Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 334: Chapter 324 Wide Distribution of Invitations

After determining the categories of goods for the trade routes, Yang Zhenshan then said, ”You go ahead and start preparing on the Jiangnan side first!”

Before the sea voyage, it is natural to contact the supply and buyer in advance. In Tenglong Guard, Yang Zhenshan could handle it personally, but assistance from Luo Shang would be needed on the Jiangnan side.

Over the years, Luo Shang has established quite a few industries in Jiangnan, and has gotten to know many wealthy businessmen, so he didn’t find it difficult.

”Don’t worry, sir. I will go to Jiangnan after the New Year to prepare for this,” Luo Shang said.

”Alright!” Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly.

But Luo Shang then said, ”Sir, can I buy two ships and set sail together with the ships of Tenglong Guard?”

Yang Zhenshan was slightly surprised, but soon realized the rationale.

Maritime trade surely makes money, there was no doubt about that.

Although the profits from marine trade between Tenglong Guard and Jiangnan were considerable, largely due to the savings in overland transportation costs, if they could establish trade relations with the sea regions surrounding Da Rong and several other dynasties, the profits would be exorbitantly high.

Thus, Yang Zhenshan sent the fleet to Jiangnan primarily as an experience-gathering mission. Once the merchant ships and the navy had enough experience, they would certainly establish routes with the Li Sheng Dynasty and the Desheng Dynasty.

How could Luo Shang not see Yang Zhenshan’s intentions? So, he too wanted the Luo family to join in making money.

”That’s possible. In fact, you don’t have to follow the government’s fleet to set sail; you can organize your own fleet and voyage on your own!” Yang Zhenshan naturally had no reason to refuse Luo Shang’s proposition.

Not only would he not prevent Luo Shang from developing maritime trade, but he would even encourage him to participate in it.

Not just him, later on, he also planned to draw in other wealthy businessmen to join them.

All of this he had considered, but it would have to wait until the Tenglong Advanced Guard’s navy had grown.

The sea is fraught with dangers, and calamities, both natural and human-made, frequently arise.

Natural disasters are unavoidable, but human-made ones can be prevented.

The purpose of establishing a navy was to prevent human-made disasters from occurring, and only a strong navy could ensure the safety of merchant ships.

So, Yang Zhenshan’s original plan was to draw other merchants to participate in maritime trade after the navy of Tenglong Advanced Guard had developed sufficient combat power.

However, now that Luo Shang had brought it up, it would not be a problem for the Luo family to start their preparations in advance.

...

Luo Shang stayed in Tenglong Guard for two days, discussed maritime trade with Yang Zhenshan, and purchased mansions and shops in the Guardian Department before he left.

However, he left Luo Zhen behind; from now on, Luo Zhen would be the person in charge of the Luo family’s business in Tenglong Guard.

Luo Shang was well aware that the Yang family was the biggest support for the Luo family, so he always had Luo Zhen follow closely with the Yang family.

After Luo Shang had left, Yang Zhenshan issued a flood of invitations, asking families, wealthy merchants, and even worldly society factions that he knew to come as guests to Tenglong Guard.

Yang Zhenshan wanted to hold a merchant recruitment conference, aimed at settling numerous families, wealthy merchants, and worldly society factions in Tenglong Guard, and getting them involved in maritime trade.

The date of the merchant recruitment conference was set for the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

Around the eighth day of the eleventh month, the Zhang family from Liao’an Prefecture received Yang Zhenshan’s invitation first.

In the study room of the Zhang family, Zhang Maosheng, Zhang Qingsong, and Zhang Qingyun—a father and his two sons—looked at Yang Zhenshan’s invitation, baffled.

”What does General Yang mean, inviting us to Tenglong Guard as guests again? And setting the date for the first day of the twelfth lunar month!” Zhang Qingsong said with a frown.

His impression of Yang Zhenshan wasn’t very good because Yang Zhenshan had rejected their family’s good intentions last time and bought their merchant ships.

Although Yang Zhenshan paid promptly when purchasing the ships, it still felt like he took advantage of their Zhang family to some extent.

Zhang Maosheng pondered for a while and said, ”Lately, Tenglong Guard has been training a navy, and the invitation might be related to this!”

In the past, Tenglong Guard was poor and belonged to the Lan family, so the surrounding forces would not pay attention to Tenglong Guard’s affairs.

When Yang Zhenshan first arrived in Tenglong Guard, he did not attract the attention of surrounding forces either. It was not until the recent Salt Transport Department corruption case that Tenglong Guard entered the sights of surrounding forces.

