38: Chapter 32: The Pill Worth Ten Thousand Taels 38: Chapter 32: The Pill Worth Ten Thousand Taels After a ti it took an incense stick to burn, Zhao Feng set down the brush and ink and softly said to the two ministers, “I appreciate the effort you both took to co to the royal residence under the noon sun.”
His deanor was affable, indeed one that demonstrated concern for his subordinates.
Gu Wen perford a customary hand clasp and recited so polite words, while Hu Sanyuan dramatically knelt down and exclaid, “To behold Your Highness’s divine countenance is worth climbing the steepest mountains and braving the fieriest seas.”
Seeing his comically exaggerated behavior, Zhao Feng could not help but smile and said, “Minister Hu, please rise quickly.”
It was awkward, yet also very useful.
While obsequiousness might be contemptible, in the eyes of the leader it’s the giver’s little piece of flattery.
Feeling that it’s awkward just ans you’re not the one being flattered.
Gu Wen stood neither humbly nor arrogantly, for he did not need to degrade himself by competing for favor.
He waited for Hu Sanyuan to finish his act before he presented the Water House’s accounts.
Zhao Feng was very pleased.
The Water House’s revenue amounted to several hundred thousand silver taels annually, but this money was not settled in one lump sum.
There were promissory notes, and then a year-end settlent.
If they needed to settle early, they would have to discuss it with each major client.
Collecting money was an art, and sending his own eunuchs might result in not even being able to collect everything by year’s end, let alone how much wealth might be embezzled.
Gu Wen’s exceptionally high efficiency shone through with just a single statent, and quickly all the money was collected.
Suddenly, Zhao Feng noticed that the accounts only totaled thirty thousand silver taels and frowned, asking, “Why only thirty thousand taels?”
While thirty thousand taels were an excellent outco, he couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious.
He had recently visited the palace, where he obtained a treasure ship, but his father the Emperor also demanded that he establish the Foundation within the year.
Thus, he had to look for other ans, as countless factions from the fringes of society were lurking both in plain sight and in shadow in Bianjing.
People from the Three Religions and all walks of life sought to accelerate their cultivation, and there were innurable thods to do so, but the costs for the top Magic Skills were extrely high.
Gu Wen clasped his hands in reply and said, “Your Highness, this is all the silver we could collect from the Water House.
The inco from the Water House is of two kinds, monthly and annual.
The bulk cos from the annual fees, which are generally collected at the end of the previous year for the current year, hence the amount is only so.”
“Is there truly not a single tael left in the Water House?” Zhao Feng asked again.
What matter was so urgent?
Was the royal residence completely out of money?
Growing more curious, Gu Wen calmly responded, “There is no silver that can be collected in the short term.
May I ask how much Your Highness requires?”
“Naturally, the more the better.
Does Minister Gu have any other solutions?”
No sooner had Zhao Feng finished speaking than Hu Sanyuan stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, “I have a suggestion.
I rember that many Water House boatn are in debt, and over the years, there surely must be so interest to collect?”
Gu Wen’s eyes grew cold.
How dare soone reaches into his domain.
Over the past few years, the major households in Bianjing had exploited the common people countless tis, their thods similar to how farrs outside of the city lost their lands through consolidation.
As the court raised property-related taxes, people had to borrow money to pay taxes, and the banks and pawnshops had them mortgage their property deeds, only to increase prices the following year.
To ensure that his veteran employees would not leave, Gu Wen provided loans within the Water House at an annual interest rate of only three percent.
He did not lack the money, but he needed to provide an explanation and accountability to the royal residence.
It was fine to ensure employee’s motivation, but not to make no profit.
He said, “Many Water House boatn indeed have debts, but adding them up amounts to only a thousand taels.
If Your Highness urgently needs money, we can mortgage three years of future water fees at half price.”
“Half-price for three years’ worth of water fees?
That would an a loss of several hundred thousand taels,” protested Hu Sanyuan, like a dog that had found a hole to pounce upon, saying, “The boatn may be penniless, but they have houses.
Make them pay, and if they can’t, take the houses and sell them.
There will always be buyers, right?”
Why insist on seeking death?
Gu Wen reckoned that he would find ti in the coming days to take care of him – in his line of work, sudden deaths were all too common.
Even he had been the target of several assassination attempts.
As for soone like Hu Sanyuan, involved in shady dealings, regardless of their current glory, in death they were rely a piece of rotten at, with plenty ready to take their place.
“Quite right, quite right,”
Zhao Feng clapped his hands, seemingly persuaded.
Hu Sanyuan smiled at Gu Wen, thinking he had gained further favor, looking so sycophantic it was laughable.
Gu Wen, still maintaining his dignity, said, “Your Highness, by collecting the money today and causing nurous boatn to go bankrupt, what will beco of the Water House afterwards?”
“Marquis Wen worries too much.
What Bianjing has in abundance right now is idle people, plus we can rent the houses to them, which is another source of inco,” Hu Sanyuan interjected with increasingly obvious implications.
