“My husband and I came to the East Sea this time mainly to suppress bandits. We did not bring much silver, so we need to hold an auction to sell water jade pearls and raise funds.”
Tang Xiaobei said, “However, we are new here and know no one. After we leave, I hope Young Master can help Old Han contact the local wealthy merchants and magnates.”
Hearing this, Jin Feng felt somewhat awkward and touched his nose.
Ever since Tang Xiaobei took over the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce, Jin Feng had rarely managed it. Whenever he needed money, he just asked her.
She always provided it without fail.
Over time, this gave Jin Feng the illusion that Tang Xiaobei had an inexhaustible supply of money.
In the earlier conversation, he had repeatedly told Hong Taoping to ask Han Feng for money if needed, without considering whether Han Feng actually had any.
Now, with Tang Xiaobei’s words, he suddenly remembered that this trip to the East Sea was to pursue water bandits, so the group consisted mostly of combat escorts, with few chamber staff.
Tang Xiaobei, the chief steward, had even sneaked along.
Han Feng had indeed brought silver when they set out, but it was budgeted.
Though he had prepared some extra for emergencies, that amount was far from enough for Hong Taoping to rebuild the shipyard and construct ships.
Moreover, the daily expenses of the escorts staying behind, plus the return journey for the rest, would also require funds.
At this thought, Jin Feng glanced at Tang Xiaobei with a slightly flushed face.
If not for her reminder, he truly would not have realised.
Otherwise, Hong Taoping would eagerly take his note and rush to the naval camp to ask Han Feng for silver, only to find none available. That would be embarrassing.
He would be implicated too.
Fortunately, Tang Xiaobei was attentive, spotted the issue, and thought of a solution.
What Jin Feng did not know was that Tang Xiaobei had not just realised this problem. After learning of the Hong family’s former status, she had already conceived the idea of establishing a Jinchuan Chamber outpost in the East Sea.
Thanks to the Ninth Princess’s earlier suggestion, water jade pearls were now hyped to fever pitch by Luo Lan and Tang Xiaobei in the capital and Jiangnan. Any single pearl could fetch a sky-high price.
Now, when Jin Feng and Tang Xiaobei travelled, they rarely carried banknotes, instead bringing water jade pearls with them.
If short of money, auctioning just one would suffice for emergencies, proving more useful than banknotes.
Even if lost, Jin Feng would not mind. The warehouse in Xihe Bay held baskets full.
Da Kang’s salt drying fields were mainly concentrated near the estuaries of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, so the East Sea was one of the gathering places for salt merchants.
Though salt merchants held low status, they were among the wealthiest in Da Kang.
Moreover, salt merchants passing through Jiangnan en route to the East Sea all knew the value of water jade pearls.
Many had secretly approached Tang Xiaobei in Jiangnan, offering premiums to buy them.
But Tang Xiaobei, mindful of maintaining the pearls’ value, refused and sold only through auctions.
This not only elevated the prestige of the auctions but also stabilised the pearls’ price.
With those salt merchants present, if the Jinchuan Chamber held an auction in the East Sea, the pearls would certainly fetch high prices.
Tang Xiaobei knew Jin Feng was anxious to return and had no suitable personnel on hand, so she had not mentioned it, planning to send someone later.
But when Jin Feng promised Hong Taoping the shipyard, she voiced the idea.
Han Feng had assisted Luo Lan with countless auctions in the capital. Tang Xiaobei believed he could manage one alone in the East Sea.
The only difficulty was being unfamiliar with the place and short on time. Holding an auction rashly without enough salt merchants attending would doom it to failure.
It might even damage the now-hyped value of water jade pearls.
So, if proceeding, they must invite sufficient salt merchants.
This required someone familiar with them to assist Han Feng.
Tang Xiaobei considered Hong Taoping the ideal candidate.
As expected, upon hearing Tang Xiaobei only needed help contacting salt merchants, Hong Taoping agreed immediately.
“Madam, rest assured. I know basically all the salt merchants in the East Sea. Borrowing money from them might be difficult, but getting them to listen is possible.”
“Then I shall trouble you, Young Master.” Tang Xiaobei smiled and curtsied.
With Hong Taoping’s assurance, the auction was half guaranteed success.
“No trouble at all, no trouble at all!”
Hong Taoping waved his hands repeatedly. “Madam may not know, but when chatting with those salt merchants, I heard them mention water jade pearls. They all desperately want to buy one. However, transporting salt back requires passing through Jiangnan, where they dare not compete with local powerful clans. They have long hoped the Jinchuan Chamber would hold an auction in the East Sea.”
Hearing this, Tang Xiaobei felt even more reassured.
Their goal in Yuxi Town achieved, after breakfast, Jin Feng left one squad of escorts to protect Hong Taoping and led the rest straight to the official road.
After they departed, Hong Taoping did not rest either. He set off immediately for the naval camp.
Passing Yuxi Town, seeing the dilapidated shipyard, Hong Taoping, who had been despondent for a year or two, suddenly felt invigorated.
His heart filled with greater gratitude towards Jin Feng.
Not only for lending money to settle debts, but more for the knowledge imparted.
The knowledge gained that night was worth far more than ten thousand taels of silver.
Though the gantry crane components had to be made in Xihe Bay and shipped over, this already satisfied Hong Taoping immensely.
With the crane and galleon plans, he believed the Hong shipyard would once again resound throughout the East Sea.
At this thought, Hong Taoping involuntarily touched the drawings in his bosom again.
At that moment, Hong Taoping had not yet realised that these few rundown shipyards would later do far more than resound in the East Sea. They would become renowned worldwide.
The Zhenyuan Escort Agency, aboard ships built by Hong Taoping, would leave footprints across the globe.
Of course, that is for later.
Hong Taoping glanced back at the shipyard once more, then galloped off with the escorts.
By the time they reached the naval camp, dusk had fallen. The escorts prepared to take Hong Taoping to Han Feng, but Han Feng found them first.
Upon meeting, he pulled the escort squad leader aside, asking anxiously, “Sanbao, is sir still in Yuxi Town?”
“Sir ate breakfast, then left Yuxi Town with the group to return to Chuanshu.”
The squad leader asked, “Captain Han, do you need sir for something?”
“Yes, something major has happened at home!”
Han Feng pulled an envelope from his bosom and thrust it into the squad leader’s hand. “Sanbao, you have been to Yuxi Town once. Make another trip now, catch up to sir at top speed, and deliver this letter!”
“Yes!”
Hearing trouble, the escort captain agreed promptly.
Escorts could forgo rest and pursue Jin Feng through the night, but horses needed it.
While changing horses, the squad leader introduced Hong Taoping to Han Feng.
Hong Taoping quickly handed over Jin Feng’s note.
After reading it, Han Feng understood Jin Feng’s intentions.
Han Feng had risen quickly in Xihe Bay precisely because he was articulate and thorough.
By the time the escorts brought the horses, he and Hong Taoping were already addressing each other as brothers.
