"You've made a lot of money lately?" Jiang Nuan squinted her eyes.
"Of course not," Huang Xiaosan immediately became alert. "Small business, low capital and meager profits, not even enough to make ends meet. Mother, what are you planning to do?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan smiled meaningfully, "Have you forgotten who provided the initial capital for starting a business?"
"Do we have to pay it back?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan gave him a knowing look.
“My dear in-law,” Manager Jin quickly came to his son-in-law’s rescue, “what are your plans? We have no money and no manpower, what can we do?”
"Those with money should contribute more, and those with less should contribute less. It's the same for everyone. The specific outcome depends on each person's fate." After a pause, Jiang Nuan reminded, "This matter definitely has risks, but the rewards are also great. Moreover, someone will bear most of the risks. As long as you can come back, you will definitely make a small profit. Whether you go or not depends on your personal thoughts. I won't force you. Go back and discuss it with your family, and then I will make arrangements!"
"I want to go to the Western Regions!" Han Qi shouted immediately.
"You want to go to the Western Regions?" Jiang Nuan frowned and asked tentatively, "Are you going alone or sending someone?"
"Myself," Han Qi's eyes were full of excitement, "The Western Regions are full of beauties, each one is said to be charming and alluring. If I have the chance to see them, my life will not be in vain."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan was speechless.
"Just talk to Han Yi about this, and if he agrees to let you go, that's fine."
"What does it have to do with him? I'm his father, not his son!"
“Perhaps,” Huang Xiaosan said thoughtfully, “Brother Han Yi is afraid that you’ll bring him back a younger brother with red hair and green eyes!”
Upon hearing this, Han Qi's face flushed red, a mixture of shame, anger, embarrassment, and resentment coursing through his teeth. He couldn't help but growl, "You little bastards, can't you think of anything normal?!"
“I don’t recommend that you go, brother,” Jiang Nuan shook her head. “It’s a long journey. There’s endless sandstorms and countless dangers. It’s too dangerous.”
These are secondary concerns. The main worry is that he's too naive and easily swayed by others, which could lead to him getting himself into trouble.
"No," Han Qi said firmly, "I definitely can't miss this opportunity."
When he was young, he dreamed of traveling everywhere, but his father pressured him to have children. After the children were born, his father made him set an example for them. In addition, there were many beautiful women in the city, so his desire to go out faded.
Hearing these things today, this thought suddenly became stronger.
I always felt that staying in southern Henan for the rest of my life would be too stifling, like being a sparrow locked in a cage.
“Tell this to Han Yi.”
After Jiang Nuan finished speaking, she ignored him.
Ideals are lofty, but reality is harsh. It would be a miracle if Han Yi let Han Qi act recklessly!
"We'll see when the time comes."
Han Qi became irritated.
He always felt that his unfilial son would not agree.
"I need to think about it some more," Manager Jin said after a moment of serious thought. "This is a big matter, and I need to discuss it with Qiushan and the others first."
"No rush, take your time to think it over!"
Jiang Nuan's words were like a bombshell, stirring up a storm and leaving almost everyone's hearts in turmoil.
Huang Xiaosan was very concerned about this matter. As soon as he left, he immediately found Jiang Nuan and asked, "Mother, when can we go to the Western Regions, and who will we go with?"
"Auntie, why did you suddenly think of this?"
So, Jiang Nuan briefly explained the situation.
"Mother," Huang Xiaosan said excitedly, "Are you sure His Majesty will send someone?"
"Eighty percent certain!"
"Can we really get a ride?"
“There’s no doubt about that,” Jiang Nuan said helplessly. “If nothing unexpected happens, one of you brothers will definitely be with you.”
Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaosan couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.
"Mother, how about letting me go?"
“Don’t think of things so simply,” Jiang Nuan said with a smile. “Even if you follow the imperial court, it’s not that simple. It’s hard work and dangerous, and you might end up with nothing.”
Jiang Nuan originally wanted her third son to go, but today she realized that he was too eager for quick success and not calm enough.
For a moment, he hesitated.
"Don't worry, that's how business works: the greater the risk, the greater the reward."
"It's best if you have this awareness."
Time passed in a long, agonizing period.
In the middle of the night, Ji Xuan arrived, travel-worn, and went straight to Jiang Nuan.
"Madam Jiang, is what's written in the letter true?"
"Yes, what are Your Majesty's plans?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan fell silent.
He naturally wanted to reclaim those treasures now, but that was unrealistic.
Leaving aside whether the court officials would agree, the expenses of sending a large army on a campaign would be unbearable, not to mention the lack of elite troops and capable generals.
It's no exaggeration to say that they lack everything except ambition!
"I am very unwilling!"
"How so?"
"The Great Zhou Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, with a wide territory. Its people are hardworking and diligent, yet they still struggle to find enough to eat."
"This reason can only be attributed to the low productivity of the whole society. Your Majesty need not blame yourself."
Ji Xuan ignored her and continued talking to herself, "However, those itinerant merchants in the Western Regions, who clearly do not engage in production, are dressed in gold and jade and are extremely wealthy."
"If such a person can receive blessings from Heaven, why can't the people of my Great Zhou?"
“No,” Jiang Nuan felt that this statement was very one-sided. “It’s the same all over the world. There are people who wear gold and jade, and there are people who can’t even afford to eat. The Western Regions are not as good as Your Majesty thinks. Riots often occur there, and it is extremely unstable.”
“Madam Jiang, these are not the point,” Ji Xuan said, unable to continue. “Treasures of nature belong to the virtuous. These barbarians are unworthy of their positions and are wasting their natural advantages.”
Actually, they were just coveting other people's things.
I want to steal it, but I can't.
Having said that, Jiang Nuan stopped pretending to be confused and went straight to the point, "I have two methods, please listen to them."
"Please speak, Madam Jiang."
"Firstly, it opened up overseas trade. Its profits were exaggerated beyond imagination; one only needed porcelain, silk, and tea to exchange for rare and exotic treasures from various countries."
"Secondly, opening up trade routes in the Western Regions will be very beneficial, as those small countries in the Western Regions have long admired the Great Zhou."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan pondered seriously, "When the Great Zhou was first established, the sea ban was lifted, but it attracted countless Japanese pirates, so the decision was made to ban the sea in the end."
As for the westward trade routes, they have always existed; however, due to rampant bandits and treacherous conditions, few people ventured along them.
"His Majesty wants to conquer all directions and amass wealth, but neither the national treasury of the Great Zhou nor the people can afford it. Moreover, while medicinal herbs, spices, and jade are indeed valuable, they cannot fill an empty stomach. If the food problem is not solved, the people's lives will not improve; on the contrary, they will become worse."
“That makes sense, but,” Ji Xuan said hesitantly, “the benefits of such small-scale operations are limited.”
Deep down, Ji Xuan still felt that this method was too slow to take effect.
Minor skirmishes?
Jiang Nuan couldn't help but twitch her lips.
He truly deserves to be called the ruler of a nation; his vision is indeed beyond my reach.
When she brought these things up, her heart was pounding, fearing that they might lead to irreversible consequences.
But in Ji Xuan's eyes, these were just minor squabbles.
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