Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Simply put, the banquet Gan Provincial Governor Lei Sitong organized tonight was equivalent to the tea parties that the world leaders in Yan Liqiang’s previous life used to host. The most influential figures of Pingxi Prefecture had gathered in the manor to show their loyalties to the Gan Provincial Governor and criticize Ye Tiancheng and the Ye Clan. The dinner ended after everyone enjoyed the feast and wine together.
During the dinner, Yan Liqiang was seated together with Lei Sitong at the main table. They pleasantly chatted with each other over the meal, thus becoming the main focus of all the other guests.
The Yan Liqiang from last year would still revere Lei Sitong and think that a Provincial Governor was a superior being. However, after his trip to the Imperial Capital, Yan Liqiang no longer looked up Lei Sitong like he did before.
Besides, Yan Liqiang had met the Emperor when he was in the Imperial Capital. Not only that, but he also managed to escape unscathed after going up against the Grand Chancellor and the other high officials. These experiences helped him gain confidence and composure. Now that he was reunited with Provincial Governor Lei Sitong, he no longer felt inferior before him and was able to act neither humbly nor arrogantly around him. The officials and squires at the scene were secretly impressed by his graceful bearing and composure.
That was what experience and knowledge could do to a man. With those in heart, one’s insecurities would diminish when faced with important figures or situations. When one’s confidence was brought out, so would his graceful bearing.
After the banquet, Lei Sitong invited Yan Liqiang to his study. He had his attendants serve them tea before releasing them. Very quickly, Yan Liqiang and Lei Sitong were the only people left in the study room.
“I heard Lord Sun promoted Liqiang as his personal attendant in this manor too. Back then, this was the very same study room he used. Liqiang must be even more familiar than me around here…” Lei Sitong glanced at Yan Liqiang with admiration. He then personally poured a cup of tea and pushed the cup toward Yan Liqiang.
Yan Liqiang rose from his seat slightly to accept the gesture, then scanned the room. “Well, it’s not bad. The study room has not changed since the last time Lord Sun was here!”
“Another year has passed since I parted ways with Lord Sun that day. I heard stories about Liqiang fearlessly driving away the Blackwind Bandits during Lord Sun’s return journey to the Imperial Capital. Not only that, you also performed well in the Imperial Capital to make His Majesty think so highly of you. The moment ‘The Great Han Times’ was published, it took the world by storm and became a leading trend in the nation. I have to say I am impressed by Lord Sun’s wise insight. Everyone has been holding a newspaper in their hands lately in Gan Provincial City, and such behavior is the result of Liqiang’s influence…”
“You’re flattering me, Lord Lei!” Yan Liqiang laughed self-deprecatingly. He spread open his arms with resignation and sighed, “Lord Lei, you are an outspoken person so I won’t put up any pretenses with you. Truth be told, the political struggle in Imperial Capital city is intense. I am merely a nobody. I only did my best trying to survive while bumbling my way through there. I ended up offending quite a few people and I had no choice but to flee back to Gan Province with my tail between my legs. I am lucky to have made it out alive, so please don’t jest me, Lord Lei…”
It was indeed comfortable to speak with an interesting individual. Seeing how Yan Liqiang was so outspoken, Lei Sitong laughed heartily while slapping his palm against the table. “You are indeed capable to be able to gain your fame and retreat from a tiger’s den like that. To be honest, I didn’t expect Liqiang to decisively give up on the lavish life and leave it all behind!”
“I had no choice. If I stayed in the Imperial Capital, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to come back alive in another year. Speaking of a lavish life, I still think that our Gan Province is not bad either. It is indeed difficult to leave one’s hometown. I feel so much more relaxed and comfortable now that I have returned to this place!”
“You may feel comfortable, but you should know how many are going to be uncomfortable because of your return as the Qiyun Protectorate General!” Lei Sitong picked up his teacup and gently blew on it.
