“Deputy Commander!” Yang Jingshan and Yang Jingyan cried out in shock and anger.
Deputy Commander Niu’s sword came down swiftly, cleaving off a corner of the table. Seeing that Madam Yang Stone didn’t even blink, he secretly admired the old woman’s composure.
He snorted and sheathed his sword. “Elder Madam Yang, matters of war and peace are military affairs, not for a woman to meddle in. This official’s late-night visit to collect brocade from various households is by order of the Military Governor. Listen carefully to his words: if we cannot stop the Nanzhao army and Yizhou falls, you’ll lose more than just your brocade! The Military Governor commands all brocade households to deliver their silk to the Governor’s mansion by noon tomorrow. If even one piece is missing…” He turned to look at the Yang brothers with a sinister smile, “then a life from your household will pay for it!”
What was this if not robbery? Madam Yang Stone slammed the table and stood up.
“Please calm your anger, Deputy Commander! Let this humble one speak.” Fearing his mother would provoke further conflict, Yang Jingyan quickly stepped in front of her. He clasped his hands respectfully and hastily continued, “Since this is the Military Governor’s order, the Yang family will naturally offer our full support. However…”
As he spoke, he invited Deputy Commander Niu to return to his seat and said with a bitter smile, “Commander, we all know the Nanzhao people are unreasonable. But surely you must give the Yang family a way to survive? Six thousand five hundred pieces from our family alone, out of the total thirty thousand… Even if we empty all our warehouses, I fear we cannot gather such an amount.”
Deputy Commander Niu pondered this, also concerned that pushing too hard might result in failing to collect the required amount. The Yang family was a major household and the leader in the brocade industry. If he could convince them to contribute their share, the other families would be easier to handle. He sighed and said, “The Military Governor isn’t clear about each family’s situation. Let’s allocate based on the number of looms. The Yang family has six thousand five hundred looms, correct? With your current inventory, this number shouldn’t be difficult?”
“Sir, there’s something you should know,” Yang Jingshan finally interjected. “It takes three to five years to weave a single piece of brocade. The Yang family produces only two thousand pieces annually. Our warehouse stock is less than a thousand. Six thousand five hundred pieces are truly impossible.”
If calculated by looms, Yizhou had well over thirty thousand. Collecting everything would mean the Military Governor could pocket the excess. However, Yang Jingshan’s statement had just halved the demanded amount, causing Deputy Commander Niu’s face to darken again.
“Do you think I came here in the middle of the night to negotiate business?”
His tone turned menacing, and another confrontation seemed imminent. Yang Jingyan quickly put on a smile and said, “Sir, when I recently checked our accounts, I found we have some outdated brocade from previous years in storage, about seven to eight hundred pieces. The barbarians won’t know the difference anyway. How about we add these thousand pieces of old brocade? We’ll round it up to four thousand pieces total – that’s truly the Yang family’s limit.”
Four thousand pieces of brocade was no small amount.
Deputy Commander Niu understood well that the Yang family would try to negotiate, and as long as they didn’t delay the delivery, he could complete his mission. After some thought, he said, “Very well, the Yang family shall contribute four thousand pieces. They must be delivered before noon tomorrow. I take my leave.”
As he rose to depart, Madam Yang Stone’s eyes narrowed, and she suddenly asked, “May I ask how many pieces the Zhao family, who won the title of Brocade King last year, will be contributing?”
The Zhao family had at least three to four thousand looms. Even halved, they should contribute two thousand pieces.
Deputy Commander Niu stopped and turned, looking at Madam Yang Stone with affected dignity. He spoke slowly, “The Zhao family are my in-laws. If I cannot collect thirty thousand pieces of brocade, the Zhao family will surely provide strong support. However, if I can collect thirty thousand pieces, I may grant the Zhao family a special exemption from contribution. It’s a pity that the Yang family could have become my in-laws as well.”
“Deputy Commander Niu, you’re using your official position for personal revenge!” Madam Yang Stone felt her hands and feet grow cold, realizing that the Deputy Commander was deliberately retaliating for their previous rejection of his marriage proposal.
Deputy Commander Niu laughed heartily, years of pent-up resentment finally released. “If you knew this day would come, why did you act so proud then? You’re merely merchants who spurned my goodwill. Today I am indeed using my position for revenge – what can you do about it? The Yang family will contribute four thousand pieces of brocade. If even one piece is missing… don’t forget what I said!”
