Chapter 46: Holy Monk 12 (The Rotten Father Is No Longer Able)

Holy Monk 12 (The Rotten Father Is No Longer Able)

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The Emperor nodded; everyone knows the significance of horses on the steppe, and the Hu cavalry is also famously fierce and hard to deal with.

"Horses on the steppe run faster than those in the Central Plains; the Hu are better horsemen than the Central Plains, with strong mobility—once they strike they flee. On the vast steppe no one can be found, so for the Hu the cost of a war is very low, and a victory yields enormous profit."

Unlike the Central Plains, a war's cost is so great that the common people can only tighten their clothes and reduce food; the battle is fought over logistics!

The Emperor nodded again; when Central Plains people face the Hu, they can only rely on sharper weapons and gear—armor, swords, building cities and defending them.

The court also has heavy cavalry, arming soldiers and warhorses, a great weapon against the Hu, but such heavy cavalry has obvious drawbacks: first, it costs a lot—very costly; second, it lacks agility, able to win a fight but unable to give chase.

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The two were instantly captivated by the sand table on the ground, casually bowing; they could not even speak, lying prone on the floor, eyes fixed on the sand table, faces full of admiration.

The Emperor saw their upturned backsides, found it rather eye‑watering, turned his head immediately, and continued discussing the difficulty of governing the country with the high monk.

Jiang He did not mention it, and the Emperor seemed to have forgotten to have the sand table placed on the table, so when he wanted to look at it, they both stayed prone, arching their bottoms there.

Although the two lying on the ground were entranced by the sand table, they still allocated some thought to themselves. When they heard the Emperor and the Master discuss, both were very confused.

If they remember correctly, Master Xuan Ji is actually a monk, right? Yet the monk who debates state affairs with the Emperor, speaks with flawless logic, and whose insights are as sharp as any minister in the court—who is that monk?

Could it be that Master Xuan Ji is not a monk at all, but a secret pawn the Emperor buried in the temple, specifically to deal with those senior monks? But is that necessary?

Otherwise, why would a monk speak so coherently about governing a country? That's unscientific!

Just as the discussion was winding down, Jiang He produced his trump card: "I, a humble monk, possess an item that can build city walls at the lowest cost and construct a hard road to the Hu lands in the shortest time."

At that moment, General Wei Yuan and Feng Ming also became interested, their eyes burning as they stared at him.

War is fought over logistics; before troops move, supplies must go first. If the cities are sturdy and the routes smooth, who knows how much military expenditure could be saved.

"This item is called cement," Jiang He lamented inwardly. How many times must I promote cement in the ancient world, along with glass? These are profit‑making tools in antiquity. "If Daqing had cement roads, transportation would be everywhere."

Feng Ming interjected: "If foreign enemies invade, their speed would also be very fast, right?"

"Isn't there an even sturdier city?" Jiang He said calmly, "Also, this material can be used for river dikes and dams, preventing floods."

The Emperor thought rapidly about pros and cons, feeling that if this thing were used well, his controllable borders would be larger.

The country is too vast and transportation is inconvenient, so many local 'earth Emperors' exist; after all, the heavens are high and the Emperor is far.

He asked hesitantly: "This can indeed deal with the Hu… but are there other methods?"

The Emperor looked at the Master with hopeful eyes, thinking the Master so powerful, wondering if there might be a foolproof solution…

The Master smiled most benevolently, performed a clasped‑hands salute, and said, "Your Majesty, war is merely a means; it has been fought for millennia, and the steppe always dies and revives. Have you considered economic sanctions?"

Then the Master gave them a detailed explanation of what economic sanctions are, starting from a story, using the story as an example, making it even more thorough.

The Emperor, along with General Wei Yuan, Feng Ming, and others, all had their eyes opened.

Feng Ming blurted out his inner thoughts, "Master, you are truly vicious… no, no, you are really clever!" He quickly covered his mouth, gave an awkward laugh, "Ahem, the story of killing a bird and wiping out a nation is just brilliant; the people are starving, whoever supplies them food is the mother."

