Chapter 22: The Progress of Civilization

“A painting, however, uses a different technique from our national law, and the style is strange and wonderful.
Unfortunately, the painting was burned in a fire one year.
The county magistrate's father was deeply distressed and has been lying in bed sick, looking like a madman, crying from time to time.
Lord Zhang was racking his brains over this and hired dozens of doctors, but to no avail." Yang Yun said.
"What kind of painting is that that could drive Lord Zhang's father so crazy?" Tang Wen asked.
"When the painting was still there, our Great Chu Chinese painting master Liu Yuanzong once made a copy.
Later, Mr. Zhang spent a lot of money to buy it. However, although Liu Yuanzong was a master of painting, the techniques and pigments of Western painting were different, so it was difficult to capture the essence of the painting.
I have seen that copy of the painting. It shows a handsome man with something like 'APOIIO' marked on it.
Master Liu guessed that might be the name or seal of the handsome man in the portrait. "Yang Yun shook his head and sighed.
APOIIO?
Oh my god, the guy next door, isn't that Apollo, the sun god, one of the twelve main gods of Olympus in ancient Greece?
Tang Wen was immediately shocked. How could the legend of Apollo appear in this world?
Could it be that ancient European civilization also appeared in the ancient history of this world?
The Great East Republic is similar to a parallel space of modern China. Is this world similar to a parallel space of ancient China?

"Junru, bring the painting hanging on the east wall of my room." Tang Wen said.
Because this is an opportunity to make friends with Governor Zhang.
Junru nodded, turned into the bedroom next door, and brought out the European oil painting.
Of course, this oil painting depicts Athena, the goddess of wisdom and one of the twelve gods.
Yang Yun took a look and was stunned. He pointed at the letters 'Athene' and said, "Strange, how come there is a similar name on your painting. Moreover, the style is somewhat similar to the painting copied by Master Liu."
"This painting of mine also comes from the West." Tang Wen said with a smile.
"The Baron is truly a gentleman, to have been able to obtain such a treasure." Yang Yun stroked his beard and exclaimed.
“Haha, my ancestor had made great military achievements and was granted the title of Earl of Liangzhou by the royal family. This painting was also awarded by the royal family.
It’s a pity that each generation of our Tang family is weaker than the previous one.
This painting has been passed down and is a family heirloom of my Tang family." Tang Wen lied with his eyes open.
"Excuse me!" Yang Yun stood up and bowed to Tang Wen, then said, "I was a little disrespectful to you, sir, before. However, although I am not talented, I am also a military scholar."
"No way, it's Tang who is being rude." Tang Wen shook his head and finally understood.
Previously, Yang Yun saw that he did not kneel down to pay homage to him, because he had made great achievements.
The royal family of Great Chu stipulated that those who had made great contributions could meet officials without kneeling to pay homage.
Just bow slightly or bow your head, and even a scholar can enjoy such treatment.
It’s just that Yang Yun, a military scholar, has been in the spotlight for so many years.
How could he have fallen to the point of being a small constable in Yanling County? He must have been at least a seventh-rank official.
"Bu Feng has just taken me to see the bodies of the pirates. These people are so evil that they actually wanted to rob the lord of his property.
I, Yang Yun, will investigate this matter thoroughly and give an explanation to my Lord.
However, my Lord was able to wipe out more than seventy pirates, demonstrating the might of our Great Chu.
But no one on my side died. I admire you so much!" Yang Yun said, clasping his fists.
"That was just a coincidence. They colluded with the servants of my Tang family, and we finally saw through their plan and lured them into a trap.
Otherwise, I'm afraid that Captain Yang would only see my, Tang Wen's, corpse.
No, it’s not just me, it’s hundreds of bodies from my Tang family.” Tang Wen said.
“Alas… our Yanling County is a bit remote, and Koh Samui is even more remote.
Many people died in these years of war and famine.
Pirates along the coast became more rampant, and the court was helpless and could only withdraw its troops to protect a few fortresses.
Most of the navy was stationed at checkpoints and had no time to take care of places like Koh Samui .
Especially recently, while our dynasty is at war with the Qin Kingdom, the Sun Kingdom, located across the sea to the east, is also ready to make a move.
The admiral was also quite helpless, and he further withdrew his naval forces and deployed them all opposite the eastern part of the provincial capital, with the main focus on protecting the provincial capital.
Otherwise, once those bandits from the Sun Country break through our eastern defense line and the provincial capital is lost, our Linghai and country will be in danger.
As a result, the court was completely unable to deal with the pirates, so they became more and more rampant and crazy .
There was even a pirate massacre on the island a few months ago, which was a heinous crime .
It's a pity that I, Yang Yun, have all the skills but am powerless to wipe out these bandits and restore peace to Linghai." Captain Yang shook his head and sighed.
“Therefore, I have no choice but to train my personal guards every day to ensure the safety of Yanling Samui Island.
This duke also wants to protect the safety of the surrounding pirates and contribute to the court.
It’s a pity that the court only gave this duke a quota of 60 personal guards.
If pirates attack again, Yanling County will be out of reach.
I’m afraid that by then the island will be destroyed, people will die, blood will flow like a river, and corpses will be everywhere.” Tang Wen said.
"The court has its own difficulties." Yang Yun said.
"Lord Yang is also very busy, with the recent influx of disaster victims and refugees from other provinces.

