Chapter 45: Destined for Greatness!

"Does the Patriarch of the Zhongli family intend to give up on acquiring my fertile farmland?" Wu Wenting asked, holding his composure.

Zhongli Xiu pondered for a moment and let out a long sigh.

"All of my family's businesses are in Peixian, and with no one else to take them over, how can we possibly walk away? As matters stand, our family can only pray that Peixian can withstand the bandits' invasions for the long term without collapsing!"

"Patriarch Wu, we are both major merchants of Peixian and know the situation here inside and out. There is no need to waste our breath haggling! My family can take over the Wu family's tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland, considering it a bold gamble. However, my family can only offer five thousand taels of silver for this gamble—that is our bottom line, not a single tael more!"

Wu Wenting was already consumed by anxiety and anger, calculating inwardly.

He had considered everything upon coming here: the livelihood of Peixian was in ruins, powerful enemies lurked all around, and collapse was only a matter of time. Immovable property was the least reliable asset. If the Zhongli family were also to evacuate Peixian like the Wu family and settle down in another safe commandery or county to make a comeback, they would inevitably squeeze the Wu family's room for development!

After all, merchants in other commanderies and counties were already the established vested interests locally and would not easily hand over their profitable businesses. The Wu family might have to pursue a multi-region operation model.

Indeed, the Zhongli family had deep roots in Peixian; the grain they had in stock alone was enough to make them reluctant to leave, let alone those profitable shops.

Could the Wu family simply spend two thousand taels of silver to thoroughly trap the Zhongli family in Peixian?

Once the battle between Heiyun stronghold and Peixian ended, the Zhongli family would lose everything and perhaps consider fleeing Peixian. Then the Wu family could assess the situation; if they could successfully bribe Chieftain Gou, they could take back those tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland, which would be equivalent to making several thousand taels of silver for free!

If the Zhongli family were too attached to these immovable assets and chose to stay in Peixian to maneuver, the Wu family could take advantage of the fire to rob them, easily seizing the Zhongli family's assets without any effort!

After turning it over in his mind, Wu Wenting finally hardened his heart, gritted his teeth, and said, "Five thousand taels. At noon, at the county yamen, the transaction will be settled in a single lump sum!"

Zhongli Xiu agreed immediately, and Wu Wenting hurried home to retrieve the land deeds.

At the hour of Zi, the two met as scheduled at the county yamen and invited Master of Records Wang to act as a witness.

"Five thousand taels for tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland?"

Master of Records Wang was startled, then smiled bitterly, feeling despair in his heart.

Land prices had actually fallen to such an extent that even the Wu family did not believe in Liang Xiao's administration of Peixian...

Because the sum was so large, Master of Records Wang immediately sent someone to the military camp to fetch Zhuo Zifang to handle the matter.

Zhuo Zifang was exceptionally decisive. After acting as a witness, he assisted the two families in completing the transfer of the tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland.

As for the Wu family's other properties, on the very day Wu Wenting sent his beloved son away, they had already begun to be packaged piecemeal and sold off to various merchants in Peixian, and most had long since been sold.

The Zhongli family had also spent several thousand taels of silver to buy up more than a dozen of the Wu family's low-priced shops and workshops.

The Wu family, a major merchant clan of Peixian, had completely cut ties with Peixian, waiting only for Peixian to collapse and Liang Xiao to die a miserable death so they could make a comeback or seek another way out.

After sending the two families away, Master of Records Wang wore a face full of sorrow.

"Lord Zhuo, the current situation is unprecedentedly severe. I am afraid no merchants will ever dare to come to Peixian to set up businesses again..."

Zhuo Zifang merely smiled mysteriously. "With the Magistrate here, everything can rest assured!"

Master of Records Wang was left speechless.

Through these days of working together, he had to admit that these two young men were indeed extraordinary and perceptive, but they were simply too fearless.

Excessive confidence was nothing less than conceit.

If the merchants all ran away and the economy collapsed, what would Peixian use to feed its one hundred and forty thousand people?

He was not the only one worrying; his colleagues at the county yamen felt the exact same way.

Yet Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang acted as if nothing was wrong, even intentionally or unintentionally squeezing out the Wu family, the major merchant clan!

Wu Wenting returned home with the silver notes, praying only that Heiyun stronghold would throw Peixian into chaos sooner rather than later, so that everything the Wu family had done would turn a profit.

That same afternoon, Liang Xiao also returned to the county yamen.

Zhongli Xiu had been waiting in the courtyard for a long time, and before Liang Xiao could even sit down, he reported with eager anticipation.

