Mo Sang – CH 162

Chapter 162. Welcoming the God of Wealth

Early the next morning, Hei Ma and Xiao Lu walked side by side, followed by three old Yunmeng Guards. One led a donkey cart loaded with six boxes, while the other two followed on either side.

The donkey cart was fully equipped with scales of all sizes, including large and small scales, balances, and scissors.

Meng Yanqing, having never been assigned a job like carrying gold and silver before, was worried about not doing his job properly. He took whatever he could, even if he did not need it.

Mazha, Chuantiao, and Datou watched enviously as the wealthy Hei Ma and Xiao Lu went. They wanted to go too, but their boss had assigned them other tasks. They had no choice; business was more important!

The brokerage firm that had accompanied Hei Ma and the others to inspect the house for most of the day had been filled with anxiety all night, experiencing nightmares one moment and pleasant dreams the next.

After much thought, they were convinced that this “Master Ma,” who bought any kind of house, was most likely a swindler. Who had ever seen anyone buy houses like that? Even if a house or shop was cheap, it was a major investment, not like buying cabbages—you could not just buy them off the top of your head!

Besides, Yangzhou was a precarious city; everyone wanted to escape. Houses and shops were only for sale; who would buy them?

Nobody was stupid!

He was definitely just playing with their lives.

But rational as they were, that sliver of hope clung tenaciously.

What if?

Early in the morning, the brokers, from top to bottom, arrived earlier than ever before. They all knew what was going on, but no one dared utter a single word, lest they shatter the good news and destroy their dreams.

Every now and then, they would stand at the shop entrance, craning their necks to look around.

The brokers from the other brokerage firms also left very early, skipping their own shops to rush to the firm that had received the esteemed benefactor the day before, watching the spectacle with their hands in their sleeves.

Each of them harbored mixed feelings: half hoped their competitors’ hopes were dashed, while the other half hoped this esteemed benefactor was truly powerful and wealthy, perhaps even allowing them to sell a house or shop.

When Hei Ma appeared proudly on the street, the entire brokerage firm erupted in excitement. Everyone rushed out, beaming with smiles, and greeted him with utmost respect.

The other brokerage firms, forgetting all about watching the spectacle, turned tail and ran back, grabbing their catalogs and keys, then rushing back to their partners’ doors, ready to pounce and snatch the “God of Wealth” the moment he appeared.

The brokers, like stars around the moon, ushered Hei Ma and Xiao Lu into the shop. They served fragrant tea, fanned them, and even meticulously brushed away a speck of dust from Xiao Lu’s trousers.

When Hei Ma, looking utterly annoyed by the abundance of money, waved his hand, ordering them to bring out all the houses and shops they had—no need to look anymore, just buy them all—the brokers’ eyes widened with excitement.

Then, seeing two old Yunmeng Guards unload a chest of gold from a cart, place it in the center of the shop, open the chest, and prepare to weigh the gold with large scales and scissors, the brokers were momentarily stunned.

Happiness had come too suddenly.

Two brokers, one holding a catalog of houses and properties for Hei Ma, the other flipping through the catalog with descriptions.

Two other brokers, one holding a blank booklet, held it up to Xiao Lu, pen in hand. As soon as Hei Ma gave a nod, the broker quickly wrote down the location, house, and price. The other, holding an inkstone, occasionally explained things to Xiao Lu.

Before them were two low tables, where two brokers squatted, writing contracts on the spot. After finishing one, they had it reviewed by Master Ma and Master Lu before placing it on a higher table next to Hei Ma.

In the center of the brokerage, two brokers, listening to the commotion, calculated their accounts on their abacuses. Once they had enough for a piece of gold, they took one from their box, weighed it, and placed it on top.

Outside the brokerage, a group of brokers from other brokerages stood watching the commotion inside, their eyes gleaming with envy.

While contracts were being written, the brokerage manager personally went to the yamen to invite the tax clerk to the brokerage, where taxes were paid and stamped on the spot.

Even the government had to give favors to the God of Wealth, like Master Ma and Master Lu.

After a little over an hour, the deeds were read aloud, written down, and the gold was exchanged. All the contracts were stamped with the official seal. Hei Ma handed all the deeds and the detailed ledger to a Yunmeng Guard. The brokerage firm sent three or four brokers, carrying the maps, keys, and other items to be handed over, to follow the Yunmeng Guard to complete the handover of the property.

Hei Ma and Xiao Lu stood up and strode to the brokerage firm’s entrance. Looking at the brokers who were craning their necks and staring expectantly at them, Hei Ma gestured in a circle with his finger. “Which brokerage firm is closest to here? Do not rush; I will buy from them one by one.”

“My firm! My firm! It’s just across the street, right next door!” a broker jumped up, shouting excitedly.

Good heavens! Their house was going to welcome the God of Wealth, too!

……………………

After finishing a pile of tax deeds, the clerk at the Yangzhou prefectural yamen saw Hei Ma and Xiao Lu swaggering off to the next brokerage firm. Returning to the office, he pondered for a while, deciding this was not a small matter and he needed to discuss it with their Commissioner, Xie.

