HUS Chapter 45: Feinting East, Striking West
HUS Chapter 45: Feinting East, Striking West
Dec 21, 2025
Early in the morning, Yang Can got up and was attended by Xiaotan as he washed and cleaned his face.
Last night's events seemed to have never happened.
Xiaotan wasn't embarrassed, so naturally Yang Can wasn't embarrassed either.
Yang Can brushed his teeth with a split willow twig dipped in green salt, pondering that given the opportunity, he should create a toothbrush.
It wasn't that he hadn't had this idea before, but this era had no patent law, and this thing had no technical difficulty.
The reason it hadn't appeared yet was simply that no one had thought of it.
As long as he could make it, people would immediately copy it but if he could own his own industry, that would be different.
He could produce and stockpile in advance, so that as soon as it appeared on the market, it would immediately fill the market.
Even if others learned it later, he could still earn the first pot of gold.
Moreover, in the subsequent market, it could also occupy a brand advantage.
So this money-making method wouldn't be made public until he had his own industry.
After finishing washing up and changing his robes, Yang Can went downstairs for breakfast.
In the hall, Li Damu and Xiao Qingmei had already arrived first.
As soon as Qingmei sat down, Sangzhi's meaningful gaze kept circling over her.
Last night, Qingmei had left quite late.
Because Qingmei knew approximately how long Yang Can could carry on.
This honest child had calculated the time, estimating it was about the same as usual before leaving.
It was already midnight by then.
Moreover, while sitting, she had kept her guard up against Yang Can, legs tensed, ready to "spring" at any moment.
As a result, because her leg muscles were too tense, she even got a cramp when going downstairs.
Seeing this scene, what could Sangzhi and Xiaotan think?
Qingmei also knew what Sangzhi's look meant, but this matter, the more you try to explain, the worse it gets.
Helplessly, Qingmei could only sit there sulking.
At this moment, Yang Can came down from upstairs leisurely with Xiaotan.
Seeing the culprit, Qingmei's big eyes immediately glared at him fiercely.
Yang Can raised his eyebrows at her in puzzlement.
This bastard is still playing dumb with me?
But his eyebrow-raising gesture really is quite attractive...
Bah!
Qingmei's gaze was only momentarily dazed before she immediately broke Yang Can's handsome man trap.
Stinking man, still trying to seduce me. Does this young lady seem so... shallow?
It's just raising an eyebrow. Who cares?
The breakfast ended with Sangzhi being thoughtful, Qingmei forcibly maintaining composure, Li Damu quite confused, and Yang Can perfectly at ease.
At this time, Estate Head Lai Gulu came to invite them, and Yang Can's group followed him out of the small courtyard.
This courtyard had good privacy, separated by high walls.
Entering the central courtyard, they saw nearly thirty Zhang family guards practicing morning drills on the training ground.
Iron-tipped spears glinted with cold light in the sunlight.
Most of these guards and servants were descendants of mixed Han and Longshang Rong, Man, and Di tribes.
Therefore, their physiques appeared particularly lean and capable.
The guard instructors Master Zhang selected were naturally the best picks.
...
On Zhang Yunyi's side, Feng'an Estate's accountants, field supervisors, granary overseers, and tenant heads had all arrived.
Seeing Yang Can's group approaching, Zhang Yunyi quickly glanced at Xiao Qingmei, who was half a step behind Yang Can.
Indeed, a delicate and exquisite little woman, her beauty surpassing Sangzhi and Xiaotan.
With her watching, Steward Yang couldn't steal any intimacy. His plan would need some adjustments.
For example... create an opportunity to catch the two of them "in the act"?
However, he couldn't do this until the time came to reveal everything. Wait and see.
Today was the first day Yang Can officially inspected Feng'an Estate.
So early in the morning, Master Zhang led a large group of people, accompanying Yang Can and the others in a comprehensive tour of Feng'an Estate.
The division of Feng'an Estate's fields, irrigation construction, supporting ditches, water storage ponds, grain storage area management, and mills, blacksmith shops for making and repairing farm tools...
Master Zhang also gave more detailed introductions about the estate's population:
Free citizens who owned small amounts of land and needed to pay grain and serve labor to the estate;
Dependent households who were civilians in peacetime and soldiers in wartime;
Landless tenant farmers who rented estate land, and so on.
As for those common people who had fled from the Central Plains or other clan-ruled areas for various reasons, Master Zhang naturally never mentioned them at all.
Master Zhang took them in, had them reclaim wasteland, and turned them into tenant farmers.
These tenants and the newly reclaimed land all belonged to Master Zhang. The Yu clan knew nothing about them.
As Yang Can toured casually, a floating corpse quietly appeared in the "moat" of Feng'an Fortress.
The man was thin and disheveled. Village people recognized him, his name was Zhen Laoshi.
Zhen Laoshi was a diligent self-cultivating farmer. Father and son had spent years reclaiming over ten mu of good land because his son fell ill from exhaustion, he borrowed usury from Master Zhang. The result was predictable.
His fields eventually went to the Zhang family. His son died of illness, his daughter-in-law remarried, and Zhen Laoshi went mad.
Now, the mad Zhen Laoshi had completely left this world.
Over the day, Yang Can gained some intuitive understanding of agricultural production, population management, tax payment, village rules and regulations here.
