The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

mid March.

The southern market of Luoyang, originally an ordinary market mainly engaged in local trade, was transformed overnight into the "Southern Yinzhou Commodity Trading Center." The streets were crowded with stalls selling all kinds of pioneering materials: bundles of swords, stacks of armor, bags of wheat seeds, boxes of medicinal herbs... The shouts, bargaining, and clinking of copper coins were deafening.

A burly man with a face full of scars was loudly hawking his wares: "Top-quality goose feather sabers! Refined steel, sharpened! Only ten taels of silver each! Ten taels! Think about it, if you go to Nan Yin Zhou and don't have any weapons to defend yourself, what will you do if you encounter cannibalistic natives? Buy one, and you'll save your life!"

A more refined-looking middle-aged man nearby was hawking a book: "The Survival Guide to Southern Yinzhou! It details the local climate, customs, and edible plants! It also includes Li's personal experience of crossing the sea! Only 500 coins a copy! 500 coins to buy a life, is it worth it?"

Further away, a man in official robes was loudly proclaiming something. He was an official sent by the Ministry of Revenue to answer various questions about the "Expansion Regulations."

"Sir, my family has been farmers for generations, and we want to go there to farm. But I don't have the money to buy a boat seat..."

"No money? Then sign a 'contract labor' contract! Go to the market and find those merchants who are hiring, sign a three- or five-year contract, they'll pay for your boat ticket, and you'll work for them when you get there. After you've worked for the full term, you'll be free and you can even get a piece of land!"

"Sir, I am a craftsman, I know how to forge iron. Would I be of any use over there?"

"Useful? Absolutely useful! What they need most over there are craftsmen! Once you go, all those miners and farmers will be begging you to make tools for them. In three years, you'll save enough silver to buy a house in Luoyang!"

"Sir, I am a scholar, and I wish to go there to teach..."

"Scholars? Not engineers, right? That's fine then. Merchants will bring their wives, children, and elderly parents along. Someone will have to teach the kids to read, right? Find a business to sign a contract with and go with them. But let me make this clear beforehand: there are no academies there, so you'll have to endure hardship."

In early April, the first batch of official fleet slots began to be officially sold to the public.

Dengzhou Port, a city that was originally just an important seaport in the north, suddenly became the focus of the entire empire. People from Luoyang, Chang'an, Taiyuan, Xiangyang, Chengdu, and Guangzhou flocked to the port, filling the inns to capacity.

The price of boat berths has been driven out of control.

The official price of a regular cabin was fifty taels, but scalpers had raised it to one hundred and fifty taels, and it was still extremely difficult to get a ticket. The cargo cabins were even more outrageous; the official price of one hundred taels per cubic meter had tripled in private transactions.

Some shrewd merchants simply stopped buying official ship berths and hired people to build their own ships. Within a month, shipyards in Dengzhou, Qingdao, and even Hangzhou and Guangzhou were operating at full capacity. The price of timber for shipbuilding quadrupled, and shipwrights' wages tripled, yet demand still couldn't meet supply.

In mid-April, The Empire Times published a lengthy report with a sensationalist title:
[Southern Yinzhou—A New World for the Chinese People!]

The text details the hardships and achievements of the Li family's seven years of entrepreneurial endeavor, vividly portraying the fertility and richness of that continent. The text specifically mentions:
"The Li family brought over five thousand people, most of whom were prisoners of war and slaves. Seven years later, they controlled a vast territory and had gathered tens of thousands of followers. If our dynasty's wealthy merchants and powerful families were to organize properly and have substantial capital, leading several thousand brave men there, what would the situation be like ten years later?"

This report is like adding fuel to the fire.

The imperial laws are strict, and the sons of merchants have no chance of advancement. But in Southern Yin Continent, there are no merchant registrations, no entry barriers, and no restrictions based on birth. Whoever can expand territory becomes the master of that land! Whoever can gather people and accomplish great things becomes the empire's bulwark guarding its overseas borders!

There's only one chance. The first group gets the best spots and the biggest mines. The second group gets to scavenge the leftovers. The third group gets nothing at all!

In late April, the Ministry of Revenue announced the results of the first batch of applications for the development of Nanyinzhou: a total of 237 households were approved. Among them, 169 were merchants, 42 were ordinary farmers, and 26 were artisans.

Applicants are required to pay a "pioneer deposit"—one tael of silver per mu (unit of land area). One hundred mu would cost one hundred taels. This money will be fully refunded after the pioneers arrive in Nan Yin Zhou and complete the land registration.

Two hundred and thirty-seven households applied for a total of 237,000 mu of land. A deposit of 237,000 taels was deposited into the treasury.

This is just the first batch.

Officials from the Ministry of Revenue privately revealed that the second batch of applications would open this fall, with a significant increase in the number of available slots. Upon hearing this news, those who had been hesitant finally made their decision.

