Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 30]

They all say that these days,

you've been frequenting the brothels along the Qinhuai River.

I didn't believe it.

Of course, you shouldn't have believed it.

Did you do that?

I went for one day.

If I said

I was there on official business,

would you believe me?

Do you believe it yourself?

It's a bit complicated.

Yes.

At first, I didn't believe it either,

but then all these people

from the brothels showed up at our home.

I wished there were a crack in the ground

I could disappear into.

Mother told us not to speak to you.

You know me.

I'm not that kind of person at all.

They said

you visited more than 10 brothels in a row.

I didn't.

You didn't?

Maybe 5 or 6.

They said you were drinking with courtesans

until you were completely drunk.

I wasn't.

You weren't?

I wasn't completely drunk.

They said you wrote an elegiac couplet

for a famous courtesan who just died.

I didn't.

You didn't?

His Excellency wrote it.

You...

You've made Mother so angry.

She said you've become a beast with no morals!

How could you say that?

How am I a beast?

Can you please listen to my explanation?

When I say I was on official business,

I mean it!

The way of pen and sword demands

a balance between tension and relaxation!

Besides,

visiting courtesans

is a common thing for a real man.

Say that again.

Where did you learn that?

I lost my head in anger.

The brothel madam said it.

Is that what you

really think?

No.

Yu'er,

I think I've twisted my back.

Help me up.

Are you trying to murder your own husband?

You kicked way too hard.

I...

I didn't kick hard. Are you hurt?

Let me see.

Get down here!

You... You...

You...

You...

Alright, listen to my explanation.

Nanjing is so desolate now.

I need to revitalize the Qinhuai River first

to attract merchants.

These are just tactics.

Why don't you mention that His Excellency

also went there?

He's even a Neo-Confucian scholar.

Don't be angry with me.

That's all explained?

That's all explained.

What's there to explain?

-Cheating, huh? -Blow the light and go to bed.

Pingyuan.

Mother wants you both

to stop arguing.

Pingwen.

Is my bedroom

a place you can enter whenever you want?

I just came to the rescue.

Mother was afraid you might fight.

Fight?

You think Yu'er is like you?

She's understanding.

Yu'er and I

couldn't possibly have any misunderstanding.

Do I need to explain anything to her?

Unlike you who jump at every chance...

You're sleeping outside tonight.

Don't let Mother think I'm a pushover.

Get out.

No meat today.

Is Mr. Gu in?

I'm...

Come in.

I am Sun Er, Acting County Magistrate,

paying my respects to you, Mr. Gu.

No need for such formalities

when we're at home.

Have you eaten yet?

Join us.

Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Gu.

I've already eaten.

Mr. Gu, I'm here for your instructions.

Official business so early in the morning?

His Excellency said

that he was aware of the gifts

from the Qinhuai River establishments yesterday,

which are not considered a bribe.

He asked you to accept them without concern.

He'll be responsible

if anything happens.

I was wondering.

I was wondering why last night

so many people came to my house.

So those gifts

were meant for the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office.

That was the original plan.

But His Excellency said

the Qinhuai River revitalization initiative

was your idea,

so he can't accept the gifts.

His Excellency

truly has a broad mind

and a noble character.

Mr. Gu, you're incredibly resourceful,

well,

even surpassing Zhuge Liang.

His Excellency

specifically mentioned

that he is a disciple of Confucius,

and you are

a disciple of Master Guan Zhong.

Please accept them with peace of mind.

He's messing with me.

His Excellency

has prepared the elegiac couplet

for the madam already

and some gifts as well.

Today we'd like you

to represent the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office

on a visit to the Qinhuai River.

Oh, right.

He can't go himself.

So I need your instructions—

shall we go by boat or by sedan chair?

Let's take a boat.

It's more discreet.

Yes.

I'll be waiting outside

to accompany you.

Good.

Mother, are you still mad at me?

Do you think your son is the type

who would put on official robes

and then visit brothels?

Or is it that

you're afraid Yu'er will be taken advantage of?

Mr. Chang.

We have a friendship that runs deeper than blood.

You have to trust me.

Stop taking Mr. Liao

to practice your inner strength.

Sit down and let me talk to you.

I do trust you.

But Yu'er told me

that last night you said,

"Visiting courtesans

is a common thing for a real man."

