Chapter Seventy: Bribery

“What did you say!?” Wang Ju erupted in anger as he spoke. “Sell off every bit of the inheritance passed down by our ancestors?”

“Big brother, please don’t get upset yet,” Wang Hua quickly tried to calm him. “Third brother’s point isn’t entirely unreasonable. Let’s hear him out first.”

“Elder brothers,” Wang Pu said sincerely, “the provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Northern Zhili, Henan, and Shandong have suffered three years of relentless drought. The people have lost their harvests, banditry is rampant, and the populace is destitute. To speak a harsh truth, within two or three years, these five northern provinces will be utterly devastated.”

Wang Hua exclaimed in shock, “Third brother, isn’t that alarmist talk?”

“It’s absolutely not,” Wang Pu replied gravely. “Second brother, since you’re not in the military, you aren’t aware of the true state of the imperial troops. In reality, the finest frontier forces of the Ming have been exhausted in the brutal wars against the Jurchens. The troops now sent to suppress bandits across the provinces are little more than ragtag assemblies. To think they could stamp out the marauders is futile.”

With a grave voice, Wang Ju asked, “Are you saying the Ming Dynasty is beyond saving?”

“It’s too soon to say the dynasty is doomed,” Wang Pu said solemnly, “but that the five northern provinces are about to collapse is beyond doubt. That’s exactly why I urge you, big brother, to sell off all our family’s assets in Shanxi while we still can, before the province is completely lost.”

“And what good would that do?” Wang Ju asked gloomily. “When chaos arrives, our silver will just become someone else’s spoils.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Wang Pu answered. “You can sell off our estates in Shanxi and use the silver to buy new properties in the south, even start new businesses.”

“You mean move all our assets to the south?” Wang Ju shook his head. “Easier said than done! How would we even get such a fortune safely to Jiangnan? We’d have to cross territories crawling with bandits, and even the imperial troops are often more ruthless to merchants than the outlaws.”

“Leave that to me,” Wang Pu assured him. “Tell me, if we sold everything the Wang family owns, how much silver would that bring in?”

Wang Ju replied, “After two generations of effort, our family holds thirteen silk shops, thirty-six tea houses, nineteen porcelain stores, and tens of thousands of acres of land in Shanxi. Add to that this ancestral residence and six manors, and the total value must exceed a million taels of silver.”

“Then listen to me, big brother,” Wang Pu urged. “Sell everything as quickly as possible.”

Wang Ju frowned. “But how will we get the silver to the south?”

“We won’t need to,” Wang Pu explained. “On my recent campaign in Liaodong, I seized a vast hoard of gold, silver, and jewels from the Jurchens and Koreans. I brought some of it to the capital, but most of it is stored in Jiangnan. That treasure alone is worth at least five million taels!”

Wang Hua’s face turned pale. “You’ve hidden such a huge sum? That’s high treason!”

“Nonsense,” Wang Pu retorted coldly. “That silver was earned with the blood of my men—why should it go to the court?”

Wang Ju and Wang Hua were stunned. Fortunately, none of the Wang brothers were men of letters, nor poisoned by Confucian loyalty to the throne. Had Wang Hua been a proper scholar, he might have flown into a rage and denounced his own kin for such words.

At last, Wang Ju understood Wang Pu’s intent. He said gravely, “So, you mean to use a portion of your treasure to buy out all our family’s properties in Shanxi?”

“Exactly,” Wang Pu replied. “With ready cash in Datong, I can raise troops and buy horses, while our family’s assets can be smoothly shifted to Jiangnan. More importantly, in the south, there are no marauding bandits, and with the convenience of sea transport, you can grow the family business instead of waiting for disaster.”

Wang Hua said, “Big brother, this is actually a sound plan.”

With a sigh, Wang Ju said, “Though it’s hard to leave our ancestral home, it seems we have no other choice. Very well, I’ll begin selling our properties tomorrow.”

Wang Pu bowed. “Your wisdom honors us, big brother.”

“It’s getting late,” Wang Ju said. “You two should rest for the night.”

Wang Hua and Wang Pu agreed, left the main hall, and each retired to their rooms.

■■■

The next morning.

Steward Eunuch Zhang Zi’an, guardian of Datong Prefecture, had just finished his morning toilette, attended by two handmaidens, when a junior eunuch bustled in to report, “Godfather, General Wang has come to visit.”

“General Wang?” Zhang Zi’an replied with a sly tone. “You mean the imperial son-in-law?”

“That’s right,” answered the junior eunuch. “He’s brought quite a generous gift as well.”

“Hmph, I expected as much,” Zhang Zi’an chuckled. “Go, tell him I invite him in.”

The junior eunuch departed. Moments later, he led Wang Pu into the main hall. Four sturdy attendants followed, carrying a heavy chest. Zhang Zi’an emerged from behind the screen with a light smile, calling out, “Well now, what wind has brought the imperial son-in-law here today?”

“Eunuch Zhang,” Wang Pu gestured to the chest at his side and smiled. “Just a small token of respect—I hope you will accept it.”

“Ah, you are far too generous, my lord,” Zhang Zi’an replied with a fawning smile.

Wang Pu raised his voice. “Open it!”

The four attendants unlatched the chest, revealing an enormous pile of gleaming silver. There was at least fifty thousand taels inside! Though steward of Datong, Zhang Zi’an rarely saw more than a few thousand taels at a time from the local officials’ tributes. Never had he witnessed such a lavish gift. He stood dumbstruck.

“Eunuch Zhang? Eunuch Zhang!”

Wang Pu called out twice to snap him from his daze.

“Ah, my lord, this is far too extravagant—I cannot possibly accept such a gift.”

“Not at all,” Wang Pu replied, masking his reluctance with words that made even himself cringe. “You manage all the mines, salt transport, armories, and military provisions in Datong. The burdens you bear are immense. It is only right that I offer this small token.”

“If you put it that way, my lord, how can I refuse?” Zhang Zi’an replied, beaming.

With a wave, Wang Pu signaled his attendants to withdraw. Zhang Zi’an, taking the hint, dismissed the two serving eunuchs as well. Only then did Wang Pu lower his voice.

“Eunuch Zhang, I have a favor to ask.”

“Name it, my lord,” Zhang Zi’an replied. “If it’s within my power, it will be done.”

“It’s like this,” Wang Pu said, “I wish to use your three armories to forge a batch of new firearms. Of course, I will cover all material costs, craftsmen’s wages, and any losses. Once the task is done, there will be another gift for you.”

“That’s all?” Zhang Zi’an waved it off. “I thought it was something serious. No trouble at all. Tomorrow I’ll inform the overseers of the three armories. You may use them whenever you wish, and all materials and labor are at your disposal—no need to spend a single tael.”

“My deepest thanks,” Wang Pu said, bowing.

“There’s no need for such courtesy between us,” Zhang Zi’an replied with a laugh.