Chapter 229: The Dispute over Money and Grain
The heaven is located beyond the clouds.

Here, time seems to have stood still, eternal and unchanging.

The sky of the heaven is always clear, and the clouds are like wisps of silk, floating and uncertain. The sun penetrates the layers of clouds, casting thousands of golden rays, illuminating the entire heaven with dazzling brilliance.

Since arriving in Heaven, the first thing Yang Zhao did was to tour the entire Heaven and meet all the immortals and gods.

The palace where the immortals and gods live in heaven is built with rare materials such as white jade, gold, and amethyst. Every brick, stone, beam and pillar has been carefully carved and decorated with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, cloud patterns, and cranes, showing the dignity and solemnity of heaven.

The most magnificent of the palace complex is the Lingxiao Palace, where the Lord of Heaven holds meetings and governs the country. It towers into the clouds and radiates light, symbolizing supreme authority.

The numerous palaces are connected by rainbow bridges. Whenever the gods walk across the bridges, they leave behind brilliant light and shadows.

Under the Rainbow Bridge, there is an endless void and a winding river in the sky. The water flowing in the river is unfathomable, and the river surface is glittering with silver light. Various strange fish are swimming in the river, and the light on their bodies interweaves with the light of the sky, like a flowing light belt.

On both sides of the river, exotic flowers and plants bloomed, exuding a refreshing fragrance. Cranes, phoenixes and other mythical animals frolicked freely among the flowers and plants, their feathers dazzling and beautiful, complementing the surrounding scenery.

Ever since Yang Zhao became the God of Justice, immortals and gods would invite him to banquets almost every day.

Yang Zhao was also happy to mingle with them to avoid being isolated, so he never refused anyone who came to him. As long as there was an invitation, he would go to the invitation.

Every time he went to a banquet, he would pick a peach from the Golden Mother's Peach Garden as a gift.

Every peach tree in the Peach Garden is tall and straight, with lush branches and leaves. The peaches it produces are large and round, exuding an enticing aroma.

There are a total of 3,600 peach trees in this Peach Garden.

The first 1,200 seeds have tiny flowers and fruits, which ripen once every 3,000 years. If a person eats them, he will become an immortal. The middle 1,200 seeds ripen once every 6,000 years. If a person eats them, he will ascend to heaven and become immortal. The last 1,200 seeds have purple veins and thin cores, which ripen once every 9,000 years. If a person eats them, he will live as long as the heaven and earth, and be as old as the sun and the moon.

These peach trees are actually differentiated from a top-grade innate spiritual root, the Renshui Peach. The purpose is to let them bear more fruits to win over the immortals.

The original Xiantian Renshui peaches would bloom once in one Yuan, bear fruit once in one Yuan, and mature once in another Yuan!

Eating such a top-quality peach can make a mortal ascend to immortality, or increase the magic power of an immortal by one yuan out of thin air.

It’s just that there are too few peaches, only seventy-two each time.

As the saying goes, happiness alone is not as good as happiness among everyone.

Now that they have been divided into 3,600 peach trees, although the potency of the peaches has decreased a lot, the number of fruits they produce is many times more, at least enough for most of the gods in heaven to share.

After coming to heaven, Yang Zhao also learned a lot of new things.

Most of the immortals and gods serving in the heavenly court, whether they are immortal men with a sage-like demeanor or dignified and beautiful fairies, are experienced and have rich experience.

The attitude of the immortals and gods towards Yang Zhao was naturally unusual. After all, he was not only the nephew of the Emperor of Heaven, but also a god with extraordinary strength.

In their eyes, Yang Zhao not only possesses noble blood, but also has extraordinary cultivation, which makes his position in the Heavenly Court extremely special.

Whenever Yang Zhao appeared at any banquet or gathering, the gods and immortals would always come forward to talk to him, hoping to forge a good relationship with this young god of justice.

Marshal Tianpeng took special care of Yang Zhao. He often personally invited Yang Zhao to various banquets and taught him the etiquette and laws of heaven.

