Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 214 The Newspaper Industry
"Shan Nong Daily! Shan Nong Daily! His Majesty is holding a beauty pageant, and all prefectures are offering up their daughters!"

"Shan Nong Daily! Shan Nong Daily! Luoyang and Xiacheng, a thousand miles of mountains and rivers, can be reached by caravan in a single day!"

Si Jiuba shouted loudly in a cheerful tone while looking at the little girl next to him eating a mutton pie.

"Wu Yue, is this what you eat for breakfast at home?"

Wu Yue was abandoned by her parents to work as an apprentice at 498, and now she is sent here to work early in the morning.

Even though I was sitting on a straw mat, I was still unhappy.

"Ah."

498 exclaimed, "Your dad must be a prolific earner to be able to afford a mutton pie for your entire family of over twenty people."

Seeing the little girl eat a mutton pie, Si Jiu Ba immediately thought of her entire family of twenty or thirty people eating more than thirty pies.

A pancake costs twenty coins, so a meal would cost half a tael of silver, right?

If it's one tael of silver a day, that's thirty taels a month?
Last year, the average annual income of public households nationwide was only fifty taels of silver. The Wu family spends thirty taels of silver a month just on food expenses. That's incredibly wealthy!
Wu Yue didn't want to talk and continued eating the meat pie.

Her parents had told her not to talk about things in the palace, nor to say that she was the child of King Wu, and to keep a low profile.

After a quick look, Si Jiuba realized that the little girl definitely didn't eat mutton pies every day, otherwise she wouldn't be eating them so heartily.

"If you work hard, we'll eat mutton pies every day from now on, okay?"

My younger siblings aren't here, and Sijiuba likes kids who love to eat. Plus, I have some money to burn, so it's nice to eat and drink together.

Just as Sijiuba was about to say a few more words to the little girl, a short-haired foreigner walked in.

This is a blond old man in his sixties with stubble that he can't shave properly and short hair that's two or three centimeters long.

Alexei asked several friends, and the final recommendation he received was to come to this newsstand to buy a newspaper.

The reason for the recommendation is important: this is where the business of selling and buying newspapers is the best, and it has a large stock of past issues.

"Hello, I need today's and previous newspapers, the more the better."

Alexei glanced at the woman and child sitting inside, but focused more on the thick pile of newspapers beside the bathing bed.

For merchants who had long been doing business in the Mountain Farming Kingdom, newspapers were the most important source of news and intelligence, as well as the most crucial and legitimate way to understand the court's movements.

Sometimes, even information obtained from the local state government is not as effective as that from the newspapers.

Although both Shan Nong Kingdom and the Western Kingdoms were at war, no one in Shan Nong Kingdom ever cared about the existence of the war.

Alexei has been in this place for a year. He landed in Guangzhou, the southernmost city, and only started heading north after familiarizing himself with the local environment and some basic regulations.

For the past year, Alexei has been unaware of the existence of war.

The people of this country have no idea that they are at war with hundreds of countries and have already conquered hundreds of countries and tribes in the west.

The war had no impact on them, and they never paid attention to or discussed its existence.

Whether it was a teahouse frequented by southern literati or a rickshaw puller waiting for work in a northern marketplace, they were all shocked to realize, when asked, that a war was still raging.

For the entire Shan Nong Kingdom, it was effectively unified.

Although I had heard some reports about the Western War in the newspapers, since it didn't require people to pay taxes and the imperial court didn't conscript soldiers, I didn't bother to pay attention to it.

Foreigners are frequently seen in Luoyang, the imperial capital. Since the beginning of its entry into Luoyang, Beijiwu has given merchants many preferential treatments. As long as foreign merchants and women do not cause trouble, they have always been allowed to exist in Luoyang.

Compared to ordinary people, these Hu people preferred reading newspapers.

"Good! You're in business, aren't you? Other merchants buy newspapers by the set, but here one set includes a year's worth of news from inside and outside the mountains, plus the autumn harvest daily newspaper for the last nine years, a total of 380 pages, for 6 taels of silver!"

