Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 102: Weighing the Options

"Young Master Xu wishes to trade grain?"
Once the master and his servant had taken their seats, he asked.

"Indeed. I ask Young Master Gao for your assistance." Xu Qing gave a signal with his eyes, and two maidservants approached, chirping and laughing softly.

"Where does Young Master Xu hail from?" the young man inquired.

"Hua Country, Zi Prefecture," Xu Qing replied.

"Oh, a fine place—I have been there before," remarked the steward at his side. "Officer Ma, the agricultural commander, took me to stroll through Yanliu Lane last year. You must know him."

"I do. However, Lord Ma was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue last February. Now it's Lord He in charge, who maintains good relations with my family," Xu Qing said.

"Ah, my mistake—it must have been the year before then," the steward corrected himself. "So, Young Master Xu, how much grain do you wish to purchase? Here in Chen Prefecture of Tang Country, it's quite distant from your homeland. Transporting one bushel of grain back would cost at least the price of two, just to break even."

"Steward, you are indeed knowledgeable and experienced. We will handle transportation ourselves; all we ask is that the Gao family supply the grain. According to custom, I will pay ten percent up front, and the remainder upon completion of shipment, settling accounts in full. I wish to purchase one hundred thousand bushels," Xu Qing said sincerely. "We are all merchants; more friends mean more paths. I have come from afar and hope to befriend you both, to profit alongside the Gao family."

"You speak truly, Young Master Xu—friends are found everywhere," Young Master Gao smiled. "But my family is experiencing some shortage of grain lately. To supply one hundred thousand bushels at once may be difficult."

"Gao estate is famed for its vast farmlands—everyone knows you are the largest grain merchant. Why say such things? With holdings across Lake Guang and many enterprises, you hold sway over the nation's lifeblood. I'll offer twenty percent more for the price; to be candid, that's my bottom line. Business should leave room—no need to force too hard, right?" Xu Qing smiled. "These past two years, harvests in Hua and Xia have been poor, but your Tang Country, and the Gao family, remain unaffected. We are compelled to import grain. If I cannot buy here, I will simply journey to Jin Country instead."

...

"Young Master Xu, as I've told you, the Gao family's grain has already been traded for two copper and iron mines. There is little left in the warehouse—only after the autumn harvest..."
The intermediary who had arranged the meeting escorted them out, then returned to speak.

"I understand, but they are bound to find a way to supply the grain. One hundred thousand bushels—turning that over to me should net them a ten percent profit, if they desire it," Xu Qing said confidently.

"So they'll borrow grain?" the go-between asked.

Xu Qing fell silent, had his maid bring out a chessboard, and began to study it alone.

He dismissed the others, occasionally sneering.

"Just two mines have emptied their granary, but how will they lay hands on official grain? In Xia, the grain purchased is government stock, but only from two prefectures. Though official grain prices between the two countries have not yet shifted, the undercurrents are fierce."

"The autumn harvest? I fear it won't wait—fools! Shrewd merchants profit from war, while most are mere wheat, ready for the scythe. All I need is confirmation that the grain comes from Xia! Greed indeed—they gather grain from the people under the pretext of military requisition, then secretly sell it in Tang to the Gao family."

"Such leeching officials threaten both nations. But none of this concerns me. I too shall hoard a little, waiting for the right price. In this war between nations, I can neither change nor desire anything. Now, it's time to visit the Gao family's new lady."

Xu Qing deliberated for a long time, then resolved to inscribe the following poem onto a silk scarf:

Willows in the south,
Tender green not yet sprouting.
Plucked, they evoke pity for their fragile leaves;
The yellow warbler alights, unable to bear the weight,
Preserved to wait for spring's fullness.

He signed it with his own name, instructing the maid to return it to Lady Gao under the pretense of having found her lost scarf.

Now all that remained was to wait.

...

"Your Highness, we apologize for the previous disturbance. Someone claimed to have seen a man in black leaving Your Highness's residence that night, prompting our search. It now appears it was all malicious intent from others targeting Your Highness," Zhong Jie said earnestly after arriving again.

Wang Chuan no longer resided at the guesthouse. He nodded lightly. "It's all right. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, I harbor no ill feelings toward you, Lord Zhong. You are no ordinary man; do not let vile schemers poison your mind. Should they succeed in sowing discord among us, it would be a shame."

"Your Highness speaks wisely. We are fortunate for your magnanimity." Zhong Jie replied. "Is this your first visit to Lun City?"

"It is. I seldom travel far," Wang Chuan said.

Though he had once marched armies for thousands of miles, he remained the Wang Chuan who wished only for quiet cultivation.

"I see. And Young Master Yang—I've heard he had many businesses here in Lun City, but they've all been withdrawn?"

