Chapter 151

After chanting the Li Sao, the fragrance of wine still lingers, feeling the world is small.

Under the stars and moon, inside the pavilion, Wang Yang leaned against the railing, blowing the evening breeze, holding a celadon wine pot, already showing three parts of drunkenness.

At this time, Xie Xinghan had already returned to her residence, and Yu Qianlou and Yu Yuling had both been sent away by Yu Yi. In the pavilion, there were only Wang Yang and Yu Yi.

Wang Yang now increasingly suspected that it was Yu Yi who had let Yu Qianlou help him complete his provincial household registration, so he thought that after Yu Yi sent his two sons away, he would talk to him about the household registration, or at least hint at it.

But Yu Yi didn't say anything.

Not only did he not mention the household registration, but seeing that Wang Yang was unwilling to discuss the drawbacks of tax policy at the banquet earlier, he didn't force it either, and began to drink and chat with him, discussing the Chu Ci.

Wang Yang had always been able to keep his composure. Seeing that Yu Yi didn't speak, he didn't mention a word either. The two talked and chatted, chanting poems and singing slowly, from after dinner until the moon hung in the middle of the sky.

Yu Yi patted the wine jar and sighed:

"The raptor does not flock; this has been true since ancient times. Qu Yuan was as straight as a whetstone, his heart as red as cinnabar. He was slandered and exiled, yet never forgot his country. The world is muddy, but he would not be defiled. Even if he died nine times, he would not regret it. The Grand Historian said it well: 'Extending this ambition, one can compete with the sun and moon!' It is a pity that his fate was not favorable... Actually, it cannot all be blamed on fate. Ban Gu said he 'exposed his talent and flaunted himself, competing among the petty people of a dangerous country, thus inviting slander and thieves.' These words are not wrong. Therefore, it is said that talented people, if they do not take extra precautions, are easily taken advantage of by petty people. When one reaches a dead end, it is too late to regret."

Wang Yang felt that Yu Yi was hinting at something, so he deliberately pondered and said: "Sir is saying..."

"I am talking about Qu Zi."

Understood.

Sure enough, he was hinting at something.

Could it be referring to my conflict with Liu Cheng today?

Wang Yang's heart stirred, and he tentatively asked: "Has Master Yu heard that on the day of Wang Yan's banquet, Liu Cheng claimed my identity was fake?"

Yu Yi's expression didn't change at all, and he said casually: "Is that so? I haven't heard."

Wang Yang waited for a while. Seeing that Yu Yi didn't even ask, but instead started talking about the writing style of the "Nine Songs," he knew that Yu Yi was deliberately avoiding this topic. Although he didn't understand Yu Yi's thoughts, as far as the current situation was concerned, there should be no malice toward him. Wang Yang found a topic and started talking to Yu Yi about the Prince of Badong's plan to build a constant-price granary.

After listening, the first sentence Yu Yi asked was: "Are you working for the Prince of Badong?"

Wang Yang wasn't sure about Yu Yi's attitude toward the Prince of Badong, so he said: "This is a matter of benefiting the people and helping the masses; it doesn't have much to do with helping the Prince of Badong."

Yu Yi was silent for a while. He didn't know if he accepted Wang Yang's explanation, but just said: "Don't talk about one hundred coins per hu; even if it were three hundred or five hundred, they wouldn't agree."

"That's why I first asked you to come forward to mediate. With your reputation—"

"This matter involves huge profits. I don't have such a great reputation. Even when the Son of Heaven built the constant-price granary back then, he bought grain from the aristocratic clans at an extremely high price."

"I know. That's why one hundred coins per hu is just the initial income for the aristocratic clans. As long as they cooperate in building the granary, the government will sign contracts with them to reach long-term cooperation. In other words, they will become the designated grain purchasing channels for the Jingzhou government. This way, their grain will have a stable market. In addition, in every year that the constant-price granary sells grain, the government will take out 40% of the profits and distribute them to each family. The specific share of each family will be determined by the amount of grain they provide."

Yu Yi smiled: "This method was thought up by you, right? Not bad, but it's still not enough to move the aristocratic clans. Having a constant-price granary is equivalent to cutting off their financial path, and that is a huge profit."

"It's not cutting off their financial path; it's giving them a new one. And once the constant-price granary is built, their huge profit will be gone. Instead of that, it's better to cooperate with the government."

Yu Yi didn't turn the corner for a moment and asked suspiciously: "It is precisely because of this that they boycott the constant-price granary, and this constant-price granary won't be built..."

As Yu Yi spoke, he saw Wang Yang's smiling appearance and soon understood: "You want to use the name of your own grain business to force them to submit?"

He looked at Wang Yang intently: "Then let me ask you, do you really have that much grain?"

Wang Yang looked at Yu Yi: "If you say I have it, then I have it."

Yu Yi smiled first, then slowly shook his head.

Under the distant corridor, Yu Qianlou and Yu Yuling were looking at the figures of the two in the pavilion.

"It feels not quite right," Yu Yuling said.

"What's not right?" Yu Qianlou asked.

