GBP Chapter 112 More civil strife
Chapter 112 More civil strife
Ying Wuyou created far too many novel things this year, such as the magical soap, face mask, and the intoxicating liquor. Some conservative ministers expressed deep concern, fearing that these novelties would undermine the traditions of Qin and destabilize society.
One day, a worried minister finally couldn't hold back any longer. He came before the King of Qin, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Jiayang's recent inventions are truly worrying. Take those soaps and face masks, for example; they've caused all the ladies and young women to leave their homes, running around all day and making a mess of their houses. Now she's come up with some liquor, and now the young people have no interest in doing anything, spending all their time drinking and having fun at the Qin's premier brothel. What can be done? Your Majesty, you must keep a close eye on this and not let Princess Jiayang continue to act so recklessly."
Upon hearing this, the King of Qin frowned, a hint of displeasure appearing on his face. He knew perfectly well that Ying Wuyou's every action was motivated by greed. He understood the importance of money to a nation; without sufficient funds, Qin would be unable to sustain its massive army's continuous warfare. Therefore, the King of Qin had always strongly supported Ying Wuyou, for he saw how Ying Wuyou's various innovative ideas had made Qin stronger and more prosperous.
In the past year alone, the King of Qin had clearly noticed the prosperity of Xianyang. Especially last winter, thanks to the novelty of heated brick beds, the number of people who froze to death in Qin decreased by as much as 80%! And this year, thanks to the adoption of composting technology, Qin's grain production has doubled!
Even more gratifying was the fact that the soap was selling extremely well in several other countries, bringing a steady stream of wealth to Qin. Faced with such an astonishing change, the King of Qin was overjoyed. Therefore, when he heard the minister's suggestion, he responded without hesitation: "These novelties brought by Jiayang are undoubtedly of great benefit to Qin; there's no need to mention them again. Besides, some traditions truly need to be broken." Seeing the King of Qin's firm support for Ying Wuyou, the ministers knew that further words were futile and could only sigh helplessly as they left the Zhangtai Hall.
Fusu, far away in Baiyue, was having a headache. He had been in Nanyue for almost two months, and in those two months, several battles had been fought between the various tribes of Baiyue, each resulting in heavy casualties, which was causing Fusu a great deal of trouble.
Thinking back to more than three months ago, Fusu, as the eldest son of the Qin Dynasty, embarked on a difficult journey to Baiyue with high hopes and a sense of mission.
At that time, to avoid the Chu army, they had to choose mostly rugged and difficult mountain paths. Fusu, who had grown up in the palace, had never traveled such arduous roads before. Along the way, the steep slopes and muddy paths caused him great suffering. Blisters formed on his feet, his clothes were torn by tree branches, and every step was filled with hardship.
After months of trekking, Fusu finally arrived in Nanyue. The scene before him shocked him greatly; the people here lived in poverty, their culture was backward, and they were far removed from the Central Plains.
After discussing with his advisors how to establish a foothold in Nanyue, Fusu decided to disguise himself as an ordinary merchant! Nanyue was a relatively open tribe, and there were many merchants from the Central Plains in Nanyue. This identity would not arouse any suspicion, and it would also make it easier for him to stay in Nanyue and learn about their customs and culture.
He adopted the alias Qin Su, claiming to be from the Zhao state and that he had come to Baiyue only to beg for food. With only a handful of guards and servants, he embarked on his journey to Nanyue, while the rest of his men were assigned to various parts of Baiyue, such as Xiyue and Yangyue.
Fusu knew very well that if he wanted to successfully penetrate the core of the Baiyue, he first had to be thoroughly familiar with their culture. After all, the cultures of the various regions of Baiyue varied greatly. Back in Xianyang, Fusu had studied the language and customs of the Baiyue people, and had even gradually mastered some business acumen.
Upon arriving in Nanyue, Fusu, with his innate noble bearing and exceptional intelligence, quickly established a connection with Chen Yun, a nobleman of Nanyue. Chen Yun was a cousin of Chen Jian, the leader of Nanyue, and held a prominent and prestigious position. His greatest passion was for silk and jade from the Central Plains, which provided Fusu with an excellent opportunity.
Knowing Chen Yun's tastes, Fusu generously gifted him many exquisite silks and precious jades. These gifts were not only valuable but also represented Fusu's sincerity and goodwill. It was through this method that Fusu successfully established a relationship with Chen Yun, laying a solid foundation for his own development in the Baiyue region.
In his interactions with Chen Yun, Fusu fully demonstrated his extraordinary magnanimity and astonishing wealth. He unhesitatingly purchased vast amounts of land and slaves from Chen Yun, and generously gifted him even more silk and jade. These precious items impressed Chen Yun and rapidly elevated Fusu's social standing in the Baiyue region.
With land and slaves in hand, Fusu quickly arranged for them to cultivate the land. He remembered his purpose in coming to Baiyue: to provide food for the Qin Dynasty. Ensuring a food supply was crucial, a vital step for the stable development of Nanyue. Meanwhile, he continued to cultivate a good relationship with Chen Yun, gathering intelligence on Nanyue. He meticulously observed the local customs, tribal structure, and military deployments. Every detail could become key to his future decisions.
Days passed, and Fusu gradually adapted to life in Nanyue. He always kept Ying Wuyou's words in mind. Before coming to Baiyue, Ying Wuyou had solemnly instructed him that he must drink hot water and pay attention to hygiene, otherwise he would easily get sick. Fusu remembered these words and never forgot them.
He adapted quickly, gradually learning how to cope with the humid and hot climate, and gaining a deeper understanding of the people of Nanyue. He discovered that although Nanyue differed greatly from the Central Plains, its people were equally hardworking and kind, possessing their own culture and traditions. He began to consider how to combine the advanced culture of the Qin Dynasty with the local culture of Baiyue to achieve true integration and development.
As time went on, Fusu's career in Baiyue became increasingly successful, and he was one step closer to his goal. He was well aware of the heavy responsibility he carried, but just when he was overjoyed and thought things were going in a good direction, fierce conflicts suddenly broke out between the various tribes of Baiyue.