Chapter 686: The Contract System
Zheng Gonggong hesitated. “Do you truly have a method to revitalize the coal mines and restore their output?”
Bai Yuan replied, “If I can deal with the Xiaolangdi pirates, I can certainly deal with a few coal mines.”
Zheng Gonggong frowned. “A seventy-thirty split still seems a bit too small...”
Bai Yuan chuckled. “I can assure you that even with a seventy-thirty split, the Prince of Fu’s manor will receive the same amount of income as before the disaster.”
“Oh?” Zheng Gonggong’s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. “Are you saying that if the coal mine is entrusted to you, the profits could surpass what they were before the disaster?”
Now, this was truly intriguing.
Bai Yuan continued, “If you still have doubts, we could arrange a different kind of agreement. You could lease the coal mine to me, and I would pay the Prince of Fu a fixed fee every month, regardless of whether I make a profit or a loss. This fee, for simplicity, could be equivalent to the mine’s output before the flood.”
Zheng Gonggong mused inwardly: *That small, ruined coal mine is completely submerged and useless. It will take ages to drain and clear, and even then, the output won't be significant. I don't believe handing it over to you will multiply the profits several times over. A seventy-thirty split carries too much risk, and the Prince of Fu’s manor would barely see any returns. It's far better to let you take it on contract; that way, the manor faces no risk and guarantees a steady income.*
With a decisive clap, Zheng Gonggong declared, “I believe the latter proposal is the ideal one!”
Li Daoxuan, watching from above, also chuckled to himself.
Excellent. The contract system was, in fact, the most advantageous arrangement for Gao Family Village. This way, the Prince of Fu’s manor would be locked into a static payment, unable to demand more, while Gao Family Village could continually boost the coal mine’s output through relentless technological innovation.
The Prince of Fu’s manor would surely be consumed by regret when that time came.
To preempt any future regrets, they needed to make the contract absolutely ironclad.
Bai Yuan feigned a hesitant expression, as if having second thoughts. “Oh dear... this is awkward. I’m suddenly feeling a bit unsure about the second option... perhaps we should revert to the seventy-thirty split?”
Zheng Gonggong’s face darkened. “Absolutely not! It’s already been settled! Are you really going back on your word? How can you be so unreliable? It must be the second option, absolutely!”
“Ah? Well... this... *sigh*... alright,” Bai Yuan conceded, pretending to be reluctant.
He maintained the air of someone agreeing under duress, ready to renege at any given moment.
Zheng Gonggong, realizing he couldn't let this man renege, quickly turned to Fan Shangzheng. “Governor, you witnessed our agreement. What if, in a few days, Mr. Bai tries to retract his word? Without a written document, it would be his word against ours, impossible to dispute. I propose we sign an absolutely binding contract, with you, Governor, as our witness.”
Bai Yuan, still pretending reluctance, said, “This... signing such an airtight agreement, isn’t that a bit... excessive?”
Zheng Gonggong insisted, “I think it’s perfectly fine. A contract *should* be absolutely binding.”
“Oh, this... this...” Bai Yuan stammered, his feigned resistance weakening.
Fan Shangzheng, growing impatient, interjected, “Mr. Bai, I cannot side with you on this matter. You truly should sign this contract; it’s for the best for all parties. The agreement will be made in duplicate, and I, as an official, will also sign it to notarize the terms.”
With even the Governor offering to notarize, what more could be said?
Sign it, of course!
Bai Yuan, barely suppressing a triumphant grin, began to draft the contract. His calligraphy was exquisite; every character was precise and legible, leaving no room for anyone to nitpick or challenge a single stroke. Indeed, of a gentleman’s “Six Arts,” he considered calligraphy of paramount importance.
Before long, the contract was finalized. The Yiluo Coal Mine was officially leased to Bai Yuan for a period of ten years, during which he would pay the Prince of Fu’s manor a fixed lease fee. This fee was set at a sum equivalent to the mine’s output before the catastrophic flood.
