Chapter 89

My home is located in a historic city district, amidst the old streets and winding alleys. On this old street, which appears quite crowded and narrow, the creeping vines and green plants that cover the old houses are almost everywhere. The tropical broad-leaved evergreen trees make the entire area a lush green expanse.

Behind the small storefronts and winding, secluded passageways, there is a hidden space within the disorderly buildings, a world of its own. Blue roof tiles and green courtyards are nestled within the buildings, small and exquisitely vibrant. This is where I lived. Despite the apparent clutter and tightness, the internal space is quite spacious. Therefore, the over a hundred people I brought back, including Han Liangchen and Feng Juanqi, were scattered and settled in these houses, and there was hardly any sign of people, nor any noise or chaos.

As they spontaneously organized the manpower, they took turns on patrol and guard duty, stationed people on the rooftops for a high vantage point, inspected every corner and hidden spots of the houses, checked the ditches, water sources, and potential fire hazards, as well as the long-neglected walls and possibly termite-infested and aged beams and pillars.

In an orderly manner, the piles of luggage, mainly gifts from Lady Chen or Yuwen Luoluo, quickly disappeared into the corridors and passageways. In a short while, the once empty courtyard was occasionally traversed by patrolling figures, turning it into a world of birds and insects.

The plants I brought back, which had grown wildly and chaotically like a corner of a tropical jungle, had accumulated dust for a long time. After being cleaned, the smell of washed mud began to faintly spread in the air.

From the walls, clusters of kapok trees, with their bowl-like flowers swaying in the sea breeze, bloomed like flames in front of and behind the houses, on the walls and eaves, asserting their presence. The faint fragrance of the flowers and leaves, mixed with the sea breeze, brought a familiar sense of warmth.

After a simple cleaning and tidying up, I lazily lay on the roof outside the terrace, quietly feeling everything around me, just as I had done many times before.

Is this what it feels like to be at home, a peaceful and secure feeling where you don't want to do anything? The clouds in the sky slowly moved, and Bao Tou, who was squatting beside me, straightened up and lay down, mimicking my posture, hands behind his head, body stretched out, silently gazing at the sky.

At some point, she had quietly moved over and was now resting her head on my chest, feeling the soft heartbeat and body temperature, and the scent of her breath.

"Do you still feel at ease..."

"Where Xia is, that's my home..."

She answered softly, her eyes half-closed like a purring kitten in my arms.

If it weren't for the faint noise from afar, reminding us that a rebel army was attacking the city dozens of miles away, I would wish for time to freeze at this moment forever.

Then, with the jingling of the gilded copper bells, we soon welcomed our first visitors.

"You're quite hard to find..."

The creaking of the heavy door being pushed open, I saw a small figure surrounded by several people.

She wore a local-style light silk half-sleeved long dress, with layered lace falling to her chest and narrow shoulder embroidery, revealing a large expanse of snow-white collarbone and two sections of crisp, white arms.

"What, never seen this kind of outfit before?"

She turned around lightly, somewhat proudly.

"Does it look good?"

"I'm just worried about how this dress stays on..."

I said with a straight face.

Of course, her response was a familiar kick.

"So soon..."

I easily dodged the first kick, the second kick, and another kick, then put on a serious face.

"How did things go..."

"Thanks to Lady Chen's connections, it went quite smoothly..."

Her legs, moving in a chain under her dress, failed to hit the target and almost tripped her. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, somewhat unwillingly, and answered.

"Even with some guidance, it's just a matter of formalities and procedures..."

The sound of several carriages stopping and heavy trunks being moved came from the nearby alley.

"From today on, we're neighbors..."

She smiled slyly and extended her hand.

"Please take care of me..."

"Sure..."

Then I felt something was wrong, my hand was held tight, and my calf was hit.

"You really are..."

I rubbed my face, wincing.

"Petty?..."

She raised her little nose, a hint of a smile on her lips.

"I'm a woman, you know..."

"Women..."

I couldn't help but comment.

"Are you not a mysterious creature with a lolita appearance..."

