Chapter 49: Transaction

  Xiao Liang Wang smiled lightly and said, "As long as you can do it, gold and silver are enough. I can also let your little brother go. Tell me about your method."

  Jiang Zhenzi shook his head: "Young Master Wang is indeed not one of us, can't even speak the right words."

  Xiao Liang Wang's face turned red as he said, "This way, Jiang Pangzi, aren't you more at ease?"

  "That's it." Jiang Zhenzi nodded and said, "The matter is actually very simple. Young Master Wang, you just need to hand over the goods to me outside the city and tell me the unloading location inside the city. I'll take care of transporting the goods into the city myself. The only requirement is that the unloading location must be by the Bian River."

  Ladies and gentlemen, during the Song Dynasty, Bian River ran across Bianliang City.

  "What time can be delivered?"

  "Available at any time, same-day delivery, arrival in the city within five days."

  "How much is it?"

  "How big is Young Master Wang's boat?"

  "This, I don't remember clearly, how big is your boat, Jiang?"

  "The Bian River is shallow, with a depth of only six feet, and all my boats are flat-bottomed ones that can carry five hundred stones."

  "How much would it cost for your 500-ton flat-bottomed boat?"

  "Three thousand taels of gold per ship, pay in full first, then transport goods."

  "Jiang Paozi, aren't you being a bit too ruthless?"

  "This is a matter of losing one's head, I Jiang Paozi have always been straightforward and honest, never cheating the young or the old."

  "Alright, at this price. But what if the goods get lost?"

  "In the underworld, if you lose something, you have to pay for it."

  "That's two ships of military supplies, worth over 100,000 guan of goods. Jiang Baozi, how are you going to compensate for this?"

  "Haha, it seems that young Master Wang has underestimated me, Jiang Zhenzi. In the past, after the Liangshan heroes were granted amnesty, Chai Jin, also known as Chai Da Guanren, came to my shop to drink wine. He said that the iron certificate of the Chai family had a clause stating that if the holder was not treasonous, no one could harm them; but if the government thought you were going to rebel, this iron certificate would be useless, just like when High Tang Prefecture Magistrate Gao Lian relied on his brother General Gao's power and took Chai Da Guanren into custody. And my imperial edict is within Wufu Street, where I, Jiang Zhenzi, am a high-ranking official, no one can do anything to me. This Wufu Street is a hundred square meters in size, can accommodate thousands of people, every time I take in a death row prisoner, I collect ten taels of gold per month; ordinary prisoners, ten taels of silver per month, you tell me if I can afford it or not?"

  Yue Fei in the next room was getting angrier and angrier as he listened, finally unable to bear it any longer, turned around and left.

  After another incense stick of time, Little Liang Wang and Jiang Zhenzi walked out of the inn together, with a close expression. Just as they were about to bid farewell by waving their hands, Little Liang Wang suddenly asked: "Jiang Baozi, is this imperial edict true or false?"

  Jiang Zhenzi whispered into Xiao Liang Wang's ear, "This imperial edict has records in both the palace and Kaifeng Prefecture that can be checked. Young Master Wang can go inquire himself, but now the transportation fee will be increased to 4,000 taels of gold per ship."

  Xiao Liang Wang's face changed, and he no longer paid attention to Jiang Zhenzi. He quickly stepped onto the large sedan chair and returned to his mansion.

  Jiang Zhenzi had just returned to the second floor of the store's VIP room when he saw Yue Fei sitting inside, looking stern and solemn with a gloomy expression.

  Jiang Zhenzi naturally understood Yue Fei's thoughts and intentionally asked: "What did you hear from my conversation with that young Emperor Liang just now?"

  Yue Fei asked back: "Do you really want to accept that little Liang Wang's money?"

  Jiang Zhenzu laughed and replied: "Of course, would anyone refuse money sent over by someone else?"

  Yue Fei became somewhat excited and said: "Don't you know that smuggling military equipment is a serious crime of rebellion?"

  Jiang Zhenzi's face sank, and he said coldly, "Is this what you've heard?"

  Yue Fei was startled, but then calmed down and thought carefully: "If Jiang Zhenzi had ulterior motives, he would not have let me eavesdrop next door. There must be some reason inside."

  Yue Fei composed himself and bowed his fist to Jiang Zhen, apologizing: "I was momentarily anxious and offended you earlier. Please forgive me, senior, and enlighten my ignorance."

  "Hmm" Jiang Zhen's face relaxed, and his usual kindly appearance returned. He smiled and said: "Young Master, although your martial arts skills are impressive, you lack experience in the jianghu. Compared to that young Liang Wang, you're not much better. Things aren't always as simple as they seem on the surface. Take our conversation just now, for example - do you think Liang Wang really has two ships full of military equipment?"

  Yue Fei was puzzled: "Without military equipment, what price can Little Liang Wang discuss with you?"

  "You still don't get it!" Jiang Zhenzhu shook his head and sighed, "This little Liang Wang must have heard some rumors about me in the jianghu, and came to test the waters, feel out the situation. Have you considered two questions: First, since Little Liang Wang clearly came to bother me, how could he possibly have a pre-planned cooperation project? Second, even if there really were two ships of military equipment, with Little Liang Wang's cleverness, how would he forget the size and tonnage of the ships, and still want to use my ship to estimate the price?"

  Yue Fei was like a dream, and responded: "In that case, these two ships' military equipment are clearly temporary ideas of Xiao Liang Wang, fabricated. He wants to probe your bottom line, and may even set up a trap."

  Jiang Zhenzi chuckled and said, "You're still teachable, not too stupid. But, Brother-in-law, just call me Jiang Pàngzi, I'm not used to this 'senior' and 'junior' stuff."

  Yue Fei didn't press the issue and replied: "Alright, I'll still call you Big Fatty Jiang. If Little Prince Liang really brings out two ships of military equipment, how will you handle it?"

  "He has the wisdom of Zhang Liang, and I have crossed walls. But for now, heaven's plan cannot be revealed, just watch how I play with him." Jiang Zhenzi said, changing the subject. "You brothers are brave and resourceful, you can accomplish great things. The only flaw is that you lack experience in the outside world, your Jianghu experience is severely lacking. Wenshu Lao Da wrote a letter to me, asking me to teach you 'One Character Military Tactics' to make up for your shortcomings."

  Yue Fei was somewhat skeptical and said: "I have studied 'The Art of War', 'Six Secret Teachings', 'Huang Shi Gong San Lue' and the Thirty-six Stratagems, but I've never heard of any 'One Character Tactics'"

  "Then you haven't learned whether it's equal to there being no such martial art in the world?" Jiang Zhenzi asked.

  Yue Fei was speechless for a moment.

  Jiang Zhenzi proudly introduced: "Wenshu Lao Da's 'One Character Martial Arts' is profound and extraordinary, unlike anything else. It can transform the mundane into the magical. As long as you truly master this one character and integrate it thoroughly, you will find that the world before your eyes has completely changed. The sky is vast and the earth is wide, wherever you go, you will be invincible in battle..."

  Yue Fei also laughed and said: "Have you finished boasting? Is there really such a magical military tactic in the world?"

  "I knew it, young people these days are so shallow and naive, only looking at the surface without considering the inside, completely unable to see through the ways of the world." Jiang Zhenzi said with a look of frustration, "I'll take you few brothers to a place tomorrow, let you broaden your horizons, take a good look at how different the real world is from the one in your hearts, and how far apart they are. Along the way, I'll also let you know just how powerful 'One Character Martial Arts' is."