I said so many

righteous things last night.

Why did you only tell Mr. Chang

this one sentence?

Did he really say that?

Don't speak

unless spoken to!

A grown son makes his own decisions.

No, Mother,

you talk, and I'll listen.

Although you don't hold any official position,

we are now

staying at the Viceroy of Liangjiang's post station.

All of this is true.

I don't know many characters,

but I've lived long enough

to have learned

a thing or two about life.

Look at the opera stage.

Those little spirits and soldiers

doing somersaults and handstands

put on a lively show.

But look again,

the emperor,

the prime minister,

and the generals on stage.

Which one of them is doing somersaults

or handstands?

There's a principle here.

What clothes you wear

and what position you hold

determine what you should do.

If you still can't grasp such a fundamental principle,

you must have a death wish!

Yes.

You're right.

I know.

You're not a fool.

You wouldn't start drinking and visiting brothels

as soon as you set foot in Nanjing.

I don't believe it.

Yu'er doesn't believe it either.

What do the viceroys

want from you?

What do they see in you?

Simply that you have no backing,

and you have talent.

So they can use you as their tool.

But they are real high officials.

Even if you help them make Nanjing

prosperous and magnificent,

if just one person says

that they, as high officials,

drink and visit brothels,

and if the emperor blames them,

they'll need to find a scapegoat

to deal with the situation.

Which scapegoat do you think

would be the most suitable one?

Then that would be so despicable of them.

Pingyuan,

I'll just say one thing.

Your mother's wisdom far exceeds yours.

Last night,

Mr. Chang and I couldn't sleep at all.

We were tossing and turning in bed,

trying to figure out how to get you out of this mess.

I know.

You want to save the world,

but you can't even save yourself.

Who do you think you can possibly save?

You've dragged us into this.

You've made your mother sick with worry.

Aren't these your fault?

I didn't think it through.

Mother, you're right.

You always

rush headlong into things,

with that stubborn personality of yours.

If you harm yourself,

you'll end up dragging Yu'er

down with you.

How could I bear that?

Mother,

you're so farsighted.

You

don't need to be so modest.

Such a brilliant plan

is something

few people in this world could devise.

However, these tactics

may work in business,

but in the official circles,

they're far too dangerous.

You are

too conspicuous.

As they say, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

When the time truly comes

for execution,

exile, or confiscation of property,

it will be too late for regrets.

Stop frightening him.

Go about your business.

Be it beheading, exile, or property confiscation,

I'll be with you.

If you restrict him

from making any move,

he'll just stay at home every day

watching me embroider.

I won't stand it.

It's a good thing

he knows now.

[Liangjiang Viceroy's Office]

These are banknotes from the Four Major Banks.

They have no markings.

Each is worth 10,000 taels.

They can be cashed anywhere.

200,000 taels in total.

Please accept them.

My good nephew,

this money

is truly a great help to me.

This money is nothing.

If it can solve

your urgent problem,

I will feel much relieved.

And my matter

will naturally be easier to resolve.

Today, I've received from benevolent merchant Li Qin

a donation of

200,000 taels of silver.

This is the receipt from the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office.

[Donated by Jiangning]

It bears my official seal.

When I report to His Highness,

there will surely be imperial rewards.

For rebuilding Nanjing,

all merchants who donate

will have their names carved on stone tablets

placed at the entrance of the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office.

This is an enormous merit indeed.

Uncle,

my father instructed

that no receipt is necessary for this money.

No, no.

This is money for Nanjing.

Uncle,

you truly are

the renowned Neo-Confucian master,

as clean and pure as water,

with impeccable integrity.

I admire you greatly.

As clean and pure as water,

with impeccable integrity?

I'm not so sure.

When you say these things,

you must mean what you say.

I speak these words

not to flatter you.

I hope you understand.

A few days ago,

I heard you went with that brother

of mine, surnamed Gu,

to drink by the Qinhuai River.

You've devoted your life to Neo-Confucianism,

yet could tarnish your reputation.

I'm sure the imperial court

will understand your difficulties.

I never expected

that Li Million would have

such a fine son.

I'm truly envious.

You're certainly no ordinary person.

You've seen these little schemes of mine

through quite clearly.

Not at all.

Uncle, you are half a sage.

Until death,

I must practice virtue with caution.

