[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 10

In the fourth episode, set in Lin'an,

Cheng Zongyang never dreamed that the seemingly divine Jian Yuji would act so ruthlessly, using Yun Ruyao's miscarriage to frame Xiao Yaoyi! He was furious, filled with hatred, and even more annoyed that he had been using the name of the young marquis without explaining himself! The Yun family cut off aid to Jiangzhou because of this incident; even with the Marquis of Shang in charge, how long could Jiangzhou hold out?

The Song court was embroiled in factional infighting due to the issuance of paper currency; the struggle for leadership of the Taiyi Zhenzong sect finally came to an end; although Jian Yuji's strategies were flawless, the Black Demon Sea Witch Sect was not united…

In the first chapter

, the majestic wooden pagoda of Fantian Temple was bathed in the vast twilight. A flock of egrets flew past the soaring eaves, the golden copper bells on the eaves swaying in the evening breeze, emitting a crisp sound, their bodies reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun.

Standing at the highest point of Phoenix Ridge, gazing into the distance, the Leifeng Pagoda on the peninsula, the rippling West Lake, and even the Cuiwei Garden nestled among the green willows on the lakeshore were faintly visible.

As his gaze swept over the peach grove on the other side of the lake, Cheng Zongyang's eyes twitched slightly.

Jian Yuji had declared her intention to sever the Yun family's support for Jiangzhou, but after his efforts in mediating, the Yun family and Jiangzhou were now a community of shared interests, their fortunes intertwined; the Black Demon Sea's roots in Jin Kingdom had long been eradicated, so where did she get the confidence and means to break up their cooperation?

Qin Hui asked, "What kind of person is Jian Yuji?"

Cheng Zongyang didn't know how to answer Qin Hui's question. He hesitated for a long time before finally uttering four words with difficulty: "A celestial being."

Qin Hui said, "The Witch Clan is skilled in the art of sexual cultivation. Could this Sword Jade Maiden be an unparalleled beauty of unparalleled grace?"

Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "I don't know."

Qin Hui raised an eyebrow. "When this maiden met you, young master, was she wearing a veil? If so, her identity is quite suspicious..."

"No,"

Cheng Zongyang said. "I talked with her for so long, and now, thinking back, I can't even remember what she looked like. I only have an impression of 'ethereal and divine, with unparalleled beauty'—"

Cheng Zongyang raised his finger, seemingly trying to sketch Sword Jade Maiden's appearance, but ultimately gave up.

"I only know that she is a woman of exceptional beauty."

Qin Hui frowned slightly, secretly worried. Since Sword Jade Maiden did not veil her face, yet the clan head only saw her elegance and not her face, this kind of illusionary magic was a secret technique of the Witch Clan, not surprising. However, based on his understanding of the family head, another possibility was also quite plausible: the family head was truly blinded by Jian Yuji's beauty.

Cheng Zongyang sighed, "I originally thought that if I encountered Jian Yuji, I would fight to the death without saying a word, and even if I did speak, I wouldn't have anything nice to say. But the feeling Jian Yuji gave me..."

Cheng Zongyang leaned against the railing, shaking his head incredulously.

"It was like an old friend I'd known for many years—don't misunderstand, this is definitely the first time I've seen her. If I had met a woman like her even once, I would never forget her. Jian Yuji's words and actions were all like a gentle breeze, and even when she said she was going to sever ties between the Yun clan and us, it didn't sound like a threat, but more like a well-intentioned reminder."

Qin Hui listened carefully to the family head's statement, trying to discern the implications.

"Looking back now, I can hardly believe it myself,"

Cheng Zongyang said. "I didn't feel the slightest hostility towards her from beginning to end. Later, I sensed something was wrong and deliberately tried to provoke her anger with impolite words, but she remained calm and composed—damn it!"

Cheng Zongyang slammed his hand on the railing.

"Now that I think about it, I realize what's most terrifying about Jian Yuji. Huizhi, do you know?"

"Please speak frankly, young master."

"You pig!"

Qin Hui was stunned for a moment, then bowed gracefully. "This subordinate is ashamed."

Cheng Zongyang patted his shoulder. "See? If someone deliberately speaks rudely, most people's reactions are nothing more than a sharp retort; or playing dead, ignoring it and letting it fester; or sincerely admitting their mistake; or making a joke to defuse the awkwardness."

Qin Hui pondered, "I think it's the third one. Jian Yuji is so clever, could it be the fourth?"

"I haven't finished yet,"

Cheng Zongyang said, "Consider it from another angle. If I speak rudely, the first reaction is nothing to say, we'll have a big argument and part ways. The second seems like good manners, but if it happens in negotiations, it immediately puts you at a disadvantage and makes people look down on you. The third is even more pointless. I did it on purpose, why should I admit my mistake? Even if you do it flawlessly and make me believe in your sincerity, the result will probably be even worse—they'll think you're a pushover, and if you're a good person, you'll inevitably feel guilty."

Qin Hui immediately said, "Young Master, there's no need to feel guilty."

"Come on, you treacherous brother, if I were to apologize to you, I'd be a fool."

Qin Hui laughed. "Master, you're right, I admire you. May I ask what makes Jian Yuji so formidable?"

"If it were the fourth type, it would reveal her intelligence and make people wary. Jian Yuji's formidable quality lies in the fact that her reactions are all within the normal range. She doesn't confront me head-on, doesn't make me look down on her, doesn't make me feel guilty, and doesn't display any wisdom that makes me wary—I lost my temper, I listened to her threats, but from beginning to end, I didn't have the slightest grudge against her."

Cheng Zongyang rubbed his chest and said, "Meeting her feels quite comfortable."

Qin Hui pondered for a moment. "If that's the case, Jian Yuji doesn't seem very clever. Since it's a negotiation with the young master, the best strategy is to deliberately guide the young master's mind to achieve the goal."

Cheng Zongyang sighed. "I thought so too on the way here. It wasn't until I stood on the wooden pagoda of Fantian Temple that I realized—she had no intention of closing this deal at all!"

Qin Hui was finally surprised. "Then why did she step forward?"

"I guess she only had one purpose this time,"

Cheng Zongyang raised a finger and shook it, "to build trust."

"Trust?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled bitterly, "I know this sounds like madness, but Jian Yuji really did it—not only did I believe every word she said, but I also have an inexplicable sense of trust in her as a person. She said she had no ill intentions towards me, and I truly believed she had no ill intentions. She said she wanted to recruit me into the Black Demon Sea, and I truly believed she was not only serious, but also wouldn't betray me or play any tricks."

Cheng Zongyang patted the railing and sighed, "From Jian Yuji, I learned that no matter how clever or intelligent a person is, or how beautiful or charming they are; whether they have extraordinary cultivation and are invincible, or hold a high position and can influence a country with a single word—in interpersonal relationships, none of these are the most important things. The only thing that truly matters is trust. Even if you are a pig, if I trust you, you are a god!"

Qin Hui was somewhat unconvinced. "How did it come to this?"

