CHAPTER 128: CHAPTER 110 REJECTION (4K)

The progress and efficiency of the Academic Palace Patent Office had far exceeded Li Ang’s expectations.

According to Dr. Su Feng, a Doctor of Science, the largest business firms in Chang’an City—including Lanxiang Records, which dealt in spices; Fusheng Hall, which managed the herbal medicine trade; Jinxiu Hall, considered by Chai Cuiqiao and many of the ladies of Chang’an to be a holy land; and even the fur trading merchant associations—were all involved.

In the past, Yu Country’s hygiene products consisted of bath beans, soap, and face-cleansing oils and hand creams, which were considered beauty products. However, the luxurious ingredients of high-end bath beans made them costly, and the pig pancreas used in the traditional soap was not easily obtained. Consequently, only middle-class families, nobles, and scholar-officials could afford them. On the other hand, the raw materials for the new soap were relatively easy to obtain, and the manufacturing process was simple, making it clear that it would be easy to promote. Moreover, with the backing of the Academic Palace, it was not hard to understand why all the major business firms flocked to it.

With some time still before lunch, Li Ang simply followed Dr. Su Feng to the Patent Office, where they met representatives of the major business firms in a private room.

"This is Manager Qian from Lanxiang Records, this is Wang Zhushi from Fusheng Hall, this is Manager An from Jinxiu Hall, and this is Manager Jin from Liu Guang Bank."

Dr. Su Feng introduced the representatives of various merchant associations to Li Ang. All of them were influential figures in both the East and West Markets of Chang’an. Some merchant associations had branches in every major State Mansion across Yu Country and even conducted business internationally.

Li Ang greeted them amiably and, while taking a seat, whispered to Su Feng, "Dr. Su, why are there no Hu Shang?"

As the largest operators on the Silk Road, the Hu Shang community’s influence in the East and West Markets was no less than that of the local merchant associations, and they even slightly surpassed them in terms of wealth. It was indeed rather... odd that there wasn’t a single Hu Ren in a room filled with representatives of the East and West Markets’ merchant associations.

"Um, well..." Dr. Su Feng pretended to cough, his expression awkward as he said, "Generally, when new patents are issued, we do not notify the Hu Shang, and they, knowing their place, do not come to inquire either. The patents that local merchant associations can buy may not be available for them to purchase—this could cost them their heads."

"Cost them their heads?" Li Ang raised an eyebrow, quickly realizing. "The Hu Shang are based in the Far West. So, you don’t let them get involved with new patents because you’re afraid they’ll secretly transport the production technology for exclusive products overseas?"

"That’s correct." Dr. Su Feng nodded, continuing helplessly, "While the Academic Palace intends to foster a wide exchange of knowledge and resources, the court does not share that view. Every year, the Hu Shang transport spices, rhinoceros horn, ivory, coral, pearls, amber, and other treasures to Chang’an, making a vast fortune—they’ve become too big to be controlled. If they were to steal production techniques and manufacture products in the Far West to sell back to Yu Country, it would be detrimental to Yu Country’s commerce. This is also the case for merchant firms from West Jing, Nanzhou, and other nations; they are not entitled to participate in patent licensing."

Li Ang nodded. "Knowledge has no borders, but taxes do."

"Mr. Li’s words are quite apt, befitting the Academic Palace Top Scholar." A portly man with a jade ring and an aromatic sachet at his waist commented with a smile, "But you needn’t worry. It’s not like we, the various merchant associations of Chang’an, will gang up to drive down the price just because the Hu Shang aren’t here to bid against us. Doing business is primarily about integrity. After all, the Imperial Palace had previously consulted us on the manufacture and promotion of obstetrical forceps. With obstetrical forceps, who knows how many lives of mothers and infants can be saved. We all owe you a debt of gratitude for this."

"Ah, Manager Jin, you flatter me." Li Ang’s eyelids twitched. The portly man speaking, named Jin Wusuan, was the chief manager of Liu Guang Bank—the bank with branches in over six hundred State Mansions across Yu Country, even extending into the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains.

If there were to be a contest for the richest person in Yu Country, Jin Wusuan would undoubtedly be the front-runner. In fact, according to some street rumors, Jin Wusuan was an agent for the Li Family and even the Emperor and his wife’s private commercial interests, aiding the Royal Family’s wealth accumulation. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain how Liu Guang Bank, with a monthly turnover calculated in tens of millions of strings of coins, had not been devoured by various powerful figures.

The richest man in Yu Country, huh. Li Ang smacked his lips silently, imagining showers of money falling from the sky.

Jin Wusuan was undoubtedly the most prominent among the gathered representatives of the merchant firms. Once he spoke, the others quickly chimed in, praising how magnificent the obstetrical forceps were and how soap and degreasing cotton could greatly assist the lives of the common people, and so on.

"If it weren’t for the Imperial Palace’s special instructions not to excessively promote you, Mr. Li, a living temple would probably have already been erected for you in Chang’an City." Jin Wusuan shook his head regretfully, then handed Li Ang a stack of neatly bound papers. "Oh, Mr. Li, this is a letter of intent for patent licensing from our several merchant firms. Please take a look and see if anything is amiss."

Li Ang took the papers and glanced over them, and a jolt went through him, as if a powerful sound system had suddenly been switched on in his mind.

THUMP. THUMP. BOOM.

Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions...

Three million strings of coins?

Li Ang checked the numbers on the paper again. There was no mistake: the various business firms of Chang’an were willing to pay three million strings of coins to buy out the patent licenses in one lump sum.

The mansion of a former prime minister probably only costs about ten thousand strings of coins, right? When the previous Emperor’s eldest princess married, all the expenses combined—including the dowry, wedding, the princess’s mansion, and the lifelong salaries for her retinue and servants—only amounted to about two hundred thousand strings of coins. And even that was furiously criticized by the Imperial Censors as extravagant, wasteful, and damaging to the state’s prestige.

Li Ang stared at the numbers on the paper, letting out a long sigh. Three million strings of coins would be enough to build three hundred thousand wells, buy thirty thousand fine horses, and support a common family with daily living expenses of two hundred coins for fifteen million days—which equates to forty-one thousand and ninety-five years.