"Oh my god, did I hear that right?"
"Waaaaah, am I dreaming? The Emperor actually asked us for money, and he just gave us money directly!"
"If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up."
Wang Hui and the others thought they had misheard. This was the first time they had heard such good news since the founding of the Great Liang Kingdom. It felt so unreal, like a dream.
And this dream was so beautiful, it broke my heart!
The heads of several powerful families looked at Lin Yi pitifully, like hungry little animals, waiting for His Majesty the Emperor to give them a beautiful answer.
If what the Emperor said is true, then we will surely be very happy.
Forehead!
Seeing them like this, Lin Yi felt a rare pang of guilt. It seemed he had been too harsh on them, which was why they dared not accept any benefits now.
He sighed and said in a deep voice, "I have always tried to win people over with Win People Over with Virtue, but I never expected that you would regard me as a greedy person. This is truly disappointing."
Do you think I'd need your pittance? You're overthinking it!
Forehead!
Wang Hui and the others twitched their lips. "You, sir, don't mind our little bit of money, but your men have asked us for it no less than ten times."
The minimum amount was over 30,000 strings of cash at a time. If that's considered a pittance, then that pittance is far too large.
However, they dared not say such a thing; saying it would definitely lead to dire consequences.
Cough cough!
Wang Hui coughed lightly and said with a forced smile, "His Majesty is the ruler of a country, how could he possibly want our little bit of money? This is absolutely a huge misunderstanding."
We did contribute some money to the imperial court before, but that was entirely voluntary; there was absolutely no reluctance or unwillingness on our part."
After saying this, his heart was bleeding; that was all our hard-earned money.
"Really?" Lin Yi glanced at him and asked with a half-smile.
Wang Hui nodded solemnly and said in a deep voice, "It's absolutely voluntary. We've been able to earn so much money under the protection of Great Liang, so it's only right that we contribute some of it to help Great Liang."
"Yes, that's what we should do."
"Serving the Emperor is our honor; ordinary people are not qualified for it."
The others nodded in agreement, indicating that they were completely convinced and that there was no threat involved; they would have done it willingly, even if it meant death.
kindness!
Lin Yi's gaze fell on Cao Cao to the side, and he said in a deep voice, " Great Liang will reward those who have made contributions. The noble families have done a lot for Great Liang, and I am deeply moved."
Minister Cao, now distribute the commendation orders that I asked you to prepare!
You have done so much for my Great Liang, and I cannot turn a blind eye to your contributions. I have seen all your achievements and I am fully aware of everything!
If someone has made a contribution, we should certainly acknowledge it; if there's nothing else, a commendation order would be appropriate.
This stuff is free; it's just a piece of paper with a stamp.
Commendation Order?
The noble families exchanged bewildered glances. What kind of scheme was this? It seemed unreliable. Was the Emperor planning to trick them again?
At this moment, Cao Cao stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have made preparations. It was written by Yang Xiu himself, so it is absolutely authentic."
Taking a jade plate from the eunuch behind him, Wang Hui and the others took out several golden scrolls with faint writing on them, which made them realize what was going on.
So this is what a commendation order looks like!
It was just a scroll with some words written on it.
Cao Cao glanced at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Today, there is Wang Hui, a scion of a noble family, who shares the burdens of the country and serves as a model for the Great Liang. He has made numerous contributions to the Great Liang, and hereby awards him a certificate of merit!"
"A commendation order?"
Wang Hui was taken aback. What did this mean? Why had the emperor suddenly issued a commendation order to him?
What's the use of this?
You think you can just get rid of them with a piece of paper?
" Wang Hui, aren't you going to accept the commendation order?"
Seeing that he was still in a daze, Cao Cao frowned and said, "These are Yuliang bestowed upon you by the Emperor. Keeping them at home is an honor for you."
Having this scroll means you have rendered meritorious service to the Great Liang, something that no amount of money could buy.
"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty!"
Wang Hui suddenly realized what was happening and quickly accepted it, regardless of whether he liked it or not.
However, he scoffed at Cao Cao's words. What do you mean by saying that no amount of money could buy this? I bought it with money, didn't I?
Well, something is better than nothing!
"Uh, thank you, Your Majesty!"
The other family heads also received a commendation order. Looking at the scrolls in their hands, they were all at a loss for words, considering it a consolation prize.
"Hmph, don't underestimate this commendation order!"
Seeing the looks in their eyes, Lin Yi smiled and said in a deep voice, "It is not only an honor, but also a symbol of meritorious service to Great Liang!"
"Your family possessing this means you will receive the protection of the Great Liang, something not everyone can have."
The major clans have long since had their edges smoothed out; they are no longer the clans that hindered the implementation of the Great Liang's decrees. Instead, they have become the Great Liang's allies in certain aspects.
To put it simply, these powerful families have been tamed.
Therefore, the strategy against them cannot rely solely on coercion; they also need some incentives to give them hope.
People with hope will be more motivated to work for Great Liang, and that's the kind of family Great Liang needs.
And this isn't just a place for aristocratic families!
His gaze fell upon the merchants, whose eyes gleamed with envy, clearly showing that they too desired such a commendation.
Merchants don't have enough status these days. Even if they try to improve themselves, they are still miles behind established families.
Because they hold vast amounts of wealth, businessmen often face various threats and tactics. In such situations, having such a thing in hand would absolutely suppress everything.
Therefore, the allure of this thing is undoubtedly fatal.
"The protection of Great Liang?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Hui and the others' eyes lit up. Wasn't this a lifesaver?
If that's the case, this thing is definitely a good one. It's equivalent to having the emperor's approval, which could save your life in a critical moment.
With it, we no longer need to live in fear.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The group was thrilled; they were much more willing this time than before, and their spirits were high.
With this thing, at least Cao Cao won't be bothering us every day anymore. It's definitely a good thing.
"This commendation order!"
This made the wealthy merchants on the side extremely envious. Having this item was equivalent to gaining the emperor's approval and receiving the protection of the Great Liang, which was a great thing.
"This commendation decree is truly a treasure; bearing the imperial seal, it is equivalent to His Majesty's golden word."
Holding this commendation certificate is practically like having an extra lifeline; for a merchant, it's undoubtedly the best reward!
"It's a pity we don't have one!"