Chapter 1459

"I've thought it through." He Lingchuan said leisurely, "Our tactic is called 'feigning weakness to the enemy.'"

"Ah?"

He Lingchuan smiled without speaking.

Yaowang certainly wanted to use him, but he was not unwilling to use the privileges Yaowang gave him to achieve his own goals; only when Yaowang believed He Lingchuan was entirely under his control would he feel at ease granting him more conveniences.

The mirror could only change its line of questioning: "Since you want to feign weakness to the 'enemy,' what weakness have you devised for yourself?"

He Lingchuan gazed at the bustling streets of Shuishui City, at the endless flow of people, and slowly uttered two words: "Greed."

The greed of subordinates is a weakness most cherished by those in power.

For example, Xue Zongwu to Yaowang, and Nangong Yan to the old Laowang.

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly approached from outside, followed by voices entering: "Master He of the Island."

He Lingchuan immediately recognized this as Zhao Tongling's voice, so he lifted the curtain and invited him aboard.

There were also four guards who rode horses and followed alongside the carriage.

After arriving in Shuishui City, Zhao Tongling returned to the palace to report, and now he has rushed over again to find him:

"The sovereign commands us to continue guarding Master He of the Island."

"The sovereign is thoughtful." He Lingchuan chatted with him briefly about recent events.

Because of the chain of events triggered by Xue Zongwu's death, the Wang Ting of Shuishui City has become somewhat tumultuous, and the officials in charge of palace affairs have all been arrested.

Less than two quarters of an hour later, the mule cart stopped: "Guest, we have arrived."

He Lingchuan got down from the cart and saw that it had already reached the back of the old street; looking up, he saw a large signboard: Tonglin Ji.

White background with gold characters, still polished to a shine, the shopfront was not small, with eight doors.

In Shuishui City, a shopfront with eight doors is considered a large establishment, and the rent is not cheap.

Of course, this is the shopfront that Tonglin Ji purchased in its early years.

This must be the business that Tu Yuanhong painstakingly operated during his lifetime? He Lingchuan strolled inside, followed by Zhao Tongling and the other five, whose attire and demeanor differed from ordinary guards, adding several points of dignity to He Lingchuan.

The interior of Tonglin Ji was neat and tidy, and there were a few customers. However, the adjacent shop was partitioned off, as if rented to someone else as a pharmacy.

This alone reveals much of Tonglin Ji's predicament: short of money, even earning some rent would be acceptable.

He Lingchuan entered to observe and found Tonglin Ji quite interesting, unlike other shops where what they sell is immediately obvious.

It somewhat resembles a logistics company from another world: the storefront receives customers, while the backyard begins moving goods for loading and transportation.

Furthermore, inheriting the characteristic of Yaoguo's relay stations, it also accepts customers' orders.

If you want foreign goods, you tell it clearly, pay the deposit, and it will naturally deliver them within the agreed time limit, called "purchasing on behalf."

The merchant Zhu Xuanmo, whom He Lingchuan met at the barbecue in the small courtyard, had said that in Shuishui City, Tonglin Ji's purchasing business is the best, with affordable prices and fast speed. Because of its large volume of goods transported, its unit price is much cheaper than that of other caravan firms.

During Tonglin Ji's peak prosperity, even the Yaowang Palace would entrust it with purchasing supplies.

Official efficiency is simply not as high as private enterprise, and costs are not as well controlled as others'.

Although Tu Yuanhong has been dead for half a year, Tonglin Ji has accumulated many old customers over the past years, and out of years of trust, people are still willing to entrust their orders to Tonglin Ji.

He Lingchuan saw that the shop assistants still served customers enthusiastically, without any sign of laxity.

When this group of people entered, the assistants naturally noticed them, smiling and approaching: "What do you need, guests? Let me introduce you to our offerings?"

"I want to buy some xiang le powder." He Lingchuan also looked at the goods on the shelves, "Can you get this here?"

The so-called xiang le powder is actually…… no, xiang le beans processed through a series of treatments into powder, which can be pressed into blocks and later used to make various cocoa products familiar to He Lingchuan.

Oceanic transport favors high unit price, small volume, and easy-to-store goods, so He Lingchuan wants the processed semi-finished product rather than the beans.

"Possible. How much do you want?"

"Three thousand catties."

The assistant paused: "Guest, are you serious?"

"Look at me—do I seem like I'm here just to chatter idly?" He Lingchuan was deliberately making things difficult, "Three thousand catties—can you get it?"

The assistant hesitated: "If you wanted fifty or sixty catties, even one or two hundred, we could still manage; but three thousand catties? In today's Shuishui City, let alone us being unable to manage it, other firms also cannot manage it."

The bulk trade of xiang le beans is controlled by the Bu family, and recently the Bu family has been troubled by the Qingyang Regency, causing them to be flustered and inattentive to their subordinates' businesses.

He Lingchuan laughed: "I came here precisely because of Tonglin Ji's reputation. If it were easy, I could do it myself—why would I need to come to you?"

Having said that, he took out six hundred taels of silver notes and placed them on the table.

Producing money proves he has sincerity, not that he came specially to mock them.

The assistant's expression also turned serious—this is six hundred thousand cash.

"I need to procure a large quantity of goods; if you can get the xiang le beans, I will continue to cooperate with you in the future."

Tonglin Ji currently lacks major customers most, so the assistant solemnly said: "Please wait in the inner room; I will go ask the head manager."

