Volume One, Chapter Three: The Wool Scheme

All the ministers twitched at the corners of their mouths, cursing inwardly. Fortunately, they were officials and not merchants, so their curses, though venomous, remained unspoken. Still, their gazes toward Zhang Yan now carried an indistinct trace of wariness.

Even Jiang Zhiwan showed a slightly surprised expression, her eyes lingering on Zhang Yan for a moment. She truly hadn’t expected Zhang Yan to come up with such a strategy.

Only Xiao Changqing’s expression was particularly unsightly. He was a top-ranking scholar, well-versed in the classics, and yet his tactics were inferior to those of a man known to all as a simpleton?

“Hahaha, serves you right! You civil officials are always so eloquent—why so silent now?”

“You rascal, you’re indeed my son! Hahaha!”

No one was more thrilled than Zhang Wu. He felt utterly vindicated. Ever since he’d risen through military merit to enter the court, Zhang Wu had always felt stifled. He could never win in debate, nor could he simply settle disputes with force. But now, his foolish son had left these civil and military officials speechless with a single strategy—what a delight!

The civil officials glared at Zhang Wu, cursing him in their hearts. All the irreverent phrases one could not learn from the classics flashed through their minds before they managed to calm themselves.

Yet, there truly was no better strategy than Zhang Yan’s.

Standing beside Zhang Wu, Zhang Yan swept his gaze over the ministers and smiled, “Your Excellencies were right just now. I did indeed think of this plan while playing with mud. Perhaps you should all try playing with mud as well—given your intelligence, I’m sure you’ll come up with something even better.”

Zhang Yan was not one to let grudges linger. If he could settle scores immediately, he would never wait until the next day.

Mockery—naked and unreserved!

“You impudent child!”

“We simply do not wish to stoop to your level!”

“You insolent brat, do your parents know how arrogant you are?”

Seated on the dragon throne, Jiang Zhiwan spoke coldly, “Gentlemen, do you take this Golden Throne Hall for a marketplace?”

She had refrained from intervening at first, only speaking up once Zhang Yan had provoked the officials’ fury. Clearly, Jiang Zhiwan was using Zhang Yan to give these ministers a warning.

Zhang Yan glanced at Jiang Zhiwan unobtrusively, but his eyes couldn’t help but stray to her fair, exquisite thighs.

This empress—her little schemes were not few.

Those thighs were truly fair and beautiful.

“We dare not!”

All the officials, including Zhang Wu, bowed their heads and spoke respectfully.

Jiang Zhiwan swept her gaze around and asked, “Where is the Minister of Revenue?”

“I am here.”

From among the civil officials, Li Yong, Minister of Revenue, stepped forward and answered respectfully. Li Yong was one of the few who believed Zhang Yan’s strategy was sound, as it would benefit the Ministry of Revenue.

“I grant you one day. Submit a plan according to Zhang Yan’s proposal,” Jiang Zhiwan said coolly.

“I… obey,” Li Yong replied.

With that, Zhang Yan’s plan was officially adopted by Jiang Zhiwan. In other words, Zhang Yan had passed this trial of the imperial decree.

At this moment, Xiao Changqing stepped forward, looking at Zhang Yan with a cold tone. “Brother Zhang, didn’t you say you had three strategies? This is only the second—what of the third?”

He was unwilling to concede. How could he, a top-ranking scholar, lose to someone known for being a fool?

So he pressed Zhang Yan to reveal his third strategy, hoping to embarrass him.

But Xiao Changqing was overthinking it. Zhang Yan merely chuckled, walked over, patted Xiao Changqing’s shoulder, and said, “Ah, you know what? There really is a third strategy, and what’s more, it can resolve Liang’s incursion without costing a single soldier or horse.”

The same words as before—Xiao Changqing’s face turned livid.

“Ignorant youth! This is war between nations—no supreme strategist would dare claim victory without any loss.”

“Coming up with a plan while playing with mud—do you think armchair strategizing is so simple?”

“General Zhang, you’ve been away from the front lines too long—has your son become this arrogant?”

“Empty talk, ignorant and conceited!”

Zhang Wu grew anxious. Damn, what was this foolish son saying? Even he, a seasoned general, wouldn’t dare claim he could resolve the northern crisis without any losses, yet his son, who’d never seen a battlefield, dared to say so?

“You rascal, even I know when to quit. You’re even more arrogant than your father,” Zhang Wu glared at Zhang Yan.

He might not know much about strategy, but he knew battle—winning without a single loss was impossible.

Zhang Yan just grinned, patted Zhang Wu’s shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry, Father. Do I look like someone who’d harm himself foolishly?”

Indeed, you don’t look like it—you just are!

Zhang Wu roared inwardly, venting his frustration.

“General Zhang, since brother Zhang is so confident, why not let him speak?” Xiao Changqing said with a warm smile, though he was inwardly sneering.

“Indeed, judging by his earlier strategy, our young friend Zhang does not seem the type to offer reckless advice,” Elder Yang chimed in in agreement.

“Uh…” Zhang Wu had no confidence at all.

If the earlier national bond strategy could be explained by Zhang Yan’s occasional contact with merchants, when it came to warfare—Zhang Wu had never taught him anything about it. How could Zhang Yan possibly know?

“Oh? Let’s hear it,” Jiang Zhiwan looked at Zhang Yan, curious to see what solution he would propose that claimed to resolve the northern crisis without a single loss.

Zhang Yan smiled, stepped forward, patted Xiao Changqing’s shoulder, and said, “Actually, the so-called Wool Strategy is quite simple—just buy wool from Liang.”

“Liang is a northern nomadic nation, rich in cattle, horses, and sheep. That’s why their cavalry is unmatched. If we buy their wool, Liang will be delighted.”

“What nonsense! You’d use our gold to buy Liang’s wool? What are you thinking?” Xiao Changqing scoffed.

He knew it—Zhang Yan had only been lucky with the national bond plan. This third strategy was nothing but a joke.

Elder Yang shook his head and sighed, “Young friend Zhang, this plan is unwise.”

He had expected something as clever as the national bond plan, but this was not it.

Xiao Changqing sneered, as though he could already see his own victory.

He knew it—how could he, a top scholar, lose to someone reputed as a simpleton?

Zhang Yan shook his head, patted Xiao Changqing’s shoulder, and said, “Who said I’d pay with silver?”

“Then what will you use?” Xiao Changqing asked reflexively, then realized he’d been led astray again.

Zhang Yan chuckled, finding this top scholar rather amusing.

“Of course, with grain.”