Chapter 649 — A Sense of Loss
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 5
That is money the brothers and sisters of the Sacred Cult earned by their own skill.
Why should it be handed to the emperor for nothing?
" Shen Mu said with patience, "There is a way even in commerce. The Sacred Cult was not founded to do business, but for the daily use of the common people, to let them live better. When the Sacred Cult does business, it is to serve the people's convenience, not to squeeze out wealth. The money you earn is Dafeng coin, the currency of Jingping; if the State of Jingping ceases to exist, the Dafeng coin is worth nothing at all. And now the Sacred Cult has gathered half the wealth of the world under its hand - I would say calamity is not far off.
" Si Yunxiang was still reluctant: "But it was all earned through bitter toil. .
. " Shen Mu said, "Trade can bring wealth, and trade can bring ruin.
What benefits the people and the state may be done; what harms them may not. The Heavenly Sacred Cult is not so great that it can stand above the common folk, above the fate of the realm, so great that it cannot fall! The founding purpose of the Heavenly Sacred Cult is the way of the sages, not the seizing of the world's wealth. " Si Yunxiang was still unwilling to yield, when suddenly an old woman walked toward the two primordial spirits, raised her head to look at them, and said, "Xiang'er, the Cult Master is right. What is taken from the people should be used for the people.
Our Si family manages the finances and holds the wealth of the Sacred Cult, but the wealth of the Sacred Cult is still the Cult Master's to command.
You have squeezed your way into the eye of a coin, and forgotten the first purpose of the Heavenly Sacred Cult. " Shen Mu said hastily, "Greetings, Ancestral Grandmother of the Si family! " The old woman returned the courtesy in haste and grinned: "Cult Master, Xiang'er is a little greedy for small gains, but she is not a petty person. " Shen Mu thanked her and said, "So this is the Si household.
I intruded rashly and disturbed you, Ancestral Grandmother; forgive me. I am still in the imperial garden and must return quickly. " With that he bowed deeply, and his primordial spirit vanished. Si Yunxiang also withdrew her primordial spirit and returned to her body, saying, "Ancestral Grandmother, why should the wealth of the Sacred Cult be given to the emperor?
" The Ancestral Grandmother of the Si family smiled: "The Cult Master spoke truly.
When the people are rich and the state is weak, it is not the people who are rich but a handful of powerful houses; and if foreign enemies invade and the state is destroyed, the people's wealth is gone with it, and however much treasure there was turns to running water. The best path is still this: a rich people and a strong state.
If the state does not fall, the people's wealth endures. " In the imperial garden, Shen Mu's primordial spirit returned to his body, and he saw Ling Yuxiu bending low on the other side of the flower, eyes closed, breathing in its scent - a single blossom between them. Ling Yuxiu stealthily opened her eyes and found Shen Mu staring at her with wide eyes; her pretty face flushed scarlet.
Shen Mu released the branch and lightly kissed her on the lips.
Ling Yuxiu cried out in alarm and ran off, darting away through the flowers and willows, her voice carrying back from afar: "You rogue! If my father finds out he will have your head! " Shen Mu laughed heartily and set off after her. Behind a willow in the distance, Emperor Yanfeng's face was dark as he said to the little eunuch behind him, "Bring me my little notebook!
" The little eunuch hurriedly presented the notebook along with brush and ink. Emperor Yanfeng opened it and wrote: "Taking liberties with my precious daughter - I will have your head.
Put it on account for now!
" "Your Majesty, is it not somewhat unseemly for us to spy here? " the little eunuch ventured cautiously. Emperor Yanfeng glared at him: "I will have your head.