Chapter 201: Chapter 200: Talking Business, Talking Business
People who casually read history books usually believe that history is written by the victors, thus victory is justice.
However, those with deeper insight understand that victors are not necessarily just, but justice will eventually triumph.
No matter how overwhelming the force of evil, there will always be a moment of decline; no matter how dark it is, dawn will eventually break.
The grand trend is what people aspire to.
From ancient times to today, there are always more victors.
From ancient slave masters to medieval nobility, merchants, and then to bureaucrats, martial artists, and scholars in the Age of Glory.
Because the development of productivity allows for more winners.
The so-called justice is those who adapt to the development of productivity, striving for their rightful place in history.
Supporting justice is investing in the future.
This is the way of merchants in Blue Flame.
He keenly observed that the next class to redefine wealth and poverty has already emerged, with the sprouting of the working class in Dongyang District, so he is willing to provide assistance to Le Yuxin.
Failure would not cost him anything, even if Le Yuxin fails, he can still bring troops to Dongyang District again for blackmail; the next president of Silver Blood Association would still have to pay; success would make him a founding father of the labor movement, and if the working class truly represents the next historical trend, then he would already be standing on the side of the victors.
For Blue Flame, this is merely an investment without cost, but the future harvest is infinitely huge.
Of course, the probability of Blue Flame winning is less than 1%. After all, for a new class to step onto the historical stage, it must go through countless bloody struggles and hardships before potentially becoming a winner.
The current positions of martial artist officials were all fought for by their ancestors through battles.
Without a bloody fight, how could one snatch a piece of the cake from the existing vested interests?
And this is exactly what Blue Flame is selling.
He is willing to offer the simplest and most effective panacea in this world: violence.
He can lead troops to intimidate the Heyang Army, paving the way for Le Yuxin, allowing him to take up the blade and slowly kill off the Silver Blood nobility, draining their blood.
The flesh of the Silver Blood Association, along with those workers and production materials they can’t take away, would be eaten by Le Yuxin and the working class, while he only needs to drink the soup, using those meaningless gold, silver, jewels as military expenses for Linhai Army.
In this sense, he actually earns more: when the Heyang Army is defeated, and the Silver Blood Association declines, such a wealthy area like Dongyang District ultimately needs a powerful military group for protection; besides the Linhai Army, who else can Dongyang District rely on?
Blue Flame currently doesn’t lead troops to take over Dongyang, firstly because he is unqualified.
He still has Lv Zhong the governor above him, and Le Yuxin knows with his mind that Lv Zhong certainly does not trust him—would you trust someone who betrayed their mentor for personal gain?
But Blue Flame is indeed talented, Lv Zhong thinks he can control him, so he gave him the military power to command three armies. If Blue Flame wants to become independent, Lv Zhong only needs to command, and half of the Linhai Army can leave directly.
Secondly, Linhai Army practically has no reason to take over Dongyang, even their assault on the Heyang Army was under the guise of ’joint military exercise’, indicating that Linhai Army is not yet ready for an unjust war of plundering and pillaging.
Thirdly, announcing ownership over a place doesn’t make it yours; you have to send people to manage it, you have to ensure the locals accept your governance. Even if Blue Flame can defeat Xuanzhu County, Lv Zhong can’t even manage Chenfeng District over there, their political team is far inadequate to manage two administrative districts simultaneously.
Given multiple obstacles, just seeking money is a very wise choice for Blue Flame.
But if Le Yuxin can succeed in the future, and Blue Flame resolves his ’conflict’ with Lv Zhong, then he can effortlessly take over Dongyang.
Because those stubborn, rigid nobility would certainly have been smashed by Le Yuxin, Dongyang District wouldn’t have reliable military forces either, and a strong army isn’t something that can be trained in a short time, leaving Dongyang people no choice.
The Linhai Army of Blue Flame could then become the ’embodiment of justice’, the ’savior of Dongyang’, effortlessly controlling Dongyang District.
Short-term gain in military funds, mid-term acquisition of territory, long-term becoming the victor.
No wonder Blue Flame wants to stand on the side of justice.
Because standing on the side of justice indeed allows him to maximize his interests.
After sorting out all causal relationships, Le Yuxin gently exhaled a breath.
Wonderful, I’ve already seen through everything.
Blue Flame lifted his glasses: "Young Master Jing, what do you think?"
"Compared to being a general, you are more suited to be a merchant." Le Yuxin said: "The deal you propose is indeed irresistible."
"Thank you for the compliment, but Young Master Jing, you are actually the same." Blue Flame smiled: "You are not a qualified merchant."
"Are there qualifications for merchants?"
"A qualified merchant must be cunning, deceitful, profit from information asymmetry, and most importantly, must have a ruthless heart." Blue Flame spoke eloquently: "Put nicely, merchants earn profit by circulating goods and earning price difference, put harshly, merchants deceive both sellers and buyers, not engaging in production yet obtaining high profits."
"Since ancient times, be it grand merchants, significant merchants, or imperial merchants, none are exceptions."
"But Young Master Jing, you are different, I heard the editor-in-chief of Youth Daily is a woman you purchased, you are very good at creating momentum through public opinion, you know how to manipulate people’s hearts, more importantly, you have a conscience and act upon it."
"But you are not the kind of illusory justice like White Night, you know where the trend is headed, and understand the difficult future, you do not preach your sympathy, but quietly implement your principles with practical actions."
"Stop flattering, stop flattering, let’s talk business, let’s talk business."
Hearing his lifelong enemy Blue Flame praising him so much, Le Yuxin couldn’t help but feel a bit buoyant, laughing: "If I’m not a qualified merchant, then what occupation would suit me? Newspaper editor-in-chief?"
Blue Flame glanced at him, suddenly said:
"I think you would be a qualified emperor."
Le Yuxin blinked, but didn’t feel much joy in his heart. Hearing a feudal society’s ambitious person saying he, a well-behaved student, is suited to be an emperor is like a MOBA player being told by a visual novel player that he is suitable to be the protagonist of a visual novel—I may play three lanes, but my lanes are different from yours.
"Being lazy in youth only to borrow your kind words in old age, then I shall accept your auspicious words."
Blue Flame suddenly said: "Young Master Jing, you indeed remind me of an acquaintance, chatting with you is indeed interesting."
Le Yuxin was startled, replied calmly: "Oh? Who is this acquaintance of yours? In the Linhai Army? I’d also like to meet them."
"There will be a chance to introduce him to you."
Blue Flame knocked on the table: "We’ve chatted for quite a while; it’s time to discuss serious matters. Plus, your Silver Blood companions have been waiting for so long, we should also give them a decisive result."
Le Yuxin’s heart gave a jolt.
"So, Young Master Jing, how do you think we should handle those ’Silver Blood heirs’ outside?"