"What is the head manager's surname?"

"Surname Gu."

The assistant led him to a partitioned room in the middle courtyard, then went to the back himself.

He Lingchuan wanted to discuss with someone, and Zhao Tongling, being very boundary-aware, did not enter either, but remained outside to stand guard.

Soon after, a man in gray robes hurried over.

This person was younger than He Lingchuan had expected, in his thirties, tall and thin, with a short beard and long face.

"My surname is Gu, I am the manager of Tonglin Ji. May I ask how the honored guest should be addressed?"

Manager Gu also observed He Lingchuan. This guest was handsome and extraordinary, with dignified bearing, spiritually rich inside and out—one glance showed he was no ordinary person.

"He." He Lingchuan smiled, "Actually, I was introduced by my old friend Li Yuanhao to come discuss business with Patriarch Tu."

When he said this, he fixed his gaze on Manager Gu, not missing any subtle expression on the other's face.

Initially, Ling Mountain had introduced Tu Yuanhong as a contact to him, and these three characters "Li Yuanhao" were the mutual recognition code.

Tu Yuanhong has passed away, and He Lingchuan wanted to know whether this Manager Gu Jin was a person from Ling Mountain.

Gu Lin's face showed nothing unusual, he just let out an "oh": "So that's how it is, but our Guild Master Tu... passed away unfortunately half a year ago."

"I only heard about it yesterday when I arrived in Tianshui City." He Lingchuan wore a look of regret, "Guild Master Tu died young in his prime, truly a case of heaven envying talent. Oh, so is Tonglinji now being managed by Master Gu?"

"Yes, as best I can." Gu Lin spoke softly, "This is the lifework of Guild Master Tu, I cannot bear to see Tonglinji dissolve."

"Back to the matter at hand, three thousand catties of Xianglegu powder." Though he sighed, business was business, He Lingchuan would not mix the two. He pushed the banknotes forward, "Can Master Gu obtain them?"

At most another day or two, and the Xianglegu beans will be easy to restock. But few people know of this yet.

He Lingchuan just wanted to see whether Tonglinji still had any connections or capability.

Gu Lin glanced at the banknotes on the table, pondered briefly, then nodded: "Within five days, but Xianglegu beans now have price but no market, so—"

So the price must be raised.

"No problem." He Lingchuan pointed at the banknotes on the table, "Let this serve as a deposit. But I need them within two days."

"Do you want grade three or grade two?"

"Are there grades?"

"Yes, the processing of Xianglegu beans in Yaoguo is a mature industry, divided into six grades, with grade one being the highest. I think you should not take anything below grade three."

"Quite right, is there any grade one?"

Gu Lin shook his head: "That is specially supplied, and there is truly none available now."

"Then grade two it is. Price is easy to discuss."

"Will you come to pick it up, or shall I deliver it?"

"You deliver it for me." Although Yangshan had its own caravan and guard detachment, He Lingchuan did not bring them this time, "Can you have the goods sent to Julu Port?"

"Julu Port?" Customers often make all sorts of strange requests, Gu Lin had long been accustomed to it, "We only handle delivery to the Yaoguo border, but we can help you find a new caravan to take it to Julu Port. By then, you will need to negotiate the freight rates with the new caravan yourself."

That is to say, Tonglinji actually only delivers to the Yaoguo border.

That is understandable.

"Then deliver it to the Yaoguo border." He Lingchuan said naturally, "My caravan will naturally take over from there."

Within Yaoguo's borders, peace prevails and transport is well-developed, but once one enters the Jinjin Plains, it feels like entering a barbaric wilderness, with risks rising sharply. Those without real ability dare not take on such work.

So when He Lingchuan said his own caravan could escort goods across the Jinjin Plains, Gu Lin scrutinized him more closely: "You are not a Yaoguo native, are you?"

He Lingchuan countered: "And you are not either?"

"No. I am originally from Gaopu Guo, left my homeland since childhood, and have been in Tianshui City for over ten years. I never expected..."

"Gaopu was destroyed by Chixia." This old shopkeeper Gu might well be a fellow native of Situ He.

"Yes." Gu Lin sighed. But the small states on the Jinjin Plains rise and fall overnight, and everyone can only accept it calmly, "May I ask, which firm do you represent?"

"Yangshan Trading Company is mine. I am He, invited by the Yaowang to come to Tianshui City to attend the ceremonial observance, and incidentally to seek new business opportunities here." He Lingchuan pointed toward the main street, "I stay at the Sanmentou Inn, and if you have business, you can come find me there."

Gu Lin suddenly understood: "So it's Yangshan Trading Company, no wonder, no wonder!"

"Have you heard of it?"

"Yaoguo people may feel nothing, but we who do proxy transport and shipping—how could we not know that Changlong Wuxing, under the Yangshan Islands, is safe and reliable, the new golden signboard recently erected in the central and western Jinjin Plains?" Gu Lin looked at He Lingchuan with eyes that now held three parts admiration, "Actually, our Tonglinji has already cooperated with Changlong Wuxing five times, and each time the overseas escort has been delivered safely and on schedule. Previously, when we hired those caravans and escort bureaus, after four or five trips one would suffer damage. Guild Master He, oh, Island Master He, your path has been widened."

He Lingchuan made a show of modesty: "It's just that Yangshan has many friends in the western Jinjin Plains, and everyone gives them face."