“Sitong Company’s action was truly righteous! Not only did they help the army solve its greatest difficulty, but they also indirectly ensured the safety of our old capital, allowing everyone to at least not worry about being harassed by foreign enemies and feel secure about their own lives.”
Speaking to this point, Pang Xiao appeared quite moved: “In these times, there aren’t many merchants as righteous as Sitong Company! If it were others, wouldn’t they make a great show of their good deeds for all the world to know? But Sitong Company is different—they do good deeds while keeping a low profile, unwilling to publicize themselves, only quietly doing what they can for everyone. This spirit truly moves this prince.”
Pang Xiao shook his head and sighed while expressing his emotions. His words were heartfelt and vivid, and the surrounding common people, seeing this, couldn’t help but feel moved along with him.
“Who would have thought there were merchants in the world who do such good deeds.”
“Exactly. It’s just a pity we’re all paupers, otherwise whatever we needed to buy, we’d definitely buy from Sitong Company.”
“Don’t you know? Sitong Company has everything. Even when we take boats, the oars have Sitong Company’s name carved on them!”
“You’re bragging again. You can’t read—how would you recognize Sitong Company’s name?”
“I heard people say it. It can’t be wrong!”
…
Everyone discussed among themselves, and there wasn’t a single person who didn’t give thumbs up to Sitong Company’s way of doing good deeds without publicity.
Seeing everyone’s praise, Pang Xiao gave them plenty of time to discuss before calling out loudly again: “Sitong Company acts righteously with the country and people in their hearts, but should our Pingnan Army not repay the silver we owe Sitong Company?”
With one sentence, he drew everyone’s attention back to himself.
Pang Xiao said with vigorous voice: “No matter how righteous they are, we can’t let them provide silver for free. Three million taels of silver is no small amount. Manager Liu from Sitong Company came to this prince the other day in tears, saying they almost couldn’t get through New Year this year. We’ve used their three million taels of silver for so long without repaying it. Although this prince only recently took office as marshal, I still feel very bad about it.
“Today, this prince will lay it out here! This money must be repaid—we absolutely won’t shortchange such conscientious merchants as Sitong Company! If we can’t repay it, then it’s the officials’ incompetence!”
At these words, the common people all cheered, praising Pang Xiao’s responsible behavior.
Because his words had made clear that this silver wasn’t borrowed by him, Pang Zhixi, but was owed by his predecessor before he took office—this matter originally had nothing to do with him.
But after taking office, he still shouldered this responsibility without hesitation and gave Sitong Company a promise.
Such upright and responsible conduct raised Pang Xiao’s image in the common people’s hearts even higher. Especially those refugees who had personally witnessed Pang Xiao punish Registrar Gao—in their hearts, the title of War God Prince was now deeply rooted.
The common people cheered, praising Pang Xiao’s actions one after another.
Meanwhile, various people in the private boxes all wore expressions of shock as if struck by lightning.
Yuchi Yan’s fists were tightly clenched, his face flushed red with shock and anger.
Who would have thought Pang Xiao would play so completely outside the rules!
Would a normal person knowingly step into a trap right in front of them so resolutely?
That silver clearly wasn’t borrowed by Pang Xiao, yet now he had to repay it. With such a huge amount as three million taels—not three copper coins—where did he get the confidence to make such bold declarations in front of everyone?
Wasn’t he afraid that if he couldn’t come up with this money later, people would remember what he said today and point fingers at his back?
Or was it that Pang Xiao already had three million taels of silver in hand, and making this public announcement now was just to gain reputation for himself?
But even if he had the silver, were three million taels something one could just casually take out to fill other people’s holes?
Yuchi Yan didn’t understand Pang Xiao’s actions—truly didn’t understand!
With pent-up frustration having nowhere to vent, Yuchi Yan couldn’t help but curse under his breath: “Truly sick!”
Hearing this, Gu Shixiong looked toward Yuchi Yan and shook his head, sighing inwardly.
If Yuchi Yan had even half of Pang Xiao’s political acumen and skills, why would he, at such an advanced age with one foot in the grave, still have to worry about these court affairs?
“Your Highness, this is precisely where Prince Zhongshun’s brilliance lies,” Gu Shixiong sighed. “If he completely shirked responsibility, wouldn’t he fear that Sitong Company would spread news everywhere that the Pingnan Army’s commander owes debts without repaying?”
Yuchi Yan was struck speechless by the question. Thinking it over carefully, this was indeed the case. Even if he suffered some losses himself, being able to avoid a bad reputation would be worthwhile for someone like Pang Xiao.
However, being able to produce three million taels of silver in one go was enough to prove Pang Xiao’s financial resources and boldness.
Seeing Yuchi Yan’s changing expression, Gu Shixiong knew he must be thinking wrongly. Helplessly, he said, “Your Highness, you don’t actually think Pang Zhixi would pay out of his own pocket to repay the debt, do you?”
“Isn’t that the case?” Yuchi Yan asked in surprise and confusion.
Gu Shixiong felt the urge to palm his face, his voice becoming somewhat weak.
“He must have thought of other ways to get money beforehand—either he can obtain this huge sum, or he has a way to make Sitong Company unable to demand payment anymore. In any case, Pang Zhixi would never take out such a sum himself to plug holes.
