138 Open a net and the fishes come running (1/2)
”There haven't been any wars in the recent years, so the income of the Jun household has reduced greatly. The Fief only generates a revenue of two million a year; there's no other source of revenue.” Jun Wu Yi's face reflected mixed emotions as he said the words since he knew that Jun Mo Xie wouldn't like hearing them, but stated the truth since he didn't have another option.
”That seems a little too less, right?” Jun Mo Xie stated bluntly: ”Only a mere two millions…. I'm afraid that such a low sum of money isn't enough to support a family as big as our Jun Family.” Two millions a year in revenue might seem very high to normal people, and most would even call it an astronomical sum of money, but in the contrast of a family as big as the Jun Family, this sum was too less. Even though the Jun Family didn't have too many descendants, but there were still at least thousands of people who worked for the family! Providing clothing, food and salaries to just the household worker itself would reach a very alarming expense.
”Kindly hand over the financial matters to me, and I'll make some changes around the house for the sake of improvements as well.” Jun Mo Xie started pacing about. His mind was secretly contemplating means to sell his wine to support the Jun Family's expenditures: [That shouldn't be a problem…. I really don't have a choice now. I'll sell it at a reduced price first, but later, when they need the cure, I'll only sell it at a very high price. They won't have an option; they'll either have to buy it or die.]
The young master Jun thought for a while and said: ”As for the remaining twenty four children, Third uncle, you must initiate their preliminary recoveries, but watch carefully as to which of them can be of use later in the future when we need them. Although this wasn't the intended reason for rescuing them, but we can't feed them in vain; so if they have the ability to repay us and they still don't, then what's the point of keeping them in the first place?”
”People also have their own value! If a person doesn't have any value, then they are only as good as a breathing corpse and must be abandoned!”
Jun Wu Yi nodded his head heavily, as a familiar feeling washed over his being.
”Unorthodox gambits could also help us out.” Jun Wu Yi helplessly shook his head. He knew that even though his nephew had an utterly unorthodox thought process, which was morally differential from the rest of the family, the young man was still extremely practical. Though, Jun Wu Yi still wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad…..
The hitman on the other hand was secretly lamenting; [uncle is a very noble man, but he isn't yet qualified enough to be the leader of a family as big as the Jun Family! Even though being the head of the house isn't a cold hearted job in its entirety, but sometimes tough decision are required to be made! Personal compassion and mercy cannot be the basis of every action…. The code of conduct must be based on the overall interests of the Family!]
However, these thoughts hadn't crossed Jun Wu Yi's consciousness yet since he was still stuck in the state of being a war general!
Jun Mo Xie left towards his chambers, but Jun Wu Yi was unable to find any sleep. So, he stationed himself in his wheelchair again, and strolled over to the coffee table, and intentionally poured himself a large cup of wine to keep him company in the cold of the night. Slowly, his mind went back a decade into the past…
Jun Wu Yi was already upset at the thought of those children's fate, and then Jun Mo Xie's words made things even worse for him. It took him a long time to calm down, but the wine still ended up amplifying the feeling of sadness, making him even unhappier, leaving him feeling very dejected once again.
”My beloved Yao, if you were by my side, then what would you have asked me to do…..? Help me make a choice….. you know…. I miss you… I miss you very much….” Jun Wu Yi's words were muffled in whispers as he raised his glass once again and drank more wine to drown his sorrows. The cool distant moonlight continued to shower a faint and brilliant light over his body…..
He continued to listen to the insects as he stayed awake till late, but even their sounds sounded like sobbing to him….
Jun Mo Xie returned to his courtyard, where two black clothed people had been waiting for him for a while now.
”Young Master, this carrier pigeon flew out of the Ni Chang pavilion.” One of the black clothed man bent over in courtesy and then handed over a pigeon to Jun Mo Xie.
”It's not hurt, is it?” Jun Mo Xie looked at the pigeon and asked.
”Since the Master had already instructed very clearly, then how could I have hurt him; if you set this pigeon free now, then it will still be able to fly high and far, and will even reach its intended destination without much delay.” The Black clothed man smiled as he stated confidently.
Jun Mo Xie nodded as he gently lifted the bamboo tube off the pigeon's leg, and retrieved a crumpled ball of paper from inside it.
”Slay the entire Jun Family in one month's time! Jun Mo Xie mustn't live!” the illegible handwriting of this single sentence was enough to indicate that the writer must have been in a very excited frame of mind. The note carried a tiny 'Yue' signature at the end.
”Ha Ha, this woman is so silly, why would she do such a thing? Did I even retaliate after she slapped me in the face? Does she really think that getting me killed is a good punishment for calling her a 'slut'? She's got no tolerance at all!” Jun Mo Xie smiled as shook his head disdainfully.