Protect Our Patriarch

……

"Please, don't look at me like that," Wang Shouzhe said innocently. "Ever since I killed Zuoqiu Qingyun, I predicted that the Zuoqiu Clan wouldn't let it go and would likely seek revenge in secret."

"Given that, it's only reasonable for me to make some preparations in advance," Wang Shouzhe continued, speaking with ease as if it were no big deal.

Qian Xuehan and Taishi Ankang exchanged glances. What Wang Shouzhe said seemed to make sense at first, but this guy was really too cautious, too meticulous.

The Zuoqiu Clan hadn't even started their revenge, and he had already set up a trap for them. The Zuoqiu Clan was still in the dark, yet the net was already cast...

They couldn't help but feel sorry for the Zuoqiu Clan. A dignified fourth-grade clan, and they were about to take a big fall this time.

At the same time, they felt fortunate that Wang Shouzhe, though somewhat intimidating, was their ally and not their enemy. Such a reliable ally was actually quite reassuring.

……

In the days that followed.

Most of the eighth and ninth-grade clans were not so perceptive and only felt that something significant might be happening.

But those seventh and sixth-grade clans could clearly "see" a grand drama unfold.

The Commandery Governor of Longzuo Commandery, when he went to Qing'an Commandery to negotiate about the flying carriage industry, was mercilessly rebuffed.

As Wu Dinghai, the Commandery Governor of Qing'an Commandery, put it, "Taishi Ankang, you're really worrying about nothing. Business competition between clans is perfectly normal."

"Although the Zuoqiu Clan's business tactics are detrimental to their competitors, they benefit millions of people in Longzuo Commandery. Moreover, the more competition there is in commercial services, the more potential it will unleash. Stagnation is not an option."

The Commandery Prince of Cheng from Qing'an Commandery even ignored Taishi Ankang's visit, using the excuse that he was traveling and not at home, showing no respect at all.

After all, a Commandery Prince has the duty to protect his territory and cannot leave without an imperial decree.

It was evident that the Commandery Prince didn't even bother to come up with a convincing excuse.

Taishi Ankang returned in disgrace.

When this news spread to the capital and surrounding commanderies, it inevitably led to ridicule, with people thinking Taishi Ankang had lost his mind. How could anyone expect others to give up a lucrative business?

Going to them with such expectations was nothing short of self-humiliation.

However, the arrogance of Qing'an Commandery did provoke some clans and local government offices to resist Qingfeng Trading Company, but Qingfeng Trading Company was not to be trifled with. They continued to lower prices while confronting local officials with Daqian law.

If it were an ordinary trading company, they would have been dealt with by local officials long ago. But Qingfeng Trading Company was a fourth-grade clan's enterprise, and their flying carriages were rented from Lingyun Holy Land.

As Qingfeng Trading Company continued to implement their low-price strategy, they began to devour Shouda Trading Company's market share.

Soon, Shouda Trading Company also joined the price war, and the two trading companies engaged in a fierce battle, burning money continuously!

This, however, benefited the various merchants and common people of Longzuo Commandery.

Due to the significant reduction in transportation costs, trade was indirectly promoted, and transactions between regions became more frequent, making the market appear prosperous and rapidly expanding.

Driven by human nature, everyone welcomed the price war between the two trading companies, hoping they would continue indefinitely.

Of course, that was impossible.

This was merely a battle for market share. Once the winner was decided and one side was completely squeezed out, the price war would naturally end.

And Wang Shouzhe's plan seemed to be starting to take effect in secret.

……

Qing'an Commandery.

Known as the "land of fish and rice" in Daqian, Qing'an Commandery had the most fertile fields and the highest annual grain output in Daqian.

Officials from the capital's tax bureau once calculated that about thirty percent of the grain consumed annually in Daqian came from Qing'an Commandery. Even the most productive Tianfu Commandery couldn't match Qing'an Commandery's annual output.

Consequently, agriculture naturally became one of Qing'an Commandery's pillar industries.

During the autumn harvest, all the clans in Qing'an Commandery were busy harvesting, drying, and threshing, creating a bustling scene in the fields.

The Sun Clan of Hedong was no exception.

Located in Hedong Guard, one of the five guards in the east of Qing'an Commandery, the Sun Clan of Hedong was a relatively prosperous eighth-grade clan, with over a hundred thousand acres of fertile land and hundreds of hectares of fish ponds, making it a typical Qing'an clan with fish and rice as its main industries.

On this day, Sun Chuanxue, the head of the Sun Clan of Hedong, was patrolling his various estates in an ox cart, checking the progress of the harvest and estimating the yield per acre.

Suddenly.

