Chapter 979: Sell It To Me

He Lingchuan tapped his fingers on the table twice. "These 'others' are truly kind-hearted."

Ding Zuodong lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Everyone had set a trap, waiting for He Lingchuan to make a single misstep.

Were those trying to scheme against them the Ya Mountain Merchant Guild, or...?

He Lingchuan snorted. "Such underhanded tactics. No wonder Bailie is in decline."

In this second round, the Lu family father and son still used a combination punch, aiming to break his capital chain in the shortest possible time.

He Lingchuan's countermeasure was actually quite simple:

As long as the Yangshan Archipelago operated profitably and got on track, the Lu family's delusions would be shattered.

The marketplace is like a battlefield; open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. These intricate, ubiquitous traps and landmines were also an opportunity to train his internal affairs team.

Both civil administration and external military forces required training.

Otherwise, as his territory expanded and the population grew, governance would become even more difficult.

Ding Zuodong, Leini, and others were intelligent, quick-witted, and enthusiastic, but they had never held high positions or participated in high-level business warfare. Only through practical refinement and real-world lessons would they have the chance to stand out, become core members of the team, and be seen by others as extraordinary.

Otherwise, they would forever remain mere housekeepers for second-rate families or small individual merchants at a supply station.

Many talented individuals were overlooked, lacking only an opportunity.

He Lingchuan, of course, also knew that his internal affairs team needed to expand because the Yangshan Archipelago's development was bound to enter an explosive phase, and because he would eventually take control of Bailie, and even more...

Therefore, he needed talent in all areas. Those he couldn't recruit immediately, he would select and cultivate himself.

As the conversation in the hall drew to a close, a white egret flew in and landed on He Lingchuan's courtyard wall, squawking loudly:

"A formal calling card! A formal calling card!"

The bird was pure white, with no other color besides its pointed beak and long legs. It moved with extreme elegance by the sea, but its coarse, grating voice, like a crow's, ruined the impression the moment it opened its mouth.

Lingguang quickly jumped over to retrieve the card.

After the malevolent aura receded, birds began to settle in the Yangshan Archipelago. Egrets, in particular, were the most numerous; when they densely perched on trees, it looked as if winter snow had fallen.

He Lingchuan had appointed egrets as messengers between the islands, and their communication speed was very fast.

The hot-stamped calling card was exquisite, with a light cloud pattern on its surface.

He opened it and glanced at it, his expression turning serious.

Qiu Hu asked, "My lord?"

"People from Beijia have arrived." He Lingchuan put down the card. "I've been waiting for them for a long time; they're finally here!"

This time, the Beijia guests had formally landed on the island to present their calling card, so their first stop was Suoding Island.

He Lingchuan hurried to Suoding Island. His destination was not the supply station, but the hot spring retreat behind it.

This hot spring lodge was among the first buildings constructed on the island. Currently, it was small, with ten spring sources and only twenty-seven or twenty-eight guest rooms.

It would, of course, be expanded later. Due to pricing, the hot spring lodge currently had a low occupancy rate.

Beijia's guests, naturally, were qualified to stay here.

Nuanxiang Hall was the largest teahouse in the hot spring retreat, with three floors. Each floor was quite spacious, capable of accommodating over twenty tables.

However, the first floor had fewer tea tables because an empty space had been cleared beneath the storyteller's platform to make room for a giant backgammon board.

It occupied at least thirteen or fourteen square meters, with beautifully carved patterns of mountains and rivers. Adults could stand directly on it.

The pieces for backgammon were called "horses" and resembled bowling pins. This oversized board naturally came with oversized pieces; the black and white "horses" were waist-high.

Backgammon was popular in both Beijia and Mou, though its origin was unknown. From nobles to commoners, everyone enjoyed playing it to pass the time.

When He Lingchuan socialized and gathered with friends in Beijia, backgammon was always part of the activities.

Its rules were simple yet flexible, requiring both intellect and luck.

The hot spring retreat offered various entertainment options for guests, with chess games being one of them.

However, the sea travelers staying at the hot spring lodge had never seen such a massive and imposing backgammon board before. Anyone who took a look at it would marvel in astonishment.

He Lingchuan came from a world that enjoyed large-scale engineering projects. He had specifically commissioned artisans to create this eye-catching feature in Nuanxiang Hall, hoping to leave a deep impression on all visiting guests.

Yet, the giant board on the ground floor was not merely a gimmick; it was genuinely playable.

Those who wished to play had to step onto the board and physically move the pieces.

This step was called "entering the game."

The players had to literally walk into it.

Furthermore, because the board and pieces were so large, guests on the second or third floors could clearly see the game below from the railing.

This made it convenient for everyone to watch skilled players.

It was still early. There were six or seven people in the hall, but He Lingchuan immediately noticed that the guests by the window had a different demeanor.

There were three guests, but only one was seated, drinking tea, while the other two stood behind him.

Their hierarchy was clear.

He Lingchuan stepped over the threshold. The other party was still holding his teacup, sipping, without even glancing up.

Was this the main person? He Lingchuan showed no annoyance, simply sat down, and said with a smile, "What a rare guest. Should I address you as Mr. Yu, or Captain Yu?"

The calling card he had just received was signed "Yu Zecheng," Captain of the Black Tiger Army's Cloud Banner in Beijia.

