diymy Chapter 22 Acquiring a Residence
Chapter 22 Acquiring a Residence
Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "Since the clan chief doesn't mind, I'll be shameless and offer 12,000 coins per bolt, totaling 120,000 coins!"
"Consider this a favor owed to the clan chief. If you ever need anything, just ask me!"
Yang Kui smiled again and said, "Hahaha, very well, I'll do as Brother Xuande says!"
"I will immediately order someone to fetch the money and silk. In addition, I also have a few brokers who are familiar with the residences in Yangle City."
"We'll have someone go with you to choose one later, and we guarantee you'll find a nice courtyard that you'll like."
Before long, the steward of the Yang family brought 120,000 coins and divided them into four wooden boxes, all of which were heavy five-zhu coins.
Liu Bei instructed Tian Yu to put away the money and silk, thanked Yang Kui, and then, along with Tian Yu and the steward of Yang's residence, headed into Yangle City.
At the entrance of the Yang residence, Yang Kui's confidant asked in bewilderment, "Why did the patriarch ask for such a high price as one million coins?"
Yang Kui watched Liu Bei and his entourage walk away and said leisurely, "This man is no ordinary person!"
"As you know, my Yang family is actually a distant relative of Minister Yang!"
His confidant scoffed at this, saying, "What kind of distant relative is this? They just share the same surname, Yang!"
However, he still flattered, saying, "Indeed, I have heard that because of his meritorious service in suppressing the bandits in Jiujiang, His Majesty has appointed him as a Consultant, Director of Works, and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."
"Truly, he has reached the pinnacle of his power!"
The "Yang Gong" they were referring to was Yang Qiu, courtesy name Fangzheng, a native of Quanzhou, Yuyang. He was known for his ruthless methods and was a key figure in the anti-eunuch movement.
"But what does this have to do with Liu Bei?"
"I sent men into Minister Yang's residence to investigate, and only then did I discover that His Majesty does indeed sell..."
"Your Majesty, there is indeed an intention to use official salaries to donate money and grain, but only a few of Your Majesty's closest confidants know of this!"
It took the confidant a long time to come to his senses, and he said incredulously, "This Liu Bei, could he really be one of His Majesty's confidants...?"
Yang Kui glanced at his confidant and said with displeasure, "Keep quiet. How dare you and I interfere in matters of the central government..."
Although Yangle City was the seat of Liaoxi Prefecture, many of the houses in the city were left vacant due to the constant border troubles.
However, there are also a few well-maintained residences, mostly left by former officials or impoverished gentry.
The steward of the Yang family was familiar with the place and led the two to see two places in succession. Either they were too small or too dilapidated, and Liu Bei was not very satisfied with either of them.
"My lord, there is another three-courtyard residence ahead, which was left by a high-ranking official who left office a few years ago and has been vacant for a long time."
"However, the house has a well-organized layout and solid materials, but it is a little overgrown. With a little repair, it can be moved into." The butler bowed and reported.
The two followed the steward to a mansion. Although the vermilion gate was somewhat mottled, it was still very imposing.
There is a stone pier on each side of the entrance. The courtyard is paved with blue bricks. Although some weeds have grown, the layout is still square.
Tian Yu took the lead and followed the steward to carefully inspect various parts of the mansion. Sometimes he bent down to examine the walls, sometimes he raised his hand to touch the beams and pillars, and then he walked around the mansion.
"My lord, this residence is excellent."
Tian Yu returned to Liu Bei's side and reported: "The layout is three courtyards, with a spacious front yard that can be used to set up halls and corridors for entertaining guests and receiving local gentry."
"The Second Courtyard has four main rooms and six side rooms, which can be used as offices for staff and living quarters for guards. One room can also be set aside as a storeroom to store weapons and documents."
"The backyard has three main rooms, two side rooms, and a small courtyard, which can serve as the lord's residence. It is quiet, elegant, and suitable for resting."
He paused, then added, "The walls are all made of rammed earth mixed with sand and gravel, thick and sturdy, and only need to be repainted."
"Although the beams and pillars have a few insect infestations, they do not affect their use and can be stabilized with a little repair."
"There is also a well in the courtyard, with clear water that can meet our daily needs."
"Most importantly, this residence is located in a secluded part of the city, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet close to the prefectural government, making it convenient for business trips."
"And the price is reasonable; according to the housekeeper, it can be bought for only 80,000 coins."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was very pleased, not only with the residence but also with Tian Yu.
Having a team makes all the difference; otherwise, he would have to worry about all these things.
Walking into the courtyard and looking around, everything was indeed quite suitable, just as Tian Yu had said.
So he turned to the butler and said, "This is the place. Please contact the owner so we can complete the handover today."
The steward of the Yang family was efficient and contacted the homeowner in no time. The two parties signed a contract on the spot, and Liu Bei had Tian Yu pay 80,000 coins. After the transaction was completed, he officially took over the house.
The homeowner was rarely in Yangle and just wanted to get rid of the property as soon as possible. He even included some old furniture and farm tools left in the yard, saving Liu Bei a lot of trouble.
After the handover was completed, the butler took his leave, and Tian Yu immediately began making arrangements.
He first ordered two of his personal guards to find some reliable craftsmen outside the city to clear the weeds in the courtyard, repair the beams and pillars, and whitewash the walls.
He personally inventoried the items in the courtyard, sorted and organized the old furniture, and planned the layout of the hall, office area, and living area. He did everything himself, meticulously and without the slightest oversight.
"Guorang, you are indeed thoughtful and considerate. With you here, I feel at ease."
Liu Bei looked at the busy Tian Yu and praised him with a smile.
Tian Yu bowed and said, "Your Highness is too kind. This is my duty."
"Now that we have a house, but we are all men, it is still inconvenient for us to do daily cleaning, cooking, and sewing."
"We also need to summon a few maids to manage the miscellaneous tasks in the courtyard."
Liu Bei nodded, deeply agreeing: "You've considered everything very thoroughly. From now on, you can make all the decisions regarding these minor matters!"
"Now that western Liaoning has just been pacified, many people have been displaced by the war and have no means of survival."
"You can go to the refugee resettlement center in the city and recruit a few honest and quick-witted women. Pay them wages every month, and that will give them a way to make a living."
Tian Yu responded and left, returning shortly with four women.
These four women were all refugees, aged between thirty and forty, with robust figures, and were clearly quick-witted and honest.
Upon learning that they could work in Liu Bei's residence with a stable place to live and a wage, they were all extremely grateful and expressed their determination to do their best to manage the household affairs.
Tian Yu then carefully assigned tasks to the four female servants: two of them were responsible for cooking meals and managing the kitchen.
One person is responsible for sweeping the courtyard and wiping the hall.
One person is responsible for mending clothes and washing bedding.
He also specifically instructed them on the rules of the manor, forbidding them from revealing any matters concerning the manor. His instructions were clear and well-organized.
As for Xu Rong, he led his personal guards to survey the surrounding streets, terrain, intersections, and so on.
They even found out exactly which of the surrounding houses were vacant, which were inhabited, and what the residents were like.
Then, sentry posts were assigned, specifying which areas needed to be guarded, which areas needed to be patrolled, and which gates required security guards, etc.
Everything was arranged in perfect order!