Chapter 330: Chapter 320 Cousin
Xue Yu was not afraid of Xie Xun’s probing. He said, "Whether it’s Yanyang’s decrees or Ningzhou’s, whichever allows the people to live better lives, I will follow."
These words sounded like those of a fence-sitter, but Xie Xun did not respond. The tea on the table had cooled down, and Xie Xun took a sip, not fearing that Xue Yu had poisoned it. "Sixty thousand Ningzhou Iron Cavalry are stationed outside the city. Mr. Xue, what do you think I should do?"
"Your Highness, the people of Jiaozhou City are deeply opposed to both you and the Iron Cavalry. The hearts of the populace are unsettled. Now is certainly not the best time for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry to enter Jiaozhou," Xue Yu said, harboring considerations. "Humbly, my suggestion is to wait for a better opportunity."
"When is the ’best’ time?"
"Even I cannot say for certain," Xue Yu replied. "Your Highness is determined to secure Jiaozhou, but Jiaozhou is not like West Continent or Huangzhou. Those two regions are barren and abandoned. Third Miss reclaimed the land for farming, restored the people’s livelihoods, and allowed the residents to live quietly and steadily, naturally submitting to Ningzhou. Jiaozhou, however, is near the Bei River and maintains excellent relations with Zhongzhou. It also houses one of the Twelve Provinces’ most important ports, serving as a critical passageway for waterborne trade between Jiangnan and the Twelve Provinces. Jiaozhou does not wish to antagonize Zhongzhou. When you marched the army to Ningzhou, Lin Zhi had already received word from the court. If Jiaozhou were to surrender, Zhongzhou and Jiangnan would cut off their waterway trade. Merchants in Jiaozhou City have collectively submitted petitions to the State Mansion, urging them to prioritize the livelihoods of Jiaozhou’s people and not allow the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry to enter the city."
Xue Yu rose and handed Xie Xun a stack of letters—a hefty pile, numbering fifty to sixty in total—all opposing Jiaozhou’s reception of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry.
Xie Xun skimmed through one or two letters. Their contents were largely similar, giving him a clearer sense of the situation. Lin Zhi had never mentioned being troubled over approving the entry of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry; was it a challenging decision for her?
Xue Yu watched Xie Xun, who remained seated on the side, earnestly reading the letters—the youngest son of Marquis Zhenbei, a youthful hero who had made his name in a single battle. Yet due to a leg injury, he had squandered two years in the Capital City, indulging in idleness. When Ningzhou faced grain shortages, he raided aristocratic family granaries; during the Capital City’s snow disaster, he stepped forward to aid those in need. Upon taking command of the Kyoto Capital Guard, he transformed a beleaguered unit into one cherished by the common people.
He hailed from a renowned family, had seen countless battles, possessed talent, and bore responsibility. If not for the misfortunes befalling Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, Xie Xun should have been Yanyang’s pillar and an important cornerstone of the court.
Before Xie Zhang’s marriage, the Twelve Provinces had already received news that after the Eldest Young Master’s wedding, troops would be dispatched to suppress bandits. Stability across the Twelve Provinces seemed imminent. Each State Mansion in the Twelve Provinces was awaiting the eradication of banditry, hoping for prosperity and the restoration of livelihoods. None wanted to see Yanyang fractured into fourteen parts.
But now, the Twelve Provinces had become the battlefield between Ningzhou and the court.
They were involuntarily dragged into the war. Any decision made by the State Mansion could not afford a mistake—one misstep could doom the entire population.
"Is the court now using trade to threaten Jiaozhou?" Xie Xun’s expression turned cold.
"Jiaozhou relies on the Bei River and has no industries of its own, primarily depending on waterways. Half of Jiaozhou’s grain comes from Zhongzhou and Jiangnan, along with cloth, tea, and other goods—all transported by water. If Zhongzhou and Jiangnan sever waterway trade, firstly, Jiaozhou’s merchants would be thrown into chaos; secondly, the people’s livelihoods cannot be sustained. The surplus food across the State Mansions—barely enough for self-sufficiency—would find it challenging to supply other provinces. Take Jinzhou, for instance. It’s flourishing enough, correct? But Jinzhou also depends heavily on commerce with Jiangnan. If trade were cut off, Jinzhou’s merchants would struggle to survive. If the Twelve Provinces were isolated by Zhongzhou and Jiangnan, relying solely on the barren lands of West Continent and Huangzhou wouldn’t support all the people. Furthermore, much of West Continent and Huangzhou’s grain supply is allocated to the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry—so how would the residents sustain themselves?"
