The Schemer's Greed

"The inferior strategy: we have the advantage in numbers and we are fighting on home turf. We could disguise ourselves as pirates and go straight out to sea to hijack the Griffin Firm's cargo—I've already mapped out their shipping lanes this trip and know exactly where they are forced to pass!

The benefit of the inferior strategy is pure, exorbitant profit! We only need to expend manpower, with virtually no overhead; at most, it's just a matter of buying the brothers a few extra rounds of drinks.

The downside is that once exposed, we'll have a falling out with the Griffin Firm, and we won't even be able to maintain a facade of civility. Losing men in a firefight is a minor concern, but there's a real possibility they could wipe us out entirely.

Even if we were lucky enough to preserve some of our fighting force, the prospect of sending workers to the Griffin Family factories in England would be off the table forever."

Mr. Ye Hai just listened, offering no nod of agreement.

Lu Bolin continued:

"The middle strategy: we become vassals to the Griffin Firm—ideally, I would become a son-in-law to the Griffin Family, doing whatever it takes to marry into their house and take one of their girls as my wife.

In this way, we could leverage their connections to obtain the qualifications to auction opium at the source.

The benefit of the middle strategy is that the risk is low and it is easy to execute.

The downside of the middle strategy is that the profit is small, because even if we obtain the qualifications to auction opium, we wouldn't be able to buy many kilograms."

Mr. Ye Hai looked at him with a smile:

"It seems you've already made some headway on this middle strategy."

Lu Bolin chuckled sheepishly:

"Master knows me best.

English girls are at their most supple and beautiful around the age of twenty. This disciple firmly believes that when a flower is ready to be plucked, one must pluck it; do not wait until the branch is bare and empty!

Of course, Master, you know that I have never lacked for women.

Everything I do to get close to the Griffin family is for the sake of the gang's grand enterprise!"

The master and disciple shared a smile.

The trait Mr. Ye Hai appreciated most about his eldest disciple was that he would lay his intentions out completely, hiding absolutely nothing from him, his master.

Lu Bolin continued:

"The superior strategy is the most difficult to pull off, but once successful, it is the most profitable and the safest strategy of all—

We find a way to work through a connection in one of the 38th Shop District's storefronts, get the Puxi City militia to provide us with escort, and use warships to transport opium back from the Ganges River!"

Mr. Ye Hai raised an eyebrow:

"Bolin, do you know what you are saying?"

Lu Bolin said earnestly:

"Master! The mundane world may not recognize the opium trade, but the entire world is currently engaged in it!

They sell opium on our land, harming our fellow countrymen and elders, only to exchange it for silver to build up England!

If those English devils can make this money, why can't we?!

Master, are you aware that the entire trade route for opium is escorted by English warships?"

Mr. Ye Hai did not speak.

Of course, he was aware of these things.

The warships of the British Royal Navy frequently patrolled the areas where opium hulks were anchored, such as the Lingding Ocean, specifically to ensure the smooth operation of the opium trade.

This was not "illegal" protection; it was the national policy of England.

These goddamn foreigners were truly rotten to the core.

Did they really have to hog the whole pot of meat for themselves, leaving others only the dregs of the broth?

Was that any way to do business?!

They were nothing but a pack of robbers!

Mr. Ye Hai smiled and said to Lu Bolin:

"Bolin, someone is already doing this."

Lu Bolin was startled.

He immediately realized that, of course, Puxi City was a place of flourishing fortune, gathering heroes and toughs from all over the world. Any path to wealth had likely been explored by someone, and a niche, high-profit industry like opium must have been thoroughly picked over by the local heroes.

Mr. Ye Hai revealed a shocking, little-known secret:

"It wasn't the militia of the 38th Shop District, but the warlords at the river mouth.

They sent out three river gunboats, hoping to get a slice of the pie, but before they even cleared the South Sea, the English warships blew them to pieces—one shot, one ship, leaving not even a scrap behind."

Lu Bolin was unwilling to give up:

"Aren't the warlords very wealthy? Can't they just buy warships? They have money to burn!

Sending river gunboats... what a joke!"

He immediately corrected himself:

"That is simply a joke!"

Mr. Ye Hai also smiled:

"Reality is just that magical."

He reined in his smile, a faint sense of desolation rising in his heart:

"This is a matter for the imperial court.

Many things within the imperial court cannot be solved with money."

Once the imperial court became involved, the problem exceeded the scope of what Ye Hai could handle.

When Ye Hai said this, his tone remained somewhat desolate, his eyes mixed with a glimmer of hope that Lu Bolin could not decipher:

"In the end, we are merely people of the underworld; we cannot change the affairs of the imperial court."

"Since we are people of the underworld, we shall only concern ourselves with the affairs of the underworld."

"Bolin, the upper, middle, and lower strategies you proposed are all quite good, but none of them will be simple to implement."

Ye Hai made an ambiguous decision:

"Since you have returned this time, we shall deliberate on this at length."

Lu Bolin cupped his hands and said:

"Yes, Master!"

Lu Bolin dared not disobey, and even when his own strategies were refuted, he felt not a shred of resentment in his heart.

This was because all the resources he possessed came from Ye Hai.

His status in the Green Gang was bestowed by Ye Hai.

His job opportunity at the Griffin Firm was a referral from Ye Hai.

The qualifications to recruit fellow villagers for the England factories, along with this entire path of business, were opened up for him by Ye Hai.

Even the credentials to study at the East India Company were not something he could have secured on his own—it was Ye Hai who had expended great effort and utilized extensive connections to obtain them for him.

The English devils were arrogant to the extreme; as long as he wore this yellow skin, he would never be able to infiltrate their inner circle in his entire life.

Lu Bolin's family had some influence and could be considered a petty bourgeois household, yet they still lacked the qualifications to even cooperate with the foreigners.

This was the reason Lu Bolin admired Ye Hai.

Ye Hai had not only established connections with the foreigners but could even force them to yield a portion of their profits.

In Lu Bolin's eyes, this was truly an incredible feat.

Lu Bolin's long journey, from Puxi City to England, then from England to the banks of the Ganges River, and finally returning via the Nanyang sea routes, had opened his eyes to the world.

The more he knew and the more he experienced, the deeper his awe for Ye Hai became.

He understood profoundly that in this chaotic era, reaching the level Ye Hai had attained was no easy task.

To receive Ye Hai's patronage was even rarer; this was perhaps the greatest opportunity he would ever have in his life, and if he failed to grasp it, his achievements would likely stop here...

Thinking of this, Lu Bolin turned his head and pulled a small, exquisite coarse pottery cup from the mountain of gifts:

"Master, I molded and fired this pottery cup with my own hands at a great temple along the banks of the Ganges River.

It is said that as long as one drinks temple-blessed tea from a consecrated pottery vessel, one can receive the protection of the Ganges deities, which not only clears the senses but also significantly boosts one's spirit and vitality!

During my travels, I followed the local customs and experienced many things, but none were as profound as this cup."