IDWBE -Chapter 557 The Hidden Details

He did want to think long-term, but unfortunately he simply didn’t have the conditions to do so.

Lin Yi was just about to go to Changqing Palace when the Grand Princess came over directly.

“Aunt, you’ve hidden things quite deeply,” Lin Yi couldn’t help but sigh. “The Imperial Guards sent out thousands of men—just short of turning White Horse Temple upside down—and still had a hard time finding it.”

The Grand Princess said, “I didn’t choose that treasure-hiding place. It was dug out by people sent by the previous generation’s Holy Maiden of Jizhao Nunnery, the Empress Dowager, after she entered the palace.”

“Her old lady really knew how to pick a place,” Lin Yi continued. “Aunt, how many other treasure sites are there? Just tell me now, so I won’t have to ask again later.”

The Grand Princess snorted. “Are you trying to push your luck?”

“Aunt, saying that hurts your nephew’s feelings,” Lin Yi said, slightly displeased.

The Grand Princess replied, “Telling you about this one place is already the greatest sincerity I can show. What I want is my child’s safety.”

Li Lin patted his chest. “Don’t worry, Aunt. Although I know where he lives, I’ve never gone to disturb his life. Besides, no matter what, he’s still my cousin. I value relationships—I’d never do anything underhanded.”

The Grand Princess said calmly, “Good. If Jingkuan and Jingyi really enter the palace this time, then even for my own sake I will fight them to the death. You needn’t say anything more about it.”

Lin Yi asked, “There’s one thing I don’t understand. Aunt, are the martial arts you practice from Jizhao Nunnery or from Xingchen Sea?”

“You’re being noisy,” the Grand Princess said as she paced back and forth in the garden. “Since the people from Jizhao Nunnery have arrived, the people from Vajra Terrace probably aren’t far behind.”

“Vajra Terrace?” Lin Yi wasn’t particularly fond of those monks, but neither did he dislike them. Curious, he asked, “Will they help us?”

The Grand Princess replied, “You probably know that if we talk about a truly royal temple, our Great Liang only has one—Vajra Terrace. Many children of the royal family and military clans cultivate there. Their influence in court and in society is beyond your imagination. Even your maternal grandfather, Prince, must lower his head when he meets the senior monks of Vajra Terrace. If I remember correctly, your grandfather’s teacher is the current Grand Elder of Vajra Terrace, the monk Wuxiang.”

Lin Yi said in surprise, “If they’re that powerful, why has Jizhao Nunnery been so rampant?”

“Balance,” the Grand Princess said lazily. “Neither my father nor my elder brother wanted one faction to dominate.”

“So the Holy Maidens of Jizhao Nunnery can enter the palace as concubines, and the monks of Vajra Terrace can serve as teachers or state preceptors,” Lin Yi said, suddenly understanding. “That does make sense. But what about Xingchen Sea and Tuigu Temple? I heard their martial artists are incredibly strong. Why did they become so helpless when facing the foreign barbarians?”

The Grand Princess sighed. “The barbarians’ muskets can spray iron bullets everywhere. One or two guns are nothing, but when there are hundreds or thousands, even a grandmaster must avoid the edge. Human strength has limits—enough ants can bite a man to death.”

“Muskets?” Lin Yi frowned. “Then how powerful are cannons?”

“Extremely powerful,” the Grand Princess continued. “Xingchen Sea has existed for a thousand years and was as solid as a fortress, yet the barbarians’ cannons blasted it until dust filled the air and rubble covered the ground—almost turning it into scorched earth.”

“Then I’m relieved,” Lin Yi said after thinking for a moment. “Aunt, anything else to say? If not, I’ll take my leave.”

“Go,” the Grand Princess sighed. “I’m tired as well.”

“Your nephew takes his leave.”

Lin Yi turned and walked away without looking back.

After leaving the imperial garden and standing on the vast square before Taihe Hall, he gave orders: “Pass the word down—see whether anyone from Vajra Terrace has appeared in the city.”

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. His intelligence network was still inadequate.

The arrival of the Jizhao Nunnery people in Ankang City had been told to him by the Grand Princess. The possibility that Vajra Terrace people might come was also her reminder.

“Yes,” Hong Ying hurriedly replied.

“And also speed up the supervision and manufacturing of muskets,” Lin Yi said with a frown. “Have Liang Yuanzhi personally go check a few times. If they need money, give money; if they need people, give people.”

“This servant understands.”

Just how stingy Prince He was—Hong Ying knew better than anyone.

