Chapter 127 “Is bloodline really so important…”

Chapter 127 "Is Bloodline Truly That Important?"

"Brother Zhang, are you worried I might turn against the Liang State?" Jiang Congyan lowered her gaze, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the list in her hands.

"You know, ever since the previous dynasty, the Zhang family has governed Liangzhou for generations, never a day without battling the nomadic tribes. Half our sons meet their end on the battlefield—the land of Liangzhou is watered with blood. Moreover, our great-grandfather received the Founding Emperor's grace, and our grandfather once swore loyalty to Crown Prince Zhaowen, vowing to protect the Han people's land. No matter how incompetent the current Emperor of Liang may be, he would never allow the tribes they scorn to raise their blades against the Han."

"Grandfather served not the throne, but his ideals. I only fear that if Tuo Baxiao truly acts, you'll be caught in a dilemma," Zhang Xun sighed.

Jiang Congyan's scattered gaze gradually sharpened, finally coalescing into a bright, resolute expression. She lifted her long lashes and looked steadily at him: "Elder Brother, the world shifts unpredictably. I don’t know where the future will lead, but I can promise you this—as long as I live, I won’t allow Tuo Baxiao to massacre Han civilians."

The future? She had indeed pondered it, but the course of events was beyond her control. She didn’t even know whether Tuo Baxiao’s originally fated path would be altered by her in two years. This uncertainty left her future direction unclear, forcing her to feel her way forward.

For the first time, she felt so acutely how the rise and fall of a single person could reshape the world.

"Your words put me at ease," Zhang Xun said.

This had been his greatest concern. If Tuo Baxiao led his army to attack the Liang State, their grandfather would never stand idly by. If the two sides clashed, what would become of Chang Shengnu?

"Actually, Tuo Baxiao isn’t a mindless killer," Jiang Congyan added. "You must know about last year’s war against the Jie tribe—he only killed the warriors and noblemen who fought, sparing the commoners and merely relocating them to Tumochuan (a fertile plain) for farming. Elder Brother, you’ve long dealt with the Xiongnu and Qiang tribes beyond the frontier. You know how brutal they can be. Even among Han people, our own civil wars have spilled endless blood. Compared to them, Tuo Baxiao might even be considered merciful."

Zhang Xun shook his head. "Chang Shengnu, you still don’t understand. No matter how fiercely Han people fight among themselves, it’s still a struggle between their own. If outsiders intervene, they will never accept it."

Jiang Congyan frowned. "Is bloodline truly that important?"

"Yes!" Zhang Xun answered without hesitation. *"'Those not of our kind must have different hearts'"—these eight words are deeply ingrained in most people’s minds.*

Jiang Congyan relaxed slightly, leaning back in her chair.

Perhaps she had grown too accustomed to the blended nation of later eras. She didn’t care much about bloodline. To her, a ruler’s character, ability, and whether they could bring prosperity to the people mattered far more than so-called lineage. But people of this era wouldn’t agree, especially the haughty gentry, who would never allow the tribes they scorn to rule over them.

And they would sincerely believe this was for righteousness. Such beliefs couldn’t be overturned by human effort in a short time.

Seeing her despondency, Zhang Xun thought for a moment and said, "I have good news for you."

"What is it?"

"Qu Yao is here."

Jiang Congyan’s eyes instantly brightened. She straightened up. "Then bring him in now."

"Very well." Zhang Xun immediately called his attendant and gave instructions before asking her, "You only mentioned having a major business deal to discuss with him. What is it? Can you tell me now?"

Jiang Congyan smiled faintly. "Patience—you’ll see."

Qu Yao was from Youfufeng.

Six years ago, Qu Yao’s wife and son were returning home for a funeral when they were ambushed by bandits and nearly killed. They were saved by Jiang Congyan’s people.

This son was his only heir, treasured like his own life. Saving their lives was an immense favor. Qu Yao sought her out, weeping and vowing to repay her. Jiang Congyan seized the opportunity to propose he handle grain procurement for her.

Liangzhou had merchant caravans, but few traveled to and from the Liang State, especially large ones that might draw the Emperor of Liang’s attention. Moreover, transportation was underdeveloped, and many regions were wary of strangers, preferring to trade only with familiar faces, creating many obstacles.

The Qu family had been merchants for generations, with far-reaching networks across the Liang State. Grain, tea, wine, and silk were their main trades. Like other wealthy merchants, the Qu family relied on the backing of several aristocratic clans and had long-established relationships everywhere.

Liangzhou’s barren land was too barren to grow much grain. Even the army often went hungry, only receiving full rations during wartime. Jiang Congyan had been seeking ways to secure food supplies.

She chose Qu Yao for no other reason than having once read a fragmented record: he lost his wife and son in middle age, and his clan perished under the Xiongnu’s hooves. Later, he followed the court south, spending his entire fortune to help Xie Shao recruit men to resist the Xiongnu, becoming a widely praised righteous merchant of his time.

Many such acts of righteousness existed, but only a fortunate few were remembered. Most people and deeds were lost to time.

Knowing that Qu Yao would lose his son, Jiang Congyan had long ordered people to investigate and kept a close watch in secret. When she heard his wife was taking their son home for a funeral, she keenly sensed this might be the critical moment and dispatched more personnel.

Sure enough, her people saved the two from the hands of mountain bandits.

At first, Qu Yao wanted to repay her kindness with generous gold and silver, but she refused. She only asked him to use his own connections to secretly purchase grain for her, with all expenses for grain, carts, and horses covered by her.

