Chapter 608

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“The Son of Heaven guards the nation’s gate, and the monarch dies for the country!”

Fei Ji murmured this phrase, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

After a long silence, Fei Ji bowed deeply to Xiao Ming. “Your Highness’s noble principles will surely make you a wise ruler for a generation. This is a blessing for our Great Yu Empire, and a blessing for the common people.”

Xiao Ming smiled and didn’t explain. In his opinion, establishing the capital in Youzhou was advantageous, firstly, because it was close to the sea, and secondly, only by establishing the capital in Youzhou could the northern border troubles be thoroughly resolved.

Rejecting Fei Ji’s suggestion, Xiao Ming followed Ye Qingyun to Prince Wei’s mansion.

Unlike his own princely estate’s minimalist style, Prince Wei’s mansion was extremely luxurious. The main hall alone was as grand as the Chengqing Hall in the imperial palace. Behind the main hall was a winding pebble path, at the end of which was a river that cut through the mansion, with a stone bridge spanning across the river.

On the other side of the river was another cluster of buildings, which were the bedchambers of Prince Wei and his consorts.

“When I was in Chang’an, I heard that Prince Wei’s mansion was extremely luxurious. Now it seems that’s true,” Fei Ji said.

Ye Qingyun said, “Prince Wei’s mansion is not the most luxurious place in Jinling City. Your Highness and Elder Fei Ji will understand what luxury is when you see Jinling City’s treasury.”

Xiao Ming and Fei Ji exchanged glances. This was the focus of their trip to Jinling City. Xiao Ming said, “Then what are you waiting for? Lead the way.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ye Qingyun smiled.

Then the two left Prince Wei’s mansion and headed west. By the Xuanwu Lake in Jinling City, Ye Qingyun stopped and pointed to the civilian residences on one side of the river, saying, “Your Highness, this is where Jinling City’s treasury is located.”

Xiao Ming looked in the direction Ye Qingyun was pointing. In the residential area not far away, pavilions stood in abundance, clearly resembling a palace complex.

“This is Jinling City’s treasury?” Xiao Ming asked.

Ye Qingyun said, “Yes, Your Highness. All the tax revenue of Wei these past years is in this treasury.”

Fei Ji was also somewhat stunned. The buildings in this residential area were connected one after another, like a long dragon.

With some anticipation, Xiao Ming walked towards the residential area. After twenty minutes of walking, they arrived at Jinling City’s treasury.

Upon closer inspection, Xiao Ming realized the immense size of the treasury. Before him were vast halls, each connected front to back. At this time, Dengzhou army soldiers were guarding these halls.

“Your Highness, please see. This hall stores silver. I have already had it counted; there are a total of eight million taels of silver,” Ye Qingyun said.

Fei Ji’s and the officials’ eyes immediately widened. Fei Ji said, “Prince Wei is indeed extremely wealthy.”

At this moment, Xiao Ming’s heart also skipped a beat. What the Qingzhou Bank lacked right now was silver. If he had sufficient silver, he could issue banknotes based on silver.

Having so much silver stored in Prince Wei’s treasury was simply a timely boon for him.

Led by Ye Qingyun, he and Fei Ji entered the treasury together. Instantly, a flash of silver light slightly stung his eyes. He saw neatly stacked silver ingots in the treasury, each in a long, rectangular shape.

He picked up an ingot and weighed it. One ingot weighed at least a catty (about 0.5 kg).

Eight million taels of silver would be 800 tons. Prince Wei’s savings over the past decade or so were probably all here.

“Your Highness, we’ve struck it rich!” Fei Ji, too, couldn’t help but gesticulate excitedly at this moment.

Ye Qingyun smiled and continued, “This hall stores silver, and next door, copper and copper coins are stored. Compared to silver, there is even more copper.”

“Let’s go take a look.” Xiao Ming was overjoyed. This time, he had truly become rich overnight. This campaign to conquer Wei was a huge profit.

Then the group went to the copper hall. There was a thousand two hundred tons of copper stored here. Afterwards, they went to the halls storing cloth, raw silk, tea, and porcelain.

At the end of their tour, they went to Jinling City’s granary. However, Ye Qingyun did not yet know the exact amount of grain in the granary, as the quantity was too vast to measure. They could only rely on the granary’s ledger, which stated a total of five million shi.

After understanding the Jinling City treasury, Xiao Ming seemed to relax entirely. He said, “Now the food problem is finally solved. With the grain collected from Wei, the state army will not have to worry about provisions.”

“Precisely,” Fei Ji said with a smile, “With Wei, this granary, to support us, Your Highness will be like a tiger with wings.”

“Hahahaha…” Everyone burst into laughter simultaneously.

Coming out of the Jinling treasury, Xiao Ming said to Ye Qingyun, “By the way, where is Prince Wei?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, Prince Wei is currently imprisoned in Jinling City’s dungeon, and his relatives have also been detained.”

Xiao Ming nodded. He said, “Take me to see him.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ye Qingyun led Xiao Ming towards the Jinling City dungeon.

After another twenty minutes of walking, Xiao Ming and his group arrived at the Jinling City dungeon. At this point, Ye Qingyun sent someone to bring Prince Wei out from his cell.

Soon, a disheveled Prince Wei walked out of the dungeon.

Seeing Prince Wei, whose hair had turned white and whose demeanor was utterly disheartened, Xiao Ming sighed softly. Compared to the once vibrant Prince Wei, he was now merely a decrepit old man.

At this moment, Prince Wei squinted, seemingly unaccustomed to the outside brightness. When he adjusted to the light, he clearly saw Xiao Ming standing before him.

“Xiao Ming, you’ve come after all,” Prince Wei chuckled. “How is it? My Jinling City is quite prosperous, isn’t it?”

“Jinling City is indeed very prosperous.”

Xiao Ming said blandly, seeing a hint of hysterical madness in Prince Wei’s eyes.

“Hahahaha, I, who possessed such a prosperous Jinling City, was defeated by your hand! Why! Why is this!” Prince Wei’s eyes stared intently at Xiao Ming.

Ye Qingyun stood closer to Xiao Ming at this moment, fearing that Prince Wei might suddenly attack.

“Because the Mandate of Heaven does not reside with you,” Xiao Ming gave Prince Wei a despairing answer.

“Mandate of Heaven, Mandate of Heaven.” The madness in Prince Wei’s eyes gradually turned into sorrow. “Yes, the Mandate of Heaven is not with me, the Mandate of Heaven is not with me. This is not my fault; it is the will of Heaven!”

Fei Ji sighed, “Your Highness, Prince Wei is probably mad.”

“No, he’s not mad. He’s just too unwilling to accept defeat,” Xiao Ming said. “Elder Fei Ji, what do you think should be done with Prince Wei?”

“Prince Wei rebelled, a heinous crime. Only a silken cord and poisoned wine are fitting for him,” Fei Ji said firmly.

Xiao Ming’s eyes narrowed. Feudal dynasties were indeed this cruel. Eradicating the roots was what every emperor would do.

Now, Xiao Ming had gradually adapted to this world, a world where civilization was just budding, but barbarism still reigned. To survive in this world, one had to learn to be ruthless.

He nodded, “Grant him a cup of poisoned wine. Wei has fallen; a Prince Wei is no longer needed.”