Do you think

being a sage is so easy?

I understand.

I'm very cautious myself.

About my matter...

In Nanjing now,

nothing can be done.

The army can't be disbanded.

The soldiers become disgruntled,

and discipline breaks down.

If trouble breaks out someday,

that would be disastrous.

Years of hard work

will be ruined in an instant.

Uncle,

there's already a solution at hand.

Look.

These

are the title deeds for salt fields

and management rights to salt stores,

[Tax Receipt]

mortgaged or sold

to my father,

when he was doing business with others.

[Li Million shall have 10 and a half shares.]

Now that peace has returned,

you should give us instructions

on how to proceed with them.

I'll follow your orders.

If this matter is settled,

that small amount of money for you

is certainly nothing.

Can Li Million handle

all these businesses?

Doesn't he find it exhausting?

When my father's business grows,

helping you with your affairs

will make us stand even stronger.

Merchants stabilize the realm

by only using gold and silver as weapons,

nothing compared to your dominance.

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency.

Where did you go this morning?

I just delivered an elegiac couplet.

At the madam's grave,

I cried a bit.

You didn't even know her.

How could you possibly cry?

Well, Your Excellency, you wrote the elegiac couplet.

I just shed a few tears.

Consider it a complimentary service.

Besides,

I was genuinely moved.

Moved by what?

She was old enough

to be your mother.

You're so kind

to give me all the credit.

Yesterday,

half the girls from the brothels

all rushed to my house.

It made my mother so angry

that she told everyone to ignore me.

My wife directly

banished me to sleep in the hall for the night.

I'm toiling for our country,

which is one thing,

but to end up with such a result...

When I think about it,

I feel so wronged.

You set me up,

so I had to get back at you.

Alright,

I'll write a letter soon

to explain everything clearly.

I'll tell your mother

it was official business.

Don't feel wronged because of me.

But my mother also said

if it's truly for the benefit of Jiangnan's people,

then it's acceptable.

As long as you

can ensure my family's safety,

I'm willing to sacrifice myself completely

without hesitation.

Of course.

Confucius said,

"How do we know the future won't be better than the present?"

[1,000 taels]

Li Qin

has delivered 200,000 taels of silver.

I'm thinking

of allocating 100,000 taels

to the Jinling Publishing House

to ensure the "Complete Library of the Four Treasuries"

is properly printed.

As for the remaining 100,000 taels,

I'll keep 30,000 to 50,000

to renovate the Qinhuai River

by widening the waterway,

dredging it, and repairing buildings.

The money that's left

will be used to repair examination halls

and fix roads.

As you mentioned, the way of pen and sword demands

a balance between tension and relaxation.

That's what it means, right?

You're brilliant, Your Excellency.

I'll definitely keep a close eye on

the Jinling Publishing House.

I plan to—

Wait, wait.

Don't try to avoid work.

No,

how is this avoiding work?

Proofreading catalogs.

Comparing editions.

It's an important task.

This isn't something you need to do.

There are plenty of idle scholars around.

Don't worry about it.

Let me ask you.

Do you understand salt administration?

Not at all.

You can learn if you don't.

Before you came, I heard

that you were excellent at selling tea.

A master in that field.

How hard could it be to understand salt administration?

This Li Million,

using the military expense reimbursement issue,

wants me to support him.

He spent several years

and has actually managed

to get all of Jiangnan's salt stores

and salt fields

under his control.

He's forcing me

to approve it.

Isn't this equivalent to putting all the nation's taxes

into

his hands?

How dangerous!

But this Li Million

really has an eye for business.

Impressive.

Very impressive.

Why?

Are you scared?

The state has always used salt licenses

as monopoly rights

given to salt merchants.

They pay taxes every year.

In the past,

this was a good method.

But after years of peace,

these salt merchants have become extremely greedy.

They just appease the imperial court

while raising prices as they please.

In provinces affected by war,

salt prices are higher than rice prices.

In my opinion,

we shouldn't hand these things

over to him.

The people's money should be earned by the people.

The state shouldn't create a monster

that devours everything in sight.

Your Excellency.

If it's about capital

or ability,

I'm truly no match

for Li Million.

I appreciate your favor,

but I really

can't handle this matter.

Desertion in the face of duty

is punishable by death.

