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"Does Lady Zhen have any concerns? I will certainly not listen to only one side of the story. If there are any discrepancies with the truth, please inform me now," said Ju Shou with a calm expression, showing no favoritism to either side.
Zhang Clan smiled and didn’t offer any rebuttal. She spoke directly, "All these land deeds and promissory notes are issued by my Zhen Family. Though I’m curious to know how these documents came about, this is not the place to discuss such matters. I ask Ju Gong to simply convert them into silver coins."
Clearly, Zhang Clan was acknowledging that her family did not have enough money and was allowing the government office to buy back at a discounted price, using the repurchased funds to settle the debt.
After all, overdue debts that had not been paid did not violate criminal law during the Han Dynasty and were considered minor laws. According to the law, as long as the debt was paid within the time allowed by the government’s verdict, the most one might receive was three lashes of the whip.
For this reason, in cases where debts were not paid on time, the key factors were the repayment method and the time limit set by the presiding official. Depending on the outcome, the final penalty could be vastly different. Those whose assets did not cover their debts might even be demoted to slave status.
As Mrs. Zhang had the status of a lady, she would not be subject to corporal punishment, let alone be demoted to slave status due to insolvency. Hence, the final penalty would be waived. As long as Ju Shou extended the given time—perhaps even unduly delayed it—the Zhen Family could acquire all the shops without spending a penny.
However, it was evident that Zhang Clan did not wish to proceed in such a manner; it would be too dishonorable for the Zhen Family. Although the Zhen Family could not produce enough money, they still had all their goods in hand. By using their goods to settle the debts at fair value, the Zhen Family would at most lose face without suffering significant material damage—assuming they were actually given a fair price.
In cases where the Han government enforced debt settlements, true market value was rarely used; official valuations were much harsher than private loans, with three-tenths considered generous. However, for an aristocratic clan like the Zhen Family, which was well-known in Jizhou, receiving an actually fair valuation was not impossible. To put it precisely, if they could not even achieve this, could they still be considered a century-old aristocratic family?
Ju Shou sighed, stood up, and said, "Would Mi Zizhong be willing to show mercy and let the Zhen Family go?"
As soon as Ju Shou’s words came out, those in the audience who understood the current situation began to whisper to each other. After all, this differed from the unified script they had agreed on. They had already decided to abandon the Zhen Family, but now with Ju Shou making such a statement, wouldn’t it mean trouble if the situation took a turn?
"It’s not that Zhu is unwilling. There is no enmity between the Mi and Zhen families, and even before this, we had some business dealings. As for now, the Mi Family has no choice but to proceed along this path. I beg for Ju Gong’s understanding," said Mi Zhu with a bitter smile as he rose and bowed to Ju Shou. At this point, as long as he stood firm, Ju Shou had no choice but to make a verdict according to the minor laws and could only apply the governmental practice of one-tenth valuation, cornering the Zhen Family. 𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑝𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝘮
"I am aware of the difficulties your Mi Family faces. Can we come to an agreement and give the Zhen Family some leeway? After this incident, we in Jizhou will undoubtedly remember," Ju Shou continued to mediate, hinting to Mi Zhu that no matter whether you let go or not this time, Jizhou will remember. If you let go, Jizhou will owe you a favor; if you don’t, Jizhou will seek to avenge this humiliation one day, bear that in mind.
Despite the continual bitter smile on his face, Mi Zhu didn’t really care at heart. Could you, Ju Gongyu, certainly determine the fate of Yuan Benchu and Liu Xuande? If you could foresee the world’s events, would you need to be here? All my assets are bet on Liu Xuande, and all your assets bet on Yuan Benchu. Are you now telling me Yuan Benchu is the better choice?
"Ju Gong, given Jizhou’s capabilities, you must already know who backs me. I am merely a pawn of others. Even if I don’t wish to fight against the Zhen Family, what can I do?" said Mi Zhu, lowering his stance and speaking helplessly.
Ju Shou sighed, "Is the person behind you truly unwilling to reconcile with Jizhou? Our sides do not have any direct conflict."
Ju Shou persistently portrayed himself before the Zhang Clan as someone who was very protective of the Zhen Family, considering it as part of his future plans.
