Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 153: County Government Report
"Well, the wood shop is still the best, right?"

Wang Qinian proudly led Zhang Yuan into the store and pointed at the various wooden items displayed in the store.

"Look, several wealthy families in the city know I've opened a new furniture store, and they've all come to place orders. The orders are already lined up until August, and they've even paid deposits in advance. Just from this set of cabinets, I can make two, no, three taels of silver..."

Looking at Wang Qinian who was chattering non-stop with a look of longing on his face, Zhang Yuan felt a little emotional.

This guy deserves not to be promoted.

That's all.

"Brother Yao, I would like to ask you for help." Zhang Yuan turned to look at the kind-hearted Mr. Yao standing beside him.

Mr. Yao was stunned and pointed at himself.

"Well, sir, if it was something in Liangyuan Territory, I could still do something about it. But now that I'm in Daqin, I'm just sitting there eating up all my savings..." Mr. Yao rubbed his hands slightly.

"It's about the Liangyuan Territory." Zhang Yuan looked at the pale-faced Yao Dashanren and said softly, "There are so many spies in the Liangyuan Territory's business community that we can't lose them."

"I will report this and arrange for a seventh-rank official to oversee the affairs of Liangyuan Territory."

Seventh rank?
Wang Qinian slowly turned around and looked at Mr. Yao, the kind-hearted man, who was wearing an ill-fitting waiter's coat.

Zheng, seventh rank?

Mr. Yao's gaze also turned to Wang Qinian, with a gleam in his eyes.

……

Zhang Yuan didn't bother to care about the grudges between Mr. Yao and Wang Qinian.

It will be difficult for Xinghe Trading Company to use the Liangyuan Territory's trade route in the future, so it would be better to give the vacant opportunity to the Red Fox Caravan.

Mr. Yao, a kind man who is familiar with the Liangyuan area and has great business experience and brains, is the most suitable person to control the caravan.

Zhang Yuan explained the matter clearly in a few words.

As the chief officer of the Black Ice Platform and with the support of various forces such as the Yuzhao Temple in Liangyuan Territory, Mr. Yao Dashan is already imagining how to develop his own business routes.

In the beginning, he was able to build up such a huge fortune just by following the Xinghe Trading Company. Now that the officials and businessmen have joined forces and he controls the caravan, Yao Junsheng will surely prosper!
"Sir, I don't have much cash on hand. If I want to buy goods, I need to sell my property. I can't sell them at the price in Luyang Mansion for the time being..." A good cook cannot cook without rice. Although Zhang Yuan said that Mr. Yao did not need to worry about the manpower of the caravan, those goods needed to be bought with real money before they could be traded in Liangyuan Territory.

"Go to the county town and sell this item." Zhang Yuan raised his hand and handed a small bag to Mr. Yao.

Mr. Yao took the bag, untied it, and trembled all over.

He is familiar with this stuff.

The three Bodhi seeds that were sent to the East were kept in his arms all the way to Qin, even when he took a bath or slept.

Jade Buddha Bodhi seeds!

A total of five Bodhi seeds!
How much silver is this worth?
"From now on, the caravan will only sell the truly good things from the Liangyuan Territory, taking the high-end route."

"Let those aristocratic families see the value of Liang Yuanyu."

Zhang Yuan spoke, with a gleam in his eyes.

There are many good things in Liangyuan Domain. This Jade Buddha Bodhi Seed alone is enough to make people salivate.

"I understand, I understand..." Mr. Yao's eyes lit up and he clenched the small bag in his hand.

Wang Qinian stood aside and looked at the large wooden cabinets he had bought, feeling a little bored for a moment.

Is my business too small?

Should I expand my business and not only sell wooden cabinets and dining tables, but also boudoir boxes and chests, and also take on the business of beams and pillars for houses?

--------------

Zhang Yuan arrived at the Wuwei Yamen, where there were not many Zaoyiwei.

The Luyang Prefecture Wuwei Yamen has 500 regular soldiers, commanded by five captains, and other secret agents, civil servants, and miscellaneous servants, with a total number of nearly 800.

When it really started to work, we found that many things did not require soldiers to come forward, but instead the clerks and servants could get things done.

Most of the construction of the Wuwei Yamen came from the chief clerk Zhao Yu.

Although Zhao Yu had not been in the Wuwei Yamen of Luyang Prefecture for a long time, his understanding of the official system and his control over the operation of the Yamen were far beyond Zhang Yuan's reach.

