Chapter 42: Han Xun Presents a Strategy

Mi Zeng naturally felt the pleading look in his daughter's eyes, and his heart softened involuntarily. He said to Mi Fang, "Get up."

Mi Fang was still kneeling on the ground, not daring to rise, so Mi Yue stepped forward and personally helped her second brother to her feet.

"Zifang," Mi Zeng said earnestly, "our family in Donghai is indeed immensely wealthy across generations, and the surrounding gentry and powerful clans are all on good terms with us, sharing the same breath and branch, acting as each other's support and exterior.

"Yet you must never forget that, after all, our family is merely a clan of wealthy merchants, not a distinguished gentry lineage.

"Chen Yuanlong is on good terms with your elder brother because Chen Yuanlong possesses a broad and open mind, judging people not by their family background. But how many Chen Yuanlongs are there in Xuzhou? Even among those gentry clans in Qu County who maintain friendly relations with our family, which one isn't a friendship cultivated over generations by our family feeding them with wealth?

"The scions of the Gan and Wang families—on the surface, they are on good terms with you, close as brothers. Yet, the money you have spent on them, is it really a small amount? If not for spending this money, would they still be so close to you?"

Mi Fang nodded awkwardly, "Father's teachings are entirely correct."

"You child," Mi Zeng shook his head, "you must understand that one who aims to achieve great things must never be reluctant to part with wealth. Not to mention that Young Master Liu has brought forth the methods for producing refined salt and rock candy this time. Even if he hadn't, our Mi family would still lend our utmost support to Governor Liu.

"Governor Tao was high-minded yet lacking in practical ability, yet you were willing to offer him tribute year after year. Governor Liu, on the other hand, is shrewd and capable, and you instead grew stingy toward him—how foolish!"

Mi Fang nearly dropped to his knees again, repenting, "Yes, Father's reprimand is just. This son will surely remember this lesson, and I pray Father will calm his anger."

Only then did Mi Zeng收敛 (retrieve/subside) his angry expression. He patted his thigh with his left hand and pondered for a moment: "The items your elder brother requested this time—not only must we provide them, we must provide them in excess.

"Add twenty percent to all funds and material supplies, and add another ten percent to the grain."

Hearing this, a look of hesitation surfaced on Mi Fang's face, yet he dared not speak.

Naturally, this could not escape Mi Zeng's eyes: "If you have something to say, just speak your mind. Am I truly the kind of unreasonable person?"

Mi Fang hastily shook his head: "Father is naturally not like that. This son merely wished to remind Father that other goods are easily managed, but grain is already in tight supply. To add another ten percent would mean the household might face a shortage of grain."

"No matter!" Mi Zeng seemed to have anticipated this: "Tomorrow, send out invitations to the Gan family, the Wang family, and the various gentry and merchant clans within Qu County. This old man wishes to host them for a banquet at Fu Tower. By then, the grain shortfall will naturally be filled."

Hearing this, Mi Fang breathed a sigh of relief and hastily accepted the command.

With his own father stepping into the matter, let alone a mere twenty or thirty thousand stones of grain, even one or two hundred thousand stones would pose no problem.

"Furthermore, select domestic servants of clean backgrounds from the household and try producing according to the method taught by Young Master Liu, to see if this method is effective. If it is effective, check whether the refined salt and rock candy produced are identical to those provided by Young Master Liu; if they differ, find out where the discrepancy lies.

Additionally, replicate that curved-shaft plow as well. If there are any issues, contact your elder brother promptly."

Mi Fang hurriedly consented once more.

Finally, Mi Zeng waved his hand: "Very well, go and attend to your duties. Remember that all of this must be kept strictly confidential, and not the slightest detail must be leaked."

"Yes! Father."

Mi Fang glanced at Mi Yue, who was making a playful face at him, wore a bitter smile, and then walked downstairs and departed.

It was only after Mi Fang had left that Mi Yue drew close to Mi Zeng, taking hold of her father's arm and tugging at it: "Father, you were far too harsh on Second Brother. The way you scolded him just now, he was almost on the verge of tears."

"And here I thought you were feeling sorry for your second brother?" Mi Zeng glanced sideways at his daughter: "I am doing this for his own good. If his vision remains so short-sighted, he will soon lose even the capacity to safeguard the family fortunes for Zizhong, let alone help share Zizhong's burdens."