"Lord Liang, my family has already acquired the Wu family's tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland. Peixian only needs to hold the city stubbornly to the death, and the rebel soldiers will retreat on their own. We will be completely safe, and that Wu Wenting will surely live to regret it!"

Liang Xiao shook his head. "Elder Uncle, this time, as long as Heiyun stronghold attacks, I must dispatch troops to crush the bandits. Otherwise, Peixian will never know peace, let alone prosperity!"

Worry flickered across Zhongli Xiu's face.

The question was, how could they win?

Liang Xiao retrieved a wooden box from Zhuo Zifang's side and handed it to the desk in front of Zhongli Xiu.

"There are still quite a few shops and workshops in Peixian being sold at low prices. Elder Uncle has lived in Peixian for a long time and is well-informed. I must trouble you to take inventory of them, and find out which of those people once colluded with Yuan Bailong and the Wu family, extorting the common people, oppressing the innocent, and now refuse to support my governance of Peixian."

"Before Peixian successfully defeats the bandits, here are four thousand taels in silver notes. Tonight, I must trouble Elder Uncle to use the Zhongli family's name and buy up all these people's shops and workshops at the lowest possible prices!"

Zhongli Xiu could finally hold back no longer and voiced his doubts.

"Some of those shops and workshops are operating at a loss. Do we really need to acquire them as well?"

"Acquire all of them!" Liang Xiao said decisively.

"Lord Liang, might I ask for your reasoning?" Even Zhongli Xiu, who had been in business for many years, found this somewhat incomprehensible at the moment.

Liang Xiao wore a calm expression.

"First, Peixian will need a sufficient number of workshops in the future to produce various military equipment and new goods. If we do not buy up workshops at the lowest prices now, when else?"

"Second, once Peixian resolves the bandit scourge, the situation will gradually stabilize and inevitably experience vigorous development. The people will have money to spend, and naturally all shops will turn their losses into profits. Those who abandon Peixian without hesitation certainly do not deserve to reap the rewards."

"I see!" Zhongli Xiu suddenly understood, admiration welling up in his heart.

This young man possessed deep foresight and a clear sense of gratitude and resentment; he was destined for greatness!

Yet the premise to all of this was being able to resolve the bandit scourge!

As for Heiyun stronghold, let alone annihilating them, without the court dispatching troops to support them, relying solely on these newly recruited soldiers made it a question whether they could even withstand Heiyun stronghold.

And yet he insisted on marching out of the city to meet them in battle!

However, since the Zhongli family had chosen him, they would support him with all their might—there was no other way!

The two discussed the details of the acquisitions at length, and only then did Zhongli Xiu leave with a satisfied expression.

"Elder Uncle." Liang Xiao called him to a stop, paused, and spoke in a sincere tone, "Regarding the recent military situation, please keep it a secret from Miss Zhongli and Ningyan so as not to worry them."

Zhongli Xiu agreed readily, though he could not help but mutter inwardly.

You still know everyone will worry!

Yet upon second thought, Zhongli Xiu could fully understand Liang Xiao's considerations, and a sense of respect arose in him.

Defending the city stubbornly to the death could only make the common people see the weakness of the official government, while Heiyun stronghold could still swagger proudly and plunder at will among the undefended villages and towns within Peixian's borders.

He had resolved to fight this battle precisely for the sake of Peixian and its people!

Departing the county yamen in secret, Zhongli Xiu did not return home immediately, but instead headed straight for the central market.

There, quite a few shops and workshops were waiting for someone to take them over.

Meanwhile, Liang Xiao's trusted aide, Liang Pin, traveled day and night under the stars, finally rushing ahead of time to the capital to seek an audience with Wang Teng.

Inside the luxurious mansion, Wang Teng finished reading Liang Xiao's handwritten letter and official document with a dark expression, took a deep breath, and shifted his gaze to his two trusted aides standing behind Liang Pin.

"As bailiffs, you accompanied Liang Xiao to Peixian and witnessed these events... Is what Liang Pin just said the truth?"

"My lord, it is the absolute truth!" the two answered in unison with absolute certainty.

Wang Teng immediately put away the letter, dismissed Liang Pin's companions, leaving only Liang Pin behind, and said word for word, "Aside from this thousand taels, did your master truly promise an additional tribute of five thousand taels to His Majesty and this old servant?"

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, my master has already prepared the funds in Peixian; how could he break his promise?" Liang Pin replied solemnly.

"Good!"

With a burning gaze, Wang Teng hurried off to the imperial study within the palace.

"Your Majesty, this servant has an urgent matter to report!"