I know

you two are old acquaintances.

If you handle this matter well for me,

I'll grant you an official rank.

Well...

If you fail,

military law will deal with you.

[Righteous and Diligent]

Please, no formalities.

Let's go through things one by one.

[Righteous and Diligent]

Now,

Westerners from over a dozen countries

have sent official documents to Liangjiang.

First,

they demand the restoration of their churches.

Second,

they want to conduct business here.

Ever since the "Treaty of Nanjing" was signed,

[Righteous and Diligent]

all countries have demanded equal trading rights.

This is a massive change

unprecedented in our thousand-year history.

No one knows

what we should do.

Which of you has experience

in foreign affairs

and can negotiate with them?

Your Excellency.

I'd like to try.

Mr. Li.

Your family has done business with Westerners before.

But Mr. Gu has experience too.

Why don't you two

take on this matter together,

so you can support each other?

Yes.

Yes.

The main principle lies in

equal treatment and upholding proper dignity.

Please instruct me, Your Excellency.

When dealing with them,

you can't use that superior attitude

of the Celestial Empire

or be arrogant.

Their ironclad warships and cannons

are not just for show.

But there's no need to fear them blindly.

Reasonable matters

must be handled properly.

As for doing business...

When trading in Liangjiang,

I have just one rule

for you

that you must win;

losing is not an option.

Set boundaries for them.

Don't let them do as they please.

Li Qin,

since you're an imperial court candidate intendant,

you should wear your official robes.

Yes.

[Righteous and Diligent]

As for the second matter,

the imperial court has issued an edict

to restore the salt and iron monopoly.

Most of the national tax revenue

comes from salt administration.

So we need to quickly calculate,

in the Jiangnan region,

whether these salt fields have title deeds

and their owners are still alive

and how many salt stores there are.

Currently in the Seven Provinces of Jiangnan,

salt is more expensive than rice.

This is absolutely unacceptable.

Except for these two,

the rest of you go immediately

and form groups

to investigate the situation

in each province and county.

Don't delay the imperial court's business.

Yes.

[Liangjiang Viceroy's Office]

The inn

where you stay now

has walls that are like glass.

Who knows how many eyes

are watching you?

Do you realize?

That old fox wants us to fight like roosters.

He wants us to fight to the death.

And when we're both exhausted,

he'll be even less likely

to give up the salt fields.

You have shops and title deeds,

all purchased with your hard-earned money.

What are you afraid of?

If the imperial court were reasonable,

I wouldn't be afraid at all.

But the problem is they're not reasonable.

These papers in my hand

are no different

from a pile of trash.

This place

is far too dangerous.

You really shouldn't get involved here.

You think I want to?

He's brought my entire family here.

I have no choice but to join in

this cockfight now.

We need to come up with a plan.

We can't let that old man

play us like fools.

I hope you're telling the truth.

Look,

that old guy is quite something.

We haven't even entered the cockfighting arena yet,

and we're already suspicious of each other.

Exactly.

According to the "Treaty of Nanjing"

and the "Treaty of Wangxia,"

we believe

that in an open commercial framework,

all nations should receive equal treatment.

Currently, regarding commercial matters,

there's no way to further deepen our relationship.

This would be a loss

for both parties.

What do you mean

by going further, Your Excellency?

What do you mean by going further?

[British Envoy]

In businesses such as silk, textile,

tea,

and medicinal herb,

we are qualified

and should be permitted

to make independent investments in China.

We want to establish our own textile factories,

banks,

and pharmacies.

Is that right?

Yeah.

As for independent investment,

we don't have

sufficient authority now.

You may need to go

to the Office of General Management in the capital.

In the Liangjiang area,

no one dares to make a decision now.

We have our own textile factories.

In Jiangnan,

we have many silk-reeling factories.

They have textile factories.

And there are many filature factories in Jiangnan as well.

Okay.

Let me show you something, alright?

Bring it up.

Let me introduce this today. This is my honor.

Here,

I'm honored to present

the greatest invention

in the world,

the Spinning Jenny.

It was invented in Lancashire, England

by James Hargreaves

and named after his daughter.

It marks the magnificent beginning

of the Industrial Revolution.

This machine can simultaneously

spin 80 spindles.

After numerous modifications,

it now runs on steam power.