South of Luoyang City, the Shen Family Villa.

Shen Shiyuan looked at the "Expansion Order" in his hand, his hands trembling slightly.

This was the first time in three generations of the Shen family that they had received an official document bearing the imperial seal—not a business license, not a tax registration, but a proper official document signed in their capacity as "pioneers."

Shen Wentao stood beside his father, equally too excited to speak.

"Father...are we...really going?"

Shen Shiyuan took a deep breath, his voice low but firm:

"go."

"The Shen family has woven cloth for three generations. How much money did they earn for the empire? But what did they get in return? Their descendants couldn't pass the imperial examinations, couldn't become officials, and even a ninth-rank tax ambassador had to beg and plead."

"This is not our way."

He looked out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of buildings and reaching towards the distant East.

“But there is a new path over there. The descendants of the Shen family can find their own way out.”

"Back then, the Li family had five hundred members and they were able to accomplish something. Our Shen family has ten times the wealth of the Li family, so why can't we?"

At the same time, the Wei family in Xiangyang.

Wei Zhengrong was checking the cargo that was about to be loaded onto the ship. There were three thousand swords, five hundred suits of armor, one hundred thousand catties of iron, and countless farm tools. These supplies would sail directly to Nan Yinzhou with the Wei family fleet, which he personally led.

Instead of sending people to scout ahead like other merchants, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

"I've been sailing on the Han River for decades, what storms haven't I seen? Going to Nan Yin Zhou is just another adventure, isn't it?"

Behind him, his eldest son, Wei Tieniu, hesitated and said, "Father, if you go yourself, what if..."

"What if what?"

Wei Zhengrong interrupted him: "If I die over there, you stay here and protect the ancestral property. If I succeed, you take the rest of the clan over there."

"The Wei family cannot put all their eggs in one basket."

Chengdu Zhuojia.

Zhuo Yuanfan did not go in person. He sent his second son, Zhuo Mingyuan, with thirty experienced farmers, twenty herbalists, ten carpenters, and five boats full of supplies—seeds, farm tools, medicinal herbs, livestock, and all the farming experience accumulated by the Zhuo family over three generations.

Before leaving, Zhuo Yuanfan said to his son:
"Remember, when you get there, don't rush to look for minerals. First, find land, water, and suitable places to cultivate. Growing food is more important than anything else."

"With food in hand, those miners will have to beg you. At that time, you can get anything you want in exchange."

The Sun family of Qingzhou.

Sun Mingyuan, along with twenty members of the Sun family, boarded the official fleet bound for Nan Yinzhou. The ship was laden with the Sun family's specialties: sea salt, salted fish, and salt-making tools.

As he was leaving, his father, Sun Jinghai, held his hand, tears streaming down his face.

“My son, I’m getting old and can’t walk anymore. Go over there and try your luck. If you succeed, the Sun family will depend on you. If you fail… remember to come home.”

Sun Mingyuan nodded emphatically: "Father, don't worry. I will never come back to see you until I've made something of myself over there!"

In late April, the first official fleet set sail.

Dengzhou Port was deserted as everyone flocked to it.

Twenty-three colossal ships sailed out of the harbor in succession, their massive sails billowing into the sky. The fleet included official transport ships, merchant-owned cargo ships, and scattered small sailing vessels. On board were thousands of pioneers, countless supplies, and countless restless hearts.

On the shore, a dense crowd of people came to see them off. Some shouted the names of their loved ones, some wept silently, and some prayed with their hands clasped together. An elderly woman with gray hair clutched the sleeve of a young man tightly, crying her heart out: "My son, don't go! It's so far away. What will I do if something happens to you..."

The young man, his eyes red-rimmed, forcefully pulled his hand away from his mother's: "Mother, I'll never amount to anything here. I'll go over there and give it a shot; maybe I can bring glory to our ancestors!"

He gave his mother a deep look, then turned and ran toward the ship that was about to set sail.

The old woman collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.

A middle-aged man who looked like a merchant sighed and stepped forward to help her up: "Don't cry. Your child is ambitious. My family has been in business for three generations and has amassed a fortune, but none of our descendants have even passed the imperial examinations. If she goes over there, she might really make a name for herself."

He gazed at the departing fleet and murmured:

“We’re always second-class citizens in the interior of the empire. But over there… we’re the superior people of the Celestial Empire.”

The fleet sailed further and further away, eventually disappearing where the sea met the sky.

No one knows what those who went there will ultimately bring back.

Is it a mountain of gold and silver, or a shipload of skeletons?

Nobody knows.

But at this moment, everyone believed that it was their only chance.

Luoyang, Ziwei Palace.

Yi Huawei stood in the warm pavilion in the Imperial Garden, his hands behind his back, looking southeast.

