Chapter 252: The Strategy of Currency

Amidst the heavy snowfall, Li Qing’an and his party finally returned to Suiye. The army camped outside the city, while Li Qing’an, accompanied by Duan Xiushi, rushed inside.

After several months of restoration, Suiye gradually regained its former appearance. The damaged city walls were repaired, all sixteen city gates were replaced with new ones, the once filthy streets were cleaned thoroughly, and all the occupied Han households were freed and their doors locked. The severely damaged Dayun Temple was also restored to its original state. When Li Qing’an entered the city, he saw Han people from Suiye returning home from Beiting one after another. Groups of children ran in the snow, and their laughter filled the streets and alleys. At the city gates, two ox carts laden with families, daily necessities, and hope drove into the city.

In just a few months, Suiye had taken on a new look, which filled Li Qing’an with satisfaction. He nodded and smiled at Duan Xiushi, saying, “Cheng Gong, you’ve worked hard these past few months.”

Duan Xiushi quickly bowed and replied, “I merely rested in the rear. Compared to the fierce battles fought by the soldiers in the front, my efforts are insignificant.”

“Where does that matter? Suiye is our base for the western expedition. Soon, the Anxi Military Governor’s office will be moved here. Only by managing Suiye well can we have room for development. That’s why I entrusted Suiye to you.”

Saying this, Li Qing’an patted Duan Xiushi’s shoulder and added, “Cheng Gong, you are the person I trust the most. Only by entrusting Suiye to you can I feel at ease.”

Duan Xiushi nodded silently. He understood Li Qing’an’s trust in him. Over a year ago, he had been forced to abandon Suiye and retreat eastward. Li Qing’an had not blamed him at all, merely saying, “It’s not your fault!” He then continued to appoint Duan Xiushi to guard Suiye. Even the demotion imposed on him by the Ministry of War was overturned by Li Qing’an, who declared, “If Suiye is lost, the Anxi army will not hold General Duan responsible. I am willing to vouch for him!”

This made Duan Xiushi deeply grateful to Li Qing’an. While Li Qing’an was fighting in the front, he had also done his utmost to ensure a steady supply of military supplies from Beiting to the front lines. Thus, Duan Xiushi’s name was also listed among those who contributed to the Battle of Talas, thanks to his vital role in logistics.

At that moment, Duan Xiushi suddenly remembered something and quickly said, “There’s something I’d like to discuss with the General.”

“Speak!”

“Two months ago, the imperial court issued an order to relocate 30,000 military households to Anxi. I was wondering if we could relocate them directly to Suiye. It would have an immeasurable impact on Suiye’s development.”

Li Qing’an nodded and said, “Actually, this is also my thought, but I’m worried that Suiye might not be able to accommodate them right away.”
“The General needn’t worry; I’ve already made preparations.”
Duan Xiushi hurriedly explained, “Over the past few months, I’ve led the soldiers to survey the lands around Suiye. This area is vast and fertile, with no owners. Not to mention 30,000 people—even 300,000 could be settled here. Moreover, there are mines, smelting facilities, wineries, weaving workshops, and a hub for trade between the East and West. In addition to Suiye itself, there are smaller towns in the vicinity that can easily be developed into counties. I’ve prepared detailed plans—please rest assured, General!”
Duan Xiushi’s practicality won Li Qing’an’s high praise. He laughed heartily and said, “Excellent! Cheng Gong truly lives up to my expectations. It’s settled then—30,000 military families will all be settled in Suiye. When I return to the capital, I’ll make sure to push for more immigrants.”
…
The return of the Tang army immediately brought vitality to Suiye City. Along with them came over a thousand Sogdian merchants and nearly 6,000 camels, loaded with goods from Sogdiana and the Abbasid Caliphate, destined for Chang’an. According to Tang regulations, goods entering the empire had to be taxed in Anxi to fund the military there. But this time, Li Qing’an announced that those who followed him to the capital would be exempt from taxes and would also enjoy protection from the Tang army. This attracted the shrewd Sogdian merchants, who rushed to bring out their valuable goods and scrambled to join this seemingly free opportunity for trade.
The arrival of so many Suiye merchants quickly filled up the local inns. With insufficient accommodations, some ordinary households even set aside rooms to rent temporarily to the merchants for a small fee. But as soon as the merchants unloaded their goods, their first priority wasn’t to eat or rest—it was to go to the various shops and markets in Suiye to exchange their money for Kaiyuan Tongbao silver coins.
This had been announced by Li Qing’an during the journey. An additional condition for tax exemption was that each person must exchange at least 30 guan worth of silver coins. They could use copper coins or even sell some of their goods to obtain silver coins. Along the way, the merchants had already seen samples of Kaiyuan Tongbao silver coins, which, like those minted in Chang’an, weighed ten coins per tael. At the official rate in Anxi, one such coin was worth 100 copper coins. Although Li Qing’an ordered the merchants to exchange their money, the astute merchants quickly saw an opportunity to make a profit. On the black market in Chang’an, such coins could be exchanged for 105 or even 110 copper coins.

