IDWBE -Chapter 458 Interests

After laughing for a while, Lin Yi finally couldn’t help saying:

“They think that just because they’re refugees, because they’re poor enough, they can just lie flat? Since I’m determined to steer Great Liang onto the road of capitalism, not only must I provide them with ample capital and vast markets, I must also give them sufficient labor. The poor—ah, they are the finest leeks. How could I allow them to lie flat?”

Jiao Zhong was no stranger to the term “lie flat.” It was Prince He’s ideal!

But now, hearing it used to describe beggars felt rather strange. He could only force a smile and say, “To serve Your Highness and dedicate themselves to Great Liang is a blessing for those paupers.”

Lin Yi shook his head. “Nonsense. I’m driving them to keep striving—to serve the people.”

“Yes, Your Highness is right,” Jiao Zhong hurriedly replied.

Lin Yi continued, “Not just the commoners. The officials are the same. Those willing to serve the people—I’ll give them the first milk tea of autumn. Those unwilling—I’ll give them the first incense stick of Qingming.”

Though Lin Yi said it with a smile, Jiao Zhong still felt a faint chill.

The first incense stick of Qingming?

Wasn’t that sending someone to the execution ground?

“Rest assured, Your Highness,” Jiao Zhong said hastily. “I will certainly heed Your Highness’s teachings.”

Lin Yi suddenly asked curiously, “How are things going with Cao Xiaohuan?”

“Ah—”

Jiao Zhong was caught completely off guard. He hadn’t expected Prince He to take an interest in his affairs. Embarrassed, he said, “Your Highness, I am of humble status. How would I dare to reach so high?”

“You’re the commander of Prince He’s guards. How is that humble? Are you looking down on yourself—or on me?” Lin Yi said irritably.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Jiao Zhong replied even more cautiously. “In the end, Captain Cao and I are fated but not destined.”

Lin Yi turned his head and smiled. “Cao Xiaohuan has a son, doesn’t she?”

“Yes,” Jiao Zhong said with a faint smile. “It’s said the Wu family is raising him. Given Captain Cao’s current influence, if she spoke a word, the Wu family would have no grounds to refuse. But she doesn’t wish to gain a reputation for bullying with power. She’s submitted a formal petition, asking the authorities to award custody of the child to her.”

Lin Yi nodded. “I’ve met Cao Xiaohuan a few times. My impression is good—she’s capable. But that doesn’t mean being a stepfather will be easy.”

Back when he watched The Secret History of Xiaozhuang, his greatest takeaway had been about Dorgon—the stepfather who gave the empire to his stepson and got nothing in return!

Looking back now, that was pure love-brain behavior.

A classic case of choosing beauty over the throne.

Jiao Zhong lowered his head in shame. “Your Highness’s lesson is most correct.”

Lin Yi brushed the snow off his head at a crossroads and continued, “Cao Xiaohuan can find a man—but better to find someone a bit weaker, someone content to stand behind her.”

Jiao Zhong murmured, “Your Highness speaks wisely.”

He had to admit it was true.

He really wasn’t suitable.

Back then, he simply hadn’t thought it through. Was being a stepfather so easy?

You might devote yourself wholeheartedly, raise the child to adulthood—only for the biological father to remain the true father in the end.

He had seen such things before.

Lin Yi sighed. “Am I talking too much again?”

He could never shake this habit of lecturing others.

In his previous life it had been so. In this life, even more so.

“To receive Your Highness’s guidance is more than I could wish for,” Jiao Zhong said, dropping to his knees in the snow.

“Your Highness’s teachings shall be obeyed!”

Those nearby holding lanterns dared not pretend they hadn’t heard. They knelt in unison beside Jiao Zhong.

Rubbing his hands in satisfaction, Lin Yi said, “Since you put it that way, shall I say a bit more?”

Now that he was Regent, his words carried the weight of “truth.”

And if it was truth, he could hardly prevent others from seeking it. Naturally, the more he said, the better.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” everyone replied in chorus again.

Lin Yi said casually, “There are three kinds of fools in this world. The first lends money to others and waits for repayment. The second pours his heart into a woman, waiting to move her with devotion. The third buries his head in hard work, waiting for a noble to notice him.”

The atmosphere in Ankang City had grown increasingly strange. Troubles never ceased.

Even though he had already lain flat as a salted fish, no one would let him rest.

Most eye-catching was the “Relocation of the Capital” faction, led by the people of Sanhe.

Though filled mostly with martial men, the real masterminds were Sanhe suppliers.

What they had most was money.

They waved silver notes around, funding scholars in Ankang City, providing money, even renting out entire brothels!

Even renowned Confucian scholars across Liang had been bought to wave flags and shout for relocating the capital.

What astonished Lin Yi was that neither He Jixiang nor Wang Qingbang—nor even Chen Desheng—had tried to stop them.

It was only after Mingyue’s reminder that Lin Yi realized: the interests of those old men aligned with the “Relocation” faction.

Weren’t He Jixiang and the others working so hard precisely in hopes that Lin Yi would ascend the throne?

They had talked themselves hoarse, yet Lin Yi still refused to proclaim himself emperor!

Prince He could wait—but these old men could not.

They were aging, their health declining. If they delayed further, they’d soon be in their graves.

So they let the “Relocation” faction stir trouble. If Prince He truly lost his head and relocated the capital, he would have to ascend the throne.

As for how to stop him afterward—that could be discussed later.

First, get him crowned!

Thus, Lin Yi was in a dilemma.

He was determined to develop capitalism, to become the gravedigger of feudal society—and these people wanted him to be emperor?

How could he agree?

He had no intention of becoming an obstacle to capitalist development.

But He Jixiang and the others were his confidants. He couldn’t say anything too harsh and wound them.

So he could only couch his words in roundabout lessons, letting them drift into their ears indirectly.

“Your Highness…” Jiao Zhong said nervously. He understood the first two types of fools—but the third?

Bury one’s head in work and wait for a noble’s recognition—hadn’t that always been the way?

Even Senior Chen Desheng had said, “Master the arts of civil and martial learning, and sell them to the imperial house.”

Lin Yi smiled. “If you don’t understand, forget it. Ponder it slowly.”

He couldn’t exactly say: the harder you work, the sooner I’ll ascend the throne!

But once I ascend—what good will that do you?

It was like employees working harder and harder, while the boss upgrades to bigger mansions and better cars.

Sometimes he felt conflicted.

He wanted loyalty from those below him. Anyone who raised their voice at him made him frown.

Yet he feared blind loyalty as well.

After all, that too was part of feudal dross.

Aligning personal interest with social and collective interest was truly difficult.