Chapter 371: The Need for a Rigid Person
Chapter 366 of "The Great Ming in the Box" opens with: Li Daoxuan held a cup of jasmine latte, gazing down at Heyang County from the... See what unfolds next!
Li Daoxuan held a cup of jasmine latte, gazing down at Heyang County from the sky. He felt a little nervous, genuinely worried that the figures from his village militia might bully the common citizens of Heyang County.This was the first time the Gaojia Village Militia had ventured into a âwild figure-populated town.â In such a place, incidents of bullying the weak were all too likely to erupt.
This marked the militiaâs first major test of integrity and discipline.
Li Daoxuan knew he was partial to his own people. If his figures bullied the wild figures, how should he respond? Turning a blind eye was unacceptable, but harsh punishment was something he found hard to stomach.
Quite a dilemma.
At this moment, he gained a deeper understanding of why corruption festered in this world, why eunuchs seized power, why treacherous ministers thrivedâŚ
It all stemmed from the âsupreme leaderâsâ favoritism toward âhis own people.â
Favoritism bred exceptions, and exceptions led to the collapse of law and order.
You know itâs wrong, but when your own people throw tantrums, complain, and threaten suicide before your eyes, how many could truly hold firm?
If your relative stole a thousand coins from the neighbor, could you really bring yourself to call the authorities?
If your closest friend slashed someone with a Western Knife while drunk, would you drag him to the constabulary, or give him travel money to buy a boat ticket and flee?
You might easily type âI stand with justiceâ online to proclaim yourself full of righteousness, but when itâs your turn to chooseâŚitâs far harder than typing on a keyboard.
Li Daoxuan pondered silently. It seemed establishing a âlaw enforcement agencyâ was necessary. Since he couldnât manage with an iron fist, heâd find someone who could to help him governâŚ
Now, while his influence wasnât too vast, it was still timely to create this âlaw enforcement agency.â
But who should serve as the enforcer?
This person must be rigid and inflexible!
They must prioritize law over personal feelings and value justice above all else. To uphold justice, they should even be willing to confront him directly, correcting his âfavoritism and exceptions,â much like the famous Tang Dynasty minister Wei Zheng, who dared to point out the emperorâs faults.
Did he have such a figure among his people?
His mind flooded with chaotic thoughts as he anxiously watched his figures move below.
Fortunately, long-term ideological education and discipline had made the Gaojia Village Militia soldiers behave properly. A squad walked up to a food stall, greeting the owner cheerfully: âBoss, how much for a bowl of your Three Ponds Knife-Shaved Noodles?â
The owner, intimidated by their armor, answered timidly, âTen coins.â
The soldiers: âWhoa, so expensive?â
âIn Gaojia Village, a bowl of hand-pulled noodles is only three coins.â
âI suppose grain must cost more here.â
âThe Deityâs grace has only just reached this county;its grain isnât as abundant as ours in Gaojia Village yet.â
âOh, that makes sense.â
âOne bowl for me!â
âOne for me too!â
The owner felt uneasy. These men ordered five bowlsâfifty coins. If they refused to pay later, heâd suffer a terrible loss.
But a glance at their armor and weapons silenced any âwe donât serve soldiersâ protests. He steeled himself and began shaving noodles.
His worries proved unnecessary. Before the noodles were even ready, the soldiers took out pieces of silver worth about fifty coins, placing them before him. âHurry up with the noodles! Weâre starving!â
Delighted, the owner swept the silver into his drawer. His shaving grew faster, and his mood lifted.
Similar scenes played out all over Heyang County. Over a thousand militia members from Gaojia Village, plus the three hundred cavalry camp troops, instantly made several streets buzz with activity.
The people of Gaojia Village were well-off, but militiamen and cavalrymen were richer still. Their jobs carried mortal risks, so the Deity paid them far more than ordinary laborers.
Their purchasing power was substantial.
The knife-shaved noodle shop quickly filled. The Heyang Xuemian shop was packed. The Fresh Water Hele shop bustled with peopleâŚ
Merchants across Heyang County were overjoyed.
Business this time was fantastic.
The only slight annoyance was the disparaging comments they often overheard. For instance, a soldier eating Fresh Water Hele remarked between mouthfuls, âAh, Heyang County is truly a poor place.â
His companion agreed, âUtterly impoverished. Compared to our Gaojia Village, itâs not even in the same league.â
Hearing this, the owner nearly blew his beard off with anger. Darescall us Heyang folks poor? I ought to knock you with a ladle! Ah⌠but they carried bows and knives. Better not.
Then he remembered those three girls whoâd eaten Fresh Water Hele at his shop earlier. Theyâd urged him to open a Fresh Water Hele shop in Gaojia Village, saying its citizens were wealthy and heâd earn much more.
He glanced at his shop full of Gaojia Villagers. They certainly seemed prosperous. When the girls mentioned it, heâd only half-listened. But now⌠Gaojia Village might truly be worth visiting.
MeanwhileâŚ
Down east, a lamb cake shop was also bustling with festive activity.
Lamb Cake, introduced during the Yuan Dynasty when Mongolians occupied Heyang County, was rich in flavorâoily and delicious. Its only drawback was requiring lamb, which was pricey.
In this year of severe drought, who could afford to raise sheep?
Plus, Fan Shanyuehad wreaked havoc for several years. Finding a live sheep in Heyang County was hard. This shopâs secret backer was Zhang Yuanwaiof Xiazhuang Village, who sourced a little lamb enabling them to run the shop. Patrons were usually prominent locals.
But today, a group of Gaojia Village Militia Soldiers entered. At their lead was Zheng Daniu, who swaggered inside with five Grenade Troops soldiers.
Seeing their enlisted appearance, the owner thought they couldnât afford the food. But when he named what he considered an âexorbitantâ price, Zheng Daniu roared with laughter: âThis place has lamb? Wow, unusual! Sit down, lads. My treat! Six lamb cakes, shopkeep⌠Extra lamb, hold the cake.â
Owner: â!!!â
The six soldiers sat around a table. One commented, âBig Brother Daniu, isnât something wrong? The cake is the main part. Lambâs just a snippet.â
Zheng Daniu: âEh? Really?â
Wryly, the owner explained: âYes. Each bowl has only a few lamb slices. You eat it mainly for the cake.â