The guards of the Liang Mansion, all mounted on their warhorses, had maintained a swift pace for Liang Xiao's entourage.
Having lost their mounts and forced to travel on foot while leading the refugee tribes, they only entered Yanzhou City two days later.
Liang Xiao immediately arranged for the Liang Mansion's staff to guide the refugee tribes to their granted fief in Anxi County, north of Yanzhou City, before returning to the Liang Mansion with Luo Qingxue and the others.
Liang Yun and Liang Wen were already waiting and handed Liang Xiao a stack of documents.
Liang Xiao glanced at them and nodded with satisfaction.
With the barbarian retreat and Liang Xiao's extensive land acquisition, land prices in Yanzhou had indeed risen!
However, through the negotiations of Liang Yun and Liang Wen, the marginal farmlands in the northern region remained at four hundred *wen* per *mu*, while those outside the north increased to seven hundred *wen*. The price hikes were within an acceptable range.
Liang Xiao stated sternly, "Regarding the Qin Sheng's one million taels, purchase as much land as possible, do not hesitate!"
"Second Brother, you've already stockpiled over two million *mu*. In Yanzhou, apart from fertile land and official lands that are currently not for sale, we've bought everything we could..." Liang Yun sighed.
Since the discovery of the new crop, Xiao Qing had issued a nationwide decree, under the guise of land consolidation, prohibiting the sale of official lands!
Even if Xiao Qing allowed it, Liang Xiao would not have bought official land from his 'little frost boy.' He nodded, "Then cease acquisitions. It's enough."
Of the one million taels delivered by Qin Sheng, three hundred and twenty thousand remained. This portion, due to the connection with Yi Zui Bai Nian, Liang Xiao felt at ease to utilize.
As Liang Xiao had promised to train ten thousand elite troops for Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing had instructed the Ministry of War to forge weapons for Liang Xiao's private forces, saving Liang Xiao a considerable expense. Liang Xiao only needed to arrange for the soldiers' accommodation and pay their salaries and living expenses.
These ten thousand elites would also require allocation from the Northern Marshal, Lü Yi.
Liang Yun then mustered his courage and said, "Second Brother, please transfer my duties and dividends to Eldest Brother! Even if Eldest Brother is busy with the Imperial Guards, Eldest Sister-in-law can oversee the wine shop, and nothing will go wrong!"
Liang Xiao looked at Liang Yun with surprise, asking, "Have you finally come to your senses and wish to do business on your own?"
Liang Yun nodded solemnly, "I've thought it through. Our Liang Mansion only has three male heirs left, and we must maximize our development. Eldest Brother and I have discussed this. If my business fails, I will return to supervise the wine shop again. What do you think, Second Brother?"
Liang Xiao nodded with relief, his expression serious, "This is a good thing. You should aim for grand achievements. Buy land whenever you can. Remember not to get carried away and commit any wrongdoing. Pay taxes as required, and do not bring shame to the Liang Mansion. Because of my influence, noble families are constantly waiting to impeach us for any mistake."
Liang Yun excitedly agreed.
After a moment's thought, Liang Xiao added, "In a while, I will prepare some new things. You can also expand our industries with me."
Liang Yun's face was filled with anticipation as he prepared to return to Yanzhou.
Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Jian Qinwan watched the two brothers displaying such amity and felt relieved.
Liang Wen sighed, "Young Master, with over two million *mu* of land, recruiting people to cultivate and manage it will require considerable resources. I fear I alone cannot manage it all."
Luo Qingxue offered, "Perhaps I could try?"
Liang Xiao smiled gently, "If Qingxue wants to try, she should do so back in the capital, where we reside permanently."
He knew very well that Luo Qingxue wished to share his burdens and not lose face to Liang Xiao, at least not to be outdone by Qin Feng's wife, Zhi Rou.
Luo Qingxue's heart filled with sweetness, and she obediently agreed.
Seeing the few new white hairs on Liang Wen's head, Liang Xiao said, "Steward, my return to Yanzhou is to bring you suitable helpers."
Liang Xiao summoned thirty-five aides from the East Sea, led by Liu Fan. They were astonished upon seeing the documents for two million *mu* of land.
What an astonishing quantity!
"Marquis An Guo, buying so much marginal land..." Liu Fan expressed some concern.
"Do not worry. I have foresight. What we need now are helpers. Those among you familiar with this area can train with the steward. Others will be assigned different tasks, such as managing the subordinate troops, the ten thousand imperial troops, and future Marquis Mansion affairs."
After a round of selections, Chen He and ten other aides were chosen to assist Liang Wen in managing the lands and Liang Si in managing the fief.
Liu Fan and the remaining twenty-five were tasked with assisting in Liang Xiao's miscellaneous and military affairs.
