Chapter 771: Investment Proposal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 771: Investment Proposal
"The Tang Clan will lend the Uicheon Alliance the money."
Sun-woo spoke with a thick smile playing on his lips.
Upon hearing those words, the elders' expressions went blank.
The Tang Clan lending them money?
What on earth was he talking about?
"That’s preposterous! How could the Tang Clan possibly lend such a staggering sum so readily?!"
Lee Se-jin’s face flushed deep red as he raised his voice.
It was an absurd claim.
To purchase millions of pyeong of land, an astronomical amount of capital was required—a sum so vast it would be a burden even for the Tang Clan, the undisputed lords of Sichuan.
Why would the Tang Clan hand over such a fortune?
Unless they had more money than they knew what to do with, there was no reason for them to show such benevolence.
"The Tang Clan is a martial clan. They are not a professional money exchange. They wouldn't overextend themselves just to collect a bit of interest," Lee Se-jin argued.
He was certain the Tang Clan wouldn't take such a risk.
To provide the funds needed to buy millions of pyeong of land, the Tang Clan would likely have to liquidate a significant portion of their businesses. The amount was simply that astronomical.
There was no way they would make such a reckless choice.
And for what? To lend money to the newly formed Uicheon Alliance? On what basis of trust?
The Tang Clan was a Great Clan.
They were a martial family with hundreds of blood relatives to support.
Because of that, they were cautious.
Because of that, they were prudent.
If the clan’s foundation shook, every member of the bloodline would suffer the consequences.
There was no way such a clan would engage in an aggressive investment that was little more than a gamble.
"They will lend it," Sun-woo said, his expression turning resolute. "Provided we pay the corresponding price."
Sun-woo’s eyes glinted with a snake-like light as he spoke.
"A corresponding price?!" Lee Se-jin asked, his face full of doubt.
"As you know, Elder, martial clans tend to prefer investments that offer stable management, even if the returns are low. It’s a habit born from the need to be extremely cautious, as they have many mouths to feed."
Sun-woo continued in a calm tone.
"The Tang Clan, in particular, is famous for being fastidious. Securing a large-scale investment from them would be twice as difficult as it would be with any other clan. Especially since the newly formed Uicheon Alliance has yet to provide them with any credible reason to trust us."
"Then how exactly do you plan to get them to invest?" Lee Se-jin asked, his frustration mounting.
"By offering them a profit so great they cannot refuse."
"And what specifically is this 'profit they cannot refuse'?" Lee Se-jin pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"Half."
Sun-woo’s expression remained firm.
"We hand over half of the prime real estate surrounding the Uicheon Alliance to the Tang Clan."
"That’s insane!" Lee Se-jin roared.
Hand over half the land?
Wasn't that the same as granting the Tang Clan a monopoly on speculation?
How could he even suggest such a thing?
It was an absurd proposal.
Wasn't the whole point of relocating the Alliance to stop real estate speculation?
And yet, he was proposing to encourage it?
"Why do you think it’s insane?" Sun-woo asked, looking at the furious Lee Se-jin with a feigned look of confusion.
"If we do as you say, we are essentially giving the Tang Clan exclusive rights to land speculation! We are moving the Alliance to stop speculation! How can you suggest we encourage it? It’s a total contradiction!" Lee Se-jin shouted, his face flushed with heat.
"But if we don't do this, the Tang Clan won't lend us the money."
"Then we can just borrow it from somewhere else!"
"And where would that be?" Sun-woo asked, looking genuinely curious.
"From... a money exchange... or a merchant guild... or..."
Lee Se-jin began to stammer.
There were plenty of places to borrow money. The Central Plains was crawling with people who made their living through lending.
"It’s impossible," Sun-woo said, cutting Lee Se-jin off flatly.
"No one but the Tang Clan will lend us such a massive sum. You know this, don't you? There isn't a single place that would lend the newly formed Uicheon Alliance enough money to purchase millions of pyeong of land."
Sun-woo looked at Lee Se-jin with a steady gaze.
"And if we can't borrow the money, we can't relocate the Alliance. The housing and land prices in Jinan will spiral even further out of control. Those who can't afford homes will feel a sense of relative deprivation. To escape that despair, they’ll gamble away their last coins or spend recklessly without any preparation for the future, only to face a lonely, miserable end. Is that what you want?"
Sun-woo’s sharp eyes flashed.
"I... I didn't say I wanted that... but still... allowing only the Tang Clan to speculate is..." Lee Se-jin muttered, his resolve wavering.
"Elder, this is the lesser of two evils to prevent the absolute worst. Besides, the Uicheon Alliance will still own the other half of that prime land, won't it? We can use that land to build housing for the commoners who have no money."
Sun-woo’s voice turned soft, almost coaxing.
"............"
Lee Se-jin fell into deep thought.
Sun-woo wasn't wrong. If they couldn't stop speculation entirely, they could at least create a regulated speculation zone.
If they did that, the burden on commoners regarding housing would be reduced.
It was a plan that could be called a masterstroke.
Yet, Lee Se-jin still found it hard to accept. The idea of such an enormous profit being funneled exclusively to the Tang Clan sat poorly with him.
"But the benefit the Tang Clan receives is excessively large. How can they be allowed to monopolize and speculate on millions of pyeong of land all by themselves?" Lee Se-jin finally asked, having finished his deliberations.
"You speak as if I am showing favoritism to the Tang Clan," Sun-woo said calmly.
"The Tang Clan is taking on a massive risk by investing. They are putting up tens of millions of nyang in a situation where it’s not even certain they’ll recover their principal. For an investment that dangerous, shouldn't the reward be at least this high?"