Yan Liqiang smiled. “If those bastards in the Shatu Seven Tribes are going to feel comfortable, then that will be the end of the Great Han Empire! I think it’s good to let them feel uncomfortable!”
“Well said!” Lei Sitong set his teacup down as a glint flashed across his eyes. “Speaking of this, I shall stop beating around the bush now. Liqiang, you are a smart man. Surely you have realized my intention of meeting you this time?”
Yan Liqiang looked at Lei Sitong seriously. “The appointment of a Qiyun Protectorate General is no trivial matter. Naturally, I am aware of your concern as the Gan Provincial Governor, Lord Lei. Truth be told, His Majesty has no intention of waging a war against the Shatu Seven Tribes. He merely appointed me as the Qiyun Protectorate General for show only to make some people feel uncomfortable. I’m sure the Provincial Governor knows the reason behind His Majesty’s actions better than I do.”
“No intention of waging a war?” Lei Sitong stared dead straight at Yan Liqiang and repeated his words with more emphasis.
“No intention of waging a war.” Yan Liqiang nodded with confidence.
Lei Sitong let out a sigh and revealed a smile. His facial expression visibly relaxed too. “I guess His Majesty indeed regards you very highly, Liqiang. He must be waiting to assess your capability!”
“Hahaha, all I am good for is leading some people in a small business. That’s not enough to put myself in His Majesty’s discerning eye!” Yan Liqiang smiled modestly.
“You are too humble. It has only been a few days since you returned to Pingxi Prefecture and you have already made a four-wheeled carriage! I reckon that this type of carriage will become popular before long. This is a great achievement!” Lei Sitong laughed.
“In my opinion, this carriage isn’t only good for carrying passengers. If it is used to transport military supplies, the load it can carry will easily double the efficiency. For the same load, it will put less stress on this type of carriage compared to the usual ones. This will certainly become a great asset to the military! It’s simply impressive!”
Yan Liqiang was also secretly impressed. Lei Sitong had keen eyes. It took him only one look at the four-wheeled carriage to figure its significance in the military. This was probably the reason why he had taken Yan Liqiang’s four-wheeled carriage without a care as soon as they met. A carriage used to transport passengers needed the springs to suspend its frame for the sake of comfort. If this was used to transport goods, then the springs were no longer needed. As long as he showed the carriage to the craftsmen, they would be able to take a good look at its steering mechanism and copy the design.
“Speaking of this, I have a suggestion. I wonder if Lord Lei would be interested in hearing it?” Yan Liqiang threw the bait out with a smile.
“Oh, you mean making four-wheeled carriages?” Lei Sitong burst out laughing. “I may be interested in making money, but I do not wish to take this business away from you, Liqiang…”
Yan Liqiang laughed too. “If I can have the opportunity to do business with Lord Lei, of course it won’t be a small business like the four-wheeled carriages. They are only good for several million taels of silver in a year at best. That may be enough to feed a group of craftsmen, but to Lord Lei, I’m sure this sum of money hardly amounts to anything…”
“Pft…!” Lei Sitong choked when he heard Yan Liqiang, spraying out a mouthful of tea that trickled down his beard. He turned his head around to look at Yan Liqiang. His eyes sparkled and he didn’t even mind the droplets of tea clinging to his beard. “What was that? Your four-wheeled carriages can make a million of taels of silver in a year?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes, of course. Is that a lot?” Yan Liqiang deliberately gave Lei Sitong a look of innocence, not forgetting to even blink. “I am going to sell them at 5,000 taels of silver each. That means 50,000 taels of silver for ten and 500,000 tales of silver for a hundred. Based on the capability of my manufacturing bureau, there shouldn’t be a problem for them to build a few hundred units of those carriages in a year. One million taels of silver should easily be within their reach.”
