Except for being unwilling to explain the reason for borrowing, Li Yuan Gui answered other questions as honestly as possible. He knew that in matters of financial calculation, business, and profit-making, he was far inferior to the old merchant, so there was no point in trying to be clever or scheming – better to save that effort.

Once the conversation turned to his trade, and realizing a Tang prince was seeking his help, Kang Su Mi’s previously hunched and fawning posture gradually straightened. While questioning Li Yuan Gui about his expected future fief income, he calculated on his fingers, muttering to himself in his native foreign tongue, sometimes shaking his head and sighing, sometimes chuckling to himself. Li Yuan Gui watched him nervously, and though he couldn’t understand what was being said, from the expressions, his heart grew increasingly cold.

After a while, Kang Su Mi indeed shook his thick-haired head, shrugging his shoulders and spreading his hands:

“Forgive old Kang’s directness, but with the fief income you describe, Fourteenth Brother, even without charging interest, it would be difficult to repay the principal of fifty thousand bolts in twenty years. At my age, how could I have twenty years left to live?”

“When I take up an official post outside the capital, I might become governor of several prefectures…” Li Yuan Gui only managed two sentences before swallowing his words. What difference would being a governor make? Let alone current court regulations that required royal princes to stay home studying after taking office, leaving all prefecture governance and judicial matters to their administrative assistants and deputies – even if he wanted to squeeze the people dry, he had no means to do so, and even if he could extort and embezzle, could he commit such evil acts harming the common people?

The old Hu man’s dark green pupils gleamed shrewd cunning as he obliquely inquired whether Li Yuan Gui might have any “additional income” in the future. Li Yuan Gui thought hard but still shook his head. Kang Su Mi spread his hands: “Then there’s no way. Don’t blame me for being stingy, Fourteenth Brother, but this business simply can’t be done.”

Li Yuan Gui sighed in disappointment, then remembering Yang Xin Zhi’s words before entering the temple, asked: “Then, how about forty thousand bolts? Would borrowing forty thousand work?”

He was still calculating that if he sold all his current assets, he might gather ten thousand bolts to make up the difference… when he heard Yang Xin Zhi call “Fourteenth Brother” and looked up to see his trusted guard frowning with an expression of helpless disapproval.

As the two glared at each other for a moment, Kang Su Mi burst out laughing beside them. The old merchant said between laughs: “Don’t glare at each other like fighting roosters, young lords. Tell old Kang what’s going on. Even if I can’t lend the money, I can at least offer some advice – our acquaintance deserves that much.”

Li Yuan Gui remained reluctant, but Yang Xin Zhi didn’t care anymore and briefly told Kang Su Mi about how the young lady his master loved was marrying Cheng Yao Jin for fifty thousand bolts to save him. The old merchant listened with great interest, constantly slapping his knee and exclaiming “What passion and righteousness, what a fine couple!” Li Yuan Gui meant to stop him but then thought, that since he couldn’t borrow money from Kang Su Mi and had no hope elsewhere, he might as well remain silent.

Understanding the whole story, Kang Su Mi stroked his beard, pondered for a while, and then finally said to Li Yuan Gui:

“If Fourteenth Brother needs to borrow fifty thousand bolts, old Kang could gather it. Converting it to gold, silver, cattle, and horses would take three to five days at most. As for repayment, I have an idea – I don’t know if it would work, but Fourteenth Brother can consider it.”

“Please tell me, quickly!” Li Yuan Gui grabbed at this lifeline.

“These days I heard from Prince Consort Chai’s household that you’re going to Gaochang to marry a princess?” The old Hu merchant’s deep-set eyes narrowed into lines as he smiled.

