Mo Sang – CH 309

Chapter 309. Meeting

Early the next morning, Mazha and Datou, who had disembarked to buy breakfast, brought Sister-in-law Yu in.

“She was at the front of our boat, peeking out, saying she’s looking for the Boss,” Datou said, holding a large bag of steamed buns and gesturing to Sister-in-law Yu as Hei Ma, who was vigorously mopping around the deck, approached.

“Madam Meng sent me,” Sister-in-law Yu explained, peeking out from behind Mazha as she followed him onto the gangplank.

Li Sangrou was standing at the cabin door, sipping a cup of tea, watching Hei Ma and the others mopping the floor with great effort, and seeing Pang’er chasing after the mop and yelling. Hearing Datou’s and Sister-in-law Yu’s words, she peeked out and smiled, “Is this Sister-in-law Yu? Please come aboard.”

Datou and Mazha quickly jumped onto the deck, one on each side of the gangplank, gesturing for Sister-in-law Yu to come over.

Sister-in-law Yu, with a forced smile, curtsied to Datou and Mazha, then to Hei Ma, carefully slipping between them.

Li Sangrou scrutinized Sister-in-law Yu.

Madam Meng had said Sister-in-law Yu was thirty-three, but she looked much older. She had a dark face, an extremely ordinary appearance, was slightly short and plump, and very robust.

“Boss,” Sister-in-law Yu said respectfully, curtsying to Li Sangrou.

“Come in and talk. Have you had breakfast? Would you like some more?” Li Sangrou ushered Sister-in-law Yu into the cabin.

“I’ve eaten; no need. Thank you,” Sister-in-law Yu said somewhat reservedly.

Xiao Lu brought over a cup of tea, and Sister-in-law Yu quickly bowed in thanks.

“Then I will not stand on ceremony,” Li Sangrou said, taking a plate of five or six bamboo shoot buns and a bowl of salted chicken, salted fish, and fresh, tender meat and vegetable soup from Da Chang, placing them in front of her.

“I’ve arrived too early; please help yourself, Boss.” Sister-in-law Yu bowed slightly with a smile, glancing at the steamed buns and the bowl of hearty, salty soup.

Compared to Madam Meng, this Boss’s meal was far too simple.

“Madam Meng said the boats you build are excellent. How big of a boat can you build? If you were to build freely, without regard to cost, how big of a boat could you build?” Li Sangrou asked before taking a bite of a steamed bun.

“Madam Meng flatters me.

That depends on whether the boat goes out to sea. If it does not, it is best to keep it under ten thousand shi¹. If it is too large, the draft will be too deep, limiting where it can go. Moreover, turning around on inland waterways is extremely inconvenient, making the boat unusable.

If we are going to sea, several shipyards around Hangzhou can build ships of five thousand liang², and even larger ones of six thousand, seven thousand, or eight thousand liang. Anything larger than that, we will need to make a model first, so I cannot say for sure,” Sister-in-law Yu answered cautiously.

“Your shipyard was requisitioned, but it will only be a month or two before we take Hangzhou, and then you can get it back. Why are you asking Madam Meng for help?” Li Sangrou ate slowly, talking to Sister-in-law Yu.

“We came to ask Madam Meng for help because we thought we could get the shipyard back in a month or two,” said Sister-in-law Yu with a bitter smile. “When they seized the shipyard, they took everything—people, goods, even the water supply. After my late husband died, no one in our family went to the shipyard again. Now, the shipyard we’ve taken back is just an empty plot of land. I heard even the dock needs major repairs.

The shipyard always operates on a thirty percent deposit basis. Once the hull is built, another thirty percent is paid, and the remaining forty percent is paid upon delivery.

When the shipyard was seized, there were four ships under construction in the dock. Two had received thirty percent deposits, and two had received sixty percent. After the shipyard was seized, the shipowners came to demand their deposits back. My father said he’d rather lose money than lose his integrity. He emptied our savings and refunded all the deposits for those four ships.

Now that we’ve taken back the shipyard, we need to repair the dock, buy materials, and pay the craftsmen—it will take a huge amount of capital to get things running,” Sister-in-law Yu gave a wry smile and explained carefully.

