Chapter Fifty-Two: News of the Fief
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Yet one question still lingered in Zhou Hao’s heart.
“Manager Zhao, the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild has connections everywhere. You should understand my situation, shouldn’t you?”
To secure a business of such magnitude in the imperial capital, the person behind it must wield tremendous power.
How could they possibly be unaware of how Emperor Zhou and the Empress treated him?
Could it truly be that money could make even ghosts turn millstones?
Manager Zhao smiled first, then slowly replied, “Of course we understand. Although you are the First Prince, you have not received the treatment you deserve. We are naturally aware of that.”
“But what of it? At heart, the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild is merely a merchant organization. As long as there is profit to be made, that is all that matters.”
Zhou Hao nodded and spoke slowly.
“In that case, I hope you will take good care of me.”
With that, he prepared to rise and see his guest out.
Manager Zhao understood at once. He hurriedly stood, his face covered in smiles.
“Rest assured. A clerk will deliver the contract shortly.”
“That would be best. But you should also understand that I will soon be leaving for my fief.” Zhou Hao paused before continuing, “Flower Branch Clean cannot be supplied in the imperial capital.”
The smile on Manager Zhao’s face grew even brighter.
“That is all the better. Once you arrive at your fief, our trade routes will extend there as well. You need not worry about this.”
How could Manager Zhao not know that Zhou Hao would be leaving soon?
If he did not depart quickly, the manager would never have come to him in the first place.
Flower Branch Clean was an exceptionally valuable item in the imperial capital. If it were supplied there, those powerful officials who followed its scent would probably divide it all up before it even left the city gates.
The Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild could still make money, but certainly not much.
To merchants, “not much” meant a loss.
How could Manager Zhao stand by and watch the guild lose money?
Only by reaching an agreement at this critical juncture could the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild make the greatest profit.
Besides, the guild had not never purchased raw materials before.
But how to produce the item remained a tremendous headache.
After Zhou Hao saw Manager Zhao out, a trace of delight appeared on his face.
“Miss Bi, I will soon be heading to my fief. You should think carefully about whether you want to come with me.”
From Manager Zhao’s actions, Zhou Hao had already sensed an unusual message.
He naturally understood that he would most likely have to make a trip to his fief next.
Of course, he had to see how Bi Ruxue would react.
Bi Ruxue rolled her eyes at him and spoke slowly.
“My parents have already arranged our marriage, and you would never mistreat me. What is there left to consider?”
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Ever since Zhou Hao had asked what kind of floral fragrance she liked and given her the first jar of Flower Branch Clean, Bi Ruxue had understood.
Zhou Hao would never mistreat her.
Naturally, she was willing to go.
“However, my father has not sent any news yet, while Manager Zhao has already come knocking. It seems His Majesty has taken precautions against my father after all.”
Bi Ruxue’s sigh made Zhou Hao realize what was happening.
His future father-in-law had not sent over even the slightest bit of information.
It was obvious that Emperor Zhou had already begun guarding against the Grand General.
But that hardly mattered.
No matter how wary he became, Emperor Zhou would find it difficult to seize the Grand General’s military authority.
“Miss Bi, you are right. Let us pay a visit to the Grand General’s residence and explain the situation to him.”
A shrewd glint appeared in Zhou Hao’s eyes. He ordered his men to bring out swift horses so they could reach the Grand General’s residence as quickly as possible.
They needed to discuss the journey ahead.
If something went wrong with the Grand General’s troops, Zhou Hao would be the one in trouble.
When the two arrived at the Grand General’s residence, they saw the Grand General training Bi Yutang.
With a wooden spear, he was beating the dark-faced man until he cried out repeatedly.
“Son-in-law, what brings you here today? Is something important happening?”
The Grand General wiped the sweat from his face and casually tossed the wooden spear at Bi Yutang.
Zhou Hao paused, then called out in a clear voice, “I will be leaving for my fief within the next few days.”
The Grand General sprang to his feet, astonishment appearing in his eyes.
“Within the next few days? Why have I heard nothing about this? Is the information reliable?”
It was not that the Grand General doubted him. Rather, as the foremost military commander in the realm, he had received no news at all. How could Zhou Hao possibly have heard anything?
Zhou Hao nodded, his expression turning somewhat solemn.
“Manager Zhao of the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild came to see me. He said he would bring an entire trade route with him to my fief.”
“I will provide him with Flower Branch Clean there.”
The implications hidden in those two sentences were perfectly clear to the Grand General.
The fact that Manager Zhao had come personally meant that the matter had already taken shape.
But bringing an entire trade route along?
That suggested the fief was either extremely difficult to reach or poor and desolate.
In such a place, a trade route would sooner or later drain every last piece of gold and silver from Zhou Hao’s hands.
Clearly, the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild knew exactly what kind of place his fief was.
That was why they were offering him such favorable terms.
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“Have you considered asking the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild to explain everything clearly?”
The Grand General sat down cross-legged, his expression grave.
This matter was extremely important. If he could learn the condition of the fief ahead of time, he could make preparations in advance.
He would not have to rely entirely on the Fortune and Longevity Merchant Guild and the outside world to exchange information and supplies.
Zhou Hao was stunned at first, then laughed and waved his hand.
“There is no need. Even if I asked, I would not obtain the information I want. But you, Father-in-law, must be careful about this matter.”
“Emperor Zhou has already begun to distrust the foremost military commander—or rather, he has begun to distrust the military as a whole.”
This matter was of great importance.
It was far more important than his fief.
Emperor Zhou was as foolish as a pig, and his military ability was inferior even to that of the lowest soldier under the Grand General’s command.
He even favored the Third Prince more greatly.
Yet there was one thing Emperor Zhou understood very well: the methods of kingship.
Under his management, the entire imperial court had maintained a stable balance.
And that was precisely the problem.
Once he began to distrust the military commanders, he would inevitably develop a tendency to exalt the civil officials and suppress the military.
If that continued, neither the Grand General nor the Chancellor would want to see the final outcome.
The Grand General naturally understood what Zhou Hao meant. He smiled first, then slowly replied, “I know. But I cannot discuss this with the Chancellor right now. In fact, the two of us even have to quarrel from time to time.”
Civil officials and military commanders could not appear too harmonious. Even though the Grand General and the Chancellor harbored little resentment toward each other, they could not show that openly.
If the civil and military officials in the imperial court lived together in perfect harmony, Emperor Zhou’s position would become unstable.
When that happened, the increasingly reckless emperor would certainly launch a campaign of political persecution between rival factions.
It was better for the two leaders to fight each other a little and put on a show for Emperor Zhou.
That was why the Grand General had not spoken of the matter openly after learning the truth.
What purpose would there be in stating it plainly now?
Only after Zhou Hao understood the situation would he take the initiative to help.
Zhou Hao was stunned when he heard this, then a smile appeared on his face.
“Understood. I will handle it from here.”
“But you truly must be careful, Father-in-law. No one can know what Emperor Zhou might do.”
“Especially now that the Third Prince has overstepped the imperial authority His Majesty values most.”
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