“All under heaven bustle with activity, all come for profit; all under heaven rush about, all go for gain!” Gu Pingyuan slightly modified two lines from the “Records of the Wealth Creators” and whispered them to himself.

From this moment on, he knew he was no longer a merchant of one corner, but a merchant of all under heaven.

“Elder brother, let me go to Jiangning to help you with business. Staying here all day listening to evening drums and morning bells, chanting sutras and expounding dharma—if I remain here any longer, I might as well become a monk.” Gu Pingwen’s face showed great entreaty.

Gu Pingyuan glanced toward the Guanyin Pavilion, where through the curling incense smoke, he could vaguely see his mother’s devout kneeling figure: “Lower your voice. This is a Buddhist temple. Speaking such irreverent words—if mother heard, she wouldn’t be pleased.”

Gu Pingwen, having been reprimanded, spoke no more words with hesitation. Gu Pingyuan suddenly smiled again: “Don’t worry, elder brother has already arranged a good position for you.”

“What kind of work?” Gu Pingyuan became excited again.

Having accompanied in Buddhist worship more than once or twice, Gu Pingyuan listened carefully and knew this recitation of the “Earth Store Sutra” would take at least another half hour to complete. He called his younger brother to a quiet meditation room in the rear hall and asked: “Would you be willing to go to Hangzhou?”

“Above there are Suzhou and Hangzhou, below there is paradise.” How could Gu Pingwen be unwilling? However, what he would do in Hangzhou, he didn’t understand at all.

“The Nangong family by West Lake controls the Longjing tea that sells well throughout Hangzhou. Don’t tell me we’re going to compete with them.” Gu Pingwen disliked disputes with others, and worry immediately appeared between his brows.

“If it were about competing and fighting for territory, I would ask Manager Peng from Jiangning or Master Hou from Huizhou to step forward. Second brother, you are modest, gentle, and considerate in your actions, always maintaining good relationships with people—this is your strength. I’m sending you to Hangzhou precisely to use this quality.”

Gu Pingyuan was inspired by Old Master Hu. With the Taiping rebels eliminated, the north-south trade routes could flow freely—this was a major change after ten years, containing countless business opportunities, and Gu Pingyuan had grasped one of them.

“These ten years, northern merchants buying tea traveled at most to Hangzhou, and most still came to buy Huizhou tea. That was because of the war chaos—north and south were separated, so they could only purchase from Huizhou. When I was in Shanxi, the Shanxi merchant Qiao Zhiyong spent tremendous effort to transport just one caravan of tea from Jiangnan.” Gu Pingyuan didn’t want to take credit, but actually this tea route was opened with his help to the Qiao family. “Yunnan merchants and Fujian merchants have been holding back this energy for a long time, wishing their tea-laden carts could grow wings and fly north. However, though goods are plentiful, transport capacity is insufficient. They can only watch helplessly as their goods sit moldering in warehouses, unable to ship them out.”

This was the opportunity Gu Pingyuan saw. Hangzhou was the starting point of the Grand Canal. He planned to build a large warehouse by the Hangzhou docks, specializing in tea transshipment business. Tea carts from Yunnan, Jiangxi, and Fujian would unload at Hangzhou, stay in the warehouse at most one night, then be loaded onto ships the next day and sent directly up the canal to Tongzhou in Zhili.

“I’ve never been to Hangzhou and don’t know anyone there. To buy land and build a warehouse, and deal with the cart and boat operators and brokers at the docks, this…” Gu Pingwen felt somewhat intimidated.

“Everything has a first time—what’s to fear about not having been there?” Gu Pingyuan took out a letter and handed it to him. “Take this letter to find Hu Xueyan, Master Hu, in Hangzhou. I’ve given him a ten percent dry share in this warehouse, which makes it essentially his own business. Ask him to assign you several capable assistants.”

With “God of Wealth Hu” as backing, Gu Pingwen immediately felt relieved, and his face brightened with a smile. However, Gu Pingyuan wanted to test him further: “In your view, what is the greatest difficulty with this business?”

Gu Pingwen thought seriously for a while, then answered: “The difficulties are roughly two points. First, we must attract large numbers of tea merchants with sufficient tea to load ships, so cargo ships don’t queue up waiting in the canal. Second, exactly the opposite—we need sufficient cargo ships for transport. If tea packages pile up at the docks for several days, that would ruin our reputation.”

“Well said!” Gu Pingyuan also broke into a smile, patting his brother’s shoulder. “Second brother, your business acumen has truly improved.”

“That’s all due to elder brother’s daily guidance.” Gu Pingwen appeared slightly bashful.

“We’re family brothers—no need for such courtesy. The first point you mentioned is most crucial. Any business emphasizes a good opening, and our warehouse especially so. We must let southern tea merchants see the warehouse operating busily, with convenient unloading and shipping, and they’ll naturally be happy to do business with us. So before you reach Hangzhou, first visit the Dongting merchant group to find my sworn brother Chen Qitai. When he visited Huizhou last time, I already gave him a hint. We’re asking him to help by having all northbound Biluochun tea shipped through our new warehouse, getting the business started first.”

“That’s excellent.” Gu Pingwen was extremely excited. “What about ships?”

“Don’t worry about that. When the warehouse opens, there will definitely be ships.” Gu Pingyuan said with certainty.

“Then, since I’ll be opening the warehouse in Hangzhou, I won’t be able to help much with our family’s Lanxue tea business.”

Gu Pingyuan glanced at him and deliberately sighed: “Second brother, though you’ve improved, you still lack experience and haven’t seen where this business holds the greatest profit.”

“Ah?”

“Think about it—after southern tea carts unload at the docks, what will these empty carts transport back south?”

Gu Pingwen was stunned, then exclaimed with surprise and joy: “Traditionally, returning carts and boats charge only half the coming rate. So the idea is to use the warehouse to attract tea carts from various places, then transport our Lanxue tea to, to…”

Gu Pingyuan nodded with a smile.

His brother looked at him with admiring eyes: “Elder brother, your business strategy is truly ingenious.”

“All under heaven bustle with activity, all come for profit; all under heaven rush about, all go for gain!” Gu Pingyuan slightly modified two lines from the “Records of the Wealth Creators” and whispered them to himself.

From this moment on, he knew he was no longer a merchant of one corner, but a merchant of all under heaven.

Just as the two brothers were ambitiously planning their great business venture, on a secluded hillside behind Jinshan Temple, a young woman was saying urgently: “You, what are you doing!”

A big dark man knelt before the woman, gesturing as he spoke. Listening carefully, he was saying: “I’ve asked around. Your mother still refuses to forgive my sister and won’t say why. I have no way with my in-law mother, so I can only ask you to tell me what she asked you then, and how she suddenly treated my sister as an enemy.”

These two people were Gu Yuting and, needless to say, Liu Heita. He had asked Gu Pingwen and learned that between the Gu family mother and daughter-in-law, just as when they left Huizhou, Chang Yu’er continued to be coldly treated by Gu’s mother. Gu Pingwen’s words showed considerable dissatisfaction with his sister Gu Yuting, believing the key to unraveling the mystery lay in what Gu’s mother had asked her, but she consistently refused to reveal the truth, leaving everyone unable to mediate and creating a deadlock.

Hearing this, Liu Heita’s head grew hot and he arranged to meet Gu Yuting at the back mountain. Gu Yuting’s heart pounded, not knowing what Liu Heita wanted to say to her. A young woman’s thoughts were half shy, half expectant. Unexpectedly, Liu Heita found a flat stone for her to sit on, then without explanation knelt down with a “thud,” startling Gu Yuting into jumping up and turning away.

When Liu Heita spoke, Gu Yuting still shook her head: “I can’t say. Mother forbade me to speak.” No matter how Liu Heita asked, Gu Yuting only repeated these two sentences, quite resolute in her determination.

Seeing she truly wouldn’t speak, Liu Heita grew anxious too, glaring: “Miss Gu, I’ll kowtow to you—that should be acceptable. If you don’t speak, I’ll keep kowtowing, whether it’s a thousand or eight hundred times, until I kowtow myself to death.” As he spoke, he was about to bang his head on the ground.

Gu Yuting knew his stubborn nature—as a mere woman, she could never stop him. In her urgency, she burst into tears with a “wah,” crying and stamping her feet: “You big man, deliberately bullying people!”

This crying was truly effective. Liu Heita immediately panicked, waving his hands frantically: “Don’t, don’t, don’t cry! This is for my sister’s sake. Miss Gu, I apologize to you.”

Seeing his flustered appearance, Gu Yuting’s heart immediately softened, thinking of Liu Heita’s character—for his own sister’s sake, willing to kneel and kowtow even before a woman. This was truly moving.

“Brother Liu, if I tell you, you’ll regret it after hearing.” Gu Yuting bit her lip.

“I won’t. As long as you’re willing to speak, you’ll be my great benefactor.” Seeing her tone soften, Liu Heita was overjoyed.

“Fine. For you, only for you am I saying this.” Gu Yuting drew circles on the ground with her toe, speaking as softly as a mosquito.

