Chapter 58: Empress Dowager Liu Lacks Wisdom

At the Hou Family Iron Smelting Works, there was only a single blast furnace.

Jia Kui had arrived escorting three carts of bronze vessels. Although the bronze, once melted down, would be used to cast horseshoes that were not immediately needed, he believed that Zhao Ji would successfully pacify the generals of the Baibo bandits.

Even if the campaign failed, keeping those bronze vessels served no purpose.

A clean household upheld by thrift, free from greed and extortion—this was the tradition of the Jia family.

Since Zhao Ji was willing to part with copper to forge horseshoes, what reason did he have to lament it?

As long as it contributed to the expulsion of the Xiongnu, Jia Kui would not care even if horseshoes were forged out of pure gold.

Before Jia Kui even approached the perimeter of the smelting works, he could hear the clanging din of blacksmiths hammering iron under a wooden shed, a noise that made his ears ache.

Liu Fu came out to greet him, leading toward a modest courtyard nearby.

Upon entering, Jia Kui realized that while the courtyard looked rustic from the outside, the interior was built entirely from fine timber.

Several maidservants were weaving plain white silk under a shading canopy in the courtyard. Their craftsmanship was superb, and both the looms and the silk threads were of the highest quality.

The pristine white silkworm silk was as fair and tender as their palms and forearms, clearly marking them as exceptional female weavers cultivated by the Hou brothers.

Jia Kui could not help casting a few extra glances at his brother-in-law, though he was thankful it was his brother-in-law and not the other way around.

Liu Fu acted as if he noticed nothing, displaying the refined grace of their remote ancestor, Liuxia Hui.

The three maidservants seemed to hold a relatively high status in daily life, as they remained fully focused on their weaving without rising to greet or wait upon them.

Liu Fu led Jia Kui into a dwelling and asked, "Liangdao, what is the reason for bringing over so many bronze vessels?"

When speaking privately with his brother-in-law with no outsiders present, Liu Fu dropped any pretense of formality.

Thus, Liu Fu wore a knowing, playful expression, clearly misunderstanding the situation.

Jia Kui countered, "What does elder brother think?"

"Could it be that the bronze vessels are crude and bulky, making them difficult to transport? Do you wish to melt them down to make concealment easier?"

Making a logical deduction, Liu Fu asked straight to the point, "How much gold remains in the treasury?"

"Roughly thirty percent. Zhao Aji proposed offering seventy percent of the gold to the imperial court, along with two thousand bolts of silk."

Feeling a sense of mental exhaustion, Jia Kui continued, "These bronze vessels are also to be melted down and used to cast horseshoes."

Speechless, Liu Fu stared at Jia Kui and asked, "You agreed to this?"

Knowing that Liu Fu was referring to the tribute of gold and silks, Jia Kui nodded. "Perhaps this was instructed by Lord Zhao. Although it will offend Wei Gu, Zhao Aji offered a condition: he wishes to personally request Lord Zhao to appoint me as a Palace Gentleman of the Secretariat."

This was a Secretariat Gentleman's post! The Jia family had not produced an official entering government service for thirty years.

Starting his career as a Secretariat Gentleman, provided Jia Kui met no untimely end, his official prospects would be firmly secured.

Overwhelmed with envy, Liu Fu remarked, "To be recommended by Lord Zhao and begin your career as a Secretariat Gentleman... and with the imperial court in such perilous times, coupled with Liangdao's own meritorious service, it should not be difficult. Yet doing so is akin to driving the Wei family to their doom; the local gentry will inevitably murmur and find fault."

"That is why I refused."

Jia Kui shifted the conversation. "My original intention in enlisting among the Tiger Warriors was to expel the Xiongnu, and Zhao Aji also swore an oath to assist me. Now is the very moment to apply ourselves in battle; how could I enter the court as an official?"

"You are muddle-headed, Liangdao! The Xiongnu can be driven out at any time, but an opportunity to enter officialdom is exceedingly rare."

Anxious, Liu Fu stood up and added, "Once we pacify the Baibo bandits, it is only natural for the imperial court to employ us heavily. Punishing the Wei family is hardly unexpected either—why sacrifice a great long-term future for empty reputations?"

Seeing his agitation, Jia Kui smiled. "That is why I recommended elder brother to Zhao Aji. As long as elder brother agrees, Zhao Aji will endorse elder brother to Lord Zhao."

"Me?"

Liu Fu, who had been about to resume his seat, froze halfway down in an awkward posture before slowly settling back into his chair. "How could I become a Secretariat Gentleman? In terms of military merit, I am inferior to Liangdao, nor am I a match for Pei Xiu, and our family background is also lower. I am merely a county clerk—if it were the *Xiaolian* recommendation, I might have some slim chance."

"Then does elder brother accept, or not?"

Jia Kui pressed on. Seeing that Liu Fu did not refuse, he knew the matter was settled. "Since elder brother does not object, let us consider it settled. The melting of bronze vessels into horseshoes is a matter of great importance to Zhao Aji, so I must ask elder brother to give it your utmost attention. By the time he subdues the Baibo bandits and returns at the head of the Tiger Warriors, the imperial edict and envoys will likely have arrived as well."

