Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 34 Goodbye Qingluan
Wu Mansion.

Inside the study, Commander Wu personally poured Lin Xuan a cup of tea and gestured for him to sit.

Lin Xuan slowly sat down, and Wu Baihu sat down opposite him.

He stared intently at Lin Xuan and asked, "How shall I contend for this?"

Lin Xuan cut to the chase and asked directly, "I need to know about Commander Shen's background first."

Wu Baihu took a sip of tea and slowly began to speak: "He is from the Shen family in the capital. The Shen family is the backbone of the Qingliu faction, with one member serving in the Grand Secretariat. They also have many members in the Jingbian Division. Shen Qingya's true background in the Jingbian Division is that of the Commander of the Southern Garrison..."

Lin Xuan immediately understood why Commander Shen was able to completely control the Jingbian Division so soon after his arrival.

His background is indeed quite impressive.

The Jingbian Division has four major garrison divisions, each responsible for border security in four directions of Dayong.

The Southern Garrison Command has four subordinate thousand-household offices, one of which is the Qianzhou Thousand-Household Office. This explains why Thousand-Household Commander Zhou was so polite to Hundred-Household Commander Shen.

Although Shen Baihu's background was not insignificant, it was not exactly all-powerful.

Above the four major military districts, there is also the Commandery District.

The Commandery was located in the capital. Its full name was the Jingye Commandery. The Jingbian Commandery and the Jingye Commandery had similar functions and were essentially the same department under different names. The Jingbian Commandery was located on the border, while the Jingye Commandery was located outside the border.

If Shen Baihu's backer is the commander of the Jingye Division, then Lin Xuan and Wu Baihu will have no chance at all.

Even a mere town magistrate could turn the tide.

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment and asked, "Since Commander Shen is new here, if he makes a mistake, can Commander Wu secure the position of Commander?"

Wu Baihu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he said in a low voice, "That depends on what kind of oversight it is. In the southwest, the garrison commander is all-powerful. If it's just some minor, harmless oversight, he can easily cover it up for Shen Qingya..."

Lin Xuan took a sip of tea, leaned over, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Wu Baihu's eyes lit up suddenly, and he immediately said, "I am not without connections in the Jingbian Division. If you can really accomplish this, although it will still not be able to bring down Shen Qingya, I guarantee that I will definitely be able to regain my rightful place..."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and said, "I'll give it a try."

A moment later, at the back gate of the Wu residence.

Commander Wu personally saw Lin Xuan off at the door. Holding Lin Xuan's hand, a hint of emotion appeared in his eyes as he said, "It was all my fault before. I apologize to you here..."

Lin Xuan smiled slightly and said, "Let bygones be bygones."

Wu Baihu took something out of his sleeve and stuffed it into Lin Xuan's hand, saying, "This is a small gift. Please accept it as my apology to you."

The object was icy cold to the touch. Lin Xuan looked down and his heart stirred slightly.

It was actually a bottle of bone-tempering liquid!

Wu Baihu said, "This was given to me by a friend half a year ago. I don't need it anymore, so you can keep it. Strive to break through to the second level of the Zhenyue Skill as soon as possible. When that happens, you'll be qualified to serve as a captain..."

The Bone Tempering Liquid was of great significance to him, so Lin Xuan did not refuse. Holding the bottle of Bone Tempering Liquid, he clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Commander!"

Commander Wu nodded slightly and said, "Go ahead. Whether it succeeds or not, I will be grateful for your favor!"

Watching Lin Xuan's departing figure, Wu Baihu let out a long sigh of relief.

Only time will tell if a horse is strong enough, and only years will reveal a person's true character.

Huang Yue, whom he personally promoted, betrayed him the most.

Lin Xuan, whom he had suppressed many times, stood by his side without hesitation when he fell into a trough.

I really regret it now...

……

After leaving Wu Baihu's residence through the back door, Lin Xuan did not return to Jingbian Division.

A moment later, at the main store of Tianji Salt Shop.

A waiter ushered him into an inner room, served him fragrant tea, and said respectfully, "Sir, please wait a moment. Miss is currently inspecting the new shop, and I have already sent someone to fetch her..."

The young lady had instructed that if they encountered this Mr. Lin, they must treat him with the courtesy due to an honored guest. Lin Xuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

Previously, it was agreed with the Tian family that Lin Xuan would take 20% of the profits from the Tian family's refined salt, settled in the middle of each month.

