freenovelworld Chapter 400: Related to Industry!
Chapter 400: Related to Industry!
Mu Xin Nuan's intention was actually quite simple: to exchange all the unnecessary valuables for cash and then take them to Yan. Of course, none of the precious jewelry could be left behind.
Mu Xin Nuan's thinking was actually quite straightforward. Leaving these things here would easily attract thieves. If she took them to Yan, they would be invaluable when she needed money, and they could be exchanged for cash quickly.
"Have you read any books about Yan?" Duanmu Chuze saw that she was single-mindedly focused on raising money and knew what she was planning.
Knowing that she loves reading, she most likely read some geography books, which is why she felt that Yan was poor and that bringing a lot of money there would naturally make Yan gradually prosperous.
“Yan is indeed poor, but are you sure that what it needs most is silver?” Duanmu Chuze looked at his young wife with a leisurely air and teased her.
Mu Xin Nuan was taken aback. Yan was a poor place. Was it not lacking money?
In fact, she didn't know much about Yan! She only knew that it was poor, but she hadn't really thought about the specifics.
"The poverty of Yan is beyond your imagination. Ah Nuan, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer with me in the future." Duanmu Chuze reached out and gently stroked her head, slowly sliding down her soft hair.
"How could that be? A woman follows her husband wherever he goes. Now that I've married you, I can only follow you all the way. You are my husband, and wherever you go, even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will go with you."
"really?"
"Is this even real?" Mu Xin Nuan glared at him fiercely. "If you don't believe me, why did you insist on marrying me in the first place?"
"Haha! I was just teasing you. You're really angry." Duanmu Chuze quickly pulled her into his arms and gently coaxed her, "Don't worry, all this gold and silver jewelry is yours. Even if your husband is incompetent, he can't spend your money. Besides, most of this jewelry was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, and it's all documented. How can we sell it so easily? If word gets out, what will become of my reputation as the Prince of Chang Le?"
"Aze, are you being too polite with me?"
"Of course not! I've already inquired about most of the matters in Yan. Don't worry, I've figured out most of the solutions, but it's not something that can be done overnight. Yan has a lot of sandstorms, so the most important thing there is to control the sandstorms. Also, the people are poor, and what they lack most is food."
"Aze, have you already purchased a large quantity of rice and grain?"
"You're so clever!" Duanmu Chuze reached out and gently pinched her little nose with great affection. "I was just saying that, and you actually guessed my method."
"So, you've really managed to gather a considerable amount of food?"
"Yes. If we only procure it from the capital, the quantity would be too large and might attract attention. Therefore, I sent five teams out to purchase rice and grain. This way, it won't cause unrest in any particular city. In addition, and most importantly, I asked my father for an imperial decree, and he ordered the Ministry of Revenue to allocate me 200,000 shi of grain. That's a huge amount!"
"Two hundred thousand bushels of grain? The Emperor really dotes on you!"
"No! Father Emperor is heartbroken for the people of Yan!" Duanmu Chuze's voice was filled with sorrow. "Anuan, you have never been to the border, so you don't know how difficult it is for the people there! The mountains are deep and the winds are strong there. The harvest from one acre of land is probably less than 60% of what it is in the capital!"
"So little?" Mu Xin Nuan was also slightly surprised. At the same time, she felt a little guilty. It seemed that she still knew very little about Yan.
"Food is what they need most there, and other important items are naturally scarce as well."
"For example, cloth? And some warm clothing?" A glint flashed in Mu Xin Nuan's eyes. Since the area was poor, the cotton harvest was probably not good. As a result, keeping warm for the local people had become a big problem.
"The weather is getting colder. Aze, do you have any ideas on how to keep warm?"
Duanmu Chuze shook his head, "There's no solution for now!"
What if we buy some cotton?
Duanmu Chuze gave a bitter smile. "Anuan, the grain alone has cost me a lot of money. And you should know that I have too many other expenses, and I really can't spare any more. Even if I were to pick cotton, it's dry and fire-sensitive. If someone finds out and burns it all, wouldn't that be terrible?"
Mu Xin Nuan immediately understood!
The lack of silver is one issue, but more importantly, he has just sent five groups of people to purchase rice and grain. If he were to purchase cotton as well, it would inevitably attract attention. Who knows what His Highness the Prince of Ming's spies might do then?
"Aze, don't rush! Let's think of another way. Perhaps we can borrow some from the Emperor?"
Duanmu Chuze shook his head, "I'm afraid it won't work!"
"Why?"
"The national treasury is running low on cotton, and winter is fast approaching. There is demand everywhere. If Father gives it to me, then it will have to be given to others. The amount in the national treasury is simply not enough to go around."
"Then, shall we go and ask Wang Ziyu for help?"
“Wang Ziyu?” Duanmu Chuze’s eyes lit up. He immediately remembered that his family’s business was quite large, and as far as he knew, many of their estates grew cotton.
"I've thought of something. Here's what we'll do: don't worry about this for now. Let me think about it some more. You just stay in the manor and see what you need to take with you. Also, think about whether you need to take any manpower with you. And what do you plan to do with your properties in the capital? Will you hand them over to someone to manage, or will you send someone to keep an eye on them?"
"Uh?"
"Should we hand it over to Li Haoran, or give it a try to your younger brother Mu Qingxuan?"
Mu Xin Nuan thought for a moment and shook her head, "No need! Your people can manage it. I know you have quite a lot of private property in the capital, so just leave it to them."
Duanmu Chuze's eyes lit up, but quickly returned to normal. "You trust me that much? Aren't you afraid I'll squander all your assets? Or embezzle them?"
"The mighty Prince Chang Le, how could my meager assets possibly be of any interest to you?"
"As for the properties left by Aunt Song, I'll go to the manor tomorrow and tell my mother that we should leave them in her care for now. When A-Yuan grows up, he can take them from my mother, and there won't be any problem with that."
Would Mu Qingyuan agree?
"Yes! He has always respected his mother, and, to put it bluntly, his mother doesn't even care about his businesses."