Mo Sang – CH 151

Chapter 151. The Art of Making Money

Pan Dingjiang had nowhere to go, so he placed a thick cushion under the table as a precaution.

Fortunately, Hanlin Academician Qiao did not come looking for him again until it was completely dark.

After leaving Pan Dingjiang’s small room, Hanlin Academician Qiao Bo went straight to find Hanlin Academician Shi, another talented scholar among the Hanlin scholars. The two usually discussed scholarship and critiqued writing, and they got along very well.

Before Hanlin Academician Qiao could finish speaking, Hanlin Academician Shi slammed his fist on the table and agreed enthusiastically. The two were of one mind:

The challenge had been issued, and the odds had been set. If they did not accept the challenge, the Hanlin Academy would not be able to afford the loss of face! The affairs of the Hanlin Academy could not be decided by that cowardly Chancellor Huang!

The two of them, Hanlin Academician Qiao writing and Hanlin Academician Shi watching, quickly produced a passionate declaration of acceptance of the challenge. They signed it first, then took the declaration and went around seeking signatures from other Hanlin scholars.

When Chancellor Huang learned of this, Hanlin Academician Qiao and Hanlin Academician Shi had already obtained the signatures of seven or eight other scholars, displaying the proclamation.

Chancellor Huang dispatched two servants and a personal attendant to search for Hanlin Academician Qiao and Hanlin Academician Shi, determined to find and stop them!

However, they searched until dark without finding or stopping either of them.

Frustrated, Chancellor Huang waited personally outside Hanlin Academician Qiao’s house for nearly an hour, until almost nightfall, but Hanlin Academician Qiao still did not appear.

It was obvious that Hanlin Academician Qiao was avoiding him!

Chancellor Huang was furious, his chest aching, but since it was already late, he could only clutch his chest and return home, deciding to try again the next day.

The next morning, Chancellor Huang still could not catch Hanlin Academician Qiao. Upon questioning the other scholars he encountered, he learned that they had all signed the proclamation. It was said that even the aging and senile Hanlin Academician Ma, angered, had also signed it! Huang, the Imperial Chancellor, was furious. Clutching his chest, he paced back and forth a few times, then, gritting his teeth and stamping his foot, stormed out of Xuanyou Gate.

He could not stop him now; he had to inform Prime Minister Du immediately.

This proclamation, this petty squabble—it really was not his fault!

Those scholars in the Hanlin Academy were all arrogant and disdainful of him, never taking him seriously. He was truly helpless!

He had to hurry to Xuanyou Gate and wait for Prime Minister Du to come out so he could explain things properly.

Huang waited until the court session ended and then another quarter of an hour. When Prime Minister Du and the others emerged from their discussion, Huang hurried to greet them.

“What’s wrong?” Prime Minister Du asked with a smile, looking quite well.

“It’s a small matter,” Chancellor Huang said, glancing at Minister Du’s expression with a slightly anxious smile. “It’s like this.

A while ago, under the grapevine in the Evening Post, there was an article about borrowing rhyme schemes. Qiao Bo, the Hanlin scholar, felt it was wrong and argued with the Evening Post.

You must know Hanlin Academician Qiao, sir. He’s alright in other matters, but when it comes to scholarship, he’s utterly ruthless, insisting on getting to the bottom of things.

Years ago, he directly confronted Minister Wu over the interpretation of a single character.

When it comes to scholarship, Hanlin Academician Qiao is as stubborn as a mule; no one can sway him.

And so, back and forth, the argument escalated.

The day before yesterday, the Evening Post sent me a challenge.” Chancellor Huang took out the challenge and presented it to Minister Du.

“This is a debate over scholarship,” Minister Du said casually as he took the challenge.

“Yes, that’s what I think too.” Upon hearing the phrase “a debate on scholarship,” a strange feeling stirred within Chancellor Huang.

A debate on scholarship!

Those four words, “a debate on scholarship,” were not necessarily bad!

“This challenge sounds quite ambitious. Hmm, to be able to debate back and forth with Qiao Bo, one must be quite knowledgeable.