These silver coins were not minted after Li Qing’an obtained the Sassanid silver ingots; minting began as early as after the first Battle of Suyab. In that battle, the Tang army captured thousands of prisoners from the Kingdom of Shi. These prisoners mined silver at the Dundo silver mines in Suyab and then transported it to Beiting to mint coins. Although these prisoners were later rescued by the Shi army, nearly 30,000 strings of silver coins were still minted, worth 300,000 strings of copper coins.

After the first Battle of Suyab, the imperial court rewarded the troops in Beiting with 300,000 strings of coins and 200,000 bolts of silk. When Suyab was recaptured in the second battle, the court awarded another 200,000 strings of coins, bringing the total to 600,000 strings of coins, including the equivalent value of silk. In reality, however, Chang’an only provided 100,000 bolts of silk, while the rest of the rewards were given as a quota for Anxi to handle on its own.

In other words, the imperial court had granted Anxi the authority to mint coins—Anxi had to produce all these coins itself, including sourcing and smelting the copper needed for coinage. But the Tang dynasty’s annual coin production was only 300,000 strings of coins. How much could Anxi produce? With no other choice, Li Qing’an had to use silver coins instead of copper coins to reward his soldiers. Although these silver coins were accepted in Anxi due to Li Qing’an’s decrees, they could not circulate in the rest of the Tang territory. To resolve this issue, he needed to persuade the imperial court when he returned to the capital to report on his duties.

Using Sogdian merchants to put pressure on the imperial court was also one of his strategies. Of course, Li Qing’an’s goal was not merely to ensure the circulation of his soldiers’ payment method; he had more far-reaching intentions.

The streets were filled with Sogdian merchants leading camels to exchange money, creating a bustling and lively scene. At that moment, several Han men in long robes arrived at the prefecture office—Li Huichun, Luo Pinfang, and Chang Jin from the Hidden Dragon Society of Suyab. They had returned from Anxi and Beiting over four months earlier. For months, they had been repairing houses, reorganizing shops, and preparing goods, aiming to make a big impact in Suyab.

But the members of the Hidden Dragon Society were more concerned about Li Qing’an’s return. In Xiangyi County of Henan Circuit, they had already determined that Li Qing’an was the long-lost Prince Ting and had sworn to assist him in completing the unfinished mission of the Hidden Prince.

Today, as the Tang army returned, Li Huichun and the others came to see him. There was still one major task left before Li Qing’an could officially rejoin the Hidden Dragon Society.

They bowed to the soldiers guarding the door and said, “We are old acquaintances of General Li. Is the general available?”
“Do you have an invitation?”
“Yes! Yes!”
Li Huichun took out his name card and handed it to the soldier, saying, “Please give this to the general.”
“Please wait a moment!”