"Sir, there has been a lot of backlog of official business in the government office lately."

Seeing Zhang Yuan coming, two clerks hurriedly brought over a stack of books.

The First Battalion Commandant Guo Maoquan and the Second Battalion Commandant Song Zhongshu also came over with a smile and saluted. "Captain, congratulations."

Guo Maoquan was an old man in the Wuwei Yamen and was well-informed. He knew that Zhang Yuan was going to the county government to report on his work and would be promoted to a full-fledged captain when he returned.

"I'm not in the yamen, so I'm sorry to trouble you all." Zhang Yuan nodded and said.

When he was away, Guo Maoquan was the captain of the first battalion in the Wuwei Yamen, so of course he had to take on more responsibilities.

"These are what I, your humble servant, should do." Song Zhongshu clasped his fists and said with a bitter face, "It's just that there are more and more things to do in Luyang Prefecture now."

"Even if we have more people in the Wuwei Yamen, I'm afraid it still won't be enough."

The border between Luyang Prefecture and Northern Yan had been peaceful for more than five years, but now, due to the surrender of the Zhenbei Army, war has broken out again.

Once a border clash occurs, Luyang Prefecture will be busy.

The Wuwei Yamen was responsible for so many tasks including operation, protection, inspection and investigation that it was overwhelming.

"The prefect held a banquet yesterday, and a piece of news was revealed at the banquet."

Zhang Yuan held the scroll in his hand, flipping through it while casually saying, "Luyang Prefecture is likely to become a superior prefecture."

Shangfu?

The prefectures and counties of the Qin Dynasty were divided into three levels: upper, middle and lower. The upper prefectures occupied twelve counties, and the middle prefectures occupied nine counties.

Luyang Prefecture previously consisted of nine counties and thirteen towns. When Toyota County was lost, there were rumors that the prefectural capital would fall into the hands of a lower prefecture.

The assessment of upper, middle and lower governments is related to various matters such as taxes, labor and so on, which greatly affects the interests of the people.

For officials, the prefect of a higher prefecture was of the fifth rank or even the fourth rank, and had an honorary title, while the prefect of a middle prefecture was mostly of the fifth rank.

Other officials are ranked in descending order.

The difference in this level of quality is a world of difference.

If Luyang Prefecture becomes a superior prefecture, all military officers in the Wuwei Yamen will be promoted and their ranks will be upgraded.

For Song Zhongshu and others, that was a promotion from clerk to official.

"Sir, have you taken over Zhenbei, the land held by the Beiyuan Army?"

"Gubei City won't be transferred to Luyang Prefecture, right?"

"Are we going to send troops out of Northern Yan to seize the territory of the Zhenxi Army?"

Song Zhongshu and Guo Mao were both delighted and asked questions one after another.

Zhang Yuan just waved his hand, looked at the book in front of him, and did not answer.

For some things, it’s better to just reveal a piece of information and not to make any firm statements.

Without official publications, imperial edicts from the central government can only be regarded as idle news.

The news revealed by Zhang Yuan made the two captains walk with confidence, their faces full of excitement.

After reading the book, he made some annotations, and then waited for Xu Changzhi to come and take out the silver notes.

"These are what the brothers deserve. Divide them among yourselves. They don't need to be entered into the government's public or private accounts, but you must keep a record."

"Among the Wuwei Yamen, you, Xu Changzhi, are considered to have potential. I hope you can break through to the Xiantian realm as quickly as possible."

Zhang Yuan looked at Xu Changzhi, whose face was flushed with excitement, and said softly, "You followed me to the Liangyuan Territory. You have different experiences and should understand that without the Xiantian Realm, you are not qualified to serve me."

Xu Changzhi nodded and clasped his fists: "I understand."

After a trip to Liangyuan Territory and witnessing the might of the Qin Dynasty, it was impossible for him to continue to be a martial artist.

His ambition is to follow Zhang Yuan and go further in his official career.

Who doesn’t have a dream?

Xu Changzhi strode out, and Zhang Yuan's eyes fell on the cover of a letter in his hand.

Letter from Zhang Yuan himself.

Written by Zhao Yu.

Five days later, Zhang Yuan rode alone to the county town to report on his work, carrying the documents issued by the prefect and the judge, and the order from the county government.

(End of this chapter)