Chapter 1319: The First Step of Marketing

"Husband, are you unharmed?"

Seeing Wang Yan return, Xiao Mei immediately rushed forward to offer her warmth.

"You may withdraw."

Wang Yan watched the maids serving inside the room depart, then recounted the course of events to Xiao Mei, saying, "Now I am the Advisory Military Advisor of the Prince of Jin's Mansion."

"It is merely a titular sinecure; Yang Guang would never allow Husband to truly advise." Xiao Mei understood this very well.

"That is the principle of it." Wang Yan nodded with a smile. "But it does not matter; we shall rely on the Prince's Mansion to conduct commerce. We will proceed exactly as previously discussed; in ten or eight years, we will have established our power."

"Husband must be wary of Yuwen Huaji; this man's heart is unrighteous, cunning, and vicious."

"There is no need to fear him. Under Yang Guang's very eyes, at most he can merely whisper slander to Yang Guang and defame us. He may obstruct our commerce, but only in secret. If we do not fear him openly, why should we fear him in secret? If he dares to cause us trouble, then if he extends a hand, we chop off the hand; if he extends a foot, we stomp on the foot."

Embracing Xiao Mei, Wang Yan said, "Lady, there is something you must understand. By following me, you are placing yourself at odds with the great aristocratic families, becoming strangers to them. The great households will not treat a small soldier like me, a mud-legged peasant, as a human; they will only treat me as a dog. If one seeks to achieve success by relying on their support, one becomes merely another Yang Yang Jian; this is what you yourself told me."

"Our strength should come from more small soldiers and mud-legged peasants; there are countless such people, whereas how many great aristocratic families and surnames exist? All are human; with one stroke of the blade, anyone's head will fall. Therefore, henceforth regarding these people around us, Lady, you must be closer to them; you must let them feel valued. Do not look down upon them with arrogance."

"Once we have the support of countless small soldiers and mud-legged peasants, we will absolutely not be restrained by various great aristocratic families as the Yang Sui are. Whether this world changes or not will be decided by us; life and death, granting and taking, all matters shall follow our hearts."

"I originally thought Husband could engage in false diplomacy with the great aristocratic families," Xiao Mei sighed.

"Of course we must engage in false diplomacy; we cannot let everyone target us, can we? How then could we talk of accumulating strength? I say this only to make you understand what our foundation truly is, what our reliance truly is; you must distinguish clearly who our true allies are. Even if you are pretending, you must pretend it out for me."

"I understand, Husband." Xiao Mei nestled closer to Wang Yan. "Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, through the rise and fall of eras, never has a commoner or red-clad civilian become a general or entered the chancellorship. You have walked the most difficult path, Husband."

"Then will you follow or not?"

"Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Having followed Husband, this small soldier and mud-legged peasant, I too shall follow unto death. I only hope that when success is achieved one day, Husband will not betray my deep affection."

"I value righteousness above all and cherish promises most; as long as I do not die, whatever I promise I can fulfill. I will certainly not treat you poorly, my Empress Xiao."

"Your Majesty~"

The next day, Wang Yan heard good news from the guards Yang Guang had dispatched to protect him.

"Advisor Wang, I hear Yuwen Huaji has fallen ill and has not emerged today."

"The news spreads so quickly?" Wang Yan raised an eyebrow.

"I estimate that by now, the hundred thousand troops here in Jiankang all know. Advisor and Yuwen Huaji are locked in a struggle to the death."

"What can he do to me? If there is a next time, I will hang him up and whip him."

"Advisor is a true hero."

Wang Yan asked with a chuckle, "What, do you all find Yuwen Huaji disagreeable?"

"No one is willing to look at him. Advisor does not know, but in his early years Yuwen Huaji was a prodigal, and his character was extremely wicked..."

Wang Yan understood clearly: Yuwen Huaji did not look down only on him, Wang Mou, but looked down on anyone inferior to the Yuwen family, stemming from a deep-seated arrogance in his bones.

