“Master Gu, your arrival couldn’t be more timely! I was just worrying about having no one to entrust my family to, and now I can rest easy.” The manager of Shunde Tea House was surnamed Peng, with the given name Hai. He was a corpulent man with an enormous appetite, earning him the nickname “Peng the Big Bowl.”

When Gu Pingyuan arrived with Chang Yu’er, his status as a financial proprietor naturally commanded respect from the remaining staff, who hurriedly went to report his arrival. Manager Peng rushed out to welcome them barefoot, showing extreme enthusiasm. His family lived in the rear courtyard of the tea house, and his wife invited Chang Yu’er inside to the inner rooms for conversation. Peng the Big Bowl then escorted his guest to the main hall in the back courtyard.

As a newcomer to the area, Gu Pingyuan observed carefully as he walked toward the back, and what he saw filled his mind with enormous question marks. Logically, if Shunde Tea House had dismissed its staff and closed its business, it should be cold and deserted. Yet people were coming and going through several courtyards, especially along the path to the warehouse where there was constant hurried foot traffic. Piles of fine hemp rope and mulberry bark paper used for wrapping tea packages were stacked in corners. Looking more carefully at the ground, the cracks between the blue bricks were filled with fine tea particles – this hardly looked like a business that had been closed for years.

Gu Pingyuan entered the manager’s main hall with these doubts, and just as he sat down, before he could even speak, Peng the Big Bowl suddenly stood up and knelt before him.

“Master Gu, I won’t survive this day. I must return this Shunde Tea House to the Hu family today. I only hope you’ll put in a good word for me before Old Master Hu. Considering how I’ve devoted myself wholeheartedly all these years, perhaps he’ll show some care for my family. Even in death, I, Peng, would be eternally grateful.”

Caught off guard by this bow, Gu Pingyuan quickly helped Peng the Big Bowl to his feet, asking, “Manager Peng, we’ve only just met, yet you come at me with this incomprehensible performance – I’m truly confused. What exactly is going on?”

Peng the Big Bowl frowned tightly, sighing repeatedly, but refused to explain the reason. Gu Pingyuan, normally patient, was becoming somewhat angry, thinking to himself: this man is truly unreasonable. I’ve come as the proprietor to reorganize the shop, and as manager, he should be assisting me. Yet he claims today is his death day but won’t give a reason – is he trying to intimidate me?

Gu Pingyuan’s face darkened, and he was about to press for answers again when he heard someone cough lightly at the door. It was Chang Yu’er, who nodded to Gu Pingyuan and called him outside.

After walking a dozen steps away, Chang Yu’er whispered softly, “Do you know? This Manager Peng has gotten into terrible trouble. Now that disaster has arrived, I’m afraid he won’t survive this crisis.”

It turned out Chang Yu’er had heard the news from Manager Peng’s family. Though Manager Peng appeared unremarkable, his ability to manage such a large branch store showed his natural business acumen. Ever since receiving word from the main store, he had been scheming, feeling that letting such a large tea house sit empty and unprofitable was truly wasteful. Since the owners had said to close the shop anyway, whatever he earned now would go straight into his own pocket. So he boldly began doing business with the Taiping rebels. Initially, he only supplied inferior tea scraps to common soldiers, but later, due to Shunde’s great reputation, officers also came seeking him out, and gradually he sold off several hundred pounds of fine tea from the warehouse.

At this time, few legitimate businesses were open in Nanjing city. Common people were too busy avoiding the warfare to have any mind for tea drinking. Peng the Big Bowl was also afraid in his heart, planning to stop after clearing his existing inventory. But unexpectedly, the next major customer turned out to be Hong Xiuquan’s Heavenly King’s Palace. The palace wanted only the finest premium teas – a business Peng the Big Bowl dared not accept, yet dared even less to refuse. With no alternative, he contacted several smugglers to bring goods from outside the city to fulfill the order.

“From then on, he was on a pirate ship with no way down?” Gu Pingyuan understood most of the situation by this point.

Chang Yu’er nodded: “Once the Heavenly King’s Palace bought tea from him, naturally the other Taiping kings and officials also recognized his shop. For these past ten years, though fighting raged outside the city, Manager Peng made quite a fortune.”

However, good times inevitably come to an end. When the Hunan Army broke through Nanjing, they naturally settled accounts with those who had “collaborated with rebels.” Peng the Big Bowl, who had frequented various palaces, was certainly a prominent figure serving the Taipings and was naturally anxious. What he feared most came to pass – yesterday a Hunan Army captain came to the shop with an official document from the Governor-General of Liangjiang, specifically ordering Manager Peng to report to the Governor-General’s office this afternoon.

What good could come of such a summons? He would likely lose his head before even sitting down to a feast. Peng the Big Bowl regretted his actions deeply. Last night he had already bid farewell to his family, but he was uncertain – if he were truly convicted of “collaborating with rebels,” his family would also be implicated as accomplices. In chaotic times, killing was done without reason, and “execute the entire family” was just a casual phrase. When that time came, the whole family might meet in the underworld.

The Peng household was now shrouded in gloom and despair. No wonder Peng the Big Bowl was so distraught he couldn’t speak coherently. Gu Pingyuan pondered and smiled at Chang Yu’er: “I can help him with this trouble, but he used the master’s business to privately profit himself – he can’t get off so easily. What he swallowed must be coughed up.”

Gu Pingyuan returned to the room and stared at Peng the Big Bowl for a long time before speaking: “Manager Peng, I know all about your situation. Go ahead with peace of mind – I’ll naturally look after your family. If they’re truly implicated, I’ll answer for the Hu family and have the tea house’s public funds buy a dozen thin coffins. Though you, as a clerk, took advantage of your master, the master won’t mistreat his employees.” These words struck Peng the Big Bowl’s heart like a needle, making him feel ashamed, regretful, and afraid all at once, causing him to break into sobs. Gu Pingyuan took the opportunity to lecture: “Using the master’s money to enrich your own fields, pocketing profits while charging losses to the books – this is the greatest taboo for employees. You rose to become head manager, and the Hu family treated you well. How could you act so unconscionably?”

Peng the Big Bowl looked miserable: “Master Gu, I know what I did was wrong, but I was truly caught between a rock and a hard place. If only I had listened to the old master’s words from the beginning and closed the shop properly. But once I started doing business, to suddenly say I wouldn’t continue would anger the Taipings – and they’re not to be trifled with. Sigh, the more silver I earned, the more it accumulated, but with Nanjing under siege, I couldn’t buy shops or land. I could only hide it in the cellar behind the courtyard. It’s nearly piled to the ceiling with nowhere left to spend it. What was I even thinking!” He raised his hand and slapped himself twice across the face.

“Just how much silver did this tea house earn?” Gu Pingyuan was somewhat curious.

Peng the Big Bowl raised one hand with five fingers spread.

“Fifty thousand taels?”

Peng the Big Bowl smiled bitterly: “Five hundred and fifty thousand taels, if not more.”

Gu Pingyuan was shocked: “Nanjing has been besieged so tightly these years, how could just this one shop, relying only on smuggled goods, earn so much money?”

“Truth be told, besides doing business with the Taipings, I also traded with the Jiangnan Grand Camp outside the city. During the ten-year siege, the camp was like a marketplace. Officers embezzled military pay and divided spoils – everyone had money and spent lavishly when buying things.”

Gu Pingyuan found this both infuriating and amusing, with a touch of admiration. In a place where two armies clashed and danger lurked everywhere, Peng the Big Bowl had managed to profit from both sides – this showed his business skills were truly superior. Old Master Hu certainly had good judgment in appointing this branch manager, who was indeed talented.

For this very reason, Gu Pingyuan decided to help Peng the Big Bowl, planning to use both soft and hard tactics to ensure his wholehearted loyalty to his master.

“Old Master Hu sent me to reorganize the tea house. Based on your actions alone, I could summon the staff right now and dismiss you from your head manager position. However, I always give people a chance. As long as you sincerely repent, I’ll let bygones be bygones, and I can even help resolve the trouble with the Governor-General’s office.”

“Really?” Peng the Big Bowl suddenly looked up, asking in disbelief. He saw Gu Pingyuan nod decisively.

Now Gu Pingyuan’s figure seemed like a towering golden Buddha in Peng the Big Bowl’s eyes. With hope for survival appearing, Peng the Big Bowl’s speech immediately became articulate, revealing his true merchant nature.

“Master Gu, rest assured – if I, surnamed Peng, received such great kindness and still didn’t repent, would I even be human? I’ll swear an oath right now.”

“Not just repentance – you must also repay Old Master Hu’s kindness in recognizing your talent.” Gu Pingyuan interrupted. “Don’t rush to swear. Listen carefully to these conditions. First, from now on you may only mention doing business with the Jiangnan Grand Camp – never mention trading with the Taipings again. Everyone in the shop must keep silent about this. You must manage and warn them accordingly. If necessary, you can offer the staff some benefits, but also let them know that if this matter is investigated by the authorities, everyone in the shop will be implicated – no one can escape.”

“I understand, I understand.” Peng the Big Bowl nodded repeatedly, then said hesitantly, “I’m just worried the Taipings might have account books…”

“There are definitely account books – otherwise why would the Governor-General’s office summon you? But don’t worry, I’ll handle this matter.” Gu Pingyuan raised his second finger. “Second, the five hundred and fifty thousand taels earned cannot be considered your private property – it must be counted as the company’s silver. Of course, your ten years of hard work shouldn’t go unrewarded. I’ll report this to Old Master Hu and arrange for you to receive a commission from this money.”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. I only ask that my family remain safe and sound – that would satisfy me completely.” At this point, Peng the Big Bowl no longer dared covet this silver, waving his hands repeatedly.

“Finally, I hope from now on you’ll devote yourself wholeheartedly to the business!” He softened his tone. “Just now as I walked in, I noticed Old Master Hu had tears in his eyes. Why? Because he employed such a capable person as you. The old master trusted you and put the largest branch store in your hands, yet you focused your thoughts on making money for yourself. If this reputation spreads, you’ll likely never be able to establish yourself in the business world again. Moreover, people will certainly mock Old Master Hu for poor judgment in employing such a self-serving clerk who damages the company for personal gain – and they’ll say he deserved the losses. Manager Peng, think about it – this harms both others and yourself. Why suffer such consequences?”

“Master Gu, please… please say no more.” Peng the Big Bowl was genuinely moved. “I started as a bookkeeper for the Hu family. The old master promoted me step by step to head manager. I’ve truly wronged him terribly.” He sighed deeply and wiped tears from his eyes.

“Knowing one’s mistakes and being able to change – nothing is better than this.” Gu Pingyuan was skilled at reading people and could see that Peng the Big Bowl’s repentance was genuine, which pleased him greatly. “Since you can say this, I can make a trip to the Governor-General’s office on your behalf.”

“You’ll go?”

“I’m the proprietor. Since I’ve entered Nanjing city, naturally I should represent the tea house in meeting the Governor-General.”

This matter had been Peng the Big Bowl’s constant worry day and night. He naturally knew Gu Pingyuan was taking a risk to help him and was moved to tears, feeling it necessary to warn him once more.

