Hiding inside a room on a scorching hot day was absolutely unbearable. Yun Ye, wearing only shorts and an undershirt, squatted on a chair, writing and drawing on a very large piece of paper. Realistic Tang Dynasty architectural drawings soon emerged one by one under Yun Ye’s brush. Bringing over painting pigments to add color bit by bit—red bricks and green tiles, carved beams and painted rafters.

Forget the multi-eaved pagoda structure, forget the load-bearing beams. Wooden structures easily attracted insects. No matter how well protected, they couldn’t last many years. Termites were truly detestable things. As long as the weather was humid, within a few days they’d crawl everywhere. They were like airborne troops too, flying with wings to suitable places, immediately discarding their wings, drilling into wood and feasting. In no time, wood that looked perfectly fine on the outside would be completely rotten inside.

Who knew when it might suddenly break at a moment you didn’t expect? Thinking of catching birds as a child, then looking at the tall roof overhead, Yun Ye felt he was that pitiful bird.

The famous Three Scourges of Chang’an—I’m number one. Who knew where this ranking came from? I don’t harm others. At most, I deceive fools—like the important figures in the court. At most, I make you eat a few locusts. That’s high protein, considering your well-being. You don’t know what’s good for you.

As for now, I just file a report and the bigwigs from the Three Departments gather together to study it, then give limited approval. Isn’t it just building some houses on Jade Mountain? In this wilderness, besides me, who would run here?

Fine, I admit that even if I’m building somewhat many houses, it’s only a few hundred rooms. Won’t you allow me to leave some room for the future development of the academy? Why must funding be self-raised? There are the two characters “Imperial” attached to this. Even if you’re going to scam someone, you can’t scam like this, right?

Lap dogs? That’s your family’s improper conduct—what does it have to do with me? Men, occasionally going out to socialize is normal. Although going to a brothel is unseemly, you can’t use your lap dog at home like a police dog, right? Blocking your own husband in the bedding, not even letting him get dressed, dragging him home by the ear—using a lap dog to cover the lower body was also done out of desperation. Can’t go naked on the street, right? Having something to block with is better than swinging freely all the way home, right? Who could have anticipated that one bite—heavens, any man would feel his soul scatter.

The women of Chang’an city began the trend of keeping lap dogs at home. This was the sorrow of men.

Having finished drawing the blueprints, naturally he needed to find someone to critique them. The several old gentlemen were the best candidates. Holding the blueprints, he hurriedly found the several people who were drinking tea. The Yun family’s secret-recipe tea leaves were now supplied in small quantities to the several gentlemen. Each one held a large lidded teacup, from time to time lifting the lid to take a light sip, appearing leisurely.

Li Gang looked at the drawing and was stunned for quite a while. Masters Yushan, Yuanzhang, and Lishi also said nothing. Yun Ye’s mind had already toured the world several times, yet they still didn’t speak, like clay figures. Waving his hand in front of the several people—no reaction.

Just as he was about to splash them with cold water, Old Li spoke: “Such an exquisite and grand project—boy, how many years do you plan to build it? How much national treasury will it spend? How much manpower will be used? Will the court agree? Will His Majesty allow it? This is a project that could topple a nation. This can only be a dream for you—impossible to complete. Just the grounds alone are already larger than the imperial palace. You’re even enclosing Jade Mountain, ten li in circumference! What you’re building isn’t a school—it’s a city, even a city comparable to Chang’an. Impossible to complete.”

“Money is not lacking, people are not lacking, materials are not lacking. Why do you think this boy cannot build this school? This boy will certainly accomplish it in his lifetime. Construction starts this year. The preliminary project only needs one hundred thousand strings of coins to complete, taking three years. This year to next year is the main construction period. Due to the disaster, there will certainly be many people willing to find work at Jade Mountain to support their families. If this boy doesn’t seize this opportunity to find laborers, when else should I wait?” Yun Ye spoke with resolute determination.

“Boy, this old man won’t ask where you’ll find the money. You say you’re confident, and this old man also believes you can obtain the money. But have you thought about it? If you suddenly withdraw so much money from the Great Tang, what will the court do? What will they do when they need money and have none?” Old Li’s face was full of worry. Through this half year of contact, Old Li never doubted Yun Ye’s ability to obtain money. He was only worried for the court. The high officials in the temple were like children who hadn’t grown up before Yun Ye, especially regarding financial matters.

“Is this how you view money? Is it just you who think this way, or does everyone think this way?” Yun Ye was somewhat suspicious.

“This old man believes that the court’s view of money is exactly the same as this old man’s. The only difference is that some know how to manage it.” Li Gang hastily said. Masters Yushan, Yuanzhang, and Lishi also nodded simultaneously. They had come from the court, so naturally they understood.

“Hahaha, I’m rich, I’m rich! This old man’s school can be completed twenty years earlier. You four can all witness the most magnificent school in the Great Tang or in history. I want to enroll ten thousand students, find hundreds of famous teachers. I was just worrying about being idle with nothing to do—now I have something to do. This boy will go plan it right now.” Having finished speaking, he was about to run. The four teachers hastily blocked him, nervously trembling all over, as if what they blocked wasn’t Yun Ye but a fierce striped tiger.

