Chapter 625: Since They Are Rich, Then Ask for More....
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In order to let the working people live more comfortably, Su Ying instructed people to build rows of wooden houses outside the mining area. There was a charcoal pit in the middle of each wooden house so that they wouldn’t catch a cold when they slept at night.
Mining was all physical labor. To ensure that the workers in the mine had enough energy every day, Su Ying did not treat them badly in terms of food. They had to have at least one meal with meat a day.
The weather is cold. City Lord, quickly eat while it’s hot.” Tiger Might personally served the dishes to Su Ying.
The dishes were not fanciful. There was only stewed meat and radish.
Su Ying was not picky about food. She picked up the bowl and chopsticks and began eating in big mouthfuls.
“Are the crops we grow now enough to feed everyone?”
Previously, they had developed quite a lot of wasteland, but the grain yields were not high. Cheng Ming said that it might be due to geographical and climate problems.
In the first year, it was not enough, but the sales of the medicinal pills we produced were very good. After selling the pills, we used the silver to buy food back and the food supply was just right. But now that there are more and more people m the city. The shortfall in food supply will continue to increase.”
In other words, the people in Sky Alpha City were not completely self-sufficient yet.
This was indeed a problem. If the people of a city could not fill their stomachs, what would happen if there were more people in the future?
Su Ying couldn’t keep subsidizing them by giving them food. This was not a healthy long-term direction to develop in.
“It’s easy to be held ransom by others if we have to buy grain.” The Nan State and the Jin State had already formed a feud with them. If the other party’s trading channels were blocked one day, life would be very difficult for the Sky Alpha City inhabitants.
The Chu State was fine, but it was still better if the most important part of the people’s livelihood was within their own control.
“It will be the end of winter in a few days. Get Cheng Ming to develop more wasteland. Develop all the wasteland that can be developed. We can let the wasteland be privately owned. This way, the people in the city will be more proactive.”
“Yes, City Lord.”
Meanwhile, the news of Xie Rui’s capture quickly reached the Empress of the Jin State.
When the Jin State’s Empress read the message, she was so anxious that she almost jumped up from the chaise lounge.
A while ago, she had a disagreement with Xie Rui because of the matter of breaking off his engagement with Xiang Hualan. Later, Xie Rui went out of the city on the pretext of studying abroad. She wanted to give him the cold shoulder for a while. Otherwise, he would really believe that he had grown up and could get up to whatever mischief he wanted.
However, it never occurred to her that Xie Rui would be so bold as to go to the northern wilderness.
The Empress was so angry that her fingertips were trembling. Xie Rui was her only son and also the eldest son of the Emperor. He was the person most likely to inherit the throne. Why on earth did he come up with such a crazy idea and run to that desolate and uninhabited place?
The old nanny picked up the letter that the Empress had thrown on the floor. After reading it, she was also very shocked. She quickly threw the letter into the brazier at the side and came behind the Empress to massage her shoulders and comfort her. “Your Imperial Highness, don’t be anxious. The most important thing now is to rescue His Highness.”
If something happened to Xie Rui, then the Empress would have worked for nothing all these years.
“Send a message to Father and the others immediately. Tell them to find out what kind of godforsaken place this northern wilderness is. How can the people there be so bold as to touch my Rui’er? Tell Father and the rest to think of a way to bring Rui’er back safely no matter what it takes.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness. Don’t be anxious. Your old servant will pass down your instruction now.”
In the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the State of Jin.
When the Empress received the news from Xie Rui’s trusted aide, the Prime Minister’s Mansion also received it.
After the Prime Minister read the letter, the corners of his eyes sank, but those who were familiar with him knew that he was angry.
The First Prince was too ambitious. He ran to the northern wilderness without informing them. Wasn’t he afraid that he would never return?
After receiving the news, the Prime Minister told someone to summon his sons back.
Everyone rushed over one after another. When they heard what Xie Rui did, they frowned so deeply that the creases on their foreheads could pinch a flv to death.
“Father, there is no need to be too angry. I believe that the First Prince also wants to take over the mine over there. It is just that he has not thought it through thoroughly.” The Prime Minister’s eldest son had a gentle temperament. When he saw that no one dared to say anything, he stepped forward to try and ease the tension.
“A mine has really been discovered in the northern wilderness, and it’s an iron ore mine too. Father, it’s not a bad thing if we can get hold of that iron ore mine.”
In the Jin State, all the mineral resources belonged to the kingdom. However, it was different if this mine was outside the Jin State. If they usurped it for themselves, nobody would know.
“Judging from the contents of the letter, this mine definitely exists. The most important thing now is to ensure the First Prince’s safety.”
After the Prime Minister finished speaking, he turned to look at his third son. “Zhou Wei, send a message there now. Then you head there immediately. No matter what method you use, rescue him first.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei stood up and replied, “Don’t worry, Father. I know what to do.”
“Father, who are these guys in the northern wilderness? How dare they abduct our Jin State’s prince?”
Prime Minister Zhou did not know much about the northern wilderness either. They’re just a bunch of exiled people. There’s nothing to worry about. But since they can make a request once, they can make it a second time. Rescuing him is more important.”
“Yes, Father.”
“This matter must not be known by outsiders. Tell the Empress not to give herself away.”
“I understand.”
Of the three sons of Prime Minister Zhou, only the third son, Zhou Wei, was not an official but a businessman. In order not to arouse the Emperor’s suspicions, his business territory was mostly outside the capital city, especially in the border areas surrounding the Jin State. He knew more about the northern wilderness than the other members of the Zhou family, and it was more convenient for him to move around.
Before Zhou Wei left the Prime Minister’s Mansion, he sent a letter to Xie Rui’s trusted aide, asking him to think of a way to ensure Xie Rui’s safety first. He was to let the people of the northern wilderness know that there was an advantage in keeping Xie Rui alive so that they would have time to save him.
After receiving Zhou Wei’s letter, Lord Wang thought deeply and decided to send a message to his men. However, he did not know if they would be able to receive his message.
After the people Qiao Yang brought back were locked up in prison, they confessed everything in detail. Qiao Yang and his men also learned how the two sides contact each other.
Su Ying had just returned from the mine when Qiao Yang brought the news from Lord Wang to her in a bid to claim credit.
“City Lord, have a look. What is this letter trying to say?”
Su Ying took the letter and read it. Lord Wang clearly stated in the letter that the northern wilderness was bitterly cold. He was worried that Xie Rui and his men would not be able to stand it here, so he prepared a batch of winter clothes and asked Xie Rui if he needed them. If he needed them, he would immediately send people to deliver the clothes.
The people over there were already suspicious of us last time. Why would they be so stupid as to send winter clothes over now?”
Su Ying raised her head and glanced at Qiao Yang. This kid’s brain finally had a flash of brilliance.
“This is a test.”
City Lord, are you saying that they want to confirm if Xie Rui is still alive?”
“It’s very possible. It seems that we asked for too little last time. Go and tell Xie Rui to write back to them. Tell him to get them to send all the winter clothes over and then prepare more cotton.” Since they had so much stuff, she would ask for more..