Shipin Dalizheng

Du Zhong returned to Duke Du's mansion with a head full of questions. When he asked, "Master Du Sanye was also at the Duke's place," he lifted the hem of his outer garment and ran over at a trot.

The large study in the outer courtyard of the Duke's Mansion.

Duke Du looked through the two deeds, one for the sale of the farmland and the other for the investment. They were reasonable, legal and compliant, and there was nothing wrong with them.

Du Zhong wiped his sweat and said, "I've reviewed it several times and found no problems. The Duke's original words were that if Prince Rong needs it, he can give him 10,000 taels of silver. No matter how we calculate it, we won't lose out, so we decided to sign it, but Prince Jing said there's a trap."

"You really don't see where the pit is?"

Du Zhong really couldn't see it, and even Mr. Du San couldn't see it.

"Brother, isn't this great? Originally, I had to pay 10,000 taels for the loss, but now I don't have to. I'll get my money back in five years. As for that stupid business of his, we don't care whether it makes money or not. If it doesn't make money, we won't invest in it, right? I think that despite his young age, Prince Rong is very particular about his work. Brother, are you afraid of losing money?"

Duke Du rubbed his face with his hands. His third brother wasn't very smart either. However, after seeing such a contract, how many people could really see through it?

"Did I really get scammed?"

Duke Du said: "There is a pit, but we still have a choice whether to jump into it or not."

"Hey, big brother, can you explain it to me? What's the trap here? The worst that can happen is that I lose 10,000 taels, which I'll consider as repaying the favor of Earl Jian'an."

Twenty years ago, the north and the south were divided, and Du Xiyue, the legitimate daughter of Duke Du, and Prince An were granted fiefdoms in the south of the Yangtze River. Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, they became subjects of the Southern Emperor Nangong He.

At that time, many civil and military officials petitioned to have the Du family implicated for treason. It was the Earl of Jian'an who supported this, so that Emperor Xuanning did not punish the Du family and their noble titles remained honorable.

"It's more than ten thousand taels!"

Duke Du sighed and pointed at the deed. "It's true that I bought the farm for ten thousand taels and exchanged the red deed for it, but the farm has been bought into a stake. We in the Du Mansion have no say in it, which means the farm is still in Rong Tang's hands."

"There's no loss here, right? Didn't Big Brother originally want to give him 10,000 taels?"

If the farm wants to become a shareholder, Rong Tang must first be given a clean farm. Let me ask you, who controls the farm now?"

"is not it……"

Mr. Du San is stuck. If he wants to establish the second shareholding agreement, he needs the help of the Duke's Mansion. No, it's his own farm and his own problem. He needs to drive Yang Liangui away and make room for Rong Tang. Only then will there be no trouble.

Driving Yang Liangui out was no less important than driving Jin Shizhao out himself, as it meant a break between the Duke's Mansion and Minister Jin.

Mr. Du changed his mind and said, "Then forget it! The second deed will be invalidated. We can sell the farm back to him in a few years. We won't lose anything."

Duke Du smiled bitterly, "Your ideas are so simple. Never mind. We're giving away real money. He can't even enter his own farm. It would be embarrassing if everyone told others about it. Besides, we'll sell the farm back to him in five years. What if he doesn't want it? It would just fall into the hands of the Du family. Giving him 10,000 taels was just a favor. Now, it's just a transaction, not a favor."

Mr. Du was dumbfounded. "This is impossible to advance or retreat, and it's also impossible to give it up."

He kicked Du Zhong and said, "You idiot, what are you doing?"

Du Zhong groaned, clutching his waist and groaning, "Third Master, Duke, I didn't think too much about it. I just remembered your instructions and gave Rong Shizi some help. At that time, I felt so sorry for Rong Shizi, and I felt pity for him. I wanted to give him some banknotes without hesitation. It didn't matter whether he had a farm or not. With this money, he could buy another farm. Who knew he would come up with this suggestion? I also felt that since Rong Shizi was willing, we should not lose money if we can, and we should make a little money if we can. I was greedy for a while..."

