Chapter 329: The Northern Frontier First Enters the Chessboard

But now, a decree facilitated by Si Gui had broken all rhythm.

Jiang Jinshi had become "Prince Ming," a vassal prince formally enfeoffed by the Imperial Court, even if everyone understood the nature of it.

This certainly raised his status and title, but it also completely exposed him, pushing him to a position similar to that of the Western Liang King.

A frontier force acknowledged by the Imperial Court, yet also feared and utilized by it.

If the Cui Family wanted to cooperate with Jiang Jinshi again, the nature of it would be completely different. Before, it could be called ordinary commercial dealings, just the Scholar-Gentry investing in industries.

Now, it had become dealings with a "vassal prince." A slight carelessness would invite suspicion of "colluding with external vassals and plotting rebellion," especially at a time when Si Gui was watching closely.

The maid asked cautiously: "Miss, should we... slow down our business with the Northern Frontier? Or... be more covert?"

"No!"

Cui Wangshu thought for a long time and finally shook her head slowly: "Not only can we not stop, we must increase our efforts and speed up."

"Miss?"

"Si Gui enfeoffing Jiang Jinshi as a prince seems to be elevating him, but in reality, he is putting him on a fire to roast."

Cui Wangshu analyzed calmly: "The Western Liang King will not sit by and watch a 'prince' enfeoffed by the Imperial Court appear in the Northern Frontier to threaten his flank; he will inevitably take action."

"This decree from the Imperial Court is itself a knife. If Jiang Jinshi obeys the decree and sends troops, he will have to clash head-on with Western Liang, exhausting his strength."

"If he does not obey, it is resisting an imperial decree, and the Imperial Court will have an excuse to launch a punitive expedition. No matter what he does, he will fall into a passive position."

Cui Wangshu did not know the military strength of the Northern Frontier, but she thought it should not be able to defeat Da Qian.

After all, the Northern Frontier had only finished fighting the Xiongnu a year ago and had not yet recovered its vitality.

A flash of calculation crossed her eyes: "The more this is the case, the more he needs external support. Food, armaments, intelligence, and even external public opinion and allies."

"Our Cui Family happens to be able to provide these. Offering charcoal in snowy weather is far more precious than adding flowers to brocade, and it can also bind the relationship more effectively."

"But the risk..." The maid worried that her mistress was playing with fire.

"The risk has always been there." Cui Wangshu interrupted her: "Cooperation with the Northern Frontier has been accompanied by risks since the day we decided to start. Now the risk has increased, but the potential return... may also be higher."

"A 'Prince Ming' in a predicament and in urgent need of support, versus a Northern Frontier powerhouse developing steadily that might not need us—which one is more worth our bet?"

She walked back to the table and picked up a brush to quickly write a letter: "Notify the Northern Frontier that we can provide some supplies, especially strategic materials like iron ore, medicinal herbs, and tung oil, at a five percent discount."

"In addition, write a congratulatory letter in my name to Jiang... no, to His Highness Prince Ming. The wording should be respectful, but also hint that the Cui Family is willing to provide whatever help it can to assist His Highness in stabilizing the Northern Frontier and dealing with the current difficulties."

"Yes!" The maid understood her mistress's determination and bowed to receive the order.

Inside the Fu Residence in Nanyang, unlike the solemnity and calculation of others, the atmosphere in the Fu Residence at this moment was a mixture of shock, ecstasy, and a trace of unbelievable absurdity.

Third Master Fu held the morning court news just obtained through special channels, his hands trembling slightly.

He read it three times before confirming he hadn't misread it.

"Prince Ming... Jiang Jinshi... Lord of the Northern Frontier... this, this..."

He looked up at the several clan elders in the hall who were also dumbfounded, his voice very excited: "Ruyan... that Northern merchant she is cooperating with... could it be..."

A clan elder stroked his beard and nodded happily: "That's right! Didn't we send people to investigate before because we were afraid that girl Ruyan was being deceived? This Jiang Shi... is indeed Prince Ming, Jiang Jinshi!"

"Hiss!"

Another clan elder gasped: "The Eldest Miss is actually... actually doing business with a prince?! And it's that Prince Ming who repelled the Xiongnu and unified the Northern Frontier!! Our Fu Family... our Fu Family..."

Everyone's emotions were very excited. Cooperating with a prince, even if it was just a different-surname prince, was a heaven-sent opportunity!

This meant that the Fu Family was not just doing business, but participating in the "great cause" of a vassal prince! The political benefits and potential returns were simply immeasurable!

Third Master Fu stood up abruptly, his face full of ecstasy: "Quick! Quickly go invite the Eldest Miss over! No, I will go myself!"

Where was there any trace of his previous dissatisfaction with his daughter "showing her face" and "engaging in merchant affairs"?

In his heart, there was only incomparable relief and lingering fear! Relief that he hadn't forcibly stopped his daughter at the time, allowing her to successfully participate in the cooperation!

The fear was that if he had forcibly taken over the business at the time and offended that "Boss Jiang," now that he knew the other party was "Prince Ming," wouldn't the Fu Family be facing a great disaster?

At the very least, if other Scholar-Gentry learned that the Fu Family had offended Prince Ming and were happy to cooperate in suppressing them, the Fu Family's assets might shrink significantly.

Three hours later, Fu Ruyan, accompanied by a maid, walked into the main hall.

Now that Jiang Qingyan often traveled on the road for business, the maid by her side had been changed.

She had already learned the general situation from the servant sent by her father to pass the message, and her heart was also churning with huge waves.

Jiang Shi... was actually the Lord of the Northern Frontier, Prince Ming Jiang Jinshi? That young merchant who sat calmly opposite her and discussed the details of cooperation was actually a hegemon who controlled a region and forced the Imperial Court to enfeoff him as a prince?

Then, what about Jiang Qingyan's identity...

"Yan'er!"

Seeing his daughter, Third Master Fu immediately rushed forward, his face full of unprecedented affection and eagerness.

"My good daughter! You have made a great contribution to the Fu Family! Do you know, that Boss Jiang you are cooperating with, he, he is..."

"Father!!"

Fu Ruyan bowed first, interrupting her father's overly excited words: "Daughter has heard a little. But I do not know, is the news certain?"

"Certain! Absolutely certain!" Third Master Fu nodded repeatedly: "The decree was just decided at this morning's court session, enfeoffing Jiang Jinshi as Prince Ming, Governor-General of Northern Frontier military and political affairs! The imperial decree will be issued in a few days! Yan'er, is your cooperation with him going smoothly?"

"He... His Highness Prince Ming, is he satisfied with the cooperation? Did he make any other requests? Our Fu Family must fully support him! Give money if he needs money, give people if he needs people!"

Several clan elders also echoed, their eyes looking at Fu Ruyan filled with unprecedented importance.

Who could have imagined that this direct daughter, whom they had always regarded as sickly and useless, only able to rely on the family for support, had quietly built such a wide road for the Fu Family!

Fu Ruyan's heart was filled with mixed feelings. At the beginning of the cooperation, she only felt that Jiang Jinshi was extraordinary and had great ambitions, perhaps becoming an aid for her to get rid of the family's shackles.

But she never expected that his background and status would be so astonishing. ===== CHAPTER 330 =====