Chapter 1554: I Am Willing to Go Through Fire and Water

Gu Lin continued: "The accounts of the granaries are a mess, and the messy things inside simply cannot be sorted out. So at this time, they only worry that there are not enough buyers, not that there is not enough grain to sell. I know several large merchant houses that buy grain regularly, so I will ask them to buy on my behalf." As long as it is transferred and purchased layer by layer, and transferred a few more layers, who knows who is actually buying the grain.

He Lingchuan's gaze flickered: "If so, while you are looking for Lu Yuanzheng to buy, you can secretly find the granaries to buy again."

If the top is corrupt, the bottom will be worm-eaten; the granary officials of each public granary will not truly handle affairs impartially.

Lu Yuanzheng had some concerns about selling grain, at least leaving a bottom line for the granary. If Tonglin Ji finds these warehouses to buy again, who can still leave a bottom line in the face of money?

He then said: "Don't worry, at the earliest seven or eight days, at the latest a month, various places will dump materials in large quantities, not just grain. You just need to purchase in large quantities; don't feel sorry for the money for me."

Gu Lin was stunned, but soon understood: "Good, still transport it outside the pass?"

"Not bad." He Lingchuan asked him, "Is there any difficulty in transporting grain out of the country?"

"There is a little, but we can all solve it." Gu Lin laughed, "For these years, the Yao Nation has not sold less grain abroad. Shanjin is the most favorable in terms of weather and has no disasters, so grain is often exported at high prices. We are very familiar with the checkpoints at the border."

The Yao Nation borders many countries, and they transport goods in batches to different border checkpoints, which can greatly reduce risks.

Besides, they pay taxes by the piece, which is reasonable and legal.

"Also, we can use the name of aiding military grain."

"Military grain?"

"Yes, the Yao Nation has always exported military grain to Pixia, and this part is tax-free, and the border checkpoints don't check carefully. Many merchant houses use relationships to make the exported grain into military grain aiding Pixia, and the throughput of those few checkpoints every day is truly astonishing! Let's put it this way, the actual export volume is at least seven times more than what is registered!"

Only old birds like Tonglin Ji and Gu Lin could understand the ins and outs here. He Lingchuan placed a thick stack of silver notes in front of him and placed a pill on the silver notes: "There must be blessings for doing things for me. After this matter is over, Tonglin Ji will be one of the top merchant houses inside and outside the Yao Nation!"

What a big tone, but looking at his recent record in Tianshui City, Gu Lin didn't think the words were ridiculous.

Tu Yuanhong had cultivated connections and reputation in Tianshui City for more than twenty years. How long had this Island Master He used? Admittedly, he was invited by King Yao as a distinguished guest, but many distinguished guests came to the Yao capital every year; why hadn't any of them been seen to be so prosperous?

Gu Lin picked up the pill and looked at it twice: "Is there an antidote for this thing?"

"Of course there is." He Lingchuan laughed, "This matter is of great importance, President Gu, I have offended you."

The things he entrusted to Gu Lin were too important, and the two sides didn't have a deep friendship.

So, use means.

Gu Lin sighed and swallowed the pill in one gulp.

"Every fifteen days, my guard will bring you the antidote; take it and you will be safe and sound, and act as usual."

"What if I don't eat it?"

"If you don't take the antidote for more than three days, your body will become as soft as noodles, and you won't be able to stand up even if supported; if it lasts for a month, you will be paralyzed for life." This medicine was Dong Rui's latest invention. He proudly named it "Noodle Pill."

Not serious at all.

"After I finish my business in Tianshui City, I will completely remove the toxicity for you."

Gu Lin said seriously: "Island Master He, please be sure to act carefully."

Don't implicate him!

He Lingchuan smiled slightly, stood up, and pushed the door to leave.

Gu Lin followed to the door, but saw He Lingchuan's figure disappear into a corner of the garden.

He let out a heavy breath.

Facing He Lingchuan, Gu Lin's state of mind was also exceptionally complicated.

This Island Master He's position in Tianshui City was now very subtle. To say he was just a foreign merchant, he clearly dealt with all the powerful people in the upper class, rubbed shoulders with royal nobles, and was the number one favorite in front of the monarch, while ordinary officials couldn't even touch his edge;

To say he had eyes and ears reaching the sky, all his power in Tianshui City was clearly "borrowed," and he was facing figures like Supervisor Qingyang. Those who understood the Yao Nation's political situation all thought, would this person collapse one day, just like a castle built of sand, no matter how beautiful it was, once the tide rose, it would dissolve in an instant.

But Gu Lin also understood one point: he and Tonglin Ji were already bundled together with Yangshan.

Wang Fubao was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Gu Lin glanced at him, knowing that if He Xiao really collapsed, he would first smash him into pieces!

Having said that, if Island Master He could retreat from the Yao Nation unscathed, he would be the indisputable benefactor of Tonglin Ji.

He knew very well that Yangshan's crazy scattering of money and sweeping of materials from the Yao Nation was an abnormal act in itself.

Others might not know, but in his view, the Island Master He knew the sinister political situation of the Yao Nation and was making a lot of preparations for withdrawing from the Yao Nation.

Gu Lin didn't mind this at all.

He was originally a Pei Nation person, and having operated Tonglin Ji for more than ten years, he had long seen through the faces of the Yao Nation's upper-class nobles and understood how exclusive the Yao Nation was.

Before Tu Yuanhong died, he often discussed the situation on the Shanjin Plain with him. Regarding the status and role of the Yao Nation on the Shanjin Plain, he knew better than most Yao people.

