Highlight EP22-23: Li Shande met Zhangyuan, he helped Shande solve the problem | The Litchi Road
To protect your family, litchi transport is not the only way. Why not discard worldly thoughts and practice Taoism here with me? Tied secure. Here, tied secure. Be thorough. Sit steady. Lift it up! Lift! At the rear! Tie it tight! Funds are fully prepared. Mr. Li. Keep this safe. Elder Su. I heard Amita is in trouble. The Guild is in chaos.
Where did you get the funds? Since you already know, I will be frank. Better rely on oneself than others. Two days ago, I pawned jewels and sold my trade ship. You staked your entire fortune? Calm. Stay calm. Don’t be so concerned about it. Tie it tight! Okay. Got it. Done. Confucius said, “Establish others
as you would establish yourself, and help others to develop
as you would help yourself to.” Aiding you aids myself. I gamble on your success. In days to come, when you rise to fame, win promotion and get rich with a wife and concubines, then I will stand a chance to rise again. Are you okay with it? Yes. I’ll go prepare. Like this… I’d do anything for you willingly! I’ll strive with all my might. Good. I won’t fail your great kindness. All is ready. Li Shande. Time to depart. Okay. Tong. When I return, none will dare bully you. No one has the guts to bully me now. Li. Take care of yourself. Get up. Come on. Mr. Li. Elder Su. It’ll be a long and perilous journey ahead. You will have to ride day and night, brave wind and rain. Take care of yourself. I will. I… I hold countless absurd thoughts in my heart. One last word. Remember, I await you in Lingnan. Never entertain thoughts of dying for righteousness. “If we must die, wouldn’t it be better
to die for our cause?” Farewell. Let’s go! Aye! Safe journey. Smooth travels. We’ll be waiting for you! We’ll be waiting! We accompany you no further. Time is already delayed. Li Shande takes the Mei Pass Circuit. Ride now and catch him. Consultant Konglang arranged everything. In Chang’an, a Mr. Lu, the Chief
of the Jing’an Office, will contact you. I can not thank you enough. I will return the favor! Go! Now! Mr. Li? Are you okay? Mr. Li? Shall we take a rest? I’m fine. Go ahead. I’ll take a break and then catch up. Go! Go! Shande left. Gou. Are you happier in Chang’an or Lingnan? I am happy anywhere as long as I’m with you, Master. Say something new. Always so flattery. Do you know what I’m thinking right now? “I miss Chang’an.” You guessed wrong. It’s Mr. Li! Hurry! Where? Help him off! Mr. Li! Hurry! Slowly. Support him. Slow. Slow. Careful. Go! Get inside! Inside! Come on! Mr. Li. You will take it from here. Make haste. Yan Yazhuang waits at the next station. Go! Luckily you made it
to the courier station. If you’d fallen in the wilderness, you’d die before the litchis. I am getting older. My body can’t endure it. I saw your ledger, dense with figures, showing your efforts. It’s hard for outsiders to imagine you need to break down all the costs to transport each litchi to Chang’an. This ledger of details has drained your vitality. A small action can cause a chain reaction
throughout the entire process. Go. What are you doing? Catching up with the transport team. You can’t ride like this. Even if I fail, I wish to know how far from the goal I fall. Mr. Li, be careful! Take care on the way. Here. Be careful. Farewell. Mr. Li. How are you, Yazhuang? I am fine. Good. Mr. Li. Forgive me. I didn’t reach Chang’an. On the 11th day, I just crossed the Dan River’s estuary. You did your best. A pity that we didn’t see how fresh the litchis were in the end. Mr. Li. Mr. Li. Let me see. Let me see. Mr. Li. I’ll test it for you. Taste for His Majesty. How is it? How is it? Sweet. Truly sweet. This is what a trial means. If it were the actual transport, this would mean success! Yes! Yes! Mr. Li. My task is done. Time to go home. If you ever need me, just summon me. No matter how far you ask me to go, I will come. Yazhuang, “A friend who knows my heart, like a neighbor though oceans apart. No need to shed tears at parting, for true bonds never truly part.” Take care, Yazhuang. Take care, Mr. Li. Mr. Li? You’re awake? Where am I? Beyond mortal society and above worldly cares. Where is my companion? Gathering herbs in the mountains