Well, we have this kind of machine

working in 300 textile factories

in Cape Town.

Currently in Cape Town,

there are 300 textile factories.

It's not just a machine.

It's a monster.

Believe me,

all the silk in China

can't satisfy its appetite.

The fabric it produces

is high-density,

inexpensive,

and beautiful.

Does that mean

when this monster comes in,

all silk workers in the Seven Provinces of Jiangnan

will starve?

Okay.

Don't have to worry about.

We need a lot of workers.

He says they can come

to work for us.

We also have pharmaceutical, printing,

manufacturing, and metallurgy industries.

We need a large workforce.

This is outrageous!

Is this what you call a business negotiation?

You claim you need business equality

and free trade.

What is this really?

Destroying Chinese factories

and buying Chinese people

as cheap labor?

Getting angry with them won't help.

Viceroy's Office

has no solution.

That's why they passed the buck to us.

If we just leave like this,

will they have any solution?

Okay.

And what's your final word

of this negotiation?

Please give us

a final answer.

Because this

is the last negotiation.

I can give him an answer right away.

But I need to confirm one thing.

As for so-called equal opportunity,

does it mean our merchants

can be fully permitted

to go to your country to do business?

Since we have equal opportunities,

does that mean

they can also

do business in your country as well?

You're welcome

in London,

Washington,

and the African colonies.

He says you're welcome to go to London,

Washington,

and their colonies

all over Africa.

The opportunities are equal.

God will always give money

to the greediest people.

Tell them to spare us this nonsense.

No need to translate this.

I want to clarify one more thing.

What if these industries

they want to operate in

have no business opportunities left

in our country?

You are officials.

You're not businesspeople then.

He says

you are officials, not merchants.

Tell him

these two people before him

are not officials at all

but genuine merchants from the Qing Empire.

The silk industry,

the pharmaceutical industry,

and the tea industry they want

have no room

for further investment

in our country.

Even if Jiangnan makes an exception,

in the end,

they'll still return empty-handed.

You go ahead. Come on.

I'm so angry at them,

you know?

Can this be called a negotiation?

Isn't this just

a routine notification to us?

It's like a robber

telling us

if they can take some money to spend!

Isn't that the point?

I want to...

I want to shoot them dead.

Let's go. Let's go.

Let's go back and discuss.

No, help me walk.

Let's go.

[Liangjiang Viceroy's Office]

In the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign (1842),

the 13 Trading Houses were abolished.

The country's doors were thrown open

with Westerners rushing in for profit.

Western merchants are backed by gunboats,

like wolves wanting to devour our Qing Empire.

If these Westerners open their factories,

all the weavers in the Seven Provinces of Jiangnan

will be ruined.

They'll all have to go

to their factories

and become their slaves.

With our large population,

how could everyone willingly

become their slaves?

Have you seen these photos before?

What's the point of whether I've seen them or not?

If these words are said

to those officials in the capital,

they'll definitely say,

"You only value frivolous skills."

Say more

and you'll lose your position.

Liangjiang

is different from the imperial court, after all.

After all these years,

nothing has changed at all.

You're right.

Those officials in the imperial court

see no evil

and hear no evil.

Look at these viceroys in Jiangnan.

Who would talk about this?

They all stick to Neo-Confucianism as it's the safest.

I'm a businessman.

The quickest way

is to spend money

to buy the machines

and set up factories.

At worst, I'll spend more money

to hire foreign technicians

to teach us.

Don't say such things in my house.

We still need to learn their methods.

If one day,

Westerners stop selling machines to us,

what will we do then?

This talk is getting more outrageous.

If this reaches the capital,

it'll cause more trouble than my visit to the Qinhuai River.

Report!

Urgent report!

There's a disaster!

[Nantong coastal embankment breaches— water floods, disaster worsens]

Let's go.

Has the County Magistrate of Nantong Prefecture arrived?

How many victims are there?

Has there been any unrest?

Lord Gu.

Zhongdeng.

You scared me to death!

I thought

a Westerner had come in.

When I was in India,

I found a British tailor

to make this outfit.

I only dare to wear it for fun.

Just now outside,

I scared everyone on the street.

You've just returned from India?

Come on, come in.

Come inside and tell me

about your experiences.

I'm all ears.

Why?

