The King of Shu postponed the day of action for half a month. Before the Lantern Festival, Li Yi could only accept it passively. He couldn't force him to do it with a knife on his neck, which would be too inhumane.
Everyone had problems to discuss, express their opinions, and compromise with each other. This was the way to solve problems.
For example, he helped him plan the time and route. He thought it was better to take action after the Spring Festival. He also thought what he said made sense. They would meet at the Lantern Festival, and the matter was settled.
The following things were much easier. If Shuzhou wanted to develop, the first thing to get rid of was the closed or outdated policies after eliminating the corrupt officials, bandits, and the unstable factor of the King of Shu.
At present, for ordinary people in Shuzhou, agriculture was still the most important and basic. It was related to whether they could have enough to eat and whether they would be hungry.
On this basis, it was necessary to emphasize that industry, agriculture, and commerce should go hand in hand and develop together.
That was what they had been doing these days.
They lowered the tariff, attracted investment, canceled the curfew, opened the night market, built workshops, and provided a large number of jobs for idle women at home. The goods produced in the workshops were sold to merchants from other countries …
Shuzhou would become the first special economic zone in the Jing Kingdom.
…
Walking Ruyi and Ruoqing on the streets of Yong County again, it was quite different from a few months ago.
The streets of Yong County used to be dirty and messy. Garbage could be seen everywhere, and sewage ditches were everywhere. When they passed some roads, they had to cover their mouths and noses.
Now, the streets were cleaned by professionals. Although it was not spotless, at least it was not dirty and messy anymore.
Of course, the Yong County government did this not only to implement the provincial governor's policy.
Since the reform of the tariff and commercial laws in Shuzhou, it attracted merchants from the Jing Kingdom, the Qi Kingdom, and even the Wu Kingdom in a short period of time.
Shuzhou's geographical location was special. It was the place where these merchants had to pass to and from other countries. Now, after the reform of the commercial laws, no other state was more friendly to these merchants than Shuzhou.
Every day, there were goods from all over the world converging here. There was no need to travel everywhere. Anything they wanted to buy could be found in Yong County. Free trade.
The merchants weren't the only ones who were happy. The officials of Yong County were even happier.
Although the tax rate for foreign businessmen has been reduced, the total tax amount has increased tenfold. Those businessmen came here to rent shops, land, and workshops. Although they can't touch these silvers, they are still happy to see them!
What's more, these silvers would eventually be used in Shu Province. This included their bonuses. With a little performance, just the year-end bonus alone would be equivalent to a year's salary.
Before this, they had thought that the new Provincial Governor Chen had lost his mind. Only now did they realize that it was His Highness Gyeong Of Silla who had a unique vision and foresight …
"I heard that His Highness Gyeong Of Silla is about to get married …"
"I heard about it. In a few days, all the brothels in the city will have free performances for three days. Now we can watch to our heart's content!"
"His Highness has only been in Shu Province for a few months, but the officials have already become better. There are no more bandits. Life is changing day by day. My wife works in the cloth shop and can earn 30 copper coins a day. I only earn a few copper coins after working so hard every day. Sigh …"
"You can just laugh secretly. We have been waiting for the stars and the moon for so many years before His Highness finally came. This time, we have to show our appreciation for His Highness's wedding. We have almost accumulated a basket of eggs at home. Although they aren't worth much, it can be considered a small token of our appreciation …"
…
Li Yi hadn't shown her face in public many times. Therefore, she could walk with Ruyi and Ruoqing on the street without worrying about being recognized.
Ruyi had said before that she wanted to pass down the Kung Fu of the Liu Family. Li Yi asked Ruoqing to pick a dozen girls of the right age from the brothels. Now that she had nothing to do, she would teach them Kung Fu. Of course, she would also bring Drunken Mo and Ruoqing with her.
