Chapter 397: All Our Own People

Yan Huaiwen looked at the banknotes and silver his younger brother had gathered, falling into a brief silence.

Magistrate Tian watched with a beaming smile as Yan Lao’er counted the banknotes and silver, neatly recording names and official titles in a ledger.

Yan Yu was also writing furiously.

She was organizing the accounts for this trip to Guiyuan.

“Sir, you have worked hard,” Yan Huaiwen gave a solemn salute. He was not bowing to a superior officer, but rather honoring the sentiment of a man who had exerted himself for the sake of the people.

“Huaiwen has also labored greatly,” Magistrate Tian hurried down from the platform to help Yan Huaiwen up. “Our hearts are as one. There are no outsiders here, so let us set aside those formal pleasantries. This money on the table is all the silver currently at the disposal of our Crouching Tiger district. Let us calculate how to use it so we can survive this winter, and ideally hold out until April or May of next year…”

One was his disciple, and the other was his right-hand man. Since they were all his own people, Magistrate Tian did not stand on ceremony and sat directly on the heated brick bed.

The old man crossed his legs nimbly. Feeling the waves of heat rising from beneath him, his body relaxed further.

This was Yan Xiangheng’s room, where Magistrate Tian was temporarily staying.

In fact, it was not just the heated bed; Yan Lao’er had also lit a fire wall^[1], making the room as warm as spring. The windows could be opened for ventilation, allowing a cool breeze to drift in, keeping the temperature just right, neither too cold nor too hot.

Yan Huaiwen also sat up, and Yan Yu moved further inward to make room for her uncle.

Magistrate Tian, Yan Huaiwen, and Yan Lao’er sat in a circle around the small table on the bed.

Yan Yu sat between her uncle and her Grandmaster, facing her father.

“Does Sir have a plan?” Yan Huaiwen asked.

Magistrate Tian pondered for a moment before saying, “If all this money is used to buy grain and we are frugal, it could support us for several months.

However, the winter climate is harsh, and the commoners mostly hunker down at home with little income. Even if we sell it to them at cost, I fear they cannot afford it. But if we simply distribute the grain for free…” Magistrate Tian sighed. “The government office cannot bear the cost.

The five hundred taels given by the Prince is for building towers in each village. We can divert that for now and wait until spring to start construction. As for the rest, it was all borrowed from colleagues. Serving as an official in the Prefectural City, even if one has some savings, it cannot compare to other large prefectures. It was not easy just to borrow enough for a temporary turnover. This money must be repaid.”

What Magistrate Tian did not say was that he had signed several IOU notes with his own name. He truly could not default on them, or his lifelong reputation would end right here.

“The people of Crouching Tiger are suffering, and the government office can provide some relief, but we cannot take on everything,” Magistrate Tian set the tone.

Yan Huaiwen nodded inwardly.

This was the correct path.

Blindly giving would only foster laziness among the people.

“I have an idea,” Yan Lao’er spoke up.

Magistrate Tian and Yan Huaiwen looked over at the same time.

Yan Lao’er cleared his throat and said, “This is what I’m thinking. Let’s not wait until next spring to build the high towers in the villages. Let’s start now. Get the people moving and pay them some wages. We can also have them repair bridges, pave roads, dig ditches, quarry stones, and fell timber…

Even if it’s building defensive fortifications on the mountains, the goal is the same: we can’t let everyone stay idle.

If people are active, it doesn’t matter if the pace is slow. Giving them work, even if the wages are low, provides an income. Then life won’t feel so stagnant; it becomes livable.

Once they have money in hand, they will inevitably need to buy grain. Our government office can stockpile grain and sell it to them. We can’t sell it at cost; we have to make a bit of profit to cover labor, transport, and waste. If we sell at cost, we’ll lose money, and we can’t afford to lose. As long as it’s cheaper than what they find in the grain stores, it’s fine.

This way, the money comes back to us, and we use it to buy more grain. The cycle repeats. The people don’t go hungry, we don’t spend too much money, the towers get built, and we have something to show the Prince.”

A look of gratification appeared in Yan Huaiwen’s eyes.

It was rare for Tianyou to think of this point.

It would revitalize the situation, give the people of Crouching Tiger the will to live, and remain within the government’s means.

It killed three birds with one stone.

Magistrate Tian’s eyes were also full of smiles as he nodded repeatedly.

The more he looked at his disciple, the more pleased he felt.

“Xiao Er, report the accounts,” Yan Lao’er called out.

Yan Yu immediately scooted forward and reported the price difference earned from selling medicine and buying grain this time.

This was the first time Magistrate Tian learned of the profit margins from Xiao’an Village’s medicine sales, and he listened very intently.

Yan Lao’er continued, “This money can’t just sit in our hands. It won’t decrease, but it won’t increase either. We have to keep it moving, put it into some steady, no-lose businesses. Even if the profit per cycle isn’t much, it adds up over time.”

He looked at Magistrate Tian seriously and said, “We still have to plan on repaying the money Teacher borrowed.”

“The grain from Guiyuan probably won’t be too much and won’t last forever. Having all the people go into the mountains to pick herbs is unsafe, and since they don’t recognize the herbs, the harvest would be minimal,” Magistrate Tian said, frowning.

Safety was a major concern; the wild beasts in the mountains were fierce, and entering the forest was no joking matter.

“This season isn’t the best for herb gathering anyway. The weather is getting colder, and there will only be fewer medicinal plants to find,” Yan Lao’er said. “I heard many people in Yongning City saying the weather is strange this year. It’s turned cold too early. I was thinking that the price of firewood and charcoal for heating is bound to rise.

If we stockpile some firewood and charcoal and sell it to Yongning when it gets really cold, that’s another source of revenue.

Then there’s cotton, furs… those will likely rise in price too.”

Magistrate Tian deeply agreed. “Winters in Guanzhou are long. Items to ward off the cold are always essential. Tianyou’s concerns are spot on.”

Magistrate Tian and Yan Huaiwen then added their own refinements to the ideas.

With everyone contributing, the strategy for Crouching Tiger to survive the winter gradually took shape.

Yan Lao’er couldn’t help but wink at his daughter.

Yan Lao’er: How did your Dad do?

Yan Yu’s eyes widened, her little eyebrows wiggling.

Yan Yu: Dad, you’re the best!

Receiving the message, Yan Lao’er’s eyes crinkled into slits from his smile.

“Sir, in addition to grain, we can import another batch of iron from Xizhou,” Yan Huaiwen suggested. “Cotton is always scarce and expensive in Guanzhou. It would be better to organize people for mountain hunts to obtain furs for warmth.”

Yan Yu gave her father a look.

Yan Lao’er quickly chimed in from the side, “That’s right, Teacher. If we hunt ourselves, we don’t have to spend money on skins. Plus, there’s the meat. Meat keeps you full better than grain.

Platoon Commander Xue mentioned when he visited our village a couple of days ago that he wants to move the camp here to train us. Between training sessions, we can go hunting in the mountains together.

Oh, isn’t that perfect? Let Platoon Commander Xue provide some men to lead the villagers into the mountains. Not only is it safe, but his men are truly formidable.

Even before his wounds were healed, he killed several wolves, as well as deer and roe deer. That deer leg Xiao Er brought you came from them.”

Yan Huaiwen said softly, “If the bamboo crossbows in the village can be fitted with iron arrowheads, their power will be even greater.”

The bamboo crossbows had already been presented; there was no longer any need to keep them hidden. Crouching Tiger needed such simple, easy-to-use weapons.

Magistrate Tian gave him a deep look. “I have the same intention.”

(End of Chapter)