Volume One: The River City Chronicles Chapter 16: The Business World Is a Battlefield (Part Two)

When Gu Kui was brought before the Wan brothers, he appeared extremely ill at ease. Standing below them with his eyes lowered, he did not even know where to put his hands. The sight drew contemptuous smiles from both men.

After a moment, Wan Ai spoke. “Gu Kui, we have met before, so there is no need to be so nervous. We merely summoned you today to ask about a few matters. Come, sit down and speak with us.”

Gu Kui did not move. In a low, halting voice, he said, “I... I did not know who you were before. I was confused for a moment and told you some of the affairs of our shop. My master has always treated me well. I will not betray him again.”

His words provoked another round of laughter. Wan Rong then said coldly, “So that means Gu Yuezi still does not know that you have already told us many of the publishing house’s secrets? That makes sense. Otherwise, why would he refuse our goodwill and insist on fighting our Wan family?

“But have you ever considered that he will find out about what you have done sooner or later? When that day comes, how do you think he will punish a wretch like you, who has betrayed his own master for another’s sake? Hmm?”

The words threw Gu Kui into a panic. His body began to tremble slightly. “I... I...” He stammered helplessly, unable to form a complete sentence.

“That is why I have a solution,” Wan Ai continued. “If you help us bring down the Gu Family Book Bureau completely and reduce Gu Yuezi to ruin, then he will no longer be your master. Naturally, you will not need to fear being punished by him.”

The two brothers had clearly divided the roles between them, one offering threats while the other extended a semblance of kindness. Within only a few sentences, they had placed immense pressure on Gu Kui and cut off every avenue of retreat. Then they waited quietly for him to make up his mind.

After a long while, seeing that he was still hesitant, Wan Ai took a small ingot of silver from his sleeve and slapped it onto the table.

“The Wan family has always conducted its affairs fairly. If you are willing to work for us, you will certainly be rewarded. For instance, if you tell us in detail about Gu Yuezi’s meeting yesterday with those other booksellers, this silver will be yours.”

First came the threat, then the temptation. Sure enough, Gu Kui began to waver. He raised his eyes slightly and kept glancing at the silver. His hands rubbed nervously against his clothes again and again, clearly engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

Seeing this, Wan Ai smiled and placed another ingot on the table. The meaning was unmistakable.

“I... Yesterday, my master ordered me to attend to him nearby, so I heard everything they discussed. He meant to have several booksellers stand together with our Gu Family Book Bureau and boycott every book published by the Wan Family Book Bureau, so that none of your books could be sold in the county town.”

With the added weight on the scales, Gu Kui finally chose betrayal.

“Oh?” Wan Ai and Wan Rong exchanged a glance. The matter was indeed exactly as they had heard from their earlier informants. Everything seemed to be under their control. “And what decision did those booksellers make?”

“They did not give any assurances on the spot. They only said they would return home and consider it. But... judging from their reactions, I think they were somewhat tempted. After all, Young Master Li was right. If the Wan Family Book Bureau truly crushes our Gu Family Book Bureau, their own situation will not be easy either.”

“Hmph! That fellow Li was indeed working with Gu Yuezi all along. No wonder he refused to cooperate with us! But he is nothing more than a clown and will never accomplish anything. I will make him pay for it!”

Wan Rong remembered his conversation with Li Ling several days earlier. Annoyance surged through him, and he could not resist cursing.

Wan Ai coughed, stopping his younger brother from revealing anything unnecessary. He then nodded at Gu Kui.

“Very good. It seems you have thought things through. From now on, work for our Wan family. Rest assured, we have always treated capable people generously. So long as you bring us more useful information, you will not lack rewards.”

As he spoke, he raised a hand. The two ingots of silver traced graceful arcs through the air and landed securely in Gu Kui’s arms.

An expression of delight and greed immediately spread across Gu Kui’s face. He hurriedly hid the silver inside his robe, as though afraid it might somehow escape. His actions once again drew contempt from the Wan brothers. In their eyes, anyone who could be bought with silver was easy to deal with.

“Go back now,” Wan Ai said. “And remember to inform us whenever you have news.”

Gu Kui nodded and was just about to leave when he hesitated. Stammering, he said, “Actually, there is one more matter. I do not know whether it will be of any use.”

“Tell me. If it concerns the Gu Family Book Bureau or Gu Yuezi, I want to know everything!” Wan Ai immediately became interested.

“The day before yesterday, my master sent me to summon several woodblock carvers to the workshop to discuss something. From what I heard, it seemed they wanted to enlarge the printing blocks. They also spoke of carving illustrations into the blocks, though I did not understand it very well, and I cannot remember the details clearly.”

Wan Ai pondered for a moment, then smiled.

“It seems your master is thinking of finding another path to compete with us. He does have some ideas. Well, this is useful information. Here is another reward. Is there anything else?”

As he tossed over another small ingot of silver, he continued questioning him.

Gu Kui caught the silver, his face bright with excitement, and immediately said, “There is one more thing. I once heard my master muttering that the fourth volume of Investiture of the Gods would begin printing and be released at the start of next month...”

“Oh? Now that is truly important news! Good, you really are of great use!”

Wan Ai was even more delighted and gave him another two ingots of silver. Only then did Gu Kui have no further information to offer. When Wan Ai waved him away, he withdrew awkwardly and was led out of the courtyard.

