Chapter 5: Two Donkeys Enter Yinzhou

At this laugh, the entire venue could not stop.

The image of a "talented scholar" that Liu Zheng had just built up shattered in an instant.

Of the three prefectures and counties, Yinzhou was the worst.

This was something even a three-year-old child could understand, yet he had chosen Yinzhou, neither favoring nor avoiding anything? If this wasn't foolish, what was?

Chen Ping looked at Liu Zheng in surprise: "Is my worthy nephew serious?"

Disappointment surged in Chen Ruoshi's heart as well, but she could not help but angrily remind him: "Liu Zheng, if you are drunk, wait until you are sober to make your choice. County Marquis Liu worked hard his whole life, do not let it all go to waste! You are making a fool of yourself! That Yinzhou is extremely barren, its population is dwindling, and it is known as an ungovernable land. You, you..."

Liu Dahao was also breaking out in a cold sweat, whispering: "Son. Why is this? Tell your father you are serious!"

Ignoring the mockery of others, Liu Zheng said indifferently: "That's right, it's Yinzhou."

However, a crafty smile immediately appeared on his face, and he looked at Chen Ping ingratiatingly: "Prefect, I, Liu Zheng, have no great ambitions and am willing to be a second-generation heir in Yinzhou, not causing any trouble. But... since Yinzhou is barren, you must give us some startup capital, right?"

Once these words were spoken, everyone suddenly understood.

So this fellow chose Yinzhou because he wanted to "cash out" the silver?

Everyone was once again deeply disappointed in Liu Zheng.

"Short-sighted!"

"This child, this child will ruin County Marquis Liu!"

Many people beat their chests and stamped their feet; if such an opportunity were given to them, they would certainly think of settling in Wuzhou or Kezhou to realize their grand ambitions. Yet this Liu Zheng only cared about immediate benefits, coveting a lifetime of wealth while throwing away a prosperous fief. If this wasn't having no great ambitions, what was?

Chen Ping also laughed: "My worthy nephew's words make sense. If County Marquis Liu really wants to go to Yinzhou, this Prefect will naturally prepare some travel expenses for you. Yinzhou is barren and in need of reconstruction. If the Marquis goes, you will have to worry on my behalf. How about I give you one thousand gold?"

One thousand gold was ten thousand taels of silver.

Before Liu Dahao could speak, Liu Zheng had already thanked him with great joy. He looked exactly like a miser.

"Absurd!"

"A total spendthrift!"

People cried out in pain one after another. Although Liu Dahao was a merchant, he had been a hero his whole life with a prestigious reputation. Now that he was old, he was going to be ruined by this only son.

The Poetry Gathering ended here, and the crowd dispersed.

The name of Liu Zheng would surely spread throughout all of Liangzhou in the next few days. But it was destined to be met with mixed reviews...

Fearing that the two might go back on their word, Chen Ping immediately had a Counselor from his manor bring the one thousand gold to them.

After the father and son of the Liu Family left happily.

Chen Ping's expression slowly turned gloomy.

"My Lord, this child is not worth worrying about. I didn't expect that Liu Dahao, a hero his whole life, would produce such a spendthrift. For a thousand gold, he chose a mere Yinzhou. From now on, it will be difficult for Liu Dahao to make a comeback in Liangzhou!"

A Military Advisor beside him chuckled.

"Hahahaha!"

Chen Ping also laughed quite heartily: "Ruoshi, you should learn to judge people in the future. This Liu Zheng has decent literary talent, but he still hasn't changed his playboy ways. In these chaotic times, the pen is not as good as the sword..."

Chen Ruoshi snorted coldly and turned to return to her boudoir.

"This girl..."

Chen Ping shook his head helplessly, but still felt a bit uneasy and gave orders: "Liu Dahao is a man with hidden depths and cannot be ignored. Pass the word down to keep track of these two at all times. If there are any changes, report to me immediately!"

"Yes!"

Looking back at Liu Zheng and Liu Dahao.

Along the way, Liu Zheng was quite excited.

He didn't expect that crashing the Poetry Gathering would yield such a rich harvest! A Township Marquis promoted to a County Marquis, plus ten thousand taels of silver as startup capital!

An unexpected surprise!

But after thinking about it, he felt relieved.

There was no Imperial Examination in this era. The Longyan Dynasty continued the Han Dynasty's system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials for the Poetry Gathering. For a scholar to enter officialdom and go from being White-clothed to holding an official position was extremely difficult. One had to have talent for governing the world and be famous enough. Occasions like the Liangzhou Poetry Society were actually similar to the Imperial Examination of later generations.

Whoever was the most capable and won the top spot was not far from an official position.

