Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 795: Chapter 388: One Must Always Be Cautious of Others_3

Although the fabric from Lingnan cannot compare to that from the capital and Jiangnan, the embroidery there has its unique features. Lingnan embroidery sells very well in the capital, Jiangnan, and even in the Western Regions. However, compared to Jiangnan embroidery, Lingnan’s seems too monotonous and lacks variety.

Zhao Yao considered combining the embroidery styles of Jiangnan and the capital with Lingnan’s to create new patterns.

"I have to say the silkworms from Jiangnan are the best. I hope when they arrive in Lingnan, they can improve the quality of Lingnan’s silkworms," Zhao Yao said, stroking his chin. "I wonder if the offspring of Jiangnan silkworms and Lingnan silkworms will turn out good."

"They should be better than the local Lingnan silkworms." In the aspects of sericulture, mulberry cultivation, and weaving, He Lianfang hadn’t thought of this, but Zhao Yao had. When he heard Zhao Yao say he wanted to bring Jiangnan’s silkworms, mulberry trees, and looms to Lingnan, he didn’t understand and thought Zhao Yao was being overly meticulous. However, Zhao Yao told him that sericulture and weaving have always been essential. By improving Lingnan’s sericulture and weaving, the lives of the Lingnan people will also improve. Moreover, sericulture, weaving, and embroidery can enable the Lingnan people to earn a living.

"I hope Lingnan can produce good fabrics in the future." Good fabric can be sold to foreign lands like Annan and Siam, potentially earning a significant amount of money.

"I almost forgot to tell you something important." He Lianfang suddenly remembered something crucial. He hurriedly took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Zhao Yao. "Take a look."

Seeing He Lianfang’s somewhat solemn expression, Zhao Yao’s heart skipped a beat. He took the letter and asked, "What’s happened?"

"You’re aware of a river in Lingnan called the Ling River, right?"

"Of course. The Ling River runs through all of Lingnan and is the largest river there," Zhao Yao asked, "Has something happened to the Ling River?"

"The Ling River has been turbulent again this year, and it is quite likely to flood again." In Lingnan, the rains are always plentiful, and heavy rain often falls during the summer. If the heavy rains are too frequent, it will cause the water level of the Ling River to rise, leading to floods.

Floods frequently occur in Lingnan, with minor floods every three years and major floods every five years; it’s truly not exaggerated.

The court has always turned a blind eye to the administration of Lingnan. When floods occur there, the court only offers perfunctory responses, without truly sending people to relieve disaster and repair the river.

After reading the letter, Zhao Yao’s brows furrowed, and his expression was rather grave.

"It seems, when I go to Lingnan, I will have to repair the river." Since the court ignored the Ling River, it was up to him, the Lingnan King, to manage it. He couldn’t just disregard the lives of the people of Lingnan. "Repairing the river will require a lot of money. Luckily, I cleverly requested three layers of tea tax from my father."

"If the Ling River is repaired, it will benefit Lingnan for many years."

"I find Lingnan to be a money pit, requiring expenses everywhere, and quite considerable amounts too." Zhao Yao looked at He Lianfang with mournful eyes. "Second Uncle, you’ve really put me in a tough spot."

"Constructing Lingnan needs a lot of money, but once it’s built, it will bring you continuous wealth."

"That’s true, but knowing that going to Lingnan will cost so much money still makes my heart ache."

"Since when did you become such a miser?"

"Second Uncle, you don’t manage household affairs, so you don’t understand how expensive basic necessities are."

He Lianfang, not interested in discussing money matters with Zhao Yao further, said, "I’ve sent people from the north and west to purchase many more, and they’ve already been sent to Lingnan."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao, who was drinking tea, was startled and choked, his face turning crimson from coughing.

"More purchasing, how many people this time?"

He Lianfang replied nonchalantly, "Not many, just a few hundred people."

Zhao Yao suddenly stood up, shouting, "Just a few hundred people?!"

