Chapter 984: Sell It to Me

He Lingchuan tapped his fingers on the table twice: "This 'someone else' is truly kind-hearted." Ding Zuodong lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Everyone else had already set their sights on him, laying a trap and just waiting for He Lingchuan to take a wrong step.

Was it the Yashan Chamber of Commerce that wanted to plot against them, or...? He Lingchuan gave a cold hum: "Scuttling like flies and dogs; no wonder the Bailie is going downhill."

In this second round, the father and son of the Lu family once again unleashed a combination of blows, hoping to break his capital chain in the shortest time possible.

He Lingchuan's countermeasure was actually quite simple: as long as the Yangshan Archipelago operated normally and got on the right track, the delusions of the Lu father and son would inevitably shatter.

The business world is like a battlefield; open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. It was just as well to use these trivial, omnipresent traps and landmines to temper his own civil administration team.

Both civil administration and external military forces need to be drilled.

Otherwise, as his territory expands and the population grows in the future, governing will become even more difficult.

Ding Zuodong, Lei Ni, and the others were smart, sharp, and enthusiastic, but they had never held high positions or participated in high-end commercial warfare. Only through the tempering of practice and the lessons of reality would they have the chance to stand out, become the backbone of the team, and become extraordinary in the eyes of others.

Otherwise, they would forever remain stewards of second-rate families or small-time individual operators at a supply station.

How many people have talent that goes unrecognized, lacking only an opportunity.

He Lingchuan certainly knew that the civil administration team needed to expand, because the development of the Yangshan Archipelago would surely usher in an explosive period, and because he would certainly take over the Bailie in the future, or even...

Therefore, he needed talent in all aspects. For those he couldn't recruit for the time being, he would select and cultivate them himself.

As the conversation in the hall drew to a close, a white egret flew in from the air, landed on the courtyard wall of He Lingchuan, and squawked loudly:

"A calling card! A calling card!"

This bird was snow-white all over, with no other color except for its sharp beak and long legs. It walked with extreme elegance by the seaside, but the moment it opened its mouth, the illusion was shattered; its voice was as coarse and unpleasant as a crow's.

Ling Guang hurried over to collect the letter.

After the Yin spirits faded, birds began to settle on the Yangshan Archipelago, with white egrets being the most numerous. When they stood densely on the trees, it looked as if a winter snow had fallen.

He Lingchuan appointed the white egrets as messengers between the islands, and the speed of communication was very fast.

The gold-stamped calling card was very exquisite, with light-colored cloud patterns on the surface.

He opened it and took two glances, and his expression became solemn.

Qiu Hu asked: "My lord?"

"Someone from Beijia has arrived." He Lingchuan put down the calling card, "Waited for them for a long time, they finally came!"

This time, the guests from Beijia were formally landing on the island to present their calling card, so the first stop was Suoding Island.

He Lingchuan rushed to Suoding Island, but his destination was not the supply station, but the Hot Spring Lodge in the back.

This hot spring lodge was one of the first buildings completed on the island. Currently, its scale was not large, with only ten spring eyes and twenty-seven or twenty-eight guest rooms.

Of course, it would be expanded later, but due to the price, the occupancy rate of the hot spring lodge was not high at the moment.

Guests from Beijia were, of course, qualified to stay here.

The Warm Fragrance Pavilion was the largest teahouse in the Hot Spring Lodge, with three floors. The area of each floor was not small, and a single floor could accommodate more than twenty tables.

However, there were fewer tea tables on the first floor because a space had been cleared under the storytelling platform, where a huge backgammon board was placed.

It occupied at least thirteen or fourteen square meters, and the engraved patterns of mountains and rivers were exquisite; an adult could stand directly on it.

The pieces of the backgammon game were called "horses," and their shape resembled bowling pins. This extra-large board was naturally equipped with extra-large pieces; the height of the black and white horses was level with one's waist.

Backgammon was popular in both Beijia and the Mou Kingdom. It was unknown where this chess technique originated, but from nobles down to commoners, everyone liked to use it to pass the time.

He Lingchuan had made many friends in Beijia, and backgammon was indispensable when gathering people to play.

Its rules were simple but flexible and varied; intelligence and luck were both indispensable.

The Hot Spring Lodge provided guests with various forms of entertainment, and playing chess was certainly one of them.

However, the sea travelers staying at the hot spring lodge were seeing such a massive and imposing backgammon board for the first time, and whoever came over to take a look would click their tongues in wonder.

He Lingchuan came from a world that loved giant engineering projects. He specifically found craftsmen to build such an eye-catching feature for the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, hoping to leave a deep impression on the passing guests.

But placing the giant chessboard on the ground floor was not just a gimmick; it was truly usable.

Those who wanted to play had to step onto the board and move the pieces themselves.

This step was called "entering the game."

The players had to truly walk inside.

And because the board and pieces were so large, guests on the second and third floors could clearly see the match downstairs by leaning on the railings.

This made it convenient for everyone to watch the experts play.

It was still early, and there were six or seven people in the hall, but He Lingchuan noticed at a glance that the guest by the window had a different temperament.

There were three guests, but only one was sitting and drinking tea, while the other two stood behind him.

The distinction between superior and inferior was clear.

He Lingchuan stepped over the threshold, but the other party continued to sip tea, not even raising their eyes.

Was this the main person? He Lingchuan was not annoyed; he sat down himself and said with a chuckle: "A rare guest. Should I call you Mr. Yu, or Captain Yu?"

The calling card he had just received was signed "Yu Zecheng," Captain of the Cloud Banner of the Black Tiger Army of Beijia.

