Chapter Seventy: The Outcome of the Audience

Seeing his somewhat unwilling expression, the Princess of a Thousand Golds gently advised Xiaobao, “Let this matter be handed over to the court; then no one will have anything to say. You need not stir up further trouble.”

Indeed, if the Pei family were to intervene, despite the combined influence of the Princess of a Thousand Golds, the Duke Lu's household, and Li Jinglong, they would still be no match for the Pei clan. If the conflict continued, Feng Xiaobao would find himself in grave peril. By delivering the gold mine to the imperial court, Xiaobao would become a meritorious servant of the state. Should the Pei family refuse to accept this and persist, it would be a direct affront to the throne, something they were unlikely to risk. Thus, everyone would lay down arms and coexist peacefully.

Feng Xiaobao took note of this, deciding to wait and see how matters would unfold.

...

The Princess of a Thousand Golds, upon meeting Lady Yang, first revealed her identity: “I am the Princess of a Thousand Golds of the Great Tang. I can bring you into the palace to see the Emperor and Empress!”

As luck would have it, Lady Yang had seen the princess from afar before and recognized her.

Recognition eased the conversation considerably; Lady Yang felt no resistance, and the princess inquired in detail about the senior official who had concealed the existence of the gold mine.

“That’s right, he hid the truth about the gold in Laizhou!” Lady Yang affirmed.

She described the appearance of the gold ore, explained how the senior official verified its authenticity, and drew a map of the distribution of the gold veins—extending the area by fifty percent compared to what she had told Cheng Boxi earlier!

Clearly, she had withheld information—wise indeed. Should Cheng Boxi betray her, he would not gain much, and perhaps even suffer loss.

Whether she still had more in reserve was impossible to say.

Thus, the Princess of a Thousand Golds escorted Lady Yang back to Luoyang under the protection of the Imperial Guard, and immediately entered the palace.

Though night had fallen, the news reached the palace, and countless gates opened for her.

That night, the Princess of a Thousand Golds and Lady Yang were summoned by Empress Wu Zetian and stayed in the palace.

...

Their audience with the Empress would not be fully settled until the next day, as officials from the Ministry of Works needed to be summoned for questioning. Feng Xiaobao was also busy the following day, setting up a memorial ceremony with his two brothers at a small manor outside the city, honoring the thirty or so men who had died fighting for them.

Even with his usual fortitude, Feng Xiaobao’s face was solemn—these were over thirty lives, and human life is precious.

He had steeled himself for this, but when faced with so many coffins, he pressed his lips together and offered incense with grave dignity.

“The road to the throne is paved with bones,” Feng Xiaobao murmured, though others thought he was reciting scripture.

He announced, on behalf of Cheng Boxi and Yang Chengxian, that each fallen family would receive a hundred strings of cash as compensation, and the wounded fifty to eighty strings—helping them solve their household difficulties by offering adult children work (he had industries and could make good on such promises), and giving younger children rice, oil, salt, and coins yearly until they came of age.

People of that era were simple-hearted; having given their sons or husbands to their master, and seeing such benevolence, they wished to kneel in thanks to Feng Xiaobao and his companions.

They hurriedly declined such gestures, and so their reputation spread.

Generous compensation for the families of the dead and wounded was Feng Xiaobao’s insistence. In those days, human life was cheap; even the households of useful retainers received only a small sum as consolation. Xiaobao, born in later times where life was valued highly, held a human-centered view, unwittingly earning himself fame.

...

After a busy day, Feng Xiaobao and his companions went to the princess’s mansion to seek news, and she recounted the events at court.

“Last night, the Empress summoned us. After morning court today, she called us and officials from the Ministry of Works, and in the afternoon, officials from the ministries of Works and Revenue departed for Laizhou to search for the gold veins according to Lady Yang’s map!”

Only the Empress received them, for the Emperor, Li Zhi, had long suffered from headaches and eye ailments. Any effort of thought brought him dizziness and blurred vision, so he left affairs unattended, resting in the inner palace until he received definite news; the Empress held the reins of government.

