Chapter 148: No Money!

In the third month of spring, the bright sun hung high, and the warm sunlight fell from the dome, sprinkling onto the glazed tiles of the University Scholar Mansion.

It refracted into the flower garden on the side, illuminating the delicate, dew-kissed flowers with an alluring glow.

White clouds drifted leisurely, and a gentle breeze blew softly.

Bursts of floral fragrance followed the spring breeze, sweeping through every corner of the courtyard.

In a small pavilion beside the flower garden, Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Juzheng sat facing each other.

"Speak," Zhang Juzheng ordered with a stern face.

"Fight!" Glancing at his old father, Zhang Yunxiu squeezed the word out from between his teeth.

Zhang Juzheng slapped the table, his beard bristling and eyes glaring as he said, "Fight? Do you know how much money it costs just to conscript laborers, mobilize ships, and move the army? Do you really think the imperial court's silver comes from a strong wind?"

"Doesn't it?" Zhang Yunxiu said without a second thought.

"You rebellious son, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

Zhang Juzheng's face turned black, and he glared fiercely at his son.

Zhang Yunxiu was not intimidated; he stared at his father and said loudly, "Father, once we have these Silver Dollars, money will come as if it were blown in by a strong wind."

"Think about it: when those from Frangistan and the Nanyang trade with our Great Ming, the silver in their hands is full-weight. They must first exchange it for Silver Dollars before they can trade with us."

"With one exchange back and forth, their white silver will roll into Great Ming like melons."

"That is still no way to use it," Zhang Juzheng replied, biting his cheek.

"Money is only money if it is spent; if it isn't spent, it's just a lump of silver. Besides, fighting a war isn't burning money—it's a business, a highly profitable business!" Zhang Yunxiu took the opportunity to pace to his father's side, cupped his hands in a salute, and poured out his thoughts all at once.

"After winning, the things gained will be far more than what was lost."

"And if you lose?"

"If we lose, we keep fighting until we win!"

"You make it sound easy. Once defeated, the Tatars in the north will become restless again."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head, clearly not daring to attack rashly. Zhang Yunxiu stomped his foot and patted his chest, guaranteeing, "We won't lose. As for the military expenses... we will find a way to advance them first, and the Ministry of Revenue can settle the accounts with us afterward."

With a plate as large as Great Ming's, let alone losing once or twice, even if they lost five or six times, the Japanese pirates would never be able to turn the tables.

Besides, the war hasn't even started yet; how could one think about losing?

Right now, the island of Japan is still a scattered mess. As long as he plays one faction against another and stirs up their conflicts, wouldn't it be as easy as reaching out to grab something?

"Advance it first?" Zhang Juzheng murmured, his brows knitting into a tight knot.

He had long heard that his son had made some money doing business, but he hadn't expected his tone to be so bold as to advance military expenses.

That wasn't just tens of thousands of taels; it was starting at hundreds of thousands or even millions of taels.

"Tell me honestly, how much money do you have?" After a moment of secret shock, Zhang Juzheng stared into his son's eyes and asked.

Zhang Yunxiu blinked his eyes, grinned, and said, "No money."

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Juzheng's face turned black instantly. He slammed the stone table heavily, pointed at Zhang Yunxiu, and shouted, "Then you are here to tease me?! Very well, it seems the last lesson was too light; you don't remember the pain!"

"This son has no money, but the wealthy of Great Ming have plenty."

"What do you mean?"

"Borrow money from people," Zhang Yunxiu said, curling his lip and signaling his old father to stay calm, then moving his stool closer to him. "I plan to raise some military funds from the common people, promising them that once the matter is settled, their money will be returned in full, and we will give them ten percent of the spoils of war."

Zhang Juzheng had thought it was some brilliant plan, but it turned out to be scraping the fat and blood of the people. He was instantly enraged, pointing at his son and shouting, "You yellow-mouthed child, do you know that if you fail, these commoners will be ruined and lose their homes because of you?!"

"They are just ordinary commoners, and besides, doesn't the Ministry of Revenue have us covered?"

"Going around in circles, you still want the imperial court to pay for this." Zhang Juzheng realized the implication, stood up, and stared at his son, saying word by word, "The Taicang Silver reserves are insufficient; there isn't that much money for these soldiers to squander."

"Father..."

"You may go."

"Sigh."

Zhang Yunxiu let out a long sigh and walked away from the small pavilion.

That evening, Zhang Yunxiu went to visit Li Youzi, preparing to squeeze some benefits from this Minister of Revenue.

Unexpectedly, before he could enter, the guard at the door told him directly, "Our master has gone out to inspect the tax barriers; the young master should please return."

Zhang Yunxiu sat in the carriage, stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and ordered, "Go to the small residence."

