freenovelworld Chapter 980 The Emperor Wants to Bestow Rewards on White Dew
Chapter 980 The Emperor Wants to Bestow Rewards on White Dew
"Plus...plus the thirty-six franchise stores of the Jurchen tribe..."
Gu Liang turned around, her bright eyes fixed on Bai Lu, her expression filled with undisguised shock: "I just did a mental calculation."
From Liangzhou to Huanglongfu, from the high-speed road along the East China Sea to Pingzhou right here... Doesn't this place already encompass more than half of the land, making up areas owned by the Bai family?
"The Bai family owns businesses in most parts of the world."
The way Gu Liang said those words carried a sense of unreality.
Yes.
Bai Lu herself had never thought so clearly about everything she had built.
It wasn't until Gu Liang reminded her that she suddenly turned around and realized that she had unknowingly walked so far.
The flags of the Seven Fairy Maidens were planted in place names that had only appeared in history books before—Huanglongfu, Shangjinglu, and Huligailu.
“Gu Liang,” Bai Lu took a deep breath, “this is not a dream.”
This is the path we've forged, step by step.
"It was you, it was me, it was everyone in the Qingzhou workshop, it was the busy shop assistants in the main store, and even the Jurchen managers who had just joined us. It was all of us working together that paved this road."
She paused, looked at Gu Liang, and said seriously, "Besides, you're wrong."
"It's not the Bai family's property; it's our property."
"Gu Liang, without you, there would be no Seven Fairies Milk Tea. You are the undisputed other founder of Seven Fairies."
Upon hearing this, Gu Liang felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she could no longer hold back her emotions.
He nodded vigorously, both moved and proud.
Bai Lu gently patted his back, but her gaze went past her and towards the more distant northern horizon.
"More than half...?" she murmured to herself, "maybe."
But that's not enough.
"Gu Liang, our steps cannot stop at the land of the Jurchen tribes."
To the west, there were the Western Xia and the Uyghurs.
"To the north, there are even more vast grasslands and tribes."
"Further south, there is the prosperous Jiangnan region of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
"Wherever there are people, there is a need to eat, a need to wear clothes, and a need for a better life."
And these are our opportunities.
"Our goal has never been to possess half of the world, but to make the name of the Seven Fairies resound in every corner of the world."
Bai Lu's words were calm.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, Bailu's figure appeared exceptionally tall.
......
Otake, Kyoto.
The civil and military officials, dressed in their court robes, stood in silence on both sides.
On the throne, the emperor wore a bright yellow dragon robe, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
He was holding a secret report in his hand, a report sent from the border via an urgent dispatch.
The emperor has read this secret report three times.
After a long while, he slowly put down the secret memorial, glanced at the assembled officials standing solemnly below the steps, and spoke, "My lords, I received an interesting report today."
It wasn't about major national affairs or the hardships of the people; it was about a restaurant.
Upon hearing this, all the officials and civil and military officials were taken aback.
Discussing a restaurant during such a solemn morning court session? That's simply unheard of.
The ministers looked at each other, all seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes.
The emperor seemed to enjoy his ministers' reaction. With a slight smile, he continued, "This restaurant is called Seven Fairies Potato Noodles."
Many of my ministers serving in the capital must have already heard of it, or even tasted it.
As soon as he finished speaking, several high-ranking officials standing in front of the ranks of military officers showed knowing smiles.
The Duke of Liang, exuding an air of refined elegance, stepped forward first, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I... have indeed heard of it."
"I've not only heard about it, but I've also tried it, and the taste is indeed...unique."
He said this with a hint of suppressed laughter in his voice.
Beside him, General Li, with his resolute face, echoed loudly, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Liang is right!"
That potato noodle soup has a wonderfully strong flavor; I really enjoy it!
"Especially after a hangover, having a bowl of this helps you sweat it out and makes you feel completely refreshed!"
"Hahaha!" The emperor chuckled as he spoke these rough and straightforward words.
General Murong added, "Your Majesty, this is not only delicious."
I have heard that its main ingredient, potatoes, has an extremely high yield, is resistant to cold and drought, and is easy to store.
If this method could be widely adopted, it would truly be a blessing for the people of our Great Wu.
These three men—Duke of Liang, Duke of An, General Murong, and General Li—are all influential figures in the court and also close friends of Bai Lu in private.
They naturally understood that the emperor's mention of this matter at this moment was by no means a whim.
