Old school banking merchant Tan Chin Tuan is indeed a deep one. He moaned that he had to contribute his best serfs to serve the regime. It is not a loss but a net gain for him. For example, in Mario Puzo's book, the Godfather aka Don had the vision to provide scholarships for promising lads. The sly Don knew many of the lads will be the big shots of society e.g. judges, politicians and who will resist a favour from their benefactor in later years.
Similarly banking merchant Tan CH knew despite the wealth and depth of 'talent' (Phony Tan) within their second generation Tan, the third generation proved to be problematic. He was proven correct when Patrick Tan has to be put to safety during National Serfship via a nefarious Military Scientist vocation. In fact, the present leadership of the Tan has fallen to a Chew lady, his granddaughter. This proved the third generation of Tan are merely Princelings with little merit.
Like the Don, Messr Tan took another indirect route, to 'sponsor' the child of his promising serfs and one of them was Teo (whose grandparent lost their fortune during Great Depression) who begets the present Baron of Punggol-Pasir Ris. Smarter peasants in the know will do well to dig further to see how the Baron of Punggol-Pasir-Ris has integrated into the Imperial Family and was always appointed as the Regent whenever Ruler Loong skips town.
It is funny to see this Baron of Punggol-Pasir Ris taking the top job of the land. His only merit is loyalty to Ruler Loong's clan via the old established order. Other than presiding over a green water navy, Baron Teo has done little and always played it safe, following orders and pretending to kiss babies but loathing the stupid peasants who force him to change his lifestyle.
Therefore in Peasantpore, relations and loyalty matters. You can hail from poor family e.g. Prata Nathan or has fallen into bad times e.g Teo family but stage a return by selling allegiance to the correct ruler.
Similarly banking merchant Tan CH knew despite the wealth and depth of 'talent' (Phony Tan) within their second generation Tan, the third generation proved to be problematic. He was proven correct when Patrick Tan has to be put to safety during National Serfship via a nefarious Military Scientist vocation. In fact, the present leadership of the Tan has fallen to a Chew lady, his granddaughter. This proved the third generation of Tan are merely Princelings with little merit.
Like the Don, Messr Tan took another indirect route, to 'sponsor' the child of his promising serfs and one of them was Teo (whose grandparent lost their fortune during Great Depression) who begets the present Baron of Punggol-Pasir Ris. Smarter peasants in the know will do well to dig further to see how the Baron of Punggol-Pasir-Ris has integrated into the Imperial Family and was always appointed as the Regent whenever Ruler Loong skips town.
It is funny to see this Baron of Punggol-Pasir Ris taking the top job of the land. His only merit is loyalty to Ruler Loong's clan via the old established order. Other than presiding over a green water navy, Baron Teo has done little and always played it safe, following orders and pretending to kiss babies but loathing the stupid peasants who force him to change his lifestyle.
Therefore in Peasantpore, relations and loyalty matters. You can hail from poor family e.g. Prata Nathan or has fallen into bad times e.g Teo family but stage a return by selling allegiance to the correct ruler.
