Chapter Ten: Another Profitable Deal with Gan Long
Upon learning of Qin’s actions, Pang Juan was nearly driven mad with rage.
“How is this possible?!”
He slammed his fist onto the table, eyes blazing with fury. His meticulously crafted scheme had been effortlessly uncovered by Qin? Not only had he failed to trap his opponent, but he had ended up shooting himself in the foot.
“General, His Majesty asked me to relay a message: ‘You made your own mess, so clean it up yourself.’”
The tardy Gongzi Ang conveyed King Hui of Wei’s blunt words.
King Hui was furious upon hearing this, and envoys from various states soon swarmed the palace of Daliang, leaving no room to breathe.
Just as Gongzi Ang finished speaking, a commotion erupted.
“This is the General’s residence; you cannot enter!”
“I don’t care who the general is, Lord Wei has sent us here to demand an explanation!”
“Yes, move aside at once!”
The guards were powerless against the furious envoys of the Six States, who surged forward and forced their way inside.
“Pang Juan, this is the mess you’ve made!”
One envoy immediately confronted him.
“Exactly! Your so-called plan is worthless. Now all our merchants are detained by Qin.”
Another spat almost landed on Pang Juan’s face.
“Qin are barbarians. If any harm befalls our merchants, will you pay with your life?”
A third envoy chimed in.
“Yes…”
The envoys’ clamoring caused a headache to throb in Pang Juan’s temples.
“Enough noise! What good does all this yelling do?”
Pang Juan bellowed, finally silencing the envoys.
“Merchants? If they die, they die.”
The envoys were stunned. He didn’t value human life?
A cruel smile crept across Pang Juan’s lips, his voice filled with temptation.
“If they die, then we will use the pretext of avenging the merchants to launch an attack on Qin.”
“Divide their lands, seize their wealth — wouldn’t the spoils far outweigh a few merchant’s profits?”
His words cast a heavy silence over the room.
In these times, merchants were at the bottom of society, scorned and treated as worthless.
“Is this true?”
The once loudest envoy now spoke in a changed tone.
Pang Juan nodded decisively. “No lie. As long as we have just cause, Qin is no match for us.”
“Then, land and women — what could we not claim?”
His words ignited a fierce greed in the envoys’ hearts.
The envoys exchanged glances, seeing in each other the same burning desire.
A fervent passion for dividing Qin’s vast riches consumed them.
“Well said, General Pang! Let it be so!”
Someone shouted eagerly, excitement coloring their voice.
“Yes, united, Qin falls easily!”
“Seize their lands! Partition Qin!”
Cheers and applause rose in waves.
The previously chaotic anger inside the residence vanished, replaced by eager consensus fueled by the promise of greater gain.
The envoys already envisioned Qin’s lands carved up, riches flowing into their own states.
Pang Juan breathed easier, thinking these simpletons were easily swayed.
“Now, we only wait for news of Qin killing our merchants, then we march against them.”
“To war with Qin! To war!”
The shouts shook the rafters. With such stirring rhetoric, if Zhao Zheng were here, he would surely praise Pang Juan as a masterful salesman.
“Gentlemen, you may await good news at the residence.”
…
The next morning, Zhao Zheng was roused groggily by Meng Yun.
“Sir, it’s time for the morning court.”
Still half-asleep, Zhao Zheng was dragged up, lamenting how even after transmigrating, he still had to endure early work hours.
“Where is Jingjian?”
Rubbing his eyes, Zhao Zheng saw it was Meng Yun. Ying Qu Liang had assigned Jingjian to accompany him, so why was Meng Yun here?
Meng Bai explained, “Jingjian had to go to Wei. I’m temporarily taking over his duties.”
Zhao Zheng recalled Jingjian’s important mission, hurriedly dressed and followed Meng Bai to court.
Just as they stepped outside, the heavy gates of the Gan residence creaked open.
Old acquaintance Gan Long strolled out, followed by servants carrying an exquisite box emitting a rich, tantalizing aroma that wafted directly into Zhao Zheng’s nose.
Sniffing the scent, Zhao Zheng felt uneasy and promptly remarked, “Doctor Gan, are you going to court or a funeral carrying such a large box?”
Gan Long looked up sharply, his right eyelid twitching uncontrollably.
Why did he have to run into that blasted man so early? If not for that fool’s antics yesterday, his meals would be on a whole different level!
He forced a smile, more pitiful than tearful. “Master Guigu, morning. Are you heading to court?”
“Where else?”
Zhao Zheng’s lack of pretense disappointed Gan Long, who had hoped to coax the box from him.
“Well, what a coincidence. Why not join me in my carriage to court?”
Gan Long gestured toward the carriage slowly leaving the Gan residence.
Coincidence, my foot! No one wanted to meet you.
He already knew that blasted man lived opposite him and had gotten up early to avoid him, yet fate had other plans.
“Then I shall graciously accept.”
Zhao Zheng wasted no time, grabbing Meng Yun and walking toward the carriage.
Gan Long nearly spat blood.
I was being polite, and this guy really took me up on it?
Isn’t Master Guigu supposed to be a recluse? How shameless can he be?
Zhao Zheng acted as if Gan Long was a stranger, climbing aboard without hesitation.
“What are you doing?”
The servant in charge of the carriage hurried to stop Zhao Zheng. Did he not know the owner should enter first?
“No matter.”
Gan Long waved dismissively—unreasonable, shameless, rude...
This was the Guigu sage who had taught Pang Juan and Sun Bin?
Zhao Zheng plopped down inside, unable to suppress a sigh.
Truly, the most prestigious old family in Qin is all about wealth.
The carriage was even more luxurious than Ying Qu Liang’s own.
“Master Guigu, your residence probably lacks furnishings. After court, I’ll have my people help you acquire everything you need.”
Gan Long sat beside Zhao Zheng, smiling broadly.
“Oh, well…”
Zhao Zheng looked embarrassed. “That’s rather inappropriate…”
Finally showing some manners…
Then he added politely, “No matter, we all serve Qin after all.”
Before Gan Long could reply, Zhao Zheng shifted tone.
“However, Doctor Gan, you’re so kind.”
“Refusing would seem ungrateful, so… thank you very much, Doctor.”
???
Gan Long’s face darkened instantly. Was my politeness just wasted?
Oh well, a lesson learned.
He suppressed his anger, closing his eyes to calm down. One more glance at Zhao Zheng and he might explode.
Meng Yun’s shoulders shook violently nearby, struggling to hold back laughter. After two days of suffering at Gan Long’s hands, Zhao Zheng was truly his bane.
“Sir, what happened at the market yesterday?”
Meng Yun asked.
The market disturbance had made waves throughout Qin; everyone knew something had occurred, but no one knew what.
Even Gan Long, resting with closed eyes, perked up his ears upon hearing this.