Blood sedge

Chapter 1190 The Good Merchant Hides His True Colors (Part 4)

"Xunyi, don't believe him!"

Tang Afu stared at Shen Dongshan, who spoke with absolute certainty, with eyes full of hatred. Without turning his head, he said to Liu Xunyi, "This man is treacherous and cunning, always driven by profit. His visit today must be for ulterior motives. Don't believe his sweet talk, or you'll end up like me."

"Of course, I, Shen, would never make friends based on mere words." Ignoring Tang Afu's rebuke, Shen Dongshan turned to Liu Xunyi and said, "Resolving Sui Zuo's troubles is my first gift to my nephew Xunyi. I believe that nephew Xunyi is definitely not the kind of person who can't distinguish right from wrong, or friend from foe..."

"Shen, stop spreading your nonsense..."

“Afu!” Xiao Zhirou interrupted Tang Afu’s clamor, “Xunyi knows what’s going on, so let’s hear what he has to say first.”

Tang Afu could disregard the opinions of others, but he could not ignore Xiao Zhirou's. He gave the nonchalant Shen Dongshan a deep look, angrily sheathed his ruthless sword, and retreated to the side with resentment.

"So, the person who secretly met with Zhang Xiong at the Donghai Teahouse yesterday was Master Shen?" Seeing that the situation was gradually stabilizing, Xie Xuan gathered his thoughts and took the opportunity to speak, "Presumably, the owner of that Three-Flame Golden Hoop Wolf Fang is also Master Shen."

"I, Shen, am unworthy, but I had some past connections with Prince Huli, and by chance received the Three-Flame Golden Hoop Wolf Fang bestowed upon me by him. Only then was I able to pry open this stubborn and unyielding rock, Zhang Xiong." Shen Dongshan didn't mince words, immediately pointing out the crux of the situation. "Nephew Xunyi, you may not know this, but although Guo Xian is a general of Luoyang, his backer, Ariq Böke, is a mere figurehead, all show and no substance. Although Zhang Xiong is only a deputy general, he is backed by the powerful Huli. On the surface, the situation in Luoyang is a power struggle between Guo Xian and Zhang Xiong, but in reality, it's a covert power struggle between the Ariq Böke and Huli factions, with Huli holding an absolute advantage." "If it weren't for the fear of Möngke Khan, which forced Khulie and Wang Dechen to patiently wait for an opportunity, Ariq Böke's henchmen wouldn't have been able to entrenched themselves in Luoyang for so many years. Moreover, 'the local official has more power than the distant one,' and Luoyang, located in the Central Plains, was within the sphere of influence of Khulie, the commander of the southern expedition. Sui Zuo was his subordinate. Whether to pursue this matter, how to pursue it, and to whom to pursue it—all these were decisions made by Khulie, not by a useless puppet like Guo Xian, and even his master Ariq Böke… probably didn't carry enough weight. Therefore, to resolve Sui Zuo's predicament, a targeted approach was needed; winning over Zhang Xiong was far more effective than bribing Guo Xian."

After speaking, Shen Dongshan secretly glanced at Liu Xunyi, whose expression was indifferent, and cupped his hands in a smile, saying, "The situation is critical, and I had no choice but to take the initiative. I have ruined your plans, Nephew Xunyi. I hope you will remember my good intentions and not take offense."

"How do you know I have a plan?" Liu Xunyi retorted calmly. "And how do you know I intend to bribe Guo Xian?"

"The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind. My nephew Xunyi has shown his talent in the Central Plains martial arts world, and Young Master Wu and I are worried that something might happen to you."

Although Shen Dongshan's wording was very elegant, it was also a tacit admission that he and Wu Shuang had been secretly monitoring him.

Fortunately, Wu Shuang had done Liu Xunyi a favor; otherwise, this one incident alone would have been enough to create a rift between the two.

It must be admitted that Shen Dongshan's information was more comprehensive, his considerations more meticulous, and his actions more prudent. However, his actions also thoroughly humiliated Liu Xunyi, making Liu Xunyi's cooperation with Guo Xian appear both foolish and reckless.

"Master Shen truly lives up to his reputation as a wealthy and powerful merchant. He is indeed well-informed and his actions are extraordinary." Xie Xuan was worried that Liu Xunyi would be angry, so he quickly added, "It is said that Mongolian officials, both high and low, regard the Three-Flame Golden Hoop Wolf Fang as if they were seeing a king. Master Shen calmed down the stubborn Zhang Xiong with just a few words, which proves that the rumors are true."

Xie Xuan deliberately emphasized the importance of the Three Flames Golden Hoop Wolf Fang, both to save face for Liu Xunyi and to indirectly flatter Shen Dongshan.

"Master Shen is a pillar of the Song Dynasty's business world, a bridge spanning the seas, yet he has gained the favor of a Mongol prince. This matter... is quite interesting." Liu Xunyi stared intently at the eloquent Shen Dongshan, and asked cryptically, "I've heard that the Three-Flame Golden Hoop Wolf Fang is extremely precious, and everyone who possesses it is a guest of honor of Hulie, deeply trusted and relied upon by him. Now, the relationship between the Song and Mongol countries is extremely precarious, and they may go to war at any time. At this sensitive time, Master Shen is using a Mongol prince's token to do business with the people of the Song Dynasty. Aren't you afraid of causing misunderstandings and being accused of having an unclear stance, being two-faced?"