He nodded. "Brothers, just watch; in the future I will play games with him and make him unable to look down on people."

"Only the Advisor can control him. To speak honestly, we have long found him disagreeable."

Wang Yan smiled, then toured the imperial palace together with Xiao Mei; after all, at this time there were no strict rules, and they could go anywhere.

The maids and guards followed behind, listening together to Xiao Mei's commentary as a guide.

That these guards dared to tell Wang Yan they looked down on Yuwen Huaji was naturally because he was already locked in a life-or-death struggle with Yuwen Huaji, making them allies in this regard. But if examined closely, these people were merely enjoying the spectacle without fearing chaos, egging him on to fight Yuwen Huaji fiercely while they stood aside to watch the show.

After all, even though these men served merely as guards for Yang Guang, they all had backgrounds; if one traced their lineages, they were all eldest sons of various high officials and great households who had no chance at the family estate, or illegitimate sons with no hope whatsoever.

These people looked down on Yuwen Huaji because Yuwen Huaji looked down on them, but similarly, they had not looked up to Wang Yan either.

These matters, needless to say for Wang Yan, were as clear as a mirror even in the heart of Xiao Mei beside him.

However, Wang Yan did not care; as the saying goes, strive constantly to become stronger. If he is strong, others will not dare to breathe loudly, nor have the courage to raise their voices against him...

Time flowed like water; Wang Yan and Xiao Mei spent a period of loving leisure, and now it was already mid-March.

This was the third month of the lunar calendar; according to the modern reckoning, it was roughly May, and the summer heat in the south had already begun to rise.

It was also at this time that, after more than a month of plundering, the wealth had been gathered, and Daxing had already arranged all personnel matters here, with officials having arrived long ago to begin governing.

The war of Sui destroying Chen was now thoroughly concluded.

The great army, escorting the spoils of war and goods, began to march out; they would first return to Daxing to receive rewards before the army would disband.

The Sui employed the Fubing system: sons of good families plowed fields during busy seasons, underwent military training during idle times, and fought in wars, while also providing their own weapons such as bows, arrows, blades, and shields. Other armor and crossbows were provided by the government, because wearing armor doubled combat effectiveness and crossbow bolts doubled attacking power, all falling under government control.

Therefore, apart from the standing professional soldiers, everyone else had to return to their hometowns.

Yet the people were joyful; as stated earlier, with the loot privately hidden while searching corpses and plundering, plus the rewards, young men returned to their hometowns to buy land, build houses, take wives, and bear several children. The elders could also arrange marriages for their sons, fulfilling the grandfather's duty, continuing the family line, and bestowing blessings upon descendants.

Military discipline at this time was not so strict; when soldiers gathered, a large group of men together engaged in burning, killing, plundering, and looting; to expect them to have high discipline was unrealistic.

Thus, on the return march, everyone straggled along, boasting and chatting within their unit formations, laughing and joking all the way. When passing through villages and towns, some would even run off to procure chickens or ducks to satisfy their cravings, while those beside them dared to be angry but dared not speak. Let alone ordinary commoners; even local great households had these soldier ruffians boldly stealing from them.

Of course, in reality, the local great households were more sensible; they knew deeply that when a great army passed, status meant nothing. Along the route, local officials organized great households to welcome and comfort the army; they very proactively cut flesh, sent money to the commanding generals, provided women for entertainment, and gave food and drink to the ordinary soldiers.

If they were not sensible, whichever general became displeased could directly dispatch men to slaughter the entire family, and there would be nowhere to seek justice. At that time, the general would offer a self-indictment, the subordinates who carried out the deed would flee directly, no one would suffer a loss, and only one great household would be exterminated.

However, such incidents were extremely rare...

Wang Yan led the Crimson Flame precious horse; Xiao Mei, rarely dressed in plain green attire with a white veil covering her face, held an umbrella while seated on a thickened saddle to avoid chafing her legs. Although there was a carriage, the weather was too hot and the interior was stifling. With no other empty carts available, they had to make do in this manner.

