Chapter 824: Troubles
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Huang Wenxian said, “Yes and no. Population is a prerequisite for development. The more people there are in the North, the more resources will be consumed. To merchants, this is a business opportunity.”
He paused for a moment and said, “There are two trade routes in the North that export output, the Ancient Tea Horse Road and the Silk Road. The huge profits made the merchants everywhere rack their brains and bet their assets. They also want to get involved. It’s also necessary to introduce merchants with deep financial resources and wide channels. This is a great opportunity to restrain or even weaken the nobles.”
Businessmen who dared to interfere in the Ancient Tea Horse Road and the Silk Road were already prepared to compete with the nobles.
Previously, because the merchant guild was too powerful, they could not interfere. Now that the Imperial Court had issued a national policy, they had come over with supplies under the banner of “relief to the refugees” and “implementation of the national policy.” First of all, Princess Shaoyi and King Yue Fei had to owe them a favor. It was equivalent to finding a strong backer for themselves.
Their good reputation among the refugees formed their reputation and basic connections. It was enough for them to open up the situation in the North under the pressure of the merchant guild.
Yu Youyao nodded. “It seems that the Imperial Court’s issuance of the ‘national policy’ has completely opened up the situation of the North’s stagnation and welcomed a new opportunity for development.”
Huang Wenxian agreed deeply and said, “However, there are pros and cons to vigorously developing the economy. We have to ensure that the interests of the foreign merchants are the same as the development of the Yue Fei’s Residence and the North. Then, we have to have a certain amount of initiative. We can’t hand the initiative over to the foreign merchants. If the foreign merchants collude with the local nobles, it will only become worse.”
For example, King Yue Fei had left the best silkworm farm to the Little Princess Consort and let her monopolize a million acres of forest. She had joined forces with the local retail investors, foreign merchants, and local nobles. All three sides had formed a good competition, as well as checks and balances for their own interests. Once either side wanted to break this situation, they would not be able to get past her.
Including the main silkworm areas in Liancheng, Dandong, and the Liaodong Mountain Range, she was involved in almost everything.
She had become the person in charge of the overall situation, representing the interests of King Yue Fei and the North.
Yu Youyao nodded. “You’ve thought it through.”
Huang Wenxian changed the topic. “I heard that the Xie Residence has a lot of businesses. The Xie family will definitely contribute to the future development of the North, so I’ll have to trouble you to introduce me.”
As the military advisor under King Yue Fei and with his scholarly status, he did not need Yu Youyao to introduce him to the people from the Xie Residence. He could directly send someone to put up an invitation, and the Xie Residence had to obediently bring along a generous gift and personally visit him respectfully.
It was obvious that he had given Yu Youyao enough respect.
Yu Youyao understood what he meant. Wanting to take the initiative in the business field and cooperate with the Xie Residence, who had deep financial resources and huge channels, was the best choice.
Huang Wenxian was here for the Xie Residence, so she smiled and said, “It’s not a big deal. My Eldest Uncle is staying at the courier station. I’ll get someone to inform him and ask him to come over directly.”
Huang Wenxian kept saying that he was a low-level general, but the military advisor’s status in the army was extraordinary and he directly received orders from the first general in the army. He treated the Xie Residence politely, but the Xie Residence still had to respect the rules.
“Thank you, Princess.” Although Huang Wenxian was a scholar, he had been to the battlefield and did not care much about etiquette.
He had also specially learned that the Xie Residence was open-minded and decent. They were compatible with his temperament, so he naturally had to treat them differently.
The Xie Residence had deep financial resources and a huge channel, and they also had a relationship with the Little Princess Consort. These were all powerful bargaining chips for them to divide the interests of the nobles and weaken their power. They were also the cornerstone of the development of the North.
From the looks of it, the importance of the Xie Residence to the North was self-evident. It was only right for them to treat them politely.
Compared to superficial etiquette, Huang Wenxian valued practicality more.
However, he enjoyed the Little Princess Consort’s generous behavior.
Yu Youyao smiled and nodded. She turned around and instructed Xia Tao to invite someone over.
Looking at the overall situation, it was naturally very beneficial to bring in foreign merchants. In the short term, the large number of supplies brought by foreign merchants could basically resolve the dilemma of the North’s lack of supplies.
At the same time, it would also stimulate the local nobles to work together to settle the refugees.
However, there were also many drawbacks in the long run.
The biggest drawback was that the nobles in the North were still powerful. Once foreign merchants gained a foothold in the North, it was almost inevitable that they would want to seek greater development.
Huang Wenxian wanted to control the situation in the North from the beginning and support the Xie Residence so that he could control a portion of the resources, connections, and channels in the North.
The nobles, foreign merchants, and the Xie Residence formed a balance.
From the looks of it, the nobles still had the greatest power in the balance of power among the three sides. However, if external merchants and the Xie Residence joined, it would definitely divide the interests of the nobles and weaken their power.
It was inevitable that the power of the merchants and the Xie Residence would increase.
In the early stages, the Xie Residence and foreign merchants had common interests and enemies. They were natural allies.
Behind the Xie Residence were Princess Shaoyi and King Yue Fei. They had the absolute initiative between foreign merchants and were undoubtedly the leaders.
Yin Huaixi only needed to support the Xie Residence and let them join forces with external merchants to deal with the nobles. He would wait for the right time to root out some of the nobles who had done all kinds of bad things.
It wasn’t that Yin Huaixi had used the Xie Residence.
If the Xie Residence wanted to gain a foothold in the North and seek development, they would already be on the opposite side of the nobles. There was a business path and an official path. The interests of the Xie Residence and the Yue Fei’s Residence were the same.
Not long after, Xie Xun arrived.
Yu Youyao smiled and introduced, “Eldest Uncle, this is Military Advisor Huang, under King Yue Fei.”
Xie Xun hurriedly stepped forward and was about to bow. Huang Wenxian quickly stood up and strode forward to hold Xie Xun’s hand. “Master Xie, there’s no need to be so polite. Please sit.”
Xie Xun was stunned for a moment before looking at Yu Youyao.
Yu Youyao quickly smiled and said, “Military Advisor Huang has assisted in the war in the North for many years, but he doesn’t care about trifles. Eldest Uncle, you don’t have to be too reserved.”
Huang Wenxian was too polite to her Eldest Uncle. His tone was filled with respect, so he did not accept his bow.
Her eyes flashed as she recalled the scene of Huang Wenxian kneeling on the ground with a bang the moment he saw her. How could she not understand? Huang Wenxian probably knew that she and Yin Huaixi were “engaged” and treated her as the future princess consort. Even her maternal family treated her seriously.
Huang Wenxian also agreed. “Princess, you’re right.”
Only then did Xie Xun’s expression relax. He said politely, “Thank you for your kindness, Military Advisor Huang. I’ll be bold.”
Then, he sat down beside Huang Wenhua and the servants quickly served tea.
After Xie Xun finished his tea.
Huang Wenxian went straight to the point. “Master Xie, you also know that many foreign merchants have come to the three provinces of Liaodong recently. Logically speaking, this matter shouldn’t be handled by His Highness.”
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