Chapter 287: A Lofty Promotion

"By the end of April, the Nanjing money house had three hundred thousand taels of silver on deposit. Thirty percent came through Restoration Society connections, twenty percent from... patrons on the Qinhuai River, twenty percent from Baishun Hall gamblers, and the remaining thirty percent were people who came on their own after seeing the Jiangnan Times. Liu Shopkeeper ran the numbers as you instructed — the most stable depositors are precisely this group who read the Times, mostly prominent Nanjing households and sitting merchants. They came purely for the interest."

In the quiet little room, Pang Yu sat on a crude bamboo stool, listening to Zhou Yueru across from him while scanning Liu Ruogu's letter. The letter mainly reported on the construction progress of the money house's new location; everything else was rather brief, nowhere near as detailed as Zhou Yueru's verbal message.

After not seeing her for several months, Zhou Yueru looked much better than she had in Anqing — perhaps because Nanjing had the Great River as a barrier, she truly had less to fear.

"Baishun Hall is doing excellent business, more than ten times the gamblers compared to Anqing. Not just from within Nanjing City — people come specially from all along the river, upstream and down. Every day we can't close until the curfew. In April alone we made five thousand taels."

Zhou Yueru paused here and looked up at Pang Yu. After Anqing was raided, business at the two Baishun Halls in Tongcheng and Anqing had grown thinner and thinner — the Tongcheng Baishun Hall in particular could only earn three or four thousand taels in an entire year. Nanjing Baisun Hall had just opened and was already earning five thousand taels a month. She had expected this money-grubber to be overjoyed, but to her surprise, Pang Yu merely grunted, as if he didn't take it to heart.

Zhou Yueru felt a little disappointed. She lowered her head, gathered her thoughts, and continued, "It's just that the Times refuses to run that kind of advertisement for Baishun Hall. Liu Shopkeeper asks whether you, sir, could have a word with the Times about it — that would help Baishun Hall's business even more."

"Why doesn't Liu Ruogu ask He County Yamen directly?"

"He County Yamen says Wu Yingji absolutely refuses, claiming that Restoration Society's Current Affairs Essays cannot share the same page as a gambling den."

Pang Yu nodded. He had met Wu Yingji twice — fiery-tempered but not deep, full of fervent devotion to Restoration Society. Such a demand was not the least bit surprising. Besides, He County Yamen was not particularly committed to the newspaper assignment; one could say he had been coerced by Pang Yu into staying in Nanjing to run the paper. During Pang Yu's last visit to Nanjing, He County Yamen had made repeated veiled hints. Pang Yu didn't know exactly what post He County Yamen wanted, but it was certainly not the Newspaper Office, so his indifference to Liu Ruogu's request was also to be expected.

"The Times is a joint venture with Restoration Society. Right now, everything we do in Jiangnan depends on Restoration Society's support. Baishun Hall is, after all, a gambling establishment — relying on the Times is somewhat unrealistic." Pang Yu rubbed his chin and looked up at Zhou Yueru. "Tell Liu Ruogu to find other ways. Since last year, many refugees have crossed the river. Baishun Hall can set up congee stations outside the city. Once that kind of charitable work is done, have He County Yamen publish it in the Times under current affairs. The obstacles from Wu Yingji's side will be much smaller."

Zhou Yueru kept her head down. "I've noted it down, and I'll certainly tell Liu Shopkeeper when I return. As for the Restoration Society matter, Liu Shopkeeper said some things were inconvenient to put in a letter, so he had me bring the message — safer that way."

"I'm all ears."

"Before the new year, there were rumors for a while that someone at court had submitted a memorial impeaching Restoration Society. Then there was no further word. But in April, it was said that the Em, the Emperor..." Zhou Yueru paused here to catch her breath, as if the word 'Emperor' should not pass her lips. Pang Yu did not press her. After all, just over a year ago, Zhou Yueru had been nothing more than a common marketplace woman selling paper. The Emperor, the court — these things had never appeared in her life, only a lofty, distant image. Now suddenly brushing against such a high level, some psychological barrier was only natural.

After calming herself for a moment, Zhou Yueru said, "The information He County Yamen and Liu Shopkeeper received is that the Embroidered Uniform Guard went to Suzhou to investigate a County Magistrate's matter. The specifics are unknown, but it's connected to that Mister Zhang of Restoration Society. Many officials in Nanjing are no longer seeing Restoration Society members. That Mister Zhang originally had a Current Affairs Essay scheduled for publication — the printing plates were already made — but someone came in the middle of the night and had it pulled."