with my disciple. You’re a Taoist priest. Thank you for saving me. May I ask how far it is from here to Chang’an? [Changyuan] Chang’an? Bless us, the Three Pure Ones. So your haste is for Chang’an? What for? I am from Lingnan with an imperial order to transport litchis to Chang’an. Transport litchis to Chang’an? An obsessive fool. Very well. Such petty tasks should not stain my spirit or disturb my cultivation. Your eyes are dull and unfocused, with a shadow on your brows. They’re signs of heart
and spleen weakness. So you’re obsessed by this duty. This task has intricate details, numerous as hairs. Outsiders can’t fathom it. These months I felt possessed by the spirits of great mathematicians. Lost in an abstract trance. I almost split my skull and smeared my brain across those scrolls. That’s how I devised this transport route plan. You’ve dwelled in delusion, with your heart entangled. So you’re lost. Is this truly your desire? The litchi matter decides my family’s fate. Failure means the whole family’s doom. To save your family, you wander far from them, mired in suffering. Isn’t it
putting the cart before the horse? What choice does a small official like me have? Just striving to the utmost. To protect your family, litchi transport is not the only way. Why not discard worldly thoughts and practice Taoism here with me? What kind of advice is this? My Taoist arts can cleanse the inner and renew your being. Train with me for years here, you shall unite with nature with both inner and outer purity. At profound levels, you transcend worldly binds and get true freedom. If I flee, what of my family? Lay disciples are welcome. Bring them. Chang’an today is so glorious, so resplendent. Yet its people lead a pitiful life. Power-seekers are blind to approaching doom. Pleasure-chasers are unaware of calamity. Fame-hunters will be soon stained by filth. Sycophants don’t know the whole edifice will crumble. Mortals are unable to sever earthly desires or break delusion. They just drift in ignorance. Hear me out. You’re in too deep. Your view of the important
is overshadowed by the trivial. You will harm the nation and people without knowing it. What makes you think so? In the 22nd year of Kaiyuan, Pei Yaoqing, the Transport Commissioner
of Jianghuai and Henan, came to Hekou on an imperial order. He devised tiered transport there. In three years, seven million hu of grains
were transported, and three hundred thousand guan
were saved. Chang’an overflowed with grain. The Emperor no longer had to relocate the capital east for food. I served in his office, responsible for checking accounts. I witnessed Commissioner Pei’s masterful coordination. I believed that compared to flowery literati, men like him were the nation’s pillars. The litchi transport is minor and pales before grain shipments, but I consider it following in the footsteps of my predecessors. How is that
harming the nation and people? Right and wrong are posterity judges. You’re merely a man gifted in calculation. This task brings your gift into full play. So you feel it’s not misfortune. But know this. Your ability ends here. You should withdraw. Live quietly. Shun the world’s strife. We common folk just wish to live a peaceful life. Is that karma? Is that wrong? Chang’an is a deep pool. The officialdom is a whirlpool within. Once inside, you’re not a free man anymore. Instead of escaping, do you seek fame in the whirlpool? By your words, you’ve lived in Chang’an? I gained nothing but worldly dust and entangled many in karma, my mind obscured thereby. Hence I wandered mountains to purify my Taoist heart. All men face trials. I must still finish my task. You still cannot see through the illusion of the mundane world. Well. Your face resembles an old friend from ten years ago. I offer you Laozi’s words. “Disaster hides good fortune; good fortune veils disaster.” What you desperately seek may not be what you really want. What you desperately avoid may hold your path to life. Thank you. May I know your name? Call me Changyuan. What did he say? Since we descended the mountain, you’ve seemed distracted. It was like a dream. The Noble Consort’s birthday is
