Chapter 32: The Art of Dividing Money

Nan Cheng Thousand-Household Office.

The Marquis of Wuyang personally appeared, and the Eastern Depot eunuch sent to take over showed extraordinary enthusiasm, with not a single misstep throughout.

After seeing off the Eastern Depot personnel, the deal was complete; what remained was internal division of the proceeds.

“Commander, here are five thousand taels of gold and two hundred fifty thousand taels in silver; the rest are assets in kind.”

“The Eastern Depot pressed us for time—we simply couldn’t liquidate everything in time.”

“Jewelry, antiques, and paintings are too murky a field; my knowledge is limited, so I dared not accept them. I only took properties in the capital and surrounding lands.”

“Right now, morale in the capital is shaky; these immovable assets won’t fetch good prices if sold.”

“The yamen must operate—it cannot do without silver.”

“Why not take a loss and accept these assets?”

As he spoke, Li Mu handed over a thick stack of property deeds and land titles.

After a cursory glance, the Marquis of Wuyang’s stern face broke into a smile.

In officialdom, gift-giving requires skill; everyone likes silver, but land and capital properties are even harder currency.

Unless disaster strikes, no one sells their assets under normal circumstances.

That group of civil officials was willing to part with these properties not only because they were short on funds, but also to reduce risk.

Releasing too much silver at once would be far too conspicuous.

Even with a middleman in between, no one could guarantee the middleman was truly reliable.

To prove their wealth had been drained, slipping in some core assets was undoubtedly a smart move.

Since these were asset offsets, discounts were inevitable.

Fifty thousand taels was too vast a sum for the Marquis of Wuyang to absorb alone.

After setting aside some operational funds and sharing a portion with yamen officials, the bulk must go to the Emperor or the Empress Dowager.

If everyone took their share, no one would dare bring up this money later.

In this regard, the Marquis of Wuyang and Li Mu were both merely earning a transit fee.

The chance to handle these assets was the extra benefit.

“You’re right—the yamen’s operations cannot do without funds.”

“Everyone’s struggling; we can’t shortchange the men below.”

“Fine, I’ll take a loss and accept these properties.”

“But these troubles can’t fall on me alone.”

“You have no residence in the capital—just buy one of these houses at face value.”

“Buy a few shops and estates too; that’ll secure your footing in the capital!”

As he spoke, the Marquis of Wuyang pulled out several land deeds from the pile and placed them in Li Mu’s hands.

“Thank you, Commander, for your kindness!”

Li Mu feigned delight.

Everything unfolded as expected—he had won his gamble.

Premium assets were desirable to all, but these were too conspicuous.

Holding them openly under your name would signal to the world: “Here lies a corrupt official.”

Experienced officials would rather hoard vast sums of silver in warehouses than touch such overt assets.

If they truly wished to acquire them, they did so through legal channels, leaving no room for criticism.

Cautious Li Mu had naturally absorbed everyone’s best practices.

Handing the assets to the Marquis shifted the burden—and won his favor.

The return was immediate: buying assets at a discount was nothing; the key was that phrase—“secure your footing in the capital.”

It was an explicit signal: he had accepted Li Mu as his junior.

Though some noble scions in the Five City Military Command refused to acknowledge the Marquis of Wuyang, those who dared such defiance were direct heirs of dukes and marquises, needing no regard for superiors.

Li Mu, a distant branch bearing a noble surname, had no such clout.

The Marquis might not be able to promote them, but he could certainly block their advancement.

The capital inspection, held every three years, would begin in a few months.

Though overseen by the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, the Marquis of Wuyang, as Commander, held considerable influence over its outcome.

The inspection’s results would directly determine officials’ future promotions.

“Alright, remember to pay the offset amount to the Five City Military Command within three days.”

“I have duties at my yamen—I can’t linger here!”

It was clear the Marquis was truly busy; besides Nan Cheng Thousand-Household Office, four other thousand-household offices awaited his collection.

…

The bulk had been sent out; what remained was internal profit distribution.

Mastering this step would truly solidify Li Mu’s position within the yamen.

No one could refuse a superior who brought in money and was willing to share it.

Looking at the expectant faces before him, Li Mu smiled slightly: “This harvest was substantial thanks to everyone’s efforts.”

“Today, all here are brothers—no need for formalities.”

“The Eastern Depot’s share has been paid; the bribes upward have been disbursed.”

“The referral fees from the middlemen—how much you get is your own skill; no one should envy another.”

“For safety, I did not record this portion in the books.”

“The money has already been settled among you; how you launder it is your own business.”

“From now on, if anyone asks, I will deny it. I hope you forget this ever happened—as if this money never existed.”

“Here is the yamen’s official ledger: silver and gold combined total roughly three hundred thousand taels. Ten thousand taels must be retained for daily operations and emergencies.”

“As for the remaining two hundred thousand taels—how should we divide it? Speak your minds!”

As soon as he finished, everyone’s eyes blazed with hunger.

Even those present, all noble scions who had seen great wealth, still regarded two hundred thousand taels as an astronomical sum.

Without this windfall, the Nan Cheng Thousand-Household Office’s ledger would never have held such a fortune.

“Commander, this much money is too conspicuous. If we distribute it outright as usual, we’ll draw attention.”

“Even if we’ve cleared it upward, if some naive official blows the whistle to court, it’ll be a major problem.”

“I suggest we first give everyone an extra month’s salary, then inflate night-watch allowances and routine expenses gradually to absorb the funds.”

As Deputy Commander Yuan Yangming proposed this, Sun, the Battalion Commander beside him, grew furious.

“Commander Yuan, by your logic, everyone in the yamen gets a share—so we who did the work get nothing?”

As the office responsible for maintaining order over a vast district, Nan Cheng Thousand-Household Office was severely overstaffed; beyond registered troops, it employed countless temporary laborers.

Two hundred thousand taels was indeed substantial, but if split among a thousand men, each would receive barely a handful.

Sun had just left his family home and spent heavily on new gear—he was in dire need of cash.

Unfamiliar with civil officials, he gained nothing from the middleman deals earlier.

If he gained nothing now, his future would be bleak.

“Commander Sun, calm down—I didn’t mean that. But right now, our Five City Military Command is too conspicuous.”

“Those civil officials whose interests were harmed won’t willingly give up their gains.”

“Though the Eastern Depot stands in front of us, openly dividing the money will still make them resent us.”

“Above all, prioritize your career!”

After Yuan Yangming spoke, the group split into two factions and erupted into argument.

“Silence!”

“Commander Yuan is right—caution is wise under these circumstances.”

“We can first determine each person’s share, then distribute it gradually under plausible justifications based on actual needs.”

“If anyone urgently needs cash, they may borrow from the Thousand-Household Office.”

“The loan must be below your share, and you must pay symbolic interest—to avoid trouble during future audits.”

“Don’t forget—this year is the capital inspection year!”

Li Mu warned sharply.

By handing the division issue to them, he appeared to seek opinions—but it was, in truth, a screening.

An official who can restrain greed may not be trustworthy; but one who cannot restrain greed is certainly unfit for promotion.

(End of Chapter)