Chapter 77: Reputation

Outside the Qingyuan Money House in Anqing's Prefectural City, Pang Yu sat with a few Runners in a food stall, watching the money house across the way and conferring in low voices.

Ruan Jin reported to Pang Yu, "That Huang Yuntao went to this Qingyuan Money House before noon, then returned to Fuyu Inn to meet with County Magistrate Yang's Advisor. It seems the discussion ended unhappily."

Huang Yuntao was the man who had issued the Capital Debt. Pang Yu had already been in Anqing for two days. Yang Erming had been unhurriedly handling procedures at the Prefectural Office, showing no apparent rush to take up his post, which gave Pang Yu time to gather information on Huang Yuntao so he could devise an appropriate strategy.

"Additionally, this humble one also discovered that two men have been following Huang Yuntao the whole time. They are either monitoring him or secretly protecting him."

"Is that so?" Pang Yu pondered silently for a moment. They were likely there to provide backup for Huang Yuntao. After all, with such a large sum of silver, and having to travel far from home to collect it, sending Huang Yuntao alone meant worrying both that he might be robbed and that he might abscond with the funds. It was quite reasonable for the money house to send men to monitor and assist.

"Those two are also staying at Fuyu Inn, in a common room. That room has four beds, but the two of them have booked it entirely; no one else is staying there."

"Very thorough investigation." Pang Yu offered a word of praise, then swept his gaze over the several men behind him. "I want to know what Huang Yuntao discussed with Qingyuan Money House. Which of you can think of a method?"

Ruan Jin gritted his teeth and said, "I'll wait for that Shopkeeper to go out, then corner him somewhere secluded and threaten him with a blade. Let's see if he dares keep quiet then."

Pang Yu gave a noncommittal grunt and turned to the others. He Xianya's brow was tightly furrowed, as if still deep in thought, his eyes unconsciously flicking repeatedly toward Jiang Fan. He had known this man for a long time. Jiang Fan was an old hand in the Fast Squad. Back when He Xianya worked as an Auxiliary for Jiao Guozha, they often had to go out on assignments together.

Lately, Jiang Fan's momentum had been fierce, earning him deep trust from Pang Yu, who had already dispatched him on several major tasks. Matters within the Fast Squad were also frequently discussed with Jiang Fan, posing a real threat to He Xianya's standing. But the more anxious he became, the more it hindered his thinking, and for the moment He Xianya truly could not come up with any good ideas.

Jiang Fan, however, remained silent for a moment before saying, "Since it's a money house, the discussion was certainly about silver and coin, and most likely related to that Official Seal Money. This subordinate speaks the Nanjing Mandarin. Would the Squad Head permit this subordinate to give it a try?"

After Pang Yu nodded his consent, Jiang Fan straightened his attire and headed straight for the main entrance of Qingyuan Money House. He Xianya watched Jiang Fan's back with shock and suspicion, his gaze following him as he entered the gate.

Jiang Fan walked into the money house with graceful composure. He was not the least bit unfamiliar with such establishments and such people. The several pawnshops, lending houses, and pledge shops in Tongcheng were all staffed by the same sort, and the nature of their business was much the same. This Qingyuan Money House merely had a grander facade.

"I'd like to speak with your Shopkeeper," Jiang Fan said politely to a Bangyong upon entering.

"May I ask what business you have with our Shopkeeper, sir?"

Jiang Fan switched to a mouthful of Nanjing Mandarin and said calmly, "My surname is Jiang. Mr. Huang, who visited earlier before noon, is my companion. He discussed some matters with your esteemed establishment, and I wished to confirm them with your Shopkeeper in person."

The Bangyong revealed a look of sudden understanding. "So you are Mr. Huang's companion. I shall go fetch the Shopkeeper at once."

A moment later, the Auxiliary led out an elderly man, who must have been the Shopkeeper. Wearing the particular wariness unique to money houses, he sized Jiang Fan up and down before cupping his hands and saying, "When Mr. Huang came before noon, this old man already explained things clearly. I wonder what other matters Mr. Jiang wishes to inquire about?"

His words revealed nothing. Jiang Fan's mind raced. Looking at the Shopkeeper with an unchanged expression, he asked, "I heard that your esteemed establishment is willing to take on that Capital Debt, but what exactly are the deduction and interest rates? I wished to hear it from you directly, sir, because the County Magistrate's side feels the deduction is a bit too steep and wonders if there might be any room for concession."

"Eight Deduction Three Percent — absolutely no further concession." The Shopkeeper, as expected, relaxed his guard upon hearing this and replied with a displeased expression. "For Capital Debt of your sort, the standard is originally Six Deduction Three Percent. The lion's share has already been taken by you people. I am to lend him two thousand taels in one go, not even counting the Middleman Fee paid to you privately. If I don't calculate it at Eight Deduction Three Percent, how much profit can our money house possibly make?"

Jiang Fan knew he had guessed correctly. That Huang Yuntao truly intended to package and resell the Capital Debt to Qingyuan Money House. Huang Yuntao had indeed negotiated a deal at Qingyuan Money House, then went back to consult with Yang Erming's Advisor, hoping to get the young County Magistrate to take out another loan to first repay Huang Yuntao. That way, Huang Yuntao could hurry back to the Capital as soon as possible and also earn a Middleman Fee.