Beside them were two large wooden carts drawn by horses. Loaded upon them were all of Xiao Mei's accumulations: a huge pile of money, jewels, and splendid robes. As for Wang Yan's possessions, there were only several large boxes of books he had obtained from the Chen state library, along with his Bright Light armor and his horse lance.

At this moment, several dozen people surrounded Wang Yan, listening as he told stories.

"Speaking of this Ning Caichen..."

What he was recounting was precisely Liaozhai; the content involved nothing prohibited. Although it contained tales of ghosts and monsters, these ghosts and monsters were all human in nature, self-consistent, and posed absolutely no problem.

The surrounding crowd listened with great excitement, cheering for Yan Chixia subduing demons and eliminating evil, feeling heartache for Nie Xiaoqian, and envying Ning Caichen for copulating with a ghost...

Ancient people's thoughts were very feudal, yet their ideas were quite wild; they truly played in a perverted manner...

"In the end, Nie Xiaoqian reincarnated through the cycle of rebirth, and Ning Caichen married a new wife..."

"Advisor Wang, tell another one, tell another one!"

"Indeed, having heard so many stories, Advisor Wang tells them the best."

Wang Yan laughed heartily and waved his hand: "Enough, enough! You've talked until my mouth is dry and my tongue parched; must I not rest a while? My belly does not hold that much ink anyway; I need a few more days to ponder and devise a new tale before speaking again. Disperse now; the road ahead is still long. We shall speak again in a few days, and all will hear it."

After a few more jests and laughs, the crowd dispersed nonetheless.

These men were not noble retainers of the Wang Fu, but ordinary rank-and-file soldiers who hauled cargo and goods for the household. Having won a battle, it was only natural for the nominal Regional Commander, an Imperial Prince of the blood, to conveniently pocket some spoils; no one would make an issue of such matters.

After all, if Yang Guang did not take, how could the generals below him take? If the generals did not take, how could the various officers take? If the officers did not take, how could the common soldiers take? How would anyone grow rich?

If a battle yielded little profit, not even enough to maintain equipment, was that battle not fought in vain?

Whoever dared make an issue of such matters would truly have stirred up a hornet's nest.

The convoy escorting the cargo and goods followed in the rear; it consisted entirely of common soldiers. With the journey long and nothing else to do, he simply joined these soldiers in idle chatter and boasting, and eventually began telling stories outright.

Character and reputation must be maintained from beginning to end, upheld for a lifetime.

These few dozen common soldiers, plus the hundred-odd others who rotated in to drive the carts and come listen—did they represent only those hundred-odd men?

Clearly not. There were also their fellow villagers, their comrades-in-arms, and others they came into contact with. Spread the word, and no fewer than a thousand people would know: here was a man who, relying on his formidable Wu Gong, had climbed to the high branches of the Wang Fu, yet had not forgotten his roots and was willing to associate with these poor, hard-working brothers.

Wang Yan had even made a bold declaration: henceforth, should anyone encounter difficulties, they could come to him, and he would do his utmost to help his brothers resolve their problems.

Under normal circumstances, surely no one would believe he spoke in earnest; but in times of crisis, when desperation drives one to grasp at any straw, most would likely seek him out. At that time, once he handled their affairs and arranged for the news to spread, he would undoubtedly command immense prestige among the rank-and-file soldiers.

When such people encountered trouble, they truly had nowhere to appeal; local magnates and officials suppressed them, and even the Fubing soldiers would be divided and unable to form any significant force. Their superiors in the army might share some bond of comradeship, yet those who cared for such bonds lacked the power to help, while those with the power cared nothing for such bonds.

Under such circumstances, Wang Yan would become the most important connection these hundred-odd men present would ever have in their lives; they would certainly seek him out, even if only one person did...

Was Qin Shubao a lesser Mengchang? Public-spirited and righteous, everywhere he went he found brothers, everywhere relatives.

