The rise of the poor

Chapter 2310 A Disappointing Result

Luo Longwen used a lavish spending tactic to win over three voters in succession—no, to be precise, four.

After turning the third person to defect, Wang San revealed to Luo Longwen that he, Wang San, would also participate in the show of hands vote next time.

Luo Longwen, understanding the implied meaning, immediately gave Wang San three large stacks of silver notes, asking him to vote in favor of cooperating with his master next time. Wang San accepted the silver notes, his face beaming like a chrysanthemum, repeatedly assuring him that there would be no problem.

Luo Longwen also smiled broadly, his face beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum.

He calculated in his mind that in the past two days he had successively turned three people who originally supported cooperating with Zhu Ping'an to the other side. This turnaround and the return of the three people were equivalent to six votes. Adding Wang San, who would also participate in the next vote by raising his hands, that would be seven votes.

Seven votes is no small number. The majority already supported cooperating with their master, and with these seven votes, they will definitely have a clear majority in the next vote. If they keep up the good work and try to win over a few more people, then it will be a sure thing.

Brother Donglou, I have at least fulfilled my mission.

However, just as Luo Longwen was pressing on to continue his efforts to win over the defectors, he found it increasingly difficult. On the one hand, his silver notes were running out, greatly reducing his financial power. On the other hand, these people were closely related to Mao Haifeng, making it very difficult for him to win them over. He would have to keep adding money, money, and more money to win them over, but he couldn't afford to do that anymore.

However, it's not a big problem. Luo Longwen has already sent his two underlings ashore to get some silver notes. Once they bring them back, he'll add more money. He doesn't believe he can't win them over.

Of course, Luo Longwen also sent two of his underlings with a secret letter to visit Gao Delu, the former Zhejiang Provincial Governor. Gao Delu was a member of Yan's faction and had been retired for several years. Luo Longwen had recently drunk with him. Gao Delu's son was an official in the capital and still needed the Yan faction's support. Luo Longwen knew that Gao Delu had a map of Zhejiang, so he sent his underlings with his handwritten letter to Gao Delu to obtain the map and present it to the Japanese captain.

Just as Luo Longwen was gearing up to kill the vote, Wang San brought him some bad news.

"Something terrible has happened, Brother Luo! Something terrible has happened!" Wang San said with a grim expression as soon as he entered the room.

"What's wrong, Third Master?" Luo Longwen's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. He hoped it wasn't about a vote.

What you fear most is what happens. Luo Longwen's heart skipped a beat when he heard Wang San say, "I just got word that Mao Haifeng had about ten people drinking with him this morning, and half of them were people who voted to cooperate with your master."

"Mao Haifeng has turned them all to the side?!" Luo Longwen felt completely drained and his face turned deathly pale.

"No, not at all." Wang San shook his head.

"That's good, that's good." Luo Longwen breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they hadn't turned everyone against him, it was all good.

“Not all of them were turned, only five were turned. I don’t know what kind of spell Mao Haifeng cast on them, but they actually betrayed us.” Wang San’s words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Luo Longwen’s head, completely shattering his high spirits.

Five people, one facing up and one facing down, that makes ten tickets!

He had only managed to turn three people to the side, which, combined with the votes from the other side, amounted to only six votes. Adding Wang San, the final result was only seven votes. Mao Haifeng, on the other hand, had already secured ten votes. This was a serious problem.

"What should we do?" Luo Longwen paced anxiously back and forth after hearing the news.

After pacing around several times, Luo Longwen grabbed Wang San's hands as if grasping at a lifeline, "Third Master, please help me, Longwen will definitely repay you in the future."

“Brother Luo, I’ve tried to bring all the people I could to win over. I don’t have any better ideas now.” Wang San shook his head, but then, remembering that Luo Longwen had sent two servants to get money, he added, “I’ll try my best to think of a way to win over a few more people.”

"Thank you very much, Third Master. Everything depends on you. Rest assured, Third Master, Longwen will repay you handsomely." Luo Longwen was extremely grateful.

Luo Longwen could only rely on Wang San, since he was now under house arrest in this cliffside villa and couldn't leave. His two subordinates couldn't get in either, so the only thing he could do now was to rely on Wang San.

In order to get Wang San to do his work, Luo Longwen gave Wang San all the silver notes he had left as expenses.

"Mao Haifeng only treated them to a drink. I would appreciate it if you could help me invite them over, Third Master. I'll try to persuade them."

After receiving the silver notes, Wang San actually got things done and quickly arranged for a defector captain to come over.

However, Luo Longwen had no money to offer; his promises were empty. How could he possibly persuade the ruthless Japanese pirate captain?

They returned in defeat.

Wang San called over another man, but just like the previous one, Luo Longwen couldn't come up with any money. How could empty words move people's hearts? It ended in failure again.

After failing twice in a row, Luo Longwen had to stop. Without the silver notes, continuing would only lead to failure, offend people, and waste the opportunity. He could only wait for his two men to bring back the silver notes before continuing.

Fortunately, judging by the time, his two men would return in two days, bringing back plenty of silver notes, which would allow him to freely increase the amount of money.

However, soon, a piece of bad news struck Luo Longwen: Wang Zhi would be holding another vote by show of hands the next day.

"What?! How could it be so fast?" Upon hearing this, Luo Longwen's eyes went black with anxiety, and he almost fainted.

If we vote by raising hands tomorrow, then we're doomed!

"Third Master, can we try to stall for time?! For three days?!" Luo Longwen was desperate and grasping at straws.

"The king wants to take a vote, what can I do to delay it?" Wang San spread his hands helplessly.

Luo Longwen knew he was asking the impossible, and how could Wang San possibly ask Prince Hui to postpone the vote? He could only sigh in worry, unable to sleep all night.

Despite knowing it was impossible, Luo Longwen still hoped for a miracle—what if he won?

Luo Longwen, who had been sleepless all night, stared at the gate of the cliffside villa with bloodshot eyes, waiting for Wang San to arrive.

Finally, the door opened, and Wang San arrived.

"What was the result?" Luo Longwen asked anxiously.

Under Luo Longwen's anxious gaze, Wang San slowly shook his head, "The result is not satisfactory."

"As expected, there was no miracle." Luo Longwen sat down in the chair in disappointment and sighed.

Wang San stepped forward and gently patted Luo Longwen on the shoulder, comforting him, "Brother Luo, don't be too disappointed. This time, the number of people supporting cooperation with Zhu Ping'an is only one more than the number supporting your master. The King didn't declare on the spot who he would cooperate with; he just told everyone to go back, and he will make his own decision on this matter." (End of Chapter)