Niu Tan roughly described the ship but didn’t go into any details. Mostly because he himself needed to read up on it but also to keep the idea a secret.
“I’m sure you don’t have the authority to make decisions on something this large. So why don’t I go with you to Yan city and talk to your family head?” Niu Tan had a plan brewing in his mind and wanted to meet the Yan family head to see if he could use them.
Yan Qi didn’t immediately agree. He seemed to be hesitant and deliberating over something.
“I will pay for the trip to the city by myself.” Niu Tan added as he handed over two silver taels casually.
This time Yan Qi’s face had a hint of surprise and then acceptance. “It would be an honor to accompany you to meet the family head. Of course, you don’t have to pay, you’re a guest of the Yan Merchant family.”
Some random youth you met coming to sell you a device to make you lots of money if you just bring him along to your city is very suspicious. Especially so, if you met them in a rundown place like Carp Town.
Both Niu Tan and Yan Qi were aware of what calculations he had in mind. But they smiled and carried along the conversation as if nothing unusual happened.
“Brother, I’m quite tired so I’ll go to get some rest. Let’s talk more on the way to Yan city tomorrow.” Niu Tan went back up to his room with an excuse and started reading books on ancient shipbuilding.
On the other hand, when Yan Qi finally sobered up a little he realized something very shocking.
During the whole conversation he had with Niu Tan, who should be at least 5-6 years younger than himself, only he had given out information but he got to know next to nothing about Niu Tan other than his name.
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The next morning, Niu Tan had already completed his meditation when one of the servants of Yan Qi came by to tell him that they were ready to head out.
Much of the journey was quiet except for the moments when he talked to Yan Qi to fish out more information on Yan family.
He also noticed Yan Qi trying to make him talk more about himself and used it to learn more about this world and Yan family.
“Yeah, I really just want to be a teacher and teach as many students as I can. That’s why I need the money. My father used to be a teacher so he taught me most of what I know. You rich merchants probably have scholars lining up to teach your kids.” Niu Tan answered one more of Yan Qi’s probing questions.
He had figured out that Yan Qi was very proud of his family and their business. So to make him talk was quite easy as long as you were subtle about the praises and leads.
“Of course, I remember when we were quite young, a high scholar who got caught up in the politics of the palace and got in debt came by and taught the kids from the main family. He was quite stuck up though. The pride of a high scholar probably hurt to teach some merchant kids.” Yan Qi chuckled.
Really, Yan Qi had been a treasure trove of information during this journey.
The ministries and officials don’t seem to get along with the merchants. The Yan family also seems to have some substantial measure of power and wealth to have a high scholar swallow their pride.
“My father always used to tell me that merchants were the lifeblood of the country’s economy. They buy where there is excess and sell where there is a lack. I didn’t think officials would be so stuck up to dislike merchants.” Niu Tan stoked the flames.
“Right! Those greedy bastards just want more money. They can’t do shit about the martial clans and sects so they like to pressure us.
The palace also needs to keep putting money into the military to keep the martial sects and clans in check. And all of that just falls on us merchants as taxes.” Yan Qi couldn’t help but vent his anger.
So the journey to Yan city was quite interesting for Niu Tan. He got to know a lot of things that were not present in the memories of the lazy and somewhat dumb Jiang Fan,
Niu Tan continued with his mental cultivation along the way and he was starting to uncover more details as he explored internal energy and its uses. Sadly he was not in a position to dive deeper into it at the moment so he put it off.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
About a week and a half of journey later, Yan city entered the sights of the caravan.
Yan city matched what Niu Tan had seen of cities in Jiang Fan’s memories. 4-5 meters tall stone walls with a large gate as a checkpoint was the first thing one would notice.
Once one walked in, wide bustling streets with tough stone and wood houses welcomed you on the outskirts and the houses kept getting better the further in you go.
Stores of all kinds, inns, brothels, restaurants, hawkers you could find everything in the city. And you could find all of them in every price range. From a poor laborer to a rich merchant or martial artist, everyone had a place they could afford.
Hundreds of thousands of people going about their own business somewhat reminded Niu Tan of his past life but he quickly shook those thoughts away. He had work to do.
He did not go straight to the Yan family with Yan Qi. Instead, Niu Tan gave him a rough blueprint to present to the family head and arranged for a meeting two days later.
And for those two days, he went around to inns, restaurants, and brothels trying every new food he came across and checking out every novel thing that caught his attention.
