Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 504 A Generous Gift
Li Linfu couldn't help but sneer inwardly as he listened to Wu Wenshen's insincere words.

Introducing Wu Wenshen to Consort Wu Hui and guiding him to sow discord between Zhang Dai and Consort Wu Hui was a plan he orally instructed Consort Wu after learning of Wu Wenshen's existence. How could he not know whether Wu Wenshen harbored hostility towards Zhang Dai?

Seeing that Wu Wenshen was still deliberately concealing his true thoughts, Li Linfu did not expose him. Instead, he pretended to be ignorant and said, "If you think I am a friend worth making, then you might as well listen to what I have to say. You don't need to regret not knowing Zhang Dai. This man appears respectful and kind, but he is actually treacherous. Once you become close to him, you will inevitably be harmed by him!"

"Of course I respect Shiro and wish to become his close friend! However, why do you say this, Shiro? Although I have not been in the capital for long, I have heard that Zhang Zongshi has a very good reputation and is not a bad person. Is there some misunderstanding between us? Is there no way to resolve it?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wenshen's heart skipped a beat, but he suppressed his true emotions and frowned as he spoke to Li Linfu.

Li Linfu saw that this guy was also good at pretending to be confused, but he already knew the guy's true intentions, so no matter how much he tried to scheme, it would only make him a laughing stock.

"All the scholars of the time are his disciples, and he is adept at seeking fame and reputation. It is normal for the Emperor Wu to be misled by his empty fame. But I am his sworn enemy, and there is absolutely no misunderstanding between us."

At this point, Li Linfu's face showed a look of grief and indignation again, and he continued, "Regarding the matter of the Pingkangfang residence that Lord Wu asked about, I was framed by this scoundrel, and even my close friend was murdered by him because of it..."

He recounted the disputes that had previously arisen surrounding the Pingkangfang residence, not minding portraying himself as vulnerable and helpless, but omitting the details of his schemes and depicting Zhang Dai as a scheming, vicious, and ruthless person.

He also mentioned the enormous debt he had incurred for the land. These matters were not secrets to begin with, and Wu Wenshen could easily find out about them elsewhere if he wanted to, so it was better for him to tell him directly.

"If things are as Shiro says, then Zhang Dai is indeed no good person; he is truly wicked to the extreme!"

After listening to Li Linfu's account, Wu Wenshen was also taken aback.

He didn't care about the rights and wrongs of the dispute, but Zhang Dai clearly knew that the land involved a debt of hundreds of thousands of strings of cash, yet he kept it from him and just watched him agree to the matter in front of Consort Hui. He clearly wanted to see him get into a difficult situation, which showed that this guy was truly vicious!
He had initially only felt a slight aversion and resistance towards Zhang Dai, but upon learning that the other party intended to ridicule him, a deep resentment arose in his heart. At the same time, his gaze towards Li Linfu turned colder.

Originally, influenced by Wu's introduction and his own inquiries, he thought Li Linfu was someone of importance. But now, learning that Li Linfu had been so tragically framed by a scoundrel like Zhang Dai, he realized that Li Linfu was just mediocre and unremarkable, not worth his courtesies!

"It is rare that Shiro is willing to frankly reveal all his hidden secrets, which also allows me to see the treacherous and wicked nature of people in the capital. The night is chilly, and it is not advisable to stay outside for too long. The guests in the hall are still drinking merrily, and it is really not appropriate for the host to be absent for too long. Please forgive me for not being able to keep you company for a while. After Shiro has relieved his worries, please return to your seat as soon as possible, drink to dispel your sorrows, and enjoy the festivities with everyone!"

After learning that Li Linfu was just a weakling, Wu Wenshen didn't bother to waste any more time on him. He gave his instructions and turned to leave, since the people sitting in the hall were truly distinguished guests. Pei Zhen and Li Xia, in particular, were people he needed to focus on befriending and currying favor with.

Seeing how quickly this guy's attitude changed, Li Linfu was secretly furious, but before Wu Wenshen could leave the pavilion, he quickly said, "Since Lord Wu has mentioned the Pingkangfang property, I have had a very pleasant conversation with you recently, and that property is also annoying me. So I'll just give it to you to please you!"

"This...this...Jiro isn't joking with me, he really is willing to give me that house?"

Wu Wenshen, who was initially annoyed that his investment in Li Linfu was likely to go down the drain, turned around in surprise upon hearing this and asked, his mind racing, "But what about the debt of several hundred thousand strings of cash..."

"I have my own way of solving the debt problem. Although the land in Pingkangfang has caused me great distress and heartache, it is indeed a rare and precious piece of land. Since Lord Wu intends to acquire property elsewhere, he must not be able to tolerate the cramped and cramped ordinary dwelling. This vacant land is just right for him!"

Li Linfu was unaware of the details of Wu Wenshen's visit to Consort Hui. He thought that Wu Wenshen was intentionally competing with Zhang Dai, which was why he had his eye on the adjacent plot of land. So he added more enticing words to Wu Wenshen, hoping to make him more interested and praise the plot of land.

