113: Qiao Family Courtyard

Chapter 112 Qiao Family Compound

"Bang!"

Banner County.

Inside the Qiao Family compound, Qiao Zhiguang, the contemporary Clan Chief of the Qiao Family, fiercely slammed his walking cane onto the ground and shouted angrily, "What does this Father-in-law from the capital want to do? Is he asking for money so blatantly!?"

"Whose does he think this world of Great Yu is?"

"To extort the blood and sweat of the people so blatantly, why haven't the officials in the court impeached him yet!?"

Inside the main hall of the entire Qiao Family compound, besides Qiao Zhiguang, there were several other figures.

They were all Qiao Zhiguang's sons, each managing numerous businesses and shops of the Qiao Family, living in pampered luxury.

The second son, Qiao Maokang, said, "Dad, you have no idea how prestigious Liu Chengen is. He doesn't even give Face to the commandery governor and prefect. When Prefect Chen went, he stood outside the door for over an hour before catching a glimpse of him, and was driven out after just a few words."

"As for the Datong women we offered up, not a single one was missed; they were all kept."

"Heh~! If it were according to my old temper, I would have long since had someone strip off that official robe!"

"Does he really think your father is afraid of him!?"

"Trash!"

Qiao Zhiguang forcefully slammed his walking cane against the ground and cursed angrily, "Trash! What do you know!?"

"Maoyong, you tell them!"

The eldest son, Qiao Maoyong, said, "Dad, I asked someone in the court. Liu Chengen is indeed a favorite minister of Your Majesty at present, the kind who is brought along wherever he goes."

"This time he came to our Bing Province, it truly is under the imperial decree to press for military funds."

"Alas, we can only blame ourselves for being impatient back then, intercepting Cui Xiawu halfway and having him help us kill that gang of mud-legged peasants. Otherwise, could there be today's trouble?"

"Having stayed for a month, he wants to take ten million taels of silver. Is this how business is done?"

Qiao Maokang said, "Dad! It's not that I'm reluctant to part with so much money, it's mainly that this fellow is simply too outrageous, how can—"

"Shut up!"

Qiao Zhiguang said, "Did you have that bunch up above impeach him with a few memorials?"

"It won't do, Dad." Qiao Maoyong shook his head and said, "I heard that these past few days, Your Majesty has started immersing himself in immortality arts again and hasn't held court for over half a month. The memorials impeaching him are all kept in the Cabinet, and Your Majesty can't see them at all."

"Alas...!"

Qiao Zhiguang forcefully slammed his walking cane against the ground and said through clenched teeth, "Could it be that we really have to bleed a fortune?"

"Dad!"

Qiao Maokang said, "It definitely won't be just our Qiao Family paying money. Didn't Liu Chengen say so? His target is the Eight Great Merchants of Bing in our Bing Province."

"Heh! Eight families pooling ten million taels of silver, one million taels per person, that's enough!"

"There are also other merchants and aristocratic families."

Qiao Maoyong said, "There are plenty of merchants in Bing Province; we can't always be the ones paying money, right?"

"What does the Wang Family say?"

In Bing Province, many officials, aristocratic families, and merchants all looked to the Datong Wang Family as their leader.

This Family possessed a Legacy from over three hundred years ago, and its clan members and officials were spread all over the court.

If the Wang Family paid, they would definitely have to pay as well!

Qiao Maoyong said, "We've already sent someone to ask; they should be back around today."

"Right, Dad, I actually think this is a good opportunity?"

Qiao Zhiguang said, "Oh? How so?"

"Eunuchs, after all, having lost those two liang of flesh below, aren't they just doing it for money? If we can clear the path through Liu Chengen, will we have to worry about our future business being hard to run?"

Qiao Maoyong said, "Didn't the subordinate shopkeepers also send back news? This ten million taels of silver is for Your Majesty, and he will definitely extort more. We can completely spend a large sum to make a friend, and there will definitely be benefits in the future!"

"To say nothing of the distant ones, let's talk about the nearby Jing'an Grand Canal. I heard that it's a canal three to four thousand li long!"

"Along the way, it passes through Jiang Province, You Province, Ji Province, and Bing Province straight to the capital. To summon corvée laborers for this grand canal is counted in the millions."

