Half a month ago, some news still leaked from within the imperial palace.
"But I’m quite curious, what do you need all that money for?"
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." The Sixth Prince started coughing at the mention of this, pointing at Zheng Fan, his face reddening slightly.
Master Zhang immediately stepped forward to lightly pat the Sixth Prince on his back.
After regaining his breath, the Sixth Prince pointed at Zheng Fan and said, "You ungrateful wretch!"
This turn of events is rather unexpected, Zheng Fan thought.
"Do you have any idea how much silver I’ve poured into you since I began supporting you?"
The Green Willow Fortress was built by craftsmen hired with the Sixth Prince’s silver. The armor in the fortress cache and the horses stabled outside were also procured through the Sixth Prince’s channels. Many of these items were contraband, difficult to obtain even with ample funds.
"I’m very curious. During your time at Green Willow Fortress, did you even read the letters I sent you, or the replies you sent back?"
It’s a Green Willow Fortress tradition: the blind read the letters, and the blind write the replies, Zheng Fan mused.
"No, you definitely didn’t read them. Do you know, besides these visible expenditures, how much silver I spent in unseen places? How many informants within the Qian State’s border fortress system did I secure for you with silver?"
Damn it! That blind fellow never told me about this!
"I understand your intentions."
The Sixth Prince glared at Zheng Fan, then sat back down and said, "You know, although it appears I have numerous businesses and enterprises, I actually don’t have much silver saved up."
"Using silver to make silver, is it?"
Zheng Fan hadn’t run a business in his previous life; his comic studio hardly counted as a proper enterprise. He could only guess that the Sixth Prince reinvested all the silver he earned from his ventures into expanding and upgrading them.
"Take the Jiang Family’s coal mines, for instance. It’s true I acquired a coal mine from the Imperial Household Department, but before that, I supplied a batch of coal to the Yinlang County garrison at half the market price—a complete loss."
"Oh, that couldn’t have been easy."
Sure, he earns a lot of silver, but he also pays a hefty sum in protection fees. What can you expect with a father like that?
"The most infuriating part is, I clearly knew what the imperial court was planning next, but I had to restrain myself and didn’t dare meddle with land or grain!" Follow current novᴇls on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⟡𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
Zheng Fan reached for an orange from the fruit platter and began to peel it. In his heart, he perfectly understood the Sixth Prince’s frustration. To do business, one must observe the trends and follow the policies. If you can foresee events or receive inside information, you’re practically set... The Sixth Prince had long been aware of the illicit dealings between his Imperial Father and the Earl of North Border. He also understood that this was all a play, a performance staged for the great aristocratic clans of Yan. But he couldn’t leverage his political acumen to benefit his own businesses. At this very moment, the North Border Army’s iron cavalry was wreaking havoc upon the aristocratic clans of Yan. The butcher’s knives were raised, and rivers of blood flowed. These aristocratic clans—those with less than a century of heritage wouldn’t even dare show their faces in public. They were essentially fat leeks, cultivated for hundreds of years, so plump they were practically rooted like old trees. With one cut, land deeds, grain, antiques, gold, and silver—all of it would come gushing out. The Yan Emperor would naturally take the lion’s share, but the impact of this move alone was enormous. If a large trading house could make preparations in advance, they could follow in the court’s wake and feast richly. But the Sixth Prince, of all people, couldn’t do this. Mountains of gold and silver lay right before him, like a courtesan at the entrance of a red tent, batting her eyes and calling out, ’Master, come in and play!’ Yet, he had to emulate that old pedant, muttering, ’Look not at what is improper! Look not at what is improper!’ as he hunched over and scurried away.
"Making silver is just a way to pass the time. If you don’t secure that position, no matter how much or how little you earn, it all benefits your elder brothers, and perhaps even your younger ones."
The Sixth Prince rolled his eyes at Zheng Fan and said, "Are you even trying to sow discord with my younger brother, who isn’t even of age yet?"
"Instinct, pure instinct."
"It’s not that I’m reluctant to part with the silver; I’m just anxious. I used to think about long-term planning, saving a little, cultivating connections to avoid future troubles. But when it actually comes time to use silver, that’s when you realize what a heavy burden this constant need for funds is."
"I’ll procure a few more valuable items tomorrow; you can sell them for silver."
"Naturally. If it weren’t for your soap and perfume businesses propping me up, I wouldn’t have been able to invest this silver so readily. But things are better now. It’s inconvenient to make silver in Yan State, but in Qian State, it’s much easier."
Zheng Fan’s mind suddenly conjured the image of that old empire on which the sun never set—a foreign gun in one hand, a wad of cash in the other, waging war while simultaneously running companies and making silver. The collaboration between him and Ji Chengjue truly had that kind of feel to it. Yes, in this world, the most profitable business will always be—bloody robbery!
"Hey, I’ve heard that His Lordship, the Earl of North Border, seems to think highly of you."
"Then have you heard what conditions the Earl of North Border offered me?"
The Sixth Prince shook his head.
Naturally, this matter couldn’t have leaked out, as there were only four people present at the time, including Zheng Fan. Qingshuang, who was by His Lordship, the Earl of North Border’s side, appeared to be an adopted son, but his true identity was one of the Seven Great Generals of the Earl of North Border’s Mansion. Add to that the Earl of North Border and Lord Jingnan. If even the words spoken then had gotten out, there could only be one possibility: Zheng Fan himself had released the rumors to create hype. But obviously, Zheng Fan wouldn’t be so foolish.
"His Lordship, the Earl of North Border, said that since I’m from Beifeng Prefecture, I should join the North Border Army. He’s willing to promote me to a staff officer position and allocate an additional one thousand North Border Army iron cavalry to me."