Chapter 801: He Fu's Plan VS He Lingchuan's Plan

“That’s right.”

He Lingchuan looked disbelieving: “That small toll alone can be worth 800,000 taels?”

He Chunhua scoffed with a smile: “It certainly can!”

“Since I retook Blackwater City, the Red Cliff Road’s annual tax revenue steadily increased. By the time I left Thousand Pines Prefecture, that trade route was bringing in 150,000 taels of silver annually. After deducting various expenses, there was always a surplus of forty to fifty thousand taels.” As the former Prefect of Thousand Pines, he knew these accounts better than anyone. “Back then, there was also the Berserk Sand Season, which meant at least eighty days each year when trade was impossible. This winter, the berserk sands disappeared, and the Coiling Dragon Desert began to grow grass. If the berserk sands never return, this trade route will earn even more money!”

He Lingchuan was greatly surprised: “Huh, are you saying the Berserk Sand Season is gone?”

“It’s gone, and so are the Three-Corpse Worms. The Coiling Dragon Desert is now no different from any other desert.”

He Lingchuan looked incredulous: “What’s the reason?”

“Who knows?” He Chunhua gave a bitter smile. “I guarded Blackwater City for many years, but I never uncovered the secrets of the Coiling Dragon Desert.”

“The western states are in a bit of turmoil, which has led to a significant increase in traffic on the Red Cliff trade route since last year.” Many foreign merchants don’t necessarily come to Yuan for business, but they use the Red Cliff trade route as a transit point. “If the Berserk Sand Season vanishes permanently, the Red Cliff trade route’s tax revenue will surely be even more substantial. Don’t forget, this revenue is pure silver, unlike mines which require excavation, refinement, and later transportation and trade. You could say it has low costs and quick returns.”

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. The Red Cliff trade route was a veritable cash cow, a truly high-quality asset. Why wouldn’t Rongshan want it?

“So, lending this trade route to the Rongshan Sect for thirty or forty years, valued at 1.5 to 2 million taels, presents no problem at all.”

He Lingchuan stroked his chin: “The sovereign would agree to use it as collateral? Isn’t ready cash what Yuan lacks most?”

“Actually, the tax silver the Red Cliff trade route remits to the national treasury each year is far less than what I mentioned,” He Chunhua said with a mysterious smile. “The sovereign likely sees it as a trivial asset, something he’d be eager to trade away.”

He Lingchuan let out a long “Oh” of understanding.

There were certainly many hidden complexities here, and this old man wasn’t as straightforward as he seemed.

“I’ll also be attending a court discussion later, so I’ll directly advise the sovereign. This way, the assessment of the Red Cliff trade route will be very straightforward. You first sign off on the 3.7 million taels of military funds, and then I’ll take the Rongshan people to inspect the Red Cliff trade route in person.” He Chunhua stated seriously, “Urgent matters require swift action.”

He Lingchuan thought for a moment.

The Rongshan people weren’t actually worried about Yuan defaulting or delivering substandard goods. After all, this 3.7 million taels of military funds was just the initial payment, with another 3.7 million still to be disbursed.

“That arrangement works too.”

He Chunhua immediately let out a long sigh of relief, relaxing.

He hadn’t even realized how important his eldest son’s affirmation was.

He Lingchuan looked at him and smiled: “Why do I feel like Father has become very anxious?”

“I can’t afford not to be anxious,” He Chunhua said with much emotion. “There are plenty of reasons to send troops and plenty of reasons not to. I’m just swaying back and forth between these reasons.”

He Lingchuan, however, felt that He Chunhua’s change in attitude and eagerness to dispatch troops had another underlying reason, one that had never been openly stated.

“So, first we quell the rebellion in the south, and then head west to the Red Cliff Road to assess the road tax?”

He Chunhua hummed: “That’s basically the plan. What do you think?”

This was a major military and political matter, and it was unprecedented for him to ask his eldest son’s opinion, because He Lingchuan would oversee the use and destination of the loan from beginning to end.

He Lingchuan smiled: “I think that works.”

Just as He Chunhua was about to stand up, he suddenly remembered something: “Oh, right, I’ll be passing by Immortal Lake on my way south. Do you have any of the Alligator Demon’s tears?”

This old man’s memory was truly excellent; He Lingchuan himself had to recall for a few moments before saying, “That’s right.”

Back then, he had helped the Alligator God by Immortal Lake and then asked his father to secure a position for it as a water spirit. In return, the giant alligator gave him a tear, promising that if he used it by Immortal Lake, he would receive its assistance.

“Lend it to me,” He Chunhua said solemnly. “Its abilities would be perfect for Longchuan!”

He Lingchuan didn’t hoard it either; he rummaged through his storage ring, pulled out a small glass bottle, and tossed it to He Chunhua: “When you summon the giant alligator, stay far from the water. Otherwise, if it doesn’t see me, I don’t know what it might do.”

He Chunhua then stood up, settled the bill, and left in a hurry.

He Lingchuan, meanwhile, slowly descended the stairs and rode his goat homeward.

This road had very few people on it.

Mortgaging the Red Cliff trade route was a good idea, and He Chunhua’s suggestion to the Yuan King had a ninety percent chance of being approved.

The mirror, meanwhile, was very surprised: “Just as you predicted, he really is going to mortgage the Red Cliff trade route! How did you, how did you know that beforehand?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” He Lingchuan said leisurely. “It’s called psychological suggestion.”

He had to make He Chunhua propose mortgaging the Red Cliff trade route himself.

A high-quality asset with stable income, clear accounts, and easy to inspect in person. Even if Yuan had other good assets like this within its borders, He Chunhua might not know about them. After all, how long had he been a high-ranking official?

But having lived in Blackwater City for over twenty years, he was intimately familiar with everything about the Red Cliff Road. The best asset he could think of on short notice was, naturally, this trade route!

Not to mention, strange news from the Coiling Dragon Desert had been arriving constantly, strengthening his subconscious impression of the Coiling Dragon Desert and the Red Cliff trade route.

In fact, the requirements He Lingchuan had presented were specifically tailored for the Red Cliff Road. His knowledge of this trade route was no less than He Chunhua’s.

But this proposal had to be He Chunhua’s own “flash of insight”; he had to believe he was in control.

He Chunhua would only be pleased with a plan he believed he orchestrated, not wary of it.

Only then would neither he nor Naluo Tian suspect He Lingchuan’s actions.

So far, He Chunhua’s every reaction had fallen exactly within He Lingchuan’s expectations.

The first step of the plan was complete.

“It seems the loan process and the southern expedition schedule will both be significantly expedited,” He Lingchuan mused. “I only gave a slight hint, and Father immediately brought up the Red Cliff trade route. It seems he’s very eager to go to the Coiling Dragon Desert.”

The Soul-Snaring Mirror in his arms asked curiously, “What’s he in a hurry about?”

As more pedestrians appeared on the road ahead, He Lingchuan remained silent.

He Chunhua had lunch with a friend, then found a safe and quiet place, closing the doors and windows tightly, taking out the divine statue, and lighting incense to pray.

A short while later, Naluo Tian’s voice resonated:

“What is it now?”

It sounded a little impatient.

He Chunhua said, “There’s an anomaly in the Coiling Dragon Desert. Are you aware of it?”

The air suddenly fell silent. Naluo Tian paused for a long moment before asking him, “Do you have any leads?”