Chapter Ninety-One: A Top Tycoon, a Matching Deposit

“Ho! Strange things happen every year, but today there are especially many. To think there are still fools willing to make a loss on purpose.

All of you, stop right there. Temporary gate tax: every shipment is to be taxed an extra thirty percent.”

The petty official at the gate grabbed Han Chong’s carriage and barked with a mocking sneer.

At that moment, a bright gold ingot shot out from the carriage and struck him squarely between the eyes, knocking him flat.

The official flew into a rage and was about to curse when he felt the ingot in his hands. His eyes lit up like stars, and he bit into it at once.

“It’s real gold!” The soldiers and guards too all broke into delighted smiles and crowded around the official, afraid he might pocket it for himself.

“Can we go in now?” came a stern voice from within the carriage.

“Yes, yes, of course!” The official and the soldiers hurriedly moved the barricade aside to clear the way.

Good heavens, that single gold ingot was worth more than ten days’ revenue from the western city gate. The wealthy merchant in that carriage was absurdly generous.

Han Chong’s carriage, followed by several hundred merchants, entered the city in a grand procession.

“Boss, where are we headed?” Mi Ling rode up beside the carriage and asked.

“To the central street!”

Han Chong had originally intended to pose as a small merchant and experience the dark commerce of Qiongzhou City for himself. But upon entering the city and seeing so many oppressed small farmers, he could not bear to stand by and watch. In a burst of impulse, he began buying up goods on a vast scale.

So he changed his mind. In times of chaos, one must use drastic medicine. Only by stirring the whole of Qiongzhou City into turmoil, like a dragon overturning the sea, could he more quickly see the true faces of these high officials and rich magnates.

The entire prefectural city was disturbed by this mighty train of merchants, and thousands of curious onlookers followed along to watch the excitement.

The central district of Qiongzhou City was indeed prosperous and splendid, with tall buildings rising on all sides. It was more than ten times grander than Yunzhou’s layout, and at its very heart lay a four-way square, bustling with travelers.

Han Chong stepped down from the carriage, a bundle in hand, and looked around. The shops on all sides were mostly inns, restaurants, antiques and painting dealers, silk merchants, and the like.

“Immortal Brew Pavilion!” Han Chong had found his target. This tavern was lavish and magnificent, seven stories high, and it seemed the rear courtyard was no small expanse either. He walked straight toward it.

By then, the waiter and the proprietor inside had already been alarmed. Seeing such an imposing display, they came out to greet the visitors.

Who would have thought that this well-fed, extravagantly dressed fat man in a gold robe would open with, “I’m buying your tavern. Name your price.”

The proprietor and the waiter were both dumbfounded. What sort of spectacle was this? Then they laughed a little uncertainly and said,

“Please, sir. I am Wang Bin, the proprietor of Immortal Brew Pavilion. This establishment has been in my family for generations and is not for sale under any circumstances. If you wish to drink, you are most welcome.”

Han Chong said nothing. He merely tossed the bundle onto the ground.

“Aaah!”

Gasps rose from the crowd of spectators all around, every one of them staring in amazement and admiration.

This wealthy merchant was truly bold. There were so many gold and silver treasures in that bundle that it could probably buy two taverns just like this one.

The proprietor stared in disbelief, his legs trembling as he crouched down. His hands groped through the bundle of jewels, his mouth hanging open so long that he could not speak.

“Is it enough?”

“Enough, enough! More than enough!” Afraid Han Chong might change his mind, he hurriedly wrapped it up and clutched it to his chest, then invited Han Chong inside to discuss the matter in detail.

At once, he ordered the stewardess to bring paper, brush, and the deed to the property, and in great haste signed a transfer agreement with Han Chong.

The proprietor and the stewardess beamed with joy, secretly thinking that this Master Jin was truly a living bodhisattva.

For months, the two of them had not slept well, night after night longing to sell the place off. They had never expected that some reckless fool would really come along and make them a windfall fortune.

In no time at all, news spread throughout the streets and alleys that the largest tavern in Qiongzhou City, Immortal Brew Pavilion, had been transferred in the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Rumor had it that a wealthy merchant surnamed Jin had bought it with a single throw of money.

