Chapter 29: Cao Cao Never Intended to Pay the Money Back

"A loan?"

Cao Cao was bewildered; this was the first time he had ever heard such a term.

Lu Chuan watched Cao Cao’s blank expression and hurriedly explained, "A loan! It means I lend you money, we agree upon a repayment date and set an interest rate, and once the term expires, you pay me back the principal plus interest."

"Oh... so it's just borrowing money."

Cao Cao understood. If it was just borrowing money, why bother coming up with a new term like "loan"? What a hassle.

"Yes, that's exactly what it is," Lu Chuan nodded.

Before Cao Cao arrived, Lu Chuan had already thought it through. Lu County was located in Chenliu, and Chenliu was also Cao Cao’s ancestral home, so building a good relationship with him was essential. By lending money to Cao Cao to help him stage a comeback, he wouldn't interfere with the established flow of history, yet he would gain Cao Cao’s favor. With this connection, even if Cao Cao grew powerful in the future and considered moving against Lu County, he would have to be mindful of his reputation.

Although it wouldn't be long before Cao Cao stopped caring much about his reputation, by that time, Lu Chuan felt he would no longer need to walk on eggshells around him. Of course, beyond building a relationship, there was another key reason: the interest rate on this loan was truly exorbitant. Cao Cao had suffered heavy losses in men and equipment and was left with almost nothing; it would be difficult for him to make a comeback. Was it really so unreasonable for Lu Chuan to demand a high interest rate for providing help in his hour of need? Once Cao Cao developed and occupied some territory, wouldn't he be able to repay the debt? No matter how you looked at it, this was a profitable deal.

Cao Cao was very tempted. He was never a man to sit still, and a defeat would not make him give up. Even without Lu Chuan, he would have found a way to raise funds and troops to regroup. Now that Lu Chuan was willing to provide capital, Cao Cao considered it a stroke of luck. With money and grain, he could recruit soldiers, seize territory, and generate massive returns. Once he had a powerful army at his disposal, whether or not he repaid the debt would be entirely up to him, wouldn't it?

In an instant, Cao Cao had the situation calculated in his mind. After the eighteen lords rose up against Dong Zhuo, the world would soon descend into chaos, with various warlords warring against one another. Everyone wanted to gain more power; what could Lu Chuan possibly do, relying on a single county? Once the world plunged into turmoil, Lu Chuan would likely not even have the chance to defend himself. When that time came, if Cao Cao sent troops to "rescue" him, wouldn't Lu Chuan have to obediently submit? Therefore, the loan was not an issue at all. Being able to borrow the money was his own capability, but whether he could be forced to pay it back—that would depend on Lu Chuan's capabilities.

"Very well. Since Magistrate Lu is so sincere, I, Cao Mengde, shall not decline. I wonder, how much money can you lend me?"

Lu Chuan held up one finger. "One hundred million cash. Is that enough?"

"How much? One hundred million?"

Cao Cao’s eyes lit up instantly. This was one hundred million! With this much money, where couldn't he recruit soldiers? He would have enough not only for recruitment but also for purchasing grain, fodder, and weapons. With money, grain, and men, Cao Cao could raise an army in a very short time! He had that much confidence.

"Good! I accept this loan! Magistrate Lu, when do you intend to deliver the one hundred million?"

"General Cao, there is no need to rush. Let us first discuss the terms and conditions of the loan." Seeing that Cao Cao had taken the bait, Lu Chuan remained calm. "The ultimate goal of the Lu Clan Bank is to make a profit. Therefore, if I lend you one hundred million, I must charge interest, and the rate will be quite high."

"That is no matter. I can bear any interest rate," Cao Cao said, appearing indifferent. He had no intention of paying it back, so he certainly wasn't going to concern himself with interest.

*You have your eyes on the high interest, but I have my eyes on your principal!*

Seeing Cao Cao’s demeanor, Lu Chuan guessed his thoughts. Mostly, it was because Lu Chuan had dealt with this before. The Lu Clan Bank had been open for several years, and every year, people would take out loans and intentionally drag their feet on repayment. Such people shared a common trait: they were very prompt when taking the loan, cared nothing for the interest, and only asked when they would receive the money.

Lu Chuan had ways to deal with such people. As long as they remained within the borders of Lu County, he could drag them back and force them into the workshops to work off their debt. For such deadbeats, Lu Chuan felt no need to be polite—they would work at least eight hours a day until the debt was cleared. Of course, he couldn't treat Cao Cao exactly like that, but that didn't mean he was out of options. *You dare try to default on me? Believe me, I’ll keep a running tally of the compound interest, and by the time I'm done, you won't be able to pay it off even if you sold all of Chenliu!*

Based on their differing agendas, the loan agreement proceeded very smoothly. Cao Cao signed and pressed his seal on the contract after only a cursory glance, completely ignoring the one-year term and the fifty percent interest rate! After one year, Cao Cao would owe one hundred and fifty million!

The contract was drawn up in triplicate: one for Cao Cao, one for the Lu Clan Bank, and one to be filed with the Lu County Bureau of Industry and Commerce. Once the contract was signed, Cao Cao laughed heartily.

"To have Magistrate Lu’s assistance is truly wonderful! I wonder when you can deliver the one hundred million?"

Lu Chuan smiled. "One hundred million is too bulky to transport easily. Furthermore, General Cao, you need a large supply of grain, weapons, and other materials to rebuild your strength. How about I provide the equivalent in supplies instead?"

"Of course! That would actually save a lot of trouble. That would be excellent!"

"Since you have no objections, General Cao, I shall prepare ten million in copper coins, forty million in grain and supplies, and the one-year service rights to an army for you. How does that sound?"

"Hmm?" Cao Cao frowned. What kind of army could have one year of service rights worth fifty million? Was Lu Chuan trying to treat him like a fool? "May I ask how many men are in this army you speak of, and what is their configuration?"

"Two thousand men, all infantry."

"Two thousand infantry?" Cao Cao’s frown deepened. How much could two thousand infantry be worth? If he took charge of recruiting them himself and equipped them with weapons, it would cost only a few million at most. And that would be permanent—as long as they didn't die in battle or desert, he could keep them forever. On what grounds did Lu Chuan claim that two thousand infantry were worth fifty million for a one-year lease? It was laughable!

However, considering the one hundred million was not yet in his hands, Cao Cao could not afford to fall out with Lu Chuan. "Since Magistrate Lu says so, why don't you let me see what this army is like first?"

Lu Chuan replied, "General Cao has already seen them."

"I have?" Cao Cao reacted quickly. "Do you mean the troops led by Magistrate Dian?"

"Precisely!"

"And what of Magistrate Dian? Will he be coming along as well?"

"Of course!"

"Good! Two thousand infantry led by Magistrate Dian, with a one-year lease for fifty million—I agree!"

Cao Cao was thrilled. He finally saw a glimmer of hope in recruiting Dian Wei. He didn't believe for a second that he couldn't win over Dian Wei within a year! This time, he wouldn't just swallow Lu Chuan’s one hundred million in principal; he would also poach his fierce general! Killing two birds with one stone—Cao Cao couldn't have been happier.

As for paying it back? Lu Chuan, you can just keep waiting!