Chapter Fifty-Four: Gathering and Setting Out

  Yes, Young Master Xiao was deceived by Qin Kan again.

  This time it has nothing to do with Qin Kan, and he was actually deceived unintentionally. Xu Pengjie's being cheated belongs to the kind of self-inflicted injustice that cannot be tolerated.

  The Wei State Duke's mansion has countless good fields and shops, but the silver money in the mansion didn't come from nowhere.

  The young master's investment and entrepreneurship failed. The old countryman not only did not comfort him, but instead kicked this useless grandson's butt twice.

  The young master, hurt in his heart, returned to the mansion from the hundred households with a huff. He vowed that from now on, he would definitely reduce his interactions with Qin Kan. The Master said: "Choose the good and follow it, the evil and change it." The young master, who was confused about learning, suddenly discovered that the sage over 1,000 years ago had already told him how to avoid evil and choose good fortune, but he had never taken the sage's words to heart. Qin Kan was obviously the "evil" referred to by the sage, and associating with him would bring bad luck, so it was best to avoid him.

  …………

  …………

  Qin Kan's prestige in the hundred households is getting higher and higher.

  He treated his subordinates and younger masters with completely different attitudes. The young master could be deceived, but the brothers under him couldn't, not only couldn't deceive them, but also had to be sincere with them, try to give them more benefits, try to make it fair for everyone, reward and punish clearly, whether in public or private matters, Qin Kan did everything openly in front of his brothers.

  The friendship between Xiao Gongzi and Qin Kan is becoming more and more apparent to many people, and the names of the nobles in Nanjing are gradually remembering Qin Kan's name. A small Jin Yi Bai Hu in Nanjing is slowly gaining weight, bringing many benefits, such as the original management of some unscrupulous gamblers who relied on their background and refused to give Ping An silver, suddenly sending silver to the door with great enthusiasm, nodding and bowing with a flattering expression that makes people feel nauseous, and having to muster up the spirit to respond.

  Qin Kan didn't know that all of this was because he had a fight with the servants of the Wei State Duke's mansion along with his brothers, and also made a show of himself on the streets of Nanjing several times with the young master.

  In the eyes of a discerning person, Qin Kan was no ordinary man.

  Fighting with the most arrogant young master in Nanjing City actually became friends, this is simply a miracle of life...

  It is God who can create miracles, not man, at least not ordinary people.

  A few wins at the casino were just the beginning; what came next was Qin's way of making money, which left his brothers speechless.

  By summarizing the intelligence, Qin Kan actually investigated several shops in Nanjing that had potential but were not doing well due to various reasons. The young master's 5,000 taels of silver played a role, and a large investment was made, causing the shops to revive and wealth to pour in, unstoppable.

  Half a month later, when General Ding Shun and Li Er Gong respectfully presented more than 2,000 taels of silver dividends to Qin Kan, even Qin Kan was shocked with wide eyes.

  He didn't expect to catch so many fish with one net, and it turns out that diversifying investments is indeed effective.

  Qin Kan couldn't help but feel a little self-satisfied. A talent who was able to become the deputy general manager of a company in his previous life still had a reliable investment vision.

  Then Qin Kan immediately made a decision, and from then on, he would take out 30% of the monthly interest and Ping An silver to pay respects to Lei Qianhu, and the remaining 70% would be divided among his brothers in the hundred households, with each taking 50%, while Qin himself would take 20%.

  When Ding Shun and Li Er politely asked Master Qin to take 40% alone, and the remaining 30% was divided among the brothers, Qin Kan was so angry that he kicked them out of the door with both feet.

  This kick earned him the heartfelt respect of his brothers, and it was unclear who quietly set the rules, but from then on, whenever the brothers in the hundred households saw Qin Kan, they would first kneel down on one knee to pay their respects before speaking.

  Qin Kan was deeply moved, this is the greatest respect that a group of poor brothers can only express.