Jiang He's story went like this: the plateau lands and the Central Plains are mortal enemies. The plateau has a bird with luxuriant feathers; noblewomen of the Central Plains love its plumage, weaving it into cloth for splendid garments.

The plateau people captured the birds and sold them to the Central Plains; when the bird became extinct, their harvests fell short, many starved to death. Only then did the plateau people realize their abundant grain was thanks to the bird diligently catching insects.

The Emperor felt a chill at his forehead upon hearing this, and decided to later ask the Grand Minister of Agriculture which species of bird in Daqing are beneficial, and also to educate the people to refrain from catching them if possible.

He certainly did not want his own country to suffer the tragic fate of the plateau lands described in the story.

What can Jiang He do? If he does not want to fight the 'Crazy Kid,' he can only pretend not to hear.

So he continued to tell them stories of sheep eating people and rabbits destroying a nation.

After hearing several stories, the Emperor was completely bewildered.

He realized for the first time that economic warfare is also warfare; if used well, it can defeat an enemy without spending military funds or lives.

"If wool can make money, no one will want to raise cattle or horses; rabbits dig many holes, and a horse's leg can get stuck and break…" the Emperor mused briefly, then immediately issued an order, "I will have people collect wool in the Hu lands at once! But Master, the treasury's funds are limited, and we cannot collect endlessly."

Years of continuous warfare have left the treasury with little money, and since the Emperor is also martial, the treasury's silver dwindles more and more…

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A certain Master immediately produced two slender, smooth sticks, smiled, and said to the Emperor, "So, Your Majesty, are you interested in making money while weakening the steppe's power?"

That night, not only Master Xuan Ji, but also General Wei Yuan and Feng Ming did not leave the palace.

What the four discussed in the hall is unknown; only the Eunuch Ping An beside the Emperor knows. The Emperor did not sleep all night, and the next day his spirits were very high.

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A month later, the snow melted, and caravan after caravan headed to the Hu lands.

They received a huge contract to purchase wool, and they need a great amount of wool! As long as the wool is collected!

This is a big business! All caravans that got the news want to profit, regardless of the cold; whoever receives the wool first can earn the money first.

The Empress was in Fengxiang Palace, holding two sticks to knit a sweater; she is clever, quickly got the hang of it, and a sweater was almost finished, missing only a sleeve.

The Emperor sat nearby, holding tea, watching happily; by the size of the sweater, he knew it was knitted for him.

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At that moment, the main hall suddenly echoed with a contrived wail and curses.

"Empress, you must decide for me…"

The Emperor's eyebrows twitched; without looking, he knew it was another quarrel among the concubines of his Hougong, coming to the Empress to take sides—he was experienced by now.

The Empress had to set aside the sweater; the attendant granny beside her quickly helped her up, and the palace maids nearby gathered around, fearing the fighting concubines might affect the Empress.

The Empress was now pregnant and could not afford any mishap.

Seeing this, the Emperor's eyebrows furrowed; was his son's living condition really this terrible?

He did not leave Fengxiang Palace, but secretly hid behind a screen.

The attendants in the Hougong did not inform the concubines that the Emperor was present, so the Emperor finally witnessed with his own eyes how those seemingly delicate and lovely concubines snarled at each other, fully using their sharp claws, as if they wanted to maim the other.

The Emperor watched, his heart pounding, especially noticing that the fighting concubines drew ever closer to the Empress; fortunately the granny and the palace maids quickly shielded the Empress.

Seeing their practiced posture, one knows this kind of thing often happens, so they all have experience.

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No, the child in the Empress's womb is too important; we cannot let anyone harm her.

The emperor finally felt his Huangong was rather unsafe; previously he married a batch of concubines who had not received favor, making the Hougong much quieter, but he wondered whether those who had received favor could also be married off.

For the steppe economic plan, with the state and privy treasuries so poor they might as well drink northwest wind, the emperor could not help turning his attention to his concubines.

After marrying off the concubines, although one must give them a dowry, saving their monthly stipends and various Hougong supplies is still quite worthwhile.

