Luo Wenqian merely shrugged and laughed: “We’re old acquaintances after all. Since Fourth Young Master Qin has come from Shanxi, I must fulfill my duties as a host. So yes, I’ll give you face, but since you’re new here, Fourth Young Master, do tread carefully.”
Though Luo Wenqian’s expression was noncommittal, everyone could understand his implied meaning.
Fourth Young Master Qin nodded with a laugh, appearing to humbly accept the advice.
The two then exchanged knowing laughs.
Watching them trade verbal jabs from the side, Zhen’er had her suspicions. Feng Daniu’s counterfeit note might have been connected to this Fourth Young Master Qin. After all, Luo Wenqian and the Qin family were business rivals—there were rumors of many open and hidden conflicts between them in the northern territories.
Now, it seemed both sides had their calculations.
Thus, Feng Daniu’s matter was temporarily set aside.
In the end, it was Li Jingfu of the Li family who played host, as the Qin family were his life-saving benefactors, and Fourth Young Master Qin had come specifically to pay respects to Old Master Li.
Though the Li family couldn’t observe mourning in Huizhou, they had set up Old Master Li’s memorial tablet in Nanjing. Even during the ink competition, Zhen’er would bring the tablet to the venue—her grandfather should witness this contest between the Li family and the Japanese.
Li Jingfu then invited Fourth Young Master Qin, Luo Wenqian, and others to dine. Due to the Li family’s mourning period, they served vegetarian dishes and used tea instead of wine. During the meal, Fourth Young Master Qin surprisingly brought up the matter of cooperating with a trading company.
This time, Fourth Young Master Qin proposed a partnership between the Qin family, Feng Daniu, the Li family, and the Luo family.
“Luo Jiu, now that the trade ban has been lifted, the profitable business will be on the seas. Up north, after what Anda did last year, business is impossible. There’s no point fighting over those scraps. How about this: we’ll completely withdraw from the Qi Army’s military supply business, you get the Datong region, and we’ll call a truce. Then we can work together to make money on the seas. What do you say?” Fourth Young Master Qin said to Luo Wenqian.
“Ha! Fourth Young Master has quite the scheme. The Qi Army business was mine to begin with—what do you mean you’ll ‘withdraw’? And for maritime trade, you have no connections. Any overseas ventures would rely entirely on my networks. By your suggestion, you’d be getting all the benefits. That’s no way to cooperate, is it?”
Luo Wenqian replied with narrowed eyes and a smile.
“In business, one starts with sky-high demands and settles on the spot. So, Master Luo Jiu, what are your terms?” Fourth Young Master Qin appeared open to negotiation.
“The Qi Army business was originally mine, so your family’s complete withdrawal is only proper. Additionally, for the Datong business, you must give me the military sword trade. I also want a share of the business in several border cities in Shanxi.” Luo Wenqian’s demands were harsh.
Zhen’er frowned from the side. No one knew better than Luo Wenqian about the Qin family’s dealings with the Tartars, so why was he now seriously negotiating cooperation with Fourth Young Master Qin?
Wouldn’t that risk being associated with trading with the Tartars? However, seeing Luo Wenqian’s composed expression and knowing his usual prudence, she figured he wouldn’t risk everything for minor profits—he must have a plan.
Therefore, despite her doubts, she refrained from commenting and watched their negotiations with interest.
Meanwhile, hearing Luo Wenqian’s demands, Fourth Young Master Qin jumped up in shock: “Luo Jiu, your demands are too harsh! The sword business has always been my Qin family’s trade—we can’t give that up. As for the business in several Shanxi border cities, if you want it, I can concede that. However, I should warn you, that after Anda’s massacre in Shizhou, border trade is impossible. It might even bring trouble. My family has already withdrawn from all business in those areas.”
“Hehe, the sword business has always been your Qin family’s, but ask yourself—can you still operate it effectively? Don’t most Shizhou ironware and sword merchants refuse to deal with your Qin family now? As for the border trade, thank you for your warning, Fourth Young Master, but even a mosquito’s leg is meat—having something is better than nothing.” As Luo Wenqian spoke, he used a phrase he’d once heard from Zhen’er.
The Datong border army’s sword business had indeed always belonged to the Qin family, but the sword supply came from Shizhou merchants. Shizhou was famous for its ironware and swords—most of the Great Ming army’s swords came from there. This was why Luo Wenqian had gone to Shizhou for procurement, buying swords for the Qi Army.
Last year, when Anda massacred Shizhou, the Qin family had advance notice and withdrew their business early, even selling their properties. Later, when Anda invaded, merchants suffered heavy losses, and the properties the Qin family had sold were burned down.
Shizhou merchants weren’t fools—they could figure out what had happened and naturally bore grudges against the Qin family. Though the Qin family still controlled the Datong border army’s sword trade, they couldn’t set foot in Shizhou now. In contrast, Luo Wenqian, with his title as a Shizhou righteous merchant and having shared hardships with Shizhou merchants, maintained exceptional relationships. So although the Datong border army’s sword business was still in the Qin family’s hands, without the Shizhou merchants’ cooperation, their business was severely hampered. Without supply, everything else was pointless—hence Luo Wenqian’s proposition.