Si Jiuba spoke enthusiastically to his big customer, smiling as he said, "I also have a full-page newspaper for a year, a set of 2555 pages, for 10 silver dollars."

"Also, there are nine autumn harvest logs from the last nine years, worth one silver dollar."

Alexei nodded when he heard that the price was the same as what he had heard from his colleagues.

"I want all the newspapers, from the first one to today!"

Alexei earnestly stated his requirements, explaining that he had visited several stalls but none of them could fulfill them.

Photocopying newspapers was a capital offense. Among the merchants from the north, there were some brave ones who dared to challenge the authority of the Northern Martial Arts School, and then they all died.

Why gamble that Arctic martial arts practitioners wouldn't dare to kill?
King Wu killed people with more ease than eating or drinking. He didn't eat much, and he could kill ten thousand people in one go without getting tired.

The Arctic Army allows you to do things they forbid, but if they get found out, you'll die.

He didn't even bother selling the criminals' wives and daughters to brothels; he killed them all along.

Neither the Hu people nor the Han people dared to photocopy newspapers, nor did the mountain farmers.

However, these newspaper sellers, including those at 498, already had a promotional mission, and since the sales restrictions were lifted, they have been able to legally sell newspapers.

Not all 100 households have the unlimited right to sell newspapers. Copper coins are still not enough. Beijiwu is busy making copper wire and parts, so most people still barter.

In the era of barter, newspapers naturally possessed significant monetary attributes.

Newspapers that can be used as currency are copied as slowly as a money printing machine.

Even if you make 100,000 copies a day, it won't make much difference given the current scale.

Si Jiuba was able to obtain unlimited rights to purchase and sell goods simply because his child knew the child of the Arctic Wu family, and Arctic Wu also had a good impression of Si Jiuba.

People who work in the capital city are indeed more likely to encounter opportunities.

With ample supply guaranteed, 498 laughed heartily upon hearing about Alexei's large order, "No problem!"

"That's ninety taels of silver in total. Our original newspapers had five sheets, but now we have seven. That's definitely enough. If any sheet is missing, come find me. My name is 498. I sell newspapers here every day!"

Alexei asked, "Is it available now?"

498 started looking for goods from the bed. "Of course I have some! The purpose of opening a business is to sell things! I also buy newspapers. If you've finished reading them, you can sell them to me for three-quarters of the price. As long as they're not damaged, it's fine."

Wu Yue, who had just finished eating, said, "Sister, let me help you."

"No need!" Si Jiuba quickly stopped Wu Yue, who was about to cause trouble, and grabbed her hand, saying, "Go wash your hands quickly, don't get the newspaper dirty."

"Okay." Wu Yue wanted to go home. "I'm going home to wash my hands."

"Go back." 498 helplessly dismissed the useless girl and continued to ask Alexei, "Do you want it? If you do, pay me now and I'll give you the newspaper."

Alexei readily paid the money, and after placing more than 20,000 newspapers on the windowsill, he also had his two servants carry the newspapers up.

More than 20,000 newspapers weigh only a little over 100 kilograms, which is more than enough for two men to handle.

498's income is among the top in the team. Since obtaining the free trade license, the speed at which they make money has increased a hundred times faster than before.

Of course, the taxes also increased significantly.

The others were either not qualified or too tired to do it.

498 doesn't mind being tired, he makes so much money every day that he can fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

Especially now that I have a little follower, I can take a nap in the afternoon and get some rest.

He sold newspapers during the day and went to buy supplies in the morning and evening.

If you need any goods, just let the printing factory know.

The printing factory greatly improved its work efficiency by incorporating a group of people who had survived and possessed technical skills, and its printing technology advanced to a level that even Beijiwu couldn't comprehend.

Some people just can't calm down and push their limits unless they're forced to.

498 makes a lot of money, and others are envious but there's nothing they can do. Even if they're envious, do they dare to cause trouble?
This is damaging public property and hindering the public's propaganda mission!

