Chapter 651: First Volume, Chapter 651: Three Forces

First Volume, Chapter 651: Three Forces

Lin Ziyi was stunned.

"Young Master, what merit or virtue do I have?"

"To gain your recognition and trust, this young lady is already deeply grateful."

"But such a great responsibility—I fear I am unable to bear it."

Lin Ziyi knew clearly that the situation in Yanshou County had changed utterly compared to before.

In the past, Qin Family Grain Branch only needed to buy and sell grain.

It had no essential difference from other grain merchants.

But now, the Zhao Clan, fearing Qin Feng, cut their losses and swiftly withdrew from Yanshou County.

Thus, Qin Family Grain had become the undisputed leader of Yanshou County.

Not only did all large and small grain merchants look to Qin Family for guidance, but even the County Magistrate had to heed Qin Family's every move.

After all, grain trade was the pillar industry of Yanshou County, contributing over half of the local taxation.

And now, Qin Feng intended to entrust this immense responsibility and authority to a green girl just out of her youth.

How could Lin Ziyi not be terrified?

"Don't undervalue yourself."

Qin Feng replied calmly, patted Lin Ziyi's shoulder, and his gaze radiated pure trust.

"Your father's health is frail—he will inevitably step back to the Second Line soon. Finding a new Shopkeeper would be too troublesome."

"Since you will eventually take over the Grain Shop, stepping up now will give you early training."

"Besides, your character and conduct are certainly beyond reproach."

Qin Feng adhered to the principle: never employ someone you doubt, and once employed, trust them completely.

He entrusted the Yanshou County Branch to Lin Ziyi.

Of course, this decision was not made on a whim.

After all, the branch's operating model had long been fixed.

On top of the Upstream Grain Merchant's capital, he offered a twenty percent discount to ensure the Upstream Grain Merchant profited.

Then, on his own capital, he added a ten percent markup to earn slim profits and sustain the branch's normal operations.

He also ensured the Downstream Grain Merchants could profit.

As Qin Clan Branch, as this 'Middleman,' diluted the profit margin, even the most unscrupulous Downstream Grain Merchants would not wildly inflate prices.

Thus, the final sale price reaching the common people naturally dropped.

Yet, some profit-driven merchants still existed.

But Qin Family Grain Shop had firmly seized control of Yanshou County's vital hub.

It held absolute authority.

Should any Downstream Merchant be found deliberately inflating prices, Qin Family would simply cease all business with them.

This operational model required virtually no technical skill.

The most crucial factor was the Shopkeeper's character.

The reason was simple!

The profits here were enormous—if the Shopkeeper was corrupt and secretly raised prices,

even a one percent increase would yield astonishing gains.

Therefore, compared to the leader's capability, Qin Feng cared more about his moral integrity.

Seeing Qin Feng's firm resolve, Lin Ziyi no longer refused.

Her admiration for Qin Feng had reached unprecedented heights.

She silently vowed that even if she devoted her entire life to Qin Family Grain Shop, she would repay Qin Feng's trust and favor.

Most admirable of all…

Since Qin Feng arrived in Yanshou County, he had shown not the slightest discrimination or contempt toward Lin Ziyi's 'Daughter's Body.'

…

Night deepened.

Back Courtyard of Yanshou County Branch.

Anwu Guard Captain Liu Ming handed Qin Feng a list and reported softly.

"Young Master, since your arrival in Yanshou County until now, we have uncovered eighty-five tails."

"Among them, fifteen Black Imperial Guards, seven Northern Di Night Owls, twenty-six Heaven Ranking Assassins—the rest were a mixed lot."

"Some were from the Imperial Guard, others from the Seventh Prince and the Grand Tutor."

Qin Feng's gaze was calm; every name on the list was marked with a red cross.

Meaning all these covert schemers had been eliminated by Liu Ming.

Qin Feng casually returned the list to Liu Ming.

A faint smile curled his lips as he said calmly, "Not surprising."

"The Northern Di Envoy Group is about to enter Jingdu; Lin Taibao has been sentenced to death; Lin Wenwan has returned to Jiangnan."

"Now, on the surface, Beijing holds only three forces."

"Besides me, there are the Sage and the Seventh Prince."

"Recently, the Central Plains Imperial Party has stirred—certainly on the Sage's orders."

"In the end, I have become the target of all eyes; everyone's attention is fixed on me."

"If they didn't send people to watch me, that would be strange."

Although Liu Ming was skilled in assassination, he was not adept at political matters.

Hearing Qin Feng's words, he could not help but feel a wave of strangeness.

"Young Master, you said three forces."

"Shouldn't it be... you, the Li Imperial Clan, and the Northern Di?"

"Why are the Sage and the Seventh Prince counted separately? They are father and son."

Qin Feng shrugged his shoulders, calm and composed.

"The Northern Di's main objective right now is to fight for benefits in the State Peace Talks."

"To put it bluntly, this is a contest between nations, so it doesn't count."

"As for the Sage and the Seventh Prince, heh, so what if they're father and son? As the saying goes, emperors have always been heartless since ancient times."

"The Seventh Prince's rise to power was completely beyond the Sage's expectations."

"And from my understanding of the Sage, this person dislikes 'surprises' the most."

"Everything must proceed in an orderly fashion according to the Path the Sage has planned."

"If any deviation occurs in the middle, the Sage would become restless."

Li Yong was the Prince who most resembled the Liang Emperor.

Moreover, with Li Qian's downfall, any Prince older than Li Yong had either already been sent out to govern their fiefs.

Or had simply died under murky circumstances.

Even those with tough luck stubbornly refused to compete for the Crown Prince position, preferring to be a Xiaoyao Prince (Carefree Prince).

Even following the principle of Chang You You Xu, where the Eldest Son inherits the Crown Prince position by tradition.

Li Yong's rise was entirely reasonable and in accordance with the people's wishes.

But ever since Li Yong was pushed into the Crown Prince position, the Liang Emperor had never seen Li Yong again.

Clearly, the Liang Emperor was quite wary of Li Yong's relationship with the Grand Tutor.

Given the Liang Emperor's current age, sitting firmly on the throne for another ten years would not be a problem.

As for whether Li Yong is willing to wait ten years, that is hard to say.

Now, the Liang Emperor's unprecedented 'tolerance' toward Qin Feng is also because of this matter.

The Liang Emperor was afraid Qin Feng would lean toward Li Yong.

Then, with Qin Feng and the Grand Tutor joining forces to support him, the Liang Emperor simply could not gauge whether Li Yong would launch a Forced Palace Coup.

The better one is at enduring, the greater the ambition often is.

Judging others by himself, the Liang Emperor knew his son's character all too well.

However, at present, Qin Feng did not want to be drawn too early into the contest between the Liang Emperor and Li Yong.

He should still focus on the State Peace Talks with the Northern Di.

If something went wrong with the talks and the balance between the two nations was broken anew.

What kind of chain reaction would occur, even Qin Feng could not predict.

Moreover, the Northern Border, located on the First Line, would bear the brunt no matter what happened.

The next morning, Qin Feng left Yanshou County.

Lin Ziyi saw him off for Ten Li before reluctantly returning.