Chapter 39: Dividing the Silver and the Wisely Simple Gao Honest
Late at night.
Li Yi did not go to sleep. Instead, he entered the cave with Gao Jie, Honest Gao, and Liu Dayong.
The large chests they had seized were brought here.
Each was secured with heavy locks, and none of them knew what lay inside.
“Gao Jie, open them.”
Gao Jie nodded, hefted the iron hammer he had prepared, and stepped forward. With a few blows, he broke the locks.
He lifted the lid, and everyone was stunned by what they saw within.
Inside, large ingots of silver were stacked neatly. Newly cast, they gleamed with silvery light in the glow of the fire. Wide-eyed, faces filled with greed, everyone stared at the treasure.
Li Yi’s heart raced as he stepped forward and picked up a silver ingot. On its bottom was stamped the character for “ten taels.”
There was no year marked. These were privately smelted, meant for secret hoarding.
It was well known that cunning landowners and powerful families would smelt their own silver, burying it underground to retrieve in times of need.
He looked beneath the first layer; there were eight in total, meaning this chest held eight thousand taels.
“Quickly, open the other chests.”
Gao Jie, realizing the magnitude, swallowed hard and hurried to break open the others.
All were filled with silver, totaling fifty-six thousand taels.
Suddenly confronted with so much wealth, everyone’s eyes widened and their breaths quickened.
Li Yi, finally calming himself, closed the lids and looked at them all.
“Together, there are fifty-six thousand taels of silver here. What do you all think?”
The others glanced at each other, silent.
Li Yi spoke first, “Let me share my thoughts; listen, and then decide if you agree.”
“All credit goes to you, Captain. Your skill made this possible. Your word is law,” Gao Jie said, regaining composure.
Honest Gao nodded, “I don’t know much, just want to hear what Captain says.”
Li Yi nodded, picking up an ingot.
“Wealth dazzles the eyes. I too am tempted seeing so much silver. But remember, this silver cannot be exposed. We could divide it, each go our own way as wealthy men. But without power or influence, how many could hold onto it? If we spend unwisely, the wrong people will notice; then, even our lives may be forfeit.”
Everyone nodded.
Fortune and disaster are intertwined; mishandling this silver might bring calamity.
“So, my thought is, we should share some, but not all. And there must be rules.”
Gao Jie quickly asked, “Captain, what do you mean?”
Li Yi smiled, “The peasant association is newly formed, the militia just shaping up. Now is the time to build strength. If we unite the villagers and expand the militia, we’ll have something to rely on. I plan to allocate ten thousand taels for everyone.”
Hearing this, the others’ hearts raced.
Li Yi understood their thoughts and continued, “But even these ten thousand taels must be distributed according to rules.”
“Those who fought today will be rewarded: ten taels each, and an extra five for those who took heads. Tell them also, from now on, they’ll receive five taels monthly until the silver runs out. As for Honest Gao and Liu Dayong, fifty taels each now, and ten monthly. Gao Jie and I will take one hundred taels each, and twenty monthly. What do you all think?”
Gao Jie, previously hesitant, clapped his hands. “Brilliant! This way, we reward merit and bind hearts together.”
Only Honest Gao murmured, “Captain, you killed most of the bandits yourself. How can you take only a hundred taels?”
Gao Jie was startled, “Yes, Captain, you should take more.”
Li Yi smiled, “Then I’ll take one hundred fifty taels. The rest will be kept as funds—to expand the militia, forge weapons, store provisions. If there are new militia leaders, they’ll be chosen from those who fought today. I’ll keep records of all allocations and spending; you can check them anytime. But I hope only we few know about the funds.”
Gao Jie and the others understood and nodded in agreement.
The next day, Li Yi summoned Liu Zongmin to help melt down some silver ingots and recast them.
It was no trouble for Liu Zongmin. He glanced at the silver, asked no questions, and did as Li Yi instructed.
Once the silver was recast, Li Yi had Gao Jie use his connections to exchange it for smaller silver pieces and copper coins.
That evening, Li Yi returned to the cave, brought out the chests, and distributed the copper coins and silver to those who fought.
Half copper, half silver. After distributing, Li Yi announced the rule for monthly payments, and no one dared object.
When he let them leave,
Li Yi spoke in a grave tone, “Let me repeat: After robbing the Ai family’s goods, everyone must keep silent. If the Ai family finds out, not only are our lives at risk, but our families, too.”
Everyone understood the danger and feared Ai family’s revenge. They all nodded in agreement.
Thus, the aftermath of robbing the Ai family was finally settled.
When all had left, Li Yi breathed a long sigh and prepared to rest.
“Captain, I have something to say,” Honest Gao stopped him.
Li Yi paused, “What is it?”
Honest Gao hesitated, then bowed his head, “Please follow me for a moment.”
Li Yi nodded and followed him to a neighboring, abandoned cave.
This cave was half-collapsed, desolate at midnight, and rarely visited.
“Captain, wait here,” Honest Gao said, then slipped inside.
Soon after, he emerged carrying a small box, handing it to Li Yi.
Li Yi examined it. The copper lock was tight, clearly unopened.
“This box was found in the Ai family steward’s carriage; I covered it with oilcloth so no one noticed,” Honest Gao explained.
Li Yi looked at him deeply.
“If no one noticed, why are you giving it to me?” Li Yi asked.
Honest Gao bowed his head, “Wealth and honor are good, but I know my limits. I trust you, Captain, to handle it wisely and ease your burden.”
With that, Honest Gao took his leave.
