Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 112

The Prime Minister, also called Chancellor of the State, is the head of all officials and is assisted by the Left and Right Vice Chancellors.

When the monarch is unable to manage state affairs, the Prime Minister takes full charge of court matters. Even when the monarch and the Prime Minister disagree, it isn’t necessarily the Prime Minister who has to yield.

This position holds great significance, yet the individual in the role often isn’t as crucial. If that weren’t the case, Wei Shang wouldn’t have invited Ye Zhou to serve as the Prime Minister of Wei.

The monarch can dismiss the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister can also change allegiance. Today, he may be the Prime Minister of Wei, tomorrow the Prime Minister of Chu.

Even in Ye Zhou’s own world’s history, figures like Zhang Yi serve as Prime Minister for two countries, while Su Qin lobbies various states, holding the seals of six nations. The Warring States period is filled with talent, but very few truly capable statesmen whose governance skills are recognized by every monarch.

Monarchs often understand that inviting a Prime Minister from another country may bring hidden dangers, but they have little choice. If they don’t bring such talent into their fold, other countries will.

Ye Zhou asks Chen Hou with curiosity, “If I become Prime Minister, what do I get out of it?”

Chen Hou doesn’t take Ye Zhou’s question as crass. He immediately replies, “The Prime Minister is equal to the monarch! When the immortal walks among mortals, he is as one with me!”

Ye Zhou falls silent for a moment. The benefits don’t seem all that tempting. He is about to refuse, but reconsiders. “Do I have to attend court every day?”

Chen Hou, catching on to Ye Zhou’s softening tone, immediately says, “You’re an immortal—you don’t have to! Come when you please, any time at all, even in the dead of night—I’ll sweep the couch to welcome you!”

Zou Ming’s eye twitches slightly.

It’s unfortunate that Chen Hou doesn’t notice Zou Ming, otherwise he might be forced to swallow his last few words.

Ye Zhou says simply, “Alright.”

He agrees readily. “Do I have to review the memorials?”

Chen Hou whispers, “The Prime Minister handles state affairs, so most of them must be reviewed.”

Ye Zhou sighs. “Okay, but can you keep them to a minimum?”

The main issue is that most memorials are filled with nonsense.

Chen Hou breathes a sigh of relief. “Of course, I wouldn’t dare make you waste your time.”

Ye Zhou nods. “By the way, that Zhang Rong,” he inquires, “Do you want him dead?”

If Chen Hou says no, Ye Zhou will take that as proof that with someone like him in power, Chen can never become strong. Better to wait until Chen Rui grows up before talking about strengthening the nation—assuming Chen lasts that long.

But Chen Hou, for once, responds sternly. “He must be killed. This man cannot be left alive. I’ve set a date. Three days from now, Brother Yan will personally carry out the execution at the palace gates. Otherwise, we can’t suppress those hidden enemies with evil intentions!”

Chen Hou finally shows a flicker of the fury he’s been holding back. But soon, he smiles bitterly. “I really have no one I can use.”

Ye Zhou nods slightly. He doesn’t think Chen Hou is incompetent—rather, the state of Chen simply lacks the soil to nurture capable officials for the monarch.

The current official selection system is detrimental to the state. Scholars who become officials owe their loyalty not to the monarch but to the people who recommend them or to their families.

A large, powerful nation might manage this better. With many positions and a large capital, the monarch can retain some autonomy. But Chen is a small state. Every post is one-for-one. So Chen Hou can’t fall out with the noble families—if he uproots them completely, who fills the empty posts?

Apart from the noble-born, there are barely any commoners who can even read—how can they serve as officials?

So Chen Hou still has to rely on those same people. At this stage, the ruler and the noble families are mutually dependent. Unless Chen grows strong enough to abolish noble privilege and implement civil service exams without plunging into chaos, things won’t change in the next hundred years.

At this point, what Chen State needs to do is elevate the smaller noble families—the children of noble families who are on the verge of financial ruin and are about to become commoners. Their talents aren’t necessarily inferior to those of the major families, but their backgrounds make it unlikely they’ll be valued by the monarch unless they go to another country.

Ye Zhou says, “Since I’m Prime Minister now, I’ll take care of this.”

Chen Hou suddenly looks up at Ye Zhou, lips trembling. Overjoyed, he exclaims, “With an immortal’s help, how could Chen not rise to greatness?”

Though Ye Zhou knows it’s impolite to interrupt someone before they finish speaking, he also knows that if he doesn’t, Chen Hou might praise him for half an hour.

So Ye Zhou waves his hand. “Get some rest, Chen Hou. I’m leaving.”

Chen Hou wants to ask him to stay, but Ye Zhou already leaves the study decisively, without a trace of hesitation.

Zou Ming follows after him.

“You want to help him? Why?” Zou Ming asks in surprise. He remembers that Ye Zhou isn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs. In both the past and future, he helps the weak, but only in limited ways. Ye Zhou doesn’t usually intervene directly in a particular world’s affairs.

Ye Zhou walks under the moonlight and says with a smile, “Maybe it’s because everyone else has something to do, and I’m the only one idle.”

These days, the supermarket employees are busy, and the only two people who have nothing to do are him and Sarah.

Sara because of her unusual appearance—he because he can’t find anything he can step in and help with.

And the moment he, the so-called “immortal” boss, shows up at the store, Aunt Li and the others practically worship him, won’t let him lift a finger.

Previously, he could still find things to do, but now that Aunt Li and the others know how to use Arabic numerals and basic math, there’s even less for him to do.

Zou Ming says, “I’ll stay with you.”

