Chapter 182: Ambition
The two chatted along the way, mainly discussing how to maximize profits from Northern Frontier trade. The Yan Clan couldn’t possibly handle such a large market alone, so Yan Jiu would definitely leverage this privilege to involve the entire gentry of Yandi.
Besides the border city, which served as a special checkpoint for collecting taxes to fund the military, Gu Changxiao’s other objective was to benefit the common people. No matter how much money the gentry earned, it wouldn’t trickle down to the populace.
They might even exploit the common people for greater profits, suppressing prices of goods like grain through cheap labor. In doing so, the gentry would become even more powerful, evolving into the capitalists of this era.
Meanwhile, the common people would be exploited even more severely, becoming poorer and losing any courage or foundation to resist. Gu Changxiao had long recognized this, but he wasn’t very adept at commercial matters, so he listened to Jin Sui’s opinions.
Jin Sui felt the issue was too significant to be resolved by just the two of them. They should return to the border city and consult with a group of officials and advisors. The core issue was to draft commercial laws and govern according to them.
This would effectively suppress the gentry. The gentry could develop commerce, but they were absolutely forbidden from raising troops, even under the guise of bodyguards or private militias.
Amend the tax policy, implement the ‘tan ding ru mu’ system, and curb the gentry’s land annexation.
“If you proposed tax reforms during normal times, the gentry would undoubtedly unite in opposition. But with the large pie of Northern Frontier trade before them, they will make concessions to quickly amass wealth in the Northern Frontier.
We don’t need to achieve reform in one go. We should use the ‘boiling frog’ method, implementing multiple reforms to reach the ultimate goal.
First, reclaim the land and distribute it to the common people. This will allow you to completely win the hearts of the people of Yandi.”
Jin Sui was simply reciting from a script, as she had a reference. Children of the Flower Planting Family could easily explain the history of land reform in this era.
By simply reading the works of great leaders, even if one only half-understood them, it would provide insightful suggestions to the people in power of this era.
“After land comes labor. To prevent the gentry from exploiting the common people, the government must set the labor wages and commodity purchase prices. The issue of low grain prices harming farmers will be fundamentally resolved.”
“Regarding trade with the Northern Frontier, the gentry seeks to amass wealth, but we need more. Besides amassing wealth, we must also think about acquiring strategic materials like warhorses and heavy metals from the Northern Frontier.
Furthermore, we must strictly prevent the export of strategic materials and sell our surplus goods to the Northern Frontier, aiming for national prosperity.
“I know you are short-handed now. The border city officials are insufficient, and the officials in Yandi are fence-sitters, easily bribed by the gentry to deceive their superiors and mislead their subordinates.
Since there’s the Imperial Examination in spring, after the Imperial Examination, our border city can also hold a recruitment examination. We won’t compete with the imperial court for talent; we’ll seek out talent that the imperial court overlooks.
Talent in crafts, mathematics, agriculture, and trade – as long as they come to the border city, with your authority as Lord Li, you can still grant them official positions.
I believe those who failed the examination or are unable to participate will come to the border city to strive for a chance.”
Gu Changxiao sincerely exclaimed, “Sui’s talent is worthy of being a national minister!”
Jin Sui chuckled, “Does Great Xia have female ministers? I don’t want to be an official; it’s too exhausting.”
Gu Changxiao let out a low laugh, “Then don’t be an official. How about I, in the name of Lord Li, appoint you as my Military Strategist?”
“Alright! But the salary needs to be higher!”
Gu Changxiao recounted the promises he had made to her one by one: “We agreed to give you ten thousand mu of fertile land. Once we return to the border city, you can go claim it yourself.
For Daoist Ji’s Taoist temple, we’ll allocate land for construction. As for Jin Sui needing to study, the border city doesn’t have an academy yet, so I’ll invite a teacher to the border city to instruct her.”
Jin Sui chuckled, “You’re spending a fortune to turn our family of three into residents of the border city!”
Gu Changxiao thought to himself, “No, my goal is to make you a family.”
At this moment, Jin Sui saw a caravan transporting goods approaching. Northern Frontier people were riding horses, occasionally whipping the lagging sheep and… Han slaves.
The Han slaves had no horses and had to carry heavy loads, following the camel train. Their backs were so bent that their heads were almost touching the ground as they trudged through the snow.
They seemed accustomed to being treated like cattle and horses, not even lifting their heads when whipped, merely instinctively shrinking their bodies and quickening their pace.
Jin Sui and Gu Changxiao’s expressions grew somber. Great Xia also had many foreign slaves, such as the strong and capable Kunlun slaves, the gentle Xinluo maids, and the lively Persian dancers…
But seeing Han people reduced to slaves in a foreign land was truly disheartening.
Jin Sui said softly, “There’s something I think we can also implement during the Northern Frontier trade period. Although this matter will take a very long time, change begins bit by bit.”
Gu Changxiao quickly asked, “Is it about the Han slaves? Sui, just say whatever ideas you have.”
Jin Sui nodded, “We can elevate the status of Han people in the Northern Frontier. Many Northern Frontier people don’t understand the Han language. For trade communication, we can demand that Han people who speak Chinese must be present.
