BSI Chapter 130: Two Ways to Cook a Fish, Making the Most of Every Opportunity
Chapter 130: Two Ways to Cook a Fish, Making the Most of Every Opportunity
Chapter 130 Two Ways to Make the Most of a Fish
Chapter 129 The capital city, the Chen residence, the stables.
Since there was no prison in Chen Ying's mansion, the stable had to be used as a temporary execution site. Jiang Chun, the vice president of the Huizhou Merchants Association, was tied to a pillar with ropes. His clothes had been beaten to shreds, revealing his muscles, and his upper body was covered with purplish-blue whip marks.
His head was drooping; he had clearly fainted.
"Splash—" A bucket of cold, salty water was poured over Jiang Chun. He trembled, slowly raising his head, his entire body shaking and convulsing. He gritted his teeth and weakly uttered four words: "Kill me!"
Chen Ying, sitting to the side, sighed softly. He turned to Xu Xianchun, who was sitting on the other side, and said, "Lord Xu, I'm afraid we won't get anything out of this desperate criminal. Let's take him back to the Imperial Prison. When it comes to interrogation, the officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are more skilled."
Xu Xianchun was speechless. He had been watching Jiang Chun being whipped for a full half hour. The key point was, why didn't you ask him anything? Chen Boying's men didn't ask him anything, they just kept whipping him. Two of the whips had broken. Now, Jiang Chun's body was covered in undamaged skin, and even his genitals were swollen like radishes. He didn't know if they would still be usable in the future.
Chen Ying's current development has reached a bottleneck. His production capacity is somewhat excessive, but in many parts of the Ming Dynasty, people don't even need to buy iron. Chen Ying is anxious, but the problem is that he has no sales channels. This is like the farmers in later generations who have mountains of grain and vegetables but can't sell them. However, unscrupulous merchants with retail channels dare to sell watermelons that cost a few cents for several dollars a pound, and chili peppers that cost two cents a pound for six or seven dollars a pound. This is a profit of dozens of times.
The common people have been exploited to the extreme. The vegetables in their plastic greenhouses can't even cover the cost of hiring people to harvest them. The situation is the same now. Chen Ying has mountains of steel in his hands, but he has no sales channels. No matter how he sells them, he can't turn them into money.
Chen Ying naturally knew that the Huizhou merchants were the financial backers of the Donglin Party, and he also knew what kind of goods these were. If it were said that eight or nine out of ten officials in the Ming Dynasty were corrupt, then among these Huizhou merchants, killing them all would be absolutely justified. All the things they did were ruthless exploitation, wishing they could squeeze the last drop of blood from the common people.
These bastards are incredibly greedy. They possess wealth beyond measure, and while they can squander fortunes in brothels and on rooftops, they are as stingy as misers, never giving away a single penny.
Inside the Chen family's stable, the stench of blood mingled with the foul smell of horse manure, making one almost nauseous. Jiang Chun had been tied to a pillar for three days, his body covered in layers of wounds, old ones not yet healed, new ones appearing. His consciousness was already fading; only the excruciating pain reminded him that he was still alive.
"My lord, he has fainted again."
The executioner's guard cracked his leather whip, scattering drops of blood from the tip across the ground.
Chen Ying sat to the side, holding a teacup, and slowly took a sip. He glanced at the unconscious Jiang Chun and said calmly, "Wake him up, then treat his injuries!"
At this moment, Jiang Chun's face was swollen beyond recognition, his eyes were squinted into slits, his lips were cracked and bleeding, and he looked as if he had been pulled out of a pool of blood.
"Kill me—kill me—give me a quick death!"
Chen Ying put down his teacup, stood up, walked to Jiang Chun, and looked down at him: "Jiang Chun, I am a straightforward man. You insulted my parents, so it's only right that I kill you. But I don't want to kill you. Do you know why?"
Jiang Chun struggled to lift his head and looked at Chen Ying with swollen eyes. How could he not understand Chen Ying's intentions? The problem was, he knew, but he didn't want to spend money to save his life.
Chen Ying smiled slightly: "Your life is worth a lot of money. I hit you not because I hate you, but to make you understand whether money or life is more important."
Jiang Chun closed his eyes and remained silent.
Chen Ying turned back to his seat and waved his hand: "Keep fighting. Don't kill him, leave him alive."
The whip fell again, striking Jiang Chun's bloodied back with dull thuds. Jiang Chun gritted his teeth, stubbornly refusing to utter a sound.
On the fourth day, Wei Zhongxian arrived.
Chen Ying was drinking tea in the front hall when he heard the gatekeeper announce his arrival and paused for a moment. He got up to greet him and saw Wei Zhongxian dressed in plain clothes, followed only by two eunuchs, looking somewhat uneasy.