"How do you want to die..."

In broad daylight, I seemed to see a towering black aura rising behind her.

"I remember now..."

"What..."

She was taken aback.

"Nail Palace sound, isn't this just Nail Palace sound..."

"Nail your sister, you ACG addict, where do I look like that..."

She seemed to get quite angry.

"That flat-chested vice-captain... tsundere lolita..."

"Oh..."

I seriously looked at her chest, and my expression became clear, imagining a series of tsundere, flat-chested, twin-tailed characters.

"I can understand..."

"Understand what, I'm still developing..."

She argued, somewhat frustrated, then looked annoyed.

"But it's none of your business... go. go. go. go to hell."

Then she pounced again, using her petite arms and legs to attack me, chasing me away, leaving a group of people behind, looking at each other in confusion.

The problem is, with her lolita body, how could she catch up to me, an adult with full physical capabilities? After consuming a lot of energy and time, and exchanging some feelings as fellow time travelers, I specially invited her to stay for a meal as a form of compensation.

Since we had just moved in, there were only a few servants for cleaning, and the cook and other rooms were not yet ready.

Therefore, the food served was all bought from nearby restaurants, typical Guangdong cuisine.

There were honey-glazed pigeons, roast goose, braised fish, soy sauce ribs, fried mushrooms, stir-fried eel, egg yolk beef, oyster-braised chicken claws, ginger duck pot, boiled clams, pear stewed with mother-of-pearl, and three-colored soup with sweet, salty, and sour flavors.

Served in exquisite mother-of-pearl and lacquered plates, a large table was set, and the Lin Yi rice from the southern九龙江 plain of Annam, steamed to a pearl-like consistency, was served in a redwood bucket covered with reeds, sprinkled with sesame, sesame oil, and fruit sugar, making it very appetizing.

This meal was quite satisfying, and at the end, a fruit platter was served as a dessert, making this mysterious creature pat her stomach and mutter, "I can't eat any more..."

After a full meal and drinks, it was time to get down to business.

"How much capital do you have now..."

After exchanging market information and sources, I got straight to the point.

"Directly usable capital..."

"The old man gave me about 8,000 strings of cash for activities in Guangzhou..."

She thought for a moment and said seriously.

"I have about 7,000 strings of cash for my own business expansion..."

"Other precious goods are worth about 5,000 strings of cash..."

"I have a credit limit of about 20,000 strings of cash at the local Juyuan branch..."

"But I can't take it all out at once, it has to be done in installments..."

Juyuan is a local money house operated by the Yuwen family, who, as a vassal of the Southern Dynasty, provide various precious metals, naturally having a relatively strong currency credit and guarantee.

Therefore, Juyuan is only a mid-level money house among the many in the Southern Dynasty, but it has a long history and its business mainly focuses on sea merchants and large households with a background in Yizhou.

Truly a wealthy family from the Yuwen clan, I remarked, with just a bit of effort, it's already a large part of my fortune. The business we discussed this time mainly revolves around how to maximize profits using the current situation and the resources I have.

After preliminary analysis and feasibility studies, I ruled out a few major directions.

First, buying large amounts of property at low prices during the war is not feasible. The main reason is that the shogunate and the imperial family in the upper and old cities are not moving, so it's hard to form a real selling trend. They would rather let the rebels take the properties than sell them at a low price. After all, the rebels can't take the land away.

Second, trying to corner the market and temporarily monopolize it is not possible. Guangzhou is too large, with a huge population. To monopolize a certain field or project, the investment and cycle are too large, and you need specialized channels and protection.

Perhaps taking advantage of the panic and trends on a small scale is possible, but trying to do something big would easily attract the attention of the upper echelons of Guangzhou. At that point, you might be used as an example to crack down on profiteers or be requisitioned, which would be a loss.

So, the remaining option seems to be only one.

"Relief for disaster victims?"

She shrugged, unimpressed.

"What kind of business is this..."

"If we add some conditions..."

I gently blocked her hand that was about to touch my forehead.

"Like only accepting those with skills or basic literacy..."

