Where Immortals Once Walked

He Lingchuan added at just the right moment, “The good news is that the first shipment of military supplies has already reached the border. If this shortfall is made up promptly, I can discuss the matter with Deputy Envoy Hu and approve the Taihe Mine collateral first. That way, the Yuan capital can immediately receive supplies worth 3.7 million taels, including ready silver!”

The implication was that Rongshan, not He Lingchuan alone, had the authority to assess the value of the collateral, so pressuring him personally would accomplish nothing.

And immediately after that, he offered the king a sweetener.

The King of Yuan’s expression had been so dark that water seemed ready to drip from it, but his features finally eased a little upon hearing this. “The Rongshan Sect’s sincerity is evident. Very good, very good. I will summon the ministers again to discuss the matter of additional collateral.”

Military supplies worth 3.7 million taels would resolve their most pressing crisis.

After exchanging a few more formalities, He Lingchuan took his leave.

Once he had gone, the King of Yuan abruptly seized the teacup on the table and hurled it to the floor. It shattered with a sharp crash.

The attendants and officials beside him dropped to their knees in fright. The king did not even look at them. Both his cheeks had flushed red with anger. “Outrageous!”

* * *

The moment He Lingchuan left the palace, he said, “It’s done for.”

The Soul-Stealing Mirror jumped in alarm. “What’s done for?”

Palace attendants were coming and going all around them, so He Lingchuan did not answer aloud. He merely thought to himself, Yuan is done for.

Although he had been mentally prepared, today’s conversation with the King of Yuan still left him somewhat melancholy.

He had the desire, but not the strength; the ambition, but not the ability.

In peaceful times, the current King of Yuan might have made a competent ruler who preserved what he inherited and passed the realm safely to the next generation. But judging by Yuan’s present condition, an ordinary sovereign would probably find it impossible to control.

For some reason, He Lingchuan recalled Du Shan’s words: “Why should one man’s inability drag all living beings down with him?”

The statement had been somewhat arbitrary, but...

Before he could finish the thought, He Lingchuan saw his father hurrying toward him, his expression grave.

He Chunhua looked up and noticed him, appearing equally surprised. “Chuan’er, His Majesty summoned you?”

“Yes. I just finished the audience.”

Too many people were nearby, with countless eyes and ears around them. He Chunhua gripped his arm and said, “I have to enter the palace this afternoon, but there is still some time. Come with me.”

He led He Lingchuan to a teahouse more than three hundred meters away. Only after they took seats in a private room on the second floor did he say, “His Majesty summoned you because he has already grown desperately impatient.”

He then questioned his eldest son about the entire audience.

The room was well insulated, and almost none of the noise outside could be heard. He Lingchuan concealed nothing. While cracking sunflower seeds between his teeth, he recounted everything truthfully.

He Chunhua’s brow alternately relaxed and furrowed, but he did not interrupt. Only when He Lingchuan finished did he say, “Your answers were barely sufficient to get through the audience. Before you meet His Majesty again, you must rehearse with me first.”

He Lingchuan took a sip of tea. “What did I do wrong?”

“When those 3.7 million taels’ worth of supplies arrive, His Majesty will be pleased for a while. But afterward, once he remembers that you demanded additional collateral, resentment will inevitably rise in his heart again.” He Chunhua shook his head. “He considers you a citizen of Yuan. How could you help an outside sect profit at Yuan’s expense?”

He Lingchuan clicked his tongue. “I don’t control the valuation! The Rongshan people are the ones judging the worth of those mines, pastures, and ports. What does that have to do with me?”

Profit at Yuan’s expense?

Had He Lingchuan not sold the Rongshan Sect on the idea as a personal favor, it would never have agreed to lend Yuan anything at all!

“Do you think His Majesty fails to understand something so obvious?” He Chunhua sighed. “I’m afraid simply looking at you now makes him angry. Especially that clause requiring your approval for every use of the funds. The moment he heard it, he declared it outrageous and remained displeased for a long time.”

