IDWBE -Chapter 559 Clearly Marked Prices

Fortunately, everyone more or less understood Prince He’s temperament. No one was foolish enough to try “remonstrating to the death.”

Prince He had long said: “Go ahead and die if you want. On matters of principle, if this prince retreats even one step, I lose.”

In some ways, Prince He could even be harsher than Emperor Delong.

Emperor Delong did not indulge in women, nor did he greedily collect concubines. He rose early and worked late, diligent and determined to become a wise ruler who would establish a lasting dynasty.

On the surface, he treated people with great tolerance and kindness. His etiquette was impeccable, often moving old ministers to tears of gratitude.

Prince He, however, was the opposite.

Although he constantly spoke about “serving the people,” he often did things that left others in difficult positions.

He was absolutely not easy to negotiate with. Once he had made up his mind, no matter what others said, it was useless.

“Your Highness…”

Dag, dark and skinny, his wrinkled face folded together, spoke after a long pause: “The Western barbarians are running rampant. I beg Your Highness to uphold justice for the people of the Southern Seas!”

Lin Yi looked him up and down.

“I saw you when I was in Sanhe. Why are you still so thin?”

Dag immediately replied loudly: “During my time in Sanhe, I benefited from the teachings of Great Liang—ate well and lived well. But now the Western barbarians are tyrannical. Our Southern Sea people suffer in misery. As the high priest, watching my people endure such hardship, I cannot sleep or eat peacefully.”

Lin Yi nodded.

“Your official speech has improved. You even use idioms now. Not bad. Learn the official language well, and you won’t fear traveling anywhere in Great Liang.”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s praise,” Dag said, nearly in tears.

That wasn’t what he was trying to say!

Why did the prince keep changing the subject?

Lin Yi suddenly asked, “Have you seen the Westerners’ cannons?”

Dag quickly replied: “Reporting to Your Highness, our Southern Sea homeland is now full of their cannons—on the coasts and on their ships.”

“How powerful are they?”

This was what Lin Yi truly cared about.

Until now, he had never personally seen a Western cannon.

He had already ordered Du Sanhe and Tian Shiyou to obtain one at all costs, but those two had been disappointing so far and had brought back nothing.

Dag said sadly, “Your Highness, those cannons are extremely powerful. Countless of our young men have died under their fire.”

Lin Yi said, “Later you can go with the people from the Ministry of Works and look at our cannons. Compare them and give them some suggestions.”

Frankly, he still didn’t have much confidence in the artillery built by Mo Shun and the others.

Dag lowered his head.

“I would not dare. The cannons of your great nation must be extraordinary.”

Lin Yi stretched lazily while sitting on the steps.

“Let me ask you something else. How much territory do you still have left in the Southern Seas?”

Dag hesitated. “This humble official is slow-witted.”

He didn’t understand what Lin Yi meant.

Lin Yi said lazily, “I mean how many people you still command, how much money you have, and how much land you still control.”

Dag replied mournfully, “Our Southern Sea nations are small and weak. We cannot resist the Western barbarians. Our king has endured humiliation and led the people into the mountains, waiting eagerly for the arrival of your royal army! Please have mercy on the people of the Southern Seas!”

Lin Yi waved his hand. “Don’t be anxious. You know the distance between the Southern Seas and Great Liang. Distant water cannot put out a nearby fire.”

Then he suddenly asked: “Do you know Li Fo, the former emperor of Ayu Kingdom?”

Dag hesitated before answering: “Your Highness, after Ayu Kingdom was destroyed by the Westerners, Emperor Li Fo set sail and went into exile at sea. Yet many sailors still respect him.”

“Even better,” Lin Yi said after thinking for a moment. “When you return, contact Li Fo and pass along my message. Ten million taels of silver, and I’ll help him restore his kingdom. Fair price—same for young and old.”

Unlike his father, Lin Yi had no interest in playing the generous fool just for the reputation of being the ‘Heavenly Empire.’

Besides, he desperately needed money.

A lot of money.

The more gold and silver, the better.

As for whether it would cause inflation or currency depreciation—he had no idea.

After all, he wasn’t an economist.

If such problems arose, he would deal with them later.

At worst, expansion abroad could always solve economic crises—a method used throughout history.

Dag fell silent.

“Ten million taels…”

Although Lin Yi said it was for Li Fo, the message clearly applied to him as well.

Could a kingdom really be restored for ten million taels?

