After the drinking session at Huo Changlin's courtyard, Tongchen returned to his boat. He understood that at this moment, Huo Changlin was trying to avoid suspicion. Aidan seemed to be familiar with every pawnbroker, so the bargaining was left entirely to him. Tongchen noticed in the past two days that each pawnbroker treated you like a brother just because you maybe a potential buyer, no matter how much money you dared to offer, they dared to sell.
On the agreed evening with Huo Changlin, they gathered in Changlin's study. They saw that many places on the map had been circled by him, almost every street had been marked. It seemed that the commercial district of the capital was about to undergo a major transformation.
"You have less than 5 days left. Once you find somewhere you like, buy it at an acceptable price and do not negotiate. Let them know that they won't get a single penny less if wait few more days." Seeing Huo Changlin confidently tapping the map with his pen, Tongchen thought, this is what a wealthy playboy looks like.
The next day, they began their crazy shopping spree. The first step was to purchase a waterfront courtyard for the Tong family near the inner city riverbank. A small stream diverted into the backyard, forming a decent-sized lake. There was a small dock near the west gate, allowing boats to dock directly outside the courtyard. Although it wasn't in the prestigious high-ranking official district near the imperial city, it had the advantage of convenient water and land transportation, as well as bustling commercial activity. It wouldn't be too restrictive for the mountain family to live there. The previous owner left in a hurry, and the price was unbelievably low, with all furnishings and decorations included. Tongchen moved in with a few boatmen from Dongbin and quickly settled in. In four days, he bought everywhere he needed in the city and settled in comfortably.
The residents in the southern part of the city were quite diverse. There were military families and government attendants, small business owners and artisans, as well as people who had made fortunes in other cities and scholars from humble backgrounds who chose to stay in this area because of the affordable prices. The shops here were spacious and substantial, standing out from the crowded local residences. However, Tongchen felt that it was the perfect place to establish the Artisan Education School. So, as soon as he saw the "for sale" signs, he eagerly sought out agents to inquire about prices. While he was in the midst of negotiations, officials arrived and sealed off most of the shops along the street. Tongchen couldn't finalize any deals for the shops he had set his eyes on.
In the evening, Huo Changlin discreetly visited Tongchen's new residence. He pointed out the sealed-off areas and discussed the situation with Tongchen. Afterward, he collected the map and said, "Most likely, these sealed-off areas are being confiscated due to their owners' involvement in wrongdoing. You won't be able to buy them. Have you had a chance to meet General Qiao lately?"
"No, when I went to visit General Qiao, he wasn't at home. And since the last letter from Prince Mo instructed me to make decisions, I didn't go to Prince Mo's residence. I've purchased seven or eight shops suitable for Fuhai Pavilion and the North-South Supermarket. I'll leave it to Miss Bei to decide how to use them specifically. I haven't heard of any sales of estates along the road." Tongchen directly showed all the documentation and deeds to Huo Changlin.
"Well, all the deeds are in order. With Daidan accompanying you, there shouldn't be any problems handling these matters. I have a plan for the estates in the outskirts of the city and the street for the school. Leave it to me to handle."
Without further delay, Tongchen bid farewell to the Huo household the next day and sailed southward, heading back to the DongBinh. city.
After half a month of tension due to the "Wa Sword " case, on the day after Tongchen's departure, during the morning court session, the anxious civil and military officials finally received definite news. After days of arrests and investigations, those who were released and were now standing in the grand hall were trembling nervously, avoiding eye contact as they counted the empty spots. All the prominent estates, shops, and rare treasures from their homes had been sold off at low prices. Now, they were desperately trying to recall any connections they might have had with those who were still missing.
Fortunately, the emperor's focus was on quickly stabilizing the court to concentrate efforts on preparing for the impending battle against the sea pirates. Therefore, he ordered Pei Zhenyan and Huo Changlin to use swift and severe measures to crackdown on the heavily involved criminals and suspects. Those with lesser involvement were also punished with fines or demotions. Finally, on the day winter began in October, the emperor officially announced during the morning court session that the "Wa sword" case was temporarily concluded.
As the Ministry of Personnel selected outstanding officials from across the country to fill vacancies in the capital, the officials in the capital breathed a sigh of relief. If Tongchen had stayed a few more days in the capital, he would have noticed that all the shops, residences, and estates, including the assets confiscated from the convicted criminals, had risen in value. Moreover, due to the frequent transfers of officials, the business sector in the capital exhibited unprecedented prosperity.