In Great Tang, Yun Ye had met almost all those famous ministers and brave generals, but this was his first time meeting Zhang Liang, the great Commander Zhang.
As Great Tang’s foremost naval commander, he was qualified to live in Taiping Ward, but he deliberately chose the most remote Qinglong Ward to live together with a bunch of common folk. It was said he had several hundred sons who played daily with boats and ships on Furong Pool as if conducting military formations.
Looking at the dilapidated gate of Zhang Liang’s residence, Yun Ye always felt the historical records were somewhat distorted. How could such a simple and frugal person be the famous turncoat? But thinking about how this fellow would later be beheaded by Li Er at the marketplace entrance for treason made him determined to only deal with him once. Cheng Chumo walked in front, Yun Ye followed behind. The farther they walked, the stranger it seemed—how had they walked so long without reaching the Zhang family’s reception hall?
The steward at the front, seeing Yun Ye getting somewhat impatient, said to him, “My master just likes larger residences. The household has many people—a small place wouldn’t accommodate them. This entire Qinglong Ward is occupied by our lord’s old friends and comrades. Speaking of all the noble residences in Chang’an, our household’s residence is the largest. Even Furong Garden behind has become our household’s back garden. Just two hundred more steps ahead is where our lord stores weapons. Would the Young Marquis be interested in taking a look? There are the finest weapons gathered from all over Great Tang. Even the imperial palace might not have our complete collection.”
Yun Ye stopped in his tracks. Cheng Chumo, seeing him stop, thought he wanted to see the Zhang family’s collection. Who knew Yun Ye would say to the steward, “My sincere apologies. I suddenly have abdominal pain. This is an ailment from the grasslands that requires me to return home for medicine. I won’t disturb Lord Zhang today. Please forgive me.”
After speaking, he pulled Cheng Chumo and hurriedly left. The doorman found it strange but couldn’t very well obstruct them, so he could only let them walk out the gate.
Once out the gate, Yun Ye and Cheng Chumo mounted their horses and rode away. Cheng Chumo had a bellyful of questions to ask. Seeing Yun Ye remain silent, he didn’t ask either. The two returned to the Cheng residence one after the other.
“Who else in our Great Tang makes their living from water?” Just after sitting down, Yun Ye asked Cheng Chumo.
“Li Huairen’s household also makes their living from water. Back in the day, when his father was Grand Commander of Kui Province, he trained naval forces on Dongting Lake. The household definitely has talented people familiar with water matters. Ye Zi, I don’t understand—the Zhang family has many water experts. Why ask about other families? Are we changing people again?”
At this time, Madam Cheng walked in. Hearing her son ask Yun Ye this way, she said, “That’s right, Little Ye, the Zhang family is your first choice for traveling waterways. Why abandon the essential for the trivial?”
“Aunt doesn’t know—your nephew felt extremely uncomfortable at the Zhang residence today. Deep courtyards, large residence—that’s fine. Obviously possessing vast wealth yet deliberately not repairing things, appearing dilapidated from outside but truly luxurious inside. In less than a hundred steps, your nephew saw several types of precious flowers and trees, all from the imperial gardens. That artificial mountain is also made of Taishan stone. Are these things a poor household can possess? The household steward spoke without restraint, saying their armory surpasses the imperial family’s. One can see they’re normally extremely arrogant. The vast Qinglong Ward houses only his family—where did the other common people go?”
“Aunt, such people who appear loyal and honest but harbor treacherous hearts—we’re better off staying far away. First, we can’t afford to provoke them. Second, we don’t dare provoke them. Once entangled with such people, it brings disaster upon descendants.”
“Ye Zi, you were at his household for less than an incense stick’s worth of time and saw all these things? Why didn’t I see them? I even thought that fellow was very enthusiastic, very to my taste.”
“Chumo, remember this from now on—absolutely don’t get entangled with his family anymore. A general recruiting five hundred adopted sons—what does he want to do? The Bai Qi Si infiltrates everywhere in Chang’an. Do you think His Majesty wouldn’t know? Either he doesn’t act, but once he does act, it will be a great disaster.”
Madam Cheng knocked Cheng Chumo on the head and said to Yun Ye, “Little Ye, this child Chou Niu is rough-minded. You’re often together—help your Uncle Cheng watch over him more. Don’t let him cause trouble.”
“Aunt, what polite words need our two families exchange? I’ve always treated Chumo as a brother. How could I stand aside from his affairs? Your nephew suggests if the Cheng family has any unfinished entanglements with the Zhang family, it’s best to cut them off early.”
Madam Cheng also came from a great noble house. How could she not understand the reasoning? She hurriedly went to the back courtyard to arrange household matters.
Going to find Li Xiaogong was also troublesome. Having teased the old man several times, the old fellow probably had a bellyful of anger toward Yun Ye. Now seeking his help, who knew how the old man would torment him? Yun Ye sat in the Cheng family’s great hall with a worried, bitter expression, thinking of ways.
Cheng Chumo wasn’t someone who could sit still. Lying crookedly on the brocade couch, tossing and turning, humming as if covered in lice.
“If you want to sleep, sleep for a while. What are you moving around for? Your moaning is nauseating.” Once again having his train of thought disrupted, Yun Ye got somewhat angry. Li Xiaogong also had this problem. Li Huairen said in earlier years when his father was fleeing for his life in Jiangnan, his whole body festered. Later the wounds healed, but he always felt itchy all over. If household servants didn’t scratch him several hundred times a day, he felt uncomfortable.
Sun Simiao had examined him, and Yun Ye had too. There was no problem with his skin—it was just some psychological shadow. Some placebo would be good, but what to use as a placebo? He had no medicine on hand and could only substitute with physical objects.
