In the early summer of the eighth year of Long An, the Western Regions could no longer resist. They gathered the remnants of their army, opened the door of the country, and joined together to send a letter for surrendering to the parent country.
At the entrance of the Silk Road, the representatives of the Western Regions sat with Great Liang for the second time and were forced to negotiate.
For defeated generals, Gu Yun was too lazy to show up and only appointed Shen Yi as his sole representative.
Shen Yi came with the harsh requirements of Great Liang, the first was to ask for a large sum of gold and silver. Secondly, to build Great Liang garrisons in western countries to monitor the dependent countries. Starting from now, except Lou Lan who was an ally, other dependent countries were not allowed to have a single machine and steel armor, including Light Suit — all must be destroyed. Finally, Great Liang required that the dependent countries pay tribute of more than 70% of the Ziliujin each year to Great Liang.
Even Shen Yi felt his tooth ache when he read this passage for himself. It was like scraping bones. The representatives of various countries were crying for their ancestors.
When the first negotiation failed, Gu Yun attacked the surrendered Western Regions disabled barracks overnight with 300 Heavy Armor units the next day. Explosions painted the sky red. He artificially completed the main content of the second requirement of the contract for them, declared publicly that it was alright whether or not they agreed to the other two, and immediately led people to slaughter the city.
Slaughtering was harmful to heaven’s good will. Generally, only the Northern Barbarians did this. There was seldom such a custom in the Great Liang Army. However, people in the Western Regions worried that Gu Yun despised them for the bombing, they suspected that he could do anything. At first, they remained stubborn. But when Gu Yun order people to open the gate, the representatives of the coalition forces on the negotiating table finally panicked.
After several bargainings failed, three days later, the ‘Lou Lan New Treaty’ was signed. Under the deterrence of Gu Yun’s heavy forces, these countries first cleared out their war equipments at the fastest speed, then painfully gathered the Ziliujin that had not been used in a year after excavation.
At the end of May, Gu Yun and Shen Yi secretly escorted Ziliujin back to the capital from the Western Regions.
A heavy rain washed the streets and lanes of the capital, and fragmented locust blossoms fell all over the streets.
The reform of the official system was so popular that the chaos that everyone imagined would appear miraculously did not come.
First of all, noble families were not foolish. Even if they were dissatisfied with Yan Wang‘s changing ways of digging money from their pockets, they knew that compared with themselves, the poor students, who came from imperial examinations and could not collect a few or two pieces of silver even if they search all over their bodies, hated this policy most. There was no way they would step forward for the sake of others. So at first, all these people hid and prepared to watch the play.
Unexpectedly, this was also truly strange, except for a few stubborn old Confucians who stood up and said a few words of ‘undignified’ or ‘disrespectful’ among other things, the water surface was peaceful, even a droplet did not turn up in the middle of the court.
Chang Geng first wrote a paper to persuade the Emperor and presented his longer-term vision of the Feng Huo ticket to Li Feng. He wrote everything from top to bottom in details, skillfully concealed and exaggerated it at the same time.
Finally, he envisioned a large pie for the Emperor. In time — the Feng Huo ticket was carried out everywhere, which could collect all the people’s gold and silver into the national treasury, selling and buying would be made by tickets only, and the amount of the tickets would be determined by the court as appropriate. There would no longer be a situation in which private gold and silver were collecting dust in the storage and the treasury had no money to use in times of national distress.
Before, Li Feng used to think that some ideas of Yan Wang were too deviant and disrespectful. He now found out that this man was not only disrespectful, but simply wanted to step on the word ‘respect’ under his feet.
In the past, there was Emperor Shi who took over the weapons of the country to cast a statue. Today, there was a Yan Wang who collected the world’s wealth into one place.
However, this idea was too tempting. After understanding more of the concept of ‘using several pieces of paper to replace gold and silver in buying and selling’, Li Feng, on one hand, felt vaguely anxious, on the other hand, he was really unable to resist the temptation. He discounted the paper for three days of hesitation. Then he finally ordered Chang Geng to get started on it, but repeatedly warned that the means could not be too radical, especially for those rising young students who came from poor families, that he must ‘take it slow’.
What Emperor Li Feng did not know was that, as early as when Yan Wang wrote a quest for a change of the official system, the richest man in Jiangnan came to the capital with thirteen giants from all over the country and invited the guests in the small restaurant where the Lin Yuan emblem chose its owner.
