Chapter 567

Xie Yuan discovered that Da Wang's steps upon returning this time were extremely arrogant, completely different from just now.

As soon as Da Wang entered the door, he slammed the table: "This knife, ten thousand yuan is just a hundred ingots, give me two hundred! In two days I'll give them to the top two hundred soldiers by military merit!"

Before Bai Ze called him, the two of them were looking at Xie Yuan's newly purchased Outdoor King military knife, the hot new model released last week. This knife doesn't have the one or two hundred functions of a Swiss Army knife, it only has four functions, but it's much larger, a full palm length. Main blade, small blade, wood saw, fire striker, plus a genuine leather carrying pouch hanging from the belt—this wild outdoor commemorative edition military knife is incredibly sharp and of unbeatable quality. Before Xie Yuan mentioned the price, Da Wang treasured it immensely, saying he wanted to buy several to give to the Duke of Dongdu and others; this knife is extremely practical for the Jin Dynasty.

His previous dozens or even over a hundred functions knives were of average practicality in the Jin Dynasty—various awls, can openers completely useless; he could play with them, but they were truly useless on campaign. Of course, all this was before hearing Xie Yuan say this knife costs nine thousand eight.

Upon hearing it was nine thousand eight per knife, Da Wang instantly felt it was… just average.

"My knife with over eighty functions of some retro commemorative edition also only costs ten thousand, right? This one has only four functions—shouldn't it be ten thousand divided by twenty?"

"It's not calculated that way; this material is top-grade from our place, and the craftsmanship is top-notch, not inferior to Johnson's! It's just small in size, otherwise it would be contraband."

Da Wang stretched out two fingers, pleading: "But you're expensive! I'm a person in debt of several million, just buy two."

Who knew this guy went out for a trip and came back with two turning into two hundred.

Xie Yuan grew curious: "What's this? Just now you were notified you discovered a gold mine?"

Da Wang smiled and squinted his eyes as he recounted the morning's events; after finishing, this guy was itching to try: "You say, should I go out more often to stroll around? Although the times aren't great, Chang'an still has foundations." Taking advantage of Xie Yuan and the others not having arrived yet, doing a few more heists would be great~

Xie Yuan was speechless: "……If I were a Chang'an native, from today onward I'd avoid all ten to fifteen-year-old kids." Better to mistakenly kill than lose the family fortune.

"? Then isn't……this business something I could do just once?" Da Wang sighed.

However, three million isn't little either, and Da Wang became heroic, besides liquor he also had Xie Yuan get him more meat. For the victory feast, big bowls of liquor and big mouthfuls of meat are proper.

Before leaving, Xie Yuan settled Da Wang's share for this month's restaurant and seafood, and also delivered a batch of the Hetian jade beads Da Wang commissioned him to machine-polish. The processed goods went straight into the warehouse, and the payment upon settlement went directly into Da Wang's account, offsetting his debt; the negative account jumped, then stabilized at a new negative value, unmoving, with automatic deductions—Da Wang received not a single coin.

"If I'd known I didn't need to exchange a jade pillow for liquor, using this share to offset debt would've been better. Next month, aside from deducting the victory feast meat costs, the rest will all go into the grain reserve account."

Xie Yuan laughed at him like an ostrich: "……You can't possibly stay in the homestead account forever, never trade with John Pu again? This money you'll eventually have to pay back."

Da Wang simply buried his face in the sofa, muttering: "That also requires Da Wang to turn over! A war with no spoils is too expensive, cavalry from Youzhou all the way to Chang'an, plus the garrisons of Luo Shui Pass and Luoyang, tens of thousands of men and horses consuming too fast, the Black Wind Horses have high fodder demands, the grain and fodder I've stockpiled these years have already been halved……" The more he spoke, the more resolute: "Anyway, Da Wang now will not repay!"

"Tsk! You're obviously too young, not repaying debt isn't that easy."

Da Wang also didn't take it to heart; the next day he received two hundred twenty thousand taels of silver and some unrealized immovable property sent by the Wei clan.

In these times, the Wei clan unwilling to part with grain and household collections simply used the price-declining residences and land to offset.

In these times, the least valuable things are houses and land.

Da Wang also isn't particularly interested in houses and land; in the barren Beijiang, he wants to enclose and reclaim land wherever he can, wherever he looks down on Chang'an's land and residences.

However, "It's fine. Two hundred twenty thousand taels is also a lot, how much is a lot, who let Da Wang be benevolent~"

Probably Shen Yu didn't manage his expression well, thus drew criticism: "Minister Shen, what do you say~"

"I think the Wei clan is still reasonable, the Prince's painstaking efforts were not in vain. After this battle, Wei Ninth Son also learned his lesson, will surely correct his attitude and start anew." In short, saying Da Wang did this for the Wei clan's benefit is definitely correct.

Da Wang: ……a bit embarrassed.