“Master, this trip is extremely dangerous – you could lose your head.”

Gu Pingyuan didn’t have nine lives, nor was he carelessly gambling with his head. He dared to go to the Governor-General’s office on Peng the Big Bowl’s behalf because he had his method – and that method was in his coat pocket. Before leaving, Gu Pingyuan deliberately reached into his coat to feel that the item was still there, then set out.

Shunde Tea House was near the east gate of Nanjing city, not far from the city gate. Earlier, Gu Pingyuan had entered the tea house after just a few steps from the gate. Now, to reach the Governor-General’s office, he had to bypass the ruins of the Ming Imperial Palace (which Emperor Kangxi had ordered demolished to build Putuo Temple) and walk three li through streets and alleys.

Currently, Nanjing city had not recovered its vitality, making it difficult to find sedan chair bearers. Gu Pingyuan had to walk. The sights along the way were shocking – though Nanjing had been recaptured for half a year, white bones and exposed corpses could still be seen in dark alleys, and dark bloodstains were visible everywhere on the stone-paved roads. Perhaps it was psychological, but after walking briefly, Gu Pingyuan felt his nostrils filled with the smell of blood.

He thought it was his imagination, but upon turning a corner, he encountered a row of over a dozen people kneeling in the street, with bloody, mangled corpses lying scattered before them. Gu Pingyuan’s eyes met those of a kneeling youth, whose gaze revealed absolute despair. His mouth was slightly open as if wanting to cry out, but then came the command “Execute!” A dozen steel blades fell simultaneously, heads rolled, blood spurted from the necks, and bodies toppled. The youth’s head rolled several times, coming to rest at Gu Pingyuan’s feet, eyes still wide open, staring at the patch of sky above.

Gu Pingyuan knew these were government soldiers executing remaining Taiping rebels. He sighed, knowing he couldn’t interfere with such matters, and prepared to continue on his way.

“Stop! I’m killing Taiping rebels, and you’re sighing? Are you perhaps a Taiping rebel? Arrest him!” The officer who had given the execution order was a captain who now glared with the look of a fierce demon.

Having dealt with government soldiers many times, Gu Pingyuan neither groveled nor showed arrogance as he bowed: “Captain, I’m the proprietor of Shunde Tea House at the east gate. Governor-General Zeng sent someone yesterday ordering me to visit his office…”

Hearing him invoke Zeng Guofan’s name truly startled these soldiers, who looked him up and down. Before they could speak again, Gu Pingyuan produced a ten-tael silver note from his sleeve and pressed it into the captain’s hand: “Captain, you brothers have worked hard on patrol. I’m a tea merchant – please use this small amount for tea money as a token of my respect.”

With the silver note in hand, the captain immediately changed his expression, smiling broadly: “You’ve been too generous! Sir, take a detour – there are brothers arresting people ahead, and we wouldn’t want you mistakenly detained.”

Watching these soldiers swagger away, Gu Pingyuan shook his head with a bitter smile and followed their directions to take a longer route. This delayed him, and by the time he reached the Governor-General’s office, he was a quarter-hour late.

This place had been the Governor-General of Liangjiang’s office since the early Qing dynasty, housing the first regional governor of the south for over two hundred years. Later, when the Taipings captured Nanjing, the then-governor Lu Jianying was killed while fleeing in panic at the small military field in the south city. The Governor-General’s office was converted by Hong Xiuquan into the Heavenly King’s Palace, which had stood for over ten years.

When the Hunan Army breached the city, the Heavenly King’s Palace was intact, and Zeng Guoquan had stationed guards there. Who knew that a great fire would inexplicably break out at midnight, burning the palace to nothing. It was said that Hong Xiuquan’s ten years of accumulation, mountains of gold and seas of silver, were all stored in the palace, but after the fire, there was no evidence left. Zeng Guoquan reported to the court that only one fake imperial seal was recovered.

Soon after, Zeng Guofan allocated military funds, hired craftsmen, and undertook major construction to build a new Governor-General’s office on the old palace site. With money, things got done quickly – the three front halls for conducting business were completed, and the rear garden residence for the governor’s family was taking shape.

Gu Pingyuan stated his identity, presented his document, and after the guarding soldiers searched him, they let him enter. The Governor-General’s office was a colloquial name – its formal title was “Liangjiang Governor-General’s Regional Command.” Guided by a duty clerk, Gu Pingyuan entered through the ceremonial gate inscribed “Justice Brings Clarity,” bypassed the grand main hall on the right, and arrived at the second hall. Outside the second hall, craftsmen were hanging a plaque that read “Honest Government, Pure Customs” in beautiful, flowing regular script.

“This isn’t Governor-General Zeng’s personal calligraphy, is it?” he asked the clerk.

“How do you know? Have you seen the governor’s handwriting?”

Gu Pingyuan shook his head: “The calligrapher is extraordinarily intelligent – you can tell from the brushwork that his temperament is rebellious and independent. I’ve long heard that Governor-General Zeng is a renowned Confucian minister, steady and composed. His writing wouldn’t be so flamboyant.”

“Do you understand calligraphy?” Someone had appeared beside them unnoticed, with a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Startled, Gu Pingyuan looked carefully at this person, immediately knelt and replied: “In response to Governor-General Zeng, this commoner once attended school and knows a little about calligraphy.”

“You’re correct – this is the personal calligraphy of Left Zongtang.” The man smiled. “There are quite a few red-button officials in Nanjing now – how did you know I was Zeng Guofan?”

“Though there are many red buttons, there’s only one double-eyed peacock feather.” Gu Pingyuan replied without hesitation.

“Excellent. What kind of person are you to have such discernment?”

“This commoner is Gu Pingyuan, proprietor of Shunde Tea House in the east city, summoned here by Governor-General Zeng.”

Zeng Guofan was slightly surprised, not expecting this young man who understood both calligraphy and official protocols to be a merchant. He said nothing more and walked toward the second hall.

Only then did Gu Pingyuan realize he had arrived at exactly the right moment to encounter Zeng Guofan himself, and quickly followed behind.

Upon entering, he discovered that though the second hall was silent, both sides were filled with people in several rows – probably twenty or thirty individuals. Except for one person near the front wearing fourth-rank official robes, the rest were commoners. When Zeng Guofan entered, everyone rose and bowed, creating quite a commotion before sitting back down.

Gu Pingyuan recognized almost none of these people, except for the one with the fourth-rank insignia – Li Wantang!

Actually, Gu Pingyuan wasn’t entirely surprised to see Li Wantang here, but seeing him suddenly brought involuntary memories of being framed years ago and Chang Si’s father being murdered for hire – the Li family had shadowy connections to both incidents, causing his heart to jolt.

When Li Wantang saw Gu Pingyuan, his eyes flashed, but his expression remained unchanged. Both men’s thoughts raced, knowing that in this setting it was unwise to create complications. Gu Pingyuan looked away first and found a corner seat.

Zeng Guofan sat in the center, saying nothing at first. He accepted a bowl of tea from an attendant, skimmed the tea leaves, took a light sip, then raised his eyes to survey the entire assembly.

Thinking that the man before them was the world-famous, honored, and awe-inspiring Governor-General of Liangjiang and commander of the Hunan Army, almost no one dared meet his gaze, hurriedly lowering their heads.

Gu Pingyuan took this opportunity to carefully observe this nearly legendary figure. He had drooping eyebrows, triangular eyes, and a gaunt face – unremarkable at first glance, but a second look inspired an inability to stare directly. The reason was simple: Zeng Guofan’s sharp gaze seemed capable of splitting a person in half and seeing through to their internal organs. Though Gu Pingyuan considered himself blameless, being stared at by Zeng Guofan made his heart race twice as fast. “Now this is official authority,” Gu Pingyuan thought. “Qiao Henian was right about one thing – though Yuan Jiasan shares the same rank as men like Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, in terms of stature, they’re as different as clouds and mud.”

As he pondered this, Zeng Guofan spoke, and unexpectedly, he began with the bowl of tea in his hand.

“Gentlemen, my career history is something most of you have probably heard. I first served as a Hanlin scholar in the capital, then as Vice Minister in the Ministry of Rites. While observing mourning rites at home, due to the Taiping rebellion, I reluctantly became a militia commander. By His Majesty’s grace, I now command Liangjiang. In these twenty-odd years, from the capital to Hubei and Huguang, then to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, I have never drunk such excellent tea. Where did this tea come from? My subordinates gave it to me. And where did they obtain such fine tea? Ha! It was confiscated from a Taiping squad leader. I had inquiries made – though the Taipings were besieged for nearly ten years, they never lacked good wine and tea, and constantly wore silk and satin. That false Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan lived in luxury and pleasure in this palace daily, no less extravagant than King Zhou’s wine pools and meat forests. Ultimately, who transported these items into the city for their indulgence? Who provided supplies to the Taiping rebels, enabling their survival? You must know that Nanjing city’s prolonged resistance was precisely because the Taipings never ran out of food and supplies. Every day Nanjing remained unconquered, countless Hunan Army brothers died beneath the city walls.”

Zeng Guofan’s lengthy discourse left everyone in the second hall mesmerized and trembling with fear. These people were all managers and proprietors from various trades in Nanjing who had done business with the Taipings. Though the scale varied from large to small, it was undeniable. They had come here already anxious, and hearing the great commander use a bowl of tea to launch his attack, his next words might well order everyone in the hall arrested. Who wouldn’t be terrified? Everyone turned pale with frantically beating hearts.

“Trading with the Taipings is aiding rebels! Aiding rebels is treason! Aiding rebels is murdering officials! Aiding rebels is unforgivably heinous!” Though Zeng Guofan’s voice wasn’t loud, each word struck like a judge pronouncing sentence, making people’s ears ring. Someone with insufficient courage actually lost balance and fell from their chair with a thud.

Gu Pingyuan’s heart was also beating like a drum. Zeng Guofan used tea to make his point, and according to Peng the Big Bowl, more than half the tea in Nanjing had been sold by him. If investigated, he would probably be the first unable to leave the office alive.

Gu Pingyuan racked his brains nervously, almost deciding to use the item in his coat. Glancing at Li Wantang, he saw him sitting calmly and composed, his face peaceful as water with even a slight smile, as if Zeng Guofan hadn’t just spoken harshly but had told an amusing joke.

Why was everyone else panicking while Li Wantang showed no fear? Gu Pingyuan immediately became thoughtful. Ah, because he came to the south just as the government forces were about to capture Nanjing – naturally he wouldn’t wade into such murky waters and could remain uninvolved. But that wasn’t right – the Li family never acted without profit. If secretly trading with the Taipings was completely unrelated to the Li family, then Li Wantang wouldn’t have appeared here today at all. Since he came yet showed no fear, either he had means of self-protection, or he understood that today’s seemingly dangerous situation was actually safe and required no worry.

Gu Pingyuan’s thoughts flashed like lightning. He gradually relaxed his hand that had reached into his coat, exhaled, and his expression brightened. He even leaned back in his chair with a hint of contentment.