“What?” Liu Heita thought she had already spoken but couldn’t hear clearly, anxiously staring wide-eyed and asking loudly.

“That day, mother asked me this: she asked whether sister-in-law has a red birthmark below her left breast, about the size of a freshly sprouted willow leaf.” Gu Yuting’s voice grew slightly louder, though still barely audible.

Liu Heita held his breath, listening to every word, his eyes becoming confused: “What, what does this mean?”

“On elder brother’s wedding day, I helped sister-in-law bathe and dress, so I know there is indeed such a birthmark.” Gu Yuting had actually vaguely guessed the meaning of Gu’s mother’s question, but couldn’t speak plainly about it, keeping it bottled up inside all these days.

Liu Heita gaped with his mouth open for a long time before suddenly understanding: “Your mother is saying Yu’er lacks virtue?”

“Impossible!” He shouted loudly. His sister had grown up with him from childhood—in his heart, Yu’er was the most pure and chaste person in the world.

“I also believe elder brother wouldn’t bring a woman who would shame the Gu family through the door. This might be a misunderstanding, but how to resolve it? We can hardly use this question to ask mother directly?” Gu Yuting said helplessly. “Brother Liu, by telling you this, I’ve lifted half the stone from my heart, but now this stone weighs on your heart. Listen to me—though things are tense now, at least the surface appears calm. Why not just let it drag on? Time might resolve everything. As for what I just said, don’t tell anyone else—not elder brother or sister-in-law, and certainly not others. Otherwise, I fear it will stir up trouble that no one can contain.”

Liu Heita was dumbfounded. Had he known, he really shouldn’t have asked. Now that he’d asked, he could do nothing about it and had to keep it bottled up inside—this feeling was truly unbearable.

“This past half year has truly been difficult for you.” Liu Heita now truly understood Gu Yuting and was deeply grateful.

Receiving such words, Gu Yuting’s eyes immediately reddened. In her emotional excitement, she blurted out: “If it weren’t you asking, even if someone else knelt through this mountain and kowtowed through this stone, I wouldn’t have spoken.”

Liu Heita stood up and asked stupidly: “Then why did you tell me specifically?”

Gu Yuting immediately became indignant. She was naturally straightforward and simply replied: “Don’t you know yourself?” “Since you haven’t mentioned this to your two brothers, you must consider me closer than your elder and second brothers.”

Gu Yuting’s face immediately flushed red, though her heart secretly rejoiced—it seemed this half-wit finally understood.

“Then let’s do this: I’ll accept you as my sworn sister. Then I’ll have another sister who shares neither father nor mother with me.” Liu Heita said seriously.

Gu Yuting could hardly believe it, staring at Liu Heita for a long time before realizing he wasn’t joking.

“You, you’re simply the most obtuse person under heaven.”

“If you don’t want to be sworn siblings, then don’t. Why curse me?” Liu Heita watched Gu Yuting’s retreating figure, still puzzled as he scratched his big dark head.

When Gu Pingyuan next went to keep his appointment with the Caobang, he didn’t bring the hot-tempered Liu Heita but went alone. This time the receptionist had already received instructions and immediately led Gu Pingyuan to the guest hall, where Jiang Tai soon emerged from the inner residence to meet him.

“Guild Master Jiang, please accept my condolences and take care of your health.” In just a few days, Jiang Tai seemed even more frail, his face full of worry.

“Thank you for Master Gu’s concern. I’m old, and many things are beyond my strength. Wanting to lead the Caobang in another great endeavor—I fear that’s difficult.” Jiang Tai half-closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head.

Reading between the lines, Gu Pingyuan immediately knew Jiang Tai was getting straight to the point and probably had already made up his mind about this business.

So what was his decision—to agree or not? Gu Pingyuan held his breath and watched Jiang Tai intently.

“These past few days I’ve been constantly considering the Caobang’s future. I think what you said makes great sense. The Caobang now indeed needs to do something to restore our reputation. This matter would both gain fame and ensure autumn harvest grain transport—truly killing two birds with one stone. I plan to…”

“Godfather, don’t rush—killing two birds with one stone is nothing. There’s even a plan that kills three birds with one stone!” A crisp voice suddenly came from outside.

Hearing the voice, Gu Pingyuan knew it was Bai Yimei. He knew Bai Yimei still harbored resentment, believing he had deceived Chen Yucheng into Shouzhou city. Gu Pingyuan had tried several times to explain, but before opening his mouth, he would lose heart. After all, that “personal letter” from Hong Xiuquan was indeed forged. Though the intention was to cut off Chen Yucheng’s hope of returning to aid Tianjing and persuade him to surrender to the Qing army, the whole affair did stem from this, ultimately leading to the great tragedy.

Gu Pingyuan felt he had no case to argue on principle, with only his clear conscience to answer to heaven, yet Bai Yimei would not forgive him. Thinking of this matter always disheartened him, making him too lazy to even open his mouth.

For this reason, Gu Pingyuan felt diminished in Bai Yimei’s presence. Like this current business deal—originally he could have argued his case confidently, but whenever he met Bai Yimei’s gaze, his heart would ache, and all arguments and rebuttals became unspeakable, as if he could only take blows without fighting back.

“What do you mean by killing three birds with one stone?”

Jiang Tai also found this goddaughter quite troublesome. The letter in her hands was like a barrel of gunpowder that could blow up the Caobang at any moment.

“These past few days, your daughter went to find Commander Wu and brought back some words for everyone to hear.” Today Bai Yimei wore plain white clothes without a trace of color, with only a thorn wood hairpin in her hair. She didn’t come alone—behind her followed a group of people, all dressed similarly in either black or white. These were capable members of the Tonghai Gang, mourning for their old leader.

“Which Commander Wu?” Jiang Tai frowned, judging Bai Yimei’s intentions in bringing these people.

“Who else could it be?” Bai Yimei smiled. “Governor-General Wu Tang.”

Canal Transport Governor-General Wu Tang was the court-appointed supreme commander of all grain collection, transport, and storage along the canal. For the Caobang, he was a Buddha they dared not offend.

Bai Yimei and Su Zixuan rushed overnight to Huai’an Qingjiangpu, where the Canal Transport Governor-General’s office was located. Su Zixuan was skillful in handling affairs, found the governor’s steward, gave a thick door gift, and met Wu Tang the next day.

Wu Tang initially didn’t know what they wanted, but after hearing their purpose, he became greatly excited.

Just as Gu Pingyuan had said, for these ten years canal transport had been virtually at a standstill—first, no grain to transport; second, the canal was occupied by government troops and Taiping rebels, making waterways impassable and grain ships unable to move. This put the Canal Transport Governor-General in a very awkward position. Originally a lucrative post, it had become the most bitter assignment in the empire. Wu Tang these years neither gained much profit nor could handle the court’s repeated urgings about canal transport. Ordering prefectures and counties to collect grain? Local areas were too busy dealing with heavy military affairs. Even if there was grain, it had to go first to the Hunan Army as military pay—otherwise Zeng Guofan would impeach people and Zeng Guoquan would glare and kill, neither easy to deal with. Thus prefectures and counties had no time to attend to Wu Tang, all just going through the motions, collecting not even one-tenth of what they should. This left Wu Tang attacked from above and below, unable to gain benefits while receiving several punishment edicts from the Grand Council, sighing daily in his rear hall.

Bai Yimei’s visit was truly welcome news. She first offered three hundred thousand shi of grain, willing to sell it to the government as canal grain. She also promised on behalf of the Caobang that with the canal now open, they could ship immediately, first gathering at Qingjiangpu for counting, then transporting to Tongzhou near the capital.

This was beyond Wu Tang’s wildest dreams. He had long been considering transferring positions, eyeing the Sichuan Governor-General post. Sichuan was a land of abundance, far from imperial oversight—serving several terms as a “local emperor” there was worlds apart from the Canal Transport Governor-General position where he faced criticism everywhere.

To secure this transfer, Wu Tang had sufficient connections, because he had an advantage others couldn’t match—he had once done a favor for the natal family of the current Empress Dowager Cixi. This was before Cixi entered the palace. Wu Tang was serving as a county magistrate in Anhui when he heard at midnight that an old friend’s funeral boat carrying a coffin was passing through and stopping over. He sent subordinates with two hundred taels of silver as funeral money. When his subordinates returned with the acknowledgment card, Wu Tang saw the name and native place were completely wrong. The card showed a Beijing Manchu surnamed Yehe Nara. It turned out there were two boats docked simultaneously, both carrying coffins, and his confused subordinate had mistakenly delivered the silver to the wrong family.

Wu Tang flew into a rage, wanting to retrieve the silver, but was dissuaded by a secretary in his staff. The secretary had been listening throughout and knew this Yehe Nara family’s boat had no male members—the funeral money was received by an unmarried Manchu young lady who was very shrewd in receiving guests. He advised Wu Tang that Eight Banners girls all hoped to enter the palace, and this woman seemed intelligent and understanding of social relations. If she gained favor, that would be worth more than any amount of money could buy. Why not turn this mistake into a favor?