For the duration of these ten years, Bai Yuan could not cease payments to the Prince of Fu’s manor, regardless of any losses or meager profits. Conversely, the Prince of Fu’s manor could not demand an increase in the contract fee, even if the coal mine proved exceptionally lucrative.
After ten years, the terms would be open for renegotiation!
Both parties affixed their signatures and thumbprints. Then, Henan Governor Fan Shangzheng added his signature and thumbprint in the notary section. The formal agreement was complete.
Bai Yuan’s heart swelled with satisfaction. He shot a quick glance at Li Daoxuan, his eyes practically dancing with elation. Li Daoxuan returned a look that clearly conveyed, “You executed that brilliantly.”
Zheng Gonggong prepared to take his leave.
Just as he turned, Bai Yuan spoke up. “Gonggong, don’t rush off just yet. We’ve only just finalized the agreement for one coal mine; there are other matters we could discuss.”
“What else is there to discuss?” Zheng Gonggong asked, puzzled.
Bai Yuan cleared his throat. “Well, it’s like this: the Prince of Fu’s manor also possesses an iron mine in Xin’an County, west of Luoyang, does it not?”
“You want the iron mine as well?” Zheng Gonggong exclaimed.
Bai Yuan smiled. “With coal, one naturally desires iron. After all, coal and iron are inseparable.”
Zheng Gonggong silently chuckled. *Perfect. The Prince of Fu’s manor has already secured a profit, and now you’re worried I haven't made enough, offering yet another windfall. This iron mine, flooded and ruined, is utterly useless to us. If you want it, by all means, take it all.*
He spread his hands. “Very well, then. Let’s sign the contract for the iron mine at the same time.”
Six hours later...
Zheng Gonggong, clutching a thick stack of contracts, returned to the Prince of Fu’s manor.
Prince of Fu, Zhu Changxun, was, as usual, indulging in merriment, embracing several of his concubines.
Zheng Gonggong cheerfully laid the thick stack of documents before him. “Your Highness,” he announced, brimming with delight, “we’ve found ourselves a colossal fool!”
“Oh?” Zhu Changxun mumbled, distracted.
Zheng Gonggong then presented a list of the waterlogged assets before Zhu Changxun. “Your Highness, behold! These are all the properties inundated by the Yellow River’s great flood in June of this year. They were utterly worthless, incapable of generating even a single copper coin. Yet, a colossal fool has unexpectedly emerged, taking on the contracts for all these devastated enterprises! From now on, we can expect to harvest several thousand taels of silver from them annually.”
Zhu Changxun picked up a contract, briefly scanned it, and chuckled. “There truly are such imbeciles in the world, aren’t there? Utterly idiotic! Still, it’s always beneficial to have someone else generating wealth for our family.”
Zheng Gonggong beamed with pride. “This servant also had a stroke of cunning,” he boasted. “I stipulated a ten-year term for this contract. If that fellow, Mr. Bai, genuinely manages to restore these properties to prosperity, we can simply reclaim them all after a decade.”
“You’ve performed admirably!” Zhu Changxun praised. “Furthermore, I want you to keep a discreet watch over these ventures. Observe how this Mr. Bai truly manages them. I’m quite intrigued to see if he can actually turn a profit.”
“This servant will certainly keep a vigilant eye,” Zheng Gonggong affirmed.
Eunuchs, by nature, were always meticulous when it came to their master’s interests. Zheng Gonggong immediately began to monitor Bai Yuan’s operations.
His primary focus was the Yiluo Coal Mine.
The Yiluo Coal Mine still contained several pits brimming with water; merely draining them would be a monumental undertaking. He was genuinely eager to observe how many laborers Bai Yuan would need, how many buckets they would require, to manually bail out the mine pits.
Zheng Gonggong dispatched several of his subordinates to stake out the Yiluo Coal Mine daily, instructing them to report back immediately the moment Bai Yuan began clearing the mine shafts.
He didn’t have to wait long. Three days later, a breathless subordinate rushed over. “Gonggong,” he reported, panting, “Bai Yuan is preparing to clear the water from the mine shafts!”
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