[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 26

Chapter Two

: Lin'an. The Imperial Palace. Wanshou Palace.

Cheng Zongyang arrived at the Imperial Palace early in the morning, but he was unlucky. When he was informed, the Song Emperor had just entered the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, so he had to wait in a side hall outside the palace.

Tong Guan massaged Cheng Zongyang's shoulders and said, "It's only because you, sir, have this kind of influence that you can be summoned after submitting your nameplate. If it were any other minister, even Prime Minister Jia, he would be refused."

"Does Grand Tutor Jia come often?"

"Not often. At most once or twice a year. But His Majesty doesn't like to see him; he usually comes to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager."

"How is Eunuch Guo?"

Tong Guan asked in a low voice, "I heard that Eunuch Guo has been sent to guard the imperial tombs. As for which imperial tomb, I don't know."

Cheng Zongyang pondered for a moment, "Where are you on duty now?"

Tong Guan said, "I serve in the Chuigong Hall every two days."

"Isn't it in the Xuande Hall?" Cheng Zongyang said, "I remember you were in the Xuande Hall last time."

“What you say couldn’t be more true, sir,” Tong Guan said cautiously. “According to court rules, the Grand Court Assembly is held in the Chongzheng Hall, while the Regular Court Assembly is held in the Chuigong Hall. Officials are usually summoned to the Yanhe Hall next to the Chongzheng Hall for discussions; it’s also called the Side Hall. The Side Hall is too small, about the size of an ordinary person’s home, with only one step on the steps. It’s too cramped for more than one person. His Majesty found it stuffy, so he moved it to the Xuande Hall.”

Cheng Zongyang understood. The Grand Court Assembly was like a general staff meeting, more ceremonial in nature, held in the Chongzheng Hall; the Regular Court Assembly was like a management meeting, with department heads reporting on their work, held in the Chuigong Hall; and the Xuande Hall was like the chairman’s office. It was obvious which of these three halls was more important. Tong Guan was originally a minor eunuch in the Xuande Hall, but now he was on duty in the Chuigong Hall—in reality, he had been demoted.

"You didn't go to Wanshou Palace to serve?"

"Wanshou Palace is the Empress Dowager's residence. I only run errands outside when I'm not on duty. Everyone in the palace is a veteran who has served for decades, so it's not my turn to serve her yet."

"What about the Princess?"

"The Princess..." Tong Guan thought for a moment, "I once went to Yuntao Temple to move flowerpots and saw the Princess from afar. I haven't seen her since."

"Yuntao Temple?" Cheng Zongyang thought it sounded familiar. After pondering for a while, he suddenly sat up. "Yuntao Temple is in the palace?"

Tong Guan quickly replied, "It's on Nanping Mountain. The noble ladies in the palace often visit the temple in their spare time."

Cheng Zongyang frowned. What is this brat up to? Does she also know Mengniang's identity? But why did she send Zhuo Yunjun to the temple?

Tong Guan glanced at the sky. "It's almost time. His Majesty should have already paid his respects."

Cheng Zongyang stood up and walked to the palace gate, saying to Tong Guan, "Using gold coins is a bit too conspicuous. How about this: when you have time, go to the bank counter and withdraw a thousand strings of cash. Buy some small gifts and send them as tribute to the nobles and powerful eunuchs in the palace. Try to change your position; it would be best if you could serve as a scribe in the Xuande Hall. Do you understand?" Tong Guan

was both surprised and delighted, and quickly prostrated himself, saying , "This servant understands !"

Cheng Zongyang said, " I won't help you with palace matters. If you encounter any trouble, solve it yourself. Whenever you need money, go to Mr. Qin." Tong Guan was overjoyed. "Yes!" ……… ... Cheng Zongyang took notice immediately. Ironically, most of the Song Dynasty officials and civil servants he'd encountered were treacherous, while the palace eunuchs were all highly skilled, hidden talents among them. Whether leading troops in battle or serving in the palace, they were all quite capable. It truly proved the old joke that court officials were all incompetent, and only the palace eunuchs were reliable. The Song palace eunuchs were like mute men, not uttering a word when they led Cheng Zongyang into the hall. Only after Cheng Zongyang asked did the eunuch reveal his name as Chen Lin, saying that although his seniority was not as high as Guo Huai's, he had served the Empress Dowager for thirty years. The Empress Dowager was having soup when she saw Cheng Zongyang enter and smiled, "You've come early today." "I've been thinking of paying my respects to you, Auntie, how could I dare to be late?" "You glib-tongued boy," Liu E said with a smile, "You have a new concubine in your room, how could you remember your old lady?" Cheng Zongyang secretly groaned; was the Imperial City Guard really that powerful? He'd just gotten involved with Ruan Xianglin, and even the Empress Dowager knew about it. How could he possibly hide it from Li Shishi now ? He chuckled dryly, "How did you find out, Aunt?" The Empress Dowager called out, "Little Chen." "Yes." Chen Lin picked up a document, opened it, and read expressionlessly, "Your subject, so-and-so, impeaches the Ministry of Works Assistant Minister Cheng Zongyang for colluding with officials, forcibly abducting women, and extorting money and property..." This document was far less elaborate than the one he'd used to attack Jia Shixian, but the dozen or so charges, large and small, all came crashing down on him, making Cheng Zongyang, who was seeing this for the first time, shudder. However, the more he listened, the more curious Cheng Zongyang became. Some of the charges in the document were true, but the content was utter fabrication! For example, the charge of colluding with officials in Yunzhou was false—it involved buying and selling fertile land, privately smuggling salt, and even forcibly abducting women and forcing them into prostitution—all heinous crimes that angered both heaven and man. It sounded like some bored guy was making up a novel, only the protagonist was his own name. After Chen Lin finally finished reading, Cheng Zongyang cried out, "Injustice!" Seeing his emotional expression, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You monkey, you've finally met your match?" "Aunt! This memorial accuses me of colluding with Prefect Teng Fu in Yunzhou, buying and selling fertile land on a large scale, illegally trading salt, and making huge profits. I, your nephew, swear on my life that this is absolutely not true! It also accuses me of forcibly abducting women, raping them, trafficking people, forcing women into prostitution, and disregarding human life... May I ask who submitted this memorial! I am willing to confront him face to face!" Chen Lin said, "His Majesty just brought this memorial, and the name has been crossed out beforehand." The Empress Dowager said, "His Majesty also knows that most of the statements on this are false, and he crossed out the name to prevent others from getting involved in this matter. As for putting the memorial here—it's simply to let this old woman remind you..." "Be careful, lest someone find fault with us." Cheng Zongyang said indignantly, "But this is all rumors! They're trying to pin this huge accusation on me! Has this scoundrel lost his mind?" The Empress Dowager glanced at him with a smile, "What was the matter with the new bride last night?" Cheng Zongyang coughed awkwardly twice, "It was just a charade, nothing serious..." The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Since you call me Aunt, I'm your elder. How can you not pay your respects to the new bride?" Cheng Zongyang could only say, "I dare not lie to Aunt, she's a married woman..." "A married woman?" Liu E said with a radiant smile, "Then you should definitely bring her here so I can meet her." Cheng Zongyang smiled wryly, "Isn't that necessary?" Liu E said earnestly, "You're still young. You don't know that married women who have affairs outside the home are the most restless. So many families are in turmoil because of these kinds of women. They're either greedy for money, trying to curry favor with the powerful, or infatuated with men. If you can get rid of her, then get rid of her sooner rather than later. If you can't, why not take her as a concubine and use her status to keep her heart? Bring her here another day so I can teach her the rules." Cheng Zongyang was dumbfounded by his aunt's enthusiasm. Could it be that he really took Ruan Xianglin as a concubine and brought her to the palace to learn the rules?

