Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Jin Feiyu said helplessly, Alright, if you encounter any inconvenience, tell me promptly. I’ll do my best to help where I can.

Wang Xingzhu nodded and added, During this period of staying at your residence, consider the expenses as a loan. I will definitely repay you in the future.

Jin Feiyu’s expression immediately changed, showing clear displeasure. What nonsense about borrowing? What kind of ridiculous talk is this? Between you and me, why should we calculate things so precisely!

Wang Xingzhu insisted on settling accounts clearly. The two went back and forth in refusal until Jin Feiyu’s face turned iron-gray and she spoke sternly with weighty words. Wang Xingzhu simply couldn’t prevail against her insistence and had to nod in agreement, while secretly resolving in her heart to find an opportunity to repay the money later under some pretext.

As they spoke, Little Grass Madame returned. Wang Xingzhu stood up to greet her, and in her field of vision appeared a woman with a swarthy face. Her features were hard to distinguish due to the deep darkness of her complexion – if she were walking at night, one would certainly fail to notice her presence.

Jin Feiyu explained, She often goes out to gather herbs, paying no heed even when scorched by the fierce sun overhead, resulting in this appearance. My advice falls on deaf ears. I’ve searched through medical texts looking for ways to improve her condition, but unfortunately without success.

Wang Xingzhu understood. Having not seen each other for many years and suddenly meeting, to ease the awkwardness, Wang Xingzhu stiffly made random conversation, pointing to Little Grass’s basket and asking, I just heard from the maid that Little Grass Madame went out to gather divine herbs. How did it go? Did you find any?

Little Grass flusteredly put down her basket, glanced at Jin Feiyu, and opened her mouth without speaking. Jin Feiyu laughed and said, How could divine treasures and celestial herbs be available for ordinary people like us to search for? The rumors spreading outside aren’t worth believing.

All medicine has some degree of toxicity, no need to pay excessive attention to it. Jin Feiyu changed the subject, took Wang Xingzhu’s hand, and said with curved eyes, Didn’t you want to go into business? Come, let’s go to my study. Chou Niang left behind a journal containing many of her insights and reflections – they might be useful to you.

Wang Xingzhu’s attention was suddenly captured, and she exclaimed in surprise, Chou Niang could read and write too?

Business inevitably requires reading account books. Literacy is necessary too. When Chou Niang begged Jin Yan to find a tutor to teach me basic reading, she attended the lessons herself and learned much better than I did. Jin Feiyu fell into recollection, her tone slightly light.

Hearing this, Wang Xingzhu grew increasingly curious about Chou Niang.

Wang Xingzhu followed Jin Feiyu to the study. Entering the room, Jin Feiyu walked inward. The windows were all sealed, blocking sunlight from outside, making the room dim and filled with chill.

Jin Feiyu bent over fiddling with something, then after a moment, she forcefully dragged out a large chest, the muscles in her cheeks taut, looking quite strenuous. Wang Xingzhu hurriedly stepped forward to help.

Does this chest contain all of Chou Niang’s journals? Wang Xingzhu asked in astonishment. She had thought it might be just casually written fragments, or at most the size of a book. She never expected Jin Feiyu to make such a production of it and was greatly shocked.

Jin Feiyu nodded matter-of-factly. Yes, after all these years, Chou Niang wrote daily without stopping.

Wang Xingzhu took a deep breath. She suddenly remembered Xu Mao’s requirement to write daily records, organize them afterward, report regularly by month. At the time she didn’t understand the meaning, but now having seen Chou Niang’s large chest, she finally understood the Marshal’s thoughtful intention.

The box opened to reveal neatly stacked papers piled high. Wang Xingzhu crouched down and picked up the top sheet. A quick glance showed brief notes on schedules at the top, followed immediately by instructions for crafting imitation jade.

Wang Xingzhu’s eyes widened. Imitation jade?

Jin Feiyu leaned closer to look and explained, Imitation jade has a transparent texture with rich luster, quite sought after. However, it’s typically used for funerals – originally meant for the deceased. Some families hosting funerals who can’t afford jade burial suits but still want to maintain appearances would choose objects resembling jade, hence the emergence of imitation jade.

Wang Xingzhu grew interested. Jade-like? Then why not make them into cups? They’d be crystal clear and extremely beautiful. Many would surely buy them.

Jin Feiyu shook her head. Creating it requires a special type of clay that’s hard to find in Yanlin. We can only obtain it through foreign merchants. Calculating the costs and profits, it’s acceptable for funeral use since matters of life and death warrant more generosity to show filial piety. But for cups, it’s not cost-effective – can’t compare to ceramics.

My family did use it to adorn plaques before, though you’ve probably heard – they were all stolen by thieves. Jin Feiyu tilted her head thinking of other uses when she suddenly remembered this incident, immediately gritting her teeth with fierce light in her eyes.

She still felt indignant – items painstakingly fired by Chou Niang had been brazenly stolen by thieves. While the thieves couldn’t be found, those colored jades had also disappeared without trace.

Wang Xingzhu gasped softly, suddenly recalling. So this was what had been mistaken for real gold and jade and stolen! It could actually achieve such deceptive resemblance. Chou Niang was truly remarkable.

She lowered her head to browse through other records. The Jin family had experienced frequent rises and falls, yet Chou Niang always possessed the ability to start from scratch and turn danger into safety. Having interacted with numerous people and practices, through her extensive collection, verification, and organization, various novel and obscure techniques along with essential business principles were all preserved in this ordinary-looking box. Wang Xingzhu broke out in cold sweat down her back, feeling deep respect.

