Summer in Chang’an was like a steamer. The hottest time of day wasn’t noon—the most unbearable was the afternoon. What fine weather today! Not a cloud for ten thousand miles. Based on court etiquette, while the emperor sat under a yellow canopy umbrella, officials had to stand beneath the open sky. Wearing heavy court robes, having stood in the scorching sun for a full two hours, their chests previously filled with treasures and anger—unknowingly, several elderly and weak people had already suffered heatstroke, their faces flushed red as they struggled to persevere, not wanting to lose propriety.
Li’er, upon seeing Yun Ye, was so delighted he forgot his subjects were still suffering under the blazing sun—or perhaps he knew full well and did it anyway?
With Lingnan’s old wine as his foundation, Yun Ye really didn’t care much about Chang’an’s scorching sun. The Emperor wanted to hear a story? Then bring it on. Anyway, I wanted to finish this treasure presentation process early, but the Emperor won’t allow it. What can I do? Venting frustration isn’t bad either.
Yun Ye tossed the box in his hands onto the treasure pile, found a shady spot, sat down, and began telling Li’er his story.
“This matter starts from when this subject left the palace that day… Later, I discovered gold in the sand by the river and told Dou Yanshan the mining method…”
Li’er listened entranced. What he loved most in his life was this kind of battle of wits and courage. Immersed in the story, unable to extricate himself, he paid no attention to the thudding sounds coming from behind him.
“Your Majesty, today’s weather is too hot. Please end the court ceremony early. Six ministers have already experienced physical discomfort and lost consciousness.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Fang Xuanling finally spoke up to remind the Emperor, loudly dragging the Emperor’s consciousness back from his fantasies. Li’er looked back displeased and was startled. Several ministers lay sprawled on the ground drooling, receiving treatment from imperial physicians.
“Oh my! I thought I was in the military camp. Quickly treat them! All of you also go to a shady place and drink some heat-reducing medicine. Today’s audience lasted too long.”
Only then did the assembled officials breathe a sigh of relief. A group went into the Supreme Ultimate Palace, clutching iced sour plum soup and gulping it down frantically. Only Zhang Liang moved neither hastily nor slowly, very dignified. He hadn’t felt the sun’s heat outside at all. Mechanically, he raised the sour plum soup and slowly savored it, sip by sip.
“Duke Zhang truly has fine composure. Back then, he donated all of Lingnan’s earnings in one breath, and wrote to the Marquis of Lantian demanding he not show favoritism. Now seeing so many treasures, he can still remain calm and composed. Truly a model for us all. This old man lacks Duke Zhang’s grand ambitions—wanting to be this commander or that commander. I only want to bring my whole family to eat and drink their fill. Now, at your instigation, the Yao family suffered heavy losses. If not for Minister Du pleading and Marquis Yun being lenient by only collecting sixty percent of this old man’s share, the whole family would have starved to death long ago. It’s fine if you yourself want to climb up to become a duke, a prince, or have other thoughts. But why drag us all down to share your misfortune? Shouldn’t you give us an explanation now?”
“Wealth stirs the heart! This old man has no ambition, just wants more idle cash at home to establish some foundation for descendants. Back then, when we tied our heads to our belts and risked our lives, wasn’t it for today? Fine then! Half a lifetime’s foundation is now gone. Old Zhang, shouldn’t you compensate your brother here a bit?”
Zhang Liang’s lips trembled with fury: “Back then I only said to donate my family’s share, never said to donate yours. You voluntarily donated. What the hell does it have to do with this old man?”
Duke Kui Liu Hongji had a hot temper. Hearing Zhang Liang say this, he rebuked angrily: “Bullshit! We nobles are all one body. Back then, Yun Ye found everyone a shortcut to wealth. This road was good—neither violating national law nor requiring bribery. Honestly obtained clean money! Now over half is gone, and you still talk tough? If you hadn’t forced this old man onto a dead-end road with nowhere to go, would I have stood up to pledge donations? Even without donating then, the biggest share from Lingnan was His Majesty’s. His Majesty’s earnings were enough to support the Western Expedition. Yun Ye deposited nine hundred thousand strings of cash for His Majesty in Mingzhou—not even half of what was collected from Lingnan. Those things displayed outside—there’s this old man’s share in there. Will you compensate me?”
“Liu Hongji! Yun Ye collected every wen of this old man’s Lingnan earnings. My household guards were also killed by Hong Cheng and Wu She. Yun Ye’s shadow is in this. You at least got forty percent. This old man lost his entire capital—who do I complain to?”
“Serves you right! Though this old man is lustful, I don’t have the guts to covet a younger generation’s wife. This old face still wants to live among people. If Yun Ye doesn’t squeeze you dry, who will he squeeze? Look here—besides your household guards dying to the last man, whose family died for no reason? Except those who died in battle, even the one-legged ones in my family made it to Luoyang. The remaining forty percent share returned intact, not a wen missing. Yun Ye even left some easily sold, valuable items for this old man. All military men—this old man accepts this favor. If Yun Ye wants to lead people to kill into your home, this old man might even kick you secretly from behind.”
