Wei Zheng spent three entire days touring Chang’an City, visiting all one hundred and eight ward markets. When his carriage finally stopped at Pingkang Ward, he discovered that this place had undergone a complete transformation. Unlike the other dilapidated ward markets, Pingkang Ward’s scale had grown even larger. Those tall buildings with ornately carved beams and painted rafters, the beauties with jade-green sleeves and fragrant presence, the young men from wealthy families spending gold like water with such lavishness – it all made Wei Zheng dizzy spell after dizzy spell. Yun Ye was still worried that Chang’an wouldn’t die, so he’d deliberately left these behind. When pleasure quarters flourished while other industries declined, such a Chang’an was not a healthy Chang’an.
A city’s corruption begins with the corruption of its people. Tender lands of romance have always been heroes’ graves. They wear away not only a person’s will, but also send an entire city into its tomb. When everyone reaches the point of scorning poverty but not prostitution, that’s when Chang’an’s sunset arrives.
It was time to have a good talk with Yun Ye, Wei Zheng thought. So that’s what he did. The carriage turned a corner and headed straight for Yushan. He wanted to have a proper discussion with Yun Ye. If Yun Ye remained stubbornly obstinate, he shouldn’t blame him for using heavy measures. The title of Transmitting Order Marquis wasn’t something that couldn’t be stripped away. Once Yun Ye became a commoner, no matter how much the Empress liked him, he would only be a commoner. Even if Yun Ye was extremely unwilling to become a court jester, he would certainly become a joke for the ages.
As he left through the city gate, he saw an endless convoy of vehicles. Women held children sitting in carriages, men straddled the cart shafts, exchanging crude jokes with the men on the carriages in front and behind. Occasionally when serious matters were mentioned, the words “Yuezhou” appeared in every sentence.
Wei Zheng could tell – those leaving were all workshop owners, the very foundation of a city’s vitality. He had no way to stop them. Even if he wanted to stop them, it was too late now.
By the time the memorial received the approval of the Three Departments, was then drafted into a petition and sent to the Emperor’s desk, after the Emperor agreed and sent it back to the Three Departments, and the Three Departments dispatched it, finally landing in his hands for execution – at the fastest, it would take fifteen days. This was already with all procedures simplified. When the court wanted to implement a policy, this was the mandatory timeframe that had to be observed. The Emperor could not bypass it.
The Baqiao Wharf no longer had its throngs of people. Only the weeping willows on both riverbanks had become bare and stripped. Even so, people still used bamboo poles to reach for willow branches, wanting to break off these last willow twigs to give to relatives, blessing them with safe travels.
The elderly in the Yun family estate had all brought out bamboo reclining chairs, resting in the dappled shade of trees. Having labored all their lives, they could finally rest. They didn’t even need to look at the carriage approaching from the distance – even if it was an official vehicle, it didn’t matter, because it had nothing whatsoever to do with the Yun family estate.
Old Qian received Wei Zheng with a beaming smile, offering fragrant tea and refreshments with impeccable etiquette. But the master didn’t appear, which made Wei Zheng extremely angry. Regardless of whether the two had enmity, he had come following proper protocol. For the host not to receive him was the greatest breach of etiquette.
“Please don’t be angry, Lord Zheng. It’s not that my master won’t see guests, but rather that my master is currently studying with his teacher. Please wait just a moment longer. The master will finish his studies and certainly come to pay respects to Lord Zheng.”
Hearing Old Qian’s words, Wei Zheng’s expression changed dramatically. He stood up abruptly and asked Old Qian, “Where has Marquis Yun gone?”
“Our marquis has gone on a distant journey to visit friends.”
“Is the old madam present? Allow Wei Zheng to pay his respects.”
“The old madam has always wanted to worship Buddha at famous mountains, so she also went out with our marquis. The madam has also left. Only the eldest young master remains at home, studying with his maternal uncle.” Old Qian’s expression didn’t change as he continued to answer with a smile.
“When did Marquis Yun leave?” Wei Zheng asked with his last thread of hope.
“The marquis left three days ago. Worried about disturbing Lord Zheng, he didn’t go to your residence to bid farewell. Please forgive him.”
“Your marquis has abandoned his ancestral lands – how long does he plan to travel? He’s not even attending the upcoming ennoblement banquet. Does he not consider his family’s hereditary title?” Wei Zheng’s face was gradually turning flushed red.
“Our marquis said: The Yun family didn’t have a title before and just lived more frugally, didn’t we? Whether to attend the ennoblement banquet or not, let our young master decide for himself. If he wants to go, he’ll go. If he doesn’t want to, he won’t. As long as he’s happy his whole life, that’s enough. Please sit comfortably. This old servant will go inform our young master immediately.”
After Old Qian finished speaking, he went out. He didn’t plan to disturb the young master’s studies. Instead, he went straight to the back garden. Recently, the perfume business had been extremely brisk. Several young mistresses were all helping out, and he should lend a hand too. There weren’t enough people in the household. He didn’t know if the servant broker could find a few suitable people for the manor.
Wei Zheng didn’t wait. He left the Yun household himself. He could see their perfunctory attitude toward him. He didn’t need to look at people’s faces, nor did anyone dare show him attitude.
The memorial impeaching Yun Ye was suppressed by Fang Xuanling. The Chang’an Prefect had also been replaced with a thirty-year-old young man named Ma Zhou. Six years of tempering on the grasslands had forged an inexperienced youth into an iron-willed man. The harsh winds and frost of the grasslands ultimately hadn’t worn away his sharp edges. The first thing he did upon taking office was investigate Chang’an’s farmland. Not only common people’s land had to be investigated, but nobles’ lands were no exception. This was the only thing Wei Zheng had been satisfied with recently.
