The Six Doors were much more desolate. Although many people were still practicing martial arts, there were few familiar faces. This was also Qin Mu's decision. As the prefect and the chief constable of the Six Doors, he couldn't leave Shuofang without an imperial decree or any war. As for the others, he sent them all to Chang'an to claim their rewards, including Baili Rou, who represented the Baili family and went with Princess Changning. After Baili Rou left, Han Chen, who originally didn't want to go, also went to be her protector.
"Hehe, are you not used to having so much free time all of a sudden?" Feng Duan asked with a smile as he sat by the fireplace. He had already begun to learn how the Six Doors operated, since Huang Sanjian and the others were likely to be transferred, and he would also have to take up the post of local police commissioner.
"You guys have so much free time, but you didn't even think to help out," Baili Bing said, looking up from his documents with dissatisfaction. Two of the three were warming themselves by the fire and drinking tea, while he was the only one busy.
"Isn't this a case of the capable doing more work? Brother Baili, you've done so well, why should we add to the trouble?" Qin Mu sipped his tea contentedly and said lazily, nestled in his recliner. Since returning, he hadn't wanted to move, carrying his recliner with him wherever he wanted, preferring to lie down rather than sit.
"I made a bad choice in making friends!" Baili Bing shook his head and sighed.
"You can't say that. You're the Chief Clerk of the Six Doors in Shuozhou. Isn't it your duty to do these things?"
"You forced me to take this position as registrar, so why don't I give it back to you?" Baili Bingqi laughed, put down his pen, and tossed the official document aside.
"That won't do, Brother Baili. How can a person give up halfway? You've been handling all the official documents for the past two or three months, and I'm not familiar with them, so it's more appropriate for you to do it." Qin Mu waved his hand without even raising his eyelids.
"Where are the people? All the good ones have left, and the Six Doors are left with only these newbies. Aren't you going to teach them?" Baili Bing asked, shaking his head helplessly.
"They are all wounded brothers in the army. Let them rest and recuperate. It's not too late to train after winter."
Seeing Qin Mu's calm expression, Baili Bing was actually very impressed. He had taken 12,000 wounded soldiers in one go, most of whom were disabled, to replenish the manpower shortage of the Six Doors. The rest were put into the Shuofang City Guard. If Qin Mu hadn't taken them, these people would almost all have had to leave the army and go home to live on the government's pensions. But Qin Mu took them, gave them regular government positions with a fixed salary, and guaranteed them a comfortable life. Moreover, these people were not suited for traveling anyway, so keeping them here to recover and receiving money was a clear act of care for them.
"You can buy so many medicinal herbs and grains on credit from the Baili family, but I can't help you with anything else," Baili Bing reminded him.
"It's alright, I have money," Qin Mu said generously. Back in Golden Wolf Mountain, they had practically dug up the ground to protect the tribe and the Elder Hall, plundering all their savings accumulated over countless years. Even after dividing the spoils among their subordinates and others, they still had a large amount left over.
Gold and silver jewelry could be converted into money to reward subordinates and distribute to Cheng Huaimo and others, but the bulk of the profits would go to him, since only he could have brought so much back. Take that golden wolf, for example—it was huge and heavy. Without the Heavenly Mystery Tower, it would have been a miracle if it hadn't been a burden, let alone brought it back. And those other strange wolf-related items could also fetch a good price.
"I heard that the Chief Constable has been personally subsidizing the people of Shuofang?" Feng Duan asked Qin Mu.
"You want to ask why?" Qin Mu asked with a smile.
“Yes, when other officials become officials, not to mention embezzling money, no one spends a lot of their own money to get rich.” Feng Duan nodded and Baili Bing also looked up.
"A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment. We can't build new houses for the people for free, otherwise it will become a habit and turn out badly. This also applies to providing them with crops and coal. So during the off-season, we need to let them make up for it with their labor, and that's when we can recoup our expenses. Of course, there has to be a limit; we can't let the people resent it, and at the same time, we need to choose some beneficial things to develop," Qin Mu explained.
“This is all for local development, isn’t it? If it were just for personal gain, people would say you’re lining your own pockets,” Feng Duan said, frowning. As an official, the thing he fears most is gossip. If it gets out and his superiors don’t believe it, the trouble it will cause will be immense. In his view, it would be a complete loss.
"In principle, yes, but doing some things on the side is not excessive. Besides, I'm openly and legitimately subsidizing them. If anyone disagrees, let them pay up too," Qin Mu said confidently.
