Peace Order-Chapter 1462 - 133: Autumn of All Affairs, What Rank to Bestow

Through commercial exchange, goods and silver flowed freely between Jiangnan and the Western Regions. Thus, commerce became the lifeblood, strengthening the connection between Jiangnan and the Western Regions as the first step.

These large ships, having just unloaded their grain, were soon loaded with Jiangnan’s specialties and set out for the Western Regions, stopping by the southwestern areas along the way to revitalize the entire territory through waterways, commercial routes, and the traditional circulation of culture and trade.

Yan Daiqing said: "Without interactions in personnel, culture, and commerce, the so-called conquered territories are like a body with severed tendons and bones, crudely patched together with devices."

"It may look functional, but in reality, the Qi and blood cannot circulate within, resembling a set of bones with merely the surface stitched together, just a facade."

"Having ideals alone is not enough; benefits and culture are also necessary."

"When people from all territories can identify with one ideology and derive benefits from it, only then will they actively maintain it; otherwise, it remains merely a mechanical construct."

Yan Daiqing said: "I will first lead this cargo ship’s journey and, by the way, bring Mr. Ji Yanzhong back from Anxi City. It is time to take this step, isn’t it, my lord?"

Li Guanyi said: "I leave it to you, Mr. Yan Daiqing."

Yan Daiqing cupped his hands lightly and moved with the speed of the wind.

"Ah, truly a Jiangnan Gentleman, moving like the wind." Li Guanyi turned and saw Mr. Wen Qingyu standing with his hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of an elegant and refined scholar, would have looked even more divine if not for the bruised eyes.

Originally, Li Guanyi wanted to pretend nothing had happened.

However, the ornamentation on Wen Qingyu’s eyes, nearly indistinguishable from auspicious markings, was too conspicuous, prompting him to ask: "Sir, what happened?"

Wen He replied: "Ah, it’s just that I made some fake pearls and gave them to Mr. Yan, claiming they were national treasures of the Southern Country, worth ten thousand gold, to be used as military funds."

Li Guanyi asked: "He found out?"

Wen Qingyu rubbed his eyes: "Initially, I wanted to tell him right away, but he was too delighted, happily inviting me to drink and chat, reflecting on treating me poorly before, and finding it all amusing..."

"Ahem, I meant, so earnest that I found it a bit difficult to tell him they were fakes, not until he managed to find a buyer in Chen Country did I inform him."

Li Guanyi’s mouth twitched: "And the pearls?"

Wen He replied: "Naturally, he sold them."

Li Guanyi was astonished: "They sold even like that?"

Wen He smiled: "Just a bit underpriced, but they’re from the noble houses fleeing from Chen Country’s cities. Hearing the grand army approach, they fled with plenty of money, feeling like they snagged a bargain, so they were joyfully content."

"You sold the pearls, and he still hit you?"

Wen He solemnly replied:

"Precisely because they were sold, hence one black eye."

"Had they not been sold, with that prank blown out of proportion, then there should have been two black eyes."

"Marvelous, marvelous."

Mr. Wen He clapped his hands greatly amused by the wordplay, leaving Li Guanyi helpless, aware of the camaraderie between them. So he asked: "Then, how about the silver proceeds?"

Wen He, instead of producing any silver, merely pulled a Copper Coin from his sleeve, showing it to Li Guanyi with a smile: "As the lord instructed, the silver was spent alleviating the people along the way, opening granaries, reducing corvée labor and taxes."

"The people along the way were all jubilant."

"Arriving at the Jiangnan Eighteen States, everything was used up, leaving only this large coin."

Wen Qingyu placed the coin in Li Guanyi’s palm, saying:

"Taking back from the noble houses’ exploitation of the people’s sweat and, along the way, restoring it to the populace with those twenty-four fake pearls, so that even though we took these cities by conquest, the people rejoiced, their opinion unaffected, their hearts untroubled."

"Coming with empty hands and leaving with empty hands, gaining only the people’s hearts in these towns along the way, and this final Copper Coin."

"I wonder what the lord thinks of this transaction of mine throughout the journey?"

"Did I make a profit or not?"

Li Guanyi looked at the Copper Coin, after a long while, laughed easily, flicking the large, polished, and simple coin with his fingers, which had passed through many hands, sending it spinning and landing back into Wen Qingyu’s palm.

Marquis Qin Wu laughed heartily:

"Truly a genius of governance, the world calls you a poison warrior, but truly, they underestimate you, or is it that the impression of a poison warrior you cultivate is just to disguise your real talent for your own plans?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Taken from the people, returned to the people, must you persuade me so?"

"If I must say, there is only one evaluation."

Li Guanyi said: "A huge profit!"

He used a set of fakes to penalize the noble houses, appease the populace, and gained the people’s hearts and a large coin in the end. Wen Qingyu was never just a poison warrior; being a poison warrior and strategies were merely means to accomplish a grand scheme and success.

Saatanati, who followed, witnessed this scene, and in her later years, recorded it in a historical narrative called "The Right Minister’s Persuasion Records." This Chapter became a concise classic lesson recited from memory by many later students learning literature.

During this sequence of ship journeys, Shaking Light among others was also there. While Li Guanyi awaited Shaking Light’s arrival, he spotted a silver-haired girl calmly standing on the deck of a large ship, alongside the Nine-colored Divine Deer.