73. Chapter 73
"none"
Now, for Qi You, the place where he can make money safely is of course the Imperial Household Department.
Speaking of which, Qi You set his sights on the Internal Affairs Office, that is, Kangxi, which is another kind of "cheating father".
Qi You intended to profit from Emperor Kangxi's wealth, adopting the unusual path of an imperial merchant. However, he had a clear conscience and would not accept a single cent of the proceeds. He would give it all to the people or use it to develop local education and infrastructure.
Having sold dried fruit peels once, I can’t sell them every year, otherwise Kangxi will be angry.
The Lapingcang area is very poor, with only black soil and intoxicating blue sky and green clouds.
Qi You looked at the thick door curtain swaying from time to time and couldn't help but smile.
He was extremely poor, but there were many ways to make money. In the shipyards, the navy, and trade with the Rakshasa Kingdom, if he wanted to, he could make a fortune that rivaled that of an entire country without anyone noticing.
Unfortunately, he can't do any of these.
I wonder if Kangxi likes the bone-chilling wind from the northeast. I thought I'd fill a few jars with it and send them to the Palace of Heavenly Purity so that he can experience the bitter cold that his ancestors had experienced.
In the old days, Northeast China had three treasures: ginseng, sable fur, and Ula grass. The new three treasures have replaced sable fur with deer antlers.
Ginseng and sable fur are valuable, sables are rare and precious, and may not be easily hunted.
This era does have certain advantages, such as paying attention to ecology and never allowing excessive hunting.
Hunters are very conscious. During the spring spawning season, hunting is closed. Young and pregnant females will not be hunted to ensure that the prey is not extinct.
Qi You certainly supports protecting the ecology. No matter how valuable mink fur is, he would not think of mobilizing people to hunt it on a large scale.
Ginseng is mainly grown in the Changbai Mountain area. This area belongs to the imperial court and no one else is allowed to dig it.
As for the Ula grass, the Manchus had long considered it a treasure, using it to feed livestock when it was young and weaving it into boots when it was old. It was commonplace for the Manchus; the rich didn't want it, and it was worth very little to the poor, so it wasn't worth transporting it to the capital to sell.
The palace raises sika deer and their antlers in the South Garden and also in the hunting grounds, so this is not uncommon.
In fact, the Northeast region has far more than just these treasures, especially the place where Qi You is located, which is very close to Mudanjiang and is rich in resources.
Qi You thought of the grand annual winter fishing trip at Chagan Lake. Chagan Lake fish were very famous, but unfortunately it was too far away, nearly 3,000 miles away, so he had to give up regretfully.
Fortunately, Mudanjiang is also rich in fish, especially rainbow trout, which was later designated as a geographical indication product. Now that rainbow trout has not been introduced, we have to give up.
Northeastern fungus is most famous in Mudanjiang. It has been cultivated artificially since ancient times.
However, artificial cultivation involves drilling holes in the wood and cutting the flowers, so it still depends on the weather, the yield is scarce, and it is considered a tribute.
Qi You didn't know how to grow wood ear mushrooms, so he would have his subordinates try growing them later. Lapingcang was too poor, and the wood ear mushrooms produced there didn't have to be paid as tribute, so he included them in his plan to sell them to Emperor Kangxi.
In addition to dried fruits such as acorns, linden honey is also very famous. Qi You does not know how to keep bees, so he has temporarily put it in his future plans.
The fastest way to make money is to fish the red-tailed fish from Jingpo Lake in Mudanjiang. When Qi You saw the tea in the tea bowl, he thought of the red-tailed fish.
Redtail fish are found in high mountain barrier lakes and have tender and delicious meat. Qi You remember this fish because its white body is matched with the bright red lower lobe of the tail fin. It is very beautiful and distinctive, and it can be distinguished from other fish at a glance.
Forget about shipping live fish to the capital. Qi You had never tasted frozen or dried fish.
There was no shortage of fish in the palace, but this kind of fish was both beautiful and rare, and the nobles wanted it to be valuable. Then, by boasting and packaging it, Qi You earned Kangxi's money, feeling both justified and confident.
The severe cold also had its advantages: there was no shortage of ice, so the frozen fish could be packaged better and wouldn't melt when transported to the capital. Plus, there were kangs (heated beds) on which to simmer, so one could try drying the fish.