This person was about thirty years old, with a long face, soaring eyebrows, broad shoulders, and a sturdy build, with dark skin. He Lingchuan could see at a glance that this person was a veteran of the battlefield.

That iron-blooded aura could only be cultivated on the battlefield.

Yu Zecheng then looked up at He Lingchuan, slightly stunned, as if he had also sensed the military aura on him: "Either is fine. You have also fought in wars?"

"Yes."

"Where? When?"

Wang Fubao, who was standing behind He Lingchuan, frowned inwardly. To come up and bluntly interrogate the host—what kind of guest was this? It was overstepping one's bounds.

However, the other party was a military general from Beijia. The two words "Beijia" were almost a gold-plated signboard everywhere outside the Mou Kingdom, a capital that allowed one to walk sideways.

The maid of the Warm Fragrance Pavilion also brought hot tea over. He Lingchuan took the cup, lifted the lid to skim the foam on top, and replied nonchalantly: "Back home, a few years ago."

His attitude was gentle but not sycophantic, and there was no fear of the superior nation of Beijia; it was as if he were just chatting with someone.

Yu Zecheng asked again: "Where is your hometown?"

"Fu Kingdom."

Yu Zecheng seemed a bit surprised: "The Fu Kingdom can produce someone like you?"

"People from the Fu Kingdom love to do business wherever they go." He Lingchuan said leisurely, "Didn't you also just come ashore from my supply station?"

Yu Zecheng's eyebrows twitched; he knew that He Lingchuan was pointing something out—this was the territory of Island Master He.

"I heard that you just bought the Yangshan Archipelago."

"Yes, this is a place with good feng shui. I didn't want to leave when I passed by, so I just bought it to manage."

Yu Zecheng asked again: "How much did you buy it for?"

"Mr. Yu must have 'heard' that too."

"The price of eighty thousand taels?" When the Beijia people heard this price at Daofeng Port, they also found it incredible and once thought the rumor was wrong, "The Bailie must have been very desperate at that time."

He Lingchuan sipped his tea: "Who's to say they weren't?"

At that time, the Lu father and son were in a hurry to raise money and grain to support the Mou Kingdom, allowing He Lingchuan to take advantage; if it were now, he probably wouldn't be able to buy it even if the price doubled.

"I also think this place is quite good." Yu Zecheng said seriously, "How about Island Master He resells it to me?"

"Oh?" This move was completely unexpected to He Lingchuan, and the next second he burst into laughter, "Mr. Yu, you really know how to joke!"

"I rarely joke." Yu Zecheng continued, "For this archipelago, how much would Island Master He be willing to part with it for? Three hundred thousand taels?"

"Most of the islands here are barren; it's just that the scenery is nice and the seafood is fresh." He Lingchuan asked with a smile, "What does Mr. Yu want to buy this archipelago for?"

"The same as you."

He Lingchuan shook his head: "How is that possible? I want to live here for a long time in peace and stability."

No one could fully fathom his goal in buying the Yangshan Archipelago. If there was any similarity between the motives of the man surnamed Yu and his own, perhaps it was that both were impure? "Five hundred thousand taels?"

"Mr. Yu is humorous." He Lingchuan asked the maid to refill Yu Zecheng's tea, "When you come out to fight, do you carry so much money with you?"

The Black Tiger Army of Beijia was an elite force active on the front line of the war against the Mou Kingdom. For the man surnamed Yu to detour to the rear of the Mou Kingdom to conduct business, he himself had to bear some risks.

"Money by one's side wards off disasters." Yu Zecheng continued to bid, "One million taels."

He Lingchuan smiled: "If I keep refusing to nod, will Mr. Yu offer up to five million taels?"

A sharp light flashed in Yu Zecheng's eyes: "Five million taels; ten such archipelagos could be bought. Why is Island Master He unwilling to sell?"

He Lingchuan met his gaze: "Five million taels; ten such archipelagos could be bought. Why must Mr. Yu buy Yangshan? As far as I know, there are several archipelagos to the east of here, with areas no smaller than Yangshan and conditions no worse than Yangshan. Their owners would certainly be very happy to sell at that price."

Yu Zecheng looked at him steadily, his gaze like a blade.

He Lingchuan's expression was calm, and he did not avoid it.

After a long while, Yu Zecheng suddenly changed the subject: "How are the hot springs here?"

"Very good." He Lingchuan immediately became spirited. He didn't bother with polite pleasantries about distinguished guests coming from afar, only saying that the seawater hot springs here were exceptionally comfortable, soaking in them for a long time relieved fatigue, and long-distance travelers were full of praise.

"Then I'll have to try it later." Yu Zecheng seemed to be listening with great pleasure, even a smile appearing on his face, and the next sentence was, "On these islands of yours, is there a giant spider demon living here?"

Wang Fubao on the side thought to himself: Here it comes.

These Beijia people finally got to the point.

But this turn was a bit sharp, making it easy for people to strain their backs and fail to keep up with the conversation.

Yu Zecheng had been observing He Lingchuan's expression the whole time, not letting go of any subtle changes.

He Lingchuan was clearly stunned, and then asked: "Pig demon?"

After saying that, he extended the index and middle fingers of both hands and shook them, simulating four legs.

"Not a pig." Yu Zecheng had to explain, "A spider."

He Lingchuan gave a long "Oh": "A spider demon, huh—"

"—Yes, there is a spider demon; they live on one of the islands."

Giving the answer so readily, Yu Zecheng was somewhat surprised. He had originally prepared for He Lingchuan to flatly deny it and had already thought of countermeasures.

Who would have thought the other party would neither hide nor cover up, nor tell a lie, but just admit it so openly.

(End of chapter)