Chapter 16: The Calm Before the Storm
While the nobility argued over dusty claims, the world outside was changing. A sudden, brutal drought had scorched the southern fields, and a famine began to ripple through the city. Wei'an's exports tanked as grain became more valuable than gold, but his "Ride-Share" caravan business exploded—everyone was trying to move, and they needed a safe wagon to do it.
To make matters worse, news arrived that two neighboring Great City Lords had entered a bloody civil war. In the chaos, the Count saw his window. He began mobilizing a formal army—not just bandits, but three thousand seasoned soldiers—to "annex" the Shen Viscounty under the guise of "maintaining regional stability."
A letter arrived from the Count, written in flowery, polite calligraphy. "My dear Shen family, in these dark times of famine and war, I offer my protection. Simply surrender the Silver Mine and the four disputed districts, and I shall ensure your safety."
"Protection," Wei'an spat, tossing the letter into the hearth. "That's like a wolf offering to guard the sheep's wool."
The Consolidation
Wei'an didn't panic. He moved. With Shen Yao's administrative help, they began a massive Strategic Withdrawal.
"Pull every soldier from the disputed borders," Wei'an commanded. "If we spread 800 men across six districts, the Count will pick them off like grapes. Bring them all to the core territory. We defend the heart, or we lose everything."
But soldiers don't move for free. Wei'an reached into his personal "Jade Fund"—the silver he had meticulously saved to buy Lian'er's freedom—and dumped it all onto the armory table.
He bought grain from his secret stores, reinforced leather armor, and sharpened spearheads for the starving troops. When the 800 soldiers saw the "Useless Son-in-Law" personally handing out hot bowls of wheat and new boots, the atmosphere of the house shifted from despair to defiance.
A Moment of Vulnerability
That night, Wei'an found Shen Yao in the map room. She was staring at the troop movements, her shoulders shaking. When she saw him, she didn't scold him. She didn't call him a merchant.
She walked over and buried her face in his chest, her hands clutching his robes. She wept—not like a noble lady, but like a daughter who had been carrying the weight of a dying house for too long.
Wei'an froze. His merchant-brain, usually filled with interest rates, went silent. He didn't make a joke. He didn't ask for a loan. He simply wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"We're going to win, Yao'er," he whispered. "I've already calculated the odds. I don't invest in losing ventures."
She stayed there for a long time, drawing strength from him. For a moment, he thought about the 2,000 silvers he had just spent on the army—the money that was supposed to buy the courtesan. Lian'er will have to wait, he thought. I have a wife to save first.
Once she fell asleep from exhaustion, he tucked her into bed and spent the rest of the night hunched over the family ledgers. He slashed unnecessary spending—luxuries, expensive incense, and redundant servants—and mapped out a "Peak Shen" recovery plan to present to the Patriarch.
The General's "Training"
At 3:00 AM, Wei'an tried to sneak out of the estate to check on his shop's night-watch. He was halfway across the courtyard when a massive, calloused hand grabbed him by the collar.
Commander Sang stood there, looking like a vengeful mountain.
"Where are you going, little hand-kisser?" Sang growled.
"I have business! Logistics! Market analysis!"
"You're going to the Jade Pavilion to seduce my Lian'er, aren't you?" Sang's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "I saw you looking at your empty coin pouch earlier. You're desperate."
"I spent that money on the soldiers' boots, you old warhorse! Let go!"
"Likely story," Sang grunted, dragging Wei'an toward the training grounds by his belt. "If you're going to be the man who commands my paycheck, you need to learn how to survive a sword-swing. You're coming with me. We're doing 'Stamina Drills' until the sun comes up."
"No! Not the burpees! Anything but the burpees!"
Next Chapter Hook:
Wei'an presents his "New Shen Economy" plan to the Patriarch, proposing they turn the Silver Mine into a "Public Bank" to pay off the 850,000 debt. Meanwhile, the Count's army reaches the border, and the Test of Arms is no longer a duel—it's a siege..