Ye Zhou glances at him and doesn’t object. “Sure.” He yawns. “Let’s go home early tonight. I’ll draft a proposal tomorrow.”

To promote the small noble families, there has to be a plan. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of effort. If they suppress the larger families but don’t foster new talent, what’s the point?

Ideally, the children of noble families will break free from their origins and genuinely start serving the country and its people.

Patriotic education isn’t easy. It’s hard to instill a sense of family and country through education alone.

In such a situation, external forces are needed.

“The marquis is collecting grain!”

“The marquis has ordered the grain officials to collect grain!”

People in Linzi City exchange the news, and the mood is grim. They murmur to each other in the streets, lamenting, “Your Majesty! You can’t collect any more grain! There’s no grain left!”

In recent years, people’s lives grow harder. Even those with ancestral property, fields, and servants can’t endure the endless exploitation. Once their savings run out, even the masters go hungry alongside their servants.

A young man cries out in the street, “Your Majesty! How can you face the late marquis like this? Are you trying to starve us all?”

Scholars shake their heads, sighing, “We can’t stay in Chen any longer.”

“The Lord of Chen is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs and gaining nothing in return. Though he’s not a tyrant, he’s not much better.”

Though the news hasn’t spread widely yet, it already causes a stir in Linzi City. Countless people, old and young, gather at the palace gates. They wear simple clothes and kneel, refusing to eat or drink, demanding an explanation from the marquis.

The kneeling masses are mostly elderly and children, the most vulnerable. If the king doesn’t come out to explain, they vow to remain there until they die. This is the only way the people can confront royal power.

When Ye Zhou arrives, he sees the elderly kneeling under the scorching sun. They look worn and haggard but still force themselves to remain on their knees.

Most are ordinary people with no ties to nobility. It looks like they’ve cried already, but now no tears remain.

The children, around seven or eight years old, are old enough to understand the situation, even if they can’t grasp the full gravity. While they kneel, they distract themselves by watching insects and ants crawling on the ground.

But they know they have to kneel, and that this is their only option.

Ye Zhou, dressed in ordinary clothes instead of the official robes Chen Hou gives him, walks over to an elderly man kneeling at the edge. He glances at Zou Ming and Chen Shu and gestures for them to move further away.

They understand and quickly comply, though Zou Ming stays within earshot, ready to rush to Ye Zhou’s side at any moment.

“Why are you kneeling here, old man?” Ye Zhou asks.

Since Ye Zhou rarely appears in public at the supermarket, no one except Wei Shang knows he’s the owner.

The people kneeling at the palace gates are not supermarket customers, so they certainly don’t know him.

The old man looks up at Ye Zhou and replies impatiently, “The marquis orders the grain collection! It’s the fourth time this year! Where are we supposed to get more grain? If they take more, our families will starve!” His anger quickly fades, and he adds bitterly, “Chen State isn’t what it used to be! The marquis…”

“What does this have to do with the marquis?” Ye Zhou raises his voice slightly, drawing the attention of those around him. “If someone else becomes marquis, would Chen State be any better? Chen hasn’t fought a war in years. There are fewer than fifty thousand soldiers, and many of them are old or sick. Who could such an army defeat? If we can’t win a war, we’ll be beaten. To avoid that, we must pay—with money and grain. Right now, Chen State is meat on the chopping block. The great states are holding the knives.”

“But what does that have to do with us?” The old man’s eyes fills with tears. “We’re just commoners. Why should we starve to protect the rich lands of Chen, while people from other countries live in peace? It’s not fair!”

Ye Zhou sighs. “It’s not fair, but you were born in Chen. If you could leave, you would’ve gone by now.”

The old man doesn’t respond; he can’t refute Ye Zhou.

Ye Zhou’s voice softens. “Old man, it’s true the marquis wants to collect grain, but why not wait for his order first? Maybe this time, it won’t be so bad.”

The old man smiles bitterly. “How can I wait? By the time I get the marquis’s order, it’ll be too late!”

Ye Zhou shakes his head. “The marquis wants to collect grain, but not by force. He plans to buy it with money.”

The old man grows even angrier. “Money can’t buy grain these days! If we’re paid one cent for a bucket of grain, we need ten cents to buy a bucket. How can we afford that?”

Ye Zhou asks again, “What if you’re given ten cents for a bucket of grain, but only need to spend one cent to buy it?”

The words strike like a rock falling into a pond, sending ripples of shock.

“What’s this?!”

“Are you talking nonsense?!”

“Don’t mock us, old bones!”

Ye Zhou smiles. “Elders, go home and wait. If the marquis’s order doesn’t match what I’ve said, you can return and protest then. The sun is harsh today. You might endure it—but the children can’t.”

Then he changes his tone. “If you really want to pressure the monarch into taking back his command, send your sons and grandsons. Having just the elderly and children here—your sons and grandsons aren’t worthy of being called men.”

Clearly, their families have discussed this—and decided to sacrifice the old and the young.

This makes sense to Ye Zhou. The elderly no longer bring benefits to the family, and young children can still be replaced. Only men and women in their prime are truly the household’s strength.

But that doesn’t stop him from looking down on them.

He’d rather see the men of the city rise up than witness them pushing out their elderly fathers and children to die.

The old men remain silent. They all want to leave, since the sun is unbearable and many can’t endure it. But in a collective action like this, whoever leaves first becomes the traitor and cuts themselves off from the group.

Ye Zhou finishes speaking, stands up, and says to Zou Ming, “Let the marquis’s people come and send them home.”

If they don’t want to leave, then Ye Zhou will send them back. This way, no one becomes the traitor.