As the winter wind whistled outside the grand hall of the imperial palace in Luoyang, Yang Yi’s voice remained calm and deliberate.
“When the people from various nations flock to the grasslands, they’ll plow them over in no time. Then we simply wait for spring. The seeds will fall into the soil, sprout anew, and fresh grass will begin to grow. Give it a year or two, and the Turkic pastures will have recovered more than halfway.”
The moment his words faded, silence gripped the hall.
Everyone held their breath. Their eyes fixed blankly on Yang Yi, and an involuntary chill shot up their spines.
He was using people’s greed—driving them like cattle and horses without lifting a finger. The idea was diabolical.
Wu Zhao’s phoenix-like eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t anticipated such a ruthless move from Yang Yi.
It wasn’t difficult to imagine the outcome. Once public opinion had been guided in the right direction… those people would dance in the palm of Yang Yi’s hand. They would dig and dig, chasing an illusion of buried treasure, only to come up empty-handed. By the time they gave up, the grasslands would already be tilled and refreshed with new soil.
Come spring, the pastures would burst into life once again—and Great Zhou wouldn’t have paid a single coin.
Truly, he was worthy of the title “Living Yama” This scheme was just too wicked.
For a long while, no one spoke.
Wu Zhao rubbed her temples and finally muttered, “What if they dig too deep, too recklessly, and leave the Turkic lands riddled with holes?”
Everyone paused, startled by the concern. They turned instinctively to Yang Yi.
He chuckled softly. “Your Majesty overestimates them.”
Wu Zhao blinked. “What do you mean?”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Yang Yi’s lips. “The Turks lie to the north of Great Zhou. No matter which country people come from, they’ll have to travel quite a distance—crossing mountains and rivers. Of course, they won’t be able to carry heavy tools with them. At most, they’ll bring a shovel.”
“They can’t buy more tools once they reach Turkic territory, either. At best, they’ll pick up something lightweight near our borders or bring some digging gear from home.”
He looked directly at Wu Zhao. “So, Your Majesty, do you truly believe that with just a few shovels, these treasure hunters can dig craters all across the grasslands?”
He leaned forward slightly. “Besides, for an adult to dig a pit just a meter wide, it takes nearly a full day—even when they’re at home and well-rested. These people will be in foreign land, exposed to wind and rain, with no wine or warm food. How long do you think they’ll last?”
He chuckled again. “At most, they’ll dig for two or three days. If nothing turns up, they’ll move on. Some may give up after barely scratching the surface. Few have the endurance to keep at it.”
He leaned back and shrugged. “And besides… if they truly had that kind of work ethic, they’d already be earning honest coin in other trades. The ones willing to believe in a vague legend of treasure, and even travel to Turkic lands to pursue it, are surely lazy fools blinded by greed.”
Yang Yi’s gaze swept across the room.
“Such people aren’t capable of turning the grasslands into a pockmarked wasteland. And even if a few shallow pits do appear, it doesn’t matter. The land isn’t used for farming. As long as the soil is turned, grass will grow. There are already plenty of uneven patches across the prairie. A few more won’t hurt.”
When he finished, silence returned once more—this time accompanied by a flicker of understanding.
Everyone glanced at one another, eyes brightening.
Wu Zhao, still slightly stunned, parted her rose-colored lips but said nothing. She hadn’t considered it in such detail before, but now that she heard it laid out so clearly… it did seem reasonable. Even if holes were dug, as long as grass grew, it would be enough.
She rubbed her temples again.
“Very well. Let’s proceed with your plan and see how it plays out,” she said quietly. “There’s no cost to us, after all. If it fails, nothing is lost.”
Half a month later, Luoyang.
The capital city bustled with life as news began to spread like wildfire across its crowded streets. Whispers and speculation flourished among merchants and commoners alike.
“Hey, have you heard?” someone called out over the noise of a market stall. “They say Qimin Khan, the former leader of the Turks, left behind a hidden treasure!”
“Really?” another gasped. “Is that true?”
“I’m telling you, it’s because of the map Qimin Khan left behind that Great Zhou found so many silver mines. And they say there’s more—treasure buried deep beneath the grasslands…”
“Then why didn’t the Turks find it themselves?”
“Who knows?” came the reply. “But I’ve heard it from several people now, and they all swear by it.”
Foreign merchants passing through couldn’t resist the excitement. Crowds gathered wherever the rumor was repeated, and within hours, Luoyang buzzed with the frenzy of possibility.
The story only gained momentum.
Two weeks later, the rumor had reached a fever pitch.
Instead of dying down, the tale grew with each retelling. Soon, even the Great Zhou Daily ran a front-page feature, quoting “unnamed sources” and using careful words like “allegedly” and “possibly.”
The greedy—and the foolish—clung to the fantasy.
Meanwhile, in the Tang capital of Chang’an… ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel~fire~net
“Have you heard about the Turkic treasure?” someone whispered at a tea shop near the city gates.
“I have. Even the Great Zhou Daily reported on it. Apparently, some of the older Turkic folks used to say there’s something hidden beneath the grasslands…”
“Yes, they say the treasure holds countless gold coins—enough to rival a silver mine.”
“Hiss, I’ve heard there might be ancient artifacts too, along with gold and silver jewelry.”
“I’m not sure, but it’s possible there’s gold buried underground. Look how vast and soft the grasslands are—perfect for hiding treasure.”
People on the streets whispered in hushed tones, their voices full of wonder. One after another, they grew more excited by the legend of the treasure. After all, it was a treasure—who wouldn’t be tempted?
Before long, many were itching to take action. A wave of treasure fever slowly began to rise.
The rumor of the “Turkic Treasure” had spread beyond the Tang Dynasty, sweeping into the surrounding kingdoms and sending their people into a frenzy.
Ming Dynasty—Fengtian Hall.
“Father, I’ve heard something recently… It seems to be connected to Great Zhou’s silver mines. I’m not sure whether it’s true.” Zhu Biao’s eyes held a curious glint as he looked toward Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang froze for a moment, his brow creasing.