An eight-hundred-li express courier horse rushed into the Imperial Palace. The memorial jointly submitted by Feng Ang and Yun Ye was placed on Li Er’s desk. This time Li Er did not rage. He marked red characters with a red brush on a brief report sent from the Beiting Protectorate, set down the brush, picked up Quanzhou’s memorial and glanced at it, muttering to himself, “Quanzhou was smashed up, the Lingnan Naval Forces were smashed up, military and civilian casualties no fewer than five thousand? Half the ships destroyed? Mm, it’s indeed very serious. However, as long as the pirates are exterminated, that’s good. The Lingnan Naval Forces have been too aggressively prominent these years. Suffering some losses now is also within reason. With the Great Emperor stationed there, there shouldn’t be anyone harboring treasonous thoughts.”
Having said this, he tossed the memorial aside again, stood before the screen and firmly fixed his gaze on the two places of Anxi and Beiting, tapping these two places with his finger and saying, “Quanzhou is merely a superficial affliction. These places are what the Empire needs to worry about. Su Dingfang’s qualifications are still insufficient to suppress those proud soldiers and fierce generals.”
“The Loulan matter is highly suspicious. I don’t believe the people of a city-state would disappear for no reason. If it wasn’t done by the military, I very much want to know what actually happened.”
Fang Xuanling entered the great hall. Duan Hong handed him Yun Ye and Feng Ang’s memorial. After reading it carefully, Fang Xuanling let out a long sigh.
“Did you see? Even now Yun Ye is still speaking up for Lu Chengqing. He clearly defected and surrendered to the enemy, was blown up and killed at sea by Yun Ye, yet look at what Yun Ye says—Lu Chengqing died in battle at the military camp! Isn’t this telling blatant lies?”
“Your Majesty, Lu Chengqing inherited the title of Duke of Fanyang. According to regulations, descending one rank makes him Marquis of Fanyang. He was a dignitary of our dynasty. For a marquis to defect and surrender to the enemy—he, Lu Chengqing, doesn’t care about face or his family’s life or death, but the Great Tang still cares about face! The reason Yun Ye said this was for the sake of all our faces. This old minister believes holding our noses and acknowledging it is the best policy.”
In these years, Fang Xuanling had much less of that sharp spirit from previous years. What replaced it was complete geniality. Now the reputation of ‘peacemaker prime minister’ had already spread, yet Fang Xuanling just smiled cheerfully without explanation.
Li Er frowned looking at Fang Xuanling and said, “Doing this may sound better in reputation, but it disrupts law and moral principles. The court nowadays has already lost the enterprising spirit of previous years. Why?”
Fang Xuanling bowed and said, “Your Majesty, our Great Tang’s prosperous situation advances a thousand li per day, so fast that even this old minister can barely keep up. Chang’an City has now undergone three population relocations outward, yet the permanent residents still exceed a million. On the Eight Rivers of Chang’an, masts and sails stand like forests, extending continuously for no less than fifty li. From the daily gate closing to the cock’s crow when gates open, the crowds outside Chang’an City bustle endlessly.”
“Not to mention anything else, the garbage swept out from the city each day requires a special water gate opened for day and night urgent transport. Human waste and horse dung are even more countless. They say ‘great Chang’an is difficult to dwell in’—now it’s even more difficult. Chang’an’s land prices change three times per day. The government needs to go through great trouble just to arrange housing for officials. Your Majesty, you may not yet know—even remote places like Qujiang are now completely inhabited. Chang’an County is considering establishing a new ward and market there.”
“Yizhou, Yuezhou, Yangzhou, Jinyang, Luoyang, Mingzhou, Zhuozhou—these cities’ populations are also growing rapidly. Just these seven places contribute tax revenues exceeding three times the entire nation’s total in the third year of Zhenguan.”
“As for the current Ever-Normal Granaries and Xingping Granaries, only Prince Jin purchased one hundred thousand dan of grain this past May. Everything else remains completely untouched in the warehouses. This old minister is very worried this grain will become moldy.”
“During the Wude era, as soon as common people heard the Ever-Normal Granaries were releasing grain, they would swarm in. Now those who go to the Ever-Normal Granaries are all profit-seeking merchants. They want to buy at low prices that grain about to go moldy, to take back and brew wine or feed livestock. Common households simply won’t go to the Ever-Normal Granaries to buy grain. Even if it’s cheaper than market price, they don’t want those old grains.”
“These matters—not only has this humble minister never heard of such things in his living years, but even searching through all historical records, not a single word or phrase can be found. The realm is greatly abundant! This old minister’s aspiration maintained for over sixty years was achieved six years ago. Now every day that passes, this old minister considers earned, so I’ve also become less rigorous than Your Majesty.”
Hearing these words, Li Er laughed heartily, pointing at Fang Xuanling and saying, “No wonder you’re now muddling through. Everyone wants to live good days. If we don’t think everything through and do everything thoroughly, perhaps tragedies like Quanzhou will occur. Endure a few more years. I know you want to retire. After the younger generation grows up, you’ll be able to enjoy playing with your grandchildren. How is Gaoyang’s condition now? She’s about to give birth, isn’t she?”
Fang Xuanling stroked his beard laughing loudly and said, “The other day this old minister specially went to Yushan to request Daoist Sun to take Gaoyang’s pulse. After feeling the pulse, Daoist Sun said the Princess’s body is robust, both large and small are safe, and moreover there’s an eighty percent chance she’s carrying a male child.”
Li Er was also overjoyed. Fang Xuanling, seeing the sky darkening, picked up Yun Ye’s memorial preparing to leave, and carefully sought Li Er’s instructions on how to handle Lu Chengqing’s case.