With the help of Marshal Tianpeng, Yang Zhao quickly adapted to life in heaven.

And Princess Longji would often hang out with him.

This princess, who once disdained the grand banquets in heaven, now often accompanies Yang Zhao.

Either they were out for fun or they were inviting him to compete.

Princess Longji was very competitive. She once set her aunt as her goal and wanted to become the god of justice, but she didn't expect that her cousin Yang Zhao would get there first.

Although she knew that her cousin was very capable, she still felt unwilling to accept the fact and often went to him to compete with him.

That night, the stars were shining brightly, the lights and shadows on the Rainbow Bridge were colorful, and Princess Longji came to Yang Zhao's palace again.

She was wearing armor, holding a spear, and looking as imposing as a Valkyrie on the battlefield.

"Yang Zhao, I have a new understanding today. I wonder if you dare to fight me?" Princess Longji said provocatively.

Yang Zhao smiled slightly. He was already used to the princess's way of challenging.

He stood up gently, walked out of the palace, faced Princess Longji, and said calmly: "Princess, how can I refuse your challenge? Please."

The two men came to the bank of the Milky Way, which was spacious and suitable for them to display their skills.

Princess Longji did not hesitate, and with a single movement, she turned into a beam of golden light and rushed towards Yang Zhao. Her spear skills were extremely sharp, and each shot was as powerful as thunder.

Yang Zhao was not in a hurry. His figure was like a phantom, moving around the training grounds, and he was able to cleverly avoid Princess Longji's attacks every time.

For a moment, lights and shadows intertwined and magics collided on the banks of the Tianhe River, as if a gorgeous light and shadow show was staged. The surrounding cranes, phoenixes and other mythical beasts stopped playing and watched this wonderful competition from afar.

As time went on, Princess Longji's attacks became more and more fierce, but Yang Zhao was always able to resolve them skillfully.

Princess Longji's attacks became more and more fierce, her gun shadows were like a downpour, and each strike was full of power.

Yang Zhao, on the other hand, was as solid as a mountain, appearing calm and composed every time he resisted.

Finally, after a confrontation, both of them took a few steps back at the same time, and this protracted competition came to an end.

Princess Longji's breathing was a little rapid, but her eyes were full of excitement and satisfaction.

"Very good, I will definitely beat you next time!"

Princess Longji said seriously.

Although she still didn't defeat Yang Zhao, every sparring session helped her to improve her strength.

She firmly believed that one day she would be able to defeat her cousin.

Yang Zhao smiled and bowed in return: "Princess, you are too kind. I have benefited a lot from fighting with you."

This is also true.

Princess Longji is quite skilled in Taoism, and learning from her will be of great help to Yang Zhao's own practice.

What he didn't know was that the two of them often practicing together had already attracted the attention of some interested people.

……

In the vast heaven, the Miluo Palace stands above the clouds, and its grandeur and magnificence are shocking.

The palace's base is paved with jade that has not melted for thousands of years, as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the light of the sky and shining brightly. The palace walls are towering, built with golden bricks and green tiles, each brick and tile is engraved with delicate patterns, shining with dazzling brilliance.

After the court meeting, the emperor Haotian set out from the Lingxiao Palace, passed through the misty sky, and finally returned to the Miluo Palace.

The Queen Mother of the West was already waiting outside the palace gate. When she saw the Lord Haotian returning, she smiled and stepped forward to greet him.

"Your Majesty is back." Queen Mother Jin's voice was gentle and respectful.

Lord Haotian nodded, signaling to Queen Mother Jinmu that there was no need to be polite. Then he swept his eyes around, and the palace maids and fairies saw this and retreated respectfully one after another.

After everyone had left, Lord Haotian slowly spoke: "Today Long Ji went to see Yang Zhao again."

When the Queen Mother heard this, she frowned slightly, and there was some worry in her voice: "This girl goes to see Yang Zhao every day. If the immortals see her, gossip will spread sooner or later."

