Free Web NovelChapter 424: Chapter 237: Inquiring about Intelligence; Enclosure Analysis
Cheng Zongyang’s words caused Chen Kaishan to fall into deep thought.
He understood the need for manpower to till the land. He also understood that anyone who could farm—man or woman, young or old—would suffice.
However, he had no idea how Cheng Zongyang was cultivating these seeds, and he knew without a doubt that the other man would never tell him.
But to find that many people, he would need to communicate with his superiors. Still, anything could be justified in the name of profit—especially when they were only asking for insignificant death-row inmates and serious felons.
If Cheng Zongyang could provide two million jin the following year, that would mean a profit of one million taels of silver from selling the rice seeds alone. And that wasn’t even counting the future profits from purchasing the harvested grain and reselling it.
If these rice seeds were sold to nations with food shortages or difficult farming conditions, the profits would be even greater.
In other words, the more rice seeds Cheng Zongyang provided, the greater the Commerce Association’s annual profits. Their success was intertwined.
"I’ll need to discuss this with my superiors before I can make a decision," Chen Kaishan said. "Do you have any other requests?"
Cheng Zongyang nodded. "Just two last, small requests. First, I’ve been entrusted by someone to sell a batch of... acquired... Jewelry. The total Weight is about fourteen or fifteen hundred jin. The pieces vary in value, but the people on my end have already sorted and categorized them. With a quantity this large, only the Da Yi Commerce Association has the resources to buy it all."
Chen Kaishan stared at Cheng Zongyang for a moment before smiling. "Done. When the time comes, have your people deliver it, and I’ll have my people take inventory. But our acquisition price is the standard pawnshop rate—seventy percent of market value. You should be aware of that."
He couldn’t be bothered to care where the Jewelry came from—whether Cheng Zongyang had plundered it from a County Town, stolen it, or if it truly belonged to someone else. All that mattered was the profit.
Cheng Zongyang nodded. "I know. I’ll have someone deliver it in a little while. For my last request, I want a piece of information."
Chen Kaishan paused, surprised. "What information?"
Cheng Zongyang said slowly, "Where is the Huangfu Family’s Ancestral Land? The true ancestral land, not a decoy."
The moment Cheng Zongyang spoke those words, Chen Kaishan’s pupils contracted sharply. The relaxed smile vanished from his face, replaced by a grave expression. When he spoke, his tone had become flat.
"Why are you prying into the location of the Huangfu Family’s Ancestral Land?"
Cheng Zongyang, of course, noticed the change in Chen Kaishan’s expression. His brow furrowed slightly. "Is there a problem? Or is this information forbidden?"
Chen Kaishan then realized he had overreacted and lost his composure. He quickly schooled his features back into a neutral expression and shook his head slightly.
"The Huangfu Family is a taboo subject. It’s best not to go asking about them unless you have to; it’s an easy way to get burned. And you’re not just asking about them, you’re asking about their ancestral land. Can you tell me why you want to know?"
Cheng Zongyang had, of course, seen Chen Kaishan’s reaction, but his own expression remained impassive as he spoke:
"I heard the Huangfu Family left a great treasure behind, and I was thinking of trying my luck at their ancestral land. I also heard their former clan estate was here in the Linchuan Prefecture City, but that almost no one knows the location of their true ancestral land. That’s why I wanted to ask if the Da Yi Commerce Association might know. I’m willing to pay for the information, of course."
Chen Kaishan took a deep breath before speaking slowly. "I don’t know about that. I would have to inquire with headquarters as well."
Cheng Zongyang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Chen Kaishan. His own expression gradually returned to normal. "Then I’ll have to trouble you."
’I’m not blind,’ Cheng Zongyang thought. ’I saw his expression change. But I don’t understand why he had such an extreme reaction.’
’Either the Da Yi Commerce Association is already working on this, or Chen Kaishan has his own agenda. Did my request just happen to stumble into it?’
"Is there anything else?" Chen Kaishan asked, his earlier smile returning to his face.
Cheng Zongyang smiled back. "No, that’s all. As for the position, I’ll consider it. I’ll give you a reply tonight."
"Good," Chen Kaishan nodded.
"Oh, right," Cheng Zongyang said, as if just remembering something. "Will you two be in charge of the Commerce Association’s business here from now on?"
Chen Kaishan nodded. "I will be serving as the Commerce Association’s Steward, and your Uncle Zheng will be responsible for other affairs."
Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "Since you’ll be working here, staying in an inn isn’t a permanent solution. I’ll have someone find a couple of small courtyard homes for you. You could live in West City. What do you think?"
A knowing smile touched Chen Kaishan’s lips. "That’s very thoughtful of you. In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony."
Cheng Zongyang cupped his fist. "Good. I’ll take my leave, then."
After leaving the inn, Cheng Zongyang found Zhang Chuchu and told him to arrange for two clean courtyard homes for Chen Kaishan and Zheng Tianhai.
Zhang Chuchu was well-versed in such matters and knew exactly what to do without needing further instruction from Cheng Zongyang.
After Cheng Zongyang’s departure, Chen Kaishan sat in the parlor, lost in thought.
’Why is this kid suddenly looking for the Huangfu Ancestral Land?’
He didn’t believe Cheng Zongyang’s excuse for a moment. The Huangfu Ancestral Land was tied to a great secret of the Huangfu Family; it was a place countless factions were desperate to find, yet its location remained unknown.
Even the Da Yi Commerce Association had found members of the Direct Lineage who had been sent away long ago, but they couldn’t get the location out of them either.
’And I can’t find it either!’
It was just that he couldn’t see through Cheng Zongyang anymore. The man was a far cry from the simple farmer’s son he once was.
"This kid is full of secrets," Chen Kaishan sighed softly.
Next, he retrieved a carrier pigeon and wrote a message detailing the manpower issue and Cheng Zongyang’s other requests. Several of these were matters he couldn’t decide on his own. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
As for the Huangfu Family’s Ancestral Land... after a moment’s thought, he included that as well. He wanted to learn of any new developments regarding the ancestral land, and he also wanted to find out what Cheng Zongyang was planning.
As the carrier pigeon flew out of the inn’s courtyard, Chen Kaishan went back into his room.
Cheng Zongyang didn’t go home. Instead, he went to his faction’s headquarters, where he happened upon Li Lu and Li Yihuo in the middle of a discussion.