“Hahaha…!” Lei Sitong laughed loudly while pointing at Yan Liqiang and shaking his head. “Oh Liqiang… You must be joking and I almost believed that! It is true that your carriage is pretty good, but someone else will be able to replicate it with just a glance. You may own a weaponsmiths quarter, but there are many craftsmen in other places too. Which weaponsmiths quarter in Gan Province can’t replicate it? Putting aside the fact that it is 5,000 taels of silver for one, maybe there are many others who can make it at just 500 taels of silver! How are you going to earn that 5,000 taels of silver?”
“Lord Lei has only seen the exterior of the carriage, but you are not aware that there is a special component beneath the carriage frame near the wheels. Even if that component is revealed to the world, I am the only one who can make that. Even if someone else can replicate the carriage, they won’t be able to provide the same level of comfort to passengers without it. That component is the selling feature which warrants the price tag of 5,000 tales of silver on my carriage…”
“Oh, what exactly is that component then?” Lei Sitong immediately asked in curiosity.
“It’s called a spring. It’s resilient steel that can be compressed or stretched…”
“Ah, resilient steel that can be compressed or stretched?!” Lei Sitong had a look of astonishment on his face, looking as though he was in disbelief. In his impression, steel was a naturally hard and strong material that could be tempered into armor, weapons, or tools. How could a resilient object be made out of steel? It was impossible…!
“The carriage is parked in the manor. If Lord Lei doesn’t believe me, you can send someone to check. You will know if you look at the bottom of the carriage and have two people moving around inside the passenger compartment…”
“I just simply can’t believe something like that exists. Wait here, Liqiang. I shall go take a look personally. I must see it with my own eyes to believe…!” Lei Sitong told Yan Liqiang, then swiftly left the study room.
Yan Liqiang sipped his tea with a smile while waiting in silence. Less than five minutes later, Lei Sitong once again returned to the study room.
He was rubbing his hands while looking at Yan Liqiang with his sparkling eyes. The smile on his face was so broad that it reminded Yan Liqiang of those pimps trying to pull in customers at the entrance of a brothel.
“Ah, Liqiang…”
The Provincial Governor called out to him with such emotion that Yan Liqiang couldn’t help but shudder.
His smile blossomed like a flower and his mouth was full of honey as he looked at Yan Liqiang lovingly. “You may be young, but I am not any wiser despite being older than you. It’s rare that we can get along so well, and I think we should stop being strangers with each other. You don’t have to address me as Lord Lei, just call me Uncle Lei. I shall make sure that you can do whatever you please in Gan Province from now on. If anyone dares to lay a finger on you, I shall have my men wipe them off the surface of this land…!”
The Provincial Governor spoke the murderous words so affectionately, creating perfect harmony…
“U-Uncle…. Uncle Lei…” The sudden change in the Provincial Governor’s demeanor shocked Yan Liqiang so much that he was tongue tied. At that split moment, Yan Liqiang even felt like he seemed… to have… made a mistake.
“Good, we are family from now on. Ohh, your cup is almost empty! Come come come, Uncle Lei will pour you some more tea…!” Lei Sitong happily filled Yan Liqiang’s cup to its brim before he set the teapot down. His smile faded and he let out a sigh. He had a miserable look on his face as he stared at the ceiling of the room.
“Uncle Lei has to be honest with you, Liqiang. I have been in the Gan Province for six years and I deeply feel that a being a provincial governor is a tough job. Gan Province is simply too poor. We are located at the border where battles rage. We have many men to feed here, but the imperial court isn’t providing enough funds. I have to think of ways to resolve this.
“Unfortunately, Gan Province lacks natural resources. The province isn’t prospering either and we don’t have enough taxes to collect. Even as a Provincial Governor, I have to tighten my belt. I am aware that everyone in Gan Province has been calling me Tiger Lei behind my back, but this old tiger is starving to the point that it is going to become a vegetarian.
“Some people say that I was ruthless to lay a finger on the Ye Clan while some say that I hold grudges against them. They are all wrong. The truth is that poverty compels me to do so…”
