From a humble farmer to a great martial arts master

72, Bestowing Grace

Eight Horses Escort Agency.

In the spacious courtyard, a dozen porters and servants were ready to go.

In the main hall, Jiang Shi'an was talking to a ruddy-faced, wealthy middle-aged businessman.

This is not the first business deal for the Eight Horse Escort Agency, but it is their largest deal to date, with a value of nine thousand taels of silver.

A batch of valuable porcelain, calligraphy and paintings from the prefectural city passed through Huaiyin County and were then escorted to Lishui County, 370 li away.

This escort mission was not easy.

Located at the junction of Huaiyin, Lishui, and Bailu counties, the area boasts a well-developed waterway network and a fierce and robust local culture.

Many bandits.

Besides the two gangs of outlaws, there were also many local idlers who would take a hit in their spare time to supplement their income.

Many businessmen dare not take this path.

However, Lishui County had copper mines owned by the imperial court, making it richer than Huaiyin County.

The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish. Some risk-averse merchants are willing to risk their lives for money in pursuit of triple profits.

After making proper arrangements with his clients, Jiang Shi'an personally escorted the shipment, leading his men and driving the carts in a grand procession out of the city and onto the official road.

……

Ren Qingshan straightened his straw hat, glanced at Fang Yanping beside him, and seeing him silently munching on dry rations, couldn't help but laugh and said, "This porcelain merchant has really made a fortune this time. A county magistrate and two martial arts scholars personally escorted his goods."

Fang Yanping nodded silently, but seemed to have something on his mind.

"What are the adults thinking?"

Ren Qingshan asked casually.

"My family sent me medicine to treat Ziqian's injuries, and along with it came a letter from my father, forbidding me from fighting with the Qian family."

Fang Yanping now trusts Ren Qingshan completely.

Ren Qingshan was slightly taken aback, then feigned panic and laughed, "How about we go and apologize to the Qian family? Sir, you kneel down first."

Knowing he was joking, Fang Yanping glared at him, both amused and exasperated. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Over the years, I have almost never listened to my father."

Ren Qingshan... laughed out loud.

He chuckled twice, then, with a gossipy, curious attitude, asked, "Why is that?"

"I am the son of a maid."

Fang Yanping frankly told him that this was no secret; everyone in the city who was influential knew about it.

"My birth mother was originally a maid in the household. She was tortured to death by my stepmother when I was very young... I practiced martial arts all the way, and it wasn't until the year I passed the martial arts examination that my mother was able to have a memorial tablet in the ancestral hall."

hiss……

Brother, you're truly the chosen one.

Even sons of wealthy and powerful families, including illegitimate sons, are not considered to have the lowest status.

From top to bottom, they are: legitimate sons born to the principal wife, illegitimate sons born to concubines, sons born to maids, and sons born from adultery.

"And now? What's the Fang family's attitude towards you?"

Ren Qingshan pressed for an answer.

Fang Yanping shook his head and smiled: "Right now, there are only two martial arts graduates still alive in the family. One is my 92-year-old great-grandfather, and the other is me. What do you think?"

six.

"The family tree will be on a separate page."

Ren Qingshan responded with a smile.

A truly formidable person is unafraid of a tragic past and faces the dripping blood head-on.

……

At dusk.

The caravan from the escort agency stopped for a meal and lodging in Tongbao Town.

This is the Qian family's stronghold, a place they've cultivated for a century and are deeply rooted in.

Looking at the roads and buildings in the town, it is much more prosperous than Yushugou and no less so than the outer city.

The two had changed slightly, looking rough and unkempt, so they didn't worry about being recognized.

After settling in at the inn, I went out for a walk.

Standing at the bridgehead where people come and go, Ren Qingshan saw the Qian family's mansion in the distance and licked his lips.

Enclosed by high walls, it resembles a palace, covering an area of ​​at least several dozen acres.

Nestled against mountains and overlooking water, it shelters from the wind and gathers vital energy.

"It's even bigger than the county government office, hey!"

Ren Qingshan joked with a smile.

Fang Yanping glanced at him, remained silent for a moment, and sighed, "It's all the people's hard-earned money."

