"According to your words, Lord Zhao, merchants are cunning and profit-driven; how could they possibly be willing to hand over their silver?" This was Emperor Deming's concern. The Li Kingdom was vast, and while everything under heaven was technically under his jurisdiction, he could not manage every detail personally. With the emperor so far away and officials prone to shielding and protecting one another, this was not a situation he wished to see. As a ruler, he despised hypocrisy and insubordination among his subordinates, yet some matters could not be resolved with a few simple words. Anything involving silver was never simple.
Lord Zhao had already considered this. He intended to provide a bait so tempting that it would be impossible to refuse. It was never about force or oppression; he wanted the merchants to act of their own free will.
"Your Majesty, we only need to allow the children of those on the Merchant Registry to receive a standard education and sit for the Imperial Examination." Lord Zhao understood what merchants valued most. Beyond silver, they cared about their social standing. No matter how much wealth they amassed, they could not escape the stigma of low social status. Consequently, they were forced to rely on officials, using their financial influence year after year to pay for protection.
Chapter 646