Wei Zheng folded the letter and stuffed it back into the envelope. This letter gave Wei Zheng tremendous inspiration. In the letter, Yun Ye divided industries into three tiers. The highest tier was undoubtedly the banks and various academies, especially Yushan Academy. That place was not only where people were educated, but also the source of all kinds of novel products. These industries were undoubtedly first-class.
What shocked Wei Zheng most was that Yun Ye actually classified brothels and gambling houses as second-tier industries, saying these people had all gone astray. Brothels could actually become massive song and dance venues rather than simple flesh trades. Gambling houses were the same – what should be valued wasn’t the huge flow of people they brought, but rather haggling over every penny through cheating to win customers’ money.
The workshops that Wei Zheng valued most were classified by Yun Ye as third-rate. This was a point that made Wei Zheng extremely angry. Agriculture and craftsmanship had always been the foundation of the empire. To demean them so – inhuman!
This anger was different from previous anger. Now, no matter how intense the fury, Wei Zheng’s heart remained calm. These were different opinions on government affairs – just don’t adopt them. At least it showed this person was thinking of solutions. Whether good or bad, these were suggestions made after consideration. He was living up to his position.
There were few people left on Chang’an’s streets in the dusk. Wei Zheng’s carriage passed by his own home without entering, turning instead toward Fang Xuanling’s residence. The bells and drums of the six streets rang ever more urgently. When Wei Zheng arrived at the Fang residence, ten thousand households had already lit their lamps.
Wearing a jacket and waving a cattail fan, Fang Xuanling read the letter, occasionally humming aloud and nodding frequently. Wei Zheng kept his head down eating a large bowl of rice. The meal was simple – one bowl of rice, one vegetable dish, one soup. Wei Zheng ate the food cleanly, then poured the soup into the vegetable dish, swished it around and poured it into the rice bowl, finally drinking this bowl of soup clean. After finishing the meal and washing his hands, he sat in the chair for a brief rest. Old Fang always had to read what Yun Ye wrote at least three times before speaking.
“Old Wei, stop fretting. He’s already doing it. You’re not the only one worrying about Chang’an City’s rise and fall. The Crown Prince and Prince Wu are already organizing the imperial family’s industries. Zhangsun Wuji is also managing the banks. The mint and foundry will also be separated from the imperial industries and formally placed under the jurisdiction of the Great Tang’s Ministry of Revenue. His Majesty summoned this old fellow into the palace this afternoon and clearly stipulated that only the Ministry of Works can possess the power to mint and cast coins. Anyone who privately mints coins shall be killed without mercy!”
“Wool-weaving machines are now permitted to be manufactured in Chang’an. The industrial zones in Sanyuan County are already preparing the blueprints. Before long, the world’s largest wool-weaving workshop will appear in Chang’an. I heard from the Empress that it can accommodate at least ten thousand workers. This item alone will reduce Chang’an’s idle people by half.”
“His Majesty actually discovered an industry from your confrontation with Yun Ye – those leaflets you threw at each other. His Majesty said, how can such a powerful weapon that made Wei Zheng and Yun Ye so frantic not be controlled by the state? So His Majesty requisitioned craftsmen from Yushan Academy, preparing to print something similar to the gazette himself, printing once every three days, specifically publishing state decrees, court dynamics, local customs, and naturally also commercial news. This old fellow has calculated – such a workshop would require an astonishing number of people.”
“Additionally, His Majesty has ordered the recruitment of sons from good families into the Martial Virtue Hall. Numbers unspecified, purpose unspecified. This project also requires quite a few people. This old fellow estimates this is related to national military preparedness, because the one presiding over this matter is Zhangsun Shunde.”
“Old Wei, you’re overthinking this. His Majesty is a sovereign for all ages. If Yun Ye hadn’t found an outlet for Chang’an in advance, do you think His Majesty would just watch him hollow out Chang’an? Your resentment these past days has really been rather unreasonable.”
“His Majesty made a move, and all those princes and princesses moved too. Li Xiaogong’s household is opening a printing house, specifically to print Buddhist scriptures, I heard. Xuanzang’s speed in translating scriptures is astonishing – reportedly there are already fourteen volumes that need printing.”
“Li Daozong’s household is opening a dairy farm. I heard they’ve already obtained five thousand cattle from the grasslands specifically for milk production. First, to provide raw materials for milk candy and cheese workshops. Second, when the cows stop producing milk, they can still be slaughtered and sold for meat.”
“Princesses Danyang and Changle plan to use water mills to grind all of Chang’an’s excess wheat that’s about to mold into flour and sell it to the grasslands. The two of them are responsible for collecting grain and grinding flour. Princesses Jiujiang and Hengyang are responsible for selling it. These two princesses’ husbands – one is Zhishisili, one is Ashina Duer. There’s no worry about buyers. As for why they’re selling flour rather than wheat, Old Wei doesn’t need this old fellow to explain it to you, right?”
“Look at you – already exhausted. Now that you’ve filled your belly, your spirits have recovered a bit. Then walk all the way home, digest your food, go home and take a good bath, have your wife warm a pot of wine for you. After drinking a cup, have a good sleep. This old fellow has already approved three days’ leave for you. Rest and recover. Yun Ye didn’t treat you as a mortal enemy this time. Most of his thoughts weren’t focused on you – you should be grateful. He’s also a subject of the Great Tang. He hasn’t reached the point of being vicious enough to damage the Great Tang’s national strength to bring you down. He just got the urge to travel and is preparing to go out and have fun. You gave him this opportunity to flee – why wouldn’t he run?”
