Chapter 21 Ding Baozhen

  Ting Baozhen

  Yao Fang's hands were placed on his thighs, sitting upright. He looked up and cast a pair of ambitious eyes towards the open window outside, where a newly hung bunch of mugwort had been dried by the wind, making a rustling sound.

  He thought for a moment, then slowly turned his face towards He Wan Nian and said: "Since ancient times, the people have not fought against the officials. Since the Guo family wants to frame me, they must be relying on the officials to deal with me. Although these four big families are all wealthy and powerful, how can I expect them to work together with me, an outsider, to deal with the officials?"

  He Wan Nian tilted his head in confusion and asked: "What does Brother Yao mean?"

  "Thighs should be picked up with a big hug, and big trees should be chosen to rely on. We business people, this waist must think hard and have a big mountain to rely on. If even a small Qingdao cannot be covered, in the future our business will spread all over the world, and who knows how many troubles we will encounter."

  He Wan Nian asked in doubt: "So, according to Er Fan's meaning, should we go and establish a relationship with Zhao Shu Nian, the county magistrate of Jimo? Does Er Fan know that Zhao Shu Nian and Old Master Guo have a teacher-student relationship?"

  Yao Feng disdainfully said: "A mere county magistrate, can you guarantee that nothing will happen within a 300-mile radius?"

  "Brother Yao means to go to the Lai state government office to see Chen Wen Sheng, Governor Chen?"

  "This tiny platform can't even connect with the province above or reach the county below. It's just a stupid step. Can it really keep me safe for three thousand miles?"

  He Wan's astonished mouth was also unable to close, and he stuttered: "Brother Yao, are you trying to curry favor with Governor Ding Baozhen of Shandong?"

  Yao Fang smiled faintly and said, "I heard that Ding Baozhen is currently preparing to establish the Shandong Machine Bureau. He's a man of insight. As a jinshi and former Hanlin Academy compiler, he has strong official connections. Moreover, he has previously suppressed the Black Flag Army uprising and the Nian Rebellion, earning him great esteem from the imperial court. Now, with the establishment of the Shangzhi Academy in Jinan, he has gained the support of Confucian scholars and earned a reputation for being upright. He's considered a rising star in both military and political circles, enjoying good reputations in both the imperial court and among the people. Furthermore, his official conduct has always been good, and I've heard that he's an honest official. I think it would be best to rely on him first and establish myself in Shandong before making further plans."

  He Wan Nian was amazed, thinking that Yao Feng was incredibly formidable! He didn't know who the county magistrate was! He didn't know who the prefectural governor was! But he had an extremely deep understanding of the provincial governor! This was a lofty ambition indeed! Moreover, from his tone, it seemed as if he didn't hold even such a high-ranking official as the provincial governor in great esteem, with a hint that he regarded the Shandong provincial governor as merely a stepping stone. So wasn't his true intention to curry favor with Li Hongzhang, the Governor-General of Zhili province?

  Yao Fan seemed to see through He Wannian's mind and said a sentence lightly.

  "It's all right, in the future we will inevitably have to rely on Li Hongzhang to establish ourselves in the world, only then can our business be done safely."

  He Wan Nian was suddenly enlightened by Yao Weng's words, and he stared at Yao Weng in shock, his heart surging like a huge wave that could not be calmed.

  "So that's what he had in mind, what a formidable character!"

  He Wan was taken aback by Yao Wenyong's words and sat with his mouth agape for a long time, before suppressing the shock and admiration in his heart. He swallowed his saliva and said: "Brother Yao's idea is of course good, but how can we ordinary people get close to them? At present, let alone Li Hongzhang, even Ding Baozhen, we don't have any way to communicate with him now?"

  Yao Feng's face, as innocent as a baby, floated with a hint of genuine smile. He thought to himself, "It's just that Li Hongzhang, I don't even put him in my eyes. A mere official who is desperate for power, if I were to rely on him, it would only ruin the future of this country."

  But Yao Weng just perfunctorily said: "Might as well indulge him."

  He Wan Nian's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "I'd like to hear more about it."

  Yao Feng covered his mouth with his hand and let out a yawn, revealing a lazy expression as he said, "I haven't thought it through yet."

  He Wan Nian was stunned at first, but after reacting, he couldn't help but think to himself: "Good guy! You haven't thought it through yet? What's the point of saying unrealistic things? This is no better than my plan! Come to think of it, what you call catering to his tastes is just throwing money around."

  He Wan Nian persuaded: "Brother Yao, since you haven't thought it through yet, why not follow my plan for now and first make friends with the four families of Zhou, Huang, Lan, and Yang?"

  Yao Fang also made a bitter face and said with a troubled expression: "Alright, for now let's do it your way."

  He Wan Nian secretly sighed, thinking to himself: "You're really something, Yao Fan. I help you come up with ideas, and yet you treat me like I'm begging you. Don't you know this is all for your own good?"

  "Early brother, I plan to do this: you and I will together give each of the Zhou, Huang, Lan, and Yang families 500 taels of silver as a gift, using this as a stepping stone. From now on, you can start exchanging pleasantries with these four families. Once we have connections with these four families, it's equivalent to having connections with their power in the Shandong government circles. If the Guo family wants to take action against you, won't Brother Yao also have a way to use this silver?"

  "Brother Yao, five hundred taels of silver is not a small amount, with this favor in place, from now on these four families will inevitably invite Early Sail brother to all kinds of gatherings and banquets, big or small, and the relationship will naturally develop."

  "Yeah, in addition to the silver, send two watches, twenty bars of soap and two rolls of flower cloth to each household. The silver will come from the public funds, everything else is on me."

