Chapter 434 (1/2)

Jia Xu was sent out by Liu Mang to find this two merchants because he wanted to use every available opportunity to obtain provisions. These two were merchants in Jingzhou so if he were to obtain their agreement, Yangzhou would be able to develop. Although merchants only seek profits, they were also able to bring vitality to Yangzhou and make it more prosperous.

“Are you Lord Kuai Ran’s man?” Fatty Liang and Wu De brought Jia Xu to a room in a nearby inn when they realized Jia Xu had no malicious intentions.

Since the person offended was Cai He and the person that begged for leniency was Kuai Ran, they believed that Jia Xu had to be dispatched by one of these two n.o.bles. As someone sent out by Cai He would no longer be so polite, they could only think that Jia Xu was sent by Kuai Ran. If that was the case, the two would be very honored and happy. After all, they would certainly want to make a connection with Kuai Ran.

“No.” Jia Xu shook his head.

The expressions of the two merchants fell the moment they heard Jia Xu’s reply. Jia Xu could see their disappointments. Merchants seek profit. That profit could come from either trade or connections.

“Then who are you?” The two asked politely despite their disappointment.

“Haha. Do you all only know about Lord Kuai Ran?”

“In that case, are you Lord w.a.n.g Shu’s man?” Fatty Liang asked. He may have been fat but he was still sharp. He could remember someone named w.a.n.g Shu who was also the first to speak up for them. The man’s words may have been reckless but he was still the first to act. It was also because of him that Kuai Ran then stepped forward to ask for leniency.

“Correct.” Jia Xu nodded and looked at the smarter one.

“Why is Lord w.a.n.g Shu looking for us?” Fatty Liang asked respectfully as he cupped his fist towards Jia Xu while wondering about w.a.n.g Shu’s ident.i.ty. He had initially thought that w.a.n.g Shu was Kuai Ran’s attendant.

“Haha. Brother Liang. Brother Wu. Can I call the two of you like this?” Jia Xu asked. Only Jia Xu would do such a thing as a scholar’s attendant would find it disdainful to a.s.sociate with merchants.

“It is too much!” Wu De and Fatty Liang cupped their fists in reply.

“My family’s Lord is not any lower than Lord Kuai Ran in status.” Jia Xu said to the two.

“What?” Wu De was the first to exclaim in shock. Kuai Ran was the son of Kuai Yue, the second most important person in JIngzhou. The Kuai Family was so influential that even if Liu Biao were to die the next day, the Kuai Family would still be around. Kuai Ran was the heir of such a family.

Now, someone told them that w.a.n.g Shu was higher in status compared to Kuai Ran. This is not a claim that even Liu Biao’s children could make. This was a huge joke as there were no w.a.n.g Family that is bigger than the Kuai Family in Jingzhou.

“The two of you don’t believe me?” Jia Xu said as he looked at their reactions. Although Wu De and Fatty Liang did not say anything, their expressions showed that they did not believe Jia Xu.

“Who is this person?” Fatty Liang thought to himself again. Perhaps w.a.n.g Shu was not this person’s real name. If w.a.n.g Shu was really someone without status, Kuai Ran would not have spoken up for them. Kuai Ran also said that this person was friends with Kuai Yue. If that is the case, it is likely that w.a.n.g Shu also had status as high as Kuai Ran’s. It is possible that he was also the son of another influential family.

“I can tell you his ident.i.ty but you must remember this. If you leak his ident.i.ty to others, you cannot blame me for being ruthless. My family’s Lord is able to make you disappear from Jingzhou as easily as Cai He!” Jia Xu spoke with a smile. It was a cold smile capable of making the two merchants tremble.

Jia Xu who knew the hearts of men knew that the soft would not be capable. Only the strong and forceful would be able to risk their lives.

“Then don’t say it.” Wu De shook his head. He shrank back the moment he saw Jia Xu’s expression. On the other hand, Fatty Liang could not decide. He wanted to know but he was afraid it would be a one way trip.

“Haha. If you do not want to know, it is fine. After all, you are just lowly merchants. Even if you have money, you are too afraid to spend it!” Jia Xu provoked.

“Are you making fun of us?” Fatty Liang stood up angrily. He still had the feeling of humiliation from earlier. It would be a different matter of one of those n.o.bles were to humiliate him but now, even a housekeepr was looking down on him. “If we are lowly merchants then what are you?”

“Me? Even though I am just a housekeeper right now, I know that by working for him I won’t become very rich. But I can even become a small n.o.ble!”

