Chapter 277: Luxury

At the Huaiqing Bridgehead in Nanjing, the newly opened Baishun Hall was packed with people. Huaiqing Bridge lay where the Qinhuai River and Qingxi Stream converged, long the most prosperous district in Nanjing. Liu Ruogu had gotten a huge bargain buying it for four thousand taels. Thanks to its prime location and a flood of promotional activities, it had made a name across Nanjing the moment it opened. The neighboring Great River Silver Bank had also launched a blitz of publicity, yet its doorstep remained cold and deserted.

Pang Yu seemed to have anticipated this, so the Great River Silver Bank was currently modest in scale. The ground floor served as the business counter, the second floor as office space, and the rear section as the treasury. From the outside, it looked much like most silver banks of the time.

"Regarding the new site you instructed me to find for the Great River Silver Bank, this humble one has been looking for three days. Inside Sanshan Gate there is a row of shopfronts, five properties totaling seventeen bays. I've negotiated with three of them. Buying all five outright would cost roughly seven thousand taels, though none of the shopfronts are large. Near Huaiqing Bridge there are two sites. One, along Qingxi going north, is a large compound with gardens on both sides, priced at five thousand taels. The other is that inn directly across the way. The southern-goods shop on the inn's west side is also for sale. Combined, they cover the same area as the Qingxi compound, but the price is double — eleven thousand taels altogether. If one negotiates carefully, perhaps nine thousand or even ten thousand taels could secure it."

Pang Yu rubbed his temples, the throbbing in his head easing slightly. As the most famous military officer of late, he had been welcomed by the Restoration Society scholars in Nanjing and had spent several days drinking in the Old Court. Li Lihua had introduced him to some wealthy Nanjing merchants, who also hosted banquets in his honor. He had become a man in demand along the Qinhuai River, but the wine had been a bit excessive.

Having heard Liu Ruogu's report, Pang Yu lowered his hand and looked up at the inn diagonally opposite. Its street frontage was very wide, and there seemed to be courtyards behind it. Its location lay between Huaiqing Bridge and Dazhong Bridge, closer to Dazhong Bridge, at the intersection of Dazhong Street, Chang'an Street, and Shicheng Street. By water, it was where Qingxi Stream and the Qinhuai River met. Dazhong Bridge could be considered the prime real estate of the southern city.

In the past, this inn must have been packed with guests, but after the Roving Bandits swept through, not only did outsiders stop coming to Nanjing, even many locals fled. Naturally, it was now deserted. Restoring business would take time, so the current selling price was not high.

"How is the rear section laid out?"

"A three-section courtyard. The southern-goods shop next door is two sections, but those two sections are quite spacious, normally used for storing inventory." Liu Ruogu hesitated a moment, then said, "Restoration Society scholars have been arriving in a steady stream, over thirty of them now. Fang Yizhi alone deposited two thousand taels. There is a Young Master Gu who deposited four thousand. In the past few days, with Li Lihua's introductions, more wealthy families have come to deposit silver. Deposits now total seventy-eight thousand taels. The interest is set at one Mace annual interest, and some is even paid quarterly. This time next year, we will have to pay out over seven thousand taels. This subordinate feels that the Qingxi residence is the cheaper option..."

Pang Yu waved his hand, cutting Liu Ruogu off. "We are in the business of serving wealthy clients, so we need the best location. Buy those two properties across the way. Don't be afraid of the expense. You, He County Yamen, and Zhou Yueru go negotiate together. Also, buy the two shopfronts on the left. See them? That umbrella shop and the fan shop."

"But, my lord, those two haven't said they're selling. Going and asking to buy will likely cost a great deal more."

"Everything has a price. If they won't sell, offer a price they can't refuse, or use some other method. In short, I want those two shopfronts. Especially that umbrella shop — it's a three-story wooden building and rather dilapidated. I won't have that broken-down building standing next to the Great River Silver Bank."

Liu Ruogu watched Pang Yu gesture with sweeping authority, his eyelids twitching heavily. A business worth over ten thousand taels of silver, and Pang Yu approached it like buying vegetables at Qingfeng Market. But he was used to Pang Yu's style — he truly did not treat silver as silver. The Anqing Baishun Hall, with business so brisk, had been mortgaged at the drop of a hat, and the military payroll had been mortgaged too. Right now, he looked like a wealthy man and a military commander, but in reality, he was deep in debt. Even after spending half his life in the Wu family's silver bank, Liu Ruogu had never imagined anyone operating this way. If he himself owed that much silver, he certainly wouldn't sleep a single night. Only Pang Yu acted as if nothing was wrong, still buying houses and shopfronts everywhere.