"You haven't seen star-struck fans and fanatics. I've always wondered why people worship all sorts of fools. Now I understand, it's all about trust. Whether a saint or a fool, as long as someone can be trusted, people will be willing to be moths drawn to a flame—especially since Jian Yuji is serious!"

Cheng Zongyang sighed. "I finally understand why You Chan is so devoted to her. This Jian Yuji is absolutely a master at manipulating people's hearts and a genius at handling interpersonal relationships! Her vision is like looking down at the world from the wooden pagoda of Fantian Temple, so much higher than mine."

Qin Hui remained silent for a long time. Leaving a deep impression on someone isn't difficult; the real challenge is striking the right balance, showing your presence without eliciting any negative emotions—a subtle yet penetrating gaze, that's the hardest part.

Cheng Zongyang suddenly asked, "What comes after 'Peach Blossom'?"

Qin Hui responded, "The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful."

"And what else?"

"This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her family."

Cheng Zongyang stroked his chin, pondering for a while, then looked up at Qin Hui, "What does that mean?"

Qin Hui was taken aback, "Young master, you haven't read the Book of Songs?"

"Of course I have!"

Cheng Zongyang was actually unsure, wondering if the "peach blossom" had any other meaning in the Six Dynasties period, but he shamelessly said, "Can't I test you?"

"The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful, it means the peach blossoms are at their peak. The Book of Rites says: 'When the peach blossoms, it is the right time for marriage.' The Book of Changes says: 'When the spring peach blossoms, the youngest daughter will be a good wife...'"

"Stop! Speak plainly!"

"It means the peach blossoms are in full bloom, and the girl is getting married at the right time."

Cheng Zongyang pondered for a long time, then looked up, his face full of shock, and said, "Heavens! Could it be that Jian Yu Ji is in love and wants to get married?"

"In my humble opinion, your interpretation, young master, is perhaps... not quite appropriate."

As he spoke, Ao Run leaped several steps up the wooden tower. "Master Feng has brought the gold coins with him! Mr. Lin has also arrived; we didn't find anyone tailing him on the way."

Cheng Zongyang put away his earlier sigh and quickly left the wooden tower with Qin Hui.

In a secluded meditation room, Lin Qingpu had already prepared a copper basin, clear water, and shimmering powder. Cheng Zongyang entered and walked up to him. Lin Qingpu immediately used the Water Mirror Technique, condensing a water mirror with a flick of

his hand. News from Jiangzhou was blocked by the Song army, so the Water Mirror Technique could only contact Junzhou. When the shimmering light of the water mirror became clear, the image displayed made Cheng Zongyang overjoyed. "Little fox! What brings you to Junzhou! How is your injury?"

Xiao Yaoyi wasn't wearing the golden crown that symbolized his status; he had only casually tied a corner of a black turban around his neck, his elbow resting on a soft cushion, a carefree smile on his face. "Brother Sage! Did I scare you? Don't worry, I won't die anytime soon."

"How's Jiangzhou?"

As the governor of Jiangzhou, the little fox was currently engaged in a bloody battle with the two sides. It didn't make sense for him to abandon Jiangzhou and run into Song territory.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yaoyi's smile vanished, replaced by a mournful expression as if he had just lost his father.

"The Song army has built a magic array outside the city, which counters most of the magic inside. Seven out of ten fortresses have been destroyed, and the Song army's earthen walls have already reached the city walls. Everyone can chat and joke with the Song army without leaving the city. Xia Yong and that old scoundrel started blocking the waterway at the west gate yesterday—what do you say?"

Cheng Zongyang was greatly surprised: "Really?"

Xiao Yaoyi suddenly burst into laughter, "Haha! Scared you, huh?" Cheng Zongyang said irritably, "You damned fox, you dare to lie to me!"

Xiao Yaoyi pointed to the sky and swore, "If I lied even once, may I run into Eunuch Qin!"

"The Song army has already scaled the city walls, what's the point of all this joking around!"

"The Song army thought the same thing, so they repaired the earthen wall and everyone rested. A few days ago, I was doing business with a Song officer on the city wall. I sold him two pairs of silk stockings for one string of silver coins, saying they were for his superiors. How about that? Not bad business, right?"

Cheng Zongyang asked calmly, "What happened?"

Xiao Yaoyi slammed his hand on the table and said through gritted teeth, "That old bastard Shanghou! He stole our thunder!"

"That old man is so low-key, would he steal your thunder?"

"Low-key? That old guy had someone carrying a big flag..."

"Wait! What flag does that old man carry?"

Cheng Zongyang didn't believe that the old man would dare to carry the flag of "Zhenyu Shanghou," but if he carried the flag of "Panjiang Cheng Clan," he would have to quickly disguise himself and run away.

"Eighth!"

Xiao Yaoyi said disdainfully, "What kind of bird flag is this? And they're holding it up several feet high. A bunch of people banging drums and gongs, waving flags and shouting, drawing a black line along the city wall. The spectacle was quite a show, both inside and outside the city! It was like a monkey show."

"Virus!"

Cheng Zongyang clapped his hands and said, "That old man finally did something good!"

"Good my ass!"

Xiao Yaoyi was almost in tears: "The old man said that line could at least save 50,000 Song soldiers' lives."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Good my ass! The old man said that each life is worth at least one gold coin, and after drawing the line, he'll ask me for 50,000 gold coins."

Cheng Zongyang grinned as he listened. That old man is shameless. He lost money on himself and is now desperately trying to make up for it from Xingyue Lake.

He didn't know that Shang Zhenyu was also on the verge of tears. Xiao Zi's puppet iron man was a money-burning machine. He was bleeding money every day. If he didn't get some money from Xiao Yaoyi, he would go into shock from blood loss.

"Fifty thousand gold coins?"

Cheng Zongyang asked with concern, "Are you bankrupt?"

"I've been bankrupt for a long time!"

Xiao Yaoyi said, "That old bastard just asks for cash. I had to beg and plead to get a few days' grace. He wrote an IOU, saying he'd pay in cash within ten days, and for each day overdue, he'd have to pay an extra 10% interest."

"Ten days? I'd like to help you, but I don't even have time to transport the money to you right now."

"I used all of the Shaoling Marquis's properties in Jiankang as collateral to borrow fifty thousand from the Yun family. Third Master Yun has already agreed and will send the money to me in the next couple of days to tide me over . Brother Saint, you've really screwed me over! That old bastard Shanghou is a real bat, sucking blood like crazy."

Xiao Yaoyi finally got to the point, "You have to pay this money for me."

"You sign the contract, and I pay? Ask around, is there any logic to that?"

"I don't care..."

Xiao Yaoyi said with tears in his eyes, "It's all because of the vampire you brought... my Dragon Fang Cone... Waaah... If you don't pay, I'll kill myself..."

"I think you're just bored!"

Marquis Shang finally made his move. Even if Jiangzhou wasn't impregnable, it could easily withstand several rounds of attacks from the Song army. No wonder the little fox was able to sneak out and still have the nerve to chat with him.

