Moma Liangshan

Chapter 77 Five Lakes and Four Seas, Wealth Abounds

The auction officially began the next day. Li Yuanwai and Boss Han stood in a private room on the second floor. Li said, “I have clearly stated to Young Master Wang that I am willing to join forces. He agreed and readily agreed to the Li family’s future investment in Jiaozhou. Only regarding today’s auction, he hasn’t given a clear answer, insisting that I participate according to the auction rules.” Boss Han looked at the people downstairs and said, “The truly wealthy merchants of Dongjing City, apart from my uncle, are not participating. As for these people downstairs, they are merely second- or third-rate families. Young Master Wang’s insistence that my uncle participate according to the auction rules might be a tacit approval for my uncle to acquire another half-stake. Moreover, if anything goes wrong with the money Young Master Wang wants, my uncle can easily compensate with an additional 200,000 strings of cash.” Li Yuanwai nodded in agreement. At this moment, a servant rushed over and whispered in Master Li's ear, "The one from the palace has arrived and is already in Miss Li's room." Master Li was shocked and ordered, "Immediately send twenty more men from the manor to serve her carefully. There must be no mistakes." Master Li looked out the window to the third floor and saw four guards with swords protecting Li Shishi's boudoir. The guards were all in plain clothes, and their swords were all wrapped in black cloth, but Master Li was the owner of Fanlou and could recognize their identities at a glance. A moment later, the servant came back to report, "Young Master Wang has also gone up to the third floor, and there is someone leading the way." Master Li whispered, "Is it a eunuch?" The waiter nodded and said, "I can't see his Adam's apple, so it should be right!" Master Li nodded and said, "Report any news immediately!" The waiter replied, "Understood!" After saying that, he left again.

Boss Han asked, "Has the Emperor arrived?" Master Li, his expression grave, replied, "Not only has the Emperor arrived, but he also summoned Young Master Wang to Miss Li's room." Boss Han said, "It seems the Emperor's regard for Young Master Wang is greater than we anticipated!" Master Li said, "Rumors in the marketplace say Young Master Wang is merely a subject of the Emperor, not an official of the court. It seems there's some truth to that!" Boss Han said, "Young Master Wang is neither a scholar through the imperial examinations nor has any aristocratic background. His ability to establish himself in Tokyo relies solely on the Emperor's trust. The rumors circulating in the marketplace are slander and defamation, born of jealousy and envy!" Master Li understood the implications, saying, "A seventh-rank county magistrate, yet situated in a political structure akin to that of a prime minister or chancellor—it's both incredibly prestigious and fraught with peril!"

Wang Hao arrived on the third floor and saw Emperor Huizong and Li Shishi sitting on a soft couch. He quickly bowed and greeted them. Emperor Huizong said, "I have come out of the palace incognito, my dear minister, please do not be so formal!" Wang Hao replied, "Yes!" Li Shishi said from the side, "Let us guess how much our brother will be worth after today?" Emperor Huizong said, "My dear minister, sometimes I really envy you. You always have so many ways to make money!" Wang Hao said, "The reason I am able to do so well is because of Your Majesty's boundless grace." Emperor Huizong smiled slightly and said, "My dear minister, you promised Huanhuan that you would not bind your feet?" Wang Hao did not expect Emperor Huizong to ask about this matter and said, "I was merely expressing my own preference. Whether Princess Huan binds her feet or not is entirely up to Your Majesty." "Your Majesty and the Empress shall decide!" Emperor Huizong said. "She is your fiancée. As the ruler of the country, I will not concern myself with such trivial matters!" Wang Hao cautiously replied, "If Your Majesty allows me to decide, I naturally agree that Princess Huan should not bind her feet!" Emperor Huizong asked, "Do you not like bound feet?" Wang Hao answered, "I don't!" Emperor Huizong asked again, "Why?" Wang Hao casually replied, "Perhaps it's because I grew up in the countryside, and it's my nature!" Suddenly, Li Shishi placed one foot on Emperor Huizong's knee and said, "Brother, do you dislike your sister's big feet?" After saying this, she pretended to cry. Emperor Huizong was furious and quickly said, "Shishi, what are you saying? I have never had the slightest complaint about your jade feet!" Emperor Huizong thought to himself, "Huanhuan will be Wang Hao's principal wife in the future. There are many rules for a principal wife. Not binding her feet would ultimately be improper!" But Emperor Huizong absolutely dared not say this in front of Li Shishi, otherwise, the consequences of the beauty's anger would be very serious!

Emperor Huizong immediately thought, "Wang Hao comes from a rural background, and his family doesn't have many rules. Even after he marries Huanhuan, he'll live in the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence. Although the principal wife has a high status, she'll only manage the inner courtyard. Since Wang Hao has clearly expressed his disapproval of Huanhuan's foot binding, why should I meddle in the affairs of such a young person? Let him be!" Changing the subject, he said seemingly jokingly, "You mustn't forget your promise, Minister Wang!" Wang Hao hadn't expected Emperor Huizong to be so short of money and said, "I will definitely deliver it to the palace before dark tomorrow." Emperor Huizong said, "There are too many rules in the palace; you don't need to go personally. Just prepare it at your residence, and I will send Eunuch Chen to collect it." Wang Hao said, "Your Majesty, I obey!"