“When I was still just a scholar, I wanted to see exactly what the situation was with Chang’an’s farmland. Now this official has returned from the grasslands and settled into this position, so I’ll continue doing this. You’d best kill me completely. As long as I’m alive for one day, I absolutely won’t give up. The Great Tang’s continuity rests on the land. We can’t have muddled accounts.”
This was what Ma Zhou said in the great hall upon taking office. Because of this statement, memorials of impeachment immediately flew like snowflakes to the Secretariat. No one dared suppress them or not report them. The result was that they were all retained by His Majesty the Emperor without being released. A message came from the palace: “I too want to know how much farmland still exists in Chang’an.”
With more struggles in politics, there was less time for actual work. Although investigating farmland was important, Wei Zheng believed that the Chang’an Prefect’s most urgent task right now was to restore prosperity to Chang’an’s markets, not to enrage all the nobles of Chang’an City. Because the markets were visibly shrinking at a rate that could be seen with the naked eye. Idle people squatting at the base of city walls waiting for employers were becoming more and more numerous. You must know that in the past, it was always employers begging people to help with work, not like now where employers picked and chose meticulously before hiring just one or two. Even for raising horses or carrying dung, nowadays you had to be a fine-looking young fellow.
Those who initially held the belief that “people are cheap away from home” and were unwilling to follow their employers to Yuezhou now deeply regretted it. In just three short months, people had become worthless.
After Wei Zheng sought an audience with Zhangsun, he requested that the imperial household extensively recruit idle people and not let the common people be without food and clothing. Zhangsun was always kind, but the industries in her hands were all suitable for women to operate. There really wasn’t much need for men. Wei Zheng had no choice but to request that the Empress please recruit as many women as possible. A family always needed at least one source of income.
The wool weaving industry thus received tremendous promotion. After calculating, Wei Zheng discovered that Chang’an’s pillar industries were now wool weaving, jewelry, wine brewing, milk candy, perfume – and one item Wei Zheng was extremely unwilling to acknowledge: the brothel industry. The once mighty cement and brick-making that had enjoyed such prestige now had no customers and had severely withered. He’d heard they also planned to go to Yuezhou to build brick kilns and continue making money. As for Chang’an, they couldn’t be bothered.
Skilled carpenters were hard to find in Chang’an City. Previously, craftsmen with good skills had all been swept up by wood workshops large and small. Now most had followed the wood workshops to Yuezhou. When Wei Zheng told Ma Zhou his views, Ma Zhou didn’t think much of it, believing Wei Zheng was worrying unnecessarily. In earlier years, Chang’an didn’t have these things either, yet wasn’t Chang’an still the realm’s number one capital?
What needed to be done now was to return to fundamentals, placing agricultural affairs first. Merchant matters could be discussed later. When the furious Wei Zheng told Ma Zhou that grain in the ever-normal granaries was so abundant it was molding, and the people weren’t lacking grain either – what was important now was giving everyone work to do, only then could Chang’an be stabilized and slowly heal from the wounds Yun Ye had inflicted on Chang’an.
Ma Zhou asked Wei Zheng not to exceed his authority. A Remonstrance Official should just do what was within a Remonstrance Official’s purview. Don’t destroy a lifetime’s clear reputation on the evil deed of helping landlord tycoons seize the people’s farmland. How to govern Chang’an was a matter for him as Chang’an Prefect to handle.
Wei Zheng was so angry his hair stood on end, but he had no way to deal with the equally stubborn Ma Zhou, because what he said wasn’t wrong in the slightest. A Remonstrance Official’s duties were to distinguish the wise from the foolish, investigate customs and discipline, and help His Majesty fill in gaps and correct mistakes – not to manage Chang’an officials.
When the exhausted Wei Zheng passed by that small shop, the proprietor handed Wei Zheng a letter. Looking at the signature, it was written by Yun Ye. Wei Zheng tossed the letter aside. This must certainly be a sarcastic, mocking letter. Today he was mentally and physically exhausted – he really didn’t have the energy to be angry.
But that stubborn streak in his heart flared up again. He picked up the letter, checked whether the wax seal on it was intact, only then did he cut open the letter, unfold it, and read it carefully. His heart prepared itself to be mocked and ridiculed.
*For Lord Zheng’s Distinguished Perusal: When Lord Zheng sees this letter, this unworthy one will already be a thousand li away. This departure is not from fear of harm, nor is it self-imposed exile born of grief and indignation. In fact, it’s a long journey this junior has long prepared for, so there’s absolutely no need to grieve.*
*Chang’an filling Yuezhou is inevitable, not something human effort can reverse. Chang’an is the Great Tang’s capital, requiring solemn dignity rather than increasing prosperity. This place is not only where the imperial palace gardens are located, but also the gathering area of the Great Tang’s elite troops. Once changes occur, the first to suffer catastrophic disaster will be the Great Tang’s fragile commerce – those still operating in isolated, individual courtyards, those fragile workshops and storefronts. Frankly speaking, they have not the slightest ability to resist commercial risk or political risk. For their sake, going to the relatively open Yuezhou where the commercial atmosphere grows ever stronger is the superior strategy.*
*This emptying of Chang’an is both a disaster and a challenge for Chang’an, giving Chang’an an opportunity to restructure. These are this unworthy one’s heartfelt words, not words of mockery.*
*Chang’an has great treasures. Why does Your Excellency turn a blind eye? The massive Great Tang Bank, the magnificent Yushan Academy, the Imperial Academy known for its gardens full of literary excellence, the Hongwen Institute filled with great scholars everywhere – these are what Chang’an needs…*