Third Son Ye and Ye Eighth Uncle were not visiting the capital for the first time. They could be said to be familiar with the place.
As soon as they entered the outskirts of the capital region, they expressed their intention to the local county official: to present an auspicious omen.
Not daring to be negligent, the county official prepared a team of drummers and hung up large red silk banners, making a great fanfare to escort them to the capital.
Naturally it caused quite a stir when they arrived.
When they entered the city, the common people heard the commotion and came to watch.
Ye Eighth Uncle had completely mastered Ye's golden teachings, and rode on a tall horse, repeatedly saluting the commoners with clasped hands, as if he had accomplished something glorious, constantly repeating: "His Majesty is the true Son of Heaven!"
Many of the commoners immediately knelt down and knocked their heads on the ground in awe of the Mandate of Heaven.
Qiao Huai: "..."
"..." Yan Xiao said to Third Son Ye, "Uncle...ahem, impressive, impressive."
Third Son Ye looked straight ahead: "Those who accomplish great things should not be concerned with such trivial matters."
That was Ye Suijin's original words.
The Emperor naturally received the memorial, and the Eldest Princess even ran into the palace herself to say: "It's gotten quite lively out there! The streets are jammed with people shouting long live His Majesty. Many people are kowtowing."
The corner of the Emperor's mouth twitched.
"That Ye Suijin from Deng Prefecture..." He rubbed his temples.
"She's a remarkable woman," the Eldest Princess said with a covered laugh. "Oh my, it's a pity she didn't come in person, otherwise I must become acquainted with her."
She really was a remarkable woman.
In fact, the remnant forces of the fallen dynasty, seeing the unstoppable momentum, had even issued a proclamation, bitterly denouncing Emperor Jin for ceding the Sixteen Prefectures of You and Yun, losing sovereign territory, causing the people of the Sixteen Prefectures to lose their clothing and caps and become barbarians from then on, truly an act against Heaven, an evil deed for a hundred generations, calling for the heroes of the world to rise up together and slay this traitor.
Although it was impossible to turn back the tide, just thinking that this proclamation would be recorded in history books in the future, even Emperor Jin felt troubled by the pointing and criticism of later generations.
The timely auspicious omen from Deng Prefecture was just what he needed.
The Eldest Princess said, "She really is capable, she even persuaded the people of Fang Prefecture to jointly submit a memorial as well. Father, you should grant them an audience."
Since even the Eldest Princess had put in a word, and the commotion really was quite large, the group had just arrived at the inn to freshen up when they were summoned to the palace.
The four of them were fortunate to receive an audience.
Ye Eighth Uncle immediately prostrated himself, starting from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, all the way up to how the Ye family dug up this auspicious object from the riverbank, laying out the theory of destiny and the Mandate of Heaven that entitled Emperor Jin to the throne. Speaking passionately, tears welled up in his eyes.
The Ye family's only scholar had indeed not studied in vain.
Qiao Huai/Yan Xiao: "..."
The Emperor of course kept nodding continuously.
Ye Eighth Uncle wiped his eyes and said, "Although Deng Prefecture is now peaceful, Tang Prefecture is overrun with bandits. In the past, our two prefectures were administered by one governor. No one has governed that side for a long time, and the common people, hearing that this side enjoys imperial grace, have all fled here. Our authorities said this won't do, the borders of the royal territory must not regress, how can we stand by and do nothing? We spent our meager family fortune to campaign for Your Majesty and exterminate the bandits, and finally Tang Prefecture is not so chaotic anymore. But our family fortune was thin to begin with, and we have suffered heavy losses, now we are overburdened."
"We settled the refugees at Fang City, and planted a crop of beans last year, but the fields had been abandoned for too long, and the harvest was unsatisfactory. Our authorities exempted them from taxes for three years there. Now our coffers are even more strained."
In short: we're poor, Your Majesty will have to figure something out.
If you present me with a papaya, I'll repay you with a sea pearl.
Ye Suijin knew how to be tactful, and the Emperor could not be petty. He waved his hand: "Since Tang Prefecture has been pacified, place it under her administration as well. Deng Prefecture and Tang Prefecture, exempt from taxes for three years."
In fact, it had been many years since they paid any taxes to the central government.
He also bestowed on Ye Suijin a purse with purple goldfish embroidery and a rhino belt as tokens of favor.
Ye Eighth Uncle deeply kowtowed: "Thank the Lord for his abundant grace."
It was time for the people from Fang Prefecture to take the stage.
Old man Qiao Huai came up and immediately started wailing loudly: "Please Your Majesty, uphold justice for my family, the Peis of Jian'nan!"
