Banking was merely an institution Yun Ye dreamed of in society. With his own capabilities, he could not possibly establish such a massive organization. He had no money, no power, no connections, and even more critically, no accumulation of necessary social experience. So he could only think about it. Right now, selling out Li Chengqian was already the limit of his abilities.
The Crown Prince’s appeal was no empty claim. In just ten days, those wealthy households, great clans, and merchants were desperately scrambling to procure grain. Grain carts of all sizes nearly submerged the Left Military Guard’s main camp. No one mentioned money anymore—they only hoped to have an audience with the Crown Prince. Even if His Highness the Crown Prince might not necessarily see them, just sitting in the Crown Prince’s sleeping tent and receiving a bowl of tea would be deeply satisfying. The terrifying imperial education system was truly perverted.
Li Chengqian, dressed in full ceremonial robes, sat high at the head of the room. Every ten grain merchants formed a batch and, after strict body searches, entered the tent to converse with His Highness the Crown Prince. Rather than calling it conversation, it would be more accurate to say the Crown Prince was delivering instructions. His slow speech, elegant diction, perfectly appropriate hand gestures, and gentle, warm smile made Yun Ye want to vomit three liters.
The various merchants, powerful families, and great clans showed sincere respect and reverence. Look—this clan head dressed in scholarly robes, listening to the Crown Prince’s pearls of wisdom as if drinking fine wine, nodding frequently, his buttocks barely touching the embroidered cushion as he practiced the horse-riding squatting stance. This old scholar with half-white hair practicing this stance for the duration of a meal showed not the slightest trembling in his legs, putting Yun Ye, who had undergone half a year of military training, to utter shame.
That fellow over there was completely done for. The chill of late autumn could not stop the blood from boiling in his veins—it was already boiling and steaming. Wisps of white vapor rose from the top of his head, already achieving the realm of three flowers gathering at the crown and five energies returning to origin. Just from the sweat pouring down like rain, who knew what strange esoteric art he was practicing.
These two were still doing well—their skill was profound enough to withstand it. The merchant prostrate on the ground with his head pressed to the floor—was he trying to learn from Tu Xingsun?
His Highness the Crown Prince was magnanimous, ignoring everyone’s unseemly states. He helped up the merchants lying on the ground one by one. Without sitting down, he said to everyone: “Just now, as Crown Prince of the Great Tang, I received the bows of you worthy men—that was proper etiquette. Now I am merely a junior. You gentlemen need not be overly courteous. This grain procurement received everyone’s assistance, and I am deeply grateful. Longyou has been educated for many years and has today’s prosperity entirely thanks to you worthy men. I will definitely submit memorials listing each of your contributions for assistance, conveying them to the imperial ear. Moved by your benevolence and righteousness, I have specially prepared modest gifts to honor righteous families.”
Yun Ye took the stage. Eight sturdy men in full bright armor entered in single file and stood in two rows, hands gripping sword hilts with overwhelming killing intent. Behind them followed two palace attendants carrying wooden trays covered with red silk. Yun Ye stepped forward and lifted the silk cloth, revealing on one wooden tray a rolled sheepskin document and on the other a gleaming silver medal. Yun Ye took up the first document and, facing the old scholar, loudly proclaimed: “Crown Prince’s Decree: Zhou Tingsong, kneel to receive!”
The old scholar Zhou Tingsong fell to his knees with a thud at Yun Ye’s feet: “Commoner Zhou Tingsong receives the Crown Prince’s Decree.”
“I have heard that in Lanzhou County of Longyou Circuit there is one of the Zhou clan named Tingsong who acts virtuously in his community with remarkable moral conduct. I specially make known his name to promote moral education, bestowing a silver medal for Honoring Righteous Families to show special courtesy.” Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s Decree, the old scholar knocked his head on the ground with resounding thuds. After the words of encouragement, his legs scraped on the ground but he could not stand up no matter what. With the palace attendants’ support, he barely managed to stand, his hands trembling as if suffering from apoplexy, tears streaming down his face like rivers.
Yun Ye paid no heed and took up the silver medal engraved with “Honoring Righteous Families,” using the clip on the back to fasten it to the old scholar’s chest. The apricot-yellow satin ribbon hanging below the silver medal was extremely beautiful. The old scholar clutched the silver medal, kneeling on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Yun Ye struck his chest and bellowed: “Ceremony complete!” The eight soldiers also struck their chests, producing thunder-like muffled sounds, and roared in unison: “Ceremony complete!”