Qi You immediately put other things aside and talked about this matter with Sabusu Changde: "I wonder if the general has ever eaten the redtail fish in the mountain lake? If it is delicious and there are a lot of fish, I want to catch some and transport them to the capital to sell."
Sabusu had eaten red-tail fish from the lake. Although they were delicate and delicious, he never liked eating fish because they had too many bones and were not as enjoyable as eating meat.
Hearing Qi You suddenly mention that he was going to catch fish and sell them, Sabsu was confused for a moment, thinking that he wanted to make some private money. After hesitating for a moment, he said honestly, "There are a lot of fish in the lake. People here don't like to eat them. Only the Daur and other tribes of Oroqen catch a lot. The capital has everything, including fish. Can you sell them at a good price there? Seventh Prince, if you want to make money by catching and selling fish, you can't make more than two trips a year, so you won't make much money."
Chang De loved eating fish, and upon hearing this, he immediately became interested. Without waiting for Qi You to reply, he enthusiastically said, "Fish from the lake are a hundred times more delicious than fish from the river. Just add a little salt and grill them, and I can even chew the fish bones and eat them. Father, you really worry too much. Besides, the idea that the Seventh Prince came up with is sure to make a lot of money!"
Sabsu was very upset when he saw his son spoiling things. He cursed him inwardly, called him an idiot, glared at him, and scolded him, "Shut up! We're talking, how can you interrupt us?"
Chang De choked, his face full of dissatisfaction, but he didn't dare to say anything back.
Qi You pretended not to notice and said with a smile, "Chang De is right. Fish from every place have their own characteristics. Even if they are the same species, they will taste different if they are raised in different waters. Besides, this fish comes from the north. It is rare and valuable, so there will be no problem finding a market for it. I'm sure everyone in the palace will like it."
Fish was seldom eaten in the palace, and the servants were afraid that the nobles would get choked by fish bones, so they would remove the bones before serving the fish.
Even if the imperial chef had extraordinary skills, after removing the fish bones, the fish meat would still become rotten and lose its original flavor.
But Qi You was not worried, mainly because Kangxi liked to eat fish, and shad, although with many bones, was his favorite.
Herring shad, native to the south of the Yangtze River, was also a tribute. To ensure the fish's freshness, it was delivered to the palace at full speed, requiring enormous manpower and financial resources.
After Qi You had dinner with Kangxi, he ordered the imperial kitchen not to remove the bones from the shad and to steam it before serving.
Although Kangxi didn't eat much, Qi You knew from his action that he knew how to eat fish and had a preference for shad.
Sabsu certainly wouldn't know this; the emperor's preferences and tastes were a secret. Even if the palace staff and close ministers knew, they wouldn't dare to reveal it.
As long as the fish were delivered to the capital, there would be no worries about not being able to sell them. The fish they brought from the north to the capital were too expensive, and only Kangxi and the nobles could afford to eat them.
The Langtan troops who had entered the capital should have returned after the Lunar New Year. Once they arrived, they would have been able to bring fish to the capital again. They would have been able to do so once more at the end of the year, making it twice a year.
It would be tiring to travel back and forth, but they would be given generous red envelopes when the time came. Unlike protecting Kangxi, which required them to work with all their might, they would be happy to do it, as long as they could earn money.
As for whether Kangxi was happy or not, Qi You couldn't care less now because he was really short of money.
Catching fish is only the first step in his development here. With the rich and fertile black soil resources, in addition to reclaiming land and growing crops, the development of civilization is imminent.
Qi You was not in a position to elaborate, so he pondered for a moment before saying, "At first, I planned to open a school here. I have no shortage of teachers. The prisoners exiled from Ningguta are more than enough to teach them how to read and write. Repairing the house and using pens, inkstones, and paper are the biggest expenses. I can scrape together the money from here and there. Running a school is not a one-day or two-day thing. It requires long-term investment, and we must find a way to make money. And this source of income is not allowed to be touched by anyone else. It can only be used for teaching and educating people, and building roads and bridges."
To get rich, you must first build roads. Today, the north is vast and sparsely populated, a desolate and uninhabited land. The roads to various destinations are rugged and difficult to travel, consuming a great deal of time.
It is difficult to get rich at the moment, but the road must be built.
Sabusu thought Qiyou was out to make money, but he actually cared about the people here. He was stunned, his old face flushed unconsciously, and he felt ashamed.
