Read Novel Full Chapter 3620: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (39)
Chapter 3620: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (39)
Even horses could be traded, though ordinary people were not permitted to exchange them freely. Such transactions had to take place at designated locations.
These horses served as vital resources for war.
The common people at the border had long been terrified by the Rong tribes’ raids. Even after the imperial decree was issued allowing trade with the Rong, they didn’t dare to try it at first.
Eventually, a few brave souls began to trade with the tribes. They discovered that low-quality tea, surplus rice, or bolts of cloth from their homes could be exchanged for gemstones and fox furs.
By reselling these items, they earned several times the original profit.
Consequently, more and more people joined the trade, with local merchants being the first to dive in.
They weren’t about to let such an easy advantage go to waste.
As the saying goes, no merchant is ever truly honest. While the Rong men were tall and sturdy—rugged men capable of lassoing wild horses—they were no match for these businessmen.
Incidents of cheating and brawling occurred frequently, but they were always suppressed by the border army.
In fact, the people began trading in the open air right next to the site before the trading post was even finished.
Scholar Gu felt a secret joy when he saw the burgeoning prosperity of the trading post. Compared to the past, when men died in battle and the state spent massive amounts on military pay every year, there were now only minor frictions.
This would be considered a great achievement on his part. Furthermore, the court would collect taxes on these transactions, which would eventually fill the treasury and improve the lives of the people.
He hoped the common people would be able to eat and dress well. Scholar Gu’s own family background was poor. His mother had supported him by doing sewing and mending for others.
Scholar Gu wasn’t entirely sure if the dowager empress had done this to shift the responsibility for the lack of military pay, or if she truly wanted the noble clans to bleed money for the emperor’s birthday.
Scholar Gu watched a Rong man dressed in animal skins. The man was clutching a ceramic vase, praising it incessantly. The Rong were tall and fierce, looking like total ruffians, yet here was one of them looking utterly enchanted by a piece of delicate porcelain.
The sight was undeniably bizarre.
These were items the barbarians could not produce themselves. For them, owning such a piece was like keeping up with the latest fashion.
If the trading post succeeded and more people flocked to the area, they would need places to stay. Soon, taverns and places of pleasure would surely spring up.
Scholar Gu was a clever man. He immediately moved to cordon off the land surrounding the trading post, claiming it for the court. If anyone wanted to build there, they would have to go through the government.
When Scholar Gu finally returned to court, almost no one recognized him as the regent. He had withered away, looking dark and gaunt, as if he had just emerged from a refugee camp.
However, his eyes were sharp and full of life. He reported the details of the trading post to Ning Shu, noting that people were already trading and that forward-thinking individuals had already paid to secure stalls.
Scholar Gu advised that salt should not be traded in large quantities.
While at the border, he had seen people secretly trading salt. The amounts were small—likely from the households of commoners—meant to be bartered for jade or furs to earn a profit on the price difference.
However, salt seemed to be the most sought-after item among the Rong and the neighboring small tribes.
Scholar Gu also proposed that merchants must carry permits and that smuggling should be strictly prohibited. Ordinary citizens should not participate in the trade, and heavy taxes should be implemented. High taxes would serve to scare off commoners.
If everyone turned to opportunistic trading, who would plant the crops? If the fertile fields were abandoned, who would raise silkworms and weave cloth? Farmers and artisans were the foundation of a nation, especially in this agrarian era.
A bubble economy could burst at a touch, and empty talk would only lead the nation to ruin.
Ning Shu looked at the sun-blackened Scholar Gu with surprise. This man was quite capable. She nodded and said, “We shall proceed as you suggest. Let each class attend to its own duties.”
Another benefit of the trading post was that once the small surrounding tribes became accustomed to it, the state could use economic sanctions as a powerful lever.
Ao Yong’s first birthday banquet was a grand affair. He spent the time crawling around the dragon throne, babbling and drooling.
After doing everything she needed to do, Ning Shu figured it was time for her to leave this world.
She gave one last sigh for the world origin.
In her last world, she had found two, but they were immature. She wasn’t even sure if they really were world origins.
She wondered how their incubation was going.
“Task complete. Do you wish to leave the task world?” 2333’s voice echoed in Ning Shu’s mind.
Ning Shu felt as though she hadn’t heard 2333’s voice in ages. They rarely communicated during tasks anymore.
Back when Ning Shu was a foolish rookie and hadn’t yet gotten the hang of the job, the system would speak up occasionally. Now, he was usually silent.
With 2333 being so quiet lately, Ning Shu suspected he was brewing some kind of big move.
2333 snapped, “Good grief, what more do you want from me? Should I just send you to your death?”
Ning Shu gave a short laugh. “Do whatever you want. I am a very tolerant person.
“Leave.”
Ning Shu’s head spun for a moment before she appeared in the system space. She collapsed onto the sofa. Good heavens, she was exhausted. Dealing with people insincerely was draining. Most importantly, she had ensured that no one could blame her for Ao Tianze’s death.
She just didn’t know if Tan Yuxin would blame her for it later.
After all, Tan Yuxin had been blinded by hatred before, but once she cleared her head and looked back, she might realize she no longer had a husband.
Ning Shu always feared encountering that kind of situation; it felt like a thankless effort.
She added some agarwood to the incense burner. As she breathed in the scent, her mind calmed. Then, she began to absorb the pure soul power.
Ning Shu opened her eyes and looked at her soul. It was firm and bouncy, feeling incredibly smooth to the touch, much like jelly.
Her soul had grown stronger once again.
Ning Shu felt a surge of joy. Every bit of strength was an accumulation, a way of putting down roots. Perhaps one day, she would look back and find she had grown into a towering tree.
Ning Shu opened her attribute panel.
Name: Ning Shu
Age: 27
Level: Ultra Task-Taker
Experience Tokens: 157 (10 million points for 1 point token)
Soul: 8
Life: 7
Luck: 11
Intelligence: 10
Charm: 5
Mental Strength: 8
Martial Arts: 9
Aptitude: 7
Faith: 1,140,080
Merit: 592,750
Soul Strength: 49
Privilege Tickets: N/A
Comprehended Ordinances: Water Ordinance
Hearts of Purity: N/A
Items: Calmness Halo, Tranquility Pill, Faith Halo, Protective Talismans x4, Upgraded Protective Talisman x2
Acquired Titles: Goddess of War, Altruistic Ancestor
Abilities: Five Rings Shooting Skill, Intermediate Combat Skill, Skilled Practitioner of Unsurpassable Martial Arts, Intermediate Poison Concoction, Rudimentary Business Administration Knowledge, Entry-Level Programmer, Entry-Level Lawyer, Entry-Level Exorcist, Entry-Level Cooking, Mid-Level Embroidery
Halos: Benevolent Mother of the World (Empress’s blessing), Model Worker Sis (Chen Xi’s blessing), Chief Halo (Cao’s blessing), Lifelong Friend (Miao Miaomiao’s blessing), Healing Hand (Zhu Suniang’s Blessing), Nation Founding General (Chen Ermei’s Blessing), Lady Law (Chen Ning’s Blessing), Bloodline Nemesis (Molly’s Blessing), Interspecies Diplomat (Bai Sanniang’s Blessing), Heart of the Brave (Wang Ying’s Blessing)
Entrustor Tan Yuxin’s wish fulfilled: Deal with Ao Tianze.
Completion Rate: 100%.
Rewards: 10 point tokens, 8 attribute points, 70% of soul power, 5,800 faith points (including accumulation from previous worlds.), 2,000 merit points.*