Knowing persuasion was useless, Liu Ruogu set aside his worries for the moment and instead pointed at the shopfronts. "Since you have decided on this site, my lord, this subordinate believes we should keep the inn. The main hall can serve as the counter. Convert two rooms on the ground floor for inspecting goods, and use the second floor to store mortgaged valuables. In the rear section, convert one building with brick walls into the treasury. The rear section of the southern-goods shop can be turned into living quarters for the servants and apprentices, divided into east and west courtyards. This way, alterations are minimal, saving on renovation costs. What does my lord think?"

Pang Yu did not even glance over there. "Tear it all down and rebuild."

Liu Ruogu's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. It took him a long moment to steady himself. "My lord... that is a three-story wooden building on Dazhong Street. This, this..."

"Tear it all down and rebuild. I will draw a plan for the main hall for you shortly. Find that master, Ji Cheng, to construct it. Overall, it will be three sections. The second section for storing goods and silver, the third section for living quarters. Make the first section open and spacious — inside, it should be built like a garden. Let Ji Cheng figure out how. The shopfronts facing the street on the outside will only be two stories. The second floor will serve as VIP rooms and your offices. Most important is the main hall. The main hall must be large — the kind of grand, majestic large. Wrap every pillar in gold leaf. Use marble for all the flooring. Use the finest timber for the furniture, the finest dishes and lamps. The serving maids will wear uniforms, all dressed better than the prostitutes of Qinhuai. Their speech and movements will be trained. The moment someone enters, they should feel a certain something." Pang Yu suddenly grew a little excited, holding his right hand suspended in the air, his face full of an expression of enjoyment. "Luxury. Yes, luxury. Not just the most luxurious silver bank, but a luxury they have never seen before."

Liu Ruogu's eyelids stopped twitching. His mouth hung open for a long time before closing. Pang Yu, head tilted back, still held his hand before him, as if that magnificent main hall were already right there, and a uniformed maid was placing an official-kiln teacup into his hand.

"You will stay in Nanjing for now to prepare the silver bank. Remember, have He County Yamen handle one thing: in every issue of the newspaper, invite different people to tour the bank's progress. Pay those with good literary talent to come and write about their astonishment. Every single issue must carry such a piece. Make everyone look forward to the Great River Silver Bank. For now, the Great River Silver Bank is in a soft opening. When that building is finished, the opening day must draw every eye. I will also find the most prestigious person to cut the ribbon. Only then will the Great River Silver Bank truly be open."

"My lord's words truly open my humble mind to things I never imagined. But, but how much silver will all this cost?"

Pang Yu remained lost in the moment a while longer before lowering his hand and looking at Liu Ruogu. "As I just said, don't be afraid to spend silver. Haven't they deposited seventy thousand taels of silver? I will first borrow forty thousand taels from it, at one Mace and five fen annual interest, to use for constructing this new silver bank."

Liu Ruogu's legs went a little weak. He had never imagined that the money to build the silver bank could be loaned out of the bank's own deposits. In the past, most of the silver had been Pang Yu's own, and later it was pre-collected taxes borrowed from various counties, merely placed in the silver bank — on the books, it did not count as the bank's. There were small deposits from a few Boat Dock Masters at the docks. Apart from that, only the soldiers' pay counted as deposits. Now Pang Yu was borrowing tens of thousands from the bank in one go. Next year, he would owe the bank six thousand taels of silver. For Liu Ruogu, the bank manager, this should be a good thing, but he dared not ask Pang Yu for collateral. When the time came and Pang Yu simply said he had no silver, Liu Ruogu would not know how to clean up the bank's mess.

"This subordinate only fears that if, at that time, the various families should suddenly want to withdraw their silver..."

Pang Yu chuckled. "That is precisely why the main hall must be luxurious and opulent. Let others take one look at that hall and believe that this Great River Silver Bank lacks no money, that it will never delay anyone's silver. So long as they have no worries, they won't withdraw. Deposits will only grow more and more."

Liu Ruogu frowned in thought for a moment, then said, "It is indeed as you say, my lord. It's just that when this humble one worked at the Wu family's silver bank before, deposits were few, precisely because they paid no interest. The silver lent out to earn interest was all the Wu family's own. It was never like this, borrowing from oneself to pay others interest. This subordinate only worries that those interest payments and the principal must eventually be repaid."

