Chapter 182 Ambition
The two chatted all the way, mainly talking about the issue of maximizing the benefits of trade in the northern border. The Yan family cannot take up such a large market, and Yan Jiu will definitely use this privilege to encourage the entire Yan land's nobles to participate.
In addition to collecting taxes for military expenses at this special checkpoint, Gu Changxiao also had to seek profits from the people. No matter how much money the nobles made, it would not go to the people.
They might even exploit the common people for greater profits, using cheap labor and suppressing the prices of commodities such as food. Then the gentry would become even stronger and become the capitalists of this era.
The interests of the people were exploited more ruthlessly, becoming poorer and less courageous to resist. Gu Changxiao had long recognized this, but he was not so proficient in business, so he listened to Jinsui's opinion.
Jinsui felt that this issue was too big to be solved by two people alone. He should go back to the border town and invite a group of officials to discuss it. The core issue was to formulate a commercial law and act in accordance with the law.
This is the only way to effectively suppress the gentry. The gentry can develop commerce, but they are absolutely forbidden to maintain an army, even in the name of guards or Qubu.
Change the tax policy, distribute the tax based on the amount of land, and curb the annexation of land by the gentry.
“If you proposed a new tax system under normal circumstances, the nobles would definitely unite to oppose it. But now there is such a big piece of cake as the Northern Frontier trade in front of them. In order to make money in the Northern Frontier as soon as possible, they will definitely make concessions.
We do not need to expect reform to succeed in one go; we should use the method of boiling a frog in warm water and carry out reforms multiple times to achieve our ultimate goal.
First, take back the land and distribute it to the people. This way you can completely win the hearts of the people of Yan."
Jinsui was just reading from the script. After all, she had the answers to refer to. The children of a flower-growing family could tell a thing or two about the history of that period of land reform.
Just reading the works of great men, even if you only talk about them with half of your knowledge, can be inspiring advice to the leaders of this era.
"After land comes manpower. To prevent the nobles from exploiting the people, the government should set labor costs and commodity purchase prices. This will fundamentally solve the problem of low grain prices hurting farmers."
"The trade with the Northern Frontier is for the nobles to make money, but we need more. In addition to making money, we also want to get our hands on strategic materials such as war horses and heavy metals from the Northern Frontier.
We must also strictly prevent the export of strategic materials, and sell our over-produced goods to the northern border to achieve the goal of enriching the entire population."
"I know you are short of manpower now, and there are not enough officials in the border towns. The officials in Yan are fence-sitters, and they can be easily bribed by the nobles to deceive their superiors and subordinates.
Isn't there an imperial examination in the spring? Our border town can also hold a military examination after the imperial examination. We don't compete with the court for talents, we want talents that the court doesn't value.
As long as talented people in craftsmanship, mathematics, agronomy, commerce, etc. come to the border town, you, the King Li, can give them official positions with your power.
I believe that those candidates who failed the exam or those who are unable to take the imperial examination will come to the border town to try their luck.”
Gu Changxiao sincerely sighed: "With his talent, he can be the prime minister!"
Jin Sui laughed: "Does Da Xia have a female prime minister? I don't want to be an official. It's exhausting."
Gu Changxiao chuckled and said, "Then don't be an official. How about I hire you as a military advisor in the name of the King of Li?"
"Sure! You have to get a higher salary!"
Gu Changxiao repeated what he had promised her in the past, "I promised you ten thousand acres of fertile land. When we return to the border town, you can go and enclose the land yourself.
Give Master Ji a temple and enclose some land for construction. But Jin'an needs to study, and there is no academy in the border town, so I will invite a teacher to come to the border town to teach him."
Jin Sui chuckled: "You are bleeding your own blood to turn our family of three into border town residents!"
Gu Changxiao thought to himself, no, my goal is to make you a family.
At this time, Jinsui saw a tribe transporting goods in front of him. The people from the northern border were riding horses, and they used whips to whip the sheep and...Han slaves that were lagging behind from time to time.
The Han slaves had no horses and had to carry heavy loads while following the camel caravan. They walked with difficulty in the snow with their backs bent so much that their heads almost touched the ground.
They seemed to have gotten used to being treated like cattle and horses. When being beaten, they didn't even raise their heads, but instinctively shrank their bodies and quickened their pace.
Jin Sui and Gu Chang Xiao's faces turned heavy. Da Xia also had many slaves from other races, such as the tall and capable Kunlun slaves, the gentle Silla maids, and the lively Persian dancers...
But it is really unpleasant to see Han people become slaves in a foreign country.
Jin Sui said softly, "There is something I think we can do during the Northern Frontier trade period. Although this will take a long time, change starts with little by little."
Gu Changxiao asked hurriedly: "Is it about Hannu? If Suisui has any ideas, just tell me."
Jin Sui nodded: "We can improve the status of the Han people in the northern border. Most people in the northern border do not speak Chinese. We can require that there must be Han people who can speak Chinese present in trade communications.