Another ox cart slowly passed by on the dirt road beside him, and a young cultivator lifted the curtain and greeted him, "Brother Ruicai, judging by your smile, it seems like you have a good harvest this year."

"Indeed," Sun Chuanxue laughed heartily when he saw that it was his brother-in-law. "To be honest, our yield this year is over twenty percent higher than usual. Once we sell this rice, we should make seventy to eighty thousand, and with the fish pond profits, our income might break the hundred thousand mark this year."

The visitor was Liu Qinghao, the legitimate son of the Liu Clan of Hedong, which had marital ties with the Sun Clan. He was also the younger brother of Sun Chuanxue's wife.

The Liu Clan of Hedong was also an eighth-grade clan in Hedong Guard, and they had intermarried with the Sun Clan for generations, maintaining a close relationship.

"Wow, that's quite a bumper harvest," Liu Qinghao marveled, though he was somewhat skeptical. "Even though the weather has been favorable this year, the yield shouldn't be twenty percent higher. Brother-in-law, be honest with me, did you secretly buy new farmland?"

"Come on, you know how much farmland there is in Hedong Guard. All the arable land has been cultivated; where would I find new farmland to buy?" Sun Chuanxue chuckled, and seeing no one around, he called Liu Qinghao onto his ox cart and whispered, "I'm only telling you this because of our close family ties. Don't spread it around. Half of our fields this year were planted with high-yield grain seeds we bought from another source, not Zuoqiu Clan's 'Five Fragrance Rice'."

Liu Qinghao was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Brother-in-law, if you're going to fool me, at least come up with a believable story. Where in Daqian can you find better grain seeds than 'Five Fragrance Rice'?"

The Zuoqiu Clan had risen to prominence through agriculture. They became a dominant fourth-grade clan in Qing'an Commandery by cultivating high-yield grain seeds.

The same land, the same farming methods, yet their grain yield was higher than other clans. Moreover, the Zuoqiu Clan had some method to prevent the seeds stolen from their fields from germinating, making it impossible for other clans to steal their seeds.

The head of the Zuoqiu Clan at that time was a capable person who withstood threats and suppression from other clans multiple times, gradually increasing the Zuoqiu Clan's advantage and eventually dominating Qing'an Commandery.

Today, a significant portion of the clans in Qing'an Commandery planted the Zuoqiu Clan's high-yield grain seeds. The remaining clans planted their own developed seeds, but in terms of yield, they were far inferior to Zuoqiu Clan's 'Five Fragrance Rice' and 'Jade Finger Wheat'.

The Zuoqiu Clan made a fortune every year just by selling these two types of grain seeds.

Sun Chuanxue was well aware of this.

Initially, he didn't believe in the new grain seeds either, but he couldn't resist the temptation of high yield and decided to try some. Otherwise, this year's yield wouldn't be just twenty percent higher but over thirty percent.

However, he knew that words alone wouldn't convince Liu Qinghao. So, he got off the ox cart, pulled a handful of rice from the nearby field, and handed it to Liu Qinghao, "Take a look yourself. Doesn't this rice look different from your 'Five Fragrance Rice'?"

Liu Qinghao examined the rice carefully, rubbing the husk to look at the grains inside, and his eyes changed, "This... really is different. The grains seem fuller than 'Five Fragrance Rice', and the aroma is stronger."

Although the difference was subtle, as a descendant of a clan that relied on grain cultivation, he was too familiar with the appearance of their rice. Even a slight difference was noticeable to him.

"See, I wasn't lying," Sun Chuanxue said proudly.

"This is unbelievable. A clan has actually developed grain seeds better than the Zuoqiu Clan's," Liu Qinghao muttered in disbelief.

His astonishment was understandable. The Zuoqiu Clan had dominated Qing'an Commandery for so long that the idea of their grain seeds being the highest-yielding was deeply ingrained. He never thought that one day, other grain seeds would surpass the Zuoqiu Clan's.

After a while, he snapped out of it and grabbed his brother-in-law, "Brother-in-law, where did you buy these seeds? Do they have winter wheat seeds?"

Grain was the lifeblood of the Liu Clan. If these seeds were truly high-yield, their income from grain would significantly increase.

His youngest son had recently been tested and found to have the potential of a small prodigy. He had been worried about whether they could afford to train a Celestial Realm expert, considering sending him to an academy. But if they could plant these high-yield seeds, he wouldn't have to worry anymore.

"Calm down," Sun Chuanxue said, wincing from the pain of Liu Qinghao's grip. "Of course, they have wheat seeds. They haven't arrived yet, but I've already paid a deposit. If you want to buy some, I'll take you with me when I go to get them."

