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

The Canglang tribe delegation brought not only a generous gift of 30,000 warhorses, but also an excellent opportunity to deeply bind the Cold Abyss to the economic lifeline of the grasslands.

Xiao Chen knew that relying solely on one-time tributes and sporadic trade could not support the ever-growing demand for cavalry from Han Yuan and the various tribes of the grasslands for supplies from the Central Plains.

He needs a long-term, stable, and controllable strategic passage to transform the resource advantages of the North into tangible war potential.

Therefore, the day after the mission left, Xiao Chen summoned Han Lie, Zhao Tie, and officials from the "Maritime Trade Office" in charge of trade, and proposed a five-year strategic plan of "exchanging salt and iron for horses".

"What does the grassland lack? Salt, iron, cloth, tea, medicinal herbs, and everything else that can help them survive and thrive."

Xiao Chen pointed to the vast green area on the map, "And what do we lack? We lack warhorses, leather, wool, superior stallions, and a deeper influence on the grasslands. In the past, our trades were piecemeal, unsystematic, and easily exploited by middlemen, even leaving us vulnerable. Now, we must change that."

"Does Your Highness mean... that the government should take the lead in signing long-term, large-scale contracts?" Han Lie asked thoughtfully.

"Exactly!"

Xiao Chen nodded. "We need to transform this trade into a formalized, large-scale, and monopolistic trading system. Han Yuan will become the grassland's sole and most reliable supplier of salt and iron. And the grassland will become Han Yuan's largest and most stable source of warhorses."

He quickly issued specific instructions:

First, the "Salt and Iron Monopoly Bureau" was established to be in charge of large-scale trade with the grasslands.

Strategic materials such as salt, iron, tea, cloth, and medicinal herbs were designated as "monopoly goods," and quota management and unified pricing were implemented for grassland trade.

Private merchants are strictly prohibited from smuggling these supplies into the grasslands on a large scale; violators will be severely punished.

At the same time, the "Horse Administration Office" was established to be responsible for receiving, inspecting, raising, and distributing warhorses purchased from the grasslands.

Second, a five-year salt and iron-for-horse contract was signed with the Canglang tribe.

The contract stipulated that Han Yuan would provide the Canglang tribe and its affiliated tribes with 50,000 shi of salt, 100,000 jin of pig iron, 50,000 jin of refined iron, 10,000 jin of tea, 50,000 bolts of cloth, and various medicinal herbs annually.

In exchange, the grasslands provide Hanyuan with 10,000 high-quality warhorses, 20,000 pack horses, 1,000 stallions, 100,000 cow and sheep hides, and 500,000 catties of wool every year.

The price will be settled at 80% of the market price, and the difference will be made up with gold, silver or goods of equivalent value.

This contract is guaranteed by Khan Batu of the Canglang tribe. If any tribe breaches the contract, the Canglang tribe will bear joint liability.

3. Establish the "Spring and Autumn Malaysia Market".

Every year in March and September, a large horse market is held in Baishui Market for half a month.

The Hanyuan government will centrally sell salt, iron, and other supplies here, and various tribes of the grasslands can bring horses and furs to trade.

Hanyuan will provide fair weights and measures, a secure trading environment, and will give priority to purchasing goods from tribes allied with the Canglang tribe.

This move aimed to centralize the scattered grassland trade, making it easier to manage and tax, and thereby divide and win over the various grassland tribes.

IV. Establish a "Horse Quality Rating and Reward/Punishment System".

Every horse imported from the grasslands was rigorously inspected by the veterinarians and horse appraisers of the Horse Administration Office, and was divided into four grades: "superior, medium, inferior, and inferior horses," with prices set according to grade.

The tribe that provides the most "superior horses" for three consecutive years will receive additional salt and iron quotas, trade preferences, and even the title of "friendly tribe" from the Cold Abyss, and will be protected by the Cold Abyss army.

Conversely, if a large number of inferior horses are supplied, their trading privileges will be reduced or even revoked. This is intended to incentivize grassland tribes to improve horse breeds and raise the quality of their horses.

Fifth, export "non-core technologies" in exchange for better resources.

