Golden Branch

"...A Mian, this merit should be credited!"

Wang Heng looked at the grain, meat, etc. shipped out from several large farms and breeding farms, and couldn't help but say silently in her heart.

Amian, you really helped her and her brother a lot.

Not to mention all the previous "miracle tricks", just this time, my brother wants to build a canal to support the prince, oh no, now the crown prince.

In order to maintain the "benevolent rule" that the prince implemented in the river channel, a large amount of extra money and grain would have to be paid.

The imperial court will not pay for these, but will have to pay out of their own pockets.

The task of managing the canal fell on Lou Yu. Lou Yu was in charge of supervising river affairs in various sections of the river, while Wang Heng would stay in the rear to provide him with sufficient logistical support.

The canal runs through the north and south, involving several states and counties, and mobilized hundreds of thousands of laborers.

The daily expenses of these people are definitely a huge number.

More importantly, the current supplies are not sufficient.

Many times, even if you have money, you can’t buy the food, meat, and eggs you want.

Wang Heng must be thankful that she and Amian have accumulated six or seven years of experience.

There are farms owned by Wang Heng and Wang Mian in Hedong, Yizhou, Qingzhou, Qizhou and other places.

They also had fleets that not only conducted overseas trade but also transported supplies from south to north.

In recent years, grains, fruits and vegetables from the southern border have been continuously transported to the seaports in Qi by shipping.

Then it was transported by land to Yizhou and other prefectures and counties.

It can even be transported to the capital.

Wang Heng and Wang Mian made a lot of money by selling southern goods in the north.

While making money, it also enriches one's own granary.

In places like Lou's Fort and Wang's Village, Wang Heng stored enough food to feed tens of thousands of people for three years.

Every year when the new grain comes in, the old grain in the granary is taken out and either sold or used up, and then the new grain is replenished.

This has been happening over and over again for the past six or seven years.

The "granaries" under the names of Wang Heng and Lou Yu basically contained new grain that was less than two years old.

Moreover, their "granary" is not limited to Qi.

When the imperial court built a new capital and prepared to move it, Lou Yu ordered people to enter Chang'an in advance.

At that time, Wang Mian was still thinking about getting a share of the pie in Xincheng.

Unfortunately, there are too many powerful people and the waters in the new city are too complicated. Even Lou Yu, the "nephew" of Duke Anguo, finds it difficult to participate in the division of the big pie of the capital.

The capital city is too important, and countless powerful people are eyeing it. Even if you manage to rush in, you can only get some scraps from the corners.

Such a "useless" thing still costs favors and money.

Lou Yu simply took a different approach. Instead of competing for core interests such as the new city, he frantically bought land around Chang'an.

In Longshouyuan and Mount Li, Lou Yu ordered people to purchase a large number of barren mountains and wastelands.

These places were not developed in a hurry, but instead storage yards and granaries were built first.

Materials from Qi were transported to the capital, and these places served as transit stations and warehouses.

Lou Yu’s line is very long.

He even built farms and granaries in his hometown of Longxi.

The retired veterans of the Lou family army and the troops raised by Lou Yu himself were all dispersed and deployed to these places.

After six or seven years of development, the output of his own farm and the materials purchased from all over the southern border were all transported to various granaries.

This time, Lou Yu dared to "get angry" with Lou Jin and only borrowed soldiers but not food. He relied on the supplies accumulated over the years as his confidence.

Wang Heng didn't know that Lou Yu was already fighting a desperate battle with the Turks in the northwest, nor did she know that Lou Yu was using granaries from all over the country to replenish the army's consumption.

She just thought Lou Yu was still along the canal——

The cost of digging canals and repairing various sections of the river is no less than that of mobilizing a large army.

The Lou family army had 100,000 soldiers, and the civilian laborers along the river also numbered 100,000.

If the granaries in various places are not enough, then we will continue to allocate grain from Qi or even Yizhou.

The farms, breeding farms, etc. under the names of Wang Heng and Wang Mian also began to be "cleared out".

Carriages and boats kept coming and going. Wang Heng saw piles of rice, meat, etc. being shipped out. Even though she didn't care about these material things, she still felt a little pain in her heart.

These are the "family assets" that she and Amian have accumulated over the years.

Especially Amian. Without her magical skills, the crops on the farm would not be so productive and the pigs on the farm would not be so fat.

"A Mian, thanks to you!"

Wang Heng spoke softly to Wang Mian.

Her merit book is already filled with Wang Mian's name.

It will take some time for the imperial court to grant the title.

But Wang Heng couldn't wait forever.

There was something Wang Heng had been thinking about for a long time.

With the return of Wang Lin and others, Wang Heng gained the power to make decisions in the Wang family, and this matter could be easily accomplished.

She looked at Wang Mian and asked seriously, "A Mian, are you willing to join the Wang family of Yizhou?"

