388 Recruitment
In the escort business, there had to be vagabonds with prestige in both the bad and good fields. These people could deal with the officials on both sides. After entering the city, the government could not arrest them. After entering the forest, the bandits did not dare to offend them.
Therefore, in order to establish an escort business, one had to first have powerful strength, thirdly, have a powerful relationship, and fourthly, have a powerful backer.
Otherwise, no one would dare to do it.
Currently, the Great Zhou Dynasty’s escort agency was divided into three parts. The largest escort agency was called Blood Blade. It was said that the backer behind it was a great eunuch in the palace. No one dared to provoke him.
Where did Yu Youyao get the confidence to say that she wanted to run an escort business?
Yu Youyao said calmly, “Hanging the emblem of the Xie Residence when you’re carrying out the escort is equivalent to clearing most of the trade routes. As for your backer, is Yin Huaixi enough? I have both powerful connections and backers. The only thing we need to resolve now is the manpower problem. I already have some ideas about this.”
Zhou Yonghe’s heart skipped a beat. “In the martial world, relationships, righteousness, and etiquette are important. As the saying goes, even thieves have morals, and bandits also have righteousness. Some famous bandits have three tribulations. First, they don’t rob others of their feelings, second, they don’t rob others of their righteousness, and third, they don’t rob others of their etiquette. If we can really use Young Master Yin’s name to do things, most bandits won’t rob us. In addition, with the Xie Residence’s connections and channels in the martial world, this escort business can be opened.”
He also understood that Eldest Miss Yu had not said it casually. She had really thought it through.
However, he was a little curious.
In the past month, Ye Hanyuan of the You Prefecture had beaten the drum and reported to the Marquis of Changxing that he wanted to seek justice for King You. This month, it caused an uproar. Almost every day, someone would be beheaded in public. Every day, there would be families of offenders who passed by Chang An Street and were sent into exile. Everyone in the capital was in a state of panic.
The heir, Yin Huaixi, had always lived in the palace. Not only had the emperor sent the best imperial physicians from the Imperial Physician Court to treat the heir, but he had also recruited famous doctors from all over the world to treat his illness.
Everyone knew that as long as the Divine Arms Battalion escorted the Marquis of Changxing into the capital, King You’s injustice would be completely resolved.
Not to mention that King You’s contributions in guarding Youzhou were also famous and respected in the martial world. There were many martial artists who cleared the way for Young Master Yin. Just based on how much the emperor valued Yin Huaixi, no one dared to rob him.
Yu Yao nodded. “I am setting up an escort business to gather wealth from the south, north, east, and west. However, I don’t have many people I can use, and there are even fewer people I can trust. If I send you to manage the escort business, can you do it?”
Once the escort business became large-scale and filled the north, south, east, and west trade routes, the world would be in chaos in the future. She would control a group of escorts who were not weak in terms of martial strength and could navigate the good and bad. Her supplies and personal safety would also be guaranteed. This would become her greatest capital to establish herself in troubled times.
Therefore, the escort was just a cover-up.
She was recruiting.
She had enough money and enough assets in her hands. The escort business did not bet on others’ supplies. They only used her own supplies. There was also a huge prize pool to beat the north, south, east, and west regions.
Considering Zhou Yonghe, other than the fact that there were really no useful people on hand, there was another reason. Zhou Yonghe was smart enough, and he was also good at the ways of the world. Not to mention that he was quite knowledgeable and was suitable for heavy responsibilities.
“This…” Zhou Yonghe was a little hesitant at first.
First of all, he was just a weak scholar. If he was asked to manage a group of martial arts escorts with unique skills, it would be a question whether he could convince the crowd.
However, immediately after, he thought of his father, who had died tragically to help him study.
He thought about how he had ruined his reputation and future.
He thought of how much his mother had suffered in Zhouzhuang because she had lost her pillar of support at home.
He thought of how much his younger siblings had been bullied…
He had no right to resent anyone because he wasn’t strong enough.
Now, there was a chance to change his fate in front of him. Should he refuse?
He also knew that there was only one chance. If he lost this chance, he would forever lose the chance to take on a heavy responsibility in front of Yu Youyao.
Should he give up?
Zhou Yonghe, you’re well-read. Are you really willing to only be a small guest in the manor forever?
As his mind raced, Zhou Yonghe made a decision.
He bowed and cupped his hands. “I won’t let you down.”
As expected of a smart person, Yu Youyao smiled. “You’ll be in charge of the escort business first. I’m the daughter of an official, so it’s not appropriate for me to interact with these people. In two days, I’ll use some money to get registration using a descendant of the Xie family’s side branch. In the future, when you’re outside, use my identity to do things. The escort business isn’t something that can be done in a day or two. Don’t be anxious. We’ll take it slow.”
Zhou Yonghe nodded. “Alright, I’ll plan the entire case first. I’ll discuss it with you later.”
Yu Youyao nodded. “That’s good.”
Now that she had made a decision about the escort business, it could be considered a huge rock in her heart. She might have to face all kinds of difficulties in the future, but money could make the world go round. What she did not lack the most was money. She had money and connections to open a path for herself. With the heir of King You behind her, perhaps in the future, with King You’s support, there was nothing she could not do.
The first step to making big money was to make full use of all the capital she could use.
Her greatest asset was the Xie family.
Also, there was her cousin!
Yu Youyao’s eyes darted around as she instructed Chun Xiao, “Bring over the medicinal loquat paste I made yesterday.”
When Yu Youyao took the loquat paste to the Green House to look for her cousin, Zhou Linghuai was writing calligraphy in the study. His calligraphy was still something that Chang An had complained about countless times.
Seeing Yu Youyao poking her head out of the door, Zhou Linghuai paused for a moment. The aura on the tip of his brush froze for a moment before completely dissipating.
After writing more than half of the cursive script, he finally finished it in one go. However, he was exhausted and destroyed with a thought.
Zhou Linghuai threw the brush into the brush wash. He looked up and saw Yu Youyao dawdling at the door without coming in. “Why do you have time to look for me? Have you finished reading the account book?”
During this period of time, Yu Youyao had been stimulated by something and was focused on entering the account book.
Other than studying every day, she spent the rest of her time on the account book. Sometimes, she even held a thick account book when she ate.
Even in The Green House where she had only been here a few times.
Every time he saw her, she was either reading the account book or asking him questions about the accounts.
Yu Youyao carried her dress into the house. “Didn’t I say that I was going to make loquat paste for Cousin? I specially took the time to make it and sent it to you.”
Zhou Linghuai did not say anything and just looked at her steadily.
Yu Youyao felt guilty under his gaze, and her eyes flashed with panic. She quickly went to the table, poured some hot water, and opened the porcelain box containing the loquat paste. The honey-yellow loquat paste was like honey cream.