Shenxi ordered Bai Qiao to lead a group to select superior seeds and plant them.

They also explained how to plant corn seeds and sweet potatoes.

In the past year or so, Bai Qiao has read many manuals on grain crops compiled by Shen Xi's people. Even if Shen Xi didn't tell her, she would know them.

Potatoes have already been planted in Bian'ai County, with an average annual yield of over 3,000 jin last year. Chenxi also had Bai Qiao conduct breeding and specially selected good seeds for planting.

If cultivated generation after generation, the output will definitely increase year by year.

Just then, Ge Congshan sent someone over.

Now, whenever Shen Xi hears that Ge Congshan has sent people, she gets a headache. The money Ge Congshan has extorted from her is far more than the price of that batch of grain.

However, since the two sides are now in a cooperative relationship, they cannot afford to strain it. Furthermore, because of the passage, Ge Congshan extorted them once again.

Shenxi immediately ordered someone to bring him in.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Su Shang, Ge Congshan's advisor.

On many occasions, it was Su Shang who came to negotiate.

Shen Xi had someone offer Su Shang a seat and asked, "Did Lord Ge send you here for some business?"

Su Shang smiled and said, "My master would like to borrow something from you, or rather, buy something?"

Shenxi immediately became alert; Ge Congshan wouldn't make a statement without a reason.

She didn't speak, staring at Su Shang, waiting for him to speak.

Su Shang didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "In Bian'ai County, a crop called potato is now being grown. My father said he hopes you can spare some seeds, as the people of Xianghe Prefecture are suffering too."

Ugh, here we go again.

Looking around, who can compare to the current wealth of Xianghe Mansion?

There was no war in Xianghe Prefecture because of the dam, and natural disasters did not hinder it. Ge Congshan made a lot of money. Who wouldn't envy him?

Chenxi looked at Bai Qiao and asked, "Sister Qiao, do we have potatoes in Bian'ai County?"

Bai Qiao laughed inwardly; the commander was pretending to be stupid.

Bai Qiao was very clever and said directly, "Chief, there may be some, but there probably aren't many, or the production is poor. Otherwise, I would know."

Su Shang watched the two of them go back and forth, and understood everything perfectly.

Shenxi was naturally reluctant to part with the potato seeds. She had worked so hard to cultivate so many, and she would really be heartbroken if Ge Congshan stole some of them.

Su Shang smiled and said, "Chief Shen, you don't need to set me up. My master said that we can return a portion of the gold mine in Xiahe County to you. How about that?"

Shenxi perked up immediately upon hearing this.

Chenxi had long coveted that gold mine, and even though Ge Congshan had developed a lot of it, it still had a large amount of gold reserves.

"How much will you give me back?"

"How about one-third?"

"No matter what, go back to your parents. Either return everything or I can agree to give him some potato seeds. Otherwise, we won't do this business."

Su Shang was in a dilemma. Before he left, his superiors had instructed him to give no more than half.

But now Chenxi is making outrageous demands, actually wanting all of Jinshan in Xiahe County.

He can't agree, but we can negotiate.

"Chief Shen, at most half. If you agree, I can make the decision."

"No."

Shenxi also sensed Ge Congshan's pulse; over the past year, the two had engaged in numerous transactions.

Ge Congshan always gets the best deal, but if it's something he values, he's willing to spend a lot of money to buy it.

The magnanimity and composure towards important matters cultivated by his aristocratic family are fully embodied in Ge Congshan.

As expected, Su Shang sent someone to inform Ge Congshan, who readily agreed to the request.

Chenxi was overjoyed this time. Potatoes could be cultivated and developed at a slower pace, but the lack of money was the biggest problem.

Besides, she now has a large quantity of corn and sweet potato seeds, so the potatoes can be harvested more slowly.

She would feel very distressed if she didn't have corn and sweet potatoes, but with these two, she felt much less distressed.

Besides, it's a gold mine! Once it's mined, Jianming Province will never be troubled by money again.

However, since it's about mining gold, a large number of people need to be sent to guard it, as important resources will always attract many covetous eyes.

This was because Yuzhang Prefecture was too weak to return and reclaim its territory. After being besieged by the Crown Prince, it suffered several defeats. After breaking out, it was unable to return to Yuzhang Prefecture and could only join forces with the Eighth Prince.

If Yuzhang Prefecture hadn't been embroiled in this struggle, it would certainly have reclaimed the two counties.

Shenxi directly dispatched his trusted confidant Zhao Peng with troops to guard the area.

When Yuhe County was recaptured, the troops sent by Zhonggui Prefecture were also taken over by Shenxi. Prefect Mo Ke of Zhonggui Prefecture asked for the troops several times, but Shenxi ignored him.

Mo Ke was furious and wanted to teach Chen Xi a lesson, but after several attempts, he always returned looking disheveled.

Cao He, who had already joined him, kept urging Mo Ke to launch a full-scale attack on Chenxi.

Although Mo Ke had a bad temper and wasn't very capable, he wasn't stupid. Why would he go and fight Shen Xi?

Now, he has to guard against both the unified Ma Zhigang in the north and the rebellious King Wen in the east.

Once the two stop fighting, they might turn their attention to him.

Or the two of them might decide who is the stronger one. It's too dangerous for him to be surrounded by enemies.

The Hejian Prefecture is now in chaos. The mutiny in the army has reached a certain point, and taking advantage of the chaos, another branch of the Western Qiang, known as the Hu Qiang, who were detached from the main force, began to attack the Hejian Prefecture and the Western Qiang territory.

Chaos has also broken out in the Western Frontier. In order to resolve the internal turmoil, they want to join forces with Ma Zhigang to attack Zhongdao Prefecture.

The remaining prefectures, especially those surrounding the capital, all participated in the turmoil in the capital.

The mutiny in Hejian Prefecture was caused by the fact that Hejian Prefecture sent a team to the capital to assist the Third Prince. The local manpower was insufficient, and after forcibly conscripting soldiers, it was unable to pay them the full amount of military pay.

The soldiers, already furious at being forcibly conscripted, were further enraged by the lack of food and pay in the army, which made it impossible for their families to survive. This only exacerbated the chaos.

In the north, the south, and even in the capital, there are few places that are truly peaceful and stable.

Last summer, another flood struck, and even more people in Zhonggui Prefecture went hungry, with the population dropping to a point where less than two out of ten remained.

Mo Ke himself was in a state of distress, unsure of what to do next.

Whether it's backing Ma Zhigang, or backing King Wen, or perhaps reaching an agreement with Shen Xi...

Otherwise, it would be really difficult for him to support himself on his own.

The defeat in the small battle against Shen Xi reminded him of his sister who was good at fighting.

Where has my younger sister, Mo Yuhua, gone now?

He couldn't find out any information at all, only that Mo Yuhua went to Bian'ai County, and then no news came back.