Wu Tang thought this made sense, so he changed his attitude, personally visiting the boat with attendants to pay respects, sending rice, flour, and other travel supplies, treating them very generously and moving the family to tears of gratitude.

The woman who received them was naturally the current Empress Dowager Cixi. During her journey escorting her father’s coffin from his post back to Beijing, she truly experienced “when the lady dies, she blocks the street; when the master dies, no one buries him.” Along the way, no one paid attention to them. In their desolate anxiety, meeting Wu Tang, this warmhearted person, was truly like sending charcoal in snowy weather. The money and grain were small matters—that heartfelt consideration was truly warming.

Cixi had long intended to repay this kindness. After gaining favor at the “Spring of Universal Family” in the Old Summer Palace, with pillow talk influences, Wu Tang’s career soared like wildfire. In just a few years, he was promoted continuously from county magistrate and prefect through circuit intendant, judicial commissioner, and provincial treasurer. After the Two Palace Regency began, Wu Tang even skipped the provincial governor level and was promoted directly to Canal Transport Governor-General.

This man had no particular talents or ambitions—he became an official to get rich, and holding first rank with no superior, he became even more unscrupulous. After less than half a year, he was impeached by over a dozen censors for “unauthorized sale of Yellow River flood lands, damming for disasters, and enclosing cities to sell land.” By rights he should have been dismissed and prosecuted, but because Empress Dowager Cixi supported him, he received only a light “demotion with salary reduction, remaining in post under observation” punishment.

With such a powerful patron, Wu Tang naturally had the qualifications to “think wild thoughts,” but the Sichuan Governor-General position was different from Canal Transport Governor—that was a southwestern stronghold. For Empress Dowager Cixi to speak for him, he needed a pretext, preferably some achievement that would merit imperial commendation, making success virtually certain.

Wu Tang had been losing sleep over this “achievement,” never expecting someone to deliver it to his door. Overjoyed, he immediately summoned the secretary handling detailed affairs from his staff and spent a full day negotiating with Bai Yimei about everything from loading to shipping to handover, and how grain payments would be made. Only after everything was settled satisfactorily did Bai Yimei return to Zhenjiang.

“Governor-General Wu said that since the Caobang could work with the government as one, he naturally wouldn’t shortchange us. Though he cannot pay the full grain money now, he can pay it back in installments over the years with bank lending interest. My calculations with the governor’s secretary show that when the silver is finally settled, with compound interest, it can reach nine taels and five qian per shi, far higher than those heartless black-hearted merchants offering five taels per shi.”

This was clearly directed criticism, and Gu Pingyuan could only smile bitterly. Seeing Jiang Tai pondering silently, Bai Yimei knew Gu Pingyuan’s previous “fame and profit both gained” argument had truly moved him, and she needed to apply more pressure to change his mind.

“Godfather, as they say, county magistrates are less powerful than current administrators. Rather than curry favor with the Governor-General of Liangjiang, it’s better to build relationships with the Canal Transport Governor-General. The Caobang is under the canal governor’s jurisdiction by imperial edict, and besides, he’s currently holding leverage over us.”

“Leverage?” Jiang Tai was startled.

“That secretary said the canal governor’s files contain a full hundred petitions, all jointly submitted by gentry along the canal, all accusing the Caobang of unlawful behavior. If these petitions became enclosures in memorial reports, our Caobang would be in big trouble.” Bai Yimei glanced at Jiang Tai’s suddenly changed expression, then adopted a relaxed tone. “Now it’s no problem. Governor-General Wu said that for the sake of these three hundred thousand shi of grain, he would suppress these petitions and treat them as if they never existed. If anyone bypassed the canal governor to lodge complaints in the capital, Wu would be willing to protect the Caobang, saying then that ‘water bandits impersonated the Caobang in their evil deeds’—one sentence would exonerate us.”

Only then did Jiang Tai breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing his mental activity, Gu Pingyuan grew very anxious and was about to speak when Bai Yimei preempted: “As for killing three birds with one stone, that’s only two items. There’s one more thing that godfather will be even happier to hear.”

“Oh?”

But Bai Yimei turned around, facing the Tonghai Gang members, her expression suddenly becoming calm.

“Honored uncles and elders, though I’m a closed-door disciple adopted by godfather, I dare not be presumptuous. What I’m about to say, some I’ve already taken upon myself to decide, but now that I’m back home, I ask everyone to make the final decisions. If I’ve acted wrongly, I’m willing to accept clan punishment.” She then curtsied respectfully.

Bai Yimei was beautiful, handled affairs cleanly and efficiently, spoke humbly, and was already well-liked by gang members. Moreover, having exposed the traitor Lü Duan on the spot, she had essentially avenged Old Master Xu, earning even more gratitude from the Tonghai Gang. Many now respectfully called her “Big Sister.” Now everyone chattered: “Big Sister, rest assured, you worked for the gang’s benefit. Who dares criticize you or blame you?”

“Since that’s the case, I’ll speak.” Bai Yimei nodded with a smile. “These years, the Tonghai Gang has been smuggling salt, and all the inspection posts and checkpoints along the route were connections Old Master Xu established. Now that he’s unfortunately gone, this route has become difficult.”

This was true. The Tonghai Gang now faced internal turmoil not only because of Xu Jicheng’s death, but also thinking about future difficulties in salt smuggling, leaving everyone uncertain.

“I’ve already negotiated with Governor-General Wu’s secretary. Henceforth, wherever they can provide assistance, the Canal Governor’s office will turn a blind eye. As long as our brothers don’t resist government troops or transport military supplies, private salt trading can be overlooked by the canal governor, treating it as compensation for the three hundred thousand shi of grain.”

Once these words were spoken, everyone in the Tonghai Gang was surprised and delighted, looking at each other with disbelieving expressions.

“Big Sister, is this really true?” someone asked urgently.

“Absolutely true! Of course, this can’t be stated openly, and there are no written contracts, but their meaning is clear. I also promised that henceforth, a share of salt trading profits would include tribute to the canal governor.”

“Amitabha! If this is true, our salt smuggling won’t need to be as fearful and secretive as before. One grain ship loaded with grain above and salt below—let’s go!” The Tonghai Gang members’ faces cleared of all gloom.

Bai Yimei smiled slightly and turned to Jiang Tai: “Godfather, I spent these three days traveling back and forth to Qingjiangpu and have negotiated everything. Whether to proceed still requires your final word.”

Jiang Tai looked at Bai Yimei and the excited Tonghai Gang members behind her, then at Gu Pingyuan waiting to one side. He turned over the “killing three birds with one stone” and “fame and profit both gained” proposals in his mind, and finally sighed.

“Brother Gu, you also heard what my goddaughter just said.” Jiang Tai said with difficulty. “As the leader, I must think more for the gang brothers. The fame and profit you speak of are future matters, but the three things the canal governor promised are immediate benefits. Not to mention anything else, just suppressing the complaint petitions from various local gentry is tremendous care for our Caobang. Otherwise, who knows how many gang brothers would face lawsuits and punishment. Furthermore…” He looked at the Tonghai Gang members. The Canal Transport Governor-General’s promise was a great opportunity to boost morale for the Tonghai Gang, and future salt smuggling profits would certainly be substantial. Clearly the Tonghai Gang was extremely satisfied with this. If he forcibly blocked this matter, the Tonghai Gang might angrily break away and leave the Caobang to establish their own faction. How could he face the founding master?

“I won’t say more. This time I’ve wronged you, brother. When there’s opportunity in the future, I’ll make it up to you.” Jiang Tai said apologetically.

“Guild Master Jiang, you’re too kind. Business is naturally about mutual benefit—it cannot be forced. However…” Gu Pingyuan addressed Bai Yimei: “Yimei, I have something to say to you.”

“Who is Yimei?” Bai Yimei raised her eyebrows, saying coldly, “Didn’t you hear what they call me?”

Gu Pingyuan nodded: “Big Sister, may I have a word with you?”

Bai Yimei followed Gu Pingyuan aside and said in a low voice: “Gu Pingyuan, I’ll say this upfront—you can’t make this deal, so don’t waste your effort. As for the account between you and me, I’ll settle it slowly. I’m not afraid of you fleeing to the ends of the earth.”

“The misunderstanding between us will surely be cleared up in the future—I’m not anxious about that. But regarding this current business, you say you want to transport these three hundred thousand shi of grain to the capital as tribute grain. Tribute grain is imperial supply, distributed to the Divine Engine Battalion, Fengtai Great Camp, Xishan Elite Battalion, and the Eight Banners beyond the pass. They’re not starving or waiting for rice to cook. On the contrary, millions of souls in Jiangnan are enduring hunger, hoping day and night for this grain.”

“Haha!” Bai Yimei laughed, her cold laughter filled with indescribable mockery. “Jiangnan people? You mean the people under Qing demon rule, right? What’s that to me? So what if they all starve to death!”

Gu Pingyuan was speechless for a moment, then said with difficulty: “Yimei…”

“Don’t call that name—you’re not worthy!” Bai Yimei suddenly became enraged.

