Chapter 56: Dividing the Spoils
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After the auction for the agency rights of various prefectures and counties concluded, the merchants dispersed.
At this moment, Pang Yukun stood before Xiao Ming, a rare smile on his face, and said, “Congratulations, Your Highness. This time, Your Highness has collected seven million taels of silver. Truly a cause for celebration.”
Qian Dafu and Li Kaiyuan also wore expressions of wild joy. When had Qingzhou ever seen so much silver? Qian Dafu said, “Your Highness, with this sum of silver, our mines, workshops, and estates can all start operating simultaneously.”
“Exactly, and the shipyard too. Zhang Liang is in desperate need of silver to build ships. The merchant fleet urgently needs large vessels,” Li Kaiyuan added.
From struggling to scrape together a few thousand taels of silver to suddenly having seven million taels in hand, Xiao Ming felt like a nouveau riche.
However, recalling that even a single merchant under Prince Wei was wealthier than him, he quickly deflated. If a mere merchant was this wealthy, one could only imagine the prosperity of Prince Wei’s fiefdom.
He said, “The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will strive tirelessly. This is just the beginning. As long as we work together, I believe our fiefdom will not lose to Prince Wei’s!”
Pang Yukun gave Xiao Ming a surprised look. Xiao Ming’s previous poem, A Guest’s Song, had already left Pang Yukun in awe. Now, Xiao Ming’s casual remark, “The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will strive tirelessly,” carried a unique charm. Pang Yukun’s perception of the Prince of Qi shifted slightly.
To him, Xiao Ming could now be considered a scholar, a kindred spirit, which naturally increased his sense of camaraderie.