Business

At the head of the guest hall sat two Bao family elders. One sipped his tea slowly, while the other sat with lowered eyelids, as though lost in thought. Only after draining his cup did the elder on the left speak. "Time is almost up. Tell us how you intend to do business." Wei Yuan said, "Perhaps Brother Zhao would like to go first?" Zhao Fusheng said, "My Mount Qiong has always had extensive dealings with the Bao family, so there is little need for words. No matter how much profit you can offer, I will simply double the concessions." Wei Yuan remarked, "Doubling seems rather excessive. Just offer one tael more than me; that will suffice." Faced with such blatant provocation, Zhao Fusheng naturally took the bait. "Fine by me." Wei Yuan cupped his hands to the two grand elders at the head of the hall and said, "Then this junior will take the liberty of speaking freely. Currently, one of Qingming's core industries is the forging of armor. Our breastplates are primarily sold to the states of Zhao and Western Jin, and demand far outstrips supply. "If the Bao family is interested, you may invest five hundred thousand taels of immortal silver to expand the Weaponsmith Workshop by one-fifth. This portion would yield an annual net profit of roughly two hundred thousand taels, allowing you to recoup your investment in two and a half years." Zhao Fusheng snorted. "A mere two hundred thousand taels! Mount Qiong will grant the Bao family a concession of two hundred thousand and one taels." Wei Yuan continued, "If armor forging does not appeal to you, you may acquire mines in the surrounding regions—such as deposits of the quintessence of the five metals, rare ores, or thunder sand. With the Bao family's connections, securing them should pose no difficulty. As for output, I will purchase every bit produced. That sector yields roughly three hundred thousand taels in annual net profit, and if a major deposit is discovered, that sum could easily double." "Hmph! Mount Qiong will concede three hundred thousand and one taels!" "The Bao family may also purchase spirit timber groves around Qingming and sell all harvested spirit wood to me—again, I will take whatever you produce. Alternatively, you could establish a spirit timber grove within Qingming itself. That would take longer, but once mature, the returns will far exceed two hundred thousand taels. "Beyond that, I plan to open a brocade house in the near future. It requires an investment of one million taels of immortal silver, with annual net profits starting at around four hundred thousand taels. Normally, I would insist on retaining a fifty percent stake, but if Senior Sister Bao comes to Qingming to temper herself, handing the brocade house entirely over to the Bao family is not out of the question." With every proposal Wei Yuan laid out, Zhao Fusheng offered a sneer followed by his declaration that he would add one more tael. But after repeating it several times, even he began to sense something amiss, and his retorts gradually ceased. Every venture Wei Yuan proposed was specific and detailed, interlocking into an entire industrial chain; he had clearly arrived thoroughly prepared. Zhao Fusheng, by contrast, could only parrot adding one tael after another. The comparison made him look like a complete fool. Anxiety mounted within Zhao Fusheng, yet he had never bothered to spare a second glance at the enterprises on his immortal island—how could he possibly come up with anything? Besides, as the young island lord blessed with peerless talent, forging boldly ahead in cultivation was the proper path. How could he squander his time on petty, grubbing commercial schemes? Then a second thought struck him: Wei Yuan didn't seem to have fallen behind in cultivation either. At that moment, the elder who had been resting with eyes closed opened them and spoke in a measured tone. "These ventures are decent, but they are rather modest. Only the spirit timber grove holds any real interest. Do you have anything bolder?" Wei Yuan had not anticipated that question, but after a moment's contemplation, he reviewed the options provided by the mortals, selected a few, and replied, "Nothing is bolder than conquering territory. The last time I swept through the Wu domain, I plundered several million taels' worth of supplies. The Western Regions yield products entirely different from those of the Eastern Sea; the two can complement each other perfectly. "If the Bao family is interested, you may finance and raise a military force. I can supply weapons, equipment, and logistical provisions at cost. This army may campaign alongside my forces, or the Bao family may appoint its own generals to operate independently in ordinary times. Only during major engagements must they obey my commands. All spoils of war will belong to the Bao family, but how much you seize will depend on your own strength." The elder gave a slight nod, seemingly intrigued. Wei Yuan added, "There is another option: build a city within my Qingming domain. To start, I can provide