Chinese New Year

Chapter 1390 July
After finishing the business negotiations, Shao Yu prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he discovered that the temple called Linhe Futu had brought back a whole oxcart full of Buddhist scriptures.

He remained silent.

He couldn't count how many sheets of paper were used for these Buddhist scriptures.

Furthermore, Buddhist scriptures were definitely printed using woodblocks, which means that craftsmen had carved wooden blocks for the scriptures, allowing for repeated printing. This signifies the spread of Buddhism.

Surprisingly, Buddhist scriptures gradually became an important source of paper demand.

My father ordered people to research ink in Yiyang. Later, the Shaofu took over and worked on it for many years before finally producing a barely satisfactory ink, which ended up being used to print Buddhist scriptures.

Guangling is an interesting city. In many places in the north, books are still being copied and there is no woodblock printing. But Guangling, a city that was taken over by the Great Liang only a few years ago, has it. It is indeed a major town in the Jianghuai region.

After leaving the temple, Shao Yu quietly looked at the riverside pagoda again.

Most of those wealthy merchants are probably still inside discussing how to open their mansions and transport horses. For them, the death of their sons is a minor matter compared to the pursuit of money…

Shao Yu suddenly remembered his father talking to him about trade after drinking. He said that after the buyer and seller completed the transaction, they would secretly curse each other as "idiots" and then leave happily with the goods. That would be a good deal.

He asked what "idiot" meant, but his father, realizing what he meant, changed the subject.

Those idiots from Guangling!
I can get pelts by hunting on the beach, or by going to Xiping, Daifang County, or even Dongwoju, a vassal state of Goguryeo. It's easy to get them without much effort, but you can exchange them for a lot of iron farm tools, books and ink, porcelain jewelry, sugar, tea, and so on.

Of course, the other party might also be cursing themselves for being an idiot for exchanging horses, furs, pearls, medicinal herbs, and seafood for these "worthless" things.

This is probably what my father meant by "good business".

Shao Yu stayed in Guangling until the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. After meeting the Mi clan members who had traveled south, he borrowed some money from them and used it to buy a lot of luxury items in Guangling, such as tea, porcelain, linen shirts, gold and silver ware, and jewelry, which he had previously been reluctant to buy.

Tea and porcelain can be given as gifts to tribal chiefs to appease them.

He could bestow upon the scholars from the Central Plains who followed him the robes, gold and silver utensils, as they were not well-off and might not even care about such rewards. However, as his lord, he could not leave them without any recognition.

As for those exquisite jewelry pieces, they were naturally given to the wives and concubines, who had it even harder and might still harbor resentment.

The purchased goods were entrusted to the Mi clan to take back to the East China Sea. In August, their family would send a caravan north to Pingzhou to do business, at which time the goods could be delivered to Xiangping. Shao Yu had actually advised them to cross the sea via Penglai, but the Mi family was somewhat afraid, so they gave up the idea.

Finally, he asked the Mi family to find a way to recruit some boatmen who knew how to maneuver boats in Guangling or Jiangnan.

He didn't have high hopes for this, so he didn't give any specific targets, but offered more generous terms: ten bolts of silk for each person, and if they brought their families to Liaodong, they would be given an additional hundred mu of land.

We'll recruit as many as we can, no pressure. If we can't recruit even one, it's fine; we can always go back and train the locals, letting them gradually learn how to handle a boat.

After doing all this, he returned to Hefei in mid-July.

The local area remained largely unchanged, but the spring wheat was nearing maturity. He took a brief tour and noticed that the wheat and weeds in the fields were "intermingling" more and more clearly.

These Xianbei are real idiots!
Without much delay, he quickly boarded a ship belonging to Zhang Qin, the Hefei Revenue Officer, which was transporting taxes (money and silk, not grain) from Jiangnan, and returned to Bianliang.

******
"Your Highness, you're finally back!" Wang Youpei greeted him at the Prince Yan's residence in Jixianfang, Jianguomen Street, Bianliang.

