The atmosphere felt a bit off.

Xiao Rong’s face turned red. He didn’t know whether it was from anger or embarrassment. He quickly walked to his seat and sat down without saying a word.

Fortunately, there was Gao Xunzhi, an expert in socializing. He smiled and told everyone to sit down. While ordering the guards to bring tea, he naturally dismissed the unrelated people, including the women who didn’t even dare to lift their heads.

Xiao Rong stared coldly at them. These aristocratic families were very considerate. Each family sent two or three women, with one being a younger girl and another being older. The younger one was likely meant for Xiao Rong, and the older one was for Gao Xunzhi.

Gao Xunzhi exchanged pleasantries with these people, occasionally glancing at Xiao Rong. He had been shocked earlier because of the rumors about Xiao Rong’s preference for beautiful women, but he wasn’t surprised by the women the aristocrats had presented. After all, when you reach a certain level of status, such things happen daily.

No matter the time, marriage alliances were still one of the quickest ways to build relationships. However, offering daughters from their clan rather than from their family couldn’t be considered a true alliance—it was merely flattery.

The aristocratic family heads probably realized they had miscalculated, and after mentally cursing the previous Chenliu governor, they continued to smile politely at Gao Xunzhi.

At first, they exchanged casual words, asking about the journey and how the harvest was at home. Gradually, they moved on to the main topic. Gao Xunzhi explained that the King of North wanted to build a long street on the banks of the Qu Shui River, temporarily named Baibao Street. The idea was that this street would be a place where all kinds of treasures could be found.

As for why they didn’t name it Tianbao Street… the character “Tian” couldn’t be used casually. Even if they did use it, it could easily be changed later by those sensitive to imperial power. It was better to avoid offending the Emperor from the start.

At this time, besides the docks and villages, the banks of the Qu Shui River were mostly barren. While the river flowed through the city, the most bustling areas were far from the main river, near smaller streams, because bridges were easier to build there and if someone fell in, they could climb out quickly. People needed water for daily use, like fetching water or washing clothes, but shipping and communication were not priorities for the common folk.

The aristocratic leaders glanced at each other, realizing how desolate the Qu Shui area was.

Seeing that they hadn’t asked any questions, Gao Xunzhi realized they weren’t too interested in the plan, so he hurriedly continued to explain.

This plan should have been Xiao Rong’s to present, but he had been startled by the few unmarried women. He could only sit with a stiff face. Before entering, he and Gao Xunzhi had agreed that one would play the “bad cop” and the other the “good cop,” but now the roles had reversed. Gao Xunzhi, who had greater authority, played the “bad cop,” while the younger, less influential Xiao Rong played the “good cop.”

As Xiao Rong listened to Gao Xunzhi’s words, he observed the reactions of the others.

The first step in urban planning wasn’t to let people live wherever they wanted, but to establish zones, concentrating similar functions together to reduce traffic costs. The first commercial residential zoning system was the “fangshi” system, but Xiao Rong didn’t intend to replicate it because it was too strict and actually suppressed commercial development. He wanted to build a dedicated commercial street and encourage, or even order, most businesses to relocate there. If they refused to move, he wouldn’t force them.

Once the commercial street was established, people would naturally flock there, and even those businesses that resisted moving would eventually change their stance. There would always be some businesses that relocated, and the few holdouts wouldn’t have much of an impact.

The key was to actually build the street.

The first step was moving the businesses, then attracting customers, followed by building docks, establishing fleets, and eventually forming a business district with a rapidly expanding influence.

Qu Shui was a somewhat unfamiliar area, but it also had another name, Langtang Qu. It was connected to the Yellow River in the east, Huo Shui in the west, the Juye Marsh in the south, and the Ru and Ying rivers in the north, which also connected to the Han River.

If Chenliu was a central transportation hub, Qu Shui was the center of a vast water system, and if this place wasn’t used to develop commerce, Xiao Rong wouldn’t be able to sleep well.

Gao Xunzhi enthusiastically promoted the future Baibao Street to these people. The Northern Defending Army would build the houses, and there would be special patrols to protect the interests of merchants and the people. As the first commercial street in Chenliu, Baibao Street would also be exempt from the curfew, allowing business to take place at night.

Gao Xunzhi also mentioned the Wenji, a literary gathering that would be held on Baibao Street. A large square would be built for it, and even after the gathering ended, there would be regular events like singing, dancing, raffles, and competitions. Some would be free to watch, while others would charge for entry, but either way, it would attract many people to the street, benefiting all the merchants.

The aristocratic families were genuinely moved after hearing all this. They were wealthy but lacked power, not comparable to the old noble families. Since the moment these families were born, the Emperor had been suppressing them. First, they were forbidden to marry into the old noble families, then their children were prohibited from entering the court. This left them feeling insecure, always trying to bribe newly appointed officials in hopes of gaining their protection.

