The officials at the lottery office had received special training. They explained the rules to Wang Erzhu in detail, repeatedly emphasizing that winnings could be redeemed immediately! After repeated confirmation, Wang Erzhu no longer hesitated. While the imperial court's credibility was not great, the reputations of the Situ and Sikong households carried considerable weight. As a farmer, he understood this. Since they claimed fairness and impartiality, he assumed this venture wouldn't be a scam. Moreover, soldiers and officials were present at the lottery stalls, and even the grain administrator of Xuzhou was involved. Wang Erzhu trusted these people! In simpler terms, if they decided to rob him, what could he do? Would he dare resist!
"Sir, I'd like to buy two tickets..." Wang Erzhu spoke, holding out the basket of millet with both hands.
"Good!" the official replied. Someone went to weigh the millet, returning the excess to Wang Erzhu. Wang Erzhu reached out to receive it, his weathered hands, still rough from chopping wood and cracked, looking grimy.
"Do you see these numbers?" the official pointed to a line of characters written in Seal Script, from "one to nine." The Nine Chapters of Mathematical Procedures was quite popular in this era, and the common folk were familiar with numbers. The official patiently continued, "If the numbers you select match the numbers drawn tonight in the correct order, congratulations, you've won! Now, begin selecting your numbers."
Even the uneducated Wang Erzhu could roughly understand this. However... it was two jin of grain, no, ten thousand jin of grain, and Wang Erzhu appeared very nervous.
"Sir, I choose this... this, and this, and this..." After staring at the wooden tokens for a long time, Wang Erzhu finally selected seven numbers.
— Six, zero, seven, seven, six, zero, seven!
— Five, seven, four, one, one, eight, nine!
Two jin, two tickets! Looking at the numbers Wang Erzhu had chosen, the official wrote them down on paper and then affixed the seals of the Governor of Xuzhou and the Prefect of Xiapi. Of course, these weren't official seals, but ones specially carved at Chen Deng's behest solely for the welfare lottery.
And so, one lottery ticket was completed.
"Keep it safe, this is your ticket!" the official handed the ticket to Wang Erzhu. "We will also register your name and selected numbers. If you win, only you can claim the prize! If you do not claim it within ten days, it will be considered forfeited. Do you understand all this?"
"Understood, understood!" Wang Erzhu nodded repeatedly. This small lottery ticket, at this moment, felt like hope itself, carrying his dreams... Wang Erzhu's heart burned with excitement, as if he already had ten thousand jin of millet and had married three wives.
Of course... it wasn't just Wang Erzhu. At all thirty-two lottery selling points, every person buying a ticket felt the same. However, if one were to aggregate these buyers, they were mostly the poorest farmers... and gamblers who frequented casinos! The target audience was very limited and narrow. Ordinary folk, or rather, wealthy merchants, couldn't be bothered with it.
This news, first and foremost, reached a certain tavern. The assembled merchants and prominent clans of Xiapi City discussed it with confusion and speculation.
"How was it? Did many people buy lottery tickets?"
"Haha, this Han Dynasty Welfare Lottery is becoming a joke. Who would actually buy this thing? We sent people to every selling point, and in a whole day, they only sold over two hundred tickets, which is just over two hundred jin of grain. This grain collection... it's practically collecting nothing!"
"Don't be too hasty. This Situ Lu Yu is no ordinary man. People say that 'Hidden Dragon' leaks heavenly secrets, and whoever obtains the Hidden Dragon can pacify the world. In the past... his mere words could turn the little-known Zhuge family of Langya into the wealthiest family in Xuzhou. Today... although this move seems to have little effect, it must have a deeper meaning!"
The wealthy magnates, their faces plump and their eyes narrowed into slits, opened their mouths and discussed. Each of them had also bought a lottery ticket, but they looked at it with contempt and disdain. However... beneath this contempt and disdain, they felt a degree of apprehension. A person's reputation precedes them. Those who had underestimated the Hidden Dragon over the years had often met a miserable end. Thinking of this, everyone straightened up. Just like a wolf pack on the grasslands, they remained silent and showed no sharp teeth during the hunt. Only when it was time to harvest would their bloodthirsty fangs and terrifying roars emerge. Was the Hidden Dragon... still hiding and planning something? — Very likely!
