Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

After seeing Prince Lip off, Xia Yu turned back to find the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, my fourth uncle, Zhang Chengwen, is currently in the capital reporting for duty and has not yet received his assignment. I wonder if it would be possible for him to accompany me to complete this task? Having a close elder by my side will make me more courageous.”

"Your fourth uncle?" the Emperor asked.

"Yes, that's right. The magistrate of Qingyuan County just came to the capital a few days ago," Xia Yu said.

The Emperor didn't immediately recall Zhang Chengwen, but he understood Xia Yu's meaning. Firstly, she wanted her fourth uncle to have a name on her behalf. Secondly, it wasn't appropriate for a young woman like her to travel with several Russians; having a close elder to look after her would be much more convenient.

"Very well, I grant your permission. I will issue the decree tomorrow."

"Your Majesty, I thank you. Long live the Emperor!" Xia Yu kowtowed on the ground.

After leaving the study, she saw Grand Tutor Li waiting outside and winked quietly.

The next morning, the Emperor's decree was issued to the inn where Zhang Chengwen was staying, making the other officials in the inn who were returning to the capital to report on their duties extremely envious.

After the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree left, an official who was staying at the inn with him clasped his hands in greeting to Zhang Chengwen.

"Congratulations, Brother Chengwen! You've already secured a job on just five days since arriving in the capital. Unlike me, I still have an indefinite wait! Sigh!"

“Brother Mingfang, I’m just temporarily accompanying the delegation from the Duchy of Moss on this trip; it’s only a matter of a few days. Don’t worry, brother. You’ve done a great job in your position, consistently receiving excellent evaluations from your superiors. Getting a better job is only a matter of time. Why not take these few days to relax and rest?” Zhang Chengwen said to the man in a very modest manner.

"Brother Chengwen is absolutely right. I should go out for a stroll too, so I don't get impatient waiting here in the inn." After saying that, he looked at Zhang Chengwen and said...

"Brother Chengwen, don't be so modest. You've got such a good job, so you have to treat me to a drink today. Don't be stingy."

"Haha, Brother Mingfang wants to drink. Even if I didn't have this job, I would still accompany you. Come on, let's go have some drinks." Zhang Chengwen laughed heartily, then put his arm around Chen Fangming's shoulder and walked towards another very famous restaurant.

"Who was that man just now?" A bright young girl asked from the carriage outside the inn, watching the two people leave.

"Which one is Miss referring to?" The maid next to her peeked out, but the street was full of people, and she didn't see any unusual men!

"That's the one who was laughing heartily just now."

"Miss, I didn't see it," the little maid said in a soft voice.

"What were you looking at just now?" the young lady asked, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance.

"I was watching that guy next to me making clay figurines!"

"You little brat, you're driving me crazy."

Over the next few days, Xia Yu, along with two officials from the Court of State Ceremonial and Zhang Chengwen (his fourth uncle), accompanied the delegation to various scenic spots and restaurants in the capital.

Grand Tutor Li felt sorry for her working so hard every day, so he advised her to rest and not take them to every tourist attraction. He suggested that Zhang Haoran take over for two days. But Xia Yu felt that this was a publicly funded trip, what was tiring about it? She was more than happy to enjoy it, let alone explore the capital. As long as the Emperor was willing to pay and provide the people, she would have no objection to leading them all over Dahuai.

However, that was just a thought. She didn't have the time to actually let him take people on a wild ride around Dahuai; she had too many other things to do.

Five or six days passed, and then Eunuch Li, who served the Emperor, came out to deliver a message.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has said that he may meet with you alone tomorrow. I wonder if Your Highness is available?"

After hearing Xia Yu's translation, Prince Lip was visibly excited and hurriedly replied...

"I've been waiting for news from the Emperor."

During his recent trip, Prince Lippe has made up his mind to seize Japan's share of fine salt. This way, his own people won't have to spend exorbitant prices to buy fine salt anymore.

The following day, accompanied by Xia Yu, Prince Lip met privately with the Emperor in the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, I have something to discuss with you, and it would be best if no one else heard it,” Prince Lip said to the Emperor, glancing at the servants in the study.

Li Dequan received the Emperor's gaze and understood. He immediately bowed and led the others out of the study, leaving only the three of them inside.

"Your Majesty, Japan has been in contact with you for years, hoping to cooperate in taking over some of Da Huai's lands, but your Majesty has refused all our requests."

"Yes, I know about this matter. Your Majesty's choice was correct." The Emperor's expression remained unchanged, as if he had known all along.

Upon hearing the Emperor's reply, Prince Lip showed a hint of surprise. However, thinking of the Japanese translator, it wasn't surprising anymore; it must have been that person who said it. But then he regretted it a little. He should have known better than to hand that translator over to Dai Huai; then the message he was conveying would have carried more weight.

“Your Majesty, I think that Japan has always been eyeing your country covetously, so we should teach them a lesson!” Prince Lip said sternly.

"Oh, I wonder what kind of hardship Prince Lipp thinks they should be given?" the Emperor asked, seemingly quite interested.

"It would be best not to sell them fine salt," Lip suggested earnestly to the Emperor.

"Hmm, not bad. We really shouldn't give them any more fine salt." The Emperor nodded with a smile, agreeing with the other party's words.

Just the day before yesterday, news came from the border that the main force had completed its assembly at the border between Japan and Ōkata. They should be fighting by now!

Speaking of which, we should thank Russia. If it weren't for them waiting for a reply from this side at the border every year for the past few years, Da Huai would have had to send troops there every year, and the number of troops would never have decreased. In order to be ready for war at any time, training would not be neglected for a single day, and Da Huai can now be said to have a strong and well-equipped army.

Since Japan isn't behaving itself, let's show them the might of the Dahuai army. It's fortunate that we've been deploying troops to the Russian border every year for the past few years; this year, when the army assembled again, it didn't attract the slightest attention from Japan. They thought it was another trip to the Russian border.

Thinking of this, the Emperor's smile widened, and he repeatedly praised Prince Lip.

“What the prince said makes a lot of sense. I have already made up my mind. Starting this year, I will no longer sell fine salt to Japan. Japan’s share will be given to the Duchy of Mos.”

Upon hearing the Emperor's promise, Prince Lipp was stunned with surprise. He had prepared other things to say, but before he could even use them, the Emperor had already agreed.

However, his stunned silence lasted only a moment. He immediately stood up, placed his right hand on his left chest, and bowed to the emperor in gratitude.

"On behalf of our Emperor and all the people of the Duchy of Mos, I sincerely thank you, Your Majesty, the Great Emperor of Great Huai."

"Haha, don't be so polite. You're Da Huai's friends, and we're always very generous to our friends."