Zhao Feng pondered, then looking at Gu Wen, he asked, “What does Minister Gu think?”
Gu Wen replied, “The boatn perform manual labor and must be familiar with Bianjing’s roadways; it’s not a job just anyone can do.
If Your Highness thinks that three years of half-priced water fees is too much, perhaps we can start with selling just one year’s worth.”
“Then we shall follow Minister Gu’s advice,”
Zhao Feng nodded and turned toward him.
Hu Sanyuan, taken aback, hastily said, “Your Highness, even half-price amounts to a hundred thousand taels, that’s too much.”
Zhao Feng seed to have made up his mind and stated, “We shall follow Minister Gu’s plan.
If not, the Water House would not even have several hundred thousand taels.”
The art of emperorship values the use of capable people.
He knew that the real one handling affairs was Gu Wen, with Hu Sanyuan being at most a little dog, eager to please but incapable of truly bringing him benefits.
“Lord Gu, go and handle this matter quickly, there will be a reward for you if you do well.”
“Understood.”
Gu Wen glanced at the resentful gaze beside him, those sewer rats always so arrogant and domineering, their dark origins destined it so.
He had just turned to leave when suddenly Zhao Feng called out to him again, “Wait.”
Turning his head, he saw Zhao Feng’s face showing difficulty, his breathing rapid, forehead beginning to sweat slightly, hands trembling slightly.
“If anything happens to the Dragon Spring Well in the near future, inform the Immortal Household yourself, I have been unwell lately.”
Gu Wen was filled with doubts.
Before, Zhao Feng had been strictly on guard, according to the servants of the palace, he was guarding day and night in front of the Immortal’s courtyard, not allowing anyone else to approach.
I should be no exception, so why did he change his mind today and let et Yu Hua?
Eunuch Feng died, could it have been Yu Hua who killed him?
Gu Wen sensed an unusual air but did not ask further, he simply bowed and said, “Understood.”
Then he stepped out of the study, slowing his pace as soon as he left the room.
Five senses of the Second Level Foundation Establishnt, circulating Mana to condense by the ear, faint sounds ca through.
“Your Highness, the Pill has been refined…”
“Don’t let anyone know, there will be substantial rewards upon success…”
“But if the royal court finds out, I won’t be able to protect you…”
—————–
Sunset, Gu Residence.
Gu Wen had so leads on the matter he had Jiang Fugui investigate, recently Hu Sanyuan had been frequently entering and exiting Qianfeng Tower, known to be an establishnt that sells art, not bodies, although buying soone outright is another matter.
Hu Sanyuan, the underworld boss, did not seem too fond of that place.
That is to say, Zhao Feng has been buying Pills from Qianfeng Tower, which is indeed no simple place, but it doesn’t matter to who is only buying Pills.
Jiang Fugui walked in from outside, huffing, “Sir, heaven has turned upside down, that dog Hu Sanyuan sohow got hold of our n’s IOUs and is demanding their houses.”
Zhao Feng isn’t stupid but is sowhat dumb, and in the end, he was persuaded by Hu Sanyuan.
People are fickle and foolish, so a true capable minister, in addition to doing a good job, must also placate those above, otherwise one’s fate is likely to beco a pitied history.
But I never intended to be a minister, I’ll stay as long as it’s profitable.
Gu Wen could accept it and did not overreact, he continued to check the ledger while saying, “Go find out where he’s been staying recently.”
“Ah?” Jiang Fugui’s eyes widened slightly, “Sir, are you planning to deal with him?”
He had been involved in plain and simple business warfare before, but being this decisive was rather unexpected; after all, the other party was just causing trouble and not yet a mortal enemy.
“Moreover, Hu Sanyuan himself has a dirty background and practices martial arts.
There’s no need for you to stoop to arguing with a rat now.
If you’re really upset, I’ll take n to have a fight.”
The collective physical labor of sailors, much like dock workers, has always been akin to being part of a half-gang.
Dragon Bridge Water House doesn’t need to delve into the underworld for its high-end business, but that doesn’t an they can’t fight.
Smashing a place is just about tearing off the facade, as a warning.
Gu Wen was unshaken, and with a serious and calm face, he said, “I have contact with a top assassin in the martial world, a little money will do.”
Jiang Fugui was full of doubts but knew that unlike in their earlier years of fervent striving, the other party would not roll up his sleeves and get to work, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
After leaving for two hours, Jiang Fugui returned with Hu Sanyuan’s address.
In the south of the city, near the gambling den.
At midnight, Gu Wen took out the Magic Treasure he used in past business confrontations, a finely crafted steel dagger, a small hamr half an arm’s length, several packets of li powder.
The forr was suitable for carrying with him for self-defense, the latter suitable for a sudden attack, a single blow resulting in death or crippling injury.
He pondered and decided to only bring the dagger, as the small hamr and li powder were ant for overpowering the strong with the weak; a stick would be better.
At night, a fine rain started falling from the sky.
The Pill worth ten thousand Silver Tael.
I, the poor Taoist, am indeed poor and in need of money.
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