“Big—Sister!” Gu Pingyuan squeezed out each word from between his teeth with difficulty. “Can you really watch so many people starve to death? Those are human lives. As soon as these three hundred thousand shi arrive, these people can survive—those starving people eagerly waiting, those crying children…”

“Children?” Bai Yimei’s eyes instantly blazed with fury, glaring at Gu Pingyuan as if to burn him alive. “You think I don’t have children!”

Gu Pingyuan suddenly remembered that back outside Shouzhou city, Chen Yucheng had revealed to him that Bai Yimei was already pregnant.

“Your, your child?” Gu Pingyuan asked in a daze.

“Why do you ask? That was my child with His Majesty the Heroic King. Do you want to offer him to the Qing court for merit and reward?”

Hearing her say this, Gu Pingyuan felt too pained to speak, only closing his eyes and shaking his head.

“Hmph! Don’t even think about it. I already killed that child.”

“Ah!” Gu Pingyuan’s heart clenched sharply, staring at Bai Yimei in disbelief.

“Yes, I killed him with my own hands. He had no chance to drink a mouthful of milk, no chance to see the rising sun. Tell me, whose gift was this?”

Bai Yimei’s expression returned to calm, as if speaking of something completely unrelated to herself.

Gu Pingyuan’s heart felt like it was being cut by knives. Bai Yimei drew closer to him and said softly: “Don’t say I’m not giving you a chance. Right now, say it out loud—say I am the wife of Heroic King Chen Yucheng, a rebel princess. The Caobang wouldn’t dare shelter me, and your business would succeed, wouldn’t it?”

“Haha… haha haha!” Gu Pingyuan suddenly laughed, his laughter mixed with tears, anger, and unwillingness. “We’ve known each other since childhood—is this how you see me? Do you think I would put you in danger for business? I promised teacher to take good care of you. Everything I’ve done has been to keep you safe and sound.”

“You’ve done so well, worthy of my father sacrificing his life to save you.” Bai Yimei looked at him with disdain, turned her face, and walked to Jiang Tai.

“Godfather, Master Gu says he won’t do this business. He’ll explain to General Zeng of Liangjiang when he returns.”

Jiang Tai nodded silently and was about to serve tea to dismiss the guest when Gu Pingyuan suddenly returned, saying loudly: “This business deal is off, but what I said cannot be dismissed like that.”

“Oh, Brother Gu, what do you mean? Which words are you referring to?” Jiang Tai asked in confusion.

“When I first entered your residence, I said I came here not only to buy grain for General Zeng, but also to open a path for the Caobang brothers, considering everyone’s future livelihood and the gang’s century-old foundation.”

Jiang Tai was even more confused. Yes, Gu Pingyuan had said this initially, but now that the deal had fallen through, naturally other matters couldn’t be discussed. Why was he bringing this up again?

“When business fails, righteousness remains. Since Guild Master Jiang doesn’t despise me as a newcomer and was willing to discuss business with me, I naturally must reciprocate and never be half-hearted or go back on my word.” Before coming, Gu Pingyuan had planned to add icing on the cake, but when circumstances changed, he quickly decided that to do business in Liangjiang, he must befriend the Caobang, and showing favor at this time would be even more appreciated.

“I represent the Huizhou merchants, together with Chen Qitai of the Dongting merchant group and Hu Xueyan of Kang Bank in Hangzhou, opening a large warehouse at Hangzhou docks. The matter is being handled and will be ready soon. Hangzhou is the starting point of the canal. We plan to handle all tea business from the southeast and southwest to the north. Rather than building new ships, it’s better to use Caobang ships. For future north-to-south cargo transport, we’ll naturally trouble the Caobang. Guild Master Jiang, are you interested in this business?”

Having spent a lifetime on the canal, Jiang Tai immediately recognized this was someone offering him a chance to get rich. Canal transport occurred once a year—going loaded with grain, returning called “empty return,” sometimes carrying miscellaneous goods, but that was sporadic business. Now with Huizhou merchants, Dongting merchant group, and God of Wealth Hu joining forces, the cargo supply would undoubtedly be endless. Then year-round, canal boats would shuttle back and forth on the waterway, earning transport fees for each trip. Prosperity was truly within reach.

Thinking of this, Jiang Tai hunched his body, stepped down from the central chair, and bowed respectfully: “Brother Gu, I truly appreciate your character and heart. The Caobang has received great favor and doesn’t know how to repay it. As for that grain business just now…” He looked awkwardly at Bai Yimei, who wore a cold smile.

“You’re too kind—you flatter me. This matter is ultimately mutual assistance. Since the Caobang has already negotiated with Master Wu regarding the grain business, I absolutely wouldn’t dare make things difficult for you. Let’s treat this matter as if it was never mentioned.”

“Brother, you’re truly magnanimous. Good, this favor—I, Jiang Tai, accept on behalf of the Caobang.” Jiang Tai placed his hands, covered with prominent veins, on Gu Pingyuan’s shoulders and nodded to him solemnly.

“Big Brother Gu, this is wrong of you.” Liu Heita slapped his thigh: “From what you’re saying, this matter clearly still has room for negotiation. If you discuss it more, Jiang Tai might give us the business. Now you’ve flatly refused, so where do we find these three hundred thousand shi of grain?”

Manager Peng nearby also nodded deeply, but since this was the master’s decision and unrelated to tea house business, he naturally couldn’t interject.

Gu Pingyuan didn’t answer first, but addressed Manager Peng: “Old Master Hu wanted me to come to Jiangning to help him reorganize the tea house and make a fresh start—I’ve accomplished this now. Regarding tea business, Manager Peng, you’re the expert. How you did things before, continue doing them now. Whether to maintain or innovate depends entirely on your judgment—I absolutely won’t interfere. My establishing this north-south goods warehouse is just opening a path for your convenience.”

Manager Peng understood clearly that Gu Pingyuan was being too modest. Hangzhou was a strategic transportation hub, and this warehouse dock was more than just a path—it was a vital chokepoint, a strategic location. With this dock, first, transport costs would certainly be lower, giving them advantage in competition; second, controlling this essential transportation hub meant tea merchants would have to deal with Huizhou Tea House. The benefits might not show in a day or two, but over time, they would implicitly become the leader in the tea trade, the Mount Tai and North Star among north-south tea merchants. Based on reputation alone, they could remain invincible.

Manager Peng silently gave a thumbs up. Old Master Hu finding such a person to handle joint business was truly wise discernment. Outsiders thought Gu Pingyuan was taking advantage of the Hu family, but actually the Hu family was benefiting from his brilliance.

“Expanding territory is most exhausting work. How can we let Second Master do it? Master, please leave this matter to me. I’ll certainly not fail in my mission, and when I see Old Master in future, I can claim some merit to redeem my faults.” Manager Peng made a request.

Gu Pingyuan smiled slightly: “My second brother is young and strong, perfect for gaining experience. Jiangning’s business relies mainly on connections accumulated over the years—this depends entirely on Manager Peng’s management, which others cannot replace.”

This was true, so Manager Peng no longer insisted.

“What about the grain? Do we go empty-handed to see General Zeng?” Liu Heita remained troubled by this.

“I thought it through later. Since the matter has reached the Canal Transport Governor-General, if I insisted on this grain, I think Jiang Tai could spare half for me, but the Caobang would offend Wu Tang. I can’t involve friends just to do business.”

“Friends? Big Brother Gu, are you talking about Jiang Tai or that Bai Yimei? You’ve always been invincible in business, but this time you’ve returned disheveled. Could it be you’re considering old feelings and showing tender mercy?” Liu Heita winked at him, but immediately changed expression, smiling awkwardly at someone behind Gu Pingyuan.

Chang Yu’er stepped through the door just as she heard her brother mentioning Bai Yimei’s name. Her steps immediately faltered, but she quickly returned to normal, acting as if she’d heard nothing, directing the Peng family servants to bring up two bowls of lotus seed soup, one bowl of duck porridge, and several seasonal side dishes.

“Oh, sister-in-law, this is my wife’s responsibility. How can I trouble you?” Manager Peng felt quite embarrassed.

“It’s the same. She has housework during the day and two children to care for, so she should sleep early at night. Why wake her?” Chang Yu’er smiled gently.

“Sister-in-law understands me best. I’m just not used to eating lotus and lotus root.” Liu Heita took the duck porridge, wolfed it down in a few bites, then crunched on a pickled cucumber.

Chang Yu’er brought over the lotus seed porridge and placed it before Gu Pingyuan: “Drink some lotus seed porridge to clear internal heat. Don’t worry too much about business.”

After the sudden change at Gu’s mother’s birthday banquet, she hadn’t forgotten to care for her husband’s injuries, seeking doctors and applying medicine so that Gu Pingyuan’s external wounds healed quickly. She guessed his injuries were related to Bai Yimei but never asked a single word. She told herself: “Big Brother Gu already swore to me in his teacher’s courtyard. I should trust him. He said henceforth there would be absolutely no romantic feelings between him and Bai Yimei. Even if they meet again, I needn’t worry.” But now hearing this name suddenly, her heart still felt somewhat sour, though she tried hard not to show it.

