gnovel Chapter 67 Taking Orders
Chapter 67 Taking Orders
The second hall of the Jinan Prefectural Government Office.
This time, the reception was of an extremely high standard, no longer the condescending summons of the past, but a "discussion" on an equal footing.
The Provincial Administration Commissioner sat at the head of the table, with Prefect Wang sitting beside him. Lu Yan, on the other hand, was seated in the first chair on the left—the seat reserved for a "guest minister."
"Scholar Lu, the tea has gone cold. Please have a hot cup." The councilor was extremely polite, even a little overly enthusiastic.
Lu Yan bowed slightly, his expression unchanged: "Thank you, sir. May I ask what instructions you have for me today?"
"It's not an instruction, it's a request for advice," the councilor sighed, deciding to get straight to the point. Beating around the bush with such a clever person would only be a waste of time. "The war in Yanzhou is currently critical, and the 30,000 troops at the front are short of food. I'm considering entrusting the crucial task of transporting these 3,000 shi of military rations to Lu's Carriage and Horse Company. I wonder what Scholar Lu's opinion is?"
really.
Lu Yan sneered inwardly, but put on a fearful expression: "My lord, you flatter me. Military rations are a vital national asset. Lu's is just a private business with only a few dilapidated carts and a few dozen employees. How can we possibly shoulder such a heavy responsibility? If anything goes wrong on the way, even ten heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it."
"Oh, Scholar Lu, you're too modest," Prefect Wang chimed in from the side. "Who doesn't know that after the Battle of Nanmen, Lu's family's reputation shook Shandong? If even you can't transport it, then no one in Shandong can."
"Since Your Excellency is so kind as to offer this..."
Lu Yan pondered for a moment, then took out the hardcover notebook that gave all the officials a headache from his sleeve. "Then I will dare to calculate this account."
"The official road from Jinan to Yanzhou is 320 li long. Now, bandits are rampant, and the road is blocked. It used to take three days to travel, but now it takes at least seven days."
"Three thousand shi of grain, plus losses on the road, will require one hundred and fifty carts, three hundred mules and horses, and two hundred drivers."
As Lu Yan reported the data, he observed the councilor's expression. "These are all minor expenses. The most crucial cost is security. In this environment, without a 500-man guard, it's like handing a gift to the bandits."
"Five hundred men?" The councilor's eye twitched. "Does Scholar Lu have that many men under his command?"
"As long as the money is right, there will always be people." Lu Yan closed the notebook, leaned forward slightly, and revealed his true intentions. "Sir, I can take this job. But I have three conditions. These three conditions must be written into the contract. If any one of them is missing, I cannot transport the grain."
"You say it," the senator said through gritted teeth.
"First, the shipping cost." Lu Yan held up one finger. "According to wartime standards, the shipping cost is ten times the normal cost. But I don't want cash; I want salt certificates. I want five thousand certificates of Huai salt."
"suck--"
A collective gasp filled the hall. Five thousand salt certificates—that was the height of profit! But it was still within the Councilor's means; after all, salt certificates were paper, but food was life.
"Yes, that's fine." The senator nodded.
"Secondly, exemption from liability." Lu Yan raised his second finger. "Military ration transportation is extremely risky. In the event of force majeure—such as Xu Hongru's main force intercepting the grain and causing damage—Lu's Company will not bear any liability for compensation. Furthermore, the government must acknowledge that this is 'battle damage,' not 'confiscation.'"
This was to prevent being held accountable later. Officials in the Ming Dynasty were masters at shifting blame onto those who did the work.
"This..." The councilor hesitated for a moment, but under Lu Yan's firm gaze, he nodded. "If we really encounter a large band of bandits, we naturally cannot blame the brave warrior. I grant this request."
"third."
Lu Yan's eyes suddenly sharpened, like a dagger piercing through the fog. "This is the most crucial point. To ensure the safety of transportation, Lu's Carriage and Horse Company needs 'autonomous escort rights.' In other words, the government must not interfere with, inspect, or deduct from the personnel of this escort team transporting military supplies, whether it's recruiting manpower, equipping them with weapons, or passing through checkpoints along the way."
"Furthermore," he pulled out a prepared document from his pocket, "I want the government to issue this team official 'local militia' badges. Not temporary ones, but official badges recognized by the government."
This was Lu Yan's true purpose.
Money was a minor matter, as were salt permits. What he wanted was the "skin." With this "local militia" skin, his hundreds of men, his contraband firearms, and even the artillery he might develop in the future would all have a legitimate identity.
If he expands the army again in the future, it will be to "share the country's burdens" rather than "intend to rebel".
The councilor and Prefect Wang exchanged a glance, both seeing the apprehension in each other's eyes.
Issuing a "local militia" badge to a private merchant and requiring registration with the Ministry of War was tantamount to supporting a private armed force in the region. This was a major taboo in the political climate of the Ming Dynasty.
"What's wrong? Is the master finding it difficult?"
Looking at their expressions, Lu Yan said calmly, "That's alright. I'll go back now and lock the gates of the carriage shop. As for whether the 30,000 troops will mutini due to lack of food, or whether they will turn against us and rush back to Jinan to seize food... that's not something I can worry about."
This is a blatant threat. But it is most effective when facing imminent starvation.
"good!"
The councilor slammed his hand on the table, as if he had made up his mind. "I will immediately submit a memorial to the Ministry of War! I hereby grant your Lu family special approval to establish the 'Jinan Prefecture Volunteer Militia'! The official badge and documents will be delivered to you first thing tomorrow morning!"
"happy."
A smile finally appeared on Lu Yan's face. He stood up, took out a pre-written "Engineering Contract" from his sleeve, and handed it over with both hands.
"Now that the terms have been agreed upon, please sign and affix your seal. Let's proceed according to procedure."
……
When I left the government office, the rain had stopped.
Fan Fu followed behind Lu Yan, his legs still a little sore. He had been terrified inside, listening to what was happening, fearing that the councilor might detain them all in a fit of anger.
"Master, have we really obtained the 'local militia' banner?" Fan Fu held the newly signed document in his hands, feeling its weight as heavy as a thousand pounds.
"Got it."
Lu Yan took a deep breath of the moist air. The air no longer carried only the smell of decay, but also a hint of the sweetness of ambition.
"Fan Fu, go back and tell Uncle Zhao and Zhao Changying."
Lu Yan turned his gaze southward, towards Yanzhou, the epicenter of the storm.
"Expand immediately. Recruit all the refugee veterans we hid before, and distribute all the muskets stored in the workshop. Assemble a force of five hundred men according to the standards of the 'Special Operations Brigade'."
"We're ready to take your order."
"This is not just about transporting grain." Lu Yan's voice was deep and powerful. "This is an armed parade. I want to show the bandits and officials of Shandong what military logistics really are."
On this chaotic afternoon, Lu Yan finally completed his crucial leap from "illegal armed group leader" to "officially certified warlord." That blood-stained contract was his ticket to the game.