The four of them entered the academy while chatting and laughing. Li Er looked around and said, “It’s been a long time since I came to the academy. The changes are considerable! Every time I come, new scenery appears. I no longer dare imagine what the academy will look like after ten years. Back when you drew that picture, everyone thought it was the ravings of a madman. It’s only been a few years, yet so many things from that scroll have vividly appeared before us. Indeed, the world is as large as one’s heart. As long as one dares to imagine and is willing to bend down and work, there’s no difficulty under heaven that cannot be overcome.”
Hearing Li Er say this, it was a perfect opportunity to make a report! With the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance present, it would be inexcusable not to plead poverty at this moment.
“Your Majesty, what you see is only the surface scenery. Do you know that beneath this land, there are also massive structures that need to be constructed? Look at that deep pit over there—it was excavated to build underground chambers. Much of the academy’s research must be accountable to the nation. A secure research environment is essential. Why did Qing Que dig underground beneath the Wude Hall? To put it plainly, first for safety, and second as preparation for secrecy.”
“For example, those at the academy researching steel have already developed a new steelmaking method. But for secrecy, this humble minister had no choice but to lock the documents in a cabinet and place them in the maze forest. Only when the academy’s construction reaches a certain level can we build new steel furnaces. Taking it out now wouldn’t achieve scale and would have a hundred harms with no benefits.”
As soon as Yun Ye spoke these words, Zhangsun Wuji’s expression changed dramatically. The foundation of the Zhangsun family was steel smelting. Now hearing that the academy had a new method, how could his heart not be alarmed? Currently, everyone in the court did not reject products from the academy, because things that came from there were generally synonymous with advanced and perfect.
Li Er glanced at Yun Ye strangely. Fang Xuanling was also smiling bitterly. Zhangsun Wuji spoke very directly, “Marquis Yun, name your price. As long as my humble household can afford it, there will be no second word.”
Yun Ye waited a moment. Seeing that the Emperor said nothing else but was waiting for Yun Ye to name his price, he knew the Zhangsun family’s favor was unending. He smiled and said, “Master Zhangsun, you’re right. This thing, the Zhangsun family truly cannot afford.”
Li Er’s eyes brightened. Fang Xuanling turned his head to look elsewhere, as if admiring the scenery. Zhangsun Wuji asked with a dark, sinister expression, “I wonder what price Marquis Yun asks, such that my Zhangsun family cannot bear this expense?”
“Not much—twelve thousand strings of cash will suffice.”
This price immediately stunned Zhangsun Wuji. This wasn’t an outrageously large number. If, as Yun Ye said, it greatly promoted steel production, the asking price wasn’t excessive—it could even be considered quite reasonable.
“Yun Ye, don’t hide anything. Say whatever you need to say. I too want to know why the Zhangsun family can’t come up with this money. It’s merely ten thousand strings of cash.”
“If the Zhangsun family truly wants these documents, no problem—I’ll agree to eight thousand strings. But please allow me to explain: this is a research result from half a year ago.”
“So what? Could it be that a method from half a year ago can’t be used now?”
“Naturally it can be used—there’s no problem at all. However, last month they developed another method that’s even better than that one. The academy is asking thirty thousand strings for this one, not a penny less.”
“This old man understands. Yun Ye, your meaning is that the academy will endlessly research these subjects. During the research process, they will continuously improve the steel smelting technology. Every time a new improvement appears, the Zhangsun family must pay, and each time more expensive than the last. Going on like this, the Zhangsun family indeed cannot afford it.”
Hearing Fang Xuanling’s words, Zhangsun Wuji’s face turned iron-blue. These words were completely correct. Whether eight thousand strings or thirty thousand strings, producing them wouldn’t strain the Zhangsun family. However, once they bought endlessly like this, no matter how wealthy the Zhangsun family was, they would be drained dry. Moreover, not buying wasn’t an option either. Once a more superior method fell into others’ hands, the Zhangsun family’s iron smelting industry would be crushed. Before such technological superiority, the Zhangsun family had no ability to resist. In front of the Emperor, how could Zhangsun Wuji speak of methods to compensate with power and influence? Could he say the Zhangsun family must be led by the nose by the academy for generations?
Li Er once again felt his own brilliant wisdom. His joke-like agreement to establish an academy at Yushan back then—what great foresight! Originally he worried that the Zhangsun family’s control of the iron smelting industry didn’t seem good. Now looking at it, it was nothing more than this. The imperial family and the court both had iron smelting workshops. Once the Zhangsun family wanted to do something, they only needed to increase investment in these two iron smelting workshops and change the technology, and they could immediately control the Zhangsun family completely. Moreover, it was essentially unsolvable. Just looking at Zhangsun Wuji’s expression made it clear—his heart was currently in utter chaos.
Li Er’s thinking was expansive. He immediately thought from iron smelting to other industries. Salt boiling? Weaving cloth? Weaving wool? Spinning silk? Raising cattle and sheep? Farming? As long as the court increased investment in academy research, they could strangle all economic lifelines from the source. He deeply understood that having just one superior technique was enough to prevail everywhere.