Li Yuan Gui suddenly had an ominous feeling: “Yes… Master Kang’s information network is truly impressive…”

“When do you depart?” Kang Su Mi asked with a smile. “Gaochang, as Fourteenth Brother knows, controls the throat of the trade route between Central Plains and Western Regions – what a treasure! Many of our people live there too, and our holy faith flourishes. Old Kang has passed through many times, always thinking how to establish a foothold in Gaochang, to facilitate trade back and forth – then we’d prosper…”

Your ambitions surely extend far beyond a mere “foothold,” Li Yuan Gui thought gloomily, watching this old Hu merchant who chased profit across the world. Following his usual methods, once he identified a “treasure spot,” he would first pave the way with gold and silk, buying off local powers, then insert himself into the upper class, simultaneously flattering rulers for power while monopolizing markets for profit. From his tone, he was willing to lend such a large sum to Li Yuan Gui, but the price would be using his position as Tang prince and Gaochang prince consort to infiltrate that trade route chokepoint city and wreak havoc.

“What does Fourteenth Brother think?” Kang Su Mi asked with a smile. “It happens that old Kang’s people speak many languages – we could accompany you to Gaochang. Wouldn’t it be better to have companions on the journey? Once in the city, we know the territory and the people well – just listen to our advice. We certainly wouldn’t harm you.”

The old merchant rambled on about how diverse and fierce the Western Regions people were, how terrifying the Gobi Desert was, how strange and incomprehensible Gaochang customs were – only their merchant clan was used to it all. Central Plains people first arriving beyond the frontier would lose half their lives if not die outright. If this pampered, inexperienced youth went with just a few guards into that vast royal city with its high rammed earth walls, without trusted confidants following him, he’d probably be swallowed whole, bones and all, within days, leaving not even dregs.

He added that the Western Regions were still Turk territory, and the Gaochang King Qu Boya was timid and muddle-headed, following only the Yabgu Khagan’s orders. Without someone to mediate and gather intelligence among the nobles, even if Li Yuan Gui reached Gaochang safely, he might not have the luck to successfully marry the princess. If the Turk Khagan turned against him, his survival would depend on his escape skills. Outside Gaochang city was an endless desert, where no grass grew and wind-blown sand cut like knives – those who didn’t know the way would die without hope of survival…

You might as well just say “The hemp-bearded man is coming” to frighten me like a crying child at night, Li Yuan Gui thought glumly. Perhaps Kang Su Mi wasn’t lying, but such threatening tactics were too crude. But what choice did he have when he needed the man’s help?

After the threats, the old merchant talked about bringing people to “attend the Prince” to Gaochang, requiring him to bow his head and follow their merchant group’s every direction there, “or else truly risk death.” Wasn’t this essentially pledging himself in bondage? Fifty thousand bolts of silk to buy a Western Region great state’s prince consort… now that was good business.

Li Yuan Gui gritted his teeth and asked coldly: “Even if I agree now and Master Kang lends me fifty thousand bolts, how do you know I won’t go back on my word once we reach Gaochang?”

“Hahaha, Fourteenth Brother is truly honest!” Kang Su Mi clapped and laughed, his manner completely relaxed now, no trace of his earlier humility remaining. “I’m not worried at all, why should you worry? Well, we’ll need to carefully consider how to write this loan contract – look outside, the rain’s almost stopped. It’s not convenient to keep imposing here, would Fourteenth Brother please come to my residence where we can discuss this properly?”

Li Yuan Gui looked outside – indeed, the downpour had turned to light rain, gradually thinning. Jing Xuan and others, seemingly hearing they were discussing business, had withdrawn after attending to them and hadn’t returned to disturb them.

It was indeed inappropriate to keep occupying the inner courtyard’s guest hall. Li Yuan Gui steadied himself, stood up, and clasped his hands:

“Then please lead the way to your residence, Master Kang.”

Fifty thousand bolts of silk, he thought desolately but determinedly, I must obtain it to redeem my beloved’s freedom. As for everything else, leave it to fate – we’ll deal with it when the time comes.

Note: The saying “the hemp-bearded man is coming” used by Tang people to frighten children from crying at night has an unclear exact origin. Later novels and tales claim it came from Sui Dynasty general Ma Shumou eating children while building the Grand Canal, but this person doesn’t appear in official histories of Sui and early Tang. The earliest recorded mention should be in “Leisure Collection” by Li Jiweng of the late Tang, under the entry “Fei Ma Hu.”