Time Travel: The Foolish Lady is Forced to Become a Female General

Chapter 122 Because you burn the brightest fire!

A look of embarrassment flashed across Gongsun Xin's usually serious face.

"First of all, of course, there is the issue of expenses. The establishment of schools, water conservancy projects, and village buildings mentioned by the Lord are certainly beneficial, but they require a lot of silver. There is almost no silver in the county now. Although Shen Nanfeng is good at business and has accumulated a lot of silver with Master Mo over the years, it is far from enough to meet the expenses of a county."

"The second is the issue of land and taxes. The world is about to fall into chaos. The imperial court may not care about the tax system. Jinghai County will also exempt taxes for one year according to the rules. But it will be difficult to move the land of the noble families and make them pay taxes."

"Finally, there is the issue of implementing these new policies. Although the people are simple and honest, they are also timid and conservative. For things like establishing schools, I am afraid that they may not be implemented as the Lord wishes."

money?

Yes, Xia Qin suddenly realized.

In troubled times, what is the most important thing? Of course, it is money and soldiers.

Not to mention the soldiers for now, there is no need to say much about Mo Ye and his men, and there is also the anti-Japanese army under his brother.

But what should I do with the money?

Xia Qin sighed helplessly. It seemed that she had to start the "farming mode".

"I'll find a way to solve the money problem," Xia Qin said firmly, seeming to be full of confidence. "We'll solve the tax and land problems when we encounter them. As for whether the people will accept it, we can only consider it in the long run."

"Yes, I will follow your instructions." Gongsun Xin nodded respectfully in response.

Xia Qin asked Xiang Moye: "Is Shen Nanfeng a businessman?"

"He'll be here soon."

A moment later, a graceful man in a dark green brocade robe walked in with light steps. His hair was tied up high and fixed with a jade hairpin. A few strands of hair hung down gently, adding a bit of unruly and casualness to him. In his hand was a folding fan with a landscape pattern painted on it, which he gently patted against his palm.

"Brother Mo, Lord Mu."

"Your name is Shen Nanfeng?" Xia Qin was a little puzzled. He didn't seem like this when she saw him that day.

"Master, you can just call me Shen Yisan from now on. The name Shen Nanfeng is just like Brother Mo's Su Yunchen, so it is not needed for the time being. Master, you must have something important to tell me when you call me?"

Shen Nanfeng chuckled in response, but Xia Qin felt that this man's temperament was somewhat similar to Mo Ye's.

"Yes, business matters."

Shen Nanfeng's eyes lit up: "Oh? I heard from Brother Mo before that the Lord of the Mansion always has surprising actions. I guess he is also interested in merchant barter?"

"There's no other way. Rebuilding Jinghai County requires money." Xia Qin sighed and said helplessly.

Hearing this, Shen Nanfeng looked at Mo Ye with a look of embarrassment on his face: "Master, Shen's business can support Brother Mo's organization, but to meet the needs of an entire county, I'm afraid I may not be able to do so."

However, Xia Qin did not pay attention to his words, but continued to ask: "I wonder what business Yi San is doing?"

Shen Nanfeng answered truthfully: "I have dabbled in industries such as grain, cloth, iron smelting, and salt making."

Xia Qin lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and gradually came up with an idea in his mind: "I have some ideas about cloth dyeing and fine salt extraction. I wonder if Yi San can give it a try?"

In fact, Xia Qin knew very little about the knowledge she could use after traveling through time. She learned the method of dyeing cloth by chance during an undercover mission, and turning coarse salt into fine salt was just common sense that she already had.

Not only that, Xia Qin was not even sure whether these two things were applicable to the current time and space, and he was just trying to give it a try.

Just like other people's reactions to Xia Qin's strange ideas, at this moment, a big question mark also climbed onto Shen Nanfeng's face: "I wonder what exactly you mean, Lord?"

"My meaning is very simple. I have some new formulas for dyes. As for coarse salt, I also know how to refine it into fine salt."

Shen Nanfeng responded doubtfully: "Since this is your idea, I am willing to give it a try."

