Li Daoxuan had just reached the entrance of the restaurant when he ran into Bai Yuan.
Bai Yuan wore immaculate white robes, looking every bit the refined gentleman—no, a refined middle-aged gentleman—yet without the slightest hint of the greasy air that often plagued men of status. The moment he saw Li Daoxuan, he executed an exaggerated formal bow. Only after completing the ritual did he lean in and lower his voice, chuckling softly.
"So," he asked, "what's our play today against the Prince of Fu's Residence?"
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"The same approach we used on the Prince of Qin's Residence. These princes indulge themselves, hoard vast lands and social resources, and contribute nothing. Until the day we completely sever ties with the imperial court, they remain useful tools."
Bai Yuan's eyes lit up with instant understanding.
"Then it's time we extended our reach to Luoyang."
Li Daoxuan nodded.
"Exactly. We'll just replicate the Xi'an strategy."
Bai Yuan's expression immediately steadied, confidence settling in.
The two ascended to a private room on the second floor. Fan Shangzheng was already seated inside, and beside him sat Eunuch Zheng—an old acquaintance from previous encounters.
The moment Eunuch Zheng saw Bai Yuan and Li Daoxuan, he let out a disdainful hmph, lifting his chin and angling his nostrils toward the ceiling, radiating imperial arrogance.
Bai Yuan chuckled.
"So the Prince of Fu's Residence has sent Eunuch Zheng once again to mediate?"
Eunuch Zheng sneered.
"How could His Highness, with his exalted status, personally concern himself with such a trivial matter as Xiaolangdi?"
Bai Yuan showed no sign of irritation. Having grown up in a rigidly hierarchical society, he was more than accustomed to this tone. He calmly took his seat.
"Eunuch Zheng," he said evenly, "I'm here not out of respect for you, but for Governor Fan."
Eunuch Zheng bristled.
"You—!"
"Me," Bai Yuan replied calmly.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
Fan Shangzheng hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Gentlemen, let us not waste time on trivialities. Let us discuss the matter at hand."
He turned toward Eunuch Zheng.
"I have verified the records. Xiaolangdi is indeed part of the Prince of Fu's fief. By law, it should be returned to the Prince of Fu's Residence."
At these words, Eunuch Zheng's face lit up with unconcealed delight.
But Fan Shangzheng immediately continued.
"However, when Xiaolangdi was under the Prince of Fu's administration, it was overrun by river bandits. Merchants were robbed, trade was crippled, and the Yellow River routes suffered endlessly. It was only after Mister Bai took charge that order was restored."
He fixed Eunuch Zheng with a steady gaze.
"If we return Xiaolangdi now, how can you guarantee that the bandits will not return?"
Eunuch Zheng protested hastily,
"That… that won't happen! This time, the Prince of Fu's Residence will manage it properly."
"Will it?" Fan Shangzheng pressed. "Can you guarantee it?"
Eunuch Zheng's confidence visibly faltered.
"Well… that is to say…"
Fan Shangzheng continued calmly,
"Rather than risking another collapse, wouldn't it be far better to leave Xiaolangdi in Mister Bai's hands, allowing him to manage it on your behalf? Would that not be ideal for everyone?"
At this point, Eunuch Zheng finally realized that the Governor was openly siding with Bai Yuan.
Scholar-officials had always enjoyed suppressing imperial princes. And what could the princes do in response? Cry to the Emperor? Start a rebellion?
He stiffened, struggling internally, before finally saying,
"Our Prince of Fu's Residence never intended to reclaim Xiaolangdi itself. We merely wished to collect a few hundred taels of silver in rent. But alas… even that modest sum, they refused to pay."
Fan Shangzheng immediately countered.
"When has Xiaolangdi ever paid rent to the Prince of Fu's Residence? For generations it was occupied by bandits. Furthermore, Mister Bai has neither farmed nor conducted commercial operations there. He merely built villages to resettle refugees. He hasn't collected a single copper from them. Where, then, would the rent come from?"
This time, the argument struck home.
Bai Yuan had earned nothing from Xiaolangdi. Demanding rent was nothing more than an attempt to squeeze blood from stone.
If the Prince of Fu's Residence insisted, Bai Yuan could simply abandon the area—and the refugees would once again scatter, or worse, become bandits themselves. Xiaolangdi would revert to chaos.
Eunuch Zheng was well aware of this. He had simply hoped no one would say it out loud.
At last, he spread his hands helplessly.
"Very well. Then how do you propose we resolve this?"
Bai Yuan opened his folding fan with a crisp snap.
"This matter is actually quite simple. I have no desire to offend the Prince of Fu's Residence. On the contrary—I sincerely wish to be on friendly terms."
Eunuch Zheng snorted.
"Hard to tell."
Bai Yuan smiled.
"I am skilled in business. How about this: I assist the Prince of Fu's Residence in managing certain enterprises. I guarantee your profits will increase dramatically. At that point, we won't be talking about a few hundred taels—but truly enormous sums."
At the mention of profit, Eunuch Zheng's ears perked up.
Princes had no political future. Their greatest pleasure lay in accumulating wealth. The Prince of Fu was no exception.
If Bai Yuan truly had the ability to generate massive profits, then Xiaolangdi suddenly seemed… irrelevant.
There were no eternal enemies in this world.
Only eternal interests.
Eunuch Zheng's tone softened immediately.
"Our Prince's Residence is certainly interested in such matters. Please, elaborate."
Bai Yuan nodded.
"I have business dealings with the Prince of Qin's Residence in Xi'an. I've helped them earn a considerable amount. If you wish, you may send a letter and verify this directly."
Eunuch Zheng gasped softly.
"Ah!"
That sealed it.
No one would fabricate a lie that could be verified with a single letter. If Bai Yuan had truly enriched the Prince of Qin's Residence, then the Prince of Fu could not afford to lag behind.
Bai Yuan continued,
"Seventy li southwest of Luoyang lies the Yiluo Coal Mine. That belongs to the Prince of Fu's family, correct?"
"Yes," Eunuch Zheng replied. "But it flooded some time ago. The shafts are filled with water and silt, and production has halted. Why bring this up?"
Bai Yuan smiled.
"Let our cooperation begin there. I can send people to clear the shafts and resume mining. Profits will be split—seventy percent to us, thirty to the Prince of Fu's Residence."
Eunuch Zheng scoffed.
"That's His Highness's coal mine! You take it for free and still demand seventy percent? Are you trying to insult us?"
Bai Yuan replied calmly,
"That coal mine is just like Xiaolangdi. Without us, you cannot use it. Do you have the ability to drain the water and clear the silt? If not, you won't earn even one percent—let alone thirty."
Eunuch Zheng choked.
"Uh—"
Fan Shangzheng seized the moment.
"He has a point. While the Yiluo Coal Mine isn't large, it supplies much of Luoyang's coal. Since the flood in early summer, production has halted for nearly half a year. Winter has arrived, and coal is in dire shortage."
Eunuch Zheng grew visibly uncomfortable.
The concubines within the Prince of Fu's Residence relied on charcoal braziers for warmth. With coal scarce, tempers were flaring—and when concubines were displeased, the eunuchs suffered first.