readytorunbook Chapter 306 15 Million Ransom
Chapter 306 15 Million Ransom
Chapter 306 1500 Million Taels of Ransom
Sheng Liang returned to the entrance of the mountain stronghold and said angrily, "Jiang Hongbao, don't go too far!"
Jiang Hongbao swallowed hard, thinking to himself, "Just as I thought. This kid thinks ten million taels is too much and doesn't want to pay the ransom. It's my fault for asking such a hothead for a price."
"Young Master Sheng, the money is negotiable! But if you dare to launch a direct attack on Mu Mountain, I'll skin that mother and child alive right in front of you!" Jiang Hongbao threatened.
Sheng Liang frowned. Ten million taels of silver wasn't enough? His elder brother said that even the Ming Dynasty's national treasury couldn't come up with ten thousand taels right now. What would you bandits need so much silver for?
Sheng Liang thought for a moment and then said, "Twelve million taels, that's the most I can do!"
"Pfft..." Jiang Hongbao was stunned. This hothead really wanted to take the initiative. He threatened again, "Young Master Sheng, don't joke around. Don't you want your sister-in-law and nephew to live?"
"Damn it!" Sheng Liang cursed, "Fifteen million taels of silver! If there's any more, I can't make the decisions!"
Before Sheng Liang arrived, he learned from Sheng Lan that Hanshan could currently come up with 20 million taels of silver. Sheng Liang dared not spend all the silver; he had to keep some, otherwise his elder brother would be angry, and he would be in trouble.
Jiang Hongbao frowned and asked incredulously, "Young Master Sheng, you really used fifteen million taels of silver to redeem that mother and child?"
Sheng Liang was really angry this time. He said angrily, "Fifteen million taels. If you want the money, I will immediately order people to raise it. But you will have to wait a few days. After all, it is not something that can be done in a day or two to transport so much silver from all over the Ming Dynasty."
"Alright! I'll wait a few days!" Jiang Hongbao nodded, seeing that Sheng Liang didn't seem to be lying. Jiang Hongbao found it hard to believe that someone in the Ming Dynasty could actually come up with 1,500 taels of silver. And just to ransom a mother and child, they were using so much silver—enough to destroy a small country! Whose wife and child were these?
Sheng Liang emphasized, "It's settled then, a maximum of fifteen million taels. If you want more, you'll have to wait for someone else to come and negotiate!"
"It's a deal!" Jiang Hongbao nodded repeatedly. It was a good thing to have a hothead negotiating with him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to earn so much silver. Jiang Hongbao's bottom line was one or two million taels of silver, but he didn't expect it to increase more than tenfold.
Sheng Liang said, "Could you ask my sister-in-law to come out again? I need to ask her for something. Otherwise, I won't be able to raise that much money."
"Alright!" Jiang Hongbao immediately ordered his men to bring Liu Rushi out.
“Aunt, please let me use your seal. The bandits want 1500 million taels of silver. When they came, my aunt told me that Hanshan Bank currently only has 1200 million taels of silver, and the rest will have to come from Hanshan supermarkets in various places,” Sheng Liang said.
Liu Rushi frowned. 1500 million taels of silver to ransom someone? You dare give that money? Do you think the robbers would accept it? Is Sheng Liang just stalling for time?
Thinking of this, Liu Rushi took out the seal and threw it to Sheng Liang, saying, "Xiao Liang, don't worry. Some things are difficult to handle. You can wait for your older brother to arrive and let him figure out a solution."
"Yes, yes!" Sheng Liang nodded and replied, "Auntie, don't worry. I'll take care of it!"
After Sheng Liang finished speaking, he turned around and went back.
Liu Rushi shook her head with a wry smile, unsure if Sheng Liang understood her words. She wanted Wang Wenzhou to handle the matter and didn't want Sheng Liang to act recklessly.
Jiang Hongbao waved his hand, and the female bandit hurriedly escorted Liu Rushi back.
