Chapter 276: Cooperation

"Sir, why give Li Lihua a ten percent share?"

In a small courtyard by Mochou Lake outside Nanjing, Liu Ruogu looked at Pang Yu with a face full of confusion. "This 'image ambassador' you mentioned, sir — I have no idea what use it serves."

This was a small courtyard they had newly purchased. The original owner was a Zhejiang cloth merchant who, frightened by the Roving Bandits, had hastily sold it a few days ago and returned to Zhejiang. With property prices plummeting recently, Pang Yu was preparing to invest heavily in Nanjing and genuinely needed a residence, so he had picked up a bargain.

Though small, the courtyard was exquisite. Outside its gate lay the lake embankment, making it very low-profile by the shores of Mochou Lake, perfectly suiting Pang Yu's needs. It was not far from the mansion where Ruan Dacheng had hosted the banquet previously. Though its scale was far inferior to the Ruan Family estate, he now at least had a small courtyard in the wealthy outskirts of Nanjing, narrowing the distance somewhat between him and that nouveau riche Ruan Dacheng.

"That's just a title, to facilitate cooperation with Li Lihua." Pang Yu stood by the window, watching the dense flow of people below. "The Qinhuai pleasure houses and gambling dens are all places the wealthy frequent. Li Lihua has extensive connections in Nanjing, which is highly advantageous for developing the bank."

"What you mean, sir, is that the bank remains the priority... This humble one ventures to ask: even after the bandit chaos, Bai Shun Tang can still earn two to three thousand taels of silver a year in Tongcheng, and around ten thousand in Anqing. Yet although the Silver Bank brings in a great deal of money, you pay interest on deposits, sir, and have not lent any out — it has always been a money-losing venture. This humble one truly does not understand."

Pang Yu smiled. "The Silver Bank has always been lending to ourselves, so naturally it loses money. But in terms of importance, the Silver Bank far surpasses the gambling dens. It will certainly make great profits in the future — of that there is no doubt. However, the bank is still in its infancy. Apart from Nanjing, it only has a shop in Anqing. Its main task is still to absorb local deposits in Nanjing. The largest places where those people spend silver are the gambling dens and the pleasure houses. Li Lihua has sufficient influence over both types of establishments. With her introductions, it will be far easier than doing it ourselves."

"Last time in Dangtu, you said, sir, that we should absorb the deposits of those great households and old families in Jiangbei. Why then establish the bank in Nanjing first, and not in the various places of Jiangbei?"

"Though Nanjing had a false alarm, for the wealthy it remains the best place in these chaotic times to settle and find refuge. Having a bank shop in Nanjing is what will attract deposits from Jiangbei. The idea behind using Liu Licentiate this time is mainly aimed at people from Jiangbei and other regions, exploiting their sense of crisis. We collect principal from Jiangbei, Henan, Shandong, and other places, making it convenient for them to withdraw and use funds in Nanjing. Once they grow accustomed to the bank's returns and come to trust the Great River Silver Bank, they will no longer keep their silver buried in cellars. But the wealthy here in Jinling feel less crisis than those in Jiangbei, and they may not yet trust our newly opened bank."

Liu Ruogu said quietly, "This humble one fears they still do not trust it. The Nanjing bank has been open for three days and has already taken in seventeen thousand taels in deposits, the majority of which came from the Restoration Society. But it seems somewhat short of our expectations."

"The Restoration Society..." Pang Yu turned to He County Yamen, who had remained silent behind him. "Last time we spoke of that person who submitted a memorial denouncing the Restoration Society — has there been any further development?"

He County Yamen replied cautiously, "At the time, this humble one heard it mentioned by Fang Yizhi. That person, surnamed Zhou, bears an old grudge against the Restoration Society. The memorial was titled 'Restoration Society or Questions.' It is rumored to have already reached the Emperor's hands. The Restoration Society scholars were visibly panicked then, and this humble one was somewhat alarmed, which is why I informed you, sir. But since then, there has been no further news. After some days passed, the Restoration Society scholars showed no further signs of distress. That day, I sounded out Wu Yingji indirectly. Wu Yingji said the Wen Faction frequently denounces the Restoration Society, but the Emperor ultimately pays no heed, and in the end, the matters all fizzle out. Thus... it is likely this humble one was overthinking."

Pang Yu frowned in thought. On Mochou Lake, painted barges drifted leisurely back and forth. Prostitutes and maids laughed and played on the boats, and the occasional sound of string and bamboo music drifted over. The prosperity of former days still lingered. It was truly hard to imagine that less than a month ago, the Roving Bandits had been separated from them by only a single river.

