Chapter 111

The head of the Shanggan Circle put his palms together and placed them on the tip of his nose, saying respectfully, "The people of our circle thank you for your kindness, sir, but this famine won't be over in a moment, and opening the granaries to release grain won't last forever. I think we should still ask you to be kind enough to give Pan Tiao a way out. It would be best if we can be self-reliant and not cause you any trouble."

The rest of the crowd echoed, "Yes, it's not a good idea to just keep giving them food. Can we keep giving them food until the new crops come in? We don't know what the harvest will be like next year! If we could earn some money through other means, this urgent need would be solved."

Yun Kai frowned and pretended to think for a while, then finally sighed and said, "Let me slowly think of a way to overcome the difficulties at hand!"

After the meeting, Yun Kai whispered to Feng Xiaosai, "Tell those restless people to come to the mansion after lunch and tell them that I have something to discuss with them."

Feng Xiaosai knew that Yun Kai was about to set a trap, and nodded to show that he understood.

After returning to the mansion to have dinner with the old lady, Feng Xiaosai stood behind the door curtain and reported that the leaders were already waiting outside the study.

Yun Kai pushed away his half-eaten bowl, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and prepared to leave when the old lady grabbed his wrist and complained, "How can you not even eat peacefully? Why don't you eat when you're full? What's wrong with asking them to wait? There's no etiquette. Who would come to your house at lunchtime? They're not begging for food."

Yun Kai stood up and said, "They must have something urgent to tell you to come here at this time. Mother, please continue eating. I'll go to the study first."

After saying that, he stood up, lifted the curtain, and went to the study with Feng Xiaosai.

On the way, he asked Feng Xiaosai, "Are they all here? Isn't there one missing?"

Feng Xiaosai nodded and said, "All those people who were previously in contact with Master Tinglai are here."

The study was a strategic location, and no one dared to enter without Yunkai's permission. A group of chieftains stood at the door, sweating profusely. But none of them complained, thinking about how they could intimidate Yunkai into dividing the opium business when the former and former chieftains took the lead. If they didn't do it now, it would be even more impossible when he was more powerful. Before Lan Yingde became prime minister, the Han family had made a lot of money from this business. After Lan Yingde came, he found another way for the Tusi Mansion to make money, and the Tusi Mansion no longer cared about this business. But not only did they not do it themselves, they were reluctant to give this business to the Mengquan. They, the Tusi Mansion, had enough meat to eat, but they were reluctant to share even a bone with the Mengquan. Everyone had long been dissatisfied. If Han Yunkai dared to make excuses today, then don't blame them for being ruthless.

Seeing Yunkai coming, the crowd outside the study automatically made way for him. Yunkai looked at these people who were sweating profusely from the heat and feigned displeasure as he scolded Feng Xiaochong: "How do you do things? Why do you let the leaders bask in the sun outside? Can't you welcome them in and have some tea first?"

Feng Xiaosai bent his waist and said with embarrassment: "I know I have wronged the chiefs, but I would never dare let anyone into the study without your permission. This is the rule set by the old chieftain. The chiefs are all people who abide by the rules, they will understand."

Aren't you using the rules to force me? From now on, I will only abide by the rules, not human feelings.

After entering the study, the servants brought him some tea to quench his thirst. Without even taking a sip, the unemployed leader asked impatiently, "Master, have you figured out a way to save us?"

Yun Kai used the lid to skim off the scum in the tea bowl, then took a leisurely sip before saying, "I know what you're asking for, and it's not that I can't agree to it, but I have two conditions."

Unexpectedly, Yunkai was so straightforward, and everyone was terrified by the conditions he proposed. Han Yunkai hated them in his heart, and these two conditions were probably not simple.

The leader of the Shanggan Circle was calm and composed, as if he had won the battle. He said in a gentle voice, "Oh, then please tell me what the two conditions are, sir? We can't compare to the Tusi family's wealth and power, and we don't know if we can afford it!"

Yunkai placed the teacup on the table and smiled warmly, "Don't worry. I don't want you to kill or burn anything, nor do I want you to sell your children. Since I was a child, my master and mistress taught me to value peace and love the people. Now that I am a leader, I cannot bear to see my people suffer." He sighed bitterly, "Nowadays, with war and chaos and bandits rampant, many of the opium trade branches that my father had when he was alive have long since been cut short. But if you still want to continue, I still have a few branches left. I will leave them all to you."

Hearing that this was possible, everyone present couldn't help but raise their eyebrows. The unemployed leader was the most impatient and couldn't help but ask, "Then, sir, please explain clearly what you want us to do?"

Yun Kai waved his hand, and Feng Xiaosai dismissed the servants. He also closed the study door and stood guard at the door.

Yun Kai stroked his thumb and said leisurely, "As for the first thing, you guys are already very good at it. Let's send Grandpa Tinglai down to Mengquan! He's been a Grandpa for more than ten or twenty years, and he's still just sitting around in the government office holding a sinecure. I'm an unfilial nephew for not considering Uncle Rong's affairs!"

Unexpectedly, Han Yunkai's first target was Master Tinglai, and everyone couldn't help but feel a little guilty. The rabbit's death was a tragedy, and now that Master Tinglai had fallen, would they be next?

The leader of the Shanggang Circle stroked his beard and nodded in agreement, "You are right. According to the rules, Master Tinglai can be the master of a Meng."

Seeing that the new leader of the circle was understanding, Yun Kai was very satisfied: "As for the second thing, you have to pay a 40% tax on the profits from the opium trade."

Hearing they had to pay a tax, and a whopping 40%, the chiefs were furious. They could have kicked Tinglai out if he wanted, since it was their business. But the tax was real money, going out of their pockets!

Yun Kai didn't get angry when he heard them complaining. He just picked up the teacup and blew on the hot tea.

"Master, isn't this 40% tax too much? We are all starving and have come to you for help. Please be merciful and collect less so that everyone can make a living."

Yunkai admired the attitude of the leader of the previous group. This is how business should be done! I ask for a high price, and you pay me low! What's the point of just yelling?

He smiled and said, "That's right. We all need to make money to continue this business. Then let's reduce it by 10%, or 30%!"

Everyone still thought it was too high. The unemployed leader said bluntly, "Master, your family has made a lot of money in this business, why bother fighting with us for a few cents?"

Yunkai slammed his teacup down on the table, and everyone fell silent. He glanced at them coldly and sneered, "The commander of the Mengning garrison asked me about this when he came to congratulate me on my inauguration. He offered me a 50/50 split. If you think I'm taking too much, feel free to do as you please. I'll just do this business with the army."

Hearing that the army was also eyeing this piece of meat, everyone became even more hesitant. They were afraid that competing with the army for business would not end well.

After sending the group away, Yun Kai instructed Feng Xiaosai, "Tell your father to go to the accounting office and withdraw some money so that he can treat these leaders to a few more drinks. And also, tell them how much our family has earned from the opium trade."

Feng Xiaosai hesitated and said, "You're asking for such a high tax, and you've brought up the Mengning garrison. I'm afraid they won't dare to get involved in this business."

Yun Kai smiled and said, "I'm giving them a chance! If they're really afraid of death and behave themselves, then I'll spare them. But if they're blinded by greed, then you can't blame me."

He put his hands behind his back, looked at the clear sky and said leisurely: "But I bet they all don't know whether to live or die!"