He stormed out with a violent flourish of his sleeves.
Madam Yang Stone’s vision darkened, and she fell backward rigidly.
“Mother!” Yang Jingyan rushed to catch her, setting her in a chair and pressing firmly on her philtrum.
“Quickly, bring me over!” Yang Jingshan ordered the servants to push him closer.
After a while, Madam Yang Stone slowly regained consciousness. Seeing her sons’ worried faces, tears streamed down her cheeks. “Despicable! Bandits!”
“Mother, at this point, we have no choice but to comply. Whether the Zhao family contributes or not, we must do our part,” Yang Jingshan consoled her gently, thinking she had fainted from anger over this.
“I hardly care about competing with the Zhao family right now!” Madam Yang Stone said bitterly. “I only grieve for our weavers’ one or two years of hard work, all to be taken by these cowards seeking peace. I’d rather burn it all than let those barbarians have even an inch!”
She suddenly turned to Maid Chen and ordered, “Didn’t Yingying keep saying Nanzhao would attack the city? Third Son must have told her something. Quick, go call her!”
Maid Chen acknowledged and hurried to Mingyue Residence with a lantern.
Yang Jingshan became alert: “The day before Third Brother left, he took his wife to visit the Niu residence. Could she have heard something?”
“If what Yingying says is true, that Nanzhao has mobilized their entire nation with an army of two hundred thousand, they won’t simply retreat after receiving the brocade. Offering brocade for peace is like throwing meat buns to a dog – they’ll take it and still attack. Xueqing quickly invites both young madams over. Second Son, don’t wait here, make preparations quickly. While the city gates are still open, send Chengyu and the others to the Longquan farm estate first thing tomorrow morning to take shelter,” Madam Yang Stone grew increasingly uneasy as she thought about it, gathering her strength and beginning to make arrangements.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, both Ji Yingying and the First and Second Young Madams Yang arrived at the White Egret Hall.
Madam Yang Stone got straight to the point: “Yingying, did Third Son tell you anything about Nanzhao’s plans to attack Yizhou before he left? Did you hear anything during your visit to the Niu residence?”
Ji Yingying’s heart tightened, and she quickly asked, “Why does Mother ask this? I heard Deputy Commander Niu came with soldiers tonight to demand brocade – what’s the reason?”
The First Young Madam Yang glanced at her and feigned surprise: “Surely it couldn’t be that Third Brother and his wife caused some trouble during their visit to the Niu residence, leading Deputy Commander Niu to come make things difficult for our family?”
“Silence! Don’t speak nonsense,” Yang Jingshan rebuked her, then calmly explained the evening’s events.
Sheng Fengze has quite an appetite. The Military Governor and Deputy Commander Niu think they can negotiate with tigers… Ji Yingying drew in a sharp breath. She was certain Sheng Fengze’s ambitions went far beyond thirty thousand pieces of brocade. For now, they could only use Yang Jingyuan’s name to make everyone believe. She collected herself and said, “Mother, remember when Third Brother caused trouble at the post house? He said Nanzhao harbored evil intentions and coveted Yizhou’s brocade industry. The White King of Nanzhao won’t be satisfied with just thirty thousand pieces of brocade to withdraw his troops.”
“No wonder, no wonder! Third Son, mother wronged you!” Madam Yang Stone recalled the past and beat her chest in regret. “That day I even scolded Third Son for making trouble. The White King came to our family banquet that night, and then the master passed away. He suspected the White King of Nanzhao.”
“Mother, what’s done is done. Now, while we still have a chance to leave the city, we should focus on preparations,” Yang Jingshan saw his mother was too emotional to make arrangements. He turned to Madam Chen and said, “No need to ask more questions. Quickly pack the valuables and prepare the carriages. Early tomorrow morning, you’ll take mother, both sisters-in-law and the children to the farm estate outside the city to take shelter.”
The First Young Madam Yang had been listening in confusion when suddenly it dawned on her: “Husband, will you come with us?”
Yang Jingshan shook his head: “I’ll stay here with Second Brother.”
The First Young Madam Yang burst into tears: “If you’re not leaving, I won’t go either.”