Gu Pingyuan also guessed she’d heard, but deliberate explanation would seem guilty, so he changed the subject: “Don’t worry, I already have a solution for the business matter.”

“Could Master be planning to deal with those big grain merchants in Huguang?” Manager Peng asked. “I mentioned a certain Master Chen last time—his heart is black as coal. Just these past days, he’s come up with new tricks. He loaded ten thousand shi of grain onto ships on the river, then daily used small boats to carry rice to various villages along the shore, cooking porridge in big pots right at village entrances, selling each bowl for ten wen.”

“That’s not expensive.” Liu Heita looked at the bowl in his hand and muttered.

“You think it’s like the porridge we drink—so thick a chopstick won’t fall over, so dense a towel won’t leak? Ha! His porridge is clear as a mirror, could be used for reflection. You could scoop around the pot with a big ladle and not get a few grains of rice. Master Chen divides rice by portions—one shi of rice must be sold as porridge for twenty taels of silver, no less. He reportedly said, ‘You think my grain is too expensive to buy? No problem—I’ll still sell my grain and see whether you buy or not.’ Sigh, children in every household cry from hunger, begging their parents to buy a bowl of porridge. Which family doesn’t have to spend money? Ten wen seems little, but it adds up. Continuing this way, the people’s last savings will be drained away day by day by Master Chen.”

“Wow, this old fox is too wicked, comparable to that Wang Tiangui.” Liu Heita loved fighting injustice—hearing this, his eyes flared up.

Manager Peng didn’t know who Wang Tiangui was. He said somewhat worriedly to Gu Pingyuan: “Such grain merchants are black-hearted. If you negotiate business with them, it’s like seeking skin from a tiger!”

“No, running around hitting walls everywhere—such business is too boring. There are three hundred thousand shi of grain right here. Why should I look elsewhere?”

“You mean?”

“I’m still targeting the Caobang’s grain!”

“But this grain was sold to Master Wu Tang.” Manager Peng didn’t understand.

“As the saying goes, ‘Brine curdles tofu—one thing conquers another.’ Wu Tang is a high official, but there are people higher than him.”

“You want to find someone to pressure Wu Tang? Wu Tang is a first-rank governor-general. Speaking of higher positions, that would only be Grand Secretaries.”

Gu Pingyuan shook his head: “How can business be done by force? The ‘higher’ I speak of is ‘using small to defeat large’—four ounces moving a thousand pounds.”

“Master, please speak plainly. I really don’t understand.” Manager Peng was completely confused.

“Sister, why are you smiling? Could it be you already know what Big Brother Gu plans to do?” Liu Heita was even more puzzled. Turning to see Chang Yu’er smiling faintly, he asked.

“How would I know?” Chang Yu’er directed the maids to clear the bowls and chopsticks, glanced at Gu Pingyuan, then turned to leave, with unconcealed smile still on her lips. “I only know that Master Wu you mentioned is going to be in trouble.”

At high noon, the busiest time of day, the Li residence in the capital was silent, with servants walking on tiptoe. Normally, after a year’s separation, husband and wife would have much intimate conversation, but last night the household was disturbed—Madam Li had flown into a rage in the bedroom and had a huge fight with Li Wantang. When the master was in a bad mood, servants naturally had to be tactful and not seek trouble.

“I really don’t understand. With Master like this—inexhaustible gold and silver mountains at home, not taking concubines, and except for social obligations, never heard of seeking pleasure outside or keeping mistresses. Speaking bluntly, Master has probably seen fewer women than Young Master has slept with.” In the boiler room, several servants chatted while waiting for water to boil.

An older servant laughed: “You’ve probably spoken truly—our Young Master is really like a lustful demon reincarnated.”

“Never mind him. What I was saying—Master is too devoted and righteous. Why does Madam scold him every few days, as if deliberately picking fights?”

“Large households have many people and complications. I’ve been here ten years, you only two years. Who knows what happened before?” The older one shook his head.

“Hey, I heard this time when Master goes south again, Madam wants to go too.”

“Impossible.” Someone questioned. “Yesterday they fought like tearing down the house, today they want to travel together? That’s too strange.”

“Not strange at all. I heard from Cui’er in the main house that last night Madam was angry at Master for not returning this whole year, asking if he’d set up house in the south and kept a young wife. This time she insists on going along—clearly she doesn’t trust Master and wants to watch him constantly.”

Li Wantang naturally couldn’t hear the servants’ conversation. In his heart, he originally didn’t want to bring his wife south—after all, someone should stay home as mistress. But Madam Li absolutely refused, saying if she couldn’t go, Li Wantang must also stay.

Originally traveling light, but because Madam Li had to move, they needed twelve more servants, hired sixteen large carts for luggage, transported to Tongzhou for waterway travel, requiring three more boats, causing several more days’ delay.

Li Wantang simply stopped managing everything, leaving it all to the steward, planning to take a fast boat south first. Unexpectedly, on the departure day, several guests arrived whom he couldn’t avoid seeing.

“All four of you are busy people, yet you specifically came from the city to Tongzhou to see me off—this is truly undeserved.” The four managers of the capital’s “Four Great Heng” banks, combined, equaled the four great kings of the Zhili region’s money business. When they stamped their feet, they could shake down a large area of businesses. Coming together today certainly wasn’t just for farewell.

The first to speak was still the most impatient, Manager Jiao of “Hengli,” who used his operatic bass voice: “Master Li, you say we’re busy people—we don’t dare accept that. Thanks to you, our ‘Four Great Heng’ are not far from closing down. Then we four idle people will have to beg the Li family for a bowl of rice.”

Starting with an unfriendly tone, Li Wantang acted as if he hadn’t heard, calmly addressing Manager Zhang of “Hengxing”: “Last month’s interest payment isn’t urgent—keep it deposited. When it’s sufficient, please remit it to Boss Ma in Tianjin for that silk account.”

“Master Li, did you hear what I said!” Manager Jiao couldn’t contain his anger, nearly pounding the table, his pitch suddenly rising eight degrees.

“With the hall echoing and buzzing, of course I heard.” Li Wantang’s face suddenly darkened. “After all, I’m the master of the Beijing Merchants’ Guild, and this is Beijing territory. You’re being far too presumptuous.”

The Li family was a major customer of the banks, and Li Wantang was the Beijing merchants’ leader. From any perspective, when he lost his temper, the “Four Great Heng” managers could only listen obediently. But today was different—Manager Jiao was truly anxious. He stood up abruptly and shouted at Li Wantang: “How fortunate you still remember the words ‘Beijing merchants’—you’ve harmed Beijing merchants terribly!”

“Oh.” Li Wantang maintained his unhurried manner, no longer paying attention to Manager Jiao but addressing the eldest and most amiable Manager Zhang among them: “Manager Zhang, what’s this about? I’d like to hear the details.”

“Well…” Manager Zhang appeared to be a good-natured old man but was actually cunning, preferring to let others charge ahead while he observed from behind. Unexpectedly, Li Wantang immediately approached him, so he could only smile apologetically and say gently: “We Beijing merchants have always lived off the mountain by the mountain, off water by the water, off the capital by the emperor. Doing business in the capital depends entirely on navigating officialdom. Take our ‘Four Great Heng’ for example—the Ministry of Revenue is our bread and butter. We can’t worship them enough, much less offend them.” At this point, he glanced at Li Wantang, seeing his still indifferent expression, feeling somewhat angry himself, saying with a false smile: “You truly deserve to be ‘Li Half-City’—you’ve managed to anger all the clerks and secretaries of the Six Ministries at once. Now they’ve declared that whether it’s silk shops, tea stores, medicine shops, or porcelain stores, if they want Ministry business, they must compete with Shanxi and Huizhou merchants, and from their tone, there’s no hope of winning. Our Beijing merchants’ banks are even better—the priority supply of newly minted official silver from twenty-nine official mints has been cancelled, and the previously agreed exchange rate has been arbitrarily increased by twenty percent. All profit is gone.”

“Master Li, you’ve always protected Beijing merchants’ interests. This time we just can’t understand—you helped that General Zeng from other provinces, forcibly extracting forty million taels of silver from the Six Ministries’ officials’ mouths. This really stirred up a hornet’s nest. It would be one thing if the Six Ministries’ officials didn’t get benefits, but with your actions, their previous investments all went down the drain. This creates irreconcilable enmity.”

It turned out the Six Ministries officials had long seen that handling Hunan Army expense reimbursements was extremely lucrative “big business,” knowing that reimbursement income and expenditure must match records or face “rejection.” After more than ten years, countless people had handled these matters. Sometimes after a defeat, from supply officers to account books, some died, some burned—how much money was spent, where it came from, where it went, who could figure it out?

The Six Ministries dared demand such high processing fees because they were prepared to take money and solve problems, already ready to forge accounts for the Hunan Army. The faster these accounts were created, the faster money would arrive. Therefore, ministry clerks agreed with provincial junior officials to send people locally to examine the bottom records of treasury, tariff, customs, and salt archives, handling everything on their behalf. Hiring personnel, renting buildings, purchasing writing materials, food and salary needs—all funded jointly by officials in advance, to be reimbursed together when processing fees came.