Cheng Zongyang wasn't in a hurry anymore, and said with a smile, "If you can't pay back the money, I can give you an idea—look at your delicate skin, so fair and clean, why not sell yourself to Shang Hou? Maybe the old man likes that kind of thing. Still relying on your hands? How can that be satisfying? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video Fan Bingbing's lower body real state molded into a highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, experience a more realistic feeling... well-proportioned, irresistible! Click to enter"

"Isn't it just an ass? If it can really be exchanged for money to get through this battle, whoever dares to buy, I dare to sell!"

Xiao Yaoyi lifted his clothes, patted his buttocks and shouted, "Go ahead and stick it in here!"

"Such shameless words, keep your voice down!"

Cheng Zongyang quickly said, "Qingpu! Quickly lower your voice, don't let the monks outside hear!"

"For the lives of my brothers, I'm honored to sell my ass!"

Xiao Yaoyi shouted, "Do you believe me? I dare to say it on the street!"

“I believe you! I believe you! Compared to shamelessness, who is the young marquis afraid of?”

Cheng Zongyang said, “Stop talking nonsense—how are the brothers?”

Xiao Yaoyi said sullenly, “They are doing very well. It’s just that Second Master Wu and Young Master Qiu went to smash the Song army’s magic formation and ran into that dead eunuch surnamed Qin, and suffered a small loss.”

"Wait a minute, I'd believe you if you said it was Qiu, but Wu Er is always a coward, a sly and cunning fellow; would he really do something like ambushing the Song army?"

Xiao Yaoyi clicked his tongue. "Originally, it was our Master Qiu chasing after Master Er for a duel, causing chaos all day long. Then Miss Zi spoke up, saying that their fighting like this was pointless, and they should go and smash the Song army's magic formation; whoever succeeded first would win. Our Master Qiu is a reasonable man, and he agreed immediately. Master Er is a stubborn man who refuses to suffer any loss, and he absolutely refused."

Xiao Yaoyi said with a look of amazement, "Later, I don't know what Miss Zi and Wu Er said, but Master Er rushed out of the city like he'd been injected with chicken blood. Brother Cheng, you didn't see it, even Boss Meng was stunned on the city wall, praising Master Er: 'What a man as swift as the wind!'"

It's not hard for Xiao Zi to stir up Wu Er, is there? Just hang a bone in front of Wu Er with the words "Su Li" written on it, and Master Er will run faster than a dog.

"And then those two got beaten by Eunuch Qin? Surely!"

Cheng Zongyang said, "Let them have a couple of days of peace! Where's Xiao Zi? Why didn't she come?"

"Miss Zi hasn't been feeling well these past two days."

Cheng Zongyang stood up abruptly. "What happened? Explain yourself!"

Xiao Yaoyi coughed twice, then said, "I'll tell you the truth, don't take it to heart—we brothers all thought Miss Zi was young and kind, so we didn't pay much attention..." Xiao Yaoyi

's hesitant manner made Cheng Zongyang even more worried. "What happened?"

"Nothing really, it's just that Miss Zi accidentally wandered into the Song army's wounded soldiers' camp while Wu Er and Qiu were out of the city..."

Cheng Zongyang said with a grim face, "And then?"

"Later we heard that 60% of the Song soldiers in the wounded soldiers' camp died—it definitely wasn't her doing, but Miss Zi seems to have been frightened, and hasn't been feeling well these past few days."

Xiao Yaoyi cautiously asked, "Brother Cheng, you don't have any bad feelings towards Miss Zi, do you?"

Bad feelings? I've already experienced that from your own brother. What do you mean, "accidentally wandered in"? You think she's a harmless little rabbit? "I could guess what that brat's up to with my bare hands! She used those two idiots as bait while she herself stormed into the Song army's wounded soldiers' camp to collect souls! No wonder she wouldn't come to Lin'an with me."

Cheng Zongyang thought bitterly, "You brat, would it kill you to collect less at once! Now you've eaten too much!"

Although he was full of complaints, Cheng Zongyang wasn't too worried. With Shang Hou around, the brat would at most suffer from indigestion, but what exactly was she planning to do with so many souls?

Xiao Yaoyi, seeing his ever-changing expression, didn't disturb him, but simply opened his folding fan and gently waved it.

After a long while, Cheng Zongyang sighed, "No wonder you came in person, is that what you wanted to talk about?"

The Song army's threats and Shang Hou's extortion weren't big deals, at least Xiao Yaoyi didn't need to make the trip himself. He came all the way to Junzhou to meet him for Xiao Zi.

In the eyes of the Eight Horsemen, Yue Shuai's daughter was like their own sister. This brat had always pretended to be a girl next door, but then she took thousands of lives, shocking all the brothers.

The loss of life was a small matter; if this incident became a shadow between Cheng Zongyang and Xiao Zi, it might affect their future relationship, so the Eight Horsemen couldn't help but worry. This also showed the Eight Horsemen's care for Xiao Zi, and also for Yue Shuang.

Seeing that Cheng Zongyang showed no unusual expression, Xiao Yaoyi was relieved and got down to business.

"Since the siege began, the brothers at Xingyue Lake have been holding on, but casualties are mounting, and the losses among mercenaries and various factions are also significant. To be honest, we're currently relying entirely on the Yun family's supplies and Old Man Shang's virus to catch our breath. Once the waterways are cut off, we'll be in deep trouble. Brother Cheng, how much longer will you wait?"

"I was originally planning to wait a few more days to increase my chances. In that case, I'll begin the grain war operation in four hours. It will be decided in seven or eight days at the earliest, and ten days at the latest."

"Good!"

Xiao Yaoyi immediately beamed. "Brother Saint, if you can resolve the Jiangzhou matter this time, I'll risk my life to accompany you and have some fun, okay?"

"Go to hell!"

The little fox flicked her pinky finger and tossed it to the side. "How annoying..."

"You dead fox! Be careful, or I'll spit in your face through the water mirror!"

Lin Qingpu dispersed the water mirror, and communication between the two sides ceased.

Cheng Zongyang sat in the twilight for a quarter of an hour before making his decision. "Whether it's a dragon or a snake, we'll see in this one. Brother Lin, dare you make a bet with me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Lin Qingpu said, "Two hundred silver coins, I bet you'll win."

"That's quite a sum."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Don't let Old Ao hear this, or he'll come asking you for money."

Lin Qingpu said, "Captain Ao has many people to take care of, he doesn't spend much on himself."

"Old Ao is a kind man."

Cheng Zongyang said, "Once the Snow Falcon Gang's roster is complete, those willing to join the Panjiang Cheng family will be covered by the company, he won't have to pay out of his own pocket."

Lin Qingpu was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Young Master is benevolent."

“As long as they’re willing to follow me, I’ll do my best to take care of them. Without worries, they can focus on their work. In the end, I’m the one who benefits.”

Cheng Zongyang waited for Lin Qingpu’s response with a fawning grin. After a long silence, he could only smile and say, “I’m going to see Sixth Master Yun.”

Yun Xiufeng was sitting opposite an old monk with white hair and beard, sipping tea. Seeing Cheng Zongyang enter, he smiled and said, “This is Abbot Zhi Yong of Fantian Temple.”

