384: Chapter 384 This cadre is a bit unable to withstand the test!

After a week of sailing, the steam ironship arrived at the deep-water port of Langya Commandery in Great Qin.

The port was a scene of bustling activity; massive sails billowed in the wind, and workers bustled back and forth, moving cargo amidst a cacophony of shouts.

With the development of Great Qin's commerce, maritime transport had become increasingly sophisticated.

Vast quantities of goods were being transported via the sea.

Xu Fu intended to go into the city to purchase supplies and restock.

How could Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Ichiro miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Great Qin?

The first things they saw upon entering the city were concrete buildings.

These structures had been developed through a joint venture between the nobility of Langya Commandery and Zhao Fusu.

They were three stories high; the ground floor sold delicacies like dumplings and buns, the second floor was a shopping mall, and the third floor provided lodging.

To a modern person, these three-story buildings were hardly skyscrapers.

But to the Wa people, these were already tall buildings.

Because earthquakes were so frequent in Japan, they lived in low houses—it certainly wasn't because they themselves were short.

Matsushita Yuko said to Inoue Ichiro in an admiring tone, "Look at these buildings! So tall and majestic, with such exquisite craftsmanship. The houses in our Japan simply cannot compare!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

Inoue Ichiro nodded repeatedly.

"So many goods!"

"It's simply unbelievable!"

On the streets, the dazzling array of merchandise left them overwhelmed, and all sorts of novel gadgets opened their eyes.

Great Qin citizens were coming and going, selecting items.

Quite a few people carried large and small bags in their hands, showing just how strong their purchasing power was!

"Is this Great Qin!"

Matsushita Yuko sighed as he gazed at the prosperous scene before him.

He took a deep breath, a look of intoxication appearing on his face, and continued, "Compared to our Japan, even the air in Great Qin is incredibly fresh and sweet. Just one sniff makes me feel like I'm becoming stronger."

His eyes were filled with wonder.

"Exactly!"

Inoue Ichiro agreed, nodding vigorously from the side.

His face beamed with an excited smile, and he spoke in a tone full of anticipation: "After I go back, I can brag for a lifetime. I have breathed the air of Great Qin!"

Pfft!

A citizen of Great Qin passed gas, polluting the air.

Inoue Ichiro still spoke in an exaggerated tone: "Here, even if a person from Great Qin farts, it smells fragrant."

Xu Fu looked at the two of them with a face full of dark lines, feeling helpless in his heart.

He really hadn't expected these two to be such consummate sycophants.

In his view, while Great Qin was indeed a powerful nation, the exaggerated expressions of these two were a bit much.

Xu Fu looked at them and couldn't help but remind them, "Don't lose your composure too much. Although Great Qin is prosperous, you must maintain proper decorum."

"Understood!"

Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Ichiro finally restrained themselves a bit.

After the steam ironship arrived at Langya Commandery, the news was reported to Zhao Fusu through the Black Ice Platform's intelligence network.

When he heard the news that the steam ironship had successfully reached Langya Commandery, Zhao Fusu's nerves, which had been tense for some time, finally relaxed. A gratified smile appeared on his face, and the heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.

After all, this ocean voyage was long and full of unknowns; the vast sea hid countless dangers, and no one could predict if something might go wrong.

This steam ironship was not cheap to build; he had poured dozens of small targets' worth of funds into it before it was successfully completed.

If something had gone wrong with the steam ironship during the voyage, the loss would have been immense!

Light flickered in Zhao Fusu's eyes; it was time to build a factory for refining silver.

What had been transported back from Japan this time was still just a large amount of silver ore. Although these ores contained rich silver resources, they had to undergo fine industrial refining before they could be turned into silver that could be used for trade, thereby truly realizing their value.

Zhao Fusu summoned Li Si and said to him, "The steam ironship has returned smoothly, bringing back precious silver ore for us."

"But this is only the first step. Next, we must build a silver refining factory as soon as possible to convert these ores into usable silver."