The man was around thirty years old, with a long face, prominent eyebrows, broad shoulders, a strong build, and dark skin. He Lingchuan could tell at a glance that this person was a veteran of many battles.

That aura of iron and blood could only be forged on the battlefield.

Yu Zecheng finally looked up at He Lingchuan, slightly startled, as if he also sensed a military aura about him:

"Either is fine. Have you also fought in wars?"

"Yes."

"Where? And when?"

Wang Fubao, standing behind He Lingchuan, secretly frowned. What kind of guest would brazenly question his host right away?

It was a clear overstep.

However, the other party was a Beijia military general. Outside of Mou, the name "Beijia" was practically a golden signboard, a license to act with impunity.

A maid from Nuanxiang Hall brought hot tea. He Lingchuan casually took the cup, lifted the lid, skimmed off the foam, and answered nonchalantly:

"Back home, some years ago."

His demeanor was mild but not fawning, and he showed no apprehension towards facing a superior state like Beijia. It was as if he were simply chatting casually.

Yu Zecheng asked again, "Where is your hometown?"

"Fu Kingdom."

Yu Zecheng seemed a bit surprised. "The Fu Kingdom can produce a person like you?"

"People from Fu Kingdom love to do business wherever they go," He Lingchuan said slowly. "Didn't you just come ashore from my trading post?"

Yu Zecheng's eyebrow twitched; he knew He Lingchuan had subtly reminded him that this was Lord He's territory.

"I heard you just bought the Yangshan Archipelago."

"Yes, it's a treasure of a place. When I passed through, I didn't want to leave, so I simply bought it to operate."

Yu Zecheng asked again, "How much did you pay for it?"

"Mr. Yu must have 'heard' about it already."

"A price of eighty thousand taels?" When the Beijia people heard this price in Blade Harbor, they also found it incredible, at one point thinking the rumor was mistaken. "Bailie must have been in a difficult situation back then."

He Lingchuan sipped his tea. "Indeed."

At the time, the Lu family father and son were desperate to raise money and provisions to support Mou, which allowed He Lingchuan to gain an advantage. Now, even double the price might not be enough to buy it.

"I also think this place is quite good," Yu Zecheng said earnestly. "How about Lord He selling it to me?"

"Oh?" This move greatly surprised He Lingchuan. The next second, he burst into laughter. "Mr. Yu certainly has a sense of humor!"

"I rarely joke," Yu Zecheng continued. "How much would Lord He be willing to part with this archipelago for? Three hundred thousand taels?"

"Most of these islands are barren; only the scenery is good and the seafood fresh," He Lingchuan asked with a smile. "What would Mr. Yu buy this archipelago for?"

"The same as you."

He Lingchuan shook his head. "How is that possible? I intend to live here permanently and peacefully."

No one could fully grasp his objective in buying the Yangshan Archipelago. If Mr. Yu's purpose had any similarity to his, it was probably that both had ulterior motives.

"Five hundred thousand taels?"

"Mr. Yu is humorous." He Lingchuan had the maid refill Yu Zecheng's tea. "Are you carrying this much money while on a military campaign?"

Beijia's Black Tiger Army was an elite force active on the front lines against Mou. For Mr. Yu to operate behind Mou's lines carried its own risks.

"Money at hand can ward off disaster and resolve misfortune," Yu Zecheng continued his bid. "One million taels."

He Lingchuan smiled. "If I keep refusing, will Mr. Yu offer five million taels?"

A glint appeared in Yu Zecheng's eyes. "Five million taels could buy ten such archipelagos. Why won't Lord He sell?"

He Lingchuan met his gaze. "Five million taels could buy ten such archipelagos. Why must Mr. Yu buy Yangshan? As far as I know, there are several archipelagos to the east, no smaller than Yangshan and with no worse conditions. Their owners would surely be happy to sell at that price."

Yu Zecheng stared fixedly at him, his gaze like a blade.

He Lingchuan remained composed and did not flinch.

After a while, Yu Zecheng suddenly changed the subject. "How are the hot springs here?"

"Excellent!" He Lingchuan's spirits immediately lifted. He skipped the usual pleasantries about honored guests and shining homes, simply stating that the seawater hot springs here were exceptionally comfortable, dispelling fatigue after a long soak, and that long-distance travelers all spoke highly of them.

"Then I must try them later." Yu Zecheng seemed delighted by what he heard, even smiling. But his next sentence was, "Are there giant spider-demons living on these islands of yours?"

Wang Fubao, standing nearby, thought to himself:

Here it comes.

The Beijia people were finally getting to the point.

But the turn was a bit sudden, making it easy for one to be caught off guard and unable to respond.

Yu Zecheng constantly observed He Lingchuan's expression, not missing the slightest change.

He Lingchuan was visibly stunned, then asked, "Pig demons?"

As he spoke, he wiggled his index and middle fingers on both hands, mimicking four legs.

"Not pigs," Yu Zecheng explained. "Spiders."

He Lingchuan let out a long "Ohhh," then said, "Spider-demons, you mean—"

"—Right, there are spider-demons. They live on one of the islands."

Yu Zecheng was somewhat surprised by such a straightforward answer. He had been prepared for He Lingchuan to flatly deny it and had contingency plans ready.

To his surprise, the other party admitted it openly, without any concealment or lies.