Li Chengqian was very worried that Yun Ye would lose everything. Many people were betting that Yun Ye couldn’t fly—for instance, Zhangsun Wuji was laughing sinisterly as he wagered ten thousand silver coins. As for those who bet several thousand silver coins, they were too numerous to count.

Flying into the sky was a difficult problem that the Great Tang had to fully tackle in recent years. Li Chengqian knew very clearly how much effort Li Tai and Hypatia had devoted to this. He didn’t believe Yun Ye could fly now. Seeing Yun Ye looking worried and distressed, he couldn’t bear it, so he mustered his courage and bet ten thousand silver coins that Yun Ye could fly into the sky, considering it fulfilling his brotherly duty.

Old Cheng, Old Qin, Old Niu, and Old Yuchi sighed and also bet that Yun Ye could fly into the sky. They considered this their obligation. Li Jing’s pupils had nearly contracted to pinpoint size. His instincts from years of leading troops told him there was deception involved! But the matter of flying into the sky was too perplexing. After hesitating for a long time, he decided to observe from the sidelines. When uncertain about a situation, he always did this.

Yun Ye was truly sorrowful—not because he would lose the bet, but sorrowful about the Tang people’s impoverished imagination. When the Secretary Assistant Minister handed him a large stack of wager contracts, he came to his senses.

Shaking his head, he said, “When you believed there was no grain that could yield thirty dan per mu, potatoes appeared. When you believed it was impossible to immediately solve the problem of warhorses’ hooves wearing down, horseshoes appeared. When you believed hundred-refined steel required forging to appear, the blast furnace appeared. When you believed that mighty passes and formidable barriers required filling with human lives to capture, gunpowder appeared. When you believed the great sea was a dangerous place, it rewarded us with boundless wealth. Now why don’t you believe people can soar freely in the sky? Why won’t you believe me one more time?”

Li Er chuckled and said, “Words are no proof—seeing is believing. Since you’re so confident, I’ll also give you twenty thousand silver coins to spend. As long as you can fly immediately, I won’t begrudge that bit of money.”

Li Tai sidled up to Yun Ye and said, “I’ve calculated for you—as long as you use Lingnan’s income to offset it, you can repay the debt. Don’t worry that your whole family will starve. Tell me, where is your flying device? Don’t you dare say you can fly with your physical body. If you dare say that, I’ll immediately bet my family fortune and life with you!”

With another twenty thousand silver coins added, Yun Ye immediately stopped being sorrowful. Rifling through the wager contracts in his hands, he said to Li Tai, “Xinyue and Xiao Ya are making it. Three days ago, there was only a bit of work left. By this time, it should be finished.”

“Xinyue! Xiao Ya? Your wife and younger sister?” Li Tai’s face flushed bright red.

“That’s them. It’s not like you don’t know them. That bastard Xue Wanche actually also bet on my failure. If I don’t bankrupt you, it won’t quench the anger in my heart.” Yun Ye muttered quietly to Li Tai.

Li Tai was about to grind his teeth to pieces. He had worked hard researching flying devices while Yun Ye wandered around everywhere, casually entrusting such important work to a group of women. What could women do? Besides sewing and mending, what else could they do?

Wait—sewing and mending? Li Tai suddenly realized, grabbing Yun Ye’s collar and roaring loudly, “You found fireproof cloth, didn’t you? You’re going to make a giant hot air balloon, aren’t you?”

Yun Ye brushed off Li Tai’s hand and said in bad humor, “You pursue speed and quality. I don’t have that necessity. As long as I can ascend to the sky, flying up to the white clouds, I can ride the wind. Departing Chang’an in the morning, lodging in Luoyang at dusk—wouldn’t that be delightful?”

“You’re doing it for fun?” Li Tai’s voice had become shrill.

“Hehe, the purpose of much research is just for fun. When we’re tired of playing on flat ground, we go play in the mountains. When we’re tired of playing in the mountains, we jump down from the mountains. Haven’t you been having great fun with parachutes? When I’m tired of parachutes, I plan to go play in the sky. When I’m tired of playing in the sky, I plan to go play on the moon. They say the White Jade Capital is on the moon. If I have the chance, I’d like to go see.” Yun Ye’s expression was very wicked.

Li Tai let out a miserable cry and said, “Give me back my wager contract! I’ve been spending a lot of money recently researching flying devices. I can’t afford to lose ten thousand silver coins. I’ve spent all my money on this.”

Li Er laughed happily. He already knew what Yun Ye was making—just a large-scale Kongming lantern. He very much enjoyed this feeling of controlling everything. As for twenty thousand silver coins, it really didn’t amount to much. As long as Yun Ye’s actions were still within his expectations, still within reason, he could accept them. As Li Tai said, flying with one’s physical body was the most fatal thing. If such a demonic person appeared, Li Er’s first reaction wouldn’t be to worship reverently, but to personally operate an eight-ox crossbow and shoot down this bird-man-like fellow like shooting a bird.

Yun Ye had won a lot of money again. Who knew if he could recover some from the Empress’s quarters?

Li Er’s thinking was good, but Yun Ye, waving the stack of wager contracts in his hand, reported to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, this humble subject has won a lot of money. How about if this humble subject takes out half of it for this disaster relief?”