The Empress Dowager also thought of this, "Bringing her to the palace isn't really appropriate—Little Chen, I'm going to Yuntao Temple tomorrow, go and inform them that the entourage is unnecessary."

Chen Lin bowed and said, "Yes."

Cheng Zongyang quickly said, "Aunt, isn't this inappropriate?"

"In what way?" "It's

one thing to play along, but I'm not married yet, how can I bring a married woman into the family? Besides, my nephew has been taught monogamy..."

The Empress Dowager exclaimed in surprise, "Of course it's monogamy. A principal wife is the head of the household, and several concubines are just for your enjoyment. Such an ambiguous arrangement would be beneath your dignity."

Cheng Zongyang could only say, "Could we postpone it for a few days? The money shop is too busy these days."

"Little Chen, check the auspicious day."

Chen Lin flipped through the almanac, "The eighteenth is an auspicious day, suitable for marriage and taking concubines."

"Then it must be eighteen."

Cheng Zongyang had originally intended to subtly inquire about Princess Yuan's affairs upon entering the palace, but the Empress Dowager's words had rendered him completely indifferent. He could only say with a bitter face, "As you instructed, Aunt, I will take her to Yuntao Temple to pay her respects in a few days. But is it necessary to take a concubine? After all, she already has a husband."

The Empress Dowager said, "So what if she has a husband? Taking a concubine is not the same as marrying a principal wife. You can take one privately." What a scoundrel

! What have you done to the Empress Dowager, the mother of the nation...

? Cheng Zongyang couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had to agree and said with a wry smile, "Actually, the reason I entered the palace this time is to ask Aunt for a decree." Liu

E smiled and asked, "What decree?"

……… ...

However, these palaces were not inhabited by the living, but by the dead—this was the imperial mausoleum of the Song emperors of past dynasties.

Behind the mausoleum was a row of small houses, the residences of the tomb keepers. To avoid disturbing the sleeping monarchs, the tomb keepers' houses had no windows, only a small door in the shade. Cheng Zongyang entered, travel-worn, and immediately frowned. "Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video, Fan Bingbing's lower body realistically molded, highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large-particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, experience a more realistic feeling... Inhaling and exhaling rhythmically, irresistible! Click to enter."

Although it was summer, the room, which had never seen sunlight, was damp and cold, filled with a foul odor. Compared to the palaces not far away, this place resembled a cold, dark tomb.

Cheng Zongyang bent down, looking at a hunched figure on the bed.

Guo Huai, already short, seemed half his former size, thin and wiry like rotten wood. The bandages on his shoulders hadn't been changed in ages, stained with blood and sticking to his clothes. A bowl of thin porridge beside him had long since gone cold, with a few flies buzzing around it.

Feng Deming, dressed in plain clothes, stood behind Cheng Zongyang with a grim face and bowed head. A minor official guarding the tomb, however, was arrogant and disdainful of the eunuchs because of his status as a civil official.

He kicked the bamboo couch, "Get up! Get up!"

Guo Huai barely opened his eyes, revealing cloudy pupils.

"By the Empress Dowager's benevolent decree, the palace eunuch Guo Huai is permitted to return to his hometown." The minor official, having read the decree, said expressionlessly, "Guo, go."

Guo Huai coughed laboriously, his throat hoarse like a bellows, and asked, "Where to?"

"I don't care where you go!" the minor official snapped. "You've already been banished from the palace! Is this imperial mausoleum a place for you? Get out of here!"

Guo Huai struggled to get up, but due to his severe injuries, half his body was almost useless, and he couldn't lift himself despite several attempts.

Suddenly, a pair of arms reached out and steadily helped him up.

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "I've come to take you home, Eunuch."

Jin Wuzhu carried the old eunuch onto the carriage like a bundle of dry firewood, covering him thickly with a fox fur coat. Feng Deming stepped back, knelt down, and kowtowed to Cheng Zongyang. "This old servant thanks you on behalf of Eunuch Guo, young master."

Cheng Zongyang, holding onto the saddle, said, "You flatter me. Eunuch Guo has served my aunt for many years, and now that he is old, it is only right for me, as his nephew, to care for him in his old age."

Feng Deming said nothing more, kowtowed again deeply, and then silently got up and left.

Cheng Zongyang stood in the wind for a moment, then mounted his horse. "I'll escort Eunuch Guo back to Cuiwei Garden, and then I'll go to the city!" ………

... Gao Qiu took a sip of hops wine. "Why didn't you call Gui'er and Jiao'er to serve you?" Cheng Zongyang refilled his tin can while saying, "This is a serious matter. I didn't even dare tell my own men." Gao Qiu calmly picked up a cigar. "Tell me about it." "His Majesty has no wet nurse," Cheng Zongyang said. "The one missing from the palace is the eldest princess." Silence fell in the room. Cheng Zongyang drank his slightly bitter beer, watching Gao Qiu across from him. According to him, Meng Niang was the Song Emperor's wet nurse. Because the Song Emperor had never married, Gao Qiu suspected the Song Emperor and his wet nurse of having an affair. He had taken it upon himself to find Meng Niang, regardless of life or death, to prevent the scandal from leaking. But Cheng Zongyang now knew Meng Niang's true identity was the eldest princess of Song, the Song Emperor's aunt. Gao Qiu's reason for eliminating her was completely invalid. Cheng Zongyang had considered not revealing this matter, leaving Gao Qiu with some secrets. But Lu Qian's dying words made him wary—Meng Niang held a great secret concerning the survival of Song! Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but think that this secret might be the real reason Jian Yuji left the Song Kingdom. With the shareholders' meeting approaching, he was about to leave the Song Kingdom for the Taiquan Ancient Formation in Canglan. Leaving this bomb behind could easily blow him to smithereens. Gao Qiu slowly sipped his hops wine, then exhaled a puff of his cigar and said calmly, "Someone from the Censorate has submitted a memorial to impeach you." Cheng Zongyang said, "I've already seen it. The person who wrote the memorial is truly insane, fabricating baseless accusations against me." "I wrote that memorial." Cheng Zongyang paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "Never mind." "His Majesty ordered me to write it." Cheng Zongyang was truly stunned now. Gao Qiu said, “You’ve been quite dutiful in court, but your money shop is too prominent, attracting the envy of many. If someone tries to gain fame by exploiting you, they could find a few minor but real issues to impeach you, not only making you look bad but also putting His Majesty in a difficult position. Now that someone has preemptively submitted a memorial, and His Majesty has expressed his support for you, even if someone else is still envious, they’ll know to weigh the consequences.” “His Majesty asked you to submit a memorial impeaching me to protect me?” “His Majesty has always governed with virtue.” Gao Qiu emphasized the last four words, then said, “If someone really finds something wrong with you, His Majesty can’t just blindly favor you. Now, by using this as a pretext, those censors are all discerning, and this will reduce trouble in the future.” Cheng Zongyang closed his eyes and pondered for a long time, finally understanding why Gao Qiu had brought up these seemingly unrelated topics. "Is the order to kill the eldest princess His Majesty's will?" Gao Qiu neither nodded nor shook his head, but instead brought up another unrelated matter, "When the late Emperor passed away, his will stipulated that the throne should be passed to Your Majesty. Wang Yuyu was a Hanlin Academician, but he refused to draft the edict." Cheng Zongyang's throat went dry, realizing that he was uncovering the deepest secret of the Song Dynasty.

