A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"Yang Guozhong ordered the Secretariat to issue a document requiring the people near the post stations along the way to pay for six months' expenses in advance, and the farmers around the post stations to pay additional corvée labor according to the number of people in their household. This was something they could not afford."

"But Yang Guozhong allowed those who paid two strings of cash for lychees to be exempted from corvée labor. In this way, they could transport goods without paying a single penny."

"How laughable that one can have such good fortune without spending a single penny!"

"All the wealth in the world is finite; it doesn't come from the national treasury or the imperial treasury, but rather from the exploitation of countless impoverished people!"

"What is taken from the people should be used for the benefit of the people!"

"How can you say it's done without paying a single penny!"

"There are 153 relay stations set up for the lychee transshipment. The monthly expenses are 40 strings of cash. If the expenses are paid in advance for half a year, it will be 36,720 strings of cash."

"The post station has about 10,000 households and about 20,000 strings of cash for lychees, totaling 56,720 strings of cash."

"The total cost of this lychee transport was 31,020 guan, with a remaining balance of 25,700 guan."

"I'm afraid this money will all end up in Yang Guozhong's pocket."

"If we were to cover the cost, we would have to pay 56,720 guan, which is no small sum."

Although Du Fu greatly approved of this move, this amount of money was not something that could be easily obtained.

It's important to know that copper coins in the Tang Dynasty had considerable purchasing power.

One string of cash is 1000 coins, enough to meet the needs of an average family of four for three months.

Li Bai was not a businessman, nor did he embezzle or accept bribes. He often helped the common people and poor officials, so where would he get so much money?

"So, Li Bai, are you going to write poems to make money again?"

"Fifty thousand strings of cash, Li Bai. Your poems are extremely valuable these days. How many more would you have to write to earn that much?"

"Moreover, the more poetry is written, the lower the price will naturally be."

"We can't possibly write poems for those corrupt officials; that wouldn't be enough!"

Du Fu felt a pang of heartache. Li Bai was such a proud man, and his poems were so ethereal, yet now they were tainted by the stench of money.

Over the years, Li Bai wrote many poems for reputable aristocratic merchants, receiving payment from them in exchange for his writings, which he then used to help others.

"Recently, a man named Wang Lun wanted to commission me to write a poem. We are of similar temperament, and he is willing to offer fifty fine horses, a thousand bolts of brocade, and several boxes of gold and silk as payment for my writing."

"It will at least provide some relief."

"As for what's not enough, I'll borrow from my senior brother. We also helped in this matter, so we can't just ignore it."

"Also, send someone to Lingnan to provide the people there with adequate compensation."

"It would probably cost 60,000 strings of cash in total."

"Don't tell Li Shande about this. I want to see if he will change under the temptation of power."

"If they can withstand this test, they may be a candidate for the future Minister of Revenue."

Li Bai handed his newly written poem "To Wang Lun" to the steward, asking him to deliver it to Wang Lun.

Du Fu glanced at it.

"Li Bai was about to set sail in his boat."

Suddenly, the sound of singing and dancing was heard on the shore.

"The Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand feet deep."

"It cannot compare to the affection Wang Lun showed me."

As expected of Li Bai, he wrote such a catchy poem in just a short time.

What a pity.

Du Fu, who also loved poetry, felt extremely distressed.

"It's alright, I will only write poems for those who share my temperament."

"Just like when we're all together, don't we often write poems for each other?"

Li Bai didn't care about this; he just liked writing poetry, and he didn't care who he wrote poems for.

"Alright, I'll take care of this. Don't worry about the money. We're doing this for the sake of the tens of thousands of people along the way, so I'm sure you won't refuse."

Li Bai comforted him.

After bidding farewell to Du Fu, Li Bai arrived at the Prince of Yan's residence.

"You don't visit the temple without a reason; junior brother is a rare guest."

Wei Mai received Li Bai in the garden. Since Wei Wen's death, Li Bai had been busy with government affairs and no longer visited the Prince of Yan's residence as frequently.

Aside from holidays and festivals, most people who came to the Prince of Yan's residence had something to ask him.

Li Bai smiled sheepishly; he really had come to ask his senior brother for help again.

"Senior brother has a discerning eye; junior brother does indeed have a favor to ask this time."

"Tell me, what could possibly stump our Poet Immortal?"

Wei Mai teased.

As more and more of Li Bai's poems became known to the public, the title of "Poet Immortal" was firmly bestowed upon him.

Li Bai touched his nose sheepishly. "I've come to borrow money from my senior brother."

"Borrow money?!"

Wei Mai was somewhat surprised, "You, the Poet Immortal, command a hefty price for a single poem, how could you be short of money?"

"This time the amount of money is a bit large, so I can only ask my senior for help."

Li Bai said awkwardly.

"How much?"

Wei Mai was a little curious about how much money Li Bai wanted to borrow, something that would make Li Bai, who could earn hundreds or thousands of strings of cash for a single poem, feel it was too much.

"Sixty thousand strings of cash."

Li Bai said somewhat embarrassedly.

He knew the Wei family had accumulated considerable wealth, but they were asking for 60,000 strings of cash without any explanation, and more importantly, they couldn't possibly repay that amount.

Borrowing without repaying.

Wei Mai frowned slightly. It wasn't about the money. Although it was a lot of money, it was nothing compared to the Wei family's millennia of accumulation.

Even though they often used their money to help the people, they still had a considerable fortune accumulated over the years.

He frowned, wondering what Li Bai needed the money for. During this time, he had been paying close attention to the situation at the borders in various places. The regional military governors had held military and political power for more than 10 years and had long become too powerful to control.

Recently, he has been restless again, showing rebellious intentions. He has focused all his energy on this matter and has not paid much attention to the affairs of the capital.

Li Bai told Wei Mai everything that had happened in the capital and their plans in detail.

Wei Mai then understood what had happened.

"In that case, I will have someone send 60,000 strings of cash to your residence."

Wei Mai said softly, "His Majesty is no mediocre ruler, at least not in the past. He must have some trump cards up his sleeve, so be careful."

"Junior brother understands."

Li Bai nodded and said that if it weren't for that, he would have taken action long ago, instead of waiting until today. It was precisely to ensure that nothing went wrong.

After chatting with Wei Mai for a while longer, Li Bai took his leave.

Wei Mai watched Li Bai leave, then slowly took out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

This document contains an urgent report from the border, detailing the reckless actions of the border governor.

Wei Mai knew that once Li Bai acted according to plan, the border would be in turmoil if he was not careful.

This was also a remedial measure he took for Li Bai. If overwhelming public opinion could not make Li Longji repent, then border wars and widespread chaos would make Li Longji truly feel that his life and his throne were in imminent danger.

At that point, he might not realize he was wrong, but rather that he is going to die and lose his throne.

Now it remains to be seen whether the Tang Dynasty is destined to perish.