It's a crime that could lead to the death of your entire family!
It's hard to say about others, but the public households in the mountainous province are terrified of the King Wu they speak of as revered and loyal.

These people were originally slaves who surrendered to the Arctic King after being driven to despair. Over the years, no matter how much they say they love the King, their fear of him has only deepened. They are so scared that they wet their pants when they encounter anything that might attract the King's attention.

Anyone who dares to smash up 498's stall today will surely die tomorrow; King Wu's prestige was earned through bloodshed.

Apart from Xiaoya, no one dared to steal 498's money.

***
Alekshe returned to his rented row house and sat down to watch the news.

The Luoyang-Jiangxia (Ezhou) Railway has been successfully completed. Troop transport trains from Luoyang to Jiangxia City arrived in 12 hours. The return train, loaded with 30 tons of goods including eggs, vegetables, bamboo products, wood products, and ore, returned in 27 hours, covering a one-way distance of 1055 li (approximately 527 kilometers).

As a businessman, Alexei was well aware of how much this mode of transportation could advance commerce!

"If goods could be transported by train, it would be much faster and would also avoid the layers of commercial taxes along the way."

Aleksey thought of one benefit, and soon came up with a second, a third, and a dozen more.

The advent of trains brought about tremendous changes in the landscape of commercial transportation and private trade, allowing goods that were originally only suitable for local markets to begin to have a wider commercial reach.

"So how do you use this kind of train?"

"Where can I buy a monthly pass? Or use this freight train eligibility document?"

People from the mountains are used to offering monthly or yearly packages, and they have always had a very good reputation.

Every business needs a license. Once you have a license, things become much easier. The emperor forbade his subordinates from making things difficult for licensed merchants.

Without a business license and an ultimatum for inter-provincial transactions, it's difficult to do anything.

The merchants had no way to reach the emperor himself.

Fortunately, the relevant content was published in the business section of the newspaper the next day.

The train will be put into public testing for one year, allowing Luoyang merchants to purchase monthly and annual train passes for cargo transportation. The public testing is to test the train's stability and commercial arrangements, and allows those transporting goods to send up to five people to the trading location by train.

The monthly pass costs 200 taels and can be used every two days. The load cannot exceed 1000 catties. If the train derails or overturns due to an accident, the corresponding cargo will be compensated.

The annual pass costs 2000 taels, is valid every two days, and has a maximum load limit of 2000 catties. It includes all the benefits of a monthly pass and offers priority for renewal after the public beta ends.

The public beta test is not for profit, but only to find and solve problems during operation. The specific selling price and freight costs after the public beta test will be based on the actual situation. While ensuring that the freight costs are lower than those of horse-drawn carriage transportation, they will not be lower than those of water transportation, so as to ensure the development and growth of train technology through profitability.

For specific inquiries, please consult Yao Mingwang, the director of the Commerce Bureau at No. 16 West Street. Those with constructive suggestions regarding train technology and commercial development may leave a letter to be forwarded to His Majesty and speak freely.

Aleksey had been reading the newspaper all day and saw today's paper. Soon he joined a group of foreigners from dozens of countries, waiting in line to enter the Commerce Bureau to buy an annual pass.

For wealthy merchants, 2000 silver is not a small amount, but few of them who come here will buy a monthly pass for 200 silver; they all directly buy an annual pass for 2000 silver.

opportunity!

A head start is an opportunity that they could never earn, even if they worked themselves to the bone, exhausted themselves, and toiled for decades or even centuries.

If you miss this opportunity, the difficulty of obtaining this qualification will increase several hundred times.

The merchants were well aware of how many 2000 taels they could earn from the emperor's preferential treatment.

The newsstand at 498 has gained a new regular customer.

Inside the newsstand, Si Jiuba was doing accounting with an abacus, while a little girl sat next to him eating peanuts.

Seven-year-old Wu Yue eats and drinks well, and her little mouth never stops all day long.

Business has been booming this year, especially since I no longer have to worry about my younger siblings, making things much easier for me.

