“There are mines overseas and there are mines on the grasslands.”
"The imperial court was far away, so it encouraged everyone to go overseas and grab land on the grasslands."
"You can enclose as much land as you can. If you have the ability to enclose the entire grassland, the imperial court will approve."
"Anyone who owns land in the grasslands or overseas is an official of the imperial court, starting with the sixth rank and having one son. The number of subordinates is determined by themselves."
"Xu Bai Nian Business."
"It's like occupying the land and becoming the king, as long as you have the ability."
"As long as we enclose the land, the imperial court will open trade routes to facilitate the transportation of supplies."
"As for security, you can form your own escort team, or you can hire Sanhe Express's guards to ensure safety. Sanhe Express's guards are all veterans who have fought in battles and are familiar with the grasslands and overseas environments."
"The mines within the Great Zhou must be closed. This matter is non-negotiable."
"To compensate you for your losses, we will allow you to go to the grasslands, to acquire land and mine overseas, and grant you official positions. Otherwise, with your status, you won't be able to hold an official position for three generations."
"To be honest, you're not the only ones looking to go overseas and grab land on the grasslands. High-ranking officials, royal relatives, and every household have many idle children. They're already eager to send these idle children abroad to seek official positions. If you don't hurry, they'll seize the high-quality pastures and islands first."
"The imperial court firmly opposes internecine fighting for territory. Once discovered, we will make an example of them and punish them severely."
"Because your losses are too great, you are given priority. Once you start to move, the palace will allow high-ranking officials and royal family members to move. The palace has given you the opportunity to take the lead, and you must not let the palace down."
"Don't worry about the map. As long as you sign an agreement with the Shaofu, he will give you a map to facilitate your land enclosure."
"Whether on the grasslands or overseas, dangers are inevitable. On the grasslands, due to the defeat of Beirong, all the small tribes that had previously remained hidden have emerged and become bandits. The court encourages everyone to kill and recruit these small tribes. The indigenous people overseas are unyielding and barbaric. The court allows you to use any means to deal with them."
"As long as you occupy the territory and pay enough money, Tiannanhaibei Sihai Construction will build fortresses for you to ensure your safety. Qingping Ranch will sell you high-quality cattle, sheep, and horses. The Shaofu will provide you with all kinds of high-quality grains."
"You are right. The court will not pay a penny. But the Ministry of Personnel will give you a formal appointment document, a child, and allow you to run the business for a hundred years."
"A hundred years from now, you will still be a prominent family in the area, and continue to serve as officials appointed by the imperial court. However, the imperial court may send temporary officials to collect a small amount of tax. Of course, what we say about a hundred years from now is just a casual remark, and it should not be taken seriously."
"This is a rare opportunity. As long as you manage it diligently, your family will have a second piece of land to take root in, fearless of any storm."
"Of course it's hard work. But compared to running a private mine, spending money to bribe people everywhere, and being a lowly person everywhere, isn't it better to run a piece of land that belongs to you, a ranch island with your own name on it?"
"Yes, you can name your territory after your own surname. As long as you can occupy the territory."
"I'm personally explaining the pros and cons to you because the palace values you very much. You will be the first pioneers of the Great Zhou, and your names will be forever remembered in history."
"That's right! You will definitely have a place in history books, as long as you are willing to step out."
"Leaving your name in history and establishing a permanent place for your family is a rare opportunity. Do you really want to miss it?"
"No pain, no gain. Let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart: at least 50% of the mines within the Great Zhou, both public and private, must be closed. You can make a fuss and bribe court officials to speak up for you, but can you out-maneuver the Jinwu Guards? I wonder who's quicker with their words or the Jinwu Guards with their swords?"
"We are indeed threatening you. No one can go against the will of His Majesty and the Empress. This year is the third year of Jingming. Anything His Majesty and the Empress decide to do, no one's opposition will be of any use. You all know how the Xiliang gold rush came about. Is it any use for the court officials to object to the Marquis of Lu being named King of Anxi?"
"You regard the King of Anxi as your role model, very good! Only you have this ability, and one day you will be granted a share of the land and a title of nobility."
"You are free to seize the territories on the grasslands and overseas. As long as you gain a firm foothold, the Four Seas and the World will be your strongest backing. Everything you need, including weapons and personnel, can be sold to you. The prerequisite is that you occupy the territory and officially become an official of the Great Zhou."
"Where do the people come from? Of course, we can't buy and sell the people of the Great Zhou. The court will soon issue laws to regulate the human trade. The people come from the Western Regions, from overseas, from the grasslands..."
"You can recruit people from the Great Zhou to come to your territory. The prerequisite is that it is voluntary, not forced."
"Give us sufficient preferential conditions, such as land and resettlement allowances, and the poor people will follow you."
"Don't just focus on the capital and Jiangnan. They are indeed prosperous. But in other places, there are many people who don't have enough to eat."
