Chapter 123 Who asked your name?
Emperor Renzong was completely baffled after reading the letter.
What kind of coal? What kind of honeycomb briquettes? What "Made in Yunzhou"? What kind of souvenirs are available on a first-come, first-served basis?
He beckoned to the eunuch beside him: "Go and bring the things His Highness the Crown Prince brought back to the Funing Palace. No, no need. Where should I put them? I'll go and see them myself."
The eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, all the items His Highness sent are placed outside."
"That's perfect, I'll go and find out right away. Oh, and go to Kunning Palace and summon the Empress as well."
Empress Cao was, after all, Su'er's mother, and she worried about her son day and night. Emperor Renzong also had an unspoken thought: he really didn't understand what Su'er had written, and having more people to offer advice would be helpful; what if the Empress could understand a thing or two?
Empress Cao was still wondering why the Emperor had summoned her out of the blue. Upon hearing the words "Your Highness the Crown Prince," she immediately lifted her skirt and turned to leave.
When she hurriedly arrived at the Funing Palace, she saw a tall, imposing, dark wall standing at the main entrance. Against that oppressive wall, even the emperor standing before him appeared exceptionally small. His lips were pursed, and he stared intently at the wall, lost in thought.
"Your Majesty, what is this?"
"The Yunzhou specialty that Su'er brought back is called honeycomb briquettes."
As the Emperor removed a dark, round pillar from the edge of the wall, weighing it in his hand and examining it closely, Empress Cao realized that the dark wall was actually made of this pillar. Indeed, if it weren't for the fact that it contained the characters "Su'er" (肃儿), how could the Emperor have allowed this utterly unattractive object to stand as a barrier, detracting from the palace's appearance?
Empress Cao also took down a piece, weighed it in her hand, and then discovered that its cut surface had holes of similar size and spacing: "No wonder it's called honeycomb briquette, it's quite fitting."
The Emperor suddenly looked up: "Empress, you..."
Empress Cao: "What is it, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor pursed his lips, refusing to speak. He couldn't very well admit he'd never seen a beehive before, and that Empress Cao hadn't grasped the meaning of the word "beehive" at all before pointing it out. It turned out it simply resembled one. He reached into his robes and handed Fusu's letter to his mother.
Empress Cao readily accepted the item, examined it for a long time, and then suddenly chuckled: "So Su'er is short of money and wants to use this to make money from high-ranking officials..."
She was very familiar with this set of rhetoric. As a wealthy descendant of military merit and a strong contender for the empress's position, Empress Cao's early life was also marked by comparison with other young ladies, though not by her own choice. As a participant and observer, Empress Cao understood best the allure of words like "limited edition" and "rare pattern."
Besides, everyone needs warmth in winter, and the Sixteen Prefectures are something the entire Song Dynasty is determined to reclaim. These palm-sized honeycomb briquettes have a much larger market than items for women in their boudoirs. Even if people were to compete with each other, it wouldn't necessarily lead to a bad reputation; in fact, it might even serve as a show of loyalty to the court.
Su'er's move was too ruthless.
The Emperor: "..."
Oh, I see.
He was sorry, but he was born and raised in the palace, where he was given whatever he was given. When it came to "comparison" and "showing off wealth," he could only think of figures like Wang Kai and Shi Chong from historical records. He never imagined that so many intricacies were hidden in just a few lines of text.
Emperor Renzong and Empress Cao had been husband and wife for nearly twenty years, and they had long since lost any sense of shame. So, they humbly asked for her advice: "In your opinion, Empress, how should I deal with these honeycomb briquettes?"
"Let's see if it really has the miraculous qualities that Su'er mentioned."
-
A very important person is visiting the kitchen today. Not one, but two!
The head chef was so frightened his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down on the spot: what terrible mistake had he made to provoke these two people to come in person? An emperor and an empress? What dish had offended their tongues?
The steward racked his brains over all the dishes he had ever cooked, but still couldn't come up with an answer. But soon he didn't have to think about it anymore. The Emperor and Empress walked into his smoky, smelly kitchen one after the other, and unceremoniously kicked him out, leaving only one or two eunuchs.
Supervisor: Huh?
