Chapter 25: The Storm is Coming

"How much? How much?"

Several of the gentlemen were stunned, their expressions changing one after another.

Zheng Yue Ru also smiled bitterly and shook her head.

This single "Drunk Yinzhou" had left these worldly-wise wealthy gentlemen unable to sit still, with some even shouting out the high price of fifteen taels!

Liu Zheng stood to the side today, remaining silent throughout.

After all, his own father was the County Marquis.

But at this moment, he too was taken aback.

Fifteen taels—what did this signify?

If the cost price in Yinzhou was fifteen taels, then what if it were sold elsewhere? As everyone knew, this era was not like his past life; in this era, logistics costs were the highest! For this fifteen-tael wine, if it were sold to Jinghua, one would likely need to guarantee a price of thirty taels!

Thirty taels...

A sky-high price!

Yet Cao Zhen was exceptionally happy at this moment, laughing heartily: "My thanks to you all, my thanks!"

The other gentlemen all wore looks of resentment, stamping their feet in regret. They thought that if they had also bid fifteen taels, they might have made a profit. In the end, they lacked the courage at the final moment; the nature of the merchant was vividly displayed at this instant.

"Hmph!"

Chen Kui's face was dark; he was one step away from erupting on the spot and calling his own hundreds of elite soldiers to charge in.

"What, is Master Chen unable to afford a loss?"

Cao Zhen gave a cold laugh.

But the atmosphere was only tense for a moment before Chen Kui said with a forced smile: "Master Cao, rest assured, I, Chen Kui, am not someone who cannot afford to lose. I shall take my leave now!"

Having said this, he didn't even greet Liu Dahao, stood up, and led those hundreds of elite soldiers at the entrance away in a huff.

The Wang Family was the same.

Liu Zheng watched with a flicker of anger in his heart.

Once his Garrison's combat effectiveness was formed, these Powerful Clans would sooner or later be dealt with by him one by one.

Just like the contract signed with the Zheng Family, Liu Zheng emphasized one point: all "Drunk Yinzhou" sold locally in Yinzhou would be supplied by the County Marquis Mansion. Furthermore, this situation would change as the state of affairs developed; for instance, it was possible that all the wine in Liangzhou would be supplied by the Liu Family. He supplied the local area at the lowest price, so the Cao Family naturally had no objections. After all, it was impossible for him to buy stock at fifteen taels and sell it at fifteen taels; that would be completely worthless...

The Zheng Family and the Cao Family also understood Liu Zheng's painstaking efforts.

With him doing this, there would certainly be many people coming to Yinzhou by reputation, stimulating consumption! Naturally, Yinzhou, this place of no governance, would become relatively prosperous.

"This young master of the Liu Family..."

When Cao Zhen signed the contract and left, he was already lost in deep thought.

This Liu Zheng was not like the previous County Marquises and young masters who came for a "few days of sightseeing"; by doing this, he wanted to truly develop Yinzhou.

It seemed the Cao Family needed to re-examine its relationship with the County Marquis Mansion.

"Son, oh son, this is another sum of silver coming in; you are much better than your old man!"

After the last person, Zheng Yue Ru, left, Liu Dahao was even more excited. In just one day, there was another three thousand taels in deposits, coming from the Zheng Family and the Cao Family respectively.

Just a few days ago, the house was bare.

Today, they were suddenly wealthy; who wouldn't be happy?

Liu Zheng glanced at him and said: "Old man, is that all the ambition you have?"

"Three thousand taels?"

He smiled bitterly: "Three thousand taels isn't even enough to support one thousand soldiers."

A bucket of cold water was poured down instantly; Liu Dahao mumbled a few times but never managed to say anything.

That was correct.

Raising an army was a money-burning affair. Liu Zheng had calculated the accounts: if the County Marquis Mansion wanted to ensure five thousand elite soldiers, even if one person didn't need much, a monthly salary of one tael of silver would be five thousand taels, not to mention the need to manage Weaponry and Equipment, food, and daily necessities. Five thousand elite soldiers would burn through at least ten thousand taels!