“You brute…” Zhang Liang wanted to curse. As soon as he opened his mouth, Liu Hongji’s fist smashed into Zhang Liang’s face.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui held their bowls of sour plum soup, dodged a flying boot, hid behind a pillar, and quietly talked.
“Old Du, this time His Majesty sent out all usable generals. Only these rough specimens remain in the capital. It seems His Majesty wants to properly rectify these lawless nobles. One by one, they only know to grab benefits for their own families, completely disregarding the nation’s safety. This forms too stark a contrast with the Cheng, Niu, Yun, and Qin families’ willingness to bankrupt themselves supporting the war effort. Watch—after this great battle ends, these four families will definitely rise another level.”
Du Ruhui craned his neck to look at Li’er and Yun Ye occasionally laughing loudly in the square, then continued: “This boy Yun Ye truly lives up to his reputation as a disciple of immortals. Not only has he repeatedly turned danger into safety, but this ability to turn stone into gold—His Majesty will rely on him heavily. Enriching the nation without increasing household taxes—this is a heaven-reaching ability. He seems to know where in this world wealth can be taken and how to take it. Do you remember the Yushan Academy planning map he drew? At the time we were mocking his overestimation of his abilities. Now it seems, within twenty years, he’ll complete it. When the academy city is built, that will be when he becomes a literary master of his generation.”
Fang Xuanling looked behind the pillar and found it very quiet outside. Zhang Liang lay on the ground twitching like a puddle of mud, blood all over his mouth and nose, his brand-new official robe covered with footprints, many in the groin area, one foot bare—a miserable sight.
Liu Hongji and several dukes from the Pei, Zhang, and Yao families who had just acted were all quietly drinking sour plum soup. Liu Hongji even opened his robe front to fan himself, as if those kicks to Zhang Liang’s groin had nothing to do with him.
Fang Xuanling commanded the palace attendants to find Zhang Liang’s boot and put it on him, then said to the imperial physician: “Duke Zhang accidentally suffered heatstroke and his face hit the steps. Carefully treat him, then have someone send him home to recuperate. This old man will request leave for him.”
Liu Hongji grinned at Fang Xuanling and gave a thumbs up, then continued drinking sour plum soup. Not having been on the battlefield for so many years, basking in the sun made his whole body uncomfortable.
The two sovereign and subject in the square had already walked to the Golden Water River’s edge, sitting under a willow tree continuing their conversation.
“So Dou Yanshan still died by your hand?”
“Your Majesty, you can’t say that. He really fought crocodiles and died from mutual destruction. This subject didn’t kill him.”
“Hmph! You and that horse of yours ate the crocodile eggs, then ran to the opposite shore of the lake. Watching Dou Yanshan take his injured steward to a dangerous place without notifying him—this was planning to finish him off. What innocence are you claiming?”
“Your Majesty, Dou Yanshan was a rebellious traitor. This subject is the positive character in the story. Are you pitying the wrong person? This subject was kidnapped by him and suffered terribly. Don’t you feel this subject is pitiful? Chubby Wang Cai became skin and bones. This subject is now tanned black as an African by Lingnan’s sun. Yet you sympathize with him?”
“You don’t understand shit! The saying goes: recognize heroes, value heroes—this is the sentiment a ruler must have. Setting aside positions, compared to Dou Yanshan, you’re more like a deeply scheming, cunning, treacherous villain. Using gold to turn an originally very stable hero into an aggressive one, then using your advantage of arriving first to force Dou Yanshan into a final battle with crocodiles—mutual destruction! Such a pity! A fine hero seedling.”
“What you did at the end at least had some gentlemanly bearing—you buried him and erected a monument. If you hadn’t done this, I would look down on you. Actually, what’s most rare about you is not disparaging your opponent, holding three parts respect for him, telling others truthfully about his battle with the crocodile—or rather, the flood dragon. A gentleman’s conduct conceals evil and promotes good, so nothing is greater than goodness.”
“Boy, the way you do things always makes me like you from the bottom of my heart. You lack none of the principles you should have, lose none of the demeanor you should have, make no concessions on the persistence you should have. A cunning, frivolous young scamp has finally grown into a man. Your master’s spirit in heaven can also rest in peace.” Li’er sighed emotionally, looking like an elder gratified at seeing a younger generation come of age.
“Your Majesty, this subject’s heart flies home like an arrow. I’m preparing to go home now. Please relieve this subject of the position of Lingnan Naval Commander. This subject will submit the seal immediately.”
“Keep it. Where would I find another naval commander like you? Other commanders only know to demand money, grain, and people from me. Only you can transform a beggar-like navy into one that’s prosperous and battle-ready, even submitting funds. Not using such a person would be too wasteful. Go home. I grant you one month’s leave.”
Although he hadn’t achieved his goal, hearing about the month’s leave, Yun Ye was still very happy. He thanked Li’er and was about to stride out.
Having walked only two steps, he heard Li’er say again: “Walking away is fine, but leave that box of treasures in your bosom before you go. That thing already entered the national treasury and belongs to the Great Tang. Whoever takes it loses their life. I don’t want to order your head chopped off at this moment.”