Chapter 108

Half of the family fortune is a great temptation.

The Wu family, after all, was a major landowner, having been passed down for four or five generations. Ye Jia wasn't entirely sure how much land they owned, but in terms of land holdings in Dongxiang Town, the Wu family was second to none. The Wu family controlled a vast expanse of prime farmland in Dongxiang Town, or even the five northwestern towns. Many residents of the surrounding villages were employed as temporary laborers. This didn't even include the Wu family's other holdings.

Ye Jia once asked Zhou Jingchen how deep the Wu family's influence was. Zhou Jingchen's expression at the time was quite meaningful. Needless to say, this family was extremely wealthy.

Hearing the decision made by the four of them, Ye Jia's mood suddenly became subtle.

Yu's eyelids twitched slightly, her expression impassive. She took a sip of tea and slowly lowered her hand from the cup. She glanced at Ye Jia, her decision on whether to accept half of the Wu family's fortune rested with Ye Jia.

Ye Jia was surprised for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.

As the saying goes, a gentleman loves money but earns it in a proper way. Ye Jia, while admiring money, wasn't blinded by it. She immediately agreed, her fingers resting on her knees moving unconsciously as she considered the pros and cons of accepting the offer. Accepting the Wu family's wealth would be tantamount to promising to protect them, something Ye Jia wasn't happy about. It wasn't a personal vendetta, but rather the fact that the Wu family was so willing to cultivate poppies and harm unsuspecting civilians that it disgusted her. She couldn't befriend someone without conscience, no matter what.

But the Wu family's visit did remind her that it was better to accept the offering peacefully or to confiscate the Wu family's property by force. She was at a loss for words. After much deliberation, Ye Jia simply said she would consider it before giving her an answer.

The smile on Wu Jia's face could no longer be suppressed, and he looked at Ye Jia stiffly.

They hadn't expected Ye Jia to accept their unsolicited gift of wealth, and instead resort to trickery. It must be said that this attitude was intimidating to the Wu family. Wu Min, in particular, had initially secretly resented her family's unanimous agreement to give away half their fortune, but now felt genuinely uneasy.

When they walked out of the Zhou family's house and looked back at the Zhou family's plaque, they felt a chill down their spines.

"Dad," Wu Min finally realized he was afraid. The thing he had been relying on didn't work as he wanted, and it directly robbed him of his arrogance. "What do you think the Crown Prince's Consort means? Why does she have such an attitude?"

Wu En was already feeling annoyed, and hearing this made him even more furious. Now, even looking at his eldest son hurt his eyes. It all started with this awful, greedy guy: "How dare you ask? If it weren't for you idiots provoking us, how could we have fallen to this point? I've repeatedly taught you, but you won't listen! If anything happens to the Wu family, it's all your fault, you idiots!"

"Dad..." Wu Min was scolded so hard that he couldn't even lift his head. If he had dared to argue before, now he didn't dare to say a word.

The brothers nearby also looked unhappy, with gloomy faces: "Dad, what should we do now?"

"Yes," the second son of the Wu family was furious. He had just returned from a trip to this point and felt like he was going to be killed by his brainless eldest brother. "If the Crown Princess still holds a grudge against the Wu family, we can't just sit there and surrender, right? We have such a huge family business..."

Wu Min echoed, "That's right! We have to find another way..."

Wu En became annoyed when he heard his eldest son speak: "Shut up!"

If he hadn't been so arrogant and deliberately provoked the Zhou family, there wouldn't have been so much trouble. Wu En, hands behind his back, sighed deeply, a heavy weight weighing down his heart. Blaming his eldest son wouldn't help. Some things were already set in stone, and they could only take it one step at a time. Their primary concern now was how to avoid the Zhou family's disdain and survive this ordeal.

"The fat ones are easy to deal with, but I'm afraid that the Zhou family has a deep grudge against the Wu family and will not let our family go after the truth is revealed..." Wu En pinched his eyebrows with a headache.

If they want money and hold a grudge, that would be a disaster.