Thinking of the terrible roads around him, Sabsu sighed and said, "Let alone official roads, there aren't even any decent roads. Going out is suffering. Places are already far apart, and these bad roads make it even more difficult to get around, and we have less contact with each other. Even though I'm uneducated, I understand that without mobility, there's no way to get rich."
Qi You said, "It's not enough to just repair it here. We have to repair other places as well. Only with everyone's concerted efforts can we connect all the places. I can't take care of other places now. Fortunately, the general is here. Lapingcang and the roads around Ningguta, if not as smooth as the official roads, at least make them presentable, so that they don't collapse when it rains and become muddy and difficult to travel on."
Sabusu was delighted to have repaired the roads under his jurisdiction. He said, "I was born and raised here. Seeing my hometown transformed and become better, I have no regrets in this life. Seventh Prince, if you need me to do anything, just tell me."
Qi You smiled and said, "Road construction requires surveying and mapping. Now you understand the importance of people like Zhang Song and his sister, He Ye, and others, right?"
Sabsu scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I was short-sighted and didn't think that much."
Qi You glanced at him and didn't want to embarrass him anymore. He changed the subject and said, "There's also the issue of drawing maps. I've seen the maps here, and the general should also know that this is not feasible."
Sabusu, who had experienced the pain of having unclear maps, could empathize with this, saying, "Maps are very rough, only giving general directions. When marching or fighting, we sometimes accidentally stray off the track. It's really painful."
Qi You laughed again, stood up, and fetched a map, handing it to Sabsu. "This is a map of the area around our reclamation. General, take a look at it and compare it with the maps you've seen before. What do you think is different?"
Sabusu opened the map, and Changde curiously leaned over. He exclaimed in amazement, saying, "How detailed! Not only are there directions, but the distances are clearly written, the mountains and rivers are marked, and there's even this scale..."
"Be gentle!" Sabsu's eyes also lit up, and he couldn't let go of the map. Hearing Changde yelling, he pulled the paper, afraid that he would tear it, and slapped him without hesitation.
Chang De felt pain on the back of his hand, and he retracted his hand, complaining, "Father, I'm already quite old, and you still hit me. Seventh Prince is one of us, and if he sees that everything is fine, I'll be so embarrassed if it happens to others!"
Sabsu showed no mercy and cursed without even looking up: "Get out of here!"
Qi You suppressed a smile, pretending not to notice Chang De's flushed face, and said, "These things also need to be done by Zhang Song and others. They are basically all bondservants from the imperial farm. During these years with Mr. Xiyang, they not only had to learn mathematics, geometry, and Latin, but also professional knowledge of surveying and mapping. Those who can stay in the end are rare talents. In the future, schools will be established in the north. There will be people who can farm and raise fish, weave and spin, and take exams to become officials. No matter which one, there are 360 professions, and each one has its own top scholar. Building roads and running schools is like the inheritance we have accumulated for future generations. As for carrying it forward, it depends on them."
Sabusu said with emotion, "Yes, I'm old now. How much can I do? If I want to change things all over the place overnight, I can only rely on the younger generation. If I don't study and learn skills, and continue with the current situation, this place will always be a bitter and cold place. Even if I reclaim the wasteland and grow food, it will only be so-so. Food is not worth much, and you can't make a fortune by farming."
Qi You smiled and said, "You can make a fortune by farming, but the prerequisite is to increase grain production. Ordinary people have been farming for thousands of years, and the grain production is visible, but so far it hasn't increased by more than a few pounds. Therefore, relying on experience alone is not enough to make good crops. Unless someone is assigned to study and figure out how to improve seeds, manure, pest control, and so on. There is too much knowledge involved, and experience can only be used as a reference. If you want to make real changes, you must rely on reading. Of course, the books you should read are not about how to write articles, but the miscellaneous knowledge that the world looks down upon."
It is very cold in winter, and you have to wear a thick fur coat here. Even if there is a kang in the house, you still have to wrap yourself in a thick padded jacket.
Qi You missed his close-fitting cashmere clothes very much. Unfortunately, although the Mongolian tribes raised sheep and grazed them, they lacked the skills to handle the wool properly, so the wool was always too hard.
It is a waste that the best wool is not really put to any use and is only used to weave carpets, etc.
If the wool textile industry here can be developed and wool fabrics can be woven, the living conditions of Mongolian herders will be greatly improved.
The Mongol tribes were still largely slave-based, with various bad customs still existing. With illiterate people everywhere, reform was extremely difficult.