At this moment, the scoundrel emperor's mind is filled only with his son; the master has said he will have only one son in this life, namely the child in the Empress's belly, meaning that raising other concubines is pointless—they would just eat and drink for free in the palace.

If he kept fewer concubines, his son might later be able to buy more food and supplies……

No, no, no, he doesn't have that idea; he just thinks women should have a child to rely on, so why not consult the master? It would be a shame to waste his brain.

The master summoned again to the palace by the emperor now had an expressionless face.

Indeed, this emperor is a peculiar oddball who follows the stick; no wonder he doesn't mind setting up factories to hire female workers—in his eyes, only those who can work matter, with no distinction between men and women.

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Heh, the dog emperor wouldn't mind anyway; it's not like she's remarrying while pregnant with his child.

The master, with a stern face, gave his advice: 'Women with careers won't think about men; men only interfere with their sword-wielding… entrepreneurial passion. Coincidentally, the factory lacks supervisors, and your concubines are highly educated… I mean, they are literate and very clever; using them for palace intrigue would be a real waste.'

The emperor, however, thought it made sense.

He, a dignified marquis, absolutely cannot become a eunuch!

If it were ordinary commoners, the emperor would still have a bit of mercy, after all he promised to become a wise ruler so his only son could grow up smoothly. But someone like Marquis Qingyuan, who relies on his ancestors' favor and yet harms his eldest legitimate son and his own grandson, the emperor would feel no guilt at all in dealing with him.

The Empress touched her belly; she had been pregnant for three months, her complexion rosy, her pregnancy looking good, she ate with gusto—all thanks to Master Xuanji. Now most of the concubines in the palace have been sent by her to help in the factory, each busy as bees, with no thought for palace intrigue; invisibly, she and her child are safer.

Although his legitimate and illegitimate children together number seven or eight, and he even has two or three grandsons, whether he can still father children is moot, but whether that thing can function is crucial—it shows whether he is a man.

The emperor and empress in the palace had placed people beside Jiang Qiming, so they learned this news in advance.

He was a little afraid the emperor would dote too much on the child, but seeing the Empress beside him, he felt he needn't worry too much; she is a wise woman, and the Son of the World, Fengming, whom she raised, will surely educate the child.

Sure enough, the Daoist was right—the eldest son clashes with him in the eight characters; when he fares well, his father suffers misfortune!

Jiang He, as usual, took the pulse of the emperor and empress: 'The poison in Your Majesty's body has been completely cleared; as long as you drink less alcohol and avoid heating foods, you can live another thirty years without problem.'

The emperor gave a cold snort: 'Jiang Qiming is indifferent and ruthless—no, it should be said that Wan Shi is greedy, not letting even that bit of property go, having someone sell a seven-year-old child.'

The matter of woolen clothing concerns frontier strategy; the wool-processing and sweater factories are staffed by women, and without a strong backing to hold them down, there will always be troublemakers and ruffians trying to slip through.

Pear City is a day's ride with whipped horse from the capital, so this news also spread quickly.

Amid Jiang Qiming's anguished cries, the servants scrambled to summon the doctor.

After examining him, the doctor rather tactfully told him: 'The marquis's testicles have been boiled by hot water; thereafter he may fear he cannot hatch chicks.'

Jiang He bade farewell to the emperor: 'Your Majesty, this humble monk will go to the barbarian lands; someday the mountains will be high and the waters long, and we shall surely meet again.'

The idea of running a school and a newspaper intrigued the Empress, but she dare not overexert herself now; after giving birth, she truly wants to set up a girls' school and a newspaper, feeling the newspaper should not only publish flowery romance stories but also serve other purposes, though for now she dares not dwell on it.

After talking with the master all night and hearing his economic sanctions, which opened a new world for him, the emperor's thinking has changed greatly; he is no longer bound by worldly views, he is indeed an emperor with a broad vision.

The doctor could only sheepishly tell him that his medical skill was limited and he could do nothing.