Lord Haotian pondered for a moment, his eyes as deep as the stars, as if he was thinking about something: "Do you think our daughter has feelings for Yang Zhao?"

When the Queen Mother heard this, her eyes flickered slightly. She thought for a moment and finally said slowly: "Emperor of Heaven, Longji has had a strong personality since she was a child, and her competitive spirit is no less than that of men. But recently she has been sparring with Yang Zhao very closely, and her behavior seems to be a little unusual. If this is true, it is not a bad thing, but..."

Before she finished speaking, Lord Haotian had already nodded, obviously agreeing with what Queen Mother Jin said.

"Well, I also think Yang Zhao is a good guy. It would be a happy thing if the two of them could get together.

However, this kind of thing is still a big problem for the current situation, so it is better for us not to intervene forcefully and let nature take its course. "There was a hint of tolerance in the voice of Lord Haotian.

The Queen Mother of the West sighed softly. She knew that Lord Haotian was right. This kind of thing could not be rushed. She could only let them figure it out on their own.

The two looked at each other and saw the expectation and tolerance in each other's eyes.

……

Morning song
Jiang Ziya sat in front of the sandalwood desk in the study, holding a sheep-hair brush in his hand, his eyes fixed on the account book in front of him. His brows were furrowed, as if he was looking for something among those complicated numbers.

The leaves of the sycamore tree outside the window swayed in the breeze, bringing a hint of coolness, but it was difficult to dispel the irritability in his heart.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and then a subordinate hurried in, bowed and said, "Sir, a minister from the court is here to visit you."

Jiang Ziya put down the pen in his hand, frowned and asked: "Do you know what it is?"

The subordinate shook his head and replied, "I have not learned the details, but there has been a lot of discussion in the court recently. It may be related to borrowing grain."

Jiang Ziya felt a little unhappy when he heard this. The issue of borrowing grain had always been a pain in his heart, and the disputes in the court gave him a headache.

He stood up, straightened his robe, and walked slowly out of the study, ready to greet the visiting minister.

When I walked out of the door, I saw a minister in court robes standing in front of the door. He had a calm expression and a dignified appearance.

Jiang Ziya's eyes focused and he recognized that the minister was none other than his uncle Bigan, who was known for his virtue.

He felt a little relieved. Uncle Wang Bigan had always been known for his loyalty and integrity. If he came to visit, it shouldn't be a bad thing.

Jiang Ziya stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "I wonder what brings you here, Uncle Wang?"

Bigan smiled slightly and returned the greeting, "Mr. Jiang, the situation is changing rapidly and many matters in the court need assistance. Bigan came here to discuss this with you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya nodded and invited Bigan to go into the study for further discussion.

The two men sat opposite each other. Jiang Ziya poured tea and waited for his subordinates to leave before he spoke: "Uncle Wang, if you have anything to say, please speak frankly."

Uncle Wang Bigan hesitated for a moment before he slowly spoke: "Mr. Jiang, to be honest, there have been a lot of discussions in the court recently, and I am also worried about the issue of money and grain.

I think that if this matter can be properly resolved, it will not only appease the people, but also stabilize the government."

After hearing this, Jiang Ziya's brows relaxed slightly and he nodded. He knew what kind of person Uncle Wang Bi Gan was. He knew that this man had the world in his heart and must have a good plan. So he asked, "Uncle Wang, what do you think?"

Bigan's eyes revealed a trace of anxiety, and he said slowly: "Mr. Jiang, the war on the northern front is becoming increasingly fierce, and the southwest is suffering from drought, and the people are living in poverty. I hope to borrow some money and food from Yang's Company to alleviate the current emergency."

Jiang Ziya frowned after hearing this, and was silent for a moment before speaking: "Disaster relief is of course easy to discuss. The Yang family has always been committed to taking from the people and giving back to the people. In the case of drought, it is our duty to help the people. But if it is for war..."

His voice lowered a few notches, with a hint of helplessness: "Supporting the war will only lead to more killings. When will the war and conflict end?"

