Wang Jun sighed. “The peaceful times didn’t last. One year, there was a drought. Food became extremely scarce. To balance supply and demand and line their pockets in the process, the merchants applied for an exemption to the price sealings. But the king was steadfast. He prevented them from selling at greater than 1.2 times the list price. In response, many merchants turned to the black market to offload their dwindling stockpiles. The king had these merchants executed as an example and distributed their goods amongst the people.
“The famine intensified. People were starving, despite there being enough food to go around. The king, in his benevolence, imported massive quantities of food, which he distributed throughout the nation. Yet despite these efforts, people still starved. As a side note, the merchants who’d had enough with the situation left the kingdom for better pastures. They went to the other four fifths of the continent. Due to this, the empire was faced with a distribution problem.”
One of the ministers let out a loud snort.
“Is there something you would like to add, Minister Sima?” Wang Jun asked.
“I just find it amusing that you are threatening to pull the Wang family out of the Song Kingdom,” Sima Jiang said. “I suggest you just get on with it and save us all from this boring speech.”
“You misunderstand,” Wang Jun said. “The issue with the merchants is hardly worth mentioning, which is why I mentioned it as a side issue. Would you please allow me to continue?”
The crown prince nodded.
“After the merchants left, there was naturally a distribution issue. But it wasn’t something the nation couldn’t remedy. The greater problem was that, at one point, there was ten years’ worth of food stockpiled while half the kingdom went to bed hungry.
“The king wasn’t sure what to do, but he remained adamant about pricing. He investigated and discovered that due to the price ceilings, the black market had grown so large that it eclipsed the normal market. Tax revenues plummeted as people began trading food and other resources using unofficial channels. The issue had nothing to do with merchants. Instead, it was the people themselves that were selling their food at three times the list price. Eventually, food got so expensive that people were forced to shoulder usurious loans for the sake of feeding their children.
“Meanwhile, the ministers and nobles hoarded food. Once they had ten times the food they needed, they began using it to control their subjects. Prices spiraled upward as people starved. Food became the new currency, rendering the kingdom’s fiat money system worthless.
“Soon, influential noble clans used their stockpiles to purchase entire cities. Before the king knew it, his kingdom had been taken over by a handful of noble houses. His coffers were full of worthless money, and he was helpless to prevent the black-market transactions. Eventually, the noble houses banded together and overthrew him. They used their chokehold over the food supplies to continue extorting the people.
“The situation continued for a full year. As the famine passed, the people remained hungry. Eventually, the peasants had enough, and they rebelled against their rulers. The noble families were overthrown, and the kingdom shattered into thirteen pieces, which are now known as the Desperate Lands, the most impoverished places on the continent. They are devoid of morality and think little of laws. Naturally, my Wang family was one of the early merchants that sold their stock and left before the true crisis began.”
The court was silent. Wang Jun could hear the heavy breathing of the officials as they pondered their future actions. The crown prince’s expression was cold. A man of his intelligence understood that Wang Jun had just sown mutinous seeds among his loyal ministers.
“Things as they are,” the crown prince said, “I still move to instate a price ceiling at 1.3 times the list price. Are there any objections?”
“I naturally object, Your Highness,” Wang Jun said. “If the price cap is any lower than 1.7 times the list price, I will refuse to sell. I would rather use them to recruit able-bodied men into our Wang family. In this way, I can better protect our assets in the Song Kingdom.”
“Anyone else?” the crown prince said coldly.
“If I might add,” said Prime Minister Rong, who had remained silent this whole time. “I believe that Second Young Master Wang’s story is worth considering. But I understand that you wish to comfort the people in these trying times. Why do we do things this way? Let’s meet halfway at 1.5 times the market price. At the same time, let us exempt magic and core treasures, which are only important to noble families. If they want to arm themselves to the teeth, they should pay a sufficient price.
“At the same time, let us also institute gruel stations in the various prefectures to maintain public order and prevent the common people from starving. This benevolence will be well remembered by the masses. What are your thoughts, Second Young Master Wang?”
Wang Jun hesitated before nodding. “That is marginally acceptable. I would continue selling lower-level weapons and other commodities at this price.”
The crown prince visibly relaxed with this suggestion. It wasn’t for nothing that the prime minister had kept his role for twenty years.
“Then it’s settled,” the crown prince said. “Please ensure that these controls are implemented as soon as possible, and make sure that no one goes hungry. A kingdom must serve its people before anything else.”
Chapter 6: Hidden Opponents
“What are your thoughts, Elder Bai?” Wang Jun asked as they sipped tea.
The years had not been kind to the older man, and fatigue wore away at him like rust did an iron bar—slowly, surely, and irreparably.
“My thoughts?” Elder Bai said. “Surely you know more about the situation than I do. I just find it odd that, despite the obvious machinations of the court, and despite your persuasive arguments against the price ceilings, he would still insist on them. He is affecting his own power in the long run.”