Xie Xun’s chest tightened. Though he was not deeply versed in livelihood matters, he understood why both Second Brother and Fengyu were focused on agriculture. The viable farmland in the Twelve Provinces was indeed limited, and their grain largely relied on supplies from Jiangnan and Zhongzhou. All of Yanyang’s arable land was concentrated in Jiangnan and Zhongzhou; the Twelve Provinces’ key role lay in abundant resources like salt, iron, and timber.
Without trade, how would millions of people eat?
Even if all arable land in West Continent and Huangzhou—including the Twelve Provinces—were cultivated, self-sufficiency might be achievable. But then, what would the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry eat?
"I understand now!" Xie Xun set down the letters. "West Continent was overly reliant on mineral resources in the past, abandoning farmland. Now both West Continent and Huangzhou are reclaiming land and vigorously developing agriculture. The Twelve Provinces should follow suit. Mr. Xue, do not underestimate my understanding of livelihood affairs. My Second Brother and I often discuss the persistent issues within the Twelve Provinces at home. While our farmable land is less than Jiangnan and Zhongzhou, we can achieve self-sufficiency. The Twelve Provinces’ reliance on minerals, coupled with population decline and rampant banditry, led to the abandonment of farmland. If we fully develop agriculture, there’s no inherent need to depend on grain imports from Jiangnan and Zhongzhou."
"Your Highness, merchants have grown accustomed to purchasing grain from Zhongzhou and Jiangnan, and changing their habits in the short term will be difficult," Xue Yu said. "Should trade be severed, the commercial structure of the entire Twelve Provinces will undergo upheaval. Those accustomed to procurement and merchants reliant on fleets will be even more reluctant to change."
"Mr. Xue, as you said, the Twelve Provinces depend on Zhongzhou and Jiangnan for grain, a dependency that places their fate entirely in others’ hands—the price of grain isn’t even within your control. Are you content with that? If floods strike Jiangnan and they are too occupied to aid themselves, what then for the Twelve Provinces? The Twelve Provinces’ abandoned farmland was a product of war, population decline, and the loss of able-bodied workers. Now, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry can replenish each province’s labor force—so why continue relying on others for grain? We can achieve self-sufficiency. Moreover, don’t Zhongzhou’s and Jiangnan’s armies also need iron ore from the Twelve Provinces? If trade were indeed cut off, how would their military supplies for warfare be maintained? Sannan is growing restless; the Grand Marshal is currently training troops. Should trade truly cease, and the Twelve Provinces stop providing Jiangnan’s garrison with armor and weaponry, do you think the Grand Marshal would stand for it? Does the court truly believe trade is theirs to sever with the wave of a hand?"
The Twelve Provinces may have limited farmland, but their immense mineral resources sustain all of Yanyang’s salt and iron demands.
"Your Highness makes valid points. However, current public resentment is surging. If the Iron Cavalry truly enters Jiaozhou, it will backfire. I urge Your Highness to consider carefully," Xue Yu cautioned.
"Mr. Xue, let me ask you this... Why did Lin Zhi take her own life at the city gates? Whose decision was that? Which members of the Lin Family are in the city?" Xie Xun, who had been wrangling with Xue Yu for some time, had lost patience. "If you cannot make the decisions, then call them here!"
Xue Yu froze, a flash of panic crossing his eyes. "Your Highness, I am in charge within the city. There is no one from the Lin Family here. If Your Highness insists on entering Jiaozhou, I can only offer my death in protest."
"You think you can hold me back with your petty tricks? You really believe I’m too soft-hearted?" Xie Xun’s gaze was entirely cold. "I have already been cursed by millions in Yanyang—do you think I care about one more life?"
"So it appears your temper has grown over these years, Zhixu!" A cool voice sounded from behind the hall. A refined young man in loose green robes stepped forward slowly.
Xie Xun was momentarily stunned. Rising, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Cousin!"