Chapter 1336

Although the time of his rise was very short, the resources Wang Yan could mobilize were already quite considerable.

Saving the grain for several hundred households was really a very simple matter for Wang Yan. It was just the current transportation problem; especially the loss along the way when escorting grain was relatively large, and a lot of grain was wasted on the road.

In general, Wang Yan transferring grain over was a loss-making business.

However, profit and loss were obviously not looked at this way. He was not short of grain; firstly, he purchased it domestically, and secondly, he transported it by sea from Nanyue. He could mobilize the grain needed by hundreds of thousands of people in large numbers.

What he lacked was this spirit of loyalty and righteousness. If he could put in so much effort to help after a mere former fellow soldier came to his door, then what about the people who worked for him?

I give a million to those who betray me...

Once this spreads in the future, the benefits to him personally will be infinite.

However, there were also hidden dangers; after all, buying people's hearts was a major crime.

So after deciding to transfer grain to help, Wang Yan requested an audience with Yang Jian.

As a founding County Marquis, he naturally had the qualification to meet the Emperor directly. In fact, he also had the qualification to attend court; after all, his ranking was still very high. It was just that he had no position, so he didn't have to attend court.

So Wang Yan requested an audience with Yang Jian, submitted the request on the first day, and met him in the study where Yang Jian worked on the second day.

Yang Jian was very welcoming to Wang Yan, enthusiastically greeting the eunuch serving tea, and it was clear tea.

After more than a year, clear tea had spread relatively widely. Even the scholar-officials who looked down on Wang Yan felt that Wang Yan's saying that drinking tea should savor the natural fragrance was somewhat reasonable.

Currently, on the issue of drinking tea, there had been a dispute between two factions. One faction believed that what Wang Yan said was right, and they accepted clear tea. One faction believed that although what Wang Yan said had some truth, personally preparing tea soup was the enjoyment of scholar-officials, so they still firmly drank the original tea soup.

Yang Jian liked clear tea very much, praised Wang Yan's whimsical ideas, and then laughed: "I was actually thinking of summoning you to the palace recently, but I never had the time; I didn't expect you to request an audience yourself. Is there something the matter?"

"There is indeed a small matter, Your Majesty. Once, during the time of destroying Chen..."

Wang Yan told the story of the past, mentioned that Zhang Si had come to him for help, and told Yang Jian the truth. "Therefore, your subject wishes to transfer a batch of grain over to help them get through the difficulties. However, Your Majesty, your subject fears that some treacherous dogs will attack your subject for buying people's hearts and having ulterior motives; therefore, I request an audience with Your Majesty for your holy judgment."

Yang Jian nodded with a smile: "I know the situation you mentioned; I have already transferred grain over, but maybe some people are corrupt and obstructing it, so it hasn't been fully implemented. The grain is your own; if you have the heart to care for the old soldiers, then go ahead and do it. However, once this precedent is set, in the future, whenever the garrison soldiers have any trouble, they will find their way to you. What will you do then?"

Obviously, Yang Jian had a very good understanding of the people's desire to take advantage, and he understood the situation at the grassroots level. What was even more obvious was that Yang Jian didn't take the act of buying people's hearts seriously at all.

"If I can help, I will help. If anyone thinks it's a matter of course, your servant is a founding Marquis, after all; can I still be bullied by them?" Wang Yan said simply and directly; if they went too far, he would deal with them.

Looking at Wang Yan's fiery appearance, Yang Jian couldn't help but smile and asked: "Is that all?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Your subject was unsure and didn't dare to act privately. Now that Your Majesty has given your consent, your subject is at ease and will arrange for people to transfer the grain over when I return."

Yang Jian took a sip of tea and turned to say: "You have worked hard on the Kaihuang Plow."

"Your subject originally knew carpentry. While suppressing bandits in Yangzhou, I had nothing to do and obtained it by chance. To be able to have Your Majesty name it Kaihuang is truly your subject's greatest honor in three lifetimes..."

Wang Yan flattered him with good words, not taking any credit at all; it was all because Yang Jian had heavenly help, and the inspiration came to his, Wang Mou's, head, allowing him to make it. In the final analysis, it was all Yang Jian's benevolent virtue and Yang Guang's trust.

It made Yang Jian laugh out loud, very happy.

Wang Yan's flattery was not strange; Yang Jian heard it every day. The key was that Wang Yan had really done things, and the sincerity and loyalty were on his face and in his eyes. The words he said gave Yang Jian the feeling that there was no flattery at all; they were truly words from the heart.

After laughing, Yang Jian asked the key question: "How is the progress of the maritime trade?"

Wang Yan knew that Yang Guang had been reporting the situation to Yang Jian, but since he asked, he certainly had to say it. He knew that Yang Jian wanted to ask about more detailed things; after all, it was impossible to write about the situation in detail in letters.

So Wang Yan rambled on from beginning to end, clearly and plainly telling Yang Jian the ins and outs of the maritime trade, as well as the detailed problems.