"Capital Debt lent to a County Magistrate is a hot commodity. Even if your esteemed establishment calculated it at Nine Deduction Three Percent, it would still be a guaranteed profit with no risk of loss." Jiang Fan said steadily, "At Eight Deduction, the County Magistrate's side would incur an extra five hundred taels of debt. They may not agree to it, and your esteemed establishment would lose a profitable deal. My purpose in coming here is to do my utmost to facilitate this matter."

The Shopkeeper's eyes swiveled as he sized Jiang Fan up for a moment, then extended his hand and said, "Then please, Mr. Jiang, let us discuss this further inside."

"After you, Shopkeeper."

……

On the second floor of Qifeng Pavilion outside the south gate of the Prefectural City, a delicate-featured woman held a wine cup to Huang Yuntao's lips. Huang Yuntao took a contented sip, and the woman then placed a dried fruit into his mouth.

"A beauty delivering fine flavors…" Huang Yuntao had just spoken half a line when several knocks sounded at the door.

Without waiting for Huang Yuntao to speak, a young gentleman pushed the door open and walked straight in.

Huang Yuntao stared warily at the young man, glanced at the wide-open door, and then asked, "I have never met you before, sir. Could this gentleman have entered the wrong door?"

"Indeed, we have never met. But I have not entered the wrong door." Pang Yu said with impeccable courtesy. "In a moment, after I introduce myself, Brother Huang will know who I am."

Huang Yuntao gave a cold laugh. "But Huang does not wish to know who you are. What can be done about that?"

Pang Yu glanced at the bewildered courtesan beside them, then turned back to Huang Yuntao with a smile. "Why must Brother Huang keep people a thousand li away?"

"Because Huang's Dongjia has been issuing Capital Debt for nearly ten years. In my travels north and south, I have dealt exclusively with officials and functionaries. I need not guess to know what you intend. Your visit today is nothing more than an attempt to use both soft and hard tactics on Huang, always aiming to squeeze some benefit out of Huang to curry favor with that County Magistrate. But let Huang tell you: those who can issue Capital Debt do not fear the petty tricks of small fry like you. Huang shall deliberately not grant your wish."

Pang Yu still did not get angry. Ignoring Huang Yuntao's somewhat furious gaze, he casually picked up a dried fruit from the table and popped it into his mouth. Chewing as he spoke, he said, "My uninvited arrival is somewhat abrupt. However, once Mr. Huang has heard me out, you likely will no longer hold it against me."

Huang Yuntao said with disdain, "Then Huang shall indeed listen."

"Mr. Huang has been going in and out of several money houses in Anqing. This humble one happens to have also worked in a money house, so I'll venture a guess. Mr. Huang wishes to transfer County Magistrate Yang's debt to a local Anqing money house. That is, to have County Magistrate Yang borrow a new debt from Qingyuan Money House at Eight Deduction Three Percent to first repay your silver. Naturally, Qingyuan Money House would also give Mr. Huang a remuneration of one hundred and fifty taels."

A flicker of change passed through Huang Yuntao's eyes, because he had thought the matter with Qingyuan Money House was secret. He had only mentioned the intent to resell to that Advisor, without ever naming Qingyuan Money House. This man must have followed him.

"You dog of a clerk, are you thinking of using that Middleman Fee to blackmail Huang? Huang's Dongjia happens not to mind such things. The Middleman Fee Qingyuan Money House is giving me is indeed one hundred and fifty taels of silver. If you wish to curry favor with that County Magistrate, fine. But Huang will demand three hundred and fifty taels from you alone."

Pang Yu then picked up the woman's wine cup. The woman dared not stop him. Pang Yu wiped the lip print clean, poured himself a full cup, and took a sip. Only then did he leisurely say, "Mr. Huang did not avoid those two Long-term Attendants, so naturally you are not afraid of your Dongjia finding out."

Huang Yuntao furrowed his brow, his body leaning slightly forward. Pang Yu seemed to know everything, while he knew nothing at all about Pang Yu. This feeling was deeply unpleasant.

"The Capital Debt Mr. Huang gave County Magistrate Yang: the IOU is written for two thousand taels, but only one thousand three hundred were disbursed. Thereafter, sixty taels of interest are collected each month. That is Six Deduction Three Percent. How could he possibly repay you on a County Magistrate's salary?"

"It is Six-Five Deduction." Huang Yuntao finally found an opening to counterattack. "We know perfectly well how much silver a Nanzhili County Magistrate can earn in a year. Just the Regular Silver alone amounts to a thousand taels. Save your breath; no need to talk about so many dan and Bean."

Pang Yu did not dwell on this point. He smiled faintly and continued, "You then resell this Capital Debt to Qingyuan Money House at another Eight Deduction Three Percent. Qingyuan gives you two thousand taels of silver to repay the debt, but County Magistrate Yang's total debt becomes two thousand five hundred taels. At three percent monthly interest, he must pay Qingyuan seventy-five taels. With a single flip of your hand, you have saddled County Magistrate Yang with an extra five hundred taels of debt, and he must pay fifteen taels more in interest each month. Treating a court-appointed Seal-Holding Official in this manner — do you still know what the King's Law is?"