"We've brought back so many pelts from the wolf tribe this time. We can take advantage of the winter to make them into clothes and sell them elsewhere. We can also clear more wasteland and plant fruits and vegetables in the spring to make money. Once the people have paid me back, all of that will belong to them. In that case, who will dare to say anything!" Qin Mu said domineeringly.
“While it’s true that debts must be repaid, how much can vegetables and fruits sell for? Are you expecting the people to pay you back for the rest of their lives?” Baili Bing said with a smile.
"Who said fruits and vegetables don't sell for much? Fruits can be canned and stored for months without any problem, and vegetables can be pickled and stored for a long time as well," Qin Mu said, rolling his eyes.
“Yes, if it can be preserved for a few months, that would be good. It can be sold in Chang’an, Luoyang, and even the Western Regions. It should sell well there. This is indeed a way to make money.” Baili Bing agreed. He then changed his tone and said, “But pickled vegetables won’t work. Although vegetables are a bit expensive in winter, salt is not cheap. If it’s too expensive, no one will be willing to buy it.”
"Why not sell pickled vegetables to the wolf clan? The wolf clan eats meat all year round. Vegetables can help to cleanse the body and stomach, and with the added saltiness, they can be sold for a higher price than tea and salt." Qin Mu asked, staring at Baili Bing.
“Sell it to the wolf clan? That’s not a good idea, is it? If the imperial court finds out, things will get really serious.” Baili Bing paused for a moment before speaking.
"After this great battle, the wolf clan won't dare to oppose the Tang Dynasty for a while. Opening trade is beneficial to both sides. The furs and herbs from the grasslands are resources we need," Qin Mu analyzed. Based on what Li Jing said and the situation at court, he speculated that Li Shimin would certainly not object to opening a border market. When Princess Changning returned to Chang'an, he wrote a memorial and asked her to take it back to Chang'an.
Qin Mu had this idea because he had witnessed the wealth of the wolf clan. Almost every family there possessed medicinal herbs, and even more animal hides—thick layers of them hung in their tents and covered their beds. The wolves didn't know their value, but Qin Mu was a connoisseur.
“Even if the imperial court agrees, the price of salt is too high, and the cost of making pickled vegetables is too high,” Baili Bing said, shaking his head.
"It seems Brother Baili isn't just a bookworm who only studies Confucian classics. Salt is indeed very expensive, but there is a salt lake in Shuozhou," Qin Mu said, feigning surprise.
Baili Bing rolled her eyes, ignoring Qin Mu's teasing. Feng Duan shook his head and said, "That salt lake is poisonous; people can't eat from it."
“I know that, but I have a way to make it non-toxic,” Qin Mu said with a smile. In the other world, this was practically common sense.
"Really!" Feng Duan stood up in surprise. Baili Bing also looked at Qin Mu in astonishment, wanting to confirm whether what he said was true.
"Of course! When have you ever seen me lie?" Qin Mu said confidently.
"We're rich!" Feng Duan exclaimed excitedly.
Baili Bing looked at Qin Mu, hesitant to speak.
"The secret recipe for salt production must be kept confidential for now, but the Baili family can buy it at a discount," Qin Mu nodded slightly.
"Thank you very much, Brother Qin!" Baili Bing said gratefully, cupping his hands in thanks. Qin Mu's agreement to the purchase meant that he had agreed to let the Baili family use this to make money.
"Hehe, we're all friends, it's only right that we help each other out." Qin Mu shook his head and smiled. He was just returning the favor; the Baili family had treated him well, so it was only natural to give back.
"Take a count of those injured brothers. See if any of them are willing to move their families to Shuozhou. We can only feel at ease using our own people for the salt production," Qin Mu said, looking up at Feng Duan.
“Okay, I’ll take care of this.” Feng Duan readily agreed.
"Don't rush things. We still need to do some preparations. If they agree, once they've recovered from their injuries, we'll give them the funds and let them go back to bring their people. Forget about all the mess at home; just bring the people. We'll prepare everything for them here," Qin Mu instructed.
"I understand." Feng Duan carefully noted it down, nodded solemnly in agreement. Having known Qin Mu for some time, he understood that Qin Mu was a man who would not mistreat his subordinates.
The preparations Qin Mu mentioned were preliminary work, mainly concerning fuel. To extract salt from the salt lake, it had to be boiled! Impurities in the salt are not easily soluble in water, so all you need to do is collect them, dissolve them in water, filter them, and then boil them dry.