the first day of the sixth month. That means the transport must depart Lingnan by the nineteenth day
of the fifth month. This is the deadline. Time flies. Hurry. This is Chang’an. I’m home. Cleared! [Changshou Ward] What a mighty city. No wonder tales of Chang’an fill the world. Yes. Where are we going? Fetch my daughter first. You have such a magnificent beard. Won’t you regret cutting it? Even I am a bit reluctant to shave it. Shave it. My daughter doesn’t like seeing me so disheveled. Sir, I dreamed about Father last night. His beard had grown long, and he had had more gray hair. His face was dusty. He looked much more haggard. He stood outside
the embroidery workshop. [Hongni Embroidery Workshop] But no matter how I called him, he wouldn’t respond. When I called again, he disappeared. Father? Father! ♪It’s just♪ ♪Green thrives
while vitality of us fades♪ Xiu! ♪Glitz and glamour vanish♪ ♪Carved into vicissitudes♪ Father! ♪Throughout all time,
I have lived on ordinary♪ ♪Without knowing
if you are in sorrow or delight♪ Xiu! Let me see! Father! Father! I’m back! ♪The chaos in the world has no end♪ ♪Alone I’ll stay in this yard
with osmanthus♪ Father, you have more gray hair, just like
what I saw in my dream. ♪Appreciating the blossoms
all by myself♪ Do you miss me? Every day. You came back before the osmanthus tree blooms ♪Is Chang’an♪ ♪On the way to Lingnan?♪ I was afraid you would miss me too much, so I asked the tree in my dream. I asked when it would bloom. It told me to wait longer. I refused. My daughter can’t wait! I needed to see you. ♪Recall the deep feelings♪ The delivery business is hiring! She is a friend I made in Lingnan, coming to Chang’an for business. She’s also handling matters
for His Majesty? She’s not. She’s here for her own business. Go find seats. How many? Two. Got it! Mr. Li, you were absent for long! I had a long journey. I missed your flatbread so much! As usual, one flatbread? Ten! Sure! I know your name is Xiu. Your father kept talking about you. I’m Amita. You can just call me by my name. You aren’t a Tang person? My father was. No food in all of Lingnan can compare to this. Xiu, I received your flatbread embroidery to me at Lingnan. It made my mouth water! It looked perfect! I could see it but couldn’t eat it. I was anxious! It was to console you. Why do you blame me for that? I’m not! Your embroidery is good! You did it very well. Mr. Li, here’s your soup. Father, take it slow. You’ve already had six! After the long and bumpy ride, I’m satisfied now. Not used to this? No appetite. The wheat flour in Chang’an is the best, especially at this store. Look, the lamb filling inside is mixed with ginger and celery, then sprinkled with clove powder.
It is delicious! Don’t waste it. I’ll take one with me. Now in Chang’an, you don’t need to be so worried. I’m sure Konglang has sent the letter over. The Jing’an Office will come for you soon. Today, Xiu and I will move into our old house in Guiyi Ward. As for the place I rented, if you don’t mind it, you can stay there for now. I’m grateful that you let me take your place. Have a taste! Don’t leave leftovers. [Memorial on Litchi Transport
from Lingnan] I need more over here. Alright. Cover it all. Zhang, thank you for your help! You can focus on your work. We don’t even have time to chat. You can go. Just go do your work. Alright, I’ll go. Once I’m done, I’ll go meet you at the old house. Remember, you’re the host. Amita is the guest. Receive her well. Father, you’re leaving
right after you came back. I have to hurry. I’ll weave you a basket
when I come home. Since you’re sincere, I’ll grant you a day off. Aye! Goodbye! Excuse me! May I know [Ministry of Revenue]
what brings you to the Ministry of Revenue? I’m doing transport for His Majesty. In over a month, my funds have run low, so I came to request
some money and supplies. Are you here to see the Director or the Vice Director? All the officials are busy with work. May I ask if you made an appointment in advance? I just returned, so I haven’t… Then you’re here to inquire. You can go to see the Secretary for money distribution. Just follow these two gentlemen. Please come with me. – Great!
