Chapter 768 - 770: Audacious
Chapter 768: Chapter 770: Audacious
Gu Wenheng hadn’t expected to see results so quickly.
He handed the letter in his hand to Jin Qianqian. "How long has Brother Zhou been in Shangjing? He’s getting more and more tactful."
Jin Qianqian replied, "...With so many sly old foxes in Shangjing, he couldn’t play dumb even if he wanted to.
"Bai Jinglie is quite bold. Did he think we would just swallow our anger even if we knew he was playing dirty tricks behind our backs?
"Look at what he’s done. For this little bit of silver, he’s even lost the Emperor’s trust.
"I wonder if he regrets it right now."
Far away in Shangjing, Bai Jinglie was consumed by bitter regret.
"He just didn’t expect things to change so fast," Gu Wenheng said, pointing at the contents of the letter. "He originally thought that since we are so far away, even if we asked about it, he could just say there was a mistake or blame it on his subordinates’ incompetence, and the matter would be glossed over.
"He’s been working for the Emperor all these years and let it get to his head.
"He fancied himself indispensable to the Emperor’s affairs, became restless, and started scheming for his own benefit.
"However, he didn’t expect Old Marquis Bai to pass away from illness at this exact moment, forcing him to stay in the Capital for Ding You.
"The Emperor has plenty of capable people at his disposal, and many are eager to take Bai Jinglie’s place.
"By cutting off his own escape route, he handed others the perfect opportunity."
"Emperors have always been naturally suspicious creatures," Jin Qianqian said. "Brother Zhou’s letter mentioned that the Emperor even sent someone to audit the accounts. Who would have thought Bai Jinglie had the guts to doctor the books so flawlessly? On paper, our share was calculated down to the last penny, yet we were actually shorted over two hundred thousand taels of silver.
"If we hadn’t immediately questioned him and waited to check the accounts later, we really would have been forced to suffer this loss in silence."
The mere thought of such scheming filled Jin Qianqian with disgust.
They had been friends for many years, yet she never expected him to treat them like pushovers.
The Emperor and General Zhou received their full shares; it was only their family that was shortchanged. It was a complete waste of Gu Wenheng’s goodwill in previously giving him the glass recipe and helping him earn so much silver.
"He didn’t come out of this unscathed either. After this incident, the Emperor will never trust him again.
"Once his Ding You is over, it will probably be very difficult for him to make a comeback," Gu Wenheng said. He still felt a bit of pity; Bai Jinglie was highly capable, but he couldn’t escape his own greed. "But that’s only part of the reason. Have you forgotten whose family his wife comes from?"
"So, when all is said and done, is the Emperor just taking his anger out on him?" Jin Qianqian asked. "Or is it a warning to General Deng?"
Everyone now knew that General Deng, stationed at the Southwest Border, held command over an army of three hundred thousand. The Emperor had summoned him several times, but he always found excuses to decline.
"Everyone is waiting to see what happens with the military power in the Southwest. In truth, there’s practically no suspense about this matter. The weather has been favorable these past few years, the National Treasury is abundant, and the military power in all other regions is now firmly in the Emperor’s hands."
In his position, Gu Wenheng needed to analyze all aspects more deeply. "The fact that General Deng sent his wife and daughter to Shangjing was actually his way of showing his stance. It’s just a pity that the Emperor is unwilling to wait."
"Is there something wrong over in the Southwest?" Jin Qianqian asked.
"There are constant disputes among several small tribal nations," Gu Wenheng explained. "If it weren’t for General Deng Yi standing guard there, there would be no peace in that region.
"Because of this, even though the Emperor is anxious, he has no choice but to endure it for now."
Jin Qianqian curled her lips. "Being an emperor always requires more scheming than ordinary people. Tell me, if we hadn’t handed the sea trade over to him earlier, would he have tolerated us?"
Gu Wenheng was silent. Of course not. Those in power never liked being counterbalanced by others, whether in terms of authority or wealth.
Seeing that he didn’t answer, Jin Qianqian knew his silence was the best response. She fell silent as well.
"The silver we currently have on hand is enough," Jin Qianqian sighed. "Let’s stop stirring up trouble in the future. Whether it’s for ourselves or for the people, nothing is more important than protecting ourselves first."
Gu Wenheng knew that Jin Qianqian had been frightened. In this era of imperial power, they were still far too lowly.
"We won’t stir up trouble anymore. The matters we have on hand are already keeping us busy enough. We really should stop and take a break."
Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes at him. "I might be able to slow down and rest, but it’s probably going to be difficult for you.
"The Emperor is ready to squeeze every last drop of value out of you. This is only the first year, and I’m already starting to think about moving again."
Jin Qianqian felt a headache coming on. Even with their subordinates helping out, moving still involved a mountain of tedious chores.
"..."
Jin Qianqian knew that Gu Wenheng worked hard all day and was exhausted, but she didn’t try to persuade him to give it up.
The commoners here lived in a state of extreme backwardness and poverty. If they didn’t help find a way out for them, who knew how long these miserable days would last.
As time went on, she vaguely began to realize that perhaps it was destined by some unseen force for her and Gu Wenheng to arrive in this dynasty.
They should accumulate more merit, do more good deeds, and do more for the people of this land—only then would their journey here not be in vain!
"Then are we still transferring the sea trade?"
Seeing that she remembered this, and noting the reluctance in her voice, Gu Wenheng smiled and said, "So you’re reluctant to let it go now? Weren’t you speaking so righteously before?"
"I was just angry at the time. After all, this is something we built from the ground up with our own hands. Having to hand it over was already frustrating enough.
"This is an annual dividend of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver! Even if I were just saving up for our two sons’ inheritance, saving for a few years would amount to a massive family fortune.
"If we don’t have to transfer it out now, that’s obviously for the best.
"I’m not stupid, why would I hold a grudge against money?"
"Then we’ll keep it," Gu Wenheng said. "It seems Bai Jinglie’s fuss has actually worked in our favor.
"The Holy Emperor has made his stance clear this time. In the future, no matter who takes over Bai Jinglie’s affairs, at the very least, they won’t dare to make a move against us."
Moreover, with such a massive sum of silver officially recognized on the books, others wouldn’t be able to find fault with it even if they tried.
"Hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better," Jin Qianqian said. "So, does that mean we actually have to thank Prince Bai?"
"You could say that, but if it weren’t him, it would be someone else." Gu Wenheng felt that the human heart was truly the hardest thing to predict. "Regardless, we’re benefiting from this now, so it can be considered a joyous occasion."
"I’ll have someone go to the restaurant and order a few tables of food and wine," Jin Qianqian said. "Let’s all celebrate properly today."
She thought self-deprecatingly, "Finding joy in a difficult situation is nothing more than this."
「Meanwhile.」
The atmosphere at the Liang Mansion was nowhere near as cheerful.
Liang Shi sighed at how deeply Gu Wenheng had won the Emperor’s favor, to the point where even claiming such massive profits from the sea trade was tacitly approved.
Mrs. Liang He said, "My Lord, how could Gu Wenheng bypass you and send a memorial straight to Shangjing?
"He clearly has no respect for you as the governor. This is truly going too far."
"What does a woman like you know?" Liang Shi retorted.
"He didn’t even need to write a memorial to reach the ears of the Emperor.
"I didn’t expect him to have found such a solid backer. I truly underestimated his ability to maneuver and curry favor."
In Liang Shi’s view, Gu Wenheng must have chosen to side with Empress Zhou early on. A single letter sent to Marquis Zhou was enough to alert the Holy Emperor. It seemed he would have to completely reevaluate this man.