Wang Shi Suo Sui followed behind him.

As can be seen from his surname, Suo Sui was born in Liangzhou and was the second tutor of the Prince of Yan. However, like the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince Song Qian, he preferred to stay at home writing books and did not care much about affairs. Shao Yu did not mind and just kept him as an idle person. Unexpectedly, he came today.

Shao Yu bowed to the two men, then led them to his study. After they sat down, he asked, "What is it?"

Pei Mangang, who had just arrived from Liaodong, said upon hearing this, "Lady Yuwen sent a message saying that Yi Dougui was criticized to his face and had fallen out with the Kezhuhun clan. Both sides have returned to their respective tribes, and they may have already started fighting."

Shao Yu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; it was no big deal.

"It's alright, let's observe the situation first." He waved his hand and asked, "Has Murong Ren made any move?"

“They’re quite honest; I haven’t heard of it,” Pei Man said.

What about Goguryeo?

"I've heard that the capital is being rebuilt."

Shao Yu couldn't help but laugh. Gao Zhao had lost his mother and wife, and the capital had been looted and almost burned to the ground. As for the population of the country, there were more than 100,000 dead, injured, scattered, or plundered, enough for him to work hard to govern for many years.

"Are there any frosts in April or May?" Shao Yu asked again.

There was a light frost in May, but it's nothing to worry about.

"That's good." Shao Yu nodded, then asked, "What about the tribal captives?"

"Madam Yuwen manages things very well." Pei Man exclaimed in amazement, "She is fair in her dealings, and everyone trusts her. There are plenty of grasslands on the mountains and along the coast, more than enough to feed them. This year, we have added quite a few livestock."

"Gu Yi will write a report; take it back with you, along with the newly recruited soldiers and newly purchased goods. You should be able to reach Pingguo and Lushun before the snow falls. Just don't delay along the way," Shao Yu said.

Pei Man responded, then hesitated. "Speak, what is it?" Shao Yu said.

"I have come here on the behalf of the officials of the Prince's Palace. Where is Your Highness?" Pei Man asked.

Shao Yu immediately understood. He wasn't actually asking where he would establish the capital, but rather indirectly asking whether the emperor's promise to build a royal capital still stood.

In addition, it seems the emperor also promised to send a large number of craftsmen to Liaodong, but that hasn't materialized yet.

"Let's focus on securing a good harvest this season first," Shao Yu said. "Especially the rye, how's it going this year?"

"Each of the twenty acres in the three counties is carefully protected. It's amazing that this crop is not afraid of frost." Pei Man said excitedly when he mentioned rye.

"After the autumn harvest, select some seeds and plant 20 mu of winter rye in the three counties," Shao Yu instructed. "Next spring, select new land and plant 120 mu."

"Yes," Pei Man replied, then said with a bitter face, "Is Your Highness not returning in the autumn?"

"Not necessarily," Shao Yu sighed, "We'll have to see."

Pei Man seemed to understand something and said no more.

Shao Yu then looked at Suo Sui, stood up and bowed, saying, "Lord Suo has been living in Bianliang, but I wonder if you would be willing to go to Liaodong?"

Suo Sui was silent for a moment, then said, "I am honored by Your Majesty's favor and have been granted the position of advisor, which I am always mindful of. However, I have repeatedly considered that Liaodong is located on the frontier, and its affairs are numerous and complex, especially military affairs, border administration, and the pacification of the barbarians. My strengths are limited to the classics and historical texts, and I am bound by old texts, lacking practical experience in border affairs..."

Having said all that, Shao Yu understood and said, "It's alright. The Prince's residence in the capital is still there. You can stay here and keep an eye on the situation in the capital for me."

Suo Sui felt somewhat ashamed and said, "Your Majesty is foolish and dull-witted, and I only hope that Your Majesty will forgive me."

Shao Yu waved his hand and said, "You are not the only one who will remain in the capital. In the future, we will need to purchase various items or recruit talented people. There will be many ways to use you."