Sure enough, the emperor's smile faded, and his eyes sharpened: "You all know that it tastes good and is highly productive, but you don't know that this little bowl of potato noodles has now crossed the Yanshan Mountains and the Baishui River, and is flourishing all over the territory of the Jurchens, the greatest threat to my Great Wu."
"what?!"
All the ministers, including the Duke of Liang who had just been chatting and laughing, showed expressions of utter shock.
"This...how is this possible?"
"The Jurchens have always been xenophobic. How could they allow the shops of my Great Wu to expand so rapidly within their territory?"
"Yes! And in such a short time?"
The murmurs rose like a tide inside the hall.
The emperor raised his hand and made a pressing motion, and the noise immediately subsided.
He handed the secret report to the eunuch beside him and said in a deep voice, "Read it to my beloved ministers."
"According to the order."
The eunuch unfolded the secret report and began to read it aloud, word by word, in a clear but slightly high-pitched voice:
"Secret report: Investigation reveals that Lady White Snake, using the name of the Seven Fairy Maidens, has established a potato noodle chain."
Within a month, thirty-six franchise stores were opened within the Jin Kingdom, from Huanglong Prefecture to Supin Road.
On its opening day, it was a grand affair, with Jin dynasty nobles Wanyan Zonghan and the great shaman Wanyan Xiyin both present to show their support.
It is believed that the Jurchens were extremely fond of this item; from royalty and nobility to commoners and soldiers, everyone loved it.
With a strategy of unified sauces, unified management, and unified branding, the lifeline of all branches is completely controlled by the Pingzhou headquarters...
Thirty-six stores!
Wanyan Zonghan! Wanyan Xiyin!
Uni-President Sauces! Holding the lifeline in their hands!
A woman, a merchant, accomplished something that many generals and envoys could not do without shedding a drop of blood, all with just a bowl of noodles.
This will drive Da Wu's influence deep into the heart of the Jin Kingdom, like a wedge!
"...The established business network has a clear hierarchy, and the transmission of information is extremely efficient."
The branch managers in each region were all powerful local figures from Jinzhou.
To protect their interests, the safety of the store must be ensured.
"If there is any disturbance, it can be relayed back to Pingzhou via this trade route and the official post station first."
This network is both a commercial network and the eyes and ears of our Great Wu.
"In my opinion, their value is no less than that of 100,000 elite troops on the border. That concludes my report."
When the eunuch finished reading the last sentence, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was awestruck by the prospects depicted in the report.
Using shops as an intelligence network? That idea is both ingenious and incredibly audacious!
Most importantly, it's not just a pipe dream, it's already a reality!
Those franchisees of Jinren will inevitably fight tooth and nail to protect their stores, all for the sake of their hard-earned money.
The shop's business... is inseparable from the sauce supply from the Pingzhou main store, and also from Bailu (the solar term).
This business chain is naturally the most stable and most covert information channel!
"A remarkable woman! Truly a remarkable woman!" An elderly minister with white hair and beard, Minister Wang of the Ministry of Personnel, trembled with excitement. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, in my more than sixty years of life, I have never seen such a brilliant strategy for doing business and benefiting the country!"
"As the art of war says, the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances."
"Although the Marquis's actions are those of a merchant, they are in line with the principles of military strategy. He can make a thunderous sound in silence and lay out a plan for a thousand miles without making a sound."
"This is a superior form of warfare, a true master stratagem!"
"Minister Wang is absolutely right!" Minister Zhang of the Ministry of War echoed excitedly, "This humble general has always believed that the only way to deal with the Jurchen barbarians is through iron and blood!"
"I never imagined that a bowl of noodles could have such an effect that even our swords and blades couldn't achieve!"
"Let their princes and nobles crave our flavors, let their tribal chiefs depend on our supplies, and in the long run, the hearts of the people and their wealth will all be at my disposal!"
"This...this is absolutely brilliant, a brilliant plan to strike at the heart of the problem!"
The emperor looked at his excited ministers and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
This is the effect he wants.
He looked at the Duke of Liang, the Duke of An, General Murong, and General Li, and said with a smile, "My four beloved ministers, Bailu has truly brought me and the entire court a tremendous surprise."
The Duke of Liang's face was full of pride and honor. He stepped forward again and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed."
When I first met Lady White Snake, I only knew of her intelligence, decisiveness, and extraordinary business acumen.
Unexpectedly, her mind held such a grand vision.
"She is not only doing business, but also sharing the burden of the country."
"Your subject...is filled with admiration!"
