Chapter 48: Grudges (IV)
A few drops of cold rain—how much chill does autumn bring?
This was the third rainfall since the onset of autumn. Though the millet and wheat in the fields missed out on such mild weather, the accumulated rainwater still nourished the soil and sustained all living things. The cracked soil had long been softened by the droplets of dew, and life once again surged in the dried-up ditches.
Bundles of straw piled up beside the barren ridges; farmers set them on fire, and after the ashes cooled, they used them as fertilizer for the soil. In the poor yellow soil, earthworms could now be seen wriggling occasionally. The blackish-gray ash mixed with the soil and, moistened by the rain, formed a thick, dark, soft fertilizer. By the following year, hope for life would reappear in this land, once barren due to drought.
When spring came, wheat and millet seeds would be sown neatly here. With the breeze of spring, new life would sprout once again. The severe drought that had struck the Tang Dynasty gradually subsided. The victims in the Hedong region, having received relief from the court and regained their strength, began to head home in groups of three or five.
After all, that was their home. Though they had endured a terrible famine, as long as they worked hard, they might still overcome the difficulties. If lucky, with enough fertilizer in the fields, they might even plant spring wheat for the next year. Even if wheat was delicate and couldn’t be grown, there was still millet—durable and sure to survive!
This was their land! Farmers couldn’t survive without land and crops; crops and land couldn’t thrive without farmers!
This was their land—something they were unwilling to abandon. Generation after generation, it had always been so, and now they were back…
As summer gave way to autumn, after a light drizzle of cold rain, one could truly feel the atmosphere of autumn in Chang’an.
Compared to the farmers, the people living in the city districts seemed less affected by the drought. Apart from the daily fluctuations in rice prices in the markets, little else troubled them. In fact, the soaring rice prices due to drought soon dropped. The court urgently brought in new rice from Jianghuai, forcing those speculators who had hoarded goods in hopes of profiting to suffer heavy losses—they wished they could find a piece of tofu to smash themselves to death with.
Rice prices, vegetable prices… Rice prices, vegetable prices…
These were the things that mattered most in their lives—ordinary, humble, yet real.
Of course, they were also quite concerned about two major events that had occurred recently. One was related to the highly influential Censor-in-Chief, Lord Yang Zhao. It was said that this governor of Hedong was urgently recalled to the capital by the emperor for failing to provide adequate relief to the victims of disaster in Hedong. As soon as Lord Yang Zhao returned to Chang’an, before he could even have a sip of hot water, he was summoned to the palace by the emperor.
It is said that the wise and mighty emperor scolded Lord Yang Zhao mercilessly. The usually arrogant Lord Yang Zhao was utterly humbled and didn’t even dare to utter a word. This story came from the eldest son of the distant aunt’s cousin of Young Master Su from Su’s Silk Shop, who worked in Xingqing Palace.
The other event was even more mysterious according to rumors. It was said that one night a few months ago, the newly appointed military commander of Shule, General Li Kuo, led his troops late at night to a residence in Chongye Fang—which turned out to be the private estate of the crown prince. It was said that late at night, General Li Kuo and the crown prince were discussing some important matters. Halfway through their conversation, soldiers from the Jinyu Guard arrived and surrounded the entire residence.
As a result, General Li Kuo was imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture for several days. It was only after the imperial concubine and the Grand General of Cavalry interceded that the emperor relented. Otherwise, such an incident would be highly taboo for the royal family, and once accusations were made, no one could possibly escape unscathed from Jingzhao Prefecture.
That said, if General Li Kuo really were to be punished for this, the people of Chang’an would be the first to object. General Li Kuo was not only a national hero who fought against the barbarians but also a very charitable man. Without the food he provided, countless people in Hedong who were starving outside Chang’an would have died.
In the Kelong Tea House in Tongji Fang, such stories were discussed several times a day. Today, the two men at the table by the window were engrossed in conversation.
“I say, Old Wu, do you think this is believable? General Li Kuo was recognized by the emperor at such a young age and became a military commander. Considering everything, he could be considered half of the emperor’s personal army. Why would he engage in such a dangerous scheme with the crown prince?”
A middle-aged man wearing a black-tipped headband put a soybean in his mouth, chewed it, and questioned the truth of his friend’s story.
“What, Liu San, are you saying I’m lying? Tch!”
Old Wu spat, splattering saliva all over Liu San’s face.
“Stop spitting! Talk properly,” Liu San pleaded, wiping the saliva off with his handkerchief.
“To be honest, my brother works in the palace. You wouldn’t understand these things anyway!”
Lao Wu glanced at Liu San’er disdainfully, looked around to see no one nearby, then lowered his voice and spoke softly. “Do you know what betting is? If there’s no profit, why would anyone gamble? Even if the emperor is kind to General Li, how many years can he promote him for? Once the emperor passes away, it’ll still be the crown prince who rules. They say ‘the emperor changes, his ministers change’—even if General Li has great merits, the crown prince won’t use him!”
“But, but forming cliques for personal gain is a serious offense that can get you executed!”
Liu San’er started shouting loudly, completely ignoring the suspicious looks from the drinkers at the neighboring tables.
“Shut your damn mouth! Don’t you want to live?”
Lao Wu quickly stepped forward to cover Liu San’er’s mouth and said, “You still like to gamble on big or small? Gambling without risk isn’t even real gambling. Besides, it’s just a secret plan; no real action is taken…”
Lao Wu made a cutting motion with one hand in front of his neck, imitating beheading.
Hearing this, Liu San’er instinctively flinched back and touched her neck.
“Ow, ow.”
Owner Du heard the commotion and came over, smiling. “Please don’t talk about state affairs. If you want to drink, we have fine fruit wine. If you want tea, we have excellent green tea. I really ask you not to talk about state affairs.”
“Hey, owner, how do you run a business? Can’t we even talk while drinking here? Does that make any sense?”
But Lao Wu wasn’t someone to be provoked. He immediately stood up, slapping the table. Some troublemakers joined in, slapping the tables and shouting.
“Who’s making noise? Who was shouting just now?”
Du Jingtian rushed out from the back yard with a fir door latch in hand, glaring at Lao Wu as she got closer.
“Oho, quite a fierce girl—I like her!”
After saying that, he tried to take advantage of Du Jingtian.
But Du Jingtian wasn’t someone who would suffer losses. She immediately swung the door latch at Lao Wu’s right hand.
“Ow!”
Pained by the strike, Lao Wu hopped around in pain.
Du Jingtian glared at him disdainfully and said, “Take your filthy hands away before you dirty my hands!”
“Everyone, leave! It’s closing time, closing time!”
Perhaps upset by Lao Wu, Du Jingtian used the door latch to drive people away.
“Hey, how do you run a business? It’s not even that late yet—why are you closing already?”
“That’s right, shopkeeper! Give us an explanation.”
It caused a huge stir, and all the drinkers began to complain. But this seemed to have no effect on Miss Du. Du Jingtian waved the door latch while shouting, “Those who don’t want to get beaten by this young lady had better leave now, or else you’ll end up getting beaten for no reason and crying for help!”