Qinglian Chronicles - Chapter 11

There is only one footnote in this chapter so no page-jumps. Sorry I am too lazy.

Bribe

Translated by: Niladri

I was very depressed, when suddenly there was a loud commotion outside. This was not one of those bustling brothels, it had a very peaceful ambiance, so this noisy sound was especially grating. Not only me, but Gao Yushu also frowned.

Lan Guan quickly got up and went to see the people outside the door for almost half a day [T/N: Figuratively]. He walked in, smiled at me and said, “Zhang Daren, a good friend of my family’s steward, wanted to see you. I know it was too presumptuous. But this person is a powerful merchant in Shanxi Province, he also has a very strong influence in the capital. Secondly, Lan Guan is scared to offend him. Would daren permit him to come in and give you a kotow?”

Gao Yushu said: “This is a bit upsetting, but he is at least well-mannered. Lord father what do you think?”

Ah, I sneer in my heart. It turns out that this is your and Gao Yushu’s scheme, to trick me here! This one is going to see what tricks you intend to play!

I smiled languidly, trying to appear unfathomable to others: “If that’s how it is, invite him in!”

A man in his forties who was dressed in a sichuan get-up wearing a purple silk brocade robe came in. The Chinese Jade in his hand appeared to be very valuable, it appeared to be emitting a golden light, although it wasn’t really.

The man knelt down and bowed his head and said, “Paying respects to Zhang Daren, may Zhang Daren remain healthy and safe.”

I took a look at him. The man’s face was a bit thin, he looked stubborn and knew when to advance and when to retreat, and he didn’t look at all like an ordinary businessman. But I thought about it as well, because he is a powerful merchant, he deals with numerous people, and obviously the number of silver coins handled each day is scary. Naturally one must have an impressive and dignified bearing. Because, this time-period was heavily based on agriculture- Industry and commerce were not very developed. Only because of this, he did not get the social status corresponding to his wealth. If it was modern age, he would be referred to as an old fox in my opinion.

Seeing a man of the same rank as the old fox kneeling beside me, hoping to see me so painstakingly, I… really cool! The satisfaction of my vanity cannot be expressed in words.[T/N: the ‘old fox’ of modern times was mentioned last chapter]

So I did not hurry in allowing him to rise, instead extended the corners of my mouth in a smile. In fact, it was simply because I felt like it, but in the eyes of others, I looked more and more unpredictable.

It was evident from the fact that Gao Yushu was dumbfounded. He pretended not to recognize the man, deliberately cleared his throat and spoke in an official manner. He clapped his hands like people of a courtroom and said: “Hai hai! Who do you kneel to? ”

“Back to two darens, this villain Lin Guiquan, Shanxi Datong’s citizen, greets Zhang Daren for the first time. Zhang Daren has noble elegance, love the common people as his own son, works hard for the country, clear and honest like the water, villain’s family has always been looking forward be able to admire the grace of Daren one day. Today villain just came to do business in the capital and stayed. This one also heard that darens were playing here. The villain would like to meet the darens and would gladly recompense them for the trouble. There are some souvenirs in the villain’s bags. Albeit very meager, they just want to show the sincerity in villain’s heart.” While saying this, he handed over the gift list.

This speech embodies a lot government dealings and diplomacy tactics. Listening to it I felt a great deal of admiration, but it was too voluminous, therefore making it necessary to be translated. His true meaning was this: I have heard that Zhang Qinglian looks like a woman. He was like a rabbit hunted by the late emperor. I had always been very curious regarding this. I wanted to see how he was in reality. All my family members thought so. I also heard that you are a corrupt officer who is extremely greedy. As long as you have the money, you completely disregard for human life. Now that I have something to get through, I immediately thought of you. I deliberately ran to the capital and spent quite a bit of time, effort and money, making it possible to see you. Now as fast as I could, I offered you a generous gift. You have collected the money and will solve my problem easily now.

I slowly drank tea, when the gift sheet was handed to my hand. It was a thick sheet of jade paper with bronze frame, coated with sandalwood.

I opened it and, Ah, it was written in xiaozhuan [small seal] script. Fortunately, all the elite in this age had to practice calligraphy. If he couldn’t read it, Zhang Qinglian would become notorious for being illiterate. Why do merchants from ancient times till today like to be so arty?

