Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 241: Chapter 78: Li and Cai Scouting Each Other

Lady Dan, mistaken by the Cai Clan for the Fiery Cauldron Madam manifesting herself, requested to see Tianbao the moment she spoke. No matter what kind of person Cai Qian was, it was impossible for him to have no thoughts on this.

As Li Yan left, the looks from the people of the Cai Clan were strange, yet with Tianbao’s formidable reputation and the ascendancy of the Tianbo Division after their grand meeting, no one dared to step forward and ask, “What did our Fire Cauldron Lady tell you?”

“Miss Ajiu,” Li Yan caught sight of Yan Ajiu holding two jars of wine and walking ahead, “I do not know where Mr. Cai currently is.”

Yan Ajiu stared at Li Yan emotionlessly and did not answer.

“I wish to have a talk with your Mr. Cai.”

Li Yan said, smiling.

“My boss said he does not want to see visitors today.”

“Then, could you pass on a message for me to him? No problem, right?”

“Possible.”

“Tell Cai Qian, I can take her away.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve finished speaking, just go ahead and pass the message.”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ƝοѵǤο.сᴑ

“Thirteen years ago, the edict was passed in Guangdong to ban opium. Since then, the British opium had to pass through the Port of Calcutta, transferred to my Tianbo Division, before flowing into the South Seas. Within this, I could take a forty percent Mori, and without me, Hesting would have to expend ten times the manpower and effort to possibly approximate the scale of business today.”

Hesting, the Governor of British India, and a key director of the East India Company.

A jar of wine beside Cai Qian emitted a sweet fragrance, and he had a slight look of intoxication on his face, sitting opposite Li Yan.

Yan Ajiu poured wine into their chalices and then stepped aside.

Li Yan also gulped down the wine in his cup. This “Taiqing Hongyun,” originally a tribute wine from the Han Dynasty, had a low alcohol content, yet preserved to this day, it had a strong aftereffect. He shook his head, half-jokingly and half-sincerely, “Mr. Cai certainly deals in big business, but opium, it harms the nation and its people. With wealth that one couldn’t spend in several lifetimes, why bother dealing in such profit that goes against morality?”

Cai Qian wasn’t annoyed, he nodded instead, “I do believe, Tianbao, that you are sincere in what you say. However, these are good words, but also…” he glanced down at the corner of his mouth, “useless words.”

He waved his hand, “People chase profits. Those who resist the trend like mantis trying to stop a chariot are destined to die; only those who seize the grand trend can stand at the crest of the waves.”

Li Yan shook his head, not agreeing with these words at heart. But what he least liked was to argue over principles, so he let Cai Qian go on.

“The high officials know well the scourge of the opium poison. But what they fail to see is the unprecedented upheavals and the looming crises stirred up by opium.”

Li Yan raised his glass, “I am eager to hear more.”

Perhaps Cai Qian was drunk, or perhaps after the grand meeting of the Tianbo Division, the Cai Clan no longer felt the need to conceal their thoughts from the South Seas pirates.

“The nation of the Red Hair, to the west of the globe, where could the East India Company grow so much opium?”

“India.”

“Correct. The fall of the Mysore kingdom ten years ago was commanded by Hesting.”

Cai Qian continued, “Tianbao, look up and see what the world looks like now? Outside the nation’s gates, it has long been the British world. Mark my words, within fifty years, India will cease to be a sovereign nation. But the cannons of the Red-haired Men are not only aimed at India. Today, over ten thousand miles of the southeastern maritime borders are open for various nations to trade and proselytize freely. From India to the South Seas, from the South Seas to China, they bear kind intentions outwardly while harboring ambitions of annexation internally.”

Cai Qian’s eyes gleamed, “The two statements I’ve just made, it will take officials decades to comprehend their significance.”

He paused, “Opium, I can refuse to sell it, and Tianbo Division could even prevent a single lump of opium from the East India Company flowing into the South Seas. But the result, you’ve already seen it…”

To others, the words might sound confusing, but not to Li Yan. He set down his cup at once.

“You’ve known the Red-haired Men would attack Guangdong for a long time?”

“Heh heh, Tianbao, you can be more straightforward. What you want to ask is whether the attack on Guangdong by the Red-haired Men was instigated by me behind the scenes, right?”

Li Yan raised his eyebrows, remaining silent.

Cai Qian counted on his fingers, “England, France, Russia, Portugal, the four nations are currently ceasing their chaotic wars, and their domestic realm is in decline. All I did was hint to Hesting that the officialdom was squeezing my Tianbo Division too tightly, and by year’s end, he would not be able to bring in his goods. Hesting is an adventurer, and what he couldn’t achieve at the negotiation table, he has now sought on the battlefield, and what follows doesn’t need my provocation.”

