Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5051 Hexi Strategy
There was a thatched hut not far from the sluice gate. The servants placed the food and drinks they brought with them in the hut, cleaned it up briefly, and put two cushions in it.

Cheng Yaojin followed Xiao Yu into the thatched hut. His eyes suddenly went from the scorching sun outside to the dim light. It was difficult for him to adapt for a while. However, this hut was transparent from front to back, and the breeze blew through the hall, blocking the scorching sun, making it very cool and pleasant.

Seeing the servant opening a sealed rice barrel, lifting the tightly wrapped quilt inside, taking out some ice cubes and putting them into two exquisite glasses, and then pouring in the orange-yellow and transparent top-grade rice wine, Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but sigh: "In the past, I always heard people say that food is never too fine and meat is never too delicate. I used to think highly of myself and was complacent. Today, seeing my brother's extravagance, I know how poor we are."

Hexi lacked the materials for brewing rice wine, so this rice wine was obviously brought from Jiangnan. However, rice wine is very easy to deteriorate, and Jiangnan is thousands of miles away from Hexi. It took a lot of effort and money to properly preserve it along the way without breaking the jars and maintaining the quality of the wine.

Nowadays, ice cubes are sold in major cities all over the country, but the method of making ice is always kept in Fang Jun's hands, and no one can get it, so these ice cubes are likely brought from Chang'an...

Just this cup of iced rice wine costs no less than ten strings of cash.

Although they claim to be heroes of the Zhenguan period and live a luxurious life of wealth and luxury, they are still dwarfed by these truly top-notch families. The extravagant temperament that has been cultivated by the aristocratic families from generation to generation is indeed not something that can be learned with just some money.

Xiao Yu waved his hand casually, "When people get older, their bodies are damaged and broken. Naturally, they have to be more careful and meticulous in their daily lives. Money and material possessions are not the only things that can make you live more comfortably. Why not? My dear brother, you fought in many battles in your early years and suffered serious injuries. When you were young, you were strong and healthy, but in a few years, all kinds of hidden dangers will erupt. It's time to take good care of yourself. The ups and downs of people like us in the court are just passing clouds. We have endless money, countless beauties, and prosperous descendants. We should always live a few more years to enjoy it. Come on, have a drink to get rid of the summer heat."

The two men clinked their glasses, and the ice cubes in the glasses made a crisp and pleasant sound. They tilted their heads back and drank the rice wine in the glasses. The cold rice wine tasted sweet in their throats, and the heat in their bodies dissipated immediately.

"Comfortable!"

Cheng Yaojin burped and let out a long breath.

The servant placed some exquisite cakes, candied fruits, and dried game on the table, then left the shed.

The river is surging and the summer is scorching. In the distance, clerks are controlling the sluice gates to control the flow of water. The cool river water flows into the endless cotton fields. The cotton seedlings absorb water hungrily and strive to grow. The leaves sway slightly under the scorching sun, full of vitality.

The two of them clinked glasses and enjoyed themselves very much.

After drinking a jar of rice wine and eating some cakes and dried meat, Cheng Yaojin wiped his mouth and asked, "Brother just said that we came to Hexi to reclaim wasteland and plant cotton because Fang Er forced us to do so. Is that true?"

The servant handed over a mirror. Xiao Yu carefully wiped his beard with a handkerchief in front of the mirror. After confirming that it was clean, he took a sip of tea and sighed, "At the beginning, I ignored the opposition of my family and did not hesitate to damage my reputation. I insisted on marrying the daughter of the direct branch of the Xiao family to the Fang family as a concubine. I was optimistic about Fang Jun's bright future and his rapid rise to fame. One day, he would be able to help the Xiao family. But who would have thought that my vision was right. Fang Jun has made many achievements and held great power. Now he is one of the three highest officials and can be called the number one person in the court... But when has he ever helped me? Not only did he not help me, but he also used the whole set of "killing relatives for the sake of justice" on the Xiao family. It's really too much."

Cheng Yaojin nodded to show his sympathy.

The things between Fang Jun and the Xiao family had long been spread throughout the government and the public, and it was no longer a secret. According to common sense, Fang Jun and the Xiao family were relatives by marriage, which was an extremely solid relationship, enough for him to use the Xiao family as his helper in Jiangnan. While helping the Xiao family, he also controlled the entire Jiangnan through the Xiao family.

This was also Xiao Yu’s plan back then.

But Fang Jun did the opposite. Not only did he never treat the Xiao family with any favor, he also put the Xiao family first in everything, using both threats and deceptions. The Xiao family suffered countless losses...

What kind of in-laws are these?
It is not an exaggeration to say that they are enemies.

"Then why did the Xiao family come to Hexi this time?"

Xiao Yu shook his head and asked the servant to serve tea to Cheng Yaojin. "The contract for the Huating Salt Field is about to expire. Anyone who wants to continue leasing it needs to be auctioned fairly and the highest bidder wins. In addition, the maritime trade license will also be reviewed at the end of the year. All maritime merchant licenses in the Tang Dynasty are reviewed by the Huating Town Maritime Customs... That guy holds these two lifelines, so why don't we just let him do whatever he wants?"

"So Fang Er asked you to come to Hexi to reclaim land and plant cotton?"

"exactly."

