Forced to Ascend the Throne after Transmigrating

Chapter 301: Glass

The miasma in Chen State was caused by rotting leaves.

Chen State has many trees and is blessed with unique natural conditions. If you want to get into it, you must find a way to tear open a hole.

“Here, here, and here.” Ye Shuo pointed to the map.

Prince Ding had fought in wars, and Wei Wen came from a family of military generals, and was best at analysing maps and terrain. Xing Yucheng was a typical scholar, and was slightly inferior in this respect.

After reading it, Prince Ding and Wei Wen nodded at the same time: “Your Majesty, these are indeed some excellent breakthrough points.”

Judging from the map alone, several places are relatively less dangerous and the terrain is relatively flat, so it is not so easy to be trapped there compared to other places.

Ye Shuo nodded: “So as long as we find a way to break the miasma barriers in these places, my Great Zhou will be able to send troops to advance.”

The State of Chen was isolated and weak. If it were not for its unique geographical location, it would not have been a match for the Great Zhou and Beiting.

Relying on this piece of land, the State of Chen was able to stay entangled with the other two countries for so long.

At this time, Xing Yucheng finally remembered the books he had read, especially some travel notes, and some scattered content in them.

Since His Majesty said that the miasma did not fall from the sky but was caused by rotting leaves, we must find a way to cut down those trees. Over time, the miasma will naturally dissipate.

But because the places where the miasma was formed were all within the territory of the State of Chen, the people of Chen had to take action themselves. Otherwise, if the Great Zhou made any move, the State of Chen would quickly discover it. The State of Chen was not stupid and would not just sit there and watch, so it was unlikely to succeed.

The best way is to ask the State of Chen to destroy the Great Wall itself.

Xing Yucheng, who is in his thirties and gradually matures, gradually discovers that there are essential differences between people. Some people do not care about their own country, nor do they care whose subjects they are. As long as they live a good life, it is enough.

There are many such people in Chen State, Beiting, and their Great Zhou, so this matter seems difficult to accomplish, but as long as one condition is met, it may not be that difficult.

The world is bustling with people all because of profit. In the final analysis, it is nothing but profit. As long as the profit is big enough, there is nothing that will not be sold out.

Thinking of this, Xing Yucheng couldn’t help but sigh: “If you promise a large sum of money, maybe it will work.”

If we spread the word that we will purchase the trees in these places at a high price, there will naturally be people who are interested. Then the barrier on which the State of Chen relies for its survival will be broken from within.

But the key is… I have no money!

The purchase cost a huge amount of money, and the treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty may not be able to support it. If they force themselves to do so, the treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty will collapse before the barrier of the State of Chen is broken.

Xing Yucheng couldn’t help but say, “It would be great if the Great Zhou could suddenly have an extra sum of money.”

After all, Xing Yucheng is not a professional in economics, and he couldn’t think of any way to increase fiscal revenue for a while.

However, after Xing Yucheng finished speaking, he noticed that Wei Wen and Prince Ding’s gazes immediately fell on Ye Shuo.

If it’s money, my younger brother/cousin has it!

Although most of the money had been spent during the plague, his silver was not gone. As long as there was demand from Beiting, the money earned from selling wine would continue to flow into his pocket. ?????Ë?

At first, Xing Yucheng didn’t know what Prince Ding and Wei Wen meant. Wei Wen thought about it and then gave him a rough explanation. Xing Yucheng was stunned.

It turns out that the plague was able to be successfully overcome because he put in so much effort behind the scenes.

The amount of money he spent alone was probably more than what was withdrawn from the Great Zhou treasury.

Xing Yucheng knew since he was a child that he was rich, but he never thought that he could be so rich. Excluding his identity as emperor, he was probably the richest man in the entire Great Zhou.

Isn’t it? That’s the revenue of an entire country’s wine industry! And it’s a monopoly industry, how can it not make money?

Xing Yucheng couldn’t help but think of the private money he had saved over the years. It was already quite a lot for him, but in the eyes of the emperor, it was probably not even a drop in the bucket.

It turns out that there are really people who can become as rich as a country…

But this is only a temporary choice. As I said before, if Da Zhou wants to develop, it cannot rely on him alone. Ye Shuo can solve Da Zhou’s temporary problems, but if Da Zhou encounters difficulties, it cannot rely on him every time.

Besides, Ye Shuo felt that only liquor might not be enough in the future.

“Come here and take a look at these three things.”

What Ye Shuo took out was nothing else but the three essential items for time travel – glass, sugar, and soap, all of which were just made by Zou Wu.

Prince Ding had seen glass once before on the battlefield, but even so he still found it magical, not to mention Xing Yucheng and Wei Wen.

Especially the telescope made of glass. Just a few pieces of this thing called glass filled in it could actually allow one to see various scenes hundreds of feet away. This scene almost overturned Wei Wen’s cognition.

Wei Wen considered himself knowledgeable, but he had never seen such a magical sight. He was the eldest son of the Zhen Mansion, so how could he not know what such a little gadget meant?

With this thing called a telescope on the battlefield, the scouts’ reconnaissance capabilities would definitely be taken to a higher level.

