Chapter 1220

Hu Xiaotian pointed at Liu Zhiyang's pile of things and extended a finger.

Liu Zhiyang felt a surge of wild joy, putting on a reluctant appearance: "Ten thousand taels! That's a bit little!"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "One tael!"

"What?" Liu Zhiyang thought he misheard: "What did you say?"

Hu Xiaotian came before Gu Jiayuan's pile of things: "Also one tael!" He treated everyone equally, giving each one tael.

The faces of this group turned pale; none of them were fools, just blinded by greed for profit, dazzled by the prospect of huge gains. Now they all understood: they had been set up. The other party first used high prices to buy their worthless items, then released a signal, making them think this guy was a suckered, so they went to purchase goods to resell to him. As a result, they spent a lot of money to acquire this pile of stuff, while he intended to buy it cheaply.

Liu Zhiyang's fatty face trembled with anger; he had spent two thousand taels of silver.

Gu Jiayuan's face turned even greener. Three thousand taels, minus the other party's five hundred taels, he had to add high-interest loans to scrape together two thousand five hundred taels. This pile of goods had earned the jeweler at least one thousand taels, meaning his income fell short of expenses. He wasn't in the jewelry business; selling these goods might not even fetch one thousand taels. How could he repay his debts? Gu Jiayuan sneered: "Hu Caidong, do you still have any integrity?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "How lack integrity? If I had no integrity, I wouldn't give you even a copper coin. What? You actually think you can swindle me with this junk you've gathered?"

Liu Zhiyang stepped forward, glaring at Hu Xiaotian like a fiend: "Surname Hu, you'd better check what place this is? This isn't your Dakang, is it?"

"So what? Are you trying to use force against me? Bohai State is also a land of law; if you dare to buy and sell by force, believe it or not I'll have you arrested and taken to the officials."

"Pah! A Dakang native actually dares to go to the officials with us? Go ahead, who's afraid of whom?"

Liu Zhiyang reached out to grab Hu Xiaotian's collar, but Hu Xiaotian seized his wrist, gave a light push, and he stumbled back three steps, landing on his butt. Everyone shouted: "You dare hit someone? Seize him and take him to the officials! Seize him and take him to the officials!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly, seeing several people approach him, with a clang he drew his waist sword. The cold blade pressed against Gu Jiayuan's throat; Gu Jiayuan gulped saliva, thumped to his knees before Hu Xiaotian. This fellow had not a shred of a scholar's backbone, trembling he said: "Sir, spare my life… Sir, spare my life… I have eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai; I ought not to have provoked you."

Hu Xiaotian sighed, sheathing his blade. Then he heard Li Mingju's voice from outside: "Had I known earlier, why bother at first? You all should have realized long ago that there's no such thing as a free pie falling from the sky."

Li Mingju, wearing a Lan-colored scholar's robe, walked slowly to the door. Hu Xiaotian had actually heard his footsteps long ago, smiling and clasping his hands: "So it's Brother Mingju coming; please come in quickly."

Upon Li Mingju's arrival, the people inside the room felt ashamed and couldn't bear to speak, covering their faces as they fled. Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Don't rush off. Take your treasures with you."

After the crowd had completely departed, Li Mingju then returned the salute to Hu Xiaotian: "Master Hu, I greet you!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Sir Li, you're too polite. Please have a seat."

After sitting, Li Mingju took the cup of tea Hu Xiaotian offered, sipped it, and said: "Master Hu, this trick of yours is really splendid! It's a pity my friends who only know how to read dead books."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I harbor no intention to harm anyone; it's just that your friends are simply too greedy."

Li Mingju's eyes blazed as he fixed his gaze on Hu Xiaotian: "If it weren't for you, Master Hu, taking the initiative to strike up conversation, how could this have happened?"

Hu Xiaotian saw that Li Mingju was also a person of extraordinary wisdom. Smiling, he said: "Sir Li, I was just joking with them; although I don't want those jewels and jade, I will bear the losses of your friends."

Li Mingju said indifferently: "I can't afford to owe you this favor. I don't know what brings Master Hu to Haiyang City."

"Doing business!"

"Really?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Sir Li, to be frank, I originally came to Haiyang City intending to do business with Ju Bao Zhai, but all the Ju Bao Zhai branches in Bohai State were suddenly sealed off, and I'm quite curious about this."

Li Mingju said: "Master Hu, you're surely not just here for business, are you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, business is everywhere; some deal in jewelry, some in flesh trade, some in food and drink, some in networking, and truly astute businesspeople deal in networking!"

Li Mingju asked: "What connections does Master Hu have in Bohai State?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "I had none before; today I've gotten to know Sir Li."

Li Mingju chuckled: "I don't even know your background; how could you be sure I'll help you with things?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Some things can't be explained clearly, but I can feel them; from the first time I met Sir Li, I sensed we hit it off, Sir Li is also a sincere person, today at the wine house you reminded me, I'm very grateful to Sir Li; actually joking with your friends was merely to draw your notice and make friends with you."