The other nine people in the tent were stunned. The old scholar had only procured one hundred more dan of grain than them, yet received such glorious honor. What a bargain he got! The fellow practicing the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown divine technique had bloodshot eyes showing signs of qi deviation. Prostrate on the ground, no amount of persuasion could make him rise. He only said that his family still had a thousand dan of new grain and was willing to serve His Highness the Crown Prince with the labor of a dog or horse.
“The imperial family’s special favor only commends those who are sincere and respectful. It cannot be exchanged for mere money or grain.” Yun Ye knew well that rewards could only be refined and rare. They could not be distributed indiscriminately, otherwise their value would be affected—more harm than good. Moreover, now that Old Scholar Zhou Tingsong served as an example, there was no worry about failing to procure grain.
Old Scholar Zhou Tingsong had gained prestige. His chest puffed out high, hands clasped behind his back, walking like a turtle. He strutted magnificently before the Longyou country folk. His two sons rode at full gallop and procured another two thousand dan of grain to transport over. At this time, grain procurement in Longyou had reached three hundred thousand dan, basically achieving Old Cheng’s objective.
Another imperial envoy arrived from the capital with a secret decree for Cheng Yaojin. What Li Chengqian and Yun Ye each received was twenty strokes of the heavy rod.
Watching Yun Ye receive his punishment, Old Cheng actually smiled, even saying to the imperial envoy administering the punishment: “This little brat just needs a beating. This old man couldn’t find an excuse recently. Now Her Majesty the Empress is venting anger for this old man—truly deeply satisfying.”
The wooden rod struck his buttocks one blow after another, and Yun Ye screamed in agony one blow after another. To whom could he express the grievance in his heart?
Twenty strokes meant twenty strokes. When they said it couldn’t affect the return journey to the capital, it wouldn’t affect the return journey to the capital. These two administering the rod beating had long practiced to perfection. His entire buttocks turned black and blue, yet not a trace of blood could be seen. Fortunately, he was not the only one being beaten. Beside him wailing was also His Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Tang. Originally, the Crown Prince only grunted with each blow, but he couldn’t withstand Yun Ye’s passionate and unrestrained screaming beside him. As brothers, loyalty was paramount, so they could only lose face together.
The Crown Prince and Yun Ye were beaten while Old Cheng and Old Niu raised their cups in celebration. Ever since seeing grain piled like mountains in the military camp, Old Cheng and Old Niu’s expressions had eased. They devoted themselves wholeheartedly to mobilizing Longyou’s civilian laborers to continuously transport grain to the capital.
Yun Ye did not know what decree Old Cheng had received, but he actually did not take the impending locust plague to heart. Old Niu, this saint who had vowed never to let another person starve to death, also seemed to no longer worry—wearing that disgusting look of having everything under control.
Never mind them. He had already fulfilled his responsibility. If there were further troubles, they would have nothing to do with him. It was just that this beating was truly rather unjust. Li’er beating me—he’s the Emperor, he can beat whoever he wants. But when did I offend the Empress? The historically renowned virtuous empress—why did she have it in for me? Yun Ye puzzled over this without understanding.
The imperial decree stated that the entire Left Military Guard would break camp and return to the capital, arriving on the designated day. This meant within five days they had to set out, with grain transport matters handed over to local government offices. The Left Military Guard’s grain procurement was Yun Ye’s responsibility. The accounts and financial handover from start to finish could not be explained clearly in just a moment. His buttocks had been beaten into marbled meat, all green and bruised—what an unsightly mess. The grain handover was also a major matter that could not be entrusted to others, so he could only be carried by his personal guards, busy throughout the entire military camp.
It grew dark. Yun Ye was both tired and hungry, and his buttocks hurt terribly. Passing by the Crown Prince’s tent, he glanced inside and immediately exploded with rage. Why should a working slave like me have to work while injured? You, a Crown Prince, lie on a soft couch while someone feeds you grapes one by one? And only picks the good ones! His mouth was even murmuring: “Little Ye also received a beating from Mother Empress. His body is unwell. The remaining grapes should be saved for Little Ye.”