YWTGU -Chapter 15 Satisfied? Wasn’t That a Given?

The news that Zhao Dadan had purchased the post of Director of the Mutual Trade Office swept through the capital like a gale.

Ding!

【Zhao Dadan’s purchase of the Mutual Trade Office spreads across the capital!】

【Court and countryside shaken! Public opinion in uproar!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -80】

【Current National Fortune: 85,519】

Prime Minister’s Residence

When Wang Fu heard the news, he was in the middle of drinking tea.

The teacup shattered on the floor.

“What?!”

He shot to his feet, face full of disbelief.

“Zhao Dadan? That gambling den owner Zhao Dadan? He bought the Mutual Trade Office?!”

The steward replied nervously, “Reporting to the Prime Minister, it’s absolutely true. Fifteen hundred thousand taels of silver. Paid on the spot.”

Wang Fu’s face darkened instantly.

The Mutual Trade Office!

That was the lifeline of border trade!

Yes, it was dangerous—every previous director had died miserably. But that was because they were cowards.

Zhao Dadan, on the other hand, was the kingpin of the capital’s underworld.

He commanded over a thousand desperadoes.

If a man like that went to the border, would he fear bandits or barbarians?

Worse yet—if he gained a foothold there, he’d become a local tyrant.

“Li An!”

Wang Fu ground the name out between clenched teeth.

“That bastard did this on purpose!”

Grand Commandant’s Residence

Sun Qian was equally furious upon hearing the news.

“Outrageous!”

He slammed the table. “That Li An is utterly reckless!”

One of his advisers spoke carefully from the side. “Grand Commandant, please calm your anger. This matter… isn’t entirely bad for us.”

“Oh?”

“Well, think about it. Zhao Dadan certainly won’t behave at the border. He’ll gather men and stir trouble. When that happens, wouldn’t your Excellency have just cause to act?”

Sun Qian’s anger faded. He nodded thoughtfully.

“Haha! Looks like this Li An is actually my lucky star!”

Ding!

【Various factions begin calculating how to profit from Li An’s official-selling scheme!】

【The court harbors hidden agendas; hearts divided!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -60】

【Current National Fortune: 85,459】

The Capital’s Streets, In teahouses and taverns, discussion was even more heated.

“Have you heard? That top scholar sold another official post!”

“To who?”

“Zhao Dadan! The gambling den boss in the western district!”

“Hiss… That’s a ruthless character. The border’s going to get lively.”

As for Li An himself, public opinion was sharply divided.

Some called him “a pillar of Great Qi”—bold and innovative.

Others cursed him as “a disgrace to officialdom,” dragging civility through the mud.

Still others thought he was simply “a madman,” stubborn to the point of losing his head sooner or later.

Ministry of War Contributions – Inner Hall

Late at night.

Li An lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Truthfully, he was quite pleased with today’s deal.

Another 150,000 taels in the account.

Adding the 100,000 from Jin Daya, the 300,000 from the three estates’ shares, and over a million internally absorbed by those same estates—the treasury now held more than 1.6 million taels.

Less than 400,000 taels remained to fulfill the two-million-tael military pledge.

And he still had two official posts left.

Prison Interrogation Officer.
Maritime Inspection Commissioner.

Honestly, these were even harder to sell than the Street Administration Office and the Mutual Trade Office.

One was a gloomy hellhole.

The other was practically a death sentence at sea.

Who in their right mind would buy them?

Yet Li An wasn’t worried in the slightest.

Because in this world, nothing is truly unsellable.

It’s just a matter of finding the right buyer.

As he was thinking, a light figure slipped silently through the window.

“Young Master.”

Hongmei’s voice was as cool as ever.

She stepped into the room.

“There’s news from home. Blackwater Terrace is… very satisfied with your recent performance.”

Li An blinked, pleased.

“Satisfied? Wasn’t that a given?”

Hongmei nodded.

“The Jin Daya deal threw the capital’s wealthy households into chaos. The Zhao Dadan deal has the entire city buzzing.”

“In just a few words, you’ve stirred both Great Qi’s officialdom and the capital’s security into a boiling mess.”

“The Prime Minister’s Residence hates you to the bone. The Grand Commandant’s Residence sees you as a thorn in their side. The Imperial Uncles’ Residence wishes you dead.”

“There are barely any officials in court who don’t want to kill you.”

“This far exceeds what Blackwater Terrace expected.”

Ding!

【Northern Yan Blackwater Terrace highly praises Li An’s performance!】

【Undercover mission progressing smoothly!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -80】

【Current National Fortune: 85,379】

Listening to the praise—and the sweet sound of declining national fortune—Li An felt exhilarated.

Ruining the country was turning out to be easy.

Hongmei’s lips twitched slightly, as if suppressing a smile.

“Message delivered. Get some rest.”

She turned toward the window. “Tomorrow you’ll need to figure out how to sell those last two posts.”

The Next Morning

Ding!

【A new day begins!】

【Current Great Qi National Fortune: 85,379】

【National Fortune Change This Cycle: -2,621】

【Estimated Settlement Reward: 262,100 taels of gold】

【Remaining Time: 21 days】

Li An arrived early at the Ministry hall.

Two hundred sixty thousand taels of gold already.

Steward Zhou had been waiting.

“Lord Li, you’re finally here.”

“What is it? Someone here to buy a post?”

“Not exactly.”

Zhou shook his head, a trace of schadenfreude in his tone.

“I’m here to remind you—only two days remain before the ten-day deadline.”

“How much silver do you have now?”

“Just over 1.6 million taels. Still short by 400,000.”

Zhou clicked his tongue.

“Lord Li, that’s difficult indeed. Two days, 400,000 taels, and you still have to sell those two unwanted posts. Even immortals couldn’t manage that.”

“Have you considered what I suggested earlier?”

“You say so much nonsense every day, how would I know which part you mean?”

“Allying with the Prime Minister, of course!”

Zhou leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“Let’s be honest—you probably can’t raise the full sum. But if the Prime Minister protects you, His Majesty can conveniently spare your life.”

“You serve under the Prime Minister, he shields you—what a fine arrangement!”

Li An smiled faintly. He understood perfectly.

The old fox simply wanted a share of the profits.

“I appreciate Steward Zhou’s kindness,” Li An said, waving a hand. “But I still have one final move to try.”

“What move?”

Li An stood and walked to the window.

“Steward Zhou, please arrange a meeting for me.”

“With whom?”

“Eunuch Liu.”

Zhou’s face changed instantly.

“Eunuch Liu? That perverted old eunuch in the palace?”

“Yes. Him.”

Zhou stared in disbelief.

“Lord Li, why would you seek him out? He’s infamous for being vicious and sinister. He’s suffered half his life in the palace—he’d skin anyone alive if he could…”

“Exactly.”

Li An turned around and smiled.

“Tell me—what do you think someone like Eunuch Liu, who’s endured humiliation for decades, desires most?”

Zhou hesitated.

“To rise in status? Wealth and glory?”

“No.”

Li An shook his head decisively.

“They crave a form of retaliatory release.”

Ding!

【Li An conceives a new plan: Prison Interrogation Officer!】

【Another ‘trash post’ is about to find a buyer!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -30】

【Current National Fortune: 85,329】