Mi Yue tugged coaxingly at Mi Zeng's hand: "Oh, Father, Second Brother already knows his mistake. In the future, you can slowly teach him step by step, and I believe Second Brother will certainly reform."

"All right, all right." Mi Zeng patted the back of his precious daughter's hand, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

According to Zizhong's letters, Young Master Liu's age was quite similar to that of his own daughter, and his son had showered that Young Master Liu with glowing praise and utmost commendation.

Had he not been familiar with his son's temperament and known how steadfast Zizhong's character truly was, he certainly would not have believed such exaggerated praise and adulation.

Yet at present, Mi Zeng had developed a profound curiosity regarding Liu Feng.

If Liu Feng truly proved to be as exceptional as Zizhong claimed, then Mi Zeng certainly had matters he wished to pursue.

With this thought in mind, Mi Zeng cast a glance toward his daughter.

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"My Lord, day and night I have pondered, and I have devised a stratagem for Your Lordship, which I have specially come to present."

Liu Feng had spent half the day processing official documents and was just preparing to take a midday meal when an official surnamed Han Xun suddenly requested an audience, claiming he had an urgent matter to report.

Liu Feng reflected for a moment, recalling that this Han Xun was a Confucian scholar official appointed by Tao Qian and not a particularly significant figure.

However, toward scholars, Liu Feng had always maintained a high level of tolerance and was quite willing to project an image of revering the gentry.

He postponed his midday meal, invited the man inside, and thus heard those very words.

This instantly piqued Liu Feng's interest.

If nothing else, simply the dedication of pondering day and night to devise a brilliant strategy for him was an attitude well worthy of affirmation.

Regardless of whether the stratagem proved effective or sound, solely based on this attitude, he deserved to be generously rewarded.

"Ah, Official, please take a seat."

Liu Feng straightened up, inviting the other party to be seated, and gently inquired, "I wonder what brilliant strategy the Official has brought to present to me?"

Han Xun was a scholarly literatus in his forties, with a refined and delicate appearance.

Hearing Liu Feng's inquiry, Han Xun respectfully replied: "Formerly, when Governor Tao was in office in Xuzhou, the prominent scholars of the province, Official of Merit Wang and Assistant Zhao, jointly remonstrated with Governor Tao, stating: 'According to the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, seeking help from feudal lords is inferior to displaying diligence toward the king.'

"Presently, the Son of Heaven is far away in the Western Capital, and we should dispatch envoys to honor the royal mandates.

"Upon hearing this, Governor Tao was greatly pleased and subsequently dispatched Assistant Zhao to journey to the Western Capital to pay homage to the Son of Heaven.

"Upon reading Governor Tao's memorial, the Son of Heaven was exceedingly joyful; not only did he lavish praise upon him, but he also promoted Governor Tao to Governor of Xuzhou, General Who Pacifies the East, and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Liyang. Simultaneously, Assistant Zhao was appointed by the imperial court as the Grand Administrator of Guangling, while Official of Merit Wang Lang was appointed as the Grand Administrator of Kuaiji.

"Now, Your Lordship has accepted the heavy trust of Governor Tao and administers the affairs of Xuzhou province. Yet, after all, this is merely your own self-declaration, lacking the official endorsement of the imperial court.

"That being the case, why not emulate Governor Tao's policy by dispatching envoys to the Western Capital to pay audience to the Son of Heaven and secure the position of Provincial Governor for Your Lordship?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng instantly felt that this suggestion was remarkably sound.

Indeed, although he currently held the position of Governor of Xuzhou, this governorship was an informal transfer between himself and Tao Qian privately, lacking any imperial endorsement or recognition.

To put it bluntly, this transition lacked strict legality; it merely capitalized on the chaotic state of the realm.

While it could barely suffice for the present—given the nature of the times, when everyone understood the situation and would not be overly fastidious about procedural legality—nevertheless, if he could truly obtain the imperial court's endorsement and an official appointment, Liu Feng's status as Governor of Xuzhou would become vastly more secure, and his authority to act would expand considerably.

This could not help but stir Liu Feng's heart.