Are you also planning to go abroad

to do business with them?

It's a long story.

In short, the current situation

is extremely critical.

Master.

The masters of the Four Major Banks from the capital have arrived.

Four Major Banks,

such a prestigious name.

What is it?

You all came together?

Without any prior notice.

Come.

Have a seat, please.

Master Li.

Thanks to you,

our Four Major Banks

are close to shutting down.

Soon, the four of us will be unemployed

and will have to beg you for a meal.

A sum of money arrived

at the Jiangnan Silk Merchant House yesterday,

which I've left untouched for now.

Why didn't you use it?

Don't you love

exchanging it for British pounds?

Just deposit it in the Xianghe Trade House.

I'll deposit it when I've saved enough.

Third Brother, Third Brother.

Come.

Come.

Have a seat.

Since you've withdrawn all the silver,

if the Four Major Banks collapse,

who would dare to do business with you?

You're all red-faced

just because of the withdrawl?

Come on, sit down.

Please sit.

Everyone.

In the past, power belonged to the imperial court.

Back then,

we could do business without any effort.

But after so many years of war,

do you still think

the power remains with the imperial court?

If you think that way,

within 3 years,

every one of you

will have to pack up and leave.

When I went over there and saw it,

we had already

been outflanked by Westerners.

The Westerners...

The Westerners in Darjeeling

have planted hundreds of thousands of acres of green tea.

The seedlings

were stolen from us.

I was completely shocked.

And over there,

they don't care about pre-Qingming picking

or roasting at all.

They just dry fresh leaves

in the sun

and give them a quick bake.

That's not so bad.

What do you mean by "not so bad"?

Do you know

the Westerners

brew tea with hot milk?

They even add sugar

and rose petals.

It made my mouth so sour

I couldn't even tell what I was drinking.

But

Indian tea is cheap

and sold in large quantities.

The Westerners prefer their products.

If you ask me,

we need to find another way.

The war just ended,

and the Westerners want to take over the tea, silk,

and medicine businesses.

The Liangjiang government

wants us to fight a commercial battle

against Westerners on Liangjiang territory.

They say we must win

and can't lose.

What does that mean?

What they are doing now

is buying in bulk

and driving prices down.

Do you know?

Today at the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office,

I was looking through the accounts.

Their foreign agents

have bought up 70-80% of cocoons

from Lianghu, Liangguang,

and East and West Zhejiang.

Do you understand

what 70-80% means?

So many.

They're making such a big move

just to set their own prices.

If in the future,

tea, silk, and medicine

are all priced by Westerners,

how is that any different

from generals surrendering our territory?

That's why I say we're in imminent danger.

The crisis is upon us.

This is no joking matter.

You mean

the imperial court is in imminent danger?

It's the entire country

that's in imminent danger.

I hold no love for this regime,

but my heart belongs to this land.

Whenever I see

those Westerners' spinning machines

and steam engines,

I feel deeply alarmed.

One of their spinning machines

is equal to 80 of our weavers.

Their efficiency is more than 10 times ours.

Powered by steam engines,

they can operate year-round,

day and night without stopping.

You know,

for Westerners to build factories in China,

the costs are incredibly low.

In the future, our workers

will be

slaves in their factories

for their entire lives,

or

there will be

an even greater disaster.

This is just the textile industry.

As for all the others,

I dare not imagine.

Mr. Gu,

you truly haven't

wasted your time in officialdom.

Every word shows your concern for our country and people.

You make me feel ashamed.

When I was growing tea in Anhui before,

I was still fighting with the head of the Tea Merchants' Association,

squabbling among ourselves.

Back then, I thought

I was so clever.

But when I went to Jiangning,

in less than 10 days,

I felt completely inadequate.

The French, the British,

and the Portuguese

mobilize their entire nations

to do business with us,

using the most advanced technology,

the finest weapons,

and the toughest attitudes.

What do they want?

They want to hollow out the Qing Empire.

And what about us?

We're still in a daze,

not taking them seriously,

fantasizing the Qing Empire,

and looking down on everything.

There is no future.

There are no draft banks anymore.

And there's no Li Million anymore.

Can't you see?

They're now using guns and cannons

to force us into business.

Either we lose, or we win.

There's no room

for benevolence and morality.

The Jiangnan region

hasn't yet recovered its strength.