"With people eating and horses chewing, plus soil transport, gravel, and the like, aren't those all money?"

"If we can take a share in it, that alone would be enough for us to live off for several decades!"

Qiao Zhiguang nodded and said, "This old man has also considered this point, which is why I didn't reject Liu Chengen."

"However, our Qiao Family started out with salt, iron, and fabrics; we've never done gravel business!"

"Dad, the businesses in this world are endless."

Qiao Maoyong said, "As long as we can hook up with Liu Chengen's line, are we afraid of having no business coming to our door in the future?"

"The business I most want to do is actually with the Royal Chamber of Commerce; that is true exorbitant profit!"

"A tiny bottle of perfume only sells for ten taels of silver in the capital, but when it reaches our place, the price goes straight up to thirty taels!"

"If it's transported to Jiangnan, it must be at least one hundred taels!"

"And glass, refined salt, soap, women's handbags—which one of them isn't an exorbitant profit?"

"It's a pity that for some reason, the Royal Chamber of Commerce has only opened three branch stores in the capital, and there hasn't been the slightest movement anywhere else."

"If we could participate in the Royal Chamber of Commerce, tsk tsk tsk..."

Although Qiao Maoyong didn't say anything further, everything went without saying.

Qiao Zhiguang slightly nodded and said, "Maoyong is right, as long as we..."

"Dad!"

Qiao Maokang suddenly interrupted Qiao Zhiguang, glanced at his eldest brother Qiao Maoyong, and then said, "Son has another idea."

"Oh? What idea?"

"Son has brothers in the army. They told me that the reason the Great Yu army has won every battle in recent years and even occupied two prefectures of Wu Country is entirely because of those explosives, flintlock muskets, and Thunderbolt Mine!"

"If we can get these things through Liu Chengen, we can definitely sell them for a huge price!"

"I think Wu Country definitely wants these things very much!"

As soon as his voice fell, both Qiao Zhiguang and Qiao Maoyong's expressions changed drastically.

Especially Qiao Zhiguang, who abruptly threw the walking cane in his hand, fiercely smashing it against Qiao Maokang's body.

"You unfilial son! This old man has repeatedly forbidden anyone from discussing matters of Wu Country again; have you forgotten all of it!?"

"What is there to fear!?"

Qiao Maokang suddenly stood up and said, "Doing business with Wu Country hasn't been just a day or two. Dad, what hasn't you sold to Wu Country?"

"Let's not talk about salt and iron; weapons, armor, and even border defense intelligence—you've even committed treason by selling them! Why are you scared now!?"

"Unfilial son! You unfilial son! Cough, cough, cough..."

Qiao Zhiguang began to cough violently, frightening Qiao Maoyong into hurriedly running over to continuously soothe him.

"Dad! Don't get anxious! Breathe! Take it easy..."

"Maokang! Times are different now."

Qiao Maoyong, while soothing Qiao Zhiguang, explained, "A few years ago, the Great Yu border army was weak, and there were signs of great chaos in the world. For the sake of our fallback, we had no choice but to do business with Wu Country, and it was all done in secret."

"Not just us—who among the Eight Great Merchants of Bing hasn't done it?"

"The most ruthless one was still that Wang Family, even... Forget it, those things are all in the past."

"Who would have thought that the new emperor would be so formidable, heavily employing Xu Mujun to not only repel the Wu Country invasion, but also turn around and occupy two prefectures of Wu Country."

"Now Black Mountain Pass of Wu Country has been occupied by Great Yu, and with the advantage of firearms, for Wu Country to want to counterattack is a pipe dream."

"Those letters, border blueprints, travel passes, and the like from our transactions with Wu Country are all evidence of our collusion with the enemy state and betrayal of Great Yu!"

"If discovered, our entire Family will be executed!"

"At a time like this, instead of obediently keeping it under wraps, you still want to set your sights on firearms? Aren't you truly afraid of the Jinyi Guard following the vine to unearth the melon and finding our evidence of crime!?"

"What is there to fear..."

Qiao Maokang, who originally wanted to shout loudly, looked at his angry father and eldest brother, his tone finally weakening a bit: "Fine, I won't talk nonsense then."

