xymnovel Chapter 260 The Reclusive Thief Shao
Chapter 260 The Reclusive Thief Shao
Chapter 260 The Reclusive Shao (Part 1)
Throughout the first month of the lunar calendar, the outside world was abuzz with news of Zhu Chen's death and the semi-paralysis of the officialdom in Jiqing Road. Meanwhile, the instigator, Shao, was hiding in Matuosha, enjoying the Lunar New Year and handling official business in the meantime.
The most important issue was finance. By the beginning of February of the sixth year of the Zhizheng era, Shengye Trading Company had more than 1300 ingots in its accounts. This figure was even after deducting a large amount of bonuses, year-end gifts, and construction expenses, which was quite sufficient.
Correspondingly, salt reserves have dropped to less than 30,000 jin, a precarious situation.
However, a while ago, Wang Bai sent someone to deliver a letter saying that he would bring 20,000 catties of Huai salt collected before and after the New Year in February. Shao Shuyi suspected that he was trying to gather information.
Even with this supplement, Shao Shuyi still had to solve the problem of salt sourcing in the face of the booming illegal salt market.
Robbing is one way, accepting salt delivered to one's door is another, but he didn't forget there was a third way: to take salt directly from the salt fields, just like Zhu Chen.
Based on this, he felt he should try to make contact with officials of the Liangzhe Transportation Bureau. However, this was also his weakness—he had risen too quickly and did not have enough time to consolidate his foundation. Cultivating personal connections was precisely the most time-consuming process.
There's just no way out!
Putting this worry aside, everything else is fine.
When Huangtian Trading Company settled accounts at the end of last year, it had nearly 116 ingots of cash on its books. Shao Shuyi was very generous and gave out 100 ingots as dividends to the shareholders. According to the shares, for example, Kong Tie, Liang Tai and others could receive five ingots, and even Wu Heizi, who was "retiring and living in luxury" in Taicang, could receive five ingots.
Yang Jin and Manager Mo each have three and two ingots respectively. Although the amount is not large, their business will grow significantly this year, and the overall trend is positive.
Shao Shuyi was allotted fifty ingots, but he didn't keep them. Instead, he gave ten ingots to Tie Niu and distributed the remaining forty ingots to the canal porters who were affiliated with the Huangtian Trading Company. Each porter received an average of six or seven strings of cash, which was enough to improve their lives.
As for what to do with the funds in the account after distributing dividends? Just borrow from Shengye Trading Company, it's no big deal.
In addition to money, physical goods are accumulating continuously.
In February, Madam Liu's trading company will deliver a new batch of 150 shi of grain. This will bring the Chong Sheng Temple's grain reserves to approximately 480 shi.
Stone reserves are nearing their limit.
The new warehouse, which began construction last year, faces Chong Sheng Temple across the river.
However, there is a shortage of manpower, and most of the work is done by military dependents or nearby villagers doing odd jobs. The construction is intermittent, and it is estimated that the first granary will not be available until the middle of this year. The storage capacity is also very small, only about 700 shi (a unit of dry measure).
The construction of the manor houses in Sanlinli, Pudong, continues, relying on nearby villagers for odd jobs. This month, Shao Shuyi will approve another 200 ingots of paper money for Wang Huadu, urging him to hurry up and, even if it means raising wages, attract more people to come and level the fields and do odd jobs. He can't just take advantage of the government's labor force for free; it's just too difficult.
The two hundred ingots paid to Wang Huadu were collected by him personally, because Wang arrived in Matuosha by boat on the fifth day of the second lunar month.
"Brother Shao, it must be so difficult to see you, right?" Wang Huadu complained as soon as he saw Shao Shuyi.
Shao Shuyi chuckled and personally brewed tea in the monk's hut to welcome Wang, the leader of the Pudong "branch".
Wang Huadu didn't come alone; he brought Su Niang and Dao Hua with him, saying they would stay here for a while.
In addition, there were thirteen burly men standing in the distance, who were the team he had recruited.