The greatest demand was for fuel, and the best material was coal, which needed to be transported from Yanmen County. Yanmen County had a considerable amount of coal mined, thanks to the strong wolf captives they had taken.
However, the weather makes transportation inconvenient, so Shuozhou still largely relies on timber. As for charcoal, that stuff is too complicated to make; only blacksmiths would bother to produce it.
It's just that the Triangle Cows, fresh from the battlefield, are now back to being transport troops! But those big guys have pretty good temperaments! Most of the time, as long as they have beans to eat, they're very obedient!
Although there is snow in winter, the salt lake does not freeze, so it is entirely possible! Additionally, a settlement needs to be established before people arrive—a place suitable for long-term living.
These days, human life is cheap! So most people are in pretty good physical condition. Those who returned to Shuozhou from the battlefield have already stabilized their injuries, and as long as they receive adequate medicine and nutrition, they'll generally be fine. Unless there's an infection or something similar, there's not much that can be done. Fortunately, the weather is cold now, so that's unlikely to happen.
After inquiring, Feng Duan discovered that most of the people were willing to relocate their families there. This was mainly because they trusted the Tang Dynasty and believed it could protect the border. Furthermore, during their recuperation period, they had gained a rough understanding of Shuozhou's policies. It was through word of mouth that they made the decision to relocate.
Since life in their hometown was just so-so, why not go somewhere else where they could live better? Another reason was to repay a debt of gratitude; Qin Mu had been good to them, and they wanted to do their part. Especially after Feng Duan quoted Qin Mu's words: "Only those who are truly your own can be trusted!"
Finally, a thousand people who lived near Shuozhou were selected, given some money and mounts, and asked to bring their families over as soon as possible.
It's not easy for ordinary people to move. To register their household in another place, they need the consent of both the local government and the government of the place they're moving to. Of course! Shuozhou agreed, and with a certificate from the Shuozhou government, other places wouldn't offend anyone for the sake of a few households or dozens of people. After all, Qin Mu and his group weren't looking for people from the same county.
Inside the Heavenly Mystery Tower, there were still large quantities of food, medicinal herbs, and furs. Much of the other supplies had been consumed on the journey, but it was precisely these furs that would help the soon-to-be-relocated people adapt to life in Shuozhou. After all, not every place is as cold as Shuozhou.
As for the issue of reclaiming land in winter, it actually has advantages. Turning over the land in winter can freeze and kill tree roots and insect eggs, making it more suitable for planting the following year.
The people are simple and honest. Everything was explained to them at the beginning of the relocation, so they had no objections. Besides, the government provided food and lodging, and all they had to do was bring their own tools and help out.
Shuozhou was just as busy in winter. Qin Mu, who had rested for a few days, did not slack off. He led his men to inspect various places to see if any people had not been properly settled. After all, he had built so many new houses for cultivation, and he was unsure if all the people had been properly settled.
Fortunately, there were no unexpected incidents. There might be some petty corrupt officials, but there were no major problems, and the people were very satisfied. In particular, the Six Doors (the government's security agency) had made several arrests, and local thugs were rarely seen! It can be said that Shuozhou is currently the most peaceful and safest place in the entire Tang Dynasty, and even the entire world.
The imperial court's rewards have been announced: those who deserve promotions will be promoted, and those who deserve titles will be promoted. Qin Mu's official position, however, remains unchanged. After all, at his age, reaching the rank of a third-grade official is something that, while perhaps unprecedented, is not uncommon.
Zhang Gongjin was removed from his post as Governor of Shuozhou and reassigned as Grand Governor of the Anbei Protectorate, in charge of Yunzhou, Fengzhou, and Shengzhou. At the same time, he established a border market in Shengzhou.
Qin Mu was appointed by the court as the governor of Shuofang Commandery and the marquis of Licheng, a title bestowed upon him in one fell swoop, which was especially rare for the eldest son of a duke. After all, the title of a founding duke was hereditary, and only after three generations would the title be demoted if there were no merit! And the eldest son was to inherit the title of duke.
Qin Mu was very pleased with this, which showed that Li Shimin understood him well, and it was also due to the presence of Princess Changning. A princess of the Tang Dynasty couldn't possibly marry someone without a title!
Cheng Huaimo and his colleagues all received promotions, either becoming local governors or joining the Twelve Guards. This indicated that Li Shimin recognized their abilities and no longer regarded them as useless sons of officials. Nor did he keep them in Chang'an like good-for-nothings, assigning them honorary positions.
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