  17th year of the Hongzhi era, 6th month.

  In the dead of night, Lei Hong, the commander of the Nanjing East City Garrison, suddenly summoned ten captains under his command. Under the dim light, Lei Hong's face was gloomy as he gave an order.

  In accordance with the order from the Ministry of War in Nanjing, six Wei and Suo officials and soldiers from Southern Zhili and Zhejiang were mobilized to rush to Chongming County, Songjiang Prefecture to fight against the enemy. The Dongcheng Thousand Households Battalion of the Brocade Guard in Nanjing also received orders to rush to Chongming, with the responsibility of directing the battle.

  And this time, the enemy they will face is... the Japanese pirates!

  Qin Kan's mind suddenly exploded, and his face turned pale in an instant.

  Fighting, war, he had always thought that being in the prosperous Kyoto, these things were far away from him. Qin Kan was just a small household living in a peaceful and prosperous era, enjoying life's happiness, who would have thought that one day, war would suddenly descend upon his head, unable to resist, with no way to escape.

  In the 17th year of the Hongzhi era, in June, the Japanese pirates landed on Taicangzhou, plundered and then left. In the same month, the Japanese pirates frequently landed in Jiading, Jinshan, Nanhui and other counties, the local officials and soldiers were defeated and fled, countless civilians were killed or injured, and countless properties and women were looted. The southeast is in urgent danger!

  The Emperor's face turned red with rage, the Imperial Court mobilized six garrisons from Nanjing and Zhejiang, including Haining Garrison, Lishan Garrison, Shaoxing Garrison, Guanhai Garrison, etc., totaling over 30,000 government troops to rush to the southeast, vowing to drive the Japanese pirates back into the ocean.

  Nanjing Jin Yi Wei Dongcheng Qian Hu Su was a government army branch with the purpose of directing warfare.

  Because the duty of the Du Zhan belonged to the Jin Yi Wei, in the battle array against the enemy, with a red scarf tied on their left arm, holding a large knife and standing majestically on both sides of their own formation. If there were soldiers who were afraid or ran away, they would go forward without saying a word and cut them down with one knife to stabilize the army's morale.

  Qin Kan and they were about to do this thing.

  …………

  …………

  Songjiang Prefecture, formerly known as Shanghai City, is nearly 800 miles away from Nanjing. It was the destination of Qin Kan and his brothers' journey.

  Military situation is urgent, military orders are like mountains!

  Qian Lei Hong led the team, Qin Kan and nine other hundred households bound their subordinates, starting a long and silent march.

  Less than a hundred miles, Qin Kan's weak body couldn't hold on anymore. Fortunately, he was taken care of by his brothers under him, and several sturdy men took turns carrying him on their shoulders as they marched. Qin Kan almost fainted.

  In this era, there were no cars or trains, nor any means of transportation. Officials could ride horses, but low-ranking officers like Qin Kan didn't have the privilege. Even Lei Qianhu, a high-ranking officer, received no special treatment and had to walk on his own two legs just like ordinary squad leaders. Qin Kan had no choice but to continue stumbling along with the troops, cursing the ancestors of the Japanese pirates for eighteen generations, both male and female, before finally feeling a bit better and barely catching up with the group.

  Eight days later, the Jin Yiwei East City Thousand Households Department arrived at Chongming County, Songjiang Prefecture on schedule.

  The troops of Haining and Shaoxing have gathered, Lei Hong divided the ten hundred households into ten teams to supervise the battle, and they entered the two guards in batches. Lei Hong gave Qin Kan and the other nine hundred households a death order.

  When the garrison officers and soldiers clashed with the Japanese pirates, those who retreated or fled would be killed without pardon! If the supervisor did not kill them, the hundred households under his supervision would be punished for his crime.

  Qin Kan and others responded sternly.

  A salty, crisp sea breeze carried a faint scent of rust and blood that slowly condensed...