– Please. Please! Wang, you’re early today! I was supposed to be early too but I got stuck at the West Market. It’s always congested over there. Why did you have to go that way? Exactly! Sir, is this how it is every day here? You look a bit unfamiliar, This is my first time. I can tell. You came late without a stool. Today is actually less crowded. Will I be able to get in today? Of course! Just wait patiently. I think it’ll go smoothly. When it’s your turn, submit your documents and then carefully answer the Secretary’s questions. Maybe by tomorrow, you’ll get what you wish for. Can’t it be finished today? If you line up early,
being the first one, and are quick about it, and what you’re handling isn’t hard, you might get it done in a day. That’s not enough! It also depends on if the secretary is happy. If he just got paid or married, as long as he’s happy, he’ll be efficient. Only when those conditions align can things be done in a day. If not, it can take days to finish. Sir, please don’t rush! Everyone is waiting. Be patient. He’s from the palace. It is bustling every day, but only one secretary is available, Can’t there be a few more people to help out? Help? In the Ministry of Revenue,
from the Minister to Vice Ministers, to the Directors and Vice Directors, and then to the officials
in the Tax Bureau, everyone has
his role and responsibilities. Who do you expect to help with this? The Director, or a Vice Director? Of course not! I’m not even qualified to meet with those officials. So, given that, it’s better to just go with the flow. All of you understand this situation. Why did you arrive so late today? In our respective offices, we must sit up straight all day. Once we slip up, we’ll be criticized. It’s much more relaxing here! Exactly! Rather than rushing to finish
everything in one day, we’ll spread it out over three days. If luck isn’t on our side, it might even take five days. In the eyes of our superiors, we’re just working hard for official business, and the days will pass by easily. Everyone, it’s almost noon now. We can only receive one more. The rest can come tomorrow. What? Only one? We’ve been waiting all morning! There are just a few of us left. Can’t we get things done today? Right! You all are just focused on your own matters, but the Secretary
has to handle everything. He wants to get it all done at once, but his body won’t cooperate. You’re gathered. I can’t tell the order of arrival. Which one of you will go first? Well, I think the urgency differs in our matters. Prioritize the important ones. The others can wait. I have an urgent matter! That’s nonsense! Our matters are urgent too! I’m overseeing the cleaning of the drainage system in Chang’an. I’ve already made six trips. If this drags on, and it rains heavily, Chang’an will be flooded with sewage! Everyone, what kind of scene would that be? You have a point! I understand. My matter is also quite urgent. The West Market gate is in disrepair. Today a wooden beam fell down, injuring an official’s head! It caused a traffic jam there for two hours! If we don’t fix it now, what if it collapses and kills someone? Think about that scene! This is indeed serious. I can understand. Compared to your urgent matters, the matter I have with litchis isn’t as urgent at all. What? Litchis? You’re the Litchi Envoy? So you’re the Litchi Envoy. He’s the Litchi Envoy! My respect! It’s an honor to meet you! Honored to see you! You all know me? Of course! I work at the Imperial Food Service. When that edict was sent to us first, no one dared to take it. Later, when I learned you took on this tricky task, I felt a deep admiration! I’ve wished I could meet you. There are rumors that this task was a trap set by your colleagues in the Office of Imperial Parks. I am a trap-setter. I never believed it. Traps aren’t set lightly. They require collaboration. And once someone leaks the news, all efforts will be in vain! Don’t you have any allies in the Office at all? Not a single one? Rumors aren’t to be fully trusted. Don’t believe it! Did you actively seek out this position? That’s a long story. So were you caught in a vulnerable spot? Why not elaborate on that? – Yeah!
– Tell us! Not important. Since you’ve taken on this task, you should hurry to Lingnan
to get money… many litchis, I mean. Why did you come back to Chang’an? That’s why I’m here to deal with it! We understand! Everyone, have you made a selection yet? The Secretary’s waiting. If no one needs it, he’ll leave and go home. Mr. Li can go first! – Mr. Li can go.
