Qi Xuansu spent the entire day running around and successfully got things arranged for Huangfu Ji. His main role was to connect the right people. He hosted a tea meeting between the Chief Deputy of Shibo Hall and Huangfu Ji, settling most of the deal. The remaining details would be handled by their subordinates, leading to a formal contract.0

For an individual, 1.5 million Taiping coins was a huge sum. Qi Xuansu had carried massive debts across two lifetimes and still had no personal stipend. He was essentially broke. But for the Daoist Order, it was not a significant amount at all, not even worth bringing to the Golden Tower Council. The Nine Halls had sufficient autonomy to handle it.0

If the previous Golden Tower Council meeting had produced a formal resolution, it might have influenced this matter. But since no decision was reached, that created a different political climate altogether.0

The key was that the Western Daoist Order’s terms were extremely generous. It was an investment of 1.5 million Taiping coins with an expected return of 3 million Taiping coins. Anyone would see it as a profitable...0