Under the premise of strictly keeping core military technologies confidential, some improved civilian technologies are exported to the grasslands, such as: improved wool shears, simplified leather tanning processes, prescriptions for treating common livestock diseases, and even improved pasture seeds.

In exchange, they gained access to higher-quality mineral resources from the grasslands, deeper trade privileges, and a commitment from the grassland tribes to protect the Hanyuan caravan.

This comprehensive plan, like a meticulously woven net, was rapidly unfolded.

When the news reached the grasslands, Batu was overjoyed.

The amount of salt and iron provided by Hanyuan is sufficient to meet the basic needs of the Canglang tribe and its core allies, and there is even a surplus that can be used to control other small tribes.

Stable trade channels will greatly enhance the prestige and dominance of the Canglang tribe on the grasslands.

He immediately agreed to the contract and sent his eldest son, Aguda, back to the Cold Abyss to finalize the details.

Other grassland tribes flocked to the place upon hearing the news. In the past, they would often travel hundreds of miles and endure the exploitation of unscrupulous merchants in order to obtain an iron pot or a bag of salt.

Now, as long as you follow the Canglang tribe, you can exchange for urgently needed supplies at a fair price at a fixed time and place, and you can even get "rewards" from Hanyuan.

Many tribes that were previously wavering have now aligned themselves with the Canglang tribe and pledged their allegiance.

The first batch of goods began to circulate in the first month after the contract was signed.

From the salt fields, ironworks, workshops, and warehouses of Hanyuan, horse-drawn carts, oxcarts, and even newly commissioned inland waterway transport ships, laden with snow-white salt blocks, dark iron ingots, bundles of cloth, and fragrant tea bricks, continuously transported goods to Baishui Market along the newly built "Goods and Trade Avenue" and Baishui River.

Deep in the grasslands, thousands of horses, driven by herdsmen from various tribes, converged on the banks of the Baishui River like a moving dark cloud.

The shepherds sang ancient pastoral songs, their faces beaming with anticipation.

They knew that the horses they brought this time would be enough to help the tribe survive the winter and even improve their lives.

Baishui Market instantly became bustling and crowded like never before.

The officials of the Maritime Trade Office were extremely busy, checking cargo manifests, inspecting horses, assessing their quality, and issuing "transaction certificates."

In addition to official trade, the merchants of Hanyuan also purchased large quantities of furs, cheese, and medicinal herbs from the grasslands, and even hired grassland warriors as guards for their caravans.

Throughout the market, gold and silver flowed like water, and goods circulated like a flying wheel.

In just half a month of the "Spring Market," Han Yuan successfully traded for 3,000 top-quality warhorses, 5,000 medium-quality warhorses, 10,000 packhorses, as well as mountains of furs and medicinal herbs. Meanwhile, the various tribes of the grasslands obtained enough salt, iron, cloth, and tea to sustain them for several months.

Looking at the magnificent warhorses galloping and neighing in the newly built stables of the Horse Administration Office; looking at the mountains of high-quality furs and medicinal herbs in the treasury; looking at the record-breaking commercial tax revenue reported by the Maritime Trade Office; looking at the respectful, even slightly obsequious, expressions of the grassland envoys, Xiao Chen knew that the first step of the "salt and iron for horses" strategy had been correct.

This was not only a successful trade deal, but also a profound economic and political integration.

With its powerful industrial capacity and material reserves, Hanyuan firmly controlled the economic lifeline of the grassland.

The dependence of the various tribes of the grasslands on the Cold Abyss will deepen over time.

One day, this dependence will transform into an inseparable loyalty, and even... a complete fusion.

"This is just the beginning."

Xiao Chen said to Han Lie, "Next, we need to establish our own warehouses, and even... our own money houses, deep in the grasslands. We want the grassland people to get used to using our copper coins, and even... our 'salt certificates' and 'iron certificates' for trade. We want to make Hanyuan the heart of the grassland economy."

Han Lie was shocked; the prince's vision was far-reaching.

This is not just about doing business; it's about reshaping the economic order of the entire North.

The trade of salt and iron for horses not only brought warhorses, but also control over the future.