Many people started paying attention to the actions and developments of Tenglong Guard.

Naturally, the Zhang family would not overlook Tenglong Guard, and even the Zhang family was one of the most concerned forces about Tenglong Guard.

”What does the navy have to do with us?” Zhang Qingsong asked puzzledly.

Zhang Maosheng thought for a moment, but could not guess what Yang Zhenshan wanted to do, so he could only say, ”Forget it, just go there and see. As long as General Yang’s requests are not excessive, our Zhang family can agree to them!”

With the principle of not offending Yang Zhenshan, Zhang Maosheng felt it was acceptable to offer some benefits to Yang Zhenshan.

...

Jing’an Prefecture’s Shang family.

Shang Mingde also received Yang Zhenshan’s invitation.

Although the Shang family was a Martial Arts Family, they also had quite a few industries, since cultivating martial arts also required a great deal of silver.

”Inviting me to Tenglong Guard as a guest?”

Shang Mingde was also puzzled, but he was not too worried.

Because he had a very good impression of Yang Zhenshan, in his heart, Yang Zhenshan was synonymous with righteousness.

Just the fact that Yang Zhenshan had previously retrieved the cotton fabrics from the Wang family and paid the full amount of silver to the Wang family without taking advantage was enough to be regarded as righteous.

”Keep this for me, and remind me when the time comes!”

Shang Mingde even thought it was an honor to receive an invitation from Yang Zhenshan. Naturally, he wouldn’t take it lightly, so he specifically asked the servants to carefully store the invitation.

...

Anning County’s Lu family.

In a quiet small courtyard.

Mr. Lu sat in the tea room, holding a rolled-up book and taking a sip of tea, appearing exceptionally leisurely and content.

Now that Mr. Lu was past the prime of life with his health not as good as before, he had handed over the family affairs to the younger generation and secluded himself in this small yard for some peace and quiet.

As Mr. Lu was enjoying his peaceful life, footsteps approached the door of the tea room.

”Second Uncle!”

A voice came from outside the door.

”Come in,” Mr. Lu said casually.

Lu Qi pushed the door and walked into the tea room. It was cold outside, so after entering, he quickly closed the door and shook off the chill on his body.

Mr. Lu glanced up and saw him, ”Something the matter?”

”Um, there is something for which I’d like to ask Uncle for advice!” Lu Qi bowed slightly and sat down next to Mr. Lu.

”What is it?” Mr. Lu put down the book in his hand and asked curiously.

At present, most of the Lu family’s affairs are managed by Lu Qi. The main branch of the Lu family has three legitimate sons and four illegitimate ones, among which the eldest legitimate son, Lu Zhi, is already a Prefect of Standard Fifth Rank, and the second legitimate son, Lu Yue, holds the title of Scholar and has always been preparing for the imperial examination, except that Lu Yue has taken the exam twice already and failed to pass.

Among the three legitimate sons, it is only Lu Qi whose performance is most lackluster, having barely earned the title of Scholar.

Therefore, the household affairs of the Lu family fell into Lu Qi’s hands.

”It is an invitation sent by General Yang!” Lu Qi handed the invitation he was holding to Mr. Lu.

Mr. Lu opened it and took a glance, ”Since General Yang sent someone to deliver it, you should go!”

Lu Qi picked up the tea, took a sip with his head lowered, and remained silent.

Seeing him like this, Mr. Lu couldn’t help but smile, ”If you have something to say, speak up. What’s there to hide from your uncle?”

His relationship with Lu Qi was closer than that of an uncle and nephew. Since Lu Qi returned to Anning County at fifteen years old to participate in the county examination, he has been under Mr. Lu’s care, and it has been almost ten years since then.

”Dad wrote in his letter that he might retire next year!” Lu Qi spoke softly.

The Family Head of the Lu family, Lu Zhongdao, has held the position of Minister at the Honglu Temple for over a decade on the court, and not advancing any further for ten years indicates that his career has come to an end.

And now, Lu Zhongdao is sixty-eight years old. This age is not considered old among high officials in the court, but Lu Zhongdao’s health isn’t very good, and he somewhat lacks the energy he once had.

Therefore, Lu Zhongdao has already started considering retiring and returning home.

Planning to submit a petition for his retirement next year.

”What? You have other ideas?” Mr. Lu asked.

Lu Qi shook his head slightly, ”No, Dad has worked hard all his life; it’s time for him to come back and enjoy some peace. But for my elder brother, I want to help him advance one more step!”

