Chapter 108 - 107: Celestial Star Ranch and Flying Horse Pavilion
The captains of Kaiping Prefecture actually had a surprisingly good first impression of Chen Yuan.
This was because Qi Yuanming often ranted in the Government Office about how arrogant Chen Yuan was, how he had killed Huo Tianying right after taking office, and how he showed no respect for the Inspector.
But now, seeing him in person, they realized this Lord Chen was actually quite reasonable. At least he wasn’t making a big show of his new authority.
Chen Yuan then singled out the shifty-looking captain who had spoken up earlier. "You, what’s your name?"
’This man was the first to speak. He’s either naturally bold and wants to make a good impression on the new Inspector...’
’...or he was overlooked under Qi Yuanming’s command.’
The shifty-looking captain was inwardly delighted to be addressed by Chen Yuan. He quickly replied, "This subordinate is Yang Zhicai."
Chen Yuan’s guess was correct. Yang Zhicai had been overlooked by Qi Yuanming, which was why he had been the first to speak up—to make a good impression on his new superior.
The reason he had been overlooked was simple: Qi Yuanming found his appearance so unpleasant that he took an instant dislike to him.
If not for his silver tongue and quick wits, he would have likely been cast aside long ago.
"When Qi Yuanming was in charge, what was his attitude toward the Jianghu forces of Kaiping Prefecture?"
Yang Zhicai chose his words carefully before speaking. "It can be summed up in one phrase: we stay out of their business, and they stay out of ours."
Chen Yuan glanced at Yang Zhicai. ’This fellow is pretty sharp.’
’That single phrase says it all. Qi Yuanming was completely unable to control the Jianghu forces of Kaiping Prefecture; in fact, he didn’t even dare to provoke them.’
"The Zhenwu Hall... the ’Hall of Martial Suppression.’ Yet it can’t even suppress the Jianghu forces within its own jurisdiction. Qi Yuanming really was completely useless."
Chen Yuan sneered. "Send invitations to every Jianghu force in Kaiping Prefecture. Inform them that in one month’s time, we will be renegotiating taxation at the Inspectorate’s Mansion."
"I’ll see to it at once, my lord," Yang Zhicai said immediately.
After giving that single order, Chen Yuan moved into the Inspectorate’s Mansion and had the men Cui Guan and Lu Li brought with them stationed within the Government Office.
After reaching the Sea of Reincarnation Realm, Chen Yuan’s need for cultivation resources had grown far greater than when he was in the Qi Casting Realm.
Back in Linyuan City, Lu Wenxing was one of his own, and Qiao Haiduan of the Cyan Scale Gang had been thoroughly beaten into submission. Therefore, the profits from their smuggling operations were converted into Spiritual Elixirs and sent to Chen Yuan on a fixed monthly schedule.
But this still wasn’t enough for him. Kaiping Prefecture, this Prefecture City, was the real prize.
Qi Yuanming may have left them to their own devices, but Chen Yuan had no intention of coddling them.
Yang Zhicai quickly wrote the invitations, but then returned to Chen Yuan with the stack in his arms.
"My lord, there are a total of three families, two factions, and one gang in and around Kaiping Prefecture. The invitations are ready. But there are two other powers... should we send them invitations as well?"
"Are you referring to the Guan Family of the Celestial Star Ranch and the Xu Family of the Flying Horse Pavilion?"
Yang Zhicai was taken aback, then nodded. "You know of them, my lord? Their territories are near the Grassland. Strictly speaking, only half of their sphere of influence is within Kaiping Prefecture."
"Furthermore, both families have a Condensing Truth Realm master in their ranks. When Qi Yuanming was Inspector, they were the last two powers he ever wanted to provoke."
"Forgive me for overstepping, my lord, but if you want to renegotiate taxes with the local Jianghu forces, you can’t simply bypass these two families."
"If you don’t raise their taxes, the other local Jianghu forces will think you’re just bullying the weak and fearing the strong. They’ll never submit to your authority."
"But if you do demand they pay more, well... neither of them is to be trifled with."
"You’ve only just arrived. If this isn’t handled properly, I’m afraid you’ll be reprimanded by your superiors."
Yang Zhicai had finally managed to outlast Qi Yuanming. This new Lord Chen was young, but he was clearly willing to make use of him.
He didn’t want to see Chen Yuan stumble so soon after arriving, so he cast aside his usual cautious demeanor and spoke his mind.
"Do you know what the biggest difference is between me and Qi Yuanming?" Chen Yuan asked suddenly.
Yang Zhicai answered cautiously, "You are young and brilliant, with astonishing talent. Qi Yuanming is a dried-up husk, practically a pile of bones in a tomb. How could he possibly compare to you?"
Chen Yuan shook his head. "The biggest difference between me and Qi Yuanming is that he’s a failure."
"When a failure sets out to do something, he’s always afraid of the wolf at the door and the tiger at the back. He frets over whether or not it can even be done."
"When I set out to do something, my only thought is how to get it done."
"To kill a snake, you strike at its heart. To defeat a man, you first break his courage."
"The reason I’m waiting a month to discuss taxes with the other powers is because I intend to deal with these two families first."
"Once I’ve cracked the toughest nut, the rest are nothing more than clay chickens and pottery dogs—all for show."
Ever since he bribed Feng Wushang to become the Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture, Chen Yuan had been formulating a plan for the region.
’The Guan Family of the Celestial Star Ranch and the Xu Family of the Flying Horse Pavilion aren’t just the two biggest powers in Kaiping Prefecture. In the original story, they both played significant roles and possessed quite a few treasures.’
’By dealing with these two first, I can get my hands on the treasures from the story, and I can also make an example of them to cow the other Jianghu forces in Kaiping Prefecture into submission.’
