ATPnovel Chapter 89 The Book of Merit
Chapter 89 The Book of Merit
October 15th, the second year of the Tianqi reign.
Jinan Prefecture, Office of the Registrar.
Lu Yan sat in the armchair in the signing room, with an account book spread out on the table in front of him.
Outside the window, the autumn wind was bleak, and the sycamore leaves were scattered all over the ground.
"Master, tea."
Fan Fu walked in carrying a teacup and gently placed it on the table.
Lu Yan nodded, but his gaze did not leave the account book.
This ledger was compiled by Hu Jingshui after staying up all night. It contains a detailed record of Lu Ji Carriage and Horse Company's income and expenditure for the year—land, shops, mules and horses, silver, manpower... every single item is clearly recorded.
Where is Manager Hu?
"Wait outside."
"Let him in."
A moment later, Hu Jingshui entered the signing room.
He was thinner than last year, with sunken eyes, clearly from overwork recently. But he was full of energy, with excitement in his eyes.
"Master."
"sit."
Lu Yan put down the account book and looked up at Hu Jingshui.
"Have all the accounts been checked?"
"The nuclear test is complete."
Hu Jingshui took out a booklet from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.
"This is the general ledger."
Lu Yan took the booklet and opened it to read it carefully.
"Three thousand two hundred mu of farmland, seventeen shops, one hundred and twenty mules and horses, forty carts..."
He read aloud as he looked at it.
"Eighteen thousand taels of silver in cash, three thousand bushels of grain, and two thousand bolts of cloth..."
"Including our previous savings, our total assets are now around twenty thousand taels."
Hu Jingshui added.
Lu Yan nodded and placed the booklet on the table.
"Compared to the beginning of the year, it has more than doubled."
"you do not say."
Hu Jingshui sighed.
"Although many people died in this White Lotus Rebellion, we also gained a lot. Those gentry, who were usually so arrogant, were either killed or fled after the chaos of war, and their land and shops were sold off at bargain prices."
"Turbulent times produce heroes, and also wealthy men."
Lu Yan said calmly.
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sycamore leaves falling in the courtyard.
"However, these are all small sums of money. What's truly valuable is people."
"What the master says is true."
Hu Jingshui nodded in agreement.
"How's it going with Changying?"
"Captain Zhao is training troops outside the city."
Hu Jingshui replied.
"As instructed by the master, we weeded out the old, weak, sick, and disabled, and recruited a group of strong men from the refugees. Now the guard has 150 men, all carefully selected elites."
"What about firearms?"
"At Master Zhao's place, the yield rate of flintlock muskets has increased to 70%. We currently have 80 in stock, and can produce about 10 more per month. In addition, through Eunuch Liu's connections, we've acquired four breech-loading cannons."
"Four gates?"
Lu Yan turned around, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"How did you get that?"
"It was quite a coincidence. The Dengzhou navy had a batch of old cannons that were going to be scrapped and recast. But Eunuch Liu made a call, saying they would be used for our 'escort caravan,' and that's how it got approved."
"good."
Lu Yan nodded.
"With these four cannons, we have even greater confidence."
He pondered for a moment, then asked:
"What about Shen Qing?"
"Shen Qing is setting up informants."
Hu Jingshui lowered her voice.
"We've stationed people in Jinan, Yanzhou, Linqing, and Dezhou. We can get information from all sides—officialdom, business, and the underworld."
"very good."
Lu Yan nodded in satisfaction.
He walked back to the desk, picked up the account book, and turned to the last page.
On that page, a few lines were written:
"Record of Merits, Year Two of the Tianqi Reign."
"I. Official rank: Prefectural Clerk, Jinan Prefecture, Rank 8."
"II. Assets: Approximately 20,000 taels."
"III. Armament: 150 guards, 80 flintlock muskets, and 4 breech-loading cannons."
"IV. Bases: Jinan Prefecture (Headquarters), Linqing, Dezhou, and Yanzhou (Branches)."
"V. Talents: Zhao Changying (military), Zhao Tie (armory), Hu Jingshui (accounting), Fan Fu (housekeeper), Shen Qing (intelligence)."
