to display a delighted and modest demeanor, as if flattered by the praise. “This humble servant was merely finishing the task. If not for Your Majesty and the court officials instituting laws against foot binding and denouncing the practice through propriety and custom, the reaction from the wronged scholars in Yangzhou wouldn’t have been as intense.”

The emperor chuckled, scolding him in jest, “You sly crab, why so clever today?”

“Sly crab” was a teasing term for people from Jiangnan, which was Xu Yanmiao’s homeland.

The emperor then patted the chair beside him. “Come, sit by me.”

Xu Yanmiao had just taken a seat and was about to speak when a flash of white leapt onto his lap. He froze in surprise, and upon looking down—

【A lion cat!!!】

The little white cat curled up on his lap had one golden eye and one silver eye. It tilted its face upward to look at him, letting out a soft, endearing meow.

Xu Yanmiao: “!!!”

That warm, fluffy bundle resting on his lap almost melted his entire being. He didn’t dare move a muscle, afraid of scaring it away.

The old emperor rambled on from the side. “You’ve accomplished a lot this time, and the rewards have already been delivered to your residence. I’ve noticed you often play with cats and dogs, so I figured you must like them. This white cat is useless at catching mice—just a cat in name—but the empress said you young folks don’t keep cats to catch mice anyway. That’s why I had someone bring it over. If you don’t like it, I can have them exchange it for…”

Xu Yanmiao snapped back to reality, keeping his expression composed. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I am most pleased.”

【A cat!!!】

【I have a cat now!!!】

【The company gave out cats!!!】

The old emperor sipped his wine with satisfaction.

Hmm, it was clear Xu Yanmiao was genuinely pleased.

With a teasing tone, he remarked, “So, are you still upset about having to handle so many official duties?”

Xu Yanmiao guessed that his occasional expressions must have given him away. His face instantly grew warm. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding.”

In truth, it wasn’t like he harbored genuine dissatisfaction. He just liked to grumble a little when he was idle.

As for now…

Xu Yanmiao looked down and gently stroked the cat twice, savoring the soft, fluffy sensation. Inside, he was screaming: 【So cute!!!】

【The boss is so generous!】

【The boss is such a good person!】

【From now on, he vowed never to complain about the workload again!】