After listening to the clerk, Commissioner Xie’s eyebrows furrowed, revealing a deep wrinkle on his forehead. “These two, Master Ma and Master Lu, are they locals of Yangzhou or from out of town?”

“Master Ma has a local accent, and Master Lu sounds like he’s from Jiangning,” the clerk quickly replied.

“A wealthy man surnamed Ma is here?” Commissioner Xie frowned. A wealthy man in Yangzhou. Was there one he did not know?

“Never heard of him.” The clerk shook his head. He had never heard of a wealthy family surnamed Ma.

“They are all in their early twenties, very young. Oh, and they brought a few silver chest carriers with them. Those guys are a bit older, but they look quite formidable; just standing there, they are impressive!”

The clerk stood with his hands behind his back, chest puffed out, his face strained.

“Are they soldiers?” Transport Commissioner Xie asked, observing the clerk’s appearance.

“They look very much like soldiers.” The clerk nodded.

Transport Commissioner Xie paused for a moment, then waved to the clerk. “Go on. If any more tax deeds come in, go and take them. It’s rare for someone to be willing to buy a house, land, or farmland; it’s always a good thing.”

Hearing Transport Commissioner Xie’s words, the clerk felt relieved and quickly bowed in agreement.

Watching the clerk leave the room, Transport Commissioner Xie sat there for a while, then called in a trusted attendant and instructed him to inquire further.

……………………

Hei Ma and Xiao Lu arrived at the second brokerage firm, continuing their search for houses and shops. Halfway through, a broker rushed in and whispered something to the brokerage head, who was making the introductions.

Meeting Hei Ma’s sidelong glance, the brokerage head hurriedly smiled obsequiously. “Master Ma, it’s like this, a gentleman also wants this house.”

The brokerage head flipped through a few pages, pointing to a five-courtyard house, and continued with his obsequious smile.

Hei Ma glanced at him sideways, his teeth clenched in a grimace, and after a moment, gestured to Xiao Lu. “Go over there.”

Xiao Lu understood, stood up, and walked out.

“Master Ma? What’s this…” The brokerage head did not understand what “go over there” meant, and his heart immediately jumped.

“This matter needs to be discussed with our boss,” Hei Ma said honestly.

From their beginnings as beggars to their days in the Ye Xiang trade and now to their established postal business under the Shunfeng brand, they always bought cheap, never expensive. If they ever tried to rip someone off by buying something at a high price, it was definitely to cheat them.

However, this time, buying houses, shops, and land was a first for them. Why was their boss buying these things? Why was she buying them this way? He was not sure. If anything was uncertain, he had to ask his boss first!

“Let’s put this aside for now; let’s talk about something else,” Hei Ma gestured to the brokerage boss.

Xiao Lu returned quickly. “The boss said, if someone wants to buy, let them buy. We only want what nobody else wants.”

“Did you hear that? Give it to him!” Hei Ma waved cheerfully.

……………………

That day, Hei Ma and Xiao Lu bought out two brokerages, handing over the purchased houses and shops to Meng Yanqing for inventory and management.

In the evening, Hei Ma and Xiao Lu returned to the boat, handing Li Sangrou two thick booklets. “These are what we bought today.”

Li Sangrou took them, shook them, and placed them on the table.

“Boss, the one who tried to take our house today… I asked around, and wow!” Hei Ma clicked his tongue, looking smug. “I did not even need to ask; that brokerage firm was already blabbing about it!

This brokerage firm is nowhere near as good as the ones in Jianle City. Not a single one of them is careful with their words! In Jianle City, you have to bribe them and have some connections before they will even tell you anything!”

“Get to the point!” Xiao Lu nudged Hei Ma.

“The one trying to take our house is not a local from Yangzhou. It’s a traveling merchant, saying he’s from Huaiyang Prefecture, dealing in jujubes and lotus seeds and stuff. He said he saw us buying the house, and that’s why he bought it too.

Boss, about this?” Hei Ma looked at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou laughed, “This is good news. If he buys it, we will save money.”

“Huh? Save money?” Hei Ma and Xiao Lu’s eyes widened. “Boss, what do you mean? We bought this house to make money, did we not?”

“If the Southern Liang attacks and besieges Yangzhou, they will be demolishing houses first, brick by brick, to defend the city. If they cannot hold it, and the Southern Liang invades, there will be street fighting, and then they will set fires, and everything will be gone.” Li Sangrou spread her hands.

Hei Ma and Xiao Lu looked at each other.

“But if the Southern Liang does not even attack and the Northern Qi unifies the world, then we will be rich,” Li Sangrou continued.

“Oh!” Hei Ma and Xiao Lu said in unison, letting out a long “oh,” nodding repeatedly to show they understood.

“You two come over and make pancakes!” Da Chang called from the back cabin.

Hei Ma and Xiao Lu hurried to the back cabin to make pancakes.