The emperor secretly rejoiced that he had acted decisively years ago to join the succession struggle; otherwise his grave would now be like those of his brothers, with grass grown overly tall.

'By the way, let him find out who sent that Daoist back then,' the Empress added.

The Empress lowered her head slightly, feeling a bit shy.

Thus, this emperor and empress, whose feelings had grown more intimate, leaned together and whispered, deciding to send all subordinates skilled in palace intrigue to Marquis Qingyuan's household, determined to scatter his family.

The Empress blinked her eyes and smiled at the emperor: 'Your Majesty, let us think of a way to see how we can leave the title to the master's son.'

'The master says he cannot achieve the four empties,' the emperor said with concealed anger, 'Since becoming a monk wasn't his voluntary choice, expecting him to attain the four empties is absurd!'

If one were to ask who in this world fears Jiang He's rise the most, it would certainly be Marquis Qingyuan Jiang Qiming and his wife Wan Shi.

Since becoming pregnant, the Empress discovered she was actually growing younger and younger; the emperor became more willing to be intimate with her, and even if they did nothing but simply stay together, they could consume an afternoon, like a loving young couple among the common folk.

After the Empress had made her arrangements, she looked with deep meaning at the master, who remained lofty and transcendent.

He left various fetus-preserving and life-protecting medicines for the emperor, then gave the copied scriptures to the Xiangguo Temple, sent someone to Shilan Temple to inform the Great White Snake that, after hibernation ends, if Wutong County grows bored, they can come to the capital to find the emperor, who has the Wolfhound General at his side and wouldn't mind an additional White Snake Marshal!

'Of course it's the heir apparent…' the emperor only then realized, his face instantly drooping, 'Wan Shi's son inherited the title? I am not pleased!'

Hmph, better to let it linger and annoy people, or just scatter it all.

Jiang Qiming immediately shouted louder, in great pain, hastily asking whether he could still function in the future.

Jiang He finally left the capital, heading for the frontier.

The emperor reflected that he himself did not know how he had been poisoned, and could not help sighing: 'Before the master entered the monastic life, he was merely an ordinary person, burdened by filial duty, with his stepmother's natal family powerful, one hand could press him down; his father constantly wished him misfortune, so the only solution he could devise was to enter the monastic life to make way for his younger brother.'

Because the burns were severe, Jiang Qiming ran a high fever that very night.

The Empress gave a slight nod: 'Your Majesty, see, Wan Shi's son Jiang Xiao being appointed heir apparent coincides exactly after the eldest legitimate son entered the monastic life; this timing is quite subtle.'

Back then she had a fortune-teller calculate, saying her husband clashed with the child born earlier, and indeed it was true; all the good things in this mansion belong to her and her son!

It appears Master Xuanji does not wish to return to secular life; he needs no title, but his son certainly does.

Jiang Qiming's face turned entirely blue; he became this way entirely because of that unfilial son—should he go look for that unfilial son? Is he afraid he isn't unfortunate enough?

The Wolfhound's reluctance vanished instantly, and it howled at the parrot several times: 'A wolf's life without meat is unhappy!'

Inability to rise also counts as infertility.

He had spent many points to improve the quality of the child in the Empress's womb; if it turned out to be a villain, where would he go to cry?

The Empress gave him a coquettish sideways glance: 'Your Majesty, you are familiar with court affairs, but as for the inner courtyard, you are no match for me.'

The Empress wisely took the matter into her own hands.

Unfortunately, retreating always yields no good outcome!

Seeing the emperor not understand, the Empress smiled and asked: 'If Marquis Qingyuan is abolished, who do you think the title would fall to……'

Master Xuanji also told her that if any concubines remained idle, it would be better to have them run schools and newspapers.

This illness came on fiercely; this time he didn't bother with saving face, had people go to the capital to summon an imperial physician, and didn't say he injured an important part, only said he scalded his leg.

Once everything in the capital had settled, Jiang He planned to leave.

Of course he's healthy! This was the 'Healthy Child All-in-One' package he bought; although the points weren't many, he, being habitually stingy, still felt the pinch for a while.