Gao Qiu only said one sentence and then fell silent. Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to ask, "Who is His Majesty's birth mother?"

"Empress Dowager Wei."

"In what year did His Majesty ascend the throne?"

"His Majesty was one year old when he ascended the throne, and he is now twenty-two."

"Who is his father?"

Gao Qiu said in a deep voice, "Of course, it's the late Emperor!"

"Then why did Wang Yuyu refuse to draft the edict?"

Gao Qiu drank half a cup of hops wine in one gulp. "The late Emperor had several sons, all of whom died before they were six months old. It was rumored that the palace was unlucky for children, so His Majesty grew up outside the palace from a young age. He was only summoned into the palace by the Empress Dowager a few days before the late Emperor's death."

"Didn't anyone suspect anything?"

"With the Empress and the Empress Dowager inside, and Prince Wu Mu and Grand Tutor Jia outside, and with the late Emperor's oral edict, where is there any suspicion?"

Cheng Zongyang frowned. Although Gao Qiu didn't give any conclusion, the inside story he revealed was enough to make people think. If the Song Emperor was a fraud, the prime suspect would be Yue Niaoren, but Yue Niaoren could only father daughters, so where would he get a son to impersonate him?

Moreover, Jia Shixian was involved in this affair; no wonder he'd held power for so many years. But who was the Song Emperor's real father? Why was this secret on Mengniang? Was the order to eliminate Mengniang truly given by the Song Emperor?

This series of questions left Cheng Zongyang completely bewildered.

"Drink today, for tomorrow we may die!" Gao Qiu raised his wine cup. "Who cares about drinking cold water tomorrow! Come!"

…………………………………………………………………………………

Back at Cuiwei Garden, a loud shout rang in his ears: "Master!"

Hearing this eager greeting, he knew it was Gao Yanei.

Cheng Zongyang jumped off his horse. "Haven't seen you for days, where have you been gallivanting off to?"

Gao Yanei's eyebrows danced with excitement. "The merchants in the city have just brought in a batch of clothes called 'Rainbow Silk Robes'! They say they're woven from rainbow silk gathered from the far north, in red, white, blue, and black! They're so thin and sheer! Wearing them makes you look like you've been painted! As soon as they arrived, the courtesans in the brothels went crazy for them, and they were all sold out in just a few days. Now, any courtesan who doesn't own a Rainbow Silk Robe has no right to call herself a top courtesan!"

Merchants' sense of smell and reaction were indeed the fastest; as soon as the war ended, someone was already selling Rainbow Silk Robes to Lin'an. This stuff was incredibly alluring to both men and women, and those merchants were bound to make a fortune.

Cheng Zongyang casually tossed the riding whip to Gao Yanei, saying as they walked, "It won't take more than a few days to look at some clothes, right?"

"Master, you don't know! That Neon Silk Robe is worn close to the skin. Just one long stocking, with a pretty girl sticking out her white legs, is beautiful. Wearing it is one thing, but taking it off little by little is another! If you pay enough to have a pretty girl dance in the stockings, her two white, smooth legs wrapped around you, it's beautiful to the bone! Not to mention having your little brother squeezed between her two soft little feet, that feels so good..."

Gao Yanei placed his hands on his chest, his eyes narrowed in a daze.

"Come on, you're still thinking about it now."

"I haven't even mentioned the bra! And the panties! With the old-fashioned undergarments, you could see the buttocks by pulling down the panties, but with this Neon Silk Robe, you have to pull down the buttocks to see!"

Suddenly, Gao Yanei shut his mouth, revealing a lustful expression.

Li Shishi, holding a scroll of poems, her face flushed, was clearly discussing poetry in the courtyard when she overheard Gao Yanei's blatant words.

Wang Hui glanced at Cheng Zongyang with a smile, then took Li Shishi's arm and left.

Cheng Zongyang said to Gao Yanei irritably, "Wipe your drool! Miss Shishi is already in my household, what are you still thinking about!"

Gao Yanei cried out in protest, "If I had even the slightest wicked thought about Miss Shishi, I'd jump into the lake and turn into a turtle!" He lowered his voice, "Master, who's that young lady over there? She looks like she's just had her first child."

"I say, you little brat, you specialize in mature women, don't you?"

Gao Yanei said righteously, "Women are like peaches, they're only delicious when they're ripe! The one I hooked up with last time was just like a ripe peach, juice dripping out as soon as you broke her open..."

"Stop! The more you talk, the more excited you get!"

The two entered the hall, and Gao Yanei diligently hung his riding whip on the wall, then said, "Master, I just heard some good news, so I came to find you right away."

"What good news?"

"There's a timber shop in the north of the city. It used to be quite successful, but two ships sank during the year, and all the timber shipped from overseas went down the drain. The shop's stockpiled timber was also sold out before the fire, resulting in the loss of a major deal. The day before yesterday, they finally sold a few pieces of high-quality timber, but last night several unscrupulous employees ran off with the money. Seeing that the business was failing, the owner had no choice but to sell it. Now, the shop still has some high-quality timber, totaling about seventy or eighty thousand strings of cash, which they're selling for fifty thousand strings."

"Fifty thousand strings isn't too much. Surely you can afford it, young master?"

Gao Yanei said. "I spend money for fun, I have no interest in making money. My father makes money so I can spend it, doesn't he?"

"If you weren't interested, why did you come looking for me?"

Gao Yanei said with a fawning smile. "To be honest, I've taken a fancy to a nun in the nunnery next door. Doesn't Master like buying land? He took over the timber business and bought the nunnery next door as well. The nuns in the nunnery have nowhere to stay, so I can take them home and have them leave the nunnery."

Cheng Zongyang's heart skipped a beat. "What nunnery?"

"I think it's called Buddha Heart Nunnery."