Bigan sighed, a complicated look flashed in his eyes: "Mr. Jiang's concerns, Bigan understands. However, Dongbohou Jiang Huanchu has raised an army to rebel. If it is not quelled in time, I am afraid that more innocent lives will be destroyed."

He paused and continued, "This rebellion is of great importance. If it is allowed to spread, not only will the people suffer, but the entire country will face a crisis. Although Bigan does not want to see bloodshed, sometimes, for the sake of justice, he has to make some choices."

Jiang Ziya remained silent, his eyes fixed on the window, as if looking for an answer. The leaves of the sycamore trees outside the window swayed in the wind, as if telling of the impermanence of the world.

After a long while, Jiang Ziya slowly raised his head and looked at Bigan with a firm gaze: "Uncle Wang, I will do my best to allocate the money and food of the Yang family business. I will take immediate action for disaster relief. As for the war..."

His voice was firm: "I need to discuss with my senior brother to see if there are other ways to avoid unnecessary sacrifice."

Bigan nodded. He knew that Jiang Ziya was a wise man and would not make a decision easily.

He stood up and bowed to Jiang Ziya: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Jiang. Bigan would like to thank you."

Jiang Ziya also stood up to see him off, and when their eyes met, they both revealed a hint of worry and expectation for the future.

After Bigan left, Jiang Ziya returned to his study alone. He knew that he would face more difficult choices in the days to come.

But no matter what, he must ensure that every decision is for the welfare of the people, no matter how bumpy the road ahead is.

Jiang Ziya pondered all the way, walked through the bustling streets, and finally arrived at the Yang family's mansion. On both sides of the mansion gate, the mighty stone lions looked solemn and majestic.

When the servant at the door saw Jiang Ziya, he hurriedly saluted and led him across the courtyard to the main hall.

Yunhua was already waiting in the hall. She was wearing an elegant long dress and sitting at the head of the table. She had a calm and composed demeanor.

Seeing Jiang Ziya, she nodded slightly and motioned for him to sit down.

Jiang Ziya didn't say anything polite and went straight to the point: "Madam, there is a lot of discussion in the court about money and grain. The war in the north is urgent, and the drought in the southwest is serious. Today, my uncle Bigan came to me again to discuss borrowing grain."

Yunhua's eyes revealed a trace of deep thought, and she slowly said: "My husband is not here, so you are in charge of these matters."

Jiang Ziya felt relieved when he heard this, and he said firmly: "Then follow my idea, only provide disaster relief and ignore the war in the north.

The flames of war are ruthless, and I don’t want the money and food from the business to become fuel for the flames of war.”

After hearing this, Yunhua's eyes flashed with admiration, and she nodded in agreement: "Junior brother, you have the world in your heart, this is a good decision. The business founded by my husband has always been committed to saving the world, and disaster relief is exactly what I want."

Seeing Yun Hua agree, Jiang Ziya was relieved. He shook his head and said, "Madam, you are too kind. I have accumulated a lot of merits in the past few years since I took charge of the company."

Yun Hua smiled slightly and said in a gentle voice: "Junior brother, you are too modest. We all see your efforts. The current reputation of Yang's Company is due to your contribution."

The two had a pleasant conversation and after discussing the specific details of disaster relief, Jiang Ziya said goodbye and left, his heart full of responsibility and mission.

He knew that the next task would be even more arduous, but for the safety of the people, he had no hesitation.

Walking out of the Yang family mansion, Jiang Ziya looked up at the sky. The cloudless sky was as blue as the sea, without a trace of other colors.

……

The Great Shang Palace, located in the prosperous city of Chaoge, is a symbol of the royal power of the Shang Dynasty. Its large scale and magnificent style can be regarded as the pinnacle of ancient architecture.

The walls of the palace are towering into the clouds. They are made of huge stone bricks and are carved with dragon and cloud patterns on the surface, demonstrating the majesty of the emperor.

The city gate was wide enough to accommodate several carriages running side by side. It was inlaid with copper nails and shone with golden light.