Third Son Ye: "..."
Yan Xiao: "..."
Our acting skills are no worse than the in-laws!
Qiao Huai wasn't acting though.
He really was a person who came from Jian'nan.
As soon as he spoke of the past, the sorrow and pain were all real, his tears and snot were all real as well, crying uncontrollably.
But as Qiao Huai bitterly denounced King Rong of Shu for usurping Jian'nan, having no lord above him, Third Son Ye and Yan Xiao saw the corner of the Emperor's mouth clearly curl up slightly.
Just as Ye Suijin said, the Emperor liked Pei's family history.
Sure enough, the Emperor accepted Pei's declaration of fealty from Fang Prefecture, and gently comforted the old general, expressing empathy, and said that the treasonous king was detestable, and that one day, ruler and subject would campaign against him together.
He also bestowed a purse with goldfish embroidery, as well as a jade belt.
Pei Ze's position in Fang Prefecture was now fully legitimate.
Ye Eighth Uncle spoke up again: "Fang Prefecture's heart has always been with Your Majesty, but Jun Prefecture created obstacles and completely blocked their way. Fang Prefecture's forces are weak, unable to break through and come. Jun Prefecture is near the capital region, close to Fang Prefecture, clearly harboring treasonous intentions. Although the Ye family's forces are weak, we are willing to campaign against it for Your Majesty." Since the Pei family had just come over, they didn't have much sway yet, so it was better for the Ye family to make this proposal.
Qiao Huai quickly added: "We originally planned to campaign against it together with Deng Prefecture."
Jun Prefecture was just a fence-sitter.
The Emperor actually knew that Jun Prefecture had also submitted a memorial. But recently, quite a few major and minor powers had started bowing their heads. The envoys of many families were crowded in the capital, lining up to await the Emperor's summons.
The Emperor was annoyed that they had sat on the fence watching earlier, and intended to make them wait on purpose.
Jun Prefecture's envoys didn't understand the situation in the capital. They didn't find the right connections, so although later memorials had been approved, theirs was still sitting on the desk.
Actually there wasn't much difference between the various families in the Emperor's eyes. Whether they bowed today or had to be beaten down to bow tomorrow.
But the Emperor tapped his fingers on the desk and looked at the two families before him.
He really liked these two families.
"Order Fang Prefecture Governor Pei Ze and Deng Prefecture Commander Ye Suijin to jointly campaign against Jun Prefecture."
Sounds good, fully legitimate.
The four kowtowed together: "We solemnly obey Your Majesty's order."
Jun Prefecture's envoys were still futilely running around the offices, not knowing their nest had already been targeted.
In mid April, the four returned to Biyang.
On the way there they had passed through Deng Prefecture, and already felt it was prosperous and peaceful. On the return trip, in order to see Ye Suijin, they passed through Tang Prefecture. They were truly shocked by Biyang's prosperity.
"This..." Yan Xiao said. "Impressive, no less than the capital!"
The shops were filled with ample goods, many items that couldn't even be seen in the capital were available for sale, dazzling people's eyes.
"To think they still cried poverty before the Emperor with such wealth." Yan Xiao was indignant.
Third Son Ye laughed loudly.
The grain from Auspicious Cloud Fleet hadn't arrived yet, but Ye Suijin had killed all the powerful households in Biyang. The fields around Biyang all fell into her hands. She had also seized countless amounts of grain.
It was just that Tang Prefecture had been unstable before, so merchants were unwilling to do business, and the circulation of all commodities including grain suffered.
Rice could be stored for five years, corn for nine years. But stored grain was still different from new grain after all.
It was perfect timing to clear out the stored grain first.
Ye Suijin said, "I won't scam you, stored grain has the price of stored grain, new grain has the price of new grain. If you want new grain, I have it too."
Qiao Huai quickly said, "No need, no need, this will do."
What kind of powerful households, even soldiers could eat new grain!
Yan Xiao was so jealous he could die.
Fang Prefecture.
Pei Dingxi told Pei Ze: "Father, yesterday I told Zhao Jingwen that I have forgiven him."
Pei Ze uttered an "Oh", and asked: "What did he give you this time?"
Pei Dingxi said: "He promised that from now on, whenever my sister comes to bother me, he'll handle it for me."
Pei Ze cocked an eyebrow.
Pei Dingxi said: "I feel he is..."
Pei Ze looked at him.
"At the time, I felt he is actually a pretty decent person." Pei Dingxi sighed, "And then..."
And then he reacted and broke into a cold sweat.
Pei Ze nodded: "That's also a kind of skill. Some people simply have that kind of skill. Human skills are manifold, none should be looked down upon. "
Pei Dingxi accepted the lesson: "Yes."