In Qing'an Commandery, wheat and rice were rotated. With the rice harvest, it was time to plant winter wheat.

Liu Qinghao slapped Sun Chuanxue's arm excitedly, his face flushed, "Good brother-in-law! You're truly my brother-in-law!"

"Of course, I am," Sun Chuanxue said, rubbing his arm in pain and rolling his eyes at Liu Qinghao.

This kid was indeed a battle-type bloodline, full of brute strength.

Liu Qinghao, now thinking about his youngest son and the Celestial Realm, didn't notice Sun Chuanxue's annoyance. He grabbed Sun Chuanxue's arm again, "Brother-in-law, when are you going to get the wheat seeds?"

Sun Chuanxue sighed, "Fine, I'll go now. Happy?"

Liu Qinghao, realizing he was too excited, let go and looked at his brother-in-law eagerly.

Sun Chuanxue had no choice but to tell the driver to head to a specific address.

Soon, the ox cart arrived at a farm.

The farm looked no different from the surrounding ones. If Sun Chuanxue hadn't brought Liu Qinghao here, he would never have guessed that high-yield grain seeds were sold here.

There were no guards at the farm. They followed the dirt road through the farm, passing various buildings, and soon arrived at an unremarkable house.

Sun Chuanxue knocked on the door in a specific pattern, "Knock, knock-knock, knock, knock-knock."

A moment later, a young man dressed as a farmer opened the door and looked at Sun Chuanxue without speaking.

"Brother, I'm here to get the wheat seeds I ordered. My brother-in-law also wants to buy some," Sun Chuanxue said politely.

Although the young man looked ordinary, Sun Chuanxue couldn't see through his cultivation, indicating he was wearing something to conceal it. So, it was best to be polite.

The young man glanced at him and then at Liu Qinghao, seemingly assessing their identities, before nodding, "Follow me."

The young man was Wang Xiaohu, the youngest son of the family guard Wang Hu.

His father had seized the opportunity of the Wang Clan's external development plan, earning a lot of family contributions and reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining Realm. If not for his innate talent being insufficient and the inability to afford a Tianling Dan, he might have reached the Lingtai Realm.

Wang Xiaohu, as the youngest son, also benefited, taking an Enlightenment Pill at a young age to improve his talent. Now, at just over twenty, he was already at the sixth level of Qi Refining Realm, stronger than most direct descendants of ninth-grade clans.

Because of this, he was highly valued among the young family guards and got this good job. Once he completed his mission in Qing'an Commandery, he would receive a large amount of family contributions. The family had already opened the exchange of blood refining pills to family guards, and he might be able to get one.

If he could improve his talent, he might have a chance to reach the Lingtai Realm in his lifetime.

Wang Xiaohu led the way.

Soon, they passed through the hall and entered the inner chamber, then went down to a cellar through a hidden door. The cellar was divided into many compartments, each door locked, making it impossible to see what was inside.

The young man remained silent until they reached a compartment door. He took out a key, opened the door, and said, "There are three types of wheat seeds: 'No. 43', 'No. 59', and 'No. 27'. Decide which one you want and how much, then tell me. Pay half the deposit first, and someone will deliver the seeds to your estate. Pay the rest upon delivery."

He glanced at Liu Qinghao, indicating that the explanation was mainly for him.

"Uh..." Liu Qinghao understood the transaction rules but was confused about the seeds. "Could you explain the differences between the seeds, please?"

Sun Chuanxue, also unaware of the three types of seeds, looked at the young man.

The young man, prepared for this, explained, "No. 43 is more resistant to pests, so even if there's a large-scale pest outbreak, the yield won't be severely affected."

"No. 59 matures faster, about a week earlier than Zuoqiu Clan's seeds, and one to two days earlier than our own seeds."

"As for No. 27, it's more flood-resistant, so even if there's a flood, the yield won't be severely affected."

He added, "In terms of yield, No. 43 is slightly lower than No. 59, and No. 27 is even lower, about ten percent less. But all of them yield at least thirty to forty percent more than Zuoqiu Clan's seeds. You can choose based on your family's needs."

In fact, No. 27 seeds had long been phased out within the Wang Clan.

Because the Wang Clan had focused on flood prevention and control for years, Ping'an Town hadn't experienced a flood in nearly twenty years. So, No. 27 seeds, developed for flood resistance, were no longer needed.

But in Qing'an Commandery, where water resources were abundant and the Zuoqiu Clan didn't prioritize infrastructure and flood control, floods were still a significant issue. Lock Spring River still breached its banks every few years.

Thus, the No. 27 seeds found new use.

