The conversation was boring. Talking with Wei Zheng was even more boring. Afraid of stones falling from the sky and not going out? The Yun Family estate would ultimately move toward prosperity—or rather, the Yun Family estate was already the most prosperous estate. The light rain only fell for a while before stopping, but it remained overcast. Behind the mountains, even lower dark clouds were pressing forward. A heavy rain was now inevitable.
Poverty was a disease, one that had been endemic since the birth of feudal dynasties. No matter what kind of prosperous age, this disease had never been cured. At the root of it, the burden was simply too heavy. Emperors, ministers, military nobles, and scholars—all had to be supported by the common people. Once there was nothing left to support them with, they would suck blood. Yun Ye had always wanted to make them change their blood-sucking targets—for instance, merchants and foreign tribes were two excellent targets.
He couldn’t tell Wei Zheng this yet. This fellow’s performance differed from what was recorded in history. If he launched into another grand discourse, his reputation as a wolf in sheep’s clothing would be cemented. He didn’t want to become “Wolf Yun Ye” after the famous “Zhongshan Wolf,” earning curses for a thousand years.
Tian Fu, shouldering his plow, passed by this corn field Yun Ye had planted. He set down the plow and carefully examined the corn’s growth, flipping over leaves to look underneath. Seeing no insects, he patted his hands with relief and prepared to leave. Looking up at the rain clouds on the mountain, he grabbed the hoe Yun Ye had propped beside the shelter and in a few strokes dug out a small ditch. He said to Yun Ye: “Marquis, a heavy rain is about to fall. Without drainage ditches in the field won’t do. We haven’t tended this corn much when it was small, but all crops fear flooding. Better to leave a ditch.”
“Old Tian, you’re a veteran at growing crops. You handle it as you see fit. Our family will be planting this stuff in a couple years. Once we have it, we won’t plant broomcorn millet anymore. Not only does it scratch your throat when eating it, the yield is just that little bit. It’s wasteful of work and people—not worth it. This is a seed field now, so put more effort into it. I don’t really know how to farm—Lord Wei came, so I’m just putting on an appearance.”
The Yun Family’s tenant farmers all spoke very casually with Yun Ye, and he liked this way of communicating. When you could clearly stand and talk, why bend your waist down a section? Utterly boring. Talking in that posture was not only tiring, you also couldn’t hear the truth.
Tian Fu seemed not to see Wei Zheng at all. Barefoot, he squatted on the field ridge looking at the corn again, cherishing it intensely. The emerald green leaf surface passed across his rough hands. He was probably full of hope for this new crop. The Yun Family had distributed several potatoes to each household. Every family treated them like treasures, storing them in their cellars. This year they had all selected the best fields to plant them. In another two months they would mature. It was said this thing could produce several dozen dan of grain per mu of land! To prevent the potatoes from being stolen, the Yun Family guards and tenant farmers took turns keeping night watch. Anyone daring to steal the treasures would be beaten to death without question.
“Marquis, the old folks on the estate say corn can also produce several dozen dan per mu? This crop grows like a small tree—the yield must be considerable.”
“Nonsense! Potatoes are both vegetable and grain, so high yield isn’t strange. But corn is pure grain. I estimate five or six dan per mu would be very good. I’ve heard of yields of ten dan—don’t know how they planted it. We can’t learn that. Having five or six dan is more economical than wheat. Be content! Next year each family will get some to plant like this. As for how to plant well, you all figure it out yourselves. What’s the point of asking me, someone who doesn’t know how to farm?”
Conversations between tenant farmers were just like this. Once matters were asked clearly, the conversation ended. Tian Fu shouldered his plow, bid farewell to Yun Ye, and strode back home. From start to finish, he never acknowledged Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng just sat there listening to Yun Ye chat with the farmer. Seeing the dark clouds overhead, he wasn’t anxious either. He smiled and waited for them to finish talking, then ran into the corn field himself to examine the corn. Turning back, he asked Yun Ye: “Why doesn’t Marquis Yun offer such treasures to the court?”