Pang Yu furrowed his brow. During the Jiangnan relief effort, He County Yamen had mentioned someone named Zhou Zhikui impeaching Restoration Society, and that the impeachment memorial had already reached the Emperor's hands, but then there was no further news, and Pang Yu hadn't paid it much mind. But now the situation seemed to be shifting again. The Embroidered Uniform Guard going to Suzhou at least meant the Emperor had intentions of striking at Restoration Society. Combined with what Ruan Dacheng and others had said earlier, Restoration Society's situation was not so optimistic. Currently, Pang Yu's businesses relied heavily on Restoration Society. If Restoration Society truly fell under political attack, the risk to Pang Yu was enormous.

After a long moment, Pang Yu asked in a low voice, "At present, what direct disadvantages are there for the gambling house and the money house?"

"Before, the people from the two city's military commands only collected some silver monthly. No one caused trouble at Baishun Hall or the money house. Now, the military command people come to the gambling den every two or three days, and only leave after collecting silver. And there are people from the Jiangning County yamen too — like the kind you used to be... yamen runners."

"Even yamen runners dare come collect my silver now." Pang Yu frowned and thought for a moment. "What about the money house side?"

"People from the Southern Ministry of War and eunuch officials have already come seeking loans. The properties they put up as collateral aren't worth the loan amounts. Liu Shopkeeper didn't grant the loans, but no trouble has broken out yet."

Pang Yu listened and fell silent for a moment. Thanks to this Jiangnan relief operation, Pang Yu had gained some minor fame in Nanjing, but for businesses like running a gambling house and a money house, his foundations in Nanjing were indeed still shallow. Because of the Restoration Society background, things had gone smoothly since opening — Nanjing officialdom wouldn't offend Restoration Society, which controlled public opinion, over such small businesses. Although a money house was a profitable trade in this era, in their eyes it didn't count as major profit. Baishun Hall, on the other hand, was riding high and had become a juicy piece of meat eyed by all sides.

Although Zhang Guowei nominally held the title of Yingtian Grand Coordinator, Nanjing was the Auxiliary Capital, and he had no hand in the city's affairs. Nanjing also had the Six Ministries, but the real power lay with the Inner and Outer Garrison Commanders. All power dynamics in the city revolved around these two roles.

Pang Yu currently had no solid connections with either the Inner or Outer Garrison Commander. But given those two men's status, they wouldn't directly target a new gambling den like Baishun Hall. Those directly making moves were likely mid-level figures, who then arranged for low-level probes. They completely viewed the gambling den as a Restoration Society asset, preparing to seize the opportunity to strike.

"Has Liu Ruogu gotten any information from Li Lihua's side?"

"Liu Shopkeeper went but couldn't see her. Li Lihua sent back word that she'll only talk to you, sir. That woman — you can tell at a glance her mind is formidable. If she wants you to come talk, it's certainly not to give you information."

Pang Yu looked up at Zhou Yueru. "Then what do you think she wants to talk to me about?"

Zhou Yueru's face flushed slightly. She lowered her head and said, "She comes to Baishun Hall every two or three days, never caring about losing silver. Anyone can see the business is booming. Now, if Restoration Society collapses, she's probably thinking of seizing Baishun Hall."

"Zhou Guniang makes a good point." Pang Yu smiled and folded the letter. Judging from the Nanjing officials' reactions, the possibility of Restoration Society losing power did exist, because these officials were the most sensitive to political winds. Li Lihua's background was complex, with countless ties to these officials. If Restoration Society were in its normal state, Li Lihua wouldn't scheme. Now, seeing an opportunity, the person stirring up those factions might very well be her — or at least connected to her. Otherwise, she wouldn't demand a face-to-face talk with Pang Yu, clearly believing she held bargaining chips. Though Zhou Yueru put it crudely, it was roughly what Pang Yu himself was thinking.

"And you can still laugh." Zhou Yueru's face was red, her tone somewhat anxious. "Lord Pang, have you ever tallied your own accounts? You borrowed all the pre-collected tax silver from every county in Anqing — that's eighty to ninety thousand taels. The annual interest alone is over ten thousand taels."

"Mm, after returning to Anqing, I also borrowed sixty thousand taels of Taihu's city-wall construction silver, at only ten percent annual interest."

Zhou Yueru was stunned. She had previously only handled the pre-collected county taxes at the money house and had never heard Pang Yu mention Taihu. She hadn't expected him to borrow such a large sum of silver again so quickly.

