Chapter 990

In response to the Zhao King’s question, Wei Yuan said: “Looking through history, what the common people seek is simply to survive—to have enough to eat and wear, and they consider that a rare golden age. Some rulers, merely by not letting their subjects starve to death en masse, by letting them eat bran and drink thin gruel, dare call it a golden age.

For the people, only when survival becomes utterly impossible do they rise in rebellion. Thus, aiding the most destitute eliminates the root of unrest. That is the first point.

The Zhao King, well-read in history, replied: “I agree with this point. But Zhao has been at peace for twenty years; before you came along, not a single battle had touched our soil. Under this reign of peace, among these poor, there are many idlers, lazybones, and ruffians—should they all be aided too?”

Wei Yuan said: “You just said, ‘Poverty and harsh land breed defiant people.’ That is precisely why they must be aided. First comes the poverty and harsh land; the people there struggle to survive, forced to haggle over every grain, and only then do ‘defiant people’ emerge.”

The Zhao King said: “Being born in poverty and harsh land is also a karmic retribution. Their fate is thus; they ought to perish on their own. From a Buddhist view, their present suffering is the fruit of past misdeeds. Perhaps they committed too many evils in a former life.”

Wei Yuan said: “Karmic cycles do exist, and poverty and harsh land are part of heaven and earth. Some mortals are born into noble houses, others into perilous, barren lands—this is indeed their own fate, not the fault of others.

But I am a commoner; I may think so. You, as a king, cannot think so. Either transform the poverty and harsh land into fertile fields and clear waters, or relocate its people to prosperous, habitable lands—that is the king’s duty. Only after doing this, if someone still chooses laziness and suffers hardship, then it becomes his own affair—his just deserts.”

The Zhao King pondered long before saying: “What you say has merit, but turning barren lands into habitable ones is no less than reversing heaven and earth—how immensely difficult!”

“Precisely because the local people cannot achieve this on their own, it becomes the king’s duty. In these places, you cannot teach them to fish—you must give them fish.”

The Zhao King said: “Even aiding only the poorest—your so-called welfare—has been done by scarcely anyone in history, let alone by emperors of great states. Why should I do it?”

Wei Yuan said: “Precisely because it has never been done before, you can be called the Emperor of a Thousand Generations!”

The Zhao King’s breathing grew heavier for a moment, then steadied. He smiled bitterly: “That is overreach. Only Tang could call himself emperor.”

“Emperor of a Thousand Generations?”

“That doesn’t sound nearly as good.”

The Zhao King rose and paced his study, deep in thought, then said: “Your welfare—I still don’t understand one thing. Just now I did a rough calculation: even slightly expanding the scope would instantly drain the state treasury. No matter how you raise taxes, the numbers don’t add up.”

Wei Yuan said: “Why expand the scope at all? For now, welfare needs only two things: eliminate the utterly destitute, and teach all the people to read. This costs little, yet gains immense popular support. As long as Zhao grows more cotton, mulberry, and spiritual trees, tax silver will suffice.”

“Enlightening the people—could that not be dangerous?”

Wei Yuan said: “You don’t intend to act against reason—why fear it? Whether the people are enlightened or not, justice resides in their hearts.”

The Zhao King sighed: “I’m not worried about myself—but what if my descendants are foolish and tyrannical? What if they crave indulgence, wish to rise above the law?”

“As long as the people remain ignorant, they are scattered sand. Then, before I die, I can simply designate a few clans—let them slaughter each other—and my heirs will sit secure on the throne. Let Lingnan fight Lingbei, Hedong clash Hexi—even divide them by skin tone or customs. Like those who eat pork versus those who eat beef—eternal enemies.”

“This…” Wei Yuan had no reply.

The Zhao King said: “I wish to be the Emperor of a Thousand Generations—but I wish even more for my realm to endure forever, for all future kings on this land to bear my Li surname! I am no sage—I have selfish desires.”

Wei Yuan sighed: “Then let us compromise. Announce the welfare first. Your prestige will rise another rung; among Zhao’s past kings, only the Founding Ancestor could surpass you. Adding ‘Ancestor’ to your posthumous title won’t be excessive—Zhao Wenzu, how does that sound?”

The Zhao King glared at Wei Yuan, then called for attendants. Before Wei Yuan’s eyes, he drafted and issued the edict.

After this was settled, the Zhao King asked: “Use your mind—think of a way to ensure my Li dynasty endures forever.”