Fang Xuanling talked on and on, making Wei Zheng alternately happy, angry, and at times even somewhat ashamed. These past days, he’d nearly worried himself sick over Chang’an’s decline, always believing Chang’an’s decline was caused by himself. Now, hearing Fang Xuanling’s words, he realized that in the eyes of the Emperor, the Empress, and even Yun Ye, he was that laughable monkey.
“To toy with subjects like this truly lacks imperial bearing. This old fellow will submit a memorial right now to ask His Majesty how he can sit calmly on the dragon throne watching subjects bustle about all day, remaining unmoved while watching the joke unfold!”
Fang Xuanling tapped his own head and said to the furious Wei Zheng, “Emperors always like to sit high above watching subjects fight each other, steadily watching the excitement while holding victory in their grasp. This is one of their few pleasures. As a subject, you must be prepared to be the monkey. Otherwise, you could learn from Yun Ye – he didn’t want to be the monkey, so he took three years’ leave and brought his whole family to roam the four seas. How enviable! This old fellow also wants to do that. I just never get the opportunity. If there’s ever a chance, I definitely won’t let it pass.”
Wei Zheng indeed walked home on foot. Along the way, he encountered several groups of patrol guards inquiring. Seeing it was Duke Zheng’s lantern, they quietly followed behind to provide protection.
Wei Zheng’s steps were much lighter now. Although he wasn’t satisfied with Yun Ye interfering in Chang’an’s affairs, always believing Yun Ye was continuing to expand Yushan Academy’s influence and preparing for his own return – for Chang’an’s stability, whether Wei Zheng was satisfied or not with this bitter fruit, he had to swallow it down forcefully. Watching others carry loads seems effortless, but carrying the load yourself bends your back. He’d always felt Yun Ye acted carelessly, giggling and laughing without sufficient gravity. Now it seemed that in the area of people’s livelihood, he truly was no match for him…
Li Er rested his head between Yang Fei’s ample bosom, eyes closed, letting Yang Fei massage his head. Before long, he was actually snoring. Yang Fei smiled slightly, gently laying Li Er down flat on the soft chair. The summer day was stifling hot. What Li Er found most unbearable was the muggy heat. She took a feather fan to cool him. Today was extremely sultry. The frogs in the pond croaked incessantly. Having palace servants catch them never got them all.
“Little Hei’s marriage should be prepared. How are your preparations? Before Yun Ye left, he specifically left his eldest disciple behind, preparing for them to marry. That’s good. Shishi is pure and kind – I’ve met her several times and am very satisfied. Setting aside her monk father, just for Yun Ye’s sake, we shouldn’t treat this child poorly. I heard that in the palace, some are gossiping because of this child’s father. You must stop it. When necessary, use a firm hand. Don’t be like a bodhisattva unable to be harsh.”
“It’s not that your concubine can’t act. Shishi won’t let your concubine punish them. She says her father is a monk – there’s nothing shameful about that. She has her father’s love and her master’s love, which is a fortunate thing. What others say comes from jealousy. There’s no need to pay attention.”
Li Er laughed with a “hmph” sound, grasping Yang Fei’s hand and saying, “Little Hei has stumbled into dog luck. That brat I wanted to slap to death back then is actually about to marry such a fine woman as his wife now. It’s his good fortune. The mutton-fat jade vase presented by Khotan shall be bestowed on Shishi. Good children should receive rewards.”
Yang Fei happily thanked the imperial grace on Shishi’s behalf, then asked worriedly, “Yun Ye won’t be there for the wedding. Why did he choose this time to travel? He’s the host on the bride’s side.”
“That’s what makes him a good teacher. Yun Ye’s reputation stinks all over the streets. Presiding over the wedding at this time wouldn’t benefit Shishi. I heard Li Gang, Yushan, Yuanzhang, Lishi, and even the three from Mount Tai will all attend. That’s face enough. Even Qing Que’s wedding didn’t have such pomp. Just wait to enjoy the blessings.”
As Li Er spoke, his hands dishonestly burrowed into Yang Fei’s undergarments. Her face flushed, Yang Fei slapped away Li Er’s hand, stealing a glance at the palace servants and maids standing in the great hall. Her coquettish appearance made Li Er laugh even louder.
Yun Baobao and Yun Shou jumped rope with tears streaming down their faces. Their chubby bodies thudded on the ground. Stealing a glance at their maternal great-uncle, just as they were about to slack off, their bottoms received a slap. They desperately missed Great-grandmother, missed that group of aunts, and also Father, Mother, Second Mother, Third Mother – even the sister who always bullied them, they missed terribly. When Father left, they thought they could finally have fun, but who knew the days would become even more miserable. Maternal great-uncle never allowed them to leave him. At night, when they climbed out the window preparing to go to the kitchen to find something to eat, they were caught by the collar and dragged back. Yun Shou swore he’d been very careful – he’d even oiled the window and hadn’t made much noise. Why could maternal great-uncle still catch him?
The wet nurse watched the young master continuously jumping rope with tears in her eyes. His little face was flushed red – he must be very tired, yet he didn’t dare slack off. The slightest slackening brought a slap to the bottom. When bathing the young master yesterday, she discovered the little bottom was already bruised all over. Oh heavens! The eldest young master was only five years old, already knew so many characters – what more did they want?