Chapter 180: Silver Bank

Night had just fallen. In the rear residence of the Pang household, scattered insects chirped. Beneath the great banyan tree in the courtyard, a faint coolness gathered. A bundle of mugwort had just been burned under the tree, driving away the nearby mosquitoes; the heavy scent of mugwort leaves still lingered.

Pang Yu, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, sat with his cheap mom on stools made from tree stumps, fanning her as they sat.

"Yu'er, your father still says he won't go to Anqing." Mom sighed. "These days he's reopened the Medicine Shop, busy every day until the evening drum before coming home. I can only go with him daily; I need to manage that medicine storehouse myself to feel at ease."

"Then Mom, you come with me to Anqing." Pang Yu said while fanning. "Family should always be together. I'd be more at ease with you both in Anqing."

"Son, take good care of yourself. Your mother knows you're a good man. Go be that Anqing General Officer. Others say it's a grunts den, but your mother knows it's not. If my Yu'er becomes a General Officer, it won't be called grunts anymore." Mom reached out and touched Pang Yu's head, then turned to glance at the lit main house and lowered her voice. "You think your mother doesn't want to go enjoy life with you? Our family's Yu'er has made something of himself; your mother has someone to rely on now, and her heart is glad. But your father won't go, and I can't just leave him alone in Tongcheng."

Pang Yu pursed his lips and also glanced at the main house. "That gambling house business was so long ago. How can Father still not get over it?"

"Hasn't he been like that his whole life?" Mom shook her head with a sigh. "The whole city of Tongcheng praises you, but he alone says a gambling den is no good, not something a good person runs."

"If I don't open one, someone else will. Where there's demand, someone will do it. Even without a gambling den, gamblers would still gather to gamble on their own."

Mom gently pounded her knees, her expression turning kindly. "If reasoning worked, he wouldn't be your father, would he? As they say, marry a rooster, follow the rooster; I've lived my whole life that way. Actually, your father is doing it for you too. Though someone will always run a gambling den, it's still something that harms people. Your father says it shortens one's allotted lifespan, so we must help you make up for it. Now we run this Medicine Shop not for profit. If any neighbor lacks medicine, we don't take their silver. He's helping you accumulate Merit. For villagers in hardship, we also don't take silver. Like that Sun Tianxiu before..."

Cheap Mom stopped mid-sentence. Silence fell over the courtyard. Only after a long while did she look up again. "Since you've been back, have you gone to see that girl?"

Pang Yu shook his head. Mom sighed again. "Poor girl. Still blame those heaven-cursed Roving Bandits. Tongcheng, a land of peace for a hundred years, saw so many die in just a few days. In the months you've been gone, the city has never seen so many beggars. Your father is discussing with the neighbors about setting up a congee stall at the Medicine Shop too, to accumulate more Virtue for you..."

"Mom, if you want to set up a congee stall, set one up. It's fine if the Medicine Shop doesn't charge. But this accumulating Virtue... I'm drilling troops to protect Anqing. The lives I save in the future will number more than a thousand; naturally, that's great Merit. You two just rest easy; no need to worry so much about me."

Mom looked at Pang Yu and smiled. "Anyway, I figure after living in Tongcheng for decades, we're used to it. Neighbors squabble sometimes, but if we really had to leave, we'd truly be reluctant. Speaking of neighbors, your Aunt Liu has been coming to the Medicine Shop often lately, asking when the girl can cross the threshold."

"Cross the threshold?" Pang Yu stood up in alarm. "Wasn't the betrothal already called off?"

"Where was it called off? The betrothal document is still in Aunt Liu's hands. We never found a middleman to annul the engagement. How could you be so muddled?" Mom shot Pang Yu a glare. "You told Aunt Liu yourself, asking the Liu family to give our family sixty taels of silver as Betrothal Gifts, saying it could resolve the calamity afflicting the Liu family's daughter. Aunt Liu spread it all over the streets; now everyone near Yimin Gate knows about it."

Pang Yu leaned in, tilting his head to look at Mom. "Mom, you never got along with Aunt Liu before. Why are you siding with outsiders now?"

"Pah, pah, what do you mean siding with outsiders? That Aunt Liu may be a bit snobbish, but over all these years, she's gotten along well enough with our family." Cheap Mom snatched the palm-leaf fan from Pang Yu's hand and began waving it herself. "After those Roving Bandits came, seeing so many dead outside the city, your mother thinks differently now. People you can get along with for decades in this life are all connections cultivated over many lifetimes. We can't hold a grudge against the Liu family."