The small restaurant was shabby and obscure. In the past few years, it was covered by the glory of the old Qi Yuan Tower like a firefly under the moon, those with bad eyes would not be able to find it.
But this time, it was very lucky to have survived in the devastated capital city. At the beginning of the year, it took a rest and formally opened its doors to welcome visitors. Two floors were added to the original two-storey building. The shattered bricks and tiles were completely cleaned up and the name was changed to ‘Wangnan Tower*’, arousing the sorrow of half a country fallen into the hands of the enemy. It fit the scene very well. Few people knew that this half-dead restaurant was Du Wan Quan’s property.
*Wangnan means ‘looking towards the South’. As one might recall, Jiangnan which is in the South is occupied by the Westerners.
The first negotiation between the two sides had been very frustrating. The scholars were self-reserved and noble. They had been in the officials scene for many years. They were unwilling to deal with these people smelling of money, they mostly came only for perfunctory entertainment.
Who knew that after interacting, only then they realized Du Wan Quan was not a simple man.
Du Wan Quan had personally sailed to the Western Ocean and seen the real world. His character, thoughts, and way of talking was different from ordinary businessmen. His sharp tongue could bring the dead back to life. Together with Jiang Chong’s calm management, many people would soon have a change of mind.
Waiting until the new official administration system had slowly soaked in, Du Wan Quan and his colleagues visited the largest private room in Wangnan Tower, treating eight important ministers of the court headed by Jiang Chong to a second banquet. All of them were without support in the court, became an official through the imperial examination, and started from scratch.
This talk lasted for more than four hours. After the moon hung high in the sky, Jiang Chong who was serving as the head finally raised his cup to end the session.
Jiang Chong rose and looked around. Many people drank too much.
“We are full for today, everyone is tired, I will not ruin the mood. With this cup of wine, let’s drink and dismiss.” Jiang Chong said, “As long as we have to fight this battle, the implementation of the Feng Huo ticket is something that will happen sooner or later, you gentlemen are dedicated to the country…”
As Jiang Chong said this, he left the other half of the sentence empty, silently drinking the cup of wine. The next part, everyone here could already understand inside.
Dedicated to the country, but please also consider your own way out.
Over the years, there had been no way for the major merchants to have their input in court matters, the businessmen who were eager to have their own spokesperson had formally formed an alliance with a group of powerless and pure civil officials.
Du Wan Quan sent a room full of civil servants and businessmen away one by one, then returned to Wangnan Tower alone. He came to the private room right next to the one from just now. There were no servants inside, and the lights were not lit. There was only a dim steam lamp hanging over head. There were two taels* of yellow wine, a bowl of porridge and a dish of vegetables on the table. Half a bowl of porridge was already drunk, and three parts of wine remained. The dishes were only touched slightly but the chopsticks were already put aside.
*an ancient unit of measurement
Du Wan Qian no longer possessed the exquisite appearance from just now, respectfully went to pay courtesy: “Your Highness Yan Wang.”
Chang Geng nodded politely: “Master Du.”
Du Wan Quan glanced over the watery porridge and dishes on the table, he hurriedly said, “I admire the fact that Your Highness usually prefer saving, but this Wangnan Tower is our own property. Why don’t we order some delicious cuisine? Summer is coming, I’ll let them prepare some refreshing dishes good for health.”
“There’s no need, eating this is enough,” Chang Geng waved his hand and said, “Today’s business depends entirely on Master Du, I have troubled you.”
Du Wan Quan quickly said he did not dare to. When seeing that Chang Geng got up to leave, he graciously lifted the umbrella on the side: “The carriage is ready in the backyard. Your Highness please come this way.”
If at the beginning, the most reluctant person when Liao Ran summoned the Lin Yuan emblem was undoubtedly Du Wan Quan, who made his fortune in his early years by relying on the power of Lin Yuan Pavilion, but earning this family business, there was no way Du Wan Quan could admit how helpful Lin Yuan Pavilion was. At that time, he was asked to devote all his life’s works to a person he had never met with before, anyone would naturally refuse.
But after half a year of being with Yan Wang, the one who undoubtedly wished to serve him the most was also Du Wan Quan.
Du ‘God of Wealth’ had traveled through south and north for many years, his knowledge and experience was higher than that of ordinary people. He could vaguely feel that Chang Geng was indeed saving the country out of danger, but even more than that, it seemed he was paving the way for something.
Du Wan Quan had an unspeakable excitement: the windy and stormy road of Great Liang rose to prosperity from Emperor Wu’s reign, reaching its peak then declined in Emperor Yuan He’s rule, and came to the end of the road under Emperor Long An. Right now, it truly was about to enter a new turning point.
