Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 430: Chapter 314: Offering Treasures, Yu Qingyi Enters the Capital

“Little one thanks the Marquis, thanks the Marquis!”

After a long while, Li Dahai finally came to his senses and knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing to Yang Zhenshan.

The people inside the hall did not show any contempt or look down upon Li Dahai, as their situations were similar to his.

They were all from the military households of Tenglong Guard; some were refugees who had moved to Tenglong Guard initially, who had some education but no official titles.

If it were not for the shortage of civil servants initially in Tenglong Guard, they would not have had the opportunity to become officials.

In terms of background, they were no different from Li Dahai.

“Alright, there are still many tasks for you to undertake, so stop kowtowing!” Yang Zhenshan helped him up and said.

“Yes! I will do my utmost and will not disappoint the Marquis’s trust!” Li Dahai said with a naive smile on his face.

Yang Zhenshan nodded, “Mmm, next, you need to recruit more apprentices and then quickly produce a batch of telescopes!”

Although he had prepared to hand over the glass manufacturing method, it did not prevent him from making a profit beforehand.

Telescopes were very useful for navigation and the military; surely someone would want to buy them if put on sale.

Once the market for telescopes was established, then using glass for ornaments, the crystal-clear glass should be very popular.

After ornaments, then manufacture tea sets, liquor sets, and dining wares, and finally, window glass.

Toothpaste needs to be squeezed out bit by bit, and the types of glass products also need to be released gradually.

As for glass mirrors, with some technical content, perhaps they could bring in a larger profit in the future.

Yang Zhenshan was not very knowledgeable about marketing, but he understood the principle that rarity makes something valuable.

Thus, initially, he did not plan to sell glass products in large quantities, but rather, gradually sell them bit by bit.

Moreover, he had a good money-making plan to share with the old Emperor, believing that the old Emperor would be very willing to collaborate with him.

“As for the engineering department, Wenhua, you set up the engineering department first. If there’s a shortage of people, recruit from Tenglong Guard!”

“Once the engineering department is set up, then inspect the conditions of the Ying River’s channels. Our first step is to connect the Ying River to allow ocean-going ships reach Chongshan Town!”

Yang Zhenshan continued to instruct.

Building official roads and water channels certainly could not be accomplished overnight.

Yang Zhenshan was already prepared for a long-term struggle.

Infrastructure development would never be a loss-making endeavor; though it appears costly, in reality, it channels funds and provisions to the military households and people of Chongshan Town, essentially facilitating poverty alleviation.

Yang Zhenshan had always relied on infrastructure development to alleviate poverty.

From Yinghe Castle to An Yuan City, and then to Tenglong Guard, every location he arrived at, he would first establish an infrastructure development plan.

Today was no exception, an old strategy but indeed a practical one.

“This year’s goal is to connect the Ying River channel; can it be done?” Yang Zhenshan looked at Lu Wenhua.

Lu Wenhua confidently smiled and said, “The officer will do his utmost to complete the task entrusted by the Marquis.”

“Mmm!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded satisfactorily.

“Alright, you all need to prepare as well, funds, equipment, personnel, and so on, cooperate fully in all aspects, do not lag behind!” Yang Zhenshan said.

“Yes sir!” Everyone responded in unison.

As Yang Zhenshan’s orders were conveyed, the long-silent General Mansion finally sprang into action.

Today’s General Mansion was not the old General Mansion but a new one, from Tenglong Guard.

While in Tenglong Guard, Yang Zhenshan had already trained these civil servants, who not only possessed strong capabilities but were also very familiar with Yang Zhenshan’s style of handling affairs.

Although they were in a new place with more varied and numerous responsibilities, these officials still managed each matter orderly and efficiently.

On the 18th day of the first lunar month, the General Mansion posted notices inside Chongshan Pass, recruiting various civil servants knowledgeable in constructing roads and waterways, various craftsmen, and a massive number of artisan apprentices, among others.

On the 20th day of the first lunar month, Five Camps similarly posted notices, starting the recruitment of soldiers.

The citizens and military households of Chongshan Town, seeing these two notices, exhibited surprised and excited expressions.

The reason was simple; Yang Zhenshan had increased the salary of soldiers from Five Camps, and the General Mansion’s recruitment for civil servants, craftsmen, and apprentice artisans also offered very high remuneration.

For most military households and citizens of Chongshan Town, whether joining Five Camps or becoming an apprentice artisan, both were high-paying jobs.

As for civil servants and craftsmen, the threshold was higher, and most military households and citizens did not meet the criteria.

However, the threshold for soldiers and artisan apprentices in Five Camps was relatively low; anyone under twenty years old, healthy, and of clear background could apply.

The reason the threshold for recruitment of soldiers in Five Camps was so low was not because the standards of Five Camps were low, but because there was a trial training period before joining Five Camps.

The trial period lasted three months, consisting of standard basic training. Then based on the performance of the basic training, soldiers were selected.

There was also pay during the trial period, half of what a regular soldier in Five Camps made.

Nevertheless, despite this, the number of people coming to join the recruitment of Five Camps was innumerable.

Following the recruitment notices from Five Camps and the General Mansion, a large number of young people flooded into Chongshan Pass, making it somewhat overcrowded.

Within just three days, Camp was able to recruit the first batch of soldiers for trial training, totaling five thousand people, all youth between sixteen to twenty years old.