Pang Yu said anxiously, "This isn't about holding a grudge or not. Your son is now an official, with great prospects ahead. My Intangible Assets are rapidly inflating. I plan to package myself up and sell for a good price. Aunt Liu offering sixty taels—that doesn't even count as a clearance sale price."

Mom smacked Pang Yu on the head with the palm-leaf fan. "This matter of starting a family and taking a wife, always talking about buying and selling—if word gets out, people will laugh. Whoever heard of selling oneself?"

"As long as the price is right, what can't I sell? Selling myself still supports troops and protects the people—great Merit, nothing shameful. Who'd dare laugh at me?" Pang Yu took a step back to guard against another maternal strike. "I'm only eighteen this year. Waiting a few more years would be even better."

"This matter isn't up to you. Your mother just now sent one of your guards to invite Aunt Liu over to discuss it."

Just at that moment, a loud female voice came from outside: "Sister Pang, are you in?"

It was Aunt Liu's familiar tone. Pang Yu didn't know what to do. Mom had already gone out to the outer courtyard to greet her; the two of them exchanged lively greetings in the outer courtyard.

Pang Ding came running in hurriedly from the outer courtyard. Seeing Pang Yu, he said with some alarm, "Young Master, Aunt Liu is here."

"What's the panic? It's not like the Roving Bandits are here." Pang Yu spat. "What's with this curfew in Tongcheng? Even Aunt Liu dares to run around now. Someday I'll ask Ruan Jin how he's managing things."

"The guards are escorting her; the Gengfu wouldn't dare question them. Young Master, what do we do now?"

"Sixty taels, I'd be taking a huge loss. Let's flee to the Barracks and head back to Anqing first thing tomorrow morning." Pang Yu looked around. The rear courtyard had a side gate. He went over, drew the bolt, and disappeared into the night with Pang Ding.

……

At Sheng-Tang Ferry in Anqing, outside the Great River Shipping Company, several soldiers in red stood guard. Though drenched in Sweat in the height of summer, they still stood ramrod straight. Passersby all kept their distance.

On the second floor of the Shipping Company, a group of Boat Dock Masters stood up and took their leave of Chen Ten Prefectures and Pang Yu, who sat at the head.

Pang Yu also stood and politely exchanged courtesies with the group of Boat Dock Masters. Only Chen Ten Prefectures remained seated, fully projecting official authority.

Once these people had left, Pang Yu plopped back down into his seat. Since returning from Tongcheng, he had been busy with fundraising matters, which had only just now been mostly settled. Today was about borrowing from the Wharf Boat Dock Masters.

Seeing only the two of them remained, Chen Ten Prefectures quickly dropped his official authority, drew in his chest a little, and put on a respectful demeanor.

Chen Ten Prefectures wiped the Sweat from his forehead and said in a low voice to Pang Yu beside him, "Is Lord Pang satisfied with the amounts they agreed to lend?"

Pang Yu smiled. The financial strength of these Boat Dock Masters exceeded his estimates. He had originally planned to borrow thirty thousand taels, but with Chen Ten Prefectures stepping in to get them to agree, after some maneuvering between the two of them, the total actually reached thirty-five thousand taels. And it seemed this group wasn't overly strained by it.

"With Lord Chen stepping in, they naturally dared not refuse. It's Lord Chen's face that carries weight."

Chen Ten Prefectures bowed slightly. "Lord Pang flatters me. These Boat Dock Masters are susceptible to force, not reason. In past years, relying on the gentry and great clans backing them, they took full advantage of the Wharf. Now that General Pang has arrived and asks to borrow some silver, how would they dare not appreciate the honor?"

"A Military Officer asking them to lend silver—even with the revenue from the Brokerage silver fees as collateral—they wouldn't be so bold as to lend. They'd fear a military man like me acting thuggish and refusing to repay. It's still on account of Lord Chen's face; civil officials are more trustworthy than military ones. I understand that much." Pang Yu picked up his tea and took a sip. Seeing this, Chen Ten Prefectures moved to rise, but Pang Yu quickly continued, "In past years, the Tribute Grain from Wanyi Granary, whenever the new crop was not yet in, was lent to these Boat Dock Masters to ship to Jiangnan and sell for silver. That's the most profitable time of the year. After the Anqing harvest, they'd buy low at their respective market Grain Shops to replenish Wanyi Granary. Lord Chen is their God of Wealth; how would they dare offend Lord Chen?"

Chen Ten Prefectures gave a somewhat awkward smile. Everything Pang Yu said was the truth. Although Chen Ten Prefectures had his leverage firmly in hand, he hadn't expected Pang Yu to have inquired into and understood even these matters.