Master Zhi Yong was over sixty years old, with a kind face that inspired respect at first glance.

Cheng Zongyang cupped his hands and said, “This humble one, Cheng Zongyang, greets the Master.”

“Amitabha,”

the old monk said, pressing his palms together, “No need for such formalities, sir. Since you two have matters to discuss, this old monk will take his leave.”

Yun Xiufeng also stood up, and the two saw Master Zhi Yong off.

Cheng Zongyang sat down and said, "The situation in Jiangzhou is critical. The grain war in Lin'an has been under preparation for so long; I plan to launch a full-scale attack first thing tomorrow morning. Sixth Master Yun, I need the exact figures for all our current grain supplies."

Yun Xiufeng, a man of few words, clapped his hands together, signaling for the account books to be brought over.

"Master Feng."

"Yes!"

Feng Yuan responded, spreading out paper and pen.

Cheng Zongyang had many tasks at hand, the most important being finding a stone carver to make the printing molds for the banknotes. This was an extremely meticulous task, something only Qin Hui could handle. Lin Qingpu needed to recuperate after his ritual, and currently only Feng Yuan had a basic understanding of writing. Cheng Zongyang forced him into the role of transcribing the accounts.

Feng Yuan's handwriting was poor, but he was meticulous and diligent in calculating the accounts. It took the two of them more than an hour to check the accounts once.

The Yun family had a total of forty-three branches in the Song Kingdom, thirty percent of which were open and seventy percent were clandestine. Since before the Lunar New Year, grain has been stockpiled, ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) to over 400,000 shi, totaling 2.76 million shi including transactions with Qi Yuan in Yunzhou, at a cost of 710,000 gold coins. In addition, one million shi of grain was purchased from the Zhu family grain store in Qingzhou, costing 150,000 gold coins.

Grain prices vary across regions, but it is currently the lean season, and even in the past, grain prices were between 600 and 800 copper coins per shi. Last year, the Song Dynasty implemented the Fangtian Equal Tax Law, resulting in large amounts of land being abandoned and grain production decreasing by nearly 10%. Coupled with the war in Jiangzhou and the Yun family's secret purchases, the amount of grain circulating in the market has greatly decreased. Except for a few major grain-producing areas, grain prices have exceeded 12 silver coins per shi.

In densely populated cities like Lin'an, grain prices have exceeded 15 silver coins per shi, even reaching 18 silver coins per shi. If all of it were released at current prices, the Yun family's stockpiled grain alone would amount to nearly two million gold coins.

Both Yun Xiufeng and Cheng Zongyang knew that such theoretically possible excess profits were impossible. Once the Yun family's trading houses across the country dumped their grain, the price would plummet—expecting ordinary residents to foot the bill for two million gold coins from the Song Dynasty's grain market was a pipe dream.

Cheng Zongyang had been considering this for days, and now, after carefully reviewing the accounts, he confidently said, "Since Sixth Master Yun trusts me, I'll make some simple arrangements."

Yun Xiufeng sat upright in his chair, his body motionless, but his hand unconsciously gripped the jade pendant. After all, this deal involved nearly a million gold coins, and even with the Yun family's wealth, it had almost depleted all their working capital.

"Start selling grain at market price tomorrow morning. The amount sold by each trading house in each region must not exceed ten percent, and we'll observe the market's reaction. If the market price drops by more than one silver coin, it means there's still a large surplus of grain, so from the next day onwards, we'll switch to purchasing."

Yun Xiufeng listened attentively. Cheng Zongyang was more concerned about the safety of Jiangzhou, but for the Yun family, profit was of course the most important thing. From the perspective of financial security, the current grain price has reached fifteen silver dollars, and there is enough profit even if we sell gradually. If we buy more grain to increase the price, it will only increase the risk.

“There are two factors,”

Cheng Zongyang explained. “The first is to ascertain the true state of the Ever-Normal Granaries. If the price of grain exceeds fifteen silver coins and the Ever-Normal Granaries in various regions still haven’t purchased grain to stabilize the market, it means that the Song Dynasty’s Ever-Normal Granaries have run out of grain. The second is to eliminate some speculators by first lowering and then raising prices, giving them a chance to profit and leave the market, allowing us to control the transactions to the greatest extent possible.”

Yun Xiufeng asked, “If no one is willing to buy, where will this grain be sold?”

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, “The buyers are already on their way. They will arrive as soon as tomorrow, or at the latest the day after.”

Yun Xiufeng stared at Cheng Zongyang for a long time, then said, “The new generation surpasses the old. Alright, we will proceed according to your suggestion.”

“Thank you, Sixth Master!”

Cheng Zongyang did not mention the threat from the Black Demon Sea to Yun Xiufeng. Although he knew that Jian Yuji’s intimidation was not unfounded, he believed that losing his composure before understanding Jian Yuji’s methods would only give the Black Demon Sea an opportunity.

He believed that as long as Li Ba firmly established his relationship with the Yun family, making it as solid as cement, no matter how much the Black Demon Sea tried to sow discord, it would be futile.

For the rest of the day, Cheng Zongyang remained at Fantian Temple, using the opportunity to refine his true energy while awaiting news of grain prices.

In the evening, the first batch of transaction information arrived in Lin'an via carrier pigeon. On the first day of the sell-off, grain prices fluctuated across different regions, but most remained unchanged, with only a few counties experiencing slight declines.

Cheng Zongyang put down his documents, yawned, and said, "It seems there isn't much surplus grain in the market; we can't squeeze much profit out of the merchants."

Cheng

Zongyang had originally planned to stay close to Yunxiu Peak to prevent the Black Demon Sea from taking advantage, but Qin Hui's message forced him to rush to Lin'an.

While pushing forward the grain war, the establishment of the Cheng Family Bank was also progressing rapidly. Cheng Zongyang and Jia Shixian finalized the transaction at Banxian Hall, and only one day later, Liao Qunyu invited Cheng Zongyang to the Ministry of Revenue to personally transfer the principal of 400,000 gold coins to the Cheng Family. This swift action demonstrated the Song Dynasty's urgency regarding these two million paper coins.

Despite the urgency, the money exchange shop that Liao Qunyu provided to the Cheng family through Lin'an Prefecture was located in an inconspicuous alley in the south of the city.

According to Qin Hui, "Just by looking at the shop, you can tell that Old Jia is uneasy about paper money and wants to keep a low profile as much as possible."

Cheng Zongyang was equally direct, telling Liao Qunyu that according to the original terms, the five branches, including Lin'an, should be located by the Cheng family, with the Song state providing the land free of charge. While Grand Tutor Jia's eagerness to issue paper money was understandable, the Cheng family was very dissatisfied with using this shop as the head office.

In Liao Qunyu's view, issuing paper money was tantamount to demanding a 1.6 million gold tael interest-free loan from the Cheng family. The Tao family's money exchange offered a loan of one million gold taels, and the young master dared to stand up Grand Tutor Jia; such a shabby shop not only displeased the Cheng family, but even he felt a little guilty.