"I am deeply honored by your presence, Eunuch," Chen Ying said with a cupped-hands bow and a smile.
Wei Zhongxian waved his hand, entered the front hall, sat down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Boying, I've come today to discuss the matter of Jiang Chun."
Chen Ying's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive: "Oh? Does the Eunuch know this person?"
"I don't know him." Wei Zhongxian put down his teacup. "But someone asked my family to intercede on his behalf."
Chen Ying laughed: "Who has such influence that they can get the eunuch to come?"
Wei Zhongxian blushed, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Wang Wende of the Huizhou Merchants Association gave our family 600,000 taels of silver."
He spoke in a very low voice, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. It certainly didn't sound good for a dignified high-ranking official like himself to be swayed by a mere merchant's offer of silver.
Chen Ying didn't laugh at him, but simply nodded: "Six hundred thousand taels, that's quite a lot. What does the Grand Eunuch plan to do with it?"
Wei Zhongxian sighed: "I want to ask you, could you please be lenient and release Jiang Chun? We can discuss the terms."
Chen Ying pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Eunuch, do you know how much silver that Jiang Chun can be squeezed out of him?"
Wei Zhongxian was taken aback.
Chen Ying held up three fingers: "At least three million taels."
Wei Zhongxian gasped.
"Master Eunuch," Chen Ying lowered his voice, "think about it, three million taels. You take one million taels, His Majesty takes one million taels, and I take one million taels. Everyone benefits. If you release him now, six hundred thousand taels is a lot, but compared to three million taels, it's far less."
Wei Zhongxian's eyes lit up. He certainly knew what one million taels of silver meant. Although he was the Emperor's father, the amount of silver he could actually use was far less than outsiders imagined. One million taels would give him even more leverage in front of the Emperor.
"Boying," Wei Zhongxian lowered his voice, "are you confident?"
"Don't worry, Master," Chen Ying said with a smile. "This man is willing to risk his life for his money, but he only has one life. If we beat him for two more days, he won't be able to hold on any longer and will naturally vomit it up."
Wei Zhongxian stood up and patted Chen Ying on the shoulder: "Then I won't bother you any longer. Do your job well, and I'll put in a good word for you with the Emperor."
Chen Ying cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Eunuch."
After Wei Zhongxian left, Chen Ying returned to the stable. Jiang Chun was woken up again by the splashing, trembling all over and pale-faced.
"Manager Jiang," Chen Ying crouched down, looking at him, "I'm giving you one last chance. How much silver is your life worth?"
Jiang Chun raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his lips trembling, but he still didn't speak.
Chen Ying sighed and stood up: "Keep fighting."
On the fifth day, Jiang Chun finally couldn't hold on any longer.
As the whip fell again, he let out a piercing scream: "I surrender, I surrender, Lord Chen, Master Chen, I surrender!"
Jiang Chun was driven almost insane by the torment; no matter how good the money was, he simply couldn't take it anymore.
Chen Ying raised his hand to stop the execution and walked up to him: "Speak."
Jiang Chun trembled all over, his voice breaking: "I—I have silver—I have land—I have shops—I'll give you everything—I just beg you to spare my life—"
Chen Ying squatted down and looked at him: "How much?"
"Three—three hundred thousand taels—" Jiang Chun managed to utter a few words with difficulty.
Chen Ying sneered and stood up: "Keep fighting."
"No! No!" Jiang Chun screamed hoarsely, "Five hundred thousand! Five hundred thousand!"
Chen Ying shook his head: "Manager Jiang, I don't have time to haggle with you. I've appraised your life at three million taels. Not a penny less, and you won't leave this house alive."
Jiang Chun's face was ashen. Three million taels of silver—that was most of his life savings!
"You—you're robbing me!" he hissed.
Chen Ying laughed: "Am I robbing you? You insulted my parents, which is punishable by death. I'm not killing you, just fining you some silver. You think that's too much? I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Think it over. If you haven't, I'll send you on your way. Think about it, who will get all that silver after you die? Your wife? She'll spend it, find some gigolos, beat your son, and live in your house. What are you after?"
Jiang Chun finally broke down. He collapsed to the ground, trembling all over, his face swollen beyond recognition, tears and blood mingling and smearing his face.
"I sign—I sign—three million taels—I give—I give—"
Chen Ying squatted down, looked at him, and smiled slightly: "If you had done this earlier, why would he have suffered like this? Untie him, find a clean room, hire a doctor, and treat his injuries properly. Don't let him die."
"yes!"
After Jiang Chun was carried away, Xu Xianchun couldn't help but sigh, "Lord Chen, your methods are even more ruthless than our Embroidered Uniform Guard. Three million taels, tsk tsk."
