Chapter 16: Quite a Sum of Silver—Enough for Three Liu Bowen

After the disciples dispersed, only father and son remained. Facing each other in silence, they once again focused on inspecting the three-bedroom apartment.

“I’ll head out first. I’ll have them tidy up the temple a bit—some necessary things can be procured. I know you’re not fond of Daoist things, but you’re a Daoist priest after all. The teachings handed down from our ancestors, you still need to learn them! Especially since you’re staying here under the pretense of praying for the emperor’s blessing—you’ll need to put on a show of it…”

“I’ll have someone bring you alchemical furnaces, Daoist scriptures… and… forget it, I won’t go on, lest you find me nagging!”

“I’ll speak with you again after I return from the palace!”

Zhang Zhengchang finally broke the silence and was about to launch into a lengthy lecture, but then remembered how much Zhang Yi detested his sermons back on Dragon and Tiger Mountain. With a sigh, he cut himself off and left.

Throughout, Zhang Yi didn’t speak a single word.

The brothers from Dragon and Tiger Mountain went to clean up the Temple of Pure Mind for Zhang Yi, while Zhang Zhengchang headed alone to the imperial palace.

He was about to request an audience when he noticed a eunuch already standing at the gate.

“Master Zhang, the Emperor is waiting for you in the East Pavilion!”

Knowing the emperor had eyes and ears everywhere, Zhang Zhengchang was not surprised by his methods.

It was the familiar study again. When Zhang Zhengchang entered, the sovereign was still reviewing memorials. The crown prince, Zhu Biao, sat at his side, and the emperor occasionally leaned in to instruct him in a low, earnest voice.

The scene of fatherly affection stirred a strange feeling in Zhang Zhengchang.

“Master Zhang, you’re here!” Zhu Yuanzhang looked up and greeted him naturally.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness,” Zhang Zhengchang knelt and saluted respectfully.

“Rise, Master Zhang. What brings you here today?”

“I have come to bid Your Majesty farewell.”

“Why so soon? You rarely come to the capital—why not stay a few more days?”

The emperor and his subject exchanged pleasantries. Old Zhang wanted to say that matters on Dragon and Tiger Mountain were pressing, but thought better of it, knowing the emperor would see through his excuses. Normally, he would have checked on his properties in the city, but now he dared not. So he only said:

“I have received admonition from the Founder and gained new insight—I must return home to meditate in seclusion.”

“If that is so, I won’t detain you,” the emperor replied.

Zhang Zhengchang hurriedly added, “I dare not trouble Your Majesty. By the way, there is one more matter I wish to report.”

“Speak.”

“It is like this: back in the Mongol days, many temples near Yingtian were granted to Dragon and Tiger Mountain. Now, with our resources stretched thin, I wish to offer those temples and their surrounding lands to the court. With the new dynasty just established and everything needing attention, I have seen much hardship among the common people along my journey.

“In gratitude for Your Majesty’s favor toward my mountain, I have nothing else to offer, so I hope to contribute our holdings near the capital to the court, for the benefit of the people.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression became inscrutable—Zhang Zhengchang was certainly savvy.

Over the years, Dragon and Tiger Mountain had established holdings across several provinces, though its base was in Jiangxi. The properties around Yingtian Prefecture were particularly valuable. If Old Zhang surrendered these assets, it was indeed a significant sacrifice. Not just the temples—their adjacent lands as well. The Zhang family knew which way the wind was blowing.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. “It is rare to find such devotion, Master Zhang. On behalf of the people, I thank you. By the way, your second son remains in the capital to recite scriptures and pray for me, yes? I’ll see about a reward for him.”

“That unfilial son is undeserving of Your Majesty’s grace.”

The emperor and his minister both said what was expected, neither truly meaning it. Seeing that his business was done, Zhang Zhengchang rose to take his leave.

“Attend me! Reward Master Zhang with twelve taels of white silver, and another twelve to Dragon and Tiger Mountain for adorning the statue of the Immortal Patriarch Zhang Daoling!”

Old Zhang: …

He knew the emperor was frugal, but it wasn’t until he received an actual reward that he realized just how stingy the man could be.

So-called “white silver” was just another term for silver. One tael equaled twenty-four mace. For all the temples and lands he had turned over, the emperor gave him only 288 taels? If someone else had offered him this sum, Old Zhang wouldn’t have even batted an eye.

In the past, selling a single ordination certificate—even at a lower price than the authorities—could bring in ten or twenty taels. Who would care about two or three hundred taels?

But regardless, Zhang Zhengchang had to feign gratitude, bowing in thanks for the imperial favor.

“Humble as I am, I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty!”

With five hundred taels of silver in hand, Zhang Zhengchang finally exited the palace, utterly dejected.

Just as that unfilial son had said: he came in high spirits, and returned in disappointment.

“Father, what are you writing?” After Zhang Zhengchang had left, Zhu Biao noticed the emperor frowning and constantly writing and crossing out names on a sheet of paper.

He walked over and saw a list of names on his father’s desk.

Li Shanchang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Tang He, Feng Sheng, Liu Ji…

These were all the men who had fought alongside his father to win the empire. Why was his father making a list of them?

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and understood.

“Father, are you preparing to confer rewards on these uncles and elders?”

“Yes. Reports from the north have arrived—Xu Da and Chang Yuchun have won great victories. Once the northern campaign concludes, it will be time to make them dukes and marquises. But I’m still unsure how best to settle these men…”

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. For some, his mind was made up—Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Li Shanchang would be made dukes without much issue, and he already had an idea about salaries and stipends.

But with some, he hesitated.

One was Tang He—Old Zhu’s childhood friend, who had steered him from monkhood to the military and had distinguished himself in battle. Should he be made a duke? His military merits alone were insufficient, but his influence on Old Zhu’s life was unique…

Still, Tang He was not the one who truly troubled him. His eyes lingered on another name: Liu Ji.

After a long time, Old Zhu finally made up his mind…

…

Meanwhile, back at the temple, Zhang Zhengchang returned to find Zhang Yi, for once, sitting quietly in his room, writing seriously. Curious, he went to look, only to see the boy scribbling unrecognizable symbols.

The script was like a ghost’s scrawl, so Zhang Zhengchang didn’t bother to look further. It was just a child’s doodling, after all.

He went to the table, poured himself a cup of water, and stared into space.

“Dad, did the emperor give you too little money?” Zhang Yi didn’t have to guess to know why his father was out of sorts. Zhang Zhengchang, used to his son’s uncanny perception, nodded.

“The emperor granted me twelve taels of white silver, and another twelve for the Patriarch’s statue.”

“Wow, over five hundred taels!” Zhang Yi was stunned by the emperor’s generosity. Was this really Zhu Yuanzhang?

“You think… it’s a lot?”

“No, the emperor is being very generous—he gave you over five hundred taels, that’s more than three Liu Bowens!” Zhang Yi couldn’t figure out why the emperor would bestow so much silver on Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

But what Zhang Zhengchang picked up was something else.

“Which Liu Bowen? You mean Lord Censor Liu Ji?”

“Never mind, don’t ask—some things are better left unsaid!” Realizing he’d spoken out of turn, Zhang Yi quickly fell silent.