Liao Qunyu had no choice but to ask, "Where would be suitable, young master?"

Cheng Zongyang stroked his chin and said, "There's a house east of Ji Family Bridge. It seems no one has lived there for decades. The house is a bit dilapidated, but the location is decent... I think that's fine."

Liao Qunyu's expression changed slightly. "Young master, you'd better choose a better place."

Cheng Zongyang pretended to be clueless and asked, "What? Is there anything wrong with that place?"

Liao Qunyu seemed unwilling to mention the person's name, and after a long while, he said, "That's the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion."

Cheng Zongyang widened his eyes and asked innocently, "Who is the Wu Mu Prince?"

Qin Hui thought to himself: Master, you're overacting! He smiled and stepped in to smooth things over.

“Young Master, you’ve been in Panjiang for years and this is your first time in Lin’an. You’ve never heard of King Wu Mu before. I have, though; he was a prince from the previous dynasty. He went astray, and his palace was left vacant.”

“Exactly.”

Liao Qunyu didn’t want to elaborate and quickly said, “That’s an ominous place. Why don’t you take a look around the city?”

“Old Liao,”

Cheng Zongyang warmly put his arm around Liao Qunyu’s shoulder, “You’re not familiar with real estate, are you? Let me tell you, real estate is all about location! That place is in the central business district, right next to Beiwazi, Lin’an’s largest entertainment district, and to the west is Qiantang Gate. It commands a prime location on Lin’an’s main thoroughfare, with convenient transportation, thriving businesses, and a thriving population—a first-rate golden location! It’s such a waste to leave it empty. If you let me develop it—I’ll demolish it all and build three-story luxury shops along the street! Inside will be banks and comprehensive entertainment venues! It will elevate the entire urban standard of Lin’an to a new level! What do you think?”

Liao Qunyu was stunned. He only understood one sentence: “Demolish King Wu Mu’s palace?”

“You’re an amateur! How can you develop without demolition? Huizhi,”

Cheng Zongyang turned his head and said, “Is there anyone in Wu Mu’s family? What if some nephew or grandson comes along and sues me over the demolition?”

Before Qin Hui could answer, Liao Qunyu said, “No! Absolutely not!”

Cheng Zongyang said in surprise, “Old Liao, are you so sure? Let me tell you, what we demolition workers fear most is that the residents have some shady relatives who want to fight over the property. We can’t afford to go to court!”

“Don’t worry, sir. As far as I know, not only in the Song Dynasty, but in the entire Six Dynasties, no one would use Wu Mu’s name to fight over property, let alone go to court.”

Liao Qunyu said, “But please think this over carefully, young master.”

“I’ve already lost a lot of money in the bank. You have to let me get some back by doing real estate, right?”

Cheng Zongyang said, “How about this: in addition to the Ministry of Revenue’s principal, I will provide another 200,000 gold coins as principal, and issue paper money at five times the amount!”

Liao Qunyu’s face turned white and then red. Cheng Zongyang’s words were worth a full million gold coins! His tone finally softened a little. "I find this matter difficult to decide and must inform the Grand Tutor. Please forgive me, young master."

"

Of course, of course," Cheng Zongyang laughed. "Since that's the case, we don't need to wait any longer regarding the paper money. We'll start printing paper money with a face value of three million gold coins tomorrow, and have your Ministry of Revenue receive it and put it into use within three days. What do you say?"

Liao Qunyu sighed after a long while, "Young master has quite the courage."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Not so much."

Liao Qunyu went to Geling to inform Jia Shixian, and Qin Hui couldn't help but say, "We currently have less than 100,000 gold coins in cash and still owe the Yun family money; how will you come up with the principal of 200,000 gold coins?" "

What principal do we need? Just print more paper money,"

Cheng Zongyang laughed. "As long as we can get cash for redemption, who cares if you have 400,000 or 1 million gold coins in your treasury?"

"Four hundred thousand gold coins as principal, issuing three million paper coins? The risk is too great, Master!"

"There is some risk, but it's less than you think,"

Cheng Zongyang sighed. "I'm embarrassed to take all three hundred thousand paper coins for myself."

Qin Hui was taken aback, but finally understood: "Grain money! So that's what you're planning, young master!"

"As long as it can offset taxes, I'm not afraid!"

Cheng Zongyang said. "Now it depends on how much paper money Old Jia is willing to use to buy grain."

Cheng Zongyang's plan was to use the Yun family's grain reserves to exchange for all the issued paper coins, thus both promoting the issuance of paper coins and earning sufficient profits, while also deducting four hundred thousand gold coins as principal for the Yun family's working capital.

Whether it was Jia Shixian, the Song Dynasty court, the Yun family's merchant guild, or his own Panjiang Cheng family, everyone got what they wanted, and everyone was happy. As long as this was a success, his Panjiang Cheng family would take root in the Song Dynasty.

Cheng Zongyang suddenly stopped and looked to the side: "Old Lu?"

A large monk in a monk's robe sat cross-legged on the bluestone steps by the street; it was

none other than the Flowery Monk Lu Zhishen. He had been sitting there with his palms together, and a few scattered copper coins lay on the ground beside him, as if he were begging for alms in front of a prison. The jailers had probably tried to shoo him away, but couldn't, so they let him go.

Cheng Zongyang looked up: "You old Jia, you chose a money exchange right next to the prison for me. Are you planning to throw me in jail as soon as you mess up the paper money?"

Lu Zhishen kept his eyes down, seemingly unmoved, but suddenly he raised an eyebrow and sniffed.

Cheng Zongyang shook the paper package and asked, "Front leg? Hind leg?"

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Lu Zhishen snatched it away, tore open the oiled paper, and grabbed a well-cooked dog leg, gnawing on it with relish.

Cheng Zongyang squatted down. "Flowery Monk, how many days have you been sitting here?"

Lu Zhishen, not bothering to reply, raised his eyebrows three times, indicating he had been sitting there for three days.

Lin Chong had been in trouble four days ago, and Lu Zhishen was the first to receive the news! He spent half a day searching everywhere, but finding no trace, he simply decided to guard the prison gate, sitting there for three days straight. This loyalty and righteousness earned Cheng Zongyang's admiration.

"I've heard about Instructor Lin's matter. Don't worry, the Grand Commandant's decree has been issued."

Lu Zhishen suddenly looked up, "What decree!"

As he spoke, he spat out a mouthful of dog meat, which Cheng Zongyang quickly dodged, getting a piece on himself. He wiped his face irritably: "Why are you just like Old Zang?"

"We're fellow disciples!"

Lu Zhishen warmly took Cheng Zongyang's hand. "Brother Cheng, what's the punishment?"

"No! No! No! Your hands are greasy!"

Cheng Zongyang said, "Exile! To be banished to Junzhou!"

Lu Zhishen flew into a rage: "Exile?! My junior brother Lin is from Lin'an. If he's banished to Junzhou, who will take care of his wife and children back home?!"

That's a good question. Cheng Zongyang winked: "Great monk, shall we talk?"