If the Northern Defending Army was willing to protect their businesses, it was certainly a good thing.

Moreover, Gao Xunzhi seemed honest at first glance, but it turned out he had many tricks up his sleeve. Raffles and competitions—these were unheard of to them. It seemed Gao Xunzhi really understood business, and perhaps he could make Baibao Street successful.

The aristocrats, proud as they were, didn’t mind opening a couple of stores. They agreed right away, only to hear Gao Xunzhi smilingly inform them that the Northern Defending Army would charge rent.

It wasn’t a fixed rent, it was based on their income. Every time they made money, the Northern Defending Army would take a tenth.

The aristocratic heads: “…”

Don’t think we don’t understand just because you changed the name.

Isn’t this just a business tax?!!!

The previously enthusiastic group fell silent all of a sudden.

This was normal. People would smile brightly when you promised to give them money, but once you asked for it, their expressions would turn sour. Furthermore, this was a very special time. The business tax had been abolished for almost thirty years.

When the Yong Dynasty was first established, the founding Emperor, He Kui, collected heavy business taxes, taking a third of the merchants’ income. This forced many merchants to return to farming, which unexpectedly made the He family wealthier for a while, as they collected taxes from merchants and farmers.

After He Kui’s death, his successors felt it wasn’t enough and continued to raise taxes, creating more and more burdens. Soon, the situation became unbearable, and the whole country descended into chaos.

The court eventually realized this wasn’t sustainable and quickly abolished many of the taxes, reducing the business tax to just one-twentieth.

Business began to prosper again, but the court never fully recovered. The Emperor changed frequently, and during the reign of Emperor Tai Ning, a group of princes even rebelled. Various cities started to protect themselves, and the court barely existed. This led to a new system, the customs tax.

The customs tax meant that every time goods passed through a city, they had to pay a tax. If the journey was long, the goods might already be taxed before they even reached their destination.

 

….

This was very unfriendly to the merchant fleets, but it was great for the local merchants because they didn’t have to leave and therefore didn’t have to pay taxes. Gradually, customs duties replaced commercial taxes, and commercial taxes ceased to exist.

Ten years ago, when the Yong Dynasty moved south, not only were commercial taxes abolished, but even customs duties disappeared for a while. The local aristocratic families, who already managed the Chenliu area, only had to pay a protection fee to the officials. This protection fee had no fixed amount, it depended entirely on the character of the official. They were content paying this fee, but they strongly resisted when taxes were introduced.

They also thought they could refuse to pay and force the Northern Defending Army to retract their plan. However, this was impossible. Commercial taxes were certain to be levied, and it wouldn’t just apply to Baibao Street. Eventually, merchants across the Central Plains would have to pay taxes.

 

Xiao Rong couldn’t announce the tax so directly, or it would cause trouble in the city. So he planned to introduce the taxes gradually, first letting them enjoy the benefits and then having them lead by example and pay the taxes.

Xiao Rong didn’t believe that once they had made a lot of money, they would abandon their stores on Baibao Street. Those who refused to pay taxes would eventually be driven out.

However, getting started wasn’t easy. Gao Xunzhi tried to liven up the atmosphere several times, but there was no response from them. Gao Xunzhi looked helplessly at Xiao Rong, who pursed his lips slightly, regretting not bringing his big sword along.

Forget it.

Xiao Rong took a deep breath and then smiled as he said, “Are you all worried that the tax rate might increase? Don’t worry, one-tenth is the highest rate, and it will only decrease in the future. It will never exceed this number. If you don’t believe me, we can sign a contract, and we won’t go back on our word.”

The aristocrats across from him chuckled.

Hadn’t there been plenty of contract breaches before? Besides, you are the Northern Defending Army, notorious for being ruthless and unreasonable.

Seeing that they still weren’t moved, Xiao Rong fell silent for a moment before continuing, “The Northern Defending Army will provide the shops. All you need to do is prepare your staff and goods. If you want to open a restaurant or an inn, you don’t even need to provide goods. If you make money, we will charge rent. If you don’t make money, we won’t ask for a single coin.”

Upon hearing this, one of the family heads couldn’t help but raise his head. In fact, he thought Xiao Rong had a point. They were all wealthy families, even if they hired a few people for a few months, it wouldn’t matter much. If they made money, it was a good thing, and if they didn’t, it was just a waste of time.

Just as he was about to speak, someone next to him shot him a harsh look, causing him to quickly lower his head again.

Xiao Rong: “…”

Very well.

He hated it when people banded together in front of him. Couldn’t he control the aristocratic families? If he couldn’t deal with the old noble families, could he not handle these aristocrats?

