Chapter 127: The Sleeping Dragon and the Phoenix Chick

A few days later, on an afternoon, an irritated roar came from the study of Li Mansion, Li Yuxuan shouting, "No! Making money this way is still too slow!"

Li Nian'an, who was drinking tea, was choked and coughed several times, eyes widened in disbelief: "That's still slow? Father, your idea of a joint military‑civilian breeding farm, and didn't the Chairman give you 5,000 taels this month?"

"5,000?" Li Yuxuan pounded the table, his voice full of anguish, "In the past, when we asked the Chairman for money, it was always hundreds of millions of taels! What can this little sum do? It's not even enough to buy a new pair of shoes for the Fifth Army!"

He paced anxiously in the study, his military boots thudding on the floor. Suddenly his eyes lit up; he stopped abruptly at the desk and pressed the call bell.

The guard entered on the cue: "What are the Army Commander's orders?"

"Summon Dai Yunong for me. Also bring Xu Enzhen, together." Li Yuxuan's eyes flashed, "Make it quick!"

"Yes!" The guard, though surprised, dared not ask further and turned to carry it out at once.

Li Nian'an leaned in curiously: "Father, why are you calling these two agents? What money‑making avenues could they have?"

"What do you know?" Li Yuxuan smiled mysteriously, "These days, the ones best at skimming the side roads are exactly these people."

In less than two hours, Dai Li and Xu Enzhen arrived one after another. Dai Li was still dressed gloomily, black windbreaker and black hat, looking like a night owl emerging from the shadows. Xu Enzhen wore a crisp Zhongshan suit, gold‑thread glasses perched on his nose, exuding a scholarly air.

"Director." Dai Li bowed slightly, his voice low.

"Chairman Li." Xu Enzhen adjusted his glasses, his tone cautious.

Li Yuxuan warmly ushered the two to sit, personally pouring tea: "Come, come, try this fine Longjing."

The two, startled by the favor, took the cups and exchanged a puzzled glance. Dai Li asked cautiously, "Director summoned us here; what business is it?"

Li Yuxuan rubbed his hands with a genial smile: "Lately I've been wanting to make money."

"Huh?" The two froze simultaneously.

"Exactly, to make money." Li Yuxuan stood, pacing behind them, "Exactly, you two are here to fetch money for me. Discuss properly how we should earn it."

A strange silence fell over the study. Dai Li and Xu Enzhen stared at each other, clearly taken off guard by the request.

"This… Chairman…" Xu Enzhen was the first to break the silence, "I wonder whether you intend a legitimate business, or …"

"Nonsense!" Li Yuxuan glared, "Of course it's a business that brings money quickly!"

A spark flashed in Dai Li's eyes as he lowered his voice, "Director, if you urgently need cash, I have a few avenues …"

"Tell me!" Li Yuxuan showed interest.

The three gathered around the desk and began a secret discussion.

"First," Dai Li pulled out a notebook, "we could set up a military‑government essential‑supply chain."

"Speak in plain language!" Li Yuxuan hammered the table impatiently.

"It means monopolizing the army's material supply," Xu Enzhen hurriedly explained, "such as uniforms, rations, boots… these are big business."

Dai Li continued, "I have contacts everywhere; we can purchase at low cost and sell to the military at market price. The margin …"

"Brilliant!" Li Yuxuan's eyes lit up, "Continue!"

"Second," Xu Enzhen adjusted his glasses, "we can revitalize the intelligence network to do Information Gap Business."

Seeing Li Yuxuan about to ask again, he quickly explained, "It means using our informational advantage to profit. For example, if we know a road will be built somewhere, we buy the surrounding land in advance. If we know certain goods will rise in price, we stockpile ahead …"

"That's even better!" Li Yuxuan slapped the table, "What else?"

Dai Li and Xu Enzhen grew more excited, each adding more money‑making schemes. From reselling scarce supplies, to smuggling via the agent network, to running casinos and opium dens in the concessions… the myriad routes left Li Yuxuan standing agape.

After more than an hour of heated debate, the three reached consensus: prioritize the "military‑government essential‑supply chain," then revitalize the intelligence network for "Information Gap Business," and finally pursue light‑asset "long‑term dividends."

"Long‑term dividends," Xu Enzhen explained, "mean investing in real estate in big cities like Modu and Guangzhou. Those places will surely appreciate."

"Moreover," Dai Li added, "we can open a few banks in the concessions, both to launder money and to lend, killing two birds with one stone."

Li Yuxuan's heart swelled with joy as he patted their shoulders heavily, "You two are literally my Crouching Dragon and Soaring Phoenix Chick!"

Dai Li and Xu Enzhen, flattered and startled, quickly bowed, "Director, Chairman, you've overpraised us!"

"But …" Li Yuxuan suddenly frowned, "Where will the startup capital for these businesses come from?"

Dai Li smiled mysteriously, "Director, rest assured, we can borrow a portion from the special funds. Once the business is up, we'll return it unnoticed."

"Good!" Li Yuxuan rejoiced, "That's the plan! Leave the details to you."

"We will certainly not disappoint the Director's trust!" the two replied in unison.

Just as the three were chatting merrily, the study door was flung open. Li Nian'an burst in, panting, "Father! The Chairman sent someone! They're already in the front yard!"

"What?!" The three in the study stood up simultaneously.

Dai Li and Xu Enzhen instantly panicked, "What… what should we do?"

Li Yuxuan also had sweat on his forehead, but quickly composed himself, "Why panic? Quickly, exit through the back door!"

The two, as if pardoned, hurriedly packed their things to slip away. Before leaving, Dai Li didn't forget to remind, "Director, about that matter …"

"I know! Hurry!" Li Yuxuan waved his hands repeatedly.

From the front yard came Qian Dajun's voice: "Lord Jing? Why are you shutting the door in broad daylight?"

Li Yuxuan hurriedly adjusted his attire, gave his son a glance, then forced a smile and greeted, "Mu Yi! What wind brings you here?"

Qian Dajun entered the study hands behind his back, his sharp gaze scanning the room, "I thought I heard a visitor here for Lord Jing just now?"

"No… nothing!" Li Yuxuan quickly denied, "Just discussing family matters with Nian'an."

"Oh?" Qian Dajun looked at him with a half‑smile, "Lord Jing, I seem to have heard Dai Yunong and Xu Enzhen's voices?"

Li Yuxuan's heart tightened, unsure how to answer, when Qian Dajun suddenly laughed, "Alright, Lord Jing, I'm here this time to deliver money to you."

"Deliver money?" Li Yuxuan thought he had misheard.

"Exactly, Lord Jing." Qian Dajun pulled a document from his briefcase, "The Fifth Army performed well in Shanghai this time; the Chairman had the Military Affairs Department earmark a special fund of 500,000 taels."

Li Yuxuan stared dumbfounded as he took the document, hardly daring to believe his eyes.

Qian Dajun said meaningfully, "Lord Jing, if you're short of cash, tell me. The Chairman isn't in the President's Office; am I not? Stop always thinking of those crooked ways, Lord Jing."

After speaking, he turned and left, leaving Li Yuxuan standing dazed.

Li Nian'an leaned over, glanced at the document, and clicked his tongue, "Father, now we don't need those crooked ways, right?"

Li Yuxuan snapped back, a cunning glint in his eye, "Who said that? This 500,000 is perfect as startup capital… Go retrieve my Crouching Dragon and Soaring Phoenix Chick!"

Li Nian'an: "……"