Chapter 826: with translation of chapter title

Opening ports in the borderlands has always been a major tool of the Zhongyuan Dynasty's appeasement policy toward neighboring countries, especially the nomadic peoples; its core is the barter trade centered on exchanging goods and the tribute trade centered on generous giving and meager return.

But Chen Wuji did not want to limit himself to that.

Furthermore, he greatly disliked the tribute trade of generous giving and meager return.

The so-called generous giving and meager return means that neighboring borderlands pay tribute, while the court bestows gifts worth many times the tribute; these four words contain complex political relations, but at their core there is only one thing: maintaining the vassal relationship.

However, Chen Wuji found in the historical records that the advantages brought by these four words were actually not that great.

One could even say the harms outweigh the benefits.

When the Zhongyuan Dynasty was strong, most of its neighboring countries were like Shendu; even without these appeasement policies, they would honestly shrink their necks and act as grandsons, never provoking.

But when the Zhongyuan Dynasty weakened, even a neighbor no bigger than a butt would instantly bare its fangs. They would not feel grateful for the dynasty's past help; they only wanted to seize the chance to bite hard into the flesh of the giant about to collapse, to fatten themselves.

On the contrary, because of the tribute trade and the openness to learning from envoys, these neighboring countries' strength kept growing, adding infinite difficulty to future wars.

Take the Uyghurs, for example.

This country was fed bit by bit by the Zhongyuan Dynasty.

A hundred years ago, their use of iron was just for making simple farm tools; now, their cavalry are almost fully armored.

Every time he thought about possibly fighting the Uyghurs next, Chen Wuji wanted to dig up the officials who had once proposed those suggestions from their graves and kill them again.

Regardless of whether Chen Wuji's understanding of barter trade was right or wrong, Jie Jia Zui would surely not continue using the old rules; he positioned these caravans as civilian envoys!

After all is said and done, it comes down to one sentence:

You boldly open up, take what we have most abundantly, ruthlessly scoop up their wealth, and Laborers will escort and protect you.

If the profit you scoop up is large enough, Laborers can even station troops directly on the trade routes!

The merchants all fell into thought.

Chen Wuji's last remark actually opened their Ren and Du meridians all at once.

What they had previously heard in a daze, even anxiously, instantly became clear before their eyes.

With more workshops, shops, and trade routes, what will happen?

It will attract more merchants and common folk!

And these people directly represent tax revenue.

The merchants' minds turned, and they instantly understood.

The prefecture reduced their taxes and gave them strong support; the key lay in the four words Chen Wuji had said earlier: 'Open the borders and expand the territory!'

Once the merchants grasped this, they suddenly found themselves in a dilemma.

Most of those who came here to open shops actually intended to do business trailing behind the army; they never thought of opening trade routes themselves.

A group of people quietly exchanged glances, using their looks to nominate one person to stand up.

'Commander, if we do business in Qiang Land and trade with the Qiang People, will we still have those benefits you mentioned earlier?' that person asked tremblingly.

That question put immense pressure on him.

Chen Wuji smiled lightly and said: 'Haven't I already opened the trade routes in Qiang Land for you? Just go ahead. I expect that in the Qiang Land my army has passed through, there should be no blind bandits to hinder you in the short term; if there are, report them.'

'At that time, the Tax Bureau will issue very detailed regulations; please pay attention to the notices. There are still a few minor matters; let Chief Clerk Lu and Village Chief Xi explain them in detail, and I'll rest.'

Hearing Chen Wuji's carefree answer, the merchants all smiled.

Nobody would dislike an official without pretension who governs a frontier region.

Chen Wuji rose from his seat and handed over the venue to Lu Ping'an and Xue Quan yi.

Sitting on this hard stool felt as if a nail had been driven into his buttocks.

He had said what he needed to say; the tone was set, so that these sharp‑smelling merchants, eager to take the first bite of crab, could understand how the business environment in Nan Jun would be from now on.

As for minor matters like repairing streets, there was no need for him to mention them.

Although he had left his seat, Chen Wuji did not immediately depart from this threshing ground; instead he walked around looking, and here the main street where various buildings rose up was clearly distinct from the threshing ground, as if they were two separate worlds.

The threshing ground and its surroundings still retained their former appearance, letting Chen Wuji instantly recall Xishan Village, which he had just left not long ago.

Such threshing grounds also existed in the village, their appearance almost identical.

There were several haystacks, beneath which lay holes dug by playing children; the surroundings were worn smooth and shiny, resembling a dog's den even more than an actual dog hole.

Chen Wuji grew up in the village as a child, and he had done this too.

Although it seemed on the surface that there was only one hole, the haystack might already have been hollowed out into a three‑room, two‑hall layout.

In an age of scarce supplies, this was a favorite activity for many children.

They were enthusiastic about digging out their own secret bases.

Even in their young hearts, a determination to toil like oxen and horses had already taken root.

Chen Wuji poked his head into the hole's entrance and glanced, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Sure enough, as expected, the interior was spacious and impressive, and it extended outward into several more holes.

This haystack was not just a simple three‑room, two‑hall; it might even be a labyrinth.

'How many years have passed, and children still like things this way?' Xu Zengyi laughed from the side.

'I too saw such things when I was young, but after I lit an oil lamp in there to read, this matter drifted away from me. Even now, whenever I approach the threshing ground, the elders instantly become wary and will even snatch up anything nearby they could use to tidy me up.'

Chen Wuji couldn't help laughing and said, 'Sir, even as a child you seemed careless!'

'Actually I'm quite careful; that time was just carelessness.' Xu Zengyi shook his head without blushing or racing heart, 'For the room in my haystack I even made my own tables and chairs, fired a few clay containers for water, and planted some lotus flowers.'

'Who would have thought that a single spark would set that hay ablaze? I barely managed to escape. The few volumes of books my parents exchanged for with their two sheep also burned inside. To study seriously, I hid all my books in the haystack.'

Chen Wuji laughed until he doubled over, 'Sir, you truly are a great talent!'

'Even the lord's mockery is unbridled.' Xu Zengyi said softly, 'When people are young, they are bound to make some mistakes; no one can go through life perfectly well‑behaved and flawless. If one makes no mistakes in youth, countless errors will arise in adulthood, and cause and effect never let anyone off the hook.'

'All right, all right, sir, stop lecturing me—I get it! I really get it!' Chen Wuji laughed until tears were about to spill; he truly hadn't expected that someone as wise as Xu Zengyi would have made such a huge mistake in his youth.