Wang Yan had to show people what it meant for Lord Mengchang to be reborn...

Supported by Wang Yan as she dismounted, Xiao Mei, who had been jolted about for half the day, walked alongside him to ease the fatigue of prolonged sitting.

"Husband, the story you told was truly excellent."

"In the future, I will ponder more deeply and devise tales to entertain my Lady."

"This story is quite good; once we reach Daxing, we shall compile it into text, have it Kan Yin as a book, and earn considerable silver. Noble ladies in the boudoirs are most fond of listening to such stories."

"My Lady is truly wise and knows how to generate wealth; I had not even thought of this point myself."

Gently tapping Wang Yan, Xiao Mei covered her mouth and laughed coquettishly: "Husband is most skilled at pleasing people; you certainly thought of this long ago."

"So certain?"

"Though Husband's origins were humble, he possesses great wisdom; how could he not know such a trivial matter?" Xiao Mei held an umbrella, walking at a moderate pace. "Husband has integrated very quickly; in such a short time, you have already become one with them."

"I am already one of them; what need is there to integrate?" Wang Yan shook his head with a light laugh. "Nor did I speak empty or grand words; if they seek my help, I will certainly do my utmost to accomplish it."

Wang Yan explained to Xiao Mei the matter of his personal branding; on this point, Xiao Mei understood well. Having studied history, she knew that people of old loved such tactics. Whether famous figures offering critiques or worthy sages dwelling in the mountains, all engaged in personal branding to secure official appointment.

Recommending Filial and Incorrupt candidates, presenting strategies to the populace—these were institutions lagging behind actual development. First came men who were truly filial and incorrupt, who truly possessed strategies, becoming generals and ministers; only afterward did this become an institution, whereupon everyone began exploiting loopholes within the rules.

"It proves Husband possesses wisdom; otherwise, how could one conceive plans so far-reaching?"

Wang Yan laughed heartily: "The Dao is obstructed and the road long; let us encourage each other."

Thus they traveled on, Wang Yan telling stories to everyone and engaging in idle chatter and boasting, which proved quite relaxed and comfortable. Even Yang Guang sought him out several times, asking him to come and tell stories.

Upon hearing that he intended to print and sell books upon reaching Daxing, Yang Guang even ordered men to record the tales in writing immediately, saying that upon returning to Daxing, he would assist.

This was because Wang Yan's background had already been investigated; he was merely a plain and honest man from the mud, putting Yang Guang at ease and making him more lenient toward Wang Yan.

Setting aside other considerations, Wang Yan himself was an unparalleled fierce general; military merits would surely follow in the future. Keeping such a man at his side, ready for use at any time, he did not mind Wang Yan earning a little money.

Wang Yan also encountered Yuwen Huaji on multiple occasions, of course receiving no favorable expression; each time they met, Yuwen Huaji's nose was not a nose and his eyes not eyes, gnashing his teeth and wishing he could bite Wang Yan to death. Wang Yan always smiled cheerfully and provoked Yuwen Huaji; after each meeting, Yuwen Huaji would inevitably retreat in private to vent his fury thoroughly...

Along the way, he also observed the conditions of the people; overall, it was simply ordinary survival in ancient times, a rare period of peace and tranquility.

This was mainly because the Sui unified the realm: they began by usurping the throne of Northern Zhou, abolished the vassal Western Liang, then pressed forward with a massive army to completely annihilate Southern Chen, and subsequently pacified Lingnan. Thus, production and daily life suffered no catastrophic destruction.

When Yang Guang ascended, he fought the Turks, launched three expeditions against Goguryeo, constructed Luoyang, and opened the Grand Canal; these alone inflicted tremendous damage upon the populace's strength. Afterwards came the warlords vying for power, fighting everywhere, ravaging Shenzhou until livelihoods withered; even after Li Shimin ascended and governed with diligence and vision, he never restored conditions to the level enjoyed during the present Sui dynasty.

History always records the heroes of war, yet never writes of the bones rotting in graves, slain because of war...