Chapter 1996: Managing Myriad Affairs

So after He Lingchuan returned to the Flash Gold Plains, he also had the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce vigorously promote the cultivation of jade millet in various places. But the time frame was ultimately too short, the area planted with jade millet was not large, and vast regions still cultivated relatively backward crops.

The new round of imperial elixir had just been issued, and it would take at least several months for the crop yields on the Flash Gold Plains to increase.

That is to say, he and the Dragon God Army must endure these few months before they can possibly await further reinforcements.

But there is also good news: the grain in some places seems to have matured ahead of schedule.

Ding Zuodong also reported another troublesome matter:

Recently, the merchant ships of the Bekka caravans that used to stop at the Yangshan Archipelago have noticeably decreased.

The reason is obvious: several major Bekka merchant guilds have issued notices demanding that their merchant ships not dock at the Yangshan Archipelago, not engage in trade or transshipment here, on the grounds that the sources of goods in the Yangshan Archipelago are unclear, counterfeit goods are rampant, and inferior goods are passed off as superior.

Previously, the Yangshan Archipelago had gained the favor of the Bekka Major Merchant Guild, partly because He Lingchuan had sent people to maintain good communication with them, and partly due to the dispatch and operations of the Frost Leaf National Preceptor.

Now they no longer come, and the reason is certainly not the surface claim that Yangshan goods are inferior, but rather that Bekka is pressuring He Lingchuan to suppress his financial resources.

Since He Lingchuan has resolved to oppose Bekka and the Heavenly Gods, let him well feel Bekka's wrath!

Originally, many special products of the Yangshan Archipelago were sold directly to Bekka, but now the sales channels have suddenly been cut off, and goods are piling up like mountains in the warehouses. Merchants are complaining bitterly.

Besides Bekka, who else could digest so much merchandise? Mou State?

Even if Mou State could take it, to what extent would the export price be pressed down?

The worst part is that Bekka's order is still an important stance of a major state. It despises the Yangshan Archipelago—how will other countries and forces view and think of it?

This is economic sanctions, preliminary.

Without a doubt, in the coming months, the flow of visitors to Yangshan will certainly decrease rapidly.

Mou State's commerce is far less developed than Bekka's; relying solely on Mou State, this gap certainly cannot be filled.

He Lingchuan naturally understands Bekka's approach: the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor and the Qingyang Supervisor/Protector they dispatched are enemies, so why would Bekka's merchant guild still send money to the Yangshan Archipelago?

Ding Zuodong also expressed a deeper concern: Bekka can cut off Yangshan's financial resources, and the next step is very likely to cut off Flash Gold's financial resources.

"This trouble came truly early." He Lingchuan muttered to himself, "Earlier than I had anticipated."

The Soul-Capturing Mirror did not understand: "What trouble is this? Flash Gold is so vast, not this tiny speck of Yangshan Archipelago—how could Bekka possibly restrain you?"

"Whether now or in the future, Yangshan and Flash Gold's largest and best customers are Bekka. Flash Gold's merchants want to make money, Bekka has already stated it does not wish to do business with Yangshan, and if the next step is to state it will not do business with Flash Gold either, can Flash Gold's commercial goods and special products still sell well?"

He Lingchuan knows, in fact, it is possible, but it would require going through several more procedures, doing several more layers of disguise—these are all costs.

Becoming an object despised and rejected by Bekka, other western forces wishing to continue trading with Yangshan will also have reservations—this is an increase in trust costs.

As costs rise, profits diminish.

The Yangshan Chamber of Commerce earns less, so its support for the Dragon God War also diminishes.

Bekka has probably already figured out that He Lingchuan has been using the money earned from Yangshan to subsidize the war. The three major war funds of the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor—immortal relics and wicked assets—are one-time, cannot grow, only Yangshan's income is continuous.

Even if not cutting off this source entirely, merely tightening it somewhat will make the Dragon God War even more difficult.

Once Flash Gold's merchants earn less, the unity and stability of the Dragon God territory's vast rear will inevitably be affected.

This problem has only just surfaced, but it must be resolved; otherwise, He Lingchuan and Yangshan will soon fall into a dire strait of being unable to cope.

No wonder Bekka—its influence is vast, its methods manifold. Flash Gold is too far from it, militarily somewhat unable to reach, but it can still use economic means to let this small opponent suffer greatly.

"Hoping Bekka will open its network and resume active trade with us is certainly unrealistic." He Lingchuan stroked his chin, "If this problem is not solved, even after I take the entire Flash Gold Plains, I will still be troubled by it."

He idly flipped through the documents, and a letter slipped out.

Opening it, I saw only a few large, dragon-flying, phoenix-dancing characters on the note:

All in place.

Fu.

This letter was written by Fushan Yue, as always brief and to the point/without beginning or end. No need for obscure language—others simply would not know what he is talking about.

But He Lingchuan smiled and exhaled lightly: "Finally, some good news—very timely."

Good news? Even if the Soul-Capturing Mirror had accompanied him all along, it would not know what profundity lies in these few characters of Fushan Yue.

He leaned back, closed his eyes for a moment, then picked up his pen to write a reply to Ding Zuodong, urging him to spare no effort and raise war funds from all quarters.

Additionally, the full text of Bai Tan's《Letter to the Yaoyi People》, promulgated in Yaoyi State, was also placed on He Lingchuan's desk.

He glanced over it, reading three lines as two, and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh helplessly.

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The Soul-Capturing Mirror asked him: "What's wrong?"

Again putting on an air of profundity.

"Bai Tan wants to reform and establish a state so badly he's almost gone mad, yet he still issues this notice... Hah, this can only be the work of Qingyang."

The Soul-Capturing Mirror resentfully said: "This old fogey, truly unwilling to die, truly capable of causing trouble."

If Bai Tan did not have Qingyang advising from the side, perhaps he would not need the master to act—he would first suffer backlash himself.

The old lady is nearly two hundred years old—can't she just wait obediently to die?

He Lingchuan sighed: "She is Qingyang, after all—how could she be like an ordinary person, muddled to the end?"

Some people, even to death, must shine and burn.

When others see them, they cannot help but sigh: "The setting sun is like blood."

Speaking of this, he suddenly recalled Lu Wushuang from the Panlong World—what soaring ambition and fierce determination he had!

Only then did he realize that, without noticing, he had almost finished reading the complete life story of the Qingyang National Preceptor.

"Qingyang's incitement of Bai Tan in this way shows, from the side, the sharp contradictions in Yaoyi land, forcing Bai Tan to make concessions." He Lingchuan laughed helplessly, "Revering the old system, tracing back to orthodoxy—hah, also to Bai Tan's credit for being able to say such things."

Bai Tan's reason for rebelling and killing the ruler was supposedly to eradicate evil and purge corruption, yet in less than a year he can no longer withstand the pressure and wants to return to the old path?

Why is Yaoyi State so deeply entrenched and unable to change? Bai Tan dares not innovate, does not overturn these stale things—his future is surely to remain mired in the mud, and he will also let many aspiring individuals feel deeply disappointed.

However, Qingyang giving him this idea also had no good intention—it only wanted him to hold on for a short time.

Exactly what is called a stopgap measure, never mind the endless poison to come.

Another memorial report came from the Zijin Guild of Duo City.

That was one of the main training grounds of the Dragon God Army, a true rear base and headquarters. When He Lingchuan saw this letter, his heart gave a sudden jolt, fearing something had gone wrong.

But upon opening it, he saw that it was someone from Spirit Mountain who had arrived.