Sabusu was stunned for a moment and said, "According to what the Seventh Prince said, if one doesn't study for the purpose of taking exams, is there anyone who would still be willing to study?"
Qi You said firmly, "Of course I am willing. There are more talented people in the world than the stars in the sky. They just have no way out and are buried. The imperial examination is held every three years, and only a few hundred people pass. Many smart people fail repeatedly. Their intelligence is not really above the level of writing. All other things are inferior, only reading is superior. This "reading is superior" refers to the high scores in the imperial examination. It is really a pity!"
Chang De felt a sympathetic response and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Exactly. I'm good at studying, but I can't write well. My father always thinks I haven't learned well enough. If we didn't test writing, but instead tested something else, like catching fish, I would definitely be the top scorer in the exam. I'm the best at catching fish!"
Sabusu wanted to laugh but was also furious when she heard this, so she cursed, "Get lost!"
Qi You laughed heartily, raised his thumb towards Chang De, and said, "The champion in fishing is also a talent. We'll set off after the New Year. I don't know how to catch fish, so it's up to you then!"
Chang De agreed with great pride, patting his chest loudly, "Don't worry, Seventh Prince, I am also very good at ice-breaking and catching fish, and I will not let you down."
Sabusu looked at Changde's foolishness and couldn't bear to watch it. She turned her head away in disgust and cursed him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.
He is old.
Changde's talent was mediocre, and he was always worried that after he passed away, his achievements would be passed on and Changde would take over his position.
Fortunately, Qi You came here. He tried every means to make Chang De show up in front of Qi You, but to no avail.
Now Changde has accidentally gotten in touch with Qi You and their relationship has become closer, which is a great thing.
After discussing some details, everyone went their separate ways to prepare. After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Sabsu and Changde led their fully armed soldiers, prepared carts and other fishing gear, tents, and food, and joined Qi You and Zhang Song, siblings, and together they set out for the barrier lake.
The snow stopped after the Chinese New Year. Even though the sun was shining brightly, the temperature was too low and the snow did not melt. The sky and the earth were almost covered in white.
The road was difficult to travel, and the temperature dropped as they climbed. In summer, a journey on horseback would only take half a day, but it took them nearly three days.
When we reached the mountain, it was already evening. There was no time to fish, so we quickly found a sheltered spot to set up camp and make a fire.
Qi You was wrapped up completely except for his eyes, and his eyelashes were still covered in ice. He didn't bother to go into the tent to rest, but went to check on Zhang Song and the other girls first.
Lin Xiuxiu was now well-trained. She hadn't complained about the hardship during the entire journey. After entering the tent, she still had the energy to play with He Ye and reached out to poke her face: "He Ye, you've gained a lot of weight over the past New Year. Oh, look at your rosy cheeks!"
Lotus Leaf turned her head away and said with a smile: "It's good to be fat. When you are fat, you won't be afraid of the cold."
Zhang Song was busy making a fire. Seeing He Ye about to take off her fur coat, he quickly stopped her and said, "Hey, He Ye, don't go crazy. You might catch a cold later."
Seeing that He Ye didn't take Zhang Song seriously and didn't listen to him at all, Qi You quickly stopped her and said, "Zhang Song is right. You should wear something warmer. It's too cold in the mountains. Don't get sick."
When He Ye heard Qi You speak, she put her thick coat back on without saying a word, responded crisply, and bowed to greet him.
Zhang Song and the others hurriedly followed suit and greeted them. Qi You waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about these things outside. If you need anything, just let me know. There are wild forests around here, and there might be wild beasts. If you want to go out of the tent, you must go with a companion. As for the surveying, it's too cold, so put it aside for now. Just consider this as familiarizing yourself with the road first, and then go up the mountain to do this in the summer."
Several people agreed together. Qi You gave a few instructions and walked around the camp again. The soldiers were busy, lighting a fire and boiling water for soup and rice. Everything was in good order.
Qi You exchanged a few words with Sabusu before returning to his tent. He ate a bowl of hot rice and soup, washed up quickly, took off his thick fur coat, and went to sleep on the mattress.
Degao, Guihe and Qiyou lived together, and they took turns to look after the brazier and keep watch at night.
Qi You was half asleep when he suddenly heard several gunshots, followed by the shouts of the guards on duty: "Who is in the woods? Come out! If you don't say anything, don't blame us for being rude!"
He suddenly woke up and sat up abruptly. Gao Fei quickly put on his jacket, while Gui He opened the tent and rushed out.
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