Chapter 101 Chapter 101 The scorching sun...
The scorching sun made the sand of the Wusun Ancient Road hot.
A caravan was traveling along the ancient road. At a glance, it looked like there were at least two hundred camels and over a hundred horses pulling seventy or eighty carts.
The caravan's guards alone numbered over a hundred, some mounted on horseback, others seated in the front. Adding guides, craftsmen, accountants, and translators, there were a total of four or five hundred people. Stretching two or three miles, it was considered a large caravan in the Western Regions.
"Master Jiang, at our current speed, we will be able to reach Chigu City tonight." The guide turned around while riding on the camel and said to Jiang Wan in the car.
"Got it. Let's speed up. The desert cools down quickly at night. We need to get to Chigu City as soon as possible." Jiang Wan replied.
Inside the car, Chen Xi yawned and sat up: "Master, are we almost there?"
Jiang Wan: "There are still several hours left, don't you want to sleep a little?"
"No need to sleep anymore. I've already slept all morning." Chen Xi drank some water and said, "It's much faster this time. We'll be there on the 14th. The last time Master went to Wusun, it took him a full 21 days."
"This time we have sufficient manpower and supplies, and we have experience, so we'll naturally be faster. But you," Jiang Wan looked at her, "you've experienced the hardships of walking in the desert over the past ten days. Are you really determined to travel the entire Western Region with me?"
Chen Xi's eyes sparkled, tears flashing across them. "Yes. My biological parents are gone, and my enemies are all dead. I sent all the money I earned from following my master to my parents. They have good food and drink now, and don't have to work outside. My two senior brothers can take care of them in Xiaofangpan City. I... For a while, I really didn't know what I could do."
"Now I understand." She raised her head and smiled sweetly: "Master's goal is my goal. I will not leave you alone."
Jiang Wan's heart trembled. When she left Beijing, she had truly believed she was alone again, just like in her previous life. Now, it seemed different.
"By the way, we'll be staying in Chigu City for a long time this time, right?" Chen Xi asked. "The Wusun people haven't come into contact with Central Plains artifacts, so promoting them will take some effort. It'll take at least six months to build a customer base of a certain size."
She frowned in embarrassment. "Wusun has a long rainy season and colder winters. We didn't bring any winter clothes, so we have to buy some locally."
Jiang Wan grabbed her pigtails and twirled them in his hands, smiling, "Really? I only plan to stay for a month."
Chigu Castle Palace.
Eight important Wusun officials gathered in Kunmi's meeting room. General Tuke was reporting on his visit to the Central Plains, while Kunmi sat in a chair, fiddling with a Laitong cup, a look of longing in his eyes.
Madam Zuo had been standing outside the hall for a long time, but two Wusun guards blocked the door and refused to let her approach, their attitude respectful but firm. After a while, Madam You walked towards the meeting room, carrying a pot of mare's milk.
The guard saw the right lady and opened the door of the meeting room for her without saying a word. The latter turned sideways, knelt and saluted to the left lady, smiled a victorious smile, and then turned and walked into the meeting room.
"My lady is here!" Kunmi extended his hand, "Come, sit beside me."
The Right Lady first poured a glass of wine for Kunmi, then ordered the waiter to pour wine for the ministers before sitting down next to Kunmi.
Kunmi put his arm around her waist and said, "I heard that the envoys from the Central Plains have already left the Wusun Ancient Road and are approaching Chigu City. Madam, have you arranged for someone to greet them?"
"Of course," Madam You said softly, "The Central Plains envoy arrived outside Chigu City a quarter of an hour ago, and the people I arranged have already received them. I estimate they should be here soon."
Kunmi nodded and said, "The things in the Central Plains are indeed advanced. If we can directly import them, our Wusun will surely develop rapidly."
After a few words of casual conversation, someone came to report that the Central Plains delegation was waiting outside the palace.
Kunmi looked expectant: "Please come in."
The main door of the meeting hall slowly opened, and he looked up at the six people who walked in. The woman in the lead was wearing a blue dress with an official seal hanging from her waist. She was the "maid" who had accompanied the Right Lady during the Wuhu Alliance.
Kunmi remembered that when he was surrounded by tigers in the hunting grounds, it was this person who found a way to save him. In his memory, she was a clever and talkative girl, speaking softly and with the unique fragility of a Central Plains woman.
Now, facing him as an envoy, she was calm and composed, with generous manners. Her bright eyes held a sadness that was not in line with her age, which made him feel a little at a loss.
Jiang Wan met Kunmi's gaze and bowed first: "Messenger Jiang Wan pays homage to Kunmi and Madam."
"I should also congratulate Madam." Jiang Wan sat down on the couch and said slowly.
She didn't say anything about congratulations, but Madam You knew it all too well. The change in her status was evident from the fact that everyone in the palace addressed her as "Madam" instead of "Madam You."
After a pause, Jiang Wan pointed at the five people standing in the hall and said, "These five are my deputy envoys. The first one on the left, Lord Bai Yanyun, is responsible for translation."
Bai Yanyun bowed, and Jiang Wan continued, "The second person on the left is Master Fang Zeshi, who is in charge of the account keeping."
"The one in the middle, Commander Liu Ming, is in charge of security. The two on the right, Master Qi Qi and Lord Lin Xiangzhi, are in charge of product production and infrastructure engineering, respectively."
