Chapter 412: Seas and Skies Forge the Foundation

In the back garden of the Zhen household, though it was late summer, the heavens had slightly retreated their heat.

Added to the elegant, upright trees scattered throughout the garden and the lush, verdant foliage, the scorching fire of late summer had been largely contained and shaded.

A pair of radiant young people, strikingly well-matched in appearance, strolled along a garden path, engaged in conversation.

Behind them followed a delicate, nimble little girl who occasionally plucked a flower bud from passing branches to play with in her hand.

The scene ought to have been tender and beautiful, yet their conversation grew increasingly solemn and stern.

Zhen Zhen Fangqing's remarks on the future plight of Xinchun Hall were precisely what Jia Cong had long been wary of.

That was why he delayed reporting Xinchun Hall's annual profit of five hundred thousand taels to Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao by half a year.

It was not because he harbored disloyalty toward the emperor.

In fact, from another perspective, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, though consumed by imperial calculations, had first withheld noble titles, then orchestrated the replacement of the heir, going to great lengths to sever Jia Cong from the Jia family entirely.

Yet in the end, he still granted Jia Cong the hereditary title of Count, whether out of political balancing or to win favor.

But ultimately, this was the emperor's grace—though Jia Cong naturally resisted such imperial machinations, he could not deny it.

Yet his two lifetimes of experience and insight, his observations since entering officialdom, and the teachings and cultivation he received from Liu Jing'an.

He understood more deeply than most how perilous the official world was, how cold and ruthless imperial power could be.

When Xinchun Hall was merely a small incense shop in Love Shenjing, its thriving business drew the envy and persecution of men like Jia Zhen.

Now that Xinchun Hall had become a business yielding fifty thousand taels annually, even with the protection of its status as an imperial merchant under the Neiwu Prefecture, who could guarantee it would not attract the greed of various factions?

He merely sought to secure greater safety and room for survival for himself and those close to him.

Thus, the six months he secured for Xinchun Hall was his own buffer and bottom line—the space within which he could operate.

Moreover, through Lin Lin Ruhai's connections and Xinchun Hall's own strength, he established branches in Su Zhou and Yangzhou, laying out commercial routes.

And skillfully avoiding the interference of Neiwu Prefecture officials was another means by which he created room for the future.

But the world is ever-changing, power shifts—no one can predict what lies ahead; relying solely on these retreats and stratagems to sleep peacefully is unlikely.

…

Zhen Zhen Fangqing continued: "The Zhen family has engaged in maritime trade for generations, and understands better than most that though the Great Zhou is vast and rich, beyond the sea lies an even vaster, boundless world."

"Over these past few years, I've closely observed Xinchun Hall's methods of operation—I don't believe those strange, novel marketing tactics all originated with Chief Manager Qu."

Zhen Zhen Fangqing smiled at Jia Cong and said: "Jia Yuzhang, young as you are, is extraordinary, rare in this world; your unconventional ideas are not surprising."

"With Xinchun Hall's current momentum, perhaps in another two years, at most three, it will become the foremost imperial merchant under the Neiwu Prefecture—but then, what lies beyond?"

"If it advances further, it will surely provoke fear or greed—this has always been the way of the world."

Hearing Zhen Zhen Fangqing's words, Jia Cong felt a chill—she spoke not a single falsehood.

In three years, Xinchun Hall had transformed from a small incense shop yielding five thousand taels annually into a colossal enterprise yielding fifty thousand taels.

If it were to grow another three years, what would it become?

A hereditary count, a court official, yet wielding ever-expanding commercial power—this was truly astonishing.

It was likely that Zhen Zhen Fangqing's fears of envy and greed would first arise from the Ninefold Throne within the imperial palace.

A tree towering above the forest invites the wind's destruction; a mound jutting from the shore invites the current's rush.

The world has always been treacherous—none escape it.

Zhen Zhen Fangqing added: "Those who achieve great things and preserve themselves are either cunning rabbits with three burrows, or nine graves with ten doubts—expanding new paths and securing retreats is paramount."