Because of the Jingbian Division matter, Lin Xuan didn't come until the latter part of the month.

On his way here, Lin Xuan discovered that several salt shops on the street that did not originally belong to the Tian family had all hung up Tian's signboards. In just one month, the Tian family had almost completely monopolized the salt industry in Sizhou City.

Lin Xuan was not surprised by this.

Lower costs and higher quality products were a devastating blow to other salt shops. Apart from the official salt produced by the imperial court, no private salt shop could withstand such an impact.

Ultimately, they either went bankrupt or were acquired by the Tian family, who had mastered the new technology.

Lin Xuan didn't have to wait long before a slender, white hand lifted the curtain of the inner room, and a fragrant breeze blew in from outside.

Tian Qingluan smiled and said, "Lin Xiaoqi, it's been a long time."

She hadn't seen Lin Xuan for a long time, but Lin Xuan and she hadn't seen each other for a long time.

A few days ago, she almost recognized me at the entrance of that rouge shop.

Lin Xuan stood up and said, "It's been a long time, Miss Qingluan."

After exchanging polite greetings, Tian Qingluan took the initiative to say, "Lin Xiaoqi, you've come to collect your share of the profits from last month's refined salt, right? Qingluan has already prepared everything..."

She looked behind her and saw a young girl carrying a tray walk forward.

On the tray were several silver notes stacked on top of each other, and on top of those notes were several silver ingots.

Tian Qingluan placed the tray in front of Lin Xuan and said, "The Tian family's profit from refined salt last month was over 2,600 taels. 20% of that is 523 taels. This is 530 taels. Please accept it, Lin Xiaoqi..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she took an account book from another girl and handed it to Lin Xuan: "This is the Tian family's account book for last month. Lin Xiaoqi can look at it freely."

Lin Xuan did not take the ledger, but smiled and said, "No need, I trust Miss Qingluan."

Tian Qingluan didn't hesitate and handed the account book back to the girl. Then she looked at Lin Xuan and said, "Last month, the Tian family only had four salt shops. In the next two months, the Tian family will have ten salt shops. At that time, Lin Xiaoqi's monthly profit will at least double..."

The profits Lin Xuan received from the Tian family far exceeded his expectations.

Aside from the costs of salt permits, transportation, shop operations, labor, warehousing, and losses, a medium-sized salt shop can only make a few dozen taels of silver in profit per month.

The chieftains in the southwest not only enjoyed tax benefits from the imperial court, but also did not need to purchase salt permits, which saved them a significant amount of costs. This advantage was not available to other salt merchants.

By cooperating with them, Lin Xuan has come out on a great deal.

Remembering something, Tian Qingluan looked at Lin Xuan and asked, "I heard that a new centurion of the Jingbian Division has arrived in Sizhou. He comes from a high-ranking family in the capital. Is Lin Xiaoqi doing well in the Jingbian Division...?"

Lin Xuan shook his head slightly, sighed softly, and said, "To be honest, Miss Qingluan, it's not good..."

Tian Qingluan smiled and comforted him, "Lin Xiaoqi, there's no need to worry too much. It's common for superiors to suppress their deputies. However, these sons of high-ranking families in the capital can't stay in Sizhou for too long. It'll be at least a year, and at most two years. Just get through this period..."

Lin Xuan used to think that way.

But now, he doesn't want to endure it anymore.

He looked at Tian Qingluan and said, "To be honest, I've come here this time with another big business deal. I want to cooperate with the Tian family... If this deal goes through, the profit will be no less than that of refined salt, and it won't be restricted by the salt law. It won't be limited to the southwest region; it can be sold to all parts of Dayong, and even to foreign lands..."

Tian Qingluan's beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, and she immediately asked, "What kind of business?"

Lin Xuan leaned over and whispered a few words.

Tian Qingluan looked at Lin Xuan, her beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.

If this matter succeeds, the Tian family will have another highly profitable business; if it fails, the Tian family will not lose anything.

She suppressed her thoughts, looked at Lin Xuan, her gaze shifting, and said, "Young Master Lin, please tell me what you need Qingluan to do..."

It's so comfortable chatting with smart people. Lin Xuan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said, "Before we officially start our cooperation, I hope the Tian family can do me a small favor..."

(End of this chapter)