After a stick of incense burned down, Zhao Feng set aside his brush and ink, speaking softly to the two men, "It's hard for both of you to come to the Wang Mansion under the scorching sun at noon."
With a friendly demeanor, he truly showed a caring attitude towards his subordinates.
Gu Wen politely exchanged pleasantries, while Hu Sanyuan exaggeratedly knelt down and said, "Being able to see Your Highness is worth going through fire and water."
Seeing his comical appearance, Zhao Feng couldn't help but smile and said, "Hu Qing, please get up quickly."
Awkward, yet effective.
While lackeys were looked down upon by others, in the eyes of a leader, they were like their own little darlings.
Feeling awkward was just a sign that you were not someone who sought to be flattered.
Gu Wen remained composed; he didn't need to make a fool of himself to compete for favor.
He waited patiently for Hu Sanyuan to finish his act before submitting the water house accounts.
Zhao Feng was pleased; the water house generated tens of thousands of taels in revenue annually, but this money was not settled all at once.
IOU notes were issued, and the accounts were settled at the end of the year.
If early settlement was needed, negotiations with major clients were necessary.
Collecting money was an art; sending his eunuchs might not collect all the money by the year-end, and who knows how much would be embezzled.
Gu Wen's high efficiency in handling matters was evident; with just a few words, he quickly collected the money in full.
Suddenly, Zhao Feng noticed that the bill only amounted to thirty thousand taels, furrowing his brows involuntarily and asking, "Why is it only thirty thousand taels?"
Although thirty thousand taels was still an excellent result, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
A few days ago, he had brought a treasure ship into the palace, but the Emperor demanded that he build a road within the year.
Thus, he had to find alternative means.
In Bianjing, there were countless external forces lurking openly and in secret.
These people came from various backgrounds, with numerous methods to accelerate their cultivation, but the price for superior techniques was extremely high.
"Your Highness, this is all the silver that the water house could collect," Gu Wen replied with a bow. "The water house's income is divided into two types: monthly and yearly payments. The bulk of the income comes from the yearly payment, which is a one-time collection of the annual fee. Generally, it is the money collected at the end of the previous year for the current year, so this is all we have."
"Is it true that the water house has nothing left?" Zhao Feng inquired again.
What was causing such urgency? Had the Wang Mansion run out of money?
Gu Wen became more curious and calmly replied, "There is no silver that can be collected in the short term. How much does Your Highness need?"
"Naturally, the more, the better. Gu Qing, do you have any other solutions?" Zhao Feng said.
As soon as Zhao Feng's voice fell, Hu Sanyuan suddenly stepped forward and said, "I have a plan. I remember that many of the watermen in the water house are in debt, accumulated over the years. They must pay some interest, right?"
Gu Wen's eyes turned slightly cold; daring to meddle in his territory.
In recent years, there were countless wealthy households in Bianjing exploiting the common people, much like the farmers being forced to surrender their land.
The court raised taxes related to property, forcing the common people to borrow money to pay taxes.
Those pawnshops and moneylenders first took land deeds as collateral, then raised prices the following year.
To ensure that the old employees did not leave, Gu Wen provided them with loans within the water house, with an annual interest rate of only three percent.
He didn't lack this amount of money, but he needed to provide an explanation and be accountable to the Wang Mansion.
Ensuring the employees' motivation was one thing, but not making a profit was unacceptable.
He said, "Indeed, many watermen in the water house owe loans, but the total amount is only around a thousand taels. If Your Highness urgently needs funds, we can mortgage half of the future three years' water fees."
"Half of the three years' water fees? That would be a loss of tens of thousands of taels," Hu Sanyuan, like a dog catching a scent of weakness, eagerly attacked, "The watermen may not have money, but they have houses. Let them repay the debt; if they can't, take their houses and sell them. There will always be buyers."
Why seek death?
Gu Wen figured that he would take care of him in the next few days; those in his line of work often met a violent end.
Even he had been targeted for assassination several times, let alone someone like Hu Sanyuan, who dabbled in shady dealings.
Despite their current prominence, in reality, they were just expendable pawns, easily replaced once they were gone.
"Reasonable, very reasonable," Zhao Feng clapped his hands, quite intrigued.
Hu Sanyuan smiled at Gu Wen, thinking he had gained more favor, his obsequious manner amusing.
Gu Wen, composed as ever, said, "Your Highness, if we bankrupt many watermen today, what will the water house do in the future?"
"Wen Hou, you worry too much. What Bianjing lacks the least now is idle people, and we can rent out houses to them, which will bring in more money," Zhao Feng said.
Hu Sanyuan interjected, making his intentions even more apparent.
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Feng looked at Gu Wen and asked, "Gu Qing, what do you think?"
