Chapter 320

First Volume, Chapter 320: Tyrant!

Xie Bi and his daughter stood in the DaTang, listening intently to the sounds in the courtyard.

Even Xie Bi, who had weathered countless storms, now felt his heart churn like a raging sea.

Though Xie Bi had instantly produced sixty ten thousand liang of silver, this money was his lifelong savings for his coffin, utterly incomparable to the wealth of merchants.

Even if one Liuli Workshop's agency rights sold for only ten thousand liang of silver, thirty-six of them would total three million six hundred thousand liang of silver—enough to cover the entire Border Army Camp's military expenditure for two or three years!

Xie Bi couldn't help sighing: "I, an old man who holds the rank of Duke, earn twenty thousand liang of silver annually, yet still spent my whole life to save sixty ten thousand liang of silver. Qin Feng merely spoke a few words, and suddenly hundreds of thousands of liang of silver changed hands—truly astonishing!"

Xie Yun'er's face was flushed, her heart tangled—she couldn't tell whether she felt fear or pride: "Qin Feng has some devilish schemes."

Little did they know, Qin Feng was suffering inside!

If not for the urgent battle in Beixi County and the imminent risk of Tianji Camp's funding chain breaking, would he have ever given up the agency rights? There were thirty-seven Liuli Workshops altogether—wouldn't it be better to run them himself?

Now he had surrendered the agency rights for three full years.

In other words, for these three years, others feasted while Qin Feng could only sip broth—how utterly frustrating!

At this critical deadline, the Gate suddenly opened, and three middle-aged men in splendid Huayi entered.

A single glance revealed these men were no ordinary figures.

The lead man, with a goatee, bowed deeply to Qin Feng with noble bearing: "Greetings, Young Master Qin. My three brothers intend to jointly operate the Liuli Workshops. We offer twenty thousand liang of silver per workshop, and we will take twenty in total."

Even the wealthy merchants present couldn't help shaking their heads in sigh.

The agency rights for a single Liuli Workshop had now risen to twenty thousand liang of silver—even the richest merchants had to think thrice before daring to enter.

Qin Feng quietly calculated: the military expenditure for Beixi County, plus the cost of forming the Brocade Guard and heavy cavalry, would barely be covered by these four million liang of silver.

Just as Qin Feng was about to strike the hammer.

The Gate opened again.

Seeing who it was, Qin Feng's heart dropped: "Damn."

Li Zhan held the Imperial Edict, ignoring the bowing and kneeling merchants and youths, strode straight to the stage, and gave Qin Feng a look that said, "You little sneak, hoarding all the profit."

Without delay, he unfurled the edict and read aloud: "The Ministry of Works, Ministry of Rites, and Ministry of Revenue have jointly petitioned. Because Tianji Camp monopolizes the import and export channels of Liuli ware, it easily leads to hoarding and market manipulation. I, mindful of Heaven, fear market collapse, and thus order the confiscation of all Liuli Workshops under Tianji Camp."

Hearing this, Qin Feng felt a crushing pressure in his chest, as if he might faint at any moment.

Seeing Qin Feng's face turn ashen, Li Zhan smirked inwardly, then changed tone: "I am not heartless. All Liuli Workshops will be compensated to Tianji Camp at twenty thousand liang of silver per workshop. These workshops are Tianji Camp's lifeblood; to surrender them outright would wound your heart. I hereby appoint Tianji Camp Commander Qin Feng as Workshop Master, with a monthly salary of fifty liang of silver."

To hell with you!

Qin Feng had nearly rushed forward to tear the edict to shreds.

The wealthy merchants and the Liang Emperor offered the same price—twenty thousand liang of silver per workshop—but the former bought three-year agency rights, while the latter bought outright ownership.

And… they wanted Qin Feng to become that damn Workshop Master.

In plain terms, Qin Feng bore all the production costs, ran the workshops, while the Liang Emperor simply lay back and counted his money.

Tyrant! Utter, complete tyrant!!!

Li Zhan stepped forward, smiling: "Congratulations, Young Master Qin. Just from selling these Liuli Workshops, you've earned seven million two hundred thousand liang of silver—add the two Liuli artifacts from your earlier auction, and your daily income reaches eight million liang. Even in Shedynasty, let alone all of Heaven, such a staggering wealth-gathering technique is unprecedented and unmatched."

He spoke as if Qin Feng had gained a tremendous advantage!

Qin Feng nearly burst into tears: "Are you serious? I could have lived off these workshops for life—now I'm turned into a one-time cash grab! If I keep operating like this, I could earn not just seven million, but seventy million!"

"Please, Lord Li, return to the palace and advise the Emperor. The National Treasury is empty—spending so much at once to buy these workshops, what if a sudden war breaks out? Where will we get grain and military funds?"

Li Zhan's smile widened. He patted Qin Feng's shoulder: "Forget it."

"Seven million liang is indeed a lot, but the Emperor never said he'd pay it all at once. He has ordered: first pay you two hundred thousand liang of silver; the remainder will be deducted annually from your taxes on your Wine Houses, Sugar businesses, and Book Rooms."

Pfft!

Qin Feng nearly spat blood—this was no different from stealing with empty hands!

Li Zhan glanced around, lowered his voice, and whispered: "Be grateful! Had the Emperor not remembered old ties, he could have given you not a single liang of silver—what could you do? Don't think the Emperor doesn't know you've been smuggling raw materials from the Ministry of Works to produce Liuli ware—it's a business with a hundredfold profit."

"Also, your Tianji Camp dared to kill the Emperor's spies. He says nothing, but remembers every detail. Using these workshops to buy your life—this deal is not a loss."

Earlier, Qin Feng had felt like dying from frustration—but now, hearing this, he finally felt some balance.

In plain terms, this money was meant to be spent for Second Sister Liu Hongyan…

Qin Feng silently resolved: once back at Tianji Camp, he'd make Liu Hongyan compensate him—she'd have to kiss him hard, at least!

Qin Feng sighed, gazing hopefully at Li Zhan: "How about… keeping the Liuli Workshop in Jingdu for me, and I'll give up the other thirty-six?"

Li Zhan rolled his eyes, annoyed: "Still haggling?"

Seeing no room for negotiation, Qin Feng reluctantly gave up, pulled out a YinPiao for ten thousand liang of silver from his sleeve, and shoved it into Li Zhan's arms.

Li Zhan frowned, surprised: "Too much!"

Qin Feng gave a self-deprecating smile: "The Emperor bought out all my Liuli Workshops—so I might as well buy you out. Otherwise, every time we meet, I'll have to slip you silver. What a hassle."

Bribery had never been described so elegantly!

Li Zhan accepted the bribe without refusal, and murmured: "If you don't want the remaining five million liang of silver, the Emperor will have nothing to do with your feud with the Lin Family."

Qin Feng understood the hidden meaning instantly.

The phrase "No official rank in the family, no noble title in office" had worked!

If he chose to forgo the remaining five million liang, then no matter how violently Qin Family and Lin Family fought, the Liang Emperor would pretend ignorance.

But the problem was—starting war against the Lin Family was meant to relieve the Liang Emperor's troubles.

Why should I pay? Especially five million liang?

That old bastard really knows how to do business!