Old Brothers in the Mountain Stronghold

"Who's outside!"

Wang Yan hurriedly straightened the lamp stand: "It's me, Wang Yan! The second steward asked me to deliver the warehouse rent ledger."

The door opened, and Wang Jingwen stood in the threshold, staring at the account book in his hand.

"We've delivered the tent to the door, aren't you coming in?"

"Seeing that the heads of the family are discussing matters, I dare not disturb them."

"What did you hear outside the door?"

Wang Yan's back was covered in sweat.

If you say you didn't hear anything, it will only arouse suspicion.

"Hearing Patriarch Chen mention the warehouse rent, I was thinking that maybe we could take this opportunity to rent out those two empty warehouses in the East City..."

"To whom will it be rented? To the Crown Prince's Palace?"

Wang Yan quickly shook his head: "How dare I make that decision! Besides, if the master doesn't approve, no one will dare to come and rent it."

Hearing the noise, Wang Chengye leaned over and sneered, "Grandpa, why are you asking him these questions? This good-for-nothing only knows how to do a few dirty calculations. Do you think he has the guts to eavesdrop?"

Wang Yan lowered his head and let him scold him.

Wang Jingwen still had some doubts.

However, the account books had been urged to be kept by the second steward, and Wang Yan usually didn't even dare to speak loudly when he saw the main branch of the family.

"Go back inside. Don't you dare go near the flower hall unless summoned!"

Wang Yan retreated with the account books in his arms, only daring to catch his breath when he reached the side door.

He dared not leave the mansion immediately.

If Wang Jingwen sends someone to keep an eye on things, wouldn't going to the East Palace now be suicide?

After the servants delivering midnight meals came and went, he changed into a waiter's uniform and slipped out through the back door.

Upon arriving at the East Palace, they were told by the gatekeeper that the Crown Prince was still in the East Market.

Wang Yan cursed inwardly.

He was terrified. Why was the Crown Prince still busy with business?

The warehouse that had been vacated in the East Market was even more chaotic than during the day.

Several large trucks blocked the entrance to the hospital, and the workers unloading the goods and the drivers waiting for the trucks started arguing.

"Unload mine first! The cloth got wet with dew, how are we going to sell it tomorrow?"

"Bullshit! My grain store has been waiting for two hours, and people on the back street are still waiting to buy rice!"

A driver threw his whip onto the shaft: "The West Market is so far away, who would go for such a small amount of money? It's not as profitable for me to take a trip to the next street as it is to go to the West Market!"

Liu Neng felt a headache coming on.

The courtyards of the Prince's Villa are already packed with people.

There were no ledgers for the goods entering the warehouse, and the shopkeeper was worried that his things would be stolen.

The driver only transported goods to nearby areas; although the shops in the West Market were open, they had not received their goods for a long time.

Lu Yuan entered the courtyard and saw two people fighting over an empty car.

He frowned.

They finally managed to bypass the five major warehouses and vehicle dealerships, but their own warehouse was blocked.

Is this the reason why freight stations in later generations didn't have dispatchers?

"Stop fighting! Liu Neng, get some tables."

Liu Neng thought the Crown Prince should sit down and reprimand people, but Lu Yuan had someone bring account books and wooden plaques.

"After the goods arrive, first note down the owner, the quantity of goods, and the destination. When you leave, take the exit slip to collect the goods."

"Place the grain in the east courtyard, the cloth in the west courtyard, and store the oil drums elsewhere. Whoever piles the oil and hay together will be punished by the granary manager!"

The grain merchant worried, "Your Highness, who's responsible if we misremember one bag?"

"Your men and Liu Neng's men count it together, both sides sign a document, and each keeps a copy of the receipt. If you can't count it, don't rush to unload a truck."

Only then did the grain merchant allow his assistant to weigh the grain.

Lu Yuan then called over the drivers and asked them to report the number of carriages and which street in the East Market and West Market they were going to, writing them down on the board.

"Goods from the same street will be bundled together and delivered to two shops in the West Market. The delivery fee will be calculated based on the distance. Anyone who takes the order and then abandons the job halfway through will not be allowed to take any more jobs from the Eastern Palace."

The coachman who had complained about the distance to the West Market earlier was displeased: "Your Highness, unloading at the West Market is slow; it's a waste for us to wait!"

"You'll be paid for waiting."

Lu Yuan pointed to the account book, "The merchants pay according to the list. If they are short even a penny, they should come to Liu Neng."

The coachman counted on his fingers for a moment before finally picking up the whip.

Liu Neng also figured out what was going on.

Previously, each shopkeeper had their own vehicle, but now goods from the same street are delivered together, so vehicles no longer have to run empty between the two markets.