Cheng Zongyang narrowed his eyes. "The nun you've taken a fancy to isn't Yang Liu, is she?"

"No." Gao Yanei said, "It's her master."

Cheng Zongyang spat out a mouthful of tea. He had thought this brat had changed his taste, but it turned out he still preferred the same thing.

Gao Yanei said, "Little Liangzi has taken a fancy to that little nun. I heard that little nun has a bad reputation. It seems she's having an affair with some monk in a temple. It's all over the place. Little Liangzi went to chat her up, but she scolded him instead. How embarrassing!"

Scolded? If it were me, you would have been beaten up!

Cheng Zongyang said, "I'm not interested in this business. Whoever wants to do it can do it."

"Master! Master! I'll provide the capital, can't you just show your face?"

Cheng Zongyang found it strange. "You're willing to provide the capital, can't you find someone else?"

"To tell you the truth, Master," Gao Yanei said with a bitter face, "the nuns in that nunnery are quite skilled, we can't beat them..."

Cheng Zongyang suddenly realized, "You little brat, you want me to help you snatch people."

Gao Yanei chuckled, "That dog Lu Qian has disappeared, and Fu An is weak. I don't even have a single capable person under my command. Master, those few barbarian men under your command look pretty good. Can I borrow them? Master, I won't let you work for nothing. You provide the men, I'll provide the money! After it's done, I'll get Nan Yuan Yi Zhi Hua from Xiao Liangzi, so Master can have a few days of fun."

Cheng Zongyang gave him a deep look, then said, "Sure. It's just that I'm too busy these days. Come alone in a few days, and I'll make arrangements for you."

"Can tomorrow work?"

"No time!" Cheng Zongyang said, "I'll find some time and have someone inform you. Remember, come alone, don't bring anyone!"

"Yes, Master!"

Gao Yanei left happily.

Cheng Zongyang called out, "Huizhi!"

Qin Hui flashed in.

"When will Lao Ao arrive?"

"He received the news and rode back quickly. According to the journey, it will take more than ten days, I'm afraid he won't make it to the conference."

Cheng Zongyang stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. "Did you hear what Gao Yanei said just now?"

Qin Hui nodded.

"This matter sounds a bit suspicious to me," Cheng Zongyang said. "Investigate the background of the runaway workers."

"No need to investigate," Qin Hui said. "That timber shop is one that Lu Qian used to frequent."

Cheng Zongyang sneered, "Has the Wuzong already started withdrawing people?"

"I found five suspicious points in the Imperial City Guard's files, and four of them are now deserted. I was just about to ask you, young master, if we should take over those businesses to prevent outsiders from profiting."

Cheng Zongyang pondered for a moment. "Don't take them over. Keep an eye on them from a distance, and pretend you don't know anything. It would be best to reactivate these undercover agents when the Wuzong returns."

"I understand," Qin Hui said. "Unfortunately, the Imperial City Guard only focuses on Lin'an, and has very little information from outside sources. Even if they do, it's mostly from the officials in charge."

"We can't manage those from other places for now, and we don't need to. Just ensure peace in Lin'an," Cheng Zongyang said. "The shareholders should be arriving in the next few days. You and Qingpu will arrange the accommodations and receptions. The more lively the better, don't worry about spending money."

Qin Hui cupped his hands and said, "Yes, sir!"

"Qingpu! Find a way to send a message to Lao Ao, telling him not to come to Lin'an, but to go directly to the Han Kingdom."

Lin Qingpu said, "Yes."

Back at the waterside pavilion, Cheng Zongyang first looked at the note posted outside the pavilion. It was Qin Hui's handwriting: "Dear esteemed guests, my reception hours are from Chenshi to Youshi every day. Location: Outer courtyard reception hall. Knock to enter. I regret that I cannot receive guests at other times and places."

"Is there still no news?"

"This servant has been waiting all day, and no one from the 'Po Mi' has come." Zhuo Yunjun curled up in her master's arms, her soft, white feet swimming like silver fish in his palm.

Zhuo Yunjun had recovered to her peak cultivation level, and with the martial arts force around him secured, Cheng Zongyang removed the hidden curtains from the waterside pavilion to prevent anyone from seeing the Taiyi True Sect's instructor in his room.

"That old bald thief is so patient? Could he be lost?"

Cheng Zongyang waited for half an hour without any movement, so he simply put his arm around Zhuo Yunjun and walked into the inner room.

Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the two ornate lattice doors facing the lake were kicked open, followed by a hearty laugh, "Hahahaha!"

Chapter Three:

Zhuo Yunjun silently slipped into the inner room. Cheng Zongyang, his hands raised in vain, felt a surge of anger. "You bald thief! Didn't you see the note on the door?"

"Oh?" The old monk, now deceased, hurriedly went to look, and after a while, came in with the note. He frowned, looked at it for a long time, then threw it away, saying nonchalantly, "Who would look at that thing! This old monk can't read. What does it say?"

Cheng Zongyang waved his hand helplessly, "What it says is none of your business."

The old monk, without any hesitation, picked up whose teacup it was and drank it all in one gulp. "This old monk was dying of thirst! What kind of tea is this? It smells quite good."

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "What kind of tea? That's my concubine's foot-washing water."

"Washing feet in a teacup?" The old monk snorted, "Are you taking advantage of this old monk, thinking I've never seen a woman before?"

"We've already drunk, why ask so many questions? It'll only make you sick!" Cheng Zongyang opened his folding fan and slowly fanned himself. "Tell me, what conditions did you offer?"

"Gold thread!" The dead old monk opened one hand, then bent three fingers. "Two qian!"

"A kasaya!" He bent another finger. "One piece."

The dead old monk suddenly spread his five fingers wide. "Cloth shoes! Five pairs!"

Then he spread both hands wide. "Cloth socks! Ten!"

"Get out!"

"Why are you so aloof, young benefactor?"

"Five pairs of shoes and socks, a tattered kasaya, and you think you can exchange them for the heirloom robe of the Ten Directions Forest?"

The dead old monk said urgently, "And gold thread!"

"Two qian? You think you can offer that? Is it even worth a string of cash? I'll double it! Two strings of cash! I'll buy as many as you have!"

“Amitabha,” the deceased old monk said with a sorrowful expression, “Please, benefactor, show mercy for the sake of this old monk, for the sake of me being a monk.”

Cheng Zongyang showed an expression of being too lazy to argue with him, and raised his face to wave his fan.

The deceased old monk rambled on for a long time, nothing more than the fact that monks live a hard life, have no money, and five pairs of shoes and socks and one robe are not a small amount.

Cheng Zongyang suddenly said, “How did you two get involved with Long Chen?”

