Wei Chen's method of making money is actually very simple, which is to let the state take charge and the Queen Mother come forward to engage in charity gambling.
Specifically, while holding competitive activities that are popular with the public, such as polo matches and Cuju competitions, they also issue lottery tickets to predict the results of the matches, attracting Bianjing residents to actively participate, and ultimately use the proceeds for charity.
The principle of lottery is not complicated. In fact, as early as the Western Han Dynasty, an original operating model similar to lottery had already appeared among the people, called "Mengcai", and it was once popular all over the world.
After the Tang Dynasty, Mengcai developed a variety of ways to play, attracting more and more people to participate.
Li Bai's poem "Six bets compete for supremacy and good luck comes, and the golden plate is thrown and thousands of people open it" describes the unprecedented prosperity of the folk gambling industry in the Tang Dynasty.
In the Zhou Dynasty, gambling was still popular and penetrated into all aspects of people's life in the Zhou Dynasty, and the most representative one was "Guan Po".
Even the imperial palace was influenced by this folk custom. In the past, when the late emperor was still alive, he liked to interact with the palace people for fun.
This is evident from the popularity of Guan Pu.
Therefore, Wei Chen simply explained it and quickly made Zhao Ceying understand the principle and function of the lottery.
If what Wei Chen said is true, issuing lottery tickets can indeed help the court raise money quickly, so that it can have enough energy to promote charity, provide care for the elderly and the young, and help the disabled and the poor.
But after all, lottery can be regarded as a form of gambling. Once implemented, will it be suspected of corrupting customs and harming education? Will it attract verbal criticism from the censors?
Zhao Ceying had to take this into consideration, because it also related to whether he could persuade the Queen Mother to take charge of the matter.
Naturally, Wei Chen was well aware of Zhao Ceying's concerns. Seeing Zhao Ceying frowning in thought and silent for a long time, Wei Chen smiled and said, "I will tell you a story for your highness."
Zhao Ceying was slightly startled when he heard this, and then he seemed to have thought of something, and immediately sat up straight, as if he was listening attentively.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, lobbyists from various countries were good at using exaggeration and metaphors to tactfully persuade their goals, thus creating many fables that are familiar to this day.
In Confucian classics, fables are used to explain principles and there are many records of admonishing monarchs.
Perhaps because he admired the ancient sages, Wei Chen liked to use this vivid method to teach students, telling stories and reasoning at the same time, making education entertaining.
Zhao Ceying has been under Wei Chen's sect for many years, so she has naturally become accustomed to it.
Therefore, Zhao Ceying was not surprised when Wei Chen suddenly told a story, but listened patiently.
Wei Chen slowly spoke: "On the mountain outside Mianchi County, Henan, there is a temple that has been in disrepair for a long time. The local magistrate organized migrant workers to renovate it.
However, this temple is located on a mountain, the terrain is very high, and the main beam of the temple is too thick and heavy, so the migrant workers cannot lift it up.
In order to solve this problem, the magistrate deliberately sent people to spread the news that a sumo wrestling competition would be held to celebrate the completion of the temple with the people inside and outside the county.
On the appointed day, people all over the city happily came to watch the sumo match, but found that the main beam of the temple was still down the mountain and had not been lifted up, so the sumo match could not start.
In order to see the wonderful sumo match as soon as possible, the people at the scene volunteered to help, and thousands of people worked together to lift the heavy main beam up the mountain with ease, and the temple was completed."
After hearing this story, Zhao Ceying couldn't help but admired: "I heard from the teacher that the main beam of this temple is so heavy that if it is forcibly carried up the mountain, the government will definitely continue to recruit more people, which will cause complaints from the people.
And this county magistrate easily solved the problem with just a sumo match, and the people had no complaints. This person's talent is really first-class, and being a county magistrate is really an incompetence. If I were born in Zhou Dynasty, I would definitely be the emperor of my father.
, please ask Father to reuse him."
Wei Chen smiled noncommittally and asked, "Has Your Highness ever pondered the truth behind it?"
"Teacher, what you mean is... that these temples in disrepair are Fukuda-in, Anji-in and other good governance, the main beam that can't be lifted up the mountain is the current shortage of money and food, and the sumo wrestling competition is the lottery?"
Zhao Ceying was talented and intelligent, and she could draw inferences from one instance and immediately thought of the lottery thing Wei Chen mentioned before, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"When Emperor Yu controlled the floods, it was better to remove them than to block them. This is what is called making the best use of the situation."
"Exactly."
Wei Chen nodded approvingly.
"Playing games has been around since ancient times, and people enjoy it endlessly. This is the nature of human nature. Since the court has always banned it, it is better to take advantage of the situation, raise funds through it, and use the proceeds for charity.
Instead of increasing taxes, we will supplement the expenditures for charity and benefit the people. In my opinion, if this is really implemented, it can be named the Great Zhou Yi Relief Lottery to show it to the world."
"Da Zhou Yi Relief Lottery..."
Zhao Ceying recited these words silently in his heart several times and felt very satisfied.
As the saying goes, if the name is right, the word should be right. With this name, it would be justified to persuade the Queen Mother to implement lottery, and she would not be afraid of criticism from others.
After deciding on the matter, Zhao Ceying discussed some specific details with Wei Chen. The two had a long talk in the study. Unknowingly, the sun was setting in the west, and Zhao Ceying left Wei Chen to have dinner at his house.
After dinner, Zhao Ceying pulled Wei Chen to have a night talk with him by candlelight. It was about to get dark. Wei Chen was worried about his wife, so he stood up and said goodbye.
Zhao Ceying tried several times to try to stay, but Wei Chen refused. Zhao Ceying had no choice but to get up and personally escort Wei Chen to the door.
When he arrived at the door, Wei Chen dismissed everyone and bowed deeply to Zhao Ceying.
"Your Highness, the Queen Mother is not a person who loves power. Now she is just a little worried. If Your Highness can touch her with filial piety, it will be much better than taking the jade seal by force and forcing her to return power.
After all, the Queen Mother is your Majesty's mother and your grandmother. Leaving her some dignity is also for you, your Majesty, and the imperial court to retain dignity in the hearts of the people all over the world."
Zhao Ceying hurriedly stepped forward to help Wei Chen up, and said sternly: "Teacher, don't worry, what you said today will be remembered by the students. Tomorrow morning, I will go to the Queen Mother to perform my filial piety, comfort her, and discuss your suggestions with her."
"
Wei Chen nodded and said nothing more.
At this time, Princess Huan also escorted Ru Lan and Minglan out. The two sisters and Princess Huan were talking and laughing along the way. It seemed that after getting along for the whole day, they seemed to have a good rapport with each other.
After saying goodbye to Zhao Ceying and his wife, Wei Chen and his wife boarded the carriage and embarked on the return journey.
Zhao Ceying stood at the door and watched Wei Chen go away. It was not until the carriage disappeared at the end of the street that he reluctantly looked back and turned back to the house with Princess Huan.