After finishing his speech, Zeng Guofan stared unblinkingly at the assembled crowd. Among the group of panicked people, he noticed only two who were different. One was the Beijing merchant leader Li Wantang, who from beginning to end showed no trace of fear. With Zeng Guofan’s discernment, he was confident he wasn’t mistaken – this Proprietor Li wasn’t putting on an act but genuinely felt no fear whatsoever. The other was the young man who had briefly conversed with him outside the hall, who identified himself as the owner of Shunde Tea House named Gu Pingyuan. Though he initially showed brief unease, he quickly recovered his composure and sat calmly in his seat.

Whether these two businesses had secretly traded with the Taipings, Zeng Guofan knew in his heart. The Taipings had been without salt for half a year – this fact had been confirmed by multiple prisoners. Yet after the city fell, soldiers everywhere reported finding large quantities of salt bags in the city. Based on remaining supplies, this occurred after Li Wantang took over managing the Lianghuai Salt Fields – the Li family was definitely involved. As for Shunde Tea House, Gu Pingyuan’s suspicion was correct – the bowl of tea in Zeng Guofan’s hand was indeed sold by Manager Peng, as clearly recorded in the Taipings’ account books.

Everyone knew their own problems. Since these two were proprietors, they naturally couldn’t be unaware that their businesses had traded with the Taipings. Yet under the Governor-General of Liangjiang’s intimidating words, they remained so composed – regardless of what they relied on, this showed exceptional courage. Understanding this, Zeng Guofan shifted his approach: “Speaking of the Taipings, let me ask you all a question. Before the first year of Xianfeng, there were no Taiping rebels in the world. Yet once they rose up, they devastated the region and swept across half the Qing empire, creating an uncontrollable situation. I want to ask you all – why was this?”

Unsure of the governor’s intent, no one dared respond. These managers couldn’t figure out the answer, and even if they could, they wouldn’t want Zeng Guofan’s attention focused on them. The great second hall fell into awkward silence. Finally, someone spoke up in the quiet.

“Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble official has some small insights.”

Even purchased offices were still offices – at least the official credentials from the Ministry of Personnel made no distinction. Zeng Guofan was naturally courteous to Li Wantang, who held fourth-rank prefect rank: “Please speak, Honored Prefect.”

“This humble official believes the reason the Taiping rebels became so arrogant and powerful was due to insufficient military funds in local areas. You must know that when Hong the rebel first raised his army, he had barely ten thousand men, yet he could sweep through Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi with devastating force. The key point was that local areas lacked silver. With silver, they could offer substantial rewards to recruit troops and buy foreign guns and cannons. If they had defended several strategic strongholds, the Taipings couldn’t have been so rampant and would have been confined to one area. The court could then have sent forces to eliminate them without creating such a massive disaster.”

Li Wantang paused here, glanced at Zeng Guofan, saw his approving expression, and continued eloquently: “Where do military funds come from? Nothing more than donations and taxes. The Lianghuai Salt Fields were abandoned for over ten years, and national tax revenue was nearly halved – this gave the Taipings their opportunity. Now this humble official has received the imperial mandate to manage the Lianghuai Salt Fields. I will certainly exert every effort to reopen financial resources for Liangjiang and humbly serve Your Excellency in rebuilding the south.”

This was virtually a public declaration to Zeng Guofan of his willingness to serve with all his might. How could others not understand this? Everyone looked at Li Wantang with mixed envy and jealousy. Especially Gu Pingyuan – from this speech, he suddenly understood why Li Wantang showed no fear of Zeng Guofan’s authority.

Li Wantang had seen through this long ago – if Zeng Guofan wanted to rebuild the south, he would certainly need to use these merchants in the second hall. So he seized the initiative to declare his position, willingly serving Zeng Guofan and certain to be put to great use. When someone wants to use you, naturally they won’t kill you.

Though he was a step behind, Gu Pingyuan completely understood. He also knew that if no one else spoke up, Li Wantang would not only take the first prize but sweep all the prizes. Clinging to Zeng Guofan, the current “King of the South,” the Beijing merchants would truly rise to the heavens in one step. Remembering Old Master Hu’s instructions before his departure, Gu Pingyuan’s blood surged, and hearing Zeng Guofan ask again, he blurted out: “This commoner also has something to say.”

“Please speak freely.”

Gu Pingyuan stood up, walked steadily to the center of the hall, and meeting Zeng Guofan’s gaze, replied: “In this commoner’s view, the Taiping disaster originated from the Thirteen Hongs.”

The crowd stirred, and Li Wantang frowned almost imperceptibly. Even Zeng Guofan was startled. Li Wantang’s answer had actually coincided with his own thoughts, but this young man’s words struck him as utterly bewildering.

“You mean the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs?”

“Precisely.”

“How strange. Are you saying that among the Thirteen Hong merchants, someone provided military funds to support the Taipings?”

Gu Pingyuan shook his head: “Does Your Excellency remember that since Commissioner Lin Zexu’s opium destruction at Humen, when the British attacked Guangzhou and, pressed by fierce bombardment, our dynasty signed a treaty with the British barbarians at Xiaguan outside this very Nanjing city, ceding Hong Kong, paying over twenty million taels in indemnity, and changing from Canton as the sole trading port to five treaty ports? That was the twenty-second year of Daoguang.” After his evening conversation with Old Master Hu, Gu Pingyuan had become interested in the lives and deeds of Tao Shu and Lin Zexu, deliberately seeking out many contemporary records to read, making him thoroughly familiar with this historical episode.

“Hmm.” Zeng Guofan stroked his beard and nodded. “That year I was assigned as chief examiner for the Sichuan provincial examinations. When the news arrived, the scholars were in an uproar, planning to boycott the exams. I spent considerable effort persuading them otherwise. I remember this clearly, but what connection does it have with the Thirteen Hongs or the Taipings?”

Gu Pingyuan continued unhurriedly: “Originally, all foreign trade with our Celestial Empire was conducted through the Thirteen Hong merchants as intermediaries, with Guangzhou being the largest and only foreign seaport. This port employed over a hundred thousand porters alone, plus cart pullers, carriers, packers, those who cooked and washed for these dock workers, grain transporters, vegetable sellers… One could say the Thirteen Hongs supported hundreds of thousands, even millions of people. Most of these were poor people from the Guangxi mountains who could only support their families and barely survive through this work.”

As Gu Pingyuan spoke eloquently, he drew the attention of everyone present, even Li Wantang couldn’t help but listen intently.

“After signing the five-port treaty with Britain, Guangzhou’s port lost its former glory and business declined sharply. Millions of poor people lost their livelihood and could only return to the Guangxi mountains. Guangxi is famously barren – unable to grow grain and lacking profits from silk, tea, or salt. This is why rebels like Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan could spread their teachings and deceive the masses there. When people’s bellies are empty, they can only follow them toward that illusory Heavenly Kingdom.”

At this point, Gu Pingyuan concluded with finality: “Military funds and taxes are merely surface matters. If the people’s bellies were truly filled, only madmen would follow rebellions.”

These were truly resounding words. Through ten years of warfare, Zeng Guofan had discussed the root causes of the Taiping uprising with countless people, but this was the first time someone connected the collapse of the Thirteen Hongs with the Taiping rebellion. Thinking carefully, the five-port system began in the twenty-second year of Daoguang, and by the twenty-fourth year, local officials reported that someone was spreading heretical teachings in the Guangxi mountains – later confirmed to be Hong Xiuquan and others. Looking at it this way, what this man surnamed Gu said was indeed true.

Zeng Guofan became somewhat lost in thought. After waiting a long time without him speaking, Gu Pingyuan boldly continued: “This commoner believes that past dynasties emphasized agriculture because land enables people to live and work in peace and contentment, to be law-abiding citizens. However, how can commerce not also benefit the people and benefit the world? Only when both are given equal weight can they form the foundation of the economy – neither can be lacking.”

“You make it sound simple.” Zeng Guofan had been nodding approvingly but suddenly darkened his face, pointing at the people in the hall. “Merchants value profit over righteousness, like grass swaying in the wind. Take you businessmen in this second hall, for example.” He picked up from the table beside him a tattered paper scroll, smoke-stained and fire-damaged beyond recognition. “This is an account book confiscated from Taiping military supplies. It records detailed accounts of all the shops in Nanjing city that traded with the Taipings.”

Once these words were spoken, everyone fixed their eyes on the book as if a man-eating beast might emerge from it at any moment.

Zeng Guofan held the account book in one hand, watching these people impassively, then suddenly shouted: “Come!”

“Yes sir!” The soldiers on both sides responded with thunderous shouts.

These managers and proprietors were terrified out of their wits, each wearing expressions of despair, about to throw themselves to the ground in desperate pleas.

But following the response, a brazier burning fiercely was carried out from the rear hall and placed on the water-polished blue bricks in the center of the second hall.

Before anyone could recover their senses, they saw Zeng Guofan wave his hand, and this account book that held the fate of so many people was thrown into the fire, instantly turning to ash in the roaring flames.

When everyone recovered from their stupefaction, they realized Zeng Guofan had left at some unknown moment, replaced by a stern-faced middle-aged man standing before them.

“Gentlemen proprietors and managers, I am Governor-General Zeng’s document secretary, surnamed Xue.” This man nodded slightly as a greeting. “Today’s business is concluded, and you may all return home. However, tomorrow at noon, outside the east gate, Governor-General Zeng will fire cannons in demonstration, and you must all attend.”

This was a tone that brooked no discussion. Without waiting for anyone to respond, Secretary Xue also turned and entered the inner hall.

Once in the inner hall, Secretary Xue finally couldn’t maintain his composure, relaxing his stern expression and laughing heartily.

“Your Excellency, I truly admire you! Look at those merchants’ faces – just like shrimp soldiers and crab generals who’d been struck by the Monkey King’s golden staff!”

Secretary Xue’s full name was Xue Fucheng, from a distinguished Wuxi family. Admiring Zeng Guofan’s reputation, he had submitted a ten-thousand-character memorial outlining eight strategies: “Cultivate talent, expand cultivation, promote garrison farming, suppress the Nian rebels, purify official administration, enrich people’s livelihood, plan coastal defense, and stem the tide of change.” This deeply impressed Zeng Guofan, who brought him into his staff. Additionally, Xue Fucheng was skilled at chess, which suited Zeng Guofan’s habit of “a game of chess after meals.” Within a few years, Xue Fucheng had become the chief advisor in Zeng Guofan’s staff.

For this reason, he could joke with Zeng Guofan, and the powerful Governor-General of Liangjiang took no offense.

“As I told you before, suppressing the Taipings was difficult, but handling the aftermath is even more difficult. Yes, the Hunan Army did recapture the south, but what we recovered was a lifeless, destitute south. To revive this dead game, we must use these businessmen.”

“In Your Excellency’s view, who among this group can be entrusted with important responsibilities?”

Zeng Guofan paced in the room, saying slowly: “Beijing merchant Li Wantang truly lives up to his reputation. He saw my intentions early on – quite deep in his schemes. The Beijing Li family has substantial financial resources and Prince Gong’s support, with exclusive rights to operate the Lianghuai Salt Fields. Their strength is certainly sufficient.”