There are many Westerners there too.

Whether we can survive in the future

depends on whether we can establish ourselves in the south.

I've taken over

all the salt industry in Lianghuai.

Next,

I'll monopolize

tea, silk,

and medicinal materials.

When that time comes,

I'll need suppot from the Four Major Banks.

If you invest more,

you'll get more profit in the future.

Isn't it nice to count money at home?

Master Li.

How many salt fields

have you acquired in Lianghuai?

142.

I've been quietly taking them over

while having to guard against

the viceroys and governors of Liangjiang undermining me.

In the future, when I need to mobilize funds,

my old friends,

you'll need to continue supporting me.

The Four Major Banks can support you.

However,

as for the profits from your salt fields,

the Four Major Banks

will take at least 30% in the future.

Everyone's in it for the money.

I think this deal works for me.

Great.

Mr. Li.

We are just merchants.

We can't make decisions

for the imperial court.

But I think

at this moment,

we can join forces to save the market

and delay the Westerners' entry

into the Qing Empire.

As for other matters,

we'll have to leave them

to more capable people.

Good.

Great.

When you decide to act, we'll act together.

Gu,

why do I feel so uncomfortable

in your house?

I...

I feel like I'm being watched.

What are you all doing?

If you want to look,

come in and look properly.

My friend Mr. Li

has just returned from India

after selling tea there.

Are you not used to his appearance?

I think he looks quite handsome.

Fine, look then.

What do you think?

Isn't it quite special?

Who would dress like this?

Looks like a long-legged chicken.

Westerners' knees don't bend.

Hit them with a stick,

and they fall to the ground.

Who told you that, old man?

Why are you wearing

a spittoon on your head?

Alright, that's enough.

Move along, move along.

Nothing to see here.

Fine, everyone, disperse.

I want one of those too.

Go away, all of you.

Mother,

why are you here too?

Old Madam Gu.

You're here.

Do you need anything?

They were all gathered at the door.

I didn't see that.

I'm fine.

Y-You continue talking.

In recent years, there's been fighting in the south.

Rebels often take stones from the coastal embankment

to build their fortifications,

causing severe damage to many sections of the coastal embankment.

With the treasury depleted,

the coastal embankment has gone unrepaired for years.

I got reports yesterday— Nantong's coastal embankment collapsed,

causing countless casualties.

We're currently calculating the number of victims

and the taels of silver and food

needed for disaster relief.

We can't count on

the imperial court anymore.

We need to find a solution.

Your Excellency.

The Li family is willing to help you.

Before I came, my father instructed me

to serve you in every way possible.

If you agree,

I can return to the capital immediately

to raise funds

to repair the coastal embankment. What do you think?

Your intentions are admirable.

But there's one thing.

I don't do business blindly.

After repairing the coastal embankment,

what do you want in return?

I submitted a list to you.

The list of over 140 salt fields

in Jiangnan.

If you can help me

settle this matter,

it'll be more convenient to access funds in the future.

Well, well.

That...

That's quite a blunt statement.

Why would the salt fields and stores

your Li family purchased

require the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office

to intervene?

For some,

we can find the original owners.

But there are others

that have been seized

by local bullies.

And for some,

we only have the title deeds,

but the people who could claim them

are all dead.

My father said

if the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office

could lend a hand to the Li family,

we would certainly do everything in our power

to serve you in the future.

Why aren't you saying anything?

This isn't like you.

Your Excellency,

I know nothing about the salt business.

The salt industry is a government monopoly.

If this power

is placed in the hands of merchants,

it will inevitably weaken the court's authority,

which is not good for the imperial court.

How about this?

Why don't you two

both go repair the coastal embankment?

Split it into east and west sections.

Each of you repairs one part.

Then I'll judge which is better.

After the repairs are done,

I'll request recognition for your achievements

and mention the salt field matter in my report.

If you win, Mr. Li,

then the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office will be duty-bound

to step in

and resolve this matter for you.

Your Excellency,

I don't understand what repairing the embankment

has to do with the salt fields.

My good nephew,

you have no idea how much pressure

I'm under.

Everyone thinks I've made

a fortune in this position.

If I were to oversee

giving the Lianghuai salt business

to your family,

those memorials against me behind my back

would be piled higher than the city walls.