Chapter 57

On the third day of the first lunar month, Ye Yu brought the gifts he had prepared and went to Lai'an Prefecture to pay New Year's greetings to his uncle Liu Yuanshan and his cousin.

Liu Quan was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a rugged beard that gave him a somewhat imposing air. After a conversation, Ye Yu learned that Liu Quan had a military background.

This made Ye Yu sigh deeply, feeling that the national policy established by the founding emperor had indeed stifled generation after generation of military leaders. It was absurd and ridiculous to make a military leader take on a civilian role.

However, this unreasonable ancestral system had continued for nearly two hundred years. Ye Yu couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly, feeling that the current state of the Song Dynasty was largely due to the irresponsibility of Zhao Kuangyin.

This ancestral system had made it so that for hundreds of years, there were almost no usurpers in the Song Dynasty. However, this system, which was meant to stabilize the Zhao family's rule, had also weakened the Han people's spirit. Although internal strife was reduced, they suffered greatly from the oppression of foreign tribes.

Just as family disputes were considered internal matters and not shameful, the bullying by neighbors was a blatant insult.

Faced with such a situation, choosing to live a life of internal stability, barely surviving without dignity, was no different from being a walking dead.

After much reflection and feeling helpless, he could sense the suppression in Liu Quan's heart from their conversation, but this suppression was deeply buried.

The three of them drank and chatted together, like three generations gathering. Over the few days, they spoke freely. Liu Quan, with his military background, naturally had a straightforward and generous personality.

Ye Yu was not a pedantic person either. In his past life, he was also a soldier, so the two of them got along very well.

Initially, Liu Quan had some doubts about his uncle recommending Ye Yu, thinking that a young boy couldn't have much ability. However, out of respect for his uncle, he opened the door for Ye Yu.

What he didn't expect was that in just over two years, Ye Yu had devoured the entire Chuzhou like a glutton. This hurricane-like sweep was something he hadn't anticipated.

Now, as they met and talked, they found they had similar temperaments, and there was a sense of regret for not meeting earlier.

During the few days he spent with Liu Quan, Ye Yu learned about the details of Lu Kun's conviction. When Lu Kun was brought to Lai'an Prefecture, although the evidence was clear, the prefect intentionally covered up the case because the prefect, Wang Lun, was Lu Kun's father-in-law.

Wang Lun was a disciple of the powerful minister Long Dayuan, who was a close confidant of Emperor Xiaozong. Before Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, Long Dayuan was a servant in his household.

Therefore, after Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, Long Dayuan was deeply trusted by him. Due to these connections, the case of Lu Kun was very complicated.

However, the saying "the net of heaven is wide, but it lets nothing through" proved true. The war faction's chancellor, Chen Junqing, included this matter in his memorial to Emperor Xiaozong, which drew the emperor's attention.

As more officials submitted memorials, impeaching Long Dayuan and implicating another official, Zeng Di, Emperor Xiaozong eventually expelled both from the court. Without their protection, Wang Lun was left isolated and helpless, and the case against Lu Kun was successfully prosecuted.

Living in a remote area, Ye Yu was naturally unaware of these details, but after hearing them, he could only smile bitterly.

He thought that it was fortunate that the political struggles in the court had led to Lu Kun's deserved punishment. As for Zeng Di and Long Dayuan, they were merely sacrifices in the political battles.

According to historical records, the two were notorious for their crimes, and the case of Lu Kun was just the trigger for the political struggle.

Ye Yu was not interested in political struggles, as they were beyond his reach.

The current prefect of Chuzhou was Yue Lin, a name familiar to Ye Yu. Anyone who had read the story of Yue Fei would know that he was Yue Fei's son. However, according to official history, after Yue Fei, his descendants were not as valiant and brave as their father.

After staying at Liu Quan's residence for a few days, Ye Yu began to focus on his own affairs.

There were still many matters concerning the new dyeing workshop that required his personal decision-making. Since the workshop had been in preparation since before the New Year, it was completed on the tenth day of the first lunar month.

Unlike the common people, who only started working after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, merchants had to prepare everything by the fifteenth to be ready for business.

Therefore, after discussing with Su Quanzhong, Ye Yu decided to open the workshop on the twelfth day of the first lunar month. This would also allow him to invite the vice-prefect Liu Quan and the prefect Yue Lin to attend the opening ceremony during the holiday.

On the opening day, the hall was filled with the sounds of drums and music, and the air was filled with the noise of firecrackers. The hall was bustling with guests coming to congratulate. Not far from the dyeing workshop, a new mansion with a grand gate was still under construction, which would be Ye Yu's new residence.

The spacious hall was already crowded with people, and Ye Yu was busy instructing the servants and maids to entertain the guests. Outside, Su Quanzhong was greeting the guests, delighted by the various congratulatory letters and cards.