Xiao Yu sighed repeatedly, seeming to be very aggrieved: "My lifeline is held in someone's hands, so I can only accept it. But that guy sent someone to tell me that we are relatives and should support him more, so the Xiao family should be the first to come to Hexi and set a good example."

Cheng Yaojin nodded. The Xiao family was indeed the first aristocratic family to come and reclaim and rent land. He couldn't help laughing, "Fang Er is really too much. When there are benefits, he uses them to win people's hearts. When there are no benefits, he lets his people rush forward... He is using the same tactics used in the army to deal with you aristocratic families."

But he was still suspicious: "Why does Fang Er have to grow cotton in Hexi?"

Xiao Yu said helplessly: "That guy is best at using economic means to deal with strategic issues. For example, he bought wool from the northern frontier without limit. This alone bought off the Hu people who had followed the Turks in wars for a hundred years. Now, sheep are herded everywhere on the northern frontier grasslands and wool is sheared every day. If you send it to the warehouse of the 'Eastern Datang Company', someone will buy it at a high price. As long as you raise a lot of sheep and shear a lot of wool, you can make money like copper coins and cloth. Everyone can make money and drink tea. Who would go around the world fighting with the Turks? Even if those Hu leaders want to continue to follow the Turks, their tribesmen won't let them do it!"

Cheng Yaojin agreed with this: "Throughout the ages, when facing foreign races, we always block the borders and prohibit trade, but we have never really restricted the rise of foreign races. The harsh climate on the grassland has created the tenacious character of the Hu people. The poorer and more difficult the situation is, the more determined they are and the more united they are. If the Han people don't give them what they want, they will come to rob them. However, Fang Er used wool to fix the Hu people on the grassland. The Hu people are also human beings. Who would be willing to risk their lives if they could live a satisfying life? Every time they went south to 'graze and harvest', outsiders only saw how much wealth they robbed and how many people they captured, but they didn't know that every time they attacked a Han city, the walls were covered with Hu corpses."

Whenever there was a war between the Hu and Han people, the Han people would sigh that the Hu people were fierce, brave, and fearless of death. But were the Hu people really not afraid of death?
Of course not.

Apart from cultural reasons, the most important thing is the difference in living environment between the two sides. Compared with the warm and humid land of the Han people, the Hu land is more desolate and barren. If there is a heavy snow in winter and too many livestock are frozen to death, the Hu people will have no way to survive and can only wait to die.

Since death is inevitable either way, why not ride your horse south, drink from the Yellow River, and risk your life to plunder the Han city?
Xiao Yu said: "So the reason why the Hu people came south is not because they covet the rich land of China, but because they are forced to live. Instead of wasting money and food and sacrificing manpower to fight against them, why not adopt a policy of appeasement, educate them with the kingly way, and turn hostility into friendship?"

Cheng Yaojin sneered: "This view has existed since ancient times, but have you ever noticed, brother, that anyone who agrees with this view is a useless and corrupt scholar?"

Xiao Yu looked unhappy: "Duke Lu is wrong!"

Out of shame and anger, he no longer called him "my dear brother" but just addressed him by his title.

Cheng Yaojin shook his head and said, "It's not right to call them 'corrupt scholars', but it's true that most of those who agree with this view have never been on the battlefield... Brother, there's no need to refute. These days, many students from academies come to Hexi to travel. I heard this statement when I was chatting with them. And they are not making up stories, but have read many history books to come to this conclusion."

After a pause, he teased, "Let's not talk about whether this view is right or wrong. I just want to ask you, brother, why did I never hear you hold such an opinion when Emperor Taizong was alive?"

Xiao Yu's old face flushed: "..."

Can we still have a pleasant chat if we stare at Cheng Yaojin?!
Who is Emperor Taizong?

His attitude towards the Hu people has always been "barbarians are beasts, they fear power but not virtue". If you can come to Chang'an to drink with me and dance with me, then you are a good friend, and I will not hesitate to reward you, even giving you a princess as your wife; if you invade my border, plunder my city, and kill my people, I will raise my entire army to pursue you and crush you into powder!
Tell such people, "Don't fight war, seek peace," and "Use the whole country's resources to win the hearts and minds of the barbarians"?
Cheng Yaojin also felt that he had said too much and felt very embarrassed, so he laughed: "So Fang Er's deep intention is to repeat the 'sheep shearing' trick and use cotton as a profit to tie the entire Hexi and the Central Plains together?"

After thinking about it carefully, I think this strategy is good.

The cotton from Hexi was imported into Guanzhong, Hebei, Shandong, and even Jiangnan. With the operation of looms and the hard work of weavers, it was woven into cotton cloth, which was circulated throughout the country and exported overseas. It became a luxury product like silk, porcelain, glass, and paper, and was dumped to countries all over the world, earning huge wealth. With huge profits as the bond, Hexi would truly be tied to the Tang Dynasty.

Xiao Yu said: "That's right. For the unification of the empire and long-term peace and stability, we, the aristocratic families, have traveled thousands of miles, tried our best, and devoted ourselves to it."

Cheng Yaojin touched his chin and disagreed with this set of arguments.

The aristocratic families only care about their own interests, where is the national justice?
So, growing cotton must be very profitable, and it has the potential to be a long-term business that will benefit generations to come.

For a moment, Cheng Yaojin felt that he was not so anxious to return to Chang'an...