“Then Your Excellency plans to support him as leader of the southern merchants?” Xue Fucheng, who had been advising Zeng Guofan for days, also favored Li Wantang.

Zeng Guofan pondered, and the image of that merchant surnamed Gu appeared in his mind again. This man’s insights were even more extraordinary, and compared to Li Wantang’s superficial remedies, he had identified the root of disaster and prosperity.

“Secretary Xue, go investigate the background of this Proprietor Gu from Shunde Tea House.”

Not far from “Rain Flower Sermon,” one of Nanjing’s eighteen scenic spots, there had been the city’s largest inn – “Ju Guangyuan” – now purchased by the Beijing merchants.

Li Wantang always did things on a grand scale, completely renovating the inn inside and out, laying new bright tiles, painting the walls inside and out with over a dozen coats of white lime, expanding the front road by more than three feet, and paving it with crushed rain flower stone powder, creating what appeared to be a magnificent gentleman’s residence. No plaque hung on the gate, only red paper temporarily pasted with the four characters “Beijing Li Residence.”

“This place still seems rather vulgar. Tomorrow send someone to Yangzhou – buy any garden, regardless of which family owns it, transport the wood and stone here, and hire craftsmen skilled in garden design to rearrange it. Remember, the garden must be old enough – at least a hundred years.” Li Wantang stepped in without looking back as he gave these instructions.

“Yes.” Li An’s replies were invariably brief, but his execution was flawless – he could accomplish everything Li Wantang instructed down to the last detail.

“Master Li, you’ve worked hard, worked hard.” Before entering the main hall, someone came out laughing and greeting him.

“Manager Wang, instead of supervising the salt fields, why have you come here?” Li Wantang’s brow ridge twitched as he stared at the newcomer and asked.

“Though it was your son who caused trouble, I bear some responsibility as well and couldn’t rest easy, so I came to check. How was it? I heard Governor-General Zeng summoned you – was it about that matter?” The speaker was Wang Tiangui, who stared unblinkingly at Li Wantang, trying to read something from his face.

“Nothing serious, Manager Wang is overthinking.” Li Wantang spoke lightly. “Since you’re here, I’ll host a banquet tonight to welcome you.”

“No need, no need.” Wang Tiangui truly couldn’t read anything from Li Wantang and, knowing the Li family had passed this hurdle, felt quite disappointed. “Since there’s nothing wrong, I’ll return now.”

The person who had sold salt to the Taiping army in Nanjing was Wang Tiangui. He had invested to jointly operate salt fields with the Beijing merchants, though he only held one-third of the shares. However, half the shares from Beijing’s “Four Great Heng” and other merchants were fictitious, so Wang Tiangui used this reason to negotiate with Li Wantang. They finally agreed that the Li family would handle external transportation and sales, Wang Tiangui would manage the salt fields, each bearing their own responsibilities without interference, with profits calculated according to a specific system. The remaining income would be totaled and divided according to shareholdings.

Wang Tiangui hired a group of local thugs as salt field overseers, feeding these fierce characters with gold to keep the salt fields firmly under his control. He had long calculated that the salt fields must be impenetrable – as long as the salt fields were under his management and nothing went wrong, the Li family would have nothing to say. But regarding the external sales that the Li family was supposed to handle, Wang Tiangui had no intention of standing idly by.

The salt fields were the starting point of the entire salt trade business. For the Li family to trade in salt, they had to transport goods from the salt fields. Wang Tiangui tampered with the salt transport sacks, coating all sacks with mortar, each weighing an extra two pounds. What was originally a hundred pounds of salt became ninety-eight pounds, and he privately sold the skimmed salt without recording it in the public accounts. This method wasn’t hard to understand, and soon Li Qin, whom Li Wantang had sent to handle salt transportation, received reports from his subordinates. Being young and hot-tempered, he planned to confront Wang Tiangui but was stopped by his father Li Wantang, who forbade him from mentioning the matter again.

Li Qin was indignant and thereafter constantly caused trouble for Wang Tiangui during pickups, either claiming the quality was wrong or complaining the delivery was too slow, forcing the salt fields to frequently rework. Wang Tiangui, perhaps truly afraid of him, hosted a banquet for Li Qin alone at Yangzhou’s most famous Qilin Pavilion, constantly flattering him throughout the meal, and finally produced a ten-thousand-tael dragon-head banknote.

“Young Master Li, I may have offended you much in Shanxi before – please forgive me. But think about it – now we have three equal shares: the Li family one share, me one share, and Beijing’s ‘Four Great Heng’ one share. But the ‘Four Great Heng’ invested half-real, half-fictitious shares yet take thirty percent of the profits in solid returns – is this fair?”

Li Qin had also considered this matter and felt the “Four Great Heng” had indeed taken advantage, but since this was his father’s decision, he had no right to interfere. Hearing Wang Tiangui bring it up now, he couldn’t help but nod.

“The reason I deal in some private goods is merely to exclude the ‘Four Great Heng,’ not to make things difficult for you father and son. Here’s the profit from recent days – let’s split it fifty-fifty.”

Ten thousand taels was no small sum. Li Qin felt Wang Tiangui made sense and reluctantly accepted it. But he dared not tell his father about this. It wasn’t until Nanjing was recaptured that Li Wantang decided overnight to move their operations from Yangzhou to Nanjing, and only then did Wang Tiangui come forward to tell Li Wantang that almost all the salt he had skimmed was sold to the besieged Taipings in Nanjing at three times the official salt price.

Salt was strictly controlled by the court, and secretly trading with the Taipings, transporting salt into Nanjing city – if discovered by the authorities, the light punishment would be execution and property confiscation, the severe punishment would be the extermination of the entire family.

Yet Wang Tiangui was unconcerned: “I sold the salt, but your son used the silver. If this matter were truly investigated, I’m afraid both our families would find it quite inconvenient.”

Their eyes met like clashing swords. After a long while, Li Wantang replied flatly: “I understand this matter,” and showed his guest out. Such inscrutability left Wang Tiangui unable to fathom his true thoughts.

Li Wantang summoned Li Qin and told him Wang Tiangui’s words. Li Qin’s eyes widened: “The banknote had no markings – what proof does he have that it was silver from selling to the Taipings?”

“Wang Tiangui is an old fox and a major bank manager – how could he not think of this? The banknote you hold has already been cashed, leaving evidence. If the authorities investigate the money shops, they’ll certainly find clues connected to the Taipings, and this trail must have been laid by Wang Tiangui from the beginning.”

“I’ll go find him!” Li Qin started toward the door.

“Come back.” Li Wantang stopped him. “He’s not afraid of you making this a big issue – in fact, an open break would suit him perfectly. This is precisely why, when we discovered his salt skimming, I wouldn’t let you pursue it.”

“Ridiculous – would our Li family fear him?” Li Qin was completely unconvinced.

“Ever since the court’s approval came down, Wang Tiangui has been thinking day and night about separating these seventy-two salt fields and taking thirty percent for himself. He’s approached me about this many times, but I’ve refused each time, so he keeps trying to provoke me into proposing we part ways. But I’d rather let him take some advantage and more silver than divide the seventy-two salt fields.” Li Wantang spoke with absolute determination.

“But why?” Li Qin felt that cutting the Gordian knot might be a good strategy.

Li Wantang stared intently at Li Qin’s face. Li Qin became flustered under his father’s gaze and was about to look away when he heard Li Wantang speak slowly: “He wants to divide the world into thirds, but I want to monopolize all of Lianghuai!”

When Gu Pingyuan returned safely from the Governor-General’s office, Peng the Big Bowl was already thanking heaven and earth. Upon hearing that Zeng Guofan had burned the Taiping account books, he chanted “Amitabha Buddha” repeatedly.

“This is wonderful – all the dark clouds have dispersed. Buddha be praised, tomorrow I’ll go to Jinshan Temple and burn one hundred and eight sticks of high incense.”

“Don’t rush – I don’t think this matter will pass so easily.” Gu Pingyuan had been deep in thought.

Peng the Big Bowl was startled and looked at Gu Pingyuan speechlessly.

“Governor-General Zeng is a man of deep schemes. Today he held neither a Hongmen banquet nor a harmony feast. Openly, he gave all the businessmen in Nanjing a way out, but secretly…”

“I understand.” Peng the Big Bowl slapped his forehead. “Look at me – I’ve dealt with officials before, how could I forget this aspect? Master, don’t worry about it – I’ll handle everything. It’s just about money, right? Tomorrow I’ll go to the bank and get a five-thousand-tael banknote to send to the Governor-General’s office signing room.”

Gu Pingyuan smiled as he listened, then said: “Then you needn’t think about coming back – you’ll definitely be detained and charged. The mighty Governor-General of Liangjiang can hardly be dismissed with five thousand taels.”

“Eight thousand?” Peng the Big Bowl held up two fingers, then kept adding: “Ten thousand, twenty thousand, forty thousand, fifty thousand…” He kept raising the stakes and finally shouted defiantly: “One hundred thousand!”

But Gu Pingyuan only smiled without speaking.

“Even if he’s the Governor-General of Liangjiang, he can’t be this greedy, can he? How much does he want if one hundred thousand taels isn’t enough?”

“How to put it – this Governor-General Zeng wants silver, but also doesn’t want silver.”

“Oh, your words are mystifying – I don’t understand.”

Gu Pingyuan stood and patted Peng the Big Bowl’s shoulder: “Sending silver to the Governor-General’s office is money going in but not coming out – a losing proposition. Remember, we’re businessmen. In everything, we should think about how to cooperate with the other party to make money, or at least not lose money.”

As Gu Pingyuan walked out the door, Peng the Big Bowl stared at his retreating figure, murmuring: “Did I hear correctly? This proprietor wants to do business with Governor-General Zeng?”

That night, the Gu Pingyuan couple stayed in the rear courtyard of Shunde Tea House. Peng the Big Bowl had a small residence elsewhere in the city, but this being tea house property, naturally the proprietor should have it when he arrived. Though Gu Pingyuan repeatedly declined, Peng the Big Bowl was enthusiastic, directing his family to lay out completely new bedding and even put up fresh window paper.

“Don’t be polite – would you rather stay at an inn?” He moved close to Gu Pingyuan and whispered confidentially: “Though the government forces have recaptured Nanjing, the Taipings haven’t been completely defeated. Many of their people are still hiding in the city. We often hear of isolated government soldiers being killed, and they’re said to be planning a counterattack on Nanjing. It’s safer to stay in the shop.”

Gu Pingyuan was shocked: “You still have contact with the Taipings?”

“No, no!” Peng the Big Bowl was startled and quickly distanced himself. “I wouldn’t have such courage – I just overheard this.”

Just a few days ago, Peng the Big Bowl was in the shop when he saw two people dressed as ordinary civilians walking toward the city outskirts. Seeing soldiers searching at the city gate, these two hesitated and stopped, pretending to ask for water while actually observing the gate’s activities.