Lu Zhishen understood, picked up his staff, grabbed some dog meat, and got into the carriage with Cheng Zongyang.

"Wild Boar Forest?"

"After West Lake, it's another day's journey, the only way to Junzhou. Old Lu, dare you take this job?"

Lu Zhishen stroked his bald head and laughed heartily. "What wouldn't I dare! Good brother! Brother Lin's life is all thanks to you!"

"Although the decision has been made, we can't set off until early March. If I'm not busy then, I'll go with you."

Lu Zhishen punched his thigh hard and said resentfully, "I only regret that my sister-in-law is nowhere to be found. If Brother Lin asks about her when we meet, what should I say?"

This is indeed a problem. Knowing Lin Chong's temperament, he might search for his wife for a lifetime. She might be a ticking time bomb. Cheng Zongyang thought to himself: I have to find a way to deal with this hidden danger.

After agreeing on a time, Cheng Zongyang parted ways with Lu Zhishen. He was supposed to secretly meet with Gao Qiu to exchange information, but the Black Demon Sea's threats were still ringing in his ears, and the grain war was at a critical juncture. After thinking it over, Cheng Zongyang decided to return to Fantian Temple to oversee things, only sending Ao Run to Xiangshuwazi.

While Cheng Zongyang was collecting and compiling grain prices from various regions, Qin Hui hired two of the best stonemasons in Lin'an City at great expense, who spent a day and a night carving printing plates for the banknotes.

The next day at noon, Qin Hui took the newly printed banknote samples to Banxian Hall to meet Jia Shixian, and didn't return until evening.

Just as Cheng Zongyang had predicted, even Jia Shixian was tempted by the offer of one million gold coins, and finally agreed to hand over the long-vacant Wu Mu Prince's Mansion to the Cheng family of Panjiang for "development" on the condition that the entire mansion be completely demolished, leaving not a single brick or tile, and that the rebuilt mansion bear no trace of the original.

Cheng Zongyang flicked the letter.

"Old Jia hates our King Yue Fei to the core. Just look at those words 'Yue Fei's Residence,' I can practically hear him grinding his teeth through the paper,"

Qin Hui said. "I've been observing from the sidelines, and in the end, what moved Prime Minister Jia most was probably not the million gold coins, but the demolition the young master mentioned. Judging from the situation, Prime Minister Jia has long wanted to tear down King Yue Fei's residence."

Cheng Zongyang put down the letter. "What else did Old Jia discuss with you at Banxian Hall today besides the paper money? You looked so smug, you treacherous minister."

Qin Hui smiled and said, "Prime Minister Jia saw the sample of the paper money and nodded in approval. In terms of eagerness for the paper money, he's even more anxious than you, young master. He immediately ordered us to print one million gold coins worth of paper money and deliver it to the Ministry of Revenue. I said that the design was rather simple and I was afraid someone would counterfeit it. Prime Minister Jia immediately ordered Mr. Liao to expand the banknotes and have them stamped by the Ministry of Revenue for confirmation. If anyone forges the seal of the Ministry of Revenue, it's a capital offense punishable by immediate execution."

Cheng Zongyang hurriedly said, "Absolutely not!"

Qin Hui smiled and said, "I immediately declined Prime Minister Jia's offer. Since the paper money is printed by our Cheng family, the risks should naturally be borne by our Cheng family. The Cheng family of Panjiang is not capable enough to take responsibility ourselves, but we don't want to cause any trouble for the Song government."

This treacherous minister had grasped his thoughts of muddying the waters, but to be able to say it so grandly was his skill.

"That's not all we talked about, is it?"

Qin Hui chuckled. "Thanks to Prime Minister Jia's high regard, I, the head steward of Cheng's Money Shop, discussed the use of paper money with him. The Prime Minister also said that my suggestion of 'using paper money for large-scale purchases' is feasible. Tomorrow, Prime Minister Jia should present his proposal to the Song Emperor to implement your monetary plan."

This was a scheme Cheng Zongyang had devised from the very beginning of setting up the money shop. He chuckled, "What's your plan, Old Jia?"

"Prime Minister Jia probably trusts me. When discussing large-scale purchases, he mentioned the grain reserves in the granaries across the country." "

Old Jia even told you this?"

Cheng Zongyang's assessment of Jia Shixian as "frivolous" deepened further after casually revealing matters of state.

Qin Hui said, "Currently, the Song Dynasty has 400 military prefectures and over 300 granaries, with a total grain reserve of less than 4 million shi (a unit of dry measure). The granaries in Lin'an account for nearly 30%, holding over 1 million shi."

"Over 1 million shi? That's quite a lot."

"The granaries in Lin'an normally hold 6 million shi."

"So much empty?"

Cheng Zongyang slammed his hand on the table. "Excellent!" "

The war in Jiangzhou hasn't subsided yet. Prime Minister Jia estimates that the Jiangzhou front alone will need to purchase at least another 2 million shi of grain. I've already suggested to Prime Minister Jia that grain is the lifeline, and with the current food shortage, the people are most prone to unrest. This batch of paper money should be used to purchase grain first."

Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Has Old Jia agreed?"

Qin Hui said, "Prime Minister Jia is somewhat worried that using only paper money might arouse suspicion both inside and outside the government, and merchants might not accept it. Therefore, Mr. Liao and I have come up with a solution: the funds needed to purchase grain will be split between the Ministry of Revenue and the prefectures and counties. Half will be paid in paper money by the Ministry of Revenue, and the other half in copper coins by the prefectures and counties to purchase grain from merchants in various places."

Cheng Zongyang was overjoyed, "Brother treacherous minister, you've got it!"

This was even more perfect than Cheng Zongyang's original idea. In addition to recovering the paper money, it could also recover half of the copper coins.

With these copper coins in hand, there was no need to worry about the principal problem even if several times more paper money was issued.

The biggest weakness of issuing paper money is anti-counterfeiting. Cheng Zongyang vaguely remembered that watermarks were not difficult to make. As long as the density of some parts of the paper was changed during papermaking, a watermark could be created.

But at this moment, there was no time, and more importantly, if someone in the Song Dynasty could make a watermark, someone else could definitely counterfeit it. So, they had to use the most primitive method of anti-counterfeiting.

"The first batch of banknotes will be printed in batches of one hundred, each with a face value of ten thousand strings of cash, and each will be numbered. I will sign and fingerprint all of them. The second batch will be printed in batches of five hundred, each with a face value of two thousand strings of cash, and will be handled in the same way."

"Yes."

Cheng Zongyang leaned back in his chair and said leisurely, "Next, we'll have to see the Yun family's business."

Cheng Zongyang and Jia Shixian, each with their own agendas, were on the same page when it came to issuing banknotes as soon as possible. Qin Hui, using the title of Assistant Director of the Land Reclamation Office and a hefty monthly allowance of two hundred silver dollars, half-hired and half-coerced, invited two stone carving craftsmen to Fantian Temple to serve as the full-time engravers for Cheng's Money Shop.

