AEOGA CH86

The trade between Changli and Xifeng brought exceptional development to the economies of both nations. As their relationship grew increasingly close, it inevitably impacted Leyang’s business in Xifeng to a slight extent.

Both Leyang and Xifeng were female-dominated states where women held supreme authority. Having established female-led regimes together from beneath patriarchal oppression, they shared a deep “revolutionary friendship,” remaining eternal allies. Their bond was fundamentally different from short-term, superficial strategic partnerships formed with other nations.

Since their founding, the two countries had engaged in continuous trade and maintained permanent envoys stationed in each other’s territories to demonstrate friendly relations.

Prior to Xifeng’s trade cooperation with Changli, most of Xifeng’s apparel, cosmetics, and incense originated from Leyang. The female state of Leyang excelled most at producing items tailored for women, making Xifeng their largest importer. Now that Changli’s goods had become a massive hit in Xifeng, capturing market share in those industries, Leyang’s profits naturally declined.

With Xifeng’s populace buying from Changli instead of Leyang, Xifeng’s reliance on Leyang diminished.

The Empress Regnant of Leyang was deeply dissatisfied with this turn of events and wrote a letter to express her concerns to the Empress Regnant of Xifeng. She could understand Xifeng growing closer to Changli—after all, Yelang eyed them like a tiger on land, unlike Leyang, which could rest easy surrounded by the sea. It was acceptable for Xifeng and Changli to huddle together for warmth, but no matter how close that relationship became, it could not surpass their bond with Leyang. It made her suspect that Xifeng was betraying their covenant that “women’s interests are one” to draw closer to a male regime.

When it came to cosmetics and incense, could Leyang’s products truly be inferior to those crafted by men in Changli? Preferring Changli over Leyang sparked a crisis of trust in Leyang toward Xifeng.

Leyang rejected men even more intensely than Xifeng did. Xifeng still had men, who were treated as beings requiring protection. Leyang consisted entirely of women who favored women, maintaining a widespread aversion toward men.

No matter how senile the Empress Regnant of Xifeng might grow, having ruled as emperor for decades, she was not foolish enough to offend a reliable ally like Leyang. She wrote back to soothe her, claiming that while Changli’s goods were indeed effective and their cuisine was unparalleled under heaven, their bond was merely a transactional partnership born of convenience to guard against Yelang. Xifeng’s true friend was, and could only ever be, Leyang.

Enclosed with the letter were several Shu brocade gowns woven in Changli and a box of skin-nourishing powder. To appease the Leyang Empress Regnant’s anger, the Xifeng Empress Regnant reluctantly parted with her treasures, presenting gifts bought at another’s expense by even sending out a box of the skin-nourishing powder.

The Empress Regnant of Leyang was a few years older than Xifeng’s ruler, already past sixty years of age, with greying hair and wrinkles lining her face. Who among those holding supreme power did not care about maintenance? Upon using the skin-nourishing powder and looking into the mirror, the Leyang Empress Regnant was indeed no longer angry about Xifeng drawing close to Changli.

She dispatched envoys to travel by sea to visit Changli, submitting a formal request to establish diplomatic relations and trade.

Indeed, Changli’s products were so good it was hard not to be moved. She did not need to tear Changli and Xifeng apart—she only needed Leyang to join as well.

To this, Changli naturally agreed with pleasure.

Thus, merchant ships multiplied upon the sea, and a branch of Huaman Pavilion was opened in Leyang. Within a few short months, Changli’s scented powders, apparel, fine delicacies, and exquisite wines took Leyang by storm.

At first, the citizens of Leyang were quite resistant to goods from Changli—refusing to use things made by men. Their own silks and incense were top-tier, and they dined on fresh seafood; how could Changli’s barren lands compare in culinary fortune?

Once they caught the scent of the fragrant incense and tasted the delicious food, the citizens of Leyang changed their tune completely.

Aristocrats wished they could live inside Huaman Pavilion; otherwise, they could never secure a table in the perpetually packed restaurant. Meanwhile, among the common folk, the populace praised the coarse-grain flatbreads endlessly.