The bamboo the Cheng family planted outside the window gave Yun Ye a new idea.
After spending half the day making the gift, when giving things to these elders, it wasn’t about whether they were precious but whether there was thoughtfulness.
Li Huairen had gone to Longyou. Yun Ye steeled himself at the prince’s mansion and submitted his card, requesting an audience with the old prince.
Yun Ye’s face still carried weight. The steward came out to receive him and personally escorted Yun Ye and Cheng Chumo to the reception hall. From afar they heard Li Xiaogong speaking, “This monkey brat is slippery as can be. I’ve suffered losses at his hands more than once or twice. Master Xiao must never be deceived by his appearance, lest you suffer a loss. Don’t say I didn’t warn you beforehand.”
This was bad—he still had a guest. How could borrowing people be mentioned in front of others? Yun Ye secretly groaned. Cheng Chumo looked worriedly at Yun Ye’s gift, preparing to bolt if the old man threw a fit in a moment.
Two people sat on the Li family’s low couch—one short and robust, one thin and gaunt. The short robust one was Li Xiaogong, the thin weak one was Duke Song Xiao Yu. Enemies really do meet! Last time at the Li residence, he’d fooled Xiao Yu into planning to write his own book. Now over a year had passed—he didn’t know if his book was written yet.
“In fierce winds we know strong grass; in turmoil we recognize loyal ministers. The brave man knows not righteousness; the wise man must harbor benevolence”—this was Li Er’s evaluation of Xiao Yu, also a big boss among big bosses. Not one Yun Ye could afford to offend.
He honestly came forward to pay respects: “This junior Yun Ye pays respects to the Prince and Lord Xiao. Long time no see—is your health well?”
“Can’t die yet. Young man, I guessed you’d come calling. Being struck by Her Majesty the Empress without being killed, you’re also quite extraordinary. Going to the imperial palace to beg forgiveness would have been over, yet you stubbornly kept your spine unbent. I don’t even know whether to praise you or scold you. Ten thousand strings have long been prepared. Take them when you leave. Whatever matters await Huairen’s return for you to discuss. This old man mixing with you youngsters isn’t shameful enough.”
Old Li’s one sentence made Yun Ye’s eyes turn red. Words choked in his throat, unable to come out. He thought Old Li would at least mock him a few times. He hadn’t expected the old man to worry for him early on and even prepare the money.
Yun Ye pulled out a back scratcher from his sleeve—this was something he’d just made at the Cheng residence. The bamboo was still green, quite beautiful actually. Five small teeth curved at the front—best for scratching itches.
Holding the back scratcher in both hands, he presented it before Li Xiaogong saying, “Uncle’s thoughtfulness, your nephew keeps in his heart, never to forget. Your nephew is humble and crude—only this back scratcher made by my own hands do I respectfully present before Uncle Li’s knees, hoping it can somewhat relieve Uncle’s suffering from itching.”
Li Xiaogong smiled and took the back scratcher. Right in front of Xiao Yu, he stuffed it into his collar, scratched his back a few times, then pulled it out and said to Xiao Yu, “Brother Shiwen, I told you this young man does things most to people’s hearts. A trifling object, yet it’s the most appropriate meeting gift. Rare indeed.”
Xiao Yu stroked his beard saying, “You give him ten thousand gold, he returns you sentiment—these two are originally equal in value. This can add an elegant tale to the world.”
Li Xiaogong turned his head and said again, “Young man, matters are finished. You and the Cheng family boy aren’t going to be busy but staying with us two old men for what? Could it be you’re waiting for me to provide your meals?”
He couldn’t hide the money-making matter, otherwise he couldn’t even be a proper person in the future. Having people say the Yun family pretended to be pitiful everywhere swindling money, using others’ money to earn profits for themselves—with that reputation, even if Yun Ye became a prince, he’d be spurned by everyone under heaven.
“Uncle doesn’t know—Her Majesty the Empress wasn’t making things difficult for this junior but gave this junior a good opportunity to revitalize family business and make a fortune. Your nephew came here today because some matters require Uncle’s assistance to complete, so I specially came calling today.”
The mouthful of goat milk Li Xiaogong had just drunk immediately sprayed out. Fortunately, as a military general with quick reflexes, he hurriedly turned his head, spraying it all on the window beside him.
After catching his breath, he said to Yun Ye, “Young man, no need to keep up the tough act before me. Speak truthfully—tell me how you’ll extricate yourself from this dead knot?”
Xiao Yu also stretched out his ears, prepared to listen carefully to Yun Ye’s method. He truly couldn’t believe such absurd things existed in this world. A gap of over a hundred thousand strings—was that something anyone could easily fill? The reason the palace hadn’t built new buildings was mainly lack of money. If the Empress had one hundred thousand strings, she’d have started building long ago. The palace hadn’t been repaired since Emperor Yang of Sui’s time. He stayed in Luoyang year-round, not coming to Daxing City for ten years until his death in Luoyang, the Eastern Capital.
Yun Ye didn’t say anything else, only explained his plan regarding golden thread nanmu. He even specially pulled out a map to point out to Li Xiaogong and Xiao Yu.
Li Xiaogong chuckled coldly. Xiao Yu twirled his beard without speaking. The two exchanged glances. Li Xiaogong said, “Young man, honestly take the copper cash back home. Honestly build houses. Don’t always think about those unreliable things. If the gap is too large, have a few old men pool together for you, then find His Majesty to supplement some—that should be about right. Think of other ways to make money. Transporting small amounts of golden thread nanmu is no problem. Wanting to transport large quantities—that’s difficult!”