Of course, this situation could be improved significantly in the future by implementing a military colony system.

But for him right now, the most important task was still to make money, make money!

"Recruit people!"

These past few days, Liu Zheng had completely transformed his Shen Gong Workshop into a fully enclosed workshop. First, he spent money to hire people to help build a wall for the Shen Gong Workshop, and then he had the County Marquis Mansion's Garrison brought there to train, while also serving as guards, completely dispelling the thoughts of those who wanted to covet the secrets here.

Backed by a large mountain, Liu Zheng first built his Brewery.

Drunk Yinzhou, Immortal Brew, White Jade Capital, and Drunk Eight Immortals—several types of fine wines were brewed separately. Just for the craftsmen, he had recruited over three hundred! Fortunately, when he first arrived in Yinzhou, he had gotten along well with these farmers, so recruiting was not difficult at all, and these people were quite supportive of the County Marquis Mansion's reconstruction.

There were still not enough hands...

Recruiting craftsmen, training them, and recruiting soldiers all at the same time.

Because of this, for a full half-month, Liu Zheng did not leave the Shen Gong Workshop to return to the County Marquis Mansion.

Time flew by, and it was now the time of the autumn harvest. Many of the craftsmen at the Shen Gong Workshop asked for leave to return for the harvest, and the courtyard, which had been very lively, became much more desolate.

"Brother Liu, I trust you have been well!"

Just as Liu Zheng had brewed a cup of tea for himself, the sound of horse hooves rang out. Hearing the neutral voice, he knew without looking that it was Zheng Yue Ru.

He couldn't help but feel a surge of joy; the "bringer of wealth" had come again.

He had just been worrying that this month's money had been spent again.

"Miss Zheng, you have come at just the right time; try this Green Snail Spring tea of mine!"

Liu Zheng welcomed her in.

Zheng Yue Ru smiled: "Brother Liu is truly worthy of being a young master from Liangzhou; you certainly know how to enjoy life."

Seeing the anxious look in her eyes, Liu Zheng naturally knew she had come for the fine wine, so he chuckled: "Miss Zheng, rest assured. Knowing that the autumn harvest would be busy, this batch of fine wine has already been rushed to completion."

Zheng Yue Ru's expression relaxed slightly: "That is good, that is good! Brother Liu should have gotten used to life in Yinzhou by now. This one would like to ask, when does the County Marquis Mansion intend to officially open?"

Opening the mansion.

Since it was the reconstruction of the County Marquis Mansion, an opening ceremony was certainly necessary. This was not just an empty formality, but a formal procedure. When the County Marquis Mansion opened, it would announce the appointed personnel on that day, re-establish tax policies, and set up some relevant departments; this was the most important part of opening the mansion.

Only at this moment could the County Marquis Mansion truly be considered to have official recognition and legal effect.

Now, the entire Yinzhou is keeping a close eye on the County Marquis Mansion.

The Four Great Noble Families are the most attentive of all; if the policies of the County Marquis Mansion affect their interests, heaven knows what might happen.

Therefore, it is only natural for Zheng Yue Ru to be concerned about this matter.

After all, the Zheng Family is currently the Powerful Clan that walks closest with the County Marquis Mansion, and the cooperation between the two sides has already achieved a win-win situation; the business at Fengming Tower is also flourishing, and she certainly does not want to have a falling out with this County Marquis Mansion.

"Opening the mansion?"

Liu Zheng chuckled: "It will likely be in the near future; Miss Zheng, please just wait for the announcement."

Zheng Yue Ru frowned and said: "Brother Liu, during the busy autumn harvest, people's hearts are prone to change; this is the best time to open the mansion. If Brother Liu has any concerns, you can discuss them with me; the Zheng Family will certainly offer our humble efforts to the County Marquis!"

"Oh?"

Liu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had not expected that the eldest Miss Zheng would actually say such things to him; it could be considered speaking from the heart.