Xiao Rong’s face immediately turned cold, and he turned to give an order to the guard, “Go and bring the King here.”

Gao Xunzhi was stunned, and the aristocratic heads also raised their heads in surprise.

“Bring the King here? You mean Qu Yunmie? The one who beheaded someone just for saying the wrong word about the Governor of Jinning??”

The leader of the aristocratic families forced a smile, almost in tears, and said, “We are only discussing small matters here. Why does Prefect Xiao need to bring the King? There’s no need to disturb his Highness.”

Xiao Rong glanced at him and, with a thin smile, said, “I’ve already said everything kindly, and Gao Xiang has explained the pros and cons to you. You still refuse to appreciate our efforts. I suppose it’s because Gao Xiang and I aren’t enough of a match. So, I’ll bring the King here. You can explain to him in person why you’re unwilling to pay the rent. Don’t worry, the King is very reasonable. If you can convince him, then this matter will be settled.”

The aristocratic family heads: “…”

Convince Qu Yunmie? Who would dare!

If you want to take our lives, just say it outright!

At this moment, Xiao Rong raised his chin, signaling the guard to hurry. The guard, obediently, turned and ran, while the aristocratic heads remained frozen, unable to react in time.

Realizing Xiao Rong was serious, they no longer dared to put on airs. They quickly began to cry and beg, saying they were willing to open stores there, willing to pay rent—one-tenth, it was fine. They would pay whatever amount was required, just please don’t bring the King here!

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

Are you all really this desperate?

 

Xiao Rong then changed his cold expression, smiled, and helped them all up, patting their hands and reassuring them not to be afraid. Then he turned his head and instructed another guard to find the previous person and tell him that there was no need to bring the King after all.

However, the aristocratic family heads still looked at him nervously, afraid that he might change his attitude again.

Seeing how obedient they were, Xiao Rong hadn’t planned to bring up the topic of holding a literary gathering today, but he decided to take the opportunity to mention it. The literary gathering required three families to organize: one would provide the ink, paper, and brushes; another would provide tea and snacks; and the third would be responsible for setting up the venue and decorations. These three families could attract customers to the venue, as long as they didn’t make it too obvious.

The family heads looked at him in confusion, not understanding what it meant to “attract customers.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He had no choice but to explain quietly. For example, they could engrave their family name on the tables, chairs, or plates they provided, and offer a small cup of wine—nothing more. If the customers wanted more, they would be directed to their own shops outside. The same applied to ink, paper, and brushes—just add some creative touches to promote their family brands.

Also, there would surely be attendants from their families at the gathering. He suggested they dress them in uniforms, making them more alert and obedient. When the guests saw their difference, they would naturally be drawn to look for similar services at their shops.

The family heads were amazed. They hadn’t thought of it that way. Most of their customers were common folk, not scholars, so attracting more scholars to spend at their shops was a good thing. Not to mention, if those who ranked highly in the gathering stayed at their inns, their inns would surely be packed!

This was even better than collecting taxes.

Since it was a one-time event and they weren’t lacking money, it was just a matter of preparing a few things. It wasn’t much for them at all. Xiao Rong watched them excitedly discussing it, and smiled without saying anything. Finally, someone realized something.

There were four families in total, so why did Xiao Rong say only three were needed?

Xiao Rong raised an eyebrow and then told them the condition. He planned to have everyone in the city with the ability to compete for organizing the literary gathering. As for the competition standard, it would be based on who could pay the most in sponsorship fees.

“…”

In the end, it all came down to money!

Still, this was different from paying taxes. It was all voluntary. If someone didn’t want to participate, they could just opt out. He would never force anyone. Also, anyone who wanted to pay could privately approach Gao Xunzhi, there was no need for them all to gather together.

The family heads’ expressions became increasingly complicated.

If they all participated together, they could at least discuss things, but if they went alone, who knew what the others would think? What if one person came and took all the tasks meant for the three families? Wouldn’t the gathering then become an opportunity for someone else to take all the glory?

Aso, how much should they pay? If they paid too little, it would be wasted, but if they paid too much, they feared losing out.

Not to mention that the competition wasn’t just between these four families. Xiao Rong was planning to let the whole city compete. Although only a few families could organize such an event, and they all knew each other, their relationships weren’t that friendly.

They had come in with trepidation, but now they left in a cold sweat. Xiao Rong watched them leave and then happily turned to Gao Xunzhi with a smile.

“I like them, they’re all such lovely people.”

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

They’re all “easy to handle” people, right?

He smiled helplessly, about to say something, when they suddenly heard a familiar, gloomy voice at the door.

“You like who?”

Gao Xunzhi and Xiao Rong both turned and looked. Xiao Rong was stunned and asked in surprise, “Why has the King come?”