Li Si also knew of Zhao Fusu's plan to launch an economic war against the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, so he nodded repeatedly: "I will go and select excellent craftsmen and technical personnel to ensure the excellence of the silver refining process."

"Mm."

Zhao Fusu emphasized, "Strengthen security measures to prevent any loss or theft of silver during the refining process."

"Please rest assured, His Majesty the Head of State."

Li Si said.

Zhao Fusu left this matter to Li Si to handle.

He sent someone to notify Zi Ling of the Merchant School to come and see him.

"Greetings, His Majesty the Head of State."

Zi Ling bowed to Zhao Fusu.

"You may rise."

Zhao Fusu asked, "How is the deployment of trade routes in the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions coming along?"

He had tasked Zi Ling with organizing a caravan to take Great Qin's goods to the Western Regions for sale, while simultaneously gathering detailed information about the Thirty-Six Kingdoms.

After all, the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions were quite far from Great Qin. Zhao Fusu was not clear on the situation there.

To deal with the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, he had to understand the situation on the ground.

"It is going smoothly enough,"

Zi Ling replied.

Firstly, the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions did not want to offend Great Qin.

Secondly, caravans had to pay tariffs to enter the cities.

This was a significant source of income for the local finances of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms.

Naturally, they hoped for more caravans from Great Qin so they could earn more money.

"Good."

Hearing this, Zhao Fusu nodded with great satisfaction.

Only by establishing the trade routes could he better achieve his goals.

"Have our caravans faced the danger of being raided?"

Zhao Fusu asked again.

"Not for the time being."

Zi Ling shook her head.

A caravan was not small in number; even small ones had over a thousand people.

Large caravans could reach five thousand people.

That was five regiments, a brigade's worth of troops.

Not just anyone had the strength to make a move against a caravan of that size.

"Haha."

Zhao Fusu laughed, "Consider them sensible."

What he meant was that many horse bandits who raided caravans were actually thugs kept by local powers to do the dirty work for local officials.

The reason Zhao Fusu wasn't afraid of them making a move was that he had embedded Great Qin's elites within the caravans, and they were all carrying 'Truth'!

When the time came, it would be a matter of who was robbing whom!

Just as Zhao Fusu was about to wave his hand for Zi Ling to withdraw, a hint of cunning and determination flashed in her eyes. She bit her lip slightly, summoned her courage, and said to Zhao Fusu in a soft, gentle voice: "His Majesty the Head of State, this humble one has recently learned a dance from the Western Regions. I wonder if Your Majesty has the interest to enjoy it?"

With that, without waiting for Zhao Fusu's response, she turned gracefully, her hands slowly rising as she began to undress.

Am I that kind of person!

Zhao Fusu intended to refuse, but the sincerity shown by the person before him was simply too much.

As an official, he found it hard to withstand this kind of test!

Under Zhao Fusu's gaze, Zi Ling's movements were elegant yet bold. In an instant, she gently shed the dignified robe she was wearing, revealing the colorful and daringly styled Western Regions attire underneath.

Zi Ling was born with well-defined features; her deep eyes were like stars twinkling in the night sky, and beneath her high nose, her delicate lips were like blooming roses.

Her exotic looks made her stand out exceptionally among the women of the Central Plains.

Now, dressed in this bold and uninhibited Western Regions outfit, she gained an even more distinct charm.

The midriff-baring short top perfectly outlined her slender waist, and the long skirt below fluttered in the breeze, the golden threads embroidered on the hem shimmering with a mesmerizing light under the candlelight.

She looked up slightly, her mysterious and charming purple eyes gazing affectionately at Zhao Fusu, her look full of anticipation and temptation.

She knew well that if the Merchant School wanted to truly rise and escape its past plight, she had to firmly grasp this man who held supreme power.

And the best way was to be able to bear him a son.

In this way, the Merchant School could establish a closer connection with the imperial family, thereby gaining a firm foothold and moving toward prosperity.

Zi Ling moved with lotus steps to the center of the study and began to dance gracefully.

Her dance was like a nimble butterfly, light and elegant, every movement filled with the passion and uninhibited spirit of the Western Regions.