Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 138 Reshuffling

Dengzhou City, the office of the Prefectural Magistrate.

Lu Yan sat behind a table in the second hall, with five people standing in front of him.

These five people were merchants in Dengzhou City who were originally a small force suppressed by the Li family.

The leader was Wang Defa, the merchant who had lent Lu Yan the boat to fight bandits.

"Lord Lu," Wang Defa bowed, "we have come today to express our gratitude to you."

"Thank you?" Lu Yan smiled slightly. "Thank you for what?"

'

"Thank you, sir, for ridding us of this scourge, the Li family," Wang Defa said. "The Li family has been running rampant in Dengzhou for many years, bullying and monopolizing the maritime trade. We small merchants were suffocated by them. Now that the Li family has fallen, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Yes, yes!" the other merchants chimed in. "It's all thanks to Lord Lu!"

6

Lu Yan waved his hand.

"You're too kind, everyone. My actions in suppressing the pirates and exposing the Li family were acts of loyalty to the court and eliminating a scourge for the people. I dare not claim credit for them."

"5

"You are too modest, sir," Wang Defa said. "We will remember your kindness. We will do our best to serve you if you ever need our assistance."

.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's lips curled up slightly.

This is exactly what he wanted.

"Since you all put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony," he said. "I do have something I'd like to ask for your help with."

"6

"Please speak, sir."

"The Li family has fallen, and their maritime trade has also come to a halt," Lu Yan said. "Dengzhou is the largest port in the north, and maritime trade cannot stop. I would like to ask you all to take over the Li family's maritime trade business."

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment after hearing this.

The Li family's maritime trade business is a very lucrative business.

The annual profit is at least tens of thousands of taels.

"Sir," Wang Defa hesitated, "the Li family's maritime trade business is too large for us small merchants to handle—"

'

"It's alright if you can't eat," Lu Yan said. "I can help you all."

6

"Help us?"

'

"Yes," Lu Yan said. "The Li family's ships, docks, and warehouses are now in my possession. I can rent them out to you all. You only need to provide manpower and goods; I will arrange everything else."

66

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in everyone's eyes.

This is a great thing!

With Lu Yan's support, they could rightfully take over the Li family's maritime trade business.

"My lord," Wang Defa said, "you mean—"

'

"My meaning is very simple," Lu Yan said. "You all provide the manpower and goods, and I will provide the ships, the docks, and the warehouses. As for the profits—"

He paused, then held up three fingers.

"Divide it into three parts: three for me and seven for you all."

"6

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

30/70 split?

This is such a great deal!

It's important to know that when the Li family monopolized maritime trade, they split the profits with other merchants 50/50, or even 60/40.

Lu Yan only wants 30%, it's like a pie falling from the sky.

"My lord," Wang Defa said, "this—isn't this too little?"

'

"Quite a lot," Lu Yan said. "What I want is not money, but your loyalty."

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.

They understood.

What Lu Yan wanted was not profit, but control.

Once they take over the Li family's maritime trade business, they will be tied to Lu Yan.

From now on, they will be Lu Yan's people.

"My lord," Wang Defa took a deep breath, "I am willing!"

"I'd like to too!"

'

"I'd like to too!"

'

Several other merchants also expressed their opinions.

Lu Yan nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well. Everyone, please go back and prepare. I will send someone to discuss this with you in detail three days from now."

"yes!"

Everyone said their goodbyes and left.

After they left, Shen Qing came out from behind the screen.

"Boss," he said, "wouldn't a 30/70 split be too unfair?"

"It's worth it," Lu Yan said. "These people are local merchants from Dengzhou. They are familiar with the ins and outs of maritime trade, and they have connections and channels. Letting them run the business is much less troublesome than us doing it ourselves."

"Moreover," he paused, "a 30% profit margin adds up to tens of thousands of taels a year. That's enough to cover our expenses in Dengzhou."

"6

Shen Qing nodded.

"The boss is wise."

"There's one more thing," Lu Yan said. "We need to take over the Li family's ships and men as soon as possible."

J

"To incorporate?"

"Yes," Lu Yan said. "The Li family has twenty-three ships, with three or four hundred sailors, helmsmen, and craftsmen on board. We can't just leave them unattended; we need to bring them under our command."

"But," Shen Qing hesitated, "these people are all former subordinates of the Li family. Can they be trusted?"

T

"Those who are unreliable should be eliminated," Lu Yan said. "The core members and confidants of the Li family should all be removed. But the sailors and craftsmen at the grassroots level are mostly ordinary people, just trying to make a living. These people can be retained."

6

"Understood."