Wang Jun nodded. “This play is far too incisive and targeted against me. He is minimizing our gains at the cost of consolidating his power. This behavior is at odds with his play for the throne. Therefore, I think there is someone in the shadows guiding his actions. That person is pushing the crown prince to act against me.”
Elder Bai nodded but didn’t add anything. There was only one possibility—the first young master’s agent was now making bolder moves, hiding his true motives by using the political struggle.
“It looks like there won’t be as great of a windfall as you predicted,” Elder Bai observed.
“That’s fine,” Wang Jun said. “We will recover our capital and consolidate our profits much faster this way. In addition, we’ll make the crown prince realize the unintended consequences of his actions.”
“Which are?” Elder Bai said.
“If the price is capped, then I no longer have to sell to the highest bidder,” Wang Jun replied. “Since a higher bid is impossible, I will only sell to our faction. I will milk their coffers dry while simultaneously bolstering their forces for the upcoming struggle. Meanwhile, the crown prince’s forces will have much unsatiated demand for weapons. They will offer exorbitant prices on the black market.”
“Isn’t that against the Wang family rules?” Elder Bai asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Please quote the rule for me,” Wang Jun said.
“Being caught committing a criminal commercial act is a punishable offense in the Wang family,” Elder Bai said. Then, as though just realizing the implications, he rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you have a way of hiding your traces.”
“Always,” Wang Jun replied.
Suddenly, the door opened. A middle-aged man walked in unbidden.
Wang Jun frowned. “This had better be important,” he said coldly.
“Of course,” the middle-aged man said without batting an eyelash. “Though I suggest that the young master should lock the door and use a dampening device in the future when discussing such conversations. Otherwise you might find yourself sufferin
g a loss.”
“I’ll take that into consideration,” Wang Jun said. “What news have you brought us?” He observed the black-cloaked man carefully. While he couldn’t tell what it was, something felt out of place about him.
“This servant has just made preliminary contact with some hidden forces in the city,” the man said. “I thought it would be best to inform you immediately.”
The man handed him a folio, which Wang Jun carefully opened. He nodded as he looked through the information. Looking up, he saw that the man hadn’t left yet. “You are dismissed,” he said. The man bowed and exited the room.
“Who is that man?” Wang Jun asked to Elder Bai.
“His name is Hei Ling, and he joined us two months ago,” Elder Bai said. “He’s been vetted by the family and specializes in dealing with more… unsavory businesses.”
“If only I could trust the family,” Wang Jun said. “Please find someone within the group who has been with us at least two years. And have Hei Ling tailed. There is something off about him, something I can’t put my finger on.”
“I’ll put Li Ming on the job,” Elder Bai said. “He’s been excellent at covert operations like tracking people and remaining unseen. Truth be told, I once offered him a job as an assassin. He refused and said that it was a troublesome profession.”
Wang Jun grimaced as he drank some tea, only to realize that it had grown cold. He chucked it out and brewed a new pot. While he might be busy, he wasn’t that busy.
Cha Ming slept deeply that night and woke with Huxian still snoozing on his belly. The small fox was no longer shivering, and on his foxy muzzle was a contented smile. He carefully moved Huxian to the bed.
The Jade Bamboo’s staff greeted him as he walked past. He nodded to them apologetically as he made his way to Wang Jun’s office. The door opened automatically, revealing Wang Jun and a pot of tea. A larger bowl of Demon Soothing Tea was waiting off to the side.
“How are you feeling?” Wang Jun said as he gestured to the tea set.
“Much better,” Cha Ming said. “I’m sorry for all the harsh words and the terrible attitude.”
“I know that wasn’t the real you,” Wang Jun said, sighing. “I speculate it had something to do with Zhou Li. His curses are difficult for me to detect, let alone unravel.”
They drank in silence for a half hour, with Wang Jun pouring. During this time, Cha Ming mulled over the many questions he had for his friend.
“Why are you here in the Song Kingdom?” Cha Ming finally asked. Wang Jun poured another cup and reached out to a device on his desk. He activated the opaque orb, and an invisible field permeated the room. It isolated Cha Ming’s spiritual force and any sounds they made; no one outside would be able to hear them.
“I’m here because of a mission issued by my family,” Wang Jun said. “It’s an enormously difficult mission that’s meant to test my ability to compete for the family’s leadership. The other runner-up is my eldest brother, Wang Ling.”
Cha Ming thought for a moment before asking his next question. “Why do you want to compete against you brother?”
“Because he killed my sister,” Wang Jun said softly as his hands clenched around his delicate teacup, threatening to shatter it with the slightest additional pressure. “It’s something I can’t forgive him for. She was just an innocent, talented girl who wanted nothing to do with the leadership. She wouldn’t have bothered to compete with him, but he saw her as a threat. My goal is to take over as the Wang family patriarch and kill him.”
“And is the favor I owe you related to that?” Cha Ming asked. He felt his heart clench as he awaited the dreaded answer.
“Yes and no,” Wang Jun said. “Wang Ling is backed by my family’s transcendent. I see great potential in you, and I want you to block him when I make a move against my brother.”