“Removal from office, stripping of title, seven families!” This was the answer Li Er gave. Fang Xuanling nodded. Li Er had already shown mercy beyond the law. Zhangsun Shunde, Liu Hongji and the other seven families couldn’t escape this calamity. He must notify them early. These seven families, ever since learning that Quanzhou and the Lingnan Naval Forces were smashed up, had been in constant anxiety, hiding at home waiting for the imperial envoys to arrive for confiscation. According to Liu Hongji’s temperament, by now he had probably already started executing his favorite concubines.
Fang Xuanling left the palace gates. Du Ruhui and a group of nobles surrounded Old Fang inquiring about exactly how Liu Hongji and these people would be dealt with this time.
Fang Xuanling said to Liu Hongji’s eldest son, “You befriended the right person. Yun Ye’s memorial says Lu Chengqing died in battle, not mentioning a single word about his surrender to the pirates. Therefore His Majesty’s disposition toward your several families is stripping of titles and removal from office. This is already the best possible result. Offices removed, noble titles gone, but people still alive means there are opportunities. However, Quanzhou’s citizens suffered this disaster all as a result of your power machinations. The funds to comfort Quanzhou naturally need to come from you. Although Yun Ye couldn’t bear to see you bleed into rivers, you know full well in your hearts how intense the rage in his heart is.”
Liu Zhengwu collapsed limply to the ground, wiped away tears and said to Fang Xuanling, “The Liu family has wronged this brother of mine. This nephew will go south tomorrow, personally to apologize to Quanzhou’s citizens, and also to thank Brother Yun for his mercy in not killing.”
Zhangsun Wuji sighed, clasped his hands behind his back and boarded his family’s carriage, saying to Zhangsun Shunde inside the carriage, “Did you hear? This is all the evil you created. Without the ability to capture flood dragons, why play at being dragon-slayers? I’ve never dared to interfere in Yun Ye’s maritime affairs. Why? Because I’m unfamiliar with it. These past few years earning a bit of money, your hearts have been blinded by the money you earned. Uncle, I just don’t understand—how did you dare interfere in Lingnan affairs? The Empress has holdings there, the Crown Prince has holdings there, Prince Wei still has holdings there, plus adding Yun Ye—you’re truly pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth.”
Zhangsun Shunde had long been scolded countless times by this junior. This time he also didn’t talk back, but suddenly lifted his head and said to Zhangsun Wuji, “This old man always feels this matter was arranged by Yun Ye. Perhaps that female pirate was his person all along. This time, using the female pirate’s power, he defeated us seven families in one stroke. What skill!”
Zhangsun Wuji laughed scornfully, “If Yun Ye had such ability, I would admire him prostrate in complete submission! What, you’re still not convinced? Planning to go wrestle with him again? Regardless of whether that female pirate is Yun Ye’s person or not, let me ask you—didn’t he let you off this time? If he didn’t put you to death, you should be grateful. Uncle, how about this—from now on, don’t darken my door again. Having relatives like you, Zhangsun Wuji can’t sleep soundly!”
In his sleeping quarters, Li Er looked at the densely packed noble plaques on the wall, instructing the eunuchs to take down plaques like Duke Kui. The wall had some empty space. Li Er felt it looked much more pleasing to the eye. After appreciating it a while, he returned to the front hall.
Seeing Zhangsun playing chess with Consort Yin, he stood to the side observing. Who would have thought Zhangsun would sweep the chess pieces into chaos with one hand and say to Consort Yin, “I know you have matters to discuss with His Majesty. You’re not even focused playing chess. I won’t disturb you two.”
Consort Yin held Zhangsun’s hand and said, “This matter also requires your consent. This concubine just wants to discuss You’er’s marriage matter with His Majesty and you. This child insists on observing three years of mourning before the Grand Emperor’s spirit tablet. One year has already passed now. This concubine just wants to ask—does he really need to complete the full three years?”
Before Zhangsun could speak, Li Er smiled and said, “This is inevitable. Since You’er made a vow, he must fulfill it. I know you’re worried about Yun Ya and You’er’s marriage. It’s fine—they have plenty of time to wait. If you want to hold grandchildren, you still need to wait two years. Moreover, Yun Ye probably won’t have time these next few years. After he returns from Lingnan, he’ll have to go to Beiting. This was arranged long ago. If You’er wants a grand wedding, he must endure the full time.”
Consort Yin, seeing Li Er had already made his decision, no longer insisted, respectfully withdrew, leaving the empty great hall to the Emperor and Empress.
“Will Your Majesty truly strip all seven families of their titles? Liu Hongji, Zhangsun Shunde, Tang Jing’an—these people can all be counted as meritorious ministers. But the error they committed this time is truly too great. Yun Ye deliberately concealed it—should this concubine send a letter to scold him?”
“No need. Killing people is not an emperor’s only choice. Now not only have Liu Hongji and Zhangsun Shunde become outdated, even old ministers like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui can no longer keep pace with me. In a few years, once the young people are all tempered, these old ministers should also enjoy their remaining years. I very much want them to obtain a good ending. We sovereign and ministers having sentiment and righteousness will surely become a model for ten thousand generations.”
Zhangsun closed her mouth saying nothing, pointed with her finger in the direction Consort Yin departed, only looking at Li Er and laughing.
“You shouldn’t mock Consort Yin’s little thoughts. This must be that silly girl Yun Ya asking through Consort Yin. Yun Ye’s arrangements were decided long ago. Telling her now is just to let her prepare. Actually, Yun Ye seems to want to go to Beiting more than anyone. I’ve always been curious why he would have such a special fondness for that land.”