“After meeting the Empress, Lady Yang immediately drew a map, marking the location and estimated yield of the gold vein—it was more than double what we’d seen before!”

Ah, another hidden card—only after seeing the Empress did she reveal the true map. Feng Xiaobao and his friends were speechless.

“The Empress was delighted by Lady Yang’s report. She said that once officials verify the findings, you all would be richly rewarded!”

It was indeed a cause for joy, for the court’s finances were strained.

Once, after Emperor Li Zhi and Empress Wu Zetian joined forces, the fifth year of Yonghui (654 AD) brought a bountiful harvest. In the Luozhou region, a bushel of millet cost only two and a half coins, grain prices were low, life was cheap, and people could easily survive and multiply.

By the first year of Qianfeng (666 AD), the new coinage was introduced, valued at ten times the old money. This hampered trade, raised the price of grain and cloth, and, due to years of war with Goguryeo, Tibet, and the Turks, farming suffered (as men were conscripted), and continual disasters drove prices sky-high. In Guanzhong, a bushel of rice cost three or four hundred coins—at least a hundred. This year, disasters were reported from every province after spring, and preparations were underway for a great war with Tibet; money flowed out like water.

As the saying goes, a single coin can stymie a hero; even the Son of Heaven, rich in all under heaven, could not match the funds of Chang’an’s wealthiest merchants—taxes were collected only to be spent immediately, leaving the court in dire straits, as described:

“Because of famine in Guanzhong, a bushel of rice cost three hundred coins, and the Emperor planned to travel to the Eastern Capital (Luoyang).” (from the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, Volume 203)

“Guanzhong suffered floods, then drought and locusts, followed by epidemic; a bushel of rice cost four hundred coins. The dead lined the roads between the two capitals, and people resorted to cannibalism.” (Floods and locusts made farming difficult, so the Princess of a Thousand Golds, by shrewd business, amassed liquid assets and acquired thousands of acres.)

Now, with news of abundant gold in Laizhou and Lady Yang’s earnest report, the Empress was naturally delighted—who would not be happy to receive gold?

The Princess of a Thousand Golds reported to the Empress about the senior official and Lady Yang's encounter with bandits on Mount Xindu, and how Feng Xiaobao and his companions rescued Lady Yang from their hands, discovering the gold and immediately reporting it for the sake of the nation.

Feng Xiaobao’s relationship with the princess was extraordinary; she spared no effort to speak on his behalf. The Empress, upon hearing the report, greatly praised them: “You are all loyal to the country; the court will not forget you.”

She declared that, once the Laizhou gold was confirmed, the court would generously reward them.

In fact, when the princess met the Empress, she attributed all the Pei family’s machinations to the bandits of Mount Xindu, never mentioning any court intrigues—her wisdom on display.

If you do not kill the snake, it will bite you; even the Empress, after years of effort, could not subdue the great clans of Guanzhong. The Princess of a Thousand Golds did not wish to wade into such troubled waters; with the Empress’s promise of future reward, the Pei family would likely withdraw, and further troubles would cease.

Since the court had intervened, all awaited the Ministry of Works’ survey results.

Feng Xiaobao listened to the princess’s account, and seeing Cheng Boxi restless beside him, he couldn’t help but smile and asked, “Where is Lady Yang?”

The reply: “She remains in the palace, appointed as a lady-in-waiting!”

It turned out Lady Yang was well-versed in literature and composed in manner; the Empress was pleased and kept her in the inner palace as an official.

Seeing Cheng Boxi’s displeased expression, the princess had someone deliver a letter written by Lady Yang. Boxi opened it, and its gist was threefold: First, the Empress wished her to stay, and how could she refuse? (in truth, she was made a hostage). Second, she felt guilty for deceiving him (the true map revealed much more). Third, as a withered flower, she felt unworthy to meet him. Therefore, she asked him not to pine for her.

Cheng Boxi read the letter and was filled with melancholy. With things settled, he and Yang Chengxian took their leave.

(Xiaobao and his companions were astonished to find some readers only read but neither collect nor vote. They ask for everyone’s support!)