Chapter 972 - 811: The Best Deal Under Heaven

Outside the government office, Xu Chongyi waited at the gatekeeper’s door, pacing back and forth, waiting for the clerk to pass word.

A moment later, Hu Yue came out to announce: "Elder Xu of the Xu Family, my master invites you inside."

Xu Chongyi lifted his robe hem and walked through the government office. From afar he could already see Hu Junye seated in the Taishi Chair at the chief seat of the main hall, with the officials of the Capital City Ministry of War lined up to the left and right.

Among the Eight Great Merchants, only the Wang Family’s Landlord, Wang Dequan, had arrived. As for the rest, he still saw only each family’s Shopkeeper standing in the main hall, the Landlords nowhere in sight.

Xu Chongyi stepped into the main hall, and in the next instant, Hu Junye waved his hand to the Ministry of War officials on both sides. The officials filed out one after another, leaving only Minister of the Ministry of War in the Capital, Wang Changzhen.

Hu Junye’s gaze swept across the Shopkeepers of the Eight Great Merchants: "If you now wish to jump off my Hu Family’s ship, it is not too late. If you want to leave, then hurry and leave. This place is free to come and go."

The Shopkeepers exchanged glances, then all lowered their eyelids without moving.

Hu Junye let out a cold laugh. The five vermilion-lacquered doors of the main hall slowly closed, leaving only the hollowed-out white paper windows to let in a few faint strands of light, illuminating the motes of dust floating up and down inside the room.

The main hall dimmed. Deep inside, Hu Junye sat in the Taishi Chair, half his body sunk into shadow: "Elder Xu of the Xu Family, in a single day you lost clan authority, lands, and shops. How does it feel?"

Xu Chongyi was silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and sighed: "Among victors and losers, the winner becomes king. The Zhang Family hid a master; we are less skilled than others and can only bow our heads in defeat."

In the darkness, Hu Junye smiled: "This move with the Anti-Japanese Army is indeed impossible to guard against. The last time I saw such a stratagem, it was Marquis Wu Xiang using it on the Chen family’s second branch. When I heard the news, I almost thought Marquis Wu Xiang had come back to life."

The people in the hall kept silent; how could there be any logic of the dead returning to life?

Hu Junye drawled: "A pity. Marquis Wu Xiang was a genius bestowed by Heaven, yet the Chen family did not recognize his worth and despised him for belonging to the Eunuch Party, and the Zhang Family could not shelter him, so he died young in his prime. Had he married a woman of my Hu Family back then, the Hu Family would never have let him die prematurely; we would surely have safeguarded his rise all the way from Taiyuan Prefecture up to the Central, and entry into the cabinet would not have been impossible..."

Hu Junye’s tone shifted: "So, gentlemen, in a human lifetime, choices are paramount."

The government office fell instantly quiet.

The Eight Great Merchants heard the veiled warning, furtively exchanged looks, and no one knew what they were pondering.

But Xu Chongyi was preoccupied with the Xu Family’s affairs at the moment and had no time to listen to Hu Junye’s idle talk: "May I ask, Mr. Hu, why would Prince Fu appear in my Xu Family Mansion? Is he not your Hu Family’s own nephew by marriage? Why does he aid the Zhang Family?"

Hu Junye drawled: "His Highness belongs to the Heavenly Family, while my Hu Family is but a minister of the Heavenly Family. A minister cannot meddle in the affairs of the Heavenly Family. Whatever His Highness wishes to do, my Hu Family can neither sway nor dare to sway. Yet whether it is the Heavenly Family’s business or the Hu Family’s business, it is not your place to comment."

Xu Chongyi said in a deep voice: "Now Dinghai Port has already fallen into the Zhang Family’s hands, and Songjiang Port is likewise on the brink of disaster. Does the Hu Family have any means of response? The two ports are no longer merely my own concern as Xu Chongyi. If we let the Zhang Family seize the sea trade levies just like this, the Grand Secretary’s seat will be settled! I, Xu Chongyi, losing Songjiang Port means losing a business of two million taels, but if your Hu Family loses the Grand Secretary’s seat, what you lose is this whole realm!"

Hu Junye replied unhurriedly: "My Hu Family guards the borders for the court; in the past we guarded the Nine Border, and even if we become Grand Secretary we would merely continue guarding the Nine Border. The realm is Your Majesty’s realm."

His gaze turned toward the Shopkeepers of each house: "Elder Xu of the Xu Family is burning with anxiety. Do any of you have a countermeasure?"

Everyone in the hall remained silent, both hands folded in their sleeves, eyes lowered to their own toes.