Pang Yu let out a relaxed breath. "Being able to borrow silver is a good thing — the more, the better. There are plenty of ways to repay. Ruogu, you yourself must absolutely not worry about the interest, or you will inadvertently shake the clients' confidence. You need only trust this official."

Liu Ruogu acknowledged the order. Though he was not entirely at ease, the bizarre trajectory of Pang Yu's past year or so gave him some measure of confidence. Who could have imagined that a fool of a runner two years ago could, this year, open such a large silver bank in Nanjing?

At that moment, Pang Yu suddenly stepped back from the window, stood on tiptoe, and peered outside. Liu Ruogu immediately turned his head to look.

"Ruan Dacheng has come."

Through a gap in the window leaves, Liu Ruogu also spotted Ruan Dacheng, who had just alighted from his carriage, with household servants behind him carrying a large chest.

"It looks like he's come to deposit silver. Does my lord wish to see him?"

Pang Yu hesitated. Ruan Dacheng was quite high-profile in Nanjing, boasting everywhere that the defeat of the bandits at Tongcheng was largely his doing, and frequently gathering his faction to discuss warfare and swordsmanship. Although he had always wanted to ease relations with the Restoration Society, the Restoration Society's antipathy toward him grew worse by the day. And at present, whether economically or politically, Pang Yu could not afford to distance himself from the Restoration Society. Finally, he shook his head. "Say I have already returned to Anqing."

"Ruan Dacheng has come by twice in recent days. This subordinate fears he might run into you on the street, my lord."

"We won't run into each other. I am returning to Anqing this afternoon."

Liu Ruogu was somewhat surprised. Pang Yu had previously said he would stay a few more days, wanting to cultivate more connections with the Southern Ministry of War and the Southern Ministry of Revenue, to try and secure more official deposits in the future. Yet now he suddenly said he was leaving.

Pang Yu waved his hand. "Jiang Fan sent an urgent letter. After the Garrison Battalion returned to Anqing, there were Roving Thief alerts everywhere in the surrounding area. The three companies were dispatched to three different places by the Circuit Intendant Yamen. Not only can they not replenish their troops and restore combat effectiveness, they are being run ragged. The soldiers this official painstakingly forged cannot be used this way by the Circuit Intendant Yamen. No matter how we lay our plans in Nanjing, Anqing is our foundation."

Four days later, at the Sheng-Tang Ferry, Jiang Fan was already waiting on the shore. He received Pang Yu, who had just disembarked.

Pang Yu exchanged no pleasantries and directly asked, "Did Circuit Intendant Shi personally order the redeployment?"

"Yes, my lord. The main army had just returned and had not yet had time to rest and regroup when the First Company was dispatched to Qianshan. A few days later, the Third Company was transferred to Tongcheng. The Second Company went to Taihu the day before yesterday. Currently, the Personal Guard Division has been assigned to guard the Prefectural City's city walls."

Pang Yu grunted in acknowledgment, then asked, "What is the situation with the Roving Thieves in the surrounding area?"

"Traces of Roving Thieves are everywhere along the mountain belt. Circuit Intendant Shi had originally been holding Tongcheng the entire time. After transferring the First Company, he heard that Cao Cao's force had been spotted in Yingshan County, so he transferred the Second Company to Taihu. Apart from the cavalry, whose losses were too heavy to be of use, all the other companies are currently out in the field. Replenishing troops and restoring combat readiness is impossible."

"Then who is drilling the new recruits?"

"Only one Company Commander was left behind. Company Commander Yang of the Cavalry Division has basically recovered from his wounds. He recruited a batch of new soldiers and is drilling them, numbering no more than three hundred. With the Prefectural City under martial law again, they have also been used for city defense."

The once-bustling dock was almost empty of moored boats. Pang Yu stopped, glanced around, and said, "Gao Bazi's gang has scattered. The Roving Thieves capable of fighting can't even form a group anymore. Why are riverboats still forbidden from docking?"

"It is a strict order from the Circuit Intendant. He says that, as Governor Zhang strictly enforced the river clearance, no riverboat is permitted to dock whenever martial law is in effect." Jiang Fan looked left and right, then leaned in close and lowered his voice. "Half the city of Anqing depends on this dock to make a living. With the river cleared for so long, many people can't put food on the table. Refugees from Qianjiang, Wangjiang, and other places have flooded in. The city is full of beggars."

