CXnovel Chapter 583: Three Families United as One
Chapter 583: Three Families United as One
Tong Huaqiong heard news from Shengjing, saying some supported waging war with Mo Bei while others advocated for peace.
For Tong Huaqiong, who possessed a modern soul, she cherished peace. However, countless historical documents revealed that negotiating peace in the face of enemy invasion was futile; only through a fierce battle could lasting peace be achieved.
A great person once said: Strike once powerfully to avoid being hit a hundred times.
This means Mo Bei should be subdued by force, allowing Dasheng to enter a prolonged period of peace.
After all, what cannot be won on the battlefield cannot be gained at the negotiating table.
Tong Huaqiong learned from Gu Jingzhe’s mouth that ever since the establishment of Dasheng, Mo Bei clung to the border like a stubborn adhesive. To stabilize the border, Dasheng implemented mutual trade with Mo Bei, exchanging food, salt, and cloth at prices higher than the market rate for their cattle and sheep each year.
Still, Mo Bei was not satisfied and would occasionally cause disturbances at the border.
Thus, small-scale wars between the two countries continuously occurred, but never has a large-scale war targeting all of Mo Bei been initiated.
In the early days of the nation’s founding, engaging in war with Mo Bei indeed was unfavorable to the stability of the regime.
After four generations of emperors, Dasheng now has the supplies, money, and soldiers to confront Mo Bei. Despite this, tolerating Mo Bei’s incursions over the past few years was due to many court officials believing that problems solvable with food, salt, and cloth need not be solved through warfare.
However, this approach only fueled Mo Bei’s arrogance, making them think Dasheng dared not commence fighting, leading to escalated border harassment this year.
Businessmen traveling from the border to Yan Guan Town reported that several villages were massacred by Mo Bei.
So, this war must be fought for Dasheng.
Just now, Mr. Lu also implicitly expressed that Lu Zhaoyang belonged to the pro-war faction.
Some supported negotiation, and these individuals might obstruct the Ministry of Revenue in various ways.
Therefore, the tricky and potentially head-risky task of mobilizing supplies fell on the newly appointed and pro-war Lu Zhaoyang.
According to Tong Huaqiong, this was both a challenge and an opportunity.
Pprompted by Tong Huaqiong, Mr. Lu naturally needed to pave the way for his own grandson.
Tong Huaqiong could think of leveraging the extreme cold weather to help Lu Zhaoyang amass political capital, and as his grandfather, Mr. Lu was naturally more attentive.
Anyone who hindered the path of his grandson deserved to die, especially those who tampered with the supplies.
Mr. Lu decided to take charge of the military supplies of grain and forage. Previously, he had no intention to interfere, as his grandson was in the Ministry of Revenue, and he wanted to avoid suspicion.
Now he still needed to avoid suspicion, but he could maneuver behind the scenes, allowing Tong Huaqiong to act openly.
After all, Magistrate Yao had entrusted the cotton uniforms for the border soldiers to Tong Huaqiong, so if Tong Huaqiong took on more military supplies, it would be logical.
Tong Huaqiong thought the same.
Mr. Lu wanted to pave the way for Lu Zhaoyang, and Tong Huaqiong wanted to make money, so the two easily reached an agreement.
Moreover, not only did Mr. Lu utilize his connections in Shengjing and the border, but he was also willing to spend silver.
"I will also contribute a portion of this silver."
Huang Yuanwai could not stand aside either since it concerned his son-in-law.
Huang Yuanwai, eager for action, said to Mr. Lu: "We must win this war, make Mo Bei beg for peace, and then you can suggest to Zhaoyang to send that princess for a marriage alliance."
Tong Huaqiong sighed; Huang Yuanwai’s suggestion was very feasible.
After all, mutual marriage alliances were normal during peace negotiations between two dynasties. Sacrificing one princess to secure decades of border peace was a choice any dynasty would make.
This particular princess stood above others in power and would easily order Huang Jingshan’s death. For such a princess who treated human lives as a game, Tong Huaqiong felt no sympathy for her going to Mo Bei for a marital alliance.
After a discussion, the three set the handling of boundary military supplies: Mr. Lu would use his connections and spend money, the grain merchant Huang Yuanwai would contribute both money and grain procurement, and Tong Huaqiong would openly attract fire and sew cotton uniforms.
"By the way, when you asked me to stockpile charcoal last time, I thought it was not only necessary to stockpile charcoal due to the extreme cold weather but also twenty thousand pounds of cotton, which can fill the cotton clothes," Mr. Lu said.
Tong Huaqiong appreciated Mr. Lu’s foresight.
Huang Yuanwai heard this, not understanding the reason behind it.
Tong Huaqiong originally didn’t plan to inform Huang Yuanwai of the imminent extreme cold weather, but now that he knew, there was no hiding it.
So, she told Huang Yuanwai about the situation. Huang Yuanwai, like Mr. Lu, trusted Tong Huaqiong blindly, and learning about the impending weather, he immediately wanted to stockpile charcoal and cotton.
Huang Yuanwai even linked the matter with Lu Zhaoyang’s career path.
"If Ning City experiences extreme cold weather, Shengjing is likely to face the same, as it is colder than Ning City. Dear in-law, should we also use Capital resources to stock up on charcoal and warm supplies? If people die from cold weather, the heavens would be outraged, and it would all fall under the Ministry of Revenue. With Zhaoyang leading the pro-war faction, what if someone uses this matter to trip him up? We must prepare well to ensure stable charcoal prices in Shengjing," Huang Yuanwai confidently expressed to Mr. Lu.
He tirelessly capitalizes on a Champion Scholar son-in-law, still hoping his son-in-law rises to high office; any possibility that might affect his son-in-law’s career must be nipped in the bud.
Mr. Lu shared the same sentiment.
Tong Huaqiong told Huang Yuanwai, "I cannot guarantee that the extreme cold weather will occur, and if the charcoal and cotton you hoard ends up being stuck in your hand, you can’t blame me."
Tong Huaqiong had no sense of whether Shengjing would truly experience extreme cold weather this winter, as the former Tong Dajiao had been nestled in Qinghe Bay at this time and was unfamiliar with Shengjing.
Huang Yuanwai hastily replied, "Naturally, we won’t blame you. Moreover, charcoal and cotton do not spoil, and even if unsold this year, they can still be sold later."
What he didn’t say was that they could afford to spend this silver.
"This information was revealed by Manager Tong; this year, capital shares two-tenths of charcoal profits with you," Mr. Lu said.
Tong Huaqiong wanted to reject, but being in the same boat, refusing would seem disingenuous, so she graciously accepted.
"Old Master, why do you think Magistrate Yao handed over the military cotton supplies to me?" Once things were set, Tong Huaqiong asked Mr. Lu.
Mr. Lu replied, "Ning City has always been prosperous, naturally needing to bear some military supply responsibilities, and it had to be given to someone. Why? I don’t think you need to return the favor; completing your task benefits him as well."
Tong Huaqiong said, "If Magistrate Yao were to announce the need for supplies, not only Ning City, but even Shengjing merchants would swarm in. As a modest country merchant, he gave it to me. Old Master, Magistrate Yao knows Zhaoyang has taken on a difficult task, and as an elder brother, he wants to pave the way for a junior brother."
It dawned on Tong Huaqiong after discussing with Mr. Lu and Huang Yuanwai.
Magistrate Yao wanted the three families to unite and support Lu Zhaoyang. Given Mr. Lu’s past prejudice against him, Yao didn’t directly approach Mr. Lu but instead linked the three through Tong Huaqiong.
Mr. Lu, listening to this, couldn’t help but ponder, having a better impression of Magistrate Yao.