Hu Junye smiled: "Gentlemen, which of you knows the meaning of ’If the trickling stream be not dammed, it will in the end become a river’?"

Wang Dequan cupped his hands: "In reply to Mr. Hu, this saying means that if a small trickle of water is not blocked, it will eventually gather into a river. If a problem just beginning to show its head is not corrected, it will in the end become a great calamity."

Hu Junye said carelessly: "So you do know the meaning. Today, when the Huqiu Xu Family’s Dinghai Port is gone, you turn a blind eye, thinking it is only the Xu Family’s affair. When the Jinling Xu Family’s Songjiang Port is gone, you still turn a blind eye, for it is still the Xu Family’s affair, or perhaps my Hu Family’s affair."

The Eight Great Merchants did not respond.

Hu Junye asked calmly: "Do you all think that once the Zhang Family has taken the customs duties, they will be content? With Zhang Zhuo presiding over the new policies, if he does not strip you of your fortunes and lives, he will not let the matter rest. What will be next in line for misfortune—salt shops? Farmland? Commercial taxes?"

Wang Dequan cupped his hands and asked: "May I seek instruction from Mr. Hu, what should we do?"

Hu Junye looked toward Minister Wang of the Ministry of War in the Capital, Wang Changzhen: "Minister Wang, you speak."

Wang Changzhen rose and said: "At present the Anti-Japanese Army is using fines in place of taxes. It looks clever, yet in truth it leaves a fatal flaw."

Hu Junye said blandly: "Put it more plainly. I fear the gentlemen in this hall will not understand."

Wang Changzhen’s voice paused: "The Anti-Japanese Army has only the duty to resist Wokou; whence comes the authority to collect fine silver? Previously, when the Ministry of War dispatch order transferring Zheng Jiye was sent to Dinghai Port, he fled. If we send it again now and he flees once more, the siege of Dinghai Port can be lifted, and you, my lord, can take the merit of the customs duties into your own hands. At present the Ministry of War is still holding back the victory report, not yet sending it to the Imperial Capital. Once the dust settles here, the credit will be yours."

Hu Junye countered: "And if he does not flee?"

Wang Changzhen said with full confidence: "If he does not flee, all we need do is transfer Zheng Jiye into the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, and thereafter let the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, in place of the Anti-Japanese Army, collect the fine silver. The merit will still rest in your hands, and we can also strip the Zhang Family of military authority, preventing them from using the Anti-Japanese Army to stir up trouble again. My lord, the mantle of righteousness does not lie in the hands of the Anti-Japanese Army, but in ours, the Ministry of War."

Hu Junye’s fingers tapped the armrest of the Taishi Chair: "Men die for wealth, birds die for food. The Zhang Family, wanting to clasp the customs duties in their own hands, have already embarked upon the path to death. But if it were only that, I would not need to ask you."

He stood up, his figure cast entirely into darkness so that his expression could not be seen: "Let us today throw open the window and speak plainly. If this merit is to fall upon my Hu Family’s head, then we must completely erase this Anti-Japanese Army. Within three days, I want your Death Soldiers to disguise themselves as merchant ships and approach, borrowing the name of the remnants of the Matsubara Clan—none of the Anti-Japanese Army may be allowed to escape. Bring out all the Executive Officers you have been raising. If this matter succeeds, once the court lifts the sea ban, you will be given the sea trade register."

Hearing this, Wang Dequan’s face changed. "Mr. Hu, earlier you..."

Standing in the darkness, Hu Junye looked down on him from above. "If what you were supposed to do had been done properly, the sea trade register would naturally belong to your Wang family alone. Since you failed, even if it’s handed to your family, you still won’t be able to hold it."

Wang Dequan swallowed his anger and said no more.

Wang Changzhen hesitated. "Sir, we still ought to act according to the law. If the law cannot protect others, then the law cannot protect you and me either."

Hu Junye said coolly, "That’s the reasoning of you civil servants. The Hu Family needs no one’s protection; it is the Hu Family that has protected the entire Ning Dynasty."

His gaze swept across each Shopkeeper’s face. "Today is your pledge of allegiance. Once we work together, we are all on the same boat. When the Hu Family becomes Grand Secretary, Jiangnan will be as it was before—and as it will continue to be. In addition, each of you will have a share of the sea trade register."

The Shopkeepers of the Eight Great Merchants pondered in their hearts. Hu Junye had not said what would happen if they were unwilling to work with him.

Wang Dequan thought for a moment. "I’ll go back at once to ready my men and horses."