"The court will protect you, but you will have to rely on yourself in the early stages."
"If we rely on the imperial court for everything, why doesn't the imperial court take over the territory itself?"
"I'll give you three days to consider carefully. When you return home, spread the word about the court's kindness. The Minister of the Imperial Household and the Imperial Guards will also cooperate with you."
"Zhang Shengshui, you are from the Xizhou Zhang family, a clan of the same clan as the Zhang family in the capital. You must set an example and not let down the palace's expectations."
"The Queen naturally knows you. You must think carefully about what to do."
Zhang Shengshui walked out of the Shaofu in a daze.
Others are worse than him.
Everyone looked as if they hadn't reacted.
"Let's go back to the inn and be quiet."
I received too much information today. I need to digest and absorb it bit by bit before making a decision.
A group of confused people spent a day and finally sorted out all the information.
Everyone sat together and started discussing.
"Occupying territory and becoming an imperial official sounds good, but in the end, we have to rely on ourselves for everything. We can't rely on the imperial court for money or people. It's like the imperial court, relying on a piece of official document, forces us to expand our territory for them, spending all our wealth and running around for a living, and there's no guarantee of any benefit."
"There is a chance to split the land and become a marquis."
"Come on, do you really think you have that fate?"
"It's not bad to occupy territory and become a local tyrant. You can manage it yourself for a hundred years. After a hundred years, your family will have already taken root in that land. Even if the imperial court takes over, they will have to act according to our wishes."
"Let's not talk about whether it will be a hundred years or not. Have you ever thought about how much money, how many people, and how many years it takes to occupy a piece of land? Don't let it end up with nothing but your family property and the land."
"Yes, let's settle the accounts carefully."
"Let's put it this way. If everyone decides to respond to the imperial court's call, will they go overseas or to the grasslands?"
"We are all from the south and are not used to the northern climate and food. We'd better go abroad."
"If you go overseas, at least you can find some connections and get a general idea of the direction."
"We went to the grasslands completely in the dark. We are not good at riding, so how could we be a match for those grassland tribes?"
“Where are you going to hire people from overseas?”
"Looking for someone who travels to the sea all year round?"
Someone shook his head.
"I'm worried about being robbed by someone, so I might as well hire the security guards from Sanhe Express. At least I don't have to worry about being robbed by someone else."
"That's right."
"Sanhe Express is too expensive. The only benefit is safety and peace of mind."
“Supplies can also be delivered through Sanhe Express.”
"I thought so!" The fat man slapped his thigh, not even bothering to feel the pain. "At the beginning of the year, Sanhe Express suddenly established an overseas operations department and opened overseas routes. I was saying that Sanhe Express was just sitting there with nothing to do, but it turns out they were waiting for us."
"This shows that Eunuch Deng of the Imperial Household was not lying to us. The imperial court had long planned to expand overseas and into the grasslands, and therefore began preparations long ago."
"He's really cunning."
"What do you think His Majesty and the Empress are thinking? They can't enjoy their good life, but they insist on forcing us to go overseas and mess around. Aren't they afraid of something happening?"
"Why bother with what His Majesty and His Majesty think? Think about your own affairs first."
"What else can we do? The imperial court is determined to shut down at least 50% of the mines. We can't change their minds. Since we have mines overseas, we can go there to take over the territory and continue our business."
"I heard that the natives overseas are uncivilized, very barbaric and cruel, and even eat people."
"Kill them all!"
"We hired Sanhe Express's guards just to protect us. Leave the killing to them."
"There are so many forests overseas, I could probably make some money selling some high-quality timber."
"I heard that overseas land can be cultivated three times, so we need to recruit a large number of people to farm it."
"Has anyone heard of Sindhu? They say it's full of gold."
"Is this true?"
"Whether it's true or not, have you made a decision now?" Zhang Shengshui asked.
"Boss Zhang, why don't you tell me your decision first?"
Zhang Shengshui said with a straight face, "After I return, I will shut down all the mines under my name except for one. All the miners will be relocated overseas."
"Where overseas?"
"We'll go wherever the land is fertile and convenient for travel. It's best to be close to the base."
"What is a base?"
"I haven't read the newspapers. All the exiled prisoners and officials in recent years have gone to overseas bases. It's said that tens of thousands of people have settled there and even built a city. Those officials who were exiled overseas can continue to serve. Prisoners who have served in overseas bases for a few years can regain their freedom."
“There are actually places like this overseas?”
"It can be used to exile officials and prisoners. Obviously, this overseas base is also the work of His Majesty and His Majesty."
"It is said that Sanhe Express has ships heading to overseas bases every month."
Zhang Shengshui looked at everyone and asked, "Is this settled?"
"It's settled!"
“Just go overseas.”
"It's an island closer to the base. If you run into trouble, you can ask the base for help."
"We can also ask a few scholars from the base to help."
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