Of course, he was reluctant—it was far too dangerous.

"Liangzhou is the strategic chokehold between the barbarians and Liang. Without sufficient provisions, how can our soldiers fight? The men of Liang shed blood and lay down their lives for the sake of Liang's land. Can you bear to see them die for lack of food? Moreover, if Liangzhou falls, how long can Liang's territory last under the barbarians' hooves? If the land is in turmoil, how can its people ever live in peace?"

The Qu family, as a prominent merchant clan, was no stranger to politics. He understood all too well Liangzhou's precarious and difficult position.

Jiang Congyan wove emotion and logic into her appeal. Qu Yao, steeped in a sense of duty, ultimately agreed.

Over the years of cooperation, he had secured over 30,000 *dan* of grain annually for Liangzhou, contributing greatly.

Within a quarter-hour, Qu Yao arrived.

He was a man in his early forties, dressed in a hemp robe softened with wear, with a comfortably rounded frame and soft, rounded features that made him appear amiable—someone people naturally wanted to chat with.

The moment he saw the two, his eyes creased into a smile, and he hastily bowed. "This lowly one greets the young master and lady—ah, no, I suppose I should now address you as Princess."

Zhang Xun, accustomed to this old fox’s ever-smiling face, didn't even lift his eyelids. "Enough with the theatrics."

Jiang Congyan said, "You may still call me 'young lady.'"

Qu Yao straightened up. "It's been years since we last met, young lady. You’ve changed beyond recognition—if not for the young master here, I wouldn’t have dared to recognize you."

After briefly catching up—mostly with Qu Yao doing the talking—they returned to the main topic.

"What exactly is the business mentioned in your letter, young lady?" Qu Yao asked.

Jiang Congyan parted her lips and slowly uttered a single word: "Sugar."

"Sugar?"

They blurted in unison, turning to look at her.

"To be precise, crystal sugar and brown sugar."

Crystal sugar, also known as cane sugar, was far more popular than maltose or barley malt. This type of sugar was first introduced from the Western Regions, but with the trade routes cut off by the Xiongnu, crystal sugar had become worth its weight in gold.

"Young lady, are you planning to open a new trade route?" Qu Yao asked.

Jiang Congyan shook her head. "No."

"Then how...?" Qu Yao was puzzled.

"I possess sugar-making techniques and intend to plant sugarcane in Lingnan. Once established, we won't need the Western Regions to produce crystal sugar. Now that’s a golden opportunity, wouldn’t you say?"

"But young lady, you're all the way up in Xianbei. How can you manage affairs in Lingnan across thousands of miles?"

"I have my own methods. That’s my affair to manage. Just tell me whether you're willing to take on this lucrative venture with me."

Qu Yao had initially thought it remarkable that such a young lady could accomplish what she had. Only now did he realize with a start that what he had seen was likely just the tip of the iceberg—beyond his sight lay depths of influence beyond imagining.

Steadying himself, Qu Yao lifted his gaze and asked, "What’s my role in this, young lady?"

The ever-present amiable expression on his face vanished. His features remained soft, but in that moment, he radiated the authority of a merchant patriarch.

"It’s about the same issue—food supplies."

Qu Yao's imposing demeanor lasted only a few seconds before his expression faltered, and he looked at Lady Jiang with hesitation.

"Lady Jiang, the weather has grown colder these past two years, especially last year. I heard even the southern regions were hit by blizzards. Those wealthy households will surely be even more reluctant to sell their grain now."

"That’s why I’m telling you to barter sugar for it."

"No sugar unless they pay in grain."

Jiang Congyan also knew that, given the current situation, more and more wealthy households would choose to hoard grain. They understood that in turbulent times, grain was more valuable than gold.

But every bit counts.

She didn’t have many contacts down south, but there was Huan Jun. Jiang Congyan believed he would cooperate with her on this matter—she had already sent him a letter.

He had gone south last year, and after more than half a year, he should have established himself by now. Now was the time to make his move.

"How much sugar can you produce, Lady Jiang?"

"Way more than you’d think," Jiang Congyan replied.

After a long deliberation, Qu Yao finally agreed to Jiang Congyan’s request.

Sugar could be exchanged for grain, but it could also be traded for other things. Controlling the sugar trade alone was its own kind of leverage and profit.

Jiang Congyan waited until Qu Yao agreed before laying out her plan.

A contact in the imperial court!

Even Zhang Xun did a double take.

——

That night, Tuo Baxiao made it back before sundown.

Seeing her sitting in the main hall with a stack of papers on the table, he walked over and asked, dropping a quick kiss on her cheek, "What are you looking at?"

The air had turned warmer, and Jiang Congyan wrinkled her nose at the scent of sweat on him, shoving his sweaty chest away.

"Here’s what I’m thinking—to stop another Murong Tribe situation, we should strengthen our control over the various tribes. What do you think?"

"Hmm, you make a good point. But how?" He plopped down next to her, fiddling with her fingers.

Jiang Congyan side-eyed him and yanked her hand out of his grasp, picking up a document from the table to show him.

"Why not copy the Central Plains’ system? Hand out official titles to the big shots. Any change in leadership must be approved by you, with a new commission issued to be considered legitimate. Anyone who bucks this is a traitor."

Tuo Baxiao’s green eyes lit up, but he said, "We Xianbei don’t do paperwork."

"Then how about using Chinese?"