Such bold words—currently only Master Xuanji dares to say them, after all, this child was brought forth by his spell.

When Jiang Qiming learned that his eldest son had now become a big shot in the emperor's presence, he was startled, jumped up, but unbeknownst to him he knocked over the boiling water on the table, and the scalding water happened to splash onto his groin, whereupon he let out a sharp cry.

As soon as the emperor issues an edict, Jiang Qiming would have to serve as a eunuch even if he isn't one; the emperor is just that overbearing and unreasonable.

The empress felt that these days were more flavorful than before.

Back then, the eldest son of the first wife was taken back to their hometown by the grandparents; her son was raised beside her husband, becoming the husband's most cherished child; sure enough, the position of heir apparent soon became her son's.

At this moment, the wind had died and the snow melted; grass had sprouted, and the trees were dotted with new green.

Parrot flew down from the emperor's hand and muttered to the wolf-dog general: "You eat meat, so it's inconvenient to follow me; why not learn from the great white snake? It's already used to eating human food, but it also needs to hibernate and grows quite large, so we can't bring it along."

Perhaps because his own child came about with great difficulty, whether the child can grow up smoothly depends on how well he does as emperor; therefore the emperor especially cannot bear to see others mistreat a child, let alone sell a child to the outer passes—this is his resolved intention to let that child die.

The empress smiled and said, "Your Majesty, just send the best imperial physician to make sure Marquis Qingyuan is cured."

The emperor was excited, "Ah Zhi, has Marquis Qingyuan become a eunuch? I'll immediately issue an edict ordering him to yield his position."

The emperor wasn't stupid either; he immediately realized, "Exactly, it's best to let him know that his stepmother and son are hoping he dies so they can inherit the title."

The emperor first stared, then couldn't help but embrace his wife and kiss her cheek, "Ah Zhi, you're always so clever!"

"I've been thinking these days—was Master's retreat into monastic life unavoidable?" The emperor, having also experienced the fratricidal struggle for the throne, thought more deeply: "If he hadn't entered monastic life, the Wan clan would have found a way to kill him; although the eldest legitimate son was present, the heir apparent was the younger son, and to legitimately and confidently inherit the position of heir apparent, she would surely strike."

Wan Shi, standing by the bed with a handkerchief over her face, secretly prayed that her husband would be quickly stripped of his rank, so that the marquisate would become her son's.

A flicker of reluctance crossed the empress's eyes as she softly said, "After Master took monastic vows, his days were rather bleak; he left his wife's dowry and most of his own silver with his father for safekeeping, hoping he would treat his grandson well—who would have thought Jiang Qiming would be so ruthless."

The emperor felt a bit guilty, his gaze wandering; having given up alcohol and roasted meat, what pleasure could life still hold?

She will strive to run the factory well, not for any other reason—just because she is a woman!

As things stand, Master Xuanji really has no choice but to reluctantly yield.

The emperor, somewhat reluctant, stroked the parrot's multicolored feathers, "Master, I have already selected good-doctor monks and daoists to go to the barbarian lands; they will stay in touch with you, and if you have any requests, you can tell them."

Seeing the emperor and empress's delighted looks, Jiang He felt uneasy, "Your Majesty, once the little prince is born, he must be well educated."

The emperor also promised: if the great white snake achieves military merit, he dares to confer upon it the title of Snake General!

Jiang He also said to the empress, "The child in your womb is very healthy…"

Then he suggested to him, "Why not go to the capital to seek Master Xuanji? This monk is formidable—he specializes in treating infertility!".

In fact she didn't know that, in the emperor's vision of a future with many sons, her child would be harmed and she herself would fare poorly; those consorts, relying on their sons who grew increasingly arrogant, made the emperor's impression of the other women in the harem very bad, and, feeling guilty, he couldn't help but treat her even better.

She certainly knew the significance of setting up these factories for women—having silver in hand to earn money was tantamount to grasping half of one's own destiny; since ancient times women's fortunes have been hard, and the master, before taking monastic vows, cherished his wife, so he could consider women's needs.

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