Yang Jian listened very carefully and would occasionally interject with questions. The news Yang Guang gave him was second-hand; how could it be as clear and plain as what Wang Yan said.

He sighed: "I didn't expect there to be such wealth overseas. To think that treacherous people like Gao Zhi Society were afraid of the sea and didn't dare to go; how ridiculous. Ziyan is truly a meritorious official of our China."

"It was just your subject's good fortune," Wang Yan said. "Now that we have made a good start and earned a large amount of money and grain, your subject will intensify exploration in the future. Once we build ocean-going ships, we will send people out to see what is on the other side of the sea. If there is another piece of fertile land, the good days for the people of our Great Sui will come. Your Majesty's name will surely be written in great detail by historians and passed down for ten thousand generations as the eternal emperor. Our Great Sui will also surely last for a thousand generations."

"Hahaha~"

Yang Jian laughed non-stop, but he was very modest in his words: "Where is there a dynasty that lasts for a thousand generations? It is just doing one's best and listening to the mandate of heaven. Ziyan, you have done well."

"It is all Your Majesty's wisdom, and also His Highness the Prince of Jin's trust. If not for this, where would Wang Yan be today?"

Yang Jian was satisfied, so he encouraged Wang Yan and drew some big cakes for him, but there was nothing practical. Then he dismissed Wang Yan to Dugu Qieluo's place.

Dugu Qieluo kindly cared about Wang Yan's life, exhorted Wang Yan to behave well, work wholeheartedly for the royal family, and treat Princess Qionghua well after marriage, and so on...

After such a session, Wang Yan finally left the palace.

He immediately arranged for people to mobilize grain and send it over with Zhang Si to save the garrison soldier brothers there.

Zhang Si was tearfully grateful, left his child to work for Wang Yan, and left Daxing with a thousand thanks, happily returning home...

Outside Daxing City, watching Zhang Si walk away, Xiao Mei laughed: "His Majesty is truly generous; he even dares to let you do this kind of thing."

There was an indescribable irony in her words.

Wang Yan also laughed: "We are all one family, after all. Besides, the Kaihuang Plow is also a great merit; His Majesty trusts me. I will definitely repay His Majesty well and repay His Highness the Prince of Jin."

"Yes, you must repay him well!" Xiao Mei giggled, laughing at the stupidity of Yang Jian and Yang Guang, not knowing that the Wang Yan they trusted was actually the greatest ambitious person and had already formed a force.

Many things were handled by Xiao Mei, and she knew almost everything. She knew very well that the old Wang family was now rich in money and grain and was raising tens of thousands of strong men.

Not to mention anything else, the navy alone had more than three thousand men, all armed with weapons and armor tacitly approved by Yang Jian, and their monthly pay was all issued by Wang Yan. Although Wang Yan lectured them, always saying to be loyal to the royal family, in reality, they were all loyal to Wang Yan from the bottom of their hearts.

Still the same saying, they didn't know where the Emperor's gate opened, and they hadn't even seen the Prince of Jin; they only knew that the General was a good General, bringing them great wealth, getting them wives, having children, and letting them live good lives.

These people were already a powerful force.

There were also the Yangzhou garrison troops; Wang Yan had managed them for two years, and everyone from top to bottom was his person; these people were also usable. Just saying that Wang Yan transferred garrison troops to go to sea to earn extra money without a single leak of wind shows how solid Yangzhou was. Of course, Wang Yan never did anything beyond the rules and reported everything to Yang Guang and Yang Jian. But others didn't know; this was the key.

In addition, there were Wang Yan's old subordinates in Bingzhou, as well as some people Wang Yan had won over when he was in Taiyuan.

There were also many laborers used in the dozens of farms and businesses set up in various places over the past few years; counting them up, there were thousands of strong men.

Currently, the conditions for carrying out some military actions were already met: there were troops, there were mines that could produce weapons and armor, there was money and grain, and they could already pull together a large and combat-effective team.

It was just that Wang Yan was a loyal official of the Great Sui...

Xiao Mei looked at the "loyal official" with a confident smile and said with a smile: "Husband, yesterday Shi Your Majesty sent us an invitation, inviting us to attend a banquet at his mansion tomorrow afternoon."

Wang Yan nodded: "Prepare some gifts; it's always bad to go empty-handed."

"It was already prepared yesterday."

"Madam is truly a virtuous wife," Wang Yan hugged Xiao Mei's shoulder and swayed as they walked back to the city...

The relationship between the two had always been very good, mainly because Xiao Mei was a broad-minded woman and a capable woman; although her vision was a bit short-sighted, in general, she was very good. More importantly, it was Wang Yan's casualness and his trust in Xiao Mei.

Plus, Xiao Mei was a woman who could let go and never hesitated to show her flirtatiousness, so their life was very stable.

Thus, the two did not suspect each other and played well together; naturally, everything was good for everyone...

The next afternoon, Wang Yan went to Shi Your Majesty's home for the banquet as promised, bringing Xiao Mei.