“What?” The two merchants were shocked. There are many that struggled to be acknowledged as a small n.o.ble but even after wasting their entire life away, they were not able to achieve that goal. Only a small amount of really talented people were able to do this. One example was the Mi Family that spent a huge amount of money to curry favor with Liu Bei. He did all this for a n.o.ble status but ended up gaining nothing. It is not as bad in the present times but in the past, even a small status is enough to scare a lot of people.

“If you want to remain as a lowly merchant in Jingzhou, you may do as you wish. If you want a chance to become a small n.o.ble, you should stay and listen.” Jia Xu said as he pointed at the door of the room.

“We… we should leave.” Wu De was still scared. This matter had exceeded his comprehension.

Fatty Liang thought to himself for a while and then said, “Wait!” He studied Jia Xu’s expression to find any clues but unfortunately, Jia Xu was good at hiding his expression. Jia Xu simply drank his tea calmly and quietly.

“Does your Lord really have the ability to do this?” Fatty Liang asked. Jia Xu smiled when he heard this as he knew that Fatty Liang had already taken the bait.

“Fatty Liang! Are you mad?” Wu De spoke anxiously. While he and Fatty Liang were compet.i.tors, they were also friends. Wu De was worried that Fatty Liang gets himself into a trouble he could not walk away from. A n.o.ble’s business is not something a merchant could partic.i.p.ate in as the n.o.bles could easily end them.

“I do not want to be a merchant forever!” Fatty Liang roared angrily. This anger did not just come from that day’s encounter with Cai He and Jia Xu. It was a frustration that had built up from many years of being oppressed. When he was younger, he had thought that earning a lot of money would bring his family happiness and dignity. Even in the brothel, he had enough money to enter one of the boxes. However, his status had not been enough.

“Fatty Liang!” Wu De finally realized that his friend had changed. He was no longer the same Fatty Liang from over ten years ago.

Jia Xu simply watched the two merchants while drinking tea. He knew that the two merchants would not be able to escape.

“Wu De Wu Shouzi! Do you want to be restrained for your whole life?” Fatty Liang asked his friend with bloodshot eyes. For some reason, Wu De also felt the same way when he saw Fatty Liang’s current appearance. “I… I also do not want to be restrained for my whole life!”

“Our Lord is not an insignificant n.o.ble. It is not impossible for you all to become n.o.bles in the future.” Becoming a n.o.ble would allow them to truly take root in the world.

“Speak. Who is your Lord? What does he need from us?” Fatty Liang asked calmly. He knew that there is no such thing as free lunch. Even people who could make them n.o.bles would not do so for free. There was definitely something that they want.

“Haha. It is easy to talk to smart people!” Jia Xu lowered his cup. These two people were already caught.

“Our Lord is the person who has higher standing than the Lord of Jingzhou!” Jia Xu still wanted to let them guess so that they would fully recognize Liu Mang’s status.

“Higher standing than the Lord of Jingzhou?” Fatty Liang and Wu De went into deep thought.

“That’s impossible! There is n.o.body in Jingzhou that has a higher standing than the Lord of Jingzhou!” Wu De shook his head. Jia Xu must be lying to them.

“Could it be?” Unlike Wu De, Fatty Liang paid more attention to news. That was why he could understand Jia Xu’s words.

“Correct. That is our Lord.” Jia Xu replied.

“Fatty Liang. Who is he talking about?” Wu De asked as he looked at both Fatty Liang and Jia Xu with doubt.

“Haha. Brother Wu! Who is the one that first helped us just now?” Fatty Liang laughed bitterly.

“It is Lord w.a.n.g Shu.”

“Try reading his name backwards!”

“Read it backwards?” Wu De was stunned for a while but eventually did as instructed. “w.a.n.g Shu! Shu w.a.n.g! The King of Shu! His Highness, the King of Shu!”

“Are you really talking about His Highness the King of Shu?” Liu Mang was very famous as he also had his reputation as a Sage King. At first, merchants had nothing to do with Liu Mang. However, Wu De found out about him through the recruitment order. When Liu Mang only charged thirty percent tax, the people would be able to buy as much provisions with as little money as they want. As a result, the value of provisions would drop.

If this was really about Liu Mang, they would definitely have the chance of becoming n.o.bles. After all, as royalty, Liu Mang had the ability to establish his own kingdom. Promoting a person to n.o.bility would not be a problem.

However, Fatty Liang smiled, realizing that he had already boarded a s.h.i.+p that would never turn back. Although Liu Mang had high status, one wrong move and Fatty Liang could easily end up dead. On top of that, Liu Mang was in Jingzhou like a hostage. If Liu Mang could not seem to help himself, how was he going to help others?