Wu Min's eyes darted around, glancing quietly at his two younger brothers. Young Master Wu, who had remained silent the entire time, naturally didn't look any better. He was also filled with regret. If he had known the Zhou family was so powerful, he wouldn't have made such a move. While the profits from perfume and soap were high, they couldn't compare to those from rouge and powder. It was simply their greed, their reluctance to part with the money from perfume and soap, that had put them in such a difficult position. But regretting it now was useless. As his father had said, earning the Zhou family's forgiveness was more important.

"Dad, it's safer to ask the Crown Prince for help directly than to ask a woman for help. Women don't distinguish between important and unimportant things and act on impulse. Men are more likely to prioritize." Young Master Wu felt that there was still room for maneuver. After all, money can move people's hearts. "Besides, the Crown Prince's Consort hasn't made a firm decision yet. I guess we still have to discuss it with the Crown Prince."

"Is it so easy to see the prince?" Wu Min, still stubborn, interrupted, "How many days a year do you see the prince in Dongxiang Town? I think it's better to rely on yourself than to ask others for help. We need to find another way out."

"Why do you say that, brother?"

"Looking for the Fifth Aunt." Wu Min was still thinking about the Protectorate. "A lean camel is bigger than a horse. Even if the Protectorate has declined, it is still the largest family in Beiting."

Young Master Wu thought his elder brother could come up with some good ideas, but after talking for a long time, he still couldn't figure it out and suddenly choked.

Wu Enze was too lazy to bother with his eldest son. He glanced at his third son and let out a long sigh, "We can only wait."

"What are you waiting for? You will only end up losing your life and wealth."

Wu Min thought of Ye Jia's arrogant face, and a wave of anger welled up in her heart. "If we had reported the Zhou family's actions in Beiting Protectorate to the court, we might have even gained great merit. They openly occupied Beiting Protectorate. This is an act of treason. This is rebellion! If we could have used the court to get rid of this family, we wouldn't have so much trouble."

"You wish!" Has Wu En never thought of this possibility?

In reality, Wu En had long considered turning to the imperial court and exposing the Zhou family's troubles in the northwest. By using the imperial court to deal with Zhou Jingchen's family, they could not only preserve their property but also gain merit. But how likely was this to succeed? His family was trapped in Beiting, surrounded by border guards. Zhou Jingchen's men were closely watching this area! If anyone from the Wu family made any move, who knew? The soldiers would storm into their home and slaughter the entire family!

"...Do you know how far it is from the northwest to Yanjing? Do you know if there is anyone in the Zhou family secretly watching the Wu family? If they want to do something, our Wu family will probably be destroyed by the Zhou family before we even leave the Beiting Protectorate." They simply cannot afford to take this risk!

Wu Min was unconvinced and stubborn: "How can you say that? Even if Zhou Jingchen is of noble birth, he is still a phoenix that has fallen from grace..."

Wu En was so angry that he rushed up and hit him twice with the hammer.

"It's actually not impossible." Young Master Wu thought for a moment and said, "If we abandon our ancestral property and wealth in Dongxiang Town and only take our valuables with us, fleeing under the pretext of doing business. Although Beiting Protectorate is far away, we can just contact the governor of Jizhou, or even Yongzhou. Let them pass the news to Yanjing, and everything else will be easy."

"You think it's easy. Do you think news is that easy to spread? Do you know who can be trusted and who can't be trusted?" Wu En asked him back, "Do you think it's that easy to meet with the dignitaries outside?"

"This is not allowed, that is not allowed, are we just going to let the Zhou family slaughter us?" Wu Min said impatiently.

Wu En didn't even bother to look at his eldest son. He just frowned and said nothing.

The situation outside was actually much worse than in Dongxiang Town. Wu En, a frequent trader, was hesitant to act rashly because he knew the realities behind the scenes. While things might seem prosperous on the outside, something beneath the surface was rotten. Those high-ranking officials were so gluttonous that few actually worked.