Scholarly matters are all about debate. Scholarship, in essence, requires both learning and questioning; neither can be dispensed with.

A debate on scholarship is a good thing; the more one debates, the clearer things become.” Prime Minister Du took the challenge, glanced at it casually, and handed it back to Chancellor Huang.

“Then…” Chancellor Huang took the challenge, somewhat unsure.

Since scholarship became clearer through debate, which was a good thing, should he accept this challenge?

“In scholarship, one must be focused and serious, but one cannot be too repressed. Too much dullness loses its appeal, and without appeal, it’s difficult to make progress and achieve great success.

Prime Minister Wu greatly admires Qiao Bo’s meticulousness in scholarship, and I also greatly admire this trait of his; it’s a good thing,” Prime Minister Du said, patting Chancellor Huang on the shoulder, then walking away with his hands behind his back.

Chancellor Huang stood there, holding the challenge letter, stunned for a long time.

Prime Minister Du’s words meant that debate was necessary; the more debated, the clearer things became. It could not be too dull, nor could it lose its appeal. He and Prime Minister Wu both greatly admired Hanlin Academician Qiao’s meticulousness in scholarship…

That meant, should he accept the challenge?

Chancellor Huang suddenly remembered something, hurriedly flipping open the challenge letter, staring at the last few lines—the deadline for reply was noon today!

Chancellor Huang clutched the challenge letter and ran back home.

“I need to hurry and report back to the Evening Post. The Hanlin Academy has accepted the challenge!”

……………………

Upon receiving Chancellor Huang’s reply, Manager Lin of the Evening Post was so shocked that he forgot about the hundred Hanlin Academy members he had bought who would not accept the challenge. He saw the messenger off, gave some instructions, and rushed to the Shunfeng Express.

“Boss!” Manager Lin had been walking so fast that he almost choked after shouting, “Boss!”

“Calm down before you speak. What could have made you so anxious?” Li Sangrou glanced at Manager Lin speechlessly.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Manager Lin took a few deep breaths and, after recovering somewhat, quickly reported, “Chancellor Huang has replied. He said they’ve accepted the challenge!”

The words “accept the challenge” were barely uttered by Manager Lin, his heart pounding and his breath catching in his throat.

“Hmm, continue,” Li Sangrou said, her expression unchanged.

“Yes,” Manager Lin swallowed hard. “Yes, we need to invite whoever is on our side over. We need to discuss this debate in person and how it should be conducted. This needs to be discussed carefully.”

“Alright, I understand. You go back first; I will have someone come find you later,” Li Sangrou calmly instructed.

“Yes.” Manager Lin turned around.

Li Sangrou looked at him and suddenly asked, “Did you place your bet? Which side did you bet on?”

“Oh!” Manager Lin slapped his thigh hard.

He was too surprised and too hasty in his run and forgot about it!

“I bet on a hundred hands of not participating,” Manager Lin replied with a bitter face.

“A hundred hands is not much; you can afford to lose,” Li Sangrou smiled.

“A hundred hands!” Manager Lin cried out in anguish.

That was a considerable amount of money!

Watching Manager Lin leave, Li Sangrou stood up and went to the front shop to invite Wang Zhang to speak in the back courtyard. Wang Zhang followed Li Sangrou to the back.

Li Sangrou gestured for Wang Zhang to sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and smiled. “Old Zuo said you’d understand the postal service at a glance. Do you already know what to do?”

“I have a general idea. The difficulty lies with the army. How do I differentiate between the various units and detachments, making it clear at a glance without revealing the army’s movements?” Wang Zhang replied with a slight bow.

“Hmm, in your hands, that’s not difficult.”

“You flatter me, Boss.” Wang Zhang quickly bowed and smiled in response.

“Your difficulty is how to differentiate them; my difficulty is where to get this large sum of money,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“The rice shop…” Wang Zhang swallowed the rest of his words.

“The rice shops have always had owners. I took them from the original owners, but I did not get any money.