Among the letters he handled, there were several high-ranking officials from the prefecture, which was something Su Quanzhong had not expected.

Ye Yu remained calm in the face of the many officials who came to congratulate him, knowing that this was not due to his own abilities but to Liu Quan's support.

A few days earlier, Liu Quan had told Ye Yu that he would give him a gift before his transfer. Now, seeing the bustling hall, Ye Yu felt deeply grateful to Liu Quan.

In a side room behind the hall, Ye Yu raised a glass to Liu Quan and said, "Your Excellency's kindness is truly overwhelming, and I am deeply grateful!"

Liu Quan waved his rough, dark hand and said with a hearty laugh, "Ye Yu, why are you being so formal? Although I helped you out of friendship, I also hope that you will benefit the people! I am a rough man and don't know how you will manage things in the future, but the price of cloth in Chuzhou has already dropped significantly, which is good for the people!"

In the side room, besides Ye Yu and Liu Quan, there were also the prefect Yue Lin and Liu Yuanshan. According to their ranks, Ye Yu could only sit at the end of the table. Facing him was Yue Lin, who was in his thirties, with a lean but energetic appearance.

After Liu Quan finished speaking, Yue Lin stroked his short beard and said, "Brother Liu is right. Yixing is a wealthy place, yet there are beggars and vagrants who lack proper clothing. This shows how many people in the world lack food and clothing. If the price of cloth were lower, the benefits would be even greater. Merchants are known for their greed, but I hope you will not forget your original intentions!"

Yue Lin's words were sincere, expressing his concern for the people's hardships and reminding Ye Yu not to be blinded by profit. Otherwise, this act of lowering the price of cloth could become a tool for him to undermine his opponents.

Ye Yu took Yue Lin's advice to heart. He also knew that Yixing was the fief of the Yue family.

"Your Excellency's teachings, I will remember forever and never forget," Ye Yu said.

At this moment, Liu Yuanshan showed a rare look of satisfaction and said to Ye Yu, "Ye boy, don't forget your promise. It's been more than two years now..."

"Ah, I won't forget," Ye Yu said with an awkward smile, then raised his glass to Liu Yuanshan and said solemnly.

The conversation between the old and the young was quite mysterious, leaving Liu Quan and Yue Lin puzzled, as they didn't know what the promise was. The impatient Liu Quan was about to ask, but then he heard someone report from outside, "Brother, someone has come to congratulate, but..."

Ye Yu recognized She Tongcheng's voice, but the usually straightforward She Tongcheng was now hesitating, which made him suspicious. He asked sternly, "Who is the person congratulating?"

"It's Ye Mingzhi, and he has brought a couplet to congratulate," the person replied.

"It's him?" Hearing this name, Ye Yu's raised glass paused in mid-air, and he said, "He who comes with ill intent is not a good person. It seems this couplet is not simple."

Ye Yu bowed to the three people in the room and said apologetically, "Excuse me, I need to go and handle this matter."

"No problem, we three have nothing to do, and staying in this side room is boring. Let's go and see what's happening," Yue Lin, who loved to join in the fun, said with interest.

Liu Quan also said, "That's a good idea. I want to see who dares to cause trouble at such a time!"

Ye Yu had intended to persuade the three to stay in the side room, but their repeated refusals left him no choice but to let them go.

When the four of them came out of the side room and entered the main hall, the presence of the vice-prefect and the prefect made the already lively hall even more bustling.

This was exactly what Ye Yu did not want to see, as it would make it difficult for him to handle the situation.

Ye Mingzhi was a familiar name to Ye Yu, as he was the only son of his second uncle, Ye Mengxin. In terms of family hierarchy, Ye Yu should call Ye Mingzhi "big brother," since Ye Mingzhi was born before him.

Ye Yu had not invited his second uncle Ye Mengxin to the opening banquet, but he did not expect Ye Mengxin to send his son to congratulate him.

This unusual move clearly indicated that the congratulation was not sincere. With Yue Lin and Liu Quan's public appearance, although it gave him face, it also made it difficult for him to resolve the situation.

Ye Yu had intended to go out and investigate first, hoping to resolve the matter if possible, and avoid causing a major negative impact if not.

If he were to be publicly humiliated by Ye Mingzhi outside, it would be a great embarrassment. Now, with the two of them appearing, the crowd followed them to the entrance, leaving Ye Yu with no way to retreat.

At the entrance, a young man in white stood under the gate, flanked by two servants, gently waving a fan and looking in their direction. This was Ye Mengxin's son, Ye Mingzhi.

As Ye Yu and the others approached the gate, Ye Mingzhi did not acknowledge Ye Yu but instead greeted the two officials with a smile.