Besides, as merchants from the northwest, without sufficient filial piety, they couldn't even reach the threshold of high-ranking officials. Furthermore, Wu En felt that it hadn't reached that point yet, and their conflict with the Zhou family hadn't reached the point of a life-and-death struggle. The fact that the Zhou family hadn't made a move on them proved one thing: at least they didn't provoke the Zhou family, and the Zhou family didn't really intend to put them to death...

Feeling confused, the Wu family finally left the Zhou family dejectedly.

Beiting was considered Zhou Jingchen's primary stronghold. Beyond its strategic location, Zhou Jingchen and his men would not tolerate any disturbances in Beiting. Long before Zhou Jingchen prepared to launch his attack, he had already controlled the post stations and official roads throughout the Beiting Protectorate. Anyone traveling outside the borders would be intercepted and searched, and both people and letters would be scrutinized. In Dongxiang Town, in particular, while there wasn't a guard every five steps, it was close.

In other words, martial law has been in place here for a long time, and you can't come and go as you please.

Zhou Jingchen must have arranged these things perfectly, so Ye Jia naturally didn't need to worry too much.

Ye Jia's primary concern was someone taking advantage of the situation. She owned numerous businesses, many of which had expanded beyond Beiting. Most of her employees were hired on the side, frequently traveling in and out of Beiting. Ye Jia was primarily concerned that someone might exploit her business opportunities to commit illicit acts. This concern had kept Ye Jia from blindly adding new employees.

In reality, Wu En had made the right decision by bringing his entire family to the Zhou family to surrender. The Zhou family had been secretly watching them for a long time. Regardless of whether the Wu family succeeded in surrendering to the imperial court or not, if they showed any signs of such a tendency, they would be completely eliminated.

After the Wu family left, Ye Jia sent a letter to the Anxi Protectorate.

The situation outside was chaotic, and he didn't know when a letter would arrive. Ye Jia thought for a moment and went to the station.

Outsiders didn't know about the relationship between the Wu and Zhou families, but Bazatu knew a little. As soon as Ye Jia explained the purpose of his visit, he immediately pledged to keep a close eye on the Wu family. He also instructed them to treat all incoming and outgoing goods from the Zhou family equally.

If you can’t fully control your subordinates, eliminate special treatment at the root.

Bazatu understood immediately: "Master, don't worry, I understand."

Bazatu, though a rough man, possessed a subtle yet refined spirit. Zhou Jingchen had retained him in Dongxiang Town precisely because of his exceptional abilities. Once these matters were settled, Ye Jia set about another task. The livestock farming he had mentioned earlier wasn't just talk; Ye Jia was seriously considering implementing it. Addressing the food shortage at its root.

Being poor means being beaten. Of course, you have to work hard to make money.

In fact, the Beiting Protectorate itself boasted vast grasslands, ideal for grazing livestock. Farmland and crops accounted for only a small portion of the area; animal husbandry was the true pillar of the Northwest's economy. Ye Jia had originally focused her efforts on growing crops because grain production in the Northwest was lower than in the Central Plains, making it extremely valuable. She acted out of a desire to earn money and support her family. Now that food was plentiful, it was natural to capitalize on local conditions and capitalize on their strengths.

Speaking of animal husbandry, this is another area that Ye Jia is not familiar with.

Her own experience with livestock farming was limited to her limited experience raising wolves. She would have to consult the locals for specific advice on how to operate. However, there were no pastures in Dongxiang Town; there was more farmland here. The villages to the north of Libei Town did have large pastures. Most of the villagers there made their living from livestock farming. Raising livestock there would likely be more cost-effective.

After all, there is a very vast grassland in the northwest of Libei Town, bordering the Turks.

However, this grassland is currently used to detain exiled criminals. Most of the criminals cultivated the land here, and Zhou Jingchen also dug the soil here for three years. It is commonly known as the West Field.

The climate in the West Field is ideal for cattle and sheep. The pastures are fertile and the land is vast. Here, cattle and sheep can grow fat and strong.

