Chapter Sixty-Four: Yuan Bao Lectures His Son

Meng Xiaoli was so startled that she quickly let go. Looking down again at Wuyu's injury, she saw a long, deep gash cut by a sharp weapon, with the flesh flipped outward and bleeding profusely, which was truly shocking. Her shoulders and arms were also heavily injured. Before Wuyu could speak, Meng Xiaoli said indignantly: "Yuan Bao of the Twin-Slaying Axes! The Crested-Boar Gang is getting too bold, daring to hurt my people. They must be tired of living."

Wuyu raised her head weakly, looking at Meng Xiaoli, and blamed herself: "Cult Master, this disciple is incompetent. Not only did I fail to escort the tribute back, but many disciples also died. The few of us fought our way back just to report to the Cult Master."

Meng Xiaoli shook her head and said, "This is not your fault. As long as you can come back alive, that's enough. We can always retake the gold and silver, but once life is gone, nothing is left." Then she ordered: "Come here, take them down quickly to treat their wounds." As she spoke, several female disciples rushed over; some headed toward the injured disciples inside the Xiaoyao Hall, while others stepped forward to support Wuyu down for medical treatment.

Meng Xiaoli strode down to the Xiaoyao Hall and sat majestic upon the throne, her face cold as she looked at the female disciples wiping the blood stains off the floor. She instructed another disciple by her side: "Tell Gu Youyou to lead a team over there. Even if those disciples didn't survive, we must go and collect their bodies." The disciple in the hall acknowledged the order.

Early the next morning, Gu Youyou's team returned to Solitary Island bearing the remains of their fellow disciples. Gu Youyou came alone into the Xiaoyao Hall to report the situation, crying to Meng Xiaoli on the throne: "Cult Master, the Crested-Boar Gang is simply too bullying. Not only did they take our treasure chests and kill our disciples, but they actually, actually arranged their naked corpses to spell out the character for 'Death' to humiliate our Red Robe Cult."

Upon hearing this, Meng Xiaoli slammed the desk and stood up, a raging fire burning in her chest, wishing she could instantly fly to the Crested-Boar Gang and exterminate them all. Then, regaining her calm, Meng Xiaoli stared with blade-like eyes into the empty space and said in a deep voice: "Arrange the bodies of our disciples in Bliss Mountain for a proper burial." Enduring her grief, Gu Youyou cupped her hands and accepted the order.

Meng Xiaoli ordered further: "I will definitely avenge them. Send out a war notice: since the Crested-Boar Gang has harmed my disciples, I, Meng Xiaoli, shall annihilate their entire clan." With that, she gripped the armrests of the throne tightly with her Golden-Scale Blood Armor.

As the news spread that the Demonic Yan Ghostess intended to wipe out the Crested-Boar Gang, the pugilistic world instantly erupted like a boiling cauldron. All martial artists rushed to Qingzhou to watch the spectacle. Initially, Yuan Bao, leader of the Crested-Boar Gang, did not know that his eldest son, Yuan Buxing, had privately hijacked the Red Robe Cult's gold and silver. Upon learning the detailed facts, he had no choice but to turn misfortune into strategy and prepare a banquet to welcome them.

Before the banquet, Gang Leader Yuan Bao paced back and forth in his study, and then sent for his eldest son Yuan Buxing, his concubine-born second son Yuan Zhuliu, and his eldest daughter Yuan Youxin.

Before even stepping through the door, the eldest son Yuan Buxing shouted loudly, "Dad, your son is here!" As his voice trailed off, the door was pushed open by Yuan Buxing. He strode in wearing silver boots and silk socks, a brocade robe secured with a gold-threaded belt, and a jade crown worn slightly askew. Although he had somewhat the appearance of a rat with a peaked cap, set off by this expensive attire, he looked remarkably spirited and glowing.

Immediately following him, the eldest daughter Yuan Youxin hopped into the room, ran up to Yuan Bao, tugged at his arm, and said joyfully, "Dad, why did you call for your daughter?"

Gritting his teeth in anger, Yuan Bao pointed a finger at Yuan Buxing and was just about to speak when his thin, frail second son, Yuan Zhuliu, timidly shuffled in. Yuan Zhuliu had a fair complexion and handsome facial features, but unfortunately was short in stature and lacked any masculine aura. Though also dressed in fine brocade, it completely clashed with his demeanor. Yuan Zhuliu nervously called out, "Dad!"

