Song of Phoenix (思美人)

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Song of Phoenix

Episode 61

Those servant maids were envious of my good looks, spreading lies and slandering me that I’m good in doing lewd and immoral business. - Li Sao (Grievances)

Alright, it's time you should go. The sun is about to rise.

Let me stay a little longer.

Hurry and go back!

You still have to help Lan'er.

If Lan'er becomes the crown prince,

you'll get plenty of benefits in the future.

Alright. I'll go take a look at Big Brother's place first.

That's right. Prince Zi Lan has a letter for you.

From Lan'er?

What's with this blood letter?

Zi Heng's uncle Jia Chang An killed a pregnant woman there.

He killed two lives at once.

That Zi Heng. It looks like this time

he has no fate with the crown prince position.

But...I know Zi Heng's personality well.

How could he spare Jia Chang An?

According to the rules, he should have killed Jia Chang An.

Prince Zi Heng did want to severely punish Jia Chang An,

but he was saved by Prince Zi Lan.

Zi Lan?

That Lan'er. He's finally getting smart.

I don't understand. Why did Prince Zi Lan want to protect Jia Chang An?

Did the people really write this blood letter?

I don't know.

Alright. Hurry and go.

Take care.

Be careful on the road.

Wait for me to come back.

Vice Chancellor, you mean

you want to create a youth army here?

Precisely. I went through the name book yesterday

and discovered that there were over a thousand slaves under 20 years old.

Most of them wander freely down the street.

As time passes by, they will gang up and cause trouble.

I thought about how to gather all of them together.

Study from books, practice fighting, and give them a monthly wage.

This way, we can bridge the gap between the nobles and the slaves.

And it will also enable the slaves to practice studying and get motivated.

And prepare for the time they will be required.

Gathering the slaves together

And beyond teaching them to read and to fight, also pay them monthly,

This will naturally be a good thing.

And the slaves will respond to it well.

-But... -Go ahead.

What if people will say that you, minister Qu, gather the masses to cause troubles and raising a private army?

That would be horrible for you.

I get quite a lot of criticism anyway.

Even if it's like that, training those slaves will not be cheap.

Just based on my little magistrate's office,

I'm afraid success will be difficult.

I will take out my personal money.

It should be enough for some time.

This...this wouldn't be right.

Money is only a worldly thing. It will be all spent one day.

My wife has already discussed this with me. There is no need to discuss it further.

But training new soldiers will need a huge capital.

Just based on your little wealth,

I fear that it will be hard to sustain it.

Please think again, Vice Chancellor Qu.

Something has happened! Something has happened!

-What happened? -A fight broke out!

-Who was hit? -Many nobles!

-Who did the hitting? -Those slaves, for a piece of land!

This-!

We were just saying there is no money. In the blink of an eye,

money brought itself to us.

Based on what can you steal away our land?

-That's right! -It's our land!

Everyone listen to me.

It's just a piece of land.

Why get so angry?

Vice Chancellor! Right now those slaves

are becoming more and more arrogant. They even dare to steal my lands.

You must get justice for us!

I really want to interfere.

But...I can't!

Huh? You can't?

Why not?

You dealt with us in the past!

Why can't you deal with a few slaves now?

That's different.

You all stole away this land to start with.

The bad things you've done,

you must pay for them yourselves.

You stole their rice bowl.

Besides stealing yours, what else can they do?

What are you saying?

Vice Chancellor! We came to air our grievances today!

Why are you talking like those robbers?

What? Those people that stole from us

are now on the right? While we who were robbed are unreasonable?

Isn't that right?

Besides, if I can deal with this,

I can't deal with the next problem.

Vice Chancellor Qu! As you say it,

we deserve to get bad luck?

That's right!

Everyone calm down, calm down!

I don't want to see everyone

getting bullied by stronger individuals.

How about this? Let me give you an idea.

See what you think. Each of you take out some money.

I'll arrange for guards to watch your land. How about it?

Such an great thing can happen in this world?

Living and eating is included, and we get paid?

That's right, I've never seen something like that before!

That's right! It's true!

Magistrate must be joking with us.

How can money just fall from the sky?

Even if it happens, the money wouldn't come to us!

That's right!

This time, money really is falling from the sky!

Now let's see if you dare to take it!

Why wouldn't we?

But after you've gotten the money, you must be willing to be managed by the local government.

Every month, you must learn to read and use martial arts. Got it?

-I want to go! -That's interesting!

Twenty thousand is far from being enough.

At minimum, fifty thousand gold pieces is required.

Fifty thousand?

Fifty thousand? What a joke!

Where are we going to get that much money?

That's right! Where are we going to get that much money?

Everyone. This fifty thousand gold pieces is the minimum.

Because they not only are guards for your houses and land.

They are also going to help you fight the Qin.

The Qin people?

-What do the Qin people have to do with us? -That's right! We're just farmers!

What do they have to do with us?

Everyone, Qin currently keep looking at our Chu with coveting and ferocious eyes.

If one day, the State of Qin really attacks,

we'll become a destroyed country's slaves. At that time,

think about it. Will you all still have land?

That makes sense!

How about we just agree with it?

Deal! I accept!

I'll donate...5 thousand!

Good!

I'll pay 3 thousand!

-I'll pay 1 thousand! -Then I'll pay 2 thousand! -4 thousand! -5 thousand!

Grand Adviser Manor

Zi Lan gave you this?

Precisely.

The heavens are watching over us!

Jia Chang An killed two lives at once, it is a huge crime!

Zi Heng intended to severely punish his uncle,

but was stopped by Zi Lan.

If Zi Heng kills Jia Chang An, he gained great merit.

Since he didn't kill him, then he can't blame others.

Zi Lan's trick this time is amazing!

You don't feel like Zi Lan is becoming more like you?

Don't say that.

How could he look like me?

Alright, let's not talk about this.

Since we have this blood letter, no matter how capable Zi Heng is,

he'll never be the crown prince.

Since it is like that,

we cannot fail.

County Magistrate Office

This time, making Quan County's slaves into a youth army,

won't only bridge the gap with the nobles.

It also solved a worry of mine.

I understand.

You understand?

Chu and Qin have been continuously fighting.

With this youth army,

even if Qin reaches here one day, the army would put up a good fight.

Isn't that what you're thinking?

Wife, when did you start understanding me so well?

In your heart,

do I really not understand you?

Yes.

The establishment of a youth army this time to prepare for rainy days

is also a good thing.

It's those children.

The eldest isn't over 20. The youngest is only 7.

Really makes unable to bear it.

That's right, Wife. How old is Shu'er?

9 years old.

9 years old? He's still a little young.

But...in your youth army,

isn't the youngest only 7?

Wife, you're saying we should let Shu'er join the youth army?

Isn't that what you're thinking?

I thought you wouldn't bear to let him go.

As a parent,

who could bear to let their child go?

It's just, I know what you're thinking.

I hope Shu'er will earn great merit for the State of Chu after he grows up.

That is husband's long cherished wish.

You know my heart so well.

With a wife like you, what else can a husband ask for?

It's just, you must promise me one thing.

Please go ahead.

I only have one son.

You must keep Shu'er safe.