Fukuda Kō

Fukuda Kō was a man under thirty, yet the Fukuda Family he belonged to controlled more than half the ships in the Land of Rivers. Before Ming Jing appeared, he had been the most renowned business prodigy.

After getting up that morning, Fukuda Kō ate breakfast bought from China Cuisine Restaurant while reading the newspaper. He was deeply concerned about the disaster along the Land of Rain's border. After all, he was in the transport business. If the disaster was not brought under control, it would inevitably breed bands of bandits. When that happened, the Fukuda Family's transport convoys would either have to find a new trade route or raise their costs to bribe the bandit leaders for safe passage.

At that moment, Fukuda Kō's butler entered and said quietly, "Lord Kō, the Prime Minister the daimyo recruited has arrived in the Royal Capital."

"Hm? Akira Kurama is here? Where is he now?" Fukuda Kō set down his newspaper. He had long wanted to speak with this business genius even more legendary than himself.

"He went to the Daimyo's Mansion," the butler replied.

"Good, I understand. Keep watching and see what his purpose is." Fukuda Kō nodded and picked up the newspaper again. A merchant entering politics? That sounded rather interesting.

That evening, while Fukuda Kō was playing with his wife and children, the butler led in two people, one tall and one short. Fukuda Kō froze. The butler had served him for over a decade, yet this was the first time he had brought people here without permission.

Just as Fukuda Kō was about to reprimand the butler, the shorter person stepped out of the shadows. He removed his hood and said gently, "Mr. Fukuda, I am Akira Kurama. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"So it is the Prime Minister... May I ask what brings the Prime Minister here uninvited?" Fukuda Kō lightly patted his wife's hand. Their many years of marital understanding showed itself perfectly in that instant. Fukuda Kō stepped forward to block Ming Jing's view, while his wife retreated and led the children out of the room.

Ming Jing said nothing, merely watching Fukuda Kō's wife and children leave. This eased Fukuda Kō slightly. At least the other party had not come with hostile intentions.

"Tomorrow, I intend to host a banquet for the wealthy people of the Royal Capital and raise donations for the disaster victims," Ming Jing said, turning his gaze back to Fukuda Kō.

"Donating for disaster relief is a good deed. I doubt anyone would refuse," Fukuda Kō said.

"What if the budget is rather large?" Ming Jing smiled faintly and asked in return.

Fukuda Kō frowned. His first thought was that Ming Jing planned to extort everyone in the name of fundraising. But considering the Kurama Clan's wealth and its current momentum, there was no need for him to do that. Fukuda Kō asked, "How much does the Prime Minister estimate will be needed?"

"Sixty million qian," Ming Jing said slowly.

Sixty million?! Fukuda Kō's eyes widened instinctively. That was equivalent to one-twentieth of the Fukuda Family's total assets! Had the disaster zone truly become that severe?

"With sixty million qian, we may not eliminate the floods permanently, but there will at least be no flooding along the Land of Rain's border for the next two hundred years," Ming Jing added.

The geography of the Land of Rain immediately appeared in Fukuda Kō's mind. He wondered what Ming Jing intended to do to achieve such an outcome.

"Does the Prime Minister plan to build a dam?" Fukuda Kō thought of a location where mountains stood on both sides. As long as the middle was blocked off, the waters of the Land of Rain could be contained.

"No." Ming Jing shook his head. "Better to dredge than to dam. I intend to dig a canal and connect the Land of Fire, Land of Rivers, Land of Rain, and Land of Grass."

Fukuda Kō was startled. His family had dug canals before, but only within the Land of Rivers. From the sound of Ming Jing's words, he was planning something enormous. Fukuda Kō calculated for a while, then shook his head. "The Prime Minister's idea is good, but it is impossible to dig such a massive canal with sixty million qian. The workers' wages alone would exceed that amount."

"The workers only need food and lodging. According to current estimates, there are roughly fifty thousand of them," Ming Jing said calmly.

Fukuda Kō immediately understood what Ming Jing meant. The Prime Minister intended to have the disaster victims dig the canal for him. In that case, it was not impossible.

