Chapter 19: Trade

Liu Jin’s servants handled the property deeds and payments, as he had no time to run back and forth for these minor administrative tasks.

There were far too many other matters weighing on him. He ensured everything was done strictly according to regulations to avoid giving anyone a pretext to attack him. Even as an imperial grandson, he never abused his status to overstep his bounds.

Liu Ju was puzzled as to why Liu Jin needed to produce seventy thousand coins at this moment, but he refrained from prying. He knew his son was sensible and would not dip into such funds unless it was absolutely necessary. Nevertheless, knowing that seventy thousand coins had been taken from the Gongsuns' shortfall only deepened his anxiety.

For the past few days, Liu Jin had been constantly entering and exiting the palace. He had his staff recruit laborers from among the commoners. This was not forced labor; Liu Jin was unwilling to exploit people already struggling to survive. After all, a man working in the coal mines for a full day earned only five coins and faced constant, life-threatening danger.

He recruited about three hundred commoners to mine the coal, paying them fifteen hundred coins daily. This was a pittance compared to the nineteen million coins embezzled by Gongsun Jingsheng.

Once the first batch of coal was extracted, Liu Jin personally took samples to the four state-run ironworks in Chang'an. The ironworks commissioner for the Left Fufeng Commandery, having heard that someone wanted to partner in the supply of raw materials, was quite displeased. He had long-standing ties with the current charcoal supplier and took kickbacks from them, so he had no interest in an outside merchant interfering.

However, he still granted Liu Jin an audience. The commissioner, Tian Guinong, looked down his nose at Liu Jin after a brief exchange and asked, "Why should I agree to use the charcoal you provide?"

Liu Jin began by explaining the difference between coal and charcoal. In the late Western Han Dynasty, coal was a relatively new discovery. Iron smelting at the time relied on charcoal, which lacked sufficient heat, flammability, and longevity.

After hearing Liu Jin’s introduction, Tian Guinong picked at his ear with an indifferent expression and told his subordinates, "Take this 'black stone' of his and burn it to see what happens."

Watching his attitude, Liu Jin wanted to kick him into next week. He had the power to do so, but he restrained himself.

A short while later, the subordinates returned with excited expressions. They whispered something into Tian Guinong’s ear, causing his eyes to widen, though he quickly regained his composure.

"Hmph. This black stone is decent enough. How do you intend to sell it?"

Liu Jin replied, "The market price for charcoal is forty thousand coins a year. I only ask for sixty thousand. But the condition is that you pay in advance."

To be fair, sixty thousand was a bargain. It would significantly increase smelting efficiency. The Northern Frontier was in desperate need of iron weapons, and local agriculture required iron tools. The annual state budget for materials was nearly one hundred thousand coins; even after paying sixty thousand, forty thousand would remain for the ironworks' own coffers.

But Tian Guinong still wanted to haggle. "Sixty thousand, you say? And how much of that goes to me?"

Liu Jin stared, dumbfounded. The petty commissioner was soliciting a bribe, and so brazenly!

"Let's say ten thousand. I can pay you fifty thousand upfront. How about that? If you agree, I’ll partner with you, and I’ll dismiss the previous charcoal merchant."

Fifty thousand coins per ironworks meant he would need forty ironworks to cover the two million coin deficit. There were barely a dozen ironworks around Chang'an, which was still not enough. But every bit helped.

"Deal!" Liu Jin did not want to drag this out any further and agreed immediately.

The difference between coal and charcoal was vast; the improvement in smelting efficiency could not be measured by a mere ten or twenty thousand coins. Since the court mandated strict quotas and deadlines for each ironworks, the commissioners would naturally prefer the more efficient fuel.

In just over ten days, Liu Jin had secured eight hundred thousand coins.

It was still far from enough.

"Jin'er, eight... eight hundred thousand coins!" Liu Ju was so shocked he lost all composure. It had only been ten days; how could he have possibly earned so much? Liu Ju even suspected his son of using the Crown Prince's name to extort merchants. But he knew his son well—he knew Liu Jin would never do such things, and would even hide his identity as an imperial grandson to avoid bringing trouble to the Crown Prince's palace. That was why Liu Ju was so stunned; he couldn't fathom how Liu Jin had raised such a sum in such a short time.

Liu Jin sighed. "Father, this is the most I can earn, but it is still far from enough."

"It is already quite an achievement."

"I told Mother about the situation. She contributed nine hundred thousand coins. We are almost there."

Grandmother...

Liu Jin paused. It made sense. Given the gravity of the Gongsun family's crisis and his father's cautious nature, he wouldn't tell anyone—except Empress Wei Zifu. She had essentially emptied her own coffers to give everything to her son.

With less than three hundred thousand coins remaining, the amount was not large, but neither the Crown Prince's palace nor the Gongsun family dared to borrow money recklessly for fear of exposure. Thus, thirty thousand was still a heavy burden.

At least, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"I have already submitted the petition to exempt the Guanzhong region from taxes to the Emperor, but he has not approved it."

Liu Ju looked desolate. "I knew he wouldn't agree. With so much wealth generated by the taxes in Guanzhong, how could he possibly let it go?"

"At tomorrow's morning court session, I will personally beg him to grant the people of Guanzhong a six-month tax exemption. The commoners cannot endure this pressure any longer!"

Liu Jin nodded. "Very well."

His father would surely be a good emperor, if not for the impending Witchcraft Crisis.

...

In the Weiyang Palace, at the Xuanshi Hall, Emperor Wu had been absent-minded these past few days. His face seemed to carry a deeper sense of loneliness, a change the eunuch Su Wen had observed most clearly.

"Summon Bao Shengzhi."

"As you command."

Shortly after, Bao Shengzhi arrived at the Xuanshi Hall. Emperor Wu dismissed his attendants and asked, "What has Liu Jin been busy with lately?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was monitoring every move of the imperial grandson—a direct order from the Emperor himself—and they dared not be negligent.

Bao Shengzhi replied, "The Imperial Grandson has visited the residence of the Marquis of Andao and several ironworks in Chang'an, moving constantly between the Changle Palace and the city. Your servant has not yet investigated the ironworks, but I shall go and inquire immediately."

Emperor Wu shook his head. "No need."

"If he goes to the outskirts, report it to me immediately."

"As you command!"

Emperor Wu had grown accustomed to Liu Jin either coming to the Weiyang Palace to visit him or meeting him in the outskirts. Now that the boy visited neither, the Emperor felt a sudden, hollow sense of loss.

He did not know when it started, but he had grown accustomed to the presence of this bright, approachable, slightly cunning grandson who would cook delicious meals and tell jokes to lighten the mood.

"What is the little one busy with lately? Why has he become so secretive ever since his trip to the Grand Coachman's office?"