After that, I planned to make the rice shops like the chicken, duck, and fish shops—just a way to make a meager living, and that would be enough to lower the rice price in Jianle City. Things are different now; we cannot exploit them too much.

This area did not have much money before, and it will not have any more after this.”

Wang Zhang frowned slightly, looking at Li Sangrou, waiting for her to continue.

Dividing the various units of the army was not too difficult for him, so getting money should not be a problem for her either.

“You know about the Evening Post issuing a challenge to the Hanlin Academy, right?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile.

“Yes, I know. I bet ten times on the Hanlin Academy to accept the challenge,” Wang Zhang replied with a smile.

“Sir, you are really clever!” Li Sangrou praised. “I issued the challenge, and I also set up the betting odds. This first round was pretty good; I made a small profit.”

Wang Zhang’s eyebrows rose high.

“Please have someone from the Evening Post go to the Imperial Academy to discuss the strategy for the debate with Chancellor Huang. I’d like to ask you to go in my place, sir,” Li Sangrou said directly to Wang Zhang.

“I will obey your orders, Boss,” Wang Zhang replied readily. “Please advise me on how to negotiate.”

“Have you read all the articles under the grape trellis?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile.

“They are all truly talented.” Wang Zhang nodded.

“The writers are all noble ladies from the Pan family, the Wu family, the Pang family, and the various households in Jianle City—almost all of them have them,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

Wang Zhang paused, then hesitated. “Then a debate?”

“Yes!” Li Sangrou replied cheerfully.

Wang Zhang’s eyes widened, and after a moment, he sighed.

In this battle, the Hanlin Academy was in a rather pitiful position. To debate with a group of noble ladies was hardly glorious; to win was nothing to be proud of, but to lose would be utterly humiliating!

Judging from the Boss’s attitude, this was a trap, and the Hanlin Academy was likely doomed to lose!

Indeed, if the Hanlin Academy lost, the betting pool would be much larger!

“What should we do? Has the leader already made arrangements?” Wang Zhang understood in a few blinks.

This money was for raising funds for the military postal service, and the military postal service was his responsibility. Therefore, ripping off the Hanlin Academy was his inescapable duty!

“We are a group of noble ladies from the inner chambers. Very few people know about this, except for those directly involved, and even these few will not utter a word.

First, before the match, the Hanlin Academy cannot know that they are going to fight noble ladies.

Second, it’s a group fight, not one-on-one, so let’s make it six against six.

Third, we will compete with them in erudition.

Hanlin Academician Qiao is known as an unparalleled scholar, a walking encyclopedia, knowing every classic text like the back of his hand. We will compete with the Hanlin Academy in that!

This is our foundation. How you negotiate is up to you.” Li Sangrou smiled at Wang Zhang.

“I understand; do not worry, Boss.” Wang Zhang’s eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment, he nodded and smiled.

“Then I will trouble you to go now to the Evening Post Office and find Manager Lin. Have him accompany you to see Chancellor Huang.” Li Sangrou smiled.

“Alright.” Wang Zhang stood up, bowed to Li Sangrou, and left the shop to find Manager Lin.

……………………

For most of the day, Chancellor Huang was utterly overwhelmed with work.

Early in the morning, he was frantically worried about what would happen if Hanlin Academician Qiao went too far in his idle chatter and foolishness. Finally, he managed to accept the challenge before the deadline, and then Wang Zhang arrived.

After seeing Wang Zhang off, Chancellor Huang finally breathed a sigh of relief, took a few sips of tea, and looked at Hanlin Academician Qiao, smiling. “It seems you are all Jinshi graduates, but we’ve been appointed Hanlin scholars, burying ourselves in scholarship. These people, appointed to local posts, are definitely much better than we are in practical matters.”

“In terms of scholarship, we are far superior to them,” Hanlin Academician Qiao retorted bluntly. “They certainly know how to take shortcuts, using the guise of erudition to justify this method of reading miscellaneous books, humph!”

