NFBE Chapter 180 Start with Him
Chapter 180 Start with Him
There are people in the court who are easy to do things with.
With Zheng Jinzhi as his backer, things in Liangzhou went extremely smoothly.
Ten days later, when Sang Wan arrived in the capital, Yu Lai's letter arrived right after him.
He used Liangzhou as a base to radiate his network to the surrounding states and counties. He spent money to buy shops everywhere, and his business moved like flowing water.
As a thank you, they donated food and seeds to the Pingxi Army in the name of their trading company. Zheng Jinzhi did not hesitate and accepted them all.
Years ago, the petition for military pay was submitted to the Ministry of War. After the Ministry of War submitted it to Emperor Zhao of Xia for approval, it was sent to the Ministry of Revenue. However, the Ministry of Revenue delayed allocating funds. With 500,000 soldiers having to eat every day, the Pingxi Army had a really hard time.
Earlier, Xiao Ji and Baili Xi secretly sent a lot of silver and food from their private vaults to the northwest for emergency response, but that was just a drop in the bucket for the Pingxi Army; Zheng Chenghui had already submitted three memorials requesting money, and even if the Ministry of Revenue continued to claim that it had no money, it had to pay, otherwise there would be a rebellion on the border.
Sang Wan thought about it for a long time and wrote another letter to Yu Lai.
"The three prefectures east of Liangzhou, Tu'anzhou, Chizhou, and Xiazhou, have all had good harvests in the past two years, and their granaries are plentiful. If the grain is left uneaten for too long, it will easily become infested with insects. We can set up another trading company and wait for an opportunity to buy it at a low price, then resell it to the Pingxi Army at the prevailing market price."
Even if the silver from the Ministry of Revenue arrived, the Pingxi Army would have no place to buy grain for a while. There was no reason to hand over this business to someone else. Once the grain trade was successfully established, Liangzhou would become the new granary.
She wanted to use Liangzhou as a base, open up new food routes in advance, and take the lifeline into her own hands.
"You want to earn money from the Pingxi Army?" Xiao Ji was curious. "Have you met Wen Ruo in Liangzhou?"
"No." Sang Wan said firmly, stopping him from asking further questions: "The Pingxi Army is poor, and everyone knows it."
"Tsk tsk, they're so poor, yet you still want to rip them off. It's even worse," Xiao Ji said. "Remember to prepare some for Lingnan as well. I heard that life in Qiudong isn't easy either. They've been suppressing the pirates for over a month, and I'm afraid the spring plowing will be delayed this year. Judging by this, there's bound to be famine next year."
"Tsk tsk, even your own father-in-law isn't spared." Sang Wan glanced at him and smiled, "That's exactly what I was planning. If the grain route can be opened, the supply and withdrawal of grain will be in our own hands in the future."
Xiao Ji's eyes were filled with deep worry. "The border troops' salaries and rations have been withheld, and the Ministry of Revenue seems to be facing a huge hole."
"Minister of Revenue Zhao He was the former Vice Minister of Revenue who was in charge of the Salt and Iron Department. He was promoted after the new emperor ascended the throne. He is undoubtedly to blame for my father's death." Sang Wan drew a red circle under his name. "Let's start with him first."
"Embezzlement of military pay and food is enough to deserve death." Xiao Ji said.
"Brother, we have plenty of money now. As the shop and business grow, we'll have more and more money. What we lack most right now is people. Soldiers." Sang Wan took out a map of the Liangzhou Racecourse and marked several mountain ranges.
"At first, I just wanted to build a racecourse. Liangzhou is close to the Western Regions, so we could buy some horses and breed them ourselves, so that we wouldn't be controlled by others in the future. But when I climbed these mountains during my time in Liangzhou, the soil looked like red rust. Brother, Yu Lai brought people to investigate. They confirmed my suspicion: there's iron ore underneath."
"What did you say?" Xiao Ji was a little surprised. It was like a pillow falling asleep. The time and place were both right for me.
"This must be done quietly. The Pingxi Army is nearby, so we must not let them know. Yu Lai wants to recruit people from the local area, but I don't think that's appropriate. It will make too much noise." Sang Wan looked at Xiao Ji, "I want to send some people from the Ghost Market."
"It's feasible. It would be best if you can learn iron smelting so that you can practice it in your spare time." Xiao Ji agreed.
"The horses have been entrusted to Aiham. He will send thirty foals from the Western Regions next month. However, it is unrealistic to rely solely on the Western Regions to buy horses. The Pingxi Army is good at raising horses. The horses are strong and durable, and they are good at fighting. I want Yu Lai to talk to Zheng Chenghui and exchange food and fodder for horses with the Pingxi Army."
"Are you sure it won't alert him? Zheng Chenghui is not someone you can fool."