Only after Gu Kui had departed did Wan Ai glance at his younger brother and smile.

“What do you think? I told you this man could be useful. If you thought that winning over the owner of the Wang Family Bookshop meant we had already grasped Gu Yuezi’s intentions, then you have underestimated him. Besides, with two such informants working for us, we can verify what they tell us against each other. Even if they want to deceive us, it will not be so easy.”

“Elder Brother, you truly think more deeply than I do. I admire you,” Wan Rong said sincerely. “It seems the Gu Family Book Bureau intends to struggle a little longer and has come up with some new trick. And what of this fourth volume of Investiture of the Gods? Can it really threaten us?”

“That is difficult to say, but there is no harm in proceeding cautiously. That Li Ling does have some ability. Setting everything else aside, I quite like his saying that the marketplace is a battlefield. When competing in business, one must commit fully and use every means available. His Investiture of the Gods is indeed well written. The first three volumes have already won many admirers, so the fourth will surely sell even better.”

“His words may be sound, but his book is another matter. At least in its diction and phrasing, Investiture of the Gods remains somewhat immature and awkward. It is plainly the work of someone new to writing popular fiction, and it falls far short of men like Dai Chang’an. So I believe that if we seize the right opportunity and use Dai Chang’an’s new book to suppress Investiture of the Gods, we can certainly defeat it. The Gu Family Book Bureau will suffer a heavy loss.”

Wan Ai agreed with this assessment and nodded.

“Then have Dai Chang’an finish the fourth volume as quickly as possible. We must print and release all four volumes before the fourth volume of Investiture of the Gods appears. When the time comes, we will seize its market and cut off every avenue of retreat.”

“Very well. I will send someone to urge Dai Chang’an shortly. He must finish the fourth volume before the end of this month.”

“As for the changes the Gu Family Book Bureau is making to its edition, do you think they pose any threat?”

“Surely not. A book is still a book. Do you really think making the edition larger and adding a few illustrations will let them sell it at a higher price or make it sell better?” Wan Rong shook his head dismissively.

Wan Ai was somewhat uneasy, but then considered that changing the format could not be accomplished overnight. It would also require consultation with the family, and the whole process would take at least half a month. He therefore dismissed the matter.

“Then we will begin with Investiture of the Gods. After that, we will break apart the alliance between those booksellers and the Gu family. Once that is done, what will the Gu Family Book Bureau have left to fight us with?”

At this, the two brothers exchanged a glance. Certain that victory was already in their grasp, they burst into laughter.

Several ingots of silver lay on the table. Gu Yuezi could not stop clicking his tongue in admiration.

“The Wan family truly is wealthy and extravagant. To buy you off, they were actually willing to spend so much silver!”

“Master, I was wrong. I should not have...” Gu Kui said shamefacedly, but before he could finish, Gu Yuezi interrupted him.

“I told you. What happened before is over, so there is no need to mention it again. Besides, you have rendered great service this time.”

“What? Is it really all right to reveal some of our book bureau’s inner affairs to them?” Even now, Gu Kui could not understand why his master and Young Master Li had asked him to do such a thing. When he had faced the Wan brothers earlier, he had been terrified.

Li Ling, standing nearby, laughed.

“You may not yet understand the subtlety of it, but I believe that after the eighth month, you will. I have already delivered a splendid ‘opportunity’ into their hands. Knowing the Wan family, I am certain they will not let it pass. As for what happens afterward, that will depend on their own fortune.”

Gu Yuezi also nodded with a smile.

“After reading the first half of the fourth volume you wrote, I believe we are certain to win this battle. If they truly decide to attack Investiture of the Gods, this time they will suffer an enormous loss.”

After a brief pause, he added worriedly, “But why did you reveal our plan to change the edition as well?”

“We could not have kept it secret. They would have found out in a few days anyway, and learning of it a little earlier will not affect the overall situation. Besides, it will make Gu Kui more likely to win their trust. In the future, if I truly want to mislead them, it will be much easier.”

Li Ling smiled like a fox that had just stolen a hen.

Then he noticed the trace of unease still lingering on Gu Yuezi’s face. Knowing that the older man felt his methods had been rather ruthless, he continued, “Do you remember what I told you? The marketplace is a battlefield. Once we enter the battlefield, everything must serve the purpose of victory. In war, deception is no crime.”

Gu Yuezi thought it over carefully, then nodded.

“You are right. They were the ones who provoked us first. It is only fair that we make them suffer a little.”

With that, he picked up the silver on the table, went to Gu Kui, and placed every ingot into his hands.

Gu Kui grew flustered and hurriedly tried to refuse. “Master, I...”

“If I tell you to take it, then take it. It was given to you by them, and from now on it is my reward to you. I know your mother’s illness requires money, and the shop is also short of funds at the moment. I cannot give you much, so I can only make use of what they have offered.”

As he spoke, Gu Yuezi gave Gu Kui, whose eyes had reddened with emotion, a firm pat on the shoulder.

“But if you work hard, I believe it will not be long before we no longer need to worry about money.”

“Yes!”

Clutching the silver, Gu Kui nodded vigorously, his face filled with gratitude. Seeing this, Li Ling smiled. His old friend Gu Yuezi was no simple man either.