Chakchin's face turned red, his neck was stiff with anger, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
He's not a fool.
He could understand and comprehend the reasoning behind He Youyou's words.
He also studied the culture of the Central Plains and the ways of governing the country from the Central Plains since childhood.
We know we need to attract talent and improve our systems...
What this woman said is all true.
However, being lectured like a child for so long made him very unhappy.
The masculinity of northern men lies in their ability to be a majestic hero in front of women, becoming objects of their admiration and obedience.
Instead of being lectured like this.
To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed.
If I can't bring myself to say anything, I don't want to talk.
He picked up the wine bowl, tilted his head back, and poured himself another bowl.
After listening for a long time, Zhao Changqing finally understood what He Youyou meant.
He looked at her, just as He Youyou was looking at him.
When their eyes met, they understood each other's thoughts through each other's gaze.
In the Wuhuan Kingdom, the value of a peace faction holding power far outweighs that of a war faction.
For Zhao Changqing, if Chakchin could secure his position, at least the southern part of the Wuhuan Kingdom, bordering the Daqian, would maintain peace for a long time to come.
For He Youyou, a peaceful and stable environment is naturally conducive to trade and commerce.
In an excellent business environment, Yuruitang's international trade is more likely to flourish.
To be even bolder, if Chakchin, after stabilizing the south, could go further and rise to a high position, wouldn't everything be different?
A wealthy neighbor is both an opportunity and a challenge.
However, challenges are a bilateral matter.
This kind of thing is a headache for the imperial court; she doesn't want to worry about it.
Inside the central command tent.
He Youyou said to Zhao Changqing, "Commander..."
"Han Zhang".
"...Hanzhang, I'll be leaving tomorrow."
Zhao Changqing paused for a moment, then said, "The journey to Jizhou is long and probably not very safe. I'll take you back."
He Youyou shook her head: "There's no need for you to make the trip yourself. I'll go back with Cheng Tingrui. The Cheng family caravan has guards, and there are no enemies from the Wuhuan Kingdom on the road ahead. Even if there are a few bandits, we can handle them. You can rest assured."
Zhao Changqing: I'm not at ease.
“Then I will send Xiao Wu and Liu Zi to accompany you all the way to Jizhou and then return.”
Seeing his insistence, He Youyou stopped refusing.
"Okay, then let's do it this way."
The two sat on the couch, facing an oil lamp.
The shadows of the lamplight danced on their faces.
He Youyou is easygoing and doesn't feel sad about parting.
She thought about how much Zhao Changqing had taken care of her these past few days, and she felt she had to express her gratitude.
"Thank you very much, Brother Du Hanzhang, for your care these past few days and for your trouble in setting up the military market. I am extremely grateful."
Zhao Changqing's gaze was fixed solely on the lamplight. He sat upright, his broad shoulders and back swaying like a wooden board.
Today he wore a dark official robe, all black.
He Youyou felt that the way he sat so upright resembled the memorial tablets in the Han family ancestral hall.
The next day, He Youyou followed the Cheng family's caravan on their journey back to Jizhou.
Looking at the empty military tent and touching the cold bed, Zhao Changqing felt a pang of emptiness in his heart, like a cup that had been emptied but could not be refilled.
As he bent over, his gaze inadvertently swept under the table.
There was an extra straw basket under the table, unlike usual.
He bent down and reached out to pull the basket out.
This basket is beautifully woven and even has a lid.
Upon opening the lid, Zhao Changqing was immediately astonished by what was inside.
The basket was filled with all sorts of fruits.
There were a few bottles that looked familiar to him; they were the sweet apple juice he had drunk when he returned to the Han family from Zhulin Temple last time.
Fruits include apples, pears, oranges, grapes...
There's even a watermelon left!
Zhao Changqing's pupils dilated.
Are watermelons available in winter?
He Youyou...
Where did she get all this stuff?!
At this moment, He Youyou was thinking in her carriage, "It's a good thing I didn't leave any lychees. If Zhao Changqing saw the lychees, he would probably be terrified. I wouldn't be able to explain it next time we meet."
Upon returning to her courtyard in Jizhou, the first person she notified was Ma Xiuyuan.
Ma Xiuyuan helped her tidy up the house, so he naturally knew where she lived.
There was no need to even send a formal invitation; he knew the way well and entered through the back door.
Go straight up to the corner tower.
He Youyou was brewing tea and waiting for him.
Matthew Yuan began by exchanging pleasantries and making polite remarks.
He Youyou wasn't familiar with these ancient customs, so she went straight for the practical stuff.
She picked up a box from the side and placed it in front of Matthew Yuan.
“Master Ma has seen many rare things, so he probably wouldn’t care about these. However, these are from a long way, and the sentiment is much greater than the gift itself. Even if Master Ma doesn’t care about them, please accept them as a courtesy.”
Matthew Yuan repeatedly said, "No, no."
As he spoke, he reached out and opened the box.
Inside were top-quality deer antlers and ginseng, which Yuruitang had traded from Chaka Chin a few days ago.
Matthew Yuan has many social connections and has handled countless items.
At first glance, you can tell these are no ordinary goods.
"Madam Han, you're too modest. You couldn't find many of these items in the entire city of Jizhou. If you put them in a pharmacy, people would be scrambling to buy them without even having to advertise them. Where did you get these from?"
He Youyou calmly poured a cup of tea: "I bought it from the military market on the border, from the people of the northern frontier. Master Ma, feel free to use it. If you want more in the future, it won't be difficult. I heard that some trading companies have already established trade routes with the northern frontier. I can't say that we can have as much as you want, but as long as you want it, we shouldn't be short of goods."
Matthew clapped his hands and said, "That's great! I was just worried that once I showed these things off, what would I do if people came to ask me for them?"
He Youyou: Do you really have to show off?
Oh well, I'll just consider this a live advertisement.
"Mr. Ma, feel free to show off. If you can't buy it, I'll ask someone to buy it for you."
After exchanging pleasantries, they began to discuss business.
He Youyou asked him to come here this time because of the matter of buying seedlings.
Last time, when Matthew Yuan wanted to stockpile grain, he kindly told me that this meant he didn't consider me an outsider and that we could make money together.
Now that He Youyou has a more reliable idea, she naturally can't forget about them.
So she told him in detail about her desire to buy seedlings.
Except for the matter of collaborating with Cheng Tingrui.
He Youyou omitted this point, only saying that she had reliable friends who had a lot of connections in Jiangnan and could help her with everything.
After the matter is accomplished, two-thirds of the profits will be given to the other party as a reward.
Of course, buying seedlings falls under the category of futures trading.
Contracts are signed in the spring when the rice seedlings are just starting to grow. In the autumn, when the harvest is in, the grain is purchased at the price agreed in the contract.
He Youyou dared to do this because she was certain that grain prices would soar in the fall.
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