Shan Wanjing stood quietly beside him:
"Your Majesty. The first batch of ships has set sail."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly without saying a word.

After a long silence, Shan Wanjing asked again:

"Does Your Majesty believe they can succeed?"

Yi Huawei's lips curved into a slight smile:
"Some people can, some people can't. Some people will die at sea, some will die at the hands of the natives, and some will die of illness, starvation, or exhaustion."

"But if even 10% of people succeed, that's enough."

"That 10% of the population will take root there, reproduce, expand their territory, and become a bulwark for the empire thousands of miles away."

"For thirty years, I have governed the empire into an impenetrable monolith. But the monolith is too rigid, and some people are getting restless. They need a place where they can run wild."

“Nan Yin Zhou, that’s the place.”

After a moment of silence, Shan Wanjing said softly, "Then the Li family..."

“The Li family has succeeded.” Yi Huawei said calmly, “They spent seven years controlling a vast territory. Now, it’s time to let others try.”

"Whoever succeeds will be the next Li."

"Whoever dies, that's their own choice."

...............

Sixty years after the establishment of the dynasty, on the ninth day of the third month in spring.

The city of Luoyang was awakened by the first rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds at dawn.

The Sacrifice Tower stands majestically, its body as white as ever. The massive spherical structure at its top reflects a soft golden halo in the morning light, like a divine miracle, overlooking this colossal city that has become the center of the world.

Sixty years ago today, Yi Huawei ascended the throne outside Luoyang, establishing the dynasty with the name "Hua" and the reign title "Dingding". Sixty years later, in the same city, at the same tower, the empire witnessed its first imperial succession.

At 9:00 AM, in the Taiji Hall.

Officials paid homage, and all nations came to pay tribute. Inside and outside the palace, a dense mass of people knelt. But this time, the object of their worship was no longer the eternally young emperor, but the new ruler—Yi Junze.

Yi Junze was forty-six years old at the time. His face was as handsome as jade, and his demeanor was composed. His bright yellow dragon robe made him appear even more majestic, and his expression was as calm as a deep pool. No one could see any emotion on his face; this was the first lesson he had learned from his father, the emperor, since childhood.

He sat upright on the dragon throne, receiving the homage of all nations, his face calm and composed, revealing neither joy nor anger. But he knew that this empire was far more complex than he had imagined.

My father spent sixty years building an unprecedentedly vast empire.

Now, the empire has been handed over to him.

Can he protect it? Can he keep it shining? Can he find and repair those cracks that are visible to the naked eye but impossible to repair?
he does not know.

All he knew was that from this day forward, the fate of the empire rested on his shoulders.

Outside the window, the Sacrifice Tower stands majestically, its spherical top reflecting a dim light in the setting sun, like an eternally silent eye, overlooking this land reshaped by the will of the empire, and also overlooking the masses who will soon struggle to survive in the shadow of the prosperous age.

After the court ceremony concluded, Yi Junze rose and, surrounded by officials, stepped out of the Taiji Hall and onto the plaza in front of it.

In the center of the square, Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back.

Sixty years have passed, yet he still looks like he's in his early twenties, handsome beyond compare, wearing a moon-white robe, his long black hair casually draped over his shoulders. If it weren't for his eyes, which are as deep and unsettling as an ancient, icy pool, one might almost mistake him for a young master from a noble family who has accidentally wandered into the Forbidden City.

Yi Junze walked up to him, lifted his robe, and knelt down.

"Your son kowtows to thank Your Majesty for thirty years of teaching and thirty years of entrustment."

Yi Huawei looked down at him, his gaze calm as still water.

Thirty years ago, he sent a sixteen-year-old boy onto a westward-bound war chariot. Thirty years later, that boy's temples are now streaked with gray (though he has mastered the art of preserving his youth, forty-six is ​​still different from sixteen), while he himself remains exactly the same as he was back then.

"Get up."

Yi Huawei reached out and helped his son up, his voice calm: "I have protected this country for sixty years. From now on, it is your responsibility."

Yi Junze stood up and met his father's gaze.

A thousand words are left unsaid.

Yi Huawei turned around, looked at the majestic sacrificial tower outside the square, and then at the completely transformed Luoyang city behind it, and said calmly:
"In these thirty years, the empire has changed far beyond what I imagined back then. After you ascend the throne, you must remember this: maintaining the status quo is not easy, but expanding it is even more difficult. But the most difficult thing is to let the people in this land know where they should stand."

Yi Junze bowed his head: "Your subject will remember."

Yi Huawei said no more, but gently patted his son's shoulder, then turned around and disappeared into the depths of the Taiji Hall under the escort of the secret guards.

From then on, there was no longer an "Emperor" Yi Huawei, only an "Emperor Emeritus" Yi Huawei.

And so, a new chapter in the empire's history has officially begun. (End of Chapter)