The place where they disembarked was Chuzhou, located between Luzhou and Jinling.
Li Jinyu, who had been seated deep in the cabin, engrossed in the book "Refutation of Returning Spring Cult," disembarked and couldn't help but sigh as she surveyed the green hills and clear waters.
Persecuted by the Gongyang family of Jiangnan, she had not left Luzhou for two years!
After careful consideration, Li Jinyu also decided to follow Liang Xiao, waiting to return to the capital with him and, on the way, to "settle accounts" with the Zhuo family in Jinling.
Many flower boats were still moored by the shore. While not overcrowded, there was a steady stream of people. This was clearly a prosperous area of Chuzhou, with officials and elegantly dressed women, as well as young men and women out for leisure, visible everywhere.
In addition, many men and women from the martial arts world, some with swords at their waists, could be seen.
The guards booked an inn, and the group rested there temporarily.
"Although Chuzhou's economy and culture are slightly inferior to Jinling and Luzhou, it is still a place where outstanding talents emerge and where chivalrous heroes can be seen everywhere. It is the 'hometown of chivalry' in our Great Gan Kingdom. Many popular heroic tales of Great Gan originated from Chuzhou..."
Chen Shaoling vividly introduced the local situation in Chuzhou, as if he had every detail memorized.
"Master Brother, you know Chuzhou so well, are you from Chuzhou?" Liang Xiao asked curiously.
Chen Shaoling smiled and explained, "You could say that. I am an orphan from Chuzhou, fortunate enough to be adopted by my master back then. Because of the many chivalrous heroes in this area, ordinary people dare not commit evil deeds, or they might be dealt with by martial arts heroes, leading to ruin at best, or death at worst. Even the powerful and influential do not dare to arbitrarily oppress the common people, for fear of losing their heads one day!"
Liang Xiao suddenly understood.
Wherever there are people, there is the martial world.
However, Liang Xiao was already certain that there were no supernatural powers like "true qi" or "immortal qi" in this world.
The myth of the Sword Realm, Sword Saint Jian Nanfeng, was merely due to his exceptional swordsmanship.
These martial arts heroes were essentially people who had learned a certain skill.
Many strange phenomena, such as "innate divine strength" or "cutting iron like mud," could be explained scientifically. Ordinary people, lacking sufficient knowledge, were more prone to believing in ghosts and gods.
When Liang Xiao appeared out of nowhere outside Yanzhou City on that day, capable of repelling thousands of enemy troops, it was due to his own martial prowess combined with the equipment he had commissioned beforehand, which frightened Prince Youxian and others away. By the time the enemy recovered, the Yanzhou defenders had already set up their defenses, and Liang Xiao had retreated to Yanzhou.
In this world, apart from his own existence being somewhat unscientific, everything else was still in accordance with scientific principles, with no other supernatural phenomena...
The history of this world was similar to his homeland in the pre-Qin period, but from the Qin Dynasty onwards, history had taken a different turn. There were no Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, or Qing dynasties, only centuries of dynastic changes...
Chen Shaoling continued to narrate some of the customs and traditions of Chuzhou to the group. After a while, the accompanying cooks brought the prepared dishes.
"Young Master and I have eaten this before. It's Xuepian Gao (snow flake cake)!" Yue Lian exclaimed with surprise and joy, looking at the basin of pastries on the table.
Liang Xiao glanced up. They were thinly sliced pastries, though slightly yellower than the Xuepian Gao he was familiar with.
"This is a specialty of the Jianghuai region," Chen Shaoling said with pride from a neighboring table.
Liang Xiao took a bite and smiled, "Is it made with maltose?"
This Xuepian Gao was of the best quality he could find, yet its taste was considerably inferior to the Xuepian Gao he had eaten in his homeland.
"We can only use maltose," Chen Shaoling replied.
Liang Xiao nodded slightly and asked, "There are still sugarcane matures recently. Once the workshops in Jiangnan are stable, I will try to develop 'white sugar.' Perhaps then we can make Xuepian Gao more delicious!"
"White sugar?" everyone asked in confusion, even Li Jinyu looked over curiously.
"Yes, white sugar!" Liang Xiao nodded.
In the Great Gan Kingdom, sugarcane matured until March or April of the following year, and planting could continue in April, which was sufficient for him to establish a sugar factory.
