Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 88: Chapter 86 Unexpected Visitor, Mr. Lu

They hadn’t gone far, arriving at a grassland ten miles east of the garrison.

”Dad, what are we doing here?”

Yang Mingcheng looked around in confusion.

The grassland was not small, about a hundred acres, surrounded by hills on all sides, with a small river flowing through the middle. This river was the unnamed stream flowing down from Linguan Castle.

The grass was lush and fertile. Although it was deep autumn, a hint of green still persisted.

Yang Zhenshan looked up towards the northern hill, where there was a Fire Road Pile, inhabited by a small flag of military households.

The fields around the mound had been cultivated, but the grassland here had not been put to use.

Yang Zhenshan had previously inspected the various strongholds and signal towers and felt this grassland was excellent. Now looking at it again, he was even more pleased.

”Set up a horse ranch! What do you think about this place?” said Yang Zhenshan.

”A horse ranch?” Yang Mingcheng was astonished.

Yang Zhenshan nodded and pointed to an open area near the river bank, ”Look over there.”

”That spot is very suitable for building stables. We’ll fence this whole area and build a dozen or so stables.”

”You go to the city and find some horsemen skilled in horse breeding, and also hire some farmhands from the nearby strongholds!”

”The first year we will only raise horses that have just come of age, and once we make some silver, we can breed our own and raise the foals ourselves!”

He had already planned it out: first, go to the city to buy some ordinary horses, nurture them with Spiritual Spring Water for a while, and with inferior horses becoming good steeds, they would surely make a tidy sum of silver.

Moreover, this would not take too long, probably just about half a year would be sufficient.

After selling the first batch of horses, they would expand the breeding operation.

Now, the stone pool in his space could produce nearly half a bucket of Spiritual Spring Water every day. Although there were many uses for the Spiritual Spring Water, nurturing a dozen or so horses would not be a problem.

”This will be our family’s own enterprise; you should put more care into it.”

”Whether our family can become wealthy and prosperous depends on you!”

Yang Zhenshan gave a look of great expectations and patted Yang Mingcheng on the shoulder.

Yang Mingcheng’s head heated up as he said, ”Dad, rest assured, I will definitely handle things well.”

At that moment, he had forgotten that he did not know how to raise horses.

It’s not to say that he had no clue. After all, he had a warhorse, which he had been taking care of for over half a year.

Only, compared to professional horsemen, he was lacking a lot.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and said, ”Tomorrow, take Ming Hao with you to the city, let him introduce you to Manager Luo and Manager Lu.”

”They can assist you if you have any issues.”

There was no need to say much about Manager Luo; ever since Yang Zhenshan helped him last time, Luo Shang was extremely grateful to him, often sending people to deliver messages during this period.

As for Manager Lu, Yang Zhenshan had always maintained a close relationship with him through Old Li and Yang Minghao, frequenting the Lu family’s grain shop.

Moreover, the Lu family had always been keen on getting close to Yang Zhenshan. This Mid-Autumn Festival, Mr. Lu even personally brought a festival gift to Yang Family Village.

For this, Yang Mingcheng had been troubled for quite a while before preparing a return gift.

Although Luo Shang and Manager Lu were not big figures in the city, every person has their uses, especially regarding business matters; both could help Yang Zhenshan a lot.

”Okay!” Yang Mingcheng responded.

Yang Zhenshan wandered around the area a bit more and then returned to Yinghe Castle.

However, as soon as he got back to Yinghe Castle, he found that Luo Shang had actually come.

He had initially planned for Yang Mingcheng to go to the city to get acquainted with Luo Shang, but now it was perfect timing since Luo Shang had come by himself—Yang Zhenshan could personally introduce Yang Mingcheng to him.

In the study, Yang Mingcheng brought over some tea.

”This is my eldest son Mingcheng! He will be in charge of managing the Yang family’s enterprises from now on!”

”And this is Manager Luo!”

Yang Zhenshan introduced the two to one another.

”Little one greets Master Yang of the Yang family!” Luo Shang did not dare to act arrogantly in front of Yang Mingcheng.

”Greetings to Manager Luo!” Yang Mingcheng was a sincere person, and in no way looked down on Luo Shang, who was a merchant.

