Time passed quickly and it was the first day of February in the first year of the Great Xia Dynasty.
In the Ministry of Commerce, Yun Xiyan’s office was bustling with activity.
High-ranking officials from all over Daxia came to Guanyun City to attend the first economic forum in Daxia's history. Half of them came here after they reported their positions to the emperor in the palace.
Among the eighteen prefects of Daxia today, more than half are former officials of the Yu Dynasty. They are very familiar with Fu Xiaoguan and have a deep understanding of his state governance strategies.
When Da Xia was first established, Fu Xiaoguan cut the Gordian knot and redivided the continent into seventeen regions. When selecting officials, he naturally appointed these people in order to stabilize Da Xia as soon as possible.
Facts proved that he was right. With the joint efforts of these officials, Daxia achieved peace and prosperity in just half a year and began to show vigorous vitality.
"Minister Yun, we've come a long way to get here, and you're the host. You have to be in charge of arranging tonight's program, right?" Yan Xiwen joked, holding a teacup. Yun Xiyan chuckled, "This is a small matter, but tomorrow is the second day of the second lunar month, so let's have dinner together tonight, and we should drink less."
"After this economic forum is over, I'll treat everyone to a good drink at Liuyun Terrace, where we can listen to music and drink. How about that?"
Gongsun Ce applauded, "Okay, it's settled then."
"I think... if we go to Liuyun Terrace to listen to music, why don't we just invite Lord Zhuo and Governor Yan? Lord Zhuo is quite dignified, and it's not appropriate for that kind of occasion. And Governor Yan... he's your father. If he were here, how could you drink freely?"
Everyone laughed. Yan Xiwen glared at Yun Xiyan and said, "That's a good idea. You're the host, so I don't care who you invite. By the way, do you think His Majesty will attend?"
"Yes," Yun Xi said confidently, adding, "You don't know how depressed His Majesty is staying in the palace. It's only the beginning of February this year, and he's already sneaked out to have hot pot with me twice."
Zhuo Liuyun laughed. It turned out that His Majesty's temperament had not changed.
A group of old friends drank tea and chatted, reminiscing about the past and talking about the problems they are facing now, but without exception, they all felt that the road ahead was paved with sunshine.
…
At the Broken Water Bridge, in the small courtyard of the former Ryukyu Embassy.
The Far Eastern Governor Fujiwara Akira looked at his daughter Fujiwara Noriaki and took a deep breath.
"So... His Majesty has never favored you since then?"
"...Father, Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. Just one night with your daughter is enough. A few days ago, a eunuch came to the palace. It was the eunuch Liu who accompanied Your Majesty. He said...after this economic forum is over, I will let my daughter return home with you."
Fujiwara Akira was stunned. "...What do you think?"
"My daughter also felt it was time to go back. The eunuch said he would let her take some craftsmen to Ezo and have her make canned food using fish and shrimp from Ezo."
At this point, Fujiwara no Kisho's eyes sparkled. "I've seen and tasted that canned food. It's delicious, and the key is that it can be stored for a long time. Ezo produces a lot of fish and shrimp, but they can't be sold to the mainland. If it were canned, the eunuch said it would have huge commercial potential."
When a eunuch beside the emperor said these words to his daughter, it was the emperor's intention.
He did not give his daughter a status, but he gave her great wealth. Thinking of this, Fujiwara Aki felt relieved.
After all, he is a foreigner, and in the eyes of the Daxia people, he is probably not worthy of complete trust.
It seems that I have to accomplish something before His Majesty will realize the importance of the Far East Road.
"My daughter also plans to bring back some grain seeds and sweet potatoes. She also bought a book about the techniques for raising fragrant pigs. It's not too difficult and we can raise them here in the Far East."
"Daxia has many advanced technologies. My daughter is thinking about registering a Far East trading company with the Ministry of Commerce these days. Firstly, we'll be bringing Daxia's specialties to sell in our Far East, and secondly... we'll be selling canned goods and other products produced in our Far East to the inland."
"I've broadened my horizons recently. Actually, the seven states of our Far East Road each have their own unique characteristics. We could potentially engage in trade with the inland regions. This would promote cultural exchange between the two regions and also boost the Far East Road's economy. What do you think, father?"
Fujiwara Aki suddenly became delighted. He didn't know what to say at the economic forum tomorrow, but after hearing what his daughter said, his mind was immediately opened.
"Father supports you, so you can handle this matter."
"How are the construction of the three military ports progressing?"
"It's ready. The shipyards in the three military ports are all building warships."
"...My daughter thinks that the port in Ezo, which Your Majesty didn't requisition as a military base, could be developed into a civilian port. Expand that port and build ocean-going passenger and cargo ships there."
"With the economic development of Daxia, there will definitely be many people in the inland area interested in visiting the Far East. My daughter thinks that passenger flights should be regularized to facilitate travel between the two places."
"Mount Fugaku in our Far Eastern Province is beautiful, and the cherry blossoms in Ezo are also stunning. My daughter thinks we can develop these places into tourist attractions and invite people from inland areas to visit the Far Eastern Province. This will boost consumption and stimulate economic growth."
"My daughter suddenly feels that making money isn't difficult at all. It all comes down to ideas... You probably don't know that he has so many ideas. He once made tens of millions of taels of silver in Jinling."
"That eunuch Liu also said something to his daughter. He said... The world is not short of opportunities, what is lacking is the eyes to discover them. Now and in the future, we should liberate our minds, be brave to explore, and dare to work hard. He must have said this, because he wanted to see if his daughter had the ability to do so."
Fujiwara Aki believes that his daughter has this ability because she has learned how to think.
She has discovered various business opportunities in the barren Far East, which no one in the former Ryukyu Kingdom had ever seen.
Once these industries are able to develop, the Far East Road relies on shipping and fisheries, and canned food solves the problem of fish preservation, so the future of the Far East Road will surely be bright.
"I will share your opinion at tomorrow's economic forum."
"Father, you need to listen to their opinions more. We have so much to learn, and we must not slack off!"
"Father understands, but...what are you going to do from now on?"
Fujiwara no Kiso laughed. What else could she do?
Marriage is out of the question. "I will assist my father in building Far East Road into the Oriental Pearl on the sea."
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