"Wait a minute," Duke Du said, "Why did you say Rong Tang looked so pitiful?"

Du Zhong felt that he had done something wrong, and in order to avoid being punished, his little head was spinning rapidly. If he could feel compassion, could the Duke do the same for the grandson of his benefactor?

"Your Excellency, when I saw Prince Rong, he was wearing a cloth shirt with dirty trouser legs, and he was chewing on a dry biscuit. The Rong clan leader killed a chicken for me to eat, and even asked his granddaughter to invite Prince Rong to eat a chicken drumstick. Prince Rong said he was in mourning and refused to eat. If this is a lie, may the heavens strike me dead."

The study was very quiet, and no thunder fell for a long time.

"Are you really that poor?"

Du Zhong nodded firmly.

Third Master Du also interjected, "I've also heard gossip in the market. It's said that the second son of the Zheng family spread the word that Prince Rong is very poor, wearing coarse linen clothes and eating brown rice. When he invites relatives to a banquet, it must be because his subordinates go hunting to hunt pigs, otherwise the dishes will not have any oil or water."

Duke Du had heard of this before and thought it was a joke, a farce of brothers fighting each other.

Duke Du's eyes were complicated, he was in trouble now.

Drive away Yang Liangui, break up with Jin Shizhao, and tell Prince Rui that I, Old Du, don't think highly of you.

He did not chase Yang Liangui away, but accepted the compensation of 10,000 taels. Rong Tang used the silver to relocate the wounded soldiers, and it had nothing to do with him, Duke Du, and he did not repay the favor he owed to the Earl of Jian'an.

Maybe he would be criticized for taking advantage of the situation because he spent money to buy Fuxinzhuang, because the actual value of Fuxinzhuang was at least 15,000 taels.

This was a loss of money and reputation, and the only one who benefited was Yang Liangui, or simply Jin Shizhao himself.

But why? He didn't owe that idiot anything.

He was fuming over this, while Third Master Du was already muttering to himself, "Since Prince Rong is having such a hard time, it makes sense for him to sell his land, right?"

Du Zhong nodded desperately, "Yes, yes! Besides, Prince Rong didn't sell the land for himself. He said, he said..." Du Zhong recalled Rong Tang's words, which he didn't want the Duke to hear.

"The livelihoods of six hundred battlefield heroes are in your hands. Please give it your all."

"Fuck you."

Duke Du was so angry that he started to curse. Wasn't it just a deliberate attack on his heart to say such sentimental words? How could he continue to live in peace?

In fact, he had already made up his mind that he must take back the farmland, otherwise he would be a coward and be ridiculed by the nobles in Beijing for twenty years.

After taking the land back, it is impossible to drive the wounded away, otherwise what kind of person would I be? I let them farm the land and did not embezzle the harvest. At least it would give me more prestige in the military.

As for the second shareholding agreement, it seemed to be a matter of course. After all, it couldn't be any worse. Maybe there would be a little profit.

Speaking of investing, what kind of shares did you invest in and what kind of business did you engage in?

"You idiot, you just said you wanted to invest in a business, but didn't you ask what kind of business it was? Is it reliable? You didn't even ask for instructions, yet you dared to act on your own."

Du Zhong trembled as he pulled out the oil-paper bag from his bosom and spread it on Duke Du's desk. "Here, Prince Rong suggested doing this. I've thought about it and it's not something I can lose. I might even make a fortune."

"What's that disgusting thing? Black and sticky?"

The sugar had been in my arms for too long, and it melted a little when it came into contact with warmth, forming irregular lumps.

"Sugar! Duke, it's sugar. Although it looks a bit ugly, Prince Rong said that this was his first attempt and it was a success. It will get better and better in the future. As for what shape it will take, as long as there is a suitable mold, even a peony can be made. Try it, it's very sweet."

Duke Du frowned, pinched a piece, put it in his mouth, sipped it and slurped it...