Chapter 1468: Starting bid: five hundred taels

He might as well have said it outright: buy it now, and it's guaranteed to appreciate!

Everyone looked at each other.

He Xiao's identity was that of a foreign merchant. Merchants were cunning and money-driven. Taking an average of ten thousand silver taels per villa, if all twelve could be sold, Island Master He would rake in over a hundred thousand taels!

The officials from the Department of General Affairs and the Office of Works knew even better—how much had He Lingchuan actually spent to acquire that plot of land?

One thousand taels!

A land cost of one thousand taels exchanged for a return of over a hundred thousand—what kind of profit margin was that?

Besides, he had also said this was only the first phase. If they sold well, more would be built later.

But thinking back on it, what Island Master He said is not without reason.

He Lingchuan picked up a piece of sweet-skin duck for himself and savored it slowly: "The fact that these villas can see the light of day is entirely due to the Sovereign's special approval."

He emphasized the last four words.

Why did he emphasize what he had said earlier? While everyone was still pondering this, Yuwen Xu had already asked: "Island Master He, when will sales begin?"

"The night after tomorrow, I will put the first villa up for auction at Chibao, with a starting bid of only five hundred taels." This first unit was just for publicity; He Lingchuan didn't intend to make money on it. "Time is a bit tight, so I must ask you all to come and show your support."

Like in Lingxu City, Tianshui City had over a dozen auction houses of various sizes. Chibao Auction House was among the top three, known for its fair dealings, and although their fees were high, their reputation was excellent, frequently featuring rare treasures.

Chibao held a small auction every seven days and a large one every month. He Lingchuan's property being listed the day after tomorrow would happen to coincide with a small auction.

Everyone smiled and said they certainly would.

Five hundred taels was practically a steal, but if one only brought five hundred taels, they would likely leave empty-handed.

Having said what he needed to say, He Lingchuan smoothly shifted to other topics, such as chatting about the grand scale of the Yao King's birthday celebrations in previous years, while incidentally listening to gossip from the business and official circles.

Yuwen Xu had organized this meeting today to introduce He Lingchuan to various channels, so he wouldn't be a stranger in Tianshui City and get bogged down in bureaucracy.

Clearly, the Yao King also hoped his Youhu Villa would start construction soon.

The meal ended with both host and guests satisfied, and they dispersed on a high note.

Once everyone had left, Yuwen Xu personally escorted He Lingchuan to the restaurant entrance, and only after watching him board his carriage and depart did he call a servant to settle the bill.

Someone behind him called out: "Brother Yuwen."

Gu Xuan hadn't left yet and came over to walk beside him.

"Brother Yuwen, are you going to Chibao the day after tomorrow?"

"I am. Even if I can't buy anything, I must show Island Master He some support."

Gu Xuan nodded, knowing this was the Yao King's intent; how could the Yuwen family dare not comply? The late summer night breeze was cool, having long since blown away the daytime heat, so the two simply walked a few extra steps along the street.

"That kid Fan Shuang has been quite the center of attention lately." Gu Xuan casually found an opening. "I used to go a whole year without seeing him once, but I've seen him more times in these past two months than in the last three years combined."

"Fan Shuang finally caught a break." Yuwen Xu laughed. "He wasn't very bright before, but this time he's hitched his wagon to the right person. Once he got close to He Xiao, he started rising through the ranks."

The Yao nobility studying in Lingxu City naturally formed layers. Scions of great houses like them usually didn't hang out with Fan Shuang, or at most, they kept him as a lackey.

Yet, with Fan Shuang now by He Lingchuan's side, not only had he been promoted, but others had to show him a modicum of respect.

Though they didn't say it aloud, both felt in their hearts that He Xiao truly had some ability to be able to lead even a mediocrity like Fan Shuang. If those resources were given to them instead...

They didn't know that He Lingchuan was keeping Fan Shuang by his side on purpose.

Gu Xuan walked a few more steps: "At the Chibao auction the day after tomorrow, what's your estimate on how much He Xiao's property will sell for?"

"Not many people have the news..." Yuwen Xu thought for a moment. "Around two thousand taels, it's hard to go higher."

This price was already not cheap.

"Look, He Xiao really dares to develop Youhu so recklessly; is he not considering the reaction from the other side?"

"The other side" referred to the Qingyang Supervisor.

Yuwen Xu gave a bitter smile: "If it were me receiving this task, I'd be so worried I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep."

They were all old hands in officialdom; everyone could guess what the Yao King wanted He Xiao to do after a little pondering.

If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to offend either the Sovereign or the Supervisor.

Yet, He Xiao seemed quite happy to be the Sovereign's tool.

"What does He Xiao have to rely on?" Gu Xuan's gaze shifted. "Could it be... State Preceptor Shuangye?"

"If he didn't have that background, the Sovereign wouldn't use him." Yuwen Xu prided himself on not having such audacity. "News from the palace says that the development of Youhu was He Xiao's own proposal to the King."

"He Xiao proposed it himself?" Gu Xuan was surprised. "Seeking wealth in danger. He really has guts."

This was going to offend the Qingyang Supervisor to death.

If He Xiao really earned those hundred-plus thousand taels, he might not be overly envious.

That was blood money, after all.

"If he hadn't acted so decisively, how could the Sovereign entrust Youhu to a foreign merchant with no foundation?" Yuwen Xu chuckled. "Besides, this isn't the first time He Xiao has offended the Qingyang Supervisor; perhaps he has some experience in this."

After saying this, both laughed.

It was indeed funny.

The next morning, the Yangshan Society went to various government offices to submit the documents for Youhu Villa.

He Lingchuan wanted to touch the land at Youhu; even with the Yao King's nod, he still had to run through eleven or twelve government offices to follow the procedures.

After all, this was touching royal territory, not just digging a ditch in the wilderness; every required process had to be followed, and every necessary seal had to be collected.

The efficiency of Tianshui City's government offices was the best in Shanjin. With the "special handling" approved by the Yao King, the Yangshan Society reached the final two steps in just seven or eight hours.

And then, they got stuck.

The Office of Works determined that the planning and layout of Youhu Villa were unreasonable, the labor and materials were not clearly specified, and the structural blueprints needed revision.

The Yangshan Society revised them overnight and submitted them the next day.

Still rejected; the Office of Works found three more flaws and told Yangshan to revise again.

He Lingchuan knew that so-called "revisions" were endless; as long as they wanted to, they could pick out a hundred or eighty faults at any time, and could reject him as many times as he submitted. So, he immediately entrusted someone to find Huang Naxuan, who had been drinking at Maochun Pavilion the day before, to ask what was going on.

Huang Naxuan only passed back one message privately: Lord He Yang, under the Qingyang Supervisor, had come to the Office of Works overnight the day before yesterday.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1469 =====