And he was able to board this boat simply from one wooden emblem.
Chang Geng had just come to the door when he accidentally touched his waist, his footsteps came to a halt.
Du Wan Qian keenly caught this and asked, “What is Your Highness looking for?”
“Nothing,” Chang Geng said, seemingly absent-minded. “The fragrance has run out.”
These days, he must pay attention to all fronts. The tranquilizer was consumed too fast, he hasn’t had time to created a new patch. Chang Geng sighed and laughed at Du Wan Quan. “It’s alright Master Du, There is no need to see me off, please send a message to Master Feng Han. The thing he had always hoped for, will be able to come true one day.”
His tolerance of alcohol was not very good — with the status of a prince, usually no matter what occasion, no fool would have the courage to get him drunk, although because of his natural self-control, Chang Geng had never been completely drunk, but judging from the headache that arose from only two to three cups, perhaps his tolerance might not be very good indeed.
Chang Geng usually did not touch even a drop of wine, but today, as he had been eavesdropping for more than four hours, he was truly too exhausted, let people brought up two taels of rice wine to stimulate a bit. Who knew that this bit of alcohol was not only not helpful to sleep, but also made it difficult for him to fall asleep at night.
Chang Geng tossed and turned in bed for a long time, but only until it was almost the fourth period did he drift off. Half asleep and half awake, he seemed to hear someone enter the door. He turned over and woke up, raised his hand and turned on the small steam lamp hanging from the bed. He wondered whether it was due to the humid and rainy weather in the capital these days or whether nobody had lived in the room for some time, as the result the steam lamp flashed then went out again.
The visitor sat on one side of the bed and laughed, “What are you doing in my bed?”
Chang Geng was surprised. His eyes were used to the darkness. With a little light, he saw that Gu Yun had returned. He asked hurriedly, “Didn’t you say it would take two more days to return to the capital? How did you arrive so soon?”
Gu Yun casually stretched out his waist and leaned aside. “I missed you. I urged my horse to come back first.”
Last time they bid farewell, it was the New Year. Winter came to spring in a blink of an eye. Now it was already summer, they had not seen each other for half a year. Although Gu Yun often placed ‘private goods’ in his war reports and sent letters every other time, but how could ink and paper compare with the real person in the flesh?
Chang Geng missed him incredibly, he rushed up wanting to hug him.
Gu Yun, however, leaned back and lightly dodged his hand. He fell like a piece of paper to the window. The rain had stopped outside. The moonlight pouring quietly from the puddles into the room. Gu Yun stood with his back towards the light. Chang Geng saw he was wearing Light Armor that had not been taken off for thousands of years.
“Why did you get touchy with your hands the moment we met?” Gu Yun said, “I am only here to visit you.”
Chang Geng did not know whether to cry or laugh at the first half of the sentence. The wicked man had complained first, who was the one with touchy hands? But when he heard the second half of the sentence, his smile suddenly subsided, he could vaguely feel something was wrong: “Zi Xi, what’s the matter?”
Gu Yun kept silent, only looked at him.
Two people — one standing, one sitting — relatively watching each other in silence for a while, yet it seemed like a farewell with no future reunion.
Chang Geng’s heart jumped wildly for no reason, so much that his chest could hardly contain anything else, even breathing could not be done. He could not bear it any longer, climbing up and going to Gu Yun, from the bedside to the small window, there was but four or five steps away, yet he seemed to be unable to reach it.
As soon as he moved forward a little, Gu Yun took a step back.
Turning around and grabbing the steam lamp at the bedside, Chang Geng frantically twisted it. The steam lamp made several loud sparkling noises. Suddenly, the room was blazing. Chang Geng turned to Gu Yun anxiously, regardless of the bright light.
However, he saw the face of the man standing by the window was as white as paper, with grey hue of someone who was already dead, two lines of blood streamed down the corners of his mouth and the beauty mark under his eye.
The steam lamp went out again.
Gu Yun gave a low sigh: “I cannot be in the light. What are you turning it for? Chang Geng, I am leaving now.”
What does ‘cannot be in the light’ mean? Chang Geng almost went mad on the spot. He rushed up and grabbed hold of him desperately, but only caught a cold, piercing armor.
Chang Geng shouted with a hoarse voice: “Stop, where do you want to go? Gu Zi Xi!”