Gu Wen replied, "The labor of the watermen is physically demanding, and not everyone can handle the overnight journeys on Bianjing's roads. If Your Highness thinks that half-price water fees for three years are too much, we can start with selling one year."
"Then we'll follow Gu Qing's suggestion," Zhao Feng nodded.
Hu Sanyuan, taken aback, quickly said, "Your Highness, even half-price amounts to ten thousand taels, which is too much."
Zhao Feng seemed to have made a decision, saying, "I'll follow Gu Qing's lead in everything; without him, the water house wouldn't have tens of thousands of taels."
The tactics of an emperor prioritize the use of capable individuals.
He knew that Gu Wen was the one truly handling matters; Hu Sanyuan was at best a lapdog, seeking his favor but unable to bring him real benefits.
"Gu Qing, go and handle it quickly. If you do well, I will reward you," Zhao Feng said.
"Yes."
Gu Wen glanced at the resentful gaze beside him.
These rats from the sewers were always so arrogant and domineering, their dark nature destined to be so.
Just as he was about to leave, Zhao Feng suddenly called him back, "Wait."
Turning back, he saw Zhao Feng looking troubled, breathing heavily, sweating slightly on his forehead, and his hands trembling slightly.
"In case anything happens at Longquan Well recently, inform the Immortal Family yourself. I've been feeling unwell lately," Zhao Feng said.
Gu Wen was full of doubts.
Previously, Zhao Feng had been on high alert, with reports that he had been guarding the Immortal's courtyard day and night, not allowing anyone else to approach.
He shouldn't be an exception, so why did he suddenly change his mind and send him to see Yuhua today?
Eunuch Feng had died; could it be that Yuhua had killed him?
Gu Wen sensed an unusual scent but refrained from asking further, simply bowing and saying, "Understood."
He then left the study.
As he stepped out of the room, his pace gradually slowed down.
At the Second Level of Foundation Establishment, he activated his mana, concentrating to hear the faint sound.
"Your Highness, the pill has been successfully refined..."
"Do not let anyone know. If successful, I will reward you handsomely..."
"But if the palace finds out, I won't be able to protect you..."
Sunset, Gu Mansion.
Gu Wen's investigation through Jiang Fugui had yielded some results.
Recently, Hu Sanyuan had been frequenting Qianfeng Tower.
Knowing that Qianfeng Tower was a reputable establishment that only sold arts and not flesh, the situation seemed more complicated.
However, it didn't matter to him as he was only there to buy pills.
Jiang Fugui entered from outside, looking exasperated. "My lord, something's amiss. Hu Sanyuan somehow got hold of IOUs from our men and is trying to forcefully take their houses."
Zhao Feng wasn't foolish, but he was a bit naive, and in the end, he was swayed by Hu Sanyuan.
People were fickle and foolish, so even a truly capable minister needed to please those above him.
Otherwise, the outcome might just be a pitiful history of being pitied.
But he had no intention of being a minister; he stayed for the benefits.
Gu Wen accepted this without much reaction, checking the accounts and saying, "Go find out where he's been staying recently."
"What?" Jiang Fugui widened his eyes slightly. "My lord, are you planning to deal with him?"
He had engaged in straightforward business battles before, but he wasn't so decisive.
The other party was at most causing trouble; it hadn't escalated to the level of mortal enemies.
"Moreover, Hu Sanyuan has a shady background and practices martial arts. You don't need to confront a rat like him. I'll take some men to teach him a lesson," Jiang Fugui suggested.
Watermen engaged in collective physical labor, much like dockworkers, and had always been associated with gangs.
The Longqiao Water House didn't need to resort to shady dealings for high-end business, but that didn't mean they couldn't resort to violence.
Smashing up the place would at most lead to a confrontation, a warning to the other party.
Gu Wen remained unwavering, speaking calmly and seriously, "I have a connection with a top-notch assassin in the martial world. It'll just take a bit of money."
Jiang Fugui was full of doubts but knew that Gu Wen wouldn't be as impulsive as they were in the early years when they were passionately striving.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
An hour later, Jiang Fugui returned with Hu Sanyuan's address.
South of the city, near the gambling house.
At midnight, Gu Wen took out the treasures he had used in his previous business battles: a fine steel dagger, a half-arm-length small hammer, and several packets of lime powder.
The dagger was suitable for self-defense, while the hammer was for lethal attacks; one strike would either kill or maim.
After some contemplation, he decided to bring only the dagger, as the hammer and lime powder were used for overcoming stronger opponents, not for a simple confrontation.
As night fell, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
A pill worth ten thousand taels.
Indeed, a true cultivator is poor, lacking money.
Many books are now hard to come by, so cherish what you have.