Pei Ze said: "Go and tell him, no, go and tell your sister, Zhao Jingwen's three hundred men will be incorporated into the Fang Prefecture army, forming their own battalion, with him as the commander. I will be responsible for their provisions."
These days Pei Ze had been keeping Zhao Jingwen hanging.
Unable to find a breakthrough with Pei Ze, Zhao Jingwen naturally tried to get in Pei Dingxi's good graces, doing his utmost to curry favor.
After putting on enough of a show, it was time to give him an answer. In any case, in name he was Pei Lian's husband.
This human connection would be fulfilled by Pei Dingxi for Pei Lian, and then passed on by Pei Lian to Zhao Jingwen.
Pei Dingxi thought to himself, the world of adults really is troublesome!
But he knew he had no right to complain about troublesome things. As his father's only son, no matter how many troublesome things there were, he had to shoulder them.
He was almost ten now, he had grown up.
He couldn't act like a child anymore.
One day, scouts returned from Tang Prefecture and reported: “General Qiao and General Yan are escorting grain and will arrive at Fang Prefecture in three days.”
“The Prefect Ye has come in person.”
He really runs around busily.
Pei Ze brought Pei Dingxi along to greet them, and the two sides met at the Han River.
Pei Ze saw Ye Suijin again, still so passionate and energetic.
It made people a little envious, because Pei Ze felt he was getting older with each passing year.
In fact, he was still in his prime years, the peak time for a man. But with his homeland far away, no hope of restoring it, the pain of vengeance unfulfilled, tormenting his heart night and day. And enemies surrounding on four sides, requiring tireless efforts day and night.
His heart was weary, even if his body was not yet old.
How could he compare to Ye Suijin, who had regained his youth and restarted his life, full of vigor in everything he did, wishing he could run a hundred laps on horseback every day just to burn off his abundant energy.
The river mouth fortifications were beginning to take shape.
If troops were stationed here long-term, and repairs were done every year during the farming offseason, after five or ten years, it would become a city again.
The Han River flowed down from Jun Prefecture, winding southward, flowing toward Xiangyang City.
Compared to the river mouth, that place was even more of a strategic hub between north and south, a crucial location contested by military strategists throughout history.
But thinking of Xiangyang now was just wishful thinking. Pei Ze was not so easily swayed by Ye Suijin's tempting promises.
They had to focus on the present first.
Thirty thousand stones of grain was not a huge amount, but it made for an excellent new beginning, the true start of cooperation between their families.
For this difficult period before the summer harvest, it was like a calming pill.
Even the troops who had come to receive the grain had smiles of relief on their faces.
People's hearts could be settled if their stomachs were fed.
This was the most basic need.
"Prefect Ye, you didn't need to come personally for this," Pei Ze said politely. "You could have just sent someone."
"I like traveling everywhere," Ye Suijin laughed. "What's the point of being cooped up behind high walls all day?"
Pei Dingxi thought to himself: I can see he really does enjoy traveling everywhere.
But he was a little envious of Ye Suijin. Because he had never traveled far himself. The farthest was to the river mouth. Last time Helian had accompanied him, this time it was Pei Ze. So he was still some years away from making an independent long journey on his own.
The adults went to discuss the grain, while a big brother from the Ye family came over and asked him: "Are you Young Master Pei?"
The adopted son who had come with Pei Ze quietly moved closer.
Pei Dingxi replied: "Yes, I am. May I ask who you are?"
The youth said: "I'm Ye Shilang."
Shilang craned his neck, looking left and right, gritting his teeth in irritation: "Zhao Jingwen didn't come? Is he afraid to show his face?"
As he spoke, he cracked his knuckles threateningly.
He had insisted on coming along this time. And Sixth Sister had also agreed, that if he saw Zhao Jingwen and really wanted to beat him up, then go ahead.
Otherwise, keeping that resentment pent up would make him sick. She was more concerned about her younger brother's wellbeing than Zhao Jingwen's, after all.
But who would have thought Zhao Jingwen wouldn't even come.
The adopted son casually drifted away to the side.
Pei Dingxi advised: "You want to beat him up, right? Don't worry, I've already done that."
"Oh, you?" Shilang looked him up and down, not very satisfied. "You're so little, you probably don't have enough strength. Better leave it to me."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Pei Dingxi said solemnly. "The past is in the past. Our families are on good terms now, so we should focus on larger matters."
The little boy spoke with the manner of an old man: "Young Master Ye, don't act like a child."
Ye Shilang: "..."
Shilang was so angry his nose was about to go crooked!!
