I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 96 You're so thoughtful.

"Hold a martial arts tournament?"

Feng Siyuan's expression shifted, clearly showing interest. He sat up straight, adopting a listening posture, and said, "Go on."

Chen Ming took a sip of wine to moisten his throat. "In this world, there are countless low-level martial artists who can't rise to the top. Brother Feng should know this all too well. Just in our Qingfeng County alone, how many young people with dreams of martial arts join the Seven Great Merchant Guilds every year?"

"The other fourteen prefectures of Jiangzhou are certainly the same. However, the martial arts are not thriving in our Qingfeng City, a fact known to everyone in Jiangzhou. Therefore, most of those people went to Jiangzhou City to look for opportunities."

“You can’t actively go to other people’s territory and snatch people from them. But no matter how domineering the four major sects are, they can’t stop people from going out, can they? As long as we can hold this martial arts tournament and attract all the young people in Jiangzhou who want to learn martial arts, why worry about not being able to recruit talents?”

Feng Siyuan was somewhat tempted, but still had some doubts. Finally, he sighed and said, "It's a pity. The Feng family's rules forbid us from being too ostentatious. This matter won't pass my father's approval."

You've already covered up the brothel, why aren't you making a fuss about it?
Chen Ming said, “Brother Feng is confused. Why use the name of Guanglong Trading Company? Just send out an older third-rank expert, spread the word that you are looking for a successor, and have your people in various places spread the news. In less than a month, Qingfeng City will be packed with young people from all over the country.”

Feng Siyuan slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Great idea!"

He couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up, paced around the living room a few times, and became more and more excited as he thought about it. "This plan is feasible, Brother Chen! You have really helped me solve a huge problem. How can I possibly thank you enough?"

"Brother Feng, you're being too polite. I just want to meet some young masters from out of town."

……

That night, Chen Ming and Feng Siyuan talked until late into the night, discussing the details of holding the martial arts tournament.

Chen Ming's idea was simple: he didn't want to go to Jiangzhou City, because that place was too dangerous and had too many powerful forces.

Whether it's the four major sects or the three great families, they all have a first-rank expert in charge, and there may even be an absolute expert above the first rank.

One can imagine how many second-generation rich kids there are in Jiangzhou City.

He's only a sixth-rank official; if he goes there, he'll just be a nobody. He has no powerful sect or connections; if some privileged kid takes a dislike to him, they could just bury him alive.

It's so good to stay in Qingfeng City. Not only does Zhao Xiyan, the daughter of the governor, value him, but even Feng Siyuan, a second-generation merchant, treats him with great respect.

He's giving up such good treatment and insisting on going to Jiangzhou City to take risks; he must be out of his mind.

Of course, the plan for this "Martial Arts Tournament" is still just talk between him and Feng Siyuan, and it's hard to say whether it can actually be done.

This matter is unlikely to be resolved so quickly.

If that doesn't work, then we'll look for another company.

The seven major sea merchants have always been short of people and are recruiting all year round. They will surely find one family with enough courage to organize this martial arts tournament.

As a result, not two days later, Feng Siyuan came to visit him in person.

Upon hearing that it was him, Chen Ming quickly went out to greet him, "Brother Feng, I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner..."

Feng Siyuan interrupted him, "We brothers don't need these formalities. Good news, my father agreed, saying that as long as it's not in the name of Guanglong Trading Company, I can do whatever I want. We can go all out now."

Chen Ming was a little surprised. Feng Siyuan's father was the actual manager of Guanglong Trading Company, equivalent to the CEO. He didn't expect him to be so decisive.

It seems that Guanglong Trading Company is really short-staffed.

He asked, "What about the third-rank experts?"

Feng Siyuan waved his hand and said, "I've already found two. I've been working on this for the past two days. They used to be our merchant guild's retainers, but they got old and went back to their hometowns to enjoy their retirement."

Chen Ming's eyelid twitched.

These powerful merchants are indeed extraordinary, having casually managed to recruit two retired third-rank retainers.

Feng Siyuan frowned and said, "However, there is a difficulty: they are unwilling to come to Qingfeng City."

It seems that all the third-rank experts know about the taboo in Qingfeng City.