Additionally, we can require that the trade goods they provide be inspected by Han people. The methods for cultivating cash crops can also be taught to Han people.
This way, the tribes will inevitably value the Han slaves.
Once the Taoist temple that Batel is building for me is completed, I will also recruit many Han people to work at the Taoist temple, participate in preaching, dispensing medicine, disaster relief, visiting various tribes to treat their cattle and horses, and sending supplies during natural disasters, and so on.
Over time, in the hearts of the bottom-level herdsmen, the Han people at the Taoist temple will become the earthly representatives of the Sanqing. They will naturally begin to respect Han people.”
Gu Changxiao strongly supported her proposal, but he believed that the most important thing for the Northern Frontier people to respect Han people was for Great Xia to become strong. Strong enough to be beyond the reach of all other nations.
At that time, no matter where Han people were, they would be honored guests.
When Great Xia was weak, Han people in the Northern Frontier were Han slaves. But when our Great Xia becomes so strong that the Northern Frontier fears us, Han people will be Han envoys!
However, this would take even more time, and he couldn’t achieve it now. Many Han slaves might not even live to see that day. Until then, it would depend on Sui’s methods to gradually improve the status of Han people in the Northern Frontier.
Both of them felt that the burden on their shoulders had become heavier. But this was not a burden or a hindrance; it was the driving force that propelled them forward.
Gu Changxiao said sincerely, “Sui, thank you.”
Jin Sui was taken aback, “Thank me for what again? You’ve already thanked me many times for what happened before.”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “In short, thank you! Thank you for being willing to stay by my side.”
Jin Sui raised an eyebrow, “Did you give me money? I won’t work if the money isn’t enough. Also, when we return to the border city, I still have to work for Yan Jiu. Don’t get grumpy then.”
“When have I ever been grumpy! If you’re working for Yan Jiu, you should demand more pay. Don’t do dangerous work. If you’re afraid of breaching the contract and can’t afford the penalty, I’ll pay it for you!”
Jin Sui burst out laughing, “That’s not necessary. Speaking of which, I’m helping the Yan Clan find a sea route. In the end, the border city will be the one to benefit. You should be supportive.”
After the heavy topic, the two chatted casually for a bit before spotting Yan Jiu’s convoy ahead.
Yan Jiu sat in his carriage and saw the two riding side-by-side, chatting and laughing. The fingers gripping the window curtain instantly turned white at the knuckles.
He didn’t want to admit it, but the facts were laid out before him: Miss Ji was much happier when she was with Gu Changxiao.
She had never laughed so freely when talking to him.
He slowly lowered the curtain, no longer wanting to watch.
Seeing Yan Jiu’s carriage heading towards the camp, Jin Sui quickly said, “Let’s go talk to Lord Yan about entering the Royal Court!”
Gu Changxiao nodded and first instructed Jin Sui, “Once we enter the Royal Court, you must stay with me at all times. Even when you go to the toilet, bring Hei Hu with you.”
Jin Sui was speechless, “I’m not a child. Do you want to add, ‘don’t eat things from strangers’?”
“Yes! Don’t eat random things. Some medicines in the Northern Frontier are different from Great Xia. They are colorless and odorless. Even if your medical skills are superb, you might not be able to detect them.”
Jin Sui warned him in return, “Compared to me, an unknown Han Woman, you, Lord Li, should be more careful. Besides Batel and Tuoya, many Northern Frontier dignitaries want your life!”
Gu Changxiao scoffed, “They wouldn’t dare! With Lei Zan dead, they are leaderless and wouldn’t dare to make a move against me easily.”
“In any case, carry a few fish oil firearms with you. If anything happens, just detonate them! We won’t lose anything even if the Royal Court is blown to smithereens.”
“If Batel pursues it, we’ll say we were clearing out Lei Zan’s people for him.”
Gu Changxiao smiled, “That’s indeed the style of our Lord Li. Sui has returned to the way Lord Li acts, which is great.”
Three days passed in a flash. During these three days, Yan Jiu frequently met with merchants from Yandi. He had to establish the trade system in the Northern Frontier before returning to Yandi.
Jin Sui and Gu Changxiao, on the other hand, looked around. They also visited the Batu Tribe once. Tuolei was very warm towards them, slaughtering sheep and preparing wine for a grand banquet.
Gu Changxiao asked if his tribe had any Han slaves. Tuolei shook his head. His father disliked farming and was the most conservative of the Northern Frontier dignitaries, owning only pastures and no farmland.
He disliked Han slaves even more, disliking all foreign things.
But Tuolei was different: “Our Batu Tribe’s population has drastically decreased due to Lei Zan’s massacre. I plan to buy a batch of slaves, Han slaves are acceptable.”
Seeing Jin Sui and Gu Changxiao’s solemn expressions, he, though rough in appearance, was meticulous in thought. He immediately smiled, “Don’t worry, I have Han friends. I won’t treat Han slaves like cattle and horses.
I’ll only have them farm for me.”
Jin Sui seized the opportunity to mention that in the past, when Yandi and the Northern Frontier traded, Han people were needed for communication. He could train some people in advance for these tasks.