The deceased old monk sighed, “This matter is—like a child without a mother, it’s a long story…”

When Master Yishibushi of Dafu Lingjiu Temple established the Ten Directions Monastery, the various sects of Buddhism were originally happy to see it, but the Ten Directions Monastery’s subsequent interpretation of the original meaning of Buddhist scriptures caused a great uproar. In the interpretation of the scriptures by Master Bu Shi, the Buddhas of the past, present, and future are explained as a trinity; the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is interpreted as heaven, and it is believed that all who believe in the true meaning of the Buddhist scriptures will become Buddhas and enter heaven to attain eternal life, while those who do not believe in the true meaning of the Buddhist scriptures will fall into hell; the story of cutting flesh to feed a tiger is interpreted as the Buddha atoning for humanity's sins with his own body and blood, and even goes further to propose original sin.

These changes are still within the scope of debates on Buddhist scriptures, but then Master Bu Shi revised the Buddhist precepts into the Ten Commandments. The first commandment, which explains the "non-dualistic Dharma" as "there is no truth outside of the Buddha," is relatively acceptable; the second commandment, "do not establish Buddha images," is generally disagreed with by various schools of Buddhism, but with the Zen school's precept against relying on written words, and Buddhism not being bound by external things, they merely frowned at this. The third commandment, "Do not falsely invoke the name of the Buddha," was unacceptable even to the most tolerant Buddhist sects. Reciting the Buddha's name is a fundamental Buddhist practice; the phrase "Amitabha" is on the lips of every monk.

This third commandment sparked heated debate not only among monasteries but also among the monks of Lingjiu Monastery. Under such immense pressure, Master Yishibushi could not remain steadfast and ultimately defined "the name of the Buddha" as his given name, "Shakyamuni," disregarding all others, thus preventing the demise of the ten-direction monastery.

Even so, the monastery's misinterpretation of the original meaning of Buddhist scriptures still caused considerable controversy among high-ranking monks. Master Yishibushi fiercely opposed this, labeling all dissenting opinions as heretical.

Master Yishibushi's extreme enthusiasm for Buddhist affairs attracted a large number of young believers. However, this fervor eventually escalated into violence. While Buddhist disputes are typically resolved through debate, the ten-direction monastery broke this precedent, denouncing its opponent as a devil during a debate and directly assassinating the high-ranking monk.

Most Buddhist sects responded by closing their doors to visitors and no longer actively engaging in disputes with the Shifang Monasteries. The only exception was Pomi Temple. Pomi Temple believed that to uphold the true meaning of Buddhist scriptures, a wrathful and fierce side was necessary, and that exorcising demons and monsters could not be done by others. Therefore, it argued with the Shifang Monasteries in every debate.

The conflict between the Shifang Monasteries and Pomi Temple lasted for decades. Since debate could not resolve the issue, both sides unanimously resorted to violence. The Shifang Monasteries presented themselves as righteous sects, and Master Yishibushi was extremely skilled at preaching and attracting followers. He first promoted the "Core Martial Arts Non-Proliferation Treaty," forming an alliance with various Daoist sects and secular sects. At its peak, half of the temples in the world became its subordinate temples.

Faced with irreconcilable differences, Master Yishibushi personally launched three Eastern Expeditions. Pomi Temple itself adhered to Tantric Buddhism and had little contact with the Chan, Vinaya, and Pure Land sects. By the time they realized the situation was unfavorable, they finally opened their temple gates to welcome heretics from all over the world, but it was too late. Finally, during the Third Holy War, Pomi Temple was captured, and a decades-long manhunt began.

Under the shadow of the Ten Directions Forest, the disciples of Pomi could only change their identities and hide separately. Even so, they were still eliminated one after another by the monks of Dafu Lingjiu Temple. If there was any force in the world that was not afraid

of the prestige of the Ten Directions Forest, it was undoubtedly Longchen, who was most adept at concealing his tracks and always lurking in the darkness. In the end, the surviving branch of Pomi merged into Longchen, becoming a branch of Longchen. Cheng Zongyang listened very carefully to the part about Master Bu Shi, and skimmed over most of the rest. After the dead old monk finished speaking, he asked, "Since the robe and bowl are the tokens of Dafu Lingjiu Temple, what are you Pomi doing here? Do you want to be the reincarnation of Master Bu Shi?"

"Amitabha. One false monk Bu Shi is enough, why would there be a need for reincarnation?" the dead old monk said in a deep voice, "Only by severing the lineage of the false monk Bu Shi can we restore justice to Buddhism!"

Cheng Zongyang understood that Dafu Lingjiu Temple wanted the robe and bowl for reincarnation, while Pomi did the opposite. One Master Bu Shi has already branded Pomi as a remnant of heresy; with two more reincarnations,

their days as heretics are numbered. "Is Foxin Nunnery also Pomi's?"

"Amitabha, our sect has been declining for a long time; where would we find so many disciples? Foxin Nunnery is indeed our sect's."

"Why beat around the bush? What kind of good people live next to the Black Demon Sea's spies?" Cheng Zongyang asked, "Old monk, what is your relationship with the Black Demon Sea?"

The dead old monk stroked his bald head, grimacing as if he had a toothache, and remained silent for a long time.

Cheng Zongyang took out a copy of the kasaya text, waved it in front of the dead old monk, and then casually tossed it into his hand.

The deceased old monk beamed, carefully tucking the copy into his sleeve as he cheerfully said, "I heard that Long Chen owes the Black Demon Sea a huge favor, promising to help them with anything they need. Since Jian Yuji came to our door seeking help, we, the Pomi, couldn't just stand by."

"Is that Xiao Ling'er someone Long Chen or someone from the Black Demon Sea?"

the deceased old monk asked. "She was given to Long Chen by the Black Demon Sea. That little hussy is no good; we, the Shan'er, never associate with them. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell!"

"Don't be in such a hurry!" Cheng Zongyang grabbed him. "What's wrong with Ciyin?"

the deceased old monk asked warily. "Why are you asking about her?"

"She cheated me out of my money! Old monk! If she's one of your people, give me back my money right now! Otherwise, you'll be sorry!"

"Oh dear!" The deceased old monk slapped his thigh. "Why didn't you say so sooner! I was tricked by her too! That thieving nun ran off with all my money! There was a piece of Xuan Shui Jade among it, one of the eight treasures our Pomi sect offers to Buddha! Otherwise, after being a thief for most of my life, would I be so poor?"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "You were a thief?"

The deceased old monk said nonchalantly, "Heroes don't ask about origins. That thieving nun shouldn't have tried to deceive our Pomi sect. Even if she were to transform into a mustard seed, she wouldn't escape Long Chen's notice. I spent half a month intercepting that thieving nun, but who knew she would spend so quickly, squandering all my savings in just a few days."

"And now?"

The deceased old monk sighed, "She's gone."

"She slipped away? Weren't you just bragging about how awesome your Longchen Sect is? How come your boasting has fallen apart so easily?"

The old monk, his face flushed slightly, replied evasively, "That wicked nun is extremely cunning. But I've already found her whereabouts, and I'll be able to capture her in a few days!"

Cheng Zongyang said, "You can't just take my copy for nothing. How about this, if you catch that wicked nun Ciyin, hand her over to me, and we'll call it even!"

The old monk was displeased. "You're going to pay me back the money that wicked nun cheated me out of?"