The time of the busy autumn harvest is exactly when the psychological state of the people in Yinzhou fluctuates the most; after all, Yinzhou is barren, and every year the harvest basically depends on the heavens. It is normal for farmers to feel unbalanced in their hearts when looking at their own meager grain. Therefore, this is the best time to implement new policies.

Zheng Yue Ru knew that Liu Zheng was worried that the day of opening the mansion would cause the Four Great Noble Families to mutiny, so she came to say these words to Liu Zheng first to express the Zheng Family's stance.

"There is no need for Miss Zheng to worry; I, Liu Zheng, am enough on my own."

Liu Zheng laughed heartily.

He had not yet reached the point where he needed a woman's help.

Zheng Yue Ru grew anxious: "Brother Liu, do not be arrogant. Recently, the Powerful Clans have seen the County Marquis Mansion gradually stabilize and are feeling resentful. The Zheng Family and the Cao Family are still fine, but I have heard that Chen Kui of the Chen Family has already let out word that on the day the mansion opens, he will make the County Marquis look bad..."

Liu Zheng was furious upon hearing this and stood up abruptly, shouting: "Did he really say that?"

Zheng Yue Ru nodded and added: "Brother Liu is a scholar from Liangzhou; you must have heard of the Liangzhou Commander Chen Batian!"

"Chen Batian?"

A flash of light appeared in Liu Zheng's eyes. Chen Batian, the Liangzhou Commander, leads the Liangzhou Army and is the number one person in the Liangzhou military. His real name is Chen Liang, and because he is domineering, burly in appearance, possesses astonishing martial strength, and is decisive in killing, he is called Chen Batian.

"Could it be that this Chen Family is..."

Zheng Yue Ru nodded and warned: "Brother Liu, these two thousand private soldiers of the Chen Family are all battle-hardened soldiers arranged by Chen Batian; Brother Liu must be careful!"

Liu Zheng had not expected such a turn of events, and his expression changed instantly.

Soldiers who have been on the battlefield and killed people are naturally not ordinary soldiers. No wonder this Chen Kui is so arrogant. In the matter of the fine wine, he did not manage to outdo the Zheng Family and the Cao Family, and seeing those two families making a fortune, he is naturally very dissatisfied. It is not strange at all that he has even had the thought of coming to seize his "Shen Gong Workshop".

"The Chen Family..."

Liu Zheng laughed heartily.

Zheng Yue Ru still wanted to persuade him.

Liu Zheng said coldly: "Miss Zheng, no need to say more. It would be fine if this Chen Family does not come, but if they dare to come, I, Liu Zheng, will make their Chen Family vanish into thin air!"

"Brother Liu!"

Zheng Yue Ru's expression changed drastically upon hearing this; she wanted to wave her attendants away, but it was already too late.

How could such words be spoken on such an occasion? Brother Liu is too imprudent!

What she did not know was that this was exactly what Liu Zheng had intended.

During this period, the Garrison of the County Marquis Mansion had already reached a thousand men, and after the training of Qin Zhangfeng, their combat effectiveness had already taken shape. Liu Zheng had been waiting for his Plate Armor to be equipped on a large scale so that he could open the mansion and, incidentally, use these Powerful Clans to make an example of them.

He had not expected the Chen Family to be the first to lose their patience.

Just at this moment, Lv Dachui ran over with a look of joy: "Young Master, we have finally forged the Refined Iron you wanted. A set of Plate Armor has been successfully cast; please give your instructions!"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed to hear this: "Good, take me to see it!"

"Brother Liu..."

Zheng Yue Ru called out once more.

Liu Zheng thought to himself that Zheng Yue Ru was kindly reminding him; it was clear she wanted to be on good terms with the County Marquis Mansion, and the Zheng Family should be the target he wants to win over. If he ignored her, it would be hard to say who the Zheng Family would lean toward on the day the mansion opened.

So he chuckled and said: "Miss Zheng, would you like to come inside my Shen Gong Workshop and take a look?"

"Ah?"

Zheng Yue Ru looked pleasantly surprised: "This, is this really allowed?"

"Let's go!"

Liu Zheng smiled faintly.

It was time to show this partner of his his combat strength.