The most romantic little emperor

Qin Feng looked at this scene, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. He said softly to Qin Hao: "Brother, your poem is full of pearls and profound meanings. It can be compared with the painting "Almost Drinking Wine" that my uncle just bought. Seeing it, I am also excited and want to join the bidding to compete with him."

Qin Yun couldn't hide his excitement after hearing this. He smiled slightly, with a sincerity and emotion rarely seen in his smile: "Brother, what you said is absolutely right. Even I, who have never been very keen on poetry, am deeply attracted by the emotions flowing in this poem and feel an unprecedented shock."

"This poem is indeed extraordinary. How about letting me participate in the auction later?"

Zuo Wenxuan chuckled, with a hint of amusement in his voice: "It is understandable that the two princes have a special liking for you. Even a humble official like me can't help but yearn for you."

Xu Jingshu's gaze flowed towards Qin Hao as gently as spring water. Her eyes seemed to be able to speak, full of admiration and praise for the poem. Although she did not open her mouth, her affection was already evident in her words.

Seeing this, Qin Hao raised a sly smile and said in a leisurely voice, "Don't even think about it, I still need to use this to raise food and money, but..."

"But what?" Qin Yun asked impatiently with an impatient light in his eyes.

Qin Hao looked at Qin Yun's anxious expression and couldn't help but laugh out loud. His laughter was full of cheerfulness and kindness. "Haha, I am very relieved. When I have free time, I will write a picture for each of you to express my feelings. How do you think?"

"Brother, this is what you said, and I will keep it in mind!" Qin Yun's eyes flashed with joy when he heard it, and he spoke quickly, as if he was afraid that Qin Hao would go back on his word.

The rest of the people also cast expectant glances, secretly happy in their hearts, full of anticipation and gratitude for Qin Hao's promise.

Qin Hao looked at Qin Yun helplessly and said with a smile: "My words are as good as gold, eighth brother, are you still afraid that big brother will cheat?"

"How can that be possible! Big brother's calligraphy can be sold at a sky-high price at any auction. How many times can he visit brothels with it? How can we not take it seriously?" Qin Yun laughed.

When everyone heard this, they all burst into laughter and the atmosphere suddenly became relaxed.

However, after a few rounds of competition, the price of the item soared like a wild horse, reaching an astronomical figure of nearly 1.5 million taels of silver.

Qin Yun, who was standing aside, couldn't help but smack his lips, his eyes flashing with surprise and envy, and whispered: "Brother, second brother, look at these famous families, their financial resources are so strong that it's simply astonishing."

"A million silver coins are nothing more than a simple number game for them. They are even more generous than a great prince like me. It's really enviable."

Qin Feng was fascinated when he heard this, and asked slowly: "Brother, how much wealth do these aristocratic families have? If one day, these behemoths unite, what kind of force will they become?"

Qin Hao heard this, and a trace of deep thought quietly gathered between his brows. He said in a deep voice: "Second brother, eighth brother, I wonder if you have heard of the "80/20 rule"? "

"What is the 80/20 rule?" Qin Yun asked hurriedly with a hint of urgency in his eyes when he heard it.

Qin Feng and Zuo Wenxuan also looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion, and they turned their gazes to Qin Hao at the same time.

Xu Jingshu, who was standing aside, gazed at the all-knowing Qin Hao with admiration, looking forward to the answer that would soon be revealed.

Qin Hao's mouth curled up into a meaningful smile, and he slowly said: "The so-called 80/20 rule means that 80% of the world's wealth is in the hands of 20% of people."

"As for those aristocratic families that have stood for thousands of years, you can imagine how much wealth they hold. Not only do they control a large amount of land across the country, they also run businesses in grain, silk, restaurants, and other industries. They even dare to get involved in the salt and iron business, weaving a commercial network that covers the entire country."

"From the nobles to the common people, the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the entire Daxia are closely related to these aristocratic families."

"If we gather together the wealth they have accumulated over generations, it is conservatively estimated that it accounts for half of the world's wealth. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. What is even more amazing is that they are also the spiritual leaders of the world's nobles. Their every word and action can lead the trend and have a far-reaching impact."

"In this game of power, they are both players and rule makers, and their influence is vast and unfathomable."

"If they truly unite, they will be able to change the world. Even our royal family will have to stay away from them. This is also the real reason why the imperial rulers of all dynasties, although they covet their wealth, dare not take action against them."

When everyone heard this, they all broke out in cold sweats.

Qin Hao's eyes were deep and solemn. He slowly turned to Zuo Wenxuan, and his voice was low and powerful, as if every word carried a heavy weight: "Zuo Qingjia, have you understood now why I did not support your comprehensive reform, but only quietly tested the waters in a corner of the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Reform is as heavy as a mountain. It changes the rules set by those self-proclaimed nobles, their deep-rooted interests, their lofty status, and even the power foundation that they regard as their life."

"If the reform is fully implemented, it will be like showing a knife to the entire aristocratic class. It will surely stir up an unprecedented storm. The two sides will be like water and fire. If this continues, the country will no longer be a country."

"Because of this, when facing those intertwined forces, I have to sometimes endure and sometimes compromise."

"It's not that I am not determined, but the overall situation is more important. I need to proceed step by step, so that I can open up a bright and smooth path for my Great Xia on this thorny road of reform."

Zuo Wenxuan suddenly came to his senses upon hearing this, and quickly expressed his position: "Your Majesty is wise, and I will sacrifice my life to repay your majesty's kindness. Although the road ahead of me is difficult, I am not afraid of being torn to pieces, and I only want to leave my innocence in the world."

Qin Hao patted his shoulder and said solemnly: "Lord Zuo, I know your loyalty, and I also know your determination to gain a foothold in the court and do something practical for the people of the world."

"But you have to remember that a temporary compromise does not mean a lifetime compromise. Sometimes you can achieve twice the result with half the effort by retreating. This is what you need to learn as a court minister."

"I'll tell you again, there is hope only when you're alive. Don't ever think of dying to prove your loyalty. Although I may feel sad for a while, I don't advocate for such foolish loyalty."

Hearing Qin Hao's earnest words, Zuo Wenxuan was grateful and said solemnly: "Your Majesty is wise, and I understand."