Li Yan bowed his head, “At the start of Guangdong’s fall, the Anglo-Portuguese allied forces entered the South Seas under the guise of suppressing pirates. Not many know about this, but not few either. You stirred up trouble on Fulin’s side too… Aren’t you afraid you’ll get burned playing with fire?”

Cai Qian leisurely drained his cup and said, “Just because you don’t see others clenching their fists doesn’t mean that fist won’t land on your face. Often, it’s much better to feel the pain early than to feel it late.”

He looked again at Li Yan, “Of course, those who pilfer a hook are to be executed, while those who steal a country become nobles.”

Li Yan smacked his lips, “Mr. Cai, I’m a simple man, good for nothing but fighting. But what you’ve said today has taught me one thing.”

“Oh.”

“A man loves his sword, and shall not dance for petty gain.”

Mori was taken aback and then burst into laughter, “Tianbao is joking, nowadays, it’s for you, oh no, for your Xiu’er Alliance Hierarch that we should wield our swords.”

Li Yan grunted, picked out two peanuts and threw them into his mouth, mumbling, “Those words just now, should leave our mouths and rot in our stomachs. Let’s talk about serious matters.”

“What serious matters?”

“Fire Cauldron Lady.”

Mori said nothing, but he cast a stealthy glance at Yan Ajiu behind him.

“What, my mouth is too big?”

“No harm, no harm. Brother Tianbao, speak your mind.”

“You don’t need to know the reason, just agree to my three conditions, and I will take the Fire Cauldron Lady with me.”

Yan Ajiu couldn’t hold back; the tear mole turned into a droplet and fell, his gaze at Li Yan filled with murderous intent.

Mori neither stopped nor scolded Li Yan, just sipping his drink.

The atmosphere in the room was icy cold.

Yan Ajiu’s fists creaked as he clenched them tightly, then gradually relaxed after a while, head hanging low.

Mori’s voice was hoarse, “Please, tell me.”

“First, Fulin’s promise must be fulfilled before the troops are deployed, he promised me a ransom, seems to be three hundred thousand taels.”

“That was previously agreed upon, naturally it should count.”

“What I mean is, out of that, you provide me with a hundred thousand taels in jewels, live pigs and sheep, jade; I’ll give you a list of specific items. The remaining two hundred thousand taels should be in cash.”

“And then?”

“Second, I’ve heard that the officials have blueprint that can manufacture two-hundred-meter Fuchuan warships, one is in government Ministry of Works, the other is in hands of Precious Ship Lin Clan. Mr. Cai, with your wide connections, it shouldn’t be hard to get one for me, right?”

“I know there are large shipyards on Lantau Island, with generations of old shipbuilders, but forgive me for being blunt, the materials required for such ships cannot be found in the entire South Seas anymore.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Li Yan smiled, the South Sea might not have them, but the Yan Fu Fruit was endless; buying powers that weren’t needed were put up for auction, no material could not be purchased.

“Third…”

Li Yan’s lips quivered.

Mori listened for a while, his expression growing serious, and it took a while before he spoke, “Mr. Cai is dull-witted. Brother Tianbao, aside from making the Red Hair’s Nation jump off the wall in desperation, I see no necessity in this move. Moreover, with the strategic advantages of Lantau Island, Red Flag should have no need to get involved…”

“Just consider it as me playing for some posthumous reputation.”

Mori played with his cup, “Haha, no wonder, no wonder Brother Tianbao, mocks me as a petty schemer, the actions of Red Flag Gang indeed live up to the name and goodwill of the Zheng Family on Treasure Island.”

“Mr. Cai, are you trying to shame me with those words?”

“Not at all~”

“Mr. Cai, you chase fame and fortune as a merchant, and I’m a martial man who has been through the wringer. When stakes are high, we both must make ruthless decisions, but I gamble with blood and do not sully the National Instrument.”

Mori’s tone was devoid of emotion, “Gamble with blood? Tianbao Dragon Head, you have sixty thousand men under you! Do you still need to gamble with blood”

Li Yan clenched his fist and shook his head, the aftereffects of the Taiqing Hongyun kicking in, his head throbbing, “Yes, sixty thousand men.”

Mori looked at Li Yan, “Agreed?’

Li Yan nodded, “Agreed.”

“Zhang He won’t behave.”

“Isn’t that even better?’

“Oh, I forgot, your Red Flag Gang has coveted the Taiping Document for more than a day or two.”

“When will you deploy your troops?”

“Tonight.”