Cha Ming shut his eyes. “You know that’s basically the same thing as killing him. I’ll kill evildoers from time to time, but I’m not an assassin.”
Wang Jun sighed. “I won’t force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Just relax and help me out however you can. If push comes to shove, I’ll just change the favor.”
It was a simple exchange, but it resolved the growing knot in Cha Ming’s heart. He now felt much more relaxed about helping his friend’s business in Songjing.
A soft knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Wang Jun disabled the device on his desk and walked over to open the door. A man clothed in a golden robe walked inside.
“We meet again,” Cha Ming said, recognizing Chaplain Chen.
The man smiled. “I received an invitation from the second young master as soon as you left. The contents of his letter were intriguing, so I thought I’d pay a visit.”
“I’m sure Brother Jun will help you out if it’s within his capacity,” Cha Ming said.
“I’m not happy to see you, but we both have things each other needs,” the chaplain said, nodding curtly to Wang Jun.
“You know full well that I can’t help my own physical situation,” Wang Jun said awkwardly. He summoned a teapot, and he dropped ten golden leaves in. The gold in the leaves infused with the water, which soon glowed with a golden light. Wang Jun poured it into three cups. To Cha Ming’s surprise, Wang Jun’s own cup was considerably larger, something that would normally be considered rude.
“How luxurious,” Chaplain Chen said. “Luminescent Sunflower Tea. Its brewing process was dictated by the Holy Mother aeons ago. I am surprised that you know of it, given your condition. Do you understand its uses?”
“I study all tea traditions and customs,” Wang Jun said. “This is a tea of cooperation. It is meant to be served as an expression of good will and honesty.” He took a large gulp from his own cup. “It is also a truth serum. Those who drink it cannot utter a lie.”
Cha Ming followed his lead and took a sip, along with Chaplain Chen.
“I must confess that I would like nothing more than to win your support, Chaplain Chen,” Wang Jun said. “But I understand how the Church of Justice operates. You will not change the way you behave for the sake of money.
“I’m happy that you understand,” Chaplain Chen said. “I confess: I believe that your physique and shadow cultivation are an aberration. A man should not be able to hide from the light as you do. The powers of an inquisitor are useless against you. However, if I’m not mistaken, willingly drinking this tea means that your ability to lie has been inhibited. You drank this tea to reassure me. Am I right?”
“Quite right,” Wang Jun said. “I have the larger cup because of my constitution, but for the next hour, I can tell no lies. Feel free to ask away.”
“Very well, I confess myself intrigued,” Chaplain Chen said. “You have offered me the services of a formation master who can set up a light-gathering formation. However, according to my assessment of this young man, I only see five-element cultivation. How is this possible?”
“I can best answer this question,” Cha Ming said. He summoned five balls of colored light, one for each of the five elements. “The five elements are linked to creation and destruction.”
A thick black star appeared, and so did a white circle, then another white stream flowed out. It turned azure and iridescent. Lightning crackled and wind blew.
“As a result, I can also control wind and lightning.”
“This alone cannot create light,” the chaplain said firmly.
“Quite right,” Cha Ming said. “However, you saw my brother the other day. Huxian controls light and shadow simultaneously. Through our bond of brotherhood, I can make use of his demonic qi.” Two additional balls appeared, one a glowing white and another a subdued black. They were very different from the black star and the white circle. They fed off themselves as soon as they appeared.
“Impressive,” the chaplain said. “While others might think that the simultaneous presence of light and shadow is heresy, I know better. Nothing that bears the power of light can stray too far into the
shadows, and only those who have touched the shadows can truly see the splendor of light. This is clear in the goddess’s teachings: ‘For no one who walks in the light will ever be alone in the darkness. The slightest speck will always be his guide.’”
“I think you’re taking things a little too literally,” Cha Ming blurted unintentionally. However, instead of getting offended, the chaplain simply smiled.
“Honesty is a virtue, so there is no need to be offended,” the chaplain said as if reading Cha Ming’s thoughts. “You are skeptical, but I believe this scripture from the bottom of my heart. Therefore your words can never lead me astray.”
Wang Jun, who had kept silent during their exchange, finally butted into the conversation. “I take it that you wish to have a light-gathering formation?”
“I want three, and I will pay for them at the fair market price, adjusted for the remoteness of our location,” the chaplain said firmly. “I will not owe you for it. However, what intrigues me more is his ability to create other light formations. There are two specific formations that I would like him to install. I will provide him single-use scrolls on both formations, and in exchange for their installation, I will gift your friend single-use scrolls on five light-based talismans and five light-based formations. What are your thoughts?”
“This seems overly generous,” Wang Jun said. “The market value of these items far exceeds the value of two mid-grade formations.”
“One of them is a grand formation,” the chaplain explained. “It is extremely difficult to set up, and the material cost for it is much higher than for a normal project. However, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“What kind of formation are we talking about?” Cha Ming asked.
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