Chapter 478: Unity of Will Is An Impregnable Stronghold
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Confidence came with mastery. After progressing into a Martial Grandmaster and successfully cultivating the ‘true spear technique’, Yan Liqiang realized that he had indeed gained more confidence. The most obvious change was that he no longer felt threatened by his opponent’s name and influence, even when he was facing the ‘powerful’ Dark Wood Tribe of the Shatu Seven Tribes or the Northwestern Transportation Office. The only questions he had in mind were always how many people his opponent could send and if he could deal with them all.
When one became stronger, one would become more optimistic. If Yan Liqiang encountered an entity like the Transportation Office in the past, all he could probably think of was how to mobilize the resources around him and his other social connections to deal with starving wolves like them. This time, however, he was going to take them head-on.
Before making a move against them, Yan Liqiang was clearly aware that he wasn’t going up against these officials simply as an individual, but also as an official. He was the Qiyun Protectorate General personally appointed by the Emperor. The Transportation Office wanted to take the manufacturing bureau in their jurisdiction, and that meant they were declaring war on the Qiyun Protectorate. For such a conflict, there was no way the Transportation Office would gain the support of the Imperial Capital City and Gan Province. Therefore, his only opponent was the Transportation Office and the troops available to them.
Simply put, this was a contest of strength. Whoever had the sharpest blade would win!
The only threat the Northwestern Transportation Office could pose on the manufacturing bureau was a cavalry of a thousand men. To Yan Liqiang, it would theoretically take him only about three minutes to wipe out his enemies with his firing power of eight arrows per second. He only needed to draw his bow three hundred times and ensure he had about a thousand arrows with him.
However, the Transportation Office’s cavalry wasn’t going to line up and wait for him to kill them in reality. Even so, Yan Liqiang still didn’t feel threatened by them at all.
The very next morning, Yan Liqiang called everyone for a general meeting in the manufacturing bureau’s dining hall before breakfast.
As Yan Liqiang expected, everyone in the manufacturing bureau still found out about the event that transpired yesterday despite Qian Su’s gag order. They knew Yan Liqiang had killed people from the Northwestern Transportation Office in the manufacturing bureau. In such a small place where everyone was well-acquainted with each other, it was impossible to cover up such a huge incident.
The dining hall was completely silent. Although everyone was quiet, they had their own fears and worries written all over their faces. No one spoke or laughed. The atmosphere in the dining hall was extremely heavy.
Everyone’s gazes fell on Yan Liqiang’s face, but the latter calmly spoke up instead. “I believe everyone found out what happened in our manufacturing bureau yesterday!”
He only had to sweep his gaze over everyone to determine the thoughts running through their heads. “For those who don’t know or are not sure, I will briefly explain it. A group of people from the Northwestern Transportation Office came to our manufacturing bureau yesterday. Since the four-wheeled carriages that we’re building is a form of public transport, they tried to take over the manufacturing bureau with the reason that the Transportation Office has the right to expropriate all means of transportation. Not only that, but they also wished to take away any profits made by the manufacturing bureau. From then on, everything made in the manufacturing bureau, including the four-wheeled carriages, would belong to them. They wish for us to become their slaves. The moment they arrived, they hit someone and acted arrogantly. They were even about to kill a few people who dared to stand up against them. If it wasn’t for a mirror armor plate, Zhou Yong would have been critically injured or even lost his life for protecting the spring workshop by now!”
Everyone in the manufacturing bureau stared at Yan Liqiang blankly. Some in the crowd were slightly agitated. Apart from Qian Su, no one expected Yan Liqiang to openly discuss the elephant in the room today.
“I sent a letter to Pingxi Prefectural Governor Wang Jianbei yesterday to inform him that there was a group of people causing trouble and injuring people in our manufacturing bureau while posing as officers from the Transportation Office. I also added the fact that we had already taken them down. This is the explanation we will give to outsiders — we will claim that they are imposters. In reality, there’s no use in hiding the fact from everyone here. Those people were indeed from the Northwestern Transportation Office, led by Vice Transport Commissioner Zhong Xiankui. In terms of official rank, his position is higher than a prefectural governor. The other person who led the group was Gan Province Inspector Shi Zhiyao, but I have already killed him!
“Why am I so ruthless to these people and why do I dare to even kill them? That’s because these people are behaving like thieves and robbers while abusing their status as officials! They see that the manufacturing bureau is earning money from the four-wheeled carriages and know that everyone is about to share the huge profit and enjoy a better life. So they got jealous and want to snatch what is ours!”