Lin Yi smiled.

“Alright, it’s hot today. You must be tired. Go back to the relay station and rest.”

“This humble official takes his leave.”

Dag led the other envoys out of the Golden Throne Hall.

Gan Mao suddenly stepped forward.

“Your Highness, I believe the Southern Seas lie far overseas. It is not suitable for us to display military might there.”

Going to war required money.

Where was he, the Minister of Revenue, supposed to find so much of it?

If Prince He really wanted to show power overseas, he hoped it would be after he retired.

Lin Yi waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t want what you think—I want what I think. You think I want to show off national power? I want to make money. Lots of money. And you, the Minister of Revenue, don’t understand that?”

Gan Mao’s face turned red. “The national treasury is empty. I beg Your Highness to reconsider.”

Whether it would make money or not, he didn’t know.

But the expenses would definitely come from him.

“Enough,” Lin Yi yawned. “Stop looking so miserable. We’ll discuss it later. Court dismissed.”

He turned and left without looking back.

---

After a rainstorm came the Autumn Equinox.

Cold northern winds arrived, and the weather gradually turned chilly.

Lin Yi no longer dared to wear shorts, but he also didn’t put on formal robes. Instead, like ordinary people, he wore padded clothes and trousers while walking through the streets of Ankang City.

Many vendors had stalls piled with corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and Chinese cabbage, freshly harvested from the fields.

Lin Yi bought a roasted sweet potato and ate it while walking.

He said to Liang Yuanzhi, who followed behind:

“This year’s autumn harvest must not be delayed. If some families lack labor, the Ministry of War should organize soldiers to help with harvesting. Their pay ultimately comes from the people. It’s only right they do something for them.”

Liang Yuanzhi replied, “Your Highness, in a few days the autumn military review and martial competition will begin. Soldiers everywhere may find it difficult to spare time.”

Unlike Lin Yi’s simple clothing, Liang Yuanzhi wore a flowing white robe like a graceful scholar.

Lin Yi kept sniffling. He felt as if mucus was stuck in his nose.

He wanted to blow it out with his hand, but there were too many people around—and plainclothes guards nearby. It would be embarrassing.

Even though he had little shame, he still had some manners.

After walking for a while, he finally reached a corner where he saw a puddle on the ground. Looking up, he noticed a wet streak along the wall.

He immediately understood.

Frowning, he said: “Tell the Ankang Prefecture to build more public toilets in the city. People have urgent needs—urinating everywhere like this is disgraceful.”

Great Liang had never had the concept of public toilets.

Lin Yi had first introduced them in Baiyun City.

After he returned to Ankang, the city built some following Baiyun City’s model—but clearly not enough.

Many people still relieved themselves wherever they pleased.

This wasn’t the first time Lin Yi had encountered such scenes.

Liang Yuanzhi smiled awkwardly.

“Your Highness, Ankang Prefecture currently lacks funds. Even the constables’ salaries for this month haven’t been paid. I heard Prefect Ma Jie is auctioning two plots of land outside the city just to survive.”

Where would they get money to build toilets?

Lin Yi was puzzled. “This is the capital of Great Liang! How can Ankang Prefecture be so poor? What about the taxes collected each month?”

Liang Yuanzhi replied respectfully, “The old city renovation, demolitions, building schools—there are expenses everywhere. From what I know, Lord Ma Jie is already counting every coin, yet it’s still not enough.”

Lin Yi sighed.

“I really don’t know how all these officials manage things. What about the greenhouse projects this year? Those haven’t been delayed, right?”

Liang Yuanzhi said honestly, “The greenhouses are funded by the Academy of Sciences, so Lord Ma Jie has nothing to worry about there.”

Lin Yi suddenly said firmly, “Have the Ministry of Revenue draft a policy—impose heavy taxes on brothels and gambling houses nationwide.”

Completely banning them was impossible.

But letting them flourish unchecked wasn’t his intention either.

Since they existed anyway, they might as well contribute to the state’s tax revenue.

As for whether this increased costs for gamblers and brothel customers—that wasn’t his concern.

“Your Highness is wise,” Liang Yuanzhi said with a smile.

“You people should think of more ways to open new sources of income,” Lin Yi sighed.

“When common people have no money, they’re worse than dogs. And am I any different?”

Liang Yuanzhi lowered his head, pretending he hadn’t heard that.

