Chapter 229: Two Approaches at Once
Gu Yan took the letter from Li Xiaonan from Shi Gun’s hand, read it slowly, his eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment, he ordered Wang Gui to be summoned and instructed, “Someone went to Zhu Jia Village in Zuo Jia Ji yesterday to collect autumn silkworm cocoons. Find out who it was.”
Wang Gui agreed and retreated with his hands clasped.
A day later, Wang Gui found out and reported to Gu Yan: the one collecting autumn silkworm cocoons was the steward from Xu Xinglao’s family in the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association.
Gu Yan’s eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing this. After a moment, he instructed Wang Gui, “Cocoons cannot be stored for long. Find out where the Xu family has stored the collected cocoons and where they are reeling silk. After you find out, spread the word and evidence to the other members of the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association.”
“Yes.” Wang Gui agreed and hurried off to arrange personnel.
It was naturally easy and efficient for Wang Gui and his subordinates to investigate such a small matter. It was only a day later that they found out and presented the evidence to the other senior guild members of the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association and several large weaving workshops.
………………………………
Watching the oldest Wu Xinglao enter, tapping his crutch, Feng Xinglao, Chu Xinglao, and Wei Xinglao all stood up to greet him.
Feng Xinglao and Chu Xinglao helped Wu Xinglao to sit down, one on each side, while Wei Xinglao quickly poured a cup of tea and presented it to Wu Xinglao.
“Have you all heard?” Wu Xinglao poked the ground with his crutch.
“We’ve heard, alas!” Feng Xinglao frowned tightly, looking distressed.
“That Xu fellow is truly a scoundrel!” Chu Xinglao spat.
“What should we do?” Wei Xinglao looked from Wu Xinglao to Chu Xinglao.
“The Xu family has plenty of silver. If they really collect all the autumn silkworm cocoons in our Pingjiang Prefecture, then what about us?” Feng Xinglao frowned with a worried expression.
“That Xu fellow is ruthless and black-hearted. If he doubles the price to sell to us then, it would still be considered a fair price!” Chu Xinglao spat again.
“It’s good if he’s willing to sell us silk thread, but what if he’s not? What if he buys our weavers through several intermediaries? Alas, our weavers are all registered with the real estate agency.” Wei Xinglao paused and lowered his voice, “I heard that Xiangyun Workshop is also collecting autumn silkworm cocoons.”
“Where did you hear that?” Wu Xinglao’s eyes widened, and the other senior guild members also stared at Wei Xinglao.
“My wife’s brother’s younger brother-in-law studies at the county school in Yuhang County. On the first day of every ten-day period, when the Wei Educational Commissioner lectures, the teachers at the county school rush them all to go and listen.
“It’s said that on the first day of the previous ten-day period, the second young master of the Ding family, who reels silk for Xiangyun Workshop, was sitting with them. That second young master said that the reeling masters at their dyeing workshop were very busy, secretly busy, saying it was all work for Xiangyun Workshop.”
Wei Xinglao spoke in a low voice, with a mysterious expression.
“How did listening to a lecture lead to reeling silk?” Feng Xinglao asked.
“That’s what I asked too!” Wei Xinglao lightly tapped the table. “It’s said that the Wei Educational Commissioner got stuck while lecturing, and then lectured incorrectly. Afterward, the Wei Educational Commissioner asked the Director to finish the rest of the lesson for him, saying this had never happened before!”
Wei Xinglao leaned forward, lowering his voice. Wu Xinglao, Feng Xinglao, and Chu Xinglao also leaned in, listening intently.
“This matter is strange, isn’t it! Before the Director finished the lesson, someone said they heard the Wei Educational Commissioner throwing a tantrum in the Great Accomplishment Hall. Several people heard it. Some said the Wei Educational Commissioner was angry because the Jiang Cao Division withheld money for repairing the academy. Others said the Wei Educational Commissioner was angry with his nephew, who is the Young Lord outside the city, saying the Young Lord was acting willfully and not even listening to the Prince, calling him unfilial and so on.
“Several people were discussing this matter, and the second young master of the Ding family said: The matter of the silk trade has already been decided in the Capital City, and the decree will soon reach our Liangzhe Circuit. He refused to say a single word about what decree it was, only saying: His family’s reeling masters are very busy this year, but it’s just fooling idiots.
“My wife’s brother’s younger brother-in-law kept it in mind. When there were fewer people, he secretly asked. The second young master of the Ding family was quite straightforward and said that all the busy work was for Xiangyun Workshop!”
After Wei Xinglao finished speaking, he leaned back against the chair back and picked up his cup to drink tea.
“He’s truly a bastard!” Chu Xinglao angrily slammed his hand on the table.
“What’s the use of you banging on the table!” Wu Xinglao glared at Chu Xinglao.
“The Xu family has a Recommended Scholar relative who is preparing for exams in the Capital City,” Feng Xinglao said with a cold laugh.
“That Xu fellow must have received the news. Bah! Truly a scoundrel!” Chu Xinglao spat fiercely.
“What should we do?” Feng Xinglao looked at Wu Xinglao.
