While fourteen-year-old Li Tai was making the most important choice of his life, fourteen-and-a-half-year-old Li Ke was inspecting the houses he had built. Small buildings painted white were nestled among green pines and emerald cypresses, appearing especially elegant. The rooftops were covered with red brick tiles, unlike the palace where everything was a gloomy gray expanse. This was hardly surprising—one was built with red bricks, the other covered with gray bricks, naturally different.
People always preferred the new to the old. Building Number One had been seized by Grand Emperor Li Yuan without paying a single coin. His words were: “That boy Yun Ye still owes this old man gold he hasn’t repaid—how dare he ask me for rent?” Yun Ye had told Li Ke long ago that anyone from their family could have a house, but they had to pay for it. Otherwise, Li Ke would need to cover the rent himself.
Li Ke was nearly worried to death. Yun Ye was about to return, and only sixty percent of the rent had been collected. The academy teachers didn’t count—the houses had been built for them in the first place. Old Master Li Gang had moved his household from the capital to Academy Building Number Ten in the second month after the houses were completed. That was the most beautiful building, with rooms covered in ceramic tiles and pine wood flooring. The varnish alone had been applied six times. The carved doors and windows were elegantly classical, and glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling. When darkness fell, they used a winch to lower the chandelier, light the oil lamps, and the entire room would shine brilliantly. The lamp smoke didn’t even choke people—the Gongshu family had come up with a good solution by adding a small chimney that sucked all the smoke outside. The furniture was very simple—it wasn’t prepared for the homeowners to use but to exchange. No matter who saw such a fine house and then looked at the shabby furniture, they would not hesitate to replace it. Using the provided furniture cost nothing, but replacing the furniture required additional payment.
Smiling merchants came calling with thick stacks of beautiful pictures for homeowners to choose from. If they weren’t confident, there were specially decorated model homes for them to tour. Soft chairs stuffed with thick layers of wool, chairs crafted from precious woods, brocade stools, carpets transported from the Western Regions, uniquely shaped desks—the thoughtful merchants had even prepared carved wooden beds.
Anyone who saw these houses turned green with envy. Old Master Li Gang invested his entire fortune just to decorate his new home well. The cost of decorating the house far exceeded the house itself. When the old master lay back contentedly in his soft chair, gazing at the mountain scenery outside the window, he suddenly jumped up and shouted, “I’ve been tricked!” This startled his wife, who was embroidering by the fireplace, nearly causing her to fall to the ground. She complained repeatedly about the old man: “Old, old, yet still without the demeanor of an elderly person—always startling people, so rough and careless.”
Li Gang scolded her: “What does a woman know? This building cost no more than three hundred strings of cash, yet I spent a full seven hundred strings buying household items. Would that boy Yun Ye do anything without doubling his profit? That means he earned back both the construction costs and the furniture money, probably with surplus remaining. And he made me feel he’d invested heavily in the academy—all this should have been mine to begin with! He earned my money and still made me grateful to him, that heaven-damned little scoundrel! My life’s savings have thus entered the tiger’s mouth.”
Madam Li looked at the thick carpet on the floor, then at the brilliantly shining glass lamp overhead, then at that pavilion-like bed—which of these hadn’t required great sums to acquire? Seven hundred strings was already a preferential price given by the Yun Manor steward in consideration of the old man being the academy’s rector. Madam Li felt it was worth every bit, especially that carved large bed—sleeping on it felt like lying on clouds. That hard bed at home should have been thrown out long ago. She pursed her lips, feeling the old man’s stinginess had flared up.
“Alright, alright, when Marquis Yun returns, you can give him a good scolding. He’s still young—he’ll gradually improve.” Madam Li coaxed old Li Gang. Old children need coaxing, and this quieted him down. Though his mouth spoke harsh words about teaching Yun Ye a lesson, a smile began appearing on his face.
The terrible idea of building houses beside the great waterfall was Li Ke’s. The land at the mountain’s foot was truly insufficient, and many building materials remained, so he took it upon himself to build another one on the empty ground beside the waterfall.
Standing outside the house listening to the thunderous sound of flowing water, Li Ke wanted to give himself a hammer blow to the head. Who would enjoy listening to noise all day? Thinking of Yun Ye’s words that as a property developer, houses that couldn’t be sold ultimately ended up being sold to oneself—this was a principle—Li Ke’s brain ached thinking that during his two years at the academy, he would need to endure endless noise. Taking advantage of a messenger going to the grasslands, he explained his concerns in full detail to Yun Ye, needing his advice.
The letter received a quick response. Messengers from the grasslands to Chang’an came in an endless stream. In his letter, Yun Ye told him this was no big deal—it only required packaging. Li Ke needed to tell everyone that the “Listening to Waterfall Pavilion” beside the waterfall was the most tasteful suite among all the houses. It had distant mountains, nearby trees, splashing waterfalls—one could watch the sunrise in the morning and hear singing springs at night. It was unique, rare in the world. If you missed this opportunity, you couldn’t find a house with such fine scenery anywhere around Chang’an. Opening the door, you could immediately see the waterfall splashing—you could experience the waterfall’s magnificence at close range. As they say, the benevolent delight in mountains, the wise delight in water. This suite would only be sold to successful people who possessed both benevolence and wisdom—those not qualified enough wouldn’t even be sold to, and the price of this suite needed to be doubled again.
