Chapter 1238: Low-Interest Loans

He Lingchuan was also a little surprised. "After what happened to his family, he can still go to the King of Pei to make connections for you?"

"Yu Hai is known for his talent and used to be an official in Lingxu City, so he's quite famous in Pei."

He Lingchuan understood. Even if Yu Hai was merely a minor official, he was still an official from Lingxu City! For a small state like Pei on the Blazing Gold Plains, this was a major asset.

He Lingchuan immediately said, "Once your family finishes these ongoing battles, could you gather these old friends for me? How about we get a game together?"

Situ He clapped his hands. "We won't leave until we're drunk?"

"We won't leave until we're drunk."

"No problem, I'll handle it."

Situ He was merely there to make the initial arrangements. With everything clarified, He Lingchuan accompanied him to Yaopo to discuss cooperation with Situ Yu.

Situ Yu was already fully prepared, accompanied by several advisors and clerks waiting to help him audit the accounts.

As the saying goes, "Troops and horses move only after provisions are ready." With the Situ family on the verge of war, it was crucial to secure food and funds. Situ Yu intended to transfer the lease and sale rights of many industries within his territory—such as mines, timberlands, farmlands, and even road taxes—in exchange for He Lingchuan's swift support.

Both parties understood that the Situ family was ceding significant rights. This was partly due to the urgent timeline, as Situ genuinely needed He Lingchuan's assistance. Additionally, He Lingchuan was taking a substantial risk by supplying funds and provisions to the Situ territory.

If the Situ family were defeated by the Bixia people and their territory ceased to exist, all the funds and provisions He Lingchuan supplied, along with the agreements he signed, would naturally be for naught.

High returns naturally come with high risks.

However, He Lingchuan waved his hand, declining. "There's no need. You can simply use these industries as collateral. You should continue to manage them as you always have. I will lend you the funds and provisions, and you just need to repay them within the agreed timeframe."

In essence, he offered Situ Yu a substantial low-interest loan with a long repayment period.

The interest rate was so low that the people facing him exchanged incredulous glances.

Of course, He Lingchuan still requested many of the most favorable conditions offered by the Situ family. For example, they agreed to allow the guardian teams and escort agencies from the Yangshan Archipelago to operate and provide security within the Situ territory. Additionally, merchants from Yangshan would enjoy the most preferential tax rates and be exempt from miscellaneous charges.

There was also a crucial condition: after the war, the Xitao Stud Farm within the Situ territory would supply high-quality warhorses to the Yangshan Archipelago. The number and specifications for these horses were detailed in the agreement.

The Xitao Stud Farm, with its excellent pastures, produced warhorses that, though not as renowned as the Chigu horses, still satisfied He Lingchuan.

The agreement was signed, much to everyone's satisfaction.

The Situ family secured financial and logistical support, while He Lingchuan gained an opportunity.

Both parties gained new allies.

Situ Yu gazed at the signatures on the agreement, momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally said:

"Island Lord He, your generosity is immense. The Situ family will certainly repay you in the future!"

After the destruction of Gaopu, the Situ family had struggled under immense pressure from all sides, unsure of their future path. Situ Yu had long been accustomed to the harsh realities of the world. Now, with someone suddenly extending a helping hand, seemingly asking for little in return, he still couldn't believe such good fortune had come his way!

The support from the Yangshan Archipelago was truly a godsend.

He Lingchuan didn't stand on ceremony. "Very well, I'll be waiting."

He conducted his affairs on the Blazing Gold Plains under the banner of a merchant guild. Naturally, merchants expect a return on their investment.

Before the Situ family's banquet, He Lingchuan quickly moved to implement the agreement's terms, writing a letter to the Yangshan Archipelago and arranging for a bird demon to deliver it immediately.

The Soul-Sucking Mirror grumbled from his embrace, "Wow, so many mines, timberlands, farmlands, road taxes—they're all golden geese! It's rare for someone to offer to transfer them proactively, why didn't you take them?"

He only took them as collateral, leaving the operational rights and profits with them.

Watching the silver fly away, it was heartbroken.

"Didn't you say that supporting a war is the riskiest investment?" the mirror continued to grumble. "With such high risk, are you really going to forgo the benefits?"

"How much can a small Situ territory really produce?" He Lingchuan said calmly. "Even if they're 'golden eggs,' they're small, like sparrow eggs at best. Don't let small gains blind you to greater principles."

In terms of total land area, the Yangshan Archipelago was smaller than the Situ territory; however, regarding output, the Situ territory couldn't even come close to matching the Yangshan Archipelago.

"What 'principles' do you share with the Situ family?" the mirror muttered. "Aren't you being a bit too generous with them?"

"War is most costly. If the Situ family were to transfer these industries to us, they'd lose their 'golden geese.' They would inevitably grow poorer as the war progressed, just like the Yuan Kingdom."

The Yuan Kingdom also borrowed heavily, taking out high-interest loans. When they couldn't repay, they used domestic industries as collateral, leading to their steady impoverishment.

A vicious cycle.

"What does their lack of funds have to do with us?"

"When their soldiers have no pay and their horses no fodder, and they're starving while watching us profit immensely from these industries, will they still feel grateful for my assistance today?" Times change, and so do hearts. How long can a favor truly last? "At that point, they'll likely only be thinking about how to reclaim those industries. The Situ family are the local power here; if they truly don't want you to have them, do you think you could really hold onto them?"

"Even if they uphold their promises, the Situ family losing these industries would be like a continuous bleeding. How long do you think they could last against Bixia and Yao?"

"Well, that would lead to a lot of trouble."

"Once the Situ family is defeated and their territory is annexed by either Bixia or Yao, those 'golden geese' will still be taken by others, and we won't be able to keep them anyway." The Blazing Gold Plains are not Yangshan's territory; their business relies on the protection of local powers. "We need the Situ family to hold out longer, so being good to them is also good for us."

"So, what real benefit would I gain from taking over these industries? Would it just be to greedily snatch a temporary profit?"

The mirror was speechless for a moment, before finally saying, "Why are you so good to them?"

"You reap what you sow; planting good seeds has a high chance of yielding good fruit." He Lingchuan was putting the finishing touches on his letter. "If interactions between people are purely driven by profit, then in the end, only gains and losses will remain. My assistance to the Situ family is meant to forge a positive relationship."

"If you treat him well, far beyond his expectations, he will be genuinely grateful to you, rather than seeing it merely as the result of his own humility and persistent requests." He Lingchuan mused, "Mortals fear consequences, but deities fear causes. Common folk busy themselves pursuing livelihoods, only concerned with the immediate gains and losses of a few coins. But do you know how many powerful and influential individuals lavish their wealth simply to sow more good karma for themselves? What do they truly seek?"

The mirror parroted, "What is it?"

"It's the future; it's for what might come one day."

"Ah, I see..."

"Furthermore, the Situ family is directing its efforts against the Yao Kingdom and its allies, which perfectly aligns with my own intentions and future plans." He Lingchuan sealed the envelope and summoned a bird demon. "For this reason alone, they are worth supporting."

His strategic planning had, in essence, already begun.