After a moment's thought, Niu You Dao asked again: "Do all kingdoms buy horses from the Qi Kingdom? How do they manage that?"
Lan Ruo Ting waved his hand:
"Lord Dao, that's completely different. First, every kingdom has its own stud farm for breeding horses. Second, there are balancing levers between the kingdoms. If the Qi Kingdom kept all the horses for itself, the other kingdoms could unite and destroy the Qi Kingdom. Moreover, for the Qi Kingdom, warhorses are their primary source of financial income, and thus, their power. If they don't sell horses, they will only harm themselves. Therefore, the Qi Kingdom... Therefore, each kingdom has specific quotas for the Qi Kingdom's warhorses. The Qi Kingdom has very strict rules regarding the provision of horses. And the Yan Kingdom has a quota for a certain number of warhorses. And of course, the Imperial Court will distribute them among its own people. So how could they give us their horses?"
Niu You Dao hummed. He understood the horse allocation system. It seemed the issue with these horses was quite complicated.
He raised his head and looked at the map.
"Has anything been happening around here lately?"
Lan Ruo Ting: "Qingzhou and we support each other. Because of this balance, we currently have no problems. Only our rapid development is attracting the attention of others."
Niu You Dao: "How so?"
Lan Ruo Ting pointed at the map: "Although our two counties are developing quickly, anyone with insight can see that financial and human resources are flowing to us from our neighbors. Qingzhou is already displeased with the widespread attention we're receiving, but for the sake of the balance maintained between us, they aren't doing anything. We, in turn, have voluntarily fenced ourselves off from them to prevent their people from coming over to us. This has somewhat appeased their dissatisfaction.
"Qingzhou is one thing, but the Southern Domain is trembling. We've drawn a multitude of resources from the Southern Domain, which has put Zhou Shou Xiang in a panic. He has submitted a report to the Imperial Court. He is asking the Imperial Court to likewise provide him with funds so he can create the same conditions as us. That's how he decided to contend with us.
Niu You Dao furrowed his brows: "Isn't that already a problem? Can two counties truly compete with a whole domain?"
"It won't work!" Lan Ruo Ting waved his hand and replied with a smile:
"Zhou Shou Xiang won't be able to do anything either. He only did it out of self-preservation, so he'd have something to say to the Imperial Court later. In truth, Zhou Shou Xiang also understands that the Southern Domain cannot develop in the same way we have. The Imperial Court won't be able to supply them with money.
Niu You Dao asked in surprise: "Why not?"
"It's quite simple. If the Imperial Court issues funds, how much will the sect backing the Southern Domain take for itself? And how much will then be left for the Southern Domain itself? Furthermore, if the Southern Domain proceeds as we have, it will inevitably draw resources from other domains. Would other domains agree to that? They wouldn't allow the Southern Domain to carry on like that. Therefore, the Southern Domain cannot develop in that manner.
"The Imperial Court won't give them money either. After all, if the Southern Domain asks for so much money, others will start asking for money too. And on what grounds should the Imperial Court refuse them? Thus, the Imperial Court also won't want to invite trouble for itself.
"Furthermore, if the Southern Domain lowers taxes and distributes land, where will it get money from then? Will cultivators agree to this? In such a situation, Zhou Shou Xiang would resign, or even perish altogether.
"To replicate our experience, certain conditions are required. First, the surrounding environment must permit it. The position of our two counties is strong. Moreover, we support each other with Qingzhou of the Zhao Kingdom. Therefore, the Imperial Court dares not simply attack us. Otherwise, it could inflate a small problem into a big one. That's why we have the opportunity for such development. Few local princes possess such an opportunity. Shao Deng Yun is one of them. Beizhou is taking advantage of the confrontation between the Han and Yan Kingdoms, which is why they also have the opportunity to develop in this way.
"Now, Beizhou is developing in much the same way as us. This Shao Deng Yun is no simple man. Even back when he served Ning Wang, I failed to see his true nature.
When he spoke of Beizhou, Niu You Dao glanced sideways at him. So they, too, had noticed Beizhou. Niu You Dao sighed inwardly. After all, the matter wasn't about Shao Deng Yun, but Shao Ping Bo!
Shang Chao Zong looked at the map with excitement:
"There's another reason. If the Imperial Court's patience runs out, it could force other kingdoms to contain the Zhao Kingdom, and then attack us themselves. Therefore, we must accumulate strength in the shortest possible time. Only if we reach such a degree of strength that the Imperial Court is unwilling to incur losses in battle with us, will we be able to stand on our own. But for this, we need cavalry. You can't run far on two legs, nor can you send reinforcements in time. Without cavalry, the Imperial Court can defeat us piecemeal.
Niu You Dao furrowed his brows. Everything hinged on warhorses.
