Chapter 596 - 182 Nan Batian: What, he has another move?_5

"Pay back the money?"

Si Xi looked puzzled at Chen Jie, who chuckled and said, "Yes, pay back the money. Oh, by the way, here’s the Fishing Guild Headquarters’ account book for this year. How much money is left?"

As he spoke, Chen Zhu handed over an account book, which Chen Jie tossed onto the table.

Si Xi picked it up and looked through it, then with a confused face said, "How can such a big guild only have twenty-five thousand taels of silver left in the treasury?"

Chen Jie chuckled, "That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?"

"That’s a lot? Normally, it costs the guild three to five thousand taels a month to operate. With this amount, there’s only enough for the Headquarters to run for a month. What about after that?"

Chen Jie replied, "That’s why they need to press for the twenty thousand taels to be returned as soon as possible. This would leave the Headquarters with five thousand taels, and without money, they’ll have to figure out a way to increase their income."

"Increase income?"

Upon hearing this, Si Xi frowned and said, "How can they do that? The Fishing Guild’s income sources, like salt, are fixed, and they can’t sell iron. The cargo transport has stopped. As for selling fish?"

Si Xi looked completely bewildered. Although the guild was named the Fishing Guild, wasn’t selling fish their least important industry?

Selling fish was the most inconspicuous enterprise of the Fishing Guild. Although it meant exploiting fishermen, in reality, it was just a way for the guild to maintain old traditions. If they had to rely solely on selling fish to make money, they might as well starve.

These fishing businesses could just about support the fisheries at the town level. To keep the guild running, they would need to find more lucrative methods.

Therefore, it seemed there were almost no other ways for the Fishing Guild to increase their income, unless they resorted to robbery or highway banditry?

If people found out, they would laugh their heads off. The Fishing Guild could exploit the common people, but they couldn’t resort to robbery. Robbery was something bandits did, and the guild certainly couldn’t stoop lower than bandits!

Thus, finding new sources of income seemed rather difficult.

Si Xi looked at Chen Jie, who smiled and said, "Guild Leader Nan will come up with a solution."

After that, Chen Jie said, "Tomorrow, make the Mulan people demand the money. This bunch of useless people, not even eager for money, what else can they do? Pitiful!"

Upon hearing this, Si Xi said, "Understood."

...

The next day, at the Fishing Guild Headquarters, a group of Mulan people led by Old Arutai, nearly a hundred of them, surrounded the Fishing Guild Headquarters.

Nan Batian had been up all night. Calculated against by Chen Jiusi yesterday, he had been pushed into a corner, completely out of options. His bloodshot eyes bulged, pitiful to behold, as he looked completely haggard from the ordeal.

Just as he laid down, he heard a commotion outside. Fishing Guild Disciples rushed over, but they didn’t dare to enter because yesterday a disciple who went in to deliver a message without looking.

Was slapped to death by Nan Batian, who then spread rumors that the Gang Leader dreamt of killing people!

But with the situation being so critical, they couldn’t just not report. After some thought, the disciple turned and ran to Tang Ziyue, who had also just fallen asleep not long ago.

He too had been up all night, matching wits with Chen Jie, engaged in an enduring and monumental battle of intellect. He pondered what move Chen Jie would make next, but despite an entire night of thinking, he didn’t figure it out.

And just as he lay down, the disciple arrived, banging on the door.

Tang Ziyue woke up, donned his outer coat to answer the door, and saw the disciple asking, "What’s the matter?"

The disciple cut to the chase and said, "Mr. Tang, there’s big trouble. A group of Mulan people has blocked our gate, demanding we pay them silver. If we don’t pay, they won’t leave!"

Tang Ziyue responded, "Does the Gang Leader know about this?"

The disciple looked at Tang Ziyue and said, "I didn’t dare tell the Gang Leader."

Tang Ziyue said, "Fine, take me to the gate to have a look first."

Soon, Tang Ziyue was led to the gate, where he saw Old Arutai. Striking up a conversation, the Mulan stance was firm: twenty thousand taels, right now.

Tang Ziyue said, "Don’t rush, give us a few more days."

Old Arutai replied, "Han people, you still want to deceive us. There’s only twenty-five thousand taels left in your Fishing Guild’s accounts. If we come any later, we fear the money will be gone. We want our money today, and if you don’t pay, we’ll go to Darugachi Mansion and complain!"

"Hmm?"

Tang Ziyue furrowed his brow and turned to the disciple beside him, "Bring me the account book to look at."

The disciple quickly gathered the account book from the accounting room. Soon after reviewing it, Tang Ziyue frowned—it really was only twenty-five thousand taels. How could it be so little?

Thinking it over, Tang Ziyue also understood. Recently, the iron mines were closed, the Cao Yun transport stopped, and the salt trade was almost crushed by White Tiger Hall. It wasn’t easy to have even this much money.

But what scared Tang Ziyue even more was how the Mulan knew exactly how much money the Fishing Guild had. Who leaked the information?

And the Mulan’s organized appearance today suggested someone was stirring them up from behind.

"Chen Jiusi, no doubt. It must be Chen Jiusi. That guy’s moves are killer, one wave after another, not giving anyone a chance to breathe!"

Frowning, Tang Ziyue turned to the disciple, "Bring some tea to serve these honourable guests well."

Then he hurried off to find Nan Batian.

Nan Batian had just laid down when Tang Ziyue woke him up with knocking. His eyes were full of red vessels, preparing to erupt with anger, but upon seeing Tang Ziyue, he held back his rage.

Tang Ziyue said, "Gang Leader, the Mulan are here for money."

"What?"

Tang Ziyue repeated, "The Mulan are here for money."

"They’re asking for money? Didn’t I say to give it to them in a couple of days?"

"They want it now, won’t leave without it. They even know how much we have left in our accounts: only twenty-five thousand taels. If we give them twenty thousand, we’ll only have five thousand taels left."