IDWBE -Chapter 227 Borrowing Silver

Wang Tuozi chuckled, “This is a matter for my Sanhe soldiers. Miss, you’d better leave quickly. If this area is soon designated a military zone, it’ll be impossible for you to leave.”

He had almost blind confidence in Ye Qiu and the blind man!

“Damn you, you pedantic immortal!”

Clang! Xie Jiuyun’s sword was drawn, and Wang Tuozi jumped back in fear.

“Miss, please forgive him. That’s just his nature; he means no harm.”

Ji Hai nodded at Wang Tuozi and then turned to leave.

Xie Jiuyun glared at Wang Tuozi and angrily caught up to Ji Hai.

Zhang Mian and the others were intensively searching for Jiang Kan and Wu Lin, while Shan Qi and the others were equally busy. Now that Yuezhou and Hongzhou were added to their responsibilities, their pressure had grown.

Although Yuezhou and Hongzhou had suffered years of war, together their populations still exceeded ten million! Previously, they worried about too few people; now they couldn’t sleep because of too many.

All these people needed food! If they went hungry, another rebellion wouldn’t be far off!

Lin Yi held a teacup, looking at the frowning elders, and smiled. “Soldiers come, generals defend; water comes, earth covers. What’s there to fear? Take it slow; no need to rush.”

“Prince,” Shan Qi could never speak as wisely as the prince himself.

Truly, the emperor was calm, but the eunuchs were anxious!

He cleared his throat. “According to the prince’s plan, Yuezhou and Hongzhou can recover and rebuild. But food and silver are increasingly insufficient. I personally went to the Liang and Wang families—they have no intention of lending more silver.”

“Borrow it from Du Sanhe,” Lin Yi smiled. “Loyalty to me isn’t just words. If it is, I’ll see them as indecisive opportunists.”

“Yes.”

Shan Qi hesitated, then agreed. After all, whenever the prince spoke, they ran themselves ragged.

Lin Yi continued, “I’ve exempted the people from almost two years of land taxes, but that doesn’t mean merchants are exempt. Did those bastards in Baiyun City all go where they should? Exempting them doesn’t benefit the people, so taxes on merchants must still be collected. Also, I’ve built so many roads—they can’t be used for free. We’ll set tolls, even for scholars and degree-holders. Decide exactly how much, but don’t overcharge or undercharge—don’t give them any advantage.”

“I’ll take care of it immediately!”

Shan Qi’s eyes nearly welled up with tears. Finally, the prince’s mind was clear, no more confusing “hiding wealth among the people.”

Lin Yi sighed. “If it’s really inconvenient, let Huang Sifang relocate. The Southlands are fertile; we can’t let him continue causing trouble. Save a bit for ourselves too.”

Given the current situation, he no longer needed to consider the court’s face—do what needed to be done.

“Prince, understood,”

He Jixiang said loudly. “I’ll send a pigeon to inform Shen Chu immediately!”

The ten thousand-strong Sanhe army would march through the Southlands; it was best to remove Huang Sifang and Zhao Lichun now to avoid future trouble.

Lin Yi nodded. “Once the Southlands are pacified, find a way to bring back King Qing and Prince Weiyuan—they have plenty of money. Money in their hands is just a number. We can’t let it go to waste; wasted money is shameful. In my hands, it grows.”

Shan Qi said, “Prince, there’s one more matter. Many nobles in Hongzhou have returned, and according to Yuan Busheng’s letter, they want their original lands back.”

“How generous of them,” Lin Yi snorted. “Returning their lands and estates is already giving them face. Explicitly tell them: they have a duty to serve me, not to negotiate. Strictly follow per-person limits—no more than five acres each. Tell Yuan Busheng and Zhou Jiuling: if they give others face and disrupt the law, I won’t give them any face.”

“Yes!”

All answered in unison.

After they left, Lin Yi looked at the setting sun and walked outside, following the courtyard path to the main gate.

Fang Pi sat cross-legged at the gate, sipping from a bottle.

Lin Yi teased, “Drinking every day, no wonder your martial skills haven’t improved. Look at Hong An—does she drink?”

Fang Pi lowered his head. “She doesn’t.”

Lin Yi said, “See? She doesn’t drink, so her skills are better. Cui Gengren—does he drink?”

Fang Pi said, “He drinks—more than me.”

Lin Yi said, “His skills are good, so he can afford to drink. Yours aren’t, so why drink? What face do you have?”

Fang Pi objected, “The monk doesn’t drink either, and his skills aren’t good.”

Lin Yi snapped, “He knows his limits. You should learn from him. Drink less, save money, and one day marry a wife. Look at me—always worrying, exhausting myself, just because of you kids!”

He shook his head and walked off, with Mingyue and Zixia laughing as they followed.

Fang Pi glared resentfully at Cui Gengren. “You didn’t say anything when the prince came!”

Cui Gengren pulled out his wine flask, grinning. “Too late—you had no chance to hide. I just saw the steward glare at me; I’m scared. No more drinking here.”

Fang Pi reached for the flask.

“For what?”

Cui Gengren asked.

“Don’t you remember? Today we agreed to repay the debt. In a few days, the blind man returns, and I need to pay him back.”

Cui Gengren flushed. “My brother’s paying in a few days—how could it not cover you?”

They weren’t poor, just spent all their money on drinking.

With food scarce, wine prices had risen significantly.

Fang Pi huffed, “You don’t keep your word.”

Cui Gengren grinned awkwardly. “Why don’t we borrow from Hong An? She’s a girl and doesn’t spend much; I heard the constables’ monthly allowance is large.”

“If anyone dares bully her, I’ll beat you two little bastards to death. No skills, but clever at scheming,”

Fang Pi and Cui Gengren turned at the sound, only to see Wen Zhaoyi standing on the doorstep, making them tremble in fear, heads bowed.

When Captain Hong hits someone, it’s usually minor injuries, maybe some coughing blood, nothing serious—recoverable in days.

Wen Zhaoyi hitting someone leaves the body intact, but internal organs feel crushed, and it takes months to heal.

At the Wang estate, an unwritten rule: better to offend the steward than Wen Zhaoyi.

Wen Zhaoyi snorted and led the little girl by the hand out the gate.

Fang Pi and Cui Gengren finally dared to breathe freely.