The three of them sat down, and Luo Shang then explained his purpose.

”Master Yang, I’ve heard that our garrison can produce charcoal. I wonder if Master Yang has any regulations regarding the charcoal trade?” Luo Shang asked softly.

”All charcoal will be sold through you, and you can take a twenty percent profit share,” said Yang Zhenshan, who had already thought it through. The production of charcoal had almost no material costs, with labor being the main expense. Therefore, he divided the profits from charcoal into three parts: the workers responsible for burning charcoal would get fifty percent, the government office would take thirty percent, and Luo Shang would get twenty percent.

The government’s thirty percent was not for Yang Zhenshan himself. He had no intention of profiting from charcoal; the government’s revenue would be spent on the officials.

Yang Zhenshan did not allow officials under him to be corrupt, but he would provide them with some extra income, and this bonus would be their extra income.

”Thank you for looking after me, sir!” Luo Shang said with a smile.

Although a twenty percent profit share might seem low, he was already very content.

Not just anyone could produce charcoal; first, finding the method for making charcoal was not easy, and secondly, not just anyone had access to timber.

Ordinary people could go to the mountains to collect firewood and sell it in the city, but they certainly would not dare to deforest on a large scale.

Picking up some firewood was generally ignored, but large-scale logging could lead to numerous troubles with people demanding favors; small merchants simply couldn’t withstand that pressure.

Yang Zhenshan also took advantage of the location, coupled with a large number of military households he could command, which is why he could manage such an operation.

As for why other garrison towns did not do the same, it was simple: those in charge were not so benevolent as to find work for the military households, and the profit margins for charcoal were not high. Even if officials wanted to earn silver, they wouldn’t engage in such troublesome and laborious business.

With that energy, they were better off monopolizing more fertile fields or pondering over taking empty payrolls.

However, for Luo Shang, this was a good business venture. A twenty percent profit share was enough to get him invested.

Moreover, since Yang Zhenshan had shown him favor, even without the prospect of profits, he would be willing to help.

”It’s nothing deserving thanks; I can’t expect you to put in effort for nothing, can I?”

Yang Zhenshan took a sip of tea, saying nonchalantly.

One shouldn’t always leverage favors given; doing so too much diminishes them, and the other party might even hold a grudge.

So exploiting gratitude for personal gain was inadvisable.

Besides, Luo Shang had already presented a gift of thanks, and Yang Zhenshan had long forgone any consideration of favors.

He found Luo Shang’s character to be good, which was why he was willing to interact and collaborate with him further.

Later, Yang Zhenshan also chatted with Luo Shang about the situation in the city.

Recently, the city was very lively. With the new officials taking charge and initiating various reforms, governor Lu Chongde and Marquis Changping Liang Chu took office and did a lot.

Reorganizing the Five Camps, inspecting the various garrisons, allocating warhorses and armaments, trading grain and fodder, and more.

One big action followed another.

In just two months’ time, these two revitalized the long-declining Chongshan Pass with newfound vitality.

Yang Zhenshan found this very good.

Their actions were numerous, but they brought no harm to Yang Zhenshan, and even had many benefits.

For instance, the war horses and armaments provided by Zhao Yuan were issued in the name of the Governor’s Office to the Jianning Guard.

Yang Zhenshan had a premonition that with these two influential figures around, Chongshan Pass and Chongshan Town would see the prosperity they had twenty years ago.

Moreover, he was certain that Chongshan Town would once again launch a campaign against the East Sea Hu Clan.

What Lu Chongde and Liang Chu were doing was all in preparation for the next military expedition.

...

At noon, Yang Zhenshan invited Luo Shang to lunch, and in the afternoon, Luo Shang left, dragging two carts of charcoal with him.

Accompanying him were the Yang brothers, Yang Mingcheng and Yang Minghao, who went to the fortified town—firstly, for Yang Mingcheng to get familiar with the place, and secondly, to buy foals for the Yang family’s horse farm.

The brothers stayed in the fortified town for four days and brought back ten horses with less-than-impressive appearances upon their return.

Yang Zhenshan had specifically instructed them not to select fine horses, but to pick the inferior ones.

All ten horses were thin and weak, as if malnourished.

Of course, it was not due to malnutrition, but innate deficiencies or past illnesses.