There is no need to think about it. This thing might have been made by my little cousin again. Just like before, he couldn’t even understand what he wrote, let alone what it meant.??

However, Wei Wen had little desire to explore. As long as it was beneficial to the Zhen Mansion and the Great Zhou, Wei Wen never cared where the thing came from. That was why Ye Shuo had cooperated with his eldest cousin for so many years.

Xing Yucheng had seen crystal cups and glass cups, but neither of them was as pure as the one before him.

No matter how pure the crystal is, as long as it is natural, it cannot be completely free of impurities, but the cup in front of you is much more transparent than glass and crystal.

“A treasure! A first-class treasure!” Xing Yucheng was the son of an official after all, and he had been fond of elegance since childhood. The moment he held the cup, his expression gradually changed.

Ye Shuo couldn’t help but pause, thinking, if he knew that this thing was used to drink water in modern times, I wonder what he would think…

Ye Shuo coughed lightly and said, “If you like it, I will give it to you.” Anyway, this thing is rare only when it comes out, and it will be worthless after a long time.

“Just take it and use it. If it’s not enough, just ask for more.”

Zou Wu and her students refined a whole furnace, and now she still has a lot.

Xing Yucheng calmed down instantly: “This…I am too ashamed to accept it…”

“Okay, okay, just take it. I’ve already given you enough before, so one more thing won’t make a difference.” Ye Shuo waved his hand.

Oh, so this Minister of the Ministry of Rites was tricked into getting on board the ship in this way.

Wei Wen and Prince Ding understood what was going on immediately.

Ye Shuo thought about it and said, “Of course, it’s not free. Remember to discuss with your father when you go back and decide what the appropriate price should be for this thing.”

Xing Yucheng: “…”

Sure enough, he knew it.

When Ye Shuo looked over, Xing Yucheng bowed hurriedly: “…Yes.”

Then there is sugar and soap. There is nothing much to say about soap. It is used for cleaning by wealthy families. It is much better than the current pig pancreas soap. When added with various essential oils and flower juices, it has different fragrant smells.

As for white sugar…white sugar can be called a strategic material in modern times, not to mention in ancient times.

Looking at the white thing as fine as sand in front of them, Prince Ding and the others did not understand what it was at first, and they made all kinds of guesses in their minds. It was not until Ye Shuo said it was food that Prince Ding and the others picked up a little and put it into their mouths with doubt.

How big can these tiny things be – huh?

The moment the sugar entered his mouth, the sweet and delicate taste spread across his taste buds. Even Prince Ding had never tasted such pure sweetness.

Unlike honey, the white sugar in front of you is clearer.

Then Ye Shuo took another glass, put some sugar and hot water in it, and handed it to them one by one.

Even a middle-aged man like Prince Ding couldn’t help but savour the taste after tasting it.

“What do you think? Do you think Chen State and Beiting will buy these three things?”

Yes, Ye Shuo planned to use the money from their two families to strengthen the Great Zhou. After feeding his subjects and strengthening his soldiers, he would turn around and attack them.

Especially the trees cut down by the State of Chen, the wood is relatively hard and can be used to build houses.

As for how to transport such heavy timber, this is also a very simple matter. Chen State has many rivers and mountains. I believe that Chen State will be able to solve the problem by then. They can just find a river, let the timber float downstream, and float to the territory of Da Zhou, and then set up obstacles to salvage it. It is not a difficult task.

It would probably take more money to buy trees, so Ye Shuo had already thought about how to use the remaining money. He would simply build more roads. In ancient times, there were no cars, let alone heavy trucks, so the strength of the cement did not need to be too high, just enough.

As long as the roads are repaired, transportation in various places will become convenient, the movement of people will become easier, and it will even stimulate domestic demand, forming a cycle.

As for whether this is fair to the State of Chen and Beiting… In this world, what is truly fair?

Ye Shuo didn’t need to say much, and Prince Ding and the others quickly understood what he meant. They were inevitably silent. Then, they suddenly felt infinite sympathy for the State of Chen and Beiting.

But there is no way, who made my younger brother/Your Majesty born in their Great Zhou?

“The rest of the matter you guys discuss among yourselves, I’m going to find Ding Ning.” Ye Shuo just focused on the key points. As for how to maximise the benefits, let the subordinates discuss it. Otherwise, why keep them?

Not long after he finished speaking, Ye Shuo stood up and walked out.

Prince Ding, Wei Wen and Xing Yucheng were left behind, writing and painting, and they did not leave the Qinzheng Hall until it was dark.

Although Ye Shuo, the superior, gave Xing Yucheng a separate house outside, Xing Yucheng would still return to the old house occasionally, and didn’t the emperor give instructions before?

Xing Yucheng carefully placed the glass on the table, asked the maids and servants at home to take good care of it, and then was called away by his mother.

When Minister Xing came back, as soon as he entered the room, he saw the maids and servants looking at the same cup from time to time. There was nothing they could do, as it was the first time they had seen such a beautiful cup.

When Minister Xing learned that this was a gift from the emperor, his first reaction was, it’s over, his son has accepted things given by the emperor again.