OFTLHFRO C152

Chapter 152: A Master at Digging Holes

How hadn’t they thought of this?

If there was a gold mine, then Huo Yuntao could sustain so many soldiers despite the meager military pay from the court.

This was the strange point in the accounts.

But they didn’t know why Huo Yuntao did this.

Wasn’t he just digging a hole, throwing money into it?

But thinking carefully, because Huo Yuntao issued the funds himself, the Huo Family Army listened to him more obediently.

Honestly, these soldiers listened more to Huo Yuntao’s orders than even the emperor’s.

Xiao Lin was puzzled. “What gold mine are you talking about?”

“The accounts. Before we came, Huo Yuntao was using his own money to subsidize. We suspect he has a gold mine.”

Luo Mingchen frowned. “No wonder Ji Bowen and Ruan Feng came earlier to ask for military pay and to report to the court. Turns out Huo Yuntao dug such a deep hole waiting for us to jump into.”

Years ago, Huo Yuntao had been subsidizing the army’s salaries himself. Although the court also paid, it was far insufficient.

Now with Huo Yan in power, no gold mine, few funds—how could he possibly cover such expenses?

But this was a difficult issue.

If Huo Yan reported it, the emperor would think he was making trouble. Otherwise, why did military pay increase so much just when Huo Yan took office?

If not reported, the soldiers originally receiving five taels of silver monthly would get only one, breeding discontent.

Over time, they’d cherish Huo Yuntao’s benefits, still working for him.

This was a very real problem. Luo Mingchen, once a worker himself, understood this well.

No one seeks promotion without commitment.

Especially soldier’s work, counted day by day; a drop from five to one tael was huge.

After understanding the connection, Xiao Lin asked tentatively, “Should we bring Lan Yiheng and the others back?”

Huo Yan glanced at him, saying, “No need.”

Luo Mingchen had a sudden inspiration, “You mean?”

Seeing his husband understand, Huo Yan smiled lightly, “Yes.”

Xiao Lin rubbed his head, “Can you two stop speaking in riddles? I’m not as attuned as you.”

Luo Mingchen told him, “We plan to do business.”

“…Selling what?”

“Grain and vegetables, and planting a batch of precious herbs like ginseng and lingzhi.”

The seeds Huo Yan gave him had grown in the space.

Though Luo Mingchen didn’t understand the efficacy, Huo Yan recognized they were potent and unchanged.

These plants were hard for others to grow but easy for Luo Mingchen.

Xiao Lin was speechless, seeing their sincerity, he said, “If you think it works, that’s good.”

He didn’t argue, mainly because Luo Mingchen’s secrets were many, and Huo Yan knew them.

Xiao Lin didn’t understand and naturally refrained from meddling.

To speak seriously, Huo Yan was more considerate and patient than him—clever and didn’t need him to overthink.

After deciding, Huo Yan gave money to Xiao Lin to buy ginseng, lingzhi, and other herbs, regardless of their age, as long as alive.

Then Ruan Feng and others were called for a meeting.

The few summoned exchanged glances for unknown reasons.

Ji Bowen and Ruan Feng looked toward Luo Mingchen, seeking clues from his expression.

Luo Mingchen didn’t know their intent but found it strange.

Was there something on his face?

Seeing his clear eyes, they pursed lips and lowered their gaze.

The atmosphere in the study became tense after a while.

Liu Changlian couldn’t hold back, asking, “General, why did you call us here?”

When someone finally spoke, Huo Yan feigned ignorance. “You didn’t know? I’ve been waiting for you to confess.”

Liu Changlian truly didn’t know. “General, what confession?”

Huo Yan smirked at the others. “Why don’t you ask them?”

Liu Changlian looked confusedly at the three beside him, tugging Ruan Feng. “What did you do?”

Ruan Feng pressed his lips and seemed troubled.

Ji Bowen guessed, “Sir, it’s about the military pay.”

Seeing no pretense left, Huo Yan said, “What does the strategist think?”

“Um…” Ji Bowen was puzzled. “Why don’t you write a letter to ask the general?”

Huo Yan smiled. “Does the strategist think I didn’t find Xue Kang and only called these four?”

Upon hearing this, Ji Bowen was silent.

Ruan Feng and Li Yunde were silent too.

Only Liu Changlian asked, “Why?”

Luo Mingchen secretly took a small mirror from Huo Yan’s arms—actually from the space—and glanced at Liu Changlian upon hearing that.

Seeing nothing on his face, Luo Mingchen quietly handed the mirror back and pretended nothing happened.

Huo Yan glanced at Liu Changlian. “Xue Kang is different from the four of you. He’s General Huo’s trusted aide, knowing everything. The four seem less trusted. I’ve been here several months; the pit dug by the military pay issue, the strategist surely knows?”

With that, Liu Changlian fell silent, unwilling to betray Huo Yuntao.

Moreover…

“Isn’t the general and the grand general father and son? Why divide affairs so sharply? If the general can’t issue pay, shouldn’t the grand general send it?”

Luo Mingchen, sitting aside, thought him naive.

“General Liu, you’re not aware of my reasons? The strategist is?”

Huo Yan looked at Ji Bowen.

After a silence, Ji Bowen said, “General, why trouble yourself? The grand general is your father, and you are the eldest legitimate son. Whether it’s the family business or army, it ultimately belongs to you.”

Huo Yan asked, “Is the strategist suggesting I patricide?”

The four men were stunned.

Liu Changlian was confused. “General, where did you hear that?”

“If Grand General Huo doesn’t die, how can I command the army? How can I inherit the family business? Must I wait until he’s old and weak? In the end, I might just open a path for my two younger brothers and gain nothing.”

Liu Changlian was struck numb.

Huo Yan actually spoke these words in front of them…

After hearing this, Ji Bowen said, “You are always the grand general’s legitimate eldest son.”

“So what?”

The study was silent for a while. Ruan Feng asked, “What does the general want?”

Huo Yan looked meaningfully at him. “Of course, to replace and prove myself.”

After months in Hancheng, except for the straightforward Liu Changlian, the others roughly understood Huo Yan’s intentions but found them unreliable.

After all, Huo Yan was Huo Yuntao’s son. Whatever their private quarrels, outsiders saw them as family.

Their best choice was to feign ignorance and wait for Huo Yuntao to step down or Huo Yan to concede.

But they didn’t expect Huo Yan to speak openly, clearly asking them to take sides.