System: I let you have children, not fight for hegemony

In the distant Xiongnu, caravans gathered in a medium-sized city called Sizhong, trading and exchanging information.

"After the king of Great Qin pacified the six kingdoms of Shandong, he also settled the South China Sea. Is it our turn to be the Huns next?" A burly businessman with an unshaven beard asked worriedly.

A businessman with blue eyes and brown hair who looked like a Western Region stuffed the Sichuan brocade he had purchased into a wooden box with great care.

"Even if there is a fight, what does it matter? Just follow that one, isn't it?" The Western Region businessman pointed at a dark red mountain and said mysteriously.

That mountain is called Firestone Mountain. At the foot of the mountain is a fort made of fiery red stone. The tall brick walls are covered with vines, and there are armed cavalry patrolling around.

That was the residence of the great merchant Wu Shiluo.

"That Mr. Wu has a close relationship with the Marquis of Ding'an. I heard that he sent all the fastest and strongest horses on the grassland to Bashu." A businessman from the Western Regions gossiped.

"Don't talk nonsense, Wang Tingfeng is in a tight situation!" The businessmen present broke into a cold sweat.

Marquis of Ding'an, is that a name that can appear in the Xiongnu?

The businessman from the Western Regions pursed his lips and said unconvinced: "You are deceiving yourselves and others. A young boy who was born as a slave has made a name for himself in just ten years. If there is no one behind him, I will not believe it."

The businessmen looked at each other and stopped talking about this topic.

Wouldn't it be better if the great merchant Wu Shiluo was from the Marquis of Ding'an?

When the Qin Dynasty and the Huns start fighting, they can go to Wushiluo.

The much-missed Jiawu family had just returned to their residence and put on a set of loose cotton clothes. A distinguished guest came to the house, and she wanted to see him in her best appearance.

Qin law stipulates that merchants are not allowed to do silk and silk embroidery. Although he was far away from the Xiongnu, he still tried his best to abide by the laws of Qin.

"You don't wear jewelry?" Xiang Ji, who was sent over, asked curiously.

Wu Shiluo raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why should I wear jewelry?"

Xiang Ji: "Beyond the Great Wall is no better than in the Central Plains. If you don't show your wealth and power, you may be looked down upon by others."

Wu Shiluo poured a glass of wine for Xiang Ji and said with a smile: "Xiang Langjun is attentive. In the past, I also needed to wear gold jewelry. But after the Qin Dynasty pacified Kyushu, I no longer need these."

Xiang Ji understood: "If your identity is exposed, will it affect Marquis Ding'an's plan?"

Wu Shiluo pursed her lips and smiled, her chubby face looking harmless: "No problem."

After the greetings, the dinner prepared by Wu Shiluo for Xiang Ji and others began.

In the magnificent hall, the air is filled with the fragrant aroma of peppercorns, ginger, dogwood, fuliu vine, cassia twigs and other spices. The lamp oil is burning continuously, and the surroundings are filled with colorful flowers.

All kinds of delicious meat were brought up in an endless stream, and the highlight was a whole roasted baby camel...

Xiang Ji had seen camels along the way and often wondered, which one is more advantageous, riding a camel or riding a horse?

After filling his stomach, Wu Shiluo took the initiative to talk to Xiang Ji about the caravan business: "When the Qin Dynasty takes away Hexi, Henan, and Hetao, there will be three more large pastures. Massive cattle, sheep, and horses will flood into the interior, and the price of livestock will plummet. At the same time, our only concurrent transit trade is the Xiongnu line."

Wu Shiluo was very worried. Everything he had now, including the war horses delivered to Bashu, his status among the Huns, etc., were all funded by money.

Once the profit of the caravan cannot meet these needs, then he will be returned to his original form. Xiang Ji took out a letter sealed with fire paint and handed it to Wu Shiluo.

Wu Shiluo first looked around the envelope carefully and found no sign of opening, and then opened the letter carefully.

The familiar handwriting on it indicates that it is an autographed letter from the Marquis of Ding'an.

The letter stated that Huamachi, two hundred miles away from the Great Wall, was salty and the water tasted bitter.

"Hua Ma Chi." Wu Shiluo's eyes flashed slightly.

He knew that there, the surface of Huamachi was as crystal clear as a mirror, and the entire lake was covered in white. It produced a lot of salt every year and was an important source of salt in Beidi County.

That is also the territory of Yan Yanrong, and it is their foundation.

Xiang Ji seemed to be chatting: "Have you heard of Zhang Qing from Bashu? Her business in Badi was huge, but at the end of last year, she took the initiative to donate the salt industry and other industries to the Marquis of Ding'an for free."

"Bashu County wants to expand sugarcane planting and is in urgent need of a lot of labor. Marquis Ding'an allowed her to engage in human trafficking. There is still a lot of land and people south of the South China Sea."

Wu Shiluo fell silent. What Xiang Ji said was not convenient for the Marquis of Ding'an to state clearly in the letter.

After the Qin Dynasty pacified the Six Kingdoms, it no longer needed the financial support of big merchants and wealthy families as before, so its policies tended to tighten.

Zhang Qing is developing southward, but which direction should he go?

"What does Marquis Ding'an mean?" Wu Shiluo asked humbly.

"After the Qin Dynasty pacified the Huns, you can take the trade routes of the Xiongnu Yueshi. You have been trading with the Xiongnu for many years. You should know that they have a trade route to the west, and all the silk and silk were sold to the west." Xiang Ji's eyes bright.

"Sell the silk and silk at dozens of times the price, and then buy back the Kunshan jade at a low price. Your wealth will last for several generations!" Xiang Ji had seen Kunshan jade, and his eldest father once had one, which he regarded as a treasure.

The Marquis of Ding'an also had one, which was a gift from Wu Shiluo, and she often wore it.

Kunshan jade is the favorite exotic treasure of the Central Plains people and the main source of palace jade jewelry in various countries.

Wushi Luo was moved: "I know there must be secrets to the west of Yuezhi. But I sent people to sneak there secretly, and within a few days, their bodies were found in the wild."

Xiang Ji raised his lips: "The Yuezhi occupies the west of Hexi and blocks the east and west. It is very profitable. Naturally, it wants to do exclusive business. When the Qin Dynasty destroys the Xiongnu, it will be directly adjacent to the Yuezhi. The Marquis of Ding'an will send cavalry to protect you on your westward journey. Return. What’s so scary?”

Wu Shiluo shook his head and corrected: "I'm not afraid. Even if the Marquis of Ding'an asks me to die, I will not look back. What's more, the journey to the west does not have to be with the Yuezhi, we can completely bypass him!"

Wu Shiluo had a map in his mind: "You can go through Huangzhong, and provide the Qiang with good points, so that there will be no obstruction. You can also pass through the Xiongnu and go westward through the grassland."

Wu Shiluo suddenly raised his head, looked directly at Xiang Ji with sharp eyes like a falcon, and asked sternly: "But, how can I be sure that what you said is what the Marquis of Ding'an meant?"

He leaned forward and asked: "You are just a child from Chu. The Chu country was destroyed by Ding'an Hou, and your Xiang family was killed by Ding'an Hou. How can I trust you?"

Xiang Ji's face suddenly fell, as gloomy as ink.

Their eyes sparkled silently in the air, neither side giving in.

After a long time, Xiang Ji slowly said: "A gentleman's words are hard to follow. Since I promised to work for the Marquis of Ding'an, I will not break my promise. What's more, the Marquis of Ding'an allowed me to go west with the caravan!" ( End of this chapter)