Chapter 194: With This Little Money, It’s Hard for Me to Do Things for You!
That night, an invitation letter with special symbols arrived at the Lin Residence.
Lin Beifan opened it and smiled, “Now you remember me? What took you so long?”
The invitation letter was from Great Yan, although it wasn’t signed specifically, it was 80% from the Third Prince of Great Yan.
He must have been desperate after losing today, so he had no choice but to contact him.
“It’s not easy to be a little greedy for money. If I don’t beat you all up, you won’t know how to give me money!” Lin Beifan accepted the invitation letter and happily went out.
He arrived at a restaurant and entered a relatively secluded room, where he saw the initiator of the invitation letter, the Third Prince of Dayan, Yan Xinghe.
“So it’s Your Highness, the Third Prince!” Lin Beifan greeted with a smile.
“Principal Lin, I’ve heard of you for a long time! I’ve heard that you’re knowledgeable and talented, with outstanding abilities. Today’s performance has truly impressed me. That’s why I specially invited you here to gather!” the Third Prince said with a smile.
“Thank you for Your Highness’ praise, but I am unworthy of it. I wonder, why did Your Highness invite me here?” Lin Beifan asked.
“Well… let’s have a drink and some food first, and we’ll talk after we finish the drinks!”
“Sure!” Lin Beifan nodded.
They ate some small dishes, drank some wine, and then Lin Beifan asked again, “Your Highness, what is the matter you invited me for? Please speak directly. I have to continue the competition tomorrow, so I cannot stay for long and need to rest and prepare.”
“Well… well…” The Third Prince blushed and stuttered.
After all, he still had some face to maintain, and it was very difficult for him to speak about these matters.
An old minister beside him saw this and took over the Third Prince’s words. He raised his cup and said with a smile, “Principal Lin, it is like this! Our Highness led the team to participate in the Yan and Wu Competition in Great Wu this time and has been entrusted with high expectations by His Majesty and the people of Great Yan!”
“If we lose the Yan and Wu Competition, it won’t be easy to explain when we go back. So we hope that during the competition, you could properly go easy on us and let Great Yan win by chance. This is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it!” He handed over a delicate little box.
Lin Beifan opened it and saw a total of 300,000 taels of silver notes.
“Please fulfill our request, Principal Lin. We are sincerely grateful!” the Third Prince said with a bow.
Lin Beifan took out the silver notes from the small box and slapped them twice, making a clear and pleasant sound.
This was not a small amount. With Lin Beifan’s current official position, even if he worked his whole life in the court, he probably wouldn’t earn this amount of salary.
However, Lin Beifan looked troubled as he said, “Your Highness, I see your intention! But to be honest, with this little money, it’s hard for me to do things for you!”
The Third Prince and the old minister looked at each other, secretly thinking that this person was indeed greedy. He couldn’t even be satisfied with 300,000 taels.
The Third Prince’s face darkened, and the old minister asked, “Principal Lin, how much do you want?”
Lin Beifan raised a finger and said, “At least 1 million taels!”
The Third Prince and the old minister: “Damn!” How can you ask for 1 million taels?!
The old minister said solemnly, “Principal Lin, your request is a bit excessive! We only asked you to go easy on us and let Great Yan win by chance. You don’t need to make any sacrifices. Isn’t 300,000 taels enough?”
“Mr. Wang, you’re speaking lightly!” Lin Beifan sneered, “Do you know how much I would lose if I were to lose the Yan and Wu Competition?”
“I would like to hear the details!” the old minister said.
“After today’s events, my reputation has soared, and my name is renowned! This is the perfect time for me to take another step forward. But if I unfortunately lose the competition, my reputation will plummet and become a laughingstock!”
“The saying goes, money is like dirt, while reputation is priceless!” Lin Beifan said, “If I sacrifice my own reputation to enhance the reputation of Grear Yan, can it be compensated with a mere 300,000 taels?”
“Well…” The Third Prince and the old minister looked at each other.
“Furthermore, besides reputation, my future prospects will also be affected!”
Lin Beifan put down the silver notes in his hand and poured himself a drink, saying, “In these days, I have made numerous contributions to the court! Now is the perfect opportunity. As long as I win the Yan and Wu Competition, the Empress will be delighted, the officials will be pleased, and the people will be inspired. I will definitely be promoted!”
“I am already a fourth-ranking official of the court. If I am promoted one more level, I will become a third-ranking official, a significant figure in the court! Third Prince, Mr. Wang, if it were you, would you be willing to give up such a bright future for a mere 300,000 taels?”
The two of them were shocked once again, “Ah, this…”
If it were them, they definitely wouldn’t be willing!
What does 300,000 taels matter if they can become a third-ranking official of the court?
Becoming a third-ranking official means a higher position and greater power. Isn’t it easy to make money then?
As the saying goes, a clear-minded county magistrate can amass 100,000 taels of silver in three years!
Even a fourth-ranking magistrate could earn 100,000 taels of silver in a short three years!
Wouldn’t it be even easier for a third-ranking official of the court?