In addition, we can ask them to inspect the trade goods they provide, and teach the Han people how to grow cash crops.
In this way, the tribes will inevitably attach importance to Han slaves.
When the Taoist temple that Bater built for me is completed, I will also recruit Han people to work in the temple, participate in preaching, dispensing medicine, disaster relief, visit various tribes to treat their cattle and horses, deliver supplies during natural disasters, and so on.
Over time, in the minds of the lower-class herdsmen, the Han people in the Taoist temple became the Three Pure Ones walking on earth, and they naturally began to respect the Han people. "
Gu Changxiao strongly supported her proposal, but he believed that the most important thing for the people of Northern Xinjiang to respect the Han people was for Daxia to become strong, so strong that the other countries in the four directions could not catch up.
At that time, no matter where the Han people were, they would be guests of honor.
When Daxia was weak, the Han people in the northern border were Han slaves. But when Daxia becomes strong enough to make the northern border afraid, the Han people will become Han envoys! But this will take more time, and he can't do it now, and many Han slaves may not even wait for that day. Before that, we have to rely on the method of years to improve the status of the Han people in the northern border little by little.
Both of them felt that the burden on their shoulders had become heavier, but this was not a burden or a nuisance, but a driving force that pushed them forward.
Gu Changxiao said sincerely: "Sui Sui, thank you."
Jin Sui was startled: "What are you thanking me for again? You've already thanked me many times before."
Gu Changxiao chuckled: "Anyway, thank you! Thank you for being willing to stay with me."
Jin Sui raised his eyebrows: "You gave me the money, I won't do it if the money is not enough. Also, I have to work for Yan Jiu when I return to Border Town, don't let you be weird again."
"When did I become weird? You should work for Yan Jiu, so you should get more pay. Don't do anything dangerous. If you are afraid of breaking the contract and can't afford the penalty, I will pay for you!"
Jin Sui laughed out loud: "That's not necessary. Although I am looking for a sea route for the Yan family, the one who will benefit in the end is Biancheng. You should support me."
After the heavy topic, the two chatted lightly for a while, and then they saw Yan Jiu’s convoy in front.
Yan Jiu sat in the carriage and saw from the window two people riding side by side, talking and laughing. The knuckles of his fingers holding the curtain turned white in an instant.
He really didn't want to admit it, but the fact was before him: Miss Ji was much happier when she was with Gu Changxiao.
She had never laughed so freely when she was talking to herself.
He slowly lowered the curtains, not wanting to look anymore.
Seeing Yan Jiu's car driving towards the camp, Jin Sui hurriedly said, "Let's go talk to the head of the Yan family about entering the royal court!"
Gu Changxiao nodded and reminded Jin Sui first: "After entering the royal court, you must always stay with me. Even when you go to the toilet, you must bring Black Tiger with you."
Jin Sui was speechless: "I'm not a child. Do you want to add that I can't eat things given by strangers?"
"Yes! Don't eat anything carelessly. Some medicines in Northern Xinjiang are different from those in Daxia. They are colorless and tasteless. Even if you have excellent medical skills, you may not be able to detect them."
Jin Sui warned him in return: "Compared to me, a Han woman of unknown reputation, you, the King of Li, should be more careful. In addition to Bater and Tuoya, many dignitaries in the northern border want to kill you!"
Gu Changxiao said disdainfully: "They dare not! Once Lei Zan is dead, they are leaderless and dare not touch me easily."
"Anyway, you should carry a few fish oil firearms with you. If something happens, just blow them up! Blow the royal court to pieces, and we won't lose anything."
"If Bater pursues the matter, we will say that we helped him eliminate Lei Zan's people."
Gu Changxiao smiled. This is really the style of our Li Wang. Sui Sui has returned to the style of Li Wang. That's great.
Three days passed in a flash. During these three days, Yan Jiu often went out to meet Yan merchants. He had to build a trade system in the northern border before returning to Yan.
Jin Sui and Gu Chang Xiao looked around and visited the Batu tribe once. Tore was very friendly to them and slaughtered sheep and prepared wine for a banquet.
Gu Changxiao asked if there were any Han slaves in his tribe? Tuole shook his head. His father didn't like farming. He was the most conservative noble in the northern border. He only had pastures but no fields.
I dislike Han slaves and all foreign things even more.
But Tore was different: "Our Batu tribe's population has dropped drastically due to the Rezan massacre. I plan to buy a group of slaves, even Han slaves."
Seeing Jin Sui and Gu Chang Xiao's serious expressions, he immediately smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have Han friends, and I won't treat Han slaves like cattle and horses.
I just let them till the land for me."
Jin Sui took the opportunity to mention that in the past, Yan and Northern Xinjiang needed Han people to mediate the trade, and he could train some people to do these things in advance.