Liu Zheng had defeated thousands of peers this time, so logically speaking, even Prefect Chen Ping would be embarrassed not to give him something.

Coupled with Liu Zheng calling him "Father-in-law," it was reasonable for Chen Ping to upgrade the Township Marquis to a County Marquis.

"Hahahaha! I'm rich, I'm rich!"

Liu Zheng laughed very heartily.

Liu Dahao followed his son eagerly: "Zheng, are we really going to Yinzhou? That is an ungovernable land!"

Ungovernable land.

To Liu Zheng, this was another new term. Simply put, it was just too poor there. So poor that Liangzhou didn't even want to send officials to manage it.

After all, that would consume salary, wouldn't it?

So Yinzhou was currently in a state of anarchy.

Yinzhou had a population of only thirty thousand, social productivity was extremely low, and there were a few local landlords maintaining social order; there wasn't even a county government.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Father, Yinzhou is our best choice."

Liu Dahao asked curiously: "How so?"

Liu Zheng said: "I see that you and Chen Ping, although you call each other brothers on the surface, secretly wish to kill each other. If we really went to Wuzhou or Kezhou, could he rest easy?"

Liu Dahao was shocked, a bit surprised by his son's insight.

"Besides..."

Liu Zheng laughed loudly: "An ungovernable land is more satisfying to govern, isn't it?"

In fact, Liu Zheng had already investigated clearly that the Yinzhou of this world was probably around the Salt Sea Lake of his previous life! And the ancient records of this era described Yinzhou like this: "Yinzhou is barren, crops do not flourish, there are many desolate beaches and white stones, hence it is called Yinzhou. There is no fertile land, the people's livelihood is miserable, and it has been difficult to govern for a hundred years..."

It sounded like something everyone avoided.

However...

They did not know that what attracted Liu Zheng the most was those desolate beaches and white stones!

What were those?

To others, barren beaches that could not be farmed were wasteland, but to Liu Zheng, they were a treasure bowl!

That was salt! It would be truly strange if crops could grow on salt flats!

Salt!

What was the most valuable thing in ancient times?

Naturally, it was salt!

It was just that in ancient times, there was only one method of extraction, and it was all boiled from seawater! The *Book of Han* says: "Wu boiled the water of the East Sea to make salt, thereby becoming wealthy, and the state's resources were abundant."

The extraction cost was extremely high, causing the price of salt to remain high.

They had no idea what this Lake Salt and Well Mineral Salt were, let alone how to refine them.

That was why there was the saying of "desolate beaches and white stones."

"Is Father blaming me for coveting those ten thousand taels of silver?"

Liu Zheng asked with a smile.

Liu Dahao said dashingly: "My son's words have truly broken this father's heart. Everything I earn is for Zheng, isn't it? Feel free to spend it, and as for me... ha, I'll just go earn more!"

The two looked at each other and laughed heartily.

They returned to the Liu Mansion once more.

The once-thriving Liu Mansion was now deserted, with all the maids and servants sold off.

The expensive furniture had all been confiscated.

"These bandits actually led away all our fine horses!"

Seeing the empty stables, Liu Dahao was instantly enraged.

The two had originally planned to ride horses to take up their posts in Yinzhou.

And at this moment.

In the entire Liu Mansion, only two thin donkeys remained, leisurely eating grass in the courtyard.

Liu Dahao watched with tears streaming down his face: "I never expected that after a lifetime of wealth, only you two fellows would be left to accompany me in my downfall..."

Liu Zheng laughed: "Father, someone is deliberately humiliating us. Since that's the case, let's ride the donkeys!"

"Huh?"

Liu Dahao was stunned, but he immediately realized what was happening.

That damned Chen Ping!

"Zheng, don't be anxious. We have ten thousand taels of silver, after all. We might not be able to afford fine horses, but Liangzhou horses aren't expensive! Today, as we leave Liangzhou, how can we let them make a joke of us!"

Liu Dahao was angry and wanted to go buy horses, but he was stopped by Liu Zheng.

He smiled lightly: "Why bother?"

"We are already down and out, why care what others think?"

He led the two donkeys over, put the luggage on them, and laughed loudly: "If they want to laugh, let's satisfy them for now!"

Liu Zheng sat on the back of a donkey, full of high spirits.

"In the past, there was Liu Jingsheng, who entered Jingzhou on a single mount!"

"Today, there is the Liu Family patriarch, charging into Yintan on two donkeys!"

"Father, when we return to Liangzhou, it shall be the time for them to hold our horses and serve as our stirrups!"

Liu Dahao felt a jolt through his entire body.

His son was truly, undeniably different now.