To say he wasn’t nervous would be a lie. In Great Tang, no one could ignore Feng Ang’s existence. Back when Feng Ang entered Chang’an and Li Er employed ceremonies nearly befitting an emperor—that alone showed what a formidable presence he was.
On this land of Lingnan, he was the uncrowned king.
Having exhausted every method to avoid direct conflict with Feng Ang, Yun Ye had resorted to using the demon of gunpowder, pushing all responsibility outward. What a pity—despite all his calculations, he had miscalculated one thing. The Feng family didn’t need evidence. Two words—”probably”—were sufficient. Even if wrong, the Feng family would make it right.
His sons were probably killed by Yun Ye, perhaps killed by Yun Ye, maybe killed by Yun Ye—therefore, they were definitely killed by Yun Ye. This was the Feng family’s logic, which had been applicable in Lingnan for many years. Feng Zhiyong had come to trouble Li Anlan based on precisely this reasoning, only changing his target when he suddenly found Yun Ye more suspicious.
Against the threat of a legendary figure who had once quelled a rebellion with a single arrow, Yun Ye needed more bargaining chips.
In this world, only Li Er was qualified to be a savior. If Feng Ang was a fierce tiger prowling the mountain forests, Li Er was a flying dragon in the ninth heaven. As a hyena, Yun Ye now needed to find external support. To deal with an enraged tiger, finding a dragon was the correct approach…
Facts proved that Li Er was the most understanding boss. His success lay in never disappointing his subordinates. When Yun Ye was forcing smiles and suffering through each day, the travel-worn Wu She arrived in Yongzhou.
Without time for pleasantries or even tea, the first thing Wu She did was inspect the military camp’s treasury. Seeing the treasure piled like mountains, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, resuming his usual sinister demeanor. During the inspection, he imperceptibly selected two items and tucked them into his bosom. Smiling at Yun Ye and Hong Cheng, he said, “This is good, this is good. This servant has brought His Majesty’s edicts—one for Marquis Yun, one for General Hong. This is Lingnan, so this servant won’t read them aloud. Look at them yourselves. This servant needs to find a place to rest.”
The tactless Hong Cheng actually wanted to arrange for a eunuch to stay in a brothel—the result of having his brain kicked by donkeys countless times. Yun Ye closed his eyes, unable to bear watching, already hearing Hong Cheng’s pig-slaughtering screams. Wu She’s powerful eagle claw had greeted every joint in Hong Cheng’s body. Both were the Emperor’s loyal servants, but Hong Cheng’s brainlessness was famous. That this bastard had relied on his utter loyalty to survive thirty years since age ten without being finished off was already testament to Li Er’s benevolence.
With Wu She’s arrival, all troubles should fall on Li Er’s shoulders. Never mind three Feng family sons being bitten to death by wild beasts—even if all his sons were bitten to death by wild beasts, what Feng Ang should consider was whether to produce a few more, not whom to trouble.
Once the dark clouds dispersed, he brought Wu She back to the Princess Manor. A household servant should naturally reside in his master’s home. Wu She was quite pleased. He paid grand respects to the Princess, and they each recounted interesting events that had occurred since their separation. Master and servant conversed and laughed happily.
With a free bodyguard arrived, how could one let him slip away? The room arranged for Wu She was right next to Li Anlan’s. Wu She understood why Yun Ye made such arrangements. Considering he would need to retire at the Academy in the future, he didn’t mind and conscientiously assumed responsibility for Li Anlan and her son’s security.
Returning to his room and opening Li Er’s edict, every line was about one word—money. Two million strings of cash was a figure repeatedly calculated by the Prime Minister and Ministers. Less than this amount, and Yun Ye would be sent to the front lines as military provisions for soldiers to feast upon when he returned. After the threat came praise, informing Yun Ye that the entire court had reached consensus to donate sixty percent of Lingnan’s profits to resolve the court’s urgent crisis. Yun Ye should swiftly escort the wealth back to the capital—the hundred officials were waiting to receive their stipends.
He most loved seeing those four characters “act expediently.” Li Er knew Yun Ye needed many positions for the lowest-level military officers, so he had the Ministry of Personnel provide five hundred blank certificates of appointment, valid only in Lingnan. Also arriving were a Commander, four Deputy Generals, and about a hundred personal guards—they were Lingnan’s true future controllers. Li Er’s control over officials had never relaxed, even in this miasmic land of Lingnan. This was a major reason why he could become a successful emperor.
With Yun Ye’s military connections, he had surprisingly never heard of this fourth-rank Pacification General. A typical Guanzhong man—square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, short beard, long arms and legs, large joints. He walked with vigor—clearly someone whose bravery crowned the three armies. Li Er’s hidden card was apparently unfathomable.
“This officer Sun Renshi greets Marquis Yun. Regarding Lingnan military affairs, this officer still needs Marquis Yun’s considerable guidance.” A man in his forties bowing to a young man under twenty, seeking instruction, without the slightest awkwardness—very magnanimous.
“The General is too kind. I’m currently worried about offending Duke Feng. Just thinking about Duke Feng coming to trouble this younger brother makes me restless. I didn’t expect the General to arrive so promptly. Younger brother feels much lighter now. Those killing talents outside who want to become officials—better to hand them over to you to handle. Younger brother can finally sleep well.”