This caused an uproar. People from many factions sent spies to investigate, all curious about what this mysterious rich man intended to do.

“Boss, now that we’ve bought this tavern, are we going to run a food and drink business?” Mi Ling asked, still astonished that Han Chong possessed so much gold and silver. Even the Heavenly Sword Manor would likely have trouble producing that much at once. But if they were to run a tavern, why had he bought so many merchants’ odds and ends?

“Of course not. I simply saw that this tavern has an excellent location and plenty of space.

First, tell the merchants outside to place all their goods in the rear courtyard. Then select twenty sturdy young men willing to stay here as helpers, and pay them five taels of silver a month.”

“Five taels?” Mi Ling truly could not understand why Han Chong was so wealthy.

In truth, the bundle Han Chong had just taken out was the last of the valuables he had originally collected from the tomb of Princess Yu.

But since he intended to throw Qiongzhou’s existing order into chaos, he would need vast riches. So in the carriage just now, he had spent another skill point to learn a certain art.

Gold and Silver: turn stone into gold or silver. The duration depends on how much vital energy is infused.

Under Mi Ling’s dumbfounded gaze, Han Chong took up a Buddha statue from the offering table. Golden light enveloped it as he poured his power into it, and before long it had transformed into a golden Buddha.

Mi Ling took it and examined it carefully. It was indeed solid gold.

Cold Moon’s eyes widened slightly, then the surprise faded from her face. By now she was long accustomed to Han Chong’s strange and varied arts. Even if he were to ascend to immortality on the spot, she would probably not find it remarkable.

“Boss, you truly are miraculous. With this power to turn stone into gold, I can rest easy. Otherwise, spending money like this would leave me feeling rather short of confidence.”

“Heh. Next, I plan to turn this tavern into a giant warehouse. The second and third floors will store grain and rice, the fourth and fifth silk, and the sixth and seventh will be kept in reserve.

If anyone comes to sell goods, just buy them all. It doesn’t matter if the price is a little higher.”

“All right then. What should we rename the signboard?”

“Hmm. Let’s call it the All-Devouring House.”

“The All-Devouring House! Small and large, all devoured—what a splendid name. I’ll make the arrangements at once.”

Mi Ling had a premonition that a vast and sweeping storm was about to engulf the whole of Qiongzhou City.

Yet just as Mi Ling had barely ordered the signboard to be mounted, assigned helpers to manage the tavern, and begun buying up assorted goods, a squad of government constables immediately surrounded the All-Devouring House and entered.

“You are the proprietor?” The leader was a tall, thin official in a crimson robe with a silver fish pouch at his waist. He looked at Han Chong and asked.

“Indeed. I have only just arrived in your honorable city. May I ask what brings you here, sir?”

“Hm. I am Cao Zha, Chief Clerk of Qiongzhou. I heard that you bought this building and intend to purchase grain and silk, so I have come to inspect the matter.

In this prefecture, any merchant wishing to operate must have permission from the prefectural office. Grain dealers need grain certificates, cloth merchants need cloth permits, salt merchants need salt warrants, and so forth. What exactly do you intend to sell?

Without the proper permits, conducting private trade is punishable by imprisonment.”

Salt warrants! In feudal times, the salt industry was a special trade, mostly granted directly by the authorities. No one had expected that in Qiongzhou’s administration, ordinary merchants could even obtain salt warrants.

“So that is how it is. I have not yet decided what line of business to pursue. May I ask how much silver is required for grain certificates, cloth permits, and salt warrants?”

“The deposit varies according to the scale of business. Naturally, the quota attached to the permit varies as well. In general, it is a one-to-one deposit.”

Han Chong’s mouth twitched slightly. When he had been in Yunzhou before, he had never heard of any connection between permits and deposits; they were simply purchased at a fixed price.

But this Chief Clerk Cao’s arrangement was rather elegant on the surface. A one-to-one deposit seemed perfectly reasonable, yet in truth it was a vicious scheme to seize wealth without lifting a finger.