Chapter 93: A meeting of merchants

Talking to Wenqing was only the first step of his plan, but once that was done, he moved to the next step; moving towards the other union members, but only going to the ones he believed were more likely to turn against the Xueying clan.

He couldn't take a massive risk and fall head first, like letting the clan know what was going to hit them in advance, and handing them the time to find ways to prepare for what was about to come. He wanted them unprepared, helpless and in a way that could hurt them.

The information and knowledge he had collected over the last month came in handy here, and he swiftly moved to convince the union members that siding with him was going to be more beneficial to them than the Xueying clan.

Partly, he was only able to do it because, rather than just being a merchant group, he was also representing a sect and could trade a lot of things that the union members might need. If not that, then he always had his modern knowledge, and he put it to good use—especially for Li Chengyuan who had a large clothing business. The man had been hesitant at first, but all it took was a demonstration of his sewing machines and an offer to provide six of them in exchange for his support. After that, Li Chengyuan had practically talked with a fat grin on his face.

In the grand scheme of things, a few sewing machines in the hands of a competitor weren’t going to shake the industry. But they would get him the backing he needed, at least for now. And that was all that mattered.

Still, getting the support of the union members alone wasn't enough. Their connections would allow him to drive the Xueying clan out of the union, and the backlash would serve as a warning to the other two dominant clans not to try anything reckless. But before that, he needed to cripple them. He needed more than just social pressure—he needed legal pressure, something that would force even the bureaucrats to take action.

And, ironically, the Xueying clan itself had handed him the perfect opportunity.

After spending the entire evening securing union support, Chen Ren shifted his focus elsewhere. In the world of money, people always chased after the gold, but there was plenty of merit in collecting coppers and silvers too. And that was exactly what he planned to do next.

He sent out invitations to about a third of the minor merchants operating in Jingxi, disguising them as an exclusive opportunity to visit his mall with their families while also hinting at a meeting that would give them a good opportunity to grow their businesses. The invitation was worded carefully—cordial enough to seem like a generous offer, yet compelling enough that they wouldn’t dare to reject it.

Just as he had expected, nearly all of them arrived the next day. Their wives lingered on the ground floor, browsing through perfumes and clothing, while Yuqiu discreetly guided the merchants to the second floor, where a large table had already been set for them with a tea to warm the tension.

Seated at the head of the table, Chen Ren took a sip of his own tea cup and raised his gaze as a plump man walked into the room. The merchants who had already claimed seats looked up at the newcomer, a few nodding in polite acknowledgment.

The man—Tai Yueshi, whom Chen Ren immediately recognized from his prior research—gave a sheepish smile as he stepped forward, giving a half bow. "Apologies. My wife and daughter wanted my opinion on a few things, so I had to stay back for a bit. Those perfumes and clothes—they’re absolutely loving them."

Then, turning toward Chen Ren, he gave a respectful bow. "Daoist Chen Ren, your sect’s products are something I can only hope to replicate."

Chen Ren smiled. "Thank you for your kind words, Tai Yueshi. I’m honored. I’ll make sure your family gets a good discount." He glanced at the already occupied seats. "Sadly, it seems all the seats are taken."

Tai Yueshi. nodded, scanning the table before shrugging. "No big deal. I can stand for a bit." With that, he moved toward a corner where a few other merchants had already taken position.

Chen Ren let a brief silence settle over the room before speaking. "I believe enough people are here for me to begin this meeting. Shall we?” His question earned him a few hums, and nods. But more than half of the gathered merchants looked skeptical, casting glances among them. Chen Ren ignored the wariness and talked with his cheerful voice.

“First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for arriving on such short notice, and I hope your families are enjoying our products."

Only a few merchants nodded at that, but he knew none of them were discontent. Maybe it was because of their family that they arrived here or perhaps it was due to the reluctance of offending a cultivator. Minor merchants rarely had the power to refuse a cultivator’s summons, after all. Though, it was likely a mix of both.

He exhaled lightly, then continued, "Now, I imagine you’re all eager to hear the real reason I invited you here—the opportunity that would let you all grow your businesses further, but before that, I want to talk about the reason a lot of your businesses aren't doing well—the ongoing sabotage of your businesses by the Xueying clan."

The air in the room shifted. He could tell how it became almost suffocating at the mixed mention of Xueying clan and sabotage. The two men who sat right in front of him stiffened, while others exchanged glances.

"I’m sure some of you are already aware," Chen Ren went on, his eyes sweeping across the table. "For example, Dong Tinguang, your merchant clan's candle business was crippled when the Xueying clan secured exclusive contracts with the beekeepers, forcing you to import beeswax from another city at ridiculous costs."

Dong Tinguang’s expression darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Yes, that's what happened."

"And that’s just one example." Chen Ren shifted his eyes to the one who sat next to him. "But it's not just businesses like his," he said. "There are also people like Yan Wudong of the Yan clan, whose transportation business suffered repeated attacks, causing him to lose reputation in the market."