Wait, then why had the Prime Minister come looking for him today?

Fukuda Kō looked at Ming Jing in confusion, hoping for an explanation.

"The reason I came to see Mr. Fukuda in advance is that I hope you will fully cooperate with me during tomorrow's fundraising. It would be best if you could donate five or six million qian. Of course, I will not treat Mr. Fukuda unfairly. Once the canal is completed, the Fukuda Family will be exempt from canal taxes for ten years." Ming Jing also relaxed inwardly. Talking to smart people really was easy. There was no need to say too much; they already understood on their own.

Sure enough, upon hearing the bait Ming Jing had offered, Fukuda Kō agreed almost without hesitation. He even promised that the Fukuda Family would donate eight million qian to the disaster victims. The extra few million was Fukuda Kō's gesture of respect toward Ming Jing.

After Ming Jing left, Fukuda Kō happily paced back and forth around the house. His wife quietly came over to see what was happening. Seeing how delighted her husband was, she could not help asking him about it. Fukuda Kō told her about his agreement with Ming Jing, then said excitedly, "Ten years of tax exemption! Keiko, do you know what that means? It means that for the next ten years, my Fukuda Family will be fully capable of taking over the transport business in the Land of Grass, the Land of Rain, and the Land of Fire! That is a market worth hundreds of millions! What does the seven million qian we paid now even matter?! Hahahaha..."

"Ah, congratulations, Kō," Fukuda Kō's wife said happily as well.

Just then, the butler, who had been standing to one side without any presence at all, shuddered. Then he looked around blankly. When he saw Fukuda Kō, he hurriedly bowed. "I'm sorry, Lord Kō. I don't know how I... I just came in?"

Fukuda Kō's expression hardened. He immediately understood that this was Ming Jing's warning. The other man was not merely an official; he was also a powerful ninja. Once he understood, Fukuda Kō smiled freely and waved for the butler to leave. He had not intended to play any tricks anyway.

On the way back, Ming Jing and Qing Yan walked at an unhurried pace. Seeing that Ming Jing was in a good mood, Qing Yan asked, "Young Master, why did you come to see this man first?"

"Fukuda Kō is young and quick-thinking, so he is more likely to accept new things. Besides, the Fukuda Family is in transportation. What could attract them more than digging a canal?" Ming Jing explained with a smile. Even he had not expected things to go so smoothly. Sometimes, getting things done really was about finding the right person.

"Understood." Qing Yan nodded and asked no more, quietly following behind Ming Jing.

Ming Jing wore a smile. He was now full of confidence in tomorrow's fundraising ceremony. Mm, after returning, I should secretly arrange the venue and make sure nothing goes wrong. What a brilliant spur-of-the-moment idea tonight was! If I had not come out to clear my head, how could I have thought of such a good method?

That was right. The reason Ming Jing had gone to Fukuda Kō was that simple: it had merely been an impulsive decision.

Early the next morning, the Fukuda Family's butler received an invitation from the Prime Minister's Residence. Fukuda Kō took it and looked it over. This invitation really was... simple. It was just a sheet of white paper folded in half, and the contents were equally simple.

It began with: "Hold compassion in one's heart, and follow virtue as naturally as water flows."

Dear Mr. Fukuda Kō:

Having heard of your esteemed reputation and influence in society, the Prime Minister's Residence Charity Dinner will be held at the First Conference Hall of Zhonghua Grand Hotel on July 24, 2016, at a quarter past the Hour of the Dog. Let us join together in good deeds, offer our love, and bring blessings to the disaster area. We sincerely invite you to graciously attend.

Signed: Prime Minister of the Land of Fire · Akira Kurama

"Heh, this Prime Minister certainly keeps a low profile. I wonder whether that old fox Masao Kosaka will take the bait." Fukuda Kō smiled and handed the simple invitation to the butler. "Remember to remind me. This dinner is very important."

"Yes, Lord Kō!" The butler respectfully accepted the simple invitation.