Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 297: Chapter 288 Spring Imperial Examinations

After the small talk, Yang Zhenshan shifted the topic to more pressing matters, “Speaking of which, I have something I’d like to consult Brother Liu about!”

“Please speak, Brother Yang!”

“I’m considering setting up a salt field at Tenglong Guard. I wonder if the court would allow it?”

“Building a salt field!” Liu Zhe’s expression turned serious, “The number of salt fields under court control hasn’t changed in over thirty years!”

“Hmm!” Yang Zhenshan calmly sipped his tea with a composed expression.

After a moment of thought, Liu Zhe continued, “It’s not impossible, but approval from the Central Army Commander’s Mansion is necessary! And if Brother Yang plans to profit from the salt field, you’d best build connections with the Liaodong Salt Transport Department.”

The salt fields in Da Rong are situated locally, however, they are not governed by the local authorities but by the Ministry of Revenue, which oversees salt transit. Each salt field has a commander, with a deputy responsible for the management.

However, there are exceptions to salt fields, namely those under military management, or more precisely, those belonging to the Five Army Commandery.

The salt fields of the Five Army Commandery are primarily established for the imperial guard and certain Camp Soldiers. With the numerous and concentrated troops, the daily need for salt is high, and it’s naturally more convenient to establish a salt field if conditions allow.

Take, for example, the imperial guard in the Capital City; they have a salt field in Haijin Town to the east of the city.

Some garrisons and Navy bases along the coast also have salt fields.

However, the salt fields under the Five Army Commandery are relatively small in scale, and their output cannot be sold to salt merchants.

Of course, the court has its regulations, and the garrisons have their methods. They cannot sell salt produced in the salt fields to merchants, but they can sell it to other salt fields.

Moreover, this practice has become an unspoken agreement, tacitly accepted by both the Five Army Commandery and the Salt Transport Department.

The reason is simple: the Five Army Commandery doesn’t mind the garrisons making some extra money, and the Salt Transport Department isn’t concerned with who makes or boils the salt, but rather who transports and sells the salt, that is, the salt permits.

Salt permits represent tremendous interests, and the higher-ups of the Salt Transport Department can make a hefty profit from them, so they’re not inclined to snatch food from the hands of those toiling stove houses.

But if Yang Zhenshan wishes to sell his salt to other salt fields, it would naturally require building connections with the Liaodong Salt Transport Department.

The matter with the Central Army Commander’s Mansion isn’t a big issue, but Yang Zhenshan has no connections with the Salt Transport Department.

“Brother Liu, do you know anyone from the Liaodong Salt Transport Department?” Yang Zhenshan’s purpose in asking Liu Zhe was to find out if Liu Zhe had any connections with the Salt Transport Department.

Liu Zhe smiled at the question and took a sip of his tea.

Yang Zhenshan, slightly frustrated, looked at him, “Brother Liu, you can speak straightforwardly!”

Liu Zhe wasn’t foolish and could naturally discern Yang Zhenshan’s intentions.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know any officials from the Salt Transport Department,” Liu Zhe cheerfully responded.

“Really don’t know?” Yang Zhenshan looked at him.

“Really don’t know!” Liu Zhe affirmed.

Yang Zhenshan frowned, “Then we need to think of another way!”

Liu Zhe burst into laughter, “Brother Yang, while I don’t know the officials from the Salt Transport Department, I do know the Imperial Censor of Salt Inspection in Liaodong!”

Yang Zhenshan was taken aback, then suddenly slapped his forehead. He had been so preoccupied with the Salt Transport Department that he forgot about the existence of the Imperial Censor of Salt Inspection, who oversees the department.

Despite the modest official rank, the Imperial Censor of Salt Inspection holds a position and authority higher than that of the Salt Transport Department.

“Brother Liu, I am discussing serious matters with you; please don’t joke with me!” Yang Zhenshan watched Liu Zhe with some resentment, as it was clear that Liu Zhe was toying with him just now.

“This isn’t my fault; blame it on Brother Yang’s lack of attention to official affairs. Don’t you know that the newly appointed Imperial Censor of Salt Inspection in Liaodong is Zheng Xiao?” Liu Zhe laughed.

“Zheng Xiao! That name sounds familiar!” Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard, deep in thought when a flash of realization struck him, “He’s a student of Mr. Liu!”

When Liu Yuanfu first arrived in the Capital City, Zheng Xiao happened to go to Chongshan Town to oversee the confiscation of property in a collusion case. At that time, Zheng Xiao also visited Yang Zhenshan on behalf of Liu Yuanfu.

Yang Zhenshan had a profound impression of Zheng Xiao, although they had only met once, and it was quite some time ago which caused him to not immediately recall.

“Should I send someone to congratulate him?” Yang Zhenshan’s face broke into a smile once more.

Liu Zhe said nothing, casually tasting his tea.

Being just a scholar, a hint to Yang Zhenshan was all that was needed from him; he was not suited to intervene further.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t press further, understanding Liu Zhe’s temperament, and recognizing Liu Yuanfu’s character.

Liu Yuanfu was a stubborn old man, not oblivious to social customs; his stubbornness mainly reflected in his strong adherence to principles. When it came to friends and family, he was genuinely warm.

Over the years, Liu Yuanfu had shown much care to the Yang family, firstly because of the deep connection formed at Yinghe Castle, and secondly due to his recognition of Yang Zhenshan. In Liu Yuanfu’s eyes, Yang Zhenshan was undoubtedly a good official, one who could help the military households lead better lives.