“Principal Lin, are you really going to get promoted again?” the old minister Mr. Wang couldn’t help but ask.
“Of course, why would I lie to you?” Lin Beifan’s face was displeased.
“Congratulations, Principal Lin!” The old minister bowed and said with envy.
He had struggled for half a lifetime, turned his hair white, and only recently managed to become a significant official of the court.
The other party, at such a young age, was about to become a third-ranking official. How could one not envy?
Lin Beifan sighed, “Stop congratulating me. This is not something worth celebrating!”
“You’re getting promoted, aren’t you happy?” Both the Third Prince and the old minister were bewildered.
Lin Beifan sighed again, his face full of melancholy, “Of course, the promotion is too slow! Back then, I basically got promoted every month, the speed was consistent! But now, it has been over two months, nearly three months, to get promoted once. It’s not as good as before, and it’s a bit embarrassing to even mention it!”
The Third Prince and the old minister were embarrassed and not feeling good at all!
You should know, that is a third-ranking official, a true significant figure in the court, trusted by the Emperor, wielding great power, every word and action can influence national policies. It’s not easy to rise to such a position, you know?
You achieve such a feat in just three months, and you still think it’s slow?
And you’re even embarrassed to ask for more?
Really…
It’s infuriating!
The Third Prince and the old minister were a bit unhappy!
At this moment, Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, “Forget it, let’s not mention these sad matters!”
The Third Prince and the old minister: “…”
“Let’s get back on track and continue discussing the matter of the Yan and Wu competition!”
Lin Beifan confidently said, “The Yan and Wu competition is related to my reputation and future! You only gave 300,000 taels, and you expect me to sacrifice my reputation and future. Is that possible? Besides, do I lack these 300,000 taels?”
The Third Prince and the old minister once again exchanged glances.
You indeed don’t lack 300,000 taels, but we don’t have more money to give you.
“Principal Lin, I think you should obediently accept the silver and faithfully serve us!” The Third Prince said with a hint of anger, “You should know, you are one of us! If your identity is exposed, your bright future and prosperity will vanish. Can Great Wu tolerate you?”
Lin Beifan sneered and ridiculed, “So you dare to threaten me? Third Prince, you’re too naive. If you go out and expose my identity, who do you think others will believe, me, a loyal servant who has made numerous contributions to Great Wu, or you, a treacherous prince from an enemy country?”
The Third Prince had no response.
Looking at Lin Beifan’s proud expression, he said solemnly, “But we have evidence!”
“What evidence?”
“Back then, we spent a huge amount of money to obtain the manufacturing methods for the air balloon and air cushion from you. These manufacturing methods are the evidence! As long as we compare it with your handwriting, you won’t be able to deny it!” The Third Prince laughed with pride.
Lin Beifan sprayed out his drink and burst into laughter, holding his stomach. “Hahaha…”
“Why are you laughing?” The Third Prince asked, displeased.
“It’s just so funny that you’re using the manufacturing methods as a threat. It’s really hilarious! It makes me laugh!” Lin Beifan laughed heartily.
“Is there something wrong with that?”
“Third Prince, do you think I would do such risky things without considering the consequences? The handwriting on your manufacturing methods is completely different from mine! You’re too presumptuous to try to threaten me with that. It’s downright laughable! Hahaha…”
The Third Prince was extremely unhappy, black lines appearing on his face, filled with anger.
If they weren’t in the territory of Great Wu, he would have wanted someone to drag this disrespectful person out and have him beheaded!
“Alright, alright, we’re all on the same side, let’s not hurt our relationship!”
Finally, the old minister stepped forward as a peacemaker and said, “Principal Lin, the Third Prince was impulsive just now and said some nonsense. Don’t take it to heart! I’ll punish myself with three cups of wine, and you, sir, should overlook the faults of us small people!”
Saying this, he drank three cups in a row, his face changing color.
“Mr. Wang knows what’s best, please!” Lin Beifan replied with a toast.
“Principal Lin, after careful consideration, I will give you the 1 million taels you mentioned! Tomorrow, we will trouble you, sir!” The Third Prince became anxious and pulled the other party to a corner, whispering, “Mr. Wang, we don’t have that much money, you know?”
The old minister smiled bitterly and said, “Your Highness, now we can’t afford not to give it. You were too impulsive just now and offended Lin Beifan. If he holds a grudge and causes chaos tomorrow, we really can’t afford to lose! We can gather some money. As long as we can win the Yan and Wu competition, the loss of some money won’t matter.”
The Third Prince’s face was conflicted, “But we don’t have that much money…”
“We can gather it together! As long as we can win the Yan and Wu competition, a little financial loss is nothing,” the old minister said.
After some thought, the Third Prince finally made up his mind and nodded, “Mr. Wang, you are absolutely right!”
So, they came back and promised 1 million taels.
But Lin Beifan was still very unhappy, “You think you can dismiss me with just 1 million taels? How naive! You threatened me earlier, and I’m very unhappy. You need to add more money!”
The Third Prince and the old minister: “Fuck!”