Chen Ying laughed: "Lord Xu, you flatter me. I am merely acting on behalf of Heaven. These Huizhou merchants are richer than a country, yet they are stingy and even dare to evade taxes from the imperial court. If we don't make them bleed a little, they won't know what the law is."
Xu Xianchun nodded and said no more.
Chen Mansion, front hall.
Wang Wende, accompanied by several core members of the Anhui Merchants Association, sat at the lower end of the table. Chen Ying sat in the main seat, his expression calm, slowly sipping his tea.
"We, your humble servants, have come today for two reasons: first, to apologize to Your Excellency, and second, to discuss the matter of Jiang Chun."
Chen Ying picked up his teacup and said slowly, "An apology? What crime has Chief Wang committed?"
Wang Wende took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed deeply: "We, your humble servants, were blind to your greatness and have offended you. Please, sir, be magnanimous and spare Jiang Chun this time."
Chen Ying put down his teacup, looked at him, and said calmly, "Chief Wang, I don't like beating around the bush. You want to save Jiang Chun? Fine—but there are conditions!"
"Lord Chen," Wang Wende said, bowing, "we have come today to discuss Jiang Chun's matter. Please feel free to name your conditions. As long as you are willing to release him, we can discuss anything."
Chen Ying put down his teacup, looked at them, and said calmly, "My conditions are very simple. I have a batch of steel..."
"Bearings and four-wheeled carriages—we have a lot of unsold inventory. You Anhui merchants have the channels; help me sell them. The price is negotiable, but the quantity must be large."
Wang Wende breathed a sigh of relief: "That's easy to say. We'll collect whatever amount you, sir.
"Second," Chen Ying held up his second finger, "I need shipbuilding craftsmen. Three thousand. The more skilled the better. I will pay their wages; you are responsible for recruiting them."
Wang Wende hesitated for a moment: "Three thousand men? What does Your Excellency need so many craftsmen for?"
"That's none of your concern," Chen Ying said calmly. "You just need to recruit people. If you succeed, I will reward you. If you fail, I will be unhappy. If I am unhappy, Jiang Chun will be unhappy."
Wang Wende smiled wryly: "Don't worry, sir, we commoners will do our best."
The negotiations lasted for more than ten days. The two sides went back and forth, haggling over the terms. Chen Ying refused to budge an inch, while Wang Wende retreated step by step. Ultimately, the two sides reached an agreement:
Jiang Chun paid three million taels of silver to redeem his life. Of this, one million taels were sent to the palace, one million taels were given to Wei Zhongxian, and one million taels went to Chen Ying.
Chenji Trading Company's steel, bearings, four-wheeled carriages, and other goods were sold by Huizhou merchants at 90% of the market price, with the Huizhou merchants taking a 10% commission.
Within three months, Huizhou merchants recruited three thousand shipbuilding craftsmen and sent them to Yongning Port. Chen Ying covered all the craftsmen's resettlement expenses, travel costs, and wages.
On the day the agreement was signed, Wang Wende held Chen Ying's hand and said with a wry smile, "Lord Chen, I've done countless deals in my life, but this is the first time I've been manipulated like this. You're amazing."
Chen Ying smiled: "Chief Wang, you flatter me. I simply don't want to be your enemy. Wouldn't it be better if we could all make money peacefully?"
Wang Wende nodded repeatedly, but inwardly he was cursing the heavens.
Jiang Chun was released. He spent half a month recuperating at the Chen residence before he could barely walk again. On the day he left, he looked back at the gate of the Chen residence, his eyes filled with resentment.
"Manager Jiang," Chen Ying said with a smile, standing at the door, "go back and take good care of your injuries. Next time you come, I will certainly treat you well."
Jiang Chun shivered and walked away without looking back.
Standing behind Chen Ying, Su Mei said softly, "Sir, aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Huizhou merchants for offending them like this?"
Chen Ying shook his head: "Revenge? They won't. Huizhou merchants are driven by profit; as long as there's money to be made, they'll even forgive the murder of their father. I've given them sales channels and opportunities to make money; they're overjoyed, why would they seek revenge?"
He turned to look at Su Mei: "Do you know why I insisted they recruit shipbuilding craftsmen?"
Su Mei thought for a moment: "Does Your Excellency intend to build even more ships?"
"Not only that." Chen Ying's gaze was profound. "What I want to build is—the maritime power of the Ming Dynasty. With ships, we can go to sea; once at sea, we can find more trade routes; with trade routes, we can earn more silver; with silver, we can support more soldiers; with more soldiers, we can protect our homeland and expand our territory."
He paused, then said calmly, "The Huizhou merchants think they are helping me. In reality, they are helping themselves. Because only when I become powerful can they make more money. They will understand this sooner or later."