Watching the charcoal transport teams struggling with ox carts on the difficult journey to Taoyuan, they thought it over and said to the magistrates: "If possible, you should repair the roads in each county."
"As the saying goes, 'To get rich, build roads first.' We definitely won't sell charcoal for just one year; we'll sell it every year from now on. This year we were lucky—it didn't rain much, so the roads weren't muddy. But if we're unlucky next year and the charcoal for the officials gets ruined…"
"Repair them! We'll repair them as soon as we return." Magistrates Wu and Min calculated the commercial taxes from Chen Liejiu's charcoal in their counties and agreed to road repairs without hesitation.
Previously, they hadn't thought much about road repair because it wasn't necessary. Even if roads were built, few people used them—it was costly and labor-intensive, especially since conscripting labor made the people complain endlessly.
People preferred paying to avoid labor service rather than sending their own family members to serve. Since there were no places in their jurisdictions that needed bridge or road building, the magistrates were happy to let them pay instead.
But now it was different.
To protect the commercial tax from Chen Liejiu's charcoal, the roads had to be repaired whether they liked it or not.
Xu Huaiqian suggested: "Give better treatment to the conscripted laborers, and they'll be willing to repair the roads."
Why were people unwilling to serve in labor service?
Mainly because it was hard— not enough to eat or wear, and they could be beaten by the bailiffs. Half a month of labor service could leave a person half-dead or completely exhausted.
Those conscripted were often the pillars of their families. If the pillar fell, the family would collapse. So they had to use money to avoid disaster.
Magistrate Wu nodded: "With your commercial tax and the annual labor service taxes we collect, road repairs won't hardship the people."
It wasn't that the government was cruel—sometimes officials had no choice. Higher-ups pressed hard, funds were limited, and to avoid trouble, they had to pressure those below.
Fortunately, their prefect was lazy and pleasure-seeking, never thinking of moving elsewhere and completely indifferent to local development. He hadn't conscripted labor for many years.
Now, with their own funds for conscription, they didn't have to worry about burdening the people.
"Let's build the kind of road we have in Xinghua Village." Chen Liejiu, hearing them discuss road repair, quickly interjected.
What was the point of building roads like those in the prefectural city? They were still hard to travel on when it rained.
"Xinghua Village's road?" Magistrate Wu paused. Last year, Chen Liejiu had reported road repairs to him, but it was only for village paths, so he hadn't paid attention. Now, hearing this, it seemed their road was something special.
"It's a coal cinder road." Xu Huaiqian explained. Mainly because they didn't have asphalt; if they had asphalt mixed with coal cinders, the road would be almost as good as concrete.
Unfortunately, in this era, they didn't know where to find asphalt.
"Our coal cinder road doesn't turn muddy even in heavy rain, and the surface is soft. Oxen and horses pulling heavy loads don't hurt their knees walking on it." Chen Liejiu had observed that when they rested with ox and horse carts in the prefectural city, the animals disliked walking on stone-brick roads the most.
Compared to the hard stone-brick roads of the prefectural city, they preferred softer dirt paths. After building the coal cinder road in Xinghua Village, he found the animals liked it even more.
"Since this road is for hauling goods anyway, why not build one that's better for hauling? Oxen and horses are both precious." As soon as Chen Liejiu spoke, Xu Huaiqian knew what he was thinking and quickly supported him.
The magistrates thought about it—it was true. Oxen and horses were precious. Oxen could haul goods and plow fields; it wasn't easy for people to buy one. Horses were even more valuable.
"But this coal cinder..."
"I can sell it to the county government at a low price." Chen Liejiu cut in. Coincidentally, after a year of burning charcoal, the accumulated coal cinders were piled mountain-high—even more than last year. They were just taking up space on the mountain. If the county repaired roads, his cinders would finally have a market.
Everyone present was sharp; they understood immediately. Magistrate Wu looked at the couple speechlessly: "You two are really obsessed with money—not even letting go of a little profit from cinders."
Xu Huaiqian smiled shamelessly: "Money keeps a county running. And it's not just for us—we have to share with the clan too."
Not to boast, but as soon as Chen Liejiu returned to Xinghua Village and paid everyone, whether Chen clan members or other tree-selling clans, with money in hand, they would immediately spend it in the county town.
The economy would be stimulated, and likely many households in Mishan County could have a good New Year this year.
Hearing this, Magistrate Yunmeng immediately had an idea: "Then I should encourage silk shops in our county to open more branches in your county." That would mean more taxes!
In fact, even without him saying it, how could Pei Wangshu in Yunmeng County not know about the huge charcoal activity in Taoyuan?
Last year, he had heard a bit about the charcoal business from Xu Huaiqian. Now, not only had Xu Huaiqian's charcoal really taken off, but it was selling so well.
He knew the charcoal-burning families in Xinghua would make a lot this year and had already urged his mother to open a new silk shop in Mishan County.