The soldier strode into the gate just as Li Qing’an had finished listening to Duan Xiushi’s report and was about to go to the streets to inspect the currency exchange situation. The soldier outside reported, “General, there are visitors at the gate.”
“Who is it?”
“They say they are the general’s old acquaintances and have a letter of introduction.”
“Old acquaintances?”
Li Qing’an thought for a moment and guessed who they might be. He nodded and said, “Bring it to me.”
The soldier entered the room and handed the letter to Li Qing’an. It was indeed Li Huichun and the others. Li Qing’an smiled and said to Duan Xiushi, “I have some personal matters to attend to, so I won’t go to the streets. Please ask Cheng Gong to go and maintain order. Also, if the Sogdian merchants want to exchange more currency, go to the barracks and see Cui Qianyou; I think the soldiers have quite a bit.”
Duan Xiushi agreed and left in a hurry. Moments later, Li Huichun and the others were led into the room. There were four of them, one of whom was a woman wearing a veil, her face invisible. Li Qing’an gave her a deep look and then ordered his guards, “I have important matters to attend to; no one is allowed in!”
The guards closed the door and left. Li Huichun and the other two immediately knelt down. “Your servants pay their respects to their master!”
“Please get up quickly!”
Li Qing’an hurriedly helped them up and reproached them, “I told you last time—never kneel in front of me again!”
As he spoke, Li Qing’an glanced at the woman again. She removed her veil, revealing that it was Lady Luo, Li Qing’an’s birth mother. She silently stared at him, and their eyes met, making the atmosphere in the room tense. Then, Lady Luo’s expression softened, and she said to Li Huichun and the others, “You may step back for now. I want to talk to Ting’er alone.”
Li Huichun stepped aside. Luo Pinfang was worried; he wanted to say something to his daughter, but Chang Jin pulled him away.
Once the door was closed, Lady Luo checked outside to ensure they were far enough away before locking it. She smiled at Li Qing’an and said, “Ambassador Li, we’ve met before, haven’t we?”
Hearing this, Li Qing’an understood—she had already realized he wasn’t her son who had been separated from her for twenty years. Of course; no matter how long they were apart, a mother could still recognize her child at a glance.
Li Qing’an gave a bitter smile, took out the phoenix jade from his bosom, and placed it on the table. “Take this jade. It belonged to your son.”
Lady Luo held the jade and examined it for a long time, a hint of sadness in her eyes. She put the jade back on the table and said softly, “Let’s sit down and talk.”

Li Qing’an nodded silently, poured a cup of hot tea for Lady Luo, and said, “Madam, please have some tea!”
Lady Luo stared at the teacup in a daze. She sighed and said, “My Ting’er never poured me tea even once. Thank you.”
She picked up the tea, took a careful sip, and asked, “Young Master Li, where are your parents?”
Li Qing’an shook his head. “I lost both parents at a young age. After my grandfather passed away fifteen years ago, I have no relatives left in this world.”
“Oh! You’re also a poor child.”
Lady Luo sighed sadly. “If my Ting’er were still alive, he would be about your height. His father was very tall, and he resembled him since childhood. He was also twenty-eight years old, just one month older than you.”
Her heart ached, and tears welled up. Li Qing’an comforted her softly, “Madam, rest assured. I will do my best to help you find your son.”
“Really?” Lady Luo looked at him in surprise.
Li Qing’an gazed at Fengyu for a while before smiling and saying, “Of course. Since I’ve promised you, I will definitely keep my word. But I’m not sure if I can find him.”
“As long as you’re willing to try, I’ll be eternally grateful.”
Lady Luo picked up Fengyu and handed it back to Li Qing’an. He was stunned. “Madam, what are you doing?”
Lady Luo smiled faintly. “Do you think I’ll expose your identity? No! In fact, I already knew Ting’er was dead. Back then, his father went to Persia under the pretense of traveling, but actually to search for Ting’er. It was after learning of Ting’er’s death that he went in anger to seek revenge from his enemies, only to die abroad himself. Before dying, he asked his attendant to convey a message to me—that he had gone to be with Ting’er. That’s when I knew Ting’er was dead. I’ve kept this a secret from my father and the people of the Hidden Dragon Society. So when they told me you were Ting’er, I knew you weren’t.”
“Then why didn’t you expose me?”
“That’s because I don’t want Ting’er to follow in his father’s footsteps. I hope he can live a peaceful life. He couldn’t carry on the Hidden Dragon Society’s mission, but you’re different. Perhaps you can fulfill their century-old wish.”
“But…” Li Qing’an hesitated. “If they find out I’m not Young Master Ting, they won’t let a stranger complete their century-old wish.”
At that moment, Lady Luo’s eyes lit up. She smiled gently and said, “If you don’t mind, then you are my Ting’er.”

