Chapter 240: Iron Fist Suppression

First Volume, Chapter 240: Iron Fist Suppression

Regarding Fang Tingshan's trump card, Qin Feng was not surprised at all—he had expected it.

After all, for these gentry, the means to force Qin Feng into submission were extremely limited, to the point that Qin Feng had once found it unchallenging and even wanted to give them advice.

The crowd present, however, sighed heavily, having lost all hope in Qin Feng's newly implemented regulations.

"Ah! So-called hope is ultimately just Ting Hua Yi Xian."

"Director Qin has the heart to benefit the people, but the North Creek Gentry are all snakes and rats in one nest; without support from gentry across the regions, these new regulations cannot possibly be enforced."

"Not just Beixi County—even the eighteen surrounding counties' gentry are all in cahoots; how could they possibly care about the lives or deaths of common folk like us?"

Just as everyone believed Qin Feng's plan to enrich the people and strengthen the county was merely a fleeting illusion, and that he was powerless against the gentry parasites entrenched in Beixi County, Qin Feng suddenly his eyes gleamed, staring at Fang Tingshan and the others with intense excitement and anticipation.

The exhausted Qin Feng suddenly perked up: "Is this merely your personal opinion, Fang Dongjia, or the collective decision of the entire North Creek Merchants?"

Fang Tingshan, who had believed victory was assured, was caught off guard by Qin Feng's sudden enthusiasm.

He felt a wave of unease inside.

"Is this fellow's head kicked by a donkey? Facing boycott from the North Creek Merchants, and yet he's smiling?"

"Hmph! Must be pretending!"

Fang Tingshan lifted his head, straightened his chest, and grinned triumphantly: "Naturally, it is the entire North Creek Merchants! Director Qin, as the saying goes, Time and circumstance favor the capable. Without the support of the North Creek Merchants, your so-called new regulations won't even leave the Beixi Yamen. But if you gain our support, Director Qin can sit securely in your high position forever!"

As he spoke, Fang Tingshan narrowed his eyes, his words dripping with clear threat: "When a tree towers above the forest, the wind will surely break it. Director Qin, ponder this carefully."

Was there even any need to ponder?

Fang Tingshan's hidden meaning was unmistakable.

All officials under Heaven are corrupt; Qin Feng is not, so he is out of step with this world.

Even to protect their own interests, the North Creek Gentry would find a way to drive Qin Feng out of Beixi County.

Unfortunately, Fang Tingshan had overlooked one crucial factor.

Qin Feng was not born a scholar!

He rose from being a merchant!

Qin Feng sat back in his chair, a faint smirk curling his lips—a smile of "I just won a few million": "To be honest, I was previously worried about how to deal with the North Creek Merchants. Now, with your words, it's become much easier."

Qin Feng immediately took up paper and brush, and with a sweeping motion, wrote a Military Dispatch.

He called for his guards and ordered loudly: "Deliver this dispatch immediately to the Yizhan. Order the Messenger to carry it at top speed to the Tianji Camp, and hand it directly to my Second Sister, Liu Hongyan. Send trusted merchants to take over Beixi County."

The guard took the Military Dispatch and turned away.

Fang Tingshan and the other merchants stared, dumbfounded, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Fang Tingshan clenched his fists tightly, his face turning pale as he glared at Qin Feng: "Director Qin, do you think you can seize control of the North Creek Merchants by trickery? Aren't you being naive? Every industry, every supply chain and sales network here is under our control—aren't you afraid of losing everything?"

Hearing this, Qin Feng burst into laughter, his eyes watering with mirth, making the merchants' faces turn green.

This was the funniest joke Qin Feng had heard all year.

After a long while, he finally stopped laughing, wiping tears from his eyes as he sighed: "Fang Tingshan, I've always been blunt—I speak plainly, don't take offense… but you, a petty peddler, pretending to be a business magnate? Do you even qualify?!"

Petty peddler?!

Not just Fang Tingshan—even the onlookers were stunned.

The Fang Family wasn't merely Beixi County's top Grain Merchant; they had formed the GrainPolicyAlliance with grain merchants across the eighteen counties of the Zhou Fu, wielding unquestioned authority over grain trade in this region.

Moreover, the Fang Family had the entire North Creek Merchants behind them.

Even the corrupt and incompetent Chen Li had dared not offend Fang Tingshan lightly.

Now, in Qin Feng's mouth, the ChiefMerchant of Beixi County had become a petty peddler?!

Under the stunned gazes of all present, Qin Feng leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, radiating a rogue's swagger: "Beixi County's population, at most, is thirty thousand. Do you know how many people are in Jingdu? One million! Do you know how many people live in the strong counties surrounding Jingdu? At least five hundred thousand!"

"Just the areas around Jingdu account for one-seventh of Shedynasty's entire population. The scale of commerce there is beyond your imagination."

"To me, Beixi County's commerce is no different from a village fair! How much silver profit does your Fang Family make in a year? Fifty thousand? One hundred thousand? Two hundred thousand? I'll tell you this: last month alone, my Wuhu Restaurant earned two hundred seventy thousand taels of Silver! One restaurant's monthly revenue equals your entire year's profit! And that restaurant's profit? It's barely one percent of my Tianji Camp's total earnings."

Saying this, Qin Feng smiled warmly as he sized up Fang Tingshan: "So let me ask you again—where do you get the nerve to challenge me in business?"

The people of Beixi County knew only that Qin Feng had a notorious reputation in Jingdu, held high status, and had "some" involvement in commerce.

They had no idea just how much wealth Qin Feng truly possessed.

Now, hearing Qin Feng reveal his fortune, every single person present was stunned, their scalps prickling with shock.

Just one restaurant earning over two hundred thousand taels of Silver per month—and that was only one percent of Qin Feng's total fortune?!

He was clearly the richest man in Shedynasty!

Fang Tingshan stared blankly at Qin Feng, wondering if he were dreaming.

When he finally realized the truth, he felt utterly humiliated—he had foolishly, even absurdly, thought he could force Qin Feng into submission through commercial pressure.

He hadn't realized that with a single wave of his hand, Qin Feng could crush him with money.

The merchants present instantly wilted like plants struck by frost, silent and lifeless.

Seeing the once arrogant North Creek Gentry now ashen-faced, Qin Feng secretly chuckled, unable to help but sigh: "So naive, yet calling themselves merchants? Greatest Joke in the World."

Qin Feng was indeed wealthy, but far less so than he claimed.

After all, exaggerating, showing off—it's basic merchant etiquette…

If you won't even pretend to be rich, what business are you in? You might as well go home and farm.

But then again.

The feeling of being rich is damn satisfying!

Qin Feng counted on his fingers, acting more like a shrewd merchant than an official: "Though Beixi County's commerce is small, if you monopolize every industry, the profit margins are still substantial. Any merchant here who dares oppose the Yamen—step forward now. I'll immediately assign men to take over your operations."