Once inside, Xiao Lu could not help but nudge Hei Ma. “Is Boss taking a gamble?”

“The boss explained so clearly! How can you still not understand? Our boss never gambles. Can Southern Liang really conquer Yangzhou? If they do, all that silver will be gone, so much silver!” Hei Ma looked pained.

Xiao Lu glanced at Hei Ma with disdain. He knew Hei Ma was just like him—completely oblivious!

……………………

Li Sangrou checked on the rice shop every few days.

At the rice shop, firstly, the three shopkeepers were working tirelessly, practically sacrificing their lives for loyalty; secondly, business was practically nonexistent at the moment.

Li Sangrou pointed and gestured, finding it extremely convenient.

In her spare time, Li Sangrou would ride with Da Chang to inspect the estates and farmlands outside Yangzhou, especially those she had purchased.

In contrast to Li Sangrou’s leisurely pace, Commander Luo, Transport Commissioner Xie, and the Yangzhou Customs officials met several times a day, discussing and arguing before returning to their respective offices to work late into the night, only to meet again to argue.

After the rice trade reform, Yangzhou Prefecture would unexpectedly gain additional revenue from rice taxes.

Although business in Yangzhou’s rice markets was currently so slow it was almost at a standstill, this war would eventually pass, and as officials of the Great Qi, they had to firmly believe that the Great Qi would unify the world.

Once the Great Qi unified the world, Yangzhou’s rice markets would immediately flourish, far surpassing those of Jianle City when trade between the north and south was available.

Right now, how to collect the rice tax, how much Yangzhou Prefecture would get, how much Huainan East Circuit would get, and how much the customs office would take—these were things they absolutely had to fight for and seize if they could.

For Commander Luo and Commissioner Xie, the rice merchants in the Huainan East Circuit were not limited to Yangzhou alone.

Setting rules was a huge matter; they had to think things through carefully, considering the Emperor’s opinion, the reactions of the other officials, and the three ministers of the Ministry of Revenue…

Commander Luo urgently summoned officials from several prefectures and counties along the river with large rice merchants for an all-night discussion, filled with heated arguments and slamming of tables.

Besides this major matter, Commander Luo also had the massive case of Qian Dongsheng and the Cao family’s treason. He needed to arrest, interrogate, and investigate them, and he also had to exchange letters and messages with Jiangning City several times a day, comparing testimonies one by one, meticulously investigating the causes and consequences of each event, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

This was a case of treason involving large numbers of executions!

Five days later, Li Sangrou watched as the new layout of the Yangzhou rice shops took shape. Hei Ma and Xiao Lu had already bought out all the houses, shops, and estates from various brokerage firms. Meng Yanqing had also made arrangements. Three boats set sail from the Yangzhou dock, heading upstream.

Meanwhile, Commander Luo’s side had finally made progress, and things were initially settled.

Commander Luo wrote down the agreed-upon plan in a memorial. Transport Commissioner Xie, Provincial Judge Liu, and others reviewed it, signed it, and Commander Luo took it, sealed it with a seal, and gave it to his trusted guard to deliver immediately.

Watching the guard take the letter and leave, Transport Commissioner Xie breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered, “The boss has already left?”

“She left this morning, very efficient,” Commander Luo said with a hint of envy.

These past few days, they’ve all been so busy they were losing clumps of hair, their eyes bloodshot, and their faces haggard. Meanwhile, that boss, after handing them handfuls of burning charcoal, spent her days strolling around, so leisurely and carefree!

“Have you heard, Commander? That boss has bought almost half of Yangzhou.” Transport Commissioner Xie suddenly remembered that he had not told Commander Luo about this yet.

Several times on his way to the Commander’s office, he’d thought of finding an opportunity to mention it, but he just had not found the chance.

“Hmm?” Commander Luo and Provincial Judge Liu both looked at Transport Commissioner Xie.

“I thought you two knew,” Transport Commissioner Xie said with a dry laugh. “That guy called Hei Ma under the boss, with a group of brothers, was hauling cartloads of gold and silver, buying houses, shops, and estates from one brokerage firm to another. He did not pick and choose; he did not even look at them. He just bought.

Hei Ma was buying in front, and that group of men from military backgrounds was following behind, checking each place.

They say they’ve hired people to clean and guard the houses, and they’ve entrusted every ten shops to the brokerage firms for safekeeping.

These past few days, two clerks in the prefectural office have been specifically busy compiling tax deeds for them; they say it’s enough to cover almost half of Yangzhou.”

Provincial Judge Liu looked at Commander Luo, who paused for a moment, then glared at Transport Commissioner Xie and complained, “Why did you not say so earlier? This is not a small matter; you should have informed the Emperor. But to write a special memorial about this… is that not making a mountain out of a molehill?

That memorial you just wrote, with a simple sentence at the end, would have been perfect! Look!”

Transport Commissioner Xie smiled obsequiously. He had been so busy and stressed these past few days that he had completely forgotten!