"I dare not assume full authority," Mi Zhu continued with a bitter expression, his contempt for Ju Shou increasing by the moment, now almost certain that the scoundrel Ju Shou merely wanted to extract himself from the situation.
"Alas, Lady Zhen!" Ju Shou turned his head and gave a bow to the Zhang Clan.
"Thank you, Ju Gong, for your support. Please, let’s tally up the actual goods. The items that my Zhen Family initially purchased may very well be worth this much money after the calculations," the Zhang lady stared at Ju Shou, saying that a real calculation would be equivalent to selling to the government office— the Zhen Family might even turn a profit. "I suppose the head of the Mi Family must have lost quite a bit this time."
"That’s not the case. Any item that my Mi Family sold in Jizhou has made a profit, albeit small, but it’s like accumulating sand into a tower," Mi Zhu said with a smile, certain that the government office would definitely not calculate the Zhen Family’s assets as they expected—the bare minimum would already be the limit.
Soon the current family assets of the Zhen Family were calculated, "Reporting to the Prefectural Governor, the Zhen Family’s calculatable assets amount to approximately 770 million silver coin! The shortfall is 1.1 billion!" the Document Assistant said, shocked. Even if credited at one-tenth, the Zhen Family’s assets were still valued at 770 million silver coin. This revelation left the heads of the various clans of Jizhou, who were listening on the side, in awe. While they all knew the Zhen Family was wealthy, no one had previously taken the time to tally their wealth, nor was it easy to do so. This calculation was truly an eye-opener!
If not for the ten-to-one reduction, the Zhen Family would have had 7.7 billion silver coin. With so much money, when converted into rice at Jizhou grain prices, it would be equivalent to 40 million bushels. This was no longer merely a family of substantial wealth, but a super-rich force single-handedly capable of supporting a Feudal Lord. For the first time, the Aristocratic Families of Hebei felt pressured, their noble blood unable to withstand the allure of wealth.
Ju Shou was shaking. Although he had known the figure beforehand, announcing it publicly made him tremble. Once he learned of this figure, Ju Shou fully understood why Chen Zichuan was adamant about having the Zhen Family—Liu Xuande’s base was unstable, money and grain were lacking, and swallowing the Zhen Family would essentially solidify the foundation!
A million Yellow Turbans? That was nothing. The Zhen Family could support them all and not suffer a blow to their vital energy. What’s more, standing here was Mi Zhu, ranked among the Five Great Merchants. Surely, Mi Zhu should have a few billion silver coin at least.
Mi Zhu was also startled. Although he and the Zhen Family were both regarded as among the Five Great Merchants, the Zhen Family was altogether too rich. Scrambling together, his own wealth was only about 2 billion silver coin, whereas the Zhen Family’s fortune was four times his own. No wonder throughout the years, the Zhen Family’s position as the number one wealthy family had never been shaken!
The Heads of the Aristocratic Family present eyed Mi Zhu with some greed. After swallowing the Zhen Family, the Mi Family should become the number one wealthy merchant at a single bound, and furthermore a wealthy merchant without a noble birth. Under the temptation of wealth, none of those seated minded offering the Mi Family a clan heritage, not minding including Mi Zhu into their circles!
In the face of the greedy gazes of the aristocratic families present, Mi Zhu could only offer a bitter smile. He now seriously doubted the extent of the assets of the Wei Clan of Chenliu and Hedong Wei, which had matched the Zhen Family for a century without falling behind. The Wei families, which had fought the Zhen Family for a hundred years and not been outdone, probably had far more assets than his own. It seemed that amongst the Five Great Merchants, only his Mi Family was just making up the numbers. Aristocratic Clan, oh Aristocratic Clan! Mi Zhu decided once again that his own Mi Family must also become such an aristocratic clan!
Ps: The wealth of these two families is no joke, and there’s hardly any exaggeration. The wealth of the Mi Family can be deduced historically; Mi Zhen’s dowry at the time of her marriage was close to 2 billion silver coin. Shouldn’t this be called true nouveau riche? Of course, over time, by that point, the Mi Family should have had about 2.5 billion in family assets.