Hearing Zhao Yao’s outburst, He Lianfang remarked disdainfully, "Why are you making such a fuss over a few hundred people."

"A few hundred people aren’t much?" Zhao Yao sat back down, leaning towards He Lianfang. "Second Uncle, with the people you purchased over the years and those you’ve taken in, there’s got to be about twenty to thirty thousand, right? Isn’t that too much?"

"You think twenty to thirty thousand is a lot?"

Hearing this, Zhao Yao couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "A prince maintaining twenty to thirty thousand private soldiers isn’t a lot?"

He Lianfang, with a tone full of disdain, said, "Twenty to thirty thousand is nothing."

"Second Uncle, compared to the hundreds of thousands you commanded before, it might not be much, but compared to other princes, twenty to thirty thousand is way over the limit. If the court officials found out, they’d definitely think I’m planning a rebellion." According to Great Zhou’s regulations, a prince could only have a total of five thousand personal soldiers and guards. Going beyond that would be judged as unauthorized military expansion. The crime of maintaining private troops was grave and would be considered rebellious.

"Second Uncle, maintaining twenty to thirty thousand people costs a lot of money."

"You’re not short of money." He Lianfang glanced at Zhao Yao, "Even two or three thousand people are too few."

"Second Uncle, how many do you think are enough, a hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand?"

He Lianfang said, "A hundred thousand might barely suffice."

Zhao Yao: "!!!!!!"

"There are a lot of people in Lingnan, we can see if some of them can be recruited."

"Wait, Second Uncle, are you setting up a camp of a hundred thousand troops for me?"

He Lianfang nodded slightly, "Correct."

Zhao Yao’s eyes widened, mouth agape, staring blankly at He Lianfang.

Seeing Zhao Yao’s foolish look, He Lianfang was full of disdain, "What kind of expression is that?"

Zhao Yao snapped back to reality, swallowing and saying, "Second Uncle, why are you arranging a hundred thousand troops for me? I’m not planning a rebellion."

"To protect you," He Lianfang looked deeply at Zhao Yao, "And just in case."

Zhao Yao felt a chill in his heart, "Second Uncle, what do you mean by ’just in case’?"

"Once you make a proper go of it in Lingnan, the court would inevitably become apprehensive, then these hundred thousand troops would be your lifeline," He Lianfang said meaningfully, "I’m helping you plan ahead."

"Second Uncle, aren’t you overthinking this?" Zhao Yao felt He Lianfang was overly worried, "Father wouldn’t suspect me, and when my fourth brother ascends, he wouldn’t doubt me either."

"Do you have absolute faith in your father and Prince Chu?"

Zhao Yao sensed hidden meaning in He Lianfang’s words and asked with a slight frown, "Second Uncle, what do you mean?"

"You currently pose no threat to the emperor and Prince Chu, so naturally, they will love and protect you, but when you become a threat to them, what do you think they’d do?" He Lianfang’s gaze suddenly became sharp when he looked at Zhao Yao, "Do you naively think that your father-son and brotherly relationships are unchangeable, stronger than anything?"

Zhao Yao had never considered any changes in his father-son relationship with the emperor or ever contemplated falling out with Prince Chu.

"So, you really think that way?" He Lianfang didn’t expect Zhao Yao to be so naïve, and with a cold, sarcastic tone, said, "I didn’t expect you to be so foolish."

Zhao Yao stubbornly said, "At least for now, our relationships are genuine and won’t change."

"Even if neither the emperor nor Prince Chu would suspect you once Prince Chu’s son ascends, do you think he would trust you as the Imperial Uncle or be wary of you?"

Zhao Yao was unable to refute this.

He Lianfang coldly stated, "Since ancient times, there’s no father and son, let alone brothers in the Royal Family."

Zhao Yao wanted to refute He Lianfang’s words but found himself unable to utter a single word.

Seeing Zhao Yao absorbing his words, He Lianfang profoundly reminded him, "Guarding against others is necessary, without private soldiers, your life is in others’ hands. With a hundred thousand private soldiers, you can hold your fate."