“We must hurry to collect cocoons and reel silk quickly! They, the Xu family, have dowry manors, don’t our families have them?” Wu Xinglao poked his crutch agitatedly.
“I’m afraid that Yu Chengfu and that Li family have already collected a lot of cocoons in our Pingjiang Prefecture,” Wei Xinglao said, looking at everyone.
“And that Xu fellow! Bah!” Chu Xinglao spat every time he mentioned Xu.
“Quietly, let’s go out and collect cocoons wherever we find them,” Wu Xinglao decided after a moment of thought.
“Then we must hurry!” Chu Xinglao stood up first.
Wei Xinglao followed suit and stood up. Feng Xinglao helped Wu Xinglao, and the four of them hurried out of the tea house.
After turning the street corner, Feng Xinglao stopped, cautiously looked back, then darted into another alley and headed straight for Yu Chengfu’s house.
The Young Lord has the Crown Prince behind him. With the Young Lord’s status, unless he rebels, he will at least be a future Prince. The Crown Prince is the future Emperor. It is better to connect with Yu Chengfu than not, and if you help him quietly, no one will know.
………………………………
Xiuzhou City.
He Ruiming stood at the entrance of the Hongxi Tea House, politely ushering in the senior guild members of the Xiuzhou Silk Trade Association.
When the six senior guild members had all arrived, He Ruiming ordered the shop assistants to re-brew the tea, serve pastries, and said with a cupped hand salute and a smile, “You are all busy people, so I won’t be overly polite.”
Some of the six senior guild members lowered their eyelids and sipped their tea, while others glanced askance at He Ruiming.
Their weaving workshops had long since stopped production. What else was there to be busy with? If anyone was busy, it was Young Shopkeeper He; they were all very idle!
“The He family is a subordinate of Prince Rui’s Mansion, and I believe everyone is aware of this,” He Ruiming continued with a smile.
This time, the six senior guild members uniformly lowered their eyes and sipped their tea.
“I am here today, first on the orders of our Young Lord, and second on the instructions of my father. My father, on the orders of our Young Lord, has already invited overseas merchants on behalf of the Jiangnan Silk General Store to come to Linhai Town to discuss next year’s silk trade.”
This time, the six senior guild members stared at He Ruiming in unison.
How dare they issue orders on behalf of their Jiangnan Silk General Store?!
He Ruiming smiled, “Our Young Lord’s intention is that it is not ideal for the Jiangnan Silk General Store to monopolize all silk exports. However, if it were like the early days when anyone could trade, leading to chaos, that would also not be ideal. Our Young Lord’s intention is that for the silk trade overseas this year and in the future, each prefecture and county’s silk trade association will negotiate business independently.”
The six senior guild members looked at each other, then at He Ruiming, and remained silent.
“The following sentences are my father’s instructions,” He Ruiming said, bowing slightly to the six senior guild members. “My father said: The Jiangnan weaving workshops stopping production, feigning the transfer of weavers, and ceasing the collection of autumn silkworm cocoons is self-sabotage. Many large business firms outside are watching our Jiangnan weaving workshops, waiting for an opportunity to replace them.
“My father also asked me to remind you all that you must not stay confined at home, passively waiting for instructions from above. You must always be vigilant, for example, by paying attention to whether anyone is acquiring autumn silkworm cocoons in large quantities.”
He Ruiming’s words came to an abrupt halt.
The six senior guild members looked at each other.
“The Young Lord has entrusted the matter of the overseas merchants’ arrival to the He Family Old Shop. The He Family Old Shop has limited staff, and my father asks for your understanding. The merchants will arrive approximately between the middle and end of next month. The specific time will be announced later, so please pay attention and go to Linhai Town yourselves then.
“Oh, our Young Lord instructed me to tell you all that you are welcome to come, but it is also optional,” He Ruiming continued with a smile, then gestured to Zhou Shennian, who was sitting next to him, “I have nothing more to say. Mr. Zhou has a few words.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you today,” Zhou Shennian said, cupping his hands. “I am Zhou Shennian, an adviser to the Young Lord in official matters. I have come today to ask you all: If there were no commission and levies from the Jiangnan Silk General Store, and if the Jiangnan Silk General Store were to cease to exist, after your silk arrives at the Linhai Town Wharf and the tax silver is calculated based on the actual quantity, would there be a deficit or a surplus? How much would the deficit or surplus be?”
The six senior guild members looked at each other. Ji Xinglao, who was sitting next to Zhou Shennian, asked hesitantly, “Mr. Zhou, what are you asking these questions for?”
“The Young Lord intends to re-examine and redefine the various tax rates of the Maritime Tax Bureau, starting with silk,” Zhou Shennian said with a smile.
“Besides the Jiangnan Silk General Store, there are also some local burdens. Does the Young Lord intend to exempt them all?” another senior guild member next to Ji Xinglao asked.
“These accounts are complicated and difficult to explain in a few words. Could Mr. Zhou allow me to calculate them carefully?” a third senior guild member asked cautiously.
“Of course, you must calculate them carefully. There is no rush. Please calculate them thoroughly and send them to the Prince’s Estate Villa outside Pingjiang City,” Zhou Shennian said with a hearty laugh.
