Chapter 790

He Chunhua interjected: "Rongshan sent you back to renegotiate the loan terms?" If this kid returned representing his sect to negotiate with his motherland, it would be too improper.

"No negotiation of terms, none!" He Lingchuan waved his hand, "Sect Master Xue said the terms proposed by Yuan were quite good, and Rongshan doesn't intend to raise the price, but the existing chips must be implemented. In other words, Sect Master Xue sent me back to check the price offered by the Yuan court and supervise the flow of funds. If everything follows the agreed-upon terms, with honesty and no deception, then the money can be given."

He Chunhua and He Yue looked at each other, both with expressions of shock.

Just these few short sentences—the more you savored the content, the more outrageous it seemed.

Lady Ying voiced their inner thoughts: "You brat, do you have that much power now?"

He Lingchuan was smug: "In short, if I don't nod, this money won't be lent out!"

Who let him be the representative of the first party? The one in charge of the money is the boss! Lady Ying scolded: "With such a big mouth, be careful someone kidnaps you and steals your token to withdraw the money."

"To withdraw money, there are still several procedures to go through. If I don't go, what good is just a token?" He Lingchuan laughed heartily, "Besides, this seven million taels isn't given all at once; I can only approve about three million taels for now. After the people I brought finish auditing the mortgage accounts and take them back for Sect Master Xue to review, the remaining three million plus taels can enter the Yuan court treasury."

In other words, the money is given at least in two installments; if he doesn't agree, the Yuan court won't be able to get the full seven million tael loan.

He Lingchuan seemed to be getting carried away when he said this, but in fact, he was keeping an eye on He Chunhua's reaction.

The speaker has intent, but does the listener have intent as well? He saw his father listening particularly carefully, but there was nothing unusual on his face.

"Chuan'er, how do you plan to handle this?" He Chunhua asked him, "Check impartially, or be wholeheartedly for Yuan?"

He Lingchuan asked back: "How does Dad see it?"

"You are deeply trusted by Sect Master Xue, which is why you received this task. If you don't check carefully, it will be disadvantageous for you in the future."

He Lingchuan was solemn: "Your son understands."

Since they were talking behind closed doors as a family, He Chunhua ultimately had to consider his eldest son's interests.

"Besides, if you approve the funds sloppily, it might seem like you are wholeheartedly for Yuan, but if Rongshan finds something wrong during their audit later, the bilateral relationship will inevitably be affected. Yuan would lose an ally and gain a resentful neighbor, which would be counterproductive." He Chunhua said softly, "Child, bilateral exchanges should still be based on honesty and mutual benefit."

This was indeed true; He Lingchuan nodded: "That's how I'm planning it too."

He Chunhua looked at him deeply; in the past, if he said such things, his eldest son would only respond with "Your son understands, I'll go do it," but wouldn't say "Great minds think alike."

He Lingchuan immediately added: "But the court officials will soon know that the Rongshan envoy is your son. If the Monarch pressures you, what should be done?"

Lady Ying complained: "You should have considered this before accepting the envoy task."

The Yuan Monarch was already very dissatisfied with He Chunhua's delayed southern expedition; if He Chunhua's son also blocked this emergency fund, would he be furious? He Chunhua waved his hand: "If it weren't for Chuan'er's intercession, the Rongshan Sect wouldn't have intended to lend the money at all. As far as this matter is concerned, he has merit and no fault; the Monarch cannot blame him. Madam, you must know that the Rongshan Sect doesn't have a compassionate heart either; our country has to pay a corresponding price to get this money. This price—"

He paused: "If Chuan'er doesn't audit it well for them, their loss won't be just a few million taels, but nearly thirty million!"

Lady Ying was startled and subconsciously pressed her chest: "How could it be thirty million!"

He Lingchuan smiled without a word.

In fact, in the eyes of a superior like Sect Master Xue, since Fang Canran's evaluation of He Lingchuan was "win him over at all costs," then thirty million taels to buy his favor was actually not expensive at all.

Thirty million taels and He Lingchuan—Sect Master Xue chose the latter without hesitation.

In other words, in the eyes of the Rongshan Sect and Lingshan, He Lingchuan's value was far more than thirty million taels.

He Yue explained: "Our country has borrowed money from the Rongshan Sect many times, and the previous loans already totaled nearly twenty million taels. The collateral required by the Rongshan Sect must be worth at least twenty-seven million taels."

"Exactly!" He Lingchuan nodded, "I brought two people from the Rongshan Sect who are good at precise calculation. But there are still not enough hands; Dad must know talents in this area."

He Chunhua nodded immediately: "I'll find people for you; leave it to me."

He Lingchuan breathed a sigh of relief: "Dad is the most reliable!"

"We moved to Shi Huan, and your courtyard has been kept as it is, right at the far east end; the furniture was just added yesterday. You're tired from your long journey, so go settle in first." Lady Ying smiled, "By the way, didn't you bring back some fellow disciples? We have plenty of guest rooms in our house, so please invite them to stay as well."

"Mom is the most thoughtful." He Lingchuan stood up and stretched, "Fed and watered, I'm off!"

He Yue also stood up: "I have to go to the Minister of Agriculture."

The brothers greeted their parents and walked out together.

He Lingchuan could feel his father's gaze fixed on him until he turned the corner.

The He father and son who walked out of the other's field of vision simultaneously put away their smiles.

Leaving the small garden outside the dining hall, He Yue said to his brother: "Brother, you're finally back; I feel like I'm still dreaming!"

His brother's miraculous return—after eating, he still felt that the happiness had come too suddenly; it didn't feel real.

He Lingchuan patted his shoulder: "It's been hard on you to comfort Mom and Dad and stay by their side for the past half year."

He Yue was also very emotional: "When we received the news of your death, Mom cried for many days, but Father always firmly believed you weren't dead!"

He Lingchuan's gaze flickered: "Father thought so?"

"Yes, he wouldn't say why, and no one could persuade him otherwise. Even after half a year, he stuck to his opinion; we didn't know where he got his confidence." He Yue shook his head and laughed at himself, "Now it seems Father was right."

He Lingchuan let out a soft breath: "Yes, it seems there is a destined fate in the dark!"

He Yue naturally couldn't hear the deeper meaning in these words; he only felt the sky was bright and his mood was great.

He Lingchuan asked about the current situation in Yuan.

Even if the elders of the Rongshan Sect had heard rumors, they wouldn't know as clearly as He Yue.

He Yue summarized it briefly, then whispered: "I don't think Father wants to go south to suppress the rebellion now."

After half a year apart, his brother seemed like a different person. Although his speech and behavior seemed no different from before, that was just the surface; the detachment and confidence emanating from his bones could no longer be hidden.

No, actually, it had already started to show last year, just not as obviously as now.

Was it because he had experienced war, or because of the displacement of the past year, that his brother had grown up so quickly?

(End of chapter)