Wang Mian was stunned for a moment.

Alliance?

Is that what she meant?

As long as they could unite their clans and continue their family tree, would their family transform from lowly farm slaves into a noble family?!

Although the Wang family of Yizhou is not as famous as the Wang family of Langya, it has also been passed down for more than 200 years.

There is also the head of the family, Wang Heng.

Wang Mian believed in her eldest daughter. She felt that it would not be long before the Wang family of Yizhou would become famous throughout the world.

The Wang family of Langya was indeed glorious, but it has become history.

The noble families in the north would not allow the old powerful families such as Wang and Xie to "revive".

Wang Mian didn't understand the aristocratic family, but she had learned that poem—

"In the old days, the swallows in front of Wang Xietang flew into the homes of ordinary people."

This is a poem from the Tang Dynasty, which means that during the Tang Dynasty, the thousand-year-old prominent families such as Wang and Xie had already declined.

Dayu, an imaginary dynasty similar to the Tang Dynasty, would probably follow this historical trend.

Old clans such as Wang and Xie were destined to be replaced by the emerging northern families and submerged in the long river of history.

The Wang family of Yizhou might become the new aristocratic family of Dayu.

By being related to the Wang family, Wang Mian would be a daughter of an aristocratic family and no longer be bound by the constraints of family background.

Not to mention anything else, even Shen Du might be able to let her become his formal disciple instead of being some so-called "outer disciple".

There is also the matter of marriage... That handsome, elegant man is from a noble family.

If she became a daughter of aristocratic family, she would be with him——

Wang Mian was moved.

Seeing this, Wang Heng continued, "Actually, the villagers of Wangjiamiao were originally farmers of the Wang family."

The so-called "farmers" could be tribesmen, tenant farmers, or impoverished clansmen.

More than two hundred years ago, they might have been blood brothers, but they became a side branch and then fell into decline.

They are all from the Wang family, with the direct branch being the dominant one and the declining side branches becoming slaves.

The villagers of Wangjiamiao were lucky enough to break away from the Wang family during a war and become free commoners.

However, Wangjia Temple has a deep connection with the Wang family.

As the head of the family, Wang Heng can renew this relationship and allow Wang Mian and his family to "return to their roots."

"Amian, I know you are a proud person, with pride and persistence!"

"However, this is not my mercy or charity, but the reward you deserve for your efforts over the years."

"A Mian, you should know that I have treated you as a good sister since seven years ago."

Wang Heng's voice was low, but her tone was firm.

She really never treated Wang Mian as a pariah.

Perhaps, Wang Heng is still arrogant and is the dominant one in front of Wang Mian.

Wang Mian was more of her study partner and little follower.

But, in Wang Heng's heart, Wang Mian is always different.

Just like Zheng Shisan, he also grew up with Wang Heng.

However, Wang Heng values ​​and is closer to Wang Mian.

Amian is her sister.

Zheng Shisan and others are far behind.

Wang Mian looked back at Wang Heng deeply. She knew how good Jiu Niang was to her.

Jiu Niang allowed her to join the clan as a "reward" and also as a token of their long-standing friendship, which she also knew.

As for the pride that Jiu Niang was worried about... Alas, after traveling through time and space for so many years, Wang Mian was always hit hard and burdened by her identity and family background many times. She had long lost the sense of superiority of a time-traveling woman.

In fact, if he is not afraid of "destroying his own prestige", even in modern times, Wang Mian is just an ordinary person.

The newly graduated female college student is willing to work like a slave for a salary of 3,000 yuan.

I’m not a powerful person to begin with, so I can’t become a Mary Sue or a heroine just by traveling through time!

The magical skills of time travel that she knew about were not that important in ancient times.

For thousands of years, the Celestial Empire has been a society of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans.

Studying and becoming an official are the orthodox and most honorable ways.

Wang Mian’s magical methods are just “techniques” at best.

Was there no gunpowder in ancient times?

Were there no agricultural experts in ancient times who could improve farm tools and increase production?

The answer is yes.

However, in history, has there ever been a high-ranking official who was granted a title and an official position and reached the pinnacle of power by making gunpowder and farming?

Even if there was, in the eyes of orthodox court officials, it was just a lucky promotion.

Having a good background, literary and military skills, or even good looks are all more useful than being a time traveler!

Wang Mian made a sad discovery: Damn, I seem to have been assimilated!

But she really couldn't refuse.

“…I, I’ll think about it!”

Wang Mian hesitated, struggled, and slowly said this sentence.

Wang Heng had anticipated Wang Mian's hesitation.

Amian is such a proud person, she is independent, strong and she likes to rely on herself!

Wang Heng really wanted to tell Amian: Independence is not isolation, and there is no need to compete with yourself.

Relying on yourself is really amazing.

But if you can rely on your family background and connections, it’s actually not bad.

True independence does not mean relying solely on one person, but being able to mobilize more and more favorable resources.

