Read Novel Full Chapter 1042 - 106: Forbidden Medicine
Chapter 1042: Chapter 106: Forbidden Medicine
Prince Zhen Chu smoothly arrived in Wusun following Liang Run’s caravan. This was his first time visiting Wusun, and also his first step into the Western Regions. He was captivated by Wusun’s landscape and customs, so different from the Central Plains. Though Wusun wasn’t as prosperous as Great Zhou, it was still quite bustling.
On the streets of Wusun, one could see many Great Zhou people dressed in Central Plains attire, and also hear Wusun people speaking fluent Great Zhou dialect, creating a sense of familiarity. Many years ago, Wusun submitted to Great Zhou and maintained close ties. Over the years, numerous Great Zhou people came to Wusun for business, marrying and having children with the locals. Likewise, many Wusun people went to Great Zhou to do business, also marrying and having children there.
There are now many Great Zhou people living in Wusun, coexisting harmoniously with the locals. Here, everyone seems like family, and no one bears animosity towards anyone else.
Liang Run’s business in Wusun is substantial, and Liang’s Trading House is very well-known in Wusun, as well as in other Western countries. It can be said that Liang’s Trading House’s business is spread across various Western nations.
Prince Chu always knew that Zhao Yao’s second uncle was proficient in business, but he didn’t expect Liang Run’s business to be so expansive in Wusun.
Liang Run did not hide from Prince Chu and told him that Zhao Yao’s business spanned throughout the Western Regions. Hearing this, Prince Chu was naturally very surprised. Liang Run further informed him that these business ventures were largely Zhao Yao’s ideas. When Wusun first began connections with Great Zhou, Zhao Yao sent him to Wusun to conduct business, seizing the opportunity.
He also explained in detail to Prince Chu the nature of their business in the Western Regions. Before heading north, Zhao Yao instructed Liang Run that if Prince Chu were curious about their business, not to hide it from him and reveal all their activities in the Western Regions. Liang Run felt this was not very appropriate, but Zhao Yao insisted that even if they didn’t tell him, Prince Chu would grow suspicious. Rather than letting him doubt, it was better to be forthright.
Prince Chu only knew that Zhao Yao was skilled at crafting things, but did not know that his tenth brother was also astute in business. Even at the recent trade conference, he thought it was Liang Run’s idea, not realizing it was truly Zhao Yao’s initiative.
"The tenth brother asked you to tell me this."
Liang Run was not surprised that Prince Chu surmised this: "His Highness instructed me to relay everything to you in detail if Prince Chu was curious."
Seeing Zhao Yao’s trust in him, Prince Chu was naturally very moved.
"Actually, there was no need to tell me so explicitly."
"His Highness said, you are not an outsider, there is no need to hide this from you." Liang Run added, "Actually, His Highness expanded the business to the Western Regions, firstly to make money, and secondly to monitor the activities of various Western countries and the movements of the Xiongnu."
Upon hearing this, Prince Chu exclaimed in shock, "You also gather intelligence?"
"Yes, over the years we have been collecting intelligence on various Western countries and the Xiongnu tribes," Liang Run said. "His Highness explained the Xiongnu have always eyed the Central Plains covetously and often threatened Western countries to assist in invading Great Zhou, so it’s essential to keep an eye on the Western countries and the Xiongnu. In this way, should the Xiongnu make any moves, we could immediately know."
Prince Chu was enormously shocked, as he hadn’t realized that his tenth brother was not only adept in business but also in intelligence gathering.
"So whenever the Xiongnu showed activity in recent years, it was my tenth brother who informed the father of this?"
"Some of it, yes, but not all. Zhao Yao trusts Prince Chu, and Liang Run also has confidence in him. Throughout these years, Prince Chu’s care for Zhao Yao was evident to Liang Run. He was very grateful and held deep respect for Prince Chu. "In fact, the imperial court also has spies in these areas."
Prince Chu sighed, "I did not expect my tenth brother to have thought things through so thoroughly, making such meticulous arrangements. In this regard, I am not his match."
"Your Highness, you forgot that you dispatched people to Western countries to teach the Confucian teachings, not only to civilize the Westerners but also to supervise the activities of Western countries and the Xiongnu tribes." In these years, more and more learned individuals from Great Zhou came to the Western Regions to teach, and increasingly more Westerners studied the Confucian teachings. Over the years, Western people have been well-civilized, gaining ample understanding of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame.
Prince Chu did not deny it: "Indeed." Although the Li Family sent many to the Western Regions to teach, Prince Chu had not instructed them to inquire about Liang Run’s business in various Western countries, leaving him unaware of Zhao Yao’s business dealings spanning all over the Western Regions.
"Thanks to you sending so many to the Western Regions to educate, the Westerners have learned propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame." Westerners attracted to Central Plains culture were fond not only of learning Confucian teachings but also admired everything about Great Zhou. "In a few years, people in the Western countries will be well-civilized."