Leyang possessed numerous fishermen, with a significant portion of the population relying on fishing for their livelihood. Once coastal waters were fished out, they had to embark on long voyages out to sea, in addition to diving for pearls. Trading with the mainland required merchant ships to sail at sea for a month. All these endeavors required dry rations for support. Hard, stale biscuits had tasted terrible, but with no prior alternative, the arrival of coarse-grain flatbreads in various flavors felt like a divine blessing.

While unlocking a new continent of trade, Leyang was equally generous in bringing their abundant seafood and pearls to Changli.

Seeing the three nations trading back and forth, Yelang felt isolated and shamelessly demanded to join, specifically requesting to purchase Changli’s Anesthetic Powder.

Though unwelcome before the other nations, its unpopularity did not hinder its strength, nor did it stop Yelang from conducting business.

Presuming that Anesthetic Powder was of paramount importance and that Changli would not export it, Yelang had already decided to resort to military force if peace talks failed. Unexpectedly, Changli was remarkably straightforward, generously selling the powder to every nation…

It wasn’t entirely generous, however—the price was outrageously exorbitant.

Yet because it was an exclusive technology possessed only by Changli, they had no choice but to accept the price.

Due to Changli’s forthrightness, Yelang even suspected whether there was something wrong with the Anesthetic Powder sold to them. After assigning people to examine it thoroughly, it proved to have zero issues and truly relieved pain and numbed sensation, allowing them to drop their guard.

From then on, Lu Xuechao and Xie Chongjin established their eyes and hands across every industry in Changli, Xifeng, Leyang, and Yelang.

The national treasury of Changli grew richer by the day, transforming from an initial deficit into an overwhelming influx of wealth.

With every industry under his care operating on the right track, Wang Yiming grew increasingly busy, listening to monthly financial reports submitted by branches everywhere and counting money until his hands cramped.

When the Empress originally entrusted Huaman Pavilion to him, he truly hadn’t expected business to reach such heights, with branch locations scattered across all four nations. This was only a fraction of it; in areas like weaponry and grain, Changli had not yet begun trading with foreign nations, choosing instead to stockpile everything. If those were counted, this wealth could not be exhausted in several lifetimes.

The Wang family could probably no longer be called the wealthiest family. Counting all explicit and hidden assets combined, the Changli imperial family had quietly claimed the number one position long ago.

The money gained from economic development was invested by Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao into national construction, developing weaponry, benefiting the populace, and protecting the realm.

May, the Fourth Year of the Xichao Era, Yujing.

Lu Xuechao was not satisfied with this year’s fiscal revenue. Though it appeared vast, once war broke out, every single day consumed immense wealth and human resources. Changli needed to stockpile a sufficiently abundant reserve of weapons, provisions, and funds to handle the war that could arrive at any moment.

Helian Xi’s character value had been brought out to its fullest potential. Through Helian Xi, they connected with Helian Yu, initiating trade while gaining control over Xifeng’s political situation. Furthermore, their commerce in Xifeng enabled Changli to secure Leyang as an ally.

This was precisely what Lu Xuechao had intended from the beginning, and he had achieved it.

Yet he remained unsatisfied.

“The money is still not enough.”

Xie Chongjin wanted to joke that he had grown obsessed with money, but in his heart, he knew Lu Xuechao was no miser.

Wealth was merely a worldly possession that Lu Xuechao cared nothing for. But both of them knew that earning a little more money, exchanging for one more catty of grain, or forging one more weapon today meant one fewer soldier might die on the battlefield.

Lu Xuechao said, “I do not fight battles I am not certain of winning.”

Xie Chongjin pondered for a moment: “It is time to make use of the Wang family.”

Wang Yiming’s personal value had already been squeezed completely dry. Originally just a playboy who had learned a bit of business theory without practical experience, he had stepped up to shoulder immense responsibility, expanding the business alongside Hua Yan to such great proportions. Lu Xuechao was far too busy, usually handing over new inventions and leaving the rest unattended; how those products were planned, promoted, and managed afterward depended entirely on the efforts of Wang Yiming and Hua Yan.

