Chapter 212: Chapter 211: Unwilling to Die
The land of Dongyang, flowing with silver and blood.
The night sky of Xuanzhu County, nurturing conspiracies and deceit.
While Qing Lan was laughing and hugging Le Yu, chatting and touching her, in this luxurious tavern named ’Tide Wind Pavilion’, a dozen men were weaving a vast net covering Xuanzhu County under the dim lights.
After hearing their ’arrogant’ remarks, Qin Leyin’s face remained unchanged, showing neither surprise nor fear, and he countered, "You should know that I’ve been quite close to Jing Zhengwei recently; you could almost say that I’m part of his faction."
"Even with the matter of Jing Zhengwu, the two of us remain as close as brothers, sincerely collaborating. Regardless of public or private matters, I fully support Jing Zhengwei."
"Why do you think I would join you instead of leaking your plans to Jing Zhengwei?"
The Patriarch of the Fang Family laughed, "We’re well aware that you and Jing Zhengwei are confidants and close friends, which is why we’re planning—"
"If this succeeds, the Jing Family’s industry, your Qin Family will have a forty percent share!"
Qin Leyin glanced at him and shook his head, "You underestimate me."
"Forty-five percent!"
"It’s pointless to continue this conversation." Qin Leyin stood up, "You also underestimate the Jing Family."
"Fifty percent, that’s the bottom line."
Luo Zhen flicked a glass full of wine towards Qin Leyin and said, "We, multiple associations, are working together. We can’t let you eat meat while we drink soup, right? This price is also considering your close cooperation with Jing Zhengwei, making it easy for you to betray him."
Qin Leyin walked to the door, opened the double doors.
Lan Jianbo suddenly said, "Fifty-five percent, but you must contribute."
"Waiter, a bottle of Scandinavia red wine, please."
Qin Leyin closed the door and returned to his seat, smiling, "To be honest, Jing Zhengwei is arrogant, suspicious, and lustful, acting recklessly and treating me with no respect, even openly insulting me. I’ve long since grown tired of submitting to him. Your wishes align with Hongle’s wishes as well."
What Qin Leyin said, no one believed a single punctuation mark.
In fact, if Jing Zhengwei hadn’t worked with the Qin Family before, in terms of negotiation skills, Qin Leyin was almost the benchmark for the younger generation. The reputation of the ’Yin Yang Brothers’ of the Qin Family is largely due to Qin Leyin’s numerous achievements.
Bluffing, threatening, backing down, questioning... almost no one could trick Qin Leyin in a deal. The Qin Family’s business transactions over the years have never suffered a loss.
One must know that Silver Blood merchants are even harsher to their own, ruthless enough to express respect among peers.
As the saying goes, ’Half for strangers, a full swing for acquaintances,’ they generally don’t go overboard with unfamiliar merchants, lest they offend white gloves of other regional officials or armies, but it’s a different story for their own people.
If you failed to notice the trap in a transaction and got tricked by me, what do you have to say?
Even if it gets publicized in newspapers, it would only result in ridicule.
Ha ha, to think a venerable Silver Blood merchant could be tricked, is this what capitalists are like, how amusing it is.
In such a competitive environment, almost every association has been tricked at some point, even the Ting Family is no exception.
Even those selling arms dare to cheat, merchants of Xuanzhu County are truly formidable.
Yet Qin Leyin miraculously dodges all deceit and trickery, never losing, only differing in the degree of profit gained, never once tricked, forcing everyone to engage in straightforward transactions with the Qin Family.
From the beginning, no one believed Qin Leyin would firmly stand by the Jing Family.
For this clearly calculating, unscrupulous merchant, everything in the world is merely goods.
Qin Yueshi being under house arrest is the best proof.
Everyone was quite impressed by Qin Leyin’s ruthlessness. Although they didn’t know exactly what Qin Leyin did, it surely involved siding with Jing Zhengwei, possibly resulting in the death of his brother-in-law Jing Zhengwu.
For such a person, the only real allegiance is to profit.
That’s why they dared to invite Qin Leyin here; they believed that as long as they offered enough benefits, Qin Leyin would become the sharpest blade aimed at Jing Zhengwei.
The wine arrived. Qin Leyin poured the wine for himself, added some red juice from his bottle, and while drinking, he asked, "While it’s natural for merchants to pursue profit, I’d also like to know why you are uniting against the Ting and Jing Families?"
