I Built a Territory in Ancient Times Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Xie Yixiu looked at the young man before him, as spots of sunlight filtered through the shade of the trees, casting a halo of light on Ming Yu. A gentle breeze blew, the trees swayed, and the light spots danced playfully. The quiet young man was brought to life under the sunlight.

Everything was as beautiful as a painting, and Xie Yixiu felt at peace, a smile appearing in his eyes. “Okay!”

Ming Yu lifted his eyes to look at him, flashing a bright smile, and they shared an unspoken understanding.

“By the way, how are those merchants doing?”

Xie Yixiu lowered his eyelids, “The Ma family is making a big move. The head of the Ma family seems to have a good impression of Wang Ye and is already preparing for the bidding event. The Zhou family and the Ma family are in a close alliance, and the Zhou family has always followed the Ma family’s lead, so they’re moving quickly. As for the other two families, the Zhu family and the Wang family, they appear to be observing for now, but their subordinates are still making moves. They should also be preparing secretly, just in case.”

Getting ahead of others is key, even if there are doubts, they can’t let anyone else take the lead. They need to be prepared no matter what.

Ming Yu had already anticipated this situation. It was impossible for them not to be tempted. Once the leading families made their move, the other merchants would follow suit without worry.

“Many merchants from other places have already heard the news and rushed to the capital. The bidding event you mentioned is getting a lot of attention,” Xie Yixiu continued.

Ming Yu smiled proudly. “As long as they’re interested, that’s all that matters. I’d be worried if they weren’t.”

“But using future profits in exchange for current gains, don’t you think Wang Ye might be at a disadvantage?” Xie Yixiu frowned, still confused. The things Ming Yu was orchestrating were all beyond his comprehension. Everyone found it puzzling, and he himself had never heard of anything like it.

If it were about war, he wouldn’t even hesitate. But these matters were beyond him, and all he could do was watch Ming Yu handle everything alone.

Ming Yu waved his hand dismissively. “No, no. It’s not a loss. Gold covered in dust will go unnoticed and wasted. But if it’s discovered early and used properly, its value can be fully realized faster and more effectively. Isn’t that better than leaving it to gather dust?”

“What I need to do now is raise some startup funds, build strategic outposts, and ensure defensive measures are in place so the barbarians can’t attack. I also need to recruit soldiers, at least to ensure the safety of the trade caravans. Only then will more caravans be attracted here. That’s my goal. Only with the constant flow of trade will the economy prosper.”

“The rest can be developed slowly. Later, we’ll expand together with Liangcheng. I’ve already planned for Liangcheng’s future. Manufacturing could become its main economic pillar. Then, by coordinating with the trade routes of the Western Qi Corridor, we can transport products to other regions for greater profits. With this strategy, the economic benefits will multiply. I believe that within three to five years, we’ll see initial results.”

Xie Yixiu quietly listened to Ming Yu’s plans. He had always known about Ming Yu’s ambitions. He wanted to turn Liangzhou into a city as prosperous as those in the southern part of the Great Yan, or perhaps even better.

Having spent most of his time on the borderlands, Xie Yixiu knew the situation there better than Ming Yu. He understood how difficult it would be for Ming Yu to realize his vision. Everything had to be built from scratch amidst the turmoil of war, with no support from the imperial court, relying solely on Ming Yu’s efforts.

If it were anyone else, they might have given up by now. But Ming Yu had an unwavering confidence. His actions weren’t rash; instead, they were careful steps, building a solid foundation for the future.

His long-term goals for five or ten years were clear, and people could easily see what the border city of Liangzhou would look like in that time. This likely made the merchants eager to join in.

“That’s wonderful! Only you could do this in this world,” Xie Yixiu affirmed.

The more Ming Yu shone, the more Xie Yixiu’s heart burned with passion. At the same time, a subtle sense of loss began to grow. If he wanted to stand by Ming Yu’s side, he had to become even more exceptional to be worthy of someone as brilliant as him. He would strive to keep up with Ming Yu’s steps and clear the path ahead for him.

Ming Yu’s grand vision was all in his mind, and he would only occasionally share his ideas with Xie Yixiu, feeling at ease in his company.

He didn’t know if Xie Yixiu would accept or agree with his ideas, but he believed that no matter what, Xie Yixiu would always stand by him.

Sensing Xie Yixiu’s inner turmoil, Ming Yu smiled slightly, his eyes narrowing into gentle crescents.

“Because you are my backbone. You know, the enemies of the Suixi Kingdom are watching us closely. I don’t want all my hard work to go to waste because of the chaos of war. The barbarians of Suixi are a constant threat. No matter how well we develop, if the enemies attack, we will suffer great losses. So, to develop, we must first subdue the barbarians and make them too afraid to cause trouble. This is where I need you, General Xie.”

Ming Yu’s comforting words made Xie Yixiu’s feelings of loss disappear into the wind. Yes! He needed peace and stability in Liangzhou, and he would personally deliver that to him.

“As you wish, I will make it happen.”

Looking at Ming Yu, who was full of smiles, Xie Yixiu stood up, his right hand clenched into a fist over his chest, and he lightly knocked three times. This was a unique oath-taking gesture from the borderlands, symbolizing a lifelong vow of loyalty.

For Ming Yu, he was willing.

Under the sunlight, Xie Yixiu stood even taller and more imposing before Ming Yu. Having spent so much time on the frontier, he naturally understood the meaning behind this gesture—it was a common display of loyalty, signifying one’s willingness to pledge their life in service. Yet, as Xie Yixiu performed this act now, Ming Yu instinctively turned his head away, unable to meet his gaze for long.