When Shao Shuyi came over to pay his respects just now, he glanced at the equipment briefly. It wasn't very complete, but the equipment and spirits were good.
The group of people came from diverse backgrounds: fugitives transferred from Shengye Trading Company, local farmers from Pudong, escaped salt workers, and seafarers. They looked at Shao Shuyi with respect, but their respect revealed a sense of distance, completely different from the three groups of people on Matuosha's side.
That's understandable, really. They were recruited and trained by Wang Huadu himself, and spending so much time together naturally deepened their bond with him.
They were respectful to him only because Wang Huadu was respectful to him, and also because they knew who provided their food, clothing and other necessities. That was all.
This is the legendary "small hill," which is a major headache for those in power, yet it truly exists and has always been something that can only be restricted, not eliminated.
Even after sitting down, Wang Huadu continued rambling: "To get to Matuosha, I first need to find Li Fu on Yaqian Street. Li Fu will then send someone to Chongsheng Temple to inform me before I can see you, right?"
Shao Shuyi smiled but remained silent.
I was just kidding. Even if Li Fu's men came, they wouldn't be able to see me. They'd have to let Tie Niu know first, but there's no need to tell him.
In short, he now lives a very secluded and low-key life.
"You dog slave, why are you talking so much?" Shao Shuyi poured him a bowl of tea and said with a laugh, "You know what I've done."
"If I can assassinate others, why can't others assassinate me? Yang Jin told me the other day that someone was inquiring about me at Chengjiang Post Station. Judging from their accents, they were from Yangzhou. But when the patrol officers were about to come and check me, the group disappeared. Someone saw they had at least three bows; who knows what they were up to."
Wang Huadu was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and said, "Why would it come to this—"
"Why not?" Shao Shuyi shook his head and said, "Back in the third year of the Zhizheng era, I was still struggling to survive. By the fourth year, I had gained some fame in the Zhangjing area. By the fifth year, I had accomplished quite a few great things and was no longer an unknown figure. Now it's the sixth year of the Zhizheng era, and my smuggled salt is being sold openly in Jiangyin Prefecture. I've even started sending 10,000 catties to Wuxi every month. Do you think anyone wants to replace me?"
At this point, Shao Shuyi smiled and said, "My rise to power is too recent, and my foundation is the weakest. In the eyes of some desperados, I'm probably not the easiest to bully."
"What you say makes sense," Wang Huadu thought seriously for a moment and admitted, "But what are you going to do about all the trouble outside?"
Shao Shuyi poured himself a bowl of tea and said, "Let someone else handle it first. I might be back in Jiangyin next month."
When he went to Jiangyin, he also took charge of the Huangtian Trading Company, which was practically the second den of thieves, only much smaller in scale.
"Are you able to manage?" Wang Huadu asked again.
"This year, the focus is on consolidating the foundation," Shao Shuyi said. "I'm entrusting Pudong entirely to you. I might take some time to visit. How's the first batch of land you bought going?"
"Last year, we planted one season of soybeans, and the yield was around 40 jin per mu."
"You'd starve to death if you relied on that," Shao Shuyi laughed.
"If we plant another crop this year, the farmers say we should be able to get fifty or sixty jin (25-30 kg)." Wang Huadu said somewhat embarrassedly, "Xiaohu, don't look down on this land, it's quite good. After autumn, I plan to have someone plant winter wheat to try it out, and next year we should be able to be self-sufficient. As for the newly purchased crops, some can be planted directly. We'll change the cotton we planted last year. Some are still being leveled, which will cost money."
"Take your time, there's no rush," Shao Shuyi said. "If there are still people selling land in the surrounding area, continue to acquire it."
Governor Wang Hua was somewhat surprised and said, "Buying so much land, aren't you afraid of causing trouble for the government?"
Shao Shuyi pondered for a moment and said, "I was a little worried before, but I'm not so afraid now."