Listening to Luo Wenqian’s words, Zhen’er found it oddly amusing to hear an ancient person use the phrase “even a mosquito’s leg is meat.”
At this point, Fourth Young Master Qin looked quite uncomfortable under Luo Wenqian’s pressure. Luo Jiu spoke the truth.
Currently, their Qin family had no standing in Shizhou. They had barely managed to gather enough swords for an order earlier this year. Luo Jiu’s sharp eyes had seen through the Qin family’s situation, and now Fourth Young Master Qin had to choose between the sword business and maritime trade.
Giving up the sword business for a share in maritime trade wasn’t a bad deal, Fourth Young Master Qin thought, then nodded: “Fine, since my Qin family proposed this cooperation, we should show our sincerity. We can give you the sword business, but we want at least thirty percent of the maritime trade.”
“Thirty percent is impossible—twenty percent at most. Also, which border market areas is your Qin family planning to concede?” Luo Wenqian asked leisurely.
Hearing Luo Jiu’s words, Fourth Young Master Qin’s mouth nearly twisted in anger. He was giving up the entire sword market—a highly profitable business—and Luo Jiu was only offering twenty percent of the maritime trade while still demanding border city markets. Luo Jiu’s knife cut deep.
Of course, Fourth Young Master Qin wouldn’t admit that even if they didn’t give the sword market to Luo Wenqian, their Qin family couldn’t hold onto it anyway.
Now, circumstances were stronger than human will. After Anda’s rampage last year, plus the court’s current pursuit of Zhao Quan, the Qin family didn’t dare touch the border trade. If they couldn’t establish a foothold in maritime trade, the Qin family might not survive. Thinking this through, Fourth Young Master Qin gritted his teeth and accepted—that they could enter the maritime market first and find ways to expand their share later.
Afterward, Luo Wenqian continued discussing the division of border city markets with Fourth Young Master Qin.
“How about giving us Deshengkou and Piantouguan?” Zhen’er suddenly suggested with a smile. She had held back for a long time before finally speaking up.
Zhen’er had her reasons for wanting Deshengkou and Piantouguan. In two years, the court would negotiate peace with Anda and establish tribute trade markets. Among these markets would be Deshengkou and Piantouguan. Getting these two locations meant securing future tribute market access.
It would surely be a highly profitable venture.
Luo Wenqian watched Li Zhen’er’s smiling face from the side—the girl was grinning like a little fox, clearly up to something. However, his interest in border city markets was true as he’d said earlier—even a mosquito’s leg is meat. As for which specific cities, he didn’t particularly care.
Therefore, when Zhen’er made her suggestion, Luo Wenqian agreed.
As for Fourth Young Master Qin, lacking Zhen’er’s future knowledge, these border city businesses were merely burdens to the Qin family now. It didn’t matter which ones they gave up, so he nodded in agreement.
Zhen’er wasn’t really trying to deceive the Qin family—she mainly used her historical knowledge because she couldn’t resist, plus while the Qin family were her father’s life-saving benefactors, current circumstances raised many suspicions, so some precautions were necessary.
Thus, the cooperation terms were settled.
Afterward, they paid their respects to Old Master Li’s tablet and took their leave. Fourth Young Master Qin and his group left through the old master’s lane, while Zhen’er, still puzzled, quietly asked Luo Wenqian why he suddenly agreed to cooperate with the Qin family.
“In the current situation, cooperating with the Qin family could benefit both parties, but that’s not the key reason for my cooperation. Truthfully, the court is now pursuing Zhao Quan, and various signs suggest that the Qin family’s contact for cooperation with the Tartars might be Zhao Quan’s man. This can be partly proven by how the Qin family got advance notice of Anda’s invasion. Plus, regarding your father’s incident years ago, evidence is hard to find now. Even your Uncle Jin Hua only discovered that the Qin family had conflicts with your father’s former business, but couldn’t prove the Qin family was behind what happened. Yet leaving this unresolved is unsettling. As the saying goes, ‘to catch a tiger, one must enter its den.'” Luo Wenqian maintained his usual composed demeanor.
So this was Luo Wenqian’s plan. Zhen’er nodded, but couldn’t help adding: “Be careful.”
“I understand. The Qin family is just using small profits to lure me in, using me as a stepping stone to enter the maritime market,” Luo Wenqian said knowingly.
Zhen’er smiled mischievously—small profits? Once the tribute trade began, those profits would be enormous.
“By the way, let’s not tell your father about these matters. The investigation isn’t complete, and the Qin family are his life-saving benefactors—better not put him in a difficult position,” Luo Wenqian added.
“I understand,” Zhen’er nodded.
Then Luo Wenqian waved and returned to Yihou Money House.
Zhen’er stood at the entrance, watching his figure disappear into the distance.