His anxiety hadn't subsided. Kitchen knives and cooking fumes were all dangerous items, easily harming the nobles' health. But he couldn't enter the kitchen; he could only watch helplessly as thick smoke billowed from the chimney outside and continued to spread.
Huh? Is it just his imagination?
Why does the color of the smoke seem slightly different from usual? And it lasts for a much longer time!
The supervisor waited anxiously for a while longer, until the two distinguished guests finally emerged unharmed. He breathed a sigh of relief only when he saw they were completely unscathed. Inevitably, the smell of smoke clung to the corners of their robes. But neither of them seemed to care; their gazes met, overflowing with astonishment and admiration.
As if he had just been shocked by something.
Well, as expected of Su'er. He really meant three times the burning power. Emperor Renzong and Empress Cao, trusting their son, never doubted the data he provided. But that's a different matter from being directly shocked by the burning efficiency of the honeycomb briquettes when the truth was before their eyes.
Emperor Renzong suddenly felt more confident: "Empress, shall I announce this matter at the court meeting tomorrow?"
Empress Cao frowned slightly: "This is not appropriate."
The last time the Emperor openly mentioned Su'er in court was because of his success in promoting cotton; he ordered all court officials to read a copy of "The Collection of Snow-like Stories." But that time, the background was that the censors and remonstrators had wantonly smeared him beforehand, and the Emperor was actually supporting his son.
Discussing business matters openly in court is problematic. First, it sounds unpleasant, and second, it breeds resistance. Forcing sales through the monarch's authority would actually harm future sales.
After Empress Cao voiced her objections, she also offered her own suggestion: "Doesn't Su'er have several teachers and a number of friends?"
The official immediately understood.
Su'er's teachers included Fan Zhongyan, Mei Yaochen, and, including his mentor, Fu Bi. He was also related to Ouyang Xiu. His friends included Su Shi, Fan Chunren, and Zhang Zai… the former a leading figure in the literary world, the latter a frequent contributor to the *Qiuzhi Bao* (Seeking Knowledge Daily)!
"Your Majesty, do you mean to give them the honeycomb briquettes first?"
Empress Cao said, "It's just that Su'er was too busy with the affairs of Yunzhou and arranged things too hastily. Otherwise, with such fine things, he would have given them to his teachers, relatives and friends one by one. It would be better if we, as his parents, did it for him."
Of course, once you've used something good, can you resist writing poems or articles to praise it? Can you resist sharing it with friends and family in letters? Can you resist publishing articles in the "Seeking Knowledge Daily" to express your feelings?
Then the honeycomb briquettes were sold, weren't they?
Perhaps there truly is a telepathic connection between mother and son. Empress Cao arranged this entire process meticulously, and it was almost exactly what Fusu had envisioned.
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
The emperor nodded in deep agreement: "Let's do it that way!"
-
Su Shi felt that he was extremely bored in the capital lately.
The reason for this was simply that his close friend, who had grown up with him, the Crown Prince Zhao Su, had been missing for several days. His rank wasn't high enough to attend court, so he couldn't directly inquire with the Emperor. However, he had asked his father, Su Xun, Wang Anshi, and even, on one occasion when passing by the Privy Council, Prime Minister Fan Zhongyan, but they all said they hadn't seen him.
In the north, Yunzhou was in a state of rebellion due to oppression by officials. Taking advantage of the situation, the Song army invaded and recaptured Yunzhou. However, His Highness the Crown Prince, who had always considered it his duty to restore the lost territories, disappeared. This was truly unusual.
Su Shi had a guess about his friend's whereabouts. However, the idea was too shocking and involved state secrets, so he kept it to himself and didn't even reveal it to his father.
That day, he returned home from his official post. When he arrived at the gate, the gatekeeper told him that someone was waiting for him.
Su Shi frowned: "Who is it? My elder sister?"
His elder sister had long been betrothed by his father to his mother's cousin, surnamed Cheng. It was only through his suggestion, or rather his strong request, that his elder sister was allowed to come from Meishan to Bianjing for a while to broaden her horizons and return home after she had had her fill of fun.
Has my elder sister arrived?
The gatekeeper shook his head, gesturing with his finger along the lower half of his cheek: "No beard, I'm afraid it's..."
