Chapter 191: Integrity

Li Fang gave Yan Buji a strange look, then laughed, "Please come in, sir."

Although Yan Buji could see the doubt and contempt in the other's eyes, he was not angry; instead, he was pleased.

At least Li Fang was willing to hear his plan, and that was enough.

Then the group went to the inner hall of Li Fang's house and began the discussion.

Li Fang clasped his hands and said, "I, an old man, have some family wealth, but I truly do not understand what business you speak of, sir?"

Such bluntness saved Yan Buji some thought, and he said directly, "Sir, do you wish to venture into the mining business?"

Hm?!

Li Fang was startled and asked, "Could it be that you know where the ore is, sir?"

Yan Buji said coolly, "Hu Shan Cheng has never yielded any minerals since ancient times, but the nearest Ma County has an iron mine."

Li Fang frowned darkly, "Surely you aren't saying that mine belongs to you, sir?"

"Not now, but soon it will be," he replied.

Li Fang forced down his anger; setting aside that Ma County's mine falls under the local county government, even the mining Ma family is not something a petty Senior Clerk like himself can handle.

Although he had connections with the Governor, that goodwill was not meant for plundering; he feared that before he could act, the Governor would already have sent someone to kill him.

Considering many factors, Li Fang felt that the Yan Wang before him was spouting nonsense to fool him, and he could barely contain his anger as he said:

"Sir, are you here to amuse an old man?"

"Ma County will be looted by bandits within ten days," Yan Buji said coolly.

Having said that, Yan Buji stood up, laughed, "After ten days, I will come back to speak with the Senior Clerk about this matter."

Li Fang scowled, still not knowing where the other's confidence came from.

After they left, Li Fang received a servant's report and learned that Yan Wang was actually a lowborn mud‑leg, only taken by the County Magistrate's son to join the army, and was merely a temporary Centurion!

"Damn it, wasted my time!" Li Fang fumed, feeling he had been played.

However, out of respect for Jia Zhen, he did not feel comfortable confronting him directly.

Leaving Li's house, the nearby junior Wang Er asked, "Brother Dage, how did you know Ma County would be looted?"

"Just guessed."

"Just guessed?"

The three juniors stared at Yan Buji with puzzled faces, as if their brother were speaking in his sleep.

They didn't know whether bandits existed outside Ma County, but a mining area certainly had strong garrison forces; what kind of bandits could take Ma County?

Ma County was built at the foot of the mine; whenever attacked, everyone fled to the mountain. With the terrain advantage, it was easy to defend and hard to assault—no bandit with sense would dare attack.

Yan Buji laughed, "Just wait."

A few days later, Jia Zhen also heard about the matter.

He didn't understand how Yan Wang could dare claim that someone would attack Ma County, but out of curiosity, seeing them idle yet calm these days, Jia Zhen's mind shifted and he approached Yan Buji for a chat.

"Brother Yan."

"Brother Min He."

The two had met before; Jia Zhen, seated at the wine table, asked, "Brother Yan, are you truly not in a hurry? Haven't you gathered troops to eradicate the bandits outside the city yet?"

Yan Buji said coolly, "I have neither authority nor money; how can I recruit men?"

Jia Zhen's face turned awkward, "Um…"

"But Brother Min He need not worry; I, Yan Wang, am no pretender of spirits. Since you came, you must have received news from Senior Clerk Li's family, right?"

Jia Zhen nodded, "Brother Yan, how did you know Ma County would be looted? Whether you go or not aside, the Ma family that oversees the mine in Ma County is not a trivial foe; they keep many private soldiers, not everyone can tangle with them."

Yan Wang laughed, "Brother Min He, have you forgotten the Tiger Head Mountain bandits outside the city?"

"What does that mean?"

"I have heard of that band of thieves; although they block roads and rob, they do not intend to harm anyone. Since a few years ago, they have deliberately been hijacking some caravans transporting large amounts of precious goods. Yet they succeed each time, earning this reputation—don't you find it strange?"

Jia Zhen furrowed his brow, thinking of a possibility, "Are you saying someone is secretly backing them?"

"Exactly. The big caravan's escort is competent; how could a bunch of mountain bandits wipe them out cleanly? Even if there is an issue, few know the real cause. Brother Min He, you might consider where in this region would be most suitable to rise in power."

Jia Zhen's eyes widened, "If you put it that way, Ma County is indeed a good spot."

With an iron mine, they could forge weapons, and the terrain advantage is there; deploying a few hundred, even a thousand soldiers, could withstand a siege.

But that would imply that several nearby counties, including Hu Shan Cheng, have an unknown force preparing to rebel!

"How did you learn this… Brother Yan?!" Jia Zhen asked seriously, looking at Yan Buji.

"Intuition."

"Huh?"

So you have no evidence?!

Jia Zhen thought for a moment, then asked, "Even if this is true, what does it have to do with you?"

"It has nothing to do with me, but it concerns the Governor. If a rebellion erupts here, can Hu Shan Cheng remain untouched? Eventually troops will be sent to quell it. To take the first step in this situation, I need financial backing—that's why I went to Senior Clerk Li."

Jia Zhen was taken aback, looking at Yan Buji with surprise.

Indeed, if a rebellion occurs, the Governor, in fury, would surely order surrounding counties to send troops to suppress it, and Hu Shan Cheng would inevitably contribute forces.

Yan Wang went to Senior Clerk Li early; firstly, Li already has ties with the Governor, and secondly, if Yan Wang can secure support and raise a force, he could earn merit in quelling the rebellion…

In exchange, Senior Clerk Li would obtain mining rights, Yan Wang would gain fame, status, and command, and Jia Xiu and he could also reap the Governor's praise!

The premise is…

"Do you really have confidence in capturing the rebel army?" Jia Zhen asked.

"So it depends on whether you all dare to bet on me; at least Brother Min He knows my strength," Yan Buji said.

Jia Zhen's eyes shifted, understanding Yan Buji's meaning.

He was waiting for Ma County to descend into chaos, then to act as his lobbyist, persuading Senior Clerk Li to fund him to raise a force and suppress the rebellion!

Or we could also put it this way: the mine's interests are huge; rather than that, we should bring all the prominent local families over, with Li Assistant Magistrate as the head, first enriching the people of our region. Yan Buji laughed.

Jia Zhen took a deep breath.

This scheme.... is quite formidable.

If Yan Wang can truly secure the merit, then at that time everyone's interests will be tied together; by then Yan Wang will not fear these prominent families defecting, and instead will have stable support to propel his his ambition!