“I recognized both these people – I’d seen them in the Taiping camps. They were two Taipings in disguise trying to escape the city.” Peng the Big Bowl dared neither report to officials nor speak to them, but having done business in Taiping camps for ten years, he understood quite a bit of their cant and slang. When these two spoke quietly, he caught several crucial phrases.

“They said a major Taiping figure was hidden among the salt workers at the Lianghuai Salt Fields. Tens of thousands of salt workers all obeyed him, and once they acted, they could catch the government forces off guard. Being so close to Nanjing, they might recapture the city.” These two hadn’t finished their discussion before escaping during a guard change, so Peng the Big Bowl only heard this much.

“Did they say who this major figure was?”

“No. I heard that the Loyal King Li Xiucheng’s whereabouts remain unknown – it couldn’t be him, could it?”

“If it really is Li Xiucheng, that would be terrible.” Li Xiucheng was someone even Zeng Guofan admired greatly. Without him holding things together, the Taipings would have been finished years ago. If he were truly planning a counterattack, Nanjing would be in grave danger.

Gu Pingyuan worried about this matter for half the night, but when he arrived outside the east gate at noon the next day, his first glance left him stunned.

Nanjing’s east gate faced Purple Mountain and offered a high vantage point for command – it had been the main assault point when the Hunan Army attacked from all sides. When Emperor Taizu of Ming built Stone City, the bricks were bonded with a mixture of lime, sand, and rice paste, making them indestructible as one solid mass. Zeng Guoquan had used the method of digging tunnels under the city wall and burying powerful explosives to blast open a section. The Hunan Army poured through this breach to capture the city.

The blasted section was near the east gate, still unrepaired. It was said the city wall was so solid that though blasted open, tens of meters of connected wall flew high into the air and crushed several hundred Hunan soldiers when it fell. Precisely because the Hunan Army had besieged the city for so long, no vegetation grew near the city walls – everywhere one looked was desolate, except for one straight official road leading to Zhenjiang. Previously cut off due to the siege, it was now gradually becoming lively again.

Now, beside the empty official road, stood a large cage. The cage was specially made of iron bars, containing one man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, wearing a Taiping prince’s yellow satin dragon-embroidered split robe. Though he sat disheveled and confined in the cage with unkempt hair and a dirty face, his bearing remained distinguished and extraordinary.

“Oh my, isn’t that Li Xiucheng?” Peng the Big Bowl beside him exclaimed in amazement, his mouth agape.

They had just discussed Li Xiucheng last night, and unexpectedly encountered him today. This man’s name was even more thunderous than Chen Yucheng’s. Gu Pingyuan couldn’t help but stare intently.

“Grand Tutor and Governor-General of Liangjiang Lord Zeng has arrived! Junior Grand Tutor and Governor of Jiangsu Lord Zeng has arrived!” Just then, thirteen gong strikes sounded from the distance, announcing the approach – representing “all civil and military officials and common people make way.” The two Lord Zengs mentioned by the runners were naturally the brothers Zeng Guofan and Zeng Guoquan.

The managers who had gathered in the second hall yesterday, intimidated by Secretary Xue’s stern tone and fearing they would be forced to drink punishment wine if they refused the toast, had all assembled by now. However, their faces showed less tension and wariness, replaced by curiosity.

“So Li Xiucheng has long been in Governor-General Zeng’s hands – why keep it secret?”

“Bringing him out today, who knows what for. Let’s watch the show.” An elderly manager glanced at the younger person speaking beside him, then sighed: “Watch the show? Ha! Be careful you don’t get manipulated into performing in it yourself.”

As discussions buzzed below, Gu Pingyuan took this opportunity to observe Zeng Guoquan more closely. This man known as “Ninth Commander” had a countenance far inferior to his elder brother’s. Apart from a full, long lower face indicating longevity, he had eyebrows like tangled grass, a nose sharp as a blade, and a pair of wolf-like eyes gleaming with malice – clearly a cruel, bloodthirsty person. His nickname was “Iron Bucket Zeng.” Though the ancient military strategy called for “besieging three sides while leaving one open,” Zeng Guoquan would have none of it, insisting on complete encirclement. After his battles, often eight or nine out of ten people in a city – both Taipings and civilians – would be dead.

Today’s leading role belonged to this Zeng Guoquan. He first asked something in a low voice, Zeng Guofan nodded slightly, then waved his hand. Someone from the rear convoy brought over a rolled-up grass mat.

When the mat was spread out on the ground, it revealed an already decomposing corpse. Only from the gold-threaded silver silk yellow robes and the towering crown on the head could one tell the deceased had been wealthy or noble in life.

Li Xiucheng in the cage suddenly changed color dramatically, gripping the wooden cage bars and staring intently for a long time, then fell to his knees, spitting out four words with grief and indignation: “Your Majesty, the Heavenly King!”

“Correct.” Zeng Guoquan sneered maliciously. “This is your Heavenly King Hong who could supposedly summon wind, rain, and celestial soldiers – now nothing but a stinking corpse.”

Since establishing his capital in Tianjing, Hong Xiuquan had hidden in the Heavenly King’s Palace, indulging daily with three thousand beauties. Except for when Eastern King Yang Xiuqing “forced him to be proclaimed Ten Thousand Years,” he never emerged again until his death. So almost no common people in Nanjing had ever seen his true appearance. Hearing that the corpse on the ground was the Taiping chief, the crowd immediately became agitated, all wanting to push forward for a closer look. However, runners from Nanjing Prefecture held whips and guarded the rope line – anyone crossing it received a vicious lashing.

Gu Pingyuan and the other proprietors and managers, being “invited” guests, could stand inside the rope line for a clear view. Looking up, Gu Pingyuan saw the corpse had rotted to expose decaying bones, its face grotesque as a malevolent ghost. Hong Xiuquan had been a founding hero of his generation – seeing him come to such an end naturally filled everyone with sighs.

“Hong the rebel led masses in rebellion, falsely claiming imperial title – committing the greatest of the ten unforgivable crimes. Even in death, his grave must be dug up, his bones crushed and ashes scattered.” Zeng Guoquan waved his hand, and a tarpaulin nearby was pulled away, revealing a field cannon. Then several executioners with ghost-head sabers came forward, chopping Hong Xiuquan’s corpse into pieces with swift strokes and stuffing them into the cannon’s mouth.

By now more and more people had gathered. To prevent incidents, the Hunan Army had deployed a naval battalion for support. At first, those present were bewildered, but they quickly understood and felt a chill rise from their hearts.

Zeng Guoquan turned and bowed slightly: “Please give the order, Governor-General.”

Zeng Guofan stood up and swept his gaze across the entire scene with extreme slowness, finally fixing his eyes on the cannon. He said nothing, and no one dared make a sound. Among the thousand-plus crowd, except for occasional children’s cries, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a full quarter-hour, Zeng Guofan nodded lightly without saying a word.

“Fire the cannon!” At Zeng Guoquan’s command, a gunner was ready with a fire stick, lighting it and touching it to the fuse. A thunderous roar shook heaven and earth as Hong Xiuquan’s corpse instantly turned to flying ash. Such was the end of a generation’s hero – not even leaving a complete corpse. The watching crowd was stunned speechless.

“Heavenly King…” Li Xiucheng gritted his teeth, his eyes splitting with rage.

Zeng Guoquan scoffed: “I remember your pamphlets claimed this Heavenly King Hong was a savior sent down by God, God’s second son, Jesus’s brother? If that were true, he should have had an indestructible diamond body – how did a few sword cuts break him into pieces, and one cannon shot reduce him to dust?”

Li Xiucheng glared at him with pure hatred in his eyes. No one doubted that if the cage opened even a crack, Li Xiucheng would immediately pounce out and tear Zeng Guoquan apart alive.

But now he was a caged beast who could only watch helplessly as a squad of Hunan soldiers escorted over a hundred more prisoners from the city. These people were all disheveled and injured, blood flowing from their wounds as they walked and moaned. Without question, these were Taipings hiding in Nanjing who had been captured during the army’s sweep.

Li Xiucheng was the most beloved general in the Taiping army, deeply cherished by his soldiers. Several of them, seeing him caged, immediately cried out “Loyal King!” and wept as they tried to bow down. These people were chained together one after another, and when some fell to worship, the formation immediately became chaotic, angering the escorting soldiers who stabbed their iron spears into the prisoners’ thighs. The spears pierced through flesh and blood, accompanied by screams, driving deep into the earth.

“Having come to this, why the original actions?” Zeng Guofan rose and said, “Rebellion regardless of rank deserves capital punishment. Though Heaven has mercy for life and the court loves its people, you bandits have caused chaos for ten years, ravaging several provinces – truly unforgivable. Today we execute you according to law to manifest heavenly principle, uphold national law, and warn all miscreants…”

“Zeng demon! Kill or torture as you wish – I have no time for your dog-shit primer!” The first prisoner to bow to Li Xiucheng was an old personal guard who had followed him for ten years. Though now pinned to the ground by an iron spear, he remained silent until this moment when he burst into curses, interrupting Zeng Guofan’s speech.

Zeng Guofan looked at him with disgust, spitting through his teeth: “Death imminent, yet still unrepentant! Deserving death!”

The executioners had been waiting on the side, coming forward to push and shove the prisoners to kneel in a row by the city wall. The earlier cannon blast had already shifted the crowd from solemn quiet to clamor, but now they fell silent again. Even children’s cries disappeared as the entire scene was shrouded in a terrifying aura of killing intent that raised goosebumps on people’s skin.

“Execute!” Following the supervising official’s shout, dozens of ghost-head sabers fell simultaneously, slicing through flesh and chopping into neck bones with teeth-grinding sounds. Blood qi was strongest at noon – the blood columns spurting from the necks splashed against the city wall like spilled ink, then flowed down through the cracks. The already dark bricks were stained with large patches of ominous dark red, and the intense smell of blood rushed straight to people’s nostrils.

“Li Xiucheng, today is your last chance. Will you follow Hong Xiuquan to become a ghost, or surrender to the Qing and enjoy wealth and honor? Choose your path!” Zeng Guoquan looked triumphantly at the prisoner whose eyes were splitting with rage in the cage.

“Zeng demon! Don’t be too pleased too soon.” Li Xiucheng spoke word by word. “The Heavenly Kingdom has been defeated, but the Nian Army hasn’t. Even if the Nian are defeated, the poor haven’t been defeated! You can kill the Heavenly Kingdom’s brothers, but you can’t kill all the poor people under heaven. As long as there are suffering fathers, weeping mothers, and children who can’t eat their fill or dress warmly throughout the world, you and your Qing Dynasty shouldn’t expect one day’s peaceful sleep or one day’s tranquil life. Sooner or later, someone will avenge us!”

“Silence!” Zeng Guoquan’s bloodshot eyes bulged as he suddenly roared wildly. He had originally wanted Li Xiucheng to suffer psychological torment before death, but unexpectedly was half-killed with anger by this old opponent. Zeng Guoquan’s personality was wild and unrestrained – how could he endure such public humiliation? Originally, Li Xiucheng had been sentenced to “eight cuts” – the lingering death penalty – but now in his rage, Zeng Guoquan couldn’t care about much else. He drew his treasured sword from his waist and viciously thrust forward.