"You..." Zhou Yueru bit her lip for a moment, then took a breath. "The silver used to build the Nanjing money house was also diverted from deposits. The annual interest alone is over twenty thousand taels. And you still have over a thousand soldiers and officers to support..."

Pang Yu interrupted again with a grin. "It's about to be three thousand five hundred."

This time Zhou Yueru was not frightened. Instead, she looked at Pang Yu calmly. "Lord Pang, when you have too many lice, you stop feeling the bites. I've been worrying in Nanjing for nothing. It's just this Restoration Society matter — Liu Shopkeeper handles too much; he may not see everything. The overall accounts show three hundred thousand taels, but by mid-April it had already reached three hundred fifty thousand. After that, total deposits dropped to three hundred ten thousand. From what I saw in the accounts, it was mostly Restoration Society members withdrawing cash."

"Restoration Society faces imminent disaster, and each club member flies off on his own. Naturally, when leaving, they take their own silver with them."

Zhou Yueru straightened up urgently. "If they all withdraw cash like this, where will you, sir, find the silver to repay them?"

Pang Yu clapped his hands. "So Zhou Guniang rushed back to Anqing because she feared this official would fall ill from melancholy, and came specially to comfort me."

Zhou Yueru's face flushed bright red. "Who cares about you! I came to sweep my father's grave. During Qingming Festival Festival Festival Festival Festival, Liu Shopkeeper wouldn't permit it. Though the festival has passed, I still had to make the trip back."

Pang Yu put away his smile and said softly, "During Qingming Festival Festival Festival Festival Festival, I arranged for someone to sweep the grave for you in Tongcheng. But it's always more proper for you to go yourself. Tomorrow, this official will send someone to escort you to Tongcheng."

"No need for an escort. I'll just hire a Head of Livestock myself."

"Though it's somewhat more peaceful lately, there are many refugees on the roads. A woman traveling alone isn't very safe — let alone the accountant of my money house." Pang Yu paused. "After sweeping the grave, you'll still return to Anqing. This official has a verbal message for Liu Ruogu. Nanjing is a place where coin and goods converge — I cannot afford any misstep there. This official will also be dispatching additional personnel to Nanjing. You can just travel on the same boat with them."

Zhou Yueru breathed a slight sigh of relief, knowing that Pang Yu was taking the Nanjing matter to heart, not as indifferent as he appeared on the surface.

Still, she wasn't completely at ease. "But Li Lihua says she'll only talk to you."

Pang Yu didn't answer that question. He changed the subject. "In Nanjing, you're a stranger in an unfamiliar place. Have you gotten used to it? What do you do when off duty?"

Zhou Yueru lowered her head. "I can get used to anywhere. The money house has so many miscellaneous affairs — there hasn't been any off-duty time."

Pang Yu stood up, thought for a moment, and then asked, "You're staying here — has Jiang Shuqiong said anything to you?"

Zhou Yueru hesitated briefly. "She asked about the situation at Nanjing Baisun Hall, said Liu Shopkeeper must certainly be overwhelmed... but I didn't agree to anything with her."

"It would be good for her to go keep you company. Set out early tomorrow — if you leave late, you'll still have to spend a night in Liantan."

Pang Yu didn't let Zhou Yueru see him out. He turned and walked out the door. Guo Fengyou and the others immediately fell in behind him. As he entered the Main Hall, Jiang Shuqiong was still waiting there. Seeing Pang Yu, she hurried over.

Pang Yu stopped and said to her directly, "The Shopkeeper position at Nanjing Baishun Hall is vacant. Just now, Yueru recommended Chief Steward Jiang to this official."

"Ah, this, this..." Jiang Shuqiong's mouth gaped open, a smile she couldn't suppress spreading across her plump face like a blooming flower. "How could I manage such a big gambling den? I'd only mess up your affairs, sir... Well then, I'll certainly do my best."

"Has Chief Steward Jiang thought it through? If you go to Nanjing, your Family Dependents can only remain in Anqing City. I've heard you still have a husband and two sons at home?"

"Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning." Jiang Shuqiong's face was full of alarm. "The General bears the lives of these millions of Anqing's common folk on his shoulders alone. My little trifles — how could they be worthy of the master's concern? It's just one man and two brats. Even if they died, it wouldn't be worth delaying the General for this one question."

"Chief Steward Jiang is truly a person of great breadth." Pang Yu nodded approvingly. "In the next couple of days, Chief Steward Jiang, pack your things and prepare to go to Nanjing."