He Ping went mad. As long as it was livestock, as long as it was meat, he killed it. So the oxen transporting silver ore were killed. The sheep raised in pens he also killed. The few donkeys that usually provided transport for his wife and children he also killed. As for chickens, he didn’t leave a single one. Even so, the livestock of the entire Iwami Silver Mine still couldn’t satisfy the consumption of those wild-man-like ocean-voyaging sailors.

Lai Chuanfeng, biting into mutton, nearly cried with happiness. Good heavens! He felt that he had eaten so much fish that even his sweat had a fishy smell. Sitting on ships for three years, days on shore totaled less than one hundred. Where those savages lived, one could only find stone houses and dirty women who didn’t wear clothes.

He Ping carefully tended to an earthen pot. Inside, chicken was stewing. After poking it twice with silver chopsticks and finding it had stewed to complete softness, he carefully carried the earthen pot into his home.

After washing up, Hypatia leaned wearily on a reclining chair. She didn’t know what power supported her in completing this difficult journey. Several times, facing harsh environments, she had completely despaired—mountainous waves, swarming pirates, terrifying marine creatures, and endless ice fields. These difficulties were things she could never have anticipated even in dreams.

Fortunately, the warriors beside her were formidable enough. They searched for the safest paths through the waves and used the most resolute methods to snipe pirates. Hypatia would never forget the scene of Lai Chuanfeng raising high two barbed harpoons and leaping forcefully from the mast onto the back of a great fish to kill it. That was a hero who could truly slay dragons! Having seen all kinds of people, Hypatia was very certain that only the Great Tang’s sons would have such fierce courage. Therefore, this world should naturally be possessed by them.

Everything she saw upon returning to her homeland was so disappointing. The pyramids still stood in the desert. The Nile River still flooded every year. But the people above had undergone earth-shattering changes.

When she returned to her homeland, those obstinate people still remembered she was a demoness, a devil, and were restlessly eager to use her as a sacrifice to gods. However, this time they were wrong. Beside her were three thousand invincible warriors. Hearing that she had been insulted, the enraged Lai Chuanfeng captured three Egyptian cities within ten days. Suspending the archbishop’s head from the mast was still insufficient to vent his anger. Only after setting fire to destroy all visible churches did he reluctantly return. Hypatia didn’t know how many people Lai Chuanfeng killed. She only heard from a maidservant who returned that Egyptians all called Lai Chuanfeng the butcher.

The butcher should have been hated, but when Lai Chuanfeng, covered head to toe in fierce armor, stood before a city gate, that city would obediently open its gates. City lords and rich merchants fat with oil would humbly prostrate themselves before her. In their eyes, one couldn’t see any hatred or unwillingness. As a nation habitually submissive to the strong, their fighting spirit had long ceased to exist, allowing her to take whatever she wanted.

Lai Chuanfeng very thoughtfully found Egyptian scholars—found many people—but Hypatia couldn’t see half a trace of yearning for learning on their faces, only boundless terror. At first she thought it was the huge horse-cutting saber in Lai Chuanfeng’s hands that made them fearful. After driving Lai Chuanfeng out of the hall of learning, Hypatia discovered that the object of their true fear was herself!

They thought Hypatia was a goddess of vengeance rather than a messenger spreading learning. The reputation of that powerful empire in the East made everyone tremble, and she was that empire’s most noble princess consort.

After examining these people, Hypatia painfully discovered that Egypt, which once gave birth to incomparably brilliant and splendid scholarship, was now as barren as the distant Sahara Desert.

Fortunately, sixteen brave young people were willing to follow her to the distant East to pursue learning. This was Hypatia’s most gratifying point…

A maidservant carried in the earthen pot. He Ping followed behind. He very much wanted to pour out to his teacher about fate’s unfairness toward him.

Chicken soup poured over rice—this was another academy method of eating rice. Looking at the finely chopped bright green cilantro floating on the chicken soup, Hypatia’s appetite also opened wide. There was no need to be polite. After eating a small bucket of rice, Hypatia also felt that eating, eating food she liked to eat, was truly one of life’s great enjoyments.

“How is Chang’an? Is Prince Wei well?” This was the first question Hypatia asked upon meeting. Although He Ping had already spoken three times, Hypatia still couldn’t help wanting to ask once more.

He Ping said with a smile: “His Highness is well. Last year this student still heard that His Highness was researching a type of vehicle that could run on land. It should have succeeded by now. Marquis Yun’s promotion made him Duke Chu, but the Yun family’s old ancestor passed away, so Duke Chu is currently in mourning. The academy is well, Chang’an is well!”

Hypatia silently nodded. Now Chang’an was her homeland, was her home. Only there could she find a beloved lover, like-minded friends, and amiable elders. She very much wanted to immediately return to Chang’an, so she asked again: “Are your supplies here sufficient? The fleet has reached the end of its resources and needs extremely many supplies.”

He Ping smiled and said: “This student asked General Lai. The General said the fleet’s weapons still have three base amounts. With weapons, the supplies the fleet needs naturally have no problem. Today’s Wa Kingdom—their Empress Kogyoku died. Now is the time when lords attack each other. As long as General Lai and the officers and soldiers rest and recuperate at Iwami Silver Mine for several days, in this student’s humble opinion, they will quickly gather the supplies.”

Hypatia glanced at He Ping and said: “As long as you can find your successor in the Wa Kingdom, I’ll take you back to the nation.”

He Ping smiled even more happily and said to Hypatia: “One month later, a ship from the nation will come to Honshu to transport silver. By rights, this should be Zhangsun Sheng’s matter. This student believes he is the best successor.”