"Since Lord Zhao holds your foolish elder brother in such regard, your foolish elder brother accepts."

Straightening his expression, Liu Fu declared, "Lord Zhao is renowned for his loyalty and righteousness; to become a disciple of Lord Zhao is also my great fortune!"

Jia Kui remained silent. After offering a few more emotional sighs, Liu Fu asked, "Can the matter of the gold and silks be temporarily delayed?"

"I have already loaded the memorial and the tribute of gold and silks onto carts and had Zhao Aji take them away."

Jia Kui's tone rose in conviction. "When subduing bandits, although we rely on the dedication of officers and soldiers, with these treasures, Lord Zhao can also suborn a portion of the enemy troops, making it easier to shatter the foe. As for the survival of the Wei family, what does that have to do with you and me?"

Only by pulling down the Wei family, the premier lineage of Hedong, would they secure greater room for future development.

Hearing this, Liu Fu pressed the issue no further, merely saying, "Zhao Aji is fierce and resolute; Liangdao must also act with caution."

"Thank you for your concern, elder brother. Zhao Aji has already made arrangements: henceforth, he will command the troops at the front to break the enemy, while I manage the logistical affairs in the rear."

"Good, then I can rest easy."

Liu Fu was genuinely terrified of Jia Kui participating in frontline combat. Should the army suffer defeat, someone as ferocious as Zhao Ji could naturally carve out a bloody path of escape.

Jia Kui's survival, however, was less certain, and Liu Fu had no desire for his younger sister to become a widow.

Yet, simply thinking of his impending official appointment as a Secretariat Gentleman made Liu Fu sit there grinning foolishly into empty air.

He seemed to envision the news spreading back to his clan, eliciting gasps of astonishment and expressions of gratification from the clan elders and senior relatives.

Beginning one's official career as a Secretariat Gentleman was virtually the highest possible starting point.

Of course, there were the occasional eccentric individuals who started out as commandery governors, but such people could not be used for comparison.

Seeing Liu Fu sitting there with the corners of his mouth occasionally twitching upward in a smile, Jia Kui wisely ceased talking, stood up, and took his leave.

The Hou family possessed only three major assets: an estate hoarding wealth and grain; and two facilities—the smelting works and the horse ranch. As for the farming manors, they were actually easier to manage; dispatching two or three Tiger Warriors to supervise a dozen auxiliary soldiers was enough to take complete control of them.

Therefore, the estate was of paramount importance. Only by holding the grain supply could they stabilize military morale and secure public sentiment everywhere.

During the lean period between harvests, the grain in the estate could save everyone's lives.

Daring not to be negligent, Jia Kui went outside, saw that the carts had been unloaded, and immediately led the empty vehicles back.

Only by staying within the estate did he feel secure.

The profits generated by the Hou family's horse-smuggling operations were far too lucrative. While the main force of Tiger Warriors was away on campaign, any slackening of defense would inevitably incite their opportunistic neighbors.

After Jia Kui left, Liu Fu floated out of the courtyard in a daze, feeling that the scenery far and near was exceptionally bright and vibrant.

Even the scent drifting from the iron smelting furnace felt invigorating and uplifting.

Right now, if anyone dared to steal his Secretariat Gentleman's post, he would hack them to pieces.

Forget Wei Gu; even if Wei Gu's old man himself showed up, he would dare to cleave him!

In terms of lineage, the Liu family's background was actually inferior to Jia Kui's.

Although Jia Kui's father had died young, he had a grandfather who had suffered during the *Danggu* Proscriptions and possessed a pristine reputation even before them.

During the proscriptions, however, the Liu family had continued to hold official posts.

In the present day, with the eunuch faction purged, one of the primary criteria for evaluating scholars was whether their fathers, grandfathers, and close relatives had held office during the proscription era.

Those who could have served but deliberately refused were naturally considered the absolute best choice.

In terms of personal integrity alone, Jia Kui held a massive lead—an advantage Liu Fu could never hope to match.

Granted, two months ago, the impeccably upright Jia Kui had come to visit his relatives at the Liu family home, shared a bed with him at night to discuss affairs of state, and accidentally worn away Liu Fu's favorite pair of trousers upon leaving... but that did not tarnish the Jia family's upright tradition.

On his way back to the estate, Jia Kui caught sight of locusts darting through the grass along the mountain path, and his mood swiftly grew heavy.

In a matter of days, the growth of bushes and underbrush would be visibly suppressed.

Based on his experience and knowledge, within another month, dense swarms of tiny locusts would emerge, devouring every scrap of edible vegetation in sight before migrating toward other verdant areas.

As the locusts grew larger, their capacity to consume plants would explode exponentially.

After that, they would eat everything wherever they roamed.

By then, the herds of the Xiongnu would also lack forage. From late April onward, the mobility of the Xiongnu would plummet drastically.

Whether they crossed the Fen River to raid or attempted to migrate with their tribes... with their livestock starving and lacking pasture, the Xiongnu would be unable to run even if they wanted to.

In late April, an exceptionally prime opportunity for battle would present itself.

He could only hope that the Hedong armory held a few pleasant surprises, equipping the Tiger Warriors with complete Han military gear and granting them a tactical advantage in weaponry.