Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Just as grain from Jiangnan poured into Hanyuan like a golden torrent, filling its enormous granaries, the "Baishui Market" on the banks of the Baishui River, the northern gateway to Hanyuan, and the newly planned "Beiguan Mutual Market," located northeast of Zhenbei New City and specializing in trade with Beiyan and further north, also ushered in unprecedented prosperity.

"Whitewater Market" goes without saying. As a symbol and economic link between the alliance between Hanyuan and Batu Khan of the Grassland Wolf Tribe, it has long been one of the most important trade hubs in the North.

Cattle, sheep, horses, furs, cheese, and medicinal herbs from the grasslands meet here with salt, iron, cloth, tea, tools, and grain from the cold abyss.

The market continued to expand, with fixed shops, warehouses, inns, and taverns lining the streets, and even money exchange and escort agencies appearing specifically to serve traveling merchants.

Merchants from the Western Regions and even further into Central Asia, sensing the business opportunities, traveled thousands of miles to bring exotic treasures such as gems, spices, and carpets, in exchange for silk, porcelain, tea, and high-quality ironware from the northern border.

Every day, the market is bustling with noise, the sounds of camel bells and horses neighing mingle, and various languages ​​and the sounds of bargaining blend together, with gold, silver and copper coins flowing like water.

The "North Gate Trade Market" was one of the important achievements of the peace talks between Xiao Chen and Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan.

Compared to the openness and chaos of "Baishui Market", "Beiguan Mutual Market" is more standardized and "high-end".

It is located 30 miles northeast of Zhenbei New City, next to a strategically important pass. It is jointly managed by Hanyuan and Beiyan, with each side stationing an army of several hundred men to maintain order and security.

The border trade had fixed opening dates, a strict goods inspection system, and a relatively uniform tax rate.

The Northern Yan had a great demand for high-quality steel, refined ironware, salt, and some medicinal materials from Hanyuan.

Han Yuan, on the other hand, obtained valuable mountain goods such as warhorses, furs, ginseng, and sable fur from Northern Yan, as well as some minerals and artisans unique to Northern Yan.

In addition, luxury goods brought by Northern Yan merchants from the Central Plains also found a market here, and were resold to wealthy households in grassland tribes or Hanyuan.

Although Murong Han was wary of Han Yuan, he chose pragmatic cooperation when faced with tangible benefits, especially after witnessing the combat power and enviable technology of Han Yuan's army.

The taxes from the Beiguan border trade were split between the two parties according to an agreed ratio, which was a considerable and stable source of income.

More importantly, through this controlled trade channel, Northern Yan could obtain urgently needed strategic materials relatively stably, avoiding the risks and high costs of smuggling, while also gaining insight into some of Han Yuan's development.

The prosperity of the two border cities brought enormous wealth.

Commercial taxes, market taxes, transit taxes, and profits from official trade in Hanyuan flowed into Hanyuan's treasury like trickles of water forming a river.

The accounts of the "Department of Finances" under Han Lie's control grew thicker and thicker, and the gold, silver and copper coins in the treasury piled up like mountains, so much so that the treasury had to be expanded. They also began to study the issuance of Han Yuan's own "salt certificates" and "iron certificates" with good reputation as vouchers for large transactions. They even began to try circulating a kind of well-made "Jingbei Tongbao" copper coin with a high copper content on a small scale to facilitate small transactions and gradually reduce their reliance on the messy old coins of the previous dynasty.

The accumulation of wealth not only strengthened the government's power but also gave rise to the first batch of "wealthy merchants".

They were either locals from Hanyuan who had seized early trade opportunities, or merchants who had fled from the Central Plains and Jiangnan, bringing with them capital and experience, or even some shrewd minor nobles from the grassland tribes.

They established trading posts, formed caravans, and invested in workshops within the border cities and the cold abyss, becoming a key link connecting production and consumption, and facilitating communication between the inside and outside.

Their mansions began to appear in the best locations in the new town of Zhenbei, their children entered schools and even military academies, and their every move began to have an increasingly significant impact on the economic life of Hanyuan.

Xiao Chen's attitude towards business is clear and pragmatic.

He encouraged commerce, protected legitimate businesses, and used commerce to stimulate the economy, facilitate trade, increase tax revenue, and gather intelligence. However, he was also well aware of the profit-driven nature of merchants and the potential harm caused by the disorderly expansion of capital.

Therefore, while encouraging others, he also used agencies such as the "Market Regulation Bureau" and the "Salt and Iron Bureau" to regulate key materials, standardize market behavior, and crack down on hoarding, price gouging, and selling inferior goods as superior ones.

At the same time, through the continuous introduction of new technologies and products by "Gewuyuan", capital is guided to be invested in real production and innovation, rather than pure speculation.

The prosperity of the border city is like a huge window, allowing Han Yuan to breathe the air of the outside world and allowing the outside world to glimpse the vibrant vitality of this northern power.

Wealth, goods, information, technology, and even all sorts of people flow here in an endless stream.

It not only nourishes the body of the Cold Abyss, but also subtly changes the economic landscape and power balance of the Northern Territory and even a wider region.

Standing atop the newly built watchtower of the "Beiguan Mutual Market," Xiao Chen looked down at the bustling yet orderly market below.

He saw the steel swords of Hanyuan being carefully inspected and accepted by the merchants of Beiyan with satisfaction; he saw the fine horses of the grasslands being led away by the officers of Hanyuan; he saw the silk of Jiangnan being resold here; he saw the Hu merchants of the Western Regions gesturing famous hand gestures in front of their stalls... It was a vibrant and hopeful scene.

"Your Highness, Batu's messenger has arrived, inquiring about the specific date for his formal visit to Zhenbei City," Zhao Tie reported in a low voice.

"Reply to him that the day the new city wall is completed and the government offices are finished will be the day to welcome our brothers from the grasslands." Xiao Chen withdrew his gaze, a smile appearing on his lips.

Economic ties are strong enough; it's time to make political ties even more prominent.

The prosperity of the border city is a manifestation of its strength and an extension of its ambition.

Han Yuan's voice is spreading to even more distant places through these bustling markets.