Fan Yan's voice sounded faintly in the hall. No one dared to be disrespectful to this old man with no official title, not only because he was Xiao Letian's father-in-law, but also because he also controlled the financial lifeline of the entire Ryukyu.
"As people get older, sometimes they have no scruples about what they say. Please bear with me whether you like it or not! One of the reasons why I don't want this title is because it is of no use to me!"
"Yes, I am old and don't have many years to live. Moreover, I have no son but only one daughter. She has a better life than me. I believe that my uncle will treat him well. What use do you think I have for having a title? Will you pass it on to your grandson in the future?"
"Since it is useless to me, why should I care!"
"The second point is that I want to use my concession to remind everyone present!" Fan Jian's voice suddenly became stern.
"People's minds are prone to change, and they worry not about scarcity but inequality. This is a law that our ancestors have figured out for thousands of years! Why did the Prime Minister introduce the Chinese code, why did he have six nobles and eighteen ranks? The purpose is to reward merit, that is, to Let all Chinese people have a head start in life and know what they should do to live a good life. Nobility is the lofty goal that people pursue!"
"With such a goal, people's hearts will not be in chaos, they will not only think about money and women, and there will not be more rebellious people like Yang Zhi! There are many people like that. They think they have made great contributions and hope to get more rewards. Once his psychological expectations are not met, betrayal will be inevitable!"
"Now the Chinese code has set rules for everyone, and has also rewarded everyone with noble titles for their merits. Everyone present is beaming with joy. I see this and am happy for you in my heart, but..."
"But since ancient times, there are pros and cons, and the yin and yang are intertwined with each other! Today's joy may change in half a year. Do you know what I mean?"
There was silence in the main hall. You could probably hear the sound if a pin dropped. Some smart people already knew what the old shopkeeper was going to say, and they all fell into deep thought.
"Perhaps after half a year, your joy will change, and some of you will develop a desire to compare. You will wonder why I am a baron for my merits, and why he is a viscount for his merits?"
"Why is it that with the same title, I am in the third class and others are in the first class? Is my contribution not as good as his?"
"Haha... This is not a joke, nor am I being alarmist. This is the human heart. As long as you still have the desire to compare in your heart, then this kind of mentality is unavoidable!"
"Don't deny it, because you are neither a saint nor a god! Today, the Prime Minister made me a Duke. I am truly a high-ranking official. Who among the people present objects to this?"
No one said anything, Fan Yan nodded, "Since no one objects, it means that I, Fan Yan, have the qualifications to be a Duke... I have the qualifications, but I don't want it. I give up the position of a Duke. I just want to be present." Man, let future generations remember you!”
"There was once such a silly old man who even wanted to be canonized by the Duke, but he didn't want it! With the example of this silly old man in front of you, you can use your comparison mentality on me! When you are dissatisfied and angry, think about it. If you think about that silly old man Fan Qian, maybe you will feel much calmer!"
Fan Yan suddenly burst into tears. "If you think about me again, you can also think about the martyrs who died before the Chinese Code and were enshrined in the Temple of War. Then why are you comparing yourself? Why are we still unfair? We At least they are still alive and canonized, what about them?"
After these words, the hall became completely silent. Everyone felt as if a heavy stone had been pressed on their hearts, and everyone's mouths were filled with bitterness.
Xiao Letian's Four Heavenly Kings were the first to walk up to the old shopkeeper, give him a military salute and then a ninety-degree bow. They shouted in unison, "The lessons of the elders will never be forgotten by the younger generation!"
Everyone present bowed to Fan Yan almost at the same time and said, "The teachings of the elders will never be forgotten by future generations!"
Fan Jian smiled. He walked to his brother Fan Ru and looked at his brother who had smoked enough. He said lightly, "Brother, don't be angry. I don't want this Duke anymore. I'll take you home." ! We are already this age, why are we arguing!"
Several servants of the Fan family carefully supported Fan Ru, who was half asleep, and walked out of the hall under the attention of countless people, with Fan Jian carefully protecting him.
After Fan Ru was sent back to Shanxi, he died of illness within half a year at the age of 78, which was considered a long life in the late Qing Dynasty. After the death of his brother, Fan Yan actually gave up all his responsibilities in Ryukyu and chose to return to his hometown to retire.
Fan Yan once had a secret conversation with his daughter, "Before the Chinese Code was promulgated, my uncle's career was just a rootless duckweed. Once the Chinese Code is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and supported by all people, it means that Lotte's career has been deeply rooted in the world." In the earth!"
"At this time, it doesn't matter whether I continue to work or not! It's time for me to enjoy my happiness. An era is finally over!"
Just as the Ryukyu New Year banquet was coming to an end, in far away Prussia, Wing King Shi Dakai stood by the window, facing the east and fell into deep contemplation.
Like Fan Yan, he is also Xiao Letian's nobleman. He has received Xiao Letian's encrypted telegram before, in which Xiao Letian also revealed his intention to make him a first-class Chinese duke.
However, Xiao Letian's tone in the telegram was only to consult rather than convey, which meant that Xiao Letian could only discuss this matter with him but would never dare to issue an order.
"Xiao Letian! I have already seen your Chinese order. If the Chinese order is really implemented according to your ideas, then the gold content of you, the first-class Duke, will be much higher than that of me, the Wing King!"
"What is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom? After seeing this world, I realized that the Heavenly Kingdom is not even a thing. To say it is a dream is to say it is a nightmare, not even a sweet dream!"
"The Kingdom of Heaven has not even conquered half of the country, what value does the title of the king have? Look at your Chinese order, it has no smell of blood at all, but it has captured the hearts of the Chinese people all over the world. I can't even imagine this. What a turmoil it will cause if the Hua Clan Order spreads to the Han ethnic groups all over the world!"
"Haha, you can make me a duke, you really love me deeply! However, I can't accept it and can only refuse!"
King Yi clenched his fists, "I don't belong to your era. I can't join your future career, because I carry the legal inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. If I integrate into it, it will be a ghost of the Kingdom of Heaven." It’s already entangled in the Chinese people!”
"Xiao Hexin and the others have finally cleared themselves up and appeared in front of the world with a new identity. How can I try to cause trouble? If I appear under the sky of Asia, how should those veterans make a choice? What should they do? How about facing my old master?"
Thinking of this, King Yi trembled with his lips and whispered, "I'm sorry, I can't accept your kindness! I can only give up, and I swear that I will never go to Asia for the rest of my life. Please banish me to this world!"
Wing King Shi Dakai kept his oath until his death and lived in seclusion in Europe. After his death, he was buried on Shiqiao Highlands with the tombstone facing the east.