  "How can this be! I have already decided to advance and retreat with Zao Fan together! Naturally, we must share the same breath, I think all these gifts should come from the public."

  Yao Fan didn't decline either: "Alright, if I were to yield to you, it would be out of place."

  "It should be so!" He Wan Nian stood up and bowed.

  After He Wan-nian left, Yao Fan immediately called Luo Guang-qun and instructed: "Guang-qun, I'm leaving now, so I'll leave this house to you and San Jie. I'll be back in about ten days. During this time, represent me and go with He Wan-nian to visit the four families of Zhou, Huang, Lan, and Yang. Be sure to show respect and try to get their support for us."

  "Are you going out now? It's almost dark, why not tomorrow morning, I'll get He Shicheng to drive and send you?"

  "It's all right, I've made an appointment with the pirate ship for a secret meeting. This is confidential, you mustn't let it leak out."

  Lu Guanqun heard this and obviously thought that Yao Fang had taken him as one of his own, so he hastily bowed to the ground.

  "The whole gang dare not utter half a word."

  "Hmm, I believe you. Guanqun, for the sake of San Jie, I have a feud with the Guo family, so I must get along well with the other four families. As for the specific operation, just listen to He Zhuanggui's instructions."

  "The crown understood."

  "Third sister's injury needs good treatment, you've been worried these days, keep an eye on that doctor Liu Yiguang, now go call Shicheng to bring the car out."

  "Don't worry, master, I will serve the madam well."

  Yao frowned slightly but was too lazy to correct Luo Guan's address.

  Yao Feng carried the heavy gold and got into the carriage, pulled down the bamboo curtain in front, and said to He Shicheng who was driving: "Go to Tian Hou Palace, drive faster."

  He Shicheng hastily jumped onto the carriage frame, sat down firmly, and with a loud crack of his whip in mid-air, the wheels of the carriage began to turn with a creaking sound.

  "Shi Cheng, isn't this carriage your second uncle's? Let's buy one ourselves later, I wonder how much silver it'll cost?" Yao Feng said, hugging a box of gold in his arms as he chatted with He Shi Cheng.

  "If you're going to buy a carriage, the price depends on whether it's new or old and the workmanship. If it's an old one, you can get it for three or four silver coins. But someone of your stature should naturally have a good one that matches your status. In Qingdao, when it comes to carriages, we have to mention Zhouji Carriage Shop. Their carriages are made from the best old elm wood and are said to be repeatedly soaked in tung oil, so they're not afraid of rain. One carriage costs about six silver coins. If you go to a fabric store and get someone to make cushions, mattresses, reed mats, and canvas canopies for it, I estimate that all together it won't exceed eight silver coins."

  Yao Fan was immediately surprised, thinking that the prices were so cheap, and the salary he paid to his employees was really high. He Sheng's monthly wages could buy a car with plenty of money left over.

  "How much does a horse for the carriage cost?" Yao Feng asked calmly.

  "If you go back to the east, a poor horse or an old horse can be bought for ten taels of silver. Generally, a two- or three-year-old adult horse costs thirty or forty taels of silver. As for good horses, it would be a waste to use them to pull carts; they are all used for riding. After carefully distinguishing between good and bad ones, their prices range from seventy or eighty taels to one hundred twenty taels. However, good horses eat fine feed, such as bean cakes, wheat bran, and hay, which add up to over ten catties a day. Even if they are not working, they still cost money; no matter how you save, they still need to eat two or three cents' worth of food per day. Poor horses and old horses are the same; they cannot eat coarse feed, otherwise their legs will become weak and they will be no better than mules and donkeys, which are easier to raise and can withstand hardship."

  He was enlightened by He Shi's explanation and said, "So that's how it is. When you go back, have Luo Guangqun give you some silver to buy a good horse carriage and a good horse. Have everything that should be equipped on the carriage and horse fully equipped for me. Later, clean up the carriage that arrived and fatten up the horse, and then return it to your second master."

  "Yes, Master!" He Shi Cheng's voice sounded particularly excited.

  "But, Master, our shop doesn't have a stable. On ordinary days, Second Uncle's carriage is just parked by the side of the shop, in that thatched shed built by the previous residents of the alley. It's an old horse and an old carriage, so it's not too bad. But if it were a new carriage and good horses, it wouldn't be convenient. Moreover, in our Great Qing Empire, all carriages and horses entering the city have to pay taxes and obtain a carriage and horse permit. This money alone amounts to one or two silver coins per year."

  "Good point, the carriage lane beside our shop is indeed inconvenient and the horse dung accumulated inside is really too dirty. Go back and tell your second uncle to find me a larger mansion, one with seven or eight courtyards."

  "The boss is really generous." He Shicheng praised.

  The horse carriage swayed all the way, and the two of them chatted all the way, until they arrived at the gate of the Temple of Heaven.

  He Shicheng asked: "Master Dong, it's so late, are you coming to the Heavenly Palace to burn incense? The Taoist priests have already closed their doors, I'll go knock on the door for you."

  "No need, you can go back now. I have an appointment with someone here, and it's inconvenient for you to stay." Yao Feng said as he dismounted his horse.

  He Shicheng listened to Yao Fang's words and hurriedly gave a bow, bid farewell, and drove the horse carriage away.

  Yao Fan hugged the heavy golden box and drilled into the forest on the edge of the Heavenly Queen's Palace. He had previously trodden on the terrain and knew that this was a vacant lot in 2011. After starting the blood sacrifice, Yao Fan returned to his own 21st century.