As soon as he entered the backyard, Zheng Xi'er led the servants to greet him with a smile. Zhang Yunxiu was annoyed, waved his hand to dismiss the servants, and carried Zheng Xi'er in his arms into the inner chamber.

After a bout of indulgence, Zhang Yunxiu lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, staring straight at the top of the bed.

Zheng Xi'er's face was flushed, she was drenched in fragrant sweat, and her eyes were like silk. While breathing out orchid-scented air, she nudged her head against Zhang Yunxiu's chest.

"Does my husband have something troubling him?" After a few seconds of silence, Zheng Xi'er raised her eyelids to glance at Zhang Yunxiu and said softly, "If my husband has any worries, just tell Xi'er."

"How much money is left in our accounts?" Zhang Yunxiu looked down at his beautiful wife and asked directly.

Pouting her lips in thought for a moment, Zheng Xi'er said softly, "If we don't purchase new stock, there are seventy thousand taels of silver."

"That much?" Zhang Yunxiu was surprised.

"There won't be much left after purchasing stock," Zheng Xi'er said with a smile, shaking her head, and added, "Does my husband need money urgently? If so, Xi'er can purchase less stock."

"Then, after maintaining the normal operation of the shops, how much silver will be left?"

"Fifty thousand, perhaps."

"Give all that silver to me."

"Very well, Xi'er will give the silver to my husband tomorrow."

Zheng Xi'er smiled and nodded in agreement. Zhang Yunxiu hooked her slender neck and teased, "You agreed so readily; don't you want to ask what I'm taking this money for?"

"I won't ask. If my husband is willing to say, he will certainly tell Xi'er. If my husband is unwilling to say, then if Xi'er asks, it will only make things difficult for my husband," Zheng Xi'er said, pouting her little lips, her reasoning sound.

"So obedient." Hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu gave Zheng Xi'er's fair face a heavy peck.

He discovered that he was becoming more and more unable to leave this woman.

She understood his warmth and cold, was obedient and sensible; talking to her could relieve his fatigue and worries, and being intimate with her could make his bones melt and his spirit dissolve.

Sighing with emotion for a moment, Zhang Yunxiu looked at Zheng Xi'er's blinking almond eyes, leaned his mouth toward her earlobe, and whispered hotly, "Actually, it wouldn't hurt to tell you what this money is for."

"After all, it has something to do with you."

"It has to do with me?" Zheng Xi'er became interested, her eyes fixed on Zhang Yunxiu as she urged him to continue.

Zhang Yunxiu grinned and deliberately put on a tone, saying, "This money, I plan to use it to keep a mistress; would you say that has anything to do with you?"

"Oh."

Zheng Xi'er's eyes dimmed instantly; she gave a perfunctory "oh" and buried her head into the silk quilt.

"Aren't you going to ask who it is?"

"Xi'er shouldn't ask! Whoever Young Master likes is fine; as a concubine, what right do I have to gossip?"

Hearing Zheng Xi'er's sour words, Zhang Yunxiu laughed heartily.

At this moment, Zheng Xi'er also realized what was happening; she suddenly poked her beautiful head out from the silk quilt, her eyes brimming with tears as she huffed, "You—you bad person, I clearly trusted you so much, yet you still say such nonsense to scare me."

"Don't cry!"

"Xi'er isn't crying; Xi'er just got wind in her eyes."

Seeing this vulnerable side of the woman, Zhang Yunxiu was also full of heartache.

He reached out and gently pulled Zheng Xi'er into his arms, saying softly, "Xi'er, rest assured, I will definitely use these fifty thousand taels of silver for a proper purpose, and I will pay you back double when the time comes."

"It's all my husband's own money, what is there to pay back?"

"It's different; this money was earned by you bit by bit, through your hard work. If I just took it like this, how would you continue to earn money for me?"

Hearing this, Zheng Xi'er felt as if she had eaten honey, but she said haughtily, "So... so, my husband just treats Xi'er as a tool for making money."

"You are still my wife, and Xuan'er's mother," Zhang Yunxiu said affectionately.

"Oh no, terrible!" Zheng Xi'er slapped her forehead, struggled to get up, and then quickly put on her clothes.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Yunxiu asked her, completely bewildered.

"You've been messing with me ever since you got back; Xuan'er hasn't been fed yet, and she's probably making a huge fuss by now. I have to go over and check on her quickly."

"Didn't we find a wet nurse for her? How could she have no milk to eat?"

"The midwife said it's different. For one's own child, one still has to feed them oneself."

As Zheng Xi'er spoke, she was already fully dressed, then she stepped out of the bedroom.

Zhang Yunxiu also struggled to get up, draped a single garment over his shoulders, and followed closely behind Zheng Xi'er.

(End of this chapter)