Chapter Forty: The New Elite
"Sea salt business...Are you two interested?" Qin Mo asked her two best friends with a smile.
"Of course I'm interested, but Qin Mo, how much sea salt do you get after taxes each year?" Qin Yuanze's thoughts shifted the fastest, and he immediately started chatting with Qin Mo, while the other bear could only stand by and listen.
"We have as much as you need. How about the three of us work together to sell sea salt to the grasslands? I'll provide the sea salt at half the market price as capital, and the profits will be split equally among the three of us. What do you think?"
"Mozi, you're my own brother... I have several cousins... beautiful and graceful, would you be interested in being my concubine?" A bear wrapped his arms around Qin Mo's waist. It was a pity that Qin Mo was dressed in men's clothing, otherwise it would have been quite harmonious.
"Is your little sister the same size as you?" Qin Mo wasn't incapable of teasing. Qin Yumu wanted to introduce him to a girlfriend, which was fine. He wasn't the clueless Qin Mo. As a virgin who had been exposed to countless Japanese adult films, he still longed for pretty little sisters.
"Flowers in full bloom, willows in full bloom, everything you could want, Mozi, which one do you want?" The bear's face revealed a lewd smile, looking exactly like a pimp with a distinctive style.
"Legs must be long and straight; eyes must be big and bright; waist must be slender and supple; chest and waist must be firm, buttocks must be perky; skin must be fair and delicate." Qin Mo rattled off, while her two best friends furrowed their brows and counted on their fingers. The Elven race's criteria for beauty were truly bizarre. Just the leg length alone was different from the Great Xia's aesthetic standards. Long legs meant a tall stature, and how could a woman who was too tall make a man appear majestic? What would that look like?
Even so, the two still planned to write to their elders upon returning home, asking them to decide whether to forge a closer relationship with the high-ranking official. As for the sea salt trade, every adult male in the aristocratic families had their own bit of influence, so they would try it out first under the banner of the family.
On the 28th day of the ninth month of the fourth year of the Zhaowu reign of the Great Xia Empire, it was a time for mourning and promotion. A high platform was erected at the Fengtai camp in preparation for the appointment of generals and the departure for battle. The eldest sons of every noble family would receive an honorary military rank, ranging from lower ranks such as colonel or captain to higher ranks such as General Yi.
After the appointment of the generals, the military would send a commander-in-chief to lead the troops to Ulan City in the north. As for the highest-ranking officer in the north, he remained steadfastly in the wilderness and never returned to the capital. Qin Mo received news that the commander-in-chief leading them to Ulan City was Chen Xuanji, the deputy commander of the Central Military Commission, who was highly respected and skilled in martial arts, enough to subdue these unruly noble private armies.
Hundreds of princes and their sons were lined up in the center of the drill ground, with the high platform for bestowing titles of generals in front of them. Qin Mo stood at the very front of the noble sons, next to Qin Yu, the heir of the Prince of Ji. Qin Yu was a bit older than Qin Mo, and still had a deadpan expression, looking like a bird that no strangers could approach.
The other nobles, including princes, dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons, lined up on both sides and at the rear, forming a square formation to await the emperor's inspection.
Qin Mo and the others arrived at the drill ground early in the morning and waited for an hour. Just as everyone was starting to get impatient, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, followed by the appearance of yellow flags and ceremonial guards in the distance. When the bright yellow canopy came into view, all the buzzing disappeared.
Qin Mo looked around and saw that all the second-generation rich kids who were usually defiant and resentful of everyone had turned into fools. She couldn't help but sigh: "No matter what society you're in, the oppression of class is incredibly powerful. The idea of the supremacy of imperial power has seeped into the depths of everyone's soul."
Emperor Zhaowu Qin Zheng, surrounded by a large number of civil and military officials, walked onto the platform to appoint generals. Under the guidance of officials from the Ministry of Rites, he began the complicated appointment process. After offering sacrifices to the earth and ancestors, he began to call the sons of noble families to the high platform and grant them military positions.
Qin Mo was the second to take the stage. The first was Qin Yu, the heir apparent of the Prince of Ji, who was granted the title of General Dingyuan, while Qin Mo was granted the title of General Ningyuan. Both of them were considered fifth-rank generals. Although it was an honorary title, it was still the envy of others. After all, there weren't many generals in the empire. A captain could lead thousands of troops. If a general was granted a real position, then he would be considered a big shot.
Qin Mo received the seal and general's uniform from Emperor Zhaowu. Emperor Zhaowu encouraged him with a few words, which were nothing more than doing his best for the royal family and not tarnishing Qin Lan's reputation. Emperor Zhaowu looked very young, but his words and demeanor were steady and dignified. Qin Mo inexplicably felt pressure and thought that this must be the added effect of the emperor's aura.
Qin Yuanze was appointed Zhaowu Colonel, and Qin Yumu was appointed Zhenwei Colonel, both of whom were sixth-rank officials. From then on, whenever they discussed matters in the military tent or on important occasions, the two of them had to give Qin Mo a military salute.
The investiture of hundreds of nobles was delayed until past noon, after which Chen Xuanji, the Grand Commander of the expedition, received his seal of command, thus completing the investiture ceremony. Chen Xuanji was responsible for escorting the more than 200,000 soldiers to Ulan City in the north, where they would be handed over to the Imperial Northern Expeditionary Camp. The Empire had a separate Northern Expeditionary Army Commander in the north responsible for military and political affairs.
After Chen Xuanji received the seal of command for military affairs, he began to address the army. His speech consisted of nothing but platitudes about discipline, responsibility, and honor, and the wording was still so convoluted that Qin Mo had to rack her brains to vaguely understand its meaning.
"Hmph!" An unpleasant chuckle rang out near Qin Mo. Without turning her head, Qin Mo knew it was Qin Yu with the deadpan face. Last time, he hadn't given Chen Xuanji a friendly look, and now, under the Emperor's very nose, he was making such a mocking laugh. He was truly audacious.
Fortunately, those present included not only nobles but also officers from the three imperial guards: the Wuwei Army, the Wusheng Army, and the Wuning Army. In the midst of the chaos, no one noticed his rudeness. Qin Mo, the bystander, remained silent, head bowed, not uttering a sound until everyone had dispersed.
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