"Nephew Xunyi, you flatter me!" Shen Dongshan laughed heartily, waving his hands repeatedly. "I am but a humble merchant, daring not to offer advice on state affairs, nor capable of rectifying customs and saving the world. I am utterly unfit to shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the nation. In the end, I merely make a meager living by buying and selling goods here and there. Since I'm running a business, I cannot be prejudiced or biased. The reason Dongshan Trading Company has achieved some success is simply because we buy and sell more goods than others and operate in a wider area. It's not because I..." "Bravo! The Dongshan Trading Company's business spans the entire world, far beyond the Song Dynasty. We have branches in Mongolia, Dali, the Western Regions, Tibet, Korea, Ryukyu, India, Bagan… everywhere, and merchants are everywhere. They are all our flesh and blood; how could I, Shen, favor one over the other? I must adapt to local customs and cultivate relationships far and wide to ensure our business prospers and our wealth flourishes. It is true that I am a guest of honor of the Mongol princes, but I am also a friend of many important officials in the Song court, and I have close ties with the royal families of Dali, Korea, and Bagan."

At this point, Shen Dongshan glanced at Wu Shuang casually and added, "By the way! I also have business dealings with the Young Prince Qin, otherwise Young Master Wu wouldn't have condescended to act as my intermediary." Hearing this, Wu Shuang frowned slightly, seemingly surprised that Shen Dongshan would use him as a shield at this moment. Although somewhat displeased, he didn't deny it, essentially acknowledging Shen Dongshan's explanation.

This scene caused Xunzhen, who had been silent for a long time, to change his expression, and his already displeased face became even more gloomy.

"In truth, businessmen are no different from those in the martial world; having more friends is always better than having more enemies." Shen Dongshan seemed oblivious to the strange looks from those around him, his expression remaining calm, his smile still bright, and his demeanor still full of confidence. "The discord between the Song and the Mongols does not prevent me from doing business between the two countries. Just like the former Lord Luo and Lord Jinwu, the two had a long-standing feud, but they were both friends whom I deeply respected, and I was also regarded as a very important friend by them. Others may not know this, but Lord Xie certainly does."

"This……"

Xie Xuan knew Liu Xunyi's strong sense of right and wrong, and he also knew why Liu Xunyi had questioned Shen Dongshan so unfriendly.

At the same time, he also understood Shen Dongshan's smooth and worldly manner and knew the purpose of his extensive use of historical references.

However, Xie Xuan is now caught in the middle and in a dilemma. He can neither help Liu Xunyi to look down on Shen Dongshan, nor can he help Shen Dongshan to refute Liu Xunyi.

"Merchants value profit over parting. Master Shen's words just now have truly made me understand what it means for a merchant to prioritize profit." Having grown up in the Tianji Pavilion since childhood, Liu Xunyi, whose bones are engraved with the concept of national righteousness, naturally despised Shen Dongshan's idea of ​​prioritizing profit over righteousness. She asked in return, "Does Master Shen really only have interests in his eyes and completely disregard national righteousness?"

"Of course I'll consider it! I'm only human, how can I be without any feelings?" Shen Dongshan argued. "Although my business is all over the world, I am still a Han Chinese at heart, and when I go out, I am still regarded as a Song merchant. To be selfish, if the Song Dynasty is strong and all nations pay tribute, why should I go to the north to fawn over the Mongols?"

"The fate of the nation is such that turmoil is not something that will happen overnight, and it involves far more than just one thing or one object. There are more than ten million people in the Song Dynasty. Why don't I see anyone else running around smiling and flattering them?"

Sensing Liu Xunyi's aggressive aura, Shen Dongshan's lips twitched slightly. After a moment's thought, he said in a low voice, "Scholars die for their remonstrances, and warriors die in battle. All walks of life, all professions, each follow their own path, which is in accordance with natural law and human ethics. Nephew Xunyi, you were born in the imperial court, rose to fame in the martial world, survived countless brushes with death on the sword, and rose to prominence through bloodshed. Your loyalty is as bright as the sun, and your ambitions are as high as the clouds. In contrast, I, Shen... am a mere commoner, incapable of carrying heavy loads or lifting heavy objects. All I can do is negotiate business and put on a smiling face—this is my way of survival. As I said before, even today, even though I have become the 'richest merchant in the Song Dynasty,' envied by many, I still dare not offend anyone, nor can I afford to offend anyone. This applies to Hulie, to the Young Prince of Qin, and to you, Nephew Xunyi... as well."

Shen Dongshan spoke from the bottom of his heart, and by the end, his eyes had unconsciously become slightly red. Clearly, he had put his words into action.

"Shen..."

"Um... I'm very curious, how did Master Shen persuade Zhang Xiong?" Xie Xuan was worried that Liu Xunyi and Shen Dongshan's conversation would become increasingly awkward, so he quickly changed the subject, "You can't just use a token to force someone to do something, can you?"

“What you say is very true, Lord Xie! A warrior like Zhang Xiong is always more compliant to gentleness than to force; using force to suppress others will only backfire.” Shen Dongshan quickly gathered his thoughts and answered methodically, “In fact, Zhang Xiong has always looked down on the ambitious but incompetent Guo Xian, and Kublai Khan also does not want Ariq Böke to interfere with his territory. Wang Dechen sent Zhang Xiong here to serve as a military commander, his real intention being to seize the opportunity to replace Guo Xian and take back power in Luoyang.”

"No wonder Zhang Xiong started causing trouble everywhere in Luoyang under the guise of the General's Mansion; it turns out he was trying to trip up Guo Xian." Xie Xuan suddenly realized. "So, Master Shen is just going along with it this time?"

"Going with the flow requires the right timing," Shen Dongshan said with a noncommittal smile. "This time, I dared to act first and report later. First, my nephew Yi Xian sought cooperation with Guo Xian, which inadvertently gave me an opportunity. Second, after weighing the pros and cons, I calculated that Hu Lie and Wang Dechen would definitely do me this favor. Therefore, rather than saying that I persuaded Zhang Xiong, it would be more accurate to say that I revealed Hu Lie and Wang Dechen's unspoken intentions to him."

……