“There’s no need for this…” Ming Yu murmured. Xie Yixiu was already a living legend, not someone’s subordinate—how could there be a vow of allegiance unto death?

“I am willing!” Xie Yixiu’s usual cold and detached voice was resolute, yet it carried an emotion that was different from before.

If Ming Yu still failed to understand the meaning behind his words, he would have lived in vain. Since Xie Yixiu was willing to entrust him with his life, what else could he not give? His body, his heart—everything from this moment on belonged to Ming Yu alone.

Ming Yu suddenly recalled that day—their intimate encounter, the lingering sensation on his lips still faintly present. He knew he shouldn’t be thinking about this. Shaking his head, he tried to banish the thoughts from his mind, but it was futile. The more he resisted remembering, the deeper the memory became, as if the warmth of that touch was starting to burn again.

Ming Yu’s face grew hot, and even his ears turned inexplicably red. Afraid that Xie Yixiu might notice something amiss, he rubbed his face with both hands, shut his eyes, and, in a voice barely above a whisper, muttered, “Mm, I understand.”

There was an invisible veil between them—one that Ming Yu dared not pierce, fearing he wouldn’t know how to face it.

Xie Yixiu wouldn’t push him. There was plenty of time ahead. Even if Ming Yu tried to avoid him, how long could he truly hide? He believed that one day, he would receive the answer he was waiting for.

Time passed swiftly, and at last, the grand celebration of the Emperor’s birthday had arrived. On such an important day, Ming Yu, like all the other princes, was required to attend in full ceremonial attire. He donned a python-embroidered robe befitting his status, appearing dignified and elegant, exuding an air of nobility.

Early in the morning, under the Emperor’s lead, they proceeded to the ancestral temple to pay their respects. Afterward, the Emperor celebrated with the people, and grand festivities were held in the palace. The palace even specially opened the Zerui Gate, allowing a select number of commoners to enter, watch performances, and even receive a cup of celebratory wine.

During this time, high-ranking officials and regional governors presented grand tributes. Naturally, these gifts were anything but ordinary—they were rare, exquisite, and unique. Watching from the side, Ming Yu was dazzled by the spectacle, unable to suppress his amazement.

When it was time for the princes to offer their tributes, the Emperor turned to Ming Yu with a smile and asked, “Old Fourteenth, having spent time in Liangcheng, you must have brought back many rare treasures from the Western Regions. I wonder what grand gift you’ve prepared for me this time?”

It was no surprise that the Emperor asked this. Ming Yu had previously mentioned that he would present a never-before-seen tribute at the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

His words had piqued everyone’s curiosity, but no matter how much they pried, Ming Yu refused to reveal anything in advance, only insisting that it would lose its impact if seen too soon. This only made everyone even more eager to find out.

The moment the Emperor posed his question, all eyes turned toward Ming Yu, brimming with curiosity about what Duan Wang would present.

Ming Yu chuckled and glanced at the sky. “It’s still early. My elder brothers haven’t even presented their gifts yet—how could I, as the younger brother, overstep my bounds? Besides, my gift is best viewed after nightfall.”

This rascal—now he suddenly knew how to show humility? On ordinary days, he never seemed so considerate of his older brothers.

But since he had put it this way, waiting a little longer wouldn’t hurt.

For the princes, this was a prime opportunity to showcase themselves. The goal was to make their tribute stand out, to be the one that caught the most attention and overshadowed all the others.

The Crown Prince, being upright and principled, did not choose an extravagant gift. Instead, he demonstrated his sincerity—after seven days of fasting and purification, he personally transcribed Buddhist scriptures as a prayer offering, dedicating them for forty-nine days.

The Emperor, accustomed to seeing all manner of rare and valuable treasures, deeply appreciated the Crown Prince’s heartfelt effort and praised him, saying, “The Crown Prince has put great thought into this.”

As for the other princes, their approach was straightforward—whatever was the rarest and most valuable, they would present. The Third Prince’s South Sea purple-gold coral pearls, for instance, immediately caught everyone’s attention.

By the time it was Ming Yu’s turn, the sky had already darkened. Palace attendants had lit lanterns, illuminating the banquet hall as though it were still daylight.

“Fourteenth Brother, we’ve all presented our tributes, and now we’re just waiting for your grand finale. But from the looks of it, you didn’t bring anything with you. Did you hide it somewhere? Or is it that you simply have nothing impressive to show?” Ming Zhen said in a mocking tone.

Previously, both Ming Zhen and Ming Chao had been punished with house arrest by the Emperor. Only because of today’s special occasion were they allowed to attend. After failing to harm others and instead bringing misfortune upon himself, Ming Zhen had fallen out with Ming Chao, and even the Emperor had lost favor with him. In his mind, everything was Ming Yu’s fault, so no matter how he looked at him, he found him unbearable.

Ming Yu smiled slightly, ignoring him. Instead, he rose to his feet, stepped into the center of the banquet hall, and respectfully saluted the Emperor. “Your son has prepared a humble offering for you, and I ask Father to grant it his attention.”

With that, he gave a few instructions to a subordinate, who then handed him a signaling arrow. This had already been reported to and approved by the Emperor beforehand—he would be using it to send a message.

Ming Yu lit the fuse and released the arrow into the night sky. The arrow whistled through the air, leaving a trail of sparks behind.

Everyone was puzzled. Normally, tributes were presented directly to the Emperor. What was Ming Yu trying to pull with this?

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