Although Drunken Mo and Ruoqing had long passed the age of learning Kung Fu, and their achievements in this life were limited. It was impossible for them to become masters like her or even Miss.Liu who could dominate the martial arts world. However, with a master teaching them, their progress would not be slow. On the contrary, it made Li Yi, who had always been lazy, feel some pressure.
If they became more powerful, it would be difficult for him to be a husband again …
Ruoqing was fine, but with Drunken Mo's temper, it was hard to say what would happen after marriage. In the end, who would be on top and who would be on the bottom, who would be active and who would be passive …
However, a man should be flexible, so he didn't need to care about these things …
Drunken Mo's wedding dress had been embroidered a long time ago. Now that the former Emperor had passed away, the one-year period was about to pass. At the beginning of next year, it would be time to return the wedding that he owed them.
Beside a small stall by the roadside, Ruyi and Ruoqing walked over, picked up an exquisite hairpin, and inserted it into Ruoqing's hair, saying, "This hairpin matches my sister quite well …"
Li Yi looked at it. This hairpin was indeed exquisite. Judging from its style, it didn't seem to be from the Jing Kingdom. Now in Yong County, merchants from all over the world gathered, and any small stall on the street could buy a lot of good things.
Beside the two of them, another woman also picked up a hairpin. She turned around and said to a man in a yamen uniform, "Husband, this hairpin is beautiful. I want this one …"
The official frowned and said, "Didn't I just buy one for you yesterday? Why do you want it …"
The woman grabbed his arm, shook it hard, and said angrily, "No, I want it, I want it, I want it …"
"Okay, okay, okay …"
The official hurriedly agreed. Now when he heard her say "I want it", his legs would unconsciously go soft. What was a night of love worth a thousand gold? It was all a lie. She was a good girl before marriage, how could she become like this after marriage …
Habitually holding his waist, he looked at the merchant and asked, "How much is this hairpin?"
"You really have a good eye!" Seeing him pick the hairpin, the merchant's eyes lit up and said, "This is the hairpin that Empress Wende wore on her head when she committed suicide. It's a priceless treasure …"
"Who are you lying to? Which empress committed suicide? If you talk nonsense again, I'll take you to the officials!" The official glared at him. If it weren't for the county magistrate asking them to treat these merchants better, the lies he had just fabricated were enough to make him shed a layer of skin.
"It's Empress Wende of the Wu Kingdom!" The merchant hurriedly shook his head and said, "Sir, you can take a closer look. This style, this material, it's really a real royal thing. If it weren't for the fact that this is the Jing Kingdom, I wouldn't dare to sell it …"
The official looked at him and shook his head, saying, "Just tell me how much it is."
"One thousand taels!" The merchant from the Wu Kingdom looked at him and said, "I might as well tell you the truth. This hairpin is the relic of Empress Wende of the Wu Kingdom. I only dare to sell it here. One thousand taels, one thousand taels, no lower!"
"Let's go!"
The official took the woman's hand and turned around to leave. One thousand taels? One thousand taels? He had to think about it. One thousand taels? Even if he sold himself, it wouldn't be enough.
The woman also knew that they couldn't afford it. After looking at it longingly, she could only sigh and leave.
"Sir, don't go! Don't go!" Seeing that they were about to leave, the merchant from the Wu Kingdom immediately said, "Another two taels, nine hundred and ninety-eight, how about nine hundred and ninety-eight … Hey, sir, another five hundred and ninety-eight, four hundred and ninety-eight, four hundred and ninety-eight …"
"Wait."
Li Yi picked up the hairpin just now, looked at the merchant from the Wu Kingdom, and asked, "You said that this is the relic of Empress Wende of the Wu Kingdom. Do you have any proof?"
The merchant from the Wu Kingdom was stunned. He did not expect that after one person left, another person would come. The young master in front of him seemed to be much wealthier than the previous one. Just from the clothes of the two female companions beside him, one could tell that.
The official who had just turned around and left also stopped after hearing that. He looked back at the back of that person, wanting to see who was so stupid to spend one thousand taels to buy such a fake …
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