Chapter 589: Chapter 591: Negotiation
Wu Yichen truly pitied the Eastern Yi people at that moment. They had been schemed against down to the very marrow of their bones.
In twenty years, even if these men weren’t old and feeble, they’d still have to rack their brains just to afford a ticket for the voyage home.
Even if they regained their freedom, they would be met with even more problems.
"What if they can’t afford a ticket when the time comes?" Lu Shenggen asked, scratching his head.
Ancient Wenheng said, "That’s simple. These people will have children and grandchildren. When the time comes, someone will naturally come to ransom them..."
Besides, given the current strength of our Navy, as long as things stay on course, the Eastern Yi wouldn’t dare to stir up trouble again.
This way, the National Treasury would gain another source of revenue. The local officials at the time would surely be delighted.
’This event will have to be recorded in the local annals,’ Wenheng thought. ’Such a major political achievement. I wonder who will get to claim the credit for it years from now.’
Jin Qianqian, however, hadn’t expected the person the Emperor sent to take over this business to be an old acquaintance.
Bai Jinglie was also helpless. Back in Shangjing, the Old Marquis’s health had taken a critical turn. By all rights, he should be rushing back to his side to perform his filial duties.
But he hadn’t expected a personal letter from the Emperor, ordering him to come and negotiate with Jin Qianqian once more.
He still remembered how, over two years ago, his mistrust had led him to invest only one hundred thousand taels. While it had brought him some returns, the missed opportunity was enough to make his heart ache.
All that glittering silver, right there for the taking, had flown away. For two or three months, he hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly.
He never thought he’d be back here again, once more because of the sea trade. He really couldn’t figure out Ancient Wenheng and Jin Qianqian.
’Even if they aren’t in Lu City,’ he mused, ’as long as their subordinates are loyal, there might be some minor impact, but it shouldn’t be a major problem. Why would they sell it off?’
But that was a question he would never ask aloud. As it stood, he and the Holy Emperor were the beneficiaries, and he had no intention of ruining a good thing by being too clever.
"Prince Bai is truly the Holy Emperor’s right-hand man," Jin Qianqian said as she sat down, composing herself for the negotiation.
"Mrs. Gu, I’m just riding on your and Mr. Gu’s coattails, fortunate enough to get a few scraps.
On my way here, I was informed of the price you’re asking, Madam. But my funds are tight at the moment, and I truly can’t produce that much silver."
Jin Qianqian wasn’t surprised that he opened by pleading poverty. Ever since she had put out feelers, many had inquired, but very few actually had the means to take on the business.
Besides, everyone was just watching from the sidelines, some even thinking that if worse came to worst, a few families could band together to carve it up.
"Prince Bai, you must be joking. You work directly for the Holy Emperor. The profits sent to him over the past few years have been considerable."
Bai Jinglie rolled his eyes internally. ’I don’t know why this Emperor has such a peculiar habit,’ he thought. ’Everything goes in, nothing ever comes out. And now he’s given me this impossible task, expecting me to get something for nothing.’
’But he’s not considering who I’m dealing with. She’s a fox. It’ll be a miracle if I can get the upper hand.’
"Surely, Madam, you can understand my predicament. Could you see your way to being a little more flexible on the price?"
Business deals are all about negotiation. The current Emperor was a man who valued his image. The last time he got a deal for free, it was because the other party had made the offering voluntarily.
Now, to acquire a business that laid golden eggs, he had to give something in return.
Jin Qianqian chuckled lightly. "Even if I did give you a discount, I imagine Prince Bai still couldn’t come up with that much silver, could you?"
Bai Jinglie was speechless. ’She already knows, yet she says it out loud. Isn’t she just making things awkward for both of us?’
Jin Qianqian remained silent. ’As long as I’m not the one feeling awkward, the awkwardness is all theirs.’
"...Then I must ask Mrs. Gu to be direct," Bai Jinglie said, recovering. He didn’t believe for a second that she didn’t have a solution in mind. Otherwise, the Holy Emperor wouldn’t have sent him here at such a crucial time.
Jin Qianqian said nothing. ’Well, you’re the one who insisted on beating around the bush with me.’
She held out her hand for the ledger Lichun was holding, placed it on the table, and slid it directly in front of Bai Jinglie.
Bai Jinglie gave her a puzzled look before he started to leaf through it.
After a long time, he finally looked up at Jin Qianqian, his expression complex. "Mrs. Gu, you are a true talent. I am thoroughly impressed."
Before he arrived, the best-case scenario he had imagined was simply writing an IOU.
Now, it seemed his thinking had been far too narrow.
The terms and conditions laid out within were meticulously detailed.
What astonished him most was that in exchange for transferring so many shares, she wasn’t asking for a single tael of silver. Instead, she wanted half the profits from ten sea trade expeditions, or thirty percent of the goods.
One shouldn’t underestimate those ten expeditions. The round trips would take a full five years to complete.
That alone would be enough for Jin Qianqian to make a fortune.
"Of course, I am not one to simply take without giving," Jin Qianqian said, noticing his interest was piqued but he hadn’t yet agreed. She immediately sweetened the deal.
"The skilled crewmen under my command can be at your disposal for five years. As for whether you can convince them to stay after that? That will depend on your own capabilities."
"From what I understand, many of the crewmen were hired locally. I imagine they would be willing to remain on the ships. To use this as a bargaining chip... isn’t that a bit improper?"
At that, Jin Qianqian had Lidong place a thick stack of contracts on the table, gesturing for Bai Jinglie to help himself.
Bai Jinglie had only flipped through a few pages when the color drained from his face.
These men had all signed ten-year employment contracts with Mrs. Gu, and only two years had passed. There was no loophole for him to exploit.
"You planned for this two years ago, Madam?"
Jin Qianqian smiled. "How could that be? I’m no fortune-teller.
It’s just a rule of mine: anyone who works for me, aside from those bound by indenture, must sign a ten-year contract.
I never expected our time in Lu City to be so brief. We’ve only just managed to revitalize the city, and now we’re forced to part with what we’ve built."
Bai Jinglie was silent. ’I really don’t see any reluctance in this "parting,"’ he thought dryly. ’In fact, the way you wield the knife is so swift it could poke several holes in a man before he even knew he was stabbed.’
"Mrs. Gu, don’t forget, I am acting on behalf of the Holy Emperor."
The implication was clear: she shouldn’t push her luck.
But Jin Qianqian simply spread her hands. "I have another ledger here, recording the profits sent to Shangjing over the years. By these numbers, the terms I’m proposing are a huge loss for me. I’m sure Prince Bai wouldn’t want to use his authority to bully me into an even worse deal, would he?"
Bai Jinglie’s secret orders from the Emperor were to cooperate with Jin Qianqian in transferring control of the sea trade, not to haggle over the price.
Yet, he was reluctant to concede such a massive advantage.
Jin Qianqian said, "Actually, there is another solution. I just don’t know if Prince Bai would be willing to consider it."
Bai Jinglie’s focus sharpened, on full alert. "Mrs. Gu, please, do tell."
Jin Qianqian tapped the thick stack of employment contracts. "I could transfer these contracts to you, Prince Bai, so that the men will be fully under the purview of the sea trade."
"And your terms, Mrs. Gu?" This was a good offer. No one wanted the loyalty of their key subordinates to be held in another’s hands.
Jin Qianqian said, "I built this sea trade from the ground up, piece by piece. To wash my hands of it completely... I’m not entirely willing to do that.
In exchange for these contracts, I will retain profit-sharing shares equivalent to one hundred thousand taels of silver. As long as the sea trade continues to operate, the Gu family must receive its share of the profits."