Li Mingju said: "Master Hu, your way of making friends is truly special."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although Bohai is prosperous, after all it's merely an island in the sea, with limited territory and few people; even the Bohai King entrusts the nation's fate to another country. Someone like Sir Li, talented and ambitious, surely wouldn't confine his gaze to this island nation, nor would he spend his whole life stuck in place, unwilling to step beyond Bohai even a half-step."

Hu Xiaotian's words happened to hit exactly what Li Mingju was thinking; indeed, many scholars in Bohai harbor ambitions, none wanting to be trapped on this island forever, Li Mingju is no exception—he has already begun preparing to leave Bohai for the Central Plains to broaden his horizons, even just to enjoy the scenery of the Central Plains would be good.

Hu Xiaotian knows little about Bohai State, but Li Mingju knows just as little about the Central Plains continent.

Li Mingju said: "What does Master Hu want to know?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Li, could you arrange for me to meet the manager of Haiyang City's Ju Bao Zhai?"

Li Mingju's eyes narrowed: "You're indeed here for the Ju Bao Zhai matter; are you from Dakang or Da Yong?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Dakang! Although I don't know exactly what's happened in Bohai State, I feel that what's occurring now may not be good. Under heaven, everyone knows—Ju Bao Zhai is the property of Prince Yan Xue Shengjing of Da Yong. Although the Bohai King holds the title of a state lord, I don't think he could afford to provoke Prince Yan of Da Yong; behind this must lie some mystery."

Li Mingju apparently grew interested in Hu Xiaotian's words, whispering: "What mystery?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The case recently occurred in Bohai State can be called the most sensational case in Bohai over the past twenty years, and it has fallen into the hands of Sir Li; forgive my frankness. This matter is likely fraught with danger; Sir Li must make preparations in advance and secure a retreat."

Li Mingju furrowed his brows: "You're threatening me!"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "I bear no ill will toward Sir Li; this case involves the internal power struggle of Da Yong, and I am merely a Dakang native. I came to Bohai State to do business, and incidentally I also wish to meet someone."

"Who?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't know where she is now, but someone knows her whereabouts."

Li Mingju said: "You mean the manager of Ju Bao Zhai?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "That's why I wanted to ask Sir Li for this small favor."

Li Mingju said: "What's in it for me?"

Hu Xiaotian knew Li Mingju was already moved; he had long seen that the greatest pressure of this Bohai case should fall on Li Changxing, Li Mingju being Li Changxing's son certainly understands his father's pressure; no matter how the case develops, Li Changxing will always be laboring without reward.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although the case occurred in Bohai State, the real struggle is within Da Yong; if Prince Yan ultimately prevails, how will Bohai State face him thereafter?"

Li Mingju's heart sank; he increasingly felt the other party must have ulterior motives.

He pondered a moment, set down his chazan, rose to his feet, and said softly: "Master Hu, I need to go back and ask my father's opinion on this; I cannot give you a reply now."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I will await your good news right here."

After leaving Xiankelai, Li Mingju hurried straight home, unaware that someone was tailing him.

Hu Xiaotian tailed Li Mingju all the way to the Li residence. Night had already fallen; taking advantage of the deep darkness, he scaled the wall and sneaked into the Li mansion, only to see Li Mingju walk through the garden to the eastern corner's study.

The Bohai State Minister of Punishments, Li Changxing, had already returned, sitting in the study sighing; hearing his son's knock, he set down his scroll and said: "Mingju is back? Come in quickly!"

Li Mingju pushed open the door and entered the study; seeing his father's face full of worry, guessing he was again fretting over the case, he said respectfully: "Father, it's time for dinner."

Li Changxing said: "Don't want to eat, Mingju! I've spoken with your Uncle Yang; he plans to set sail next month for Dakang, and I intend to let you go with him—just the chance to gain experience in the Central Plains."

Li Mingju shook his head and said, "I, your son, will not go!"

"Why won't you go?"

Li Mingju said, "Father, you never wanted me, your son, to go for training; you only want me to go to the Central Plains to avoid danger."

Li Changxing, having his thoughts hit upon by his son, couldn't help but sigh again and said, "Since you understand my painstaking intentions, you should go without hesitation; why then do you refuse to agree?"

Li Mingju said, "Father! Since you clearly know that investigating Yuan Xiangguo's case is fraught with risk, why did you take on this assignment? You could feign illness to decline it."

Li Changxing gave a bitter smile and said, "Can I get out of it? I am the Minister of Justice; to whom could I pass it? His Majesty entrusted this matter to me after careful consideration; if I do not take on this assignment, I fear His Majesty will treat me as an accomplice of Yuan Tianzhao, not only will I be blamed, but you all will suffer as well."

Li Mingju exclaimed angrily, "His Majesty has mobilized troops this time, implicating many; what is his true intention? Even the Treasure Pavilion has been dragged in—does he not realize that the Treasure Pavilion belongs to Prince Yan of Da Yong? Has he not considered the consequences of offending Prince Yan?"

The cold has worsened; Zhangyu can only persist to this point—please cast a few more Monthly Tickets! (To be continued~^~)