Xiao Ji felt that Sang Wan had moved too quickly, completely overlooking another key figure, Zheng Jinzhi. Zheng Chenghui's contributions were indispensable to his ability to launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp and earn him the rank of General of the Western Defense.
Although the relationship between him and Zheng Chenghui is that one is the commander-in-chief and the other is the deputy commander-in-chief on the surface, it is still unknown who is the master and who is the servant behind the scenes.
Zheng Chenghui was the adopted son of Marquis Pingyuan himself, and they had a deep affection for each other.
Even if Zheng Chenghui loved his soldiers like his own sons and was willing to exchange food and fodder for horses, Zheng Jinzhi could not help but be alert.
The Pingxi Army is Zheng Yunlan's Crescent Moon Scimitar, and its ultimate goal is to capture Shangjing. Horses mean cavalry, and it is definitely not easy to reach a deal.
"I know what you are worried about. I just want to give it a try. If it doesn't work, we'll talk about it later." Sang Wan said perfunctorily.
She also wanted to verify what Zheng Jinzhi said on the bed, whether he could really do anything.
*
The two were talking in the study when Uncle Li came to report, "The Yan brothers and sisters are here to visit the princess."
Sang Wan and Xiao Ji immediately went out to greet them.
When Yan Qianzhi saw Sang Wan, she held her arms affectionately and looked at her again and again:
"You look almost completely healed, not a single acne mark left. What medicine did you use that was so effective? I see you look rosy, and even better than before you got sick."
Speaking of her complexion, Sang Wan felt inexplicably guilty. In Yan Yun's heart, this shy look was like the brushing of spring willows on her face, rippling the water slightly, and the layers of ripples were like a cat's scratch, making her feel slightly itchy.
"It feels like a long time since we last met. It's been a month since we last met. Ah Wan, are you feeling better?"
Yan Yun spoke slowly, as if she was considering how to express her longing.
"This past month, I... my sister has been terribly worried. I've wanted to come see you every day, but I heard that smallpox is a very strange disease and easily contagious if you haven't had it before, so I came only now. Please don't be angry."
Sang Wan smiled and pretended to cough once or twice while covering her handkerchief. "The pox is all gone, but I've had a cough for the past two days. Big brother wouldn't let me go out. I'm so glad you guys came to see me. I couldn't be happier."
Yan Qianzhi pulled her to sit down and showed her a bunch of supplements she had brought. "Tell the chef at the mansion to cook all of these for you. This bird's nest is especially good for moistening the lungs and nourishing yin."
The two of them talked about personal matters, and Xiao Ji also chatted with Yan Yun for a few words.
After the Ministry of Rites finished the ceremony of conferring the empress, it was time for the Spring Examination, and then the Selection of Queens; Yan Yun went to the Ministry of Rites to serve as a Deputy Director after the spring, and the father and son were now very busy.
The two talked about this spring examination again, and Sang Wan learned that the new top scorer was Shi Luochuan.
She was so happy that she didn't know what to do: "It really is him! That's great!"
"Shi Luochuan is the number one scholar hand-picked by His Majesty. Although he came from a humble family, he rose through the ranks and became a disciple of the Emperor. From now on, he will rise to prominence and have a bright future ahead of him!"
Both Prime Minister Shen and Minister Yan had wanted to take him in as their disciple, but he was lucky and caught the emperor's eye.
"The number one scholar was directly admitted to the Hanlin Academy, which means he will be trained to become the next Prime Minister. Your Majesty is so fond of talents, and the vast majority of scholars from humble backgrounds are celebrating. I think there will be even more scholars from humble backgrounds taking the imperial examinations next year."
Yan Yun shook his head. If the children of aristocratic families wanted to become officials in the future, they might not be able to compete with the scholars from poor families just by relying on the imperial examinations.
He was even a little worried that the Niu-Li factional struggle in the previous dynasty would happen again in this dynasty.
Xiao Ji sighed softly, "In prosperous times, the country is governed; in troubled times, the nation is maintained. All those with talent and virtue can become high officials. How can we differentiate between different classes based on our background? This is a very good idea. Noble families, humble ones alike, are all common people of Great Xia. Only when the capable are in the imperial court can we open up channels for their opinions, establish our mission for the people, establish our hearts for the world, and bring peace to the world for all eternity."
"Brother, you said it so well." Sang Wan burst into tears.
"Why are you crying? If someone didn't know, they would have thought you, Awan, had won the top spot!"
Yan Qianzhi laughed at her and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
The more Sang Wan wiped her tears, the more tears she cried.
"I'm happy, Yan Qianzhi. Don't forget our bet. You owe me one thousand taels of silver!"
Yan Qianzhi screamed miserably: "Brother! Ah Wan bullied me!"