Gone With The Bustling World - Chapter 41
Translator: Antonia
The construction in Bafang started in full swing.
Childe Wushuang had long realized that although Bafang was situated next to the borders of Tianbin and Xiongye, which made it the first to suffer once a war started, it also, at the same time, benefited from its unique geographical location.
At the borders of three countries, businessmen gathered, and traded flourished. With proper management, Bafang would be a commercial center for the three countries!
Besides, having taken Gun, Huo and Liuye into its territory, Bafang now occupied nearly one third of the total land of Bafang!
Duke Fang would feel sorry for himself, if this huge land wasn’t used well!
Hence, after Figure No.2 of Bafang worked out a series of development plans, Figure No.1 began to devote himself into two aspects—military affairs and trade!
This made sense. Development was based on military strength, without which, everything was bull**! Hence, military training was always indispensable.
As for commerce and trace, Bafang had an astonishingly low tax rate, one thirtieth, which was merely one third of the average number for other countries and lower! The merchants were overjoyed and moved with their families to live in Bafang to do business.
Such a low tax rate gave Duke Fang a feeling that he was going to be broke— After all, he invested in its construction. Well, it was the 200,000 taels of war compensation gold that he blackmailed…
Hence, he consulted in a modest attitude, “Qingyu, will we lose money?”
Xiao Qingyu was writing on a folding fan (it was warm mid-summer already) and, hearing his question, looked up with a smile, “Let the merchants see the cake first. After Bafang well develops, isn’t it still up to you as to whether increase the tax rate later?”
He was afraid after Bafang became the top one commercial center, the merchants wouldn’t even be driven away.
Duke Fang was enlightened and admired him greatly, “Wise. So wise. No wonder you’re the peerless Childe Wushuang!”
He displayed a pious face, “Qingyu, did I ever praise your wisdom?”
Xiao Qingyu laughed, “Uh… you seemed not.”
Fang Junqian, “Then, let me do it now.”
Xiao Qingyu waited quietly.
Duke Fang cleared his throat, looking serious and solemn, “Qingyu, you’re so…insidious!”
Xiao Qingyu, “…”
Bafang Army began holding activities to promote the quality of generals. Of course, Childe Wushuang was the main lecturer. In Duke Fang’s words, it was a waste of resource if you weren’t a lecturer!
Quality promotion activities, to put it plainly, was taking lectures!
At first, Childe Wushuang had asked the generals a question— “What do you think matters most to be a general?”
They gave various answers.
Jia Muqi was adamant, “Authority.”
Xiao Qingyu nodded, but it wasn’t necessarily affirmative.
Li Shenghu answered loudly, “Of course martial arts!”
Xiao Qingyu still nodded.
Yu Bin hesitated, “Tactics?”
Then, others began to make guesses—
“Learnings.”
“Credit?”
“Luck?”
Xiao Qingyu only nodded occasionally but didn’t express his views.
Gao You stroked his chin, closed his eyes to ponder, and finally made a reply, “Bravery!!”
Everybody was speechless!
Xiao Qingyu was silent in the wheelchair and finally set his sight on Duke Fang sitting in the commander’s chair, also silent, “Duke Fang, what do you think?”
Duke Fang’s answer was cunning, “I’ll say the same as you.”
Xiao Qingyu’s pretty sharp eyes swept across the faces of the generals and said suddenly, “Not enough…”
Obviously, the generals didn’t know what was in Childe Wushuang’s mind, and his attitude made him more inscrutable.
“It’s imminent to promote the generals’ quality. Tomorrow, I’ll personally give you lectures.”
They were in shock of the sudden shift of topics, and Childe Wushuang had interrupted the upcoming heated discussion with cold words, “If anyone refuse to learn, don’t blame me that my wheels will run over you.”
The generals were dumbfounded.
Duke Fang in his chair couldn’t help laughing! Looking at the bitter stunned faces of the generals, Duke Fang guffawed back and forth loudly!
Xiao Qingyu didn’t say anything and just waited for him to finish laughing.
As he stopped, Xiao Qingyu folded his fan and said calmly, “You too, Duke Fang.”
Fang Junqian’s smile instantly froze on his face.
The gloat at once turned into pitifulness, “Qingyu, you won’t be so ruthless, will you? …”
Before Duke Fang finished, Xiao Qingyu waved to stop him, “No pointing in saying more. From tomorrow, I’ll personally take charge of your learnings and martial arts.”
Duke Fang was miserable, “When will it end?”
“Until I’m satisfied.” Xiao Qingyu threw a cold inexplicable sentence and left.
The generals looked at Duke Fang who was suffering sorrow followed by extreme joy, wanted to laugh but didn’t dare to. Hahaha, Duke Fang, look at you…
In the whole of Bafang, the only one who dared not to listen to Fang Junqian and insisted on his own opinions was Xiao Qingyu.