"Of the 170,000 mu of arable land in Tongbao Town, the Qian family owns 60,000 mu, plus another 30,000 mu scattered around the county seat. The Qian family's grain business controls at least 30% of the county's grain, and at least 3,000 households rely on them for their livelihood."

Upon hearing this, Ren Qingshan exchanged a glance with him, a subtle thought stirring within him.

"My rice business is developing rapidly, but it's still relatively new."

Fang Yanping glanced at him and nodded slightly, but in his heart he was thinking that if Ren Qingshan continued to rise in rank, he might very well become the next Qian family a hundred years from now.

Of course, there's no need to say these things. Ren Qingshan is just a mortal, not someone who sprang from a rock.

"Xuanqing is a member of the Qian family. He received a lot of favors from the Qian family when he was young, and he is able to get his current position thanks to the support of Qian Zongmu."

Fang Yanping dropped another bombshell, paused, and then said, "Yang Qianhu's wife is also surnamed Qian, and Yi Butou has a favorite concubine who is also surnamed Qian."

Ren Qingshan's sharp Adam's apple bobbed, and he coughed lightly: "They didn't send you any women?"

"Of course I gave her away, but I will not take a concubine. My wife, who has been with me since childhood, did my laundry and made tofu when we were poor, and supported my martial arts training. Now, after twenty-three years, we are very close."

Damn it, my friend Fang Yanping, you're a fucking hero.

Ren Qingshan wanted to swear.

"This matter must be handled gradually. I have less than two years left in my term. If I can complete the bandit suppression and restrain the Qian family to some extent, I will have done my best. If we were to eradicate them completely, the harm would be even greater, and those who come after us would likely be even more insatiable."

Ren Qingshan understood his concerns, which made some sense, and casually remarked, "If I were in the central government, I would have two strategies to quell the powerful clans."

"First, the policy of granting favors to both legitimate and illegitimate sons, ensuring equal rights and the equal distribution of family land upon reaching adulthood, thus turning selfishness into competition, reducing the large to the small, and the small to nothing."

"Secondly, relocate local powerful families. Find a pretext to move them to counties near the central government. Under the emperor's nose, they will naturally behave themselves."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yanping's expression changed drastically, and unimaginable shock appeared in his eyes.

Staring straight at Ren Qingshan, his body trembled slightly, his eyes first showing surprise, then joy, and then ecstasy. His breathing became rapid, and he could hardly contain his emotions.

Ren Qingshan clearly saw that his exposed arms had fine goosebumps.

Uh.

To make a county magistrate at the Jade Marrow Realm lose his composure to this extent...

It wasn't me.

It is the greatest open strategy in history – the policy of granting favors.

Moreover, if Fang Yanping could really submit a memorial to the central government and promote this method, it would not only benefit the country and the people, but also solve his own small family matter.

With equal rights for legitimate and illegitimate children, there is no longer any difference between the principal wife and the concubine.

"Qingshan, I only knew you had great talent in martial arts, but I never imagined you also possessed such insight. It's truly enlightening; I bow to you!"

Fang Yanping took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and the upright rocker arm, as straight as a pine tree, bent down deeply, performing a ninety-degree salute.

Ren Qingshan immediately helped him up, a bright smile appearing on his lips.

There's no need for such a grand ceremony; just calling him "godfather" will suffice.

……

Fang Yanping knew the principle that haste makes waste. Although Ren Qingshan enlightened him and provided him with a good strategy for governing the country, many details still needed to be improved.

On the rest of the journey, he often drifted off into thought.

Ren Qingshan knew he had started a brainstorming session, so he didn't interrupt.

Important matters should be entrusted to higher authorities. The county magistrate has the power to report directly to the emperor. Moreover, such matters are of lasting significance. However, for the person involved, there are many obstacles... This is not something I should be concerned about right now.

Wear the right size pants for the right size buttocks; I'm actually quite looking forward to this bandit suppression operation.

Buy land! Make money!

It's not a good idea to openly rob people in a county town, since we're operating in the legitimate world.

But bandits are also rich, so of course they'll rob them!

It also uses the name of righteousness.

……

……