Hypatia smiled and said: “That’s also good. Bullying people who are too weak would be scolded by Prince Wei. However, bullying Zhangsun Sheng—he should be extremely satisfied.”

He Ping very much agreed with Hypatia’s statement.

What the Wa Kingdom had most were hot springs. So when Lai Chuanfeng, accompanied by He Ping, soaked into a hot spring, especially after drinking a mouthful of strong liquor, his heart obtained the greatest satisfaction.

“Kid, your supplies here aren’t many! Why did you say there’s everything here?”

He Ping attentively poured a cup of wine for Lai Chuanfeng and said: “Naturally this subordinate official doesn’t have much here. The hemp, tung oil, grain, and timber you need—all are lacking. But less than fifty li from here is Iwami Province. Go another hundred li and it’s Izu Province. These two provinces are extremely prosperous, so the things you need they certainly will have.”

Lai Chuanfeng swallowed the wine in his cup in one gulp and asked again: “Would killing people and destroying nations here be questioned by the court? After all, it’s our own vassal state. These killers under my command have all become savages. If they start killing, I’m afraid they can’t be reined in for a while.”

He Ping laughed slyly and said: “Empress Kogyoku died. Even if she hadn’t died, just based on her title of Empress, she should have been beheaded. His Majesty is the Son of Heaven—how dare she call herself Empress? This subordinate official just has few people under his command. Otherwise, I would have eliminated her long ago. As for a few small feudal states, destroying them doesn’t count as anything. Haven’t the Great Tang destroyed few feudal states these years?”

“Ha ha ha, how satisfying! The Marquis became Duke Chu, Zhangsun Wuji died—ha ha, this old man’s heart feels delighted hearing this! Lord Lu is Minister of War? Ha ha ha, Xu Jingzong became prime minister? Wa ha ha ha ha ha… The time when this old man can do as he pleases has finally come…”

When Zhangsun Sheng led two silver-transport ships to arrive at Iwami Silver Mine, his mood was excellent. Every year there was such an errand with extremely rich profits. He felt very satisfied. No one dared touch the silver from Iwami Silver Mine. The Bai Qi Si (Hundred Riders Division) was right beside him. Those silver ingots of ten jin each, although they looked brilliantly silvery, Zhangsun Sheng knew those things were not money—merely some metal blocks, still some deadly metal blocks. Whoever touched them would lose their life.

However, the gifts presented by those feudal states were delightful. Although all were also silver, those were money, things where tricks could be played. Zhangsun Sheng planned to swallow half this year before anything else.

Seeing six giant ships anchored in the bay, his premonition wasn’t too good. Could it be the East Sea Fleet also dared compete with him for profits? Although Father died, Big Brother was still there. The Zhangsun family was still at its zenith. Aunt now took very good care of the Zhangsun family. Even with ten times the courage, old Zhang Liang wouldn’t dare interfere in Zhangsun family matters.

When he saw through his telescope Lai Chuanfeng standing by the seaside picking his teeth and looking at him, that bad feeling in his heart became even more obvious. He Ping, usually with an unlucky face, also smiled like a flower. What was this about?

The ship had just dropped anchor when the silver-transport ships moored at the seaside began rowing over, preparing to load silver onto the large ships. Zhangsun Sheng was extremely familiar with those large silver blocks. Transporting silver was correct, but why such haste? I haven’t yet received the feudal states’ presentations. I must ask clearly. So what if Lai Chuanfeng is here? He’s from the ocean-voyaging fleet. When he runs to the Wa Kingdom, he must listen to me.

“Brother Zhangsun, why don’t you go meet Prince Wei’s consort? The Princess Consort hopes younger brother can escort her back to Dengzhou. Therefore, the affairs of Iwami Silver Mine are entrusted to Brother Zhangsun.” Upon seeing Zhangsun Sheng, He Ping immediately made things clear. There was no time to talk nonsense with him. The Princess Consort was anxious to return to the Great Tang.

“I’m a court official. What authority does the Princess Consort have to command me? Moreover, I haven’t yet collected the feudal states’ tributes.”

“You can stay here and slowly collect. However, I’ll tell you—Empress Kogyoku died. Iwami Province, Izu Province, and Igawa Province are all gone. You slowly struggle with it. As for the matter of position exchange, the Princess Consort said it was Prince Wei’s Highness’s instruction. In the future when you return to the capital, go ask Prince Wei’s Highness. This official’s rank is low—I dare not ask.”

Wang Xuance, standing beside Lai Chuanfeng, said to Zhangsun Sheng: “You also came from the academy. You should understand the matters here very clearly. I estimate you’ll only be wronged for one year. I want to serve in the Wa Kingdom but cannot achieve it.”

Zhangsun Sheng gave a thumbs-up to He Ping and said: “This hidden loss—elder brother I acknowledge it. Returning to the capital to question Prince Wei, the losses I fall into won’t be fewer. Consider that you’ve reclaimed one city. When I return to the capital, we’ll settle accounts again.”

After finishing speaking with He Ping, he said to Wang Xuance: “What thing are you? If not for Duke Chu taking pity on you and giving you an opportunity to redeem your crimes, your bones would have long rotted. Next year when I return, heh heh, I won’t kill you but I’ll cripple you!”

The extremely straightforward Zhangsun Sheng didn’t go to see Hypatia. Taking a dozen or so family servants, he went on his own to take over the silver mine. In the Great Tang, people could flee, but matters must have someone to handle them!