For the prince to say “give them money if they need it” was extremely rare.

It was clear how much importance he placed on muskets and cannons.

So Hong Ying didn’t dare be careless.

“Only when industry, technology, and agriculture develop together can people truly live and peace last for generations,” Lin Yi sighed. “Everything else is nonsense. We still have to work harder and move faster—we can’t wait any longer.”

---

At the treasury in the back mountain of White Horse Temple, with specialists from the Ministry of Revenue joining in, the coordination and transport of the treasure sped up considerably.

That night, Lin Yi lay in the garden. When he heard that Gan Mao requested an audience, he allowed him to enter directly.

“Have you brought back the silver?” Lin Yi asked happily.

“Your Highness…” Gan Mao presented a memorial and said loudly, “This time the gold, silver, and jewels total more than four million taels in value. I believe—”

Seeing the direction of his words, Lin Yi quickly interrupted him.

“Forget what you believe—it’s useless. I won’t pursue the silver you owed earlier. But the five hundred thousand taels you borrowed recently—shouldn’t you return that first?”

What did he mean by Gan Mao owing silver?

That money was borrowed by the Ministry of Revenue!

The whole empire belonged to the Lin family—what did it have to do with him personally?

“I’ve been wronged!” Gan Mao said helplessly.

“Wronged my foot!” Lin Yi snapped. “Anyone who owes me money is never wronged!”

Gan Mao forced a smile. “Your Highness, the soldiers’ pay in some regions has already been delayed for two months. It really can’t be delayed any longer. The Ministry of War officials come to block me every day—I can hardly bear it.”

Lin Yi sighed. “Damn it, did I bring this on myself? If I had known, I wouldn’t have reformed the military system.”

Feudal dynasties were based on a small-peasant economy.

Without industry, agriculture alone couldn’t support a large professional army. So various systems combining soldiers and farmers emerged.

When the founding emperor Lin Baozhi came to power, he created the Wei-Suo system, where military households served as soldiers generation after generation while also farming.

Because they farmed their own land, the state didn’t need to pay them salaries, reducing military costs.

But when Lin Yi governed Sanhe, he felt this system was unreasonable. Ignoring the opposition of Xie Zan, He Jixiang, and others, he abolished it and implemented a volunteer army system. Even an old man cooking in the camp would receive monthly pay.

After expansion, the Great Liang army now had 270,000 registered soldiers.

Food, salaries, weapons, and other expenses totaled at least 500,000 taels per month, or 6 million taels a year—more than the entire annual revenue of the state.

It was a bitter situation he had no one to complain to about.

Fortunately, he later accepted He Jixiang’s suggestion: frontier troops would farm their own land for food, achieving self-sufficiency.

As for regional garrisons like Pang Long in Jizhou, they had to raise their own funds.

Otherwise, even selling him wouldn’t produce enough money.

Gan Mao added, “Your Highness, Han Jin also keeps asking me for funds. The Ministry of Education has drafted a plan to spread three-year compulsory education to every village in Great Liang.”

Gan Mao wore a bitter smile, but inside he was secretly pleased.

Serves you right.

You changed the military system, cut taxes, and waived levies everywhere—yet opened no new sources of income while spending freely. Of course the treasury would be empty.

Ever since Prince He entered Ankang City, Gan Mao hadn’t dared take even a single coin home.

Prince He was famous for his iron calculations—no coin escaped his eyes.

And there were also those two fierce figures, Mingyue and Zixia.

Rumor had it the cabinet planned to establish an Audit Office, with Zixia as its first director.

When that happened, these officials’ lives would become even harder.

“Enough. Since you’re not returning the money, get out,” Lin Yi said irritably. “And don’t come near me so often in the future.”

“This old minister takes his leave.”

Gan Mao hurried away.

With money in hand now, even his steps felt lighter.

Outside the gate, Sun Cheng squatted there watching Gan Mao’s carriage leave.

“That Minister Gan is old, yet he still seems rather smug,” he yawned.

Jiang Chou snorted. “The Ministry of Revenue just got over four million taels today. Of course he’s happy.”

Sun Cheng asked in shock, “They really found the treasure?”

“Of course,” Jiang Chou said.

“More than four million taels… piled together, wouldn’t that be dazzling gold?”

“Dazzling my foot,” Jiang Chou scoffed. “Just a bunch of dead objects that haven’t seen sunlight. I heard they’ll be melted down and recast when they return to the treasury.”