Lu Yan looked at these words and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
four years ago.
It has been a full four years since I traveled through time.
Four years ago, he was a penniless, impoverished student with only a seriously injured and comatose cousin by his side.
Four years later, he was already an official of the imperial court, with soldiers and generals under his command, and assets worth tens of thousands of taels of silver.
"What is the boss thinking?"
Seeing Lu Yan lost in thought, Hu Jingshui couldn't help but ask.
"I'm thinking about what to do next."
Lu Yan closed the ledger, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
"Jinan is a good city, but it's still inland. There are government spies everywhere, making everything we do feel constrained."
"What the boss means is..."
"Dengzhou."
Lu Yan walked to the wall and looked at a map of Shandong hanging on it.
On the map, he circled the location of Dengzhou with a vermilion pen.
"Dengzhou has a port, a navy, and maritime trade. Once a foothold is established in Dengzhou, there will be a foundation for both offense and defense."
Hu Jingshui frowned.
"But sir, you are currently an official in Jinan. It might not be easy for you to be transferred to Dengzhou, would it?"
"It won't be easy, but it's not impossible."
Lu Yan turned around, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"In officialdom, things are never about waiting; they're about fighting."
He walked back to the table, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip.
"This matter cannot be rushed. We must wait for the right opportunity and find the right pretext."
"What's the reason?"
"We'll give the Emperor whatever he likes."
Lu Yan put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"The Tianqi Emperor is fond of woodworking and machinery. If we can cater to his interests and please him, why would we lack opportunities?"
Hu Jingshui nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
"Master's insight is excellent."
"Alright, you can go now."
Lu Yan waved his hand.
"Have Fan Fu summon Zhao Changying; I need to discuss something with him."
"yes."
Hu Jingshui bowed and withdrew.
……
A moment later, Zhao Changying strode into the signing room.
He was much stronger than he was four years ago, with broad shoulders and a powerful build, exuding a fierce aura.
"Boss, you wanted to see me?"
"sit."
Lu Yan pointed to the chair opposite him.
Zhao Changying sat down as instructed, but sat upright, as if ready to get up at any moment.
"Changying, you've been with me for four years."
Lu Yan looked at him, his voice calm.
"In these four years, we've gone from having nothing to having soldiers, generals, money, and supplies. What do you think has been our key to getting to where we are today?"
Zhao Changying thought for a moment and said:
"It's all thanks to the employer's abilities."
"wrong."
Lu Yan shook his head.
"It depends on the times."
He stood up and walked to the window.
"The world is already in chaos. The war in Liaodong is escalating, and the imperial court is running a deficit. The White Lotus Rebellion has just been quelled, and refugees are everywhere. In a few years, natural disasters and man-made calamities will strike at once, and the world will descend into chaos."
Zhao Changying was alarmed but dared not reply.
"In chaotic times, some families are destroyed and people die, while others rise to prominence."
Lu Yan turned around, his gaze sharp.
"We've gotten this far not because we're significantly better than others, but because we seized the opportunities."
"The master is right."
Zhao Changying nodded.
"But opportunities don't last forever. To survive in chaotic times, one must plan ahead and prepare for the future."
Lu Yan walked back to the desk and picked up the account book.
"This register of achievements records our current resources. But the real register of achievements is in the capital."
"The capital city?"
"Yes, the capital city."
A glint of light flashed in Lu Yan's eyes.
"The news of the victory in suppressing the rebellion has already reached the capital. Wang Tiqian will speak on our behalf to Eunuch Wei. As long as our names are on the merit list, promotion is only a matter of time."
Zhao Changying was thrilled.
"Rest assured, Master, Changying will follow you through thick and thin, even through fire and water!"
"good."
Lu Yan patted him on the shoulder.
"Go on, keep training. Next year, we'll take it a step further."
"yes!"
Zhao Changying stood up, bowed, and strode out of the signing room.
Lu Yan stood by the window, watching his figure disappear outside the door.
Outside the window, the autumn wind is rising, swirling up a sky full of fallen leaves.
His gaze passed over the courtyard wall and fell into the distance.
Dengzhou.
That was his next target.
It is also the ladder that leads him to higher places.