Chapter Fifteen: The Little Brat Who's Like a Monster

  At that time, a pair of shoes with somewhat rough workmanship was made under the joint efforts of Zhang Piniang and a copper worker. These were all the samples made by Zhang Piniang. If they met San Ye's mind, he would make fine products without delay.

  "This still looks good, the copper plate is wrapped in double-layered leather, can't be stepped on, some small holes are opened on the leather for ventilation, the ankle part uses harder leather, and there are holes for lacing, which need to be wrapped with copper skin. The sole also has a piece of copper plate only at the toe tip, no need to do all of it. Another layer of leather should be added under the copper plate."

  Yang Meng pointed out the inadequacies and told Cen Yu Ying to go instruct the two men to make shoes. When Yang Meng was planning his business, he encountered a major problem - how to establish a team loyal only to himself.

  Those bitter men from Yiliang are indeed easy to command, but they lack ferocity. The minority tribes in the mountains are afraid of their violent temper and are not easy to tame. Without loyal hands, no matter how much wealth one has, it will ultimately be a waste.

  "Qian Yu'ying, you've finished talking to them, come over here for a moment, I have something to discuss with you."

  After a while, Cen Yueting came to Yang Meng's side and saw him thinking, so she quietly stood beside him, waiting for Yang Meng to speak.

  "Qian Yu Ying, how do you think San Ye should gather a capable team to protect the Yang family business?"

  It's also time to see where Xun Yu Ying is useful. The one with the big mouth, Zhang, has nothing practical to offer, so what use is Yang Meng to him?

  "Third Master can call the student Yu Ying, or he can also use her courtesy name Yan Qing. Xian Yu Ying is a bit displeased. Gathering people's hands, there are two good methods: one is money and the other is land. Money can meet temporary needs, while land can ensure lifelong needs."

  This Cen Yu Ying is a personal genius, young in years but with great insight.

  "Yu Ying ah! How old are you this year?"

  The student is sixteen years old this year.

  "Being of the same age, I wonder if we can join hands and make progress together, to create a world that belongs to us. You mentioned that the land can meet our needs for life, can you elaborate on that?"

  Yang Meng is also considered to have lived two lifetimes, nearing sixty or seventy years of age. Comparing himself to this young genius, he seemed to be at a disadvantage in many ways. Fortunately, having lived an extra lifetime, he had seen and experienced many things, which gave him the confidence to try and subdue this talented individual.

  "It's easy to say, but Yunnan is in a state of turmoil, with constant uprisings among the various ethnic groups. The reason is simple: food! The leaders of those rebels may have all sorts of reasons, but for the mountain people and common folk who follow them in revolt, the reason is straightforward - it's about having enough to eat. Whoever can give them land and let them eat their fill, they will die for that person."

  Cen Yu Ying's analysis opened Yang Meng's eyes, this sixteen-year-old half-grown child could have such insight, absolutely not simple! Is this what they call a genius?

  "Grain, land..."

  Yang Meng was also thinking carefully, Yiliang Zhou Daxiang had ten thousand hectares of good fields, using these lands to recruit a group of subordinates, and then slowly expanding, he himself had not given up hope of success.

  "Ying has land, but it's hard to keep these people in line. Once they're warm and fed, they don't have any other ideas. How can we control them?"

  Give them land, simple, but human desires are endless. Give them land and they still want money, have money and they still want women, have women and they still want status. Must one satisfy their every desire? Doing so will eventually lead to a few people becoming his enemies, and won't that be the end of everything?

  "The land can let them plant, the output can let them eat, but this land, San Ye must firmly grasp in his own hands, that is to grasp their **. People cannot be suddenly rich, once suddenly rich will give birth to other ideas, use the land to firmly grasp them, slowly let them eat well, live well, let them rely on San Ye, trust San Ye, at that time still worry they do not die to sell their lives?"

  This little brat is too damn powerful, he can't read these things out of books. Yang Meng listened quietly, but the killing intent in his heart grew stronger and stronger. This kid can be used as a pillar, if not, it's better to get rid of him early.

  "What about Yunnan and its surrounding areas? Are those people usable?"

  Squeeze out everything from this little brat first, then kill him, this little beast is too abnormal.

  "All the poor mountain people can be used, most Hui people can be used, but most Han people cannot be used."

  "Why is it that most Chinese people are unaccountable?"

  This idea coincides with his own, although he has seen few Han people, they are weak and timid, not good material for soldiers.

  "The mountain people lived in Yunnan, first, they were familiar with the mountains and forests of Yunnan, second, the mountains and forests were mostly steep and dangerous, so the physical strength and martial arts skills of the mountain people had to be stronger than those of the Han people. The Hui people were united and had a tradition of practicing martial arts, which was also stronger than that of the Han people. Most Han people migrated to Yunnan and were skilled in farming, which allowed them to barely make a living, although they struggled to make ends meet, they did not starve to death, and could eke out a living. The Han people were unwilling to rebel, but if pushed too hard, the Han people would be just as useful as the mountain people."