Pang Yu grunted, his steps quickening. Guo Fengyou hurried ahead to clear the path. Mr. Hou chased after them from behind, panting heavily.

As they spoke, the group had already reached Sheng-Tang Gate. On the city tower, besides men from the Personal Soldier Battalion, there were also some members of the Canal Gang.

Because Sheng-Tang Gate was near the river — the direction from which the Roving Thieves found it hardest to attack — it was the only city gate kept open during martial law, allowing refugees with local accents to enter the city. At that moment, a line of about a hundred people was queued at the gate, waiting to have their accents verified.

A few soldiers stood outside the city gate. Pang Yu could tell by their uniforms that they belonged to the Garrison Battalion, though their stances were still very casual. They were probably from that newly recruited batch. Thinking they had not trained long, he did not pay it much mind and headed straight for the gate.

But just as he reached the entrance, the lead soldier suddenly raised his waist saber and bellowed, "Who dares rush the city gate! All of you, get in line for me!"

Pang Yu froze for a moment, only then remembering that none of his party were wearing military uniforms. He immediately stopped walking, but he was not about to explain himself to a common soldier. Guo Fengyou strode forward, took out his identity badge, and shouted, "Call your team leader out!"

"The team leader is on the city tower."

Guo Fengyou's brow shot up. "The Anqing Garrison Commander, Lord Pang, is here! Clear the way at once!"

The soldier stared blankly at the badge and said, "I can't read. What Garrison Commander? Never heard of him."

Just as Guo Fengyou was about to curse, Pang Yu behind him suddenly spoke. "How long have you been in the Garrison Battalion?"

The soldier seemed a little frightened now. He hesitated before answering, "Sixteen days."

"Sixteen days and you still haven't heard the Garrison Commander's name? Then who do you think is the highest-ranking officer in the battalion?"

No one around said a word. The atmosphere grew somewhat tense. The soldier knew things were bad and stammered, "Ba... Ba... Company Commander Yang, my lord."

Pang Yu nodded. "Guarding the city gate under martial law and strictly inspecting all passersby is correct. But after hearing an accent is correct and seeing a Central Army military badge, you still refuse to let them pass — who taught you military law? Guo Fengyou, seize him and hand him over to Jiang Guoyong for punishment!"

Guo Fengyou, leading Xu Lengzi and a few other personal soldiers, surged forward and pinned the soldier to the ground. The refugees waiting outside the city gate screamed and scattered in panic. The three remaining soldiers at the gate stood frozen, looking utterly terrified.

Pang Yu strode straight through the city gate, not speaking a word along the way, simply marching with great strides toward the Garrison Command. Mr. Hou was already gasping for breath but still dared not let himself be left too far behind.

The sentries at the gate of the Garrison Command knew Pang Yu by sight, and no one stopped him. Pang Yu halted, drew the Military Badge from his bosom, and showed it to the Squad of Five leader on duty, entering only after that squad leader had saluted.

The attendants did the same. Once inside, each returned to their own Public House. Mr. Hou followed Pang Yu all the way to the Study, barely able to keep his feet.

Pang Yu took his seat behind the desk and sat in silence, lost in some unknown thought. Seeing this, Mr. Hou dared not pant loudly and could only endure as best he could, yet the sweat on his head streamed down unceasingly.

Only after a long while did Pang Yu's gaze shift back. Noticing Mr. Hou's state, he said in astonishment, "Mr. Hou, how did you tire yourself to this extent? Quickly, sit down and rest a moment."

Mr. Hou could not even manage a polite word. He hurriedly sat down on a chair, and once he leaned back against the chair rest, he intended to properly catch his breath.

Before he could even settle firmly against the chair rest, he heard Pang Yu speak again. Mr. Hou hastily sat up straight once more.

"You have been in my Prefecture for some time now, sir. Last year we also recruited a number of copyists — are there any among them worth employing?"

Mr. Hou was briefly taken aback, because Pang Yu had dismissed far too many of the Garrison Command's Old Hands, leaving no one to handle the document work. A group of copyists had been recruited the previous year to manage the incoming and outgoing documents. Strictly speaking, Mr. Hou himself was one of them, only he had been the very first.

"In reply, my lord, most of these recruited copyists are from Qianshan, Taihu, and Tongcheng who suffered in the Bandit Calamity. They can all read and write well enough, and among them there are indeed a few worth employing. However, they still need tempering in the handling of Official Documents…"

"Select a few of them, and recruit another batch, to make a full thirteen. Send one man to each Company to serve as a military clerk."