Liu Ruogu glanced at He County Yamen, then stepped closer to Pang Yu. "Sir, for your discernment: among the great households of Nanjing itself, Li Lihua likely knows many. But when it comes to the great households of Jiangnan, the Restoration Society has far more connections. At present, the bank's reputation must rely on the Restoration Society to spread. The Jiangnan Times relies on Restoration Society connections. The Silver Bank's deposits depend on the Restoration Society to draw in. Even navigating the official circles of Nanjing itself is easier with Restoration Society connections. This subordinate believes that, for now, we still cannot do without the Restoration Society."

Pang Yu turned his head and glanced south, toward the direction of Ruan Dacheng's mansion. That day he had listened there to the conversation between Ruan Dacheng and the others. Ma Shiying believed the Restoration Society's situation might not improve. If someone at the level of Wen Tiren or the Emperor moved against the Restoration Society, such a loose organization would likely offer little resistance. But Pang Yu could not be certain that was the case.

Judging from the current situation of the Garrison Battalion, however, developing economically still required relying on the Restoration Society's connections and reputation. That meant continuing to use the Jiangnan Times to maintain the relationship. If he abandoned the Restoration Society over a mere rumor, economic development would suffer greatly.

"Ruogu makes a valid point. Since this matter has had no impact, the Jiangnan Times will continue its cooperation with the Restoration Society as before." Pang Yu turned to He County Yamen. "Third Brother, you have worked hard in Jinling. This was not you overthinking. If there are any such developments regarding the Restoration Society, inform me promptly. Do not worry about whether it is overthinking."

He County Yamen let out a slow breath. Previously, Liu Ruogu had argued with him many times over whether to continue co-publishing the Jiangnan Times with the Restoration Society, all because the matters of the Silver Bank and the gambling dens weighed on Liu Ruogu's shoulders. Without the Restoration Society, he feared neither could be managed to Pang Yu's satisfaction.

Pang Yu paid no heed to He County Yamen's thoughts and instructed Liu Ruogu, "Prepare some gifts for tomorrow. I must pay a visit to He Ruchong."

Liu Ruogu acknowledged the order, then looked up and asked, "Should they be prepared lavishly, or more modestly?"

Pang Yu thought for a moment, then said, "Modest ones will suffice. I am going with Fang Yizhi, paying a visit to a local worthy in the name of a Tongcheng junior."

"I have heard that this old gentleman ordinarily does not associate with others."

Pang Yu shook his head and smiled. "I have naturally heard that too. But for some matters, I can only think to seek him out. Whether Li Lihua or the Restoration Society, they can only influence a portion of the wealthy. For that innermost circle of the richest, we still need these old gentlemen to set an example. If I could get him to come deposit money at the Great River Silver Bank, I would be willing to give him fifty percent annual interest — if only he were willing."

East of Wuding Bridge in Nanjing, inside Tangzi Alley near Fuzi Temple — though called an alley, its road surface was clean and tidy, making it a high-end neighborhood in Nanjing. After the Tongcheng civil unrest, He Ruchong had moved to live in Nanjing. This mansion had been granted to him by the Emperor. In the Qing dynasty, it was purchased by an official surnamed Qin and later became a designated cultural heritage site.

Pang Yu and Fang Yizhi were waiting outside the mansion gate. Before the gate stood a pair of stone carvings that looked like dogs yet also like lions. Pang Yu did not know what they were actually called, and felt too embarrassed to ask Fang Yizhi.

"Mizhi, you mentioned that Mr. Bi earlier. Do you know if he has returned to Jinling? Could we pay him a visit at the same time on this trip?"

Standing very properly before the gate of Chancellor He's mansion, Fang Yizhi tilted his head slightly and said quietly, "Mr. Bi previously left the city to flee the bandits. The household servants he left behind said he went to Zhejiang to stay with a friend. I fear he will not return within a month or two."

Pang Yu gave a soft "Oh." Hearing this, Fang Yizhi turned his head and said, "However, his Self-Igniting Arquebus has no physical prototype. Only his hand-drawn diagrams have been recorded in the 'Military Equipment Illustrated.' It was originally to be printed in Nanjing this year. When the time comes, I will first ask him for a copy and send one to General Pang."

Hearing there was no physical prototype, Pang Yu was somewhat disappointed. Earlier, He County Yamen had, at his request, placed recruitment advertisements in the Times covering areas such as firearms, weapons, gunpowder, and trauma medicine. After seeing them, Fang Yizhi had recommended several people to him, including his former landlord Mao Yuanyi, and this Bi Maokang. Among the ingenious devices Fang Yizhi described, what attracted Pang Yu most was this Self-Igniting Arquebus. But Bi Maokang had already left the city to flee the bandits when they approached the river, and had likely now reached Zhejiang. With such a long journey, he certainly would not return in a short time. It seemed he would not be able to meet him this time.