That very evening, using the best paper and ink, one hundred banknotes with a face value of ten thousand strings of cash, marked "Cheng's Money Shop," were printed. The head of the family, Cheng Zongyang, signed and fingerprinted them.

The next morning, this stack of brand-new banknotes, witnessed by Liao Qunyu and officials from the Ministry of Revenue, entered the Ministry of Revenue's treasury.

If Grand Tutor Jia's initial plan for a special expenditure of ten million strings of cash in his "Memorial on Matters Concerning National Revitalization, Military Reorganization, and the Reduction of Redundant Officials" only drew scorn and ridicule from officials of other factions, then when news from the Ministry of Revenue spread that Jia Shixian was preparing to supplement the treasury with paper money, it immediately caused a huge uproar in the Song court, with voices of criticism resounding throughout the court.

To put it mildly, Jia Shixian was competing with the people for profit, which was unacceptable under the law; to the blunt, he was immediately impeached for using paper money to replace gold, engaging in forced buying and selling, and disgracing the nation; the more vehement critics brought up both old and new grievances, meticulously listing ten major crimes of Jia Shixian, twenty deserving of death, and thirty heinous acts… strongly urging the Song emperor to send Jia Shixian to the execution ground, to publicly punish him as a warning to others.

Cheng Zongyang had originally thought that Jia Shixian's position in the Song court was as solid as Mount Tai, and that his word was law, but after seeing the inside information secretly sent by Gao Qiu, he realized that even old Jia was not having an easy time.

Some of the impeachment memorials against Jia Shixian were particularly outrageous. They accused him of illegally retaining palace maids, indulging in debauchery with actors and prostitutes, and even taking a nun as a concubine. One memorial vividly described how an official, eager to report the disaster to Jia Shixian, was told the Prime Minister was busy with state affairs. The official waited anxiously for two hours, then rushed into the Duobao Pavilion, only to find Jia Shixian embracing a prostitute playing with crickets…

The memorials ended with words of blood and tears: “As long as this traitor Jia is not eliminated, the people will not live in peace! Your Majesty, I kneel before the palace gates, weeping and pleading, for the sake of the eternal foundation of our Great Song Dynasty, I beg Your Majesty to immediately escort this traitor Jia to the Meridian Gate and execute him by slow slicing! I will die without regret for the sake of the country by eliminating this fiend!”

Cheng Zongyang felt a chill run down his spine. These civil officials of the Song Dynasty were far more formidable than their military generals; judging by their appearance, each one of them had the ability to kill Jia Shixian with their pen.

Gao Qiu knew that he was completely clueless about the Song court, and each document was marked with the names of the Wang faction, the Liang faction, the Jia faction, etc. What surprised Cheng Zongyang was that the document that criticized Jia Shixian the most harshly was actually written by a member of the Jia faction.

"This isn't betrayal, it's Jia Shixian's strategy of praising first and then criticizing,"

Qin Hui said. "The harsher the criticism, the safer Jia Shixian is."

"Is that so?"

"If this memorial can bring down Jia Shixian, how could such a heinous villain have served two dynasties and held power for over ten years? Doesn't that mean both Song emperors lacked the ability to recognize talent?"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Now that you mention it, it's true. But if I were the Song emperor, I'd give him a piece of my mind if I was in a bad mood, leaving old Jia with nowhere to cry."

Qin Hui scrutinized the memorial and frowned, "Jia Shixian's situation is probably not good."

"Indeed,"

Cheng Zongyang said, "After reading these memorials, I feel like old Jia could die seven or eight times over, but he's still happily playing with insects in the Treasure Pavilion."

"It's not these accusatory memorials, but these few,"

Qin Hui pointed out. "These memorials only mention the continuous natural disasters since last year, with refugees appearing in various places. They seem unrelated to Jia Shixian, but their intentions are truly malicious. With the country in turmoil, some high-ranking officials will inevitably be held responsible. These memorials are all from the Emperor's faction."

Cheng Zongyang was startled: "You mean the Song Emperor wants to deal with Jia Shixian?"

"Very likely, but this matter may not bring down Jia Shixian. The memorials still leave some room for maneuver. The ones truly at the forefront are Liang's faction."

Qin Hui tapped on several other memorials, saying, "Liang Shicheng wants to replace Jia Shixian."

Jia Shixian's downfall was inevitable, but Liang Shicheng's attempt to replace him didn't seem to succeed.

Gao Qiu, this staunch member of the Emperor's faction, only made a few casual remarks in the memorials; it seems Jia Shixian won't fall this time.

Cheng Zongyang didn't take the Song court's infighting to heart, but things always happen unexpectedly. The next day was the eleventh day since Cheng Zongyang arrived in Lin'an. Liao Qunyu rushed to Fantian Temple at dawn.

"His Majesty has decreed—Cheng Zongyang, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works' Agricultural Reclamation Department, is summoned to the palace for an audience. So be it!"

Cheng Zongyang was rinsing his mouth, and after a long pause, he swallowed hard. "I don't need to set up an incense table and kneel to receive the decree?"

"It's too late! Hurry! Hurry!"

Liao Qunyu explained on the way that the Song Emperor had summoned Jia Shixian to an audience the previous night to inquire about the details of the paper money incident. Jia Shixian had explained the whole

story in detail and didn't leave until midnight. Unexpectedly, the Song Emperor sent an eunuch to summon Cheng Zongyang that very night. Cheng Zongyang's residence in the city was already empty, and the eunuch searched until dawn before finally finding the Grand Tutor's residence. Liao Qunyu arrived as soon as she received the news.

"His Majesty summoned me for the purpose of issuing paper money?"

"I don't know either."

Liao Qunyu added, "Prime Minister Jia doesn't know either."

Cheng Zongyang pondered for a moment. Could it be that he had revealed something? The Song Emperor had summoned him to the palace to be executed after hearing that he had connections with Yue Fei's former subordinates... or was it because he had taken advantage of Meng Niang, and the Song Emperor wanted to avenge his wet nurse?

Seeing the slight change in his expression, Liao Qunyu assumed he was nervous and comforted him, "Don't be reserved. When you're before His Majesty, just tell the truth." If

I really told the truth, not only would I not be able to leave the palace today, but your Grand Tutor Jia would also be in big trouble.

"Thank you, Brother Liao,"

Cheng Zongyang laughed heartily, "I feel much better now."

The inner city of Lin'an extended south to Phoenix Ridge. The city contained the offices of various ministries, including the Grand Commandant's office. Further in was the imperial palace where the Song Emperor resided. Coming down from Fantian Temple and entering the palace through the inner city was actually more convenient than going through the city itself.

The imperial palace in Lin'an was no less impressive than the Jin Palace in Jiankang. On the city walls, hordes of imperial guards stood like javelins, their armor gleaming, their bearing imposing. Ancient trees filled the palace grounds, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Liao Qunyu, without an imperial edict, could not enter and stopped at the palace gate. A young eunuch led Cheng Zongyang through numerous security checkpoints towards the inner palace.

At first, the young eunuch, like a gourd with its spout, kept his head down, leading the way without uttering a word.