…

The northeast of Da Rong has two Governor’s Offices, namely the Liao Yuan Governor’s Office and the Ping Yuan Governor’s Office, with the Liao Yuan Governor’s Office also commonly referred to as the Liaodong Region.

However, the jurisdiction of the Liaodong Salt Transportation Department is not limited to the salt industry under the Liao Yuan Governor’s Office; it also encompasses the Ping Yuan Governor’s Office and the Shanhe Governor’s Office to the south. It’s just that most of the salt industry from these three offices is concentrated in the Liaodong Region, which is why the Salt Transportation Department is named after Liaodong.

The government office of the Salt Transport Department is stationed in Liao’an Prefecture, which is the seat of the Liao Yuan Governor’s Office.

Liao’an Prefecture is not far from Tenglong Guard. South of Qinghua Prefecture lies Liao’an, and Tenglong Guard is about three hundred li away from the city of Liao’an. However, this road is not easy to travel, as there isn’t an official road between Tenglong Guard and Liao’an city.

After speaking with Liu Zhe, Yang Zhenshan pondered for a while and then wrote an official document to send to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion.

To build a salt pan, one must first obtain the consent of the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, and only then can one approach the Salt Transport Department. This is the procedure, and if one were to seek approval from the Salt Transport Department first, it would be somewhat disrespectful to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion.

As for whether the Central Army Commander’s Mansion would agree, Yang Zhenshan was somewhat unsure.

Although he had Duke Ning as his support at the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, he had actually never met the old Duke in person. The previous matters he had dealt with were all reasonable and not excessive, but this time, building a salt pan was somewhat irregular, somewhat neglecting his proper duties.

He also did not know if Duke Ning would agree to his request.

Still, although he can’t proceed with the salt pan at the Salt Transport Department now, he can go ahead and congratulate Zheng Xiao.

By developing the relationship in advance, it would prevent him from having to hastily seek favors later on.

Yang Zhenshan thought it over, and then wrote a letter to Luo Shang, who was at Chongshan Pass, asking him to present a congratulatory gift to Zheng Xiao on his behalf.

Although the salt pan plan was led by Yang Zhenshan, Luo Shang would definitely be the one in the limelight in the future. It was necessary for Luo Shang to meet Zheng Xiao first and to further his understanding of the Salt Transport Department.

While Yang Zhenshan was planning for the salt pan and salt trade, the triennial imperial examination in the Capital City began.

March in the Capital City was truly lively, especially on the ninth day when the streets were crowded with horses, and the congestion worsened the further south one went.

Yang Mingcheng, accompanying Lu Wenquan, was considered early. They left home at the crack of dawn, but when they approached the examination venue, they were still stuck behind, leaving them no choice but to get off the carriage and walk.

The situation on the streets was similar, with many exam candidates also having to dismount and walk.

The temperature in the Capital City during March was not very high, especially in the early morning, when the chill was still quite intense.

Bundled in a thick cloak, Lu Wenquan walked ahead in high spirits.

Yang Mingcheng, accompanied by three guards, stood by Lu’s side, carrying the examination basket for him and protecting him to prevent anyone from bumping into him.

Caution was key at this time because any mishap meant that Lu Wenquan would have to wait another three years.

“Wenyuan, I’ve prepared two small flasks of Hundred Herbs Wine for you. If you feel cold, take a small sip. The wine can not only dispel cold but also invigorate the spirit.”

“Additionally, I’ve prepared some ginseng slices for you. If you fall ill, just take one and have a sleep; you might find the illness has passed!”

The imperial examination was conducted over three sessions, spanning three days each, where candidates had to stay within the examination venue. Eating, drinking, relieving oneself, and sleeping had to be done within a one-square-meter examination cubicle.

The poor food and sleep conditions meant that weaker candidates might fall seriously ill after the exams, while even the robust candidates would feel exhausted in body and mind.

“Big brother, don’t worry, I will take good care of myself!” Lu Wenquan said with a gentle smile.

Lu Wenquan held deep respect and affection for Yang Mingcheng in his heart. Although Yang might sometimes appear simple-minded, and even a bit overly concerned at times, there was no denying that his heart was in the right place, and he had always been sincere towards Lu and the Lu family.

“Mhm, just focus on doing well in the exam. Even if it doesn’t go well, it’s not the end of the world. Dad said you’re still young; even if you don’t pass this year, you can still try again in three years!” Yang Mingcheng said cheerfully, smiling.

Others would certainly not say such a thing, as it comes across as somewhat inauspicious.

What does it mean “if you don’t pass this year, you can try again in three years”?

Such words, if heard by others, would likely be interpreted as a curse.

However, Lu Wenquan didn’t mind these things at all. His face always wore a refined smile and his eyes were filled with confidence. He wasn’t so fragile as to be upset by just one sentence.

Besides, he knew that Yang Mingcheng meant well, not wanting him to be overly anxious.

As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the examination hall, “Big brother, I’ll go in first. You all should head back early too!”

“Okay, go ahead! Once the exam’s over, I’ll come pick you up!” Yang Mingcheng looked up at the long queue in front of the examination hall and said.

Entering the examination hall required queuing and a body search. Lu Wenquan waved goodbye, took his examination basket, and queued.

Yang Mingcheng watched him enter the examination hall before he felt relieved. He then turned back to the residence purchased by the Yang family in the Capital City.

The Yang family’s residence in the Capital City was not large, just a small two-entry house, similar to the one that Zhou Lan gave to Yang Zhenshan at Chongshan Pass.

However, this residence was not cheap. A similar house in Chongshan Pass would cost a little over a thousand taels, but in the Capital City, it cost a staggering eight thousand Silver taels.