– Mr. Li’s is more urgent. Please! Please! Mr. Li? Please. You’re the Litchi Envoy? It seems to be common knowledge in the Court. What do you need from me? The Ministry of Revenue
controls all funds and grain distributions. So I’m here. Since you’re the Litchi Envoy
appointed by His Majesty, you’re not bound by these rules. You can go. This doesn’t need to go through me. Sir, if it’s a regular task, I could bypass these formalities and withdraw funds from the treasury. But transporting litchis costs money and requires cooperation from various offices. So this task really needs to be incorporated into the procedures here. Then I’ll follow the procedures. Please. First, your handwriting is too messy! How did you pass the Ministry of Personnel’s exam? Sorry, I was in a hurry. There’re four standards
for selecting officials: Appearance, voice,
handwriting, and judgment. First, your appearance is haggard, your voice is dry, and your handwriting is bad. You fail on all three counts! As for your judgment… How many litchis will you
transport to Chang’an? Whether it’s one litchi or two urns, it costs the same money. How many litchis are there in two urns? Forty. Do you know that the official rates for transporting taxes and rents of 100 jin
from Henan to Chang’an are 100 wen for every hundred li, and 120 wen if it’s mountain roads? Yet transporting litchis from Lingnan costs 700 guan. That’s too much! On average, each litchi costs 17 guan and 500 wen. You see, a three-year-old foreign camel at the West Market costs less than 15 guan! Do you think I’m silly? The method I design for litchi transport is incredibly efficient, but its only drawback is the high cost. I’m glad you know. These expenses can’t be shared. Back when Pei Yaoqing built the river mouth warehouse
and the canal, it was costly, but once it was completed, the costs could be amortized
over the years. But your litchi transport method involves various expenses, such as horses, ice, personnel, equipment, and labor hours, etc. Once used up this time, you’ll have to start
all over again next time. Luzhou also has litchis. Why not transport them from there? Is it because you have relatives in Lingnan? His Majesty demands Lingnan litchis. I’m merely following the order. You’re following the order. But I’m adhering to regulations. This fund can’t be approved. Sir, I’ve been running around
in Lingnan for over a month, trying everything! I’ve already persuaded those merchants to volunteer their services so that the Court won’t have to pay. To gain their help, we’ll have to exempt them from taxes. In the end, it’s the merchants
who benefit, while the Court bears the burden! This is a task sent down by His Majesty. Won’t you approve it? You should know we may control the budget, but we’re just following orders of the officials above us. When you go to the pharmacy, you need a prescription for the counter staff to prepare it, right? Once you have
the Secretariat-Chancellery’s approval, I will process it as quickly
as possible. Didn’t you just say His Majesty appointed me, so I won’t be bound by these rules? Mr. Li, when I said that, you insisted on following the process. Now I’m following the process,
yet you refuse to abide by it. I’m a mere secretary trying to do my job. Why do you make things difficult for such an old man like me? If you have the ability, go make trouble for the officials of the Secretariat-Chancellery! Sir, according to Yun Qing, He Youguang has already
destroyed all the evidence in that woman’s hands. He Youguang’s letter of fealty alone is not enough
to affect the Right Chancellor. This time, Yun Qing,
through Amita’s incident, managed to create a breach in Lingnan. Now, the Right Chancellor
is busy preparing for the Noble Consort’s
birthday celebration and has no time for other things. This is perfect for us to continue gathering
solid evidence. That’s absolutely right. He Youguang dared not
let the Right Chancellor know Amita has betrayed him. So he only sent his personal guards to secretly hunt her down and kill her in Lingnan. Amita doesn’t have ironclad evidence, but she is still a key witness. I’ve sent someone
to secretly protect her, looking for a chance to meet with her. I’m in a standoff
with the Right Chancellor for a long time. It’s time to purge the treacherous and restore order. In today’s Court, there are plenty of sycophants and opportunists. Fortunately, you’re supporting
the overall situation, there is still a glimmer of hope
for Tang. Send a message to Yun Qing now. Inform her that the time has come. She must ensure all is carefully planned