Li Qing’an suddenly raised his head. In Lady Luo’s eyes, he saw tolerance, kindness, and a hint of expectation. He suddenly remembered his mother from his past life and her gentle gaze, which he could no longer see. His nose stung, and he slowly knelt down, bowing deeply.
“Mother!”
“Child, get up quickly!”
Lady Luo hurriedly helped Li Qing’an up. Tears also shimmered in her eyes. “Child, from now on, you are my Ting’er.”
Lady Luo wiped away her tears and looked at Li Qing’an carefully before nodding and sighing, “You truly are handsome. Actually, when I first saw you, I thought that if my Ting’er were still alive, he would be just as valiant as you. I never expected to have such a promising son. If only Ting’er could be half as good as you, brother, I would be truly satisfied.”
Li Qing’an also sighed inwardly. Though he was willing to acknowledge Lady Luo as his mother, the idea of considering that prodigal son as his brother troubled him greatly.
As if understanding Li Qing’an’s thoughts, Lady Luo smiled and said, “Actually, Ting’er isn’t bad by nature. He’s just been spoiled since childhood with no one to discipline him. Recently, I adopted a daughter-in-law. It really is the case that one thing controls another—Ting’er has become much more obedient under her guidance and has started to study hard. Since you’re now his brother, I hope you’ll take good care of him too.”
Li Qing’an nodded solemnly. “If he can follow the right path, I will surely take care of him. Please, Mother, also keep a strict eye on him.”
Lady Luo was extremely relieved. Although Li Qing’an wasn’t her biological son, she could treat him as her adopted son, as if he were her own. Having such a promising elder brother would be beneficial for his entire life.
She opened the door and said to Li Huichun and the others, “Please come in!”
Li Huichun and the others felt uneasy. Though they already believed Li Qing’an to be the Young Master Yinlong, if Lady Luo didn’t acknowledge him, it would be a huge obstacle. Li Huichun was very observant. Seeing tears on Lady Luo’s face, he knew things were almost settled. But Luo Pinfang, who had a fierce temper, asked his daughter as soon as they entered, “Is there no problem?”
Lady Luo took Li Qing’an’s hand and smiled, “No problem. He is my Ting’er, my biological son I’ve lost for twenty years.”
Li Huichun and the others were instantly relieved. That was great! Lady Luo then pointed at Luo Pinfang and said to Li Qing’an, “Ting’er, this is your grandfather.”

Li Qing’an cursed inwardly. With no choice, he bowed and said, “I pay my respects to my grandfather!”
“No need! No need!”
Luo Pinfang scratched his head happily and laughed. He quickly said to Li Huichun, “Now that this is settled, let’s take the young master to pay respects at the spirit tablet!”
Paying respects at the spirit tablet of the hidden crown prince Li Jiancheng was Li Qing’an’s final and most important step as the leader of the Hidden Dragon Society. Li Huichun nodded and said, “There’s no need to rush. I’ve already made arrangements. Early tomorrow morning, the young master will officially pay his respects.”
After completing Lady Luo’s recognition ceremony and agreeing on a time for the next day, everyone prepared to leave. But Li Qing’an kept Li Huichun behind, as he still had matters to discuss with him.
The two sat down again. With Lady Luo gone, Li Qing’an felt relieved and regained his calmness and clarity.
He sipped his tea and said with a smile, “Mr. Li, you know about the Sogdians exchanging money in the streets, right?”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to ask the young master!”
“Don’t call me young master!” Li Qing’an reminded him. “Remember, it’s not time to reveal my identity yet.”
Li Huichun grew solemn and quickly asked, “Then when can we reveal your identity to the world?”
“I don’t know exactly when, but when the time is right, I’ll arrange for you to reveal it in an appropriate way.”
“Yes! I understand.”
Li Qing’an nodded and brought the conversation back to the matter at hand. “Let’s continue discussing the money issue. These Sogdians are just tools I use to put pressure on the imperial court—they’re part of my plan. Another part requires the help of the Han-Tang Association.”
“A plan?” Li Huichun was puzzled and asked hesitantly, “What kind of plan do you have?”
“It’s hard to explain in just a few words. For now, don’t ask. Just follow my orders.”
Li Huichun had never encountered such a domineering leader of the Hidden Dragon Society before and was initially unaccustomed to Li Qing’an’s commands. But he quickly adjusted, secretly admiring that this was indeed a descendant of the hidden crown prince, with an unyielding authority. He immediately stood up, bowed, and said, “Please give your orders, sir!”
Li Qing’an took out a booklet and handed it to Li Huichun. “All my plans are here. Take it. This is very important, and I expect you to act immediately.”