58 Chapter 58
◎Business.◎
Qin's western neighbors included not only the Xiongnu but also the Yuezhi. This time, Ba Qing's caravan not only visited the border with the Xiongnu but also the Yuezhi. While merchants had long traded with these two tribes, this was their first experience. After finding guides and experienced merchants, the caravan went through considerable effort to secure this deal, effectively opening up two new trade routes.
As for their "specialties," they consisted of seeds, meat, dairy products, and furs, representing their profits. Of course, the foreigners also had gold and silver, but survival on the grasslands was more difficult than in the Central Plains, and many people still had to resort to barter.
According to the agreement made when the new trade route was opened, Ba Qing had to present part of the things she brought back to the King of Qin. This was also one of the reasons why she personally went to Xianyang to meet the emperor.
Because Ying Zheng was busy with official duties, Fusu met the legendary Ba Qing alone and listened to her talk about the caravan that she had heard from her subordinates.
Ba Qing didn't look young, but her spirit was that of a young woman in her prime. Perhaps because Fusu was only a child, her tone was gentle. "Although he's from a different race, judging by his appearance and voice, he's not much different from the people here."
Fusu laughed and said, "They all have one nose and two eyes, what difference can there be? It's just that these foreigners are uneducated, barbaric and brutal, harassing our Qin borders and causing misery for the people. Although they look like humans, their behavior is worse than that of animals."
Ba Qing was slightly surprised for a moment. It turned out that the King of Qin did not send a child to play with her.
Then, her tone became more serious: "My Lord, you are right. As long as the threat from the Hu people is not eliminated, the people along the border of our Qin State will never have a peaceful life."
Since she was not asked to coax the child, Ba Qing solemnly told the caravan everything she saw and heard at the border.
The Qin State had always had a Great Wall on its border, and there was a constant number of garrisons there all year round, which did play a certain role in preventing the Huns from looting.
However, the many problems caused by the long land border are still a big problem for many countries even in modern times, let alone in the Warring States Period when conditions were backward and there were years of war.
The Huns would come to plunder when there was a shortage of food in the spring and when people were fat and healthy in the autumn. Even though the people on the border had improved their agricultural tools and increased their food production, their lives still could not be greatly improved like in other places because of the constant invasions by the Huns year after year.
Ba Qing said, "My Lord, even if we could sell the tea and food that the Xiongnu need, it probably wouldn't have much effect. After all, if we can just rob them... why pay to buy them?"
Fusu sighed, "I know."
The sad expression on the little child's face made Ba Qing, who prided herself on being tough, feel sorry for him. Come to think of it, the people living on the border were having a hard time, but this was not something the child should be concerned about. This was something his father should worry about.
Unexpectedly, Fusu then said: "To deal with the Hu people, in addition to soft knives, there are also hard knives. I ask Madam's caravan to use the soft knives first. Please rest assured that the hard knives will naturally follow."
A sugar-coated bullet is also a cannon, but it must be used in conjunction with real guns and swords to be effective. First, the Huns must be trained to develop their habits, and then the Huns must be beaten so that they dare not violate the border. Only then can the effect of the sugar-coated bullet be demonstrated.
The Xiongnu were not a monolithic entity. Once the Xiongnu nobles became accustomed to having tea, silk, and grain readily available, would they still be willing to follow the Chanyu and fight against the Central Plains dynasty? Would an ordinary Xiongnu still be willing to fight to the death if he could easily exchange rations and tea for food with the Central Plains people?
Fusu never wanted to exterminate all foreign tribes, nor did he want to drive them away. Wouldn't it be better to gradually incorporate them into the Central Plains? In the future, we will all be descendants of Yan and Huang, children of the Chinese nation. This is the best development.
Ba Qing was stunned for a moment, swallowing the words that were on the tip of her tongue. After pondering for a while, she asked, "Young Master, are you implying that you have a way to deal with the Hu people?"
Fusu smiled and said, "I only have some superficial opinions, so I won't say them out loud to avoid making Madam laugh. The specific methods will naturally need to be discussed by my father and the ministers before they can be implemented."
Ba Qing didn't think he didn't know about the King of Qin's grand plan, but she had come this far, and being able to understand the hidden meaning of others' words was extremely important, so Ba Qing didn't ask any more questions, but just said: "Don't worry, my lord, I am a businessman. As long as I can make a profit, this business will definitely continue."
Ba Qing had her own private army, so she wasn't worried about her caravan being in danger. Besides, the last thing one should fear in business is danger. She was simply worried about her path to wealth being cut short, not about getting into trouble. After all, who knew what the King of Qin's future plans would be? Would he still want the Qin people to trade with foreigners?
Fusu smiled and said, "This is the area where you don't need to worry the least, Madam. This business can last for a long time."
Ba Qing understood his hint and bowed to express her gratitude. When she was about to speak again, the eunuch outside announced that the king had arrived.