The list is as follows:

A pair of scarlet treasured bracelets, an exquisite jasper dragon-phoenix pair, four gold purple beasts double ring incense burner, five jin of South China Sea ambergris, a pair of lingzhi mushroom, ten snow leopard skins, twenty folded flower Persian organdie [A type of cotton muslin].

I took half a day to take it all in. This ceremony was not trivial, but it was not as solemn as a vassal minister sending tributes to his overlord. It was like how armies send out scouts to see if there is anyone, was probing to see if I was willing to fulfill his request.

I smiled and threw the gift list in front of the case and said, “Not all of these goods are from Datong Prefecture.” In fact, none of those were.

Lin Guiquan laughed and said: “Daren, this is a villain who does business in the South and the North. The best items are left for future use. Some are hard to find. The villain thinks that darens have to work day and night for the country. What the villain can do is only this much, it’s quite mediocre.”

“Ha-ha, then I shall acknowledge your hard work.” I met his gaze and hypocritically said, “Always kneeling whenever something is said, this is a private gathering, not a public court.”

Lin Guigui stiffly straightened his knees a bit, and Lan Guan quickly gave him a seat. Hmph, not used to it? However, I have met you regardless of your status so you must forgive anything I do and not dare to have a grievance against me. (Author: Please don’t vent your feelings for the modern old fox onto the ancient old fox).

Lin Guiquan did not dare to be at ease. He only sat on the side of his buttocks. I pretend to be a pro-government patriot like the leaders of all the countries I know. I cordially enquired how many members he had in his family, Whether or not his business is doing well, and so on. Really, politicians should be given Oscar.

He answered one by one, spoke a few cursory words, and tactfully asked to be excused.

After he had left, I also stood up and said, “I still have some administrative responsibilities. I have to go back to the mansion first.” When this statement came out, everyone was stunned. Of course, I knew that because despite facing such beautiful men, the man-loving Zhang Qinglian actually wants to go home.

Lan Guan said: “Won’t daren stay overnight?” Also pulled Yuan Qingyin with his hand.

Yuan Qingyun smiled at me lazily and looked very seductive.

This one dislikes this kind of men the most. Just because they look handsome they think they can do anything, as if no one could escape their charm.

I said faintly: “No.” Then I shot a cold look at Yuan Qingyun, warning him to stay away from me. He smiled, really does not know the meaning of fear.

However, Gao Yushu and Lan Guan were resigned. Gao Yushu accompanied me to leave and came out.

We silently walked for a short time, my precious son has been sneaking glances at my face, trying to gauge my mood. As I approached the door, I casually said, “Dear child, what does this person want me to do?”

Gao Yushu’s face turned ugly on having being exposed. Hey, he deserved it. He wanted to make fool of me!

“Lord father, Lin family has a big business and is considered a prominent family in Datong. However, because it is an ethnic group of commoners (1), it is always oppressed by the local clans. This Boss Lin said that regardless of how much money he spends, the avarice of the clansmen were insatiable. Although child had a mind to help him, this matter falls under the Ministry of Rite’s jurisdiction…. Child thinks that regarding this matter, apart from lord father no one can solve.”

Oh, you think that by giving me a high hat, you can patronize me? The previous Zhang Qinglian may have been stupid, but I am not.[T/N: I think English ‘high hat’ and Chinese ‘high hat’ have different meanings]

According to the information I have read, the relationship between the scholar class and commoners of this era are very similar to the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties. The rift between them is evident. Although it is insufficient to hinder intermarriages, and that there were also many officials from the North Korean background. However, the difference in status was like heaven and earth. Is it possible to spend that much money freely?

“Ministry of Rites? Then this is under Gu Yunzhi’s jurisdiction…This matter is dismissed.”

Taking a hit from me as hard as a nail, Gao Yushu gave me a stunned look. His face genuinely became paled like a ghost. He immediately put a smile on his face and said, “That old ghost Gu Yunzhi is indeed hard to handle, but it isn’t true that father can’t do anything about him… ”

Method of goading somebody into action? It’s rather childish.

“Dear child,” I said quite profoundly. “You must never be penny wise and pound foolish, it’s not the right time.” [T/N: Not suffer big losses in pursuit of small gains]

Gao Yushu looked at me embarrassedly and said in a respectful tone: “Lord father has taught this one.”

