ReadNovel Chapter 1198 - 1187: The Wealthy Merchant
Chapter 1198 - 1187: The Wealthy Merchant
Ever since they learned that their Clan Leader was going to take part in the struggle for supremacy, the hearts of the Ye Family Members had been filled with fear and unease. They knew they were rich, but their ancestors had all been merchants for generations—what did they know about marching and fighting wars? What did they know about governing and handling state affairs?
Yet the words of the Family Head still echoed in their ears. A family like theirs would never be allowed by any Vassal King to stand aside and not take part in any power bloc. Rather than handing over all their assets as a dowry for someone else, why shouldn’t they give it a try themselves? What if they really succeeded? They had money in abundance—would they still be afraid they couldn’t recruit people?
Clinging to that sliver of faint hope, each of them, under the arrangements of Ye Qiu and Ye Cheng, took up their respective posts. Because time was tight, they had no spare energy to pay attention to what the other clan members were doing. Only today, when the Clan Leader summoned them here and showed them this scene, did they truly feel, deep in their hearts, that they really could do it.
"Clansmen, do you see it now? The armor they’re wearing was ordered and forged according to your plans. The warhorses they’re riding were specially transported from the north by you. The grain they’re eating was purchased by you. Even the medicinal herbs they use to temper their bodies were secretly bought back from the Southwest by you, despite all the dangers!" Ye Qiu raised his voice. "Seeing all of this today, do you have confidence?"
"We do!" This shout, from the Ye Family Members, was brimming with morale. Their blood was surging with pride; only at this moment did they truly realize that, without even noticing, they had actually done so many things. This was the Ye Family Army they had personally nurtured!
From this moment on, the clan members who had previously criticized Ye Qiu for his enormous expenditures completely changed their views. They even felt it still wasn’t enough: their army was still not large enough; they could still put up more money to recruit more troops. One day, their army would surpass those of Prince Donghe, Prince Linsan, and the King of Xichuan.
Along with the Ye Family Members came the City Lord of Jing’an City, Liu Dong. The shock in his heart at what lay before his eyes was beyond words. Although he already knew that the Ye Family had been heavily recruiting troops, and he already knew that in the past half year the Ye Family had transported a great many supplies into Jing’an City, he had never imagined that the Ye Family could develop to this extent in such a short time.
He looked at Ye Qiu at the very front with a complicated expression. It seemed he had underestimated the other party. Young people nowadays were no longer comparable to their own generation. At the very least, if he were standing in Ye Qiu’s position, with a merchant’s way of thinking, he wouldn’t have thought of, let alone dared to do, all this.
But Ye Qiu had done it, and his capabilities far exceeded Liu Dong’s expectations. He could already imagine the expressions on the faces of all the various Vassal Kings when this Iron Cavalry appeared on the Central Continent. By then, they would only be more astonished than he was. He even felt somewhat impatient for that day to come, because he did not wish to be the only one to lose his composure.
His gaze turned again toward Ye Qiu, and it happened that the young man was also looking his way. Liu Dong clasped his fists in surrender, an expression of conceding defeat appearing on his face. He thought that he was already old; it was time to go home and enjoy his remaining years. Ye Qiu had not directly sent troops to flatten his City Lord Mansion—that was giving him face. Then he, too, should know when to bow out.
On the way back, he spoke with sincere conviction: "Family Head Ye, you truly are young and promising. I look forward to the moment you take the reins of the World. Once I return, I will hand over all the Protection Soldiers of Jing’an City to you. I only ask that Family Head Ye permit me to return to my hometown to retire."
"City Lord, you are too polite. The reason I asked you to come today was not to force you to abdicate," Ye Qiu said with a faint smile.
But Liu Dong’s heart tightened, giving a sudden thump. "Family Head Ye, what do you mean by that?"
Ye Qiu met his gaze directly, his sincerity obvious. "City Lord Liu, you’ve been our City Lord of Jing’an City for more than ten years. You are the one who knows best how to govern it. There is no candidate more suitable than you. I have no intention of replacing you."
"But I am someone appointed by Prince Donghe. Last time I betrayed Prince Donghe—does Family Head Ye still dare to trust me?" Liu Dong voiced his greatest concern. To be frank, after serving as City Lord for so many years, he was indeed unwilling to step down all of a sudden. But with the Iron Cavalry in front of him, he had no choice but to retreat. Yet the meaning in Ye Qiu’s words also worried him: if he were to be suspected in the future, it would be better to abdicate now.
Ye Qiu’s lips curved in a smile. "Didn’t City Lord Liu happen to be accompanying the City Lord’s wife to the countryside to recuperate last time? Besides, the reason Prince Donghe could not inspire your devotion was because his abilities were lacking—he was not worthy of your full efforts. But I have that confidence. City Lord Liu, don’t you think I’m right?"
Looking at that confident face and listening to that somewhat arrogant tone, Liu Dong suddenly burst out laughing. Then his expression grew solemn as he dropped to one knee. "Your servant Liu Dong pays his respects to the Family Head. From now on, I will heed only the Family Head’s commands."
After calmly accepting his bow, Ye Qiu helped him up. "City Lord Liu, there’s no need to be so formal. Our enterprise has only just begun; we will need to work together in the days to come."
"I will surely live up to the Family Head’s trust."
"Three days from now I will dispatch troops to Dongchang City, Longjin City, and Xindu. If we manage to take them, we will certainly need capable people to govern them. In business, our Ye Family is naturally among the very best, but when it comes to managing cities, we are still somewhat lacking. I wonder if City Lord Liu has any good candidates to recommend?"
"I do have some old friends I’m acquainted with. But some of them have already put aside their armor to farm, while others are still serving in the territories of other Vassal Kings. I’m not sure they will believe that I have pledged my loyalty to the Family Head," Liu Dong said honestly after a brief moment of thought.
"It’s alright. Just give me the list. I’ll send people to speak with them. And rest assured, if they’re unwilling, I won’t make things difficult for them," Ye Qiu promised.
Liu Dong admired him all the more. "The Family Head is truly magnanimous. Once I return, I’ll draw up the list at once and write each of them a letter besides. With a personal letter from me, they should be more inclined to trust the Family Head."
"Then I’ll trouble you with that."
"Family Head, have you considered changing to a different title?"
"What do you mean?"
"You are the Clan Leader of the Ye Family, so the clan members call you Clan Leader, while the soldiers call you Family Head. But how should outsiders address you? If you change to a more resounding title, once we’ve taken those three cities, your name will spread across the World—just like Prince Linsan, Prince Donghe, and the others. Which of their titles doesn’t shake the four corners with a mere mention?"
"What you say makes sense," Ye Qiu nodded. "But I can’t very well call myself King Jing’an. My surname is Ye, so just call me Prince Ye. From now on, our army will be called the Ye Family Army. After you return, draft a document on how I am to be addressed in the future and on publicizing my title."
Liu Dong knelt once more. "I respectfully obey Prince Ye’s command. This humble official will not fail the trust placed in him."
"Why do I feel like you came back a different person after going out today?" The City Lord’s wife looked at her husband in puzzlement.
Liu Dong smiled faintly, his gaze blazing. "The World is about to change hands. It’s hard to say whose surname it will bear in the future! Lady, perhaps the lofty ambitions I once held are about to be fulfilled!"