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

Around noon.

Outside the back gate of the county government office, an inconspicuous blue horse-drawn carriage quietly stopped.

A middle-aged man dressed in a gray cloth long gown and wearing a felt hat got off the carriage, looked around, walked quickly to the door, and stuffed a name card and a ten-tael silver ingot into the hands of the old gatekeeper.

"Please trouble the officer to inform them," the middle-aged man said in a low voice, his tone revealing a hint of anxiety and ingratiation.

"Take Master Song of the Sihai Salt Brokerage in the east of the city, for example. He wants to see the county magistrate. If the county magistrate agrees to meet him, the Sihai Salt Brokerage is willing to pay double the price in exchange for the county government's new salt stamps."

The old constable tossed the silver in his hand and gave him a half-smile.

"Just wait. The magistrate is busy right now; whether he sees you or not depends on his mood."

The news quickly reached the inner room.

Yang Xuan was leaning against the couch, drinking the medicinal soup that Yan He had personally brewed, when he heard Cui Shen's report, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"A global travel agency?"

"My lord, this Four Seas Trading Company is also one of the Tian family's peripheral businesses, specializing in trading salt tickets in the city and contacting merchants from other places," Cui Shen explained.

"It seems they really can't sit still anymore."

Yang Xuan handed the empty medicine bowl to Yan He, his eyes gleaming.

"Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. Tian Boyong thinks he can get through this by faking his death? Dream on."

"Cui Shen, go tell that guy surnamed Song."

Yang Xuan's voice was steady and cold.

"If he wants to exchange for new salt coupons, fine. Let him bring real gold and silver to the county government hall to buy them at the market price of official salt during the Tang Dynasty, without missing a single penny. As for any private promises made by the Tian family before and the old salt coupons, the county government will not recognize them!"

"Yes!" Cui Shen excitedly accepted the order and left.

......

The main hall in the front courtyard of the county government office was dimly lit.

Manager Song, the owner of Sihai Pawnshop, stood in the hall with his head slightly bowed.

He was a lean man with a fair complexion and a goatee. Although he wore an inconspicuous gray cloth long gown, the fine Shu brocade lining peeking out from the cuffs revealed his wealth and status in Yanjing County.

Manager Song was quite apprehensive before he arrived.

The new magistrate had dragged Mo San across the street like a dead dog yesterday, and this morning he sent his fierce guards to take over Qing'ao Well.

The Tian and Hu families are now avoiding his sharp edge. As the brokerage manager caught in the middle, if he is not careful, he may end up like Liu Shenxing, going to jail.

But with Tian Boyong's death order looming over him, he had no choice but to come.

Yang Xuan did not sit behind the high desk, but instead wore a loose coat and sat on a grand chair on the side of the hall.

Pei Zhao stood behind him with his hand on his knife, his eyes scrutinizing Manager Song like awls.

"Manager Song, is it?" Yang Xuan picked up his teacup, lightly skimming off the foam. His tone was so flat it revealed neither joy nor anger. "You just said outside the door that you wanted to exchange your teacup for the county government's new salt coupons at double the price?"

Manager Song quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Replying to Your Excellency, I represent the Four Seas Trading Company and also the out-of-town merchants stranded in the city, to apologize to Your Excellency. A few days ago, the county government was short of food and medicine, which was due to the ignorance and negligence of our subordinates. Now that Your Excellency has taken over Qing'ao Well, it is perfectly justified, and we should naturally support you."

As he spoke, Manager Song took out a heavy sandalwood brocade box from his sleeve and presented it to her with both hands.

"In this box are two hundred taels of pure gold, and a few fine dust-repelling beads from the south. Consider it a small gift for the magistrate to calm his nerves and help him recover. As for the salt coupons..."

He paused for a moment, secretly observing Yang Xuan's expression out of the corner of his eye.

