Chapter 632 Choices Under the Influence of Interests
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A local merchant named Eiji Imai risked his life to transport a batch of grain and cloth toward the Iwami Silver Mine.
The transaction took place at the location designated by Li Shiyue, and the process was very fair, with both the money and the goods settled immediately.
Through this transaction, Eiji Imai not only made a substantial profit, but also unexpectedly obtained a command flag embroidered with the character "Li" and decorated with wave patterns.
Anren, who could speak Japanese, told him, "As long as you hoist this flag at the bow of your ship, your ship will be safe and sound in the waters controlled by our Zhenhai Navy!"
The first person to try something new has an immense influence as a role model.
There's always a second time for everything.
Eiji Imai's success, and the seemingly simple yet safe passage flag he received, ignited the enthusiasm of other Japanese merchants.
Driven by profit, more and more merchants could easily set aside their hatred towards Li Shiyue, who was an outsider and an "invader" to them.
Soon, caravans began to appear in droves on the road leading to the Shimane Prefectural Naval Base.
Grain, cloth, medicine, and even some luxury goods were continuously transported in, in exchange for heavy amounts of silver.
The stability of Shimane Prefecture and its silver production provided a solid foundation for Li Shiyue to build a more extensive business network.
Her focus was no longer limited to Japan itself.
"Our ships cannot be used only for fighting wars."
Li Shiyue pointed out on the nautical chart, "We must turn them into bridges connecting wealth."
She ordered the selection of some repaired and better-performing Japanese ships, as well as some "Breaking Waves" vessels, to form a special escort fleet for the Zhenhai Navy.
Backed by the powerful Zhenhai Navy and based on their recent victories, Li Shiyue officially announced to all merchant ships sailing in the East China Sea, especially those traveling through the Tsushima Strait to the Jiangnan coast, that the Zhenhai Navy would provide armed escort for this route, eliminate the remaining Japanese pirates and other pirates, and ensure the safety of the waterway.
In return, all merchant ships that benefit from this waterway are required to pay a certain "escort fee" or "trade tax" to the naval garrison, depending on the value of their cargo and the size of their vessels.
When the news spread from Shimane Prefecture, it caused an uproar among businesses large and small along the East China Sea shipping route.
Some questioned it, and some even denounced it as "making money off others," but compared to the risks of losing everything or even one's life that one might have faced while crossing this route before, paying a clear and affordable fee is undoubtedly a huge attraction.
Soon, the first large Fujian ship flying the "Li" escort flag set off from a port in Jiangnan. Under the escort of the Zhenhai Navy warships, it sailed in a grand manner towards Shimane Prefecture. After staying in Oshima Port for five days and six nights, the large Fujian ship, reloaded with cargo, then turned to Jian'an.
Along the way, the few pirate ships that tried to approach and spy on the enemy ships wisely kept their distance after seeing the menacing rams and dark cannons on the Zhenhai warships.
This successful voyage is of milestone significance.
It proved to the entire East China Sea trade circle that Li Shiyue had the ability and determination to control this golden shipping route!
The owner of this large Fujian-style ship was Li Shiyue's old friend, Yan Jiuniang!
Yes, it's Yan Jiuniang!
Yan Jiuniang was the first wealthy merchant on the eastern coast of Dalong to pay silver to Zhenhai Army to support Li Shiyue.
This wasn't something Li Shiyue asked the golden eagle to deliver a message to; it was something Yan Jiuniang did on her own initiative.
As for Liu Tan, the Prince of Zhenbei, leaving his fiefdom without imperial decree, Yan Jiuniang only learned of this news after Liu Tan had already arrived in the capital.
At that time, Yan Jiuniang also learned that Liu Tan had concealed his identity and gone to the capital in order to seek medical treatment and cure his poison.
Although Xingshenglou is no longer under Yan Jiuniang's jurisdiction, she still has her own ways of getting information if she really wants to know something.
Therefore, Yan Jiuniang knew about the quarrel between Prince Liu Tan of Zhenbei and Princess Jiang Huijun, and even about Liu Tan threatening Jiang Huijun with a knife.
Yan Jiuniang immediately began to suspect Li Shiyue.
It wasn't that Yan Jiuniang was "ungrateful" to Li Shiyue; it was simply that from an outsider's perspective, Yan Jiuniang, with her clever mind, could guess after a little thought that this must be a scheme set up by Li Shiyue to avoid being restrained by Andong!
After investigating, Liu Tan and his team concluded that it was impossible for Li Shiyue, who was in Jian'an at the time, to travel over a thousand miles overnight to the heavily guarded Zhenbei Prince's Mansion and poison Liu Tan.
But when Yan Jiuniang heard this news, she thought of the "divine water (soft bone water) obtained from the immortal" that Li Shiyue had given her back then, and the large ship that Jian'an suddenly had without sails after Li Shiyue borrowed a merchant ship from her.
And the title that came from Jian'an regarding Li Shiyue—the Lady of the Azure Sky!
Each and every one of these incidents demonstrates that Li Shiyue is no ordinary person!
So, how can we know that Li Shiyue couldn't teleport from Jian'an, thousands of miles away, to Jinzhou Prefecture and then poison Liu Tan without anyone knowing?
but!
Yan Jiuniang only thought about this in her heart and did not tell anyone.
Because, between Liu Tan and Li Shiyue, Yan Jiuniang chose—Li Shiyue!
This was also Yan Jiuniang's choice based on her own interests.
Because, ever since Liu Tan inherited the title of Prince of Zhenbei, Yan Jiuniang has gone from being the old Prince of Zhenbei Liu Cong's money bag to Liu Tan's money bag;
However, for Yan Jiuniang, Liu Tan was much more difficult to serve than Liu Cong.
In Yan Jiuniang's words, "Working for your own father is different from working for your elder brother."
Furthermore, serving one's elder half-brother is entirely different from serving one's elder half-brother who has already become the "Prince of Zhenbei."
The hardships involved are too numerous to recount here.
In short, Yan Jiuniang's situation is actually quite similar to that of Princess Jiang Huijun in the backyard.
What they have in common is that they are subjected to confinement and exploitation by men who, after gaining status and power, no longer conceal their inner desires.
The difference is that Yan Jiuniang is only Liu Tan's half-sister. Apart from that, she is just the head manager who works for Liu Tan and earns money.
She doesn't have to face Liu Tan day and night. She can choose to leave, go to Dongmou, or go to Jiangnan. As long as she doesn't lose any of Liu Tan's money, it's all fine.
But Jiang Huijun is not suitable.
She had to face her identity as the Princess Consort of Zhenbei day and night. She needed to fight for the rights of her child. She couldn't leave. The entanglements of interests and emotions between her and Liu Tan were too numerous to count.
Therefore, given all these reasons, it was perfectly normal for Yan Jiuniang to choose Li Shiyue.
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