Wang Huadu's face gradually softened into a smile as he said, "Young Master Shao, that's more like it. Why hesitate? If something really happens, let's settle it with a knife. I don't believe it."
"You've learned to use 'look before you leap,' huh? Looks like you're really studying." Shao Shuyi laughed. "Keep running Pudong. Have any officials from Songjiang Prefecture given you any trouble?"
"A clerk came to cause trouble," Wang Huadu said. "I originally planned to sneak into his house at night and scare him, but my uncle dissuaded me and gave him some money to settle the matter. I argued with my uncle for several days about this, and I still can't swallow my anger. Damn it, the clerk thinks I'm easy to bully, and he might come back to cause trouble again."
Shao Shuyi nodded and said, "I trust the people I employ. You make the decisions on the other side. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility for you."
Wang Huadu immediately perked up, saying happily, "That's enough. When I get back, I'll see what to say about the vegetable garden."
Shao Shuyi couldn't help but chuckle and advised, "You can't go wrong by listening to your uncle. How about this, I'll go to Songjiang in May or June to see what's going on."
"You have to come here—" Wang Huadu's voice suddenly softened.
Shao Shuyi raised an eyebrow.
Perhaps having mentally prepared himself, Wang Huadu chuckled again and said, "Actually, it's nothing. I'm getting married, to my cousin."
"Oh? That's great news." Shao Shuyi sat up straight and smiled, "I'll definitely give you a generous gift."
Wang Huadu waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter whether there are proper etiquette rules or not. Actually, I don't want to get married now, but alas, my uncle caught me."
Shao Shuyi laughed heartily.
This guy can't control his rooster; he flirts with women wherever he goes, even eating the grass near his own nest. He's probably been caught red-handed this time, and he'll have to marry his cousin to settle things.
Wang Huadu's expression grew increasingly sorrowful.
Shao Shuyi suppressed a laugh and said, "Perhaps they are a good match."
He knew that Wang Huadu, because of his humble origins, wanted to marry a woman from a scholar-official family after he became successful, just like Zhu Ding had been infatuated with a woman from the Lu family—but now it seemed impossible.
Jiang joined the group in August and took charge of the farm work in Sanlin Village.
Jiang Sanbao served as a soldier in Ma Tuo Sha.
His elder brother also worked in transportation for Shengye Trading Company, helping Kong Tie.
This is a case of the whole family "colluding with thieves." If Wang Huadu dares to start a relationship with his cousin and then abandon her, he's finished.
Wang Huadu probably understood this as well, and with a long sigh, said, "Then let's find an auspicious day in May or June to marry a wife first, and then take a concubine."
At this point, he suddenly looked at Shao Shuyi, winked, and said, "Brother Shao, when are you getting married? When I disembarked, I ran into Inspector Jiang Guanbao, and we talked about this. He said you've taken a fancy to the second daughter of the Grand Canal Commissioner Fei, and you won't marry anyone else. Is that true?"
Upon hearing this, Shao Shuyi's eyes widened, and he asked, "Where did Jiang Guanbao hear these rumors?"
Wang Huadu laughed and said, "How would I know? He's an official, so he probably heard it from the officialdom in Jiangyin."
"Ge Daji is such a blabbermouth. Why is it so hard to keep a secret?" Shao Shuyi sighed and said, "Stop spreading rumors."
"Fake?"
Shao Shuyi hesitated slightly, then said, "It's fake."
After saying that, as if he had thought of something, he instructed, "The Fei family is in Shanghai. When you return to Pudong, be sure not to say anything out of turn."
"You have a lover?" Wang Huadu asked instead of answering.
Shao Shuyi didn't answer but instead grabbed him, saying, "Stop drinking, come with me to see Jiang Guanbao."
"Is it really necessary to kill someone to cover this up?" Wang Huadu said with an exaggerated expression.
Shao Shuyi was amused and said, "The officials of Jiangyin Prefecture have been wanting to see me for about half a month. I have something to discuss with Jiang Guanbao, so I'll ask him to cross the river and deliver a message."