Yuan Bao said angrily, "Shut the door, all of you sit down." Yuan Buxing turned his head to signal Yuan Zhuliu behind him to close the door, while he himself lifted his coattails and slumped sideways into a chair in the room, casually resting one leg over the other. After closing the door, Yuan Zhuliu shuffled over to a chair and sat down properly. Seeing that her father's face looked wrong, Yuan Youxin stood worriedly by Yuan Bao's side without sitting.

Yuan Bao seated himself firmly in the main chair and asked, "Presumably you all know the news about the Red Robe Cult. Buxing, you caused this disaster. Since you dared to cause it, you tell us how you plan to resolve this matter?"

"Fight them, of course," Yuan Buxing dropped his legs, sat straight, and said with great interest, "Whoever touches my Crested-Boar Gang has to be taught a lesson, so they know the immensity of heaven and earth." With that, Yuan Buxing proudly gave a wink to Yuan Youxin, who covered her mouth with a giggle and gave her eldest brother a thumbs-up.

Yuan Bao said in a deep voice, "Good, then tell me, how should this battle be fought?" Yuan Buxing stood up, leaned forward toward Yuan Bao in the main seat, and said, "Dad, you don't need to look for friends from other sects. We can completely handle the Red Robe Cult all by ourselves. The Crested-Boar Gang has plenty of people, and your son is no coward. Killing those subordinates of the Demonic Yan Ghostess will be no problem. By then, you and your prized disciples can deal with the Demonic Yan Ghostess effortlessly. It's as simple as that. If the Demonic Yan Ghostess hadn't played dirty tricks last time, she wouldn't have been a match for you either."

Hearing this, Yuan Bao did not express his stance. He motioned for Yuan Buxing to sit down, and then turned his gaze to his second son, Yuan Zhuliu. Their eyes met, and Yuan Zhuliu involuntarily shivered, his shoulders shrinking as his face instantly turned pale. Yuan Bao asked, "Zhuliu, you tell us your thoughts."

With vacant eyes and stammering for a long time, Yuan Zhuliu finally said, "This son believes that a war brings heavy losses, and they are purely losses—harmful with no benefit. If anyone in our family gets hurt again, whether minor or major, the losses will outweigh the gains. The true strength of the Red Robe Cult is unpredictable. Even if we invite other sects to hold down the fort, money would flow out like water. We cannot do a business that only loses money and makes no profit."

Yuan Zhuliu's mother came from a humble background. Although she married the wealthy Yuan Bao as a concubine, Yuan Bao—generous though he was in distributing wealth for righteousness—never relaxed control over money when it came to his wives and concubines. He distributed silver monthly and doled out rewards moderately. Thus, despite living in a grand mansion, the wives and concubines did not have financial freedom.

Accompanying his mother closely and influenced by what she saw and heard, Yuan Zhuliu always thought his father was a miserly man obsessed with money. He originally intended to propose an idea from the perspective of saving money, but unexpectedly, Yuan Bao looked at Yuan Zhuliu—who was lowering his head and picking at his fingers—sighed deeply, pointed at him righteously, and said: "You have followed me for so many years, yet you still don't understand your father's business acumen. How can you accomplish great things by hoarding wealth with such a petty, small-minded outlook? Leaving aside other sources of income for the moment, just look at the monthly revenue from the properties and land I own in Qingzhou—it is as numerous as ox hairs. You have helped manage them, so you should know."

Lowering his head and rubbing his fingers, Yuan Zhuliu nodded and said, "This son has accompanied you on inspection tours. Although our revenues are large, this son noticed the common people have barely any money in their hands; most of it goes right into our family's businesses. Squeezing them like this is probably not a long-term solution."

"Bullshit," Yuan Bao roared in great fury upon hearing this, pointing at Yuan Zhuliu and cursing, "You're just like your mother—uncultured, shortsighted, and a hopeless do-gooder! If you don't squeeze the common people's silver, whose silver do you want to squeeze? Once you lock down the common people's income, there will be a continuous, endless stream of revenue. I came to Qingzhou when it was still a barren wilderness to lay down the foundation, and most of the businesses were built by me. Without me, how long would it take for Qingzhou to recover? I'm wasting my breath on you; you are simply not material for doing business."

These words made Yuan Zhuliu's cheeks burn red, and he buried his face deep into his chest. Seeing this, Yuan Bao subsided his anger, softened his tone, and said: "Your mother is your mother; when women have too much money, their minds become chaotic. A man must accomplish great things. It doesn't matter if you spend money to buy failure. Money is the most useless thing; everything else is more important than money. You must know that the silver spent here will eventually be earned back from somewhere else. Do you think that when your father sends gifts to other sects every three to five months, it's a losing business just to buy empty praise? Affections bought with money are actually the sturdiest. Gold and silver are not meant to be kept; they are meant to be exchanged for greater benefits and advantages. Do not be shortsighted and only care about immediate gains and losses." Timidly, Yuan Zhuliu replied, "This son has been instructed."