In just over a year, Wang Yiming had successfully transformed into a seasoned veteran of the business world, losing hair at a young age. He never imagined that instead of sacrificing his youth for his family business, he would spend his prime working as a laborer for the Emperor and Empress.

While Wang Yiming had been utilized to his fullest capability, the Wang family behind him had not yet been tapped.

The imperial family’s businesses flourished because their goods were irreplaceable. Whether it was the dishes cooked by Lu Xuechao, the rice wine he brewed, the medicine he researched, the cosmetics formulated by Hua Yan, the clothes he designed, or the fruits, vegetables, and seeds cultivated by Lin Chanzhi—they were the finest, most advanced, and most unique in the world. Under such an impact, the Wang family inevitably suffered a blow, no longer dominating as supreme as before.

However, that did not mean the Wang family was not worth collaborating with.

As the former wealthiest family, their industries penetrated every sector, possessing not only deep roots in Changli but also massive assets in foreign nations. In particular, Yelang’s own economy was weak enough to be ignored, relying heavily on foreign trade. Combining the strength of the Wang family and the imperial court, calling it capable of controlling a nation’s economic lifeline and monopolizing entire industries was no exaggeration.

In a game between nations, they had to seize any helper who could add strength to their side.

Thus, upon Xie Chongjin’s order, Wang Yiming’s father was summoned to the palace.

Master Wang received the summons with extreme nervousness.

Over the past year under Xie Chongjin’s rule, the status of merchants had risen slightly. Although still not as respected as scholars, merchants were no longer universally referred to as “profit-seeking” and “greedy” villains.

Though Master Wang loved wealth, he acquired it righteously like a gentleman and never committed wicked deeds!

Despite thinking this way, he still envied officials.

This time, it was an audience with His Majesty—the highest official under heaven—making Master Wang feel terrified in his heart.

Could his troublesome son have committed some crime in the palace?

Recalling this made Master Wang feel deeply regretful. He had wanted a scholar in the family to bring honor to their house, but his son possessed a natural talent for business, which had always made him proud. If he couldn’t study, he could simply inherit the family business.

Yet in a moment of foolishness, he didn’t know what had possessed him to send his only son into the palace. Given his son’s temperament, it was impossible not to offend people in the palace, and there was no telling if his life could even be preserved.

Master Wang had snapped back to his senses the very next day, but unfortunately, the boy had already been sent in, leaving no way to undo it. Later, hearing that His Majesty had dismissed a group of harem consorts while his son had not returned, he was terrified out of his wits, assuming his son hadn’t survived three days in the palace.

Only after making several inquiries did he learn the boy was fine and staying comfortably in the palace, likely having caught His Majesty’s eye, which allowed Master Wang to put his heart at ease. For the past two years, he had been doing business in the northern border, having not seen his son in a long time and missing him somewhat.

Imperial consorts were normally not permitted to see their fathers according to rules, allowed family visits only after becoming the head of a palace during the New Year or upon pregnancy. Nowadays, however, palace rules existed only in name, observed by no one. Liu Yansheng, Shen Hezhou, and Qin Yulong went home every few days, with Qin Yulong even having brought Helian Xi back to meet Grand General Qin. Fu Xinian and Hua Yan had lost both parents, while Lin Chanzhi’s father was better off non-existent. That left only Wang Yiming, who had a good relationship with his family yet had not been in contact for over a year.

With his father in the northern border out of reach, Wang Yiming hadn’t known where to send letters. Since childhood, his father had constantly traveled across nations for business, making loss of contact a frequent occurrence. Since Wang Yiming himself had been busy this past year, he hadn’t dwelt on it. Now that Master Wang’s business in the northern border had stabilized and he returned to Yujing, he finally remembered he had a son in the palace.

For his son to survive safely in the palace for over a year was truly an achievement.