“Forget it! I献 献献 a potato and got a minor noble title—you all would love nothing more than to swallow me alive and tear me to pieces. It’s been almost four years for potatoes now. Aside from a few in the great households, there’s nothing else to see. Waiting for you all to promote them—I don’t even know when I’d be able to eat that famous dish of beef stewed with potatoes. I’ll do it myself. When production increases, I’ll send some to His Majesty then. It’s the same either way. I’m warning you all—these two things must not flow out of our Great Tang’s borders. Otherwise, don’t expect me to send good things to the court again. Let me tell you, three-season rice will definitely be brought back next year. At that time, the Lingnan region you all look down on will become a land of fish and rice. It’s only because you’re Old Wei that I’m even telling you this. I couldn’t be bothered with anyone else.”
Some things still needed to be made clear to Wei Zheng. Communication between people was very important. Many misunderstandings arose from poor communication. In his eyes, Yun Ye was someone who liked to frantically accumulate wealth. He should also let him know some of his arrangements.
“In the second year of Zhenguan, the whole court said Feng Ang wanted to rebel. Only this old man vigorously opposed them and spoke in his defense. Sure enough, within two months he sent his son to court to clarify his intentions. Thus Lingnan remained untroubled by warfare, safe and sound. Now won’t Marquis Yun’s major actions stimulate Feng Ang?”
On the matter of crops, Wei Zheng couldn’t say much. The Emperor had hidden away the potatoes. Zhangsun kept them under tight lock and key—probably even the Crown Prince didn’t know about them. All women liked to hide away good things, and Zhangsun was no exception. Having finally found Yun Ye today, he naturally wanted to speak thoroughly. The two walked and chatted along the small path through the fields.
“Feng Ang can barely protect himself now. What qualifications does he have to rebel? Three thousand old soldiers entering Lingnan to make their fortunes—whoever dares obstruct them will become a mortal enemy. Not to mention the countless nobles behind them with red eyes. Even if something happens, Old Wei, believe it or not, under the stimulus of wealth, those old soldiers will have ten times their normal combat power. Everyone is armed to the teeth—I’m jealous of how well-equipped they are. Master Sun has also provided them with good medicines to prevent and treat mosquitos and malaria. They’re an invincible force. You needn’t worry. Hong Cheng and those old soldiers’ families are all in Chang’an. Rebellion is impossible. Once each person has made enough in Lingnan, they’ll come back to enjoy their fortune. Then we’ll send the next batch of red-eyed hungry wolves down. After coming and going three to five times, Feng Ang himself might run back to Chang’an to take refuge.”
“Driving people with profit, especially with great profit—Marquis Yun is certainly extremely skilled at this. I heard you promised them each three hundred strings of cash. For three hundred strings, even this old man would have thoughts of killing someone, let alone them. Three to five batches—Lingnan will certainly have become a living hell.”
“With thirty percent profit, people’s hearts will be moved. With one hundred percent profit, people will disregard the law. With three hundred percent profit, what’s killing a person? Moreover, the Lingnan region has never truly belonged to the court. Without imposing authority over them, how can we control them? The soldiers will go far away to Jiaozhi to obtain wealth from those lands beyond civilization—what’s wrong with that? Should we leave them in the Central Plains to harm the common people?”
Wei Zheng was actually not a good bird either. After laying everything out with Yun Ye, he began discussing interests. His earlier image as a lofty person worrying about the nation and people vanished entirely. Thinking about it, this made sense—historically it was he who advocated imposing authority over foreign tribes. He had never regarded foreign tribes as human either. As long as they didn’t harm his own people, he didn’t care whether all that wealth was stained with blood or not.
The negotiation went very smoothly. Wei Zheng obtained Yun Ye’s promise not to toy with the civil officials and made a guarantee not to trouble merchants. Before the heavy rain arrived, they clasped hands and parted at the crossroads, with some mutual appreciation in the gesture.