After settling the bill, Si Jiu Ba looked at Wu Yue, who was still munching away, and said with a smile, "Didn't you eat enough at home?"

While eating peanuts, Wu Yue replied, "My brother is so annoying, and children are annoying too. My mother and aunt only know how to make me do chores."

At a young age, Wu Yue was treated like a maid at home. Whenever she went out to play, she was always called back to do chores and take care of her younger siblings.

If it were just her alone, it wouldn't be a problem. The main problem is that she has several older sisters who also go out to play all day. Since the eldest sister doesn't do any work, she naturally doesn't have the sense of responsibility to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

Fortunately, Beijiwu discovered that his children had various problems. In addition to sending some boys to Xiacheng, the girls were also given different care according to their individual development.

There wasn't much familial affection, but the sense of responsibility was never lacking.

Whether he was the village chief or the clan head, Bei Jiwu never skimped on what he was supposed to give.

498 asked curiously, "Your father is so rich, why doesn't he hire some maids or servants to take care of you?"

In this era, it was very normal for maids and servants to be present. Even if wealthy families did not buy concubines, they would still hire servants, otherwise they would lose face.

Whether Han Chinese or foreigners, people of standing employ servants; it's something everyone does. Wu Yue casually replied, "My family are all my father's servants, and so are you."

Upon hearing this, Si Jiuba laughed and said, "I haven't even entered your house. Your father asked me to do something, so I'm just helping out. I'm not your father's woman or servant. What did your father say to you about me?"

498 was even more curious about what Beijiwu said to her in front of the children.

Her focus was entirely on this, thinking that Arctic Martial Arts regarded her as one of their own, and she was even a little happy about it.

Wu Yue quickly realized she had said the wrong thing and hurriedly covered her mouth.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

Seeing that the child didn't want to talk, Si Jiuba smiled and said, "Okay, I won't ask you anymore."

"I'll teach you arithmetic, and we'll make a lot of money together. I'll buy you delicious food, fun things, and pretty clothes every day. You should learn this skill well with me, and you'll never have to worry about food or drink for the rest of your life."

My younger siblings now eat and sleep at other people's houses. I, Sijiuba, will never lose my household registration and job just to get married. Now I'm helping a good friend take care of their child, so I'm not so bored anymore.

Moreover, they all live in the same place and know each other, so raising them as goddaughters would provide them with support.

Wu Yue's urge to urinate came suddenly, and she said, stepping on her little shoes, "I'm going home to use the toilet."

"Why go home? There's a public restroom nearby," 498 asked casually.

Wu Yue replied, "That one smells terrible and isn't clean at all. My toilet at home is clean, and you can even sit down to use it."

Si Jiuba immediately became curious, "Sit down... Oh! I know, you have a toilet in your house, right?"

Wu Yue replied, "Yes."

The toilet used by the Arctic samurai family is actually called a "toilet"...

Watching the lively and adorable children skipping and hopping home, Sijiuba continued calculating the accounts.

People would come from time to time to buy and sell newspapers, some for a few coins and others for tens of taels.

Business at 498 is getting better and better, and gradually they feel that even the two of them, one big and one small, can't keep up with the demand.

Despite knowing a lot of people, 498 still prioritized Wu Yue's brother.

"Wu Yue, we're too busy here. Do you want your brothers to come and sell newspapers? I can pay them."

498 seems like a sure thing.

Wu Yue replied irritably, "They're not coming. My dad is sending them to school, and he said he'll let them go to school in the south next year."

498 thought this was not a good idea. "What future can you have by going to school? You should talk to your father and ask him if he has any other children to send over as apprentices. My business is doing well, so I can hire a couple more people."

"Okay!" Wu Yue happily jumped off the bed and ran outside. "I'm going to find my dad!"

Si Jiuba quickly shouted, "Let's talk about it when we get home tonight, no rush."

Having a perfectly legitimate reason to freeload a meal at the palace, Wu Yue quickly ignored Si Jiu Ba's calls from behind and ran to the palace.

