The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 167 "Borrowing Money"

"Your Highness, Longyou is not like Hexi. Longyou has nine armies and three defenses, including Lintao, Heyuan, Baishui, Anren, and Weirong. The forces are complex. Killing only one or two people may not be enough to intimidate the rest."

Gao Xianzhi spoke frankly about his problems.

Li Heng was slightly startled, then asked, "What do you think we should do, General Gao?"

"Kill some people and reorganize some troops to guard the place." Gao Xianzhi proposed an idea, then changed the subject and said, "However, if we reorganize the army without authorization, the imperial court may blame us."

Li Heng understood Gao Xianzhi's intention, thought for a while, and said, "Then find a reason. If the court still wants to blame me, I will bear the responsibility."

Gao Xianzhi bowed and said, "If the court blames me, I am willing to take the blame together with Your Highness."

Li Heng saw Gao Xianzhi was so loyal to him, and he cherished him. He said with emotion: "General Gao is a rare general with both civil and military skills. My career may come to an abrupt end after the battle of Shibao City. In the future, the border of the Tang Dynasty will need General Gao's care. General Gao must not be punished with the same crime as me."

Li Heng's words were a prediction of the outcome after he had conquered Shibao City, when the birds were all gone and the good bows were hidden. There was a spirit of sacrificing one's life for justice and going forward even if there were tens of thousands of people against one another.

Gao Xianzhi admired Li Heng's spirit and said sincerely: "I have received great kindness from Your Highness. How can I share the credit but not the guilt? No matter what, I am willing to follow Your Highness."

Li Ying was deeply moved. He held Gao Xianzhi's hand and said, "It is a gift from heaven to meet General Gao. General Gao and I are also close friends. How can I let you down?"

Gao Xianzhi was also moved and said, "A gentleman will die for his friend. I swear to die to repay Your Highness."

……

Gao Xianzhi bid farewell to Li Heng and went outside.

Feng Changqing was still waiting outside. When he saw Gao Xianzhi, he hurriedly asked, "Brother, has His Highness agreed to your proposal?"

"I agree." Gao Xianzhi nodded. "Not only did he agree, he also promised that if the court blames him, he will bear the responsibility alone."

Feng Changqing said: "Your Highness is too kind and righteous."

"Yes." Gao Xianzhi sighed slightly, thought for a while, and said: "Feng Er, His Highness has entrusted Hexi to you, you must not delay the matter."

Feng Changqing said: "Don't worry, big brother. I will do my best in Hexi to train the troops for Your Highness. When the time comes, as long as Your Highness gives an order, no one in Hexi will dare to disobey."

"Yeah." Gao Xianzhi looked at Feng Changqing with a smile on his face, and said, "You are also a military commander. Don't be rash in your words and actions in the future. Don't be complacent and think twice before doing anything."

"Yes." Feng Changqing bowed to Gao Xianzhi.

Gao Xianzhi patted Feng Changqing on the shoulder, and they smiled at each other.

……

Li Ying brought a few people to He’s head office in Liangzhou.

As soon as he entered the store, Li Ying saw He Jin working on an abacus with his head down at the counter.

Li Ying walked up to the counter and asked, "Miss He, why are you here in Hexi?"

He Jin was so focused on calculating the accounts that he didn't notice Li Ying coming in. He was startled when he suddenly heard Li Ying's voice. He looked up and saw that it was Li Ying. He bowed to Li Ying and replied, "The princess asked me to bring the cloth belonging to Yang to be kept here. She said that Your Highness might need it urgently recently. I have other things to do, so I will deliver it myself."

"Thank you for your help." Li Heng said politely, and said with a smile: "I really need it urgently recently. I will send someone to pick up the goods in three days. Do you have enough?"

"According to the amount the princess said, no more, no less." He Jin replied truthfully, and then asked: "What do you want so much cloth for, Your Highness? Do you want to sell it yourself?" "That's not the case." Li Ying smiled slightly, "I have other uses."

"Is it a gift to someone?" He Jin asked tentatively.

Li Ying said, "I guess so."

He Jin was puzzled and said, "Your Highness does not live a lavish life, nor does he love money. It's really hard to understand."

Li Ying asked, "From what you said, you really love money?"

"Of course." He Jin nodded, "What I love most is money, otherwise I wouldn't run around everywhere. My greatest wish in this life is to make the best brocade and make a lot of money. Your Highness, does this seem a bit vulgar?"

Li Ying said: "A gentleman loves money, but he gets it in a proper way. You earned it with your own wisdom and labor, and it did not violate the laws of human ethics, so it is not vulgar."

"The princess said the same thing." He Jin was a little surprised. "Your Highness and the princess are really alike. Since we opened up the Jiannan Silk Road, the princess has been in charge of more and more money, but she is not extravagant. If I had the princess's status, appearance, and talent, I would not be able to do what she did."

Li Heng felt a little strange when he heard this.

Because how could a normal person compare himself to Yang Yuhuan in front of him?

Unless she had some other intention in saying this.

Li Ying thought about it and roughly guessed the reason.

Generally speaking, the way businessmen seek to cooperate with powerful forces is either by giving money or by intermarriage.

He Tuo did not come himself to deliver the cloth to him, but asked He Jin to do it. His intention was probably to let He Jin have more contact with him, develop some feelings for him, and then get married.

He Jin knew everything about this matter, so she said this on purpose to make him dislike her.

This is how women were in feudal society. No matter how capable they were, they could not decide their own destiny.

Li Ying figured out the key points and simply agreed with her, saying, "The princess is indeed a unique woman. There is only one Yang Yuhuan in the world. You saw her when you came here. Is she in good health?"

He Jin heard the answer she wanted, but she was not as happy as she had imagined. Instead, she felt a little disappointed and envious. She was stunned for a moment before she realized Li Ying's last question and replied, "He said he would rest for a while. I don't know the specific situation."

"Yes." Li Heng nodded, thinking about Yang Yuhuan for a while, and then said, "Thank you for the cloth, Miss He. I'll have someone come to pick it up in three days. If anyone asks about it, you can just say that you lent it to me."

"Yes, I understand." He Jin replied respectfully. Fearing that Li Ying would not believe her, she added, "I am a businessman. The most important thing for a businessman is reputation. Therefore, as long as I have promised, I will definitely keep my promise."

"I believe you." Li Heng smiled and said goodbye. Halfway through the journey, he turned back and said, "I have new ideas for improving textile techniques. I may have to take a long break after I finish this period of work. I will discuss this with you then. If you want to expand other businesses, I also have some ideas. I hope you can achieve your wish."

"Yes, I am waiting for your guidance."

He Jin bowed to Li Ying and saw him off.

She watched Li Heng walk away, muttering, "How can His Royal Highness Shou have so many ideas? What's wrong with his brain? If he could share half of his wisdom with me, I would be remembered in history along with silk..."

He Jin muttered to himself, returned to the counter and continued to settle the bill.

(End of this chapter)