Sun Chuanxue and Liu Qinghao found all three traits—high yield, early maturity, and flood resistance—important and debated between No. 59 and No. 27 for a long time. Finally, they decided to buy half of each.

Having had a previous successful transaction, they quickly paid the deposit and left with high hopes for the future.

Similar events were happening in other parts of Qing'an Commandery.

Due to different local conditions, the choice of seeds varied. In areas prone to pest outbreaks, No. 43 was popular. In flood-prone areas, No. 27 was favored. But No. 59 was the best seller everywhere due to its highest yield.

Unnoticed, nearly half of the clans in Qing'an Commandery had replaced their grain seeds with those from the Wang Clan.

……

Zuoqiu Clan's main residence.

In a luxurious study, a middle-aged man with a jade crown and a brocade robe, exuding a calm and domineering aura, was copying a painting titled "Guiding the Mountains and Rivers."

This middle-aged man was Zuoqiu Guanyu, the head of the Zuoqiu Clan from Qing'an Commandery.

The painting he was copying was a plan for the future of Qing'an Commandery, drawn by the Zuoqiu Clan's ancestor when he first arrived in Qing'an Commandery.

The original painting was a famous work, collected by Emperor Longchang after a thousand years, and the Zuoqiu Clan received many rewards for their contributions to the development of Qing'an Commandery.

Now, the Zuoqiu Clan only had copies of the original painting.

Due to these factors, the Zuoqiu Clan's members had a strong attachment to the painting, and each generation of clan heads left their copies. They all hoped to achieve great feats like their ancestor.

Zuoqiu Guanyu was no exception.

However, the Zuoqiu Clan's development had long reached a bottleneck, and his ambitions were unfulfilled. But now, the opportunity had finally come!

If they could crush Shouda Trading Company in Longzuo Commandery, they could control the flying carriage markets in both Longzuo and Qing'an Commanderies. They might even expand into Monan, Longyuan, and Lingbei Commanderies.

By then, the Zuoqiu Clan's ability to generate wealth would reach a new level, laying the foundation for their promotion to a third-grade clan.

As Zuoqiu Guanyu copied the painting, his heart surged with passion.

At this moment.

An elderly man with a long beard entered to pay his respects.

He held a thick ledger in his hands, smiling, "Congratulations, Clan Head."

"Old An, what's the good news?" Zuoqiu Guanyu, in a good mood, smiled while painting.

Old An was his trusted companion from his youth, who had risen with him to become one of the Zuoqiu Clan's chief stewards, responsible for managing various accounts.

Old An placed the ledger aside and bowed, "Clan Head, the accounts from the major grain estates have been compiled. Heaven blesses our Zuoqiu Clan; this year's Five Fragrance Rice harvest is nearly twenty percent higher than usual."

"Twenty percent?" Zuoqiu Guanyu paused, showing satisfaction. "Old An, this is indeed great news."

In his good mood, his brush strokes became even more vigorous and spirited.

The Zuoqiu Clan's industries were diverse, but agriculture remained their core. They held the advantage of Five Fragrance Rice and Jade Finger Wheat seeds.

Most clans in Qing'an Commandery planted these crops because of their high yield and quality. Once planted, there was no worry about sales, and they could earn more money for their families.

It was precisely because the Zuoqiu Clan controlled the agricultural foundation of Qing'an Commandery that they grew stronger and eventually became a fourth-grade behemoth.

With such a large-scale grain production, a twenty percent increase was indeed a cause for celebration.

"Clan Head, with the increased yield of Five Fragrance Rice, our grain warehouses are running out of space," Old An bowed and said. "We need to expedite the sale of Jade Finger Wheat seeds to make room. As per tradition, we can slightly lower the price of Jade Finger Wheat seeds to win over the other clans."

"Lower the price of Jade Finger Wheat seeds?" Zuoqiu Guanyu frowned and shook his head. "No, our Qingfeng Trading Company is currently in a price war with Shouda Trading Company. Although the situation is favorable, the money burn is intense. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Qian Clan is merely a fifth-grade clan; they are notoriously wealthy. This stalemate could last for another decade or two."

"Let's raise the price of Jade Finger Wheat seeds by twenty percent this time to offset some of our losses from Qingfeng Trading Company."

Old An's face tightened, and he quickly said, "Clan Head, raising the price might cause discontent among the clans. I fear they might refuse to buy."

"Refuse to buy? That would be perfect," Zuoqiu Guanyu laughed coldly, putting down his brush. "Do you know about the Changning Wang's Clan? They also produce and sell grain seeds, specifically Wang's Clan's No. 19 rice variety and Wang's Clan's No. 23 wheat variety."