The four had no mind to go to the examination hall to watch examinees. They came to Yun Ye’s office. Li Er reclined in Yun Ye’s lounge chair and said to Zhangsun, “Don’t be nervous. Yun Ye is explaining a method, a possibility, that greatly benefits the nation—it can even be called good policy. If the court lacks means to restrain any industry, this is dangerous and challenges the majesty of national law.”
Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, and Yun Ye all bowed in acknowledgment. Since Yun Ye had spoken openly and achieved his goal of requesting additional investment, he decisively shut his mouth and waited for Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji to produce a feasible solution.
No one could think of a comprehensive strategy in a short time. This needed to be taken to the court for everyone to wrangle together until they wrangled out a result. However, investment funds for the academy would presumably come down quickly. Relying on the Yun family alone truly could no longer support the academy’s increasingly massive expenditures. They needed to find new financial support, and the imperial family was the first choice.
Zhangsun Wuji suddenly said to Yun Ye, “This old man has focused only on government affairs these years and rarely touches family matters anymore. Discuss these matters with Chong. After returning from Yuezhou this time, he’s been somewhat dejected. You’re good friends—you should counsel him more.”
Yun Ye smiled and said, “Certainly. Even if Brother Chong is unwilling, this nephew will make him pull himself together. Being ambushed by two old eagles—that’s something that only happens in myths. He need not regret it.”
Only then did Zhangsun Wuji become happy. When Yun Ye said he’d go see Zhangsun Chong, he meant going to his home to tell him how to face such a predicament. Since Yun Ye had reported this strategy to the Emperor in his presence, it showed he didn’t consider the Zhangsun family outsiders. As for the predicament, there would always be solutions. In this world, sinister and cunning methods were countless. If there were offensive moves, naturally there were defensive moves. Nothing strange about it—he just hadn’t thought of them yet. Having witnessed constant changes in the court these years, he’d seen quite a few strange tactics and long since trained himself. His earlier expression was just for the Emperor to see. Everyone was accustomed to doing this.
Preparing to exit the academy gate, Yun Ye was so startled by the oncoming procession of carriages he nearly sat down. Six noble ladies from the palace came at once, with the Empress in the lead. If the Empress didn’t come out, the other consorts weren’t qualified to run about everywhere.
The palace carriages were one thing, but behind them followed a long line of official family carriages in close pursuit. Looking at the flags, the Yun family’s carriage was also mixed in the crowd. All were families with daughters coming to send their daughters to school.
“Your Majesty, isn’t this a bit ostentatious?” Beside Yun Ye was the Emperor, also staring dumbfounded.
“Mm, quite imposing indeed. The Empress, Consort Wei, Consort Yi—they all came? Weren’t only Gao Yang and Lan Ling enrolling? Jin’an, Ankang, Xinxing, Chengyang—they’re also coming? Yun Ye, watch over my daughters well. If they suffer grievances, I’ll skin you alive.”
“Such injustice! Coming to the academy means coming to suffer hardships—there are no conditions to negotiate. Look at this—what on earth are they hauling? Large beds? Brocade quilts? Stuffed animals? Tables? Bathtubs? Red-lacquered chamber pots? Trunks? Maidservants? Your Majesty, tell me, which of these things can enter the academy? If Master Li Gang sees this, won’t he be angered to death?”
“That’s your problem, nothing to do with me. I only want my daughters to study well at the academy. Everything else is your business. You still have the face to criticize the imperial family—isn’t your wife also bringing large and small packages? First deal with your own family matters before commenting on the imperial family.”
Fang Xuanling chuckled and said, “This is quite good. The academy can always do what others cannot. These young ladies all coming to the academy to study really shows vision. However, Marquis Yun, you must watch carefully over matters between young boys and girls. If scandalous affairs spread, heh heh, even if you grow eighty mouths you won’t be able to explain clearly. If something happens to a daughter, her parents will kill their way to your home to smash your ancestral tablets and you’ll have nothing to say. You just properly savor the flavor of being a parent.”
“My daughter is timid and needs care during thunderstorms. Watch over her well. If something happens, this old man truly won’t forgive you.” Zhangsun Wuji looked lovingly at his own daughter climbing down from the carriage, carrying a huge bundle on her back as she queued up, preparing to be inspected.
Lai Ying looked like she’d eaten magpie droppings, her mouth stretched to her ears as she spoke softly with these delicate young ladies, constantly pointing at Yun Ye—more complaining than introducing.
When Yun Ye turned around, Li Er had already ducked into the Empress’s carriage. Zhangsun Wuji had also boarded his family’s carriage and poked his head out the window to watch how Yun Ye would handle this. As for Fang Xuanling, he had long since strolled leisurely with his hands behind his back along the white jade wall, carefully admiring the stone carvings on it, occasionally humming aloud, having firmly decided not to get involved in this matter.
“Reporting to Marquis Yun, the young ladies have all arrived. This servant just checked—seventy-seven young ladies, not one less, not one missing. They’re all here. Please inspect them, Marquis Yun.”
“I remember there were only sixty-two people. How did fifteen more appear?”
“Oh my, this servant remembered wrong. It turns out there were seventy-seven all along. This servant is naturally dull-witted and counted wrong. It’s exactly seventy-seven. From now on at the academy, this servant should also read books properly.”