“Then how about we?” Chancellor Huang leaned forward, looking at Hanlin Academician Qiao. “Sigh, just now, I was about to argue at least two rounds. One round we’d do as they say, erudition it is, and the other round we’d decide. You agreed immediately, and now I have nothing to say.”

“In terms of erudition through reading miscellaneous books, do you think I am afraid of them?” Hanlin Academician Qiao chuckled. “You’ve forgotten my reputation.”

“Besides, our Hanlin Academy may lack in other areas, but when it comes to erudition and a prodigious memory, who is lacking?”

“He dares to challenge us to a group fight? What a joke!”

“Do not worry about that. I will find someone. Hanlin Academician Shi’s breadth of reading is unmatched; he’s practically a voracious reader.”

“What is our Hanlin Academy for? The elite of all scholars in the land! As long as it’s related to learning, there’s nothing we cannot beat!”

“Comparing our scholarship with outsiders, no matter how we compare, if we lose, would that not make us a huge laughingstock?”

“Hanlin Academician Qiao said, standing up.

‘I will go find someone first. I need to prepare properly; even hunting a rabbit requires the strength of a tiger.'”

“That’s absolutely right! We must not be careless. If we really lose to them in scholarship, the Hanlin Academy will lose all face.” Chancellor Huang stood up and saw Hanlin Academician Qiao to the door.

……………………

That afternoon, the new gambling dens and entertainment venues opened for business.

The gambling dens in the entertainment districts were incredibly well-informed. The moment the Hanlin Academy accepted the challenge and finalized the competition with the Evening News, the gambling dens knew everything.

The new betting odds were novel and interesting:

Guess who the members of the Hanlin Academy team and the Evening News team were.

According to the agreement, each side would have six members. So, guess which six Hanlin Academy members would be on the Hanlin Academy team and who the six members of the Evening Post team would be. Everyone was encouraged to try their best to figure it out.

The guessing papers were small, square pieces of paper, each costing twenty large coins. They were numbered one, two, three, and each paper could only contain one name. For the Hanlin Academy team, a correct guess would earn thirty large coins. For the Evening News team, it was the same: twenty large coins per name, and a correct guess would earn one tael of silver.

Everyone thought this was fair.

Because the Hanlin Academy team was too easy to guess. There were only so many Hanlin scholars; aside from the older, less intelligent, and forgetful ones, there were only about twenty young, capable members. It was too easy to guess.

As for the Evening Post team, it was like finding a needle in a haystack!

However, according to reliable rumors, the one who came to discuss the details with the Hanlin Academy was Wang Zhang, a Jinshi of the Gengshen year!

This reliable rumor pointed everyone in the right direction for guessing: the Gengshen year! The Jinshi appointed to external posts! The military! It was said that he used to work under Master Pan and was highly praised by him. Also, this Jinshi named Wang was from Hebei!

And then there were all sorts of bizarre directions that made Li Sangrou’s eyes widen in disbelief.

In less than half a day, the most talked-about and exciting thing in the entire Jianle City was which direction to take to guess the six members of the Evening Post team and who they were!

From the beggars sitting in the sun on street corners, swaying their bowls as they begged for food, to the officials and clerks in the Imperial Secretariat, everyone was discussing who the six members of the Evening Post Team would be.

Qing-Feng presented the new gambling instructions to Gu Jin. Gu Jin read them carefully and chuckled, “She really knows how to make money! How many has she sold?”

“They are sold by number. I had some people buy a few, and we’ve already reached over 70,000.

They say that at the entrances of all the gambling dens, people are lining up to buy these slips of paper, buying dozens at a time,” Qing-Feng replied with a smile.

“You guys should buy a few too, and guess as well. You can skip it,” Gu Jin said with a laugh.

“Yes,” Qing-Feng laughed.

He knew roughly who the Evening Post team would be, just as well as the Emperor. Thinking of the wild guesses of those eunuchs, Qing-Feng laughed again.

Ah, if only he could see the expressions on everyone’s faces on the day the Evening Post team made their debut.