Chapter 1465

He paid the final balance very readily and then personally poured a cup of tea for Gu Lin. Gu Lin took it, sipped it, and asked He He Lingchuan: "Island Master He, what purchase requirements do you have for me this time?"

"The first cooperation was pleasant; Copper Forest Records is indeed an old-brand firm, guaranteeing quality, time, and quantity," He He Lingchuan laughed. "I would like to trouble Shopkeeper Gu to help me order a few more things."

Gu Lin was naturally eager: "Please speak."

When Tu Yuanhong was alive, he had extensive social connections and was very successful among high-ranking officials and nobles, so he was responsible for customer solicitation, while Gu Lin was mainly responsible for the preparation of downstream goods.

According to He He Lingchuan's description, one took orders, and the other fulfilled them.

The two divided the work and cooperated happily.

After Tu Yuanhong died, Copper Forest Records' business declined sharply, mainly because the upstream customer source decreased drastically, and Copper Forest Records could no longer receive so many large orders, only being able to take on some sporadic jobs that they wouldn't have looked at before.

If this continued, the channels Gu Lin had worked so hard to develop in the past would gradually shrink.

At this time, the appearance of a major client like Island Master He was precious.

The profit from those three thousand jin of Fragrant Joy Powder was just enough for Copper Forest Records to pay this month's salaries.

He He Lingchuan asked him: "What kind of stone and wood materials are used for building temples and mansions here in Tianshui City?"

"There are five grades of stone, the highest being Panjin Stone, the next being Qingfang Stone..." Gu Lin introduced it to him in detail, and then said, "There are rules for the use of stone among the common people; the top two grades cannot be used. Panjin Stone can only be used by temples and the royal family, while Qingfang Stone can be chosen by officials and nobles."

Although it is called "Qingfang Stone," it is actually a general term for a category, including stone materials of various colors.

He He Lingchuan gave an "Oh" and said: "If I build a villa at Youhu Lake, I can only use—?"

Breaking ground at Youhu Lake? Gu Lin was startled: "Island Master He, who told you that you could build a house at Youhu Lake? That would be harming you! Youhu Lake is royal territory!"

He He Lingchuan laughed: "Don't panic, this was personally agreed to by His Majesty, there are just some procedures left to go through."

The Yao King agreed to let him build a house at Youhu Lake? Gu Lin was stunned, digested this information for a long time, and still found it unbelievable: "This, you, this is no joking matter. For over a hundred years, there have only been small villas on the island at Youhu Lake; no one has dared to touch any other place."

If Youhu Lake could be developed, it would be such a sought-after job, how could it fall to a foreign merchant like the Yangshan Island Master? "This news will definitely spread in two days; when that time comes, you can compare it and see if what I said is true." He He Lingchuan peeled a peanut and ate it. "However, you must get the things I want to buy in these two days. Just say Qingfang Stone, can you get big blocks? That way there will be fewer seams when pieced together, and it will look more magnificent."

"What specifications?"

"At least two zhang in length."

Gu Lin gave an "Ah": "I will try."

"There are common channels for purchasing Qingfang Stone in Tianshui City, right?"

"Yes, there are several stone firms in Tianshui City that specialize in Panjin Stone and Qingfang Stone, and most buyers order from them," Gu Lin laughed. "Over the past twenty years, Tianshui City has been booming with construction; more than three hundred temples have been newly built inside and outside the city, and just the statues of the god Miaozhan Heaven have been newly built more than thirty times, with the largest being ten zhang high, and the surrounding square is exceptionally wide, capable of accommodating a thousand people to worship at the same time."

He He Lingchuan was slightly startled: "So many new temples built?"

Gu Lin coughed lightly: "According to the ancestral system of the Yao Court, the number of palaces cannot exceed the number of temples. So..."

So if the royal family wants to build new palaces, they have to build a few for the gods first. He He Lingchuan nodded: "Understood."

The Yao Nation is indeed very respectful to the Heavenly Gods.

"The monarch and the royal family have built countless new palaces, gardens, high platforms, and villas in Tianshui City and the secondary capital, and the palace city has also been undergoing renovations and expansions for the past ten years. If you have been there, you would know how luxurious and beautiful it is."

"I have been there." He He Lingchuan had just been to the Yao Nation palace city and had a deep impression of the magnificent houses and beautiful courtyards there.

Let's put it this way, the palace city of the Chi Yan Nation was not as magnificent and grand as it.

Of course, all the grandeur, beauty, and magnificence relied on the support of massive amounts of money. Otherwise, why would the Yuan Nation's palace be in such a dilapidated state? If Tianshui City wants to renovate palaces, it has to renovate temples first, which is more than double the consumption.

Thirty or so large-scale (non-essential) buildings are newly built every year, not counting the renovations of old ones.

You know, the maintenance of old buildings is also very expensive, sometimes more costly than building a new one.

He He Lingchuan refreshed his understanding of the Yao Nation once again; this could no longer be called wealthy and imposing, but rather extravagant and greedy.

"So, there are very mature channels for the supply of Panjin Stone and Qingfang Stone."

He He Lingchuan nodded: "Can you avoid these few firms when purchasing Qingfang Stone?"

"Avoid them?" Gu Lin was startled, and immediately knew there was something mysterious about this. But he thought for a long time, and still said, "It's not impossible; I have a secret source here that others might not know about, but the cost will be higher."

"It doesn't matter, charge whatever it costs." He He Lingchuan's expression was serious. "But there is one point, keep it confidential!"

"Please, Shopkeeper Gu, handle this matter secretly; my transaction with Copper Forest Records today must absolutely not be leaked!"

Customer requirements are strange and varied; what hasn't Gu Lin seen? "Confidentiality" is already the most normal request.