After waiting a moment, Fang Yizhi probed cautiously, "General Pang, regarding these recruitment notices you published in the Times — He County Yamen called them advertisements — this matter was not discussed with Wu Yingji beforehand. The page layout was originally meant to print Current Affairs Essays by Society Friend Zhou. Wu Yingji came to my residence yesterday and gave me quite an earful..."

Pang Yu hurriedly said, "That was my lack of consideration. In the future, I will certainly instruct He County Yamen to discuss matters with Brother Wu. I will not put Brother Fang in a difficult position again."

Fang Yizhi waved his hand. "General Pang, please do not take it to heart. You have met Brother Wu; you know his temperament. It is just that with your recruitment of military equipment artisans and the like, the society friends all assumed Wu Yingji had approved it. Placing the Restoration Society's political commentaries on the same page as this in the newspaper inevitably leads people to misunderstand that the Restoration Society is doing the recruiting."

Pang Yu furrowed his brow. The co-publication with the Restoration Society had not been going on long, but Wu Yingji and He County Yamen had already clashed many times over layout and distribution matters. Such friction in cooperation was unavoidable and would eventually cause problems. Fang Yizhi had put it politely, but it was still a form of admonishment.

"I will tell He County Yamen together to move such notices to the fiction pages, and to mark the title of the Garrison Battalion recruitment in large, bold characters. Also, please convey to Brother Wu Yingji that this recruitment of artisans was approved by Commander Zhang. The notice also states clearly that it is for the needs of the Anqing Guard, and the Guard is permitted to forge arms, armor, and weapons."

"Then I will certainly convey that to Brother Wu Yingji."

The two finished speaking politely. Pang Yu knew that Fang Yizhi himself actually had opinions on this matter as well, and was merely using Wu Yingji's mouth to voice them. Given the current situation, Pang Yu had to rely on the Restoration Society. Otherwise, as a minor Garrison Commander from Jiangbei, he had no way to conduct business in Nanjing. But he had not contacted Zhang Pu so far, so he was not yet fully bound to the Restoration Society. This degree of cooperation was relatively advantageous for Pang Yu.

The reason the Nanjing Restoration Society scholars were willing to cultivate a relationship with Pang Yu was because of the reputation he had accumulated since the Tongcheng civil unrest, which had peaked with the recent relief of Jiangpu. How far the relationship between the two sides would develop in the future still depended on what came next.

The main gate still had not opened. Fang Yizhi remained very patient. He turned to Pang Yu and said, "Since He Laoxiansheng retired from office, he has paid little attention to worldly affairs. Even when old friends of many years from the court come to visit, he never discusses court matters."

Pang Yu had also heard some tales about He Ruchong. This man had likely absorbed the Doctrine of the Mean into his very bones. It was one thing to keep a low profile in court affairs, but he was the same after returning home. If he encountered a sedan chair on the road and there was not enough room to pass, he would always have his bearers take the initiative to yield, unwilling to dispute with fellow townsfolk.

At that moment, the side door creaked open, and a man dressed like a scholar stepped out. Pang Yu and Fang Yizhi quickly straightened up. The man came over, exchanged greetings, and said politely, "He Laoxiansheng says that he has been feeling unwell recently and cannot receive you two. He entrusts Young Master Fang to convey his regards to your esteemed father."

Pang Yu had been mentally prepared. The hope of persuading this old gentleman to take the lead in depositing money at the Great River Silver Bank was less than one in ten. He had not held high expectations. But he had not expected the man to refuse even a meeting, especially since Pang Yu now had some reputation in Nanjing official circles.

The scholar finished speaking and withdrew. Their gifts and gift list had already been sent in earlier. Now they walked back empty-handed.

Being turned away at the door was somewhat disheartening. After a moment of silence, Fang Yizhi said to Pang Yu, "He Laoxiansheng has always been like this. Last time, Sun Jin had Sun Lin deliver a letter, hoping He Laoxiansheng could submit a memorial to the Emperor to establish a Standard Battalion in Tongcheng. He Laoxiansheng only accepted the letter and did not even send a reply."

Pang Yu's heart stirred, and he quickly followed up. "Lord Sun sending a letter from the Capital must mean it is a matter of great importance. Since he sought out He Laoxiansheng, it must be related to our Tongcheng."

Fang Yizhi sighed. "Naturally. What else but that matter of establishing the Bronze Standard Battalion."