This had been ongoing since Jiangning’s recovery, lasting over half a year. They’d forged ten large chests of false accounts, spending at least four to five hundred thousand taels in advances. Unexpectedly, when Prince Gong attended court, he personally requested imperial approval to cancel all military expense reimbursements from the ten-year campaign with one stroke. This was like thunder and lightning—the Six Ministries officials’ dreams turned to dust, losing enormous sums. Some money was borrowed at high interest, confident that processing fees would cover principal and interest, but it all came to nothing. Some had to sell houses to pay debts. There are no walls without cracks—soon someone discovered that Prince Gong made this memorial because Li Wantang had interfered.

“So I say this created deep hatred. From now on, for any business related to the Six Ministries, Beijing merchants can forget about getting the first advantage of proximity, can’t even grab a tail hair. You’re clearly driving Beijing merchants to death.”

Manager Jiao felt frustrated listening, stamping his foot heavily: “If Beijing merchants can’t do Beijing business, what kind of Beijing merchants are we?”

“Why not!” Li Wantang had listened silently for a long time. Now he suddenly rose, his gaze sweeping like a blade across the four managers, staring directly at them. “Wherever Li Wantang is, that’s where Beijing merchants are!”

The four managers looked at each other in alarm. After a long while, Manager Zhang asked hesitantly: “What do you mean by that?”

“Gentlemen, business depends entirely on vision. Beijing merchants have focused only on the capital for centuries, relying on officialdom for business—certainly comfortable, but times change, and circumstances are different now. In the past, all imperial power was in the capital—Six Ministries, Nine Ministers, Grand Council, Nine Gates Commander, Imperial Household Department. Building good relationships with them, these nobles could casually write a note, and Beijing merchants could get business anywhere in the empire. Moreover, the capital was then where merchants from all over gathered, so we could do business sitting down, lying down, even looking up at the sky—like Jiang Taigong fishing, waiting for willing fish.”

Like a private tutor instructing newly enrolled students, Li Wantang paced before the four men with an unquestionable tone: “Do you think that now the great rebellion is pacified, authority should return to the court, to the Six Ministries, to those ministers and clerks? Hmph! If you think so, Beijing merchants will be drinking northwest wind in ten years.”

Manager Jiao had come to demand accountability but was scolded by Li Wantang—this was truly unbearable. He argued: “The capital is the foundation of the empire, the court is the hub of great governance. Beijing merchants have this unique advantage—how can it become worthless in your mouth?”

“You still don’t understand.” Li Wantang looked at him with pity. “This ten-year campaign wasn’t just warfare. Formerly the court’s authority could control provincial governors, and frontier officials were mixed Manchu and Han. But now Han officials have gained power. Except for Huguang Governor-General Guan Wen and Liangguang Governor-General Rui Lin, among the eighteen provinces’ governors, Han people occupy more than half. This is the consequence of the court being unable to suppress the Taipings, only allowing Han officials to organize militia and recruit troops for funding. Formerly all directions served the capital; now each governs separately. Governors hold heavy power—the situation of light interior, heavy exterior has formed. The Manchu court now has no strength, only able to yield the great rivers and mountains to Han governors. The Qing is still the same Qing, the emperor on the dragon throne is still Aisin-Gioro, but in local officials’ eyes, the court is no longer the absolute court of former times.”

These words changed everyone’s expression. In the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras, leaking one sentence of this would mean death for everyone in the room. Even now this was “great disrespect,” yet Li Wantang dared speak openly.

“Don’t be afraid. Even if someone reported these words, the court would only desperately cover them up, never daring to publicize them. Actually, how could the Two Empress Dowagers and Grand Secretaries not understand these principles? They just know that once this facade is torn away, the inside can’t maintain the illusion.”

Manager Zhang, most shrewd, following Li Wantang’s words and thinking calmly, couldn’t help nodding: “If so, Master Li, what should we Beijing merchants do?”

Li Wantang’s face finally showed some smile: “Since the court can no longer be relied upon, how can this small capital contain us, much less control business opportunities? This bowl of water is too shallow and will become shallower. When you can no longer drink from it and then want to jump into great rivers, it will be too late.”

Hearing this serious warning, the four managers all drew sharp breaths, looking at each other speechlessly.

“Beijing merchants must change. I saw this long ago, which is why I first competed with Shanxi merchant banks and second competed for the title of Tea King of the Realm. Though neither succeeded as wished, I still achieved good results. The seventy-two salt fields of Lianghuai are enough to keep the Li family business invincible. With this as foundation, there’s still great work to be done in the fertile lands of Liangjiang.”

“Then we ‘Four Great Heng’ holding one-third shares in the salt fields also benefit from this.” Manager Zhang hastily added.

Li Wantang smiled without answering, then continued: “The reason I’m not afraid of offending the Six Ministries is that I no longer covet Beijing business. There…” He gazed toward the capital’s direction and continued: “There are no more business opportunities.”

“I repeat: wherever Li Wantang is, that’s where Beijing merchants are. No matter where the Li family goes, we must occupy the first chair!”

After speaking, Li Wantang didn’t see the guests off but walked straight out. If these gentlemen in the hall could understand, they would naturally follow him. If not, they weren’t worth another glance.

The four remaining managers sat stupefied in the guest room, still not recovered from their shock.

The Li family’s century-old foundation was all in the capital—business and connections built with countless efforts. Now saying abandon it, he truly discarded it like worn shoes. Li Wantang left himself no retreat whatsoever. This determination was ruthless enough to make hearts tremble.

After a long while, Manager Jiao said angrily: “Li Half-City is too domineering. He won’t do Beijing business and won’t let others do it either. Does he want all Beijing merchants to go south with him? Who does he think he is—Emperor Qianlong?”

The other three managers also had iron-blue faces, each calculating privately.

“We respected him as Beijing merchants’ leader, let him head the Beijing Merchants’ Guild, never expecting that success and failure both lay with Xiao He—in the end, it was Li Wantang who single-handedly ruined Beijing merchants’ business.” The manager of “Henghe” said indignantly.

The most senior Manager Zhang suddenly smiled coldly and said something that made the others instantly widen their eyes.

“Do you think he’s really a Beijing merchant?”

When they reached the dock, the hired fast boat had already secured a good position early, waiting only for Li Wantang to board before casting off.

Unexpectedly, Li An approached anxiously: “Master, I’m afraid we can’t depart anytime soon.”

“Why?”

“They say Eight Banners soldiers have all swarmed to Tongzhou, claiming they want to demand an explanation from the Granary Minister. They also say if their wishes aren’t satisfied, they’ll burn down Tongzhou’s granaries. Now all guards at checkpoints have been dispatched to maintain order, no one’s inspecting boats, so naturally no boats can be cleared.”

“Ridiculous. These Banner gentlemen have had imperial iron rice bowls since birth—having food served to them is already enough, yet they still make trouble. Truly insatiable.” Li Wantang showed disgust.

Walking from dock back to the inn was just a pipe’s smoke time, but thinking of Madam Li’s trouble-making expression, Li Wantang decided to wait on the boat. Having nothing to do, he asked Li An: “Eight Banners soldiers are all idle good-for-nothings who won’t walk an extra step, yet they’ve gathered from far away in Tongzhou. What for?”

Li An was most thorough in his work, having anticipated his master might ask and investigated the matter clearly.

“Now their iron rice bowls can’t even feed these gentlemen full. Making trouble is just to get some silver to spend.” It turned out the capital garrison—officers and soldiers of the Divine Engine Battalion and Elite Battalion—had learned from somewhere that a large batch of grain would be transported to the capital as tribute grain. Once it arrived, it could be distributed to settle years of owed military rice. This was originally good news, but someone obtained a grain sample from the Ministry of Revenue. This was the duty of the Lianghuai Grain Supervision Circuit, to first send tribute grain samples to the Ministry for inspection. This should have been confidential, but it leaked out. The grain sample was made public in teahouses where Eight Banners garrison frequently gathered, immediately causing an uproar.

This ration rice was of very poor quality—adequate for disaster victims to fill their stomachs, but Eight Banners children accustomed to fine flour delicacies couldn’t stomach such inferior rice. Moreover, street rumors began circulating that Jiangnan rice prices were extremely high, yet the Canal Transport Governor-General deliberately transported this batch of stored grain to serve as Banner rations, intentionally saving large sums to support the Hunan Army.

Zeng Guofan leading Han volunteer Hunan Army to achieve unprecedented merit already made those Manchu and Mongol officers and soldiers extremely resentful. In capital teahouses and wine shops, sitting briefly would fill one’s ears with vile curses against the Hunan Army. At this juncture, “the Han Canal Transport Governor-General transports nearly moldy grain for capital Banner people to eat, saving large sums to fund the Han Liangjiang Governor-General’s military pay”—this single sentence enraged capital Banner people and Banner garrison troops, who quickly agreed to gather in Tongzhou. Tongzhou was the canal terminus and location of Zhili granaries, where the Granary Minister resided year-round, handling tribute grain transport, storage, and distribution.

