Chapter 318: The situation is becoming increasingly chaotic

Don't look at Yan Chonggu's appearance of worrying about the sky falling; if anyone dares to move their Yan Family, I'm afraid it won't be that easy!

What he really worries about is how the Yan Family will handle itself after he is gone, fearing that it will gradually decline generation after generation.

At first, he thought about using some influence to let the younger generation enter the court as officials, but if the Yan descendants were not capable, occupying that position would be useless, and they wouldn't be able to exert any effect, instead leaving behind evidence to implicate the Yan Family.

So in the end, he could only let his descendants develop in the fields they were good at, so that at least they could exert some effect.

"How to find another way?" Yan Shi'an sat up straight.

Yan Chonggu's gaze became profound: "In the court, I mentioned Beijiang; do you think it was really for that little bit of empty name of 'pacifying border people'?"

"Isn't it?"

"Of course not." Yan Chonggu shook his head, "I mentioned Beijiang because Beijiang has 'strange goods'. Snowflake salt, ice crystal sugar, glazed glass mirrors... you know the value of these things better than I do."

Yan Shi'an's eyes lit up: "Father means, we can..."

"It's not 'can', it's 'must'." Yan Chonggu interrupted him, his tone decisive, "The profit behind these strange goods is astonishing. More importantly, the person who can produce these things..."

Jiang Jinshi!

Beijiang is bitter, cold, and barren, yet it can produce refined goods that even Jiangnan's skilled craftsmen cannot make, and the Prince of Zhenbei has been maneuvering with the Xiongnu for many years without forcing them back.

This person achieved it in less than a year, and also unified Beijiang, making the people grateful to him.

At first, because of doing business, the family came into contact with Beijiang, and ice crystal sugar, snowflake salt, and other items made the Yan Family earn a lot of silver.

As Yan family members, their gaze naturally focused on that New Moon Chamber of Commerce; after all, if the other party had no background, mastering this technology themselves would be the most reassuring, and the profit would also be maximized.

That was last winter, and when he learned that the person behind the New Moon Chamber of Commerce was Jiang Jinshi, Yan Chonggu was silent for a long time!

During that period, Jiang Jinshi hadn't unified Beijiang, nor had he repelled the Xiongnu, but he was making a big splash on the front lines, and his subordinates were numerous.

Yan Chonggu immediately made up his mind to maintain a wait-and-see attitude; if this Ming Army was defeated, he would take down the New Moon Chamber of Commerce and the technology in the other party's hands as quickly as possible.

During this period, he also maintained stable cooperation, not letting the other party suspect anything.

But things went against his wishes; the other party not only completely solved the Xiongnu threat but also unified Beijiang, stood firm in Beijiang, and was deeply loved by the people.

Now Yan Chonggu's gaze focused on Jiang Jinshi; he was very curious about who this person was and what kind of ability he had!

As one secret report after another was sent back to the Yan Family, Yan Chonggu's usually calm heart couldn't help but ripple!

This person... is terrifyingly fierce!

Rising from being a mountain bandit, growing step by step, standing out at the most dangerous time in Beijiang, even incorporating the Zhenbei Army, and completely crushing the Xiongnu.

Every piece of news proved the excellence of that man, so Yan Chonggu immediately had new ideas.

Just maintain cooperation with the other party, help out at critical moments, make friends with the other party, even intermarriage doesn't matter, as long as he can ensure the Yan Family continues to prosper.

Moreover, Beijiang is barren, and Yan Chonggu believes the other party will not refuse his help; he is very confident about this.

It's just that such intentions cannot be detected by other families, otherwise, they will definitely be hindered, or they will get ahead of him.

A flash of essence flashed in Yan Chonggu's eyes as he looked at his son: "Shi'an! You say... a person who can produce these strange goods in a place like Beijiang and achieve such achievements, will he be a law-abiding border resident?"

Yan Shi'an pondered and shook his head slowly: "No. This person must have schemes. Either it's to accumulate wealth, or... it's to accumulate power."

"Exactly." Yan Chonggu nodded, "So, the Imperial Court is ignoring Beijiang now, and Si Gui's gaze is entirely on Western Liang, which is an opportunity for us."

"Opportunity?" Yan Shi'an didn't turn the corner for a moment.

"The opportunity to win over this person." Yan Chonggu said word by word, "While the Imperial Court hasn't noticed him yet, while his wings are not yet full and he urgently needs external support, our Yan Family, as a scholar-gentry family, will take the initiative to extend an olive branch.

Help him open up sales channels in Jiangnan, provide the materials he needs, and even protection, in exchange for his friendship, and... future possible profit sharing, or even an alliance."

Yan Chonggu thought well, but he was in the capital and hadn't received news from Jiangnan; now there were identical goods on the market, his Yan Family no longer had an advantage, and Jiang Jinshi didn't need him to open up business channels.

Yan Shi'an gasped: "Father, this... this is private communication, making friends... is a major crime! If Si Gui finds out..."

"So we can't do it openly." Yan Chonggu said calmly, "Sending a 'Pacification Commissioner' to Beijiang is the best cover. The envoy represents the Imperial Court, open and aboveboard. As for after the envoy goes, besides pacification, he can 'incidentally' contact local capable wealthy merchants and craftsmen, care about people's livelihood, and encourage industry and commerce; this is very normal, right?"

"The candidate for envoy..." Yan Shi'an's eyes turned, "Must be our own people, but can't be too conspicuous..."

"Your cousin, Yan Shining." Yan Chonggu had plans long ago, "He is a Juren by background and holds an idle position as a manager in the Ministry of Works. He is quick-witted and knows something about business. Most importantly, he is young and inconspicuous; Si Gui won't be too guarded. Sending him to Beijiang for pacification is the most suitable."

Yan Shi'an thought about it, and cousin Yan Shining was indeed a suitable candidate. Although his reading wasn't top-notch, he was lively, good at socializing, and had courage.

"But Father, even if we send cousin Shining, how can we ensure contact with... that person? With the other party's status, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to get close."

Yan Chonggu sighed; even this little thing required his own worry. If he really left, how long could the Yan Family persist in the hands of other aristocratic families?

"This matter is not difficult; our Yan Family already has cooperation with the New Moon Chamber of Commerce, and we can contact the other party by following the path of cooperation!"

Yan Shi'an nodded, already having plans in his heart.

He wasn't interested in these things, but what his father said was something that must be executed; after all, it concerned the future of the entire family.

After Yan Shi'an retreated, Yan Chonggu fell into deep thought!

According to his analysis of the current situation, Da Qian's fate was exhausted!

The Western Liang King was not a good person; having prepared for so many years, the resources in his hands must be substantial. If he hadn't been held back by the Southern Barbarians, he didn't know where he would have attacked by now!

From the time the Da Qian army fought with the Western Liang King, one could see that there hadn't been a single piece of good news; they had been suppressed and beaten all along.

In contrast, the Ming Army in Beijiang had a weaker foundation, but the momentum was very fierce, so both sides were worth betting on. He not only wanted to befriend Beijiang, but the Western Liang King's side was also worth betting on. ===== CHAPTER 319 =====