“You can’t do this. The academy is still only in its initial stages. Even if you build the school, there are no students, no teachers. Would that still be called an academy?” Li Gang’s words instantly extinguished Yun Ye’s soaring ambition.

That’s right—buildings were easy to construct, but where would he find good teachers? Where would he find students? The academy only had about a hundred students, yet it had these few old men running themselves ragged. Ten thousand? In the future world, this was only a medium-sized school, but in the Great Tang it was inconceivable. I’ve lost my head. Yun Ye heavily pounded his head twice. His body seemed to lose all strength as he slumped to the ground.

“This old man knows you want to enlighten the people. This is also the lifelong belief of us old men. There are only so many guests—no matter how big your table, it’s useless. Take it slow—it will get better. This old man is seventy years old and not anxious. You’re only sixteen—what are you anxious about? Haste makes waste. These days you’ve been somewhat impatient. This old man won’t ask what happened to you in Chang’an. I only want you to calm down, don’t be impatient, understand? You are the hope of us few old men. This old man has never felt that teaching the world was so close to us. It always feels like there’s only one step away. Once we cross it, there will be brightness. You cannot take risks. If risks must be taken, it’s the business of us few old men.” Li Gang squatted down to gently stroke the top of Yun Ye’s head. His words were vague and hazy. He seemed intoxicated in this field of hope.

Great ups and downs in a person’s spirit were most exhausting physically. He stood up several times before finally standing steady with the help of the several teachers.

“This boy has dragon-slaying skills but nowhere to employ them. So be it—let’s proceed slowly then. This boy is somewhat tired and will go back to sleep now. You several gentlemen should also rest early.” Having finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the several teachers, then slowly went back.

“Old Li, why do you believe he can find enough money to expand the academy? One hundred thousand strings of coins—equivalent to the taxes of ten superior prefectures. He cannot possibly do it.” Master Yuanzhang spoke. He was indifferent to the court and unclear about many things happening in Chang’an city.

“Has this old man told you about how this boy used four small iron strips to rake in sixteen thousand strings of coins in one day?” The three people hurriedly shook their heads.

Li Gang then recounted in detail to his three old friends what had happened in Chang’an city. Listening made the three people’s heads smoke. Who could have imagined that Yun Ye would have dug pits for the various ministers so early, using a method that couldn’t be simpler to roll away sixteen thousand strings of coins from the ministers’ hands, and under everyone’s watchful eyes at that, leaving people with nothing to say.

“This was only the first time. He obviously kept a backup plan, just don’t know when it will explode. Now any memorial from this boy will be considered three times over, then supplied at half the amount. Whichever department receives his work memorial treats it like facing a formidable enemy. So when he says he can obtain one hundred thousand strings of coins, you’d best believe it. Just don’t know who will be unlucky.”

The four people looked at each other and smiled. Although they found it comical, their hearts were greatly comforted. With such a fellow, the academy would never need to worry about money. How much effort that saved! They excelled at teaching and educating people but were not good at attracting wealth and gathering goods. Yet what running an academy absolutely couldn’t lack was money. How could bookworms find sources of income? They could only run one into the ground after another.

“It seems this old man’s residence by East Sheep River is somewhat small. The drawings by master artists I commissioned are also useless now. That boy’s drawing is quite good. Old Li, what do you think?” Master Yushan seemed to have an epiphany and asked Li Gang.

“Let’s not worry about the residence matter. Just teach well—that boy will handle it well, better than you imagine.”

The moon on a summer night was especially enchanting. Yun Ye sat by the window, striking a rhinoceros-gazing-at-the-moon pose. The Great Tang’s bright moon was indeed somewhat brighter than in later generations. One could faintly see the circular craters on it. The silver moonlight spread over the earth, also shining on Yun Ye’s face.

He had indeed been too impatient. Since returning from Chang’an, he’d never truly been at peace. The anger in his chest had never actually been vented—it only fermented and expanded in his heart. Now it was beginning to affect his mood. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t the emotional unease he should have. He didn’t know how to handle the current situation. Perhaps the teacher knew? He’d lived seventy years—he should be quite shrewd by now, right?

Loneliness and depression spread through the room, gradually affecting the neighboring room.

Living in the room next door was Li Ke. He was currently quite depressed. Academically, he no longer thought about surpassing that super abnormal Li Tai. No matter how hard he tried, he was always a head lower. The teacher said some people were born knowing how to learn—they didn’t need to try too hard to integrate their learning thoroughly. This was innate talent.

But Mother said his bloodline was the most noble, fusing the blood of emperors from two lands—incomparable. Yet at the academy, he seemed forever unable to keep up with Li Tai’s pace. He seemed to have already gone far away, only giving him his back.

Indignantly pushing open the window, he just happened to see Yun Ye also push open his window. Two equally displeased people simultaneously snorted, then closed their windows again.

On this sultry night, there was only the chirping of cicadas. Fireflies flew through the grass with their bellies glowing. Bats ceaselessly traced figure-eights in the air, silent and soundless. The sound of wind through pines on the mountain rose up, like war drums urging people on.