I do not think he is trying to drive a wedge between them. He is keeping Li Qin at bay by using Gu for what he…
Seems to me the dialogue is super clear that Jiu assigned GPY to RL, who learned about him from Jiu. That doesn't mean RL didn't have a say - he acceded to it with reservations and was surprised pleasantly. By definition of his post and his rank as a first tier viceroy RL is no figurehead - this has nothing to do with whether he summoned GPY.
As for the historical figure LHZ he was an incredibly powerful figure later on, almost a prime minister. But at the time he was only a provincial governor Xunfu (ε·‘ζ). In other words, the fictional Rui Lin would be his boss. He was also not well regarded in history.
Viceroy or Zongdu ζ»η£ is one of the highest ranking positions in Qing government reporting directly to the emperor with broad political, civil and military authority over their region. Marshal Jiu/Zeng Guoquan was a commander in his brother Zeng Guofan's Xiang army. The Xiang Army were a power unto themselves - an independent army loyal first to the Zeng family over the emperor. So the power politics were complicated and its not clear who exactly is more powerful bc the emperor needed the Zeng army to suppress the many rebellions. Without Marshal Jiu's military presence, it is unlikely that RL can hold onto his provinces. So unless put to a test, its not that clear who reports to who. The Xiang Army had some similarities to the late Prigozhin's Wagner Group.
And why exactly should he always be in trouble? Man has gone through many things in his journey until where we…
I hear you on the stakes not seeming to be as high in the latest arcs. But I think Nanjing is very complicated and my sense is the drama hasn't scratched the surface yet of the issues that could arise. Including potentially the soldiers rebelling.
I knew actors and musicians (prostitutes and major criminals of the imperial court mentioned as well) were looked…
Yes it is just a continuation of the 5 Confucian social classes, the lowest being the mean class or jian ji θ΄±η± (slaves, servants, prostitutes, entertainers etc) which comes with a host of restrictions and discrimination. A Dream of Splendor is all about this social class - it is set in Northern Song dynasty.
I do not think he is trying to drive a wedge between them. He is keeping Li Qin at bay by using Gu for what he…
Its clear Marshal Jiu is holding GPY and his family hostage bc he needs to pay his soldiers who refuse to disband. He continues to make veiled threats to him over the back pay every time they meet. This remains Marshal Jiu's primary agenda that compelled him to summon GPY to Nanjing. In fact, Rui Lin explicitly says that he had his doubts over GPY when Marshal Jiu recommended assigning GPY to him in Nanjing. So I am not sure why you would conclude it was Rui Lin's idea to summon GPY to begin with but maybe there was an issue with the subs.π€·π»ββοΈ It is indeed the case that no merchant with powerful backers would agree to this job bc it will ultimately involve forking out a huge sum of money or get killed. LWT sidestepped the task but got lured there ultimately bc he wants the salt concessions and is willing to spend some money to get them but not enough to solve the back pay problem, much less rebuild the city. He rushed there bc he realized Li Qin was being suckered by Rui Lin into opening their purses but would get nothing in return. He is there in a official capacity by court appointment as The Salt Transport Commissioner and as he warned Rui Lin, cannot be bullied by him as a mere merchant.
Not following why you thought the Viceroy is just a figurehead, its a very powerful post. Of course he doesn't report to Marshal Jiu they both report to the court and have different portfolios. With respect to local/civil matters the Viceroy would prevail over Jiu. With respect to military matters that would be a the other way around. They cooperate with each other with respect to the security of the city. GPY is caught between them whenever their agendas conflict. But in the matter of paying the soldiers, Jiu and Rui Lin's interest are aligned. It is my impression that while sometimes their interests may conflict, the two of them get along well and have a good working relationship.
The salt mines are the main bone of contention here - they are claimed by 3 parties - 1. the military/soldiers who feel they fought for it and want it as compensation for back pay, 2. LWT/Li Qin who thinks he legitimately acquired all the deeds and 3. Rui Lin who wants to retain them as a future source of revenue for Nanjing. Rui Lin needs to revive the salt industry but not at the cost of LWT or any merchant having a monopoly over the salt. That is why he is involving GPY. That doesn't mean however that he intends to expropriate LWT/Li Qin's commercial rights over the mines and he also somehow has to solve the soldiers claims as tensions are high and if the unpaid soldiers rebel and they lose Nanjing again. So at surface, it should all be up to Rui Lin but there are pragmatic limitations as to what he can do as well. GPY has to solve this bun fight - technically he has no vested interest so he should be quite impartial. But Marshal Jiu is holding his family hostage so he has somehow got to get the soldiers paid. He is in a tenuous position, having to navigate and balance these 3 competing interests. He has already figured out that it can only ultimately be solved by reviving the Nanjing economy.
