Chapter 200 - 148: Arrival of the Students, Great Sales in South City
Chapter 200: Chapter 148: Arrival of the Students, Great Sales in South City
"We will certainly lend our full support," everyone quickly chimed in.
Zhang Zhe chuckled. "Even the heavens are helping Your Highness. I just heard it’s started snowing in the Northern Barbarians’ Imperial City. As for the Wasteland, it’s now a scene of utter devastation.
Who knows how many people have frozen or starved to death.
In two years, I’m afraid Your Highness won’t even have to lift a finger. The Northern Barbarians will collapse on their own."
"Heh, I heard that after Lu Yuan went over to the Northern Barbarians, he was actually made a Prince. If even someone like him can get ahead, how much longer can their court possibly last?" Zhao Yu said with a laugh.
The Crown Prince, lounging with a flushed face, raised his wine cup. "You’re right about that. Drink up, everyone, drink up! In two years, once we’ve conquered the Northern Barbarians...
We’ll see if anyone comes to save that so-called Prince Qin of the Northern Barbarians then.
Zhang Zhe, when that time comes, I’ll leave Lu Yuan to you."
As he spoke, he raised his cup and drained the wine in one gulp.
The others all followed suit, draining their cups.
"I heard that Lu Yuan set up an Academy Palace in the Northern Barbarian lands. It’s apparently causing quite a stir," a Noble Disciple said after finishing his wine, sharing a piece of gossip.
"Haha, I heard about that ages ago. No one’s buying it. A trick like that might fool some simpletons, but who else would fall for it?
Back in the day, my uncle had to pull every string he had just to buy a single Third-Grade Cultivation Skill. And now his Academy Palace is claiming that common students can practice a Third-Grade Cultivation Skill, with Fifth and Sixth Grade ones to follow? What sane person would believe that?" Zhang Zhe said dismissively.
Although he was still just a Captain, his status as the Commandery Prince Consort of the Prince Polu Royal Mansion, coupled with the Crown Prince’s occasional favor, meant that no one dared to look down on him.
Those who followed the Crown Prince were all riding high on their success, and even Zhang Zhe seemed more spirited and full of himself.
At this, the Crown Prince sighed with a hint of regret. "It’s a shame the Village Chief of Celestial King Stronghold has to oversee things in the buffer zone and can’t come through the pass. Otherwise, he could have been here drinking with us today."
He had come to trust the Village Chief of Celestial King Stronghold a great deal.
The man had turned the tide against all odds, allowing him to secure the title of Crown Prince. He felt incredibly fortunate to have such a subordinate.
In his heart, he had already begun to see him as his most trusted confidant.
"Your Highness is right. We all greatly admire the Village Chief of Celestial King Stronghold. When we finally get the chance to meet him, we must be sure to toast him properly," Zhang Zhe was the first to chime in.
The Crown Prince laughed. "Haha, but of course! When you meet him in the future, you must all make an effort to get closer to him. Don’t do anything to displease him."
Though his words sounded like a joke, they cemented the high status of the Celestial King Stronghold in the Crown Prince’s eyes.
The men below paused for a moment, then quickly replied, "Of course."
The banquet at the Crown Prince’s Mansion was a lively affair.
Meanwhile, the weather in the lands of the Northern Barbarians grew ever colder.
The next morning, the snow had deepened to mid-calf.
People living in the cities were somewhat better off.
In the Wasteland, the roofs of many tribal homes had collapsed.
Prime Minister Li Qing had been up all night, sending his men out to gather statistics.
During the morning court session, when the ruler from the Xiao Clan learned that the required amount of relief silver had doubled, a bitter smile touched her lips.
Nearly fifty billion taels of silver. Where was she supposed to find such a sum?
Even at the height of the Northern Barbarians’ power, this would have been an astronomical sum.
Below, Li Qing stood with a grim expression.
The face of Xiao Gu, the Grand Minister of Rites, was always stern, but now it seemed even darker, almost sinister.
After a moment of contemplation, he stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this matter must be resolved with the utmost urgency. I propose that the court officials and the imperial clan donate silver.
This will help the court weather this crisis."
With that, he pulled a stack of silver notes from his robes. "I will voluntarily donate ten million taels. Every contribution helps, no matter how small or large.
All of you receive the court’s favor in your daily lives. It is time for you to do your part."
After speaking, he looked over at Xiao Lie. "Go through the Imperial City and inform every member of the imperial clan to donate silver. Tell them they can donate a small amount, but they cannot refuse to donate. The imperial clan and the court are one and the same."
"Yes."
Xiao Lie acknowledged the order and withdrew.
His steps were hurried.
At a time like this, he had no choice but to be anxious.
Every moment the silver was delayed, countless more people would freeze to death.
Perhaps one more tael of silver collected could mean one more life saved.
Li Qing also stepped forward. "I shall donate five million taels. I will send for the silver from my residence immediately."
"I’ll contribute one million taels."
"I’ll contribute three million taels."
...
By the end of the morning, the court had managed to scrape together two hundred and forty million taels of silver. While not an insignificant sum, it was a drop in the ocean compared to the more than fifty billion taels required.
But this was their only remaining option.
The Northern Barbarian court simply couldn’t come up with any more.
Xiao Hua sat beside her mother, her head bowed in silence, a flicker of worry in her eyes.
The Xiao matriarch waved a hand at Li Qing. "Take all this silver and use it to purchase grain and winter clothing. Distribute them everywhere as quickly as possible.
Save as many people as you can."
Her voice was tinged with helplessness.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Li Qing replied at once.
Lu Yuan, however, was not at court today. He was in South City, dressed in a black Python Robe with a jade belt cinched at his waist.
On his feet, he wore a pair of embroidered deerskin boots.
His tall, straight posture and handsome features exuded an air of nobility. Other men felt inadequate in his presence, while women found themselves staring, unable to look away.
The reason he had skipped court was simple: today was the day students began buying property to enroll. Cai Chong had been waiting outside his courtyard since dawn to give Lu Yuan the news.
So, he had rushed over in a flurry of activity with Wei Yong and the others.
"The Qian Clan of Great Yu has purchased three manors and registered fifteen students."
"The Zhuge Clan of the Eastern Barbarians has purchased two manors and registered ten students."
"The Mu Clan of the Xirong has purchased one small courtyard."
"The Beiye Clan of Great Yu has purchased three small courtyards."
"The Hong Clan of Great Yu has purchased one manor."
...
As the announcements continued and he watched the long, snaking line of people, a smile touched Lu Yuan’s lips.
’This is a huge windfall.’
The first day of enrollment continued until after nightfall before finally concluding.
However, there were still people waiting in line.
But they would have to wait until tomorrow.
Lu Yuan was sitting in the front hall of his Prince’s Mansion when Cai Chong strode over, ledger in hand, his face beaming with excitement.
The day’s earnings had far exceeded his wildest expectations; he had spent the entire day in a state of shock.
He had never imagined making money could be this easy.
One look at him told Lu Yuan that their haul had been substantial. He glanced at Cai Chong and waved a hand. "I don’t need to see the ledger. Just tell me, how many properties did we sell today?
The court is in dire need of silver right now. This should be enough to deal with the emergency."
As he spoke, a look of eager anticipation appeared in his eyes.