Huang Yuntao narrowed his eyes at Pang Yu. "Borrowing money and repaying debts is heaven's law and earth's principle. Let alone a County Magistrate, Capital Officials are subject to the same reasoning. The Great Ming Law clearly states: for all private loans and pawned property, the monthly interest taken must not exceed three percent. Violators shall be punished with forty strokes of the light bamboo cane. Any excess interest shall be calculated as illicit gain; in serious cases, it shall be punished as bribery, with the maximum penalty being one hundred strokes of the heavy cane. My Six-Five Deduction Three Percent does not violate the Great Ming Law. The resale at Eight Deduction Three Percent follows the same principle, because the Great Ming Law never stipulated a mandatory deduction rate. This is what is called the King's Law. We who issue Capital Debt all deal with officials and functionaries. The tricks you people use — I know them better than you do. Neither the Great Ming Law nor the Regulations for Trying Cases will give you or us any grounds for conviction."

Having finished, Huang Yuntao looked immensely pleased with himself. The Great Ming Law had been formulated in the early Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Yuanzhang had been far too self-assured, forbidding the alteration of a single character. He had only thought to regulate interest rates; how could he ever have imagined the trick of deducting from the principal at the moment of lending?

Pang Yu said impassively, "So Mr. Huang understands everything, even the official debt clauses in the Regulations for Trying Cases."

"According to the Regulations for Trying Cases, when officials awaiting selection, Imperial Academy Students, and the like borrow money, and the creditor and guarantor accompany them to their post to collect repayment, if the amount reaches fifty taels or more, the borrower shall be dismissed from office, and the creditor and guarantor shall each be punished with one month in the cangue before being released, with the debt confiscated by the authorities. You dog of a clerk, tell me, if this were handled according to the Regulations for Trying Cases, who would come out worse, Huang or County Magistrate Yang?"

Pang Yu rubbed his chin and tilted his head to look at Huang Yuntao. This man's level of obnoxiousness had indeed reached a certain height.

Only when Huang Yuntao began to feel somewhat uneasy did Pang Yu say flatly, "What does who comes out worse have to do with me?"

Huang Yuntao was stunned. Pang Yu continued, "I am merely here to handle my own affairs. It is indeed related to this Capital Debt, and my aim is to ensure that neither Mr. Huang nor County Magistrate Yang suffers a loss. Before that, allow me to introduce myself. I am not called 'dog of a clerk.' My surname is Pang, given name Yu. By virtue of the merit of beheading over thirty rebels, I currently have the undeserved honor of serving as Tongcheng Fast Squad Head."

Huang Yuntao's expression shifted slightly. "You are that… runner from Tongcheng who killed several dozen people?"

"Just over thirty heads, that's all. Originally, I could have killed only one or two of the ringleaders." Pang Yu said casually. "Then, does Mr. Huang know why I ultimately decided to kill over thirty people, instead of just the ringleaders?"

Huang Yuntao's gaze evaded him somewhat. "I do not."

Pang Yu said lightly, "Because those thirty-plus people delayed me in handling my own affairs. The sensation of chopping off heads is not a pleasant one. I tried both long blades and short blades. The hardest to use was the ox-slaying knife. When cutting through the sinews on the side of the neck, you often have to saw back and forth many times. The neck bone is even harder on the blade; that's how the cutting edge gets worn down. I am not bloodthirsty. I simply do not wish for anyone to delay me in handling my affairs."

The woman listening on the side was full of alarm. She slowly backed away two steps, then, trembling, supported herself against the wall and left the room. Pang Yu observed Huang Yuntao. From Huang Yuntao's expression and body language, he could already sense the other man's fear. It seemed his own reputation had indeed spread far and wide.

Huang Yuntao licked his dry lips and suddenly found himself with nothing to say. He was thoroughly adept at dealing with functionaries within the system, but this genial-faced mass murderer before him gave him a feeling of not knowing how to respond. His mind was a tangled mess of hemp, as if Pang Yu might at any moment produce a blade and lop off his head.

"The unrest in Tongcheng has only just been quelled; nowhere is entirely safe. Mr. Huang has come a long way from the Capital. Pang does not wish for Mr. Huang to encounter any danger, nor does he wish for Mr. Huang to suffer a loss." Pang Yu lifted the wine pot and filled Huang Yuntao's cup to the brim, then handed it to him with a beaming smile. "Pang feels there is no need for Mr. Huang to venture to Tongcheng and take risks. Those two thousand taels of silver — Pang will give them to you. The one hundred taels of Middleman Fee will also be given to you. This way, Mr. Huang does not suffer a loss and can return to the Capital sooner. County Magistrate Yang also avoids an extra five hundred taels of debt. And I will have successfully handled the matter I wish to handle. One could call it a joy to all. I wonder if Mr. Huang will allow me to accomplish this matter?"

Facing that genial, smiling face before him, Huang Yuntao extended a trembling hand and accepted the wine cup.