During the return to Yongquan Villa by Snail Toad, Dong Rui asked He Lingchuan: "Lu Yuanzheng really dares to resell so much public grain; isn't he afraid of the matter being exposed?"

"First, the grain exchange period of the public granary is coming soon; he is just selling grain a month in advance, and when the autumn grain is harvested to fill the granary, this matter will be like a dream without a trace." He Lingchuan held up his second finger, "Second, do you think those 370,000 taels Lu Yuanzheng spent were in vain? He submitted his letter of allegiance to King Yao, spent the money, and exhausted his loyalty. Even if the matter is exposed, can King Yao deal him a death blow?"

"To put it ugly, those 370,000 taels of silver were bribes to the monarch, and were buying a redemption coupon. Since the monarch accepted it generously, Lu Yuanzheng is his own person. All the civil and military officials are watching, and all the ministers who have submitted letters of allegiance to him are watching. It is the time to face Qingyang together; how can he deal with his own people first?"

Dong Rui couldn't help but click his tongue: "Isn't this the immunity medal for corrupt officials?"

He Lingchuan shrugged: "I said long ago, the toxicity of the letter of allegiance is very great."

Dong Rui looked at him and laughed; no matter how great the toxicity was, wasn't it He Lingchuan who gave it to King Yao?...

The water of Youhu Lake came from the Tong River ten miles to the north.

Recently, there had been too much rain, so the water of the Tong River was a bit muddy and a bit turbulent.

A small black-awning boat was moored at the wild ferry by the river, and two men were guarding the pier.

The sun was high, and a man in cloth clothes wearing a bamboo hat drilled out of the woods, looked left and right before walking toward the river.

The men guarding the bridge stepped forward to block him, and the man stretched out both hands, one hand forming a circle, and the other hand making a gesture of flowing water. As soon as the two men saw it, they immediately stepped back: "Please board the boat."

The man jumped onto the small boat, and the boatman pushed lightly, and the boat slid into the river, opening lightly.

Sailing on the water, it was quiet and soundless.

The man walked into the cabin and saw only a low table placed here, and a noblewoman sitting by the table, looking leisurely; it was Qingyang!

"General Bai, please sit."

Qingyang personally poured two cups of clear tea and pushed one to him.

The man sat down, took off his bamboo hat, and revealed a fierce face.

Bai Tan.

Bai Tan raised his cup and took a big sip, without the angry glare from the court in the past, but instead was exceptionally respectful to Qingyang:

"Supervisor, have you been well recently?"

"Less toil in the court, more freedom in Youhu, I am also enjoying my old age, what is not good?" Qingyang rested one hand on her knee, looking at the whirlpools in the river, "After a few heavy rains, the undercurrents in this Tong River can't even be covered by the surface."

Bai Tan also followed her gaze, looking at the rapids in the river: "Yes, the undercurrents can't even be covered."

"I heard that General Bai bought the Youhu refined residence overnight, and now the price has soared four times, with abundant returns."

Bai Tan immediately said: "Using this method to identify loyalty and treachery is simply a farce!"

Qingyang glanced at him, not making a sound, but the meaning was very clear:

You bought it earlier than anyone else.

Even as a lickspittle, this old General Bai's reaction speed was faster than ordinary bureaucrats.

"Supervisor, forgive me, I cater to his likes, and then I can gain his trust." Bai Tan touched his nose, "If I don't buy, others will buy; if I don't show loyalty, others will show it. This is a farce, and the monarch is just taking the opportunity to gather wealth. Everyone has seen it clearly, and everyone still has to act with him. Besides, buying a first-row refined residence only cost 50,000, but the return is exceptionally rich!"

Qingyang retracted her smile, stared at him for a good while, and then said slowly: "General Bai, have you thought it through?"

Bai Tan was solemn: "Supervisor, just give the order, I will go through fire and water!"

"Do you really want to take this risk?"

Bai Tan said solemnly: "In today's Tianshui City, everyone is red-eyed, and the monarch takes the lead in forming cliques and forcing people below to take sides! Officials only know how to flatter, farmers don't farm well, merchants don't do business well, and everyone is racking their brains to buy land in the new city, not hesitating to borrow debt for the whole family!"

"That family of Qi Shu'an, those wicked things, the interest rate for lending money has risen to ninety percent!" He let out a heavy breath: "The capital's eastern expansion is fine, how did it lead to the madness of the whole country? If this continues, how can the country be?"

Qingyang asked him: "Where does the problem lie?"

Bai Tan said the key point in one word: "Naturally, the monarch! He is already blinded by greed, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and unable to listen to unpleasant advice. In the last month, seven remonstrating officials submitted memorials criticizing the capital's eastern expansion, and the monarch actually demoted three of them."

"There is always someone—" he took a deep breath, "There should always be someone who stands up, sets things right, and guides the Great Yao back to the right track!"

"General Bai's worry is correct." Qingyang said indifferently, "One hundred and eighty years ago, this scene also happened in Beijia. At that time, the bureaucracy was redundant, the national treasury was depleted, but Lingxu City wanted to build the Donglai Canal, move the Chong'en Mountain, rebuild the Xushan Array, and renovate the Heavenly Palace. There was a series of major projects, and at the same time, they fought several battles with the outside world. Sigh, such a large empire, everywhere needed money, and where did the money come from?"

Bai Tan shook his head, indicating he didn't know. He had been to Lingxu City and knew that commerce there was highly developed, no longer relying on agriculture as a pillar, and many ways of playing were unheard of by outsiders, advanced as if it were another world.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1555 =====