207: Chapter 207 The War of Women!

Great Qin's salt supply consists of four types: Sea Salt, Lake Salt, Well Salt, and Cliff Salt.

Sea Salt production is mainly distributed in coastal areas.

The Qi State was the first to become the hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period because the Qi-Lu region was near the sea; they produced large quantities of salt for trade, gathering immense wealth and allowing their national strength to flourish far beyond other vassal states.

Much of the Qin State's salt is produced from salt wells in the Shu region, which has a greenish tint, while the Sea Salt produced in coastal areas is whiter.

Although salt production in the Qin Dynasty has increased significantly, production technology remains limited; it is primarily coarse salt with many impurities and high production costs.

After the Qin Dynasty unified the six kingdoms, it was announced that salt and iron would be controlled by the state; private sales were prohibited, and those caught were executed without exception.

Great Qin brought salt under its regulatory scope, strictly managing aspects such as production and sales.

This control meant that the circulation and distribution of salt were under Great Qin's command; the common people had to follow Great Qin's regulations to obtain salt.

Precisely because Great Qin has a regulatory system for salt, the common people have salt to eat.

However, salt production is limited. Great Qin prioritizes supplying salt to the military, the imperial court, local officials, and the nobility. The amount and methods by which ordinary people obtain salt are managed and restricted by Great Qin, making it difficult for the average citizen to get salt.

Especially for mountain dwellers and the poor in remote rural areas, wanting to eat salt is a great luxury.

The salt lake in the Kingdom of Loulan plays an extremely important role in Great Qin achieving freedom of edible salt consumption.

Zhao Fusu is determined to take this salt lake!

The nation of Loulan was built atop Great Qin's salt and Potassium Mines; if they lack the foresight to choose to join Great Qin, then he will strike them along with Modun.

Zhao Fusu will definitely incorporate the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions into his territory.

At this stage, even if they were brought under jurisdiction, they would be difficult to manage because they are too far away.

The straight-line distance between the Kingdom of Loulan and Xianyang is 1,800 kilometers. The actual travel route cannot be a straight line, with all the turns and detours, the total distance is between 2,500 and 2,600 kilometers!

Even on a high-speed train, this would take ten hours; relying on two legs, it would take a month or two.

Therefore, even if Loulan were made to submit now, at such a great distance, the transportation costs to move salt and Potassium Mines would be too high!

Before taking the Kingdom of Loulan, the railway must first be built to Longxi Commandery, the westernmost part of Great Qin's territory.

Then, through the railway, war materials can be continuously transported to Longxi Commandery to seize the 1,000-kilometer Hexi Corridor.

Only by seizing the 1,000-kilometer-long Hexi Corridor and building a railway there can he extend his reach into the Western Regions.

Once this 2,000-kilometer railway is built, grain and military equipment can be transported from Xianyang via rail, heading all the way west to reach the Western Regions.

“His Majesty the Head of State.”

Deputy General Pang entered Zhao Fusu's large tent, cupped his hands to Zhao Fusu, and said, “The daughter of the Tuan Tribe leader has arrived at Yangshan Pass; she wishes to see you.”

“Have someone take her to Xiaer's tent,” Zhao Fusu said.

Zhao Fusu spoke.

Matters concerning women should be discussed and fought over by themselves.

Just as portrayed in palace drama series, men cannot intervene in the wars between women.

He would just wait for a result.

After Wang Xia decided to meet Jin Xishan, she specifically sought out a female translator.

Dressed in a tight-fitting mink coat, Wang Xia sat in the main seat of the large tent. Jin Xishan, dressed in sheepskin, was brought into Wang Xia's tent.

Wang Xia looked at Jin Xishan.

Jin Xishan, with a sash wrapped around her waist, also looked toward Wang Xia.

“I am several years older than you, so from now on, you shall call me 'Elder Sister',” Wang Xia said, getting straight to the point.

She was directly establishing her status.

She glanced at the female translator.

The female translator translated for Jin Xishan.

“Elder Sister,” Jin Xishan replied in the Xiongnu language.

She is a clever woman!

Wang Xia thought to herself: But that is not enough.

“Little Sister, if you want to become my husband's woman, it won't do if you can't speak the language of Great Qin.”

Wang Xia's voice grew a bit heavier as her phoenix-like eyes stared at Jin Xishan. “Are you willing to learn the language of Great Qin?”

Jin Xishan had originally wanted to see His Majesty the Head of State directly, but he had not seen her, instead having her brought to the woman before her.

The 'Elder Sister' before her held an extremely high position in the Paramount Leader's heart.

If she wanted to see the Paramount Leader, she also had to pass the test of the Elder Sister before her.

“I am willing,” Jin Xishan nodded in response.

Wang Xia was satisfied with Jin Xishan's attitude.

She also needed to properly train Jin Xishan.

She wanted to help her husband use Jin Xishan to control the Tuan Tribe.

Once the Tuan Tribe was secured, Great Qin would have a springboard for dividing the Xiongnu Tribes; they could use the Tuan Tribe to divide more Xiongnu Tribes, weakening the power of the Xiongnu Royal Court and increasing Great Qin's strength on the grasslands.

Wang Xia said with a smile, “Little Sister, you must also be able to recognize and write the characters of Great Qin. You have no objection, do you?”

Jin Xishan shook her head.

This Elder Sister was letting her learn, not intentionally making things difficult for her.

There were no written characters on the grasslands yet. After seeing Lu Jia and Zhao Fusu communicate via carrier pigeons, she really wanted to learn how to read and write.

“Good, we will start learning from pinyin.”

Wang Xia stayed by Zhao Fusu's side every day and had long since learned pinyin, even recognizing many simplified chinese characters.

She could already understand many of the words in the books Zhao Fusu had obtained from his sign-ins.

What she was going to teach Jin Xishan were simplified chinese characters and modern Mandarin pronunciation.

“Is this Paper?”

When Jin Xishan received the white Paper, her fingers touched it, and she felt it was as smooth as milk.

“Mhm,” Wang Xia nodded.

“I heard Lord Lu say that this white Paper was invented by His Majesty the Head of State?” Jin Xishan inquired.

“Mhm.”

Wang Xia nodded again. “Husband not only invented Paper for writing but also invented Facial Tissues for cleaning.”

At the mention of Facial Tissues, Wang Xia thought of her own shameful performance and felt quite embarrassed.

“Facial Tissues?”

The female translator could not explain the term 'Facial Tissues' in the Xiongnu language, so she simply transliterated it.

Using transliteration in translation work is often a lazy behavior.

But it is better than a nonsensical translation.

For example, some people translate 'Ji Ji Ru Lü Ling' as 'Quick, quick, quick...'

Both those who understand English and those who don't are left speechless after hearing it.

An incantation that was originally very profound becomes mere plain speech.

It would be better to just use the transliteration of 'Ji Ji Ru Lü Ling'; at least foreigners could remember the term.

If they were interested, they would naturally ask what it means.

It's just like how foreigners also say 'Niubi'.

“This is Facial Tissues.”

Wang Xia brought over a pack of Facial Tissues.