Such horses could not serve as warhorses, only packhorses, hence their cheaper price.

Each horse cost approximately twenty taels of silver; the ten horses almost cost Yang Zhenshan all his savings.

The horses were bought, but the horse farm had not yet been built, so for the time being, the ten horses were kept in the garrison. Yang Zhenshan also took this opportunity for a little personal advantage, having Old Li take care of the ten horses.

Of course, he would secretly give them some extra feed.

After buying the horses, Yang Mingcheng set about arranging the construction of the horse farm.

Yang Zhenshan had no silver, but Yang Mingcheng had brought quite a lot of grain.

Hence, Yang Mingcheng paid the workers with grain instead of silver.

Compared to silver, the military households now preferred grain.

In early October.

Lu Wenchun and Lu Wenhua arrived at Yinghe Castle.

They had come with the Lu family’s caravan.

It wasn’t just them, Mr. Lu was there too.

Yang Zhenshan was both surprised and puzzled by the unexpected guest, Mr. Lu.

”Mr. Lu, haha! What an honor to have such a distinguished guest. Please, come in!”

Despite his surprise, Yang Zhenshan warmly welcomed Mr. Lu.

”Master Yang, it’s presumptuous of me to come uninvited, please forgive me!” Mr. Lu said with a warm smile.

Once inside the government office, Yang Mingcheng took Lu Wenchun and Lu Wenhua to the backyard.

In the study, after tea was served, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t resist asking, ”Mr. Lu, is there a matter that brings you here?”

Uninvited, one wouldn’t visit the Treasure Hall without a reason.

Although in recent times the Lu family has had a reasonably close relationship with the Yang family, they’ve only met once.

Mr. Lu was not one to dawdle. Hearing Yang Zhenshan inquiring, he stated the purpose of his visit.

”Master Yang must be aware that our Lu family owns many farms!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded.

”This year, the harvest of Chongshan Town has decreased, and we want to bring all our grain to Chongshan Pass,” Mr. Lu said with an indifferent expression.

A glint appeared in Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.

The Lu family was a major landlord of Anning County, and even Yang Zhenshan did not have an accurate idea of how much farmland they possessed.

It would be an exaggeration to say they had ten thousand acres of good land, but they definitely had more than a thousand acres.

Since the Lu family owned land not only in Anning County but also in other areas.

So much farmland meant so much grain!

Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but gasp.

Damn!

The Lu family was going to make a fortune!

Poor him, the Yang family had only a little over one hundred acres of land, and their annual harvest was only several dozen bushels.

Compared to the Lu family, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but feel envious and jealous.

However, he quickly dispersed this envy and asked, ”Mr. Lu is suggesting?”

”I would like to ask Master Yang to help introduce me to General Zhou,” Mr. Lu looked at Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan suddenly understood.

It was for Zhou Lan!

That made sense.

Zhou Lan had the backing of Duke Ning Mansion, and the Lu family had members in the capital serving as officials.

They certainly couldn’t give away the grain for free, but they could sell it to Zhou Lan at a reduced price.

The Lu family was not aiming to make a profit off this grain; they were after Zhou Lan’s goodwill.

Right now, the entire Chongshan Town was short of grain—Zhou Lan must be too—and this was a good opportunity to gain her favor.

It was a great idea.

And it was not going to offend anyone.

”This is not a difficult task, Mr. Lu. If you are in a hurry, we can head to Jianning Guard right now!” Yang Zhenshan deliberated briefly before agreeing.

He knew that Zhou Lan was anxious about the grain issue.

The Lu family, in fact, was providing timely help.

A situation where everyone benefited, Yang Zhenshan naturally did not mind being an intermediary.

Moreover, the Lu family had assisted him with many things before, although they were minor, Yang Zhenshan could not dismiss the kindness of the Lu family.

”Then I’ll trouble Master Yang!” Mr. Lu smiled even more kindly.

”Let’s go then!”

Without delay, Yang Zhenshan immediately had the carriage and horses prepared to head for Jianning Guard.

Mr. Lu might have been no spring chicken, but he knew martial arts and was in good shape, so there was no problem with him riding a horse.

The two men, accompanied by over thirty soldiers and attendants, sped toward Jianning Guard.