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

"Magistrate Yang..." Zheng Yuan's tone softened instantly, even becoming somewhat ingratiating, "These accounts... these accounts are of great importance, and we must not blindly trust one side of the story. In my opinion, it would be better to hand over the account books to the prefectural government first, so that I can personally verify them..."

"Hand it over to the prefectural government?" Yang Xuan looked at him with a half-smile. "Minister Zheng, the waters of Yaozhou are too deep. I'm afraid that once these account books leave the county office, they'll accidentally fall into the river and get soaked and ruined."

Yang Xuan tucked the account book back into his sleeve, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said in a tone only they could hear:

"Lord Zheng, let's not beat around the bush. Since I dared to bring this ledger here today, I have no intention of fighting to the death with you."

"What I, Yang Xuan, want is not the heads of the entire Tian family, nor am I interested in cutting off the adults' source of income. What I want is for Yang Xuan to have a voice in this Yaozhou City!"

Yang Xuan's words stunned everyone present.

They originally thought Yang Xuan was a clueless greenhorn who didn't understand officialdom and would fight them to the bitter end.

Unexpectedly, this kid was actually using a feigned retreat as a bargaining chip to negotiate the division of spoils with them!

A hint of suspicion flashed in Tian Boyong's eyes, while Zheng Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief.

As long as you're willing to negotiate and as long as you're greedy for money, things will be easy!

"So what does Magistrate Yang mean...?" Zheng Yuan asked tentatively.

"From now on, Qing'ao Well will be under the full jurisdiction of the county government, which will be responsible for salt production and accounting. The Tian and Hu families can continue to be responsible for transportation and sales. But profits..."

Yang Xuan held up five fingers, his gaze sweeping over Tian Boyong and Zheng Yuan's faces.

"I want 50% of the profits. I don't care how you divide the remaining 50%. The prefecture's share will be directly allocated by my county government from now on, and you won't be shortchanged by a single penny."

"Fifty percent?!" Tian Boyong trembled with rage. "You're asking for the moon! Qing'ao Well is the culmination of generations of our Tian family's hard work..."

"Old Tian!" Zheng Yuan abruptly interrupted Tian Boyong, glaring at him fiercely.

Zheng Yuan knew very well that the initiative was now entirely in Yang Xuan's hands.

If Yang Xuan really exposes the account book, everyone will die.

Now that Yang Xuan is willing to give up 50% of the profits and has promised to keep the state's share, this is the best possible outcome for Zheng Yuan.

He didn't care how much the Tian family had lost.

"Very well!" Zheng Yuan slammed his hand on the table, surprisingly agreeing on behalf of Tian Boyong. "Magistrate Yang is a man of few words, I admire him. It will be done as you say! From now on, Qing'ao Well will be under the jurisdiction of the county government, and the profits will be split fifty-fifty!"

Tian Boyong's vision went black, and he almost fainted.

He knew that Zheng Yuan had completely abandoned him.

"Since Lord Sima has agreed, then this matter is settled." Yang Xuan stood up, raised his wine cup, and said, "This cup of wine is a toast to you, my lord."

Zheng Yuan also raised his wine glass, and the two smiled at each other, as if the tense atmosphere from just moments ago had never existed.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Yang Xuan put down his wine glass and suddenly turned his gaze to Lei Laohu, who had been silent all along.

"Boss Lei, I've heard you have many men under your command and wide connections. Would you be interested in seeking a position at the county government?"

Lei Laohu was taken aback, then pointed to himself: "Me? Go to the county government office?"

"That's good," Yang Xuan said with a smile. "The county government is currently short-handed to escort the official salt. If you're willing, I can make you a patrol inspector for the county government. From now on, your caravan transporting salt will be legitimate official business."

This is blatant poaching!

Tian Boyong was trembling with rage. Yang Xuan was trying to cut off all his allies in Yaozhou, one by one!

Lei Laohu glanced at Tian Boyong, whose face was ashen, then at Zheng Yuan, who held great power, and Yang Xuan, who was unfathomable. He was a smart man and knew which side he should stand on now.

"I am deeply grateful for the esteemed magistrate's high regard. This humble subject... no, this lowly official is willing to serve you with utmost loyalty!"

Lei Laohu knelt on one knee and responded loudly.

The Feast at Hongmen ended in a way that no one expected.

