In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

The night in Yanjing County is quieter than ever before.

Without the Tian family's private soldiers running rampant in the streets, and without the chaos caused by the extortion and blackmail of the old clerks, the entire city exuded a rare tranquility in the early winter wind.

In the backyard of the county government office, Yang Xuan stood alone at the highest point of the pavilion, overlooking this small border town that he had completely marked.

Less than half a year had passed since he was severely beaten with court flogging and driven out of Chang'an like a stray dog.

In the past six months, he has risen from a figurehead with only the title of county magistrate to where he is today. The dangers and calculations involved are beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

He looked down at the front courtyard of the county government office.

The place was brightly lit, and Pei Zhao was leading dozens of salt guards on night patrol.

The soldiers marched in unison, their eyes sharp, and the swords in their hands gleamed with a cold light under the lanterns.

The 300-strong salt protection army, though nominally yamen runners of the county government, had been trained by Pei Zhao using the brutal military laws of the Fengxiang Army into an absolutely loyal and fearless private armed force.

They have the best equipment, receive the highest military pay, and obey only Yang Xuan's orders.

Yang Xuan's gaze then turned towards the direction outside the city, where Qing'ao Well was located.

Although they were more than ten miles apart, he could almost hear the roar of Old Huang's new winch.

That is the beating heart of the city, a treasure trove that continuously supplies it with fresh blood.

A monthly net profit of 50,000 strings of cash is enough to support him in this chaotic world, allowing him to leverage any lever he desires.

Inside the county government compound, Yanhe, with her iron fist and wisdom bearing the mark of the imperial clan, managed the rear area as solid as an iron plate.

Only when he has no worries about the future can he fight freely on the front lines.

Financial power, military power, and domestic affairs.

The trinity, a miniature version of a feudal lord's camp, has quietly taken shape on this remote land of Yaozhou.

Yang Xuan knew that he was no longer a pawn to be manipulated at will; he finally had the right to make his first move on the chessboard of the Tang Dynasty.

"My lord, it's late at night and the wind is strong." Yanhe took a fox fur cloak and gently draped it over Yang Xuan's shoulders.

Yang Xuan took her slightly cool hand and pulled her into his arms. The two stood side by side, looking at the sleeping city.

"Thinking about the Zhechong Prefecture?" Yanhe asked softly.

"The battle at Fallen Soul Valley was just an appetizer." Yang Xuan's eyes deepened. "A proud and fierce general like Helan Jin will never swallow this insult. He will definitely retaliate, and his methods will be a hundred times more ruthless than Tian Boyong's."

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Yanhe's tone revealed a resilience that did not match his gentle appearance. "We have money, manpower, and food now. Even if his entire army comes out, we may still have a fighting chance."

"Yes, we have more confidence now." Yang Xuan smiled slightly. "However, the waters of Yaozhou are still too shallow. Once we've resolved the trouble with Zhechong Prefecture, it's time for us to extend our reach a bit further."

……

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away.

Chang'an, the Right Chancellor's Residence.

This once powerful and extravagantly luxurious mansion is now shrouded in a suffocating silence.

Inside the study, several giant tallow candles, each as thick as a baby's arm, illuminated the room as bright as day.

Yang Guozhong, the Right Chancellor of the court, was wearing a loose-fitting casual robe and was leaning back in a large rosewood chair with his eyes closed, while two beautiful maids massaged his temples.

An Lushan has left the capital and returned to Fanyang. The undercurrents in the court are so intense that it's hard to breathe.

Yang Guozhong had to deal with the emperor, the crown prince, An Lushan, and various court officials every day, leaving him exhausted.

"Prime Minister."

A deep voice came from outside the study.

"Come in." Yang Guozhong waved his hand, signaling the maid to leave.

The aide pushed open the door and entered, holding a copper tube sealed with sealing wax, his expression extremely solemn.

"Your Excellency, a secret report has arrived from Jiannan Road. It's urgent, delivered over 800 li." The advisor presented the copper tube with both hands.

Yang Guozhong opened his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly.

Jiannan Road?

Could it be that something went wrong on Xianyu Zhongtong's side?

He took the copper tube, crushed the sealing wax, and poured out a scroll of secret letter inside.

When he unfolded the secret letter and his eyes swept over the first line of text, his previously nonchalant expression instantly froze.

The secret letter was not about Xianyu Zhongtong, the military governor of Jiannan, but about Yang Xuan, the rebellious son whose leg he had personally broken and who had been thrown out of Chang'an like trash.

Yang Guozhong's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the shocking words on the secret letter.

"...Upon arriving in Yaozhou, within a month, they successively defeated the local powerful families of Tian and Hu..."

"...By taking control of the Qing'ao Well and improving the salt-making method, production increased fivefold, with a monthly net profit of over 50,000 strings of cash..."

"...More than three hundred privately recruited refugees, equipped with military-grade crossbows and broadswords, called the 'Salt Protection Army,' killed more than one hundred bandits in Black Wind Gorge..."

"...forced Liu Wen, the prefectural governor, to retreat, and seized all the profits from Yaozhou's salt and iron industries..."

Yang Guozhong's hands began to tremble slightly.

He read the secret letter three times, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

How is this possible?!

How could that spoiled brat who only knew how to fight cocks and dogs, who went crazy and spilled wine on the Hua'e Xianghui Tower, and that abandoned son who was beaten to the point of near death and didn't even have a few coins for travel expenses, possibly cause such a big commotion in a poor and desolate place like Yaozhou in just a few months?

A net profit of 50,000 strings of cash a month? That's more than the annual income of many wealthy and powerful families in Chang'an!

A private equity firm with 300 elite troops equipped with repeating crossbows? What's he planning? A rebellion?!

"Prime Minister..." The advisor cautiously probed, observing Yang Guozhong's unpredictable expression, "The commotion that the eldest son caused in Yaozhou was indeed quite alarming. Now, many people in Jiannan Circuit already know of the formidable reputation of this 'Magistrate Yang'."

"A reputation? That's a death warrant!"

Yang Guozhong slammed the secret letter on the table, stood up abruptly, and paced back and forth in the study like an angry lion.

His heart was filled with extremely complex emotions at this moment.

There was shock, there was anger, but more than anything, there was a deep sense of dread.

He suddenly realized that Yang Xuan's seemingly crazy behavior on the Hua'e Xianghui Tower was not a mindless outburst by a spoiled brat, but a carefully calculated plan to "defile" himself and get away with it!

That rebellious son saw through the Prime Minister's mansion's dead end from the very beginning. He risked his own reputation to tear a bloody path out of Chang'an and escape!

Now, the escaped young dragon has grown fangs in the abyss.