There is no shame in taking shortcuts.

There is only one dead end, which is sad.

She could have taken a less detour, but she refused to do so in order to prove something. In Wang Heng's opinion, this was not pride, but rather—

Well, Amian is her good sister, she can't call her "stupid".

She may not understand some of Amian's actions, but she will respect them.

Wang Heng smiled sweetly, "Yes, this matter is of great importance and truly requires careful consideration!"

Wang Mian: ...Jiu Niang, don’t smile like that, it’s simply a beauty attack.

Wang Heng, who has lost weight, has begun to show the outline of a stunning beauty.

A bright smile is enough to captivate a whole country.

Tsk, they are both in their prime, Jiu Niang is so beautiful that she doesn’t seem like an ordinary person, and she, uh, okay, Wang Mian is also beautiful, but she can’t be in the same frame with Jiu Niang, otherwise she will easily become a background board.

Tsk tsk, the thinner Jiu Niang has lost her cuteness and become more beautiful. If the little pervert sees such a beauty, he will definitely be surprised!

……

Lou? The little pervert? Yu, is still fighting bravely on the front line.

He had the well-trained and brave Lou family army, sufficient logistical supplies, and the determination to defeat the Turks.

Just as Yang Rui expected, this battle against the Turks was probably the only time in Lou Yu's life that he led an army.

Lou Yu told himself countless times in his heart that this was the only chance and he must not miss it!

He not only wants to win, but also wants to win perfectly and will not leave himself with any regrets.

Therefore, after repelling the Turkish cavalry that was advancing straight into the country, Lou Yu was not satisfied. Instead, he began to chase the Turkish fleeing soldiers, all the way from Jingzhou, out of Sanguan, rushing into the northwest, and directly attacking the royal court of the Turkic Khan.

Unfortunately, the Turks were nomadic, and the so-called royal court was not a fixed royal city.

Wherever the Khan's tent is, there the royal court is.

Lou Yu fought his way into the desert and grassland, defeated several small tribes, but failed to find the Turkic Khan.

Lou Yu felt regretful, but had to give up.

Because at this time, half a year had passed since he led his troops out of Beijing.

He fought on New Year's Day, the Lantern Festival, and even Lou Yu's birthday.

After half a year, all the soldiers, including Lou Yu, were exhausted.

This is not the worst thing. The most troublesome thing is that Lou Yu led the army deep into the enemy territory, the front line was too long, and the logistical supply was cut off.

Lou Yu promptly adopted the strategy of "fighting to support fighting", but it could not last long.

Especially since the northwest is too vast and the Turkic tribes are too scattered.

Unable to find the royal court or the main force, Lou Yu’s army would be wasted.

Supplies and other things can be maintained for the time being.

However, once morale is depleted, problems can easily arise.

All the soldiers of the Lou family army were willing to follow Lou Yu to the battle. Firstly, Lou Yu's surname was Lou and he held the Lou family heirloom. Secondly, they also wanted to get promoted and make money.

In the Dayu Dynasty, military achievements were the most important.

As long as the soldiers of the government who came from ordinary people made merits, they could cross the class ladder.

At worst, there are gains from the battlefield. When you return home, you can buy land and a house, and the family can live a good life.

Lou Yu's army, in the vast northwest, was unable to engage in a decisive battle with the main force and could only fight small battles. The soldiers had no chance to achieve merit or make a fortune!

Lou Yu had no choice but to give up and returned to the capital with several captured small tribal leaders.

Ashidemin, the leader of the second largest Turkic tribe: ... Damn it, you are just a small leader, my aunt is the old Khan's Khaganaten, and the current Turkic Khan is my cousin!

And he, Ashidemin, was the Left Wise King of the Turks.

What Lou Yu thought was an imperfect result was actually quite significant:

They defeated the Turkic cavalry and wiped out more than ten tribes, large and small.

More than 20,000 Turkic soldiers were killed or captured.

More than tens of thousands of war horses, cattle, sheep, etc. were seized.

He also transported the second-in-command of the Turkic royal court and several nobles to the capital in prison carts.

The new emperor Yang Chong had just ascended the throne when he received a "congratulatory gift" from the Turks, which made the emperor very happy.

"This kid is worthy of being a descendant of the Lou family!"

A natural born general.

Since you have made military achievements, you should be rewarded.

Lou Yu defeated the Turks on the surface, but in fact, he also assisted in the Xuanwu Gate Rebellion.

When Yang Chong thought of the emperor's surprise and despair when he mobilized his troops and was told that the Lou family army had been transferred out of the imperial city, he was filled with joy.

The former emperor used the Dugu family to win over Lou Jin.

Lou Yu also used Dugu to stab the former emperor in the back.

This... can be considered as karma.

"Lou Yu, conferred the title of Duke of Kaiguo County, and granted the fiefdom of Qizhou!"