Seeing this, Xia Qin didn't say any more nonsense. She took out paper and pen and started writing. Time passed by little by little. After a long time, she finally stopped writing and handed two sheets of paper to Shen Nanfeng.

"Safflower, Tuomu, Sumu, Indigo..." Shen Nanfeng took it and looked at it carefully. He saw dozens of plant names densely written on the paper. "These should be the names of dyeing grasses. Some of them are indeed in use, but most of them have never been tried before."

"Yes, that's right. I'm not particularly proficient in these things. You can try them all. The effect should be quite good. There are also Artemisia annua ash and Suzuki ash, which can be used to fix the color."

In fact, Xia Qin only had a basic knowledge of this knowledge.

"I'll have someone try to color it in the next two days." Shen Nanfeng still had some doubts, but decided to give it a try.

"I'll have to demonstrate how to extract fine salt. Do you have coarse salt here?"

Xia Qin was obviously much more serious about salt making. She knew very well that in the feudal era, especially in times of war, salt making was of great significance.

You have to know that in the world where Xia Qin originally lived, salt production and salt sales were monopolized by the imperial court most of the time, and the profits from salt production and iron smelting were unimaginable astronomical figures.

Shen Nanfeng nodded immediately and said, "Of course I have some. I wonder how much you need?"

"Gongsun Xin, have someone set up two big pots in the backyard of the county government, prepare a few jars of clean water and some wood, some wood ash, five feet of linen, and five large pottery jars. Shen Yisan, you transport a stone of coarse salt to the backyard of the county government." Xia Qin gave orders in an orderly manner.

"Yes, Lord!" Although the two men had doubts in their hearts, they obeyed the order without hesitation and left the lobby of the government office.

Xia Qin turned to look at Mo Ye and found that Mo Ye was sitting leisurely on a wooden chair in the hall sipping tea.

"Mr. Mo, you seem quite relaxed right now. Aren't you curious about what I'm going to do?"

Mo Ye chuckled: "There are so many interesting things in my Xia Xia's little head. I'm used to it. I just have to wait and see Xia Xia's final results."

Xia Qin smiled mischievously and said, "You can't be so relaxed. You will have to work hard later."

"I contribute? Aren't there guards in the mansion?"

"They can't do it, it would be better if you do it~"

"Okay," Mo Ye said angrily, "Since Xia Xia said so, I will do my best, but there must be a reward after the mission is accomplished."

"You haven't even done anything, but you're already thinking about rewards?" Xia Qin glanced at Mo Ye.

Mo Ye stood up instantly and flashed to Xia Qin's side, gently kissing her rosy and tender cherry lips.

"It's okay to take the reward first."

Xia Qin gently pushed Mo Ye away and whispered, "Don't act like a scoundrel like this in the future. I am the Lord of the Mansion."

Mo Ye smiled and said, "The Lord's little mouth is even sweeter."

An hour later, everything in the backyard of the government office was ready, and Xia Qin was directing everything in an orderly manner.

"Put the wood ash in there and stir it together. Yes, filter it into the jar with linen cloth. You should filter all the salt in the same way. I'm going to take a rest."

Xia Qin was sweating while giving orders. Everyone in the yard had been busy for a long time, especially Mo Ye, who was already sweating profusely.

"Miss, what are you busy with?" Huo Jinying came at some point and looked at Mo Ye, the busiest person in the room, as if he were a monkey.

"It's something that makes money, Yisan, you have to remember all the procedures." Xia Qin muttered.

"Xia Xia, when will you be okay?" Mo Ye was lighting a fire and stirring the salt water in the pot. His eyes were burning from the smoke.

"Mo Ye, do you like lamb?"

"What does this have to do with that?"

"The weather is nice today, not hot. There is no chili pepper now, only onion, ginger, garlic, vinegar and soy sauce. Using butter and peppercorns as the base of the pot? There is definitely no beef to eat, so we can only eat mutton." Xia Qin muttered softly.

"No, Xia Xia, why do I have to do the job of making fire?" Mo Ye was a little unhappy.

Xia Qin came over to wipe his sweat, with a smug smile on her face: "Because you have the most intense fire!"