Now Banner people mobilized upon hearing news, surrounding the Granary Minister’s office three layers deep, declaring loudly that if the Ministry of Revenue dared accept this tribute grain batch, they would dare burn the granary to the ground and sink all grain transport boats in the canal.

These arrogant and unreasonable Banner camp gentlemen almost all had countless connections to current nobles—wet nurse’s sons, concubine’s brothers were common, and some were themselves yellow-belted descendants of founding heroes’ collateral lines, holding hereditary titles. They looked ordinary on the street but could make even first-rank ministers bow respectfully when revealing their identities.

Granary Minister Fu Langha was himself a Banner person who understood the stakes. Knowing one wrong move would push him to the forefront as Wu Tang’s shield, which wasn’t worthwhile, he first sent fast riders along the canal post road to Qingjiangpu, telling Wu Tang to keep boats moored in Huai’an and not proceed north along the canal, lest news arrive and further enrage these Banner soldiers.

Meanwhile, he sent people to invite several Banner camp leaders who could speak and make decisions to his office, entertaining them with good tea and wine while trying to mediate, asking what outcome they ultimately wanted from this disturbance.

The Banner soldiers’ demands were simple: they didn’t want this grain batch but wanted silver equivalent, not calculated at northern grain prices but at current Jiangnan grain prices.

This was difficult—Jiangnan grain prices were fifteen taels per shi. How could Wu Tang sell this batch of already poor-quality grain at such high prices?

Fu Langha didn’t think much about it—this was the Canal Transport Governor-General’s trouble, unrelated to himself. So he wrote a detailed letter about the Banner camp officers’ and soldiers’ demands and Tongzhou’s current situation, warning Wu Tang that this matter must be resolved quickly. If delayed, there was great danger of Banner camp mutiny, and when investigating causes, nothing short of dismissal and prosecution would follow—no one could protect him. Fu Langha sealed this letter with fire wax and sent it by fast horse to Qingjiangpu. Everything depended on how Wu Tang would respond.

Manager Peng rushed through the door and, seeing Gu Pingyuan, immediately said eagerly: “Master, you really saw it clearly—Tongzhou has truly erupted.”

“To what extent?” Gu Pingyuan put down his book.

“Almost beyond control.” Manager Peng smiled proudly. “Your five thousand taels were truly well spent.”

Gu Pingyuan had used three thousand taels to bribe the Grain Supervision Circuit stationed in Huai’an, selecting the worst grain sample from this batch to send a small bag to the Ministry of Revenue. He used another thousand taels to have a Ministry clerk deliberately leak the grain sample. The remaining thousand was spent hiring people to spread rumors throughout the capital’s streets and alleys, telling Banner camp officers and soldiers about current Jiangnan grain prices while fabricating rumors that Wu Tang transported inferior grain to save money for Zeng Guofan’s military pay.

Spending five thousand taels total worked like magic. Manager Peng’s intelligence showed that after receiving the letter, Wu Tang had panicked, summoning advisors overnight to discuss countermeasures, but all were at a loss.

“This Governor-General Wu made one wrong move, equivalent to driving himself into a dead end.” Gu Pingyuan said calmly. “Matters already memorialized to the court can hardly be changed. Even if the court agreed to withdraw this rice batch, the Eight Banners wouldn’t spare him. They would insist on the exchange silver—not giving it would offend all Banner people, and Wu Tang, however bold, wouldn’t dare commit such great impropriety.”

“What if he returns the grain to the Caobang and demands the silver back?” Manager Peng asked.

“The Caobang has been in dire straits long enough. Gang brothers have long awaited this silver for settling their families. Recovering distributed silver—never mind whether it’s possible, even if achieved, it would certainly cause great turmoil. Caobang members aren’t saints. If they truly rebel over this, Wu Tang’s head would be forfeit. If his advisors have even one sensible person, they couldn’t let him do this.”

“So he’s dead advancing or retreating—doomed either way.” Liu Heita, listening nearby, interjected.

“Not necessarily. He still has one path to survival.”

“Where?”

Gu Pingyuan smiled slightly: “With me.”

“Your Excellency, you must not act rashly.” The one advising Wu Tang was a senior secretary in his staff, also surnamed Wu, distantly related to Wu Tang’s clan. He had followed Wu Tang since his county magistrate days, handling documents and sharing many confidential matters over the years—truly someone with whom nothing was unspoken. “We’ve already made one wrong step. If we make another, whether in the capital or Jiangnan, whether mutiny or popular uprising, that won’t be a matter of disciplinary punishment. Forgive my bluntness—even if the Western Empress Dowager supports you, or both Empress Dowagers together, I fear it would be futile.”

Wu Tang frowned tightly, pacing back and forth in his signing room, saying irritably: “Haven’t the Caobang people arrived yet? This matter requires the bell-ringer to untie the bell—I think we still need the Caobang’s help.”

Secretary Wu shook his head silently. For the Caobang to rescue from the well, Jiang Tai would need to suppress effectively, but he was ill and aged, having just lost a capable lieutenant. Recovering silver just distributed to tens of thousands of gang members—he likely had the will but not the strength.

“Besides, it’s still insufficient. Buying these three hundred thousand shi of grain cost nine and a half taels per shi total. The Canal Governor’s office paid 1.5 million taels first, with another 1.35 million advanced by several major banks. Even if all this silver were recovered, it’s still 1.65 million taels short of the fifteen taels per shi the capital Banner people demand. Where would such an enormous sum come from?”

“Wrong, wrong.” Wu Tang was grief-stricken. “I shouldn’t have coveted such merit initially. Now I’ve gained no merit but earned complaints. Sigh!”

“Report to the Commander! Someone outside has submitted a card requesting audience.” The gatekeeper came to report. The Canal Governor also had ten battalions of troops, specifically for suppressing rioters during grain collection, called Canal Standard Central Army, so the Canal Governor could use the title “Commander.”

“Don’t see anyone! I won’t see anyone!” Wu Tang, in his agitation, waved impatiently.

Secretary Wu noticed the gatekeeper’s hesitation and asked: “Who is it?”

“He says he does business in Jiangning city, heard the Commander has difficulties, and came specially to offer advice.”

“I have so many learned advisors with official ranks, yet none can devise solutions, but a businessman wants to give advice—ridiculous.” Wu Tang was disdainful.

These words made Secretary Wu feel somewhat embarrassed, but he and Wu Tang truly shared fortune and misfortune, so he advised: “Your Excellency, there are often extraordinary talents among merchants. This current matter is actually business—why not hear what this merchant says?”

“Mm.” Wu Tang exhaled deeply and nodded to the gatekeeper.

Secretary Wu, fearing the visitor might want private audience, first went to the rear hall to wait. Soon an attendant brought someone in to pay respects.

Wu Tang carefully examined the visitor: “You know what difficulties I have.”

“Your Excellency lacks silver.” Gu Pingyuan didn’t want to beat around the bush. “To satisfy the Banner camp officers’ and soldiers’ appetites, Your Excellency must sell the grain in hand at fifteen taels per shi market price, then transport the silver to the capital.”

“Who are you?” Wu Tang was secretly alarmed. To avoid censorial impeachment, he had ordered strict secrecy, yet a merchant knew the inside story.

“Your Excellency need not be suspicious. Officials have official channels, merchants have commercial routes. I ask Your Excellency one question: is my information accurate or not?”

Wu Tang could reach governor-general rank not entirely through palace connections. Reading expressions and observing colors, he sensed this person came specifically seeking audience, already knowing inside information—clearly prepared, perhaps truly having some solution. So he nodded reluctantly.

“If so, three hundred thousand shi of grain equals 4.5 million taels of silver. Can Your Excellency produce this?”

“If I could produce it, why would I see you!” Wu Tang said somewhat angrily. The Canal Governor’s office silver didn’t blow in on the wind—after paying the Caobang such a large sum, the treasury was nearly empty.

“This humble one misspoke.” Gu Pingyuan smiled slightly. “If so, I haven’t come in vain. This trip, I came specifically to deliver silver to Your Excellency. Of course, this silver isn’t free—Your Excellency must exchange grain for it.”

“You want to buy my tribute grain?” Wu Tang was both surprised and delighted, asking suspiciously, “I have no time for petty business with you. If buying, buy all three hundred thousand shi.”

“Naturally buying all, and paying cash silver.” Gu Pingyuan remained calm.

Hearing this, Wu Tang was even more amazed, examining Gu Pingyuan up and down again: “What business do you do in Jiangning city to produce over four million taels of silver?”

Gu Pingyuan blinked, suddenly quieted, also looked at Wu Tang twice, then said: “These three hundred thousand shi of grain, I can only accept at five taels per shi—in other words, 1.5 million taels.”

“You must be mad.” Wu Tang’s expression immediately changed. “Market price…”

“Market price is fifteen taels per shi—I know this.” Gu Pingyuan interrupted him.

“Then why do you say five taels?”