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants! Merchants, despite their low status in this era, if they could become the richest person in a region, they were invariably "sharp individuals." While they paid attention to the lottery, they were more focused on Lu Yu himself, on the title of Hidden Dragon! These people were shrewd... They didn't even care about Cao Cao's decisive battle with Yuan Shao. Their only concern was the price at which they could sell their hoarded grain! As for... donating grain, they wouldn't even consider it. After all, "no merchant is not cunning!"
"Tell the men below to continue observing... If there's any slightest disturbance, report it immediately."
"Understood..."
It could be said that in just the city of Xiapi, the atmosphere was turbulent. Countless eyes were fixed on the so-called "Han Dynasty Welfare Lottery." Some were waiting to mock it, while others were trying to decipher the hidden meaning within.
The day passed just like that! For the entire day, the sales of lottery tickets were dismal! It was a case of "failing before the campaign even began..." This time, not only the merchants but also the officials and soldiers felt disheartened, utterly disheartened! Chen Deng, with a furrowed brow and a look of helplessness, even suspected for a moment if this was Lu Gongzi's plan. How could it feel... not like him? When did Lu Gongzi become so naive?
Conversely, Cheng Yu stood on the city wall. From this vantage point, he witnessed everything that was happening. In fact, everything that occurred today was within Lu Yu's expectations. A dismal start! As for what would happen next...
"Cheng Sima, how can you remain so calm? The day is over, and less than five hundred lottery tickets have been sold across the thirty-two stalls. How much has been collected... five hundred jin of grain!" Chen Deng asked anxiously.
Cheng Yu stroked his beard. "Haha, the first layer... it seems Yuan Long can only see the first layer and hasn't grasped the essence of Lu Gongzi's strategy this time!"
"Strategy?" Chen Deng was taken aback... What strategy? Thirty-two stalls earning five hundred jin of grain in a day? Was there a strategy in this? Speaking of which, Chen Deng came from the position of Agricultural Commandant and rose step by step to high office by managing agriculture. When it came to governing prefectures and counties, developing water conservancy and irrigation, he was skilled. But when it came to these intricate schemes and complex stratagems, he wasn't proficient. Moreover, this welfare lottery... let alone others, even he, the Governor of Xuzhou, couldn't accept it! He even... felt quite resistant! The outcome was as expected. However... hearing Cheng Yu say this, Chen Deng asked curiously, "Could it be? Lu Gongzi has a second meaning?"
"Naturally..." Cheng Yu smiled, a brilliant smile. "Not only a second meaning, but Lu Gongzi's strategy is extremely ingenious... Only by seeing the final tenth will Yuan Long likely understand everything!" Saying this, Cheng Yu paused, then continued with a smile... "Yuan Long, I, Cheng Yu, can see that the biggest reason you reject this Han Dynasty Welfare Lottery is that Lu Gongzi's lottery earns grain from ordinary people! It earns grain from the poorest farmers, and doesn't earn grain from those merchants and wealthy individuals? You think this is beating a bush to scare a bird away, chasing the superficial while ignoring the fundamental, isn't that so?"
Cheng Yu was being direct and speaking from the heart. "As expected of Cheng Sima, you see clearly!" Chen Deng replied truthfully. Cheng Yu nodded. "Yuan Long, perhaps you have misjudged Lu Gongzi. Lu Gongzi is laying out a plan, and this Han Dynasty Welfare Lottery is merely the beginning of that plan!"
"The welfare lottery is a prelude, just like in fishing, if you want a big fish to bite, you always need to make the bait more enticing. Lu Gongzi's true target has never been these low-level farmers, but... those merchants and powerful families who are closely watching this matter. Currently... all their eyes are focused here!" Saying this, Cheng Yu paused. Then, he continued with emotion, "To take something, one must first give something. How easy is it to dig grain from the bellies of these big fish? These big fish are very shrewd, very cunning... We need to be more patient!"
With that, Cheng Yu patted Chen Deng's shoulder and then looked up at the sky. Enough talk. It was about time. He strode down the city wall.
"Cheng Sima? Where are you going?" Chen Deng asked urgently. Cheng Yu replied, "The drawing!"
