Daqin: My weak and virtuous minister

Chapter 188 Finally Going to Sea

Zhangtai Palace

"Come and see your teacher's memorial."

As he spoke, Ying Zheng handed the memorial he had just read to Shi Yi, who took it respectfully and presented it to the prince.

Didn’t the teacher just submit a memorial to our father a few days ago?

Fusu took it and opened it curiously.

The memorial detailed the matter of opening a medical clinic in Qin State.

Fusu read the memorial word by word, closed it, and remained silent for a moment.

"Father, I believe that what you have suggested will benefit our Qin State and should be approved."

Ying Zheng nodded.

"It's just that the teacher is using all his family wealth for this, and I feel it's inappropriate."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ronglu and others standing by stopped writing in shock.

How can you donate all your property?

Now that all the family property has been donated, how will you live?

Ying Zheng glanced at Fusu and said, "You should be aware of your teacher's position in the Qin State's merchant center."

"This project requires a huge amount of money, and we still need the help of those merchants."

"Those wealthy businessmen today were all promoted by your teacher. If your teacher were to give away his family fortune, how could those businessmen remain indifferent?"

"You should understand the reason behind this."

Fusu naturally understood this, but he felt that there was another reason why his teacher did so.

This reason made him feel vaguely uneasy.

"Alright, even if your teacher donated all his property, I can still let Zhang Qing live in poverty."

Ying Zheng didn't want to continue this topic with Fusu.

At the next morning court session, Ying Zheng asked the court officials to circulate Zhang Yuanqing's memorial.

The emperor and his ministers discussed for a long time, and a month later, the emperor issued an edict from the Xianyang Palace.

Emperor's Order

The Right Prime Minister has proposed opening a clinic within the Qin State. This clinic will admit sick infants free of charge, and for those from poor families, the cost of medicine will be halved.

The emperor approved.

On the day the imperial edict was issued, Zhang Yuanqing ordered Gao Yi to carry boxes of money from the Prime Minister's Mansion to the treasury with great fanfare.

Ying Yuanshen wiped his tears while arranging people to count.

In the following days, Qin Shangfu, Liao Wu, Li Yuji and others also sent large amounts of money to support His Majesty in opening a clinic.

蜀地

"Your Majesty's decree has been accepted by everyone. Do you have any thoughts?"

In the study, Qing was wearing a simple blue robe, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes added a touch of age to her.

"What does this have to do with us?"

Several elders looked at each other, but no one responded.

Qing raised his eyes and looked over.

A pair of clear, gentle eyes are calm and wise.

The elder of the tribe looked away.

"Are the elders really unaware of the reason why Qing called everyone here today?"

After saying this, without waiting for the elders to speak, Qing continued, "Then I'll explain it more clearly."

"I plan to donate 50% of my wealth to help Your Majesty open a clinic."

Five percent!

The elders present could no longer sit still.

"No."

"This matter is not something you can decide alone. I disagree."

"I think you are crazy."

"Not only has a mere woman controlled the family's assets for years, she's also attempting to squander the ancestral fortune."

"We absolutely do not agree to this."

Facing the accusations from the elders, Qing remained gentle and didn't care at all what these people said.

Just sit there quietly and let everyone vent their emotions.

Finally, the elders also noticed Qing's reaction.

They straightened their clothes and sat down again.

"Are you all finished speaking?"

"Then it's Qing's turn to say a few words."

The gentle voice was particularly clear in the room.

"Opening a clinic in Qin State will benefit all the people of Qin State."

"Do you still remember the ancestral teachings of your family?"

Although she was a weak person and spoke in a calm and steady voice, she still made these relatives lower their heads.

“All future generations should be kind, humble, and good.”

"If you have extra money, you should help the poor and needy, and not be unkind and greedy for your own selfish ends."

"Over the years, the Qing family has always kept in mind the teachings of our ancestors and dared not forget them."

"I think the elders may have forgotten today."

After saying that, Qing stopped talking and waited quietly for these people.

"Even so, you can't donate 50% of your wealth."

Seeing that someone finally took the lead, the others seemed to have found a breakthrough and spoke again: "Fifty percent of the family fortune, but it will require us to live frugally in the future."

"How can there be such a good deed?"

"Exactly, exactly."

"If you want to do good deeds, we won't stop you, we just need you to donate less."

Within a few words, many people had already expressed their opinions.

Qing still didn't say anything, just watched quietly.

After everyone had finished speaking, Qing finally revealed his first expression of the day. He glanced at everyone with disdain, and his voice became sharp: "Fifty percent of the family wealth is too much, do you think?"

"It's just to stop you from doing anything wrong with this money."

"Where's the talk of austerity?"

"The Right Prime Minister donated all his wealth to this cause for the sake of Qin. Now look at you all, don't you feel ashamed?"

"Besides, many merchants have already donated most of their wealth. If you remain indifferent, aren't you afraid that His Majesty will be dissatisfied?"

"It seems that the status of merchants has increased over the years, making you all arrogant. You've forgotten your own identities."

"Your Majesty can elevate our status as merchants, or you can reduce us to dust once again."

The four words "thrown into the dust" struck everyone's heart hard.

Everyone woke up from a dream.

Of course, there are also people who are disdainful.

But no matter what everyone thinks, Qing is not going to say anything more to them. That’s all he has to say.

After seeing off the elders, Qing called all the managers and began to count the account books.

Ten days later, cartloads of goods were shipped out from Qing Mansion.

With Qing taking the lead, most merchants in Shu also began to respond.

The officials in Shu carefully counted the money donated by the merchants, and each account was clear and understandable. Then, a memorial was sent to the Xianyang Palace.

Of course, the same thing was happening in other parts of Qin.

With financial support, medical clinics were successfully opened in various places, and doctors also arranged personnel to go to various places. Although there are still some places that have not been taken care of, it is much better than before.

The opening of medical clinics in various places not only allowed people to treat their illnesses, but also increased the demand for medicinal materials in medical clinics. Doctors took this opportunity to teach people how to identify basic herbs, and many people also earned an income for their families because of this.

In June, the overseas operation that had been prepared for two years finally began.

The artillery was secretly transported from the Mohist workshop to Kuaiji and delivered to General Wang Ben.

After witnessing the power of the artillery, Yan Fang and others excitedly surrounded the artillery for a long time before they began to think of ways to load these powerful weapons onto the ship.

Busy times always fly by, and it is already July in the blink of an eye.

Seeing the huge ships docked on the sea, the people who came to watch were shocked.

This is the ship of the Great Qin, so majestic and domineering.

The soldiers who had been training for a long time were even more excited.

Wang Ben stood in front of the big ship, with tens of thousands of Qin troops behind him.

Yan Fang and others checked each ship again to make sure there were no problems and the helmsman was ready.

"Get aboard."

With Wang Ben's order, the drummer on the ship began to beat the huge face drum.

"dong dong dong"