Children have far more stamina and patience than adults. A distance of several kilometers is just a short while for a seven-year-old, and they don't even feel the passage of time.

***
A Liao woman plays her jade flute in the wind, a beauty dances in her silk robes to the moon.

Beiji Wu is enjoying himself in the palace, experiencing the pleasures of the ancients.

On the terrace, dozens of meters high, I listened to the Liao Dynasty concubine playing the Qiang flute under the moon, and watched the dancers in white gauze swaying their graceful figures in the moonlight.

Over the past ten years, we have collected many beautiful women from all over the world. There are countless women who are good at singing and dancing, and beautiful and obedient women are like a swarm of locusts crossing a river, constantly coming and going.

Arctic Martial, who sits comfortably on the sidelines, is never short of women. He will take any woman he deems acceptable, even directly, without any moral compass.

They don't seize land because they feel the territory is too big to manage, and they don't seize women because there are too many women to increase the number.

Most of the time, Beijiwu doesn't have much desire for land, women, or money; he prefers to spend time improving his quality of life.

"father!"

Wu Yue ran in happily, called out "Dad!" and then looked at the various fruits and snacks on the Beiji Wu table.

After taking one look, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Beijiwu asked, "What do you need me for? If there's nothing else, I'll take you back."

Wu Yue quickly recounted what happened with Si Jiu Ba, adding, "Si Jiu Ba was very anxious and insisted that I come, so I rushed over. I've been running for a long time and haven't eaten."

Seeing the little girl's earnest expression, which didn't seem like she was lying, Beijiwu didn't dwell on it.

"Find a place to sit down. If you want anything to eat, have someone make it for you. I'll have someone go home and tell your mother that we'll take you back by carriage later."

"Okay!" Wu Yue had already completed the task and quickly ran to find Aunt Xianglan, who was on duty at the palace.

Wu Yue's mother is Xiu Lan. Both Xiu Lan and Li Hong stay at home to take care of the children for a long time, and only the four younger girls take turns.

Li Bingxianglan, Jiangcao Xidan.

Only Beijiwu has the right to handle the food on Beijiwu's table. If Wuyue wants to eat something, others will arrange it for her; she cannot take it directly from this table.

After the troublesome children were taken away by the adults, Beijiwu continued to enjoy himself.

***
The next morning, while Sijiu was busy selling newspapers, a little girl was sleeping soundly behind him.

Wu Yue, who was lazy and loved to eat, came over in a daze and then fell asleep again, clearly not there to go to work.

Six o'clock is the busiest time of day, and a group of people crowded outside the newsstand.

"Give me one!"

"Give me ten portions! Here's the money!"

"Where's mine? Hurry up! I have to go to work!"

"Don't squeeze!"

"I'm getting out!"

"Give way!"

Si Jiuba quickly collected twenty coins, sometimes throwing them into the money box without even counting them.

There must have been damaged copper coins and counterfeit coins as well, but there wasn’t time to distinguish them one by one.

"Don't use silver, I don't have change right now!"

498 doesn't accept money, he's so busy he's in a flurry of activity, sweating profusely.

Just when he was at his wit's end, 498 heard a familiar voice.

"Line up properly and don't push."

"I told you to line up! Did you hear me?!"

A furious shout rang out on the central avenue at six o'clock in the morning, startling the crowded servants and sleeping little girls in the vicinity.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. When they turned around, their scalps tingling, they saw a man with overwhelming momentum push aside the weeds on both sides and walk straight over.

"Line up!" Arctic Martial coldly ordered, his tone much softer than before, but still unquestionable!
Whether a person has presence or is merely outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, anyone involved can have a basic ability to discern this.

Most of those present were servants of powerful and influential people in the capital, and they all tacitly and obediently lined up quickly.

In this young man, they saw a more powerful and domineering aura of authority than even their master.

Disobey, and you die; there will be no hesitation.