People from the palace have arrived.
Su Shi immediately thought of his shocking conjecture and hurriedly said, "Take me there quickly!"
Upon arriving at the main hall, he saw the visitor, a stranger with a fair complexion and no beard. The visitor immediately smiled, his expression quite amiable and friendly. Su Shi became even more certain of his guess and bowed, saying, "This gentleman is truly kind..."
"Oh dear, no, no, how could I allow Lord Su to bow to me? After all, you are His Highness's friend."
Your Highness!
Upon hearing this word, Su Shi's eyes lit up: "Your Highness... Is he alright? Is Yunzhou safe?"
The eunuch gestured for silence: "His Highness, despite being extremely busy, still remembers you. As soon as he invented something excellent, he had it sent to you."
With a swift movement, he revealed the true form of the "top-quality item," leaving Su Shi utterly bewildered: A good item? This? What is this? A pile of black ash?
"This thing is called honeycomb briquette. As for its benefits... you'll know once you put it in the stove and burn it."
After the eunuch finished his introduction in a few words, he mentioned that "poetry and literature might please His Highness." Su Shi, naturally understanding the implied meaning, gave a full guarantee and politely saw the eunuch off.
That night, the stoves in the Su residence remained lit all night, and the chimneys spewed smoke all night long. The next morning, everyone's complexion was rosy, as if they were in the warmth of spring. Su Shi even casually penned a poem, "Ode to Coal," and took it to the editorial office of the "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper, intending to have Wang Anshi review it.
"Lord Wang, please take a look at this article. Could you let me skip the line and put me at the top of the list?"
Unbeknownst to Su Shi, Wang Anshi's expression was quite complex when he arrived that morning. It became even more complex after receiving Su Shi's article.
Wang Anshi took the article and read it for a while: "It's very well written..."
Upon being praised, Su Yishi immediately narrowed his eyes, ready to receive the compliment.
"But unfortunately, you're too late."
Su Shi's narrowed eyes suddenly widened: "Eh!?"
"Look at these."
Su Shi took several stacks of papers from Wang Anshi's desk. As one of the editors, he was certain these weren't on Wang's desk when he left work yesterday, meaning they were new this morning. The titles were "Ode to Honeycomb Briquettes," "On Honeycomb Briquettes," and "On Subduing Yunzhou Without a Fight"...
Then look at the author's name: Fan Zhongyan, Mei Yaochen, Ouyang Xiu, Fan Chunren...
Everyone before him held a higher position in the literary world. The only one, Fan Chunren, was not only a higher-ranking official but also arrived first! Who could he complain to?!
Su Shi pouted, his once-raised tail drooping listlessly: "I knew it! Since Your Highness remembered to send one to me, you certainly wouldn't forget anyone else! I knew it!"
Wang Anshi: "..."
Wang Anshi: "…………"
Have you ever considered how I feel, when I haven't received anything, don't understand what you're talking about, and have had my workload increased for no reason?
But his resentment couldn't overcome his curiosity, and he couldn't help but ask, "What is this honeycomb charcoal?"
Su Shi immediately put on a fake smile: "Lord Wang, if you are willing to publish my article, I will tell you!"
Wang Anshi: "..."
Su Shi knew when to stop: "Alright, alright, I was just kidding."
His gaze fell on Fan Zhongyan's "On Subduing Yunzhou Without Fighting," and he seemed to be deep in thought: "It is a specialty of Yunzhou, which is much better than charcoal when burned, and it is also particularly warm."
In fact, the eunuch yesterday never mentioned the words "Yunzhou" at all. But while he hinted at it subtly, he didn't deny it outright. The article submitted by Prime Minister Fan seems more like evidence supporting his suspicions.
—Your Highness the Crown Prince is currently in Yunzhou!
Honeycomb briquettes were also made by him, making them another beneficial tool for the country and its people, following cotton and potatoes.
Su Shi was both awestruck by his friend's courage and impressed by the official's audacity. He suddenly understood why the eunuch had hinted at needing him to write an article—if he had done something before, like during the cotton and potato seasons, would it feel unfamiliar on the third attempt?