Standing in the heavy rain with Old Zhuang holding an umbrella for him, he stood on the small hill gazing far at Wei Zheng’s blurred figure galloping through the rain in his straw raincoat. His smile was somewhat sinister. Old Zhuang turned his head away, really not wanting to see his respected Marquis with such a terrifying smile. He couldn’t help feeling sorrow for the departing Wei Zheng. Of all people to provoke, why provoke the Marquis? Was the Marquis someone you could afford to provoke? Even after His Majesty gave the Marquis a beating, he still ate a delicious carp meal. What are you compared to that?
Sitting alone in the study felt extremely desolate. Shishi had been dragged away by Xiao Wu, and the three of them were holed up in a room whispering endlessly. Auntie, Aunt, and Elder Sister had all been taken away by Grandmother. Finding the little ones too noisy, she hadn’t brought a single one. If it weren’t for Yiniang still being around, Yun Ye would have wanted to flee.
Had Yiniang been so absorbed in her romance that she forgot to prepare his meal? Runniang’s marriage had also been settled—with Qin’s second son. Now she was also busy embroidering her wedding clothes, finally having some air of a refined young lady. A few days ago she had climbed on Yun Ye’s back and acted coquettishly, wanting to know how much dowry she had. Yun Ye gave her a thorough scolding. Where was there someone not yet married already thinking about moving the family’s wealth out? No dowry! At most he’d send along Xiao Ya’s fat pig. He was thoroughly sick of that pig.
Yun Ye nonchalantly ate while listening to Runniang’s wailing that no one loved her. Covering her face for a long time and seeing her brother unmoved, she put down her hands. Sure enough, not a single tear. Stamping her feet resentfully, she ran out.
The day before yesterday Runniang had still come to deliver meals. Today even Runniang didn’t come. Being a marquis like this was truly shameful! He was just hesitating about whether to call a maid to fetch food from the kitchen when fortunately, Daya pushed the door open and came in. She arranged several dishes from the food box on the table. A large bowl of lamb noodle slices torn thin as hair, paired with chili peppers and fragrant vinegar—absolutely delicious. A small pot of wine, two cold dishes, one meat and one vegetable, reasonably matched. Far beyond what Runniang’s crude and carelessly made food could compare to.
After lavishly praising Daya with a few sentences, he picked up the large bowl and ate. The little girl’s cooking was getting better and better. Such a treasure had to be kept for a few more years. As for Dan Ying, he could go to hell! A toad wanting to eat swan meat—dreaming! Thinking a string of pig intestines would serve as betrothal gifts to marry away Daya—what was he thinking?
This child was too introverted. Even when wronged, she never spoke up. The gifts he gave her had all been tricked away by Xiao Ya. Now when you opened her jewelry box it was completely empty. Her whole person was like an easily startled little bird. Whenever something happened, she would run to Yun Ye’s side to hide, as if her brother could shield her from all storms. Her husband must absolutely be an upstanding man—otherwise she couldn’t bear the storms outside. Counting through all the people he knew, it seemed only Dan Ying was suitable. That bastard who kept his word—if he could shed his bandit nature, he would absolutely be the most appropriate choice.
Seeing her brother stop eating midway, thinking her cooking didn’t suit his taste, Daya pushed that plate of cured lamb closer to Yun Ye. He picked up a chopstick of lamb, stuffed it in his mouth, and continued thinking.
I don’t care about your grand ambitions! I’m going to forge a perfect brother-in-law. Having suffered so much hardship from childhood, is there any justice in being wronged now? Dan Ying, you just wait! The training is only beginning now. A perfectly good youth spending all day thinking about robbing houses—he needs proper education.
Having thought it through, his mood improved. With a good mood, appetite opened up. A whole large bowl of noodle slices went down, and his entire person was invigorated. Turning back, he discovered Daya looking as if she wanted to speak but hesitated, which was strange. This child never made requests, never asked for things. Rarely opening her mouth once—whatever she said, he had to agree to it.
“Daya, what can’t you say to your brother? Want a hairpin? Or a bracelet? If you want fabric from the Western Market, brother will take you to buy it.”