Chapter Forty: The Great Demolition at the End of the Sui Dynasty (Part Two) – Second Update

Zheng Yanqing replied, “Fang Xuanling is going to Xicheng as county constable and happens to be passing through with Du Ruhui.”

“Du Ruhui? The one known as the Stele Enthusiast from Duling?”

“That’s the very person.”

Du Ruhui’s passion for steles and inscriptions was well-known throughout Guanzhong, especially among the sons of officials. His obsession had even earned him the elegant nickname “the Stele Enthusiast.” His father was a chief secretary, his grandfather the Minister of Works, yet in his generation, he cared little for officialdom. During the second year of Renshou’s imperial exams, this fellow even delayed his own examination to travel to Mount Heng and study steles.

Li Ji laughed, “I hear the Stele Enthusiast recently acquired a fine inscription—why isn’t he at home studying it, but running about instead?”

“I’m not sure. They say he’s traveling with his grandfather and will be moving to stay by my place.”

“Minister Du is here?”

Li Ji’s heart gave a jolt. Just last night, Dou Xian mentioned that Du Guo and Zhang Qiu Taiyi would be coming to Luoyang, but he hadn’t expected them to arrive today. He drew in a sharp breath and frowned slightly. Their arrival surely meant…

“You’re certain Du Ruhui came with Minister Du?”

“Yes, that’s what Du Ruhui himself said… Oh, and I just remembered something. This morning, I spotted a group by the river embankment—a Daoist priest and an elder among them. They were pointing and discussing something, but I couldn’t tell what.”

“A Daoist and an old man?” Li Ji pondered. “What did the old man look like?”

“Well, now that you mention it, Teacher, the old man bore a striking resemblance to Du Ruhui. But he had a splendid beard, which left a deep impression. Could he be Du Ruhui’s grandfather?”

“Nine times out of ten, it must be.”

Du Guo’s reputation for his magnificent beard was famous in Chang’an.

Li Ji became increasingly certain: Du Guo and Zhang Qiu Taiyi had indeed arrived in Luoyang. But if they were sent to oversee renovations in Luoyang, why were they wandering outside the city? Unless, like in Chang’an, the court intended to build a new city? In that case, their presence at the embankment would make sense.

“Yanqing, do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Once you return, try to ask Du Ruhui whether the court is planning to renovate Luoyang, and if so, how?”

Zheng Yanqing was startled at first, then quickly understood Li Ji’s intention.

Could Luoyang be due for reconstruction?

Historically, after Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, the capital was indeed moved to Luoyang, and there are records of renovations at that time. But the specifics? The official histories are vague. Zheng Yanqing had always assumed Emperor Yang simply improved upon the existing city.

But from Li Ji’s words, it seemed that might not be the case. Were they to build a new city altogether?

If those people he saw in the morning were indeed Du Guo and his party, and they were surveying the embankment bordering the Zheng family’s estate, could it mean the new city would be built right on their lands? If so, wouldn’t their entire estate be seized?

Both Yanqing and Li Ji fell into silent thought, but their worries were quite different. Yanqing’s concern was that if the court requisitioned the Zheng family’s lands, the perpetual and open fields he was about to obtain would be lost—like drawing water with a bamboo basket, all for nothing. The court might compensate the Zheng family, but not necessarily him and his grandfather, since those lands were registered under Zheng Shian’s name.

If it was a court requisition, the Zheng family would hardly refuse. For tenants like Yanqing and his grandfather, the loss would be dire. Would the Zhengs stand up for them? Even if the family elder was willing, would Zheng Shanyuan agree? If not, Yanqing and his grandfather would have no choice but to remain dependent on the Zhengs. Would the An Yuan Hall still be willing to grant them a hundred mu of good land?

Li Ji, meanwhile, was thinking about something else entirely—the likelihood that the decision to move the capital had already been made. Du Guo and Zhang Qiu Taiyi had likely been sent to finalize renovation plans. Once those were settled, the court would send officials to oversee the works.

He himself would have to leave Luoyang before he was discovered by the authorities.

It was all too fast, too sudden.

Though Li Ji had mentally prepared himself, he’d expected to spend a bit more time with Yanqing. Now, it seemed dangerous to linger. The departure of Du Guo and Zhang Qiu Taiyi for Chang’an would mark the day he, too, must leave Luoyang.

He had finally been reunited with his own flesh and blood; though they hadn’t acknowledged each other, being together—even so—was a happiness, far better than separation. Who would have thought he’d have to leave so soon?

Li Ji looked at Yanqing, his heart aching with reluctance.

He truly did not wish to go, but…

“Yanqing, the water’s boiling!”

Zheng Yanqing snapped back to himself and hastily prepared the utensils to brew tea.

When the fragrant tea was ready, Li Ji sipped what Yanqing offered, but his mind was elsewhere: Whom should he find to be Yanqing’s teacher?

Of course, he could not step forward personally. But he could ask a kinsman or someone from the Dou family to make the introduction—surely not too difficult. Still, the selection must be handled with care. Li Ji disdained to recommend an ordinary person; this required careful thought.

Yanqing, seated quietly at his side, was also lost in his own worries.

Without land, they would have to rely on the Zhengs’ support to survive.

If the Zheng patriarch had known of this in advance, perhaps his grant of land was part of a larger plan.

Without land, there would be no income. He and his grandfather would be bound to the An Yuan Hall, their lives and the expenses of over a dozen able-bodied servants dependent on the Zhengs.

No, whether or not this was the Zheng elder’s intention, those hundred mu of good land could not be accepted.

But if they refused, the Zhengs might suspect them of disloyalty, which would only increase their danger.

To accept or not—both choices were fraught.

Yanqing could only laugh at himself.

Just a moment ago, he had thought those hundred mu were a blessing; in the blink of an eye, they had become a burning coal in his hands.

Still, if he could not take the land, he might accept money or cloth instead.

If all else failed, Zheng Shian could step forward to refuse the land on the grounds of doing business with Xiong Dachui. Though this would expose Zheng Shian, it would also test the Zheng patriarch’s intentions. If the elder knew of the planned reconstruction and possible seizure of the estate, he would surely refuse; if not, he would agree.

But someday, Xiong Ji’s lucrative business might be coveted by the Zhengs. If they demanded it back, what then?

Yanqing realized that his entanglements with the Zheng family would only become more complicated. What began as a matter of status might escalate into a struggle for interests. If that happened, how would he and his grandfather deal with the Zhengs? How could they resolve it?

Best to take things one step at a time.

First, he must free himself of economic dependence on the Zhengs; as for what the future might hold, he would devise a plan as he went.

With this thought, Yanqing clenched his teeth and made up his mind.

The immediate priority was to stop Zheng Shian from accepting those hundred mu. The only question left was: how much did that land mean in Zheng Renji’s eyes?

Yanqing glanced at Li Ji, wondering: If Teacher knew of my scheming at this moment, would he be displeased? Might he even send me away?

Li Ji happened to be looking at Yanqing as well. In both their eyes, a trace of worry lingered, though neither spoke a word.

———

The new book will soon be off the rankings. The third installment will be posted a bit later, likely around midnight. Haha, it’s Sunday again, time to push for the weekly rankings. The book’s performance this week has been good, for which I am grateful… I hope for your continued support next week—perhaps we can make the weekly recommendation? I’m really counting on it…