To be honest, Cheng Zongyang really didn't want to get involved with Ciyin, but he had promised Old Man Zhu, and he couldn't go back on his word. So he said helplessly, "I'll give her to you for a few days, and I'll return her to you later, okay?"

The old monk said solemnly, "Although we disciples are unworthy, causing the sect to fall into ruin, our sect has always strictly adhered to Buddhist precepts—if you, young benefactor, wish to visit a brothel, the Fucui Nunnery in Xixi does just that."

“Old monk, you’ve got some connections. Let me tell you, even if I wanted to seduce someone, I wouldn’t be so blind as to go after that old nun! One word: give it to me or not?”

The dead old monk pondered for a long time. “I’ll discuss it after I’ve captured that thieving nun.”

The dead old monk left satisfied. Zhuo Yunjun quietly came out. “Master, shall we hand over the copy of the kasaya to him?”

“Don’t worry, he won’t understand it,” Cheng Zongyang said. “The old monk will have to come begging to me again.”

Zhuo Yunjun was no stranger to the turmoil surrounding the transmission of the kasaya in the Ten Directions Monastery. He couldn’t help but ask curiously in a low voice, “What’s written on the kasaya?”

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, “Why don’t you ask me why I can understand it?”

Zhuo Yunjun said confidently, “That kasaya has been passed down for many years at Dafu Lingjiu Temple. Countless virtuous monks have exhausted their wisdom and still cannot understand its details. If anyone in the world can decipher its mysteries, it must be you, Master.”

"Well, it's only been a few days, and Zhuo Meiren has already learned to flatter."

Zhuo Yunjun smiled sweetly and said softly, "This servant used to be arrogant, but since meeting Master and Mother, I've realized that the world is vast, and this servant is nothing but a frog in a well."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Would you believe me if I told you about my experiences with women?" Zhuo Yunjun said,

"Master Yishi is upright and honest; how could he have such things?"

"I'll just make up a passage for him, won't I? For example, our Zhuo Meiren's little feet are enough to write about two or three robes."

Zhuo Yunjun said with seductive eyes, "Then write it... oh dear..."

………………………………………………………………………………………

On April 18th, the shareholders of the Panjiang Cheng family arrived in Lin'an one after another. The first to arrive was the Xingyue Lake camp.

Led by Yue Shuang, three of the Eight Steeds alone came: Lu Jing, Cui Mao, and Xiao Yaoyi. Accompanying them was Meng Feiqing's direct battalion—the strongest battalion in the Xingyue Lake camp. However, with the Battle of Jiangzhou just concluded, even if Yue Shuang was reckless and audacious, she wouldn't openly lead a battalion of Xingyue Lake soldiers through the Song Kingdom's territory. Therefore, she only brought a platoon from her direct battalion, along with her own recruited former members of the Snow Falcon Regiment and a women's battalion from Jingxi, a group of over forty people disguised as merchants, entering the country using Jin Kingdom's documents.

Because the group's identity was too sensitive, Cheng Zongyang had the Cuiwei Garden emptied early, sending all the servants to Fu An for accommodation, and tidying up the entire garden inside and out. He himself arrived early at the city gate, twenty miles away, to welcome them.

Summer came early in the Song Kingdom, and before the Dragon Boat Festival, the sun was blazing, making the roads scorching hot. Cheng Zongyang stood under the shade of a tree and saw two riders approaching from afar. The riders were exceptionally fierce, exuding a more murderous aura than ordinary escort agency guards. He made a gesture, and Qin Hui stepped forward, unfurling the flag in front of the carriage, revealing a bold and powerful "Cheng" character.

Upon seeing the banner, one rider turned back, while the other galloped straight ahead, saluting Cheng Zongyang from horseback. "Major Yue is a mile away, have a safe journey!"

Cheng Zongyang mounted his horse. "I'll go meet him, Huizhi! Take good care of the brothers in the camp! Have some cooling tea to beat the heat!"

The group of riders surged forward, numbering only forty or so, yet possessing the imposing presence of a thousand troops. The woman at the head of the group, though her face was obscured, wore unique sunglasses—who else could it be but Yue Shuang?

Cheng Zongyang felt a surge of warmth and stepped forward, bowing respectfully, "Young Miss!"

Yue Shuang wore sunglasses, obscuring her expression, but her lips were cold. She then turned her head away, dismissing his salute with disdain.

Cheng Zongyang was unsurprised by her indifference, simply chuckling it off before calling out, "Sixth Brother Cui!"

Cui Mao followed closely behind Yue Shuang, dressed like a disheveled scholar. Although the bronze Hunyuan Hammer was not with him, the silver wine pot in his hand was always by his side. He took a sip of wine, then smiled slightly, "Riding the spring breeze, hooves flying high."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "What's there for me to be proud of? It's you brothers who have become famous overnight. Oh? Xiangya, you're here too!"

Xiangya smiled slightly, "Young Master Cheng, hello."

Cheng Zongyang instructed, "Lin'an is flat land, much hotter than the mountains and forests of Jingxi, be careful of heatstroke. Cheers! Qiu boy!"

Qiu Shaojun poked his head out from behind Yue Shuang's mount, stroking his chest-length beard, nodding reservedly, looking every bit the sage, then said in a deep voice, "Where's the outhouse?"

Guo Sheng whispered, "Master Qiu unfortunately ate a raw melon yesterday and got a stomachache."

Cheng Zongyang casually pointed to the side of the road, and Qiu Shaojun immediately scurried over, tucking his beard into his clothes as he ran, so it wouldn't drag on the ground when he squatted down.

"Watch out for the blades of grass!"

"Ouch..."

Cheng Zongyang spread his hands. "I told you to be careful. A lot of the blades of grass here have serrations, sharper than knives."

Qiu Shaojun was easygoing and had become familiar with everyone along the way. Cui Mao took a sip of wine and said leisurely, "Only blades can be wiped clean."

Cheng Zongyang suppressed a laugh and asked, "Where's Brother Lu Wu?"

"Here he is!"

Xiao Yaoyi smiled and lifted the carriage curtain. His clothes were pulled down to his waist, revealing his white upper body. His shoulders and back were well-defined, all of them strong and muscular. However, there were still a few silver needles stuck in his back.

Lu Jing, in an ambiguous position, lay on his back, rolling his eyes and saying, "You rascal, don't move..."

"Ouch!" Xiao Yaoyi cried out, "Fifth Brother! Just kill me!"

"Useless thing." Lu Jing waved his hand, putting away the silver needles, and then threw a piece of clothing onto the little fox. "Cover yourself up, don't let anyone see."

Xiao Yaoyi was both amused and exasperated by Lu Jing's manipulation. He scrambled to his feet, putting on the clothing, and called out, "Fifth Brother! Where's my horse!"

Fifth Brother led over two horses, one being Xiao Yaoyi's White Water Horse, and the other being Cheng Zongyang's Black Pearl left in Jiankang.