"Brother, you have made your brother miss you so much." As soon as he saw Wang Yan, Shi Your Majesty enthusiastically hugged him, "Quick, quick, please come in."

The two were peers and were very close, calling each other brother and younger brother.

Shi Your Majesty complained: "Brother, you have been back in the capital for many days; why didn't you find your brother to drink? And you had to make your brother invite you?"

Wang Yan laughed: "How could that be? It's really because things are busy; I have a huge pile of things at home, and Brother knows that. I was just thinking of finding Brother to drink these few days, and Brother sent me the invitation first. Brother, don't blame me; after I'm busy for a while, our brothers can drink every day."

"Just drink the Zui Bai Meng sold by your house; that is truly good wine."

"If Brother loves to drink, I will have someone pull a cart over tomorrow."

As the two talked and laughed, they took their seats and began to drink. Shi Your Majesty said: "I heard that you kid transferred grain to save the garrison soldiers who once traveled with you?"

"This is all His Majesty's holy virtue; if not for His Majesty's nod, how would I dare to act like this?"

"No matter what, you did a good deed, and I like this about you: you don't forget your roots and are willing to help those poor people."

"I also come from a poor background, Brother; how would I dare to forget?" Wang Yan said with a bitter smile and turned to ask, "How has Brother been recently?"

"Don't mention it," Shi Your Majesty drank a cup of depressed wine. "Last time I went south to suppress the rebellion, that old thing Yang Su became Prime Minister, but your brother was promoted to a Great General; it's so boring."

Yang Su became the Right Vice-Director of the Secretariat, managing the imperial government together with Gao Jiong. Shi Your Majesty was bestowed 100,000 coins and appointed as the Left General of the Palace Guard. He was already one of the highest spokespersons for the Sui Dynasty's garrison troops and had basically reached the end of his career.

However, obviously, the greatest battle result was picked by Yang Su. Shi Your Majesty was also a General of the Marching Army, leading two thousand soldiers to advance independently, crossing mountains and ridges, fighting for over a thousand miles, going through over seven hundred battles, pacifying Cai Daoren and Wang Wenjin, and defeating countless rebel armies; his battle record was quite awesome, so it was normal for him to be unconvinced.

But it was also not wrong for Yang Su to obtain the greatest merit. After all, Yang Su was leading the army to attack head-on, chasing the rebel army all the way, and even captured the rebel leader Gao Zhi Society; his battle merit was indeed greater.

However, when one is envious and jealous, one doesn't care about so much; Shi Your Majesty had a proper martial temper and just thought Yang Su wasn't that awesome and was just unconvinced; there was nothing wrong with that.

Wang Yan comforted him: "Brother, don't worry; I heard that the four barbarians around us are not honest recently, so Brother will definitely have a chance to make great merit again."

Shi Your Majesty shook his head and laughed: "You are still comforting me? Brother, you are the one who is truly not easy. An invincible general who was enfeoffed as a Marquis in one battle, not guarding the border for the country, but instead went to that comfortable nest in Yangzhou, brewing wine, stir-frying tea, and doing carpentry all day; it is truly very boring."

"Brother is wrong. My background is humble, and being able to walk to this day is already not bad; what's more, the royal family even married a princess to me, raising my family's status; I am already satisfied. Even if it's worse, I am still worry-free about food and clothing, eating delicacies, much better than when I was a small soldier in the army before; my heart is satisfied..."

Shi Your Majesty stared at Wang Yan, seemingly trying to distinguish whether Wang Yan was sincere or fake. However, on Wang Yan's face and in his eyes, he only saw sincerity, as if Wang Yan really thought so.

"A great man must have great ambitions. Ziyan, you are an invincible general; the battlefield is where you should go, not that gentle village in Jiang Nan."

"Many people are blocking me from going up; what can I do?"

"Then you can't just wait for death!" Shi Your Majesty felt angry at Wang Yan's lack of progress.

"Brother, only by being content can one be happy; I have a fortune of ten thousand strings of cash, so I must enjoy it well."

"No ambition!"

Wang Yan laughed and asked: "What does Brother think of His Highness the Prince of Jin?"

"Deep thoughts, ambition in his eyes," Shi Your Majesty said very accurately. He was stunned for a moment and realized, "Brother is pinning his hopes on the Prince of Jin?"

"Otherwise, I have no other way out; I only support His Highness the Prince of Jin; if he prospers, I prosper; if he suffers, I suffer."

Shi Your Majesty was a martial man, not a fool, and had already understood Wang Yan's intention to win him over.

So he laughed and raised his wine cup: "Brother, let's not talk about these annoying things; come, come, your brother toasts you, drink to victory!"

Wang Yan shook his head amusingly, but also raised his wine cup and drank heavily with him.

The two didn't talk about standing in line anymore, and just like before in Yangzhou, they talked about the gossip of the officials, cursed Yang Su, discussed fighting, reviewed, and compared military tactics; the conversation was still very happy...