Chapter 1460: Drawings

His relationship with Qingyang alone would be a significant advantage.

However, He Lingchuan's approach couldn't be too crude or simple. He couldn't just plant the stolen goods directly in General Chongwu's belongings. Instead, he needed to sow suspicion about General Chongwu within Yao, making the general utterly incapable of defending himself, all while ensuring no one would connect the dots back to He Lingchuan.

The crux of the matter could be summarized in one word: illogical.

General Chongwu's actions needed to appear illogical.

General Chongwu had left the inn before dusk, claiming he was pursuing the thieves. But who had actually seen him go, and who could corroborate his story? It had been raining that night in the desolate Zhuo'an wilderness, with hardly any travelers about, so naturally, no one knew General Chongwu's exact movements.

Where did he actually go? Did he secretly make a trip to Mangzhou and then rush back before dawn?

The very act of General Chongwu apprehending the petty thieves and recovering the tribute was even more illogical.

If there truly was a mastermind who stole the tribute and intended to mislead, why bother framing these two petty thieves? Wouldn't it have been simpler to just discard the stolen tribute in the wilderness?

Was it because General Chongwu couldn't bear to lose the tribute that he fabricated an excuse to reclaim it?

The more unresolved questions there were, the greater General Chongwu's culpability would appear.

He truly had no good way to prove his innocence.

However, this wasn't concrete evidence, so even if officials harbored suspicions, they couldn't directly charge him with a crime.

Such a nebulous and doubt-laden atmosphere would make everyone caught in the situation deeply uncomfortable.

As He Lingchuan pondered, the carriage arrived at Maochun Restaurant.

As he approached the private room on the second floor, He Lingchuan heard voices from within: "...the national treasury is empty..."

He Lingchuan paused slightly.

Indeed, the intelligence he had received also indicated that while Yao's economy was robust, its national finances had consistently operated at a deficit for years.

"Tsk, when isn't the national treasury empty? Haven't we always managed? But I recall there were excellent harvests last year and the year before."

"Spending more and earning less naturally leads to a deficit. Brother Gu, I heard the taxes on the goods we specialize in are set to increase again. Business will become even tougher."

"This year and next, the Emperor will once again lead by example, promoting frugality."

"It's easy to cut back on food and drink, but for a country this large to operate normally, and for such a powerful army to be maintained, how can we possibly save on essential expenditures? Don't you agree?"

"Yes, yes, that's exactly right..."

"I heard there's another round of fundraising. Should we coordinate and decide how much to contribute?"

"My family contributed over three thousand taels the year before last."

"Hmm, reasonable!" Donations won't be a one-time thing, so there's no need to empty your coffers every time.

Just as He Lingchuan neared, the door opened, and Yuwen Xu stepped out. Seeing him, Yuwen Xu smiled and said, "You're late!"

"Brother Fan and I encountered palace investigators on a case just before we left, so we had to—" He Lingchuan said with a self-deprecating laugh, "Never mind, no more excuses. I'll punish myself with a drink later."

The private room was filled with about twelve or thirteen people.

Aside from Gu Xuan, Yuwen Xu, and their companions, the remaining faces were unfamiliar, including two who appeared to be in their fifties.

As soon as he arrived, everyone rose.

He Lingchuan smiled at Gu Xuan, saying, "Ah, Brother Gu, I've finally had the pleasure of meeting you!"

Last time he attempted a reciprocal visit to the Gu family, he was turned away. Now Gu Xuan had personally come to Maochun Restaurant to meet him. Was it indeed because Qingyang's regency had calmed, allowing the Gu family to resume their social activities?

Gu Xuan, having seen countless social situations, had long since developed a thick skin. There was no way he would be embarrassed. He merely sighed and smiled, "My mistake, no excuses. Allow me to punish myself with a drink!"

With that, he picked up a wine glass, filled it, and drank it down in one gulp.

He had defused the situation with ease, and He Lingchuan certainly wouldn't press the matter further.

Next, Yuwen Xu and Gu Xuan began introducing him to new acquaintances.

Several officials were present, primarily from the Yao Royal Court's Imperial Manufactory, the Ministry of General Affairs, and the Tianshui City Market Regulation Bureau, with the lowest rank being a supervising official.

This was at the Yao King's behest: regarding the construction at You Lake, they were tasked with assisting He Lingchuan in resolving any procedural complications.

In short, it was a "special handling for special matters" arrangement.

With the monarch's direct approval, those below understood that Island Master He would soon be in high favor, so they naturally had to cooperate fully.

There were also several legitimate government-affiliated merchants and heads of various trade guilds.

Tianshui City boasted a relatively well-developed system of commercial guilds, with over a hundred specialized associations that wielded influence over market entry and price regulation. Given the numerous trades involved in He Lingchuan's construction project, it was indeed crucial for him to establish connections with them to ensure smooth operations later on.

The Yao King had truly considered everything on his behalf.

Even Fan Shuang, who was seated next to him, was honored with several toasts, his face quickly flushing red—it was hard to tell if it was from the alcohol or sheer excitement.

Before the dishes arrived, He Lingchuan took out a stack of blueprints and placed them on the table, holding them down:

"I intend to build the You Lake Villa on the south bank of You Lake. These are the blueprints for the first phase, encompassing the main gate of the villa and twelve exquisite residences," He Lingchuan explained with a smile. "This set of plans will also be submitted to the Ministry of General Affairs tomorrow, but I wanted to give you all a preview tonight."

When everyone picked up the blueprints to examine them, they were astonished.

Each building was drawn with exceptional precision, even noting key construction points and potential difficulties. The accompanying descriptions detailed the roads, bridges, clear springs, and landscaped rock gardens between the structures.