"Old Man Tian and Manager Hu asked me to pass on a message to you. Now that Qing'ao Well has come under the jurisdiction of the county government, you've already earned enough face, sir. From now on, regarding the salt produced from the well, as long as the portion goes into the official granary, the Tian family is willing to voluntarily give up 20% of the profits, and we will never let our brothers in the county government eat bran porridge again."

Hearing this, Cui Shen, standing to the side, sneered: "Give up 20% of the profits? Manager Song, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? You've embezzled over 90% of the salt from Qing'ao Well, and now you think giving up 20% will settle things?"

Manager Song's expression changed slightly after being rebuked by Cui Shen, but he did not panic. Instead, he straightened his back.

"Registrar Cui, you are mistaken." Manager Song looked at Yang Xuan, his tone carrying a hint of firmness. "Your Excellency, the rice bowl of Yanjing County is not so easy to eat."

"Your Excellency's swift and decisive actions have indeed shocked many. But have you ever considered that even if the county government takes over the brine wells, without our Sihai Trading Company acting as a go-between, and without the escort of the Tian family and Hu Rong's caravan, who will buy this salt?"

Manager Song took a small step forward, lowered his voice, as if he were saying something from the bottom of his heart.

"The world outside is in chaos. Going out of Yaozhou, the mountains are high and the forests are dense, and bandits roam freely. Without the connections that the Tian family has made on the road, the county government's salt carts will be robbed of everything within thirty miles of leaving the city. At that time, not only will the salt not be sold, but even the brothers who deliver the salt will lose their lives."

This is already a blatant threat.

The implication is clear: although you, Yang Xuan, have managed to seize the salt, you lack sales channels, transportation networks, and the ability to navigate both the legitimate and criminal worlds along the way.

If you don't cooperate with us, your salt will just rot in the county government's warehouse.

Moreover, he also subtly hinted at a deeper meaning.

"Furthermore," Manager Song continued, "the profits from Qing'ao Well's salt production aren't just shared by a few companies in Yanjing County. There are several other pairs of eyes in the prefecture watching closely. If you, sir, completely overturn this table and leave everyone without food, I'm afraid it won't be long before the prefectural government issues a reprimand. At that time, you'll have neither money nor reputation, and you might not even be able to keep your official hat."

After saying this, Manager Song took two steps back and resumed his respectful posture.

"Your Excellency, you are a wise man. Old Man Tian's point is that as long as you show leniency, the county government will save face and gain substance. You may not recognize those old salt certificates, but please distribute the quotas for the new salt certificates to our Sihai Salt Brokers privately, according to the old rules. If everyone is on good terms, you will surely have a smooth and successful life in Yaozhou, and rise through the ranks."

These words were perfectly watertight.

First, they used gold and silver to pave the way, then they used the lure of benefits, and finally they used underworld ambushes and pressure from the government to threaten them.

Money? Reputation? Or life?

This was the real purpose behind Tian Boyong sending Manager Song.

They didn't come to beg for mercy; they came to test Yang Xuan's limits.

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhao flew into a rage. With a flick of his wrist, his sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath with a clang.

"How dare you! You dare threaten an official appointed by the imperial court in the county government hall? You're asking for trouble!"

Manager Song trembled with fear, but he still stood firm, his eyes fixed on Yang Xuan, awaiting the magistrate's decision.

Yang Xuan raised his hand, signaling Pei Zhao to step back.

His gaze fell on the sandalwood brocade box, and after looking at it for a while, he suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter echoed in the empty hall, making Manager Song's heart pound with unease.

"Manager Song, you have a mouth that's much sharper than He Liu's and Liu Shenxing's."

Yang Xuan stood up, walked to Manager Song, and picked up the brocade box.

"Two hundred taels of pure gold, what a generous gesture. The Tian and Hu families have really gone to great lengths to protect this source of income."

When Manager Song saw that he had accepted the gift, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as they're willing to take the money, there's still room for negotiation.

This county magistrate was, after all, a down-on-his-luck young man who had been demoted from the capital, and how could he resist the temptation of real money?