Left thrust, right thrust – there was nowhere to dodge in the iron cage. In fact, Li Xiucheng had no intention of dodging, straightening his body to take seven or eight sword thrusts without a sound, only coldly watching Zeng Guofan seated in the tent not far away with hateful eyes. Only when struck in a vital spot did Li Xiucheng finally lose strength, slowly sitting down and leaning against the iron cage. He showed a contemptuous smile, slowly closing his eyes.

“Hmph, too easy for this rebel.” Zeng Guoquan clanged his treasured sword to the ground.

The bloody scene before them stupefied and terrified both the common people and merchants, making them tremble all over. They looked at Zeng Guoquan as if seeing a murderous demon king from hell, fearing he might go on a killing spree in his madness. They unanimously cast pleading glances toward Zeng Guofan for protection.

Zeng Guofan had been inwardly criticizing his ninth brother for acting thoughtlessly. What should have been a righteous execution of rebels had been made to look like a personal vendetta. Moreover, Zeng Guoquan already held second rank – never had anyone heard of a grand governor personally killing prisoners. If word spread, it would become street gossip. An evaluation of “cruel and bloodthirsty” would do his future career no good whatsoever. Thinking of this, Zeng Guofan felt his interest dampened and rose to command: “Prepare the sedan chair.”

He left, but affairs here were not yet concluded. Secretary Xue Fucheng came before the merchants and loudly announced two matters: First, though Nanjing had been recaptured for over half a year, many shops remained closed. The Governor-General’s office issued an order requiring all commercial streets in Nanjing to open within ten days, conducting fair buying and selling without hoarding or arbitrarily raising prices. Violators would be severely punished.

The merchants nodded in agreement. After all, opening meant just opening doors – at most posting a clerk to guard the shop. Whether business actually opened was a commercial matter that even the governor-general couldn’t control. Besides, what merchant doesn’t hoard goods? You can’t buy one item and stock one item. Moreover, pursuing profit with capital naturally meant not selling at cost price – there had to be profit. The flexibility and learning involved here was vast. Zeng Guofan couldn’t possibly assign an accountant to watch every shop.

Hearing the second condition made people grimace. Xue Fucheng casually recited numbers, requiring the merchants to donate silver for rebuilding the war-torn Nanjing. These donations varied from large to small – the minimum was three thousand taels, the maximum was the “Jin Hao” clothing shop, requiring proprietor Boss Sun to donate two hundred fifty thousand taels, making Boss Sun’s heart ache with trembling.

“Secretary Xue, let me ask you – we’re all donating, so why is my family’s amount so much?” Seeing Zeng Guofan had already departed in his eight-bearer sedan chair, Boss Sun boldly asked.

Xue Fucheng glanced at him with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “Boss Sun, your own business – how much trade you’ve done and money you’ve made these years, don’t you have any idea? If you truly don’t, we can’t explain clearly here. Come with me to the Governor-General’s office, and I’ll help you investigate thoroughly.”

“No, no, unnecessary. I’ll pledge, I’ll pledge everything.” One sentence made everything clear. Though the Taiping account books had been burned, the numbers were recorded in the office. “Jin Hao” had contracted all the military uniform business for the Taipings garrisoned in Nanjing for the past ten years. If investigated seriously… Boss Sun fearfully glanced at Li Xiucheng’s bloody corpse in the iron cage beside him, shuddered, and lowered his head like a defeated rooster.

“We’re in trouble,” Peng the Big Bowl muttered quietly. “What falls on us will probably be no less than ‘Jin Ji.'”

“However much, we must donate – unless we want punishment wine instead of the toast.” Gu Pingyuan understood perfectly. Yesterday and today were both stick before carrot – yesterday speaking with complete hopelessness, then finally burning the account books; today mass killing and slaughter before everyone, immediately followed by soliciting donations. With things reaching this point, even the most obtuse person would submit. This both raised partial funds for rebuilding Nanjing and preserved Nanjing’s many shops, while allowing future tax collection and donation solicitation – a steady stream. This governor-general’s thinking was truly admirable.

However, as Xue Fucheng called out name after name, mentioning every merchant present, he simply omitted Shunde Tea House and the Lianghuai Salt Fields. Just as Gu Pingyuan was puzzled, he casually glanced up and saw a familiar figure moving away from the crowd toward the city.

This back was very familiar. As Gu Pingyuan focused, his eyebrows rose, and he immediately started to follow. He remembered – that person was Su Zixuan!

On the road to Nanjing, Gu Pingyuan had learned from tea house patrons about Senggelinqin’s defeat and death. Though initially his blood boiled, he quickly calmed down. Bai Yimei’s joining Senggelinqin’s camp had been Su Zixuan’s idea. This woman had once said to him on the Loess Plateau: “Like you, I also have revenge to seek.” From this woman’s subsequent actions, she clearly harbored deep hatred toward the Qing Dynasty. Senggelinqin’s defeat by the Nian Army was probably closely related to the supremely clever Su Zixuan. Following this reasoning, Bai Yimei must also be involved, so with Su Zixuan’s capabilities, she would certainly arrange safe retreats for both – seemingly no need for excessive worry.

Gu Pingyuan kept consoling himself, but unfortunately, whenever he had free time, he immediately imagined Bai Yimei perhaps trapped in some desolate wilderness, injured and shivering – the image vivid before his eyes, causing immediate heartache. That day outside Shouzhou when Bai Yimei stood naked, severing all ties with him – Gu Pingyuan had told no one and forced himself to erase it from memory. But this unexpected news arrived like a storm, stirring up past events from his heart’s depths, often leaving him lost in thought with secret worries.

Now encountering Su Zixuan, he could learn of Bai Yimei’s whereabouts from her. Naturally, Gu Pingyuan wanted to pursue and ask. But just as he moved, Xue Fucheng called out to stop him.

Xue Fucheng parted the crowd and came before Gu Pingyuan: “Proprietor Gu, please accompany Master Li to the office once more. Governor-General Zeng has matters to discuss.” He deliberately raised his voice so Li Wantang, several steps away from the crowd, could also hear.

“How should the donation matter be handled?”

“No need. The governor-general has ordered that the Lianghuai Salt Fields and Shunde Tea House are exempt from donations this time.”

Once spoken, this immediately caused envious exclamations nearby. Peng the Big Bowl was especially delighted. Only Gu Pingyuan and Li Wantang simultaneously frowned slightly.

“Miss, you seem quite unhappy?” Sixi carefully observed Su Zixuan’s expression.

The two were on a boat, with Xuanwu Lake’s Heart Pavilion now in sight. A boatman at the stern was quite distant, and with the wind howling across the lake surface, he certainly couldn’t hear anything.

Yet Su Zixuan still lowered her voice: “Unfortunately, we arrived a step too late to save Li Xiucheng. That madman Zeng Guoquan ruined my great plan.” Usually composed, she now seemed somewhat agitated.

“Miss, don’t blame me for speaking up, but I truly can’t understand – why did you insist on inciting Prince Seng to kill Chen Yucheng initially, yet now rush to Nanjing to save Li Xiucheng? These two were called Hong Xiuquan’s left and right arms – why kill one and save the other?”

As they spoke, they reached the Heart Pavilion. Two or three people were there enjoying wine and scenery. Su Zixuan had Sixi take several banknotes over, and soon the pavilion was empty. Sixi and the boatman set up the wind stove they’d brought beside the pavilion, then took from the food box various delicacies: “dried silk,” “braised bamboo shoots,” “champion beans,” “rock sugar honey lotus root” and other dishes and snacks.

After warming two liang of bamboo leaf wine, the Heart Pavilion was immediately filled with fragrant aromas. The boatman couldn’t help swallowing his saliva.

Sixi produced a five-tael banknote: “We want to admire the moon here and won’t leave until midnight. Come get us then. This is boat fare – take the extra for a meal.”

“Oh, thank you, young master!” Rowing a moon-viewing boat for a month wouldn’t earn this much silver. The boatman beamed as he rowed away.

The moon hadn’t yet appeared, but the wind from the lake felt cooler. Sixi spread fur cushions on the pavilion’s stone benches before inviting Su Zixuan to sit. Su Zixuan had been gazing at distant Purple Mountain for some time, her expression seeming both sad and happy, with what appeared to be a light sigh at her lips.

“Through ages of rivers and mountains, how many dynasties have risen and fallen. Emperor Taizu of Ming was a hero, yet after death could only watch from beneath Purple Mountain as his descendants killed each other. Fang Xiaoru cursed one word – ‘usurper’ – and had ten clans exterminated. In the end, the throne still belonged to someone surnamed Zhu. What was his suffering for?”

“Ten clans exterminated?” Sixi was hearing this novel term for the first time. “Isn’t the maximum nine clans? What did this Fang fellow do to warrant ten clan extermination?”

“He was a scholar with Confucian loyalty and righteousness in his heart, unwilling to follow rebels, so the rebel had him subjected to slow slicing and his ten clans exterminated. Besides blood relatives, even friends and students counted as one clan – all executed. This was to prevent his spoken words, deeds, or even thoughts from spreading in the world.”

Sixi listened with mouth agape, staring dazedly at Su Zixuan.

“The execution ground was on Xuanwu Lake’s north shore. According to books, blood flowed like rivers then, staining the entire lake red for over a month. The aquatic life breeding endlessly in this lake all fed on those loyal ministers’ and righteous scholars’ flesh and blood.”

“Miss, I’m getting scared.” As darkness fell, Sixi looked at the pitch-black lake surface and suddenly felt chills.

“Confucian Han Chinese are most hypocritical – clearly wanting something but fearing being called disloyal and unrighteous, so not daring to reach for it. Emperor Gaozu of Han was a rogue, Emperor Taizu of Ming was once a monk – neither read a day of ‘The Master said’ classics, yet they seized the throne with outstretched hands. How satisfying!”

Su Zixuan continued this topic, leaving Sixi confused about how to respond.

“You silly girl.” Seeing her bewildered adorable expression, Su Zixuan pinched her face and said leisurely, “You asked earlier why kill one and save the other. Killing Chen Yucheng was to prevent Senggelinqin from getting a good assistant. Saving Li Xiucheng was to let Zeng Guofan get a good assistant – this giving and taking makes a big difference. If Senggelinqin had gotten Chen Yucheng, could he have been killed by the Nian Army this time? If Prince Seng hadn’t died, when the Hunan Army heads north in the future, wouldn’t they crash into this wall?”

“Wait, Miss, what did you say? The Hunan Army heads north – to attack whom?”

Su Zixuan smiled coldly: “Attack whom? Emperor Tongzhi! Cixi! Prince Gong! And all the court officials who stood by watching people die.”

“Ah… ah.” Sixi thought for a long time before understanding. “This is what you meant by ‘sending one person to hell and another to heaven?'”

“Prince Seng has already gone to hell. As for Zeng Guofan – if he founds a new dynasty and becomes emperor, wouldn’t that count as going to heaven?”