Chen Ming said, "This is easy. We'll just set up a fighting arena next to the Shili Pavilion outside the city and hold the competition there. The two seniors won't need to come into the city."

Feng Siyuan said happily, "You've thought of everything."

Chen Ming realized that this young master probably hadn't accomplished anything substantial. His eagerness to do this was simply a way of trying to achieve something and demonstrate his abilities. However, his abilities were lacking; his strength lay in his willingness to listen to advice.

Chen Ming can only endure the hardship and spend more energy on it.

He pondered for a moment and said, "However, if we want to hold this martial arts tournament, the two of us alone are not enough."

Upon hearing this, Feng Siyuan hurriedly asked, "Who else do you need to find? I'll think of a way."

Chen Ming smiled and said, "Leave this to me."

……

In the afternoon, Chen Ming took Feng Siyuan to the governor's mansion and asked the gatekeeper to announce that he wanted to see Miss Zhao.

At this point, Feng Siyuan naturally understood that whether the martial arts tournament could be held depended on the attitude of the Six Doors.

After all, a few months ago, the Admiral held a "martial arts tournament," which resulted in an attack by the Changsheng Sect, causing several aristocratic scions to go missing. They still haven't been found, causing him a lot of trouble.

Now, if we were to organize a larger-scale martial arts tournament, the Admiral might not agree.

Guanglong Trading Company naturally had some connection with Admiral Zhao. However, it required his father's intervention, and in this matter, his father was unlikely to intervene.

Thinking about this, Feng Siyuan finally understood why his father had so easily agreed to let him do it; he had probably calculated that the Six Doors wouldn't approve. Yet, he deliberately didn't remind him, letting him run into a wall.

After realizing this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. His two older brothers had been tricked by their father several times before. According to his father, how could one know how difficult things are without suffering losses and hitting walls a few times?
In the Feng family, anyone ambitious and eager to succeed must undergo this test before they have a chance to work in the business.

Those who are unwilling to work hard and only want to enjoy themselves can spend their annual allowance on wine, women, and song.

Feng Siyuan used to be the latter, but after turning thirty, he suddenly felt that such a life was utterly meaningless. So he thought about doing something for the family, and thus took the initiative to recruit Chen Ming, which led to the current situation.

Now, all we can hope for is that Chen Ming can persuade the Admiral through Miss Zhao.

Rumors circulate that Chen Ming and Miss Zhao have a close relationship, but it's unclear whether this is true.

After a while, Feng Siyuan finally saw a beautiful young woman dressed in men's clothing come out of the governor's mansion, accompanied only by a maid.

What a stunning beauty.

His eyes lit up; the admiral's daughter, dressed in men's clothing, possessed an even more unique girlish charm.

Unfortunately, she didn't even glance at him; her gaze remained fixed on Chen Ming.

Feng Siyuan finally confirmed that the rumors were indeed true. The daughter of the admiral did indeed have a high opinion of Chen Mingqing, and their relationship was close.

At this moment, Chen Ming spoke up, "I heard a few days ago that you caught a cold, so I didn't dare to come and bother you these past few days. I wonder if you are feeling better?"

Zhao Xiyan fiddled with the folding fan in her hand and said, "It's all better now, thank you for your concern, Brother Chen. And who is this?"

She seemed to have finally noticed Feng Siyuan standing next to her.

Feng Siyuan quickly bowed and said, "Feng Siyuan of Guanglong Trading Company greets Young Master Zhao..."

He wasn't entirely stupid; he changed his address at the last minute and called him "Young Master."

Zhao Xiyan said, "So you are the third young master of the Feng family. My apologies."

She spoke politely, but her expression was quite cold. It was clear that she was only being polite out of respect for Chen Ming.

Feng Siyuan smiled wryly. Before this, as long as he revealed his identity, he could immediately command respect from others.

The influence of the seven major merchants in Qingfeng City is deeply rooted.

This was the first time he had ever been treated this way.

There's nothing I can do; she's the governor's daughter, so she certainly has the right to look down on him.

At the same time, Feng Siyuan was also a little surprised that she could tell him his birth order in the family so clearly, which showed that she knew Guanglong Trading Company very well.

(End of this chapter)