“Well, did Madam Meng tell you? I own shipyards, not just one, and I am looking for someone to help me manage them.”

“Madam Meng said I could discuss it with you.” Sister-in-law Yu looked at Li Sangrou, her smile weak and insincere.

“Well, then, tell me your plans first. How do you want to discuss it with me?” Li Sangrou smiled.

“I will help manage your shipyards. As for the Yu family shipyards, could we split it in half? Or maybe sixty percent?

The Yu family shipyards are the ancestral property of the Yu family. My late husband died because of the shipyards. Before my father passed away, he repeatedly instructed me to reopen the shipyards. Five generations of the Yu family have built ships; the shipyards are the roots of the Yu family.” Sister-in-law Yu’s voice choked slightly.

“How about this,” Li Sangrou pondered for a moment, “take over my shipyard as well. I will lend you the money for the shipyard, the repair costs, and the operating capital. You can pay me back when the shipyard makes a profit. As for the share, it is forty percent for me and sixty percent for you; how about that?”

Sister-in-law Yu stared at Li Sangrou, hardly believing her ears.

“There’s only one condition: I want good ships, the best ships in the world, the biggest ships, the most powerful ships. They have to be able to build them. And my shipyard has to be the best shipyard in the world.

Let’s make it a five-year deadline. If the ships I want cannot be built within five years, I will take back the forty percent and find someone else to build them,” Li Sangrou continued.

“Boss, have you discussed this with Madam Meng?” Sister-in-law Yu forcefully suppressed her huge doubts about whether this young woman, the Boss, understood business, and offered a gentle reminder.

“I am a very shrewd merchant. Think it over. If you think you have the ability to take it on, then take it. If you are just eyeing the money or think it is a great deal,” Li Sangrou smiled. “Did Madam Meng ever tell you why I am the Boss, not the owner?”

“She did. She said you are ruthless.” Sister-in-law Yu, still reeling from the shock, blurted out Madam Meng’s exact words.

“Hmm, good you know. Focus on building ships; focus on business. Use all your abilities to build magnificent ships that traverse the seas. That way, your life will not have been in vain.” Li Sangrou smiled.

Sister-in-law Yu paused for a moment, then stood up and bent her knees deeply.

“I would not dare say I have great skills, but in shipbuilding, I at least know the ropes and know who the real experts are. I would not dare say I can definitely build the best ship for the Boss; I will just do my best.”

“Hmm.” Li Sangrou smiled in response, then called over Da Chang and gestured to Sister-in-law Yu, “Give our shipyard to her and write a contract; she gets forty percent, we get sixty percent. Also, have her calculate how much silver is needed and pay her accordingly.”

Da Chang nodded, looking at Sister-in-law Yu, “If you have time…”

“Yes, yes.” Sister-in-law Yu readily agreed, curtsied to Li Sangrou, and followed Da Chang into the rear cabin.

Within a day, Da Chang and Sister-in-law Yu settled the shipyard’s accounts. Hei Ma wrote the contract and left a record at the Yangzhou yamen. Da Chang, according to the amount reported by Sister-in-law Yu, counted and distributed the silver.

Early the next morning, Sister-in-law Yu found a small boat and set off for Jiangzhou City to inspect the shipyard.

Li Sangrou stayed in Yangzhou for two more days before crossing the Yangtze River to Pingjiang Prefecture.

………………………………

Upon entering Runzhou territory, a water gate stood on the river, prohibiting all civilian and merchant ships from passing except for military and supply vessels.

Meng Yanqing quickly retrieved documents from the Ministry of War and the Privy Council and went to negotiate.

The guards relayed the documents, and a reply quickly came back: the seals were genuine, and passage was permitted.

The three boats proceeded through each gate. At the fourth gate, the guard, clutching two documents, frowned and instructed, “The Commander-in-Chief has ordered that no matter where you come from, any further progress requires his personal order. Do not move here; wait!”

The three boats stopped at the gate and waited for about half an hour. Bai-Cheng, following the messenger, ran over and, seeing Meng Yanqing in the distance, waved, “It really is you!”