They wouldn't sell expensive silk, just mid to low-grade silk fabrics. There would always be people who made money and wanted to enjoy it, spending freely.
It had to be said that Pei Wangshu was truly clever—he seized the opportunity before others. When Chen Liejiu returned to the village to pay everyone, he launched a series of new store promotions and made a fortune.
But such a big commotion in Taoyuan County ultimately didn't escape the notice of Yong'an Prefecture's governor. Some honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted people had already reported the news to Governor Tai Anxiang of Yong'an on the day Xinghua Village sent out a hundred ox carts of charcoal.
"What?!" When Tai Anxiang first learned that someone had made such a big stir right under his nose, he was so angry he smashed a teacup.
Dozens of ships buying charcoal in Taoyuan County—no doubt there was significant profit involved.
Handled properly, couldn't he skim thousands or even tens of thousands of taels?
But the magistrates under him had deceived those above and below, never reporting this. Were they getting ambitious and currying favor with higher-ups, or were they just stupid enough to think he wouldn't notice such a big event in their remote area?
Seeing Governor Tai's shame-filled anger, his subordinate egged him on: "Your Excellency, what about this charcoal business..."
"Don't act rashly." Angry as he was, Tai Anxiang still had brains. "First investigate their backing. Those who come by ship to buy charcoal can't be nobodies. Also, find out the charcoal's price and where it's produced. Once we're sure there's no big fish behind them, we'll close the net."
Promotion was something Tai Anxiang no longer thought about. Since being transferred to this godforsaken Yong'an Prefecture as governor, he knew that unless he could achieve results here far surpassing those of prosperous prefectures, there was no chance of advancement—only demotion awaited him.
So, upon arriving, he never intended to achieve anything. With no money and no industry in Yong'an Prefecture, he couldn't accomplish much anyway. Better to skim more silver, bribe all the officials evaluating governors, and safely be the local king here for life.
Over the years, relying on proceeds from the exam hall sales and various other fees in Yong'an Prefecture, he had lived very comfortably here.
No need to strive for evaluations, no worry about poor performance leading to demotion—just offer tribute to higher-ups every year. How great.
Tai Anxiang wanted such days to last until his retirement. But now, before retirement, someone couldn't wait to challenge his authority.
Of course he was angry, but he had to stay calm and figure out who these people were.
He knew Min Wenkai, the magistrate of Taoyuan—a Juren who became magistrate, somewhat capable but timid due to his background. After so many years as magistrate with a dock, he had never shown any ambition.
This sudden move made Tai Anxiang suspect he might have connected with some powerful backing.
Thinking this, Tai Anxiang's gaze sharpened. If Min Wenkai had connections, that was one thing. But if he didn't...
Taoyuan County was close to Yong'an Prefecture, so the big commotion in Taoyuan couldn't be hidden from Yong'an's residents.
Within days, news spread throughout Yong'an that dozens of large ships had come to Taoyuan to buy charcoal.
At that time, Magistrate Gu Fengchao, who was bored playing with his court gavel in the county office, heard these words and instinctively looked toward the prefect's office.
He frowned, unsure whether this was the prefect's doing or the magistrates' own initiative.
If it was the prefect's move, why wouldn't he do it in Yong'an instead of Taoyuan?
And from what the people of Yong'an said, they had only just found out—clearly, this was likely the magistrates' own initiative.
If it were the prefect, he would have sent many soldiers to guard it long ago.
"Interesting. A magistrate daring to challenge the prefect's authority." After figuring it out, Gu Fengchao mused and had his servant prepare a horse. He wanted to go to Taoyuan to see what capabilities this magistrate had.
What capabilities did the magistrate of Taoyuan have? None at all.
When Chen Liejiu first rented his dock, Min Wenkai thought it would just be a small boat coming and going, unnoticed.
He never expected such a huge stir. But seeing how calm Xu Huaiqian and Chen Liejiu were, he felt that given their initial cautiousness in avoiding the prefect's attention, such boldness must mean they had a plan.
After all, with their greedy prefect above, if he found out the business was started by Xu Huaiqian and Chen Liejiu, they wouldn't escape either. So he decided to set his mind at ease for now.
Although Chen Liejiu had considered this, they had used all available connections. Now that things had developed to this point, he decided to let things take their course—, soldiers will be blocked by generals, floodwaters by earthworks. If the prefect dared confiscate their charcoal mountain, he would go to the capital to appeal to the Emperor.
The clansmen in Xinghua Village lacked experience and courage—they didn't dare appeal to the Emperor, afraid they couldn't survive the flogging. But Chen Liejiu wasn't afraid. What was sixty strikes? If he could reclaim the charcoal mountain and remove a corrupt official for the people, he'd take the beating.
If he died, the whole clan would bury him with honors. If disabled, the whole clan would support him honorably. As a man, achieving such glory—what more could he want?
The only regret was not being able to live freely with his little husband.