There were only two problems. First, this area bordered the Turks, making looting a common occurrence. Furthermore, the sheep were living creatures, so if they weren't properly cared for, they would stray. If someone deliberately stole them, the losses would be significant. Second, there was the question of how to properly graze the sheep.

As everyone knows, this is public land. Although these exiles were originally under the jurisdiction of the Beiting Protectorate, Zhou Jingchen should now take over. However, Zhou Jingchen is not in Beiting. After all, Ye Jia is not Zhou Jingchen, and it is hard to say whether a woman like her can win the support of the people. Zhou Jingchen has only recently risen to power, and his foundation is not very stable. If his subordinates have any dissent, she might be the first to be attacked if she makes too many moves.

Thinking it over in his mind, Ye Jia decided to find out clearly before taking any action.

Speaking of which, the West Field is located at the intersection of Libei Town and Suiye Town, a place that is under the control of both sides and at the same time not under the control of either side. Coincidentally, Libei Town is currently guarded by Sun Yushan and Ye Qingshan, while Suiye Town is guarded by Oguz.

Oguz has now become Zhou Jingchen's disciple. After Suletu's death, he has become more at ease than before.

When Ye Jia sent someone to talk to him about this matter, he did not show any resolute opposition.

Although Oguz was a stubborn leader, he also understood that a wise man could master the times. Suletu didn't appreciate him much, so there was no need for him to risk his life for Suletu. The natural choice was to surrender if he didn't want to be implicated, but some things aren't as simple as they sound. In fact, the relationships within the military were also complicated.

Ogusi only gave one explanation: "As long as Your Highness has no objection to these matters, I will certainly follow your instructions."

Ye Jia certainly understood. Beiting's current situation wasn't exactly in ruins, but it was close. It was vast and sparsely populated, plagued by constant wars, and situated in a region the Dayan court disdained to govern. Those in power were self-absorbed, unsophisticated and self-sufficient, lacking a legitimate livelihood and no commitment to developing the city in a way that suited local conditions. Prosperity required gradual progress.

After greeting Ughuz first, Ye Jia started to do another thing - stocking up enough medicinal materials and recruiting experienced doctors.

Medicinal herbs and doctors are crucial, determining whether a person can survive a serious injury. Once a war breaks out, swords and spears are merciless. These days, with no effective medicine, many people die from serious injuries. Especially during hot weather, bacteria can easily breed and cause illness. Often, a seriously injured person dies just for a single drop of medicine.

She didn't have the ability to develop penicillin, but medicinal herbs were absolutely essential.

However, due to the climate problem in the northwest, many medicinal herbs that can only grow in the special humid and hot climate can only be imported from the south.

Beiting had rebelled. Regardless of whether the imperial court had received the news, Ye Jia was preparing for the worst. Even before the Beiting rebellion, merchants from the Huizhou and Shanxi provinces of the Central Plains had already imposed restrictions and repressed Beiting. Purchasing goods from Beiting was not only limited in quantity, but also significantly more expensive than in the Central Plains. Ye Jia was considering setting up a purchasing agency in the Central Plains.

By establishing good relationships with merchants in the Central Plains, they could purchase as many items as possible. However, the question of who to send out and whether they could be trusted was another major issue. As the saying goes, "The sky is high and the emperor is far away." If you send someone too far away, you won't be able to predict their movements.

Ye Jia thought long and hard, trying to find a suitable and trustworthy candidate. But she found it difficult. She had been here too recently and had too few connections. For this kind of situation, it seemed the only option was to see if there were any remaining connections within Prince Jing's mansion that she could pick up.

However, Ye Jia thought of something else. Painkillers were very important medicines during wartime.

She remembered that the Wu family seemed to have cultivated a large number of poppy fields. Current technology should not be able to produce analgesics, but things like Ma Fei San should be able to be made... Ye Jia remembered that the old doctor in Dongxiang Town seemed to be able to make analgesics.

Tsk, it's really better to swallow up the Wu family as soon as possible. At the very least, those poppy fields should be confiscated... Ye Jia's eyes narrowed.