Chapter 523: Visitors

It was the fourth lunar month, late spring. Summer was just around the corner. Flowers were in full bloom and the trees were lush in Pingxi Prefecture at this time of year.

On the sixth day of the fourth lunar month, the evening sky was clear and the cool breeze was blowing. Two handsome black rhinodrake steeds appeared at the eastern gates of Pingxi City, pulling along a black luxurious four-wheeled carriage behind them.

The passenger compartment of the black carriage had a calming atmosphere. The stained glass pane on the door was framed by pure silver, which added a sophisticated and elegant touch to it. On the carriage, there was a copper dragon and tiger seal near the coachman’s seat. These were the few features that allowed people with discerning eyes to immediately identify the carriage as a product of the manufacturing bureau. It was rumored that the manufacturing bureau had a long waiting list of thirty years just for placing an order for a four-wheeled carriage as the item was in short supply. Therefore, whoever rode in this kind of carriage would naturally be extremely wealthy and prestigious.

The carriage was escorted by eight warriors who carried bows and swords with them. They were either riding on their rhinodrake steeds in front or behind the carriage. Since there was no way someone who could travel in such style would be up to any funny business, the soldiers guarding the gates only scanned them with their eyes before allowing the carriage and its escorts into the city.

When the carriage was only less than a hundred meters past the entrance, there was already a crowd in the alley at the side of the road. Many people lined the alley. The queue extended into the main street. People were lining up with a pouch or a can in their hands while excitedly discussing something with each other. At the same time, more people were seen joining the line with a bag or a can.

If this was some other carriage, it probably would have ignored these people and gone past them. However, the black carriage pulled up to the side of the street when it noticed people lining up. A man’s voice rang out from the carriage’s window, “Rengui, go see what’s going on!”

“Yes, Second Master!” One of the young guards at the side immediately jumped off his rhinodrake steed when he heard the voice coming from inside the carriage, then went into the crowd. After conversing with an elderly man who was in the queue, he came back to the carriage’s window and respectfully replied, “Second Master, a mill which is powered by an Aquapyro Engine has just opened up in this alley today. As the first day of business, the owner of the mill is offering to grind up to two sheng [1] of grains or noodles for the townsfolk for free. When everyone heard the news, they all came here to line up…”

“Alright, understood. Let’s go!” the voice said, then the exquisite stained glass window of the carriage was shut again. The ‘Second Master’ in the carriage turned his head to the side to look at the girl sitting beside him. With a rueful voice, he said, “We just sent someone to buy two Aquapyro Engines from the manufacturing bureau last month. They were handed over to your Sixth Uncle and he is in the midst of dismantling and studying the engine with the artisans back at home. I heard they have only started making progress and managed to conclude that it’s not too difficult to replicate this invention. Little did I expect a mill powered by an Aquapyro Engine to be set up in Pingxi City so soon… That’s really too fast…”

This ‘Second Master’ was none other than the ‘Second Uncle’ who watched the duel between Yan Liqiang and Cai Yingwu of the Soaring Heaven Sect from the hill at the Heavenly Lake on the first day of the first lunar month. His name was Zhong Hongzhang, the second brother to the head of Lan Province’s Zhong Clan, Zhong Hongyan.

Sitting next to Zhong Hongzhang was a beautiful lady dressed in white. After hearing his words, she smiled. “A four-wheeled carriage from the manufacturing bureau is at least five thousand taels of silver. Not only that, the price is non-negotiable. It is undoubtedly the most profitable business in the Great Han Empire. Yet, this Aquapyro Engine they made is only sold at eight hundred taels of silver each. That’s less than one-sixth of a four-wheeled carriage. However, I can tell that the process of constructing the Aquapyro Engine isn’t any simpler than the four-wheeled carriage. It might just be even more complicated and require much more effort. The cost isn’t really much cheaper either. Instead of using his resources in the manufacturing bureau to make more four-wheeled carriages to make more money, he is spending them on making the less profitable Aquapyro Engines. What do you think that Yan Liqiang is trying to do, Second Uncle…?”