Yuan Buxing interjected with a smile, "Second brother, you don't need to worry. With Big Brother here, regardless of whether it's the Red Robe Cult or the White Robe Cult, I guarantee they'll come standing upright and leave lying flat. Why worry about spending silver? The Crested-Boar Gang has plenty of it."

"Plenty of it? Wasn't it earned through your old man's hard work?" Yuan Bao glared angrily at Yuan Buxing and said, "Buxing, Dad isn't afraid of you spending money; Dad hopes even more that you can inherit Dad's mind to continue the glory of the Crested-Boar Gang. Dad often tells you, what does it mean to be a great merchant? It means making the common people jump willingly into a pit even when they know it's a pit, and even make those who jump think they are farsighted, turning back to mock those who refuse to jump. In this way, the people inside the pit will spread vain ideas for us, attracting those who refuse to jump to leap in as well.

Where in life are there any absolute necessities? We must make the common people believe that certain needs exist, and that if they aren't satisfied, they cannot live. Naturally, this forces them to fall into our traps, making them rush like ducks to everything in the city, to be manipulated by us here, revolving in endless cycles for their entire lives, never escaping this cage. To achieve my goals, they are driven all their lives; they cannot escape, and can only blame their unjust fate.

Devising ways to enclose the common people—that is the art of governing the people, and it is the most joyful thing for us great merchants every day. When will you ever put some thought into the Dao of Commerce?"

Making faces and showing his disinterest, Yuan Buxing shook the tips of his shoes and said impatiently, "Alright, Dad, your son knows all of it. We sell the courtyards to the common people, but we buy out all the water sources within the city. Even for the rushing waters of nature, they have no right to use them freely. When they are thirsty, they must bring silver; if they want to run and drink from the river themselves, we make the river water turbid, forcing them to bring silver back to us. Even if the water sources dry up, it doesn't hinder our squandering; we can just blame them for not knowing restraint.

And as for our inns, brothels, and gambling dens, whatever goods we supply, as long as they bear the name of the Crested-Boar Gang, even if it's a piece of shit, we can price it to the skies, and there will still be fools willing to pay for it. If manpower is insufficient, we have the human-trafficking business with low costs and abundant labor. Dad, your business philosophy has long been figured out by your son."

Hearing this, Yuan Bao shook his head and said in a deep voice: "This is only a part of the surface. In the end, you still don't understand why Dad forsakes his own time to struggle so hard, to greet others with a smile, to drink both big and small cups of wine, whether bowing low or acting mighty. Do you think Dad only does it for silver? The thing Dad cares about least is silver. I want to earn capital for the Yuan family. Do you know what capital is? Money and connections are capital. Capital means having the ability to calmly handle any sudden situation during peaceful days, rather than hugging Buddha's feet at the last minute or even crying and pleading to gods and ghosts. Do you understand?"

Closing his eyes because he didn't want to listen to his old man nagging, Yuan Buxing had to nod in agreement: "Yes, your son knows what he's doing." Looking half-understanding, Yuan Youxin chimed in, "Understood." Yuan Zhuliu nodded and echoed, "This son understands."

Pacing back and forth in the main hall, Yuan Bao said gravely: "Everyone in this world is striving, and what they vie for is merely more choices. Those with more choices are the free winners; those with no choice must leave it to fate. As parents, we are all willing to work ourselves to the bone to win even one more choice for our children. As the children of Yuan Bao, some things you can do if you want to, and abandon whenever you don't. You have this choice. Do not think life is naturally like this; how many people toil for a lifetime simply because they have no choice."

With that, Yuan Bao turned to look at his three inattentive children, waved his hand helplessly, and sighed: "Let's not talk about this for now. Next, let's handle this trivial matter of the Red Robe Cult. Dad will send people to scout the movements of the Red Robe Cult. Buxing, you go to Wudang on Dad's behalf. Youxin can either go to a branch in another prefecture or honestly stay in the back mountain; since a war is about to begin, don't run around blindly. In these few days, Dad will send people to deliver invitations to various sects, and Zhuliu will lead people to summon all disciples within the Qingzhou territory to guard the mountain here." Subsequently, the father and four children discussed many more details before finally dispersing.