At that, an older man seated near the middle of the table grimaced, his expression souring. Chen Ren noticed the way his hand shook when he grabbed the tea and sipped on it, clearly uncomfortable with the awful truth.

"Let me tell you now—those attacks weren’t just bad luck. They were intentional and planned. Every single one of them was orchestrated by the Xueying clan. And not just that—they even went so far as to spread rumors about your business, and about you personally, to damage your standing."

Yan Wudong’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Chen Ren reached into his robe and slid a stack of parchments onto the table.

"I have proof."

A tense, pregnant silence followed as Chen Ren pushed the documents forward.

"These are copies," he said. "Take one and read for yourselves."

The merchants hesitated for only a moment before standing up and reaching for the parchments. As they read, their brows furrowed. Some paled. Others clenched their fists. The room filled with the rustling of paper and the occasional sharp inhale of breath.

It was one of the merchants—a younger man near the edge of the table—who finally broke the silence. "Where did you get this information?"

Chen Ren crossed his hands in front of his chest. "While I was transporting my products from Cloud Mist City, I was attacked by men from the Xueying clan. Some of them were cultivators that I was able to capture. They gave me this information—records of all the shady dealings they’ve been involved in, specifically targeting your businesses. Wasn’t easy to get them, but I did."

His gaze flickered to Yan Wudong. "There should be a detailed account in there about how your carriages were attacked. Does it match what happened to you?"

Yan Wudong flipped a few more pages before stopping, his fingers tightening around the parchment. "Yes… that’s exactly what happened." His voice was tight with barely contained anger. "All this time, I thought it was a group of bandits. All. This. Time.”

Chen Ren nodded. "I don’t doubt that Xueying clan paid bandits to do their dirty work. But they mixed in their own men, too—and that was their mistake. And I have no doubt that this is just scratching the surface of their foul practices.

"As you all know, rising to the top of any industry is difficult. It takes time, effort, and—above all—honesty in business. There is a sanctity in the way merchants conduct themselves, a trust that allows trade to flourish." His eyes narrowed. "Xueying clan clearly does not believe in that."

It was then that Tai Yueshi, the plump merchant who had arrived late, let out a sigh.

"Even if they’re doing this," he said carefully, "they’re doing it in ways that make it difficult to pin the blame on them. If we confront them, they’ll just deny everything. Say they had no idea."

Some of the merchants glared at him. Yan Wudong and Dong Tinguang practically threw daggers with their stare. Realising what he had said, Tai Yueshi. quickly raised his hands. "I’m not defending them," he added hastily. "But let’s be honest—we’re too small to act against them. If we try, the entire union could turn against us. And that…" His face darkened. "That’s a good way to go bankrupt."

Silence stretched once more. Chen Ren had expected resistance—but he also had an answer for it.

At that, another merchant—a middle-aged man with a narrow face and sharp, large eyes—let out a weary sigh. It was Guo Qiang, someone who sold spices brought from the Yellow Stone mountains. "I’ve already tried before. When they stole a month’s worth of stock from my carriages a few months ago," he said. "It’s not like I didn’t know who was behind it. But they’re too big. The moment I pushed back, they threatened to crush me. What can we even do? The union always had each other's back and it's impossible to do anything when they are acting together."

Chen Ren interjected before anyone else could voice their agreement. "If I hadn’t already done something about the union, I wouldn’t have called you all here."

The shift in his tone silenced the room. Every pair of eyes turned toward him.

Calmly, he continued. "I will give you my word on this—the union isn’t going to unite behind the Xueying clan this time. If we act against them, they won’t be able to call on their usual support."

Yan Wudong narrowed his eyes. "How is that possible?"

Chen Ren smiled. "Because I made it possible. Until now, you all had grievances against the Xueying clan, but you were powerless to act. Why? Because in the grand scheme of things, you are like ants, and Xueying clan is the elephant. And no single ant can take down an elephant." He gave a warm smile and said, "But a swarm of ants? Working together? They can strip even an elephant down to the bones. What I’m offering is the power of collective strength. And I have the plan to make sure you all get the revenge you’ve been waiting for. Once we strike at them, their hold over the market will weaken. And when that happens? We’ll be the ones swooping in to take their market share."

Then, he leaned back slightly and spread his hands. "I won’t force anyone into this. If you don’t want to involve yourself, that’s fine. Go downstairs, take a look at the items, buy anything and leave. No hard feelings. But for those who want to be part of something greater, those who want to stop being trampled underfoot—stay."

He folded his arms again and waited; waited for someone to stand up and walk away. He saw how the men who stood exchanged glances, said so many things without actually speaking.

Just when he thought the air couldn’t get more suffocating, someone spoke.

"I’m in,” Guo Qiang spoke.

A single voice. But it was enough to break the hesitation.