He now perfectly understood why the Heavenly Jade Sect had agreed to surrender money from liquor sales if the horse issue was resolved. The Heavenly Jade Sect itself understood the importance of warhorses, but had yet to find a solution.
Niu You Dao also understood the threat from the Imperial Court. Should the Prince lose, Niu You Dao would lose too. Then he would have no peaceful place left, and he wouldn't be able to cultivate calmly. Thus, Niu You Dao departed, deep in thought...
Beizhou, Governor's Palace.
Shao Ping Bo moved into the Governor's Palace after Ruan Shi's death.
First, he brought order to the military administration and unified the military forces fighting on two sides.
After Niu You Dao's attacks, he had already bolstered his defenses.
After the order he established, Beizhou began to develop rapidly, surprising Dachang Mountain and causing them to view Shao Ping Bo differently. All thanks to his accomplishments.
Now, Dachang Mountain provided him with even more guards. Shao Ping Bo was now guarded just as Shao Deng Yun was.
"Eldest Young Master, Lady Su has arrived..." Shao San Sheng entered the study and reported.
Shao Ping Bo put down his brush and said:
"Let her enter!"
Soon, Su Zhao, clad in a black cloak and hat, entered the study. She removed her hat, revealing her exquisite face.
"You had to travel such a distance again. You must be tired. Cough... cough..." Shao Ping Bo greeted her with a smile, but suddenly clenched his fist and began to cough.
Su Zhao, looking at him, noticed how much this young man had aged. Even a few strands of white hair could now be seen on his head. How many hardships this man had endured:
"Why are you still coughing? I told you that you suffered a severe internal injury. You need to rest more and recover peacefully. Matters can wait. Otherwise, you'll work yourself into an early grave.
She turned and angrily began to speak to Shao San Sheng:
"What kind of steward are you if you can't even take care of your master?"
Shao San Sheng lowered his head and muttered to himself: "What could I do? The Master is constantly busy with affairs, he even sleeps less now."
"This doesn't concern him." Shao Ping Bo waved his hand:
"Beizhou's situation is currently difficult.
Su Zhao widened her eyes:
"Beizhou won't rely solely on you, will it? I'm not saying you're weak! It's just, how long can this go on? You need to delegate some tasks to others. You must use capable people, otherwise, you'll exhaust yourself to death! You, alone, cannot bear all of this. Who can keep track of everything? Get some assistants..."
Shao Ping Bo sighed and said:
"I know what you mean. It's just that Beizhou, as you well know, is located in a precarious position. We betrayed the Yan Kingdom, and the Han Kingdom harbors secret schemes against us. Moreover, Niu You Dao struck a blow to my reputation. Now, people think ill of me. Who would dare come to me? And capable people are scarce. I can only select a few educated individuals and hope that capable assistants will emerge from them. If you find anyone capable, send them to me at once.
Su Zhao herself didn't know what best to do. She could only look at him with sorrow.
"Let's not talk about that. Let's get to business." Shao Ping Bo invited Su Zhao to sit. And after tea was served to them, he spoke again:
"Currently, the situation in Beizhou is heating up. The two kingdoms cannot simply watch us develop. At some point, they will collude and destroy us. We need to become stronger. Beizhou needs warhorses. Have you resolved this matter yet?"
Su Zhao: "There are successes, and there are problems. The success is that I managed to negotiate for the horses. It will be possible to purchase 50,000 warhorses..."
"Good!" Shao Ping Bo rejoiced and slapped the armrest of his chair.
"50,000 is enough!"
Su Zhao shook her head:
"Don't rejoice so soon. Transporting 50,000 horses out of the Qi Kingdom isn't the problem. The journey after that—that's the real problem. What kingdom would simply stand by and watch such an enormous quantity of military resources pass them by? I considered sending the horses one by one, by 'ant-path' method. But how many months would that take for transportation? And it's not a hundred horses, but tens of thousands. Moreover, they'll require care, manpower, and funds? That is indeed a problem.
"I've been preparing for this for a long time. Come closer." Shao Ping Bo stood up and approached the map. Su Zhao came closer, and he, pointing at the map, said:
"It's unrealistic to send tens of thousands of horses all at once. We must divide them into batches. You see, we won't transport them by land, but by sea. We'll take a ship and sail out into the sea from the Qi Kingdom. From there, we'll bypass the Han Kingdom from the north and deliver them to us via the river that flows between the Han Kingdom and Beizhou.
Su Zhao furrowed her brows: "The Han Kingdom isn't blind. Would they just calmly watch while you transport horses along their river?"
Shao Ping Bo: "I've prepared for this for a long time and have already thought everything through. Over the years, I secretly gained control of a waterway in the Han Kingdom precisely for this day. We only need a vessel, and then I can ensure the supply of horses. You just need to get the horses out of the Qi Kingdom and load them onto the vessel. As for the Han Kingdom, you don't need to worry!"