According to Emperor Chengde's requirements, the five deputy envoys were all capable and ambitious, but without aristocratic family backgrounds. It's said that in order to select these five individuals, the newly appointed Minister of Personnel and the Grand Tutor spent three days and three nights in the Imperial Study examining resumes.
Madam You said, "Please take a seat. The envoy from the Central Plains is not used to drinking kumis. Someone, bring two pots of hot tea."
"No need to bother," Jiang Wan smiled. "I heard that Wusun's kumis is very fragrant and intoxicating. I'm just thinking of trying it."
Hearing her words, the Wusun officials across from her warmed their gazes. Kunmi then took the initiative to address the key point of the discussion: "The Celestial Empire is rich in products. Now that our two countries have formed an alliance, your emperor has agreed to trade. I intend to gradually introduce your wares so that the people of Wusun can learn your way of life. Your Excellency is also a master porcelain maker. I wonder if you would be willing to open a porcelain shop in Chigu City and sell to the people of Wusun?"
"Of course. Bringing the products of the Central Plains to Wusun is the intention of our Majesty, and it has always been my goal. Not only porcelain, my shop also sells silk, and I will bring more specialties from the Central Plains in the future." Jiang Wan agreed without hesitation.
A white-haired Wusun nobleman sitting to Kunmi's left stroked his beard and spoke in Wusun dialect. Bai Yanyun's translation suggested that he would provide Jiang Wan with a shop in a good location, with a 30% discount on the rent, to support her business.
Jiang Wan stared at the nobleman, and Bai Yanyun introduced him in a low voice: "This is the Prime Minister of Wusun, Kunmi's uncle."
Jiang Wan smiled slightly and raised his glass. "Thank you, Prime Minister, for your kindness. However, your country is nomadic, and your customs are very different from those of the Central Plains. We haven't had any trade in the past. I wonder if your people would accept Central Plains artifacts?"
The Prime Minister paused and looked at Kunmi. Kunmi then looked at General Tuke, who pretended not to notice Kunmi's gaze and lowered his head to drink. For a moment, several important officials looked at each other, unsure how to respond.
The ancestors of the Wusun relied on the Xiongnu to establish the Wusun Kingdom. Because the two countries shared similar geography, climate, and customs, many Wusun people were influenced by the Xiongnu and found it difficult to accept the teachings of the Zhou Dynasty.
If it weren't for the Xiongnu's expanding ambitions in the past twenty years, wanting to unify the Western Regions and then compete for the Central Plains, and their continued demands for benefits from the Wusun, which caused dissatisfaction among the Wusun people, perhaps she really would not have had the opportunity to spread porcelain.
Getting the Wusun people to accept and recognize Chinese porcelain was not easy, and the court officials had certainly considered this. However, they felt that a gradual infiltration would be sufficient; as long as they maintained their alliance with the Great Zhou, there would always be a flow of Chinese merchant caravans.
As for whether Jiang Wan would lose money, that was not their concern.
This could not be said in front of her, so the Wusun nobles were speechless for a moment.
After a moment's silence, General Tuke smiled apologetically and spoke a long string of words in Wusun dialect.
"Sir, he praised your business exploits, saying that with your abilities, you'll definitely make the Wusun people fall in love with porcelain." Bai Yanyun leaned close to Jiang Wan's ear and whispered, "Doesn't that mean he doesn't care about our lives? He actually managed to shirk responsibility in such a fancy way."
He tutted his words, "As expected of a country in the desert, they are really thick-skinned and can withstand the wind and sand."
"Alright, that's not my fault in the first place," Jiang Wan couldn't help but laugh. As she pushed him back to his seat, she mouthed, "I just lack a bit of conscience."
Then she cleared her throat and raised her voice a little: "I do have an idea. I would like to ask Kunmi and the adults to help me consider it."
"I heard that the first day of August is your country's Baroti Festival. Before dinner, offerings are made to the ancestors. After dinner, young men and women dance around the bonfire in the meadow outside the city." Jiang Wan asked, "I wonder if there are any special requirements for the vessels used to hold the offerings?"
This is what it means to contract the sacrificial vessels.
The conference room suddenly fell silent. Bai Yanyun, standing nearby, hissed softly. Then, the Prime Minister slammed the table and stood up, his eyes wide with anger, unleashing a barrage of Wusun dialect at Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan: I didn’t understand, but I felt that the curse was very dirty.
"Hiss." Bai Yanyun shrank back in his chair. "Sir, he cursed quite rudely."
"Alright, don't be rude to the envoy." When the Prime Minister had almost finished speaking, Kunmi spoke up to stop him, speaking in the Central Plains dialect, "The Prime Minister speaks frankly, I hope the envoy will not be offended. However, the Baroti Festival is an important festival for the Wusun people and is related to our beliefs. After all, the envoy is a foreigner, so it may not be appropriate for him to participate."
Jiang Wan tilted his head, showing no dissatisfaction with this obvious red and white cop trick. Instead, he said with a smile, "Really? But I remember that the previous Kunmi of your country invited the Xiongnu Khurikhan to participate in the Baroti Festival. Is it that our Great Zhou is not sincere enough?"
She looked almost cruelly innocent. "Or, in Kunmi's heart, the Xiongnu aren't considered foreigners?"
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