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On the other side, the moment he got the rough blueprint from Niu Tan, Yan Qi didn’t waste any time to head straight to the Yan Estate and request a meeting with the family head.
Since Yan Qi had been performing quite well, the family head easily agreed to the meeting the same day.
Yan Qi followed the butler nervously as he was led to the family head’s office. He was thinking about how to best explain his whole encounter with Niu Tan.
“Master, Yan Qi is here.” The butler respectfully called out from outside. And after a heavy “Come in.” was heard from inside, he pushed open the door and walked in.
Yan Qi followed the butler and looked at the family head Yan Mo, his uncle, going through some documents at his desk.
His Uncle was a fit man who practiced basic martial arts moves every morning so he looked great for a man in his mid-40s. He was a handsome man with a bushy mustache and salt-and-pepper hair. His perpetually calm and serious expression added an extra charm of maturity to his face.
“Sit.” His uncle said after briefly looking up to greet him.
“I heard that you are making quite a profit on the grains brought in from the southern border. It was a nice trick to change the route but make sure you don’t get ambushed by bandits who got a scent of your route.” Yan Mo spoke looking at up at Yan Qi after putting down the documents.
Unsurprisingly, his uncle was already aware of what he was doing. He also understood the subtext of the warning. Some of the other family members might be getting jealous of his recent rise.
“I will be more careful. Thank you for the reminder, uncle.” Yan Qi bowed a little to show his sincere gratitude.
“It’s fine. We need smart ones like you in the family to keep growing. Just be sure to have extra security at all times when you take new routes. Anyway, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about urgently?” Yan Mo finally asked about the purpose of his visit.
“Here, Uncle.” Yan Qi stood up and handed over the blueprint to his uncle.
Yan Mo carefully read the basic description of the blueprint that was written on the side. There was a ripple in his eyes and his perpetually calm expression almost broke.
As Yan Mo continued to study the blueprint, Yan Qi could see his uncle’s lips twitching imperceptibly. It looked like he was forcing down a smile that was naturally forming.
“This seems incomplete. Where did you find it? Where is the other half?” His rapid questioning gave away the excitement in his heart.
Yan Qi knew the importance of what he had handed over and its implications. So he subtly looked at the butler.
Yan Mo smiled, “Good! You are smart enough to understand these things. It seems I have to watch over you more. But don’t worry, you can speak freely here.”
Yan Qi nodded and narrated everything that had happened from the moment he met Niu Tan. The accidental meeting at the inn, the conversations, his observations about Niu Tan, and everything.
Yan Mo listened calmly and nodded along without interrupting. “From your descriptions, he doesn’t seem simple. His shrewdness, this blueprint, and his knowledge all make me believe that he has a special background.”
“I thought so too. He had to have been trained meticulously to be like that at such a young age.” Yan Qi agreed.
Yan Mo nodded approvingly at his nephew’s reasoning and suddenly called out to the window behind him, “Blade Yi!”
A man suddenly walked out from behind Yan Qi startling him.
Yan Mo ordered, “Send someone to tail this Niu Tan and see if you can find anything about him.”
Blade Yi gave a nod and jumped out of the open window and disappeared. Moments like these made Yan Qi regret not trying hard enough back then.
He had heard about the Blades of the Yan family. A group of highly trained martial artists that work only for the family head. But this was the first time he had seen one.
Despite the vast number of martial artists the Yan Family employed, the Blades were special. It was even said that every member of the Blades had to at least be a Martial Master. Their leader, Blade Yi was rumored to be Grandmaster.
Although they were only rumors, Yan Qi believed it must be true. If it weren’t the case, the Yan family wealth would already have been distributed amongst the hungry wolves that are the martial sects and clans. The palace would probably have a piece too.
Martial artists were classified as Martial Apprentice, 2nd rate, 1st rate, Master, Grand Master, and Divine Master in ascending order.
Divine Masters were only legends that no one had ever seen. So, having a team of Master martial artists led by a Grand Master was a great deterrent against any party that had obvious ill motives.
Yan Mo then turned to Yan Qi with a smile, “You did a great job. Rest for these few days. You will accompany me to meet this Niu Tan after two days.”
Yan Qi nodded. He knew that he was going to be specially trained. If he can prove himself, he might get to be the next family head. He pushed down the excitement and tried to be as calm as possible as he bowed to leave.