"Let Zhao Changying handle this matter," Lu Yan said. "He has led troops for many years and knows how to win people's hearts."

"6

"Yes."

Shen Qing turned and left.

Lu Yan stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sun shines brightly and a gentle sea breeze blows.

With the fall of the Li family, the power structure in Dengzhou was reshuffled.

The smaller factions that were originally suppressed by the Li family all flocked to him.

The maritime trade share that originally belonged to the Li family has now fallen into his hands.

The ships and personnel that originally belonged to the Li family will also be incorporated into his organization.

From then on, he had the final say on the entry and exit of Dengzhou Port.

"Master."

Zhao Changying walked in from outside.

"What is it?"

"Someone from the garrison eunuch's side has arrived," Zhao Changying said. "They say they have important matters to discuss."

"

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow.

"The garrison eunuch?"

'

"Yes," Zhao Changying said. "The man who came is a trusted confidant of the garrison eunuch, surnamed Liu, named Liu Fu."

Lu Yan pondered for a moment.

The garrison eunuch was one of the highest authorities in Dengzhou, in charge of the prefecture's taxation and military affairs.

After the Li family fell from power, the eunuch in charge of the garrison would certainly want a share of the spoils.

"Please let him in," Lu Yan said.

"yes.

66

A moment later, a middle-aged man in his forties walked in.

This man was short and stout, with a pale face and no beard; he was clearly a eunuch from the palace.

"Lord Lu," Liu Fu bowed respectfully, "I have come to pay my respects on the orders of the garrison eunuch."

"6

"You're too kind, Eunuch Liu," Lu Yan returned the greeting. "What are your orders, garrison eunuch?"

"I dare not accept your orders," Liu Fu said. "The garrison eunuch heard that Lord Lu has made meritorious contributions in suppressing bandits and exposing the Li family's treason, so he specially sent me to offer my congratulations."

"Thank you for your kind words, Eunuch," Lu Yan said. "I was merely doing my duty and dare not claim any credit."

6

"Lord Lu is too modest," Liu Fu said. "The garrison eunuch said that Lord Lu is a man of Eunuch Wei and a capable minister of Dengzhou. We should all get closer to him in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's heart stirred.

The eunuch in charge of the garrison was trying to curry favor.

"I appreciate the eunuch's kindness," Lu Yan said. "I will certainly consult him often in the future."

"Of course, of course," Liu Fu said. "By the way, there is one more thing the garrison eunuch would like to discuss with Lord Lu."

"What is it?"

'

"The Li family's assets," Liu Fu said. "After the Li family fell from power, their assets were all confiscated. The garrison eunuch's idea was that these assets should not be left to waste; someone should manage them."

Lu Yan frowned.

"What Eunuch Liu means is—"

"The garrison eunuch means that the Li family's businesses can be managed jointly by Lord Lu and the garrison eunuch," Liu Fu said. "The profits will be split 50/50."

Lu Yan sneered inwardly upon hearing this.

A 50/50 split?

The garrison eunuch does nothing but want half the profits?

Think beautifully.

"Eunuch Liu," Lu Yan said, "the Li family's property was confiscated by the imperial court and must be reported to the court for disposal. I am just a minor official and cannot make that decision."

Liu Fu's expression changed.

"Lord Lu, what do you mean by this?"

'

"I have no other intentions," Lu Yan said. "It's just that this matter can only be decided after the imperial decree is issued. Before that, I dare not make a decision on my own."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fu's smile vanished.

"Lord Lu," he said, "you won't even give face to the garrison eunuch?"

"Eunuch Liu has misunderstood," Lu Yan said. "It's not that I'm disrespecting the garrison eunuch, but I dare not disobey the laws of the court. Please go back and report this matter to the garrison eunuch, and we can discuss it further once the imperial decree is issued."

.

Liu Fu's face was gloomy as he stared at Lu Yan for a long time.

"Very well," he said. "I will truthfully report Lord Lu's words to the garrison eunuch. Farewell."

6

He turned and left, his steps heavy.

After he left, Zhao Changying walked to Lu Yan's side.

"Master," he said, "won't you offend the garrison eunuch like this—"

'

"What if?" Lu Yan said, "The garrison eunuch wants to get something for nothing, why should I agree to him?"

'

"But the garrison eunuch is, after all, one of Eunuch Wei's men—"

'

"I'm also one of Eunuch Wei's men," Lu Yan said. "We're all Eunuch Wei's men, so who's afraid of who?"

"6

He walked to the window and looked at the distant sky.

"The garrison eunuch wants a share of the pie, fine. But not a 50/50 split, but rather—"

He paused, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

"But it's me who decides."

"6