Yang Xuan was not subdued. Instead, she took advantage of her status as the princess of Yanhe and the deadly ledger in her hands to turn the tables and force the state government to compromise, completely stripping the Tian family of their control over Qing'ao Well. She even poached an important ally of the Tian family.

As Yang Xuan and Yan He walked out of Wangjiang Tower, the night breeze fluttered their clothes.

"Are you really planning to go along with them?" Yanhe asked softly, looking at Yang Xuan's profile.

"To go along with the corrupt practices?" Yang Xuan sneered, his gaze fixed on the dark South River. "I'm just offering them a pie in the sky to appease the people in the prefecture."

"Once Old Huang's new equipment is fully operational, and once Pei Zhao's army is truly formed, who in Yaozhou City will be qualified to sit at the mahjong table and eat meat will be decided by the knife in my hand, Yang Xuan!"

......

After the treacherous banquet at Wangjiang Tower, Yanjing County seemed to enjoy a brief period of peace.

The Tian family's gate was tightly shut, and Tian Boyong was so angry that he claimed to be ill and stayed home for several days.

Hu Rong was completely devastated, like a wilted eggplant.

Lei Laohu's caravan, on the other hand, transformed themselves, donning patrol uniforms issued by the county government, and began to patrol the city and the salt road with impunity.

Everything seemed to be developing in the direction Yang Xuan had predicted.

However, less than five days later, this peace was shattered by a sudden arrival of a group of state officials.

"Your Excellency, someone from the prefecture has arrived!"

Cui Shen rushed into the study, his face somewhat grim. "The leader is Liu Wen, the Prefectural Chief Clerk, who has brought a full hundred prefectural soldiers. They have already arrived at the city gate and specifically requested that you go to greet them."

Yang Xuan was checking the installation progress of the new equipment at Qing'ao Well when he heard this. He paused for a moment, then put down his vermilion pen.

"Zheng Yuan had just left when Liu Wen arrived. It seems that the pie I painted for Zheng Yuan with a 50% profit margin not only failed to fully satisfy the people of the prefecture, but instead inflated their appetites."

Yang Xuan sneered and stood up.

"Let's go and meet this Chief Secretary."

……

Outside the city gate of Yanjing County.

Liu Wen rode a tall horse, dressed in a scarlet official robe, with his chin slightly raised, adopting a condescending posture.

Behind him stood a hundred state soldiers, their helmets and armor gleaming, their spears like a forest. This formation seemed more like a show of force than an inspection.

Yang Xuan, along with Cui Shen, Pei Zhao, and others, quickly came out to greet them.

"I am Yang Xuan, your humble servant. I was unaware of your presence, Chief Secretary Liu. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly." Yang Xuan bowed slightly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

Liu Wen did not dismount, but merely glanced at Yang Xuan out of the corner of his eye and let out a soft snort.

"Magistrate Yang, I've heard that your Yanjing County has been quite lively lately. Suppressing bandits, seizing wells, selling salt coupons—the commotion you're causing is even bigger than when you were the son of a prime minister in Chang'an."

Liu Wen's words were laced with undisguised sarcasm.

"I was merely doing my duty, cleaning up the mess for the court," Yang Xuan replied calmly.

"Clean up the mess? Hmph, they're probably just muddying the waters so they can fish off the boats themselves!"

Liu Wen suddenly jerked the reins, and the warhorse took two steps forward, almost crashing into Yang Xuan.

Pei Zhao's eyes turned cold, and he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, intending to step forward, but Yang Xuan stopped him with a look.

"I am here today on the orders of the Prefect," Liu Wen said, looking down at Yang Xuan. "The Prefect said that you, Yang Xuan, have made a contribution in cracking down on a major smuggling case in Yanjing County. However, the Qing'ao Well is of great importance, not only affecting the livelihood of people in Yaozhou, but also being of paramount importance to the salt tax of Jiannan Circuit. As a newly arrived county magistrate, I'm afraid you are not capable of managing such a large matter."

Yang Xuan sneered inwardly. They've finally shown their true colors.

The reason why they couldn't manage it all was simply that the people in the prefecture were envious of Qing'ao Well's potential output, which was five times greater. They felt that it was too much for Yang Xuan to take 50% of the output by himself, so they wanted to send someone to take over directly, or rather, to "lower the price".