Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Shen Jingxun did not remain stationed in Japan. After handing over all his responsibilities and waiting for a new general and troops to take over, he returned to Da Huai with his large army and countless gold and silver treasures. The gold and silver he brought back were to replenish the national treasury and make up for the losses incurred during the war. Of the 100,000 soldiers who set out, only 89,000 returned.

The emperor was overjoyed to have conquered a country with such few casualties. He personally went out of the city to welcome the returning soldiers and immediately bestowed official titles and ranks upon those who had rendered meritorious service. The whole country rejoiced, except for the common people who had received notice of their deaths in battle.

Because General Shen brought back gold and silver treasures that filled the national treasury, the emperor, on Shen Jingheng's advice, gave each fallen soldier a pension of up to one hundred taels of silver, plus five acres of fertile land and a ten-year tax exemption.

To prevent corruption, the Emperor entrusted Shen Jingheng with the personal supervision of this matter. It was imperative that the silver be delivered to the families of the fallen soldiers. Anyone found embezzling the soldiers' compensation funds would be stripped of their official hat, their family property confiscated, and their entire family and three generations barred from holding official positions.

Those wounded or disabled in this war will receive resettlement allowances ranging from twenty to fifty taels of silver, depending on the severity of their injuries. They will also be provided with three mu of fertile land and exempt from taxes for five years. This will be entrusted to Shen Jingheng for supervision. Those who embezzle silver will be punished in the same way.

The official announcement caused a stir throughout Da Huai. The court's arrangements for the deceased soldiers were so clear; joining the army to serve the court seemed like a good thing, especially since some people might not earn even a hundred taels of silver in their entire lives. Suddenly, many were eager to enlist. News from various regions reached the capital, and the Emperor gave Shen Jingheng verbal praise in court.

In the study of Grand Tutor Li's residence, Shen Jingheng looked at Xia Yu and praised her.

“Your method is excellent. The resettlement fee of one hundred taels per person seems like a large sum of money, but now the people of Dahuai no longer resist conscription.”

Xia Yu nodded and said

"Well, the common people are actually very easy to satisfy. All they ask for is three meals a day. If they could exchange their lives for food and clothing for their parents and wives, many people would be willing to fight for it. A few days ago, my father wrote to say that he was willing to donate 200,000 taels of silver as compensation for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause. It's not a lot of money, but it represents a small token of the Zhang family's goodwill."

Upon hearing his words, Shen Jingheng knew that this was definitely the girl's own idea, and the 200,000 taels of silver she donated must have been the silver notes he had given her a few days ago to buy grain.

"I will submit a memorial on your behalf at the court assembly tomorrow. You can then go to the palace and speak to the Emperor in person."

"Yes, niece understands. Thank you very much, Uncle." Xia Yuyan bowed to Shen Jingheng with a smile.

Looking at Xia Yu's increasingly refined features, Shen Jingheng lowered his eyes somewhat uncomfortably, picked up the tea from the coffee table and drank a cup. Seeing that Xia Yu showed no intention of leaving, he couldn't help but feel a little strange and asked...

"Is there anything else?"

"Uncle, my fourth uncle has been in the capital for more than two months. I wonder where his next job will be? Please don't misunderstand, I don't mean to use connections, I just want to find out for him first."

"You seem to have become much bolder in front of me lately? You rarely spoke to me like this before!" Shen Jingheng didn't answer her question, but instead asked her.

I was very surprised by Xia Yu's change. In the past, she rarely spoke to me unless it was necessary.

Xia Yu inwardly grimaced, but her smile became even more genuine.

"I've come to terms with it now. I used to be afraid that you would reveal my secrets, or that one day you would kill my whole family if you were unhappy. But after spending more time with you lately, I've realized that you're not a gossipy person, and you seem to care about the people quite a bit. You're a good official, I suppose!"

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill your family now?" Shen Jingheng listened to her words, which sounded like she was praising him. Why did those words sound so awkward? Was he that old?

"I think I'm of the greatest use to you while I'm alive. If you ever really have a change of heart and kill my family, I'll just slit my own throat. Then you won't have my precious grain grower anymore. Uncle, don't you think I'm right?" Xia Yu's smile involuntarily turned from sincere to cunning.

Seeing the bright smile on her face, Shen Jingheng felt his earlier gloomy mood improve considerably. He used his sleeve to hide his barely suppressed laughter as he drank his tea. Then, feigning seriousness, he nodded and said...

“I am not a killer, and you are right. I think you can make more contributions to Da Huai while you are alive. Perhaps this is the meaning of the treasure that the god gave you in the dream. Now that the granaries in various places are empty, you should continue to grow grain in preparation for any eventuality.” As soon as Shen Jingheng finished speaking, the smug and cunning smile on Xia Yu’s face disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Uncle, with all this sudden surge of grain, aren't you afraid someone might discover it and kidnap my precious treasure!" Xia Yu said through gritted teeth. Although she could plant and harvest grain using her mind in the spatial realm, it was still mentally exhausting. This year's new grain had already been harvested and stored; for him to say that granaries across the country were empty was simply trying to fool her.

Shen Jingheng seemed to be able to see what Xia Yu was thinking and explained.

"The newly delivered grain has already been transferred out, so you'll have to work a little harder."

"It was just put into storage and then it was transferred away. Why?" Xia Yu asked, puzzled.

Shen Jingheng thought for a while and decided to tell her the truth.

Xia Yu dipped her finger in the water in the teacup and wrote two characters on the coffee table. Xia Yu leaned closer to look and saw the words "fighting".

"Isn't it already over? Why?"

Shen Jingheng simply gestured for silence, without answering Xia Yu's question, and nodded.

"Keep this to yourself, but don't tell anyone else."

Seeing his serious expression, Xia Yu also stopped joking.

"I understand, I'll take my leave now."

She was initially relieved that the recruits from the new training camp weren't on this mission to Japan. Now it seems those recruits this year were preparing for the next battle. She just wondered who they would be fighting next.

The next day, during the court assembly, Shen Jingheng publicly addressed the emperor.

"Your Majesty, Lady Wenfu said that her father, Zhang Youtie, wants to donate silver to the fallen soldiers as compensation."

"Oh, are you referring to the father of Prince Wenfu?" the Emperor asked with great interest.

"Yes, Your Majesty, it is Zhang Youtie who grew the watermelons."

"So it was him. He's come to the capital?"

"No, he wrote a letter, asking Lord Wenfu to donate on his behalf."

"Wenfu came today?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, Princess Wenfu is currently waiting outside the palace for Your Majesty's summons!"

"Summon them!" the Emperor ordered the eunuch beside him.

"Summon Lord Wenfu to the palace for an audience!"

"Summon Lord Wenfu to the palace for an audience!"

"..." The voices of the eunuchs announcing the arrival rang out one after another outside the hall. The ministers inside the hall couldn't help but crane their necks to look, wanting to see how much silver the most popular local magistrate in the capital was prepared to donate.

Xia Yu, dressed in the robes of a village lord, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, stood upright, and looked three steps ahead as he walked step by step toward the main hall.

"Your subject Wenfu greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

"Wenfu, rise. I heard that your father wants to donate silver to the soldiers who died fighting for Dahuai?"

"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case. My father said that the soldiers used their flesh and blood to resist the invasion of the foreign tribes. As a citizen of Da Huai, he is grateful to all the heroes who fought for Da Huai. He is willing to donate his meager family property so that those soldiers who fought and bled for Da Huai know that the people they protect will protect their families, and that they can rest assured."

"Good!" As soon as Xia Yu finished speaking, a military officer in the hall couldn't help but lead the applause and cheers.