"The Ting Family has already betrayed the Silver Blood Association, they must be eliminated." The patriarch of the Zhao Family said, "Even if we were willing to let bygones be bygones, the Ting Family, having meddled in military power, will eventually target the Silver Blood Association to further their development."
"The Silver Blood Association has been able to exist for so many years because of the delicate balance formed by the eighty-eight associations. The Ting Family, having military power, has already completely disrupted this balance. It’s either the Ting Family perishes or Silver Blood is no more."
"To be frank, indeed." Qin Leyin nodded, "What about the Jing Family?"
"For the same reason."
Lan Jianbo examined the liquid in his glass, calmly stating, "Although Jing Zhengwei’s proposal was rejected, his ambition was obvious—he wanted to use the threat of five hundred Linhai soldiers from outside the county as leverage to smooth the way for the Jing Family to control all Silver Blood enterprises!"
"If the Ting Family is a bothersome chronic condition."
"Then the Jing Family is an urgent illness that must be addressed now!"
Indeed.
Jing Zhengwei truly was too hasty.
Although during the meeting everyone acted as if nothing had happened, afterward they quickly realized Jing Zhengwei’s true intentions.
Using the threat of the Linhai Army.
Becoming the spokesperson of the Linhai Army.
Touching upon centuries-old foundations of Silver Blood.
Qin Leyin was genuinely curious about what agreement Jing Zhengwei had with Lan Yan.
Why would they think that, under such harsh conditions, Silver Blood would acquiesce?
"I understand now." Qin Leyin said, "So what are your plans for cutting off Jing and eliminating Ting?"
"Wait!"
The Patriarch of the Zhou Family said, "Wait for our actions to take effect, wait for the Linhai Army to be willing to renegotiate. We want to cut off Jing, but that doesn’t mean we have to offend the Linhai Army. When the Linhai Army suffers setbacks, that’s when we’ll regain the upper hand in negotiations."
"When Jing Zhengwei is no longer Lan Yan’s only choice, that’s when we strike and dismantle Jing!"
Lan Jianbo said lightly, "Whether it’s the Jing Family or the Ting Family, the reason they are being besieged by all of us is ultimately due to one reason—"
"They want to annex Silver Blood and eliminate the associations."
"When they have both the ability and intent to do so, they can’t blame us for being ungracious."
"Gentlemen, in this matter, we must stand united. Under the collapsed nest, how can there be an intact egg? Once Ting and Jing succeed, the only future awaiting us is ruin and death."
"Once the Ting Family succeeds, we all become their wallets."
"Once the Jing Family succeeds, we become their slaves and subordinates."
"Is everyone’s hard-earned wealth meant to be a trousseau for someone else’s wealth and glory? Are you willing?"
A deep voice resonated in the room, "Unwilling!"
"Death would be preferable!"
"Then," Luo Zhen raised his glass and said loudly, "For the future of Silver Blood, for Dongyang’s peace, and most importantly, for our money, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Qin Leyin, seemingly lost in thought, said, "So, the day the Linhai Army retreats is the day the Ting and Jing Families will be destroyed."
The family heads replied, "Exactly!"
At this moment.
Qin Leyin already knew.
What Jing Zhengwei was waiting for.
Three days later.
Three pieces of news reached Xuanzhu County.
First, the Heyang Army stationed at Wolf Prison Dock was stopped in their tracks.
Second, the Governor of Heyang, Ge Shiwen, fell in battle.
Third, the Linhai Army threatens Xuanzhu County.
On the evening of the news, the Silver Blood Association held an emergency meeting.
New Governor Jing Zhengwei stated that the Linhai Army’s demands are manageable, although it would require raiding the Governor’s mansion, the Sea Warden’s estate, and the other nobility to be sufficient.
Of the proposals on the table, the first proposal received three votes in favor and was rejected.
The second proposal received eighty-eight votes in favor.
Approved by all.
At this moment.
Qin Yueshi still remains under house arrest at home, the best testament to Qin Leyin’s ruthlessness.
No one knew exactly what Qin Leyin had done, but he must have sided with Jing Zhengwei, possibly resulting in the death of his brother-in-law, Jing Zhengwu.
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