Da Wang also gave Shen Yu an extra glance: "Minister Shen is very suitable for the position of Jingzhao Yin, keep working hard from now on."

Shen Yu again wanted to wipe his sweat, he often forgets the person opposite is a boy just over ten. Once again confirmed, this is no longer the child who, back then, would sit on the ground in Chengzhang Palace and throw a tantrum at the slightest disagreement.

He respectfully took his leave, not seeing Da Wang, the moment he left, jump up from the chair! This guy hopped and jumped to the back to count money……

Wei Shen felt his step was quite distinctive—was he jumping high? No, after careful observation from behind, they found this guy was hopping with hands and feet together; he'd be embarrassed to do that after age five……

He pointed at Da Wang and laughed hysterically, laughing until he noticed Zhou Ke still expressionless beside him, putting on a serious front. He nudged him: "…No, so funny, how could you hold it in? We're this familiar, you wouldn't…?"

Zhou Ke bowed his fists to him: "Second Young Master, subordinate……didn't find anything funny."

Wei Shen was about to say you're pretending, when he heard a cold snort. Turning his head, he saw Da Wang already stopped, arms crossed, glaring at him angrily……

"Da Wang~! I can explain, Da Wang!"

Da Wang bared his teeth fiercely, then extended a finger toward him: "Account plus one. Openly mocking Da Wang's walking posture."

Wei Shen: ……

The day he reunites with his grandfather and father in the future is the day he ran away from home.

Two days after Da Wang made his fortune, Ling Yin returned, bringing back vast quantities of alcohol and meat on the day of the victory feast.

That night, Chang'an's 220,000 new forbidden troops also shared in the blessing, receiving an added pure meat dish.

Da Wang's reward feast proceeded as scheduled, held at the great drill field of the Eastern Great Camp, where the tens of thousands he brought packed it tightly.

In the afternoon, the soldiers lined up, armor reflecting sunlight, each head high, chest out. Waiting for Da Wang to arrive, drums and music sounded together, banners blocked the sun, and Da Wang, who drives people crazy, instantly ignited.

How great, how great, our cavalry's spirit is truly impressive.

The Duke of Dongdu held the command flag, announcing their current stage's victory fruits. After listening, the soldiers shouted in unison, "Long live the Prince, boundless joy!"—the sound truly shook the heavens.

Da Wang wore a proud face, having a strong army brings boundless joy. For example, Bai Li Jin and Bai Li Jun—no matter how you shout, it's useless~

Amid the earth-shaking "Boundless Joy," someone in the neighboring unit, who considered themselves a prisoner-of-war turned "second-class soldier" in the forbidden troops, shrank their neck, innocent and transformed.

"……Even if we lost, it's not unjust~"

These days they've been tormented by Liang He and Feng Xiang to the point of annoyance, the Beijiang cavalry are literally "someone else's child." From body to heart, they've been struck through and through.

"Our side has eaten chicken legs, they don't know how good they could eat……"

"I heard many carts of alcohol were transported from the north, from the north—could it be Youzhou white?"

"……Then the Beijiang King is quite generous."

Look at their horses, their armor, their treatment—sour.

This they got wrong, Chang'an's Youzhou white has been diluted with water, but Da Wang's reward to the cavalry is at least the original brew.

One vat after another of white liquor was brought up, Da Wang raised his wine cup. The first bowl honored heaven, earth, and heroic spirits—although they here haven't suffered many casualties, but that is all Da Wang bearing burdens forward, spending and spending!

Da Wang thinks exactly this way, he decided to temporarily add a toast to himself!

This guy boldly tilted his head back and gulped……didn't manage, only took a big gulp and successfully choked. Today Zhao Bao isn't here, no one to give him water, Da Wang finally managed a bold move, alas his throat and stomach seem not to appreciate it.

Da Wang used all his acting skills to swallow it with a blank face, this proof……anyone holding a lighter to him and striking once could perform a fire-breathing act right there.

The nearby soldiers just saw Da Wang's 'excited' face red and red, seeing how happy the child is, they all followed the rising emotion. Once the beautiful liquor entered the throat, it would be even happier, good liquor! Clear and pure, rich and mellow, enough to satisfy!

Da Wang blushed, waving his hand boldly, "Today the wine is on me!" The atmosphere at the drill ground grew even more lively, and everyone's gaze toward Da Wang became warmer.

Da Wang set down his wine cup, gave a few simple words of encouragement, then looked ahead to the future—the formal proceedings were nearly complete; today wasn't the time for long speeches. Having said what needed to be said, Da Wang, borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, bestowed the freshly acquired, still-warm land and several residences upon a few senior commanders, from the veteran generals Dong Du Hou and Feng Xiang, to Liang He and Chang Li, these few young ones.

Upon reflection, all expenses today were covered by the Wei family, and Da Wang smiled even more happily.

Hey~ So lively, no money spent~

Thank you, Wei Hang, for your selfless gift!