before taking action. There can’t be any mistakes. Xiu, I’ll go. Your father will come back soon. Thank you. Good girl. Let’s go. Miss, we’re here to see Mr. Li. Who are you? Mr. Li bought this house with our help. We lent him some credits. Credits? You might call it a principal. A moneylender. It’s just a material thing, but we should express in a more refined way, to avoid being rotten. Ignore them. They’re bad people. Sorry, Mr. Li isn’t home today. Come another day. Miss, we’d also like to come another day, but with tomorrow and tomorrow, how many tomorrows does Mr. Li have left? Mr. Li has received
a prestigious assignment from His Majesty. That news has spread
throughout Chang’an. While we sympathize with him, we can’t help but worry. Did we act too hastily with the credits back then? Now that we’ve met Mr. Li’s other half, we certainly don’t want to miss this opportunity to discuss it further. Please come with us to meet my master. Well, I’m just Mr. Li’s friend. I can’t make decisions
about his affairs. Even if I go with you, it won’t resolve anything. I understand what you mean. I’ll definitely pass
on the message to him. I’m afraid that if you stir things up, it’ll be even harder for me to see Mr. Li again! Miss, Mr. Li has already returned to Chang’an, and he has moved back into this house we worked so hard to acquire together. If you keep avoiding us, we’ll only feel we are like fools. Even though we value kindness and courtesy, the worm turns sometimes! You shouldn’t push us to lose our temper. We’re all business people. Be friendly for profits. I’ll go with you. How is my request? [Clerk of Secretariat-Chancellery] You should take this matter to the financial officer. I-I went there. I just came from there. The Six Ministries are just executing orders. The real decisions
and policies are still made by the officials
at the Secretariat-Chancellery. That’s a bit of a bind. Why? As the appointed Litchi Envoy, can’t I submit my memorial to the Secretariat-Chancellery? Do you know why there are Five Offices here? Why? [Secretary’s Office] Because there are so many matters to manage! All memorials submitted
to the Secretariat-Chancellery must first be reviewed by the Six Ministries. Minor matters are decided by them, while major matters are forwarded
with recommendations before being sent to our Five Offices. Only then can we present them to the Councilors
for discussion. And? And so, you can’t just take the memorial directly here. It first goes
to the Ministry of Revenue. After they review it, it can be sent to the Revenue Office
of the Secretariat. That’s the most formal procedure. If that’s the case, doesn’t that just lead to an endless loop? The process is the standard for things. Just like water flowing smoothly from high to low. That’s what we call procedure. You should follow the procedure. It’s washed clean. It’s clean. The system here is strict. There’s no way to slip your memorial in. However, there is another way you could try. Tributes from all provinces are first sent to the Court of the Imperial Treasury. For the litchi matter, you can’t go wrong going to them. You should go tomorrow. The sun is setting. If you rush over now, they’ll be off duty soon. Take her out to have fun. Come with me. Go. Now, this forced invitation for the two of us must mean there’s something important. You seem straightforward, so I’ll be blunt. Your husband, Mr. Li, borrowed 150 guan from me to buy the house at Guiyi Ward. But once that money was lent out, he took on a suicide mission. By the first day of the sixth month, I’m afraid he’ll be separated from us by life and death. I lend money to make a profit, not to do charity. I asked you here today because I want you to repay me what you owe since you’re back in Chang’an. Since it’s a loan, there must be a contract. If Mr. Li doesn’t repay on time, that’s his breach. But if you don’t collect the money as agreed, that’s a breach on your part. In business,
if you don’t follow the rules, you won’t stand firm anywhere. It’s not that we can’t do things by the book. It’s just that I get to set the rules. Since I dare to lend money here in Chang’an, I naturally have ways to get my money back. Are you sure you want to fall out with me? Before the first day of the sixth month, Li Shande is His Majesty’s Litchi Envoy. Even if you fall out with him, what can you do to him? So you’re set on not repaying the money? He got money in Lingnan. Moreover, he invested all of it in the trial for transporting litchis. What he bought with that money is a chance for his survival. So now that he’s in Chang’an, once he gets the approval, he can complete the litchi transport. You don’t need to worry about him. He won’t die on the first day of the sixth month.