This party of virtuous scholars, hmph hmph, they shouldn’t be naïve enough to think that I would give in to them. They have deemed me to be a locust of the country, a male pet with a good family background. Even if I give in to their demands, they will continue to detest me. Basically they can be identified as one of my archenemies.

Although their reputation is quite good, they are more like people who swell up their face by making it look imposing [T/N: Seek to impress by feigning rather than using one’s ability] . They pretend to be on the side of justice. However, there is no clean politics in the world. They only care about adding feathers to their caps.

Must defeat them in one fell swoop in the future, or keep them and let the mother’s and wife’s families keep each other in check.[T/N: Let them oppose each other]

Personally, I am more inclined to the latter, so long as I manage to instigate the mother’s and wife’s families, it is not difficult to achieve the goal.

At present, I only have three main concerns: First, how to safeguard my life and properties; second is to make government policies. Although I cannot say what the citizens are most concerned about, but clearly the people have a lack of livelihood. The citizens living in destitution will definitely affect my Aesthetic Standard and professional prestige; the third is the long-term cultivation of the young emperor, this objective is quite challenging.

[Niladri: If you like this translation please leave a comment at azuronscleaning.wordpress.com , comments are quite encouraging. No need to turn off adblocker or stuff.]

However, Gao Yushu changed to an embarrassed look too fast and the expression of respect was too pompous. Could it be that this thing was actually deliberately uttering those words to elicit my opinion, and then showing me that expression after being lectured, to satisfy my vanity?

Cannot be underestimated, ah, cannot be underestimated!

“Lord father, if it is no good then it cannot be helped. But Lin Guiquan has something which makes fulfilling his request worth it. The Lin family business has chinaware, tea, silk, Persian jewelry and spices that are brought in and transferred out of the Silk Road every year, it is estimated that the amounts are not small. Although the Northern Territory had already issued orders for closure of the borders, it is generally slightly strict in the southeastern coastal areas. The northwestern government had always turned a blind eye to it. But years ago, General Shao Qing, the chief of staff in the Ministry of War marched west and quelled a rebellion in the border. Since then, the border area stopped bending the rules and giving leeways. Lin Guiquan therefore asked the Daren to give him a license.”

I pondered a bit on it. It seems that this was their real purpose. From the perspective of modern people, trade has always been a lucrative prospect. However, if there is a war…I wonder which academy this Ministry of War’s chief of staff Shao Qing is from?

“This matter…”

“Father, Shao daren is close to you and holds you dear like a family member. This problem, as long as you exchange a few words with him, can be solved. Boss Lin said that as long as the matter can be completed, he is willing to spend 152,000 yuan to buy Yuan Qingyun and send it to your home. ”

He must be joking, as if I would ever willingly accept that!

“Ahem,152,000 silver for this Yuan Qingyun is very worthwhile. It is enough to make person make a gold statue of himself. Only the real person will grow old and die but a gold statue will remain forever.” [T/N: So why offer a person instead of gold? -___- ]

Gao Yushu blinked and quickly said with a smile: “Therefore, I instructed Boss Lin to send the silver bills directly.”

I gave him an exclusive permission for a border state area; wouldn’t he make far more than 1 million every year? Do I seem so easy to deceive?

I sneer: “I’m not one of his merchants and wouldn’t deign to bargain back and forth with him! You go and tell him that every year I take 30% of his profits, else not willing!”

Gao Yushu promised to go and see him. I am afraid that the benefits are also quite a lot, it is estimated that every year I need to go and settle it myself. Hmph , this time you must go and deal with Lin Family.

However, harvesting money feels equally good in ancient times! Sure enough, as a friend of mine once said: Making money is a time-honored pleasure.

Well, now I’m going to go home and visit my beautiful boy.

Announcement: I will be using T/N (translator’s note) instead of C/N (cleaner’s note) since it’s not just a simple cleaning work anymore. I need to translate phrases and sometimes sentences from raws word by word, coz MTL is too off the course/doesn’t make sense/both.

(1): raws use gelao (yi people) and zhuang (dong) people but I will use commoners and scholars as one of my translation sources mentions them. This will make translation easier and sentences less awkward. Google ’56 ethnic groups of china’ if you are that interested.

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