Sun Cheng sighed. “Still incredible. I’ll never get to see that.”

Jiang Chou laughed bitterly. “If it weren’t for my useless son needing a future, I wouldn’t even want to be a guard anymore. Being a gatekeeper like you, squatting around every day—that’s not bad.”

“You’re the one talking nonsense,” Sun Cheng replied. “Even if you quit being a guard, would your son’s future really be bad? I don’t believe that.”

Jiang Chou chuckled. “When people leave, the tea grows cold—you know how it is.”

Then he looked at Sun Cheng.

“I heard you’re getting married. Whose daughter is it?”

Sun Cheng lowered his head shyly.

“You’ll know later.”

“What’s there to hide?” Jiang Chou said impatiently. “Tell me. Maybe I know her.”

Sun Cheng looked around and whispered, “Old Guo’s granddaughter.”

“Guo Zhao?” Jiang Chou was momentarily confused.

Sun Cheng nodded.

“Not Guo Cong’s daughter, right?” Jiang Chou’s eyes widened.

“That’s the one,” Sun Cheng confirmed.

Jiang Chou laughed. “I’ve seen that girl—pretty and decent. Not bad. Did you two fall for each other?”

Sun Cheng rolled his eyes. “Hmph. The old man Guo and my father are close friends. The two old men arranged it. What could I say?”

His father, Sun Du, had once been the carriage driver of Prince He’s residence.

His brother Sun Chongde took over the position later.

Jiang Chou said with a grin, “I’ve seen that girl a few times. She won’t wrong you. When’s the wedding? I’ll come drink a cup.”

“End of the month,” Sun Cheng said with a smile. “If you’ll honor me, come have a drink. You’ll be seated at the main table.”

“You flatter me too much,” Jiang Chou replied. “With your brother’s reputation, there’ll be many guests. I’d be lucky just to have a seat.”

Even the officials from the Horse Office and government bureaus would fill the Sun family courtyard.

A mere guard like him hardly deserved a main seat.

Sun Cheng sighed. “My brother insisted I marry a Guo family girl. I had no choice.”

“Has Guo Zhao risen in status?” Jiang Chou asked in confusion. “I hadn’t heard.”

Sun Cheng lowered his voice. “When Prince He first entered Ankang City, it was Guo Zhao who bravely drove the carriage and escorted him to the palace gate. The prince appreciated his loyalty and has treated him well ever since. This time Guo family’s third son ranked first in the civil service exam. When the prince heard, he was very pleased. Minister Chen Desheng did him a favor and directly recruited him into the Censorate as a secretary. Though just a clerk, he handles most documents himself. His future is limitless.”

“No wonder!” Jiang Chou slapped his thigh. “So that’s why Guo Cong has been acting so arrogantly lately.”

Everything suddenly made sense.

“Just ignore them,” Sun Cheng said. “If my father and brother hadn’t pressured me, I wouldn’t have wanted this match.”

“Don’t be ungrateful,” Jiang Chou said in a Henan dialect. “From my perspective, this marriage is a good one.”

After wandering the world for half his life, what he missed most was still the accent of his hometown.

---

Under a large tree near the stables of Prince He’s residence, Wang Xiaoshuan tossed a bag to Jiang Chou as he approached.

“Talk.”

Jiang Chou weighed the bag and laughed. “Since when did you become so generous?”

Wang Xiaoshuan sighed. “The Imperial Guards made the fortune yesterday. What does it have to do with me? Just say it.”

Jiang Chou repeated the news he had heard from Sun Cheng.

“In short, the Guo family is different now. If you want to oppose them, you’d better think carefully.”

“Damn it,” Wang Xiaoshuan cursed under his breath.

“If you can’t settle it, just return the money,” Jiang Chou advised. “You can’t ruin your reputation.”

“I’m not easy to bully,” Wang Xiaoshuan said fiercely. “If Guo Cong really refuses to give me face, I’ll make him regret it! Who doesn’t know a few rich and powerful friends?”

“I’m done talking. Do whatever you want.”

Jiang Chou stuffed the bag into his robe and walked away.

Wang Xiaoshuan sighed, mounted his horse, and rode slowly.

The weather was hot, and he felt sorry for the horse, so he didn’t pull the reins—letting it wander freely.

When the horse stopped to graze or drink, he didn’t restrain it.

He simply jumped down, lay on a grassy slope, and bit on a blade of grass, half-closing his eyes as the summer breeze blew over him—soothing his faint, lingering melancholy.