Bai-Cheng ran up to the water gate, signaled Gu Xi’s command arrow, and the water gate was raised. The three boats passed through the gate one by one and moored at the shore.

“Greetings, Boss! Long time no see!” Bai-Cheng beamed and bowed deeply to Li Sangrou.

“I am well, I am well,” Li Sangrou returned the bow.

“My master saw both the Ministry of War’s seal and the Privy Council’s seal, both vaguely written, and said, ‘This must be the Boss!'” Bai-Cheng stepped forward, letting Li Sangrou go first.

“I heard Master Jiawen is very tired,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“He’s alright, you heard? Who told you? Oh!” Bai-Cheng trailed off, then chuckled. “He is quite tired. The Princess sent many nourishing things.”

“Oh,” Li Sangrou also drawled.

Bai-Cheng chuckled.

After a few laughs, Li Sangrou asked again, “Commander has been quite free lately? All ready?”

“Not really, almost ready. With the Boss’s arrival, it is like adding wings to a tiger.”

Li Sangrou’s question was vague, and Bai-Cheng’s answer was equally vague.

Li Sangrou hummed in agreement and did not ask further.

The two chatted about military matters and soon entered the camp gate. Wen Cheng came out to greet them from a tent next to the commander’s tent.

“I was thinking the Boss must have arrived,” Wen Cheng said with a smile, bowing deeply in greeting.

“You flatter me,” Li Sangrou quickly returned the bow.

“The Commander has gone out on an inspection and will be back in about half an hour. Boss, please come and sit in the commander’s tent,” Wen Cheng said, gesturing for Li Sangrou to sit in the tent.

“The military report says that the Southern Liang’s grain supplies are almost exhausted?” Li Sangrou asked directly as she entered the tent.

“Yes, the soldiers who escaped the day before yesterday said they can only receive half their usual rations. They said various units are looting grain and supplies from villages and towns, and the higher command is powerless to stop them. They also said that a few days ago, Wu Huaiguo executed twenty or thirty people for violating military orders and stealing crops.

We cannot delay any longer. If we do, people will starve to death,” Wen Cheng answered in great detail.

“What day is it set?” Li Sangrou listened intently to the surrounding sounds and asked in a low voice.

“The day after tomorrow. The order has already been sent to Zhihe.” Wen Cheng did not lower his voice much; at this point, whether the attack date was confidential or not had little impact on the overall situation.

“What about General Wu?” Li Sangrou asked after a moment of silence.

“He has already retreated to Hangzhou. The situation is hopeless; it is just the death throes.

Before Wu Huaiguo retreated into Hangzhou, the Grand Marshal invited Master Xu, an old acquaintance of Wu Huaiguo, from Pingjiang City, to persuade him to surrender.” Wen Cheng paused, then continued with some difficulty, “Wu Huaiguo killed Master Xu and threw his body down from the city wall.”

Li Sangrou was silent for a moment, then gave a soft “hmm.”

This battle, for General Wu, for the Emperor of Liang, for the civil and military officials in Hangzhou, and for the defending troops, was a desperate, fleeting carnage, like fireworks.

For the Qi Army, Hangzhou would inevitably fall, but at a terrible cost.

“How is Ninghe?” Wen Cheng changed the subject. “From before the New Year until now, she has been worried about Young Lady Gu.

Ninghe is fine, and Ah Fei is fine too. She knows some things she does not want to know and is just a little worried.” Li Sangrou’s words were vague yet clear.

“The Shizi is indeed not a magnanimous person.” After a moment of silence, Wen Cheng smiled bitterly.

“Even if I were not very magnanimous, I would not stoop to arguing with Ah Fei and the others,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“Yes, things are much better now. Before, I might not have,” Wen Cheng sighed.

“Ah Fei and the others are different now, too,” Li Sangrou added with a smile.

The two chatted idly for a short while when they heard rapid hoofbeats approaching from outside the command tent. They both stood up and looked towards the tent opening.

Outside the tent, Gu Xi forcefully reined in her horse, raising its front hooves. Before the hooves even landed, Gu Xi had already jumped off, thrown down the reins, and rushed into the tent.