Disaster relief matters must be clarified. “Favor comes from above”—this concept had penetrated deeply into people’s hearts. If a beggar comes to your door and you give a bowl of leftovers, that’s a manifestation of kindness. Helping two more people, no one would say anything. Perhaps the government would even give you a plaque saying “Good Family.” But if you took out several hundred thousand silver coins to extensively aid the poor, what awaited you besides the executioner’s blade would be nothing else. Shen Wansan helped Zhu Yuanzhang build Nanjing’s city wall. Before the wall was finished, he was already on the chopping block. Buying people’s hearts had always been a great taboo.

“Marquis Yun, you haven’t won yet. Both your feet are still standing on the earth—you haven’t ascended to the sky. To say you’ve won now, isn’t it too early?” Zhangsun Wuji walked out and pressed down Yun Ye’s raised hand.

“Minister Yun, tell me—where is your flying device?” Li Er had never spoken to Yun Ye with such a pleasant expression before. Now he very much wanted to see someone ascend to the sky. He even called him “Minister Yun”—before, he always called him “kid.”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s at the Yun Family estate. As long as we dig through the road to Yushan, we can witness the spectacular sight of the hot air balloon ascending to the sky. Lord Wei is well-versed in road digging. This humble subject suggests that Lord Wei dig through this short thirty-some li of road. The road from Yushan to Chang’an City has been straightened multiple times. The road has not only shortened but is also very straight. It’s very easy to dig.”

Wei Zheng laughed heartily and said, “If I can truly witness the spectacular sight of people flying into the sky and also resolve the current difficulties, this old man will burrow out a road even if I have to use my head to dig.”

Li Er naturally wouldn’t allow Yun Ye to fool around. For something like digging roads, dispatching a minor official was sufficient—how could one use an old minister like Wei Zheng? After settling the procedures, court was hastily dismissed. There was still very much work to do for disaster relief.

Xue Wanche followed pitifully behind Yun Ye to the Ministry of War office and wouldn’t leave. He also secretly regretted—just now his mind was bewildered. How could he become confused at this moment?

“You actually said it—filled it in wrong. Is that even human speech?” Yun Ye looked contemptuously at Xue Wanche. This fellow’s face was becoming increasingly thick. Ever since teaching him how to serve under his wife, Xue Wanche had thoroughly become a person without bottom lines. He could turn a deaf ear to the rumors in Chang’an market. As for good friend Yun Ye’s few sarcastic remarks, they simply didn’t matter at all.

“I don’t have much learning—you know that. Secretary Assistant Minister Old Cui was too improper, casually filling in the form before handing it to you. I just wanted to see what was actually written on it.” Xue Wanche remained very sincere.

Yun Ye was so angry he started trembling. He found Xue Wanche’s wager contract from the stack and placed it in front of him, saying loudly, “Look carefully—it clearly says…”

He couldn’t continue. The wager contract had been eaten. That bastard Xue Wanche, while chewing the paper ball, said to Yun Ye, “What did it say? I didn’t see anything.”

After severely punching Xue Wanche twice, the two entered the Ministry of War with laughter. The man had eaten the wager contract—what could you do? Even if what he did before wasn’t appropriate, doing this had given both dignity and face. He had apologized in a roundabout way. In the official world, where extreme importance was placed on face, this already counted as being humble—it couldn’t be compared with the thousand silver coins on paper.

“The Ministry of War is still warm. I’ve been serving at the Court of State Ceremonial recently and nearly froze to death. The Great Tang doesn’t lack this bit of firewood and charcoal. Why does His Majesty do this?” As soon as he sat down, Xue Wanche complained.

“Shut your mouth. The bigwigs haven’t said any superfluous words—where do you get all these complaints? Speaking of which, I’ve already submitted your matter of going to Yuezhou. Think it through—His Majesty can’t wait for the meritorious nobles to leave the capital. There’s an eighty percent chance he’ll agree. When you get to Yuezhou, you’ll command the garrison troops, rotating every two years. It’s simply impossible to form your own power circle. Since the Hou Junji affair, the Five Divisions Military Supervisors have become a new power department. Previously, the Five Divisions Military Supervisors at most reached the Captain level. Now it’s become perverted to the Squad Leader level—meaning in a hundred-man squad, there’s one Five Divisions Military Supervisor. Aside from the authority to command troops in battle, your other powers have been almost entirely stripped. The garrison troops are now a thankless task. Are you sure you want to go?”

Yun Ye poured Xue Wanche a cup of tea and said meaningfully.

Xue Wanche laughed, set down the teacup, and said, “I’ve long lost any grand ambitions. I just want to be closer to my wife and children. Having campaigned for half my life, I should seek something. Under the current situation, what can anyone accomplish? If I can peacefully finish this life and eat one mouthful of wealth and honor, I’ll be satisfied. Going to Yuezhou is always more comfortable than living in Chang’an, living with more dignity. Do you think I don’t care about those idle gossip? I’m just knocking out my teeth and swallowing them. Better to leave early.”

“You struck so viciously—she still hasn’t been disciplined?” Yun Ye asked in surprise.

“Do you think I can rekindle old feelings with that kind of woman? Danyang knows this herself, so she lives even more dissolutely. It’s just not known to others. She plans to crazily destroy her life and be done with it. Let’s not talk about these filthy matters, lest they pollute your ears. Tell me—can you really fly?”