Uh... upon hearing this, Chen Deng was stunned. Cheng Yu's words continued. "Before the big fish are hooked, the bait needs to be fatter. Just one drawing... one implantation of a dream, and the 'welfare lottery' bait will instantly become plump." Saying this, Cheng Yu paused, then turned back with great interest. Smiling, he asked...
"Yuan Long? Do you have a dream? Do you believe in dreams?"
Ah... ah... Chen Deng felt a little confused. The big fish, small fish, dreams, and bait that Cheng Yu spoke of... He understood every word, yet when they were put together, he surprisingly... couldn't understand. What exactly was Lu Gongzi planning... what medicine was in his gourd! The atmosphere suddenly became so mystical!
...
...
At this moment, the drawing location was crowded with people, with fine carriages and swift horses arriving one after another, accompanied by the melodious laughter of women and occasional discussions.
"I wonder, will someone really win these ten thousand jin of grain?" The men and women from poor families came in even greater numbers. The poorer they were, the more they anticipated the outcome of this grand prize... Of course, many gamblers also gripped their lottery tickets nervously. Who knew if, in an hour, this small ticket would turn into a blank piece of paper? Or ten thousand jin of grain!
The crowd below was growing larger and larger... The high platform for the drawing was completely surrounded! Indeed, although... most people hadn't bought lottery tickets, they were enthusiastic about joining the excitement. Many spies from various merchants, prominent families, and large clans were also mixed in, as were servants of Xuzhou officials. Not just from Xiapi... Prefects and Assistant Prefects from many other prefectures and counties had sent servants to observe!
Wang Erzhu was also among them. He tightly clutched his lottery ticket...
— Six, zero, seven, seven, six, zero, seven!
— Five, seven, four, one, one, eight, nine!
He muttered these numbers from time to time, as if he had memorized them. He felt... these two small "lottery tickets" weighed a thousand jin, no, ten thousand jin! Of course, many people shared this feeling...
A large bronze hourglass at the drawing venue was slowly flowing. Cheng Yu had gracefully stepped onto the stage, with Chen Deng closely following. Cheng Yu wore a scholar's robe, and his attire didn't appear luxurious, but his presence commanded a powerful aura. His face exuded a calm and dignified smile.
"The auspicious hour has arrived, the drawing begins!" Cheng Yu declared... Immediately, countless guards surrounding the drawing platform raised their shields and swords, as if to maintain order and tell everyone not to overstep their bounds! Under everyone's gaze, Cheng Yu turned and lifted a black cloth curtain, revealing a round disk. He calmly placed a wooden token onto the disk. Everyone knew without introduction... this was the so-called "lottery draw"!
Without further ado...
— "Clatter, clatter..."
Cheng Yu directly spun the disk. With a crisp sound, the pointer landed on the first number—FIVE!
"The first drawn number is FIVE!" As the pointer settled, an armored soldier announced. Beside him, a scribe wrote a large "FIVE" on a white paper and pushed it down from the city wall... A giant "FIVE" appeared before everyone's eyes.
— "The second number is SEVEN!"
— "The third number is FOUR!"
— "The fourth number is ONE!"
— "The fifth number is ONE!"
Five, Seven, Four, One, One...
It was no exaggeration to say that many people were still holding on after the first number. Those who could make it past the second number were very few. By the third round, it was a complete annihilation... let alone the fifth number! Countless lottery ticket buyers hung their heads in dejection, their faces showing extreme disappointment. Some even felt they had been cheated, feeling like they had been taken advantage of. Wouldn't a jin of grain taste good boiled into porridge at night? This damned old man is wicked! Believing you was a mistake, buying this lottery ticket was a mistake! Although a jin of grain wasn't much, it still made countless people feel very uncomfortable. Of course, those... who hadn't bought lottery tickets felt a sense of schadenfreude. Look, look... everyone knew it was a scam, yet they still bought it? Weren't they kicked in the head by a donkey? Now look, they lost their jin of grain for nothing. This is human nature... When people see others unfortunate, many feel a sense of superiority.
But...
At this very moment... no one noticed Wang Erzhu. His hands were trembling uncontrollably.
— Five, Seven, Four, One, One...