When the king's uncle Bigan entered the palace in an ox cart, the first thing that caught his eye was a long imperial road with rare trees planted on both sides with lush branches and leaves, adding a bit of vitality to the palace.

At the end of the imperial road is a magnificent palace with a roof covered with glazed tiles, which sparkles brightly in the sun.

The pillars of the palace are made of whole sandalwood and are carved with exquisite patterns. Every detail reveals the ingenuity of the craftsmen.

Uncle Wang Bigan looked at the huge building standing tall in the distance. It was a tall building that had taken several years and mobilized hundreds of thousands of laborers to build - the Lu Tai.

This is a high platform built by King Di Xin of the Shang Dynasty for his own enjoyment. It is high enough to overlook the entire royal palace and the city of Chaoge.

The construction of Lutai consumed a lot of manpower and material resources. The base was made of huge stones, and the body of the platform was decorated with gold foil and gems.

There is a throne on the platform, where the king of Shang can watch singing and dancing, enjoy music and wine. Around the Deer Terrace, various exotic flowers and plants are planted, and domesticated deer run freely in it, adding a bit of wildness.

Deep in the Lutai, there is an open area with a huge pool in the center filled with fine wine and various delicious dishes placed around it.

King Di Xin of the Shang Dynasty collected beautiful women from all over the place and enjoyed himself here, drinking and eating to his heart's content, without any regard for the safety of the country and the suffering of the people.

The wine pool is surrounded by colorful lights and brocade, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

Uncle Wang Bigan stepped into Lutai, and everything he saw made him frown.

He watched the palace maids in gorgeous clothes dancing around the wine pool and listened to the sound of music echoing throughout the stage. Everything was so luxurious, forming a sharp contrast with the suffering of the outside world.

He was filled with anger; these scenes were totally inconsistent with the image of the Shang Dynasty he had imagined in his mind.

He knew very well what kind of suffering the people outside were going through, but Emperor Xin was indulging in sensual pleasures here, completely disregarding the lives and deaths of the country and the people.

Just as Bigan was getting angry, Emperor Xin's voice came from the wine pool, interrupting his thoughts: "Uncle Wang, you are here! Come down and enjoy the fun together. Today we are not the king and his subject, so there is no need to be restrained between uncle and nephew..."

Emperor Xin was wearing a brocade robe and a golden crown on his head. He held a palace maid in one hand and raised a cup in the other. He looked contented, as if all his troubles had nothing to do with him.

His invitation was full of temptation, but to Bigan, it was like poison.

Bigan's anger burned in his chest. He suppressed his inner excitement and walked in front of Emperor Xin, his voice full of reproach: "Your Majesty, don't you know what kind of suffering the people outside are going through?

The drought in the southwest has destroyed countless people's homes and families, but you are here indulging in luxury. Is this what you call governing a country?"

When Emperor Xin heard this, the smile on his face froze. He did not expect that Bigan would scold him directly in such an occasion.

But soon, he regained his frivolous expression, waved his hand, and signaled the palace maids around him to leave.

He stood up, looked directly at Bigan, and said with a hint of displeasure: "Uncle Wang, what do you mean? As the king of a country, can't you enjoy yourself for a moment? Besides, the grain in the treasury is enough to meet the needs of the moment."

Bigan was even more furious, as the food in the national treasury was no longer sufficient to cope with such a severe disaster.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm his voice. "Your Majesty, if you really care about the people, you should curb your extravagance and use these unnecessary expenses to help the people. Otherwise, even the largest treasury will be emptied due to your extravagance."

Emperor Xin's face was gloomy. He did not expect that Bigan would accuse him so bluntly on such an occasion.

He responded coldly: "Uncle Wang, I will remember your advice. But now, all I want is a moment of peace.

If you really care about the people, why not solve the drought problem yourself?"

After saying this, Emperor Xin turned around and threw himself back into the company of palace maids, indulging himself in wine and sex again, as if the conversation just now was just an insignificant episode.

