Chapter 534

"You know what silkworms are used for, right?"

Bai Long and the others all nodded.

Over a hundred years had passed since the Han and Qiang began living together; the Qiang had transformed from a people entirely dependent on fishing, hunting, and nomadism into a people half-nomadic and half-agricultural.

They had already learned many Han technologies.

"This kind of silkworm is more cold-resistant, has a faster growth cycle, and a higher yield."

By the time Duan Yu was halfway through his sentence, Bai Long already understood.

Sericulture and weaving were not unfamiliar to the Qiang.

Before the Qiang began migrating into Han lands, their clothing was mostly made of animal skins or cattle, horse, and sheep hides.

But as the Qiang migrated inward, and as they had longer contact with the Han, the Sinicized Qiang initially used furs and the like to trade with the Han for cloth.

Over the past hundred years, the Qiang had also been constantly learning Han technology.

This included sericulture and weaving.

It was just that the Qiang's technology was far inferior to the Han; after all, hunting, fishing, and herding were the Qiang's primary sources of livelihood.

Even after they began farming, herding and fishing still accounted for more than half.

"Does General Duan mean... to let us raise silkworms?" Bai Long asked tentatively.

Duan Yu nodded and said: "That is correct."

"Of course, I will not let you raise silkworms and weave for nothing." Duan Yu said: "I will naturally buy back the silk you produce, and at the same price as the Han, I will absolutely not squeeze even one percent of your profit."

"Weaving might be difficult for you, but raising silkworms and reeling silk is not that hard; you can learn it with simple training."

"Furthermore, I will provide all the silkworm eggs, and I will not charge you any money upfront. You are responsible for raising the silkworms and reeling the silk, and as long as there is silk, I will buy it back."

"Whether you want money, grain, or silk fabric, it is all up to you."

"Do not underestimate this income." Duan Yu looked at Bai Long and the crowd of Qiang leaders: "If you raise the silkworms well, the money and grain you get from selling the silk will be even more than what you get from herding and farming."

Duan Yu was not lying to them.

Current society is a society of men farming and women weaving.

Why is it called men farming and women weaving?

Men farm the fields and do labor, while women raise silkworms and weave at home.

The money earned by a woman raising silkworms and weaving at home accounts for one-third or even more of a family's income.

The growth cycle, hardiness, and yield of the new silkworm breed he had cultivated were all greater than ordinary silkworms.

Doubling the income was almost not a problem.

That was why he dared to say this.

As for why he said raising silkworms and reeling silk, and did not include weaving.

First, weaving is something with a certain degree of difficulty.

It is not easy to learn.

But raising silkworms is much easier.

It would not take long to promote it on a large scale.

There was another reason.

Silk is only a semi-finished product; its price is naturally not as valuable as woven silk fabric, and woven silk fabric can be directly exchanged for money or used as money.

He was promoting sericulture in Liangzhou, but he wanted to keep the right to weave in his own hands.

This way, where the finished silk fabrics and cloth would be sold in the future, and at what price, would all be decided by him.

This was also a restriction on the Qiang to prevent them from privately selling the woven silk fabric directly.

Choosing to weave, there was another main reason, which was that Liangzhou occupied the essential path to the Western Regions.

And silk was an important product for the Han Dynasty's foreign trade.

By controlling Liangzhou and holding the silk, there would be a constant stream of wealth in the future.

As for whether the Qiang would secretly weave in the future, they certainly would.

But that did not matter.

Because the silkworm eggs were still in his hands; as long as he did not provide the eggs, the Qiang would never be able to make any waves.

The numerous Qiang leaders looked at each other in confusion.

After all that, the condition Duan Yu mentioned was actually... to let them raise silkworms?

"General Duan, this..." The White Horse Qiang Old King Bai Long seemed unable to believe his ears.

Duan Yu said with a stern face: "Did I not just say it?"

"I came to Liangzhou to govern Liang, not to fight with you."

"If I had come to fight with you, there would be no need to sit here and talk so much nonsense."

"Whether you believe it or not, the right to choose lies with you."

When he said this, Duan Yu stood up with a cold face and said: "Liangzhou is not just you Qiang tribes."

"Longxi does not lack your hundred thousand people."

"Shitou, pack up, let's go."

Duan Yu turned around directly, not even giving Bai Long and the others time to consider.

This terrified Bai Lin, who had been listening from the side.

He hurriedly reached out to pull his father: "Father, General Duan is leaving!"

"General Duan!"

Bai Long finally reacted and hurriedly called out to Duan Yu.

"General Duan, please calm your anger, calm your anger. We believe, we believe." Bai Long hurriedly explained.

Duan Yu, who had mounted his horse, paused, then turned his head to look at Bai Long.

"This is what you said yourself; I did not force you."

"Since that is the case, then it is settled. Before next spring, I will send people to your tribes to deliver silkworm eggs and teach you how to reel silk and raise silkworms."

"Also, regarding the tribes in Jincheng Commandery that were scattered or scared off by me, you handle them as you see fit."

"In addition, if there is any news about Beigong Boyu, notify me immediately."

After speaking, Duan Yu did not linger and rode his horse toward Lintao County.

After Duan Yu had completely left, Bai Long and the others finally let out a long breath.

Time flew by, and several days passed.

Everything in Ji County was calm.

It seemed that after the Battle of Yunwu, the entire Liangzhou had calmed down.

The number of people entering and leaving the Prefectural Office every day was no longer so high.

However, these few days had been exceptionally agonizing for Niu Yaodi and Dong Huang.

There had been no news from the old home in Lintao.

And there was nothing unusual about Duan Yu's Prefectural Office.

This made Niu Yaodi gradually feel that something was wrong, something unusual.

Noon.

Niu Yaodi, who was resting in her room, summoned Dong Huang.

"It's broad daylight, what's wrong with you again? What if we are discovered?" Dong Huang looked at Niu Yaodi with some displeasure.

Niu Yaodi glared at Dong Huang directly: "Why didn't you say that when you were running to my place every night?"

"Hey..." Dong Huang, hearing Niu Yaodi say this, hurriedly explained: "That's not what I meant, the problem is this isn't our home, what if someone sees..."

"Alright, alright." Niu Yaodi frowned her eyebrows and said: "I didn't call you here to talk about this, I just always feel a bit... a bit uneasy."

"So many days have passed, why is there no news at all."

"The people I sent to scout for news haven't sent a reply either."

"Could it be that..."

Dong Huang's eyes widened instantly: "What do you mean, could it be what?"

"Could it be that Duan Yu..."

"Shh!"

Niu Yaodi hurriedly shushed him: "Why are you being so loud, are you afraid others won't hear?"

"I'm just guessing, it should..." ===== CHAPTER 536 =====