Handing over military command at the first opportunity was Great Tang convention. You could delay administrative matters somewhat—everyone understood it was for making money, handling loose ends. Dragging things out ten days to half a month, everyone would laugh it off without comment. But military authority was hot to handle. New generals had arrived—if you still held on without releasing control, what were you planning?
“Marquis Yun is too kind. When this officer departed, His Majesty said that wild and barbarous lands have their own rules. Those Guanzhong conventions probably won’t work in Lingnan, so this officer should consult Marquis Yun more.”
“Nothing more than combining favor and authority. I’ve handled the preliminary stages fairly well. Only Feng Ang believes I killed his three sons and is now racing here at full gallop to confront me about it. This matter cannot go unguarded.”
“This officer heard his three sons were killed by wild beasts. Why would it be attributed to Marquis Yun? How could someone of Duke Feng’s heroic stature engage in baseless speculation?”
This fellow had apparently already contacted his own family retainers in Lingnan and learned some things. Earlier in the treasury, he was clearly grimacing with a bitter smile—who knew how much of his family’s wealth Li Er had appropriated.
“This matter is my fault too. Bored and restless, I beat a drum a few times in the mountains to vent. Who knew Lingnan’s wild beasts couldn’t handle being frightened? They all ran along the mountain paths. The Feng family’s three sons, plus about a hundred fellows who didn’t like Great Tang, were all trampled to death by wild beasts. The Feng family’s sixth son came pounding on my door demanding an explanation. Now even Duke Feng has been alarmed and wants to settle accounts with me.”
Both were shrewd individuals. To have someone take the blame, you needed to explain matters clearly. Otherwise, you’d invite resentment and create enemies for yourself needlessly. That Li Er sent him here indicated recognition of this person’s ability and loyalty. Concealment would be most foolish.
“So it wasn’t the mountain god beating drums—it should be called Marquis Yun beating drums. A few malcontents dying is no great matter. In Lingnan, we’re few in number. Without giving some warnings, should we wait for them to climb on our necks and defecate? When Duke Feng comes this time, this officer will receive him. We’re all military comrades—hurting feelings wouldn’t be good. Duke Feng has many sons. A few dying is nothing—he can produce more.” After speaking, he found it amusing himself and laughed heartily with Yun Ye.
“Old Sun, as brothers go, I must depart. His Majesty’s edict urges with great urgency. Once the grain is loaded on ships, younger brother must leave. As customary, this path to wealth must be explained.”
Earlier was official business; now discussing personal friendship, Yun Ye no longer maintained the airs of a third-rank official. Sun Renshi also removed his helmet. After courteous exchanges, they sat face-to-face and began drinking. Old Sun was a good fellow—humorous and witty. Chang’an allusions came easily to hand—marketplace curiosities, officials’ secrets, beautiful courtesans—nothing he didn’t know, nothing he wasn’t familiar with. Before they knew it, the sun was setting in the west.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, Sun Renshi cupped his hands saying, “Brother’s household has declined considerably. Originally relied on Lingnan’s profits to ease the family situation somewhat, but that dog-damn Zhang Liang ruined it. Just now seeing those treasures in the treasury, everyone had suicidal thoughts. Sixty percent! Sixty percent! If those things reached Chang’an or Luoyang and were converted to money, the military could fight to the edge of the sky. Moreover, I heard there’s a large quantity of grain across the sea. This fundamentally doesn’t require sixty percent—twenty percent would suffice.”
“Brother originally had a share in this, but now it’s gone. Little brother, you’re a living God of Wealth. Give brother some advice—point out a path to wealth.”
“Don’t think about squeezing those poor wretches in Liao territory. Even wringing them dry won’t yield two ounces of oil. The wealthy place is here.” Yun Ye led Sun Renshi to a map and placed his wine cup across from the bay.
“That place will only be poorer. The people are no different from monkeys. My family doesn’t trade in human flesh.”
Clearly a ruthless man—Yun Ye liked him. He had no good feelings whatsoever toward the people there. From his bosom, he pulled out a pearl the size of a dragon’s eye, placed it by the seaside, and said with a smile, “Ever heard of pearl diving girls?”
Sun Renshi stared at the pearl and shook his head.
“This pearl was collected by a pearl diving girl. My family steward traded a bag of sugar for it—the one-pound kind.” Yun Ye casually gestured the sugar bag’s size.
He pulled out another piece of emerald jade from his bosom, seemingly flowing with water inside. Sun Renshi had never seen it before but instinctively recognized it must be valuable.
“This thing was a huge loss. My family steward still feels terribly guilty, believing he caused the family losses. He took fifteen iron woks to trade for a cartload of this stuff, thinking the savages in the forest cheated him.”
“My family’s cook now won’t even use firewood without fragrance, thinking it makes the food taste bad. Spices that cost a fortune in Chang’an—here they’re just firewood. Old Sun, do you think it’s still necessary to demand those little grains from the Liao people? Across the bay, grain is planted three seasons a year—so much they can’t eat it all. Lots rot in the fields unharvested.”
“Just the grain produced by the small kingdom of Linyi nearly equals all of Great Tang!” Sun Renshi slammed his fist heavily on the table, furious beyond measure. “Is there no heavenly principle anymore?!”