In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

The front courtyard of the Yanjing County Government Office.

The once orderly county government office has now been transformed into a bustling vegetable market.

Dozens of merchants from various parts of Jiannan Road have completely blocked the second gate of the county government office.

They were all red-faced, waving the delivery contracts in their hands and shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Refund! Give us our deposit back!"

"The Zhechong Prefecture has blocked all the roads, so your salt can't be transported out at all! We've been stuck here for seven or eight days, and the men and horses are starving. Who's going to compensate us for these losses?"

"Yes! We have to get our money back! Otherwise, we're not leaving today, we'll smash up this lousy government office!"

The merchants were extremely agitated, and some of the hot-tempered ones even started shoving the salt guards blocking the entrance.

Although these salt protectors were well-equipped, they dared not actually draw their swords to attack these unarmed merchants.

Worse still, an uneasy atmosphere began to permeate even within the salt protection team.

"Have you heard? The county yamen's treasury is empty of cash," a young henchman whispered to his companion.

"I've heard about it too. Thousands of people at Qing'ao Well are waiting for their wages. If we really run out of money, will we even be able to pay our soldiers' salaries next month?"

"The Zhechong Prefecture's move was too ruthless; they've essentially strangled us. Without money, who's going to risk their lives..."

Panic, like a plague, spreads rapidly among people.

Inside the study.

The noise outside flooded into the room like a tidal wave, making the window frames tremble slightly.

Yang Xuan was silently inspecting a repeating crossbow made of fine steel, loading bolts into the quiver.

At his feet lay several heavy packages filled with compressed dry rations, wound medicine, and top-grade refined salt to be used as a door opener.

He has decided to personally travel the perilous Nanzhao Ancient Road.

However, the situation outside prevented him from stepping out of the county government office.

"My lord, the merchants outside are almost out of control." Cui Shen rushed into the study, sweating profusely, his voice anxious. "They've threatened to smash up the Qing'ao Well warehouse if we don't return the cash. And... the salt protection troops are also starting to waver."

Yang Xuan stopped pressing the arrow down, his brows furrowed tightly.

His worst fears came true.

What he lacks most right now is time.

If we can open up the ancient Nanzhao Road and bring back the first batch of warhorses and medicinal herbs, this seemingly hopeless situation can be completely turned around.

However, the blockade imposed by Zhechong Prefecture was too swift and too ruthless, leaving him no room for maneuver whatsoever.

If he leaves now, the leaderless Yanjing County government will definitely collapse completely within three days due to a funding shortfall.

"How much cash do we have available?" Yang Xuan asked in a deep voice.

"My lord, even with the loose silver in the treasury, we have less than three thousand strings of cash," Cui Shen said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "Last night we could barely manage to survive for ten days, but this morning these merchants blocked the door, demanding refunds, and the accounts were emptied in an instant. The deposits from those merchants outside add up to at least twenty thousand strings of cash. Not to mention tomorrow is the day Qing'ao Well pays its workers. We... we are truly at our wits' end."

Yang Xuan took a deep breath, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the crossbow bulged.

Are we really going to be suffocated here by that brute Helan Jin using such despicable means?

Just then, the study door was pushed open again.

A faint, delicate fragrance wafted into the room, accompanied by the clear, tinkling sound of jade pendants.

Yang Xuan and Cui Shen looked up at the same time, their eyes flashing with surprise and astonishment.

It was Yanhe who walked in.

But Yanhe at this moment is completely different from her usual simple and plain attire.

She wore an extremely luxurious purplish-red court dress with wide sleeves, the lapels and cuffs embroidered with intricate peony and cloud patterns in gold thread.

Her hair was styled in a high bun, with a hairpin dangling from the side. The South Sea pearl, the size of a longan, at the top of the hairpin emitted a dazzling, soft glow under the candlelight.

This outfit was her formal attire as a member of the Tang Dynasty royal family, the third-rank Princess Yanhe.

She has never worn it since leaving Chang'an.

Behind her, Afu and Uncle Wen were struggling to carry three heavy rosewood chests.

"Madam, what's wrong with you...?" Yang Xuan was stunned.

Yanhe didn't speak, but walked up to Yang Xuan with a determined look in his eyes.

She turned to look at Uncle Wen and nodded slightly.

"Unboxing."

"Click! Click! Click!"

Three heavy rosewood chests were opened at the same time.

In an instant, the entire study seemed to be illuminated.

Cui Shen gasped, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground.

That's neither silver nor gold.

The first box was filled with top-quality Hetian jade carvings with a warm luster and no flaws;

The second box contained a complete set of headdress jewelry strung together with gold wire and inlaid with countless rubies and sapphires;

The last box contained a dozen or so luminous pearls, each the size of a baby's fist, that shone brightly even in the dark.

Any one of these items could be exchanged for half a street of shops in Yaozhou City.

This is a treasure that cannot be measured in money; it is a priceless treasure that only members of the royal family can possess.

"These are the dowry bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine when I got married, as well as some of my mother's savings." Yanhe looked at Yang Xuan, her tone as calm as if she were talking about a few ordinary clothes. "These things may not be considered rare treasures in Chang'an, but in a place like Yaozhou, they should be enough to buy the time you need."

Looking at the elegantly dressed woman before him, Yang Xuan felt as if something had struck him hard in the heart.

He certainly knew the value of these things, and he also knew what it meant for a woman from the imperial family to use these imperial dowry gifts.

This was her last trump card, and her last shred of dignity.

"Yanhe, you..." Yang Xuan's throat was a little dry. He stepped forward and wanted to hold her hand.

"Now is not the time for sentimentality." Yanhe dodged his hand, turned her gaze to Cui Shen, and instantly regained the aura of the decisive and ruthless matriarch who was in charge of the inner quarters.

"Registrar Cui, how much cash can these things be exchanged for?" Yanhe asked coldly.

Cui Shen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, forcing himself to look away from the jewels. He quickly calculated in his mind, "Reporting to... Madam, the local pawnshops in Yaozhou simply can't handle these rare treasures. But among those merchants causing trouble outside, several are wealthy merchants from Jiangnan. They definitely know their stuff. If we use these jewels as collateral, conservatively speaking, we could get at least... 100,000 strings of cash!"

"Is 100,000 strings of cash enough to pay the soldiers' salaries and wages?" Yanhe asked.

"That's enough! Absolutely enough!" Cui Shen's voice trembled with excitement. "With this money, we can not only stabilize morale, but also plug all the holes outside, and even hold out for two or three months!"

"Very good." Yanhe turned around, her long skirt trailing behind her, and strode out of the study. "Carry the trunk up. Come with me to the front yard to meet those merchants."