Yu Yuling had hidden worries: "Don't you feel that the atmosphere between them has become a bit heavy? It's different from before."

Yu Qianlou was puzzled: "Can you see if the atmosphere is heavy from so far away?"

Yu Yuling looked profound: "The feeling of the mind does not distinguish between far and near. Where the mind moves, it can be beyond the stars."

Yu Qianlou gasped. He suddenly felt that his younger brother was different. What was going on with this sudden unfathomable mystery!!!

He didn't know if his brother's judgment was accurate, so he relaxed and said: "Don't worry, Father values him the most."

"Why do you think Father sent us away?"

"... Maybe there is serious business to talk about."

Then it seems they are not talking very happily. Yu Yuling became increasingly worried.

If it's that matter, then Father can't solve it either, Yu Qianlou thought silently in his heart.

On the other side, Yu Yi was refusing: "Your idea is very good, but I have always not interfered in external affairs. Didn't you see that I didn't manage the matter of the county school earlier?"

"Sir—"

Wang Yang was about to persuade him again, but Yu Yi interrupted: "Zhiyan, it's not that I won't come forward, it's just that I don't socialize and have lived in seclusion for a long time. Although I have the heart, I am powerless..."

Wang Yang knew this was an excuse as soon as he heard it, and immediately said: "Sir, just take it as doing me a favor! If you have anything you need me to do in the future, I will definitely not refuse."

Seeing that Yu Yi still shook his head and didn't agree, Wang Yang stood up and bowed to Yu Yi, requesting again.

Yu Yi didn't want to come forward. Firstly, he had his reasons for living in seclusion. Secondly, he felt that Wang Yang and the Prince of Badong seemed to be entangled, and the purpose of building the constant-price granary seemed unclear. Thirdly, this was a matter that was laborious, required favors, and offended people, so he didn't want to get involved. But he appreciated Wang Yang and didn't want to directly refuse Wang Yang's face. Seeing Wang Yang's firm request, he prevaricated:

"How about this, I have a troubling problem recently. You see if there is any way."

Wang Yang immediately said: "Okay, I will definitely try my best. Please speak, Sir."

Yu Yi thought for a while and said:

"This problem was actually encountered by a friend of mine. In Xuancheng County, it is customary to value copper-covered eaves, so wealthy families often seek private copper to compete in luxury. The rich fan the flames, and the poor are ashamed of not being able to keep up. This trend is becoming more and more intense, to the point that many aristocratic clans melt down coins to make copper to decorate their eaves! If it were before, it would be fine, but now the currency system is already broken, and copper coins are gradually decreasing. If this continues, it will be a disaster for the country!

The aristocratic clans are arrogant, and the local government has repeatedly failed to stop it. If we petition the Son of Heaven to issue an edict to ban it, we must set penalties. If the penalty is light, it will be ineffective; if it is ineffective, it will damage the majesty of heaven. If the penalty is heavy, it will offend the gentry and hurt the harmony of the people. Moreover, if we ask the Son of Heaven to issue an edict specifically for the roofs of one county, it seems to be petty. The Son of Heaven may not be willing to do so."

Yu Yi rubbed his temples and sighed: "It's difficult!"

Wang Yang pondered for a few seconds and suddenly asked: "Is this friend of yours a County Magistrate?"

"Hmm... higher than a Magistrate."

"Is he a Provincial Registrar?"

Yu Yi didn't answer and asked: "What's wrong?"

"Does he have the power to issue political decrees?"

Although Yu Yi used this question to block Wang Yang's mouth, he had expectations in his heart. Now seeing Wang Yang still doing the same old useless work, he was somewhat disappointed. However, Wang Yang was young, and it was normal for him to have no experience in government affairs. Besides, this problem was tricky, and it was unrealistic to expect him to think of a solution immediately. Being able to say those words about commerce and tax during the day was already extraordinary. To demand more would be to make things difficult for him. Thinking of this, Yu Yi leveled his mindset and replied: "He has the power to issue political decrees, but if those aristocratic clans were willing to obey political decrees, the problem would have been solved long ago."

"No, the political decree is not for the aristocratic clans."

Yu Yi was stunned: "Then it is..."

"It is for the brothels."

Yu Yi looked at Wang Yang in confusion: "Brothels? What do you mean?"

"Let your friend order that from now on, all brothels in the county, whether new or old, must go to the government to buy copper to cover their eaves! Newly built brothels are not allowed to open their doors without copper eaves! From now on, copper eaves will be the standard configuration for brothels!"

Heavens!

Yu Yi was directly shocked!!!!

What kind of god-like method is this!!!!

How many brothels are there in Xuancheng County? But how many aristocratic clans are there!!!

With this move, within a month, the aristocratic clans would be desperately tearing down their copper eaves as if their lives depended on it!

This move is indeed powerful, but it's a bit vicious...

Yu Yi looked at Wang Yang, and his eyes changed.

The problem that had troubled him and that person for so long was actually solved by this youth with a flick of a finger!! This is a bit freakishly clever...