twenty thousand able-bodied subjects; further development will be left to your esteemed house. I can supply all materials needed for construction at low prices, and once the city is complete, you will merely pay taxes in accordance with regulations. "Raising an elite force of ten thousand men requires roughly one million taels, with an annual maintenance cost of two hundred thousand taels. As for building a city, the initial investment requires one and a half million taels, while subsequent development will depend on the Bao family." The elder sipping tea suddenly interjected, "Bring out a map for us to see." Wei Yuan conjured a map of Qingming. It was remarkably detailed and fully annotated. When the two elders examined it, they started in surprise, exclaiming, "It has already reached four hundred li?" The tea-sipping elder let his gaze sweep across the map inch by inch, studying the mountains, rivers, and terrain with painstaking care. He paid particular attention to the locations of the existing cities, constantly calculating something in his mind. The other elder asked, "A hundred taels of immortal silver to outfit a single elite soldier? What standard constitutes your so-called elite, and what gear do they carry? Speak in detail." "Every soldier must be at least in the Blood Merging realm, and each is paired with a pack horse to ride on marches, dismounting for infantry combat in battle. Their armor consists primarily of breastplates..." The more Zhao Fusheng listened, the more wrong it felt—why were they actually negotiating? After listening intently, the elder nodded. "Those in the Blood Merging realm can lift five hundred jin and run a hundred li in a single breath. That matches the standard of the Great Tang border armies. With this equipment, they can indeed be called elites. How many such elites does Qingming currently possess?" "A little over a hundred thousand." The two elders were visibly moved. They knew full well that the Palace of Grand Beginning had provided Wei Yuan with virtually no aid at the outset. In the beginning, it had been nothing more than a group of former academy peers traveling tens of thousands of li to assist him, while various great houses covertly kept watch from the heavens. Every faction had witnessed Qingming's early growth. In just two years, Qingming had amassed a hundred thousand border army elites. With such military might, Wei Yuan could be considered a fully qualified Military Commissioner in any of the Nine Kingdoms. What the two elders did not know, however, was that the 'little bit' over a hundred thousand Wei Yuan mentioned actually meant two hundred thousand—and that figure did not even include those of higher cultivation realms. "What restrictions apply to this city and force?" an elder inquired. During the time the two elders had spent questioning and deliberating, the mortals had already swiftly refined the two proposals. Wei Yuan replied, "The city must primarily adhere to Qingming's laws. Within the city, you may formulate specific local bylaws, but they must not conflict with Qingming's existing laws. Furthermore, if aristocrats possess privileges, they may only exercise them within the city; outside it, they are treated like anyone else. Additionally, the city may maintain a city guard—one hundred guards for every ten thousand residents." These terms essentially mirrored the standard privileges of a frontier garrison city, slightly narrower than what great houses enjoyed within their ancestral seats. Wei Yuan added, "The military force may not mobilize at will within the domain; it must remain stationed in designated barracks. Moreover, if I issue a levy during wartime, they must obey military orders. However, should they be summoned, I will fully compensate all losses incurred during major engagements afterward." Zhao Fusheng had been silent for some time. He felt he had to say something now, lest he appear completely ignorant. After a moment's thought, he said, "Obey your summons in major engagements? How does anyone know you won't use the Bao family's troops as cannon fodder? Why can't the Bao family's generals command them independently?" Wei Yuan said, "How troops are deployed depends on the tactical situation at that moment. Those who belong on the front lines will be placed on the front lines; those who must guard the rear will guard the rear. As for generals commanding independently, that is entirely out of the question. In major warfare, unified command is paramount; having orders issued from multiple sources is the greatest taboo. Young Master Zhao has likely fought few battles. With more experience in combat, you will understand." Zhao Fusheng was furious, yet found himself at a loss for a retort. The Eastern Sea was vast, and its engagements were primarily naval battles. Zhao Fusheng himself had mostly fought blood-soaked duels against rival high-level cultivators; he had never commanded large-scale land warfare. The two elders exchanged an imperceptible glance. If a city and an army were combined, it