Chapter 425: Chapter 244 Lingnan is a Place of Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers_3
"It will succeed." Zhao Yao said confidently, "I believe the blood of the Lin Family descendants still runs hot."
He Lianfang heard this and asked somewhat suspiciously: "The blood of the Lin Family still runs hot, what do you mean?"
Zhao Yao did not directly answer He Lianfang’s question but instead asked back, "Second Uncle, why do you think the Lin Family stayed in Lingnan and didn’t return to the Central Plains?"
He Lianfang retorted, "Why do you think they are unwilling to return?"
Zhao Yao replied, "Their reluctance to return to the Central Plains and their continued stay in Lingnan is to protect the people of Lingnan, which is why their blood still runs hot."
He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao and suddenly smiled with a curve of his lips, "You’re absolutely right, the Lin Family has indeed been protecting Lingnan all along. However, whether you can persuade them to be used by you depends on your own skills."
"Second Uncle, you truly know the Lin Family." Zhao Yao rested his chin in his hand, smile beaming as he looked at He Lianfang, "Second Uncle, do you have contact with the Lin Family?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because you just said that you once fought side by side with the descendants of the Lin Family." Zhao Yao said with a laugh, "Second Uncle, with your capabilities and charm, the descendants of the Lin Family will definitely like you very much and trust you."
He Lianfang smiled and said, "You sure know how to flatter."
"I got it right, didn’t I."
"I won’t help you subdue the descendants of the Lin Family." He Lianfang looked deeply into Zhao Yao’s eyes and said meaningfully, "You have to find a way to subdue the Lin Family descendants on your own."
"Alright!" When he goes to Lingnan, he will find a way to win over the Lin Family. "Second Uncle, I’ll leave the Jiang Family to you to take care of."
He Lianfang, who was drinking tea, almost choked on his sip upon hearing this.
"The Jiang Family?"
"The descendants of Prime Minister Jiang of the previous dynasty are also in Lingnan." Zhao Yao mused to himself that Lingnan indeed is a place full of hidden talents. Many talented individuals were exiled to Lingnan due to envy and false accusations. "Back then, Prime Minister Jiang pleaded for the Lin Family, preserving their last bloodline, but not long after, Prime Minister Jiang was also falsely accused, and his kin were exiled to Lingnan."
"You seem to know quite a lot."
"Second Uncle, you wouldn’t let me go to Lingnan without a reason." During this time, Zhao Yao has investigated quite a bit about Lingnan. "Apart from Lingnan being far from the capital, the most important reason is that there are many useful people there."
He Lianfang displayed a look of surprise; indeed, the most important reason he valued Lingnan is the numerous capable personalities there.
"Alright, I’ll help you subdue the Jiang Family descendants."
"I knew it, Second Uncle, you also have dealings with the Jiang Family." If he guessed correctly, Second Uncle also has people in Lingnan. "After subduing the Jiang Family descendants, let them help me with some tasks."
"The Jiang Family descendants still have some capabilities."
"Second Uncle, you are quite familiar with them."
He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao without saying a word.
Zhao Yao shrugged his shoulders and said: "Second Uncle, if you don’t want to say, never mind." Second Uncle sure has a lot of secrets; I wonder when Second Uncle would be willing to have a candid discussion with him.
"Have you met the envoy from Annan Country?" He Lianfang suddenly asked.
"I have." Zhao Yao asked in confusion, "Second Uncle, is there something wrong with the envoy from Annan Country?"
"Annan Country is now a vassal of Great Zhou, you can arrange for someone to go to Annan Country."
"Ah?" Zhao Yao was momentarily puzzled by He Lianfang’s meaning, "Why send someone to Annan Country?"
"Annan Country is a good place; you must take control of the Anran Country’s royal family." He Lianfang’s tone was casual, as if he was merely asking, "Have you eaten?"
Zhao Yao: "..." Does Second Uncle have a misunderstanding about him, asking him, a small child, to control Annan Country’s royal family. Annan Country is not a shop, let alone one owned by him, how would he manage that?
"Annan Country has iron mines and gold mines, and quite a lot." He Lianfang’s tone was filled with temptation, "Now you know why your father wanted Yan Huarong to conquer Annan Country."
"Annan Country actually has abundant iron and gold mines?" Zhao Yao didn’t know about this.
"And copper mines." He Lianfang added, "You can send people to Annan Country now."
"Then Second Brother and Third Brother or even Crown Prince Brother, will surely go to great lengths to marry the princess of Annan Country." Just for the iron, gold, and copper mines of Annan Country, they would stop at nothing to marry the princess of Annan Country.
He Lianfang sneered, "What’s the use of marrying a princess, controlling the royal family of Annan Country is what truly matters."
Zhao Yao immediately understood He Lianfang’s implication. His brows twitched slightly, "Second Uncle, you’re not suggesting that I find someone to help the second prince of Annan Country ascend the throne, are you?"
He Lianfang laughed, "Exactly."
Zhao Yao: "..." Second Uncle has such high expectations of him! He really doesn’t have that kind of capability!
Afterward, He Lianfang detailed the situation of the Annan Country royal family to Zhao Yao.
After listening, Zhao Yao actually thought it might be feasible to try.
After discussing Annan Country, He Lianfang brought up the issues with the Western Regions.
In September, Liang Run returned to the capital with his caravan from Wusun.
This trip to Wusun proved to be immensely profitable for Liang Run.
Before returning to the capital, Liang Run established a special