As the New Year approached, the people of Yong County finally knew what was going on with the newly built shopping mall at the west gate.
Shops, they were all shops. They were too much for one's eyes to take in, and they lingered on for a long time …
There were restaurants, brothels, inns, cloth stores, clothing stores, music stores, jewelry stores … There was even a market that occupied five shops.
From now on, they didn't need to travel all over the county just to buy a few things. In this small shopping mall, there was nothing they couldn't think of.
In the past, the people living near the west gate were the poorest people in Yong County. In the past few months, the situation had changed dramatically.
Businessmen from all over could no longer rent shops in the shopping mall. Yong County temporarily prohibited foreign businessmen from buying and selling land, so they could only pay high rents to the surrounding people and rent their houses as shops.
They immediately became the wealthiest group of people in the county.
These people weren't the only ones whose lives had changed. The textile workshops had also provided many ways for the idle women at home to earn money. They could choose to weave at home and sell to the textile workshop, or they could work in the textile workshop for a fixed monthly salary. They could also raise silkworms and sell the silk …
The fabrics and clothing of the Jing Kingdom, especially silk, were very popular in all countries. No matter how many goods they produced, they didn't have to worry about not being able to sell them.
The tradition of men farming and women weaving didn't change, but the delicate women used their skillful hands to support half of the sky at home.
Later research showed that in Yong County, the famous hometown of silk in the Jing Kingdom, the tradition of men living off women and being afraid of their wives originated from this …
Although the standard of living had improved, the spending power of the people in Yong County was limited. They still had to rely on these businessmen from all over the country. Even though they had to pay taxes to the local government and the rent for the shops in the shopping mall wasn't cheap, it was still much better than taking the risk of traveling all over the mountains and rivers.
Just two days after the opening, the shopping mall was already crowded with people.
After all, it was stupid not to take advantage of a good deal. Many of the shops in Yong County had opening promotions and year-end clearance sales at the same time. If they missed this opportunity, they would have to wait until next year.
"Ten coins for all, ten coins for all. You can't buy for ten coins, you can't buy for ten coins, you can't buy for ten coins, you can't buy for ten coins …"
"The shopkeeper is in a hurry to go home for the New Year. He's selling at a loss, selling at a loss. Last two days, last two days!"
"The shopkeeper ran away with his sister-in-law. We can only use the Ruyi dew and perfume to pay for our wages. Everything is half price, everything is half price …"
…
Whenever a shop advertised like this, there would be an endless stream of customers, causing the surrounding peers to be dumbfounded.
Ten copper coins, half price, loss … If everyone did business like this, then all the merchants in this world would have starved to death long ago.
These businessmen from the Jing Kingdom really had no bottom line …
Was silver so important that he was willing to throw away his face for it?
However, when they looked at the crowded shop and the few people in their shop, the expressions on the others' faces became complicated.
Finally, a few of them whispered a few words into the ears of their shop assistants. The assistants hesitated for a moment before walking out of the shop.
"New store opening, second item half price …"
"Buy three get one free, buy five get two free, buy ten get five free!"
"Opening discount. Ten coins will be deducted for every hundred coins. Fifty coins will be deducted for every three hundred coins …"
…
The crowd split into several groups and rushed towards the shops.
Amidst the crowd, a man in blue walked out of the shopping mall. He looked back for a long time before turning around and exiting the city gate from another direction.
Opposite the shopping mall, on the second floor of a teahouse, another man in blue withdrew his gaze and stood up. He respectfully said to the young man opposite him, "Lord Xu, this man is Zheng Bang, a blue-clothed messenger of the Church. He works under the Right Emissary …"
…
In the Land of Bedlam, a man in blue looked at Fang Yu and said, "Guardian, it has been confirmed. That place has indeed been turned into a market. I've seen it with my own eyes. The shops there are doing very well. If we attack from the west gate, we can first rob them of all their goods and money. It's very convenient …"
Fang Yu lowered his head and thought for a moment. He asked, "Is there any movement in the defense of Yong County?"
The man in blue thought for a moment and said, "Nothing out of the ordinary. I've already contacted our spy. He said that there are no signs of movement in the defense of Yong County. If there is any news, he will inform us immediately."
Fang Yu nodded and said, "On the fourteenth of the first month!"
"That's not appropriate!"
The King of Shu strode in from outside and said, "Baldy's men are here. They suggest that we attack a few days earlier, on the eleventh of the first month. The fifteenth of the first month is the Lantern Festival. Three days before that, the defense of the county will definitely be strengthened. It's most suitable to attack on the eleventh of the first month. It can minimize the losses."
Fang Yu thought for a moment and felt that what the King said made sense. Then, he seemed to think of something and frowned. He said, "According to the almanac, it's forbidden to go out on the eleventh of the first month."
The King of Shu knew that the Holy Religion was troublesome, but he didn't expect it to be so troublesome. They already had the Empress, so why would they still believe in the almanac? He frowned and asked, "Where is the almanac?"
Fang Yu pointed to the table.
The King of Shu walked over to take a look and picked it up. He smiled and said, "This is this year's. In a few days, it'll be next year. This almanac is outdated …"
"It'll be the eleventh of the first month." He looked at Fang Yu and said, "I'll send someone to inform those baldies. They'll start preparing now and strive to be foolproof!"
Fang Yu was silent for a moment and nodded. "Alright."
The two discussed for a while more before the King of Shu left in a hurry.
He stepped out of the door and looked up at the sky. His lips curled into a smile and he said eerily, "Li Yi, Gyeong Of Silla … We'll meet soon. Are you surprised? Are you surprised? Aren't you going to get married soon? I'll give you a big gift before your wedding!"
Inside the house, Fang Yu looked at the person behind him and said, "Go get a new almanac."
"Yes, Guardian."
The person nodded and immediately went out. Soon, he came back with a new almanac.
"The eleventh of the first month of the Year of Yihai, Yi Cai."
"This is the Heavens' wish for the Holy Religion to make Yi Cai," Fang Yu was very satisfied with this and nodded. He looked at the person and said, "You may leave first."
"Yes." The disciple walked out. He still had a little doubt in his heart.
The almanac said Yi Cai, but it didn't say who Yi Cai was. What if … what if it was Yi Cai?
…
Somewhere on a mountain in the Fringe.
Several figures were climbing the mountain path with difficulty. They were panting from exhaustion.
"I say, why don't we take the main road? Why do we have to climb over the mountains …"
"Don't complain. Although the main road has been repaired by those baldies, it's still better to take shortcuts quickly. If you delay His Highness' business, be careful of your head."
"Say, do you think that baldy's place is really as good as they say? A city in the mountains, with restaurants, brothels, and even a school? I don't believe it …"
"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. You'll know when you see it with your own eyes."
…
The group was chatting as they climbed the mountain. When they reached a certain point, the view before them suddenly opened up.
A clear path led straight to the top of the mountain. As far as the eye could see, there seemed to be the shadows of buildings hidden in the forest.
Just as the group took a few steps forward, several arrows suddenly shot out from the forest and stabbed into the ground in front of them.
The person walking at the front couldn't help but break out in cold sweat. If those arrows had been a few inches higher, his foot would have been pierced through.
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