would amount to establishing an enclave in the Western Regions. Yet if that happened, the Bao family's reach would extend rather far. The matter was of great consequence and required deliberation with the other elders. The elder holding the teacup said, "Friend Wei Yuan, your concept is indeed unexpected. This old man must weigh it carefully. If you have nothing else to attend to, you may reside in our estate for a few days. Guanchao Port boasts many scenic sights; feel free to stroll about and take them in." Wei Yuan said, "A major battle will likely erupt in Qingming soon. The two elders might as well wait until the fighting concludes and observe the outcome before making a decision. Though by that time, the price may be somewhat higher." "This old man understands." Upon leaving the guest hall, a Bao family cultivator escorted Wei Yuan to his assigned guest courtyard. This time, the Bao family had arranged their finest guest quarters for him—a five-tier courtyard with a three-story main pavilion. One side bordered a cliff face overlooking the open sea, offering magnificent scenery. The moment he entered the courtyard, Bao Manshan's voice sounded by his ear: "Come over here." Following the voice, Wei Yuan walked over to the edge of the cliff, where he saw Bao Manshan and an elderly man engrossed in a game of Weiqi. Bao Manshan kept his eyes glued to the board, merely gesturing toward an adjacent chair. Wei Yuan sat beside the board to watch, but his understanding of the game was superficial at best; he could barely follow the nuances. To prevent the elder playing against Bao Manshan from testing him, Wei Yuan shifted his intent, manifesting the match within the Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains. Immediately, three immortal plants were activated as computational nodes, driving the divine senses of several thousand mortals into rapid calculation. They simulated every possible variation and progression, evaluating tens of thousands of moves with every passing breath. Just then, the elderly opponent played a stone. After brief deliberation, Bao Manshan answered. Wei Yuan's brow knitted ever so slightly. The stone Bao Manshan placed had not even appeared among the mortals' projected lines. When the mortals re-evaluated from Bao Manshan's new position, their conclusion was that he had an eighty percent chance of defeat. Though Wei Yuan's change in expression was subtle, both elders noticed it at once. Bao Manshan asked in surprise, "You understand the game?" "Only a superficial bit," Wei Yuan answered truthfully. The elderly opponent played another move. Seeing that defeat was all but sealed, Bao Manshan suddenly turned to Wei Yuan. "Take over for me. Let the Seventh Elder see your skill." The opposing elder knew this was Bao Manshan's old trick; more than once had he used this ploy to escape an inevitable loss. The elder took no offense. Victory was already secured anyway, and this would provide a convenient opportunity to test Wei Yuan's skill at the game. To their surprise, when Wei Yuan placed a stone, both the Seventh Elder and Bao Manshan stared in utter astonishment. The move seemed completely nonsensical. Bao Manshan blurted out instinctively, "That is pure nonsense!" Yet upon closer inspection, the elder realized the stone could not simply be ignored, so he casually placed an answering move. Wei Yuan pondered for a moment, then played another bizarre stone. Having studied game records for decades, the elder had never witnessed such an approach and was visibly taken aback. Bao Manshan shook his head repeatedly in dismay. In the blink of an eye, over a dozen moves were exchanged, and the elder played slower and slower. Wei Yuan was under considerable strain as well. By now, even Yinyang had been mobilized; all the immortal plants were running at full capacity, and more than twenty thousand mortals were dissecting the board to formulate responses. Several moves later, Wei Yuan's seemingly chaotic play had steadily turned the tide! After a few more stones, the elder let out a snort, his face turning thoroughly ashen as he conceded defeat. He gave a heavy scoff, swept his wide sleeve across the board to reset it, and said, "Who would have thought your skill was so formidable, young friend? This old man considers himself reasonably accomplished in the art of the board. Come, come, let us play another—this time in earnest!" By custom, Wei Yuan, as the junior, was to play first. He pinched a stone between his fingers and, following the mortals' blueprint, placed it directly upon the three-three point. The Seventh Elder snorted, his expression darkening with displeasure. Wei Yuan was playing recklessly again. With the skill he had demonstrated in the previous game, there was no way he had not studied standard openings. Opening like this was nothing short of an insult. The Seventh Elder's skill at the game was unmatched throughout the entire Bao family. Snapping a stone firmly onto the board, he set out to teach this presumptuous youth a proper lesson.