"Your grandson will take his leave now."
"Prepare for the merchant guild matters."
Wang Zhuo asked upon hearing this,
"Are there suitable candidates to manage and be responsible? Do we need people from the family?"
"No need, Grandfather. Now that we are profiting from salt sales, it is precisely the time when the Wang family needs its people. Besides, in recent years, I have also cultivated many talents who understand the art of commerce. Let them be responsible for preparing the merchant caravan."
Although Wang Jin said so, that wasn't the entire reason.
Among the entire Wang family, his cheap father was out of the question; he lacked ability. If he weren't the eldest son, he wouldn't have inherited the old man's family business.
Furthermore, his two illegitimate brothers, born of a concubine because Wang Jin's mother died young, were pure wastrels who spent their days eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling.
Second Uncle Wang Kun was engrossed in martial arts all day, possessing extraordinary Aptitude. He had hopes of reaching the Inner Energy Realm. To find an opportunity to break through, he traveled the four seas, leaving behind two twin brothers who were exceptionally strong from a young age and had high Aptitude for martial arts. They cultivated diligently at home all day, their minds filled with the Dao of martial arts, with no talent for studying or business.
Third Uncle Wang Cheng was the most troublesome. He was inherently greedy and constantly tried to extract some benefits from his eldest nephew. Forget about helping; it would be good if he didn't cause trouble. He had an only son who was also good-for-nothing.
And when the old man passed away, Wang Jin planned to send Third Uncle's family to accompany him. He was tired of seeing them all day.
Wang Jin planned to have the steward who managed the salt factory prepare the merchant guild. This person, named Shen San, was chosen by Wang Jin from among the adopted orphans. He possessed considerable business talent, and his loyalty was also guaranteed.
"Alright, go ahead."
Wang Jin bowed and took his leave, bringing A Hu and A Bao, who were waiting outside, preparing to return to his small courtyard to use the lottery draw after completing the side quest.
"Draw"
"Wei Imperial Guards * 100 extraction (Yes/No)"
"Haha, not bad. Although not as good as the first draw, it's still decent. I won't extract them for now. One hundred heavy infantry are not easy to hide. I'll extract them when they're needed."
Just as Wang Jin was feeling smug, A Hu rushed over, followed by a man covered in mud.
"What's wrong? Why the panic?"
"Young Lord, a tomb entrance has been dug up on Five Treasures Mountain, but when we tried to break in, there were many traps. Too many of the tomb robbers and laborers we've caught in recent years have died or been injured. Now they're causing trouble and don't want to dig anymore."
"Hmm? Let's go take a look. Call the idle brothers and bring weapons."
Wang Jin thought for a moment and decided to exchange for a few more crossbows just in case.
This tomb belonged to a prince from the previous dynasty.
It was a coincidence, actually. Two years ago, Wang Jin was drinking in a restaurant and overheard a geomancer and a tomb robber secretly plotting to excavate this tomb. Good Samaritan Wang, being helpful, kept them and brought their wives, children, and elderly to help with the excavation.
"Let's go, depart."
"We must leave the city before curfew, otherwise it will be difficult to carry weapons."
Rumble... Hoofbeats echoed on the small path in front of the mountain.
Dozens of burly men in strong attire, holding sharp blades, escorted a handsome Young Master directly to Five Treasures Mountain. There was no other way; Wang Jin didn't know martial arts and was afraid of death.
After about two hours, Wang Jin's backside was almost shattered before he arrived at the excavation site.
To avoid attracting attention and to save time on the excavation, a long, winding passage had been dug out.
Inside the passage, a white-haired old man in a Daoist robe was currently pacifying the agitated crowd.
"Everyone, listen to me! We have worked so hard for so long. Success is right before our eyes. Young Master Wang has promised that we will also get a share of the gold, silver, and treasures from this tomb. Besides, if you make a big fuss, that Young Master can be quite ruthless."
A scrawny man with a sallow face sneered and asked, "Does he dare to kill us? There are many traps inside. Who knows how many more will die if we go in again? Why doesn't he go?"
No sooner had he spoken than a crossbow bolt shot into his mouth, emerged from the back of his head, bringing out a spray of blood, and he fell to the ground.
The hundred or so people in the passage suddenly fell silent. They looked towards the passage entrance and saw a young man holding a crossbow, smiling at them.
"It seems my aim is pretty good, haha."
Saying this, he picked up another crossbow bolt, strung by a strong-attired warrior behind him, and aimed at the crowd. Whoever he aimed at shrunk back, trembling.
"With this little courage, you still dare to cause trouble and go on strike? Are you tired of living? Were the fine wines and delicacies I sent you every day for free? Was my money taken for nothing?"
"Now you want to leave? Too late!"
"Either go in and possibly not die, or don't go in and die now!"
As soon as his words fell, the warriors behind Wang Jin simultaneously drew their weapons and pointed them at the group of tomb robbers, who were covered in dust from long-term digging.
Some of these people showed fear, trembling, while others had fierce glints in their eyes, clenching their fists, ready to resist.
The Daoist-robed old man, seeing this, quickly shouted,
"Go, go, go! We'll go!"
As he spoke, he moved closer to two people who were preparing to resist.
"Quick, Liu San, Ma Liu, let's take people down again."
After getting closer,
He whispered to the two of them,
"We might not die if we go down, but if we confront this Young Master, we will definitely die. Look at that group of people, most of them are Inner Energy Realm experts, and they are holding sharp blades and powerful crossbows. Resisting is just throwing away our lives."
The two men exchanged glances upon hearing this and gradually released their clenched fists, their expressions helpless. There was nothing they could do; might made right.
"Let's go, one more time."
There was no choice; between a possible death and a certain death, they could only choose the possible.
They also hadn't expected Wang Jin to be so ruthless.