Guangzhou has been peaceful for a long time, and over hundreds of years, a large number of people with basic education and skills have accumulated here. With the rebels threatening Guangzhou, countless people are displaced. Our only entry point is this aspect, which won't easily attract the attention and suspicion of the authorities.

"By enticing them to sell themselves or sign indentures, and then processing them slowly..."

"Aren't you afraid they will change their minds after the war..."

"With the indenture contracts, what can they do..."

"Once they are sent to the island, can they swim across the Pacific and come back..."

Thinking further, I added,

"And orphans, although the training period is longer..."

"But at the beginning, it almost doesn't cost anything, as long as they have food to eat..."

"Of course, not those with bad habits... but those from decent families who have been affected by the war..."

"Easy to brainwash and shape, and to instill our own ideas..."

"You provide the money, I have the manpower and venue, and the reputation can be given to Lady Chen, to help deflect unnecessary attention and suspicion..."

"The basic guidelines for daily education and management, we can compile together and complement each other..."

Guangzhou's Upper City, the first of the five cities, although the shortest in history and not the largest in area, is the most important, surpassing the old city or central city, which is crowded with official residences and government offices.

This is another political core of the Southern Dynasty's shogunate, with the largest building complex, the residence of the royal family (the Liang clan), occupying one-third of the area.

It is also the gathering place of the small group of people at the top of the Southern Dynasty's ruling class, along with their numerous family members, a large number of advisors, disciples, and guests, professional craftsmen, servants, and slaves, and the private armed forces under the authority, such as personal guards, vassal troops, instructors, and retainers, all of which are relatively independent of the imperial system.

Compared to the monthly court meetings in Xiaochang'an or the grand ceremonies in Shoushan Palace, the regular cabinet meetings held here are where more of the Southern Dynasty's daily operations are decided.

Surrounded and protected by high and thick city walls and guard camps, it is the most critical and well-defended area, and thus has not been affected by the tension and panic that has spread to other parts of the city.

As a testament to the legacy and influence of the powerful and influential over the generations, this area is filled with various mansions and courtyards of different eras and styles, gardens, and pavilions, which still follow the long-established customs and rhythms, hosting a variety of events and banquets according to the seasons.

For example, in one of the courtyards, a small banquet held in the name of the summer solstice was nearing its end. The garden was decorated with colorful silk and flowers, and the air was filled with the scent of dragon brain incense. Foreign blind musicians with different appearances were playing the tune "Bharu Yui."

Dark-skinned Indian dancers were performing the sixteen demon dances, which evolved from the ancient Indian sacred text "Kama Sutra" and the transformation of Shiva into a dance deity in the Buddhist heterodox sects.

They exposed their alluring bodies but maintained a solemn and sacred demeanor in their dance, creating a sensuous and enchanting sensory experience.

However, the few guests who were left, having been deliberately retained, had no interest in appreciating these seductive performances or engaging in any playful activities.

"Chen Huixian has arrived at the clan council..."

"All previous arrangements and preparations are now meaningless..."

"Then we should distance ourselves from the matter..."

"Even if they win this round, we still have other opportunities to turn things around..."

"But if we attract the displeasure and attention of the imperial court at this critical moment, our foundation will be shaken..."

"For those on the throne, whether to proceed slowly or with full force is just a matter of ideology..."

"But if the rebels in Qingyuan grow in power, it will be a major issue affecting the prestige and popularity of the dynasty..."

"We really don't need to bear this burden..."

"Lord Mu is right..."

They so casually decided the fate of a large group of people.

With the movement of spies and messengers, a network was quietly laid out and then disappeared into the underground currents.

In a hot spring, an old family servant watched expressionlessly as the Secretariat official Liang Sicheng, a plump man, was held down by several strong men and submerged in the scalding water.

No matter how hard he struggled, he could not break free. The bubbling sound eventually disappeared, and they let go, leaving his fat body to float like a dead fish in the hot spring.

After cleaning up the scene, the old servant feigned panic and shouted,

"Help, the master has drowned..."

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