Colonial Era: From Remnants to European Dominator

"Strategies for agriculture and sericulture have existed throughout history, but they have all remained superficial. Do you know why, my lord?"

Why??

"Empty words, without the deep involvement and leadership of local officials, can hardly be considered persuasion. At best, they are just slogans that only enrich the county magistrate."

Su Weinian and Li Yuanheng stood together at the bridgehead. The bridge was just an ordinary stone bridge, with a small tributary of the Jin River flowing beneath it, irrigating the fertile soil all year round and making its vitality even stronger.

The water rippled gently, the bridge planks were weathered and worn, and the two people discussing politics and philosophy on the bridgehead were very young. The former was only twenty-three years old, and the latter was only twenty-one years old, with a difference of only two years. The best years of their lives were spent here.

If this were in later generations, people in their early twenties would be either in university classrooms or discussing which game is more fun, which girl is prettier, or which food delivery app is cheaper.

Twenty is a time of both beauty and desolation, possessing all possibilities, yet most people cannot realize them. The wonder of fate lies in this: to have is to lose, to not have is to possess. How many can truly understand the mystery within?

"The book says that agriculture and sericulture are the most important things for a country and a family, after all, people have to eat. But for me, it is more about adapting to local conditions and going with the flow."

"For example, in this fertile land, rice is the best crop. In the mild climate, fruit trees, medicinal herbs, and even tea can also be grown."

"Tea----"

The wind ruffled the square scarf wrapped around her headdress, and her simple gray robe blended somewhat with the sound of the wind. Upon hearing the word "tea," her eyes suddenly lit up, and her tone became more serious:

"Jinshan can grow tea, how could Yunxi have known? How could I not know?"

Hearing his courtesy name in his ear, Su Weinian bowed and stepped forward:

"The other day I met a traveling merchant. He was very knowledgeable and had traveled to many deserts. In some oasis tribes, they all planted a small tree called sea buckthorn. This tree can bear fruit. Although the fruit is small, it tastes excellent. The leaves can also be dried and steeped in water. Although the taste is not as good as tea, it is similar to tea. After drinking it, it also has the effect of relieving greasiness and promoting salivation."

"Sea buckthorn berries—aren't they orange-peel colored?"

"How did you find out, my lord?"

Su Weinian looked at Li Yuanheng across from him with a hint of surprise, wondering how the other party, who had never seen it before, could know the color of sea buckthorn berries.

"Well, I ate it last year when we went hunting on the grasslands, but the locals just treated it as a wild fruit."

Having found a plausible reason, Su Weinian, even if he didn't believe it, didn't press further and instead continued talking about the cultivation of sea buckthorn:

"Sea buckthorn is not too picky about the location. As long as there is some water, it will be fine. The most important thing is sunshine. However, in this Western Region, there is no shortage of anything but sunshine. It is not difficult to popularize sea buckthorn."

"But I don't think it's feasible to get all the people to grow this."

Su Weinian's eyes met Li Yuanheng's only briefly, and he understood the meaning behind it:

"Tea tax??"

"It's the tea tax. Of the taxes on firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, salt is still a state monopoly, firewood has been converted into coal, and other items like oil, soy sauce, and vinegar are beyond the government's control no matter how hard they try. But tea is the only thing that has been subject to control since ancient times, and it cannot be taken lightly."

In short, tea is money, and this kind of money absolutely cannot be lost. Not to mention the Jinshan Kingdom, which has an annual tax cap, even the steppe khanates like the Dzungar Khanate have the heaviest taxes on tea and salt. They either collect them directly or set up transit fees along the way. Not to mention the Qing Dynasty, which has created all sorts of exorbitant taxes and levies. They practically sleep on tea and salt, clinging to salt and tea merchants from all over the country and refusing to let go.

In short, the government's profits began with tea and salt, but ultimately could not escape the influence of a daily necessity.

After all, the Discourses on Salt and Iron had already stated that it was better to control the lives of the people than to directly levy taxes, as this would avoid infamy and ensure the stable operation of the national treasury.

The only downside was that people in some impoverished areas throughout history couldn't afford salt and could only drink tea a few times a year, leading extremely difficult lives. Meanwhile, the cheap smuggled salt was suppressed or even hunted down by local governments, causing salt prices to fluctuate wildly and making life unbearable for the people.

If things really escalate in the end, it will only cause suffering for the common people, and I will bear the blame.

"Leave the planting of sea buckthorn trees to Yunxi. If you need money, you can submit a document to the government office. With me here, they won't dare to stop you from getting the funds."

"Thank you so much, my lord!!"

Before Su Weinian could even bend down, having just cupped his hands in greeting, Li Yuanheng stopped him. Looking up slightly, he saw a reassuring smile on that familiar face:

"I call myself Su Junyunxi, and you should call me Boxian, that would be more appropriate."

"How can this be—"

Su Weinian quickly waved his hand, but Li Yuanheng's brows furrowed deeply.

"Does Su Jun look down on Yuan Heng, or does he think Yuan Heng is an old man bound by etiquette, or perhaps he fears me?"

"Su Jun!!"

His tone grew increasingly forceful, and beads of sweat appeared on Su Weinian's forehead. No matter how hard he tried to suppress it, Li Yuanheng across from him could hear it clearly.

Su Weinian flicked his sleeves a few times, then bowed again, this time with the respect due to a peer, and his tone was exceptionally moderate:

"Su Yunxi greets Boyan, may you be well, young master."

"Haha----That's wonderful, that's wonderful!!"

At this moment, in Su Weinian's eyes, Li Yuanheng seemed like a young man in his early twenties, unconcerned with status, indifferent to gains and losses, and even less concerned with so-called authority, as if everything had the power of youth.

"Let spring blossoms be the songs of youth, and let us ride the sea and waves to understand all principles."

Standing on the stone bridge, Li Yuanheng gazed at the lush green wheat fields and the ever-flowing tributary below. Inspired, he composed a short poem, but before he could even think of the second stanza, Su Weinian, standing beside him, quickly filled in the blank:

"I do not seek to be remembered for eternity or to gain fame, but only to have a heart that is worthy of the mountains and seas."

"It doesn't rhyme very well."

Li Yuanheng made an untimely remark, but Su Weinian countered with a question:

"The sea buckthorn tree can grow into such a shape in arid places and bring so many benefits to people. How can it not be in accordance with the laws of nature? This flower, this grass, and even a person's life, how can it be rhymed?"

"Just like a farmer, whose entire life is spent with crops, is his life fulfilling or even rhyming? From the perspective of the literati, it is naturally an ordinary and unremarkable life. But from the farmer's perspective, if a farmer can live a life free from drought and flood, with a harmonious family, many children and grandchildren, and free from the ravages of war, wouldn't that be considered fulfilling?"

"I'm talking about poetry."

"I was also talking about poetry!!"

The two locked eyes, and Li Yuanheng was the first to burst out laughing:

"Full of grand theories, but just sophistry. What if they can't handle the sea buckthorn tea issue properly?"

"Yunxi should be punished, but Boxian is also guilty."

"How am I guilty too??"

"Since Bo Xian has never even seen a real sea buckthorn plant, yet he believed Yun Xi's words, isn't that a crime?"

Li Yuanheng was speechless for a moment, only repeating one word over and over:

"Deceitful words, deceitful words----"