Such detailed and specific blueprints could hardly have been rushed out in a day or two.

The Yao King's special approval of the You Lake's south bank for He Lingchuan had only occurred two days prior. Yet this young man had already completed the entire set of designs. What did this signify?

It meant he had planned everything before even arriving in Yaodu, and had been extremely confident he would secure the You Lake's south bank!

The conflict between Regent Qingyang and the Emperor was common knowledge among the officials present. The reasons behind the Yao King's sudden decision to open the You Lake's south bank for development by an outsider merchant were fairly obvious to everyone. If they were in He Lingchuan's shoes, caught between two powerful figures, they would be quaking with fear right now.

This was hardly a plum assignment; one misstep could easily lead to severe repercussions, even execution!

Yet this fellow before them seemed remarkably unfazed, actually planning the construction of the You Lake Villa with such earnestness and meticulous detail!

As everyone examined the blueprints in their hands, a mix of emotions swirled within them, and silence fell over the room.

When the Maoxiang Restaurant staff served the dishes, they observed this very scene: the assembled dignitaries were not engaged in boisterous conversation, but instead, each was absorbed, head bowed over the blueprints, studying them with intense concentration.

Delicious dishes were served one by one. As the capital of spices, Tianshui City's cuisine offered a diverse array of flavors. On the table, a braised veal short rib was incredibly tender and flavorful, clearly the result of intricate preparation. He Lingchuan discerned at least several herbs, including basil, hot pepper, and thyme. Maochun Restaurant's signature dish was smoked sweet-skinned duck; while appearing unremarkable at first glance, it secretly incorporated poppy husks during its creation, leaving diners craving more.

The officials present gave the blueprints a cursory glance, agreeing that a detailed review at their offices tomorrow would suffice. Only Huang Naxuan from the Imperial Manufactory pulled out a few specific sheets, examining them repeatedly, before asking He Lingchuan:

"Island Master He, these exquisite residences appear to be individual, standalone units?"

Notably, each residence's entrance featured designated spaces for guardian beasts. In Tianshui City, these guardian figures were typically placed only outside the main gates of prominent households, or at most an additional pair inside the main entrance, never at secondary or tertiary gates.

He Lingchuan's blueprints were remarkably detailed, even allocating and annotating spaces for the guardian beasts.

"Exactly, these are all distinct, individual homes," He Lingchuan affirmed, clapping his hands. "Lord Huang has an impressive eye; you spotted it instantly."

It was fortunate that an official had noticed, otherwise he would have had to explicitly point it out himself.

So, they weren't being built for his personal residence? Gu Xuan asked curiously, "How exactly do you plan to construct these?"

"You Lake is a place of exceptional feng shui; how could I possibly keep it all to myself? I'd fear it would shorten my lifespan," He Lingchuan said, raising his cup to Gu Xuan. They both drained their drinks. "Once these exquisite residences are completed, they will be handed over to their buyers."

Yuwen Xu understood. "You intend to sell them?"

The Soul-Capturing Mirror in He Lingchuan's arms scoffed, "Can't this fellow speak properly?"

"Indeed, You Lake boasts captivating scenery, and residing there is truly beneficial for both mind and body. These exquisite residences, once constructed, should naturally be shared with others," He Lingchuan said, gesturing to the blueprints. "Each residence here features a unique layout and style, making every single one an exclusive property. They are spaced more than thirty zhang apart, encircled by secluded woods and natural screens, ensuring utmost privacy where you can hear sounds but not see people."

Yuwen Xu found this intriguing. "How much do you intend to sell one of these residences for, Brother He?"

"That depends on the location and size," He Lingchuan replied. "The first row along the lake offers the best views and will be priced higher, estimated around thirty thousand taels. The subsequent rows, while still featuring pavilions, towers, and hot springs, will likely range from seventeen or eighteen thousand to twenty-five or twenty-six thousand taels."

Thirty thousand taels! Although those present were well-informed, and the officials and merchants were all wealthy or noble, hearing that figure still made them secretly gasp.

That amounted to thirty million coins, enough to purchase an entire mountain estate with land and resources in the near suburbs. Imagine the sheer size of such a property!

Yet these exquisite residences at You Lake Villa, each occupying less than one-twentieth the land area of a mountain estate, dared to demand such a price?

Gu Xuan cleared his throat. "Brother He certainly has grand ambitions."

He spoke euphemistically, but everyone understood he meant it was truly expensive, outrageously so!

"When buying a residence, there are three crucial factors," He Lingchuan declared, holding up three fingers. "Location, location, and location!"

"The Blazing Gold Plain is vast; for thirty thousand taels, you could buy an entire town in Pei Kingdom. Would any of you be willing to do that?"

Everyone shook their heads. Yuwen Xu chuckled, "It's a desolate place where not even birds would nest."

"Or, for the same thirty thousand taels, you could only afford a small building in the lower district of Lingxu City, so cramped you could step from the front door to the kitchen. Would you gentlemen be willing to settle for that?"

Yuwen Xu immediately retorted, "If it were in the main district, I'd take ten such houses!"

Having all returned from their studies in Lingxu, they were well aware of the exorbitant land and housing prices there. Even properties on the Floating Isle couldn't be bought with money alone.

Thirty thousand taels to acquire a small building in the central district of Lingxu City? Ha, one would wake up laughing at such a dream.

"Gentlemen," He Lingchuan emphasized, tapping the blueprint, "the size, layout, and orientation of a residence are not the most crucial factors—location is. These exquisite residences are being built on You Lake! This is the royal land of Great Yao, where for the past two hundred years, no one has been permitted to add a single brick or tile! The ability to reside here is, in itself, an immense honor."