Lu Zhi is currently only a Prefect of Standard Fifth Rank, and he has served as Prefect twice. If he continues to sit in the position of Prefect, he might never enter the Capital City in his lifetime.

The Lu family needs someone to stand firm, and at the moment, Lu Zhi is the best candidate among the next generation.

But the pace of Lu Zhi’s promotion is too slow.

Mr. Lu fell into a deep thought, and after a while, he said helplessly, ”It’s difficult!”

Even though the Minister of the Honglu Temple is listed as one of the nine ministers, the actual power in his hands is not significant, and the Lu family also has a shallow foundation in the Capital City.

In Anning County, in Jing’an Prefecture, the Lu family can be considered a family of officialdom, but in the Capital City, the Lu family really counts for very little.

If Lu Zhongdao really had the ability to promote Lu Zhi, Lu Zhi wouldn’t have been in the position of Prefect for six years.

”I heard that General Yang and Boss Liu are close friends. I wonder if he can help?” Lu Qi voiced his thoughts.

However, Mr. Lu immediately shook his head without even thinking, ”No way!”

”Why not?” Lu Qi asked.

”Ha, because it’s not worth it!” Mr. Lu laughed and said, ”I had this thought before, your father probably did too, but we never brought it up!”

”When General Yang started from humble beginnings, our Lu family helped quite a bit, but those were just small favors, hardly worth mentioning.”

”Furthermore, we have asked General Yang for favors before. General Yang helped us connect with Duke Ning Mansion, and these years, your father has had such a stable life in the Capital City, also thanks to borrowing some force from Duke Ning Mansion!”

”So, General Yang doesn’t owe anything to our Lu family. And while our Lu family’s relationship with the Yang family is close, this kind of relationship can’t be relied upon as leverage!”

”Simply put, such relationships run out a little every time they’re used, and can only be used at a critical moment!”

Lu Qi frowned, ”Isn’t helping my elder brother to get promoted critical?”

”Of course not!” Mr. Lu said with a smile, ”Actually, having your elder brother is already enough for our Lu family, even if your elder brother cannot enter the Capital City, that can still ensure the continuation of our Lu family!”

”For a family, only survival is of utmost importance!”

Although Lu Zhi is merely a Prefect of Standard Fifth Rank, that’s sufficient to uphold the Lu family’s reputation as a family of officialdom.

After Lu Zhongdao retires, it is inevitable that the Lu family will decline somewhat, but as long as Lu Zhi is still in the official field, the Lu family will not completely wither.

It is only a matter of lying low for a while, waiting for Lu Zhi to grow, or waiting for the next generation of the Lu family to grow up.

Moreover, Lu Zhi also has his chances, maybe he will have his own opportunities in the future, after all, he is still young, and there’s no need to be too hasty.

”We can’t use our relationship with the Yang family now, the Commander of the Tenglong Guard is not General Yang’s final destination, his future is even broader than that of our Lu family!”

”If we spend this favor now, it would be a loss!” Mr. Lu spoke with a jolly laugh.

The value of a favor does not lie in the depth of emotion or heavy gratitude, but in who the recipient of the favor is.

Now, Yang Zhenshan is merely a Commander. What about in the future?

Capital Commander?

Or perhaps the General of a border town, or even entering the Five Army Commandery?

After thinking it over, Lu Qi also understood Mr. Lu’s viewpoint and said somewhat embarrassingly, ”It was shortsighted of me!”

”Haha, it’s nothing significant; it’s good that you think of your elder brother. This is a blessing for our Lu family!”

Mr. Lu said with a relieved smile.

Brothers united in purpose make for the long-lasting prosperity of the family.

”What about this invitation then?” Lu Qi looked at the invitation again.

Mr. Lu thought for a while, ”Well then, I will accompany you when the time comes!”

He also hasn’t seen Yang Zhenshan for two or three years, so it’s a good opportunity to catch up.

Upon hearing this, Lu Qi felt relieved.

Truth be told, he always felt a bit nervous facing Yang Zhenshan.

Thinking back, the first time he met Yang Zhenshan was in Yang Family Village.

Back then, Yang Zhenshan was just a countryman, although he was about to go to Chongshan Town to take up the position of Trial Hundred Households, in front of him—a seventh son of the Lu family—he really wasn’t anything special.

And now, Yang Zhenshan has already become His Majesty’s personally conferred Tenglong Guard Commander of Standard Third Rank, while he still remains a seventh son of the Lu family.

The huge reversal of status and identity always made him feel uncomfortable facing Yang Zhenshan.