Zheng Gonggong hesitated.
"Do you truly have a way to restore the coal mines and resume production?"
Bai Yuan replied calmly, "If I can pacify Xiaolangdi's river pirates, dealing with a few coal mines should hardly be a problem."
Zheng Gonggong frowned.
"Even so… a seventy–thirty split still feels a little too stingy."
Bai Yuan laughed softly.
"I can guarantee that even with a seventy–thirty division, the Prince of Fu's Residence will earn just as much as it did before the disaster."
"Oh?" Zheng Gonggong's brows rose. "You're saying that if the coal mine is handed to you, its profits might exceed pre-flood levels?"
Now that was interesting.
Bai Yuan continued smoothly,
"If you remain uncertain, we can adopt a different arrangement altogether. Lease the coal mine to me. I'll pay the Prince of Fu's Residence a fixed amount every month—profit or loss irrelevant. For simplicity, we can set that amount equal to the mine's output before the flood."
Zheng Gonggong pondered in silence.
That mine is half-ruined, he thought. The shafts are flooded, clogged with silt. Draining them alone would take months, perhaps years. Even if restored, the output wouldn't amount to much. A profit-sharing deal carries risk. But a fixed lease? That's guaranteed silver with zero responsibility.
With a decisive clap of his hands, Zheng Gonggong declared,
"I believe the latter option is far superior!"
Bai Yuan celebrated inwardly.
Watching from the side, Li Daoxuan also smiled faintly.
Excellent.
The contract system was precisely what Gao Family Village wanted. Once the Prince of Fu's Residence was locked into a fixed payment, they would never be able to demand more—while Gao Family Village could endlessly expand output through technological upgrades.
By the time the truth became obvious, the Prince of Fu's Residence would be choking on regret.
To ensure that regret arrived on schedule, the contract had to be airtight.
Bai Yuan suddenly frowned, adopting a hesitant expression.
"Ah… this is awkward. I'm suddenly feeling a little uncertain about the second option. Perhaps we should return to the seventy–thirty split?"
Zheng Gonggong's face darkened instantly.
"Absolutely not! It's already settled! How can you go back on your word? That would be utterly unreliable. It must be the second option—without question!"
"Ah? Well… this… sigh… very well," Bai Yuan said reluctantly.
He looked like a man being dragged into a disadvantageous agreement, the very image of someone liable to renege.
Alarm bells rang in Zheng Gonggong's head.
He immediately turned to Fan Shangzheng.
"Governor, you've witnessed our agreement. What if, in a few days, Mister Bai changes his mind? Without a written contract, it would be impossible to arbitrate. I propose we draft a binding agreement, with you serving as witness."
Bai Yuan hesitated again.
"This… such a rigid contract, isn't that a bit excessive?"
"Not at all," Zheng Gonggong said firmly. "A contract should be rigid."
"Oh… this… this…" Bai Yuan stammered, his resistance visibly weakening.
Fan Shangzheng finally lost patience.
"Mister Bai, I cannot side with you on this matter. You should sign. This is beneficial to all parties. The contract will be made in duplicate, and I will personally sign and notarize it."
With the governor himself offering notarization, there was nothing left to say.
Sign it.
Bai Yuan lowered his head and began drafting the agreement.
His calligraphy was refined and elegant, every stroke clean and decisive, leaving no room for ambiguity or later manipulation. Of the gentleman's Six Arts, he considered calligraphy indispensable—and it showed.
Before long, the contract was complete.
The Yiluo Coal Mine was leased to Bai Yuan for ten years. During this period, he would pay the Prince of Fu's Residence a fixed lease fee, equal to the mine's pre-flood output.
For ten years:
Bai Yuan could not suspend payments, regardless of losses.
The Prince of Fu's Residence could not demand higher fees, regardless of profits.
After ten years, renegotiation would be permitted.
Both parties signed and affixed their thumbprints. Then Fan Shangzheng added his own signature and seal in the notary section.
The contract was sealed.
Bai Yuan's heart surged with satisfaction. He glanced sideways at Li Daoxuan, eyes practically dancing. Li Daoxuan returned a look that clearly said: Beautifully executed.
Zheng Gonggong stood to leave.
Just as he turned, Bai Yuan spoke up.
"Gonggong, there's no need to rush. We've only settled one coal mine. There are other matters worth discussing."
Zheng Gonggong paused.
"What else could there be?"
"Well," Bai Yuan said casually, "the Prince of Fu's Residence also owns an iron mine in Xin'an County, west of Luoyang, does it not?"
"You want the iron mine as well?" Zheng Gonggong exclaimed.
Bai Yuan smiled.
"With coal comes iron. The two are inseparable."
Zheng Gonggong laughed silently to himself.
Excellent.
We've secured guaranteed income, and now you're worried we haven't earned enough yet? That iron mine is flooded and worthless anyway. If you want it, take it all.
He spread his hands magnanimously.
"Very well. Let's include the iron mine in the contract as well."
Six hours later…
Zheng Gonggong returned to the Prince of Fu's Residence, arms wrapped around a thick stack of contracts.
Prince Zhu Changxun was, as usual, reveling among his concubines.
Zheng Gonggong laid the documents before him, beaming.
"Your Highness," he announced gleefully, "we've encountered a monumental fool!"
"Oh?" Zhu Changxun murmured distractedly.
Zheng Gonggong presented a list.
"These are all the properties flooded by the Yellow River in June. They were utterly worthless—incapable of producing a single copper. Yet a colossal fool has contracted all of them. From now on, the Residence will receive several thousand taels annually!"
Zhu Changxun skimmed a contract and laughed.
"There really are such idiots in the world. Still, it's always pleasant when others labor to enrich our family."
"This servant showed some foresight," Zheng Gonggong added proudly. "The term is ten years. If that fellow truly restores these properties, we'll simply reclaim everything once the contract expires."
"Well done," Zhu Changxun praised. "Keep a discreet eye on him. I want to see how this Mister Bai operates."
"This servant will monitor him closely."
As a eunuch, Zheng Gonggong was meticulous where his master's interests were concerned.
His primary target of observation was the Yiluo Coal Mine.
The pits were still flooded. Draining them alone would be an immense undertaking. Zheng Gonggong was eager to see how many laborers Bai Yuan would recruit—and how many buckets they'd need to bail water by hand.
He stationed men nearby and ordered daily reports.
He didn't have to wait long.
Three days later, a subordinate rushed back, breathless.
"Gonggong! Bai Yuan is preparing to drain the mine shafts!"