Also, what crops will be purchased at a high price in the future, so that the Batu tribe can plant them in advance. I heard that it was cotton, sunflower seeds, etc.
Torre was a little embarrassed: "We are going to grow crops. These things are delicate work and require too much manpower."
Jinsui immediately offered an exchange price: one pound of cotton could be exchanged for two pounds of wheat or three pounds of beans. Torre immediately said that he wanted to grow cotton!
Although the Batu tribe had no farmland, Tore often interacted with other tribes and knew that cotton in the northern border had a higher yield than wheat. However, they did not have so many Han women to weave cloth or so many serfs, so they grew grain as much as possible.
If the King of Li was willing to exchange more food for cotton, why didn't he plant it? He immediately offered Jin Sui and Gu Chang Xiao kumis: "My loyal friends, you are welcome to visit the Batu tribe at any time!"
Jinsui talked about his Taoist temple which had not yet been built. Torei hurriedly said that he and the Batu tribe would support the Sanqing Taoist temple. If any other tribe made things difficult for the Sanqing Taoist temple, he would teach them a lesson on behalf of Miss Ji.
Then he asked directly: "Then we are friends. Miss Ji, can you give our Batu tribe some lightning and fire self-defense?"
Jin Sui: ...Are you northern Xinjiang people always so direct when you ask for things? No roundabout way at all! The things you promised me were all empty talk, but asking me for things was very real.
"I have run out of thunder and fire. I have to wait until I return to the Taoist temple to get that thing. I can't make it here."
"Production? Isn't that a gift from the gods?"
"...Yes, it is indeed a reward from the gods. There are no Taoist temples in the Northern Frontier, so the gods cannot give rewards."
I, a Taoist nun, am almost becoming a fortune-teller.
"Is that the medicine that Miss Ji gave to the witch? Can you give me some? That medicine is really magical. The witch said that only gods can give such a magical medicine."
Jin Sui tried to hold back his laughter. It was much easier to fool people in the Northern Frontier. All the things that couldn't be explained could be blamed on the gods.
The people in northern Xinjiang behave in a very strange way. They can kill people with knives without blinking an eye, but they also have great faith in God. They will cover the sheep's eyes and pray before killing them, but they have no guilt for killing people.
"I have plenty of medicine with me, so I can give some to my friends."
Torre was overjoyed and called a witch doctor on the spot. Jinsui did not hide anything and gave them some wound medicine and antibiotics. He also taught the witch doctor some methods to treat livestock plague.
The witch doctor immediately knelt down to thank him, but not to Jinsui, but to the gods.
In his opinion, it was the help of gods that enabled him to meet Jinsui and learn these medical skills.
In the northern border, doctors who are good at managing animal husbandry are more popular than doctors who treat people.
Before leaving, Tore gave them a cart of beef, mutton, and kumis, and also gave Jinsui a set of pure gold saddle inlaid with gemstones. Jinsui's eyes lit up. If he sold this thing to Jin Zilin, it would fetch at least 10,000 taels of silver!
Then, what Jinsui gave to Torre was something whose value could not be assessed by gold or silver - this bottle of glass wolf, which was much smaller than the one Bartel had.
But Torre was very satisfied, his face turned red with excitement, and he immediately invited all the tribesmen to see the glass wolf. It was obviously given by Jinsui, but he insisted that it was a gift from the gods.
With this magical weapon, our Batu tribe will achieve greater glory, and all the people in the tribe are very excited.
Jin Sui whispered to Gu Changxiao, "It seems that the price of the glassware we sell in the royal court can be raised a little bit. What we sell is a divine artifact! Torre said so himself."
Gu Changxiao suppressed his laughter and said, "If we have too many artifacts, they will be worthless. We can sell fewer of them, and sell a few new styles every year."
Jin Sui laughed: "Your Highness Prince Li, you have become evil!"
Gu Changxiao also smiled and said, "That's because you taught me well, Taoist Ji."
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
If time was not so tight, the two would like to ask Torre to take them to more tribes to sell glassware and make agreements with tribal leaders about planting cash crops.
Unfortunately, Princess Toya's men arrived very soon. Yan Jiu, Gu Changxiao and Jin Sui confirmed the plan again. Yan Jiu only brought a few guards into the royal court, and everyone else was left to Hei Hu's command.
As long as something happened to the three of them in the royal court, Hei Hu would immediately bring people to rescue them.
Yan Jiu looked at Gu Changxiao and said, "If we have to flee back to Yandi, I have already arranged an escape route. There will be a small tribe to provide cover for us. I just wonder if His Majesty the King of Li has any reinforcements?"
Gu Changxiao chuckled: "It seems that I can't hide it from Master Yan. I have indeed arranged for the old members of the Northwest Army to meet us at the border."
The two looked at Jinsui, who spread his hands and said, "I have nothing. No, I can provide an unlimited amount of fish oil firearms!"
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