Chapter 670: Harmon
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After Yin Huaixi took guard of the North, he put a lot of effort into creating an “escort” business that specializes in traveling up to the North. It indeed brought in more trade, and the North had become much more prosperous. However, the lives of the people in the lower cla.s.ses had not improved much.
Meanwhile, Yu Youyao’s actions had indeed brought about greater improvements to the people.
In this aspect, he was far inferior to Yu Youyao.
The steward did not know what he was thinking. “Not only did Eldest Miss buy land in Youzhou, but she also bought farmsteads and mountains in all the towns in the North. The farmsteads are planted with sweet potatoes and peanuts, and the mountains were planted with pine, elm, and wood. These are all trees that can last for more than ten years in the North. Eldest Miss said that these wood will become material in the future. In the long run, the people will be able to reap great benefits. The job of planting trees is also handed over to the families of the martyrs and poor soldiers.”
Pine, elm, and wood were all commonly used wood in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Wood was not cheap to begin with. After they are fully grown, it is a guaranteed profit.
Everybody knew that the North had been dry during the past two years. Eldest Miss had long been worried about a drought, so she bought a lot of mountains and asked the families of the martyrs and poor soldiers to plant trees. With work and money in hand, their families could also stock up on food. If there was a drought, they wouldn’t starve to death.
Eldest Miss also said, “l have more than enough money. Planting trees is a hundred-year plan. If I can benefit and help others along the way, why wouldn’t I do it?”
The steward continued, “Not only that, but Eldest Miss also brought chestnuts, walnuts, and so on from other places to the North to plant. She said that these dried fruits are very adaptable to the environment, so they can definitely be planted. There’s nothing we can do about the lack of supplies in the North, but we can create better conditions for people. Dry fruits are also valuable. In the future, when we promote agriculture in the North, it will also be an income.’
Only then did Yin Huaixi realize how much the little girl had done for him and the North.
As they traveled, there were stewards who were proficient in agriculture who followed them and recorded the crop situation everywhere. Thinking of how Heavenly Works had benefited Qianqiu, they also felt that this was a good move.
It was only now that Yin Huaixi realized that Yu Youyao had a long term plan. Without a steward who was proficient in agriculture, how could Yu Youyao know that chestnuts were adaptable to the environment and could live in the North?
As the steward was born and raised in the North, he had many things to say regarding this. “So far, Eldest Miss has lived in the North for 16 types of crops obtained from other places. Eldest Miss said that this was also inspired by sweet potatoes. Although the soil and water of the land determine what crops can grow on it, as long as we understand the nature of how the crops grow and find someone who can proficiently plant them, we can adapt them to different habitats. This is much easier than planting some new seeds without knowing how they will grow. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t succeed immediately. She can just try again to plant them which would just take a little more time and effort. Once she succeeds, it’ll be a blessing to the North…” When the steward mentioned Eldest Miss, he had endless things to say.
Yin Huaixi was also happy to listen, so he did not interrupt. Thinking of Yu Youyao, who was far away in the capital, he was both proud and happy. At that moment, he lost the mood to inspect.
Immediately, he rode his horse and raised his whip, rushing back to the Yue Fei Kings Residence.
Currently, Uncle Sun was performing acupuncture on Yin Yi.
Yin Yi was Yin Huaixi’s personal guard and also his subst.i.tute. He had eaten and lived with him since he was young. Back then, on the battlefield in the North, it was also Yin Yi who protected him from being trampled to death by the chaotic horses.
At that time, Yin Yi’s leg was broken by a horse.
Yin Huaixi had specially brought Uncle Sun back with him. He planned to let Uncle Sun help Yin Yi recuperate first. The next time he returned, he would let Uncle Sun treat Yin Yi’s leg.
Yin Yi wore a mask and called out respectfully, “Young Master.”
Yin Huaixi nodded and asked Uncle Sun, “How’s his health?”
Uncle Sun rolled his eyes. “His health is much better than yours back then.
After recuperating carefully for a while, he can be treated with acupuncture.”
All these years, Eldest Miss Yu had also made all kinds of incense medicine, so Yin Yi’s leg had been recuperating well.
Yin Huaixi nodded and asked, “How’s the deployment at the narrow Yu Pa.s.s?”
Yin Yi replied, “Young Master, don’t worry. We’ve already sealed the entrance to the narrow Yu Pa.s.s according to your instructions. No one is allowed to enter or leave the place for a month. We’ll also send troops to guard all the entrances.”
Yin Huaixi said calmly, “Send the defense map of the narrow Yu Pa.s.s to Harmon and tell him to meet there in ten days. Of course, that’s if he dares to come.”
Since it was a deal, both sides had to show a certain amount of sincerity.
The narrow Yu Pa.s.s was the first line of defense between the North and the Northern Barbarians. Although it was in the North’s territory, both sides had a way out.
If Harmon wanted to make a deal with him, he had to follow his rules.
He had sent someone to send over the defense map of the narrow Yu Pa.s.s. With it, Harmon could also make some preparations, so that he wouldn’t be too pa.s.sive when he arrived there.
This was also his sincerity.
Three days later, Yin Huaixi received a message from Harmon, who agreed to meet at the Yu Pa.s.s.
Harmon was not a fool. Although the narrow Yu Pa.s.s was the Great Zhou’s territory, the Di people had been plundering in the narrow Yu Pa.s.s all year round and were very familiar with the nearby terrain. They also had a way out.
The North was also suffering from a drought. As long as King Yue Fei was not too stupid, he would not act rashly.
Moreover, the warhorses of the Northern Barbarians had always been a rare resource of the Great Zhou Dynasty. King Yue Fei would definitely be more than happy to have them.
He had taken a step back when he made the trade request.
King Yue Fei requested to meet at the narrow Yu Pa.s.s. Then, he sent over a defensive map and also advanced and retreated.
Since both sides had made a concession, they had already expressed their sincerity.
He had no reason to refuse.
Seven days later, Yin Huaixi brought a thousand elite troops and personally headed to the narrow Yu Pa.s.s. Harmon also brought a thousand elite troops and led them there.
Both sides had a tacit understanding. The places where they camped were separated by a distance.
After resting for a while, on the third day after the two sides set up camp, Yin Huaixi and Harmon met on the top of a mountain at the narrow Yu Pa.s.s.
Harmon was almost 40 years old. He was tall and burly, with a short beard under his nose, looking very heroic and strong.
Seeing Yin Huaixi standing on the school canopy, Harmon was very shocked. Wariness and fear appeared in his eyes. He stared at Yin Huaixi’s legs and subconsciously tightened his grip on the scimitar at his waist.
Yin Huaixi’s leg had actually recovered?!
He immediately felt fear. For a moment, he even thought that it would be best to make a deal with King Yue Fei this time.
This was a good start. If the deal could continue, both sides could also have a truce.
King Li of Zhou of the Great Zhou had guarded the North for many years, but the Northern Barbarians had not gained anything. Instead, they had suffered heavy losses in the battle six years ago and had yet to recover.
In the past two years, King Yue Fei had been guarding the North and the two sides had fought several times to test each other. Harmon felt that King Yue
Fei was even more difficult to deal with than King Li of Zhou.
If they continued to fight, the Northern Barbarians would definitely suffer..