At this moment, the auction downstairs finally began. The auctioneer on the stage was the Li family's steward, also a trusted confidant of Master Li. Steward Li's voice was loud and clear as he said, "The wonders of the Eight Immortals Wine have all been tasted by you, no further explanation is needed. Young Master Wang, having received imperial favor, is devoted to the nation, hence this grand event. Tokyo is the capital, teeming with princes, nobles, and wealthy merchants. Let us wait and see who wins this first auction!" He paused briefly, then shouted, "Starting price: 75,000 strings of cash. Merchants, please bid. Each bid must be at least 5,000 strings of cash." As soon as he finished speaking, someone shouted, "The Zhao family, 80,000 strings!" A moment later, another person shouted, "The Luo family, 90,000 strings!" The Zhao family didn't give up, shouting, "100,000 strings!" The Luo family then... The bidding continued: "120,000 strings of cash!" Suddenly, Master Li entered the hall and shouted, "Li Rongshang, 170,000 strings of cash!" The entire hall fell silent instantly. Then, someone whispered timidly, "Li Rongshang, the owner of Fanlou in Tokyo, was the richest man in Tokyo during the Chongning era!" Another said, "But in recent years, the Li family has significantly reduced its holdings and become much quieter in Tokyo!" The discussion continued, and someone else said, "Last year, the Li family bought 10% of the shares of Baxian Winery for 150,000 strings of cash. And now, just one year later, they're buying another 5% for 170,000 strings of cash!" However, what truly broke the silence was not the bidding from other wealthy merchants, nor the shouts from the host on the platform. Outside Fanlou, the imperial carriage slowly pulled up, and Eunuch Chen and two eunuchs pushed open the door and entered. Suddenly, the eunuch's distinctive voice rang out: "280,000 strings of cash!"

Such a peculiar voice, such a high bid—Li Rongshang was completely astonished. Almost everyone turned around simultaneously to look at the three eunuchs standing calmly at the gate. Li Rongshang recognized Chen Song, who had accompanied Emperor Huizong to Fanlou several times. At this moment, Li Rongshang finally understood why Wang Hao had reacted the way he had when he clearly stated his willingness to buy half a percent of the shares in Dongjingcheng. The share in Dongjingcheng already belonged to Emperor Huizong. A wave of fear followed, thinking, "Did I suddenly set the price too high? Wasn't I wasting the Emperor's money? If the Emperor were to blame me, how could things end well?" The three eunuchs didn't linger and quickly turned and left. The hall remained silent for a long time before the host finally announced, "Two hundred and eighty thousand strings of cash, once! Two hundred and eighty thousand strings of cash, twice! Two hundred and eighty thousand strings of cash, three times!" As the third count of two hundred and eighty thousand strings of cash rang out, Master Li finally understood: "There must be another deal between the Emperor and Wang Hao, otherwise there would be no need for an additional eleven thousand strings of cash! It seems I am not only innocent, but perhaps even have some merit!" After the host finished the three counts, he didn't know how to announce the result, and after a moment, he shouted, "The highest bidder wins!" The first auction was full of twists and turns, but because it concerned the imperial palace, people generally overlooked the final result.

Emperor Huizong had witnessed everything. After the dust settled, he asked, "Are you satisfied with this result, Minister Wang?" Wang Hao needed to make the Emperor's attitude towards him clear. While Eunuch Chen's actions today had too many flaws from a business perspective, the more flaws there were, the more people would understand the Emperor's high regard for him. He replied, "What merit do I possess to deserve Your Majesty's full support?" Emperor Huizong said, "As a subject, you can ask for my help, but you cannot make things difficult for me. Can you grasp the appropriate measure?" Wang Hao replied, "I will certainly remember it!"

The price in the first auction was driven too high by Emperor Huizong, so the final prices in the subsequent auctions did not increase significantly. Lu Junyi from Daming Prefecture won with 300,000 strings of cash, a wealthy merchant surnamed Du from Chang'an won with 310,000 strings, a wealthy merchant surnamed Liu from Luoyang won with 325,000 strings, and a wealthy merchant surnamed Tian from Jinan won with 330,000 strings.

Fang Tianding stood at the second-floor window and said, "The people who told us have put on a very convincing show. The sixth auction sold for 500,000 strings of cash, the seventh for 700,000, and the eighth for 800,000." Lü Shinang said, "I will go and make the arrangements immediately." Fang Jie asked, "What do you think of the first auction, brother?" Fang Tianding replied, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that Wang Hao could have such a great influence over the emperor. It seems that the return on our two million strings of cash is becoming increasingly secure!" Fang Jie nodded and said, "The emperor isn't handling state affairs in the palace, but instead coming to this marketplace to..." "The people are vying for profit. Our Holy Lord, acting in accordance with Heaven's will, is punishing the wicked; how could he not succeed?" Fang Tianding said. "Even a centipede, though dead, does not fall down. Although the Song Dynasty is corrupt, changing dynasties is by no means easy. Lü Shinang's words are reasonable. When the Holy Lord raises his banner, we should send a detachment south to Fujian. If we encounter setbacks in the future, we will have more room to maneuver." Fang Jie said, "Brother, do you not have complete confidence in the Holy Lord?" Fang Tianding said, "You are a peerless general under the Holy Lord; you only need to defeat all the enemies before you. But I am the Holy Lord's successor; I cannot only see the enemies, but also consider my brothers!"