Furthermore, the northern part of Great Gan had sugar beets introduced from foreign lands, which could also be used for sugar production.
"Is white sugar better than maltose?" Zhuo Xun blinked her large, bright eyes.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and replied, "Each has its own characteristics. Moreover, white sugar, if stored properly, can last for one to two years without spoiling. The most important thing is that white sugar is of good quality and inexpensive, and everyone can afford it!"
Everyone seemed to understand yet not fully grasp it, their faces filled with anticipation.
Everyone can afford it!
Ordinary people often couldn't afford maltose and could only occasionally gnaw on sugarcane to satisfy their cravings.
Sugar, like salt, was a vital strategic material, and even the army lacked it!
Even the people of the southern and hot Great Liang Kingdom could only gnaw on sugarcane.
As for the nomadic peoples and other foreign countries in the north, such as Manhuang, Chuyun Kingdom, Taiji Kingdom, the Western Regions, and so on... they didn't even have sugarcane to gnaw on.
This was a business opportunity Liang Xiao had discovered, but he had to postpone it for now as he was still planning his bookstore and dealing with the Ouyang family.
Compared to the improvement of material conditions, the elevation of the people's spirit was even more important. With so few literate people, the populace was easily manipulated by the personnel deployed by noble families and clans in various regions, and could even rise in rebellion during times of great chaos. This was a problem that urgently needed to be resolved.
If he could produce white sugar, Liang Xiao would immediately sell it to foreign countries at a high price, earn a substantial sum of money, and then turn around and sell it to his own people at a low price, gaining both fame and fortune.
"I never imagined that the Marquis of An Guo could not only strategize and enrich the country and bring peace to the people, but also pay attention to the welfare of the common folk..." Li Jinyu admired him sincerely.
She was now convinced that her nephew, Li Xiuyun, had made the absolutely wise choice in asking her to follow Liang Xiao!
"Lin Ming, the Prefect of Chuzhou, is also a rare good official. I am an old acquaintance of his. Marquis An Guo can talk to him when the time comes, as there are many talented scholars in the Chuzhou region," Chen Shaoling reminded them.
Qin Xin, from the table of female soldiers, spoke up, "Prefect Lin is also a subordinate of our late Marquis. He is indeed trustworthy."
The official systems of both the Great Gan Kingdom and the Great Liang Kingdom differed from the previous dynasties. The rank of a Prefect varied depending on the jurisdiction.
The Prefect of a small city might hold a rank of merely fifth-rank subordinate official, while higher-ranking Prefects could hold the rank of third-rank principal official.
Liang Xiao nodded, "Before that, while the news has not yet spread, I would like to visit Liuyun Temple first."
Qin Xin was overjoyed.
The Qin Sage, Gongsun Jing, had also mentioned Liuyun Temple to Liang Xiao. The abbots, Liuyun Zi and his wife, were old friends of the Three Sages of Great Gan. They were profound and unfathomable individuals who had been renowned heroes in their youth. In their later years, they suddenly had an epiphany and left with their wives to pursue cultivation.
Gongsun Jing had instructed Liang Xiao: if he passed by Chuzhou, he should visit Liuyun Temple, where he would gain unexpected rewards.
Liang Xiao naturally wanted to meet reclusive masters like Liuyun Zi.
Chen Shaoling chuckled, "Old Mr. Liuyun has not left Liuyun Temple for a long time. It is also a sacred land officially designated by the former emperor, but it is often overlooked."
"Why?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Because the Taoist priests of Liuyun Temple value self-cultivation more, while ordinary people prefer to worship gods and Buddhas. Very few people can accept that kind of Taoist cultivation method!" Chen Shaoling said with a slight pout.
Liang Xiao mused thoughtfully.
The south of the Yangtze River was in full bloom. As noon approached, a fine drizzle fell, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the people of Chuzhou.
As Liang Xiao and his entourage walked down the street, Chen Shaoling, who was at the forefront, suddenly stopped. He then turned and ran to Liang Xiao, saying with a blushing face, "Marquis An Guo, I have an extraordinary old acquaintance here, a rare and remarkable person. Would you like to meet her?"
Looking at Chen Shaoling's expression, Liang Xiao curled his lips, "Did you leave behind any romantic entanglements here as well?"