After handing the sweet potato peel to Han Deqing, Lin Yi asked: “I heard Prince Dai also visited White Horse Temple recently. Was it just for incense?”

Han Deqing smiled. “Near White Horse Temple there’s a nunnery. Prince Dai seems to have formed a close friendship with a young nun there. He visits her often.”

Lin Yi widened his eyes.

“He has that kind of hobby? I never knew.”

Han Deqing explained, “Prince Dai’s birth mother, Consort Hui, originally came from Tianning Temple. The emperor favored her greatly. Prince Dai inherited her devotion to Buddhism.”

Lin Yi laughed.

“You mentioning Tianning Temple reminds me—I used to visit there often. Many of the nuns there were quite beautiful.”

Tianning Temple wasn’t just a simple nunnery.

When an emperor died, his successor sometimes took a liking to one of the former emperor’s concubines.

But due to ethics, he couldn’t openly keep her.

So they staged a little drama: the woman would first become a nun at Tianning Temple for a period of time.

Later she would change her name and reenter the palace through the official selection process.

Prince Dai’s mother, Consort Hui, had followed exactly that path.

She had originally been a concubine of Emperor Yongguang. After Emperor Delong took interest in her, she was sent to Tianning Temple, then later brought back into the palace as Consort Hui.

The procedure was correct, so no one could object.

Since arriving in Ankang, Lin Yi had seen her twice from afar.

Dressed in plain clothes without makeup, though already in her forties, she still looked like a young woman.

Prince Chu—Lin Yi’s eighth brother—had once tried to approach her.

But Consort Hui was cold by nature and highly skilled in martial arts. She kicked him straight into the river.

The eighth prince could only suffer in silence.

Having learned from that painful lesson, Lin Yi never dared talk to her.

Even now.

Why invite trouble?

When Lin Yi returned to Prince He’s residence, a little girl ran toward him from afar.

“Walking more steadily now,” Lin Yi said happily, picking her up.

He continued his persistent teaching: “Say ‘Papa.’”

“Ah—”

The little girl ignored him and instead giggled at Zixia behind him.

“You really can’t rely on children,” Lin Yi muttered.

Still, he felt relieved.

At least she no longer shouted “Damn it!” like before.

He had stopped swearing around her lately, and the results were clear.

Zixia took the child and said, “Your Highness, the princess is very clever. She can already say many words.”

“Hopefully she keeps improving,” Lin Yi replied.

His nose was still uncomfortable. Seeing a stream running through the courtyard, he crouched down and dunked his head in it.

After several loud snorts, his nose finally felt better.

Zixia worriedly asked, “Your Highness, have you caught a cold?”

“That’s possible,” Lin Yi said. “You’d better keep the child away from me. If it’s viral, I might pass it to her.”

He gave up the idea of visiting his son.

“I’ll go make some ginger soup,” Zixia said.

“No need,” Lin Yi replied while sniffling. “I’d better not stay home. Otherwise you might all suffer because of me.”

Without waiting for her reply, he walked out again.

“Your Highness—”

Han Deqing had been about to go off duty when he saw Lin Yi leaving again.

Lin Yi waved his hand.

“Let someone else follow me. Go home and rest.”

Some people enjoyed the blessing of “996 work culture.”

But Han Deqing and his men worked even harder than that, following him almost day and night.

They barely had a few days off each month.

Lin Yi felt embarrassed to keep occupying his time.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s consideration.”

Han Deqing didn’t refuse.

He understood Prince He well: the more politely one insisted, the more annoyed the prince would become.

After giving instructions to Tan Fei and Lei Kaishan, he went home.

In the back mountain, Guan Xiaoqi’s livestock pen had become even livelier.

Sheep bleated, cattle bellowed, and the noises rose and fell.

Lin Yi even heard barking.

Entering the yard, he indeed found a Shar-Pei dog.

“Your father is allergic to cats and dogs. And you still keep them?” Lin Yi asked.

“Good. Then he won’t come here,” Guan Xiaoqi said angrily.

“You two quarreled again?” Lin Yi asked in surprise.

“No,” she snorted.

Lin Yi glanced at the Shar-Pei baring its teeth at him.

“Pretty fierce. Where did it come from?”

Guan Xiaoqi said, “The people in the residence have been chasing away stray dogs from the mountain. This one looked pitiful and hid here, so I couldn’t bear to drive it away. I kept it. It’s useful too—it helps me watch the cattle and sheep.”