China censors are very fussy about following official history. Early Qing Dynasty had some incredible emperors…
It just generally shows inclusiveness towards non-Han Chinese races. So that any implied criticism of the Manchus/Qing dynasty is not directed more broadly against non-Han ethnicities.
And today it is China that is manufacturing humanoids like no tomorrow to replace humans.
Its quite funny bc I feel the same fear now that they must have felt then. On the positive side, maybe in the future we won't need to work.... but then how will we eat???
China censors are very fussy about following official history. Early Qing Dynasty had some incredible emperors…
Yes exactly - her βSaJiaoβ tone is completely out of place for those times. That was one of the toughest periods in later Chinese history and its not in line with the way her character is written either - this bold merchant's daughter that travels the world with her dad. I am sad to say I know men who find it attractive but thankfully I also know lots of men who find it cringey.
China censors are very fussy about following official history. Early Qing Dynasty had some incredible emperors…
I am not the right person to ask that question bc I hate ζε¨. I find it very disturbing that this long outdated infantilization of women still hasn't died out in this day and age. But just take a look at Yu Shuxin's popularity and maybe you have your answer. I once had a new hire that talked like that. I told her if she didn't cut it out, she would not pass her probation. She stopped for good - even after she moved back to Taiwan and till this day, she still thanks me bc she discovered people take her more seriously at work when she speaks like a normal person.
China censors are very fussy about following official history. Early Qing Dynasty had some incredible emperors…
I like the character and even though I could do without the frequent water works, I don't have a big issue with the acting until she opens her mouth. You are spot on about the way she talks - she cuts off many of her words to make it sound cutesy and baby doll like. As a result half her words are incomprehensible. This is an unfortunate cultural behavior by some Chinese women known as ζε¨/SΔjiΔo. It is how she talks in real life - she all out embraces it bc she thinks its adorable.π€¦π»ββοΈ Many Taiwanese women also like to speak like that - it is why I don't watch Taiwanese dramas. Its my pet peeve bc I am not a man I don't find baby doll talk cute. Luckily her lines are not important to the plot so I don't even bother to glance at the subs. IMO the Douban score would have been much better than 7.3 with a better actress. Its a terrific role, one of the rare better written female roles in c-dramas, one I would have thought is impossible to muck up.
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As for the historical figure LHZ he was an incredibly powerful figure later on, almost a prime minister. But at the time he was only a provincial governor Xunfu (ε·‘ζ). In other words, the fictional Rui Lin would be his boss. He was also not well regarded in history.
Viceroy or Zongdu ζ»η£ is one of the highest ranking positions in Qing government reporting directly to the emperor with broad political, civil and military authority over their region. Marshal Jiu/Zeng Guoquan was a commander in his brother Zeng Guofan's Xiang army. The Xiang Army were a power unto themselves - an independent army loyal first to the Zeng family over the emperor. So the power politics were complicated and its not clear who exactly is more powerful bc the emperor needed the Zeng army to suppress the many rebellions. Without Marshal Jiu's military presence, it is unlikely that RL can hold onto his provinces. So unless put to a test, its not that clear who reports to who. The Xiang Army had some similarities to the late Prigozhin's Wagner Group.
Not following why you thought the Viceroy is just a figurehead, its a very powerful post. Of course he doesn't report to Marshal Jiu they both report to the court and have different portfolios. With respect to local/civil matters the Viceroy would prevail over Jiu. With respect to military matters that would be a the other way around. They cooperate with each other with respect to the security of the city. GPY is caught between them whenever their agendas conflict. But in the matter of paying the soldiers, Jiu and Rui Lin's interest are aligned. It is my impression that while sometimes their interests may conflict, the two of them get along well and have a good working relationship.
The salt mines are the main bone of contention here - they are claimed by 3 parties - 1. the military/soldiers who feel they fought for it and want it as compensation for back pay, 2. LWT/Li Qin who thinks he legitimately acquired all the deeds and 3. Rui Lin who wants to retain them as a future source of revenue for Nanjing. Rui Lin needs to revive the salt industry but not at the cost of LWT or any merchant having a monopoly over the salt. That is why he is involving GPY. That doesn't mean however that he intends to expropriate LWT/Li Qin's commercial rights over the mines and he also somehow has to solve the soldiers claims as tensions are high and if the unpaid soldiers rebel and they lose Nanjing again. So at surface, it should all be up to Rui Lin but there are pragmatic limitations as to what he can do as well. GPY has to solve this bun fight - technically he has no vested interest so he should be quite impartial. But Marshal Jiu is holding his family hostage so he has somehow got to get the soldiers paid. He is in a tenuous position, having to navigate and balance these 3 competing interests. He has already figured out that it can only ultimately be solved by reviving the Nanjing economy.
I once had a new hire that talked like that. I told her if she didn't cut it out, she would not pass her probation. She stopped for good - even after she moved back to Taiwan and till this day, she still thanks me bc she discovered people take her more seriously at work when she speaks like a normal person.