Hadn’t he already sent a guard to tell him not to bring the King?

Hearing this, Qu Yunmie suddenly stopped in his tracks, then unexpectedly started laughing, “What, can’t I come?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

They exchanged confused looks, completely unsure why Qu Yunmie was reacting this way.

Seeing that they were just staring at each other without acknowledging him, Qu Yunmie became even more angry. “Where are those aristocrats?!”

Xiao Rong was still confused and could only answer honestly, “They’ve left.”

Qu Yunmie paused for a second and then asked, “What about the women they brought?”

Xiao Rong replied, “I’m not sure, they must have taken them back–”

Gao Xunzhi interjected, “They didn’t take them back. There’s no reason to bring back the women they sent. I’ve had the guards arrange for them to stay where the dancers are. I’ll find time to inquire about their backgrounds. The ones with noble backgrounds will be sent to the gentlemen or generals as concubines, while the others will stay here as servants.”

At this point, Gao Xunzhi suddenly remembered something. “Rong, aren’t you going to pick a few maids for Old Madam Xiao?”

Xiao Rong nodded. “I was planning to. Ah Shu is a man and doesn’t understand many things.”

Gao Xunzhi smiled, “Well, how about you go and pick some too?”

Before Xiao Rong could speak, Qu Yunmie suddenly interrupted, “No!”

The two of them turned to look at him, and Qu Yunmie met their confused gazes, holding their stare for a few seconds before speaking. “We still don’t know whether these aristocrats are friends or foes. The women they brought also need to be observed for a while. For the safety of Old Madam Xiao, you should buy some maids from outside. At least the ones you buy won’t be spies planted by others.”

Xiao Rong raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected Qu Yunmie to make such a reasonable point.

He then turned to Gao Xunzhi and said, “The King has a point. Moreover, these women are of noble birth, so I can’t simply treat them as servants. Thank you for the kind suggestion, but I truly don’t want anyone I can’t trust staying in my home.”

Gao Xunzhi waved his hand in understanding and then stood up to arrange the women’s future. Since these women had been sent to be maids, their original fate couldn’t have been much better. At least here, no one would mistreat them.

Gao Xunzhi left, but Qu Yunmie stayed, staring at Xiao Rong with a strange look in his eyes.

After this incident, he suddenly noticed something he had never paid attention to before: Xiao Rong didn’t have any concubines.

Xiao Rong was handsome, almost as if he had walked out of a painting. How could it be that there wasn’t a single woman around him?

Qu Yunmie didn’t understand, and not understanding, he directly asked.

Xiao Rong: “…”

With a blank expression, Xiao Rong answered, “Because I’ve spent the last eight years traveling to study. My family couldn’t arrange a marriage for me. After I finished my studies, I came to join the King, and I couldn’t marry along the way. My principle is to only marry a wife, not take concubines, so I’ve been alone until now.”

Qu Yunmie let out an “oh” sound. “I thought it was because your health was too poor for marriage.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

My health may be poor, but everything still works fine!

He angrily retorted: “Why does the King ask me about this? I’m only nineteen this year, and yet you’re already twenty-four. Compared to me, isn’t it stranger that no one is around you, the King?”

Qu Yunmie was momentarily speechless.

He wasn’t the type of general who would never settle down, but since he moved to Southern Yong, there had always been people trying to arrange marriages for him, which he always refused.

First, he didn’t know how long he could live. Maybe tomorrow he would lose his head to someone else’s blade. Second, he really couldn’t stand women’s nagging. Whether it was Jian Qiao or Gongsun Yuan, once they got married, their temperaments changed. Jian Qiao became more home-loving and drank less, because his wife didn’t like him drinking. As for Gongsun Yuan… he suddenly developed a fondness for taking concubines.

….

He thought that sooner or later, he would get married. After all, he was a man, and men always had to start a family.

However, he couldn’t imagine the figure of his future wife. Even when he tried very hard to picture it, that figure remained blank, without even a general shape. In the end, he had to give up and vaguely told Xiao Rong, “My fate hasn’t yet arrived.”

Xiao Rong stared at him, speechless. He hadn’t expected that he was quite romantic and cared about fate. Who would be unlucky enough to have a fate with you? It would take blowing up a kindergarten in the previous life to end up bound to you in this one.

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Xiao Rong stiffened.

Because he suddenly realized that, in a way, he too was bound to Qu Yunmie.

No, they weren’t bound for life. Once he sent Qu Yunmie to the throne, he would be free.

Thinking this, Xiao Rong’s cold sweat quickly receded, and he laughed like he had just survived a disaster. Then he asked Qu Yunmie, “Would you like to have lunch with me, Your Majesty?”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

How can you eat so many meals every day?!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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