Chapter 41, Chapter 8: Exchanging Resources

"I have one more important matter to ask of you."

The night wind was strong, and Liu Jun noticed that Sima Ye was wearing a thin summer robe, so he took off his own cloak and draped it over him. "Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, how can you use the word 'beg'? If you have any orders, I will obey them without question."

Sima Ye smiled bitterly, “You were very polite when we last met, and now you address me as a subject to a ruler… We’ve been friends since childhood and have been through life and death together. You are my only friend, and this estrangement always makes me sad.”

Liu Jun tied the sash for him, deliberately avoiding looking directly at his stunningly handsome face. "Your Highness, you have read extensively in history and should know the relationship between ruler and subject. Only when a subject adheres to his duty and the ruler is impartial can the relationship last."

Sima Ye sighed softly, "You're always right. The days when I called you 'Mao Tou' and you called me 'Mu Nu' are gone forever."

He sighed deeply, but Liu Jun pondered in his heart that Sima Ye may have been innocent and lovable when he was young, but after the Yongjia Rebellion, Sima Ye had been forced to grow into a worldly and cunning young man with a deep mind. He always left himself some room in his dealings with others and was very careful in his conduct.

The isolated and helpless Crown Prince was like a fish on a chopping board in the eyes of the ambitious and powerful feudal lords.

Little did they know that these feudal lords were also good tools to be used by the young crown prince.

Although Liu Jun was too lazy to ponder Sima Ye's intentions, he did not want to offend him. So he went straight to the point and said, "I am deeply grateful to Your Highness for your invitation. I am willing to do my best to repay your kindness and fulfill our childhood friendship."

Sima Ye buried his face in his cloak, with only his almond-shaped eyes showing. "If you say so, I am at ease."

The two walked another hundred paces in silence. Sima Ye said in a low voice, "Although I have some capable generals by my side, their pasts are complicated and intertwined. Let alone working together to overcome the national crisis, it's difficult for them to even exchange a few polite words. My eldest uncle passed away a few days ago, and my second uncle has already abandoned me and crossed the river. Now, the only people I can trust are Tai Zhen, Liu Yuzhou, and a handful of others. The only ones I can truly rely on are Guo Mo, Qu Yun, and Jia Pi. What's worse, Guanzhong has suffered from famine for years. It's quite close to the Xiongnu Liu Cong, and there are also the Di, Qiang, and other mixed barbarian tribes eyeing it covetously. Every time we fight a major battle, we lose more than half of our grain and horses."

"It's not just Guanzhong, Bingzhou is the same. Fortunately, the military farms had some success in previous years, which is why we can keep going."

"Therefore, I ask you, firstly, to assign me a capable official who has participated in the military agricultural settlements in Bingzhou. There are many refugees in Guanzhong. If we can retain them through the military agricultural settlements, allowing them to farm and fight, recuperate and thrive for several years, we can achieve some success in the future."

Liu Jun immediately nodded, "That's easy, but these words don't sound like what Your Highness thought on your own. Did your cousin teach you to say them?"

Sima Ye pursed his lips and nodded, his jade-like cheeks slightly flushed. "Yes, the second thing was my idea, and even Tai Zhen didn't know about it."

"Oh?" Liu Jun said with interest, "There's something that even His Highness's Zifang and Gongda didn't know?"

Sima Ye was amused. "Even the most reliance on a strategist must have some secrets of its own, right? Secondly, after Shi Weiwei's failure, his family property was confiscated by the court, but there are rumors that a large amount of wealth is still hidden somewhere. I think if we can find these, it can also replenish the military funds."

"Oh? Such a rumor exists?" Liu Jun said calmly. "I have never heard my father mention it."

Sima Ye scrutinized his expression, smiled wryly, and suddenly grabbed Liu Jun's wrist. The latter was unprepared for him, and because he was about to ride a horse, he was not wearing a wide-sleeved robe, so his right hand was completely exposed.

"What is Your Highness doing?" Liu Jun asked angrily.

Sima Ye let him break free and laughed, "Although your self-control is quite good, I noticed when you were young that whenever you are startled, you will make a fist with your right hand and pinch your index finger with your thumb nail. Now I'm telling you this so that others won't find out in the future."

Liu Jun took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Sima Ye lifted him up and said in a low voice, "When I was in Luoyang, I unintentionally saved a government slave. This person was originally a servant of the Shi family, and was sold into the palace after the plot failed."

"Does he know where he is hiding? Otherwise, with such a vast land as the Nine Provinces, where can we search for him?"

"I've heard it's in Nanpi, Bohai." Sima Ye turned to look at him, his eyes shining. "Don't laugh at me, but the world is exhausted. No crown prince in history has ever been as poor as me. The grain in Chang'an is only enough to feed the officials for a year, and the government can't even afford a complete set of ceremonial guards. Jia, Guo, and Liu Yuzhou have all complained to me more than once about the lack of food and clothing for the army. Many soldiers don't even have uniforms. From a distance, the Imperial Guards look less respectable than the refugee army."

Liu Jun said calmly, "If Your Highness has the courage to search the fortified villages and examine the hidden population and grain of the powerful families, Your Highness will realize that the only ones who are exhausted in this world are the court and the people."

Sima Ye smiled and said, "The Liu family of Zhongshan, a powerful clan in Ji Province, speaks like a leader of displaced people."

"Emperor Gaozu of Han was merely the head of the Sishui Pavilion. From the perspective of aristocratic families today, his background is nothing special." Liu Jun tried to discern directions in the moonlight. "Well, Nanpi and Zhongshan are not far apart anyway. If we can really find it, we will definitely present it to Your Highness."

The two had reached the horses, and Liu Jun personally helped Sima Ye mount his horse, saying, "Your Highness, I will help you with the reins."

The horse was originally presented by Liu Kun, and it was still friendly to Liu Jun, neighing as it nuzzled Liu Jun's hand.

"I never imagined that the hawksbill turtle would recognize you. You are indeed handsome, even your horse cannot forget you," Sima Ye said sourly from his horse.

Looking at Liu Jun, who had become strong and healthy in the army over the years, and who was still full of energy after a long march and a long night's journey, Sima Ye was even more envious.

Liu Jun looked up at him, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Sima Ye sighed, "Only today do I learn the story of Emperor Ming's soup dumplings."

Liu Jun chuckled. He Yan's face was as white as if it were powdered, which made Emperor Ming quite envious. So he invited him to enjoy soup dumplings in the sweltering heat. He Yan was sweating profusely, but when he wiped his face with a handkerchief, it was still fair and white. He had no choice but to believe it.

"It's a pity that such a beautiful woman died at Gaoping Mausoleum." After Liu Jun finished speaking, he saw Yin Xiaocheng, who had come to greet him, lower his head even further. He then pointed at him and said to Sima Ye, "Grandson of Yin Damu."

Sima Ye exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence! It's a pity the old man has long since passed away, otherwise I would like to ask him to tell me about his past."

"What is there to say?" Liu Jun asked casually.

Sima Ye sighed wistfully, “In this age of great contention, heroes emerge in great numbers. It’s just a pity that I was born too late; I’ve only witnessed the tragic ends of many heroes.”

"Isn't this also a time of great strife?" In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at their encampment. Liu Jun handed the reins to the Crown Prince's personal guards. "It's late at night. Your Highness, please take care of your health and rest early. I will take my leave in person tomorrow."

Sima Ye adjusted his collar. "Then I'll return this cloak tomorrow."

Liu Jun bowed and said, "Respectfully seeing off Your Highness."