Yan Liqiang’s tone became harsher. “Why do I say they are thieves and robbers? That’s because the manufacturing bureau used to be a weaponsmiths quarter. I’m sure everyone is already aware that His Majesty has given his consent in regards to this transition and has placed the manufacturing bureau under the Qiyun Protectorate’s jurisdiction as family property. The Qiyun Protectorate and the Northwestern Transportation Office are completely unrelated to one another. No matter the reach of the Northwestern Transportation Office’s influence, they have no right to meddle in the Qiyun Protectorate’s affairs. Although our manufacturing bureau is located in Pingxi Prefecture, we are not under their jurisdiction.
“Therefore, the people who came to the manufacturing bureau yesterday were thieves or robbers, despite their status as officials. Not only that, but they are the most despicable type of robbers who gobble up everything without leaving even the bones behind. They are blinded by greed, corrupt officials who abuse laws and commit evil deeds in the name of justice. They operate under the imperial court’s name, yet do things that destroy its reputation. I shall kill anyone who dares to bully us! If one day a group of thieves barges into your home to rob you, dishonors your family, holds a knife against your throat, and demands you to become their slave, are you going to be a coward or are you going to fight against them to the bitter end?”
“Of course we shall fight those bastards until the end!” A few soldiers immediately roared in anger after listening to Yan Liqiang, and more people followed suit. Their angry voices rose like rolling waves, nearly bringing down the dining hall’s roof.
“I understand that everyone is concerned about how the Northwestern Transportation Office will get back at us. Truth be told, they have yet to find out what transpired in the manufacturing bureau yesterday. If they do, they will definitely retaliate. Even so, we can’t allow people to undermine us. I am the Qiyun Protectorate General, personally appointed by His Majesty. I am not worried that this incident will really be escalated to the court in the Imperial Capital, because the Provincial Governor and the Prefectural Governor will not side with them. The Northwestern Transportation Office is a group of bandits and thieves — they do not represent the imperial court. The manufacturing bureau will represent the Qiyun Protectorate this time and fight against the Northwestern Transportation Office to the bitter end!” Yan Liqiang announced loudly.
“Yes, yes, fight against them to the bitter end!”
The soldiers and craftsmen in the manufacturing bureau roared in anger.
“I wish to fight against the Northwestern Transportation Office to the end, but I shall not force everyone to travel this dark path with me. The reason I am telling you all these things today is to make it clear to everyone that the manufacturing bureau will soon encounter danger with the enemy. I would like to give everyone a choice — those who wish to leave may do so today. For those who wish to stay, we will fight against the Northwestern Transportation Office to the bitter end!” Speaking up to this point, Yan Liqiang turned his head around to look at Qian Su. “Uncle Qian, how much is the manufacturing bureau’s earnings per share over the past six months?”
Qian Su looked at Yan Liqiang, already knowing his intentions. He cleared his throat and announced to everyone loudly, “Over the past six months, our manufacturing bureau has earned a profit of over four hundred thousand taels of silver. Our earnings per share is at least fifty taels of silver! If we count annually, we are expecting nearly a hundred taels of silver per share for this year!”
No one in the manufacturing bureau knew of this figure. Everyone was shocked to find out from Qian Su here today. In just half a year, even the lowest-ranking servants in the manufacturing bureau could get fifty taels of silver. The most average soldiers and craftsmen in the manufacturing bureau who held three shares would get 150 taels of silver. The leaders, chief weaponsmiths, and supervisors would get more, about a thousand taels of silver each. Many in the manufacturing bureau never possessed such a large sum of money in their lives before. Not only that, but this was the first bonus that the manufacturing bureau would receive this year. As long as the manufacturing bureau existed, they would be getting such a large sum of money every year in the future.
“If anyone wants to leave, the manufacturing bureau shall fulfill its duty by issuing the dividend one deserves for the past half year. At the same time, they’ll also automatically lose their shares in the manufacturing bureau. From then on, they will be dissociated from us and be spared from any trials and tribulations in the manufacturing bureau, but they will also be excluded from any benefits we have to offer!” Yan Liqiang told Qian Su.
“Alright, anything you say!” Qian Su nodded.
There were no idiots here. The people from the manufacturing bureau standing in front of Yan Liqiang mentally calculated and immediately figured out how much money they would be getting. However, those dogs from the Northwestern Transportation Office were here to snatch all this money from them.
Destroying someone’s means of getting money was akin to murdering someone’s parents! Not only did those trash from the Transportation Office plan to stop everyone from getting their money, but they also wanted to make everyone their slaves!
In just a flash, many people’s eyes reddened. Their hearts were filled with anger and resentment toward the Northwestern Transportation Office.
“Kill those thieves from the Transportation Office!”
“Yes, kill them!”
“We’ll fight them!”
Countless people shouted. Even those who were worried or frightened earlier were now shouting indignantly at the thought of the money they were about to lose…