"Rest assured, before the goods are delivered to your designated location, no outsiders will know."

The two discussed for a long time, and the list of goods was finalized one by one, before Gu Lin stood up and left without looking back.

What kind of place is Youhu Lake? He knew very well; Regent Qingyang lives there now! If what this Island Master He said is true, and the Yao King really handed over the south bank of Youhu Lake to him to develop, he would encounter many difficulties later on.

But this also shows that the development of Youhu Lake will receive the monarch's support.

Island Master He finding Copper Forest Records to order materials, is this a blessing or a disaster for Copper Forest Records? Half a year ago, he wouldn't have taken on such a high-risk order.

But now, Gu Lin decided to take a gamble.

If he doesn't find a way to break the deadlock, Copper Forest Records will disappear without a sound.

This shouldn't be the destination of Copper Forest Records, nor should it be the final end for him, Gu Lin!

After his figure disappeared at the street corner, the Soul-Sucking Mirror told He He Lingchuan: "It's okay, it seems no one noticed him. Hey, you put an eyeball spider on him, right?"

"Yes." The matter was of great importance, so He He Lingchuan was naturally cautious. "Ordering goods from Copper Forest Records is just a step ahead, and it's also to prevent trouble before it happens."

Qingyang would know about any business he did with official monopolies.

But handling matters through Copper Forest Records had a higher initial level of concealment.

He He Lingchuan drank the tea and also stood up to leave.

Because he had gone out secretly in disguise, it took some effort to return to the post house.

When He He Lingchuan returned to the post house and changed back into his normal attire, someone happened to come to deliver an invitation.

He He Lingchuan read it and invited Fan Shuang over:

"Brother Fan, someone wants to hold a welcoming banquet for me, will you go with me?"

"Oh, who?" They had been in Tianshui City for several days, and only now did someone think of holding a welcoming banquet? "An invitation sent by Yuwen Xu, saying that old friends from Lingxu City and new friends from Tianshui City are all inviting me to have a pleasant chat at the Maochun Tavern." Maochun Tavern was one of the top taverns in Tianshui City, filled with distinguished guests, and often frequented by powerful and romantic figures.

Yuwen Xu specifically mentioned "old friends from Lingxu" because the number of people from the Yao Nation studying in Lingxu City ranked first on the Flash Gold Plain.

These two countries had inextricable connections, and the Yao Nation was very wealthy, so the upper-class people of the Yao Nation were full of goodwill toward Between Beijia, and sending family children to study in Lingxu had long become a trend.

For a noble family child like Fan Shuang, if he returned from his studies in Between Beijia, it would be easier for him to enter officialdom in the Yao Nation.

Fan Shuang was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Good, good, let's go together."

He was originally just a low-ranking official, and it would be good enough to just be able to sit at the end of the table at events. In most cases, noble gatherings wouldn't call him at all.

But after associating with He Xiao, the people he met and the gatherings he attended were more than ten times richer than before! Even the monarch had granted him an audience! He Xiao was truly his lucky star.

The Soul-Sucking Mirror asked He He Lingchuan: "You specifically brought this person, why?"

He He Lingchuan smiled without answering.

Compared to the shrewdness and sophistication of other Lingxu City nobles, Fan Shuang was indeed a bit mediocre. But He He Lingchuan insisted on bringing Fan Shuang with him whenever he appeared in public.

This was to let everyone know that even if one was a mediocre person, as long as one was by He Xiao's side, one could stand out and achieve great success.

However, just as the two were about to go out, four or five people suddenly walked into the post house, and He He Lingchuan recognized the palace guard uniform at a glance.

The Sanmentou Post House was one of the largest official post houses in Tianshui City, crowded with foreign envoys, so it was not strange at all for palace guards to appear here.

But they walked to the counter and asked as soon as they opened their mouths: "Which guest rooms is the Yangshan Merchant Association staying in?"

Before the shopkeeper could answer, He He Lingchuan spoke first: "Are you looking for me for something?"

The leader turned his head: "Who are you?"

"I am the Island Master of the Yangshan Archipelago."

"First-rank Imperial Guard Commander, Liu Wu." This person stated his name very straightforwardly. "I've come to find you; I have a few questions for a routine matter."

He He Lingchuan immediately said: "Please, this way."

He led several palace guards into the guest room, and Fan Shuang also followed in.

"I am acting under the monarch's order to participate in the investigation of the Little Peach Shanzhuang blood case," Liu Wu said to He He Lingchuan. "Where were you on the night of the incident?"

"Zhuo'an." He He Lingchuan was already very familiar with this explanation. "Mang Prefecture was too lively, and food and lodging were inconvenient, and I wanted to go to Zhuo'an to discuss a few businesses."

"Did you conclude the business?"

"Basically, it was all concluded, except for Fragrant Joy Paste." He He Lingchuan personally poured him a cup of hot water. "It was a bit unexpected; Zhuo'an is the place of origin for Fragrant Joy Paste, but the large-scale import and export of this Fragrant Joy Paste is not handled by Zhuo'an."

"Which families did Island Master He find to discuss business? Do they have names?"

"Naturally, they do." He He Lingchuan then listed the powerful families he visited in Zhuo'an one by one.

At that time, he had truly visited them one by one, leaving enough eyewitnesses, so he was not panicked at all at this moment.

Liu Wu recorded while asking: "Where were you on the night General Xue and Shanzhuang Master Qi were murdered?"

"At the Jieshan Inn in Zhuo'an." He He Lingchuan pointed to the witness beside him, which was Fan Shuang. "Drinking with this envoy Fan Shuang, Imperial Guard Zhao Song, and General Zhongwu."