Bigan stood there, looking at Emperor Xin's back, his heart filled with disappointment and worry.

He knew that if Emperor Xin's mentality could not be changed, the future of the Shang Dynasty would be full of uncertainty and crisis.

At this time, Fei Zhong, who was standing by the wine pool, wearing silk and satin and with a flattering smile on his face, looked at Bigan's anger, but did not care. Instead, he gently comforted him: "Uncle Wang, your majesty is in a very good mood today, why do you say these words to spoil the mood?
This is a time for celebration, not for talking about these heavy things.”

When Bigan heard Fei Zhong's words, he was furious. His eyes were full of contempt and anger as he stared straight at this villain who was nothing more than a favorite in his eyes.

"Fei Zhong!" Bigan raised his voice, and every word was like a hammer hitting Fei Zhong's heart. "It is you, a treacherous minister, who has deceived Your Majesty day and night, indulged in sensual pleasures, and forgotten the duties of a king! You used sweet words to lead a wise king astray. Aren't you afraid of being punished by God?"

When Fei Zhong heard this harsh rebuke, his face changed. He had wanted to appease Bigan with sweet words, but he didn't expect to lead to such a rebuke.

He was a man who was good at observing people's words and expressions. He immediately put away his previous smile, lowered his head in grievance, a trace of uneasiness flashed in his eyes, and looked quietly at Emperor Xin, hoping to get the protection of the King of Shang.

Emperor Xin frowned when he saw this. Although he was addicted to pleasure, he was unwilling to lose his dignity in front of his favorite ministers.

He waved his hand gently, signaling the palace maids and musicians to stop what they were doing, and then said in a low and calm voice: "Uncle Wang, let's end today's matter here. You can leave first, and I will make the decision myself."

Bigan knew Emperor Xin's temperament. Once he made a decision, it was difficult to change it. He looked at Emperor Xin deeply, his eyes full of disappointment and worry, then slowly turned around, and the heavy footsteps echoed in the quiet Lutai.

His back looked particularly lonely, and the laughter and joy on the Lutai rang out again, as if the scene just now was just an insignificant episode that was easily erased and no one mentioned it again.

When Fei Zhong saw Bigan's figure disappear in the corner of Lutai, he thought to himself.

He knew that his act of directly scolding his uncle in front of Emperor Xin today would become a thorn in Bigan's heart, and there would be a bloody storm in the future.

Fei Zhong was unwilling to sit and wait for death, so he began to whisper in Emperor Xin's ear.

"Your Majesty, although the uncle is loyal, his words are really too much. In such a happy banquet, saying such heavy words is simply not giving face to Your Majesty."

There was a hint of grievance in Fei Zhong's voice, as if he was feeling unfair for Emperor Xin.

Emperor Xin listened to Fei Zhong's words with a frown on his face, and his displeasure grew stronger.

Seeing this, Fei Zhong added fuel to the fire: "Now everyone in the court praises the uncle's ability, but rarely mentions your majesty's kindness. If this continues, I'm afraid the people will forget that the world of the Shang Dynasty is controlled by your majesty."

These words were like adding fuel to the fire, and Emperor Xin's anger was completely ignited.

He was already dissatisfied with Bi Gan's outspokenness, and now hearing Fei Zhong say this, he felt even more humiliated and his authority was challenged.

"Hmph, who does Uncle Wang think he is? It is not his turn to comment on state affairs!" Emperor Xin's voice was filled with anger.

He immediately ordered someone to pass on the message, asking Bigan to immediately raise money and food to relieve the drought in the southwest and the war in the northeast.

"Tell him that if he is short of even a penny of money or food, he will be beheaded!" Emperor Xin's tone was cold and unquestionable.

Fei Zhong stood aside with a smug smile on his face.

He knew that if this happened, Bigan would be caught in a dilemma.

It was almost impossible to raise such a huge amount of money and grain in such a short time. If Bigan failed to do it, his prestige would be greatly damaged, and he might even be in danger of his life.

(End of this chapter)