“Brother said you were coming. I calculated that you should have arrived ten days ago!” Gu Xi stood before Li Sangrou, his eyes bright as he looked at her.

“We traveled at our own pace, stopping to see things along the way, and then stopped in Yangzhou for a few days,” Li Sangrou said, tilting her head slightly to examine Gu Xi.

When they left last time, he had not changed much, except that his eyes were brighter, making his whole face and his entire being radiant.

“I have some urgent business to attend to; I will go finish it first,” Wen Cheng said with a cupped-fist salute and a smile.

Gu Xi did not look at him, only waved at him. Li Sangrou smiled and cupped her hand in return.

Gu Xi glanced sideways at Wen Cheng as he left, leaned forward slightly, and asked in a low voice, “Last time someone came to ask for the map and sand table of Daye County, and then a fire broke out in Daye County that killed many people. Are you alright?”

“I am fine; what could possibly happen to me?” Li Sangrou spread her hands.

“Really alright, or… better?” Gu Xi asked suspiciously.

“Really alright!” Li Sangrou emphasized.

“You look pretty good. Want to have dinner together?” Gu Xi asked, looking Li Sangrou over carefully again, straightening up, and smiling.

“Alright,” Li Sangrou replied with a smile.

Ru-Yi brought in tea, smiling and glancing at Li Sangrou in greeting.

Ji-Xiang, accompanied by several servants, brought in food. Gu Xi instructed Wen Cheng to come over, and the three of them ate together. Wen Cheng went back to his work, while Gu Xi and Li Sangrou left the commander’s tent and slowly strolled along the central path of the military camp.

“My Elder Brother’s marriage has been arranged,” Gu Xi said with a smile, having walked about ten steps with his hands behind his back.

“Eh!” Li Sangrou exclaimed in surprise, “Which family’s daughter is she?”

“The eldest daughter of the Zhou family, a prominent family in Taizhou, is named Yiqing.” Gu Xi paused, then smiled. “The eldest daughter of the Zhou family’s mother, Old Lady Yu, and my aunt were childhood best friends. When my aunt married the late Emperor, Old Lady Yu married into the Zhou family. A year later, she accompanied her husband to the capital to take the imperial examinations.

Old Master Zhou passed the imperial examinations with flying colors and was selected for the Ministry of Revenue. The Zhou family remained in Jianle City until my aunt passed away. That same year, Old Master Zhou also passed away. The eldest daughter of the Zhou family cared for her mother and, with her younger brother, escorted the coffin back to Taizhou.”

Gu Xi paused, then sighed softly.

“So, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family is about the same age as the Emperor?” Li Sangrou glanced at the wistful-looking Gu Xi and asked with a smile.

“Only one year younger than my eldest brother! Less than a year! Only ten months!” Gu Xi chuckled. “Those two, they’ve been doing that for a while now!”

“When I was little, once, I do not know where, a basket of lychees was presented as tribute. At that time, that big river was still frozen, and lychees were extremely rare. Only three to five jin were picked out from the basket, and my older brother and I only had about ten lychees in total.

Usually, for rare treats like these, my older brother always gave them to me. I really liked lychees, but after I ate two or three, I looked at the plate, and it was empty!

My older brother said he’d eaten some too and that we must have finished them.

Although I was young then, I was not stupid. I knew something was wrong, and I thought my older brother must have hidden them, so I kept an eye on him.

Not long after, Old Lady Yu brought Young Lady Zhou into the palace to talk to my aunt. My older brother secretly beckoned to Young Lady Zhou, and the two of them hid behind a display case. My older brother wrapped seven or eight lychees in a handkerchief and handed them to Young Lady Zhou.

I was hiding behind, and I saw it all clearly!”

“And then? Did you watch as Young Lady Zhou ate the lychees, or did she let her older brother eat them too?” Li Sangrou asked with a gossipy look.

“The lychees,” Gu Xi paused, “I ate them.”

“Uh?” Li Sangrou stared at Gu Xi. “Cried? Threw a tantrum on the spot?”

“Look at what you are saying! I just cried out; I was so small back then.” Gu Xi could not help but roll his eyes at Li Sangrou’s comment about throwing a tantrum.