Episode Summary
Gu Pingyuan successfully negotiates with the British to save the salt industry, effectively ruining Li Qin. While Li Qin loses his assets, he uses foreign connections to avoid arrest. Gu pivots his business focus to international trade, planning to export tea and silk directly to bypass the East India Company, despite skepticism from his allies.
Spoiler Alert
The Salt Crisis Showdown
Li Qin really messed things up this time. He mortgaged the salt fields to foreigners. It’s a desperate move. Ruilin needs to fix this mess. He sends Gu Pingyuan to handle the negotiations. Ruilin brings Su Yuhua along to a British warship. Richard is the man in charge there. He tries to power trip immediately. He insists on speaking only to the Viceroy. Gu Pingyuan shuts that down. He states clearly that he represents Ruilin. He has full authority. Richard finally accepts this.
The negotiation gets heated. Richard gets greedy. He demands all shares of the Lianghuai salt industry. Gu Pingyuan refuses flat out. He cites the "International Law" treaty. Richard tries a different tactic. He threatens to transfer Li Qin’s assets to other nations. Gu argues right back. Richard tries to stall. He knows the court only gave Gu one month. He wants to wait until that deadline passes. But Gu pushes hard. The bet with Li Qin is ending. He demands a fair audit now. Richard realizes he can't win this stalling game. He compromises. They sign the deal on the spot.
The Fall of a Rival
Gu Pingyuan checks with Li Qin before finalizing everything. Signing this paper destroys Li Qin. He becomes a man with nothing. Li Qin stays silent. That is his consent. Gu Pingyuan secures a total victory. Ruilin is thrilled. He tells all the officials to listen to Gu from now on. Gu doesn't waste time celebrating. He orders them to buy up silk.
Gu goes on a research trip. He investigates the silk market in Jinling. Then he heads back to his hometown in Anhui. Old Master Hu welcomes him personally. Gu has a new strategy. He tells the Anhui tea merchants to hold onto all the spring tea. He is cornering the market.
Big Dreams and Skeptics
Gu travels to Shanxi next. He needs the "Old Eight Families." Manager Li picks him up in a carriage. Jin Mistress is there too. She asks about Chang Yuer’s pregnancy first. Gu gives her the update. Then he talks business. He has been studying international law. He found a clause about free trade.
Gu wants to sell silk, tea, porcelain, and medicine globally. He wants to bypass the middlemen. The Xianghe Firm usually uses the East India Company. Gu wants to cut them out. Manager Li and Jin Mistress are worried. This is a massive risk. They tell him to think it over carefully.
The Raid
Ruilin makes his move against Li Qin. He has orders to raid the house and make an arrest. But Richard intervenes. He claims Li Qin is a partner of the Xianghe Firm. He produces a certificate from the British Minister. Ruilin is furious. He calls Li Qin a traitor. Li Qin doesn't care at all. His son Li Wantang is dead. He is all alone anyway.
Ruilin orders the raid regardless of the British protection. Soldiers strip the house of assets. Li Qin watches it happen. He swears to live a better life next time around.
Taking on the Monopoly
Gu Pingyuan heads to Hangzhou. He meets Wu Caishen. Wu shows him the silk embroidery process. Gu is amazed by the quality. He proposes a partnership. He wants to ship this silk to the UK or India. But he needs ships. He asks Wu to help him contact Hart.
Ruilin hears about these export plans. He gets nervous. He questions Tu Ying. Tu Ying is clueless. Ruilin warns Tu Ying to focus on the Salt Guild. He thinks Gu is just making trouble.
Wu takes Gu to meet Hart. Gu lays out the plan. He wants to use warships to transport goods. Hart is skeptical. He worries about the East India Company. They are a powerful enemy. Gu is confident. He can get the lowest prices on goods. He guarantees he can beat the competition. Wu Caishen backs him up completely. Hart finally agrees to help.