“He’s the commander-in-chief of the Pingnan Army. If he gets tricked this time and has to pay out of his own pocket helplessly, then in future encounters with such matters, people will expect him to suffer losses himself. Over time, wouldn’t any amount of silver be insufficient?
“People are all selfish. Perhaps when he refuses to pay then, he’d be accused of being unwilling to contribute to the country, and they’d file complaints against him with Li Qitian.”
Gu Shixiong spoke these words very gently, using his greatest patience.
He was already at this age. If he couldn’t teach Yuchi Yan well before his final moments, his last dream in this lifetime couldn’t be considered fulfilled.
But Yuchi Yan still didn’t quite understand. At least he hadn’t thought it through yet.
Sure enough, while Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong were talking, Pang Xiao had already called out loudly:
“Governor Yang came, didn’t he?” His gaze went directly toward the second-floor window of the restaurant.
From Yuchi Yan’s angle, he could see Pang Xiao looking in his direction.
Just as Yuchi Yan was surprised, all the common people had already followed Pang Xiao’s gaze to look over.
In the adjacent private room to Yuchi Yan, Qiu Feishan looked at Governor Yang with a half-smile, saying, “You should still show yourself. If you insist on not appearing now, they’ll immediately say you became a coward to avoid responsibility.”
Governor Yang’s forehead throbbed with pain.
This feeling of knowingly stepping into a trap was truly unpleasant.
But as Qiu Feishan said, could he be a “coward”? If he really did that, how could he establish authority in his future dealings in the old capital?
Gritting his teeth, Governor Yang had no choice but to stand up, walk to an angle where Qiu Feishan couldn’t be seen from outside, and push open the latticed window.
The common people outside immediately saw Governor Yang’s figure.
Because Governor Yang had previously agreed to the people’s conditions, everyone considered him a very good official who worked for the people. So now everyone looked at him with eyes full of expectation and admiration.
Seeing this, Governor Yang could only force out a smile and clasp his hands, saying, “How did Your Highness know this prefecture was here?”
Pang Xiao returned the courtesy and called out loudly across the crowd: “Governor Yang cares about the people. Moreover, you must have learned that this prince would speak with the people—how could Governor Yang not come?”
Without giving Governor Yang time to react, Pang Xiao continued: “Fellow townspeople! Today with Governor Yang here, this prince will give everyone an explanation.
“Looking directly toward Governor Yang’s direction, he commanded: “Governor Yang, this prince gives you three months to repay those three million taels of silver to Sitong Company. If you can’t repay it, you don’t need to be governor anymore.”
Governor Yang nearly fell backward in anger.
When he first heard Pang Xiao’s words, he thought Pang Xiao would pay this money himself. He was just waiting to watch the show, wanting to see how Pang Xiao would cover up this lie in the end.
Who would have expected this shameless fellow would actually make him repay the money!
Governor Yang almost cursed on the spot.
But with pairs of expectant eyes looking up at him from below, Governor Yang was now essentially tied to a moral platform for public execution. As long as he still wanted his reputation and wanted to continue being an official here safely, he couldn’t shake his head now.
Because armies had always been military instruments of war that didn’t engage in production. His Majesty’s order for military funds to be self-raised originally meant the local government should provide this money. This was reasonable, legal, and natural.
But the old capital had no tax revenue!
“Your Highness…” Governor Yang opened his mouth, his throat very hoarse.
But Pang Xiao’s next action made Governor Yang so angry his nose went crooked.
Pang Xiao actually clasped his hands toward the common people and left with his subordinates!
This fellow had dumped such a huge blame on him and then just patted his rear and walked away!
Governor Yang’s teeth ground together audibly. For a moment he couldn’t understand how there could be such a shameless person in the world who could still call himself a hero! He hadn’t even left him a chance to decline!
Governor Yang clasped his hands toward the admiring common people, forcing himself to show a gentle smile to comfort everyone.
Qin Yining watched the entire process from her carriage, and the smile at the corner of her mouth never faded during the journey home.
She had given Pang Xiao an idea, but hadn’t expected Pang Xiao would be so interesting, handling things so beautifully that she, as someone in the know, smiled the entire way.
Just thinking of Governor Yang’s face—having to force a smile despite being bullied severely—Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh again with a soft sound.
Arriving at the Qin Mansion entrance, Pang Xiao had long been waiting for Qin Yining.
Seeing her return, Pang Xiao stepped forward to take Bingtang and Ji Yun’s place, helping Qin Yining down from the carriage.
“Why are you smiling like this? Is it that funny?” Pang Xiao lightly tapped Qin Yining’s forehead.
Qin Yining nodded. “You didn’t see Governor Yang’s face. Just thinking about how he once schemed against you, but now you’ve trapped him with an open stratagem leaving him powerless to fight back, makes me want to laugh.”
While conspiracies were important, what people found interesting were open strategies. Telling opponents clearly while using strength to overwhelm them—winning this way brought a sense of achievement.
The two entered the mansion, Pang Xiao’s large hand holding Qin Yining’s delicate white small hand as he smiled: “He won’t let this go easily. I imagine he’ll come looking soon.”
Sure enough, just as Pang Xiao finished speaking, a servant came running from behind to report: “Your Highness, Governor Yang requests an audience.”