Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty Two – The Final Nail.

 Zhao iron’s reputation only became better as other smiths attempted to jump onto the marketing wave. Most smiths had a section of their shop devoted to weapons and armour that had been made with Zhao iron.

Many were also advertising that the iron came from the new seam. In a few days the situation had become so severe that the Kang Clan began to offer a discount on their goods in an attempt to stem the bleeding.

Volume and turnover were key to maintain their profits. The workers needed to be paid every week and the contracts required a minimum amount to be paid instead of a percentage of the profits. When the Kangs had made the contract that term was favourable but if they were not selling any ore then the fixed rate would slowly drain their assets.

If the current position was maintained, they would have to start paying their workers with ore instead of silver. That was a better compromise than draining all of their current funds but would also lead to a vicious cycle were they had no new ore to sell in Temple Gorge and they would lose even more market share.

The Kang Clan were scrambling to fix the situation. The clan had been in constant meetings to attempt reverse the shift in the market.

While Kang Cai was getting a headache Xiulan and Yen Wen had left the city to return to Rockcreek. Yanlin was also with them as he had an understanding of the situation between the Kangs and the local administrator.

It felt strange for Xiulan to be back in Rockcreek. She had lived in the town all her life but just a short time away was enough for her to feeling that the town was so small. Even Madam Chen felt like a small far away character to her now. Xiulan decided to let Madam Chen off. The only real injury Madam Chen had caused her was enslaving her. That was more of a societal problem than only the fault of Madam Chen. It was sufficient to destroy the Kangs. Perhaps Xiulan would do something about the practice of slavery when she had enough power.

The Kingdom’s royal family kept just enough of a grip on power to extract taxes but not enough for any kind of strict legal enforcement system. Most of the kingdom was governed by administrators such as administrator Dai who they were going to see that day.

Wasting no time Xiulan approached administrator’s house. It was a grand house for Rockcreek. Several stories and built in the sprawling fashion of the Capital. Many slaves worked in the garden tending to plants that were already perfectly manicured.

Xiulan rolled her eyes at the obvious display of power. Only the smallest of men needed to outwardly proclaim their authority so blatantly. Well perhaps in the future the system would force her to show off her wealth in the same way.

Xiulan and Yen Wen were finely dressed and riding horses, so the household staff received them as honoured guests.

 Servants stepped forward to take the reins of their horses and one of them said, “administrator Dai is indisposed at the moment. Might the honoured ladies call at another time?”

Xiulan laughed, “administrator Dai is hung over. Give him some tea and tell him that the Kangs have found themselves in trouble and we have come to ensure that everyone stays safe in this trying time.”

The servant had been told that if the Kang Clan was looking for administrator Dai, then no delay should be allowed. One of the servants went running to rouse the administrator while the other guided them to a lavish tearoom.

The cushions were comfortable, and the tea was of a better standard than could usually be found in Rockcreek. The entire building seemed to be trying to place a small piece of the capital in the remote mountains.

Xiulan heard some crashing around in the next room. Xiulan turned to Yen Wen, “administrator Dai must be very afraid of that letter getting out. I thought such things were not taboo in the Kingdom.”

Yen Wen shrugged her shoulders, “I assume that it must involve politics more than it does taboos. I still don’t know why you insist that we do things this way. I would have been happy to just kill the Kangs outright. Even just Kang Gang to be honest. After I defeated him in the duel most of my anger dissipated.”

Xiulan stroked Yen Wen’s blond hair, “in business it is not often that you can make money without also making a few enemies. If I was going to push my way into the market anyway then I might as well start with my enemies first.”

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Xiulan pecked Yen Wen on the lips, “Besides you might have vented your anger, but I have not. It was terrifying when I thought I had lost you.”

A hastily dressed man in his fifties burst through the door. He was not a cultivator which Xiulan found surprising. Authority and cultivation usually went hand in hand. When he saw Xiulan instead of Kang Cai or Kang Gang he frowned and huffed out, “am I so insignificant that the Kangs cannot even send Kang Gang anymore?”

Xiulan smiled and replied, “I said that the Kang Clan are in trouble not that I was from the Kang Clan.”

Xiulan reached into a pocket and pulled out an old and crumpled letter, “This I. think belongs to you. I had an employee of mine steal it from Kang Cai’s business documents. It was surprisingly easy. I am not sure why you did not do it before now.”

Administrator Dai lost the strength in his legs and sagged down on to a cushion. Xiulan handed him the letter and Administrator Dai sighed out, “it is finally over. I suppose there is a price to this gift.”

Xiulan chuckled, “one that I think you will be happy to pay. I intend to take the Kang Clan down and all I need you to do is not sign any new contracts with them. The Zhao family will come to negotiate for the mines to be handed over to their keeping instead and you can negotiate a fair deal with them.”

Administrator Dai nodded and sipped tea in happiness. A weight seemed to be in the process of leaving his shoulders. “So, the Kang Clan finally offended a capable opponent. Tell me, was it that idiot Kang Gang.”

Yen Wen joined in, “it certainly was. He attacked the two of us just because Xiulan would not sleep with him.”

Administrator Dai swirled his tea and said wistfully, “men will do such stupid things for lust.”

Xiulan gestured to the letter in his hand, “I assume that that is what happened, but I do not see why a love letter is such a powerful tool to use against you. Even though it is a to another man I thought that was accepted in the kingdom.”

Administrator Dai grimaced, “more tolerated than accepted. Most still frown on same sex relationships. Still the issue is not that the letter is to a man but which man I wrote it to.”

Xiulan nodded but still looked sceptical, “I am not familiar with the politics of the Capital, but I assume there was a difference between your two families.”

Administrator Dai nodded, “The Dai Clan and the Wei Clan traditionally enrol in different sects. Mortal enemy sects in fact. Any kind of relationship between the two is taboo. When they found out, my family sent me north to this small town. They also burned my cultivation out of me. In a moment of weakness, I tried to have that letter sent to explain what had happened to Wei Yunru but the servant I entrusted it to sold the letter to the Kang Clan instead.”

Xiulan was sympathetic it was a sad story but still the Administrator did not have a bad life in Rockcreek. Xiulan comforted, “well the Kangs are on the ropes now. I assume that when you send word that you will not renew the contracts, Kang Cai will come personally. You can watch us deal with him then.”

Administrator Dai smiled, “I would like that. Until then I hope that you both will accept my hospitality. I do not often have guests.”

Xiulan was in no hurry to leave, and Zhen Ling and Fu Jinjing were both busy with their businesses. She would treat this trip as a final goodbye to Rockcreek.

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