Chapter 419: Buying Influence
The smell of food wafted from the kitchen into the main hall.
Xiao Ming was in a good mood after a big profit. He said to Li Wei, “Since it’s mealtime, why not dine at the mansion?”
Li Wei was surprised and shy. “I dare not. How could a lowly servant sit with Your Highness?”
“No need to be so formal. Here, there are no such strict rules. Don’t be so distant.” Xiao Ming said carelessly and told the servants, “Prepare an extra meal.”
Li Wei became more nervous. At the Chu King’s place, he was not disliked; otherwise, he wouldn’t be sent as an envoy at his age. But such a grand reception from Xiao Ming left him unsure.
Xiao Ming noticed Li Wei’s expression and told him to step outside for a moment. At that time, Wang Xuan came from behind the screen.
“Do your secret guards know this Li Wei?” Xiao Ming asked.
“Yes, Your Highness. We have records on many high officials in Chu territory, but not this Li Wei. If I guess right, he’s a low-ranking official not favored by the Chu King.”
Xiao Ming nodded. “We must have secret guards in Chu’s lands. Publicly, we try to bribe officials for our use. Remember, secret guards don’t just gather intelligence. Their most important job is deep infiltration.”
Wang Xuan nodded. Actually, they were already carrying out a very secret plan known only to Xiao Ming and himself. Even officials like Pang Yukun did not know.
Under this plan, the secret guards’ work expanded from spying to bribing and infiltrating officials. These officials included imperial and non-imperial lords, even barbarians.
Besides officials, their work included infiltrating the common people. Like what the Chu King did in Yongzhou, they sought conflict points in Chu territory, ready to ignite trouble.
“Your Highness, we have started this work. But it’s very costly. What about the money?” Wang Xuan laughed and began to ask for funds.
There was no choice. Qingzhou’s finances were tight. Whether Niu Ben, Pang Yukun, or Chen Wenlong, all watched the treasury closely. Without Xiao Ming’s approval, the secret guards could not start.
Xiao Ming’s face turned green with anger. He scolded, “You’re a bunch of vampires, you’re sucking me dry.”
“Your Highness, I’m helpless. These officials have big appetites. If we don’t feed them well, they won’t listen,” Wang Xuan said bitterly.
“Fine, fine.” Xiao Ming shrugged. “I’ll talk to Pang Yukun. But you must submit a detailed budget. I won’t give money blindly.”
“Yes.”
Wang Xuan smiled. Unlike the army and government, which could openly ask for funds, the secret guards could only go through Xiao Ming. Now that Xiao Ming agreed, Wang Xuan bowed and left.
Sighing, Xiao Ming frowned. Qingzhou’s development needed silver everywhere. He had to speed up producing goods and open sea trade routes. Otherwise, he’d face a financial deficit soon.
While thinking about money, Ziyuan came to invite him to eat. Because there was a guest, Fei Yue’er chose to avoid the meal.
Xiao Ming left Li Wei behind to dine with him, naturally with an ulterior motive.
Li Wei was responsible for the cannon purchase negotiation. What he reported back was very important, so Xiao Ming wanted to test him, find his weaknesses, and bribe him.
Since only two were dining, Zi Wan arranged the meal in the mansion’s pavilion so they could eat and enjoy the scenery.
Raising a cup and sipping wine, Xiao Ming studied Li Wei. His clothes were decent but a bit worn.
In this age, scholars simply wanted great wealth, many beautiful wives, and great success.
Xiao Ming signaled Ziyuan, who understood and left immediately. Soon two singing girls appeared and sat beside Li Wei, singing sweetly and charmingly.
Li Wei was a bit shy but knew this was normal treatment from a prince and forced himself to be polite, though he was very proper.
“No lecher,” Xiao Ming concluded.
He didn’t just look at the surface. Li Wei’s eyes were clear, showing no lustful thoughts.
Smiling, Xiao Ming said, “Envoy Li, for this deal, please speak well to the Chu King and ask him to send more craftsmen and merchant ships. If you can get extra from him, I am willing to share some of the profits with you. How about that?”
Li Wei knew Xiao Ming’s motive was not pure. He said, “Your Highness, I am lowly and powerless. I fear I cannot change the Chu King’s mind.”
Xiao Ming was surprised. Li Wei neither craved women nor money, which made things harder. He knew Li Wei’s words were just an excuse.
Living in the modern era, Xiao Ming knew that although an envoy had orders, his power in the other country could be great. Li Wei was in charge of this cannon purchase and would likely stay in Qingzhou for years overseeing it, with many possibilities for shady dealings.
After thinking, Xiao Ming asked, “Lowly and powerless? Is your official rank really so low in Chu?”
Li Wei’s eyes flickered with some anger.
Xiao Ming immediately caught this change. The Chu King was clever, probably chose Li Wei because he was not greedy for money or women.
But he hadn’t counted on Li Wei’s dissatisfaction with his career.
“Alas, the envoy looks to be about fifty. What a pity,” Xiao Ming said to provoke Li Wei. He wanted to open a breakthrough in Chu’s territory.
Li Wei’s face darkened. He had been a famous talent in Chu but had only a minor position for decades, quietly unhappy.
But he hid it well; the Chu King hadn’t noticed.
“High rank or low rank, all serve the Chu King. There’s nothing to pity,” Li Wei said cautiously.
“Your integrity is admirable. If only our court officials had such ideals, there would be no worry about successors at the Ministry of Rites.”
Hearing “the court,” Li Wei’s expression changed deeply.