Half an hour later, the cars blocking the gate started moving.

Just as Liu Neng breathed a sigh of relief, someone reported that a caravan had arrived at the south gate and was looking for a place to unload its goods.

"These few courtyards are not enough."

Lu Yuan said, "Tomorrow we'll find a small warehouse that's willing to cooperate and pay rent on a daily basis. Register the new goods first, don't just dump them all in at once."

Before Liu Neng could respond, He Shen led Wang Yan outside the courtyard.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan, Wang Yan quickly lowered his voice: "Your Highness, may I speak to you in private?"

Once inside the empty room, Wang Yan recounted the entire conspiracy that had taken place at the banquet at the Prince's Mansion.

"Wang Jingwen wants to hire assassins to intercept caravans and burn down warehouses! The Zheng family is willing to pay, and the other families didn't dare to object. I didn't hear when they would do it or which place they would burn."

Lu Yuan's good mood vanished instantly.

The carriages and horses were finally put in order, but the Wang family wanted to take lives directly.

If someone really dies, then the promise to protect the merchant becomes a joke.

He Shen cursed, "Your Highness, the East Market can hold two large courtyards, but the combined forces on the roads outside the city are insufficient."

"We have to defend it even if we can't."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yuan said, "Move the oil first, and have the patrolmen work in two shifts tonight. The caravans entering the capital should not act alone; gather several groups and enter the city together. Your uncle will send someone to meet them. If anyone comes to rob us, don't just focus on protecting the goods; try to leave some survivors."

Wang Yan hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, what about me?"

"Go back to the palace to keep accounts. The princess hasn't married you yet, so don't ruin your life."

Wang Yan felt more at ease after hearing about the marriage.

Even after he left, He Shen remained uneasy: "This only protects a portion. If the Wang family wants to burn down the warehouse, they can always find a place where no one will notice."

"I know."

Lu Yuan looked at the goods piled up in the yard; these things could no longer all be kept in one place.

We need to hurry up and find a new warehouse tomorrow.

It was already late at night when they returned to the East Palace.

The three girls were still eating candied apricots. Su Yuling was worried that if they ate too much, they would have stomach aches at night, so she gave them less.

When Lu Yuan came in, Bai Rushuang held the plate protectively in her arms.

"Don't you dare steal mine this time!"

"Who cares about your sour stuff?"

Lu Yuan sat down and rubbed his forehead.

Seeing that he looked unwell, Su Yuling asked him what was wrong.

Upon learning this, he was so angry that he cursed, "Wang Jingwen is really asking for it! I'm going to the Wang residence right now to arrest him."

"Wang Yan didn't hear the specific people or location involved. Are you going to go and arrest a few old men who were drinking?"

"So we just let them bully us like this?"

Zhao Mingzhu recalled her past experiences as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort): "I'm quite familiar with the roads outside the city. Some mountain roads are very narrow, and no matter how large the caravan is, it won't stop the people in the mountains from shooting arrows. It would be best if my uncle's men went to check those intersections first."

Lu Yuan nodded and noted it down.

Su Yuling was still unwilling to give up and angrily cursed the young masters of the Wang family for bullying merchants during the day and daring to use dirty tricks at night.

Shen Hanqiu said softly, "Their own young master can go out to listen to music and drink every day. But if someone is constantly causing them trouble, how can Wang Jingwen concentrate on planning his business routes?"

Bai Rushuang perked up immediately after setting down the dish of candied fruit.

"You need to worry about something like this?"

"Some of my old brothers from Black Wind Stronghold are running errands in the outskirts of the capital, and others are still in the city. Dealing with a few pampered young masters is much easier than escorting a shipment!"

Lu Yuan was pleasantly surprised.

The government couldn't easily cause trouble for the scions of powerful families, but Bai Rushuang's former subordinates had other ways to deal with it.

"Will people still listen to you?"

"Who are you looking down on?"

Bai Rushuang was displeased. "Back then, they followed me up and down the mountain, daring to entrust their lives to me. Now, all I'm asking them to do is teach a few spoiled brats a lesson, how could they refuse?"

Lu Yuan couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, call a few reliable ones first. Don't let anyone die, and also don't let anyone have any leverage over the Crown Prince."

Bai Rushuang was so pleased with herself that she stopped eating the candied fruit and immediately summoned her dowry maid.

"Go to the blacksmith shop in the south of the city, find a guy named Stone, and tell him the chieftain has something to do and needs him to call all the brothers still in the capital!"

The maid responded and walked out with the lantern.

Bai Rushuang turned her head and grinned at Lu Yuan.

"Let's start with Wang Chengye. Isn't he the one who loves to block people's doors?"