"For these things Lord Chen has done for me, there is naturally a share of remuneration. Please do not refuse it, my lord."

"General Pang exhausts himself guarding Anqing; this humble official dare not..."

Pang Yu waved his hand. "Let's keep matters separate. For however great the help Lord Chen provides, that is how much reward there should be. This evening I will have someone deliver it to Lord Chen's outer residence."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ten Prefectures argued no further. He had now discovered that doing business with this despicable scoundrel before him was not bad at all. Despite holding leverage over him, Pang Yu did not use it to coerce him at every turn; everything was handled according to the Rules of officialdom. Although that leverage still left him uneasy, it was much better than two or three months ago. Only, many times he couldn't help wondering where this scoundrel Pang had locked away those two pieces of leverage.

"If Lord Chen has other matters, please go attend to them."

Chen Ten Prefectures lowered his head. "If the General has any orders, you may give them now."

"It's no great matter. I simply wished to invite you, my lord, to cut a ribbon for me."

"Cut a ribbon?"

Pang Yu nodded. "I've observed the trading on the Wharf, where all sorts of gold, silver, and Copper coins are often used. I thought of opening a money exchange business, to provide convenience for traveling Hangshang and boat passengers. I wished to invite you, my lord, to inaugurate it with good fortune, to make it a respectable affair. There will also be remuneration."

Chen Ten Prefectures breathed a sigh of relief. This truly was no great matter. However, if anyone else had proposed it, he would not have gone; after all, it was merely a commercial establishment, and attending would compromise an official's Status.

"This humble official will certainly attend."

Pang Yu politely saw Chen Ten Prefectures downstairs. Only after Chen Ten Prefectures had departed into the distance did he return upstairs.

Liu Ruogu quickly followed him up. Pang Yu was by the window, watching the Boats along the river. The number of Boats at the Wharf had increased again; recently it was a peak period for grain transport. On the shore, various Brokerages bustled about, and porters queued to deliver goods—all busy with their own Livelihood.

Liu Ruogu cautiously walked up behind Pang Yu and said in a low voice, "The Service Ticket from Huaining County Yamen—this humble one has already handled it. Tomorrow the Huaining Household Office will deliver the silver, the first installment of seven thousand taels. The Deeds for the Tongcheng properties and land are also fully prepared. The day after tomorrow, this humble one will return to Tongcheng to handle the loan matters with Lord Tang."

Pang Yu gave an "mm" in response, gazing out the window at the river scene, lost in thought.

"This humble one still does not quite understand. What exactly does Your Lordship need to borrow so much silver for? The interest rates are not low either. The Anqing Boat Dock Masters' side offers the lowest interest at two Mace, all with a two-year term. That is an enormous sum of silver."

Pang Yu turned his head to look at Liu Ruogu. "Borrowing money is for using it. I want to run profitable businesses, but I don't want to rely on business profits. That's too slow. In these chaotic times, who knows how long we can wait? I need to get the money those businesses will earn in the future right now. So I view any business as an asset. People aren't quite used to that concept yet, but they are all used to mortgaging and borrowing. The interest is also what should be paid."

"This humble one still feels the interest is somewhat high. I just fear that after two years..."

"Borrow it first, then we'll talk. Money comes with difficulty but goes out easily. If we recruit two thousand troops, the annual military pay alone will be about fifty thousand. So with this silver, we can still think of ways to borrow against it once more. Though not the entire amount, this way we can obtain loans at a somewhat lower cost."

Liu Ruogu was stunned for a moment. He didn't understand how they could borrow once more. If they forcibly demanded silver from those grunts, it might provoke a mutiny. After pondering for a long while, he finally asked, "Is it that Silver Bank Your Lordship is newly opening?"

Pang Yu nodded. "Can the surplus Account Office staff trained within Bai Shun Tang be put to use now?"

"Three are usable. Their backgrounds have all been checked — two came from Taihu, one is from Qianshan. He worked as an Account Office clerk before, managed to hide when the Roving Bandits came, and only then fled to Anqing. He has Family Dependents in Anqing."

"Send the Family Dependents to Zongyang. Assign these three to work at the Silver Bank. All the silver we've borrowed will be deposited there. The Silver Bank must open in ten days. You will personally serve as Shopkeeper of the Silver Bank. From now on, military pay will be disbursed through the Silver Bank."

Liu Ruogu frowned. "But this humble one still doesn't quite grasp how we can borrow from the soldiers a second time."

Pang Yu smiled faintly. "It will absolutely not be by force."