Xiao Yaoyi leaped onto the horse, tied his belt, casually gathered his long hair, and put on a jade crown. Instantly, he transformed from the carefree, frivolous boy into a handsome and elegant gentleman. Although his injuries hadn't healed, his complexion showed no signs of injury. With his silver saddle and white horse, he was dashing and carefree.

Cheng Zongyang cheered, hugged Black Pearl, and patted its neck. Black Pearl snorted and then placed its soft nose on Cheng Zongyang's arm.

Cheng Zongyang tossed the reins to his subordinate, mounted Black Pearl, and immediately felt a long-lost urge.

"Young Marquis! Want to race?"

"Come on!" Before Xiao Yaoyi finished speaking, he spurred his horse, and the white water horse leaped off like an arrow.

The two rode one after the other across the road, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the tree where the crowd was waiting. Qin Hui, Lin Qingpu, and others clasped their fists, while Kuang Zhongyu and the others gave a military salute.

"Star Moon Lake!" Xiao Yaoyi raised his arm in salute and shouted, "Invincible!"

The crowd responded in unison, "Invincible!"

Xiao Yaoyi galloped past without stopping, leaving only a dashing silhouette.

The road bordered West Lake, with the vast expanse of blue water on one side and the lush Ge Ridge on the other. Xiao Yaoyi rode ahead of everyone else, galloping along the lake like a shooting star. His brocade robes were whiter than snow, and his white horse was like a dragon, attracting countless envious glances.

Twenty miles passed in a flash. Only when they reached the gates of Qiantang did Xiao Yaoyi rein in his horse, turn around, and laugh, "Brother Saint! I won this time!"

Cheng Zongyang, having been outmaneuvered, had been trailing by a horse's length and had been covered in dust the entire way. Now, both he and his horse were filthy. He chuckled, "Look at me, compared to the young marquis, I'm just a dirt dog."

"Indeed! I am jade, you are a tile; I am a flower, you are a green leaf!" Xiao Yaoyi spread his arms and shouted, "Ladies of Lin'an! I, Xiao Yaoyi, have arrived!"

Cheng Zongyang lashed his horse's rump with his whip, "Shut up, you little fox!"

Two quarters of an hour later, Yue Shuang and the others arrived. They saw the two men drinking tea at a tea stall outside the city gate, surrounded by seven or eight idlers and two heavily made-up singing girls, swaying their hips and singing "Ee ee ya ya" tunes.

Yue Shuang put away her sunglasses, coldly staring at the two scoundrels, her pretty face as cold as frost. Xiao Yaoyi grabbed a handful of coins from Cheng Zongyang's pocket and scattered them, then sprang up as if springy, coming over and laughing, "The customs in Lin'an are quite interesting. The streets are full of idlers. Just wave, and someone will come over to do whatever you want. Whatever you want to eat or play, a single word will arrange it all."

Qiu Shaojun looked curious, "Really?"

"Master Qiu, do you think I would have the heart to lie to you?"

Cui Mao interrupted him, "Let's go to the grave first."

Xiao Yaoyi stopped laughing and said sternly, "Yes."

………………………………………………………………………………………

Cheng Zongyang had already prepared incense and offerings. Lu Jing, Cui Mao, Xiao Yaoyi, and others kowtowed before the grave. Since Yue Pengju's grave was a cenotaph, not many offerings were used.

Xiao Yaoyi recounted the Battle of Jiangzhou to the grave, then confidently declared, "Jiangzhou may be small, but it is impervious to wind and thunder! The realization of General Yue's dream will begin in Jiangzhou!"

Yue Shuang refused to kneel. She walked around the grave and asked, "Which grave is Mr. Xie's?"

Cheng Zongyang led everyone to Xie Yi's grave. Yue Shuang offered incense, bowed deeply, then clasped her hands together and silently prayed.

Lu Jing knelt before Xie Yi's grave, kowtowed heavily, then slapped himself hard across the face. "Brother Yi, we're all back. Miss Yue and Miss Zi have been found. Don't worry about things in the camp. Once things are settled here, I'll come find you and kowtow to apologize in person."

Cui Mao knelt for a long time, then took out a scroll and lit it by candlelight. "Brother Yi has always liked this 'Jianghai Tu' (River and Sea Map). I traded it with a painting from my family collection, and I'm giving it to you today." Qin

Hui, standing far behind, couldn't help but show a pained expression upon hearing this.

Cheng Zongyang asked, "What happened?"

Qin Hui sighed, "The Jianghai Tu was originally a painting by Wu Daozi of the Tang Dynasty. Someone offered 20,000 gold coins but couldn't buy it. It was burned to the ground... Alas—"

Xiao Yaoyi was carrying a food box. "Brother Yi, this is your favorite perch. It was caught in the Qingxi River in front of our house, transported from Jiankang to Jiangzhou, and then all the way here. I originally wanted to hire the head chef from Jinzhi Guild Hall, but Xie said that no one in the world can cook perch better than your Xie family. So I brought your family's old chef. He killed the fish and made sashimi while we were having a snack, and then sent him back on horseback. Authentic Xie family flavor! Brother Yi, eat quickly... After you finish eating... I... I'll go avenge you!" As he spoke, his voice choked with emotion.

Seeing that Lu Jing and Cui Mao's eyes were red, Cheng Zongyang quickly said, "It's getting late, let's all go to our lodgings first!"

Qin Hui and the others stepped forward to help everyone up. Xiao Yaoyi placed the food box before Xie Yi's grave, then burst into tears. Dark

clouds gathered over Fengbo Pavilion, followed by a torrential downpour.

Back at Cuiwei Garden, everyone fell silent. Cheng Zongyang arranged for guards and assigned everyone their lodgings. Yue Shuang, Xiang Ya, and the other women were given a separate courtyard in Hancui Pavilion, which was near the inner courtyard. Lu Jing, Cui Mao, and Xiao Yaoyi each had a separate room, arranged in a fan shape around Hancui Pavilion so they could respond immediately in case of trouble.

"Brother Meng is stationed in Jiangzhou and has reorganized the main camp. Including your direct battalion, there are a total of nine battalions, 2,700 men," Cui Mao said. "There are still over a thousand veterans in the camp, and the rest are newly recruited. They are currently being trained by Second Brother."

"There are over a hundred veterans who retired due to injuries, and they have all been assigned to the cement workshop. As per your letter's request, twenty cement kilns have been built along the river. Currently, each kiln can produce about 300 shi (a unit of dry measure) of cement per day. Manager Qi inspected the kilns during construction, and according to his calculations, if manpower and materials are sufficient, each kiln can produce 500 to 800 shi."

Twenty cement kilns, with a daily output of 6,000 shi, would amount to approximately two million shi per year—this number seems large, but in reality, the annual output is only equivalent to a little over 100,000 tons. Even if the daily output per kiln were increased to 800 shi, the annual output would only be 300,000 tons—less than the monthly output of Taiwan Cement.