  This analysis is so sharp, this rabbit son, absolutely can't be kept, too powerful, sixteen years old can have such insight, twenty-six, thirty-six? Don't mess around, you've made a wedding dress for yourself.

  "This vast territory of Yunnan, where should I start?"

  Although his mind was filled with murderous intentions, Yang Meng still restrained himself. A true killer never reveals his killing intent; this was his specialty.

  "Yiliang is good! Yiliang has always been known as the granary of Dianzhong, occupying Yiliang means occupying the lifeline of Yunnan, those who block the lifeline will surely die!"

  This rabbit's heart is so poisonous, it immediately points out the crux of the matter. Without enough food, someone will go hungry. As long as the food supply is slightly controlled, this powder keg in Yunnan will be ignited. At just 16 years old, she already has such thoughts. When she grows up, she'll be her own disaster. Xiang Yu'ying absolutely cannot be kept.

  "Yunnan is isolated, if it attracts the attention of the imperial court, what should be done? With Yunnan as a single province, resisting the entire Qing dynasty, will surely end in defeat! You said this yourself, and now you're so easily backing down, isn't that unbecoming?"

  Yang Meng didn't forget his conversation with Cen Yu'ying in Wu Zhuang, and for a moment, one point of view made people somewhat puzzled!

  "That's the student's point of view, what I just said is what I heard from an old bookkeeper in Yiliang explaining the overall situation in Yunnan, and Third Master asked, most of it was at that time, we young bookkeepers asked questions."

  What about the old bookkeeper? Want to ask where the old bookkeeper is? Maybe he's already dead! Although Yang Meng was shaken when he heard about the old bookkeeper, he still wanted to get rid of Cen Yu'ying.

  "How can one province's strength match a whole country?" What did that old bookworm say?

  "Yunnan is backed by Burma, and Burma is still the world of barbarians. Communicating with barbarians, getting their guns and cannons, the Qing dynasty is just a local dog."

  As soon as the words came out, Yang Meng's heart skipped a beat. Isn't this exactly what he was good at? Transporting Sino-Vietnamese goods and trading with the Eight-Nation Alliance, using guns and cannons to defend against the Qing Dynasty, which wasn't much different from his own thoughts.

  Yang Meng initially wanted to take the Guangdong route, but now that Xun Yu'ying has spoken up, things have become much simpler. With the Mekong River, Red River, and mountain roads, all transportation routes are available, and importing and exporting goods is also closer than going to Guangdong. This little brat must be killed!

  "Is that old bookkeeper Yilang still around? If I have the chance, I'd like to meet this wise man."

  It's time for the answer to be revealed. If this Xun Yu'ying dares to say that the old book official is dead, I'll bury this demonic rabbit son as soon as I get back.

  "It's still going on! When I was discussing the Treaty of Nanjing with a group of fellow students, that old clerk said the Qing dynasty would perish. We didn't believe him and argued with him. He then mentioned these things. What does Master San think about this?"

  Yang Meng was at a loss, and it turned out that there really was such a person in Yiliang. This matter will be put on hold for now, and this little brat will be spared for the time being. Recently, I also need to make a trip to Yiliang, and when the time comes, without that old book official, killing this little guy won't be too late.

  "My idea is feasible, let's give it a try. If it works out, it might be a shortcut to success; if not, I'll help you rise to a higher position instead. Can we agree on this? The agreement we made at the Wu Manor today will no longer count."

  Yang Meng did not rule out the possibility that Cen Yu Ying was deceiving himself, but the words he had just spoken would not have come from a sixteen-year-old boy's mouth. If it were true, then he had encountered a real freak.

  "It's worth a try, after all, knowing and doing are one, I'll accompany San Ye on this trip."

  Leaving aside what was just said, Jin Yuanying is also a talented individual, but whether he can be used or not is also a big problem.

  Just this conversation also opened a window of opportunity for Yang Meng, originally taking the risk of going to Guangdong, almost none, as long as he could establish himself in Yunnan, everything would be easily solved.

  But Guangdong's first line cannot be abandoned, initially trading with the foreign devils is still safe, and since I have no foundation in Yunnan, rashly walking along the Myanmar-Vietnam border, once the foreign devils see a great benefit, it will be hard to prevent them from dealing with me.

  Start your own business from Guangdong first, if it goes smoothly, purchase guns and cannons, and then open up the Myanmar trade route. The Yang family's trade route in Myanmar must also be kept secret, to prevent Yunnan from becoming a target of foreign aggression.

  With Cen Yu Ying's method, Yang Meng felt that everything was clear. He would occupy the land, nurture his people, and slowly expand his power until he could defend his territory, then he could play openly.

  Next is to hurry up and get the formula for the poison, set up a plantation, build a poison factory, with these, one can slowly start.

  Human resources, secret factory locations, and trade routes are the most pressing matters. Clothing and shoes are trivial things that shouldn't waste your time; when your own strength grows, what can you not have?

  With this decision, Yang Meng's interest in making new shoes has also decreased a lot. However, if it can be done today, it would still be a good thing. At least he won't have to wear such awkward boots on his feet anymore.