Pei Man glanced at Suo Sui with displeasure, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Shao Yu's gaze.

Everyone has their own ambitions, that's all.

******
On July 24, Shao Yu entered the palace to pay homage and gave a detailed report on his inspection tour.

Shao Xun sat under the grape trellis in Xianju Palace, reviewing memorials as he said, "It's good to have gained something. Just as you said, the same road can lead to different outcomes for different people. The road is under your feet."

Shao Yu carefully considered these words, then nodded and asked, "How is Grandfather's health?"

“The same as always.” Shao Xun glanced at his son, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Can they manage things in Liaodong?" Shao Xun asked again.

“Okay,” Shao Yu replied.

"Your subordinates should be clear about their own nature and abilities." Shao Xun did not ask any further questions.

Tiger Head is twenty-three years old, not a child. If he still can't have a basic understanding of the people under him, then he should reconsider whether to move him to another place, such as the less competitive southern part of Yizhou or certain areas of Ningzhou.

It seems alright now. He built up the troops in Liaodong from scratch, and they have a long-standing reputation. He won't be returning this year, and the lieutenant from the Prince's Palace will temporarily lead them, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

"After the founding of the People's Republic of China, how will your soldiers be reorganized?" Shao Xun asked again.

“We will divide them into three armies: upper, middle, and lower.” Shao Yu said, “We will appoint Dao Hua as the general of the upper army, leading three thousand cavalrymen from the royal palace; Lü Han as the general of the middle army, leading three thousand heavily armored warriors; Hou Mochen Can as the general of the lower army, leading two thousand selected brave men from various tribes; and Guo Shi as the Langzhongling, leading two thousand men. These are newly recruited men from the Central Plains.”

"Is this world a war?" Shao Xun asked.

“They are similar to the soldiers of the Imperial Guard.” Shao Yu replied, “My son will distribute land, houses, and slaves to the vicinity of the capital, which can be passed down to his descendants. These people will be military households for generations.”

"It's alright," Shao Xun commented.

Silang has no money, so this is the only way to proceed for now. Asking him to recruit soldiers is definitely out of the question; the finances simply can't support it.

But his position as a garrison soldier is only a weakened version of a garrison soldier, at least for now.

Ten thousand men? There might be enough land, but there's a severe shortage of slaves. Perhaps in the future, his followers will urge him to go out and rob slaves, valuables, and livestock.

Shao Xun closed the last memorial.

Shao Yu, with his sharp eyes, noticed that it was a document concerning the appointment of officials of the Dai state. For example, Pu Gulu was appointed as the Deputy Protector of the Chanyu's Palace, Su Zhongshun was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, Daxi Heruo replaced the General of the Left Valiant Cavalry Guard, Wang Feng succeeded as the Minister of Ceremonies (Pei Xia retired due to old age), Wang Chang remained as the Prefect of Yunzhong and concurrently served as the Chief Administrator of Bingzhou, Dou Yuzhen was appointed as the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Treasury, Tuoba Kefu was appointed as the Right Chief Secretary of the Chanyu's Palace, Qiu Dunju was appointed as the Junior Supervisor of the Military Supply, and Feng Zhen was appointed as the Military Advisor of the Chanyu's Palace...

The Pingcheng Imperial Guards were reorganized into Yunzhong Town, with Ji Zhen, the Attendant Gentleman of the Shanyu's Office, concurrently serving as the town's commander.

My father generally adopted a policy of appeasement towards the Tuoba Xianbei, granting them numerous official positions. Although these individuals might not necessarily excel in their roles after entering the court, they were nonetheless legitimate officials, which was of great significance because it showed the Hu people the possibility of advancement.

After pondering it for a while, Shao Yu suddenly understood some things that had been vague before.

"Spend more time with your daughter-in-law these days; you don't need to go to the palace every day," Shao Xun said, handing the memorial to a palace servant.

(End of this chapter)