But even at the current output, two million shi per year, with each shi selling for one gold zhu (another unit of dry measure), would amount to two million gold zhu. Even with an 80% discount, the profit would still be 1.6 million gold coins, while the total cost, including labor, raw materials, and transportation, would not exceed 50,000 gold coins.

Of course, this was a huge profit under a technological monopoly, and Jiangzhou urgently needed reconstruction, so not all of the cement produced could be sold; most would be used internally, and the profit wasn't that high. In Cheng Zongyang's plan, the price of cement would gradually decrease to one guan per shi within three years, and production would increase accordingly. If Jiangzhou's cement production could be stabilized at five million shi, cement sales alone could bring Jiangzhou millions of gold coins in revenue each year.

Cui Mao said, "Brother Meng means that you will arrange the expenses, operation, and management of the cement workshop. Except for retired brothers, soldiers in the camp should try not to participate in business."

Cheng Zongyang exclaimed, "I also want to draw manpower from the camp. Let's make it clear first! Ziyuan must stay here and help me no matter what!"

Under Li Shishi's treatment, Yu Ziyuan's injuries recovered much better than expected. He stood up steadily on his remaining leg, raised his arm in a military salute to the officers, and said, "Ziyuan can no longer follow these battalion commanders into battle. My Xingyue Lake... Xingyue Lake Camp..." His voice choked with emotion.

Lu Jing rolled his eyes, "You are a Xingyue Lake man whether you live or die!"

Startled by his blunt rebuke, Yu Ziyuan's pale face seemed to glow. He straightened his chest and said loudly, "Yes, sir!"

Cheng Zongyang helped Yu Ziyuan sit down and smiled, "Even if you don't go to the battlefield, you still have to work for me. You can't slack off."

Yu Ziyuan smiled, "Don't worry, Chief Cheng!"

Cui Mao handed a ledger to Cheng Zongyang, "This is the camp's account book."

Cheng Zongyang knew the harm that business could do to an army, so he didn't force anyone to leave the camp. He handed the ledger to Li Shishi and considered... "In this way," Cui Mao said, "military and commercial operations will be separated. The Jiankang aristocratic families will also invest, each sending one person to help at the Jiangzhou Chamber of Commerce. However, this will be limited to market sales. We'll handle the cement production and accounting ourselves. In addition, I suggest establishing a military academy to train personnel for the Xingyue Lake camp."

Cui Mao and Lu Jing exchanged a glance. "That's acceptable."

Lu Jing said, "Whatever you say, as long as the retired brothers can settle down!"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Fifth Brother, don't worry, I guarantee all the brothers in our camp can support their families!"

Xiao Yaoyi said, "Don't forget, forty percent of the cement workshop's profits belong to me!"

“Before we invested, they said we'd give you 40%, but now that we've invested, it'll be based on shareholding,”

Cui Mao said. “Does that include Zhang Shaohuang's shares?”

“Of course,” Cheng Zongyang said. “You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. As long as their shares are still there, we don't have to worry about the Jin Kingdom stabbing us in the back.”

Xiao Yaoyi said unhappily, “We worked so hard to defend Jiangzhou, and those good-for-nothings just sit around collecting money.”

“Regardless, Lord Zhang and his troops also contributed. Besides…” Cheng Zongyang said with a smile, “Governor Xiao can collect taxes.”

“That’s right!” Xiao Yaoyi clapped his hands excitedly, “I’ll collect 50% tax!”

“Stop! If you collect half the tax, what merchants in Jiangzhou will dare to come? At most, they’ll be worth one-tenth of the tax!”

“Worth one-tenth of the tax!” Xiao Yaoyi said, “I’m so poor I’ve pawned my pants! I even borrowed my clothes when I went out!”

Cheng Zongyang turned his head, “Major Yue, what do you think?”

"Ten percent of the cement workshop's tax will be collected. An additional ten percent will be allocated for special security expenses, to be collected by the Xingyue Lake military headquarters." Yue Shuang was clearly dissatisfied with the distribution to the scions of the Jiankang aristocratic families. "After all, the cement workshop's security is guaranteed by the military headquarters."

Cheng Zongyang wanted to point out that taxation implied an official obligation to provide security, but openly arguing with Yue Shuang would be irrational, so he wisely chose to remain silent.

Qin Hui smiled, "It's a rare treat for everyone to come to Lin'an. I've already reserved seats at Beiwazi. A balance of work and rest is essential. You've all worked hard these past few days; enjoy yourselves today."

Xiao Yaoyi said, "Why Beiwazi? Let's go to Zhongwazi!"

Cheng Zongyang asked, "Where is Zhongwazi? What's fun there?"

"In Taipingfang," Qin Hui whispered, his lips barely moving. "It's the brothel district of Lin'an."

Cheng Zongyang suddenly realized, "Young Master, you really know your stuff."

Yue Shuang's face was as cold as ice, but Xiao Yaoyi didn't see it, only gleefully saying, "Nonsense! I've been wanting those ladies for over ten years!"

Lin Qingpu coughed and said, "Beiwazi is mostly filled with storytellers and entertainers. If Miss Yue and the other ladies are interested, I'll accompany you to Beiwazi."

Yue Shuang said, "I'm tired. Xiangya, if you want to see, then go ahead."

Lu Jing and Cui Mao exchanged a glance. "Let's go to the north of the city."

Cui Mao took out a silver wine pot and smiled, "Today is the Qiyun Society's last chance to enter the main competition. My fifth brother and I have been talking about it all the way here. We can't miss this polo match."

Cheng Zongyang said, "Last time at Xiangshuwazi, I saw someone using the Water Mirror Technique to broadcast the polo match."

"Looking at the water mirror is nowhere near as satisfying as being there in person," Cui Mao said casually. "Fifth Brother and I are going to Qiyun Society on the way, so we won't be back tonight."

"Alright." Cheng Zongyang turned his head and asked, "Master Qiu, what do you think?"

Qiu Shaojun shook his head and said, "I'm not going."

"What? Is Master Qiu still not well?"

Qiu Shaojun said seriously, "They've all left. I need to protect Miss Yue's safety."

Before Cheng Zongyang could answer, Xiao Yaoyi grabbed Qiu Shaojun's shoulder. "Since we're here, why do you need to guard? Our Sage Brother has already made all the arrangements, right?"

Cheng Zongyang patted his chest and said, "Don't worry! This Cuiwei Garden is absolutely safe!"

"Did you hear that?" Xiao Yaoyi said to Qiu Shaojun, "Do whatever you want, just don't stay in the garden."

Qiu Shaojun was still young at heart, so he was happy to be exempt from guard duty and excitedly asked, "Are there any insect-taming animals?"

"Little Insect, you've come to the right place in Lin'an," Cheng Zongyang laughed. "Lin'an's methods of training insects and ants are unparalleled!"

Qiu Shaojun said happily, "I want to see an ant race!"

"Do you want to watch an ant war?"

Qiu Shaojun shook his head vigorously, "Fighting and killing are against the natural order. Even ants have lives. I'm happy as long as I can watch them race."

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