"In two or three years, Xinchun Hall will become the undisputed leader of the Great Zhou's incense industry, leveraging its imperial merchant status to generate staggering profits—and the risks will multiply accordingly."

"Rather than be the blazing flower, better to withdraw in honor, avoid the world's sharp edges, escape external control, and seek a new path."

"I know Chief Manager Qu and Miss Qin have, over these two years, been shipping incense goods overseas via foreign ships—but the progress seems insignificant?"

Jia Cong had been deeply shaken by Zhen Zhen Fangqing's words.

A young woman possessing such foresight and insight, speaking with such perfect logic and even an uncanny persuasive power—this was truly astonishing.

No wonder she, a woman, could manage the Zhen family's vast maritime trade and earn them the reputation of "Half the City of Jin Ling."

The garden's stone path wound on; as Zhen Zhen Fangqing passed a jasmine branch, she plucked a bud and tucked it behind her ear—the bright sunlight enhanced her graceful bearing, her jade-like face radiant and delicate.

…

She continued: "I believe Chief Manager Qu and Miss Qin acted on your orders, Jia Yuzhang—I suspect you and I have arrived at the same conclusion."

"Beyond the Great Zhou lies the boundless sea, countless nations—Xinchun Hall's only path to lasting survival, free from domination, is to open a new oceanic trade route!"

Zhen Zhen Fangqing smiled gently, turning back to Jia Cong, only to find him gazing at her—his deep eyes, like autumn pools, shimmered with profound clarity.

For a moment, they locked gazes, sensing a subtle collision within each other's gaze.

But this was no spark of romantic longing—it was the ignition of aligned thought.

For Jia Cong, a soul from another age, he knew that when a group or a nation's power expands to a certain point, venturing into the open sea becomes inevitable.

His understanding of this principle, built upon the information explosion of his former life, was not remarkable.

But Zhen Zhen Fangqing was merely a frail woman—regardless of her motives, to see and voice such insights was enough to astonish Jia Cong.

Jia Cong even entertained a ridiculous thought: thank heaven she was only a woman…

…

Jia Cong said: "Third Miss, your vision is vast—I deeply admire you. Xinchun Hall has begun exporting incense goods overseas."

"But they are all shipped to foreign nations via foreign merchant vessels."

"These foreign merchants either protect their own incense industries or squeeze Xinchun Hall's prices."

"They impose severe limits on the volume of Xinchun Hall's exports, and since Xinchun Hall is still young, it has not yet established its own overseas trade routes—merely selling goods simply."

"All critical points are controlled by others; we lack the strength to seize or occupy them—short-term success in maritime trade is unlikely."

Zhen Zhen Fangqing said: "The Zhen and Jia families are longstanding allies, bound by kinship—mutual support is only right."

"The Zhen second branch possesses the largest maritime fleet in Jin Ling, and decades of trade have opened numerous routes and connections across the southeastern nations."

"If Jia Yuzhang wishes Xinchun Hall to break through in maritime trade, I am willing to offer full support—the Zhen second branch's fleet and overseas connections may be used to the fullest extent by Xinchun Hall."

Jia Cong understood—Zhen Zhen Fangqing's elaborate words had finally reached the crux.

In business, she was not merely offering Xinchun Hall great profit—she stood to gain immensely herself, or why would she so persistently persuade him?

Moreover, from Zhen Zhen Fangqing's words, Jia Cong sensed a clear concept: she consistently emphasized the Zhen second branch's willingness to assist.

Not the entire Zhen family—not even the Zhen first branch…

Jia Cong himself came from a great clan; the Jia household, whether the eastern or western branches, or the internal rivalries between Jia She and Jia Zheng in Lady Rongguo Prefecture—how many hidden struggles lay beneath?

So he could roughly guess at certain secrets within the Zhen family, and even from Zhen Zhen Fangqing's seemingly calm, composed tone, discern her tightly concealed anxiety.

He smiled in reply: "Third Miss, your generosity moves me deeply." (End of chapter)