"However, I really don't believe Your Majesty dares to move against us. As long as we are willing, we can raise an army of several hundred thousand people at any time. At worst, we'll rebel just like Yong Province!"

"Unfilial son! Unfilial son! Get out of this old man's sight! Get out...!"

Qiao Zhiguang was so angry that his lips trembled and his eyes were practically spitting fire.

"Hmph! If you want me to leave, I'll leave!"

Qiao Maokang trotted away and, looking at the thick and vast courtyard walls, spat and said, "Old bastard, you only know how to make big money for yourself and don't care whether your son lives or dies."

"You can sell weapons and armor, why can't I?"

"Now Wu Country is anxious for revenge and will definitely pay a high price for firearms. I don't believe that no one in this world loves money!"

"First bribe Liu Chengen, then find a way to bribe the commander defending Black Mountain Pass. If all else fails, crawl through the mountains and forests or take the waterways—we'll always be able to sell explosives and firearms to Wu Country."

"Hehehe, by then, those firearms might sell for a sky-high price!"

"A single firearm will surely have to sell for... one hundred, no, one thousand taels of silver! Hehehe..."

"This is much more profitable than selling ironware and armor..."

The more Qiao Maokang talked, the more excited he became, as if he had already seen countless gold and silver waving at him.

Inside the compound, however, Qiao Zhiguang took hold of Qiao Maoyong's hand and said,

"Maoyong, among all this old man's sons, you are the most promising. Our Qiao Family's massive foundation will depend on you in the future!"

"Dad, rest assured, I will definitely develop the Qiao Family well and won't let the Qiao Family fall."

"Good, good, good..."

Qiao Zhiguang's Qi finally subsided, and he said, "Although our Qiao Family started out relatively late, it has also been over a hundred years. What kind of great storms and waves haven't we seen? Isn't it just an apportionment requested from above? We'll just give it!"

"However, we mustn't be the bellwether, nor should we be the last to give. We'll follow everyone else."

"As long as the Wang Family pays first, we'll follow suit and pay as well, understand?"

"Rest assured, Dad, your son understands."

A few days later, the Datong Wang Family suddenly issued formal invitations, summoning the Eight Great Merchants of Bing as well as numerous aristocratic families and landlords to a gathering in Datong.

Almost all merchants and landlords dispatched capable assistants to attend the gathering.

At the meeting, the Wang Family first stated their stance, expressing their willingness to cooperate with Liu Chengen in paying ten million taels of silver in military funds.

What remained to be discussed next was simply how much each Family should contribute.

After half a day of discussion, a decision was finally made.

The Eight Great Merchants of Bing—the eight families of Wang, Qiao, Chang, Meng, Hou, Qu, Kang, and Fang—would each contribute one million taels, totaling eight million taels.

The remaining two million taels would be jointly funded by other merchants and aristocratic families.

In addition, the Eight Great Merchants of Bing produced an extra two million taels, which was privately handed over to Liu Chengen under the name of 'tea money'.

Ten million taels of silver were escorted by Imperial Guard soldiers and transported into the military camp where Liu Chengen was located.

As for the other two million taels, along with the extra 'tea money' secretly given by other interested parties, they were transported through back doors, side doors, and other routes into the tent where Liu Chengen stayed.

That very night, Liu Chengen smilingly received the representatives of the Eight Great Merchants of Bing, speaking earnestly and highly praising the righteous act of the Eight Great Merchants of Bing.

Almost all the Bing merchants and local officials of Bing Province breathed a sigh of relief. Eunuchs had eccentric Heart-Natures and were truly difficult to deal with.

"That's right! In a few days, this humble self will be celebrating his fiftieth birthday. Look, isn't this sheer fate!"

Liu Chengen laughed heartily and said, "How about this: I will host a birthday banquet at the Fenglin Pavilion in Datong to treat all the righteous men of Bing Province, how does that sound?"

Looking at the several representatives of the Eight Great Merchants of Bing before him, Liu Chengen smiled and said, "This is my fiftieth birthday after all, so all you Clan Chiefs and masters must give me some Face!"

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