Where Immortals Once Walked

Chapter 795: He Chunhua’s Plans VS He Lingchuan’s Plans

“That’s right.”

He Lingchuan looked skeptical. “Can the small amount collected in tolls really cover eight hundred thousand taels?”

He Chunhua clicked his tongue. “More than enough!”

“Ever since I retook Heishui City, the Hongya Route’s annual tax revenue steadily increased. By the time I left Qiansong Commandery, the trade route was bringing in 150,000 taels of silver each year. After deducting expenses, there was always a surplus of 40,000–50,000 taels.” He had once governed Qiansong Commandery and knew those accounts better than anyone. “And that was with the season of mad sand still present, making trade impossible for at least eighty days every year. This winter, the mad sand disappeared, and grass has begun growing in the Panlong Desert. If the storms never return, that route will earn even more!”

He Lingchuan looked astonished. “Huh? You mean the season of mad sand is gone?”

“Gone, and even the Three Corpses Worms have disappeared. The Panlong Desert is now no different from an ordinary desert.”

He Lingchuan wore an expression of utter disbelief. “What caused it?”

“Who knows?” He Chunhua smiled bitterly. “I guarded Heishui City for many years and still never uncovered the Panlong Desert’s secrets.”

“The states to the west have been somewhat unstable, causing traffic along the Hongya Trade Route to increase sharply since last year.” Many foreign merchants did not necessarily enter Yuan to do business, but they used the Hongya Trade Route as a transit corridor. “If the season of mad sand is truly gone for good, the route’s tax revenue will become even more substantial. Don’t forget, what it collects is actual silver in hand. Unlike a mine, there’s no need to excavate, refine, transport, and then sell the product. The costs are low, and the returns come quickly.”

The more He Chunhua considered it, the more convinced he became.

The Hongya Trade Route was practically a cash cow—a genuinely high-quality asset. Why would Rongshan not want it?

“Therefore, leasing the trade route to the Rongshan Sect for thirty to forty years and valuing it at between 1.5–2 million taels should present no problem whatsoever.”

He Lingchuan rubbed his chin. “Would His Majesty really be willing to pledge it?” Isn’t ready silver precisely what Yuan lacks most?

“In truth, the amount of tax silver the Hongya Trade Route submits to the national treasury each year is far lower than what I just described.” He Chunhua smiled mysteriously. “His Majesty may well regard it as something of little value and be eager to trade it away.”

He Lingchuan drew out a long “Oh,” understanding immediately.

There were certainly many twists hidden within these accounts. This cheap father of his was no innocent man either.

“I will be entering the palace later to join the council, so I’ll propose it directly to His Majesty. That would also make evaluating the Hongya Trade Route very simple. You approve the first 3.7 million taels’ worth of military supplies, and afterward I’ll lead Rongshan’s people to inspect the Hongya Trade Route in person.” He Chunhua’s expression turned solemn. “Urgent circumstances require flexible measures.”

He Lingchuan considered it.

The Rongshan representatives were not particularly concerned that Yuan might default or offer substandard assets. After all, these military supplies worth more than three million taels were only the first installment. The remaining seven-million-tael total still awaited final approval.

“That arrangement should work.”

He Chunhua immediately released a long breath and visibly relaxed.

Even he had not realized how important his eldest son’s approval had become.

He Lingchuan watched him with a smile. “Why do I feel as though Father has suddenly become very anxious?”

“I have no choice but to be.” He Chunhua sounded deeply reflective. “There are ample reasons both to send troops and not to send them. I have merely been swaying back and forth among those reasons.”

Yet He Lingchuan suspected there was another reason behind He Chunhua’s sudden change of attitude and eagerness to march—one he had never brought into the open.

“In other words, you’ll first head south to suppress the rebellion and then travel west to assess the Hongya Route’s tax revenue?”

He Chunhua gave a sound of acknowledgment and said, “That is essentially the plan. What do you think?”

For the first time, he asked his eldest son’s opinion on a matter of major military and political importance, because He Lingchuan would supervise how the loan was used from beginning to end.

He Lingchuan smiled and said, “I think it will work.”

He Chunhua was about to rise when he suddenly remembered something. “Right, my southward journey will take me past Immortal Spirit Lake. Don’t you have a tear from the crocodile monster?”

His father’s memory truly was remarkable. Even He Lingchuan had to think for several breaths before answering, “That’s right.”

Back at Immortal Spirit Lake, he had helped the Crocodile God and asked his father to secure it an official position governing the waterways. In return, the giant crocodile had given him one of its tears and promised that using it beside Immortal Spirit Lake would earn him a favor.

“Lend it to me.” He Chunhua said seriously, “Its abilities would be perfectly suited to Longchuan!”

He Lingchuan did not hold back. He took a tiny glass vial from his storage ring and tossed it to He Chunhua. “Stay well away from the water when you summon the giant crocodile. If it doesn’t see me, there’s no telling what it might do.”

He Chunhua immediately rose, paid the bill, and hurried away.

He Lingchuan, meanwhile, descended the stairs at an unhurried pace, mounted his cliff ram, and headed home.

There were few pedestrians along this road.

Pledging the Hongya Trade Route was an excellent idea. If He Chunhua proposed it to the King of Yuan, there was a ninety percent chance it would be approved.

The mirror, however, was astonished. “Just as you expected, he really did propose using the Hongya Trade Route as collateral! How, how did you calculate that in advance?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” He Lingchuan spoke leisurely. “It’s called psychological suggestion.”

He had needed He Chunhua to be the one who voluntarily proposed pledging the Hongya Trade Route.

A high-quality asset, stable revenue, clear accounts, and easy on-site inspection. Even if Yuan had other assets that met all those conditions, He Chunhua might not know about them. After all, how long had he actually been a major official?

But He Chunhua had lived in Heishui City for more than twenty years and knew every detail of the Hongya Route by heart. The best asset he could recall on short notice would naturally be that trade route!

Moreover, strange reports about the Panlong Desert had been reaching He Chunhua one after another lately. Subconsciously, they would only deepen his impression of the desert and the Hongya Trade Route.

In truth, every condition He Lingchuan had mentioned had been tailored specifically to the Hongya Route. He knew no less about that trade route than He Chunhua did.

But the proposal had to appear as a sudden inspiration of He Chunhua’s own. He had to believe that he retained the initiative.

When He Chunhua believed a plan was his own, he would feel proud of it rather than guard against it.

Only then would neither he nor Naluotian become suspicious of He Lingchuan’s actions.

So far, every one of He Chunhua’s responses had followed exactly the path He Lingchuan anticipated.

The first step of the plan was complete.

“It seems the loan process and the southward expedition will both be brought forward substantially.” He Lingchuan pondered. “I gave Father only the slightest hint, and he immediately brought up the Hongya Trade Route. It seems he’s in quite a hurry to reach the Panlong Desert.”

The Soul-Stealing Mirror inside his robes asked curiously, “Why is he in such a hurry?”

The road ahead grew more crowded, so He Lingchuan closed his mouth and offered no answer.

* * *

At noon, He Chunhua dined with a friend. Afterward, he found a secure and secluded place, once again shut the doors and windows, took out the divine idol, lit incense, and began praying.

Before long, Naluotian’s voice sounded, “What is it now?”

It was already becoming impatient.

He Chunhua said, “Something unusual has happened in the Panlong Desert. Are you aware of it?”

The air suddenly fell silent.

Naluotian paused for a long while before asking, “What clues do you have?”