"I'm not sure. It seems he has my father's support in Yang City, with substantial investment and revenue, so he's consolidating his enterprises... Why not ask him directly about these matters, Lord Zhong? What is it you're really seeking?"

"Nothing, I apologize for bothering Your Highness."

With that, Zhong Jie took his leave.

After his departure, Yang Hao and an official from Jin Country emerged from behind. "Your Highness, has he discovered anything?"

"It matters little. But what do you think he could uncover?" Wang Chuan replied. "What has he been up to lately?"

"Investigating the military grain case and the murder at the guesthouse," Yang Hao reported.

"And Chen Ying?"

"Chen Ying? What... What about him?"

"Never mind, forget it," Wang Chuan shook his head.

"Jin Country has yet to contact us," Yang Hao said. "From what I've found, the murder that night ties to the military grain case. That merchant was a royal relative, always in the grain business. This time, he sold grain from two prefectures—resources from the Prime Minister's own base—to Tang Country. Who knows how many shadows manipulate things behind the scenes? His death is most suspicious."

"Is there something amiss?" Wang Chuan asked.

"Now it seems his death benefits neither the Prime Minister's party, Tang's buyers, nor Jin's ruler—only the upright civil officials gain from it!" Yang Hao said. "Now the connection is severed; the Prime Minister's party cannot transfer its grain. Restless forces stir—either halt operations or reconnect with Tang. It's a capital offense; Tang's buyers remain unknown. But for such dealings, a clean break can save them, with minimal loss."

"For us merchants, the riskiest business yields the greatest profit! The current situation strongly favors the civil officials."

"This is a fine severing of the dragon—so the strategist is most astute," Wang Chuan said. "You need not concern yourself, nor investigate further. Do not get too involved."

"Yes," Yang Hao replied, startled. "Am I meddling too much?"

"Yang Hao, do you recall why we came here?"

"I have never forgotten," Yang Hao said quickly.

"That is enough. As before, be graceful, build good relations with officials and the people," Wang Chuan said. "When a great house totters, it cannot be saved by ordinary men. The fate of the world is beyond our power to change. Yang Hao, when crossing a river, to pull a drowning man up is right; but to wait by the river or search along its banks for someone to save—that is, as I once told you in that Buddhist story, a violation of one's true purpose."

"I will remember," Yang Hao said earnestly.

At this, Yang Hao felt ever more the unfathomable depth of Wang Chuan.

Did he know something, but found it inconvenient to say?

He ought not to ask more.

"That will do. Go invite Lord Zhong here—we shall enter the palace," Wang Chuan said.

"Now?" Yang Hao was puzzled. "Now the civil officials have the advantage—why assist them, Your Highness?"

Yang Hao sensed something amiss. "Though we would never aid the wicked, in these circumstances, perhaps we should delay, steady things. Forgive me for being blunt, but the more chaotic Xia Country becomes, the better it is for us."

"Yang Hao, then tell me: when is the Xia ruler's birthday?" Wang Chuan asked.

"In about twenty days," Yang Hao answered.

"And how long until the autumn harvest?" Wang Chuan continued.

"Just over a month," Yang Hao replied.

"There you have it. We all agree Jin's ruler will find it most advantageous to strike before the autumn harvest; otherwise, all previous efforts are wasted," Wang Chuan said. "So do you think he will attack Xia first, or include Tang as well?"

"Tang is surely in his plans, perhaps even other countries," Yang Hao replied. "So I don't know—will he take Xia first, or all at once..."

"Just over a month—neither much nor little. Much preparation has already been made," Wang Chuan said. "As for your earlier analysis, it's not entirely accurate. The Prime Minister's party is deeply entrenched; when have you seen their foundations shaken? Moreover... the civil officials have always been weaker, while the Prime Minister's party took years to build its power. There's no chance of overthrowing them overnight, unless the emperor himself intervenes. Even this military grain case—what does it amount to?"

"I have not yet seen the Prime Minister act. Such grand figures move mountains and shake the earth—how could Lord Zhong's covert investigations compare?"

"I was ignorant, unable to see clearly," Yang Hao said with shame. "I will summon Lord Zhong at once."

"Yang Hao, wait a moment," Wang Chuan said. "Tell me, what sort of person do you think the Xia ruler is—could he be pretending?"

"Pretending? How could that be? Why does Your Highness think so?" Yang Hao's heart raced, then calmed. "It seems impossible—the Xia ruler has neglected government for years, absorbed in pursuit of immortality. If it were an act, it's against his nature, and it's lasted twenty years—unbelievable. Why would he do it? Who could force him? No matter how I look at it, that's the case."

"Or perhaps Your Highness has discovered something?" he asked.

Wang Chuan shook his head, offering no direct answer. "That's all, then. We'll wait for Lord Zhong."

Yang Hao, deep in thought, felt anew that familiar sense of helplessness.

(End of chapter)