"I've had people investigate. These seeds are barely considered high-quality, just a notch below our Five Fragrance Rice and Jade Finger Wheat. However, the Changning Wang's Clan has reaped substantial profits from them."

"What do you mean, Clan Head?" Old An asked cautiously.

"Hmph, if the other clans refuse to accept the price increase, we will sell our Jade Finger Wheat and Five Fragrance Rice seeds to Longzuo Commandery, suppressing the Changning Wang's Clan's grain seed market," Zuoqiu Guanyu said confidently. "Our Zuoqiu Clan is at a critical juncture of transformation. It's time to change some of our conservative strategies. Starting next year, we will expand our grain production base and output, no longer limiting ourselves to the small Qing'an Commandery."

"But Clan Head..." Old An hesitated, "Expanding the grain production base requires cultivating more high-quality farmland and training more agricultural experts. Previously, to prevent technology leakage, our agricultural experts were all core members of the Zuoqiu Clan, loyal and devoted..."

"We can expand the selection and training of agricultural experts to reliable collateral members and strengthen management," Zuoqiu Guanyu said confidently. "As for high-quality farmland, we can purchase it at a premium from other clans. In any case, this expansion is inevitable for the Zuoqiu Clan's development."

"Yes, Clan Head," Old An's eyes flashed with a hint of worry.

However, since the Clan Head had made such a decision, it must have been discussed with the Elder Council.

Now, it was beyond the control of a mere chief steward like him.

The Zuoqiu Clan's orders quickly spread throughout Qing'an Commandery, and all the grain warehouses began to faithfully execute the Clan Head's commands.

However, the situation developed in a way completely different from Zuoqiu Guanyu's expectations.

Although the Wang Clan had previously sold Wang's Clan's No. 19 rice variety and Wang's Clan's No. 23 wheat variety, their grain seed development was far more advanced.

This time, the Wang Clan introduced several mature wheat varieties, each suited to different regional conditions and catering to the various needs of the clans.

Thanks to Wang Shouzhe's foresight, many small and medium-sized clans in Qing'an Commandery had already tasted the benefits of the Wang Clan's high-yield seeds and secretly purchased them.

Initially, many clans, despite knowing about the Wang Clan's high-yield seeds, hesitated to switch due to their long-standing relationship with the Zuoqiu Clan. They continued to order Zuoqiu Clan's seeds.

But with the price hike, those hesitant clans were immediately displeased.

Zuoqiu Clan's seeds were already expensive, and this price increase would significantly reduce their profits, making them only slightly more profitable than ordinary seeds sold by the Holy Land Academy.

Consequently, many clans canceled their orders with the Zuoqiu Clan in a fit of anger and secretly purchased the Wang Clan's high-yield seeds.

As this trend grew, even the clans that had firmly stood by the Zuoqiu Clan began to waver.

If other clans planted the Wang Clan's high-yield seeds and made big profits while they stuck with the Zuoqiu Clan's seeds, what if they couldn't sell their grain due to reduced competitiveness?

Unnoticed, the number of clans buying Wang Clan's seeds grew, gradually sweeping across Qing'an Commandery.

……

Over a month later.

Zuoqiu Guanyu had completed his copy of "Guiding the Mountains and Rivers" and was enjoying a pot of tea, admiring his work.

As a Celestial Realm Purple Mansion seed and the Clan Head, he naturally had high hopes for the future. This copy of the painting contained his ambitions and expectations.

"Clan Head, Clan Head, something terrible has happened."

Old An hurried into the study to report, his face filled with panic. "We've received messages from the grain warehouses in various regions. Many of the noble families are refusing to buy our premium wheat seeds. The storerooms are full, and we can't store the Five-Spice Rice seeds."

"What?" Zuoqiu Guanyu frowned slightly. "Impossible. While it's expected that some families would resist, we're almost past the optimal planting period for winter wheat. Have they gone mad? Are they planting regular seeds instead?"

"It's not like that," Old An replied, his face pale. "Initially, some families refused to buy, so I had people investigate. Now it's clear. Somehow, new types of wheat seeds have appeared on the market, named Number 27, Number 43, and Number 59! Each has its own advantages, but rumors say that every type yields at least thirty percent more than our 'Jade Finger Wheat'!"

"Thirty percent more? At least?" Zuoqiu Guanyu jumped up in disbelief. "How is that possible?"

Suddenly, something flashed through his mind.

His heart skipped a beat. "Wait, why do these seed names sound so familiar?"

A sense of foreboding rose at the back of Zuoqiu Guanyu's mind, sending a chill down his spine.

...

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