The Tang Clan lending money to the Uicheon Alliance was an investment.
It was a colossal, dangerous investment where the recovery of tens of millions of nyang was not guaranteed.
Therefore, a certain level of profit had to be promised.
At least enough to convince the Tang Clan’s leadership.
Even if the proposal came from Sun-woo—who stood above the Clan Head—Tang Seo-yoon and the other leaders would flatly refuse if it meant harming the clan.
The lives of hundreds of blood relatives rested on their shoulders, after all.
"............"
Lee Se-jin fell silent, his mouth clamped shut.
He realized Sun-woo was right.
Allowing only the Tang Clan to speculate was an enormous benefit, but it was also a fair price.
It was the price for readily lending a fortune to an organization as unproven as the Uicheon Alliance.
He couldn't say anything more. He didn't like it, but he had no choice but to agree.
Seeing this, a thick smile spread across Sun-woo’s face.
He had successfully convinced them.
"Does anyone else have an objection?" Sun-woo asked, slowly scanning the room.
"................"
A heavy silence filled the meeting hall.
Not a single person opened their mouth.
In fact, they couldn't.
How could they oppose a plan that would stabilize the skyrocketing land and housing prices in Jinan while saving the suffering commoners?
If they opposed it now, they would look like petty cowards who were only raising their voices because they were afraid their own property values would drop.
Thus, none of the elders spoke.
The thought of their property values falling was terrifying, but they hated the idea of being remembered as petty cowards even more.
"Then, are there any other opinions?" Sun-woo asked again.
"................"
The hall remained silent.
Grin.
Sun-woo’s smile deepened. Everything was going according to plan.
"Thank you. It seems the elders and I are of one mind."
Sun-woo bowed slightly.
It was a gesture of gratitude—gratitude for their agreement.
"Then I will proceed with negotiations with the Tang Clan to finalize the details of this matter."
Sun-woo straightened up and looked at the elders.
The elders, their faces looking as if they had swallowed something bitter, nodded their heads.
They had conceded, however reluctantly.
The elders all had the same thought: they needed to sell their houses as quickly as possible.
Sun-woo looked satisfied. In the end, everything had gone exactly as he intended.
'...I should go write that proposal.'
Sun-woo thought he should get to it immediately.
An incredible investment proposal that would make the Tang Clan even wealthier.
*
Jaegyeong Pavilion
"Tang Hye, sweets."
Yorang spoke, her small mouth parting slightly.
"Here you go."
At those words, Tang Hye immediately pulled a neatly wrapped confection from her robe and peeled off the paper.
She then popped it right into Yorang’s dainty mouth.
"Nom!"
As soon as the sweet entered her mouth, Yorang clamped it shut.
A look of pure bliss washed over her face.
The sugary aroma spreading through her mouth filled her with happiness.
It was sweet.
So incredibly sweet.
It felt like a waste for it to even melt.
Slurp, lick.
Yorang began to work her tongue, busily licking the sweet and savoring every bit of its deliciousness.
'...So cute.'
Tang Hye watched her, a slight blush on her cheeks.
Seeing Yorang so happy over a simple sweet was just too adorable.
Is this what it feels like to have a younger sister?
Or a daughter?
Yorang’s innocent appearance warmed Tang Hye’s heart.
She watched Yorang with sparkling eyes, feeling as if her very soul was being purified.
After some time had passed...
Bang!
The door to the office swung open violently.
Startled by the noise, Tang Hye whipped her head around.
There, she saw a man walking in, gasping for breath.
'Senior Tang Gam?!'
It was Tang Gam, a member of the Jaegyeong Pavilion.
"Haa... haa... Pavilion Head..."
Tang Gam panted as he called out to Yorang.
"Oh, Gam, hello?"
Yorang greeted him with an innocent smile, completely ignoring his desperate panting.
"Haa... haa... I have something to deliver."
Tang Gam continued, still trying to catch his breath.
"Hmm... it’s almost lunchtime... can’t you give it to me tomorrow?"
Yorang looked down at her lower belly.
According to her internal clock, lunch was fast approaching. She had no desire to do any work.
"It’s urgent!" Tang Gam insisted, his tone frantic.
"............"
Yorang’s face fell into a look of blatant disappointment.
If she had known this would happen, she would have just taken the sweets and run away.
"Haa... what is it?"
Yorang sighed, relenting.
"...An investment proposal has arrived."
Tang Gam’s expression was grave.
"An investment proposal?"
Yorang looked puzzled.
Didn't they receive those until they were sick of them? Why was he acting so serious about it?
She couldn't help but feel suspicious.
"...It’s... an investment proposal sent by Lord Sun-woo."
Tang Gam looked troubled as he spoke.
"Sun-woo?!"
Yorang jumped in surprise.
She hadn't expected Sun-woo’s name to come up at all.
"You should have said so sooner! Give it here, now!"
Yorang barked, holding out her hand.
All she wanted was to feel a trace of Sun-woo, even if it was just through his handwriting.
"H-here it is."
Intimidated by Yorang’s sudden intensity, Tang Gam stammered and pulled a letter from his robe.
Snatch!
Yorang snatched the letter away instantly.
Crinkle.
She unfurled it and began to read with a beaming smile.
Just the thought of seeing Sun-woo’s touch made her feel wonderful.
However, as she read further down the letter, her beaming smile slowly began to fade.
After a few moments...
Thud.
Yorang dropped the letter onto her desk.
"He’s crazy."
She muttered the words with a look of absolute dead-seriousness.