Reading Yun Ye’s reply, Li Ke felt his values collapse with a thunderous crash. He felt dizzy and saw stars. Could it be that everything Master had taught him was wrong? Impossible! He rallied his values in his heart, hoping they wouldn’t be destroyed by this matter.
As it turned out, at the auction site, the other houses all completed transactions safely and steadily. Only this “Listening to Waves Pavilion” was fiercely contested. Countless successful people claiming to possess both benevolence and wisdom scrambled and competed for this only house that had been given a name. They bid competitively, the competition exceptionally intense. There were Li family princes, various dukes, and marquis types—all were driven away. Did a minor marquis qualify as a successful person? As for the wealthy merchants of Chang’an City, they didn’t even have the courage to make an opening bid. In the end, this house was snatched by old fool Yuchi with his fists from Li Xiaogong’s hands. By this time, the house price was already six times Li Ke’s psychological price!
Seeing the result, Li Ke’s face turned deathly pale. His hands gripped the railing forcefully just to maintain his balance. Master, you were truly wrong! They’re all a bunch of fools and lunatics. Just a sales pitch was worth three thousand strings of cash? Three thousand strings could buy a mansion in Chang’an City.
He decided to find his omnipotent father emperor and pour out the doubts in his heart.
“If you hadn’t explained the circumstances, Father Emperor would also have wanted this house.” This was Emperor Li Er’s first sentence after hearing Li Ke’s account. Upon hearing these words, Li Ke could no longer sit still and threw himself prostrate on the ground.
“There are distant mountains, nearby trees, splashing waterfalls—one can watch the sunrise in the morning and hear singing springs at night. If one doesn’t think carefully, ordinary people won’t consider how noisy the waterfall’s roar is. Moreover, this boy even packaged and sold the reputation. Such a result isn’t surprising.” Li Er spoke with perfect calm.
“But Master said…” Li Ke still wanted to struggle a bit.
“Don’t mention Master at this time. Master belongs to gentlemen, not to the imperial family, nor to merchants. He probably won’t belong to Yun Ye either. He handed such a huge operation to you—haven’t you comprehended his intentions? As a teacher, Yun Ye is qualified. As a subject, Yun Ye is respectful. To cultivate your talents, I believe the funds you’ve handled this time exceeded thirty thousand strings. You must know, even your father emperor couldn’t casually hand such a large sum to you to control. Yun Ye didn’t seek others but specifically sought you, a half-grown child. First, he wants to cultivate you to become the person who will manage the imperial family’s finances in the future for our Great Tang. He discovered you have talent in this area. Second, he wants to tell me that his actions are purely to earn money to subsidize the academy’s expenses. He’s laid everything open before me—not only transparent but also making him appear upright and honorable. Do you understand? When he returns this time, even your father emperor won’t kick him anymore. Throughout the entire court, no one will dare underestimate him anymore. Marquis Lantian will truly become one of Great Tang’s highest-ranking nobles.”
When Li Er spoke to this point, his words contained unconcealed regret. If this boy were his own son, Great Tang’s century of prosperity could be anticipated.
Li Ke hesitated a long time before saying to Li Er: “Father Emperor, when Marquis Yun built these houses, the funds that passed through your son’s hands exceeded seventy thousand strings. When your son built the houses, he spent less than twenty thousand strings. This includes forty-two houses supplied to the academy for free, plus fifty-one houses. Each house cost less than four hundred strings to build. This still includes the cement kiln’s profit—if that’s removed, each house cost less than three hundred strings to build. Before the houses were even built, he’d already received ten thousand strings in advance payments for house purchases. So Marquis Yun only spent eighteen thousand strings of his own money to build these houses. Fifty-two houses—even the cheapest sold for one thousand strings, while that Listening to Waterfall Pavilion sold for four thousand strings. So your son now has seventy thousand strings in hand, with another twenty thousand yet to be collected.”
Li Er’s teacup trembled, and tea spilled from the cup. He’d never dreamed that Yun Ye had merely built some houses in desolate mountains and gained such enormous profits. The entire prefecture of Yangzhou’s annual tax revenue was only one hundred thousand strings, and that was already a rare land of prosperity.
Unfortunately, this money had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Having just finished a war, the national treasury was so empty one could race horses in it. Even he felt somewhat envious.
“Has everything been taxed?” This was the only matter Li Er could inquire about.
“It has been taxed. With every successful transaction, the first thing your son did was pay taxes. The tax official from Chang’an County has been following your son the whole time. Marquis Yun told your son that when a transaction is completed, the first thing to do is pay taxes. Otherwise, one loses the original intention of earning money.”
“The original intention of earning money? What does this mean?” Li Er was somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Yun Ye regarded paying taxes as so important. Which of the aristocratic families in Chang’an didn’t try every means to evade taxes? Only Yun Ye regarded this matter as the foundation of establishing himself.
Li Ke hesitated for a long time before saying to Li Er: “Father Emperor, your son also doesn’t understand the meaning. He only heard Marquis Yun say that when the day comes that Father Emperor also begins paying taxes, only then will he tell your son the reason. Saying it now would do your son more harm than good.”
“Where has this boy reached now?” Li Er asked the guard standing behind him.