Also, she mentioned which crops she would purchase at a high price in the future. The Batu Tribe could start planting them in advance. Upon hearing it was cotton and sunflower seeds,
Tuolei seemed hesitant, “We plan to grow grain. These things require meticulous work and too much manpower.”
Jin Sui immediately offered an exchange price: one jin of cotton could be exchanged for two jin of wheat or three jin of beans and peas. Tuolei immediately expressed his desire to plant cotton!
Although the Batu Tribe had no farmland, Tuolei often interacted with other tribes and knew that planting cotton in the Northern Frontier yielded more than planting wheat. However, they didn’t have enough Han women to weave cloth or enough slave laborers, so they planted grain as much as possible.
If Lord Li was willing to exchange more grain for cotton, why wouldn’t he plant it?
He immediately toasted Jin Sui and Gu Changxiao with mare’s milk wine, “My loyal friends, you are welcome to visit the Batu Tribe anytime!”
Jin Sui then mentioned her yet-to-be-built Taoist temple. Tuolei quickly expressed his and the Batu Tribe’s support for the Sanqing Taoist Temple. If any other tribe caused trouble for the Sanqing Taoist Temple, he would discipline them on behalf of Miss Ji.
Then he directly asked, “So we are friends now, can Miss Ji give our Batu Tribe some Thunder Fire for self-defense?”
Jin Sui: … Do you Northern Frontier people ask for things so directly? Not even a bit of subtlety! Your promises to me are all empty, but when it comes to asking for things, you’re very practical.
“The Thunder Fire is used up. That item must wait until I return to the Taoist temple; it cannot be made here.”
“Make it? Isn’t that a gift from the gods?”
“…Yes, it is indeed a gift from the gods. There are no Taoist temples in the Northern Frontier, so the gods cannot bestow it.”
I, this Taoist nun, am almost becoming a sorceress.
“Then, the medicine Miss Ji gives to the shamans? Can you give me some? That medicine is truly miraculous. The shaman said only gods can bestow such miraculous spiritual medicine.”
Jin Sui suppressed a smile. It was much easier to fool people in the Northern Frontier. Anything that couldn’t be explained could be attributed to the gods.
The way Northern Frontier people act is truly strange. They can kill without batting an eye, yet they are extremely devout. They pray while covering a sheep’s eyes when slaughtering it, but feel no guilt when killing a person.
“I carry a lot of medicine with me. I can give some to my friends.”
Tuolei was overjoyed and immediately brought the shaman doctor. Jin Sui didn’t hold back, giving them some hemostatic powder and antibiotics, and also taught the shaman doctor a few methods for treating livestock plagues.
The shaman doctor immediately knelt and thanked them, not thanking Jin Sui, but thanking the gods.
In his view, encountering Jin Sui and learning these medical skills were all thanks to the gods’ help.
In the Northern Frontier, physicians skilled in treating livestock were even more popular than those who treated people.
When they were leaving, Tuolei gave them a cartload of beef, mutton, and mare’s milk wine. He also separately gave Jin Sui a pure gold saddle inlaid with gemstones. Jin Sui’s eyes lit up. This item, sold to Jin Zilin, could fetch at least ten thousand taels of silver!
Then, Jin Sui gave Tuolei a gift whose value could not be measured in gold or silver: a glazed wolf, much smaller than Batel’s.
But Tuolei was extremely satisfied, his face flushed with excitement. He immediately invited his entire tribe to see this glazed wolf. Although Jin Sui gave it, he insisted it was a gift from the gods.
With this divine artifact, our Batu Tribe will achieve new glory. The entire tribe was ecstatic.
Jin Sui whispered to Gu Changxiao, “It seems we can raise the price of glazed glass artifacts in the Royal Court a bit more. We’re selling divine artifacts, as Tuolei himself said.”
Gu Changxiao suppressed a smile, “If there are too many divine artifacts, they lose their value. We can sell fewer pieces and maintain a steady flow, releasing a few new styles each year.”
Jin Sui chuckled, “Lord Li, you’ve become wicked!”
Gu Changxiao also smiled, “That’s because Daoist Ji taught me well.”
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
If time hadn’t been so pressing, they would have asked Tuolei to take them to more tribes to promote their glazed glass artifacts and to arrange the planting of cash crops with the tribal leaders.
Unfortunately, Princess Tuoya’s people soon arrived. Yan Jiu, Gu Changxiao, and Jin Sui once again finalized the plan. Yan Jiu would only enter the Royal Court with a few bodyguards; all others would remain under Hei Hu’s command.
If anything happened to the three in the Royal Court, Hei Hu would immediately lead his men to their rescue.
Yan Jiu looked at Gu Changxiao, “If we are forced to flee back to Yandi, I have already arranged an escape route. Small tribes will provide cover. I wonder if Lord Li has reinforcements?”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “It seems I can’t hide it from Lord Yan. I have indeed arranged for former Northwest Army personnel to provide support at the border pass.”
The two looked at Jin Sui, who spread her hands, “I have nothing. Oh wait, I can provide an unlimited supply of fish oil firearms!”