“Where I must go.” Gu Yun’s voice brought a little coldness. “Now all your wings have grown, deceiving Lin Yuan Pavilion, to seize the nation of Li family. Every talented individual in the world are restrained in your hands. How extraordinary are your schemes? Li Feng will die in your hands, will he not? It’s no use for me to remain for longer. I am here to say goodbye.”
Chang Geng said in a panic, “No, wait, I did not…”
He intuitively wanted to refute that he was not such a person, but as the words came to his lips, he could not let them out. In confusion, he felt that he had indeed done what Gu Yun had said.
Gu Yun said coldly, “I was entrusted by the former Emperor to take you back from Yanhui town and take care of you until adulthood. Even if you will not become a pillar of the world, I had at least hoped for you to be a person with good personality, noble and righteous. Yet what have you done?”
In the early summer night, Chang Geng suddenly felt the unprecedented cold.
“I took care of you until you grew up according to the wishes of my ancestor, but I did not realize that it was a Zhongshan* wolf that I have raised.” Gu Yun sighed, “It has been two hundred years since the founding of Great Liang by emperor Tai Zu. I thought it could last for thousands of generations. Who knew that the Jade Seal of the Nation was destroyed in our generation…”
*this term was used to refer to someone to betray those that had aided them.
Chang Geng wanted to strongly grab him, or to cry out loudly. However, his whole body seemed to had been fixed in place, he could only look at Gu Yun as he lightly turned around and dropped a sentence: “This Gu will now go to the underworld to beg for forgiveness, there is no need for the two of us to see one another again.”
He then walked through the wall and disappeared into the void. The open window was empty. Chang Geng’s organs were burned up. He woke up with a loud cry. His heart beat like thunder. Slowly exhaling the accumulating breath inside, only then did he recover and realized that it was only a nightmare as vivid as reality.
He did not know whether it was because of the alcohol or something else. His head ached in waves, his limbs were exhausted, he was even more tired after a night’s sleep.
After a moment, Chang Geng forced himself to calm down, he was planning to get up and drink some water, then close his eyes to rest for a while. Unexpectedly, just as he had lifted himself up, he suddenly saw a dark shadow on the wooden chair by the window. The visitor was breathing very softly, it was obvious the other was an expert, causing Chang Geng, due to the noise of his heartbeat, to be unable to notice it for a moment.
He instinctively shouted, “Who is it?”
The man laughed low and said, “What are you doing in my bed?”
Nothing was more frightening than this. Chang Geng had not fully awakened from his nightmare. His elbows instantly went soft, falling directly back to the bed. Gu Yun’s old bed was hard everywhere from the board to the pillow. This collision was no small matter. The careful and calm Yan Wang was almost knocked unconscious by a pillow.
Gu Yun was shocked, quickly rushing to the bedside to help him up.
He left Shen Yi and the group of personal guards behind to rush back two days earlier. He planned to take a rest for a night then go give Chang Geng a scare tomorrow morning. Who knew that as he came in, he found that the bed was already occupied by someone. He knew from Miss Chen that Chang Geng did not rest well. It was difficult to fall asleep, and even after he fell asleep, he was easily disturbed, thus he did not have the heart to wake him up.
“Where did you hit yourself? Oh no, Let me see,” Gu Yun said unknowingly, “Although your behavior of a dove occupying a magpie’s nest is very bad, but I haven’t said anything yet. Why are you acting like you have seen a ghost? Confess, what good deeds have you done behind my back?”
Chang Geng seized his wrist with a trembling hand. This time, what he grasped onto was the warm body temperature of a person, it had calmed him down a bit.
Gu Yun found that Chang Geng’s mood was a little unstable, he intended to ease the atmosphere with a little chatter, “Why didn’t you ask why I came back two days sooner?
Chang Geng’s face changed.
Gu Yun’s crow mouth continued to say, “I missed you. I had urged my horse…”
Chang Geng cried out sharply, “Don’t say anymore!”
His voice was too miserable, Gu Yun paused, then asked carefully, “Chang Geng, what’s wrong?”
As he spoke, he searched for the steam lamp at the end of the bed.
But unexpectedly, with such a gentle twist, the steam lamp sparked two times in disorder, then there was silence. It had broken completely.
In an instant, reality and nightmare overlapped by an incredible coincidence. Chang Geng let out a hoarse, low-pitched scream. The vague pain of his limbs flooded into his heart like rising tides, turning into a hundred and eighty thousand dreadful illusions, opening its enormous bloodsoaked mouth and swallowing him in one gulp.
To be Continued…