Chapter 20

Chapter 20

As soon as Yuanying spoke, the others quickly raised their hands to participate; even Li Zhi expressed his desires after a moment of hesitation. He had no choice. In the past when he decided not to join the group, Li Yuanying still got him in trouble. That was awful, so it’s better to just get scolding from father together as a group.

Getting unanimous support Yuanying was touched, he requested that the group prepare manpower and to meet him at school grounds the next day.

After the meeting ended, Yuanying went looking for his brother. He shares that he’s no longer young and is now officially a WanYe [1]Title normally bestowed to the Emperor’s brother. It is not right that he doesn’t have his own guards!

Li Er reacted angrily as he was still troubled by Gaochang, “You can’t sit still anymore, can you? Can’t wait to go play outside the palace?”

Li Yuanying smiled sheepishly, acknowledging Li Er’s words.

The Emperor was busy and upset so he just instructed Li Yuanying to pick people out himself.

Instead of leaving, Yuanying curiously asked who would be sent to war.

The Emperor glanced at him, but did not hide the truth: “Should be Hou Junji.”

Li Yuanying left with the Emperor’s decree to look for the head of the military. He requested for a group of guards who were old, poor and unable to get married.

The other party was startled by such a request. Normally these people are at the bottom of the pyramid, they are regarded as burdens and would only be asked to do hard labor with no promotion in sight!

Everywhere such “weak chickens” who were meant to be trampled exist, the military was no exception. Unfortunately, most who are elected into the military had done meritorious deeds so it’s not easy to kick them out!

Such a request is a blessing to the army so it was quickly acted upon and such burdensome people were quickly sent to Li Yuanying.

Before the guards came, Yuanying wanted to first meet Dai Ting. Being only twelve or thirteen and a eunuch, Dai Ting had weak feminine features. But after knowing him for so many years, Yuanying knew that he was not weak at all.

Yuanying took out a mask and asked Dai Ting to wear it. With a mask, Dai Ting with his height looks much older like sixteen or seventeen.

“I need lots of money and food to sustain my land. Now is a good opportunity, will you help me with something?”

Yuanying flipped open the hand-drawn map with two circles on it, one on Chang’an and one on Gaochang.

“You will need to follow the army this far out in cold winter weather. The roads will be blocked by ice and snow; it’ll be a difficult journey.”

Dai Ting listened attentively.

“You’ve served me and my mother wholeheartedly but what you have done, others can do too. You have been by my side since childhood and I don’t want you to do things that can be easily replaced by others. Coincidently, I don’t like going out in winter so I’m sending you out as training.”

Hearing this Dai Ting knelt down on the ground, his eyes moist.

Although he was young when he entered the palace, he clearly remembers how his biological parents sold him and how he lost his manhood.

Since then, he can only hope to survive cowardly and no longer expects to live like a complete human.

But at this very moment, his master wants him to be someone that is not easily replaceble.

Even if the road is long and arduous, even if the road is blocked by ice and snow, he will want to give it a try!

Dai Ting bowed before replying, “This humble one is willing to go!”

Li Yuanying stepped forward to help Dai Ting stand and told him the plan: “You are quick-witted and good at snooping for news, this time the imperial court is going to conquer Gaochang which is just a small place and definitely no match for us. This time the Emperor is likely to send Hou Junji. I heard that Hou Junji likes to do grandiose things and indulges the soldiers. After conquering Gaochang, he’ll not restrain his men. I want you to follow the army and when things are chaotic you search for treasures and bring them back. Act according to the situation, if you happen to meet Hou Junji’s men, just use mine or Zhi Nu’s authority and if you meet Gaochang citizens who are unwilling to comply with you, you take advantage and use Hou Junji’s authority!”

Li Yuanying told Dai Ting what he wanted: Number one, men who are good at planting grapes, bring them and their grape seeds. Number Two, those who brew wine, bring them and their wine from the cellar. Number three, bring literate people from Gaochang together with a copy of everything that has words on them. We don’t need many of each but we need all three.

Li Er frowned and asked his men to find out more.

Reports were soon received that the group is working for the Prince of Teng. The leader was Dai Ting, and the rest were his bodyguards or retired soldiers.

His Majesty’s face instantly darkened and summoned that Li Yuanying be brought over to his resident.

Li Yuanying was hiding in his need to keep warm, hearing that he was summoned he slowly put on his clothes and left to meet the Emperor.

“Why are you asking for me on such a cold day? Coming all the way here, it’ll freeze me to death!”

“What for? Do explain to me why you ask your men to follow behind Hou Junji?”

Seeing that his plan has been uncovered, Li Yuanying didn’t panic but instead attempted to use the same logic that he has used to fool Li Zhi on the Emperor.

“Yeah right, I really don’t think you are that kind. You wanted to take advantage to get benefits instead!”

Li Yuanying looking sad: “Lord Brother, how can you think so of me? Every word I said is true, I have good intentions!” He continued honestly, “Of course, if you can make some money on the side that’s an added benefit. Who would refuse money? Speaking of which, I still owe you money, if Dai Ting can help me earn money, I will pay you back immediately!”

“Are you still short of money?”

“Who would dislike too much money? I printed a hundred books previously and spent a lot. I want to open a big academy in the future. If I make enough money, I want to make books affordable for anyone who wants to read!”

“Do you know how many people there are in the Tang Dynasty?”

Li Yuanying shook his head.

“On the basis of households, there are more than three million households and each has five to fifteen people. Do count, how many people are there? There’s so many that feeding and providing basic necessities are already difficult, how much money do you think is needed so that they can all afford books?”

Li Yuanying did the math in his heart; and found the number too large that he can’t quantify it.

Li Yuanying was left speechless: “So many people!”

“What else were you assuming?”

Li Yuanying looked at his brother sympathetically. “Lord Brother, you’ve worked so hard to take care of so many people! That’s why we need to find more smart people! For example, take farming, many people devote themselves to planting but when the weather is bad they may still fail to harvest. But if there’s a smart person in the village who is skilled in observing changes in weather, has agriculture knowledge, can strategize what to replant during a drought, and have herbs & medicine knowledge then the whole village will never need to worry about starvation. As long as we can find and cultivate such talented people and then send them to supervise farming in various places, we can sit back and reap the reward without having to do anything!”

Li Er patiently listened to his younger brother’s opinion and is starting to see progress in him from all his studying behind closed doors. However, when he heard him say “Reap without doing anything” he got angry and knocked him on the head.

“What do you mean by to reap rewards by doing nothing? Who would say such a thing?”

Yuanying covered his forehead and asked humbly: “Then what should I say?”

“It’s called to rule by laissez-faire”.

Li Yuanying has also heard this saying, it means to rule by doing nothing or little involvement and the country will be well-governed. Li Yuanying insisted on his definition instead: “Both obviously mean the same thing!”

Li Er didn’t want to put in any more effort to teach this shameless brother of his, so he waved his hand to drive him away. Looks like he’s letting him go and will not find fault in him secretly sending people to make a fortune.

Li Yuanying ran happily.

References

↑ 1Title normally bestowed to the Emperor’s brothe