“Your Excellency, please calm down.” Gu Pingyuan spoke unhurriedly at a steady pace, like chatting about an amusing anecdote heard in a street teahouse, saying conversationally: “Five taels or fifteen taels—it’s just grain price per shi, actually unrelated to the capital Banner people. What they truly care about is how much silver the Canal Governor can produce total.”

“Why ask this? The asking price is already set—three hundred thousand shi of grain calculated at fifteen taels grain price, totaling 4.5 million taels.” Wu Tang had been a dandy around Tongling in his youth—in his urgency, he unconsciously adopted some “rogue tone.”

Gu Pingyuan shook his head: “Fifteen taels is correct, but the three hundred thousand shi figure is wrong.”

Wu Tang frowned: “My document submitted to the Ministry clearly states three hundred thousand shi.”

“Wrong. One hundred thousand shi.”

“Three hundred thousand.” Wu Tang said impatiently.

“One hundred thousand.” Gu Pingyuan seemed determined to argue, saying with finality.

Wu Tang laughed angrily: “I also wish I had reported one hundred thousand shi—that would reduce this trouble by sixty to seventy percent. But the document shows black on white, sealed with my personal seal. How could three hundred thousand become one hundred thousand!”

“If Your Excellency doesn’t believe, send fast riders to the Ministry to check. The Ministry’s records show one hundred thousand shi, capital streets circulate one hundred thousand shi, and the officers and soldiers now gathered in Tongzhou want one hundred thousand shi of grain calculated at fifteen taels grain price. In other words, Your Excellency sells three hundred thousand shi of grain to me, I give Your Excellency 1.5 million taels of silver, and you can send those Banner people away completely satisfied.”

“Strange—how do you know this?” Wu Tang found this person’s background increasingly unfathomable.

Gu Pingyuan repeated: “Your Excellency need not ask in detail. Moreover, I’m not buying grain for my own business but helping Zeng Guofan, General Zeng, with work.”

“Zeng Guofan?” As fellow first-rank governor-general, Liangjiang General Zeng’s reputation naturally far exceeded Canal Transport General Wu’s.

While Wu Tang was surprised and bewildered, Gu Pingyuan said solemnly: “General Zeng also loves the people like his children, hoping to use this grain to save Jiangnan people. If General Wu could assist, the Liangjiang office would certainly be grateful.”

Using this opportunity to befriend Zeng Guofan was naturally beneficial, but Wu Tang couldn’t be without doubts: “You say the capital only knows of one hundred thousand shi to be transported, and that you’re sent by General Zeng—I can’t quite trust either claim.”

“Easy to handle!” Gu Pingyuan had already anticipated this, saying confidently: “Please Your Excellency immediately send someone to the capital to inquire. Fast horses round trip takes only seven days. I’ll use these days to report to General Zeng and draw silver from Jiangning Provincial Treasury. Once the capital reply arrives, please Your Excellency transport the grain to Jiangning Xiaguan dock, with Provincial Treasury officials handling cash-and-carry transactions. Would this be satisfactory?”

“Um…” This was indeed a foolproof method. Seeing Wu Tang frowning in thought, Gu Pingyuan leaned forward and lowered his voice: “There’s still one extremely great advantage here, significantly related to Your Excellency’s career prospects.”

Wu Tang could ignore other matters but was most anxious about hearing “career prospects.” He looked up questioningly at Gu Pingyuan.

“Please consider, Your Excellency. Why are the capital Banner camp officers and soldiers so collectively enraged? Isn’t it because of the saying ‘Canal Transport Governor-General transports moldy rice for Banner people to eat, saving silver to pay Hunan Army military wages’?”

“Exactly!” Wu Tang slapped the desk, saying hatefully: “Who knows who spread such rumors, making baseless claims sound real.” His greatest fear was capital Manchu grandees developing prejudice against him, ruining his bright prospects.

The rumor-spreader was far away yet near—it was Gu Pingyuan. This rumor was his painstaking creation, aiming not only to provoke Banner camp anger but also focusing on today, using this statement to completely move Wu Tang.

“Now Your Excellency can do the reverse. Sell this poor-quality grain to the Hunan Army, exchange it for bright silver to pay Banner people wages. This way, Your Excellency’s reputation among capital Banner nobles would be…”

Before Wu Tang heard the end, he was already overjoyed, doubts long cast to the clouds, saying repeatedly: “Good, good, let’s do as you say! This matter must be fast, lest delay brings changes.”

After Gu Pingyuan left, Secretary Wu emerged from the rear hall. Wu Tang smiled: “You heard everything, right? This is truly like a knife cutting tofu—smooth on both sides. Both befriending Zeng Guofan and gaining favor among capital Banner people, while handling the matter perfectly. Thanks to this merchant surnamed Gu.”

Secretary Wu smiled coldly: “Your Excellency shouldn’t celebrate too soon. The matter is handled, true, but without this Gu person, there wouldn’t have been so many complications.”

“How so?”

“The Caobang people also came just now—still that woman surnamed Bai. According to her, this Gu Pingyuan is most skilled at manipulating business tactics. He came to buy grain from the Caobang unsuccessfully several days ago and left resentfully. These events were probably all his behind-the-scenes mischief.” Secretary Wu said indignantly.

Southern tribute grain transported north involved calculating losses along the way, with many tricks possible, allowing Secretary Wu to gain considerable silver. Now with tribute grain going to Zeng Guofan, the Liangjiang Governor-General had powers of life and death, able to execute ministers without imperial approval. Secretary Wu wouldn’t dare embezzle even if lent another head. He held this grudge, hating Gu Pingyuan to his core.

“Hmph, spreading rumors in the capital and inciting Banner people to riot was bad enough. The document I reported to the Ministry was personally transcribed and sealed by me. How could three hundred thousand become one hundred thousand in a blink, and how would Gu Pingyuan know? Clearly he bribed Ministry clerks to alter the document. He anticipated today long ago, knew he could curry favor with Your Excellency through this, setting a trap for Your Excellency to enter, treating our Canal Governor’s office like monkeys. Such scheming is truly frightening.”

“Detestable!” Wu Tang muttered, his expression instantly becoming extremely ugly.

“General Zeng’s assigned task is different indeed. Provincial Treasurer Xu brought two brigadiers and paid the Canal Governor’s office silver early this morning. That Secretary Wu handling the handover looked extremely ugly, like his parents had died. Probably he knows we played tricks.” Manager Peng was familiar with all corners of Jiangning. After Gu Pingyuan negotiated the deal, he entrusted the silver-grain exchange to him. He was happy to run errands—being able to mediate between two great offices of Liangjiang Governor-General and Canal Transport Governor-General, when mentioned at banquet tables in future, would truly amaze and envy others.

“Knowing doesn’t matter. This business he had to do. Doing it brings obvious benefits; not doing it brings immediate disaster. Wu Tang is no fool. Even if he guesses what happened, he must hold his nose and drink this vinegar completely. Who told him he brewed it himself initially?”

Hearing this, everyone in the room laughed. Chang Yu’er said to Liu Heita: “How about that? Wasn’t I right? Didn’t this General Wu have bad luck?”

“This is called ‘Who knows a husband better than his wife.'” Manager Peng joked, then said: “The tribute grain is scheduled to unload at Xiaguan dock in two days.”

Gu Pingyuan’s eyes turned, thinking and reconsidering, then suddenly asked Manager Peng: “This business deal between Canal Governor and River Governor—how many people know about it?”

“Shouldn’t be many. General Zeng and the provincial treasurer know. As for the Canal Governor’s office, having eaten such a big bitter pill, how could they mention it outside?”

Gu Pingyuan clapped his hands: “In that case, don’t unload the tribute grain yet. After leaving Qingjiangpu dock, find a secure place to stop. I want to use this tribute grain batch for a grand magic trick, fighting for the disaster victims while incidentally dealing with that Master Chen.”

“Big Brother Gu, if you want to deal with Master Chen, I wholeheartedly support you.” Liu Heita hadn’t been idle these days either, wandering around inside and outside Jiangning city, gaining much knowledge.

“Guess what wicked deed this Master Chen has done recently?” Liu Heita became indignant mentioning it. “Several disaster victims’ children were truly starving, tempted by the day-and-night porridge aromas, so they agreed to swim to Master Chen’s grain boat anchored in the river at midnight, hoping to steal some grain bags. They were discovered, and Master Chen, learning of this, tied these children to the mast for a day and night, ignoring parents kowtowing and apologizing on shore. Later he finally released them but made the children swim back themselves. Think about it—already weak from hunger, then bound for a day and night, where would they find strength to swim? Shore people went into water to rescue them, but two children were still swept away by waves.”

“Too tragic.” Chang Yu’er couldn’t bear hearing this. “Manager Peng, please find an assistant to help me send twenty taels funeral money to each family tomorrow.”

“Madam rest assured—leave it to me.” Manager Peng also felt pained hearing this. “This Master Chen simply eats disaster victims’ flesh and drinks starving people’s blood.”

“He won’t be able to eat or drink much longer.” Gu Pingyuan’s gaze had unknowingly sharpened. “And I’ll make him spit out everything he’s swallowed!”