Yet He Lingchuan had personally secured the loan.

Crack. He Lingchuan opened another sunflower seed. “Oh?” So the King of Yuan was furious? He showed no sign of it during our meeting.

It seemed the ruler was not quite as transparent and guileless as outsiders claimed.

Still, Yuan had accepted the clause in the end, and far more readily than He Lingchuan had expected.

That showed the king understood the court’s deep-rooted problems. He could simply use the Rongshan envoy’s review authority to reject many troublesome memorials and proposals.

Otherwise, during court discussions over how the loan should be spent, there would be no shortage of officials endlessly arguing in his ear.

“Over the past year, my correspondence with the Secretariat of the Yuan Palace has been far more frequent than before. In the half month since arriving in the capital, I have already entered the palace six times. Standing close to His Majesty has given me much to reflect upon.” He Chunhua patted He Lingchuan on the shoulder and spoke earnestly. “You are too young. You do not yet understand how fickle the human heart can be.”

“Father is right.” The fickleness of the human heart? Heh, hehehe.

He Lingchuan picked up a green-plum-flavored soft candy and ate it. The tea at this establishment was merely ordinary, but the snacks were surprisingly excellent.

Mm, I should bring some back for the squirrel.

“Do you still intend to delay for a while longer before leading the army south?”

He Chunhua shook his head. “There is no need to delay now. The official troops have suffered a great defeat while the rebels have won a major victory. In my view, it’s nearly time to march south.”

He Lingchuan glanced at him, surprised.

Why had He Chunhua suddenly changed his mind? Previously, he had done nothing but delay and evade the matter. Now he had begun preparing actively to march south.

What happened in between?

Is it merely because the situation on the southern battlefield has shifted? Does he now see an opportunity?

He Chunhua continued, “The Taihe Mine’s value as a collateral is insufficient. So long as the royal court does not make up the shortfall, Rongshan will not release the military supplies. Is that correct?”

“His Majesty seemed highly motivated.” Yuan was so desperate for money to fund the war that it was almost clawing at the walls. In the end, the amount of collateral was merely a question of principal and interest. They had already pledged so many mines and pastures. Would one more asset truly matter?

With 3.7 million taels worth of supplies dangling before them, He Lingchuan believed the Yuan court would reach a decision quickly.

“Still, selecting and evaluating additional collateral will take a great deal of time.” He Lingchuan deliberately added, “Unless the replacement asset is nearby and we can inspect it immediately, or it is already universally recognized as excellent, I cannot easily guarantee its value to the Rongshan representatives.”

“Already recognized as excellent?” He Chunhua considered the matter. “Eastern Xia Province specializes in yellow sugar. Sales have recovered over the last two years, and the product has been selling very well. What if we pledge the exclusive trading rights to sugar?”

The moment he changed his position, he immediately began planning additional collateral.

This was very much like He Chunhua.

Pragmatic, and sometimes willing to contradict himself without hesitation.

He Lingchuan smiled. “Anything grown from the soil depends on weather, season, and quality. It is too unstable. I’m afraid Old Hu would reject it immediately.”

Instability made future returns difficult to predict.

And when valuing an asset, was expected future performance not the most important factor? Past performance was merely a reference.

He added, seemingly without intention, “Ideally, the Rongshan administrative deputy envoys should be able to travel there and confirm everything with their own eyes. The previous accounts must also be clear. It absolutely cannot resemble these mines, where every ledger is a tangled mess, and the investigation consumes enormous time and effort.”

This was his second tactful rejection.

Simple, transparent, and immediately verifiable?

He Chunhua pondered for several breaths. Then his eyes suddenly lit up.

Wait, there really is such a place!

“Right, what about the Hongya Trade Route?”

“The Hongya Trade Route through the Panlong Desert?” He Lingchuan appeared startled. “Father, are you suggesting that we use the route’s tax revenue as additional collateral?”

He had waited and waited for precisely those words. At last, He Chunhua had said them himself!