From the corner, Hu Yue said calmly, "Just send someone back. The government office has kept rooms and food ready for you all. You may stay and sample the skills of the government office’s kitchen."

The Gu family’s Shopkeeper’s expression changed. "Mr. Hu, this is not proper, is it? Since when is there a principle of forced buying and forced selling?"

"After hearing so many secrets you still hope to stand apart?" Hu Junye sneered. "On the Nine Border, the Hu Family fastens our heads to our belts dealing with Jing Dynasty traitors. At our side, a man is either a comrade-in-arms or an enemy; there is no third possibility. If a comrade, we go to battle together to kill the foe, then drink together off our horses. If an enemy, we must wipe him out to the last... You all are now by my side—are you my comrades-in-arms, or are you my enemies?"

All the Shopkeepers fell silent.

After a moment, the Store Manager of the Ji family pondered, then cupped his hands. "Mr. Hu, there’s no such thing in this world as ’making the horse run while not letting it eat grass.’ We are merchants—once we enter into a deal and lay down capital, we must at least know what we can expect to gain."

Hu Junye said evenly, "What do you want?"

The Ji Store Manager replied with certainty, "We want eighty percent of the shares in Songjiang Port and Dinghai Port. As for how that is divided among us, that is our own affair."

Xu Chongyi shouted angrily, "That is this old man’s Songjiang Port, and you open your mouth demanding eighty percent?"

The Ji Store Manager said blandly, "If we pay no heed, in a few days Songjiang Port will no longer bear the Xu name. You’ll be left guarding an empty harbor with not a single ship able to sail."

Xu Chongyi narrowed his eyes. "And on what grounds do you think you can resolve this?"

The Ji Store Manager smiled. "How I resolve it is no concern of yours."

But just then Hu Junye spoke. "For Dinghai Port and Songjiang Port, the Hu Family will take fifty percent. The remainder you may divide among yourselves."

The Ji Store Manager’s face changed. "We nine families sharing fifty percent—would that not be a bit thin?"

Standing in the darkness, Hu Junye fixed his gaze on him. "The Hu Family taking an extra thirty percent is so you can buy back your own lives. Are your lives not worth thirty percent?"

The Ji Store Manager furrowed his brow.

Hu Junye gave a cold laugh. "You must all have heard: the Crown Prince is now under soft confinement in Zhongcui Palace and has a crippled leg. Your Majesty first sent Prince Fu to perform the sacrificial rites at the Mountain and River Altar, then charged him with governing Jiangnan’s summer tax and autumn grain collection. It needs no explanation from me what that signifies. To grant you the chance to follow at His Highness’s side is already the best deal under heaven. Earning silver? That is the worst deal under heaven."

The Shopkeepers each grew thoughtful.

At this moment Wang Changzhen hesitated. "There is one more matter. Wang Zhi is currently standing with the Anti-Japanese Army. I fear he may obstruct us from within."

Hu Junye snorted. "All Wang Zhi seeks is for the sea to be opened to trade. Ji Store Manager, have your people go and tell Wang Zhi that once this matter is done, the Hu Family will grant him true opening of the sea to trade, not the petty trifling we see now..."

Hu Junye considered for a moment. "Moreover, I shall promise him a hereditary Sea Defense Commander. The surrendered troops under his command may all be incorporated into the Ning Dynasty Navy. When the sea ban is lifted, he will also have a share in the sea trade register."

The Ji Store Manager was silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "To report to Mr. Hu: the Ji family does not personally know Wang Zhi, but some fellow natives from Huizhou do, and they can carry the message on our behalf."

Hu Junye said casually, "Say it however you please, so long as the message is delivered."

Wang Changzhen suddenly hesitated. "Mr. Hu, would granting him the Commander’s post be too high? In my private opinion, a hereditary Sea Defense Thousand Households would suffice."

Hu Junye sneered. "Petty-minded. The strong must be avoided, and the greedy enticed. Wang Zhi is long used to running wild; he will never look twice at a mere Thousand Households. Only the rank of Commander will serve to lure him. Go, Lord Wang Changzhen—make the trip yourself."

Wang Changzhen cupped his hands. "Understood."

Hu Junye flicked his sleeve. "Go and make your preparations. Our men and horses must set out tonight for Dinghai Port. There must be no delay. Whoever delays my military operation will be beheaded."

Once the Shopkeepers of each family had left the main hall, watching their retreating backs, Hu Junye spoke offhand to Hu Yue in the corner. "Hu Yue, lead a team to Dinghai Port yourself. See that they don’t have any mishaps."

Hu Yue clasped his fists. "Understood."