When they returned from their inspection tour, it was already evening.
Zhang Yunyi wanted to arrange another grand feast for Yang Can, but Yang Can politely declined.
"I appreciate the estate master's kind intention but eating rich food every day, the stomach can't handle it either. Let's keep it simple today, simple..."
Zhang Yunyi smiled slightly and agreed.
Anyway, the person was in his estate. No matter what Yang Can did, it couldn't escape his eyes.
After dinner, Xiaotan and Sangzhi brought up tea. Yang Can had them withdraw and kept Li Damu and Qingmei behind.
Yang Can brightened the oil lamp in front of him a bit, put the cover back on, and looked at Accountant Li and Xiao Qingmei.
"You two, the purpose of our inspection of these newly received estate properties is clear to you both. Today, accompanied by Master Zhang, we've gained a basic understanding of Feng'an Estate's overall picture. What should we do next? Do either of you have any plans?"
Qingmei's heart stirred. Last night, she had heard Yang Can explain his plans. Why was he asking them for ideas again today?
Li Damu perked up immediately upon hearing this.
"Second Steward, in my view, we should still go through their accounts."
The account books Yang Can had obtained earlier were submitted by Yu Huanhu.
At that time, the second branch was responsible for these six major estates. After the accounts from the six estates were consolidated, they were reported to Yu Huanhu.
Yu Huanhu consolidated the account books for all the farmland he was responsible for, then reported up to the Clan Head.
Yang Can had discovered some problems in Yu Huanhu's accounts. Comparing them with the Clan Head's master accounts, he had already found some issues with Feng'an Estate. However, Li Damu obviously wasn't aware of this yet.
Yang Can knew that even if Li Youcai had some bias toward Zhang Yunyi, he wouldn't take such great risks for Master Zhang.
Li Youcai wouldn't tip off Master Zhang in advance about such matters, much less tell Li Damu.
Li Damu was now eager to play a role.
Steward Yang had received the beauty sent by Master Zhang to serve him. Last night he should have bedded her, right?
Thinking of this, Accountant Li felt itchy. He also wanted to enjoy the same treatment.
Especially that Xiaotan, born as petite and lovely as a "fragrant folding fan."
This type was Li Damu's favorite, petite and easy to play with.
If he could persuade Steward Yang to make account examination the focus of this inspection, wouldn't his importance as accountant be highlighted?
Then, for Master Zhang to please him, whatever Steward Yang got, he should have too!
Accountant Li said eagerly, "Steward Yang, as far as this old one knows, if an estate wants to deceive its master and profit above and below, there are only a few methods. As long as we examine the accounts carefully, we'll definitely find something. We can thoroughly investigate all of Feng'an Estate's accounts tomorrow. If they've tampered with anything, it absolutely won't escape this old one's eyes."
Hearing this, Qingmei disagreed, "Master Li, what if Feng'an Estate has two sets of accounts, one public and one private?"
Accountant Li knew that in these clan families, personal maids serving noble ladies were also cultivated from childhood.
They were proficient in various household management knowledge and couldn't be simply regarded as slaves serving tea and water. However, you only understand a little. Can you compare with a professional like me?
Li Damu stroked his beard and smiled, "Miss Qingmei, as long as they've done it, there can't be no traces at all. Checking accounts is a necessary step!"
Li Damu deflected Qingmei's points neither softly nor harshly, then turned to Yang Can again.
"Steward Yang, Feng'an Estate's properties were just returned to the eldest branch. The incident was sudden. If they wanted to falsify accounts, they wouldn't have had time. We just need to thoroughly examine Feng'an Estate's field registers, rent books, and storage records from the past three years. If there are hidden fields, false expenses, or inaccurate grain flow, there will always be evidence left behind."
Yang Can smiled slightly and nodded, "Mm, investigate. Naturally we must investigate."
Yang Can thought for a moment and continued, "Master Li, you alone will be too busy. You can select some accountants from Feng'an Estate with little experience and low positions to assist you. Especially those who are older but have never been promoted in Feng'an Estate."
Accountant Li immediately understood and couldn't help but give a thumbs up in praise, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
"Haha, those people are frustrated at not being promoted. Now with 'new emperor, new ministers,' they may have the courage to take a gamble, place a heavy bet."
Yang Can smiled, "Even if they don't dare directly betray their master, if they feel resentment, they'll 'accidentally' put the loopholes in Master Li's hands."
"Exactly so, hahaha..."
Accountant Li rubbed his hands together. He was ready to show his skills.
As for whether he could discover anything, that depended on whether Master Zhang's offerings were adequate.
As long as the "gesture" was sufficient, even if there really were problems, he could fail to find them.
Failing to find anything would just mean his abilities were insufficient, or he overlooked something. Surely he couldn't be punished for that?
Qingmei blinked and asked, "What about me?"
Yang Can said, "The breakthrough point is with Master Li. You and I will patrol around daily, attracting Master Zhang's attention."
Li Damu clapped in praise, "Excellent idea! The steward in the open, this old one in the shadows. This concealment strategy can accomplish great things."
Qingmei glanced sideways at Li Damu.
This Yang Can fellow, once he grows fur he's more cunning than a monkey?
Hmph! Between you two, who's in the open and who's in the shadows, that's still uncertain.
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