“Hmm…” Zhong Hongzhang frowned slightly under the lady’s gaze while stroking his beard. He thought for a moment before speaking, “I heard that the Aquapyro Engine was invented by Yan Liqiang and Zhang Yourong, the best engineer in the world. The Soul Mountain Sect’s Thousand Engineering Hall admitted to this. Due to this, many people are starting to compare Yan Liqiang’s knowledge in the path of mechanics and the investigation of things to Zhang Yourong. They think that Yan Liqiang might not be inferior to Zhang Yourong. If Yan Liqiang isn’t after money for making the manufacturing bureau produce the Aquapyro Engine, then he’s after the fame. His reputation will go wherever the Aquapyro Engine goes. A good reputation will naturally bring numerous benefits. Even now, people are referring to them as ‘Zhang of the East and Yan of the West!”

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“You are certainly right, Second Uncle. Yet, I still have a feeling that Yan Liqiang perhaps has other motives for making the manufacturing bureau spend so much effort in making the Aquapyro Engine!”

“Oh, what do you think Yan Liqiang is after then, if not for money or fame, Ruolan?”

Zhong Roulan knitted her eyebrows together. “Maybe he just wants to popularize the use of Aquapyro Engines. He might not even mind if someone else purchases one to replicate and make it into a business that rivals the manufacturing bureau!”

“Out of all the things I’ve seen throughout my entire life, people always do things for a reason. If Yan Liqiang wasn’t after the money or the fame, then he must have a bigger ulterior motive. If someone buys the Aquapyro Engine and replicates it, it’s none of his business on how it will be used. He can’t even stop the Grand Chancellor and Northwestern Transport Commissioner from finding someone to replicate them if they wanted to. So why did he bother to waste his effort on such a thing?”

Zhong Ruolan let out a soft sigh. “That’s why I am puzzled and fail to wrap my head around it. I just can’t figure out his intention in doing this. It’s really difficult to understand him…”

“It’s alright. If you can’t figure it out, then you can take your time to observe. Our purpose in coming to Pingxi Prefecture this time is him. There are many talented ones among the younger generation of the Zhong Clan, yet the head clan still thinks that you are the best out of them, regardless of age, capability, appearance, and other criteria. He reckons that you are the best candidate to take on this responsibility and are most suitable to take a trip to Pingxi Prefecture with me!” Zhong Hongzhang cast a meaningful glance at his niece. “I’ll leave this important task in your hands.”

Zhong Ruolan’s eyes turned moist when he heard Zhong Hongzhang’s words. Her face turned into a lovely shade of red, but her expression remained calm. She spoke with determination and haughtiness, “Don’t worry, Second Uncle. The Clan Head spoke to me before I came here. He said that the Zhong Clan doesn’t belong to one person but everyone in the family. I am also part of the Zhong Clan. I know what I should do…”

“Good to hear that. The northwestern provinces are filled with talented and good-looking young men, yet none of them can compare to Yan Liqiang. I’ve seen Yan Liqiang once at the Heavenly Lake before. From afar, he indeed looks like a tall and handsome young man!”

“Second Uncle…!” Zhong Ruolan’s face went a shade redder as she pouted.

“Hahaha, alright, I’ll stop. You’ll know your Second Uncle isn’t lying as soon as you meet Yan Liqiang…!” Zhong Hongzhang laughed, then let out another rueful sigh. “The Lu Clan of Pingxi Prefecture is indeed fortunate!”

The black carriage traveled in Pingxi City at an unhurried pace. In just a flash, it arrived on another main street in the city. By now, it was almost time for dinner. On the street, there were many beggars, young and old lining up at the entrance of the newly opened ‘Yan Benevolence Hall’ with bowls and chopsticks in their hands. After receiving some vegetarian porridge and steamed buns at the entrance of the Benevolence Hall, they crouched at the roadside and ate their food with relish…

When the black carriage passed by the Yan Benevolence Hall, the window was opened again. The people inside the carriage swept their gazes across the signboard but the carriage carried on without stopping.

In just less than fifteen minutes, the black carriage and its escorts arrived at a secluded lavish manor in the more affluent part of Pingxi City. An old man dressed in steward clothes was waiting respectfully at the entrance with more than ten other people. As soon as the passengers alighted the carriage, they were led into the manor…