Once the disaster victims and refugees become extremely hungry, they will inevitably commit robbery or even murder , which will give Lord Yang a lot of trouble.
I am very grateful to Mr. Yang for taking the time to come to Koh Samui in person.
However , Tang was also powerless.
If the court could give me more places, I could form a more powerful guard.
By then, fighting pirates and protecting the islands can also solve some problems for Yanling County." Tang Wen said.
"There is a chance this time." Yang Yun thought for a moment and suddenly said.
"Oh?" Tang Wen was stunned deliberately and looked at Yang Yun.
“The war situation in the northwest has been intense recently, and we are running out of food, fodder, and horses.
The Great Qin State sent out an army of 80 divisions in an attempt to forcibly occupy the three northwestern provinces of our Great Chu State.
Therefore, the court issued an emergency wartime announcement.
If the nobles of Chu want to be promoted, they can do so based on their military achievements," Yang Yun said.
"Of course I know this clearly. However, I am just a scholar who has the ambition to serve my country but I am powerless to do anything about it," said Tang Wen.
"Haha, this time it's different. We can donate money and food, which is also a disguised form of support for the fight against the Qin Kingdom." Yang Yun smiled and shook his head.
"Does donating money and food count as military merit?" Tang Wen was stunned. In ancient times, it was not uncommon to donate money to buy official positions.
Of course, the official positions purchased with donations are usually idle positions with only title but no real power, and are only used for appearances.
"Of course!" Yang Yun said.
"How exactly does a donation exchange for military merit?" Tang Wen asked.
"One hundred taels of silver for one military merit. For barons like you, a third-class baron needs to donate fifty points of military merit to be promoted to the second class." Yang Yun said.
"That's five thousand taels of silver." Tang Wen nodded.
"Yes! Or food and grass equivalent to it. However, if you want to be promoted to a first-class baron, you will need 10,000 taels of silver." Yang Yun said.
"This doesn't seem to be cheap. There is chaos and wailing everywhere. There are many victims and refugees dying of hunger. It is too difficult to make some money. What's more, it's 10,000 taels of silver. It's too difficult." Tang Wen deliberately shook his head and sighed.
"Of course, sir, please think about it, if you don't have this opportunity, how difficult would it be for you to be promoted to a higher rank?
If you join the army and lead troops to fight, you will only get one military merit point for killing an enemy.
Even to become a second-class baron, you have to kill fifty enemies.
If you have to kill a hundred enemies at the first level, you will definitely have to survive nine deaths before you can advance.
Moreover, compared with donating silver, if you are not careful, you may lose your life on the battlefield, while donating silver is extremely safe. "Yang Yun nodded.
"Indeed, it's not easy. But what if I get promoted to Viscount?" Tang Wen nodded.
"The third-class viscount is 15,000 taels, the second-class is 20,000 taels, and the first-class is 25,000 taels." Yang Yun said.
"By this calculation, if I want to be promoted to earl, wouldn't it cost thirty thousand taels?" Tang Wen asked.
"Earl, that's different. The upgrade from Viscount to Earl costs at least 100,000 taels, and that's still a third-class earl." Yang Yun shook his head.
Tang Wen was calculating in his mind that one hundred thousand taels was not a big deal for him, and donating an earl title would also be nice.
By then, according to the laws of the Great Chu, the personal guards of a third-class earl could be expanded to three hundred people.
By then, I will have enough power to protect Koh Samui.
Of course, at present, he does not have many people. Even if he donates a third-class earl, he cannot spare 300 people to establish a personal guard.
This is for future consideration. Tang Wen is worried that once the war stops in the future.
The practice of donating money and grain to advance to a higher rank will have to be stopped again, and then the opportunity will be lost.
"I am interested in this." Tang Wen said.
Yang Yun's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "Then we must hurry up. If the Lord is interested, I will report this to the governor as soon as I return."
"Okay!" Tang Wen nodded.
"Master, dinner is ready." At this time, Li Quan came in to report.

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