Watching him depart, Li Yi understood why Honest Gao had a son like Honest Gao Junior.
It seemed Honest Gao was not merely simple, but wise beneath a humble exterior.
He had indeed stumbled upon a treasure.
Back home, Li Yi pried open the lock and opened the box.
Inside, golden light shone—small gold ingots revealed themselves.
Li Yi weighed them: over three hundred taels of gold, equivalent to more than three thousand taels of silver.
Though not as much as the fifty-six thousand, it was his alone.
Twelfth month, thirteenth day. Ai family.
The New Year approached; most of the Ai clan had returned.
Ai Yingjia had even invited a troupe from Xi’an to perform opera, delighting both sides of the family with applause and festivities.
Ai Yingjia sat in the courtyard, two pretty maids massaging his legs. He listened to the opera, swaying and thoroughly engrossed.
“Father, you said you’d deal with Li Yi. It’s been so long, yet there’s no news?” Ai Wanhua asked impatiently.
Ai Yingjia, fingers poised elegantly, sang a few lines before glancing at his son.
“Bandits are rampant now, Wu Zimian is too busy. I’ve sent two letters urging him; after the New Year, he’ll surely deploy troops.”
Ai Wanhua, annoyed, said, “Why not just have the patrol office surround Li Family Village and arrest Li Yi?”
“Fool! That would make it clear we’re behind it, ruining our family’s reputation.”
Ai Yingjia pointed at him, sternly, “Our Ai family is renowned for scholarship and benevolence. We can’t dirty our name by attacking common folk. That would stain our legacy.”
Ai Wanhua snorted, but dared not argue.
“Rest assured, Li Yi will not escape his doom,” Ai Yingjia said, closing his eyes and humming contentedly.
Just then, the steward entered and whispered a few words.
Ai Yingjia was startled, sprang to his feet. “What?”
The steward, face mournful, said, “Master, the goods were robbed. All staff and managers are missing.”
Ai Yingjia was thunderstruck. That was the Ai family’s five-year share of business profits—over sixty thousand taels of silver.
“Was it slow delivery?” Ai Yingjia asked, unwilling to believe.
The steward shook his head, trembling, “Someone saw the convoy leave Suiyuan County. Our men found traces of battle on the road to Mizhi.”
Hearing this, Ai Yingjia lost all hope.
His eyes bloodshot, he stared at the steward and roared, face twisted with rage.
“Investigate! Send men to find out who dared rob my silver. I’ll skin them alive!”
With that, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.
The relatives watching the opera cried out in alarm.
“Fetch the physician, quick!”
The Ai family was thrown into chaos.
Li Family Village.
Li Yi knew nothing of the turmoil at the Ai household.
At this moment, he stood in the home of Sun Laosan.
A gray-haired, grief-stricken woman worked at her loom. Though she had just lost her son, the burden of life gave her no time to mourn.
Li Yi, led by Gao Jie, entered the yard and saw two children, five or six years old, playing. He knew these were Sun Laosan’s younger siblings.
Both were skinny, wearing ill-fitting, tattered clothes, hands and feet marked with frostbite.
Seeing Li Yi, they hid in fear.
Li Yi beckoned, and the children slowly approached.
He took two eggs from his pocket and handed them to them.
“Ah, eggs!” the boy exclaimed in delight.
Li Yi smiled, “Eat.”
The boy peeled and ate quickly, while the girl hid hers in her clothes.
Li Yi asked curiously, “Why don’t you eat?”
The girl looked up, smiling, “I want to save it for mother and brother.”
Li Yi was silent.
“Young man, why are you here?” Sun Laosan’s mother came out.
Gao Jie called, “Aunt, this is Captain Li Yi I told you about.”
Li Yi stepped forward, cupping his hands, “Aunt, I’ve come to settle Sun Laosan’s affairs. I want to help you so he can rest in peace.”
Hearing this, the woman nodded in sorrow, “Thank you.”
Li Yi sighed, “Sun Laosan was a dutiful son. He knew your hardship, so he risked his life with us. When the fighting began, I failed to protect him.”
Sun Laosan’s mother knew her son had chosen a dangerous path.
With tears in her eyes, she said, “I always knew this day would come, just not so soon.”
Li Yi comforted her, took out a basket and a pouch.
“Aunt, though Sun Laosan is gone, the money he earned for you must not go to waste. Here are five thousand copper coins and five taels of silver. Every month, you can come to Li Family Village for five taels.”
Hearing this, Sun Laosan’s mother’s eyes widened.
Li Yi took out another purse, handing it over, “Sun Laosan died in battle; I am deeply remorseful. Here are twenty taels for compensation. Please accept.”
Sun Laosan’s mother waved her hands, “Captain Li, I can’t accept so much silver. Take it back, take it back.”
Li Yi pressed the purse into her hands.
“If you ever have trouble, come to Li Family Village. Gao Jie will help with Sun Laosan’s affairs.”
Li Yi glanced around, then whispered, “Times are chaotic; wealth must not be flaunted. Hide the silver, spend the copper, don’t attract evil eyes.”
Sun Laosan’s mother was startled, then nodded quickly.
Before she could react further, Li Yi had already left.
At the gate, Gao Jie asked, “Captain, you gave Sun Laosan’s share to his family, which is kind enough. Why give them another twenty taels?”
Li Yi smiled slightly, “The silver was earned by Sun Laosan; the twenty taels are for compensation. A life lost—a strong laborer gone—touches many hearts. From now on, if anyone dies for me, I will always provide compensation in this way.”