The thirty-five former students of the East Sea were immensely excited. After ten years of unnoticed study, it was the unfamiliar Liang Xiao who allowed them to fully utilize their learning!
After Liang Xiao arranged accommodation for everyone, he took Jian Qinwan and Li Hongshu, among others, to the Anxi County fief, accompanied by the Imperial Guards.
Xiao Qing's recent ennoblement had increased Liang Xiao's fief to five thousand households.
The Imperial Guards who had accompanied Liang Xiao to Yanzhou were under imperial orders. They were to remain until Liang Xiao had handled the allocation of the ten thousand troops by the court before returning to the capital, thus temporarily overseeing Liang Xiao's defenses.
On the plaza, Yang Xi, the magistrate of Anxi County, looked at the refugee tribesmen and felt a massive headache coming on.
Liang Xiao had entrusted him with arranging accommodation for the refugees, but the houses in Anxi County did not belong to Yang Xi personally.
Yang Xi couldn't help but ask the administrator of Liang Xiao's fief, "Mr. Liang, does Marquis An Guo have any other instructions?"
Liang Si replied, "Buying houses! Young Master intends to purchase all the sturdy houses in Anxi County. This will not only generate income for Anxi County but also solve the housing problem for these refugees!"
"Brilliant!" Yang Xi's eyes lit up, and his beard trembled with excitement.
Liang Xiao's previous visit had transformed Anxi County, at least ensuring everyone had enough to eat.
Now, they were to increase revenue for Anxi County, which had many vacant houses, achieving two objectives with one action!
Yue Qingtian, standing beside him, patted Yang Xi on the shoulder, brimming with heroic spirit, "Magistrate Yang, rest assured. With me and my tribesmen here, no one will dare to cause trouble!"
Yang Xi's shoulder ached from Yue Qingtian's pat, and he managed a weak smile, "Gently, gently."
Yue Qingtian chuckled. Liang Si immediately began counting banknotes to purchase houses.
The housing prices in Yanzhou were the lowest in the country, and the prices in Anxi County were the lowest in Yanzhou…
On average, each house cost only eight taels. To accommodate Liang Xiao's future private troops, Liang Si, under Liang Xiao's instruction, acquired a total of two thousand houses, nearly buying out the entire county!
After a busy period of transactions, Yang Xi looked at the one hundred and sixty hundred-tael banknotes in his hand, tears streaming down his face, his hands trembling. He immediately dispatched someone to report the situation truthfully to Liu Anmin, the Prefect of Yanzhou.
This was not only an achievement but also funds for improving the livelihoods of the people of Anxi County!
Liang Xiao had helped them solve their food problem, but Anxi County was desperately poor. To become prosperous, a tremendous opportunity was needed.
Liang Xiao, whose fief was in Anxi County, had precisely provided them with that opportunity!
After Liang Xiao's arrival, Yang Xi bowed and thanked him again before escorting Liang Xiao to inspect his new fief.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao would not collect taxes and was willing to hire them to farm, the newly added two thousand households were filled with gratitude.
Jian Qinwan stood behind Liang Xiao. Seeing Yue Qingtian approaching from a distance, she instinctively moved a few steps closer to Liang Xiao, alert.
Yue Qingtian noticed this and couldn't help but ask, "Marquis, this young Bodhisattva lady, could she be your wife, the wife of Marquis An Guo?"
"I am not..."
Before Jian Qinwan could protest, the people in the distance bowed to her, saying, "Greetings, Madam Marquis An Guo!"
Jian Qinwan was both embarrassed and annoyed, and simply hid behind Liang Xiao, not daring to show her face.
Li Hongshu, who had always been taciturn, called out loudly, "Indeed! Everyone, this is one of Marquis An Guo's future wives... well, our junior sister, the Zither Immortal of our generation. Strictly speaking, she is also one of the contributors whom Marquis An Guo has hired to farm for you!"
"Senior Sister Li is right!" The other senior sisters chimed in in agreement.
"We thank Madam Marquis An Guo, for she is beautiful and kind-hearted!"
Hearing the people's praise, Jian Qinwan stumbled, nearly falling. She now wished she could find a hole to crawl into!
Her usually doting senior sisters, especially the stern-faced Senior Sister Li Hongshu, had betrayed her!
Jian Qinwan still wanted to struggle and clarify, but then she heard Li Hongshu say, "News came from the Heavenly Mountain earlier. Our Master and Mistress, as well as Junior Sister's Master—the current Three Sages of Great Gan: Sword Sage, Medicine Sage, and Zither Sage—have all agreed to this marriage. And they insist that Marquis An Guo be responsible for Junior Sister. We are merely carrying out orders and choosing a good place to announce it publicly!"
What? Even my doting father sold me out?!