Seeing that no one was around, Cheng Zongyang quietly slipped a few gold coins to the eunuch. The eunuch immediately became incredibly forthcoming, even revealing that the Song emperor himself had written "Jiangzhou bandits" on the white screen.

Truly worthy of being the emperor's eyes and ears, his intelligence was even more accurate than Gao Qiu's.

Cheng Zongyang asked, "Does His Majesty intend to continue the war?"

"Well… cough cough…"

Cheng Zongyang slipped a few more gold coins, whispering, "I'm an official in the Ministry of Works. If His Majesty summons me and asks about this, I'll have a better idea of what to expect."

The eunuch beamed. "You've come to the right person. Only I, Tong Guan, truly know the truth about this matter."

Cheng Zongyang's ears rang. Tong… Guan… so you were waiting for me here!

Jia Shixian, Gao Qiu, Liang Shicheng, Tong Guan, Xia Yonghe, plus Qin Hui—the Song court and its officials were now a veritable den of traitors. Despite possessing first-rate national strength, it fared the worst among the Six Dynasties, unable to conquer even a small city like Jiangzhou despite its full power. There was a reason for

this. Lost in thought, Cheng Zongyang missed the next few sentences. When he regained his composure, he heard the still-young Tong Guan say, "But Prime Minister Jia insisted on attacking, and His Majesty couldn't argue with him, so he had to agree. Then, after a series of defeats at Sanchuankou, Haoshuichuan, and Dingchuanzhai, His Majesty panicked. He personally ordered the Tiger Wing Army and others to be deployed to Jiangzhou. From what I see, His Majesty is now in favor of war..."

It seemed the Song Emperor initially disagreed with sending troops, only becoming ruthless when pressured, which suited his youthful character.

However, Cheng Zongyang felt something was amiss. Considering the relationship between the Song Emperor and Mengniang, could it be that Hei Mohai had leaked information about Mengniang's presence in Jiangzhou, which the Song Emperor had overheard?

Cheng Zongyang tentatively asked, "I've heard that His Majesty's wet nurse..."

Tong Guan was taken aback: "I've never heard of His Majesty having a wet nurse?"

Cheng Zongyang's heart trembled: Could Gao Qiu be lying?

He wanted to ask more, but the young eunuch led him to a grand hall. Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to hurriedly say, "My surname is Cheng. I'll invite you for tea another day, Eunuch Tong. I would be honored if you would do me the honor!"

Tong Guan was now just an insignificant eunuch in the palace. Seeing Cheng Zongyang's politeness, he immediately smiled broadly.

"Of course! Of course! Please, Master Cheng."

He whispered in Cheng Zongyang's ear, "The ninth gold brick in front of the throne—it's hollowed out at the bottom; it makes a loud thud when you kowtow!"

Cheng Zongyang cautiously stepped into the hall. Fortunately, Liao Qunyu had hurriedly taught him some court etiquette on the way: kowtow more and speak less; keep your eyes on your toes and don't look up at His Majesty; when taking your leave, don't turn your back to His Majesty, but back out of the hall obediently... He followed the etiquette and managed to avoid any mishaps. Especially the gold brick that Tong Guan pointed out—it did indeed make a loud thud.

A clear voice rang out: "Are you the current guest minister, Cheng Zongyang, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works' Land Reclamation Department?"

Judging from the voice, this Song ruler wasn't very old. When Yue Niaoren had his accident fifteen years ago, the Song ruler was only a seven or eight-year-old child. Considering the Song Dynasty's custom of counting age by the lunar calendar, the Song ruler's actual age was probably five or six years younger than Cheng Zongyang, around twenty years old.

However, after the Song Emperor finished asking his question, Cheng Zongyang realized that he should have given his official title and name. The Song Emperor seemed to have been waiting all night and was anxious, asking the question before Cheng Zongyang could even speak.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Was paper money your idea?"

Most people would attribute the blame to Jia Shixian to avoid being left without a scapegoat if things went wrong.

But Cheng Zongyang was eager to claim all the credit, so he didn't mince words: "It was indeed my idea."

"Tell me in detail."

Cheng Zongyang perked up and carefully explained the issuance, use, and exchange of paper money.

"So, you used your own wealth to advance three million gold coins for taxes, which the Ministry of Revenue then used?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The Song Emperor stood up and took a few steps in front of the throne.

Cheng Zongyang, according to custom, couldn't raise his head, but could only secretly glance at the toes of the Song Emperor's boots, wondering which emperor of the Song Dynasty this was.

The boots embroidered with dragon patterns stopped, and the Song Emperor said, "Apart from the principal, you've contributed your own wealth to advance 2.6 million gold coins. What are the benefits?"

Cheng Zongyang was taken aback: This Song Emperor was truly direct! If it were said that a gentleman understands righteousness and a petty person understands profit, would he turn on him on the spot?

"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. There are naturally benefits,"

Cheng Zongyang said. "As a merchant, I am not an official. Prefect Meng Teng has shown me great favor and recommended me as a guest minister, but deep down I am still a businessman. It's inconvenient to carry large sums of money when doing business. Once these five branches open, at least I can use paper money to pay for my business transactions in various places, and the expenses for escorting goods will be greatly reduced."

"That's only a few coins? You're paying 2.6 million gold coins."

"Your Majesty, it's actually 1.6 million. The other one million is for the purchase of land for the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion, so that it can be demolished and rebuilt in the future."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze, and Cheng Zongyang could hear the Song Emperor's heavy breathing. After a while, the Song Emperor let out a heavy sigh and said coldly, "It's better to demolish it."

"I am not a subject of the Great Song Dynasty and am unaware of the details. If I have spoken out of turn, I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

The Song Emperor said coldly, "These are all things from over a decade ago; there's nothing to punish. Grand Tutor Jia has already reported this. Demolish that entire palace, not a single brick, tile, or blade of grass should be left!"

"Your subject obeys."

Cheng Zongyang added fuel to the fire, "May I ask Your Majesty, is there anything to be mindful of when demolishing the palace?"

The Song Emperor did not answer immediately, but his breathing grew increasingly rapid. After a moment, he finally couldn't help but roar angrily, "Yes! When you demolish it, remember to dig three feet into the ground—"

"Huh?"

Cheng Zongyang didn't react immediately. Dig three feet into the ground? Did he mean to exhume the remains of Yue Niaoren?

The Song Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Find out a gold medal as tall as a person!"

"A gold medal?"

Cheng Zongyang was stunned. "What gold medal?"

"Twelve! Twelve in total!"

The Song Emperor roared, "Back then, Yue Fei demanded twelve gold medals from me before he would disband the Xingyue Lake Camp!"

"Each gold medal weighs the same as Yue Fei! I still remember it clearly after all these years! That scoundrel wore the heaviest armor, weighing 227 jin, 9 liang, 6 qian, and 5 fen! I emptied the entire treasury's savings to cast twelve gold medals, totaling 2,735 jin, 5 liang, and 8 qian! That dog Yue Pengju was struck by lightning at Fengbo Pavilion and his body was reduced to ashes. Could he possibly take all these gold medals to the underworld?"

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