’Kaiping Prefecture is too large, with too many factions.’
’I don’t have the time to deal with them one by one like I did in Linyuan City.’
"After you deliver these invitations, you’ll accompany me to the Western Grassland."
"Yes, my lord!"
Yang Zhicai left with the invitations, his heart filled with apprehension.
Qi Yuanming had avoided these two families like the plague, yet this Lord Chen was targeting them directly. His audacity was madness.
But he had already chosen to cast his lot with this new lord; there was no turning back now.
Just as Yang Zhicai left, Lu Li and Cui Guan entered from the back hall.
They had just finished getting their men settled.
Watching Yang Zhicai’s retreating figure, Lu Li snorted. "My lord, that fellow looks as shifty as a rat. It’s clear he doesn’t fully trust you. Are you really going to use him?"
Lu Li was feeling a bit insecure.
Cui Guan was taciturn, but he had a powerful aura and a restrained killing intent. His role by Lord Chen’s side didn’t conflict with Lu Li’s.
But Yang Zhicai was a silver-tongued flatterer, and Lu Li saw him as a threat.
"I’ve always judged people by their actions, not their intentions. I don’t need his trust. I only need his obedience."
Chen Yuan turned to Lu Li and Cui Guan. "Tomorrow, you two will accompany me to the Western Grassland."
Seeing that Chen Yuan hadn’t forgotten him, Lu Li breathed a long sigh of relief.
Cui Guan merely gave a silent nod.
Liu Suifeng had told him before he came that all he needed to do under Chen Yuan’s command was obey.
He knew his strengths lay in killing, not scheming.
’Lord Military Advisor’s wisdom is unparalleled. Anyone he holds in high regard must be exceptional as well.’
The next day, Chen Yuan took the three men and headed straight for the Western Grassland.
「Meanwhile.」
The various powers of Kaiping Prefecture had all received their invitations, but they were completely baffled.
They had, of course, thoroughly investigated the new Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture.
After learning of his actions in Linyuan City and Pian Guan City, they all knew that Chen Yuan was no pushover.
He was ruthless and aggressive. They feared the peace Kaiping Prefecture had enjoyed under Qi Yuanming was coming to an end.
Therefore, they all began preparing to deal with him.
Who would have thought that Chen Yuan would postpone the tax discussion for a month? This move caught them completely off guard.
But with Chen Yuan making no move, they didn’t know how to react, and their unease only grew.
While the various powers of Kaiping Prefecture fretted with uncertainty, Chen Yuan had already reached the Western Grassland on the prefecture’s western edge, which was also the westernmost part of all of Ning Province.
The Western Grassland was a vast, boundless plain where hundreds of Grassland tribes lived and thrived.
Several hundred li further west lay the only nation on the Grassland: the Hachal and Lin Khanate.
Five hundred years ago, the Great Xia was founded. In the process, it shattered the previous hegemon of the steppes, the Golden Horde. This left the vast Grassland leaderless, and several large tribes fell into ceaseless warfare against one another.
It wasn’t until over two hundred years ago, as the power of the Great Xia began to wane, that the Hachal and Lin Khanate rose to prominence. Claiming to be the heir to the Golden Horde’s legacy, it unified a portion of the Grassland.
However, the power of the Hachal and Lin Khanate was a far cry from that of the Golden Horde. Its territory was not even a fifth of the size of the former Khanate at its peak.
The stretch of Grassland bordering Ning Province did not belong to the Hachal and Lin Khanate; instead, it was home to dozens of smaller tribes.
The Guan Family of the Celestial Star Ranch raised horses for a living. They maintained good relations with several of the smaller Grassland tribes and employed many Grassland People as horse breeders.
Meanwhile, the Xu Family of the Flying Horse Pavilion made their living selling horses. Their trade caravans spanned the entire Central Plains, and even the imperial Court was a major customer.
One raised the horses, the other sold them. The two powers worked in perfect harmony and were even related by marriage.
The Xu Family’s daughter, Xu Xiwen, was married to the Guan Family’s only son, Guan Yingxing.
It was understandable why Qi Yuanming had been so reluctant to provoke these two families during his time as Inspector.
They had power, they had wealth, and they were bound together by marriage. They were indeed a force to be reckoned with.
’But in the original story,’ Chen Yuan recalled, ’these two families are destined to have a complete falling out. The Xu Family of the Flying Horse Pavilion will annex the Guan Family’s Celestial Star Ranch, establish the Flying Horse Manor, and seize control of nearly all horse-related business in the Ning Province region.’
’The Nine Swords Alliance will also be involved in the Xu Family’s annexation of the Guan Family. Because the Xu Family’s Young Master, Xu Tianxing, is a good friend of Zuo Feiyu, the Nine Swords Alliance will send men to help him.’
’After the collapse of the Zhenwu Hall and the rise of the Nine Swords Alliance, the Xu Family will immediately pledge their allegiance and become the Flying Horse Hall, one of the nine halls under the Alliance’s command.’
’The Xu Family’s move to officially annex the Guan Family should be happening very soon.’
’Besides, these two families have something else that I want.’
’Even if I weren’t the Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture, I would have found a way to get involved in this matter.’
’Now that I am, I have even more of a reason to interfere.’
’It seems that since coming to Ning Province, I’ve already intercepted several opportunities that originally belonged to the Nine Swords Alliance.’
’I snatched the opportunity to earn Liu Feiyan’s gratitude from Zuo Feiyu, and now I’m about to interfere in the feud between the Xu and Guan families.’
’If I snatch enough of their opportunities, it’s anyone’s guess whether the Nine Swords Alliance will even be able to rise to power in the future.’