Ultimately, Su Shi's article was expanded and published in the *Qiuzhi Bao* (Seeking Knowledge Daily), alongside the names of Fan Zhongyan, Mei Yaochen, and others. His efforts, including pleading and pleas, and meticulous revisions, were worthwhile. The revised article was arguably the best he had written in recent years.
Even he himself couldn't guarantee that he could write another piece of similar quality.
Of course, the results are obvious.
The Seeking Knowledge Daily has been serialized for nearly four years, boasting a large and stable readership, making it the undisputed number one newspaper. Its essay competition section has also launched the careers of countless talented writers, making it one of the most sought-after areas in the literary world.
Today, this strategically important location has unexpectedly published four articles. Three of them are related to the same thing.
Honeycomb briquettes.
The entire city was puzzled. What were these honeycomb briquettes that had appeared out of nowhere and were unheard of before? Why did they provoke scholars to speak out in his defense?
According to Mei, Fan, and Su, honeycomb briquettes are entirely black, turning white when burned, and are similar in appearance to charcoal. However, they are several times more effective than charcoal. Even more noteworthy is that this stuff originated in Yunzhou. Do you know Yunzhou? It's the same Yunzhou from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun!
Our Great Song Dynasty has been suppressed for a century, and finally we're reaping the benefits of the north. How could we not buy?
Whether scholars or ordinary people, upon seeing this, they all expressed their agreement: Yes, it's only human not to buy it.
Meanwhile, the little shop that had once had long queues and displayed cotton-padded coat samples four years ago has quietly reopened. Four years ago, it rose to fame because of "Zhuge Liang vs. Sima Yi," and four years later, the "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper has deeply penetrated people's hearts, stirring up an even wider wave of people.
The entire street was packed with people because of its opening. Small stalls and shops selling drinks, food, and groceries even sprang up around it, and business was unexpectedly good.
But soon the vendors' business failed.
"Why are these honeycomb briquettes so expensive! I simply can't afford them!"
"I apologize, but the initial production of honeycomb briquettes is insufficient, and these are commemorative pieces with special patterns to celebrate the recapture of Yunzhou, so the price will be a bit higher. Once production stabilizes, we will reprice them to ensure you can buy honeycomb briquettes at the price of charcoal."
The common people scattered like birds and beasts, some even cursing under their breath. But the servants sent by the master looked at each other, bewildered: Honeycomb briquettes were so expensive, and a limited edition at that? Should they still buy them?
They each brought the news back to their master, who was even more overjoyed: What? It's so expensive? Isn't that a good thing? They had originally thought the price wasn't high and were too embarrassed to come out and buy it themselves, so they sent their servants instead.
The result is related to Yunzhou and was orchestrated by the imperial court.
Then I'll have to go out and buy it myself.
So, after the first wave of customers left, the honeycomb briquette shop strangely welcomed a second wave. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was a place where "learned scholars converse and laugh, and no uncultured person came." Moreover, these customers were all quite peculiar, each arriving in a sedan chair and wearing a turban.
When you buy honeycomb briquettes, you always enter the shop reciting poetry and leave reciting prose, and you always inadvertently reveal your name.
No, who asked you?
No, that's not quite right. There are actually people who ask. If two acquaintances pass by this shop, they always get out of their sedan chairs, exchange pleasantries at the door, first comparing the number of honeycomb briquettes they bought, then discussing the beauty of the patterns, and finally gazing northwards together, marveling at how close the reconquest of the lost territories is to come.
Similar messages, along with huge sums of money, were delivered to Emperor Renzong's desk. He couldn't help but laugh and cry at the sight of those who had deliberately left their names. Wait a minute, weren't these the same people who were terrified and urged him to reconsider when he proposed the Northern Expedition? How come the recovery of lost territory is so imminent?
Never mind, after all, not everyone is Su'er.
Since they had indeed brought money, Emperor Renzong didn't hold it against them too much. He ordered his men to count the money that had been transported to the palace and report back, only to hear an unbelievable figure.
"How many?"
The eunuch counting the money reported it again, saying, "Your Majesty, we have counted it four times."
It's impossible for it to make a mistake.