The first... the first five numbers were exactly the same. This... this... Before Wang Erzhu could react.
— "The sixth number is EIGHT!"
As this voice rang out. Wang Erzhu's eyes were about to pop out. He suddenly felt... a surge within him, a tide... Six numbers had been matched. If the last one was nine, he would get ten thousand jin of grain! Given the high grain prices at the moment... he could sell some to rebuild his house, marry a wife, bring his mother and father from the countryside to the city, and no longer fear the disdainful glances of city dwellers! As Cheng Yu's disk spun beside him, Wang Erzhu's heart was pounding!
Dong...
The crisp sound came to an abrupt halt.
— "The seventh number is NINE!"
An armored soldier shouted loudly... In an instant, Wang Erzhu, who had been standing still, jumped up... leaping three feet into the air. His fists were clenched tightly, his eyes were about to burst out, as if he were about to float away.
"I won..."
"I won..."
"I... I won, ten thousand jin of grain, I... I won!" Wang Erzhu shouted loudly...
As this voice rang out, the people around him were stunned, especially the commoners who had been cursing and denouncing it as a scam. They instantly turned their gaze towards Wang Erzhu. It... it wasn't a scam? Someone could actually win? Countless people had question marks appearing on their foreheads. The mathematical level of the common folk in this era only reached the level of "The Nine Chapters of Mathematical Procedures" at most. More importantly, they only recognized numbers. Unlike later generations, where even a small child understood probability and how to calculate it... They could only accept the facts... Someone had won. What did this mean? It meant, damn it... this wasn't a scam, it was real!
Even... some people recognized Wang Erzhu. Wasn't this... that poor guy? The poor guy who was over forty and couldn't even afford a wife? He... he actually won, no way? Suddenly, many who knew Wang Erzhu looked like bitter gourds. This was human nature too. Seeing others make money... seeing others become rich was even more unbearable than not making money themselves!
"Cough cough..." At this moment, Cheng Yu cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Please winners keep your lottery tickets safe to avoid being mobbed. Our lottery office has records... lottery tickets must match the person! You can redeem them at any time..."
Wang Erzhu finally reacted. He cautiously glanced around. Everyone was wearing a malicious smile...
"Sir, sir... can I... can I redeem it now?"
"Of course!" Cheng Yu nodded. Immediately, some armored soldiers went to invite Wang Erzhu onto the drawing stage. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Cheng Yu personally verified...
— Five, Seven, Four, One, One, Eight, Nine!
Not a single bit different... After matching it with Wang Erzhu's name and household registration for final verification. After a series of procedures, Cheng Yu reached out and patted Wang Erzhu's shoulder.
— "Congratulations, lucky winner!"
— "Bring someone, award Wang Erzhu..."
At this moment, Wang Erzhu's mind was buzzing. He felt groggy, and it wasn't until a group of armored soldiers placed a hundred sacks of grain before him that he truly reacted. It was real... Damn it, it was real! He... he himself... had actually earned ten thousand jin of grain with one jin of grain. He was dumbfounded, bewildered. Happiness came too suddenly!
Boom...
Rumble! Below the award stage, deafening sounds erupted, and a commotion of discussions filled the air... Only Cheng Yu swept his gaze across everyone below. He knew that among them... there were many merchant spies, many official servants, and many slaves of large families. In fact, today's spectacle was for them to witness! Now... it depended on whether they could see through the superficial to the essence... to see the immense business opportunity hidden within the welfare lottery! Of course, even if they couldn't see it, it didn't matter... The welfare lottery tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that would surely amaze them. Heh heh... Lu Gongzi is indeed Lu Gongzi!
While others collected grain, they often united with local magnates and tried every means to earn grain from the common people. For example, during grain donation drives, the wealthy families donated first, and the common people donated later... After the deed was done, the wealthy families received their money back in full, while the common people received a three-seven split! Cheng Yu remembered Lu Gongzi once calling this behavior the "Ponzi Scheme!" But in Lu Gongzi's hands, his plan was the complete opposite! If the government could collude with wealthy families to cheat the common people of their grain? Then why? Couldn't the government use the common people? To cheat the wealthy families of their grain! This welfare lottery was just the beginning... the road ahead was still long! The hunting season... was far from over!
...
...