“Would Zeng Guofan really rebel?” Sixi asked doubtfully.

“Yes, that’s what I meant – Zeng Guofan styles himself a Confucian minister and Confucius’s disciple. Making him rebel would be like slapping his own face – how could it be easy? Unfortunately, if Li Xiucheng hadn’t died, he would have been an excellent civil and military assistant for Zeng Guofan. The greater the chance of overthrowing the Qing, the easier this resolve becomes.” Su Zixuan drank a cup of wine, closed her eyes and shook her head lightly. “Forget it, don’t mention past events. Anyway, I led the Nian Army to kill Prince Seng, removing the greatest obstacle from the Hunan Army’s northward path. This is already a great temptation. We just need to seize the opportunity when he takes one step – at the moment between stepping and not stepping – to push hard. Then it’ll be too late for him to turn back.”

Only now did Sixi understand that this miss had been playing such an enormous game of chess for years. How remarkable that she had been so tenacious, finally reaching this last step.

“Then… what if Zeng Guofan absolutely refuses to rebel?” Sixi mumbled hesitantly.

“Those wanting to persuade the Zengs to rebel aren’t just us. He commands the Hunan Army’s direct forces, controls seven provinces’ troops and the Yangtze River navy. If he wanted to rebel, truly no one could stop him. His several great generals, including that Ninth Master Zeng, are all sharp – they’ve probably been thinking about this for a long time. If they became founding meritorious officials, that would be heaven-supporting achievements. Compared to that, suppressing the Taipings counts for what?” Su Zixuan’s smile appeared and vanished instantly, her eyes revealing ruthless intent. “If he doesn’t want to be Emperor Taizu of Ming, then let him be Emperor Taizu of Song. Once the yellow robe is on his back, whether he takes it off or not means rebellion. For the sake of the hundreds of Zeng clan members in Heye Pond, Hunan, he’ll have to see it through to the end.”

Sixi tentatively said: “If that’s the case, even if Zeng Guofan doesn’t rebel, his brother and subordinates will certainly rebel. We should just watch and wait.”

“How can such a great undertaking wait for success? I’ve been reading the court’s official reports these past years, which contain many of Zeng Guofan’s memorials. This man truly plans before acting – I’ve never seen anyone more patient or better at waiting for opportunities. For something as momentous as rebellion, even with ninety-nine percent certainty, I believe Zeng Guofan wouldn’t act rashly unless he had absolute certainty.”

“How can rebellion ever have absolute certainty? Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone become emperor?” Sixi laughed.

“So we must create opportunities for Zeng Guofan, leading him toward the path of rebellion. I don’t care whether he can become emperor or not – as long as he can capture Beijing and seize that uncle-and-sister-in-law pair, then like today, crush one’s bones to scatter ashes and hack the other to pieces with random blades – that would be enough.” Su Zixuan’s face was covered with frost as she spoke through gritted teeth.

“The porridge is ready. It’s cold – Miss, drink it while it’s hot.” Hearing these words that should only be kept in one’s heart, Sixi felt unsettled and anxious. She served a bowl of porridge on a boxwood tray, wanting to change the subject.

But Su Zixuan took it and poured half the bowl into the lake. The thoroughly cooked fragrant stem jade rice immediately attracted a school of fish competing for food.

“See? To hook fish, the bait must be fragrant.” Su Zixuan pointed with her chopsticks, speaking to the dazed Sixi. “Rebellion requires ‘elite troops and sufficient provisions.’ The first two words are already complete, but as for military funds, we’ll probably need to help the Hunan Army gather them.”

“How much silver would that take? Probably over ten million taels – how could we gather so much?”

“The letter in Bai Yimei’s hands can serve a great purpose. She’s already gone to Zhenjiang to find the canal gang leader. She’s a smart woman who knows how to use that letter.”

“Besides, don’t we still have our final move?”

As she spoke, Su Zixuan glanced at the book case that never left Sixi’s side.

“Your Excellency, it was as you predicted – these two sat facing each other for half an hour without exchanging a single word.”

Xue Fucheng returned from “eavesdropping” and reported to Zeng Guofan, who had sent him, that Gu Pingyuan and Li Wantang had waited together in a room for an audience. One observed his nose while his nose observed his heart in silent meditation, while the other leisurely sipped tea as if in the wilderness.

“It seems the information you gathered was correct – these two developed a grudge at the Ten Thousand Tea Assembly in Beijing and remain business rivals to this day.”

“Enemies are best, rivals even better. As long as they compete with each other, won’t Liangjiang ultimately benefit?” Xue Fucheng clapped his hands and laughed.

Zeng Guofan smiled without speaking. His method of managing subordinates was indeed thus: as long as subordinates were utterly loyal to him and he could keep them in check, any conflicts between them didn’t matter. First, when they competed for merit, the great achievements ultimately belonged to the Hunan Army. Second, when subordinates were at odds, they wouldn’t unite to plot against him – this saved so much worry.

Hearing footsteps from the rear hall, Gu Pingyuan immediately stood up, while Li Wantang waited until he saw Zeng Guofan’s figure emerge from behind the curtain before rising to greet him.

“Please sit, gentlemen proprietors.” Zeng Guofan had completely changed from yesterday’s majesty, greeting them cordially as he took the seat of honor first.

Attendants again brought fresh tea. In the rising tea mist, Li Wantang spoke first: “Your Excellency, the scene at the city gate earlier was enough to terrify bandits and make heroes raise their eyebrows. Though Nanjing was recaptured half a year ago, today truly marks the settling of all dust. Your Excellency’s achievements are supreme. The court will surely bestow rewards soon – this humble official congratulates you in advance.”

Since recapturing Nanjing, Zeng Guofan had heard such words countless times from both officials and letters, so he merely nodded slightly.

But Li Wantang had more to say: “The Taipings ravaged for ten years, severing trade routes, halting merchant travel, preventing commercial exchange, and causing all industries among the people to wither. Now that Your Excellency has suppressed the Taipings, merchants throughout the realm have received immense favor. Henceforth, agricultural grain and mulberry silk, sea salt and mountain tea can again flow between north and south. Our dynasty, having endured many trials, now sees revival and resurgence – all thanks to Your Excellency’s painstaking efforts. This humble official thanks Your Excellency on behalf of merchants throughout the realm.”

First congratulations, then thanks – this flattery was seamless and most appropriate. A slight smile finally appeared on Zeng Guofan’s gaunt face. “This all relies on the court’s trust and the combined efforts of officials and people. How could one person’s strength alone achieve such merit?”

Listening nearby, Gu Pingyuan felt uncomfortable. Other words were one thing, but by what right did Li Wantang thank on behalf of all merchants? Did he really consider himself the merchant leader of the Qing Dynasty? Such boundless arrogance! Thinking that anyone could speak fine words, Gu Pingyuan followed Zeng Guofan’s opening and bowed in his seat: “Your Excellency is truly too modest. In this commoner’s view, what was most difficult in this great campaign was precisely winning the court’s trust and achieving unity between officials and people. Though famous ministers and generals are many, Your Excellency’s achievements are universally acknowledged as incomparable – precisely because Your Excellency maintains the center and upholds righteousness, enabling the court’s full support; loves the people as children, enabling perfect harmony between officials and people; and with unified hearts above and below, enabled the Hunan Army’s hundred victories.”

Zeng Guofan had been holding tea with one hand, smiling as he listened, but gradually his smile faded as he focused intently on Gu Pingyuan’s face.

What Gu Pingyuan spoke of was precisely what Zeng Guofan took greatest pride in deep within his heart. Only Zeng Guofan himself knew the various hardships of ten years of warfare – how could it have been easy? Not to mention others, but Zeng Guofan himself had twice despaired to the point of suicide during the defeat at Jinggang and the siege at Qimen. How many difficulties had he endured to achieve this great success? How could outsiders understand?

In Zeng Guofan’s view, his greatest difficulty had been gaining the court’s full support. Initially, when he trained troops in Hunan and won several battles, Emperor Xianfeng was so pleased he wanted to issue an open decree of commendation. But Grand Secretary Qi Junzao said: “Zeng Guofan is merely a dismissed vice-minister – just a common man. When a common man living among the people calls out and hundreds respond, this may not be the court’s fortune.” Emperor Xianfeng immediately withdrew the decree – such suspicion was terrifying to contemplate. Had he not later endured humiliation and repeatedly yielded credit to Manchu ministers, he would have had his military authority stripped long ago under such constraints.

Another source of Zeng Guofan’s pride was his use of personnel. Hu Linyi, Jiang Zhongyuan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, Guo Songtao and others were all extraordinary talents, each proud and arrogant by nature. He had either bound them with favor or humbled himself to win them over – “knowing strength yet maintaining gentleness” – ultimately gathering these people together. Only then could this game of chess concerning the Qing Dynasty’s fate have eyes everywhere and live pieces throughout, finally fighting a great battle and completing the work in one stroke. The painstaking efforts and hardships were impossible to convey to outsiders.

Unexpectedly, this businessman before him could hit upon his innermost concerns with just a few words. Zeng Guofan truly began to view him with new respect.

“Proprietor Gu, I heard that when you were in Huizhou, you once transported grain to Hangzhou refugees and helped them escape Taiping ravages. Later, when Hefei was besieged, you went to Qingyang grain market to obtain several hundred shi of military provisions on credit for the camp soldiers. Did these events occur?”

“Reporting to Your Excellency, they are indeed true.” Gu Pingyuan’s face showed no trace of pride or agitation, merely nodding matter-of-factly.

“So though you’re a tea merchant, you’re not unfamiliar with the grain trade.”

Hearing this implication, Zeng Guofan intended for him to purchase military provisions for the Hunan Army. He instantly calculated in his mind the Hunan Army’s numbers he’d heard from others against the supply capacity of several major grain markets in Anhui. He wasn’t a grain merchant himself – to act as intermediary broker would be exhausting work for little profit, essentially running a “commission” business. But establishing connections with the Governor-General’s office through this would greatly benefit the tea house’s future business in Nanjing and throughout Liangjiang.

His mind worked quickly, and he almost immediately replied: “Though I dare not claim expertise, I also dare not shirk responsibility when duty calls. Grain merchants with stored grain are eager to sell quickly, clearing warehouses for new grain, so the grain trade isn’t difficult.”

Zeng Guofan nodded approvingly and said slowly: “Now that the great calamity has just passed, after military disasters we must first prevent epidemics. Fortunately, Hu Xueyan’s ‘Hu Qingyu Hall’ in Hangzhou donated two hundred thousand pills of medicine, and this epidemic has finally passed. Hu Xueyan set an example for Liangjiang merchants – I have already memorialized the court requesting honors for him. But in such vast Liangjiang, with millions of people and countless disaster victims, we cannot rely solely on one merchant like Hu Xueyan’s donations and contributions. So today at the city gate, all merchant houses also made their contributions. However, donating silver is what ordinary people do – I invited you two gentlemen to the office because I see you as outstanding among merchants, hoping to rely on your talents to benefit the people of Liangjiang.”

“We dare not. Your Excellency need only command us.” Both replied in unison.