Feiyu, Chou Niang’s records are too precious. Aren’t you afraid I might steal and leak them? Wang Xingzhu’s voice trembled slightly. She understood how important these things before her were – practically the foundation of the Jin family’s livelihood.

Jin Feiyu sighed softly. Maintaining our current family business is enough for me. Before Chou Niang passed, she told me she hoped that one day, the techniques in these records wouldn’t just earn copper coins, but truly benefit the people, helping everyone live better lives.

She turned to look at Wang Xingzhu, serious and solemn. The deeds of the Loyal Army have spread throughout Yanlin. When entering the city, they neither abuse defenseless commoners nor engage in indiscriminate burning, killing, plundering, or causing disturbances. They maintain strict discipline, with orderly troop movements and impeccable military bearing.

Moreover, Marshal Xu has urged local wealthy families to provide porridge for charity, offering emergency relief and medical aid. In Fengcheng, they’ve leveled roads and constructed river works, providing employment instead of direct relief to stabilize everyone’s livelihood. People have witnessed each and every deed.

The Loyal Army truly protects the people. I believe you might help me fulfill Chou Niang’s final wish.

Even if Wang Xingzhu hadn’t visited, she had planned to approach the Loyal Army herself. Today just happened to be opportune.

Wang Xingzhu’s heart pounded like drumbeats, utterly shocked. Her clear black-and-white eyes reflected Jin Feiyu’s figure as her fingers twitched slightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

After a long while, Wang Xingzhu finally stated firmly, I will!

Jin Feiyu arranged accommodations for Wang Xingzhu. Wang Xingzhu borrowed paper and brush from her, sat at the desk, held her breath, contemplated for a moment to organize her thoughts, then slowly began writing: Marshal, I have arrived at the Jin residence in Yanlin. With the assistance of my old friend Jin Feiyu, I am temporarily settled. Please do not worry…

She included Chou Niang’s diary entries in the letter, briefly described the counterfeit jade, and sought Xu Mao’s opinion. If Xu Mao required it, Jin Feiyu would deliver the diary to the Jin Province Prefect’s office.

Wang Xingzhu went on to ramble about her own reflections, unable to resist sighing about how difficult it was for the Marshal—suddenly taking in so many soldiers, distributing land and fields, rewarding everyone, yet keeping little silver for herself. She resolved to practice frugality to alleviate the current financial strain and overcome the difficulties together.

After counting the remaining silver she had on hand, Wang Xingzhu returned it all, concluding with: Respectfully submitted by Xingzhu.

She handed both the letter and the silver to the soldier responsible for delivering messages, requesting her to make the trip and quietly await Xu Mao’s reply.

After seeing off Wang Xingzhu and the others, Xu Mao sat waiting for rumors to spread that she was desperately short of funds, so she could secretly add fuel to the fire and strengthen the public’s negative perception of her.

That day, she received Wang Xingzhu’s letter. In high spirits, she unfolded it to read, but was instantly stunned. The smile vanished from her face as she abruptly straightened up and sat upright.

What did she mean by practicing frugality to overcome difficulties together!

Xu Mao grew anxious and promptly wrote back, clarifying that she was not short of money. She sternly demanded that Wang Xingzhu keep the funds, warning that otherwise it would create unfairness in the competition and affect He Suifen and Lin Shuniang. She ordered Wang Xingzhu to allocate the resources rationally, avoid overthinking, and focus on completing her mission.

After sending the reply via express courier, Xu Mao still felt uneasy.

What if He Suifen and Lin Shuniang also pulled such a stunt? What if all three of them agreed not to use the money?

Pacing back and forth with her hands behind her back, Xu Mao traced the source of the issue: why had Wang Xingzhu suddenly changed her mind and assumed she was short of funds?

Wang Xingzhu mentioned in her letter that it was because of the soldiers from Jin Province and Jiang Province who had voluntarily surrendered. More people meant more mouths to feed, more pairs of chopsticks, and more wages to pay—such a large sum was beyond what an ordinary person could bear.

Too many people—costs needed to be reduced and efficiency improved.

A light dawned in Xu Mao’s eyes. Downsizing!

Massively reducing the number of soldiers in the army would not only ease Wang Xingzhu’s concerns but also effectively prevent the military strength from growing, ensuring continuous victories in future city sieges.

Viewed this way, keeping so many people was indeed risky. Wang Xingzhu had inadvertently reminded her to address the looming threat promptly.

Xu Mao immediately began arranging the downsizing. She ordered all squad leaders to assemble and urgently convened a meeting, announcing: We have just taken Jin Province and Jiang Province. This is a critical moment to consolidate our foothold. We cannot bask in temporary victories nor let our guard down. Now, there is an important task for you.

The squad leaders immediately perked up their ears, fully attentive.

Xu Mao continued: Although we achieved victory because the defenders voluntarily opened the gates and surrendered, some of them did so not out of genuine willingness but under duress. I have already rewarded those deserving earlier. Now it is time to cleanse our ranks and reorganize the entire army, so we can unite as one and stand together with shared determination.

The squad leaders were astonished. From Xu Mao’s words, it seemed he intended to reduce personnel. Though they had experienced both literary and martial tests—where soldiers who failed simply packed their belongings and went home—while others hoped for as many soldiers as possible, Xu Mao sought refinement and excellence. They understood his approach.

Moreover, they had trained diligently and endured countless hardships to pass the tests, securing their place in the Loyal Army. In contrast, these surrendered soldiers and generals had merely opened a gate and now effortlessly enjoyed the same treatment. Though they recognized this as a strategy to pacify minds, they found it hard to accept the imbalance.

Upon hearing Xu Mao’s intention to clean up the ranks, they quickly accepted it and eagerly asked, ..Marshal, what should we do?