Emperor Renzong was stunned and remained seated for a long time. If he remembered correctly, this amount... was about the same as the military funds he had allocated a month ago to send Di Qing with 10,000 elite troops to Yunzhou to quell the rebellion, and there was even a surplus.
In other words, Su'er took Yunzhou with just a high wall made of honeycomb briquettes.
Faced with the blatant facts, Emperor Renzong was at a loss for words. He even disrespectfully muttered to himself about his ancestors: What's going on? This is on a completely different level from the history of this dynasty that I've read!
Is Su'er too amazing, or is our ancestor too... cough!
The emperor, being an honest man after all, didn't dare to murmur for too long. He ordered his eunuchs, "Divide this money in half, one half into the national treasury, and the other half into my private treasury."
In fact, the sale of honeycomb briquettes was conducted in the private name of the royal family. Even if the money were entirely deposited into the private treasury, the officials would have no grounds for criticism. However, the emperor reasoned that Su'er was not a greedy person and might not be pleased with this situation.
As for the private treasury, the emperor did not intend to use it for personal purposes. In previous years, the imperial estates had been planted with cotton at Su'er's suggestion, and the money earned was enough for Emperor Renzong to squander for another twenty years.
At a small meeting in the Chuigong Hall, he announced: "I intend to exchange this portion of the money in my private treasury for grain and cloth, and after the exchange, transport it to the north for the Crown Prince's use."
"Your Highness... what is the purpose of this?"
Emperor Renzong smiled and said, "It is naturally used to win people's hearts."
If "military strength" and "military power" were bonus questions or advanced math problems for the Song Dynasty, then "virtuous governance" and "benevolent governance" were compulsory courses for Song Dynasty monarchs. The most difficult step of attacking Yunzhou had been overcome; what remained was to appease the people of Yunzhou.
Di Qing and Fusu's armies were already taking this step. But who would complain about having plenty of good food and clothing?
Emperor Renzong believed that by the time spring arrived next year and the Liao emperor had recovered and wanted to retake Yunzhou, it would already be their Song Dynasty's possession.
Due to an imperial order, the Privy Council began operating at breakneck speed, its gears grinding away. The amount of money allocated by the government was substantial, enough to purchase one-third of the cotton and hemp cloth needed in Bianjing. The problem facing Fan Zhongyan and his colleagues was not how to buy it, but how to buy it all without causing the price of cloth to rise and affect the lives of the common people.
This was an incredibly thorny problem, troubling the Privy Council, which comprised the country's largest concentration of political elites. Yet, though their eyes held a hint of distress, smiles played on their lips. They were perfectly content with the intended use of the acquired cloth.
"It would be better to buy from Jiangnan, where there is more fabric and the quality is better than in Bianjing."
"Why not go from Jiangnan, or from southern Sichuan?"
"It would be better to set the price according to His Highness's original guidelines and solve the problem once and for all."
"Your idea is not advisable..."
Fan Zhongyan, who was in charge, had listened to the debate all day and had already made up his mind. He waved his hand and dismissed the meeting. Under the dim light, he left the gate of the Privy Council to go home.
That's the downside of winter; it gets dark so early. Even though it's still afternoon, the sun is already setting. But considering that winter allowed them to capture Yunzhou, Fan Zhongyan felt there was nothing to complain about.
"Lord Fan, Master Fan."
Suddenly, a figure darted out from the corner, startling Fan Zhongyan. Upon closer inspection, he recognized him: Su Shi, a mutual friend of the prince and his son, and one of the reasons for the prince's inclusion on the "Prodigy List."
His hands were red from the cold, indicating he had been waiting for a long time in front of the Privy Council. Fan Zhongyan suspected he was waiting for him.
What do you want?
Fan Zhongyan was always tolerant of young talents.
Su Shi pursed his lips and took out a letter from his bosom: "I haven't seen Your Highness for a long time. I wonder if you could help me pass this on to him."
Seeing Fan Zhongyan raise his hand as if to refuse, he hurriedly said, "I know His Highness, His Highness is here..."
He mouthed the words.
"...But I'm very worried about him and want to know how he's doing, so I've come to ask you for help, sir. Please!"
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Author's Note: Day 5 of the week! Praise me! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]
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