Jiang Hongbao followed and asked, "Madam, who exactly is your husband? How can he produce so much silver?"
Liu Rushi replied, "My husband is Wang Wenzhou, the Vice Minister of Rites and the heir of the Earl of Xinjian."
"Oh!" Jiang Hongbao nodded repeatedly. No wonder, they really were from a noble family. These nobles of the Ming Dynasty were truly wealthy!
After returning, Sheng Liang immediately sent people to various places to deliver messages and send silver to Mou County.
When Niu Guangdou, the prefect of Kaifeng, heard that the ransom was 1500 million taels of silver, he almost fainted. Others might not know the exact amount of the money, but he knew it perfectly well.
Kaifeng, a prefecture with eight counties, only collected 20 taels of silver in taxes annually. Wang Wenzhou then produced 1500 million taels of silver to redeem his wife and children. The Ming Dynasty's annual tax revenue was only 400 million taels of silver. Wang Wenzhou was truly richer than a country!
That evening, Wang Qiang arrived in Mou County.
Sheng Liang hurriedly went to greet him and asked, "Where's my brother? Why didn't he come?"
Wang Qiang smiled and said, "Don't bother yourself with this little thing, young master. I can handle it."
Sheng Liang shook his head repeatedly and said, "My sisters-in-law entrusted me with the entire matter. I have already negotiated with the kidnappers. They will pay 1500 million taels of silver to ransom the hostages."
"How much?" Wang Qiang asked, both amused and exasperated.
“1500 million taels!” Sheng Liang didn’t think he was stupid.
Wang Qiang laughed and scolded, "Xiao Liang, what can I say to you! You don't need to worry about this, I'll handle it!"
"No!" Sheng Liang said hurriedly, "My aunt said that no matter how much money it costs, we must rescue them alive."
These days in the capital, Wang Qiang has learned ruthlessness from Wang Wenzhou. The young master once said that everyone has weaknesses, and family is the weakness of almost everyone. For example, when the young master threatened the civil and military officials, he pretended to kill all the male members of Qian Shisheng's family and sent all the female members to the brothel.
In Wang Qiang's view, the kidnapping was easy to handle. The bandits had kidnapped Liu Rushi and her son, so he would kidnap the entire families of all the bandits!
Wang Qiang cursed and said, "1500 million taels? If the young master knew, he would beat you to death! The young master said that wealth should not be flaunted. If the emperor finds out that the young master is so rich, the emperor will kill the young master like a fat pig!"
“No!” Sheng Liang insisted on his idea and said, “Aunt Sheng Lan instructed me to handle this matter entirely.”
Wang Qiang pursed his lips and said, "Magistrate of Mou County and Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, come here, I have something to tell you."
Niu Guangdou and Magistrate Ma hurried over.
Wang Qiang introduced himself: "My name is Wang Qiang, and Wang Wenzhou is my brother. I'm in charge of this matter now."
"No way!" Sheng Liang protested immediately.
"Men! Tie up Young Master Liang!" Wang Qiang's style of doing things was becoming more and more like Wang Wenzhou's.
"Let's see who dares," Sheng Liang said coldly.
The special forces battalion was brought by Sheng Liang, but Wang Qiang is the battalion commander. Now the two have a conflict, and nobody knows what to do, based solely on what they've heard.
The bosses of the Hanshan Group were at a loss. These two young masters were the principal's closest people. It was like gods fighting, and the little devils were suffering.
Wang Guangji was quick-witted, and he quickly said, "Young masters, saving Madam is the priority. Why don't you each use your own methods and see who can rescue Madam first? After all, Madam and the young master are hostages now, and it would be a good thing if they could be rescued sooner."
Sheng Liang nodded and said, "Xiao Qiang, you can't force your way into Mu Shan."
Wang Qiang curled his lip and said disdainfully, "Xiao Liang, you're just brainless. Let me show you how I'll rescue your sister-in-law."
"Hmph!" Sheng Liang snorted disdainfully.