Duke Anguo followed suit, stepping forward and saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The White Snake Lady's actions, seemingly whimsical, were in fact meticulously planned and far-sighted.
"It is our honor to be friends with such an extraordinary woman!"
General Li added in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I admire you too!"
"I think Lady White Snake's contribution is much greater than how many enemies I killed at the border!"
"He deserves a reward! He must be rewarded handsomely!"
"Yes! He deserves a reward!"
"I second that! Such an achievement is unprecedented!"
In an instant, cries of "Please give me a reward!" filled the hall.
The emperor nodded with a smile, then his gaze fell on another thing that had been mentioned: "Speaking of rewards, we cannot fail to mention the source of this merit—potatoes."
"As General Li just said, this crop is highly productive and is an auspicious sign for the country."
"And the person who discovered and promoted this thing was also Bailu."
He paused for a moment: "I remember that when the potatoes were first discovered, Bailu submitted a memorial, saying that this was an auspicious omen from heaven and that she dared not take credit for it."
But now it seems that without this ingredient, there would be no potato noodles.
Without potato noodles, there would be no commercial miracle that has penetrated deep into the heart of the Jin Dynasty!
"What do you all think is the proper way to reward this discovery of auspicious omens?"
"Your Majesty!" The Minister of Revenue immediately stepped forward and said excitedly, "This is a great achievement! It far surpasses any ordinary auspicious omen!"
Our Great Wu is based on agriculture; food is the foundation of the nation.
"According to agricultural reports from Qingzhou, potatoes yield several times more per mu than wheat and rice, and they are not particular about soil fertility."
"If this can be promoted in the northern regions, it will be enough to ensure that our Great Wu will never have to worry about famine again!"
"This is the foundation for a stable and enduring nation!"
"The one who discovers and presents this item deserves to be recorded in history!"
"Well said!" The emperor was overjoyed. "In that case, a reward is certainly warranted."
"Not only should we appreciate the White Dew, but there's one more person I cannot forget."
He asked, "I sent Gu Liang, the imperial envoy to Pingzhou ostensibly to assist Bai Lu, to complete his mission. Shouldn't he return now?"
The minister bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Gu Liang is on his way back and is expected to arrive in the capital to report back within three days."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Very good."
Gu Liang served as my eyes and ears on this trip, and personally participated in the execution of the entire plan; his contributions are immense.
He will bring back a firsthand, most detailed report.
"When he returns, I will hear his report in front of the entire court before bestowing any rewards upon him!"
He stood up and gazed into the distance beyond the main hall, as if he could see through the palace walls to the vast northern land.
"By imperial decree, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue shall convene to formulate regulations for bestowing titles and rewards."
Firstly, she was commended for her contributions to the northern border campaigns and the conquest of the Jurchens; secondly, she was recognized for her discovery of potatoes, which brought blessings to countless people.
"The standards must be high, so that the whole world knows that I will never be stingy with rewards for anyone who has contributed to my Great Wu and benefited the people, regardless of their background or gender!"
"My Holy Emperor!"
The thunderous praises echoed throughout the entire hall.
After the morning court session ended, the civil and military officials, still filled with lingering emotions, left in twos and threes.
Outside the palace square, officials were still whispering about the shock of today's court assembly, using terms like "White Dew," "potato noodles," and "Shang's conquest."
However, amidst the departing crowd, Duke Anguo did not exchange pleasantries with his colleagues as usual before leaving.
He gave a wink to the Duke of Liang, General Murong, and others beside him, indicating that he would be there shortly. Then he turned and walked in the opposite direction from leaving the palace—to the corridor leading to the Imperial Study.
His steps were steady, but there was a hint of worry between his brows.
Today in the imperial court, his son Gu Liang was repeatedly mentioned by His Majesty and was designated as a meritorious official, which was an unparalleled honor.
He has a purpose for his trip today that has been buried in his heart for a long time... Perhaps it's time to bring it up.
Outside the Imperial Study, the chief eunuch saw Duke Anguo arrive and, with a knowing look on his face, bowed and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty anticipated your arrival and is already waiting inside."
"Thank you for your trouble, Chief Steward." Duke Anguo nodded slightly and straightened his court robes.
Inside the imperial study, the emperor had changed out of his dragon robe and into a comfortable casual outfit. He was standing in front of a huge map of the land and rivers, his gaze fixed on the area where Pingzhou in the north bordered the Jin Kingdom.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Duke Anguo bowed respectfully.