Late spring of the eleventh year of the reign of Emperor Fuxi of the Qian Dynasty.
The departing procession was about to set off, while the people of Lizhou spontaneously lined both sides of the official road.
Despite having only been trading with the Northern Territory for a short six months, the people of Lizhou have all deeply felt the tremendous benefits it has brought.
This year alone, Lizhou has achieved self-sufficiency solely through taxes paid from the market, no longer needing to ask the imperial court for money and grain to make a living as it did in the past.
For the people of Lizhou, what they have gained is not only material wealth and improved living conditions.
It is dignity, but more importantly, it is the yearning and expectation for a better life.
Wang Xiuxiu stood there quietly, gazing tenderly at the group of simple and lovely people of Lizhou before her, her heart overflowing with a deep sense of happiness.
In her joy, she inadvertently glanced at the head guard beside her, who looked completely different from her; Zisu was filled with disappointment.
Seeing this, Wang Xiuxiu, with a mischievous glint in her eye, said in a teasing tone, "Zisu, look at you, so absent-minded. Are you waiting for Wulin?"
Hearing Wang Xiuxiu's teasing words, Zisu's cheeks instantly turned bright red. "Patriarch! You...you...I'm ignoring you!"
Having said that, Zisu, filled with shame and indignation, made a move to mount her horse.
"Don't be angry, Zisu. I was just joking with you. Look at you, you look so preoccupied."
"No, I just feel that we've lived together for so long, and Wulin didn't even come to see us off when we left. That's really not nice of him! Even if it were me, it would be one thing, but he didn't even come to see you off. It's a real waste that you taught him so much!"
Zisu became increasingly angry and resentful, eventually even stomping her feet in frustration.
Wang Xiuxiu wasn't angry at all; instead, she smiled and pointed behind her.
Upon seeing this, Zisu was first taken aback, then suddenly turned around and saw a ghostly face.
Zisu was a soldier, and her subconscious reaction was to throw a punch.
Before Wang Xiuxiu could even stop him, Wu Lin covered his face and started making a scene.
"You little rascal! Not only did you get caught talking behind my back, but you also got so angry that you dared to hit me! Sir, you must stand up for me!"
At this moment, Wulin looked aggrieved, as if he had been wronged to the extreme.
Wang Xiuxiu was in a bind and dared not provoke this troublemaker, so she quickly said, "Since it was Zisu who did it, then let Zisu take full responsibility for taking care of you while you are recovering."
Without giving Zisu a chance to argue, he turned and boarded the carriage.
From that day on, for several days in a row, whenever Wang Xiuxiu encountered Zisu, she would find her silently watching her with an extremely resentful gaze, making a silent accusation.
Every time she saw that pitiful little expression, Wang Xiuxiu's already dwindling conscience would ache!
Later, Wang Xiuxiu couldn't hold back any longer. Taking advantage of Zisu's absence during a break, she secretly went to talk to Wu Lin.
"I told you that's enough! Zisu is busy with all sorts of things every day and still has to find time to take care of you, so you can't bully her!"
"Sir, I understand. I just thought she was funny and wanted to tease her. I promise you, I definitely won't bully her!"
Hearing him say that, Wang Xiuxiu finally felt relieved.
Back in the carriage, Lu Jingze teased her, "What, did you go to be a peacemaker?"
"There's no other way. As a leader, you can't just stand by and watch internal conflicts among your subordinates escalate. What if it affects the team's work?"
Seeing her talking nonsense with such a straight face, Lu Jingze couldn't help but find it a little funny.
In the end, he couldn't resist and reached out to gently tap the top of her head.
"You think you're so smart!"
Wang Xiuxiu, however, was not ashamed at all; on the contrary, she was proud and asked him with a grin, "Hehe, tell me, don't we Zisu and Wulin make a pretty good match?"
Lu Jingze raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at the person in front of him with a half-smile, and slowly said, "What? Now you not only want to act as a peacemaker, but you also plan to try your hand at being the matchmaker?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu glared at Lu Jingze and replied irritably, "What's wrong with me, the patriarch, taking some time to care about my subordinates' love lives? Do you have a problem with that?"
Lu Jingze waved his hand, "Absolutely not!"
"There's no best! You're smart to know what's good for you!" Wang Xiuxiu nodded in satisfaction.
However, Lu Jingze changed the subject, looking at Wang Xiuxiu with tender eyes, "You should know that although Zisu was specially chosen and arranged by me to be by your side, in the end she is still my brother's person. As for Wulin, in terms of background, he is a member of the Ming family."
He paused, then continued, "Judging from your usual attitude towards him, you intend to train him as a disciple? If he were to take over trade affairs with the Northern Border in the future, both of these men have very complicated backgrounds, and there are many concerns involved. Have you considered these factors?"
“As I know, Zisu is deeply trusted by the Emperor, and Wulin is a soldier of the Ming family. If the two of them can truly get together while still having feelings for each other, then the forces they represent will check and balance each other. Wouldn’t this create another subtle system of checks and balances? It would actually be more conducive to the stability of the situation.”
Wealth and status are dazzling, and money stirs the heart.
Even if the current emperor remains unmoved by the enormous wealth hidden in the northern border, there will certainly be people in the court who want to get involved.
At that time, who will guarantee the Ming family army's pay and supplies?
Are the people of Lizhou going to have to go back to the old days of living hand to hand?
In other words, there is no one in the capital whom we trust to hold a key position in trade affairs.
If a powerful figure emerges in Lizhou and his influence grows to the point of threatening the nation, how should the imperial court respond?
With the two forces waxing and waning, maintaining a delicate balance between them is no easy task.
Lu Jingze had to admit that if things developed as Wang Xiuxiu wanted, it would be a good path for the capital, Lizhou, and Wulin Zisu.
Actually, there is a third point. Even though Wang Xiuxiu didn't say it, she was inexplicably confident that Lu Jingze would understand her considerations.
Throughout history, the relationship between rulers and ministers has been complex and subtle, with countless virtuous ministers and famous generals perishing due to suspicion.
If the Ming family army were to become excessively involved in trade-related affairs, even if they themselves had no intention of rebelling, they would likely be seen as a thorn in the side by the ministers in the capital.
Therefore, without a trustworthy person to supervise and control them, allowing them to have respectable people planted in Lizhou, it might not be a good thing for Minglang.
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