“Since you’re so enthusiastic, then I shall truly make great demands.” Zeng Guofan spoke half-jokingly.

Though his words carried laughter, no one dared treat the Governor-General of Liangjiang’s words as jokes. Gu Pingyuan and Li Wantang listened intently, and after hearing everything, they involuntarily glanced at each other, feeling as if heavy stones pressed on their hearts, wishing they had just paid those hundreds of thousands in silver donations instead.

Zeng Guofan’s request was not merely difficult – it was impossible.

Among the people of Liangjiang, except for landlords and wealthy households who stored provisions, everyone else awaited the court’s relief grain with upturned faces. Actually, the people didn’t want free food – Liangjiang was the Qing Dynasty’s most prosperous region, and when fleeing disasters, people brought gold, silver, and valuables. Now that the great calamity had passed, supporting the old and carrying the young, each returned to their hometown. If homes remained, they could spend some silver on farming tools and looms, till fields and raise silkworms – within a few years, life would return to normal.

If this could truly happen, nothing would be better. Unfortunately, there was a grain shortage. Forget a few years – they couldn’t wait even a few months. Jiangnan had originally been a land of fish and rice, but ten years of catastrophe had left tens of thousands of fertile fields abandoned, with starvation deaths occurring constantly. Some places even had rumors of people exchanging children to eat.

What was most needed now was grain. With scarcity driving up prices, grain costs had risen to levels people couldn’t bear. The government didn’t dare issue proclamations to stabilize grain prices because there was only so much grain available. When prices were high, people would naturally buy less and eat sparingly – even eating once every two days, they could survive. If grain prices were forcibly lowered, within days all grain would be bought by wealthy households, leaving poor people unable to buy even one or two measures of grain, inevitably triggering civil unrest. Spring was the perfect season for clearing wasteland and planting fields, but farmers were all weak with hunger, staggering when they walked – where would they find strength to farm? A governor’s duties included managing both military and civilian affairs. In civilian administration, what most troubled Zeng Guofan was the grain shortage. If only the people could fill their bellies and have spring planting and autumn harvest – even one crop would restore Jiangnan’s vitality.

So what Zeng Guofan ordered Gu Pingyuan to do was one thing – buy grain! Purchase grain from various places to alleviate Jiangnan’s famine.

“Exactly how much grain is needed?” After Gu Pingyuan returned and recounted the events, Peng the Big Bowl asked urgently. He wanted to help and also to redeem himself through merit.

Gu Pingyuan held up three fingers.

“Thirty thousand shi?”

Gu Pingyuan smiled bitterly: “If it were thirty thousand shi, I wouldn’t have returned here – I’d have headed straight to several major grain markets in Anhui to sweep their storehouses clean.”

“Three hundred thousand shi! My heavens!” Peng the Big Bowl’s legs went weak as he sat back down. “I heard the court struggled mightily to send relief grain to Liangjiang and only managed to transport twenty thousand shi. This… this Governor-General Zeng really dares to ask – where are we supposed to find so much?”

Peng the Big Bowl’s use of “we” greatly comforted Gu Pingyuan. This man apparently had a conscience – he hadn’t helped the wrong person.

Chang Yu’er had been listening quietly beside them. Hearing such an enormous figure, worry also appeared between her brows: “If we can’t obtain it, what then?”

Gu Pingyuan knew she was concerned for him and looked tenderly at his wife.

“Governor-General Zeng also knows this is asking the impossible, so he won’t blame me if I can’t obtain so much grain. But I very much want to accomplish this – first, for the millions of people in Jiangnan, and second…” He repeated Old Master Hu’s words from before departure. “Governor-General Zeng clearly wants to test the capabilities of Hui merchants versus Beijing merchants. If I can’t accomplish this while Li Wantang succeeds at his task, wouldn’t I be completely outshone?”

“Oh, so this matter must succeed.” Stimulated by this, Peng the Big Bowl’s ambition suddenly arose, then he shook his head again. “Difficult, so difficult.”

But Chang Yu’er said: “In any business, great rewards bring forth brave men. The question is what grain prices are like in Jiangnan now.”

This question hit the key point. Though Peng the Big Bowl wasn’t a grain merchant or steward, as head manager who daily reviewed accounts and managed so many employees’ meals, he naturally knew grain prices clearly.

Actually, without him speaking, after leaving the Governor-General’s office, Gu Pingyuan’s first stop had been several major grain shops. He’d even invited a manager to a wine house as host for detailed discussion, and by now thoroughly understood Jiangnan’s grain prices.

At the end of the Daoguang era, two taels of silver could buy one shi of grain. After experiencing the Xianfeng reign and over ten years of warfare, grain prices had risen to ten taels per shi. Most importantly, prices existed but markets didn’t – insufficient grain for sale meant importing from other regions, naturally raising costs. Gu Pingyuan had calculated this account: including transit taxes, losses, transport fees, water transport charges, labor costs, plus merchants’ deserved profits, grain from other provinces would cost at least fifteen taels per shi when reaching Jiangnan – utterly unaffordable for common people. Gu Pingyuan had asked the clerk – for people to maintain three meals daily, grain prices absolutely couldn’t exceed five taels per shi.

For three hundred thousand shi of grain, the price difference between five and fifteen taels meant three million taels of silver!

Hearing this figure, the room fell into silence. After a long while, Peng the Big Bowl stroked his bald chin and said slowly: “Speaking of lending three million taels to cover this difference, Hui merchants aren’t incapable of producing it.”

“Even if we could produce it, we can’t – otherwise there’d be endless troubles!” Gu Pingyuan decisively waved his hand. Seeing Peng the Big Bowl’s confusion, he softened his tone and pointed toward the window. “This is Nanjing city, also called Stone City. Who paid to build those walls?”

Peng the Big Bowl was startled: “Shen Wansan.”

“What happened to Shen Wansan afterward?”

“Emperor Taizu of Ming killed him.”

“Why kill him?”

“This…”

“Because he displayed wealth before Zhu Yuanzhang, arousing jealousy – the same principle as Western Jin’s Shi Chong being exterminated for Green Pearl. This has been common throughout dynasties. Remember, no matter how wealthy merchants become, they cannot display riches before officials – otherwise, kindly spending silver ultimately becomes digging one’s own grave.” Gu Pingyuan’s expression was grave.

Peng the Big Bowl took a deep breath, increasingly admiring this young proprietor’s thorough consideration of all matters.

“Many merchants are now targeting disaster victims. There’s a certain Landlord Chen who’s reportedly hoarding grain in Guangdong with at least one hundred thousand shi. But he won’t release the hawk until seeing the rabbit – word is he’s demanding eighteen taels per shi before he’ll load ships and transport grain.” Manager Peng said.

This immediately infuriated Gu Pingyuan: “Isn’t this drinking human blood! Not only is this price too high, but even with money, we can’t do business with such people – otherwise other merchants will follow suit, ruining the market and corrupting merchants’ virtue.”

“Manager Peng, you’re a local resident – you’re most familiar with the Jiangnan area. Is there truly no one with means to obtain these three hundred thousand shi of grain?” Chang Yu’er gently consulted with Peng the Big Bowl.

“This…” Peng the Big Bowl paced the room over a dozen times with hands behind his back, then suddenly turned back delightedly: “There’s one avenue that might work. Master must have heard of the Canal Gang?”

Though the Canal Gang was a river transport guild, it was also the nation’s largest fraternal organization. From south to north goes without saying, but from the East Sea to Tibet, those making their living away from home who hadn’t heard of the Canal Gang were few.

“The Canal Gang has transported grain on canals for over a hundred years – no one knows grain tricks better than them. As I understand it, along the canal from Hangzhou to Tongzhou in the north, grain shops large and small almost all have Canal Gang influence within them. As for how the grain originates – that’s unspeakable. In any case, though Jiangnan cries for food, the Canal Gang certainly has grain. Sweeping Canal Gang storehouses along the canal might gather these three hundred thousand shi.”

“This is indeed a viable route.” Gu Pingyuan pondered deeply. “I’ve heard the Canal Gang has one hundred twenty-eight and a half branches, each with its own territory. Persuading them one by one along the canal would take years without certain success. So naturally we must find the dragon head leader – the Canal Gang’s current chief. This person surnamed Jiang, given name Tai, from the Jianhuai Sitou branch, permanently residing at his old mansion in Zhenjiang. He’s very loyal and commands great respect in the gang, but…”

“But what?” With her husband planning to deal with the Canal Gang, Chang Yu’er was naturally concerned.

“I heard that in recent years, Jiang Tai has been afflicted by chronic illness, unable to restrain his subordinates. Moreover, in these chaotic times, some local Canal Gang branches are little better than water bandits.” Speaking thus, Peng the Big Bowl cited several bloody examples that secretly alarmed the Gu Pingyuan couple.

“Since there’s no alternative, we can only seek this Gang Leader Jiang. But if he lacks power to restrain subordinates, regarding matters involving one hundred twenty-eight and a half branches, wouldn’t seeking him also be climbing trees to catch fish?”

“No problem. Those I mentioned who act lawlessly are all small players – the real gang bosses dare not violate house rules or disobey orders.”

Gu Pingyuan’s heart stirred as he smiled and asked: “Manager Peng, are you in the gang?”

“Me?” Peng the Big Bowl chuckled. “I’m not Emperor Qianlong – who would recruit me into a gang? I’ve just inevitably encountered Canal Gang members in business and overheard some things. Spreading Canal Gang affairs is very taboo – speaking carelessly brings trouble, so it’s better to say less.”

“Emperor Qianlong joined the Canal Gang?” Chang Yu’er’s eyes widened – this was truly novel news.

“Idle talk, idle talk.” Peng the Big Bowl waved his hands, obviously unwilling to continue this topic, changing subjects: “Master, three hundred thousand shi of grain is a tremendous matter. To persuade Gang Leader Jiang Tai to help won’t be simple. Leave two days later – I’ll go out and prepare a fine gift for you.”

“Good. I happen to have something to handle as well – we won’t delay each other.”

Gu Pingyuan had mentioned this matter to Chang Yu’er on the journey, and Chang Yu’er nodded accordingly. Thinking of the Canal Gang’s lawless deeds just heard, she then said regretfully: “Knowing you’d be going to the Canal Gang, I should have had my elder brother accompany you.”

Learning about Liu Heita, Peng the Big Bowl laughed: “Jiang Tai’s residence is both his private mansion and the grain transport guild hall, with over a hundred Canal Gang disciples, all trained fighters. Would your brother alone plan to go in and fight? Besides, the Canal Gang isn’t some wild organization – when masters bring gifts to their door, they should receive courteous treatment. Even if business fails, there shouldn’t be danger.”

He then asked Gu Pingyuan: “Master, I wanted to ask earlier – Governor-General Zeng assigned you to buy grain, so what did he assign Beijing merchant Li Wantang to do?”

At this question, Gu Pingyuan’s expression immediately became inscrutable, seeming both fortunate and somewhat helpless: “That task? It’s probably ten times more difficult than buying three hundred thousand shi of grain.”