Qingji was actually quite disgusted with the existence of hangers-on.

Why?

Because the state of Wu has a strict legal system, without the order of the King of Wu and without the tiger talisman, even people like Dazai Ji Ran and Grand Sima Wu Zixu could not mobilize a single soldier.

After the state of Wu abolished the feudal monarchy system, the ministers and officials of the state of Wu only enjoyed food and no fiefdom.

It turns out that the power of conscription and governance was transferred to the state, and the ministers and officials could only enjoy the rent and taxes of a few households in their own towns.

In Qingji's opinion, this is harmless.

However, the presence of hangers-on forced Qingji to be cautious.

Because Wu State no longer allows private armed forces to exist, but the group of "menke" undoubtedly allows the nobles to have their own private armed forces.

This is something Qingji cannot tolerate.

However, Qing Ji would not forbid the officials to keep their retainers.

Why?

Because hangers-on can also appear in another form, such as servants, disciples...

Repeatedly banned!

Anyway, the existence of retainers has not harmed the interests of the country, so Qingji can put it aside and let it go for the time being.

Now the prince has eight hundred followers. Although he is not the largest among the nobles of all countries in the world, he is also not a minority.

Qing Ji knew that Gong Zihong would not betray or be disloyal to him.

However, Qing Ji could tolerate Gong Zihong's behavior of soliciting customers. How could he, as the next generation of King Wu, tolerate it?

Of course, unless Gong Zihong can ascend to the position of King of Wu!

"You have eight hundred disciples... Haha, Wu Hong, you are so majestic. I am very curious, where did you get so much money and support so many disciples?"

Qing Ji looked at Gong Zihong meaningfully and said, "Could it be that the monthly salary given to you by the internal funds is enough for your huge expenses?"

As a young master of the Wu Kingdom, he usually began to participate in government affairs at the age of sixteen, open a mansion, and live in the capital.

Of course, he will also enjoy a salary, which is similar to that of a Jiu Qing——

Won two thousand stones!

The two thousand dan will be the actual 2,000 dan from the court, the monthly salary is 180 hu, and the one year old will receive 2,160 hu.

With such a salary, plus quarterly or occasional subsidies, as well as daily Qingji rewards, it is not impossible for Gong Zihong to support 800 customers.

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It’s just too difficult!

Qing Ji learned that Gong Zihong was a diligent and frugal person who knew how to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. How could he be so extravagant and wasteful?

"Father, this so-called eight hundred guests is actually an imaginary number..."

Gong Zihong couldn't help but swallowed his saliva and replied nervously: "Actually, there are more than 800 nominal guests in Erchen's house, and there are already more than 1,000 people."

"However, more than half of them are only in name, they are disciples of Confucius."

"There are also some who are the disciples raised by my sons and ministers."

"With the salary of the ministers, it is true that they cannot support so many disciples, but some of them even use their own money to support the ministers. Some ministers in the court also give many gifts to the ministers during the New Year and festivals..."

"Father!"

Gong Zihong kowtowed quickly and said: "After my son returns, he will dismiss all the guests in the house!"

"No need."

Qingji waved his hand and said, "It's your ability that you can gather so many followers. I won't care about it."

"Of course, I want to warn you..."

"Only reason and power are the most respected in heaven and earth. Although reason is also respected, if reason is preached in the temple, the king cannot compete with power!"

"However, the master is a person who is only Weiwei before he is ordered to do it, and a person who is Nuonuo even though he is not ordered to do so."

"How many people in the world are there who are on the rivers and seas but whose hearts are under the palace of Wei? There are so many fake hermits and people who dress elegantly and behave like dogs and pigs."

“Time has changed and trends have changed, it’s inevitable.”

After a pause, Qingji said in a serious tone: "Hong'er, the guests in your house are of all kinds, including people from all three religions and nine streams."

"There are scholars, knights, butchers, fishermen, etc. How many people can you use?"

"Have you ever thought about it? What if the cock crows and the dog robbers?"

"The world is bustling with people, and everything is coming and going."

"They are attached to you as your disciples, but one day, if they violate the law, how will you deal with it?"

"When you are in crisis, how many of your customers will stand up for you?"

Hearing this, Young Master Hong swallowed with tears in his eyes: "Father, my son has learned a lesson."

Can Gong Zihong really listen?

Alas!

Qing Ji shook his head, he already knew that Gong Zihong could indeed listen.

However, whether Gong Zihong will dismiss his retainers is probably not up to him.

Gong Zihong has gone farther and farther on this road, and he doesn't know if he will end up in the dark.

There are two types of diners throughout the ages.

One is one guest with many hosts, the other is one host with many guests.

In the former mode, retainers traveled among the princes and nobles of various countries, choosing a family to seek refuge in. They were not ashamed to court Qin, Mu, and Chu, and the talents of Jin and Chu became famous.

It is a matter of course that good birds choose trees to roost in, and "if they are in harmony, they will stay, and if they are not in harmony, they will go."

People teach people, but they can’t teach.

To teach people something, once is enough.

Qing Ji believed that Gong Zihong would pay the price for what he had done sooner or later...

In Qingji's view, it was only a small problem for the young master to have eight hundred followers.

After all, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the practice of raising scholars was prevalent.

The sons of the public clan in each vassal state have a large number of followers, such as Lord Chunshen of Chu, Lord Pingyuan of Zhao, Lord Xinling of Wei, Lord Mengchang of Qi, etc.

They were collectively called the "Four Young Masters of the Warring States Period"!

However, in Qingji's view, there was only one "Xinling Lord" who truly deserved the name, and the other three were just people who deceived the world and stole their reputation.

The diners are not necessarily scholars. They may be neither warriors nor scribes, but may be "diners" who only have one skill, such as crowing of chickens, crowing of dogs, and stealing...

In this era, the treatment of diners is also good and bad.

Since in the fierce competition among nations, those who gain talent will win, and those who lose talent will perish, as talent retainers, they naturally have the capital and qualifications to bargain with their masters.

Therefore, there was Mencius who refused to go to the King of Qi first because he was ill, and there was Yan Jin who went to the palace in Shu and refused to go forward, but dared to say bluntly to the angry King of Qi that "a scholar is noble, but a king is not noble"!

In the context of one guest and multiple hosts, the diners often demand special or even "equal" treatment from their masters in order to increase their self-worth.

When Feng Xuan was under Mengchang Jun's family, he first had "no fish to eat", then "no car to go out", and then he played the sword and sang three times for his old mother who had no one to support her...

"Wu Heng, in recent days, Confucius, Zeng Dian, Shen Xi and other ministers have all complained to me, accusing you of frequent visits to military generals, private bribes, and promises of titles. Is this possible?"

Faced with Qingji's questioning, Young Master Heng was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He kowtowed quickly and said, "Father! This is nothing but a lie!"

"My son only has some personal relationships with some generals in the army. He occasionally moves around, but there is absolutely no bribery or official appointment!"
Chapter completed!