Chapter 14: When Compared to Acting Like a True Gentleman, What Are a Few Hundred Million?

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“Ma Su, how about this: as long as you help us buy more weapons and provisions, I won’t hold your brothers’ unauthorized use of my tables and chairs against you,” Mi Fang said as he brought Ma Su over. Zhao Shaojie began to negotiate, preparing to make Ma Su pay dearly.

Ma Su raised an eyebrow. “The matter of the tables and chairs concerns my elder brother and you, what does it have to do with me?”

Zhao Shaojie was stunned. Really? That works?

“Young Chang, think about it. If Cao Cao gets hold of these supplies, we’ll face many more troubles. War depends on logistics—logistics mean food and weapons. This concerns the survival of our army. Can you not show some commitment?” Zhao Shaojie shifted his angle.

Ma Su shook his head. “The reasoning is sound, but my family has already contributed much to our lord. We cannot continue to invest like this.”

Zhao Shaojie stomped in frustration. No investment at all?

He instinctively glanced at Mi Fang.

Mi Fang’s face was already glowing with delight.

What does contribution mean?!

Our Mi family truly knows what it means to serve our lord. The illustrious Mi family, once the richest in Xuzhou, what has become of us?

Beggar’s rags!

Ma Su glanced at Mi Fang, a look of shame crossing his face as he whispered, “Shaojie, Zifang, it’s not that I’m stingy. It’s just that the Ma family is not comparable to the Mi family. The steward Mi and General Mi can already make decisions for the Mi family, but my Ma family still has elder relatives. Even my elder brother cannot decide everything, let alone me!”

Hearing this, Zhao Shaojie finally decided to make a concession. He whispered, “If that’s the case, I’ll offer you a financial opportunity that will make the Ma family immensely wealthy!”

Ma Su’s eyes lit up. “What opportunity?”

Mi Fang’s eyes grew even brighter as he craned his neck.

“Papermaking technology!” Zhao Shaojie declared.

Ma Su frowned, unimpressed, and Mi Fang was equally indifferent.

They already have hemp paper, but the quality is poor, unsuitable for writing and not durable in storage. So most people still write on silk or bamboo slips.

Seeing their lack of interest, Zhao Shaojie spoke gravely, “My papermaking method is far better than the Caihou paper. Not only is it pure and flawless, but its texture can be soft or firm, and it’s easy to preserve writings. Once introduced, it will surely sweep across the entire Han.”

“If it weren’t for the lord’s grand cause, I wouldn’t share this with you.”

“This time, don’t even think about copying it. My papermaking process is complex, with many ingredients that must be prepared separately. If you refuse, I won’t cooperate with the Ma family in future papermaking!”

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Ma Su, seeing Zhao Shaojie’s firm and solemn words, showed a hint of suspicion and looked toward Mi Fang.

Mi Fang shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I know nothing about papermaking. I understand how to run a business but not manufacture goods.”

“Not only that, I also know how to make sugar, salt, glass, soap, and even gunpowder…” Zhao Shaojie displayed an air of expertise. “The chance for the Ma family to become the richest in Han lies right before you. Ma Su, are you ready?”

Ma Su was familiar with sugar and salt, but glass, soap, and gunpowder? They sounded impressive.

Swallowing hard, Ma Su gritted his teeth. “Do you swear you’re not deceiving me?”

Zhao Shaojie immediately swore an oath. “Zhao Hao swears that if he deceives Ma Su, he will meet a terrible fate—struck down by thunder and pierced by countless arrows!”

Such a fierce oath left Ma Su and Mi Fang pale with fear.

“Fine, I’ll trust you this once!” Ma Su said, then looked at Mi Fang. “General Zifang, go discuss with the steward. I’ll go home to raise the funds.”

…

Mi Fang, true to his merchant origins, quickly reached an agreement with the steward, just waiting for Ma Su to deliver the money.

That night, Ma Su arrived, exhausted from travel, announcing the funds had been raised.

Ma Su drove a cart full of money to hand over to the treasury manager, who kept his promise. He had no choice; after all, the other party came with troops to negotiate, and shipments of supplies were loaded onto the boats one after another.

They worked until dawn before everyone left Jiangling.

After leaving Jiangling, Zhao Shaojie asked Ma Su how he had raised the money.

“I hinted to the Kuai and Cai families that when Cao’s army marches south, the Ma family will develop northward. So I mortgaged most of the Ma family shops, houses, and fields in Jingzhou,” Ma Su said with a pained expression. “If our lord fails to hold Jingzhou, the Ma family is finished!”

“Of course, if our lord secures Jingzhou, the Ma family won’t have to repay the Kuai and Cai families.”

Because Zhao Shaojie kept saying that Xiangyang and northern Jing might become Cao Cao’s territory, implying Jiangling and southern Jing were Liu Bei’s, Ma Su resolutely mortgaged most of the Ma family estates, leaving only some manors in Jiangling and southern Jing to recruit people fleeing from the north.

As long as Liu Bei stabilizes southern Jing, the Ma family won’t lose out. Besides, the Kuai and Cai families won’t dare to collect debts in Liu Bei’s territory. As for the northern estates, they’ve already been mortgaged for cash, so no loss.

But if Liu Bei fails to take southern Jing, their estates belong to the Kuai and Cai families, and the money was used to purchase supplies for Liu Bei—just like the Mi family, caught in disaster with nothing left.

Though a noble son, Ma Su began to feel a pang of fear.

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Mi Fang, however, acted like a seasoned veteran. “In these chaotic times, seeking a wise lord and sacrificing everything to relieve difficulties is nothing. A few hundred million coins or billions, what are they compared to a man’s deeds?!”

Ma Su looked at Mi Fang and actually showed a look of admiration.

Zhao Shaojie, however, sneered. “If I didn’t know about your trafficking of weapons and provisions and burning warehouses, I might have believed you.”

Still, Zhao Shaojie comforted him, “Young Chang, rest assured, the Ma family will not lose money. The Ma family is destined to become the richest clan in Han.”

Ma Su snorted.

…

Fan City.

That day, news arrived.

Sun Quan had already mobilized a great army and was heading straight for Jiangxia.

“Seems it’s for real!” Liu Bei had long trusted Zhao Shaojie, and this major event finally came true, strengthening his resolve about the road ahead.

He immediately summoned his subordinates.

“Now that Sun Quan is attacking Jiangxia, I intend to send people to intercept. It’s not necessary to let Sun Quan fail completely, but we must prevent him from abducting the people of Jiangxia. What do you think?” Liu Bei said.

Gan Ning immediately responded, “Huang Zu’s forces are full of incompetents and cowards. If Sun Quan attacks, destruction is indeed possible. Though I am unworthy, I am willing to go and protect the people of Jiangxia.”

Gan Ning no longer commanded just a few hundred of his own men; now he had two thousand under direct command.

Liu Bei nodded, then looked at Guan Yu. “Yunchang, Xingba, Shiyuan, gather five thousand troops and head to Jiangxia. Do not allow Sun Quan to abduct its people.”

“Understood!”

Guan Yu and Gan Ning both agreed.

Gan Ning was particularly pleased because Liu Bei never mentioned rescuing Huang Zu. That was perfect—others might hesitate, but Huang Zu was certainly doomed!