Beiji Wu walked to the newsstand window and said to the girl who had just gotten up, "Wu Yue, are you going to sell newspapers sitting on your bed?"

“Father…I didn’t sleep…” Wu Yue carefully explained.

Si Jiuba quickly spoke up for the child, saying, "Don't scare the child. Wu Yue has helped me a lot. If you scare people as soon as you arrive, how am I supposed to do business? You'll scare everyone away."

Beijiwu casually said, "It's alright, you don't need to worry about the business. From now on, you can use the three-room pawnshop behind this newsstand. I'll arrange for someone to renovate it in the next few days. You can hire a few women from the production team to sell newspapers together."

Upon hearing this, Si Jiuba resolutely shook his head.

“I’m just selling newspapers, I don’t need such a nice place. I’ll be content with a newsstand. Besides, there are people doing business behind me.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Beijiwu didn’t waste any words. “The small house that was assigned to your family is canceled. From now on, you will live in the house in the back. The three rooms in the front will be used as the business hall, and there will be a yard and living quarters in the back.”

"You continue selling newspapers. Wu Yue, you should work hard and stop running around."

498 was extremely curious at this moment, "Brother Wu, what exactly do you do in the palace? Are you in charge of people or in business?"

Beijiwu felt there was no need to hide it anymore.

"My surname is not Wu; Wu is just my given name, but very few people call me by my given name alone."

Arctic Warrior has made his intentions quite clear, at least many people in the vicinity understand, because since Arctic Warrior ascended the throne, few have dared to continue using "Wu" as their name.

498 instinctively asked, "What's your number?"

“I don’t have a number.” Beijiwu looked helpless; he felt he had made himself perfectly clear.

When 498 heard that there was no number, he became even more curious.

"No number? Then you're not from the mountain farm, are you? I've heard that King Wu had many Han Chinese officials around him."

In the Mountain Farmer Kingdom, everyone is numbered from top to bottom. If someone doesn't have a number, they are definitely not a Mountain Farmer.

Beiji Wu sighed and said directly with a helpless expression, "My name is Beiji Wu."

“Arctic Martial Arts…” 498 frowned, as if he hadn’t quite grasped the concept yet. “Never heard of it. Never mind, don’t keep me from selling newspapers.”

Beijiwu turned away helplessly, giving her time to react.

As Beijiwu turned and walked away, the people nearby quickly knelt down.

The first one to kneel down.

The second person knelt down.

……

The crowd collapsed to the ground like building blocks, and as if it were a contagious disease, they all knelt on the ground, afraid to raise their heads.

Beijiwu walked out quietly, ignoring the people's kneeling.

When 498 saw the horrifying scene outside, he suddenly realized who Arctic Martial was.

Her body began to tremble, her teeth chattered, her mind went blank, and her pants quickly became wet.

On this day, Si Jiu Ba was doing business in a daze, while the seven-year-old child was busy with everything.

With the help of the soldiers, the pawnshop owner behind them took the silver and went to do business elsewhere, moving to another place in just one day.

If you're willing to move, then move; you can continue doing business in Luoyang.

If you're not willing to make room, then don't stay in Luoyang.

To be fair, Arctic Martial Arts has been quite reasonable, at least giving business people a way to survive.

If you're not even willing to follow the arrangements of such a top ruler, then you're not one of us.

In the capital of the Mountain Farmer Kingdom, only one type of people can exist: those who obey orders.

Disobedience can be punished by death.

Beiji Wu was not a commoner, nor a merchant, nor a soldier; he was the emperor. Disobeying the emperor's orders was a capital offense, and no amount of honest official could overturn the case.

No one lost faith in the Mountain Farm Kingdom because of the Arctic Army's brutal actions.

No one lost heart towards the Mountain Farming Kingdom because it had destroyed countless countries, killed foreign men, and seized foreign lands and women.

If we say that Beiji Wu was not a good emperor, then we absolutely cannot find a better emperor than him.

The two achievements alone—expanding territory and reducing taxes—were unprecedented.

(End of this chapter)