Another merchant nodded. "Me too."

"Same here."

“Let’s do this.”

One after another, voices rose in agreement.

Chen Ren remained still, only allowing the smallest smile to tug at the corner of his lips. He had chosen his targets carefully, and once again, his instincts had proven correct.

With the room now fully committed, he exhaled lightly and straightened.

"Good." His eyes gleamed. "Since we’re all on the same page, let’s talk about the plan."

***

Xueying Shenmu sat in his seat in his office, his back rigid as he listened to Dexin, his steward, who stood right in front of him, giving his usual report. But today, it wasn't the usual rundown of activities. This time, the focus was entirely on Heavenly Fragrances, which had exceeded his expectations by a wide margin. The perfume business had exploded in Cloud Mist City, but he hadn't expected it to do much better here.

Dexin continued, "According to our informers, Heavenly Fragrances had to give away around two hundred and ten bottles of perfume for free due to complaints about counterfeits. They've managed to maintain their reputation, and in some ways, it’s even improved, but they are definitely taking a hit. Even with the profits they've made, this free giveaway could hurt them in the long run."

"Interesting," Shenmu murmured. "More demand, more counterfeits... It's working out just as we anticipated."

Dexin nodded. "Yes, Master. But what's more, after learning that Heavenly Fragrances has been giving away free perfumes to counteract the counterfeits, some people have started trying to make their own knockoffs, hoping to get a free bottle in return. The cycle is feeding itself."

Shenmu chuckled, the sound rumbling from deep within his chest. "I always thought we had so many leeches in our city, wanting free things, but I never thought I would appreciate them. So, when can we initiate the second phase of our plan?"

"Soon," Dexin replied without hesitation. "We're in the final stages of preparing the weak poisons that should cause harm to anyone who uses the affected perfumes. Though, we are still brainstorming ways to mix them into the Heavenly Fragrances products. But once we do, it won't take time to start the rumours and they should gain enough momentum with a few cases emerging.”

Shenmu nodded approvingly. "Good. Keep up the work, and we’ll have these people off our backs in no time." He paused, his gaze flickering toward Dexin. "Also, contact the Jinshi Trade Association and Lotus Mist Fragrances. Ask them for substantial compensation for dealing with this problem. We don't need any more distractions while we're pushing this forward."

Dexin bowed his head. "As you instruct, Master. But before I go, there’s one more thing,” he said.

"What is it?"

“A few days ago, there was a significant number of small merchants and their families visiting Heavenly Fragrances. They came with their families, so we didn’t think much of it at first. But so many of them arrived at once, and after investigating, we discovered that Chen Ren called them there, promising them discounts—likely to forge some sort of connection.”

Shenmu scoffed. "Chen Ren... I knew that boy would be trouble. Did they meet with him directly?"

"Yes," Dexin confirmed, "and some of them are already making moves to align themselves with him. They see the opportunity for profit, and he’s playing the role of a connector, giving them a sense of exclusivity."

"He’s probably just trying to make connections since he’s got none in this city, but it’s all useless. His business will be stripped from here soon enough, and there’s nothing he can do about it. What can those small-time merchants even do? Half of them already have businesses that are on the verge of collapsing."

But just as the words left his mouth, there was a sharp knock at the door. The door creaked open, and his son, Xueying Zian stepped in, his usual pale face was even paler, and his lips were parted. Sweat covered his forehead as if he’d run a marathon to get there.

Shenmu’s smile faltered, his brow furrowing. "What’s wrong, Zian?"

Zian's voice trembled as he spoke. "Father, there are a lot of city guards outside—along with the enforcers from the magistrate. They said they would speak to you once you appear, and if not, they’ll barge in."

Shenmu’s eyes widened. "Why? What is this about?"

"They… they didn’t say much, but they insisted they need your presence right now. They said it’s urgent, or else…"

Shenmu stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Lead the way," he said curtly.

As he moved swiftly toward the courtyard, Shenmu’s mind raced. What was this all about? He had always been on good terms with the magistrate. His gifts had always been well-received, and their relationship had been nothing short of cordial. To send guards and enforcers here—this was an insult, a slap in the face he couldn't overlook. He needed to get to the bottom of it.

By the time he reached the courtyard, he was met with a scene that froze him in place. The courtyard was crowded with enforcers flanked by guards. The moment they saw him, one of them stepped forward and looked into his eyes.

"Xueying Shenmu, head of the Xueying clan," the enforcer said loud enough for everyone within a mile to hear, "you are hereby taken into custody under charges of sabotaging the businesses of small merchants, orchestrating bandit attacks against transport routes, and engaging in underhanded dealings that have cost the city’s economy. You stand accused of spreading counterfeit goods, creating monopolies by coercion, and unlawfully tampering with public trade to secure your own wealth."

"If you do not cooperate," the enforcer continued, "we will be forced to take you by force. Do you surrender?"

***

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