Everyone in the hall respectfully welcomed the king. As soon as Ying Zheng entered, he exempted Ba Qing from the formalities, then helped Fusu up, and finally exempted everyone else from the formalities.
Everyone sat down, and Ba Qing reported to Ying Zheng in more concise language what she had just told Fusu about the foreign races, and received a satisfied nod.
The two of them quickly finished their conversation about the main business. Ying Zheng praised where necessary, and Ba Qing was humble where necessary. After thinking about it and seeing that there was nothing else, Ba Qing took the initiative to leave.
Ying Zheng ordered someone to escort her out of the palace. When the palace door was closed again, he still habitually put on a stern face and waved, asking Fusu to sit closer.
Ying Zheng said, "Whatever else they brought back is fine for now, but there's a grass they say the Xiongnu used to feed their horses, and it's quite useful. I've already ordered people to try planting some."
Fusu was a little tired from sitting, so he simply fell on his father and said, "I remember the previous kings said, Father, let me ask tonight. The seeds they brought back are limited, so don't waste them."
"Hmm." Ying Zheng nudged his eldest son, who was not behaving properly. "What's wrong with you? Sit up."
Fusu cried out, "Father, my waist hurts from sitting."
"Why does it hurt? Children don't have waists." Ying Zheng patted his cheek and said with a smile, "I see that you are serious in front of outsiders, but you are always so unruly in front of me."
"Father is not an outsider." Fusu said righteously.
Ying Zheng shook his head and smiled, "You're just pushing your luck in front of me... There's new information from the telescope, do you want to hear it?"
Fusu shuddered and quickly turned his neck to look at his father: "Listen...Father, I don't just want to listen, I also want to see!"
That is to say, why did my father come so late than agreed? It turned out that he was tripped up by this great news!
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "I didn't bring it here."
The telescope is now more secret than the iron smelting method. Ying Zheng treasures it very much and naturally cannot carry it with him.
"Then let's go back!" Fusu stopped relying on his father and quickly got up, pulling his father's arm and saying, "Father, hurry up!"
Ying Zheng stood up slowly and said leisurely, "No hurry... Do you know what I was discussing with the ministers just now?"
Fusu reluctantly replied, "What important matter are you discussing, father?"
Ying Zheng said, "This year's autumn harvest has nearly doubled the grain output compared to last year. Furthermore, after more than half a year of hard work, we'll be able to deploy all the crossbow carts when the war breaks out again next year."
Fusu nodded halfway, then remembered that he was still thinking about fighting the Huns. Wasn't the crossbow used to fight the Huns?
Fusu hurriedly asked, "Father, do the troops defending the Xiongnu have crossbow carts?"
Ying Zheng shook his head: "No, the crossbow cart can deal with the Xiongnu..." He paused, thought for a moment, and said affirmatively, "The crossbow cart can deal with the Xiongnu cavalry!"
Now that he had thought of it, Ying Zheng immediately ordered the allocation of some crossbow carts to be sent to the border troops first. As for those needed to fight the six-nation army here, there was still time, so he asked Meng Tian to urge and speed up production.
Of course, the father and son did not forget about the telescope. While Ying Zheng was stamping the seal, Fusu was holding the telescope and looking through it.
The success this time was undoubtedly enormous. Fusu stood at the door of the palace and looked around. Although there were only palaces and walls on all sides, everything was very clear within the reach of the telescope. He looked up at the sky again and could see birds flying by with their wings flapping.
Seeing his father coming out, Fusu asked curiously, "Father, how far can this telescope see?"
Ying Zheng said a number, and Fusu converted it and found it was about two thousand meters away. For scouts, this distance was enough.
From a dozen meters to two thousand meters, Feng Yi must have experienced many failures. Fusu knew the difficulty and immediately asked his father to reward him again.
Ying Zheng laughed and said, "Need you to mention it? I have already issued the order, and I have also ordered him to make a few more like this. If there are no further ones next year, send this one to the army first."
Fusu couldn't help but clench his fists. Next year will definitely be a new situation, and there will be new developments that will be completely different from the previous life.
Speaking of next year, for the Qin State, next year is indeed just around the corner. After all, the New Year is in October, and there are only two days left until September.
Fusu then asked his father, "Father, are we still leaving the palace for the New Year this year?"
Ying Zheng nodded readily: "Of course."
"So should we go to those houses or change a few?" Fusu tilted his head. He had been treated like a spectacle for so long this year. It wouldn't be too much to just randomly pick someone to scare during the New Year, right?
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "We are going further, not just out of the palace, but out of Xianyang as well."
Fusu was stuck. He remembered something. Every three years, the King of Qin would go to Yongcheng to offer sacrifices. This was the ancestral custom of the Qin State.
"This year, you go with me." Ying Zheng rubbed Fusu's head.
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