Chapter 1311: Chapter 1311
When Liu Bei received the news of Wei Yan’s return in defeat alongside Zang Ba, Chen Xi was engaged in an exchange with the envoy from Cao Cao’s side.
However, when Jia Xu sent people to deliver the news from the North, Chen Xi merely glanced at it and tossed it aside. He then reached for a pen, intending to fill out some forms. Such matters typically followed protocol, and there were others to deal with the merits and faults of Wei Yan and Xu Shu.
"It appears Marquis Chen has important matters at hand; otherwise, urgent messages wouldn’t be sent at such a moment. Perhaps I should return later?" Liu Ba chuckled, conveying a sense of irritation.
Since Liu Ba arrived as Cao Cao’s envoy to Liu Bei’s side, he’s been somewhat complacent. Although Ye City could be considered prosperous, it had just endured the fires of war and didn’t seem overly splendid. Thus, Liu Ba didn’t sense much of a disparity between the two sides.
"Oh, it’s nothing, just a loss at the front lines." Chen Xi remarked casually, "Such is the nature of warfare, winning and losing; it’s no big deal." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑~𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖾~𝖓𝖊𝖙
"But this is indeed a big deal." Liu Ba continued with a grin that managed to irritate nonetheless.
"Oh, perhaps for Cao Sikong, losing a battle is significant. For us, it’s merely procedural to report it to me." Chen Xi regarded Liu Ba’s smile with little reaction, signed his name with a pen, and handed the document to a nearby guard.
"Oh, so Marquis Chen is merely a human stamp then?" Liu Ba, dissatisfied, retorted after receiving a verbal jab from Chen Xi.
"I would prefer doing nothing at all. Isn’t it you who sought me out? I was about to take a nap." As he spoke, Chen Xi stretched lazily in front of Liu Ba because if Liu Ba didn’t intend to show respect, Chen Xi saw no reason to accommodate him.
Liu Ba became somewhat frustrated, yet inwardly cautious. He refrained from further provocation. He was there to place Cao Cao’s Money Exchange under Chen Xi’s main exchange’s banner. Meanwhile, he harbored the idea of siphoning some capital from the main exchange using minor tactics.
"Very well, you’re here for discussion, and the Money Exchange personnel have informed me. I don’t mind allowing the aristocratic family to appoint you as the head of the Money Exchange. When the time comes, just attach your name. The funds exiting your side will be recorded on your end with no relation to us, granting you full autonomy." Chen Xi remarked indifferently after glancing at Liu Ba.
"Agreed, but the tickets from our side need to be acknowledged by you!" Liu Ba immediately stated his condition.
"Here are the samples, personally issued by me." Chen Xi casually pulled out a batch of samples from a folder beside him, "Just these five denominations: five thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million, ten million. Anything beyond these levels requires our review."
Liu Ba examined the samples, feeling the special traits of the paper. It was resistant to water and fire, and since Inner Qi had stabilized its nurturing, it was nearly indestructible. The anti-counterfeiting features practically dissuaded Liu Ba from any forgery attempt.
"This is too limited." Liu Ba expressed in a pretend difficult manner, "There are many aristocratic families in Yongzhou, and such quantities are inadequate."
"Including the ones I issue, it will be sufficient." Chen Xi didn’t bother acknowledging Liu Ba’s expression.
"Nonetheless, you should allocate us a small quantity of higher-denomination tickets. After all, we cover two states, with flourishing commercial trade." Liu Ba said earnestly, looking at Chen Xi.
"Impossible, these are sufficiently ample for the aristocratic families, and they serve as base tickets, meant for you to exchange within your territory for family storage. High-denomination tickets will directly be issued to aristocratic families, clearing the money and goods." Chen Xi smiled at Liu Ba.
"In such a case, if the aristocratic families refuse to deposit with us, wouldn’t the tickets I hold become meaningless?" Liu Ba sneered at Chen Xi, "What significance do these tickets hold for us then?"
"They will certainly deposit." Chen Xi replied calmly to Liu Ba, "Families have grown accustomed to this form of transaction, so naturally, they will store funds."
"If I were to fill out a ticket now and exchange it for money here, would you accept it or not?" Liu Ba challenged Chen Xi coldly.
"If no money is deposited, where would the money come from? Do you have the certification on it?" Chen Xi smiled, explaining that these tickets only became valid once stamped by the various families.
It’s this stamping system that prompted every family to design a symbol as their signature, typically using characters for stamps. Thanks to ancient seal scripts being as ornate as flowers, families could use their surnames.
For those with common surnames, fortuitously, China’s ancient regional scripts varied significantly pre-unification, comprising dozens of writing methods—ample for differentiation, avoiding conflicts entirely.
This led to a situation: apart from those with uncommon surnames, widespread surnames like Zhang meant the one using the eventual standardized character held dominance.
Though numerous, Zhang had only one legitimate form, causing the stamp to become a tool for ranking and competition. Rank consciousness, for better or worse, has always been frustrating, yet not resorting to violence is a blessing.
Liu Ba’s face darkened, realizing he was being mocked. He came to share the spoils, not to be dismissed.
Having settled down, Liu Ba spoke gravely, "Does Marquis Chen assume I am unaware of the dealings within your Money Exchange, necessitating me to say it outright?"
Chen Xi appraised Liu Ba, uttering an impressed sound without doubting him; it was unsurprising that Liu Ba discerned his schemes.
"Oh, it’s nothing more than robbing Peter to pay Paul and using others’ savings for spending." Chen Xi indifferently eyed Liu Ba, causing him great astonishment!
"Don’t look at me like that. Do you think there’s something unspeakable about it?" Chen Xi replied cheekily, exuding a youthful vigor.
"Even if you made this public, what could be found? And even if publicized, it is mutual consent, mutually beneficial. What harm in disclosure, Zichu? Do you think sharing this with others results in anything?" Chen Xi regarded Liu Ba, without a hint of concern.
Chen Xi now had sufficient reserve funds, unafraid of any bank run. Even if they attempted to run on him, not all the families nationwide could do so simultaneously. With backing from the Mi Family, Zhen Family, Chen Family, and those sincerely aligned with Liu Bei, there was no worry!
Liu Ba hesitated, then stammered, "Indeed...indeed...if nobody deposits, which funds could you draw?"
"How could no one deposit?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes, "Funds stored with me simplify and expedite transactions with tickets. They’ve developed a habitual reliance on this system. Would you rather cart heaps of money for purchases?"