After listening to Li Linfu's account, Wu Wenshen's expression shifted repeatedly. Since he had agreed to this matter with Consort Hui, he was determined to obtain the land in Pingkang Ward.

But if he were to take over now, he would likely have to share Li Linfu's debt of several hundred thousand strings of cash. That was a debt personally approved by the Emperor; there was no way to shirk it. Although Wu Wenshen had amassed considerable wealth through years of diligent robbery and plunder, he couldn't afford to squander it like this!
So after pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said, "I am truly grateful for Shiro's generous gift. However, this debt is probably not easy to resolve, and I really cannot bear to add to your worries for my own sake..."

He was determined to acquire the land, but Consort Hui had said there was no need to rush. Therefore, he could wait until Li Linfu resolved his debt issues before trying to acquire it at a lower price. After all, even Zhang Dai had managed to ruin Li Linfu so badly, and he, too, had Consort Hui's backing and worked for her. Dealing with Li Linfu wouldn't be difficult for him.

If Li Linfu fails to resolve his debt issues within the deadline, not to mention the punishment he will face, the land will most likely be confiscated from him again. In that case, it would be much more convenient and efficient for him to purchase it directly from the government.

He had a clever plan, but how could Li Linfu possibly let the fish escape the hook?
So he continued, "Wu Jun, you don't need to feel ashamed of receiving a reward without having done anything. I do have a matter that I need your help with. If you are willing to lend a hand, I will give you the Pingkangfang residence! Why don't you listen to what kind of help I need you to do, and see if it is within your ability, before you make a decision?"

After thinking for a moment, Wu Wenshen nodded, walked back to the pavilion, and sat down opposite Li Linfu to hear what kind of help he wanted.

Although he had never seen the residential land in Pingkangfang, he was familiar with the property prices in the capital. It was indeed not worth spending hundreds of thousands of strings of cash on a plot of land, and the price was clearly a form of punishment.

Even if he tried to acquire it himself later, he would likely have to spend tens of thousands of strings of cash. If he could do Li Linfu a small favor that would save him tens of thousands of strings of cash and allow him to directly obtain the land from Li Linfu, why wouldn't he be happy to do it?
But if the price to be paid is too high, then let's leave it at that and he'll make another plan.

"Wu Jun, you come from the border. Have you ever heard of flying money?"

Seeing that Wu Wenshen was already in his trap, Li Linfu looked at him and asked a question.

Upon hearing this, Wu Wenshen nodded. Although he had lived in the border region for a long time, he had always been active near the trade routes and was no stranger to new things. In particular, the emergence of flying money directly changed the way long-distance merchants carried goods, greatly reducing the profits of even seasoned bandits like them. He was deeply impressed by this.

"Wu Jun, you should not regard Zhang Dai as an ordinary apprentice. He is the one who started this flying money business, and he now controls the flying money from Bianzhou to Luoyang. With this business, he earns tens of millions every year, so he is also incredibly wealthy and has accumulated a huge fortune!"

Li Linfu spoke again, his eyes fixed on Wu Wenshen's changing expression.

As expected, Wu Wenshen's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. In his mind, Zhang Dai was still just a spoiled brat who relied on his family background and Consort Wu Hui's influence to bully others. He never expected that Zhang Dai would also be wealthy and control a continuous source of wealth!

It should be noted that he had always regarded his wealth as his biggest advantage in competing with Zhang Dai. Now that he knew how rich Zhang Dai was, his advantage naturally disappeared.

Seeing the change in Wu Wenshen's expression, Li Linfu naturally knew what he was thinking, so he spoke again: "I have a deep grudge against Zhang Dai. Since he has harmed me like this, I certainly cannot let him live comfortably! So I will take away his source of wealth and make him lose a huge sum of money!"

"Does Shiro have a plan? And how can I help you?"

Wu Wenshen, who was originally full of worries, was secretly delighted after hearing Li Linfu's words and quickly spoke up.

"I have been planning this matter with Yuwen Kuan, the son of Lord Yuwen, for a long time, and we have already begun to take action. If we can get the help of Lord Wu, we will be even more confident!"

Li Linfu immediately explained his and Yuwen Kuan's plan to first invest money and then stage a run on the bank. He then said to Wu Wenshen, "Lord Wu, your family is very wealthy, and you must have plenty of money to spare. If you can use money to get involved, you will surely cause this group to collapse even faster. If you are willing to participate, I will introduce you to Young Master Yuwen in the coming days. Even if you don't participate, getting to know a young master from a powerful family will still be beneficial to you."

"In that case, I'll trouble Juro to introduce me."

While Wu Wenshen also wanted to quickly eliminate Zhang Dai's source of wealth, he was still hesitant about using his own money to do so. However, Li Linfu's offer to introduce him to Yuwen Rong's son greatly tempted him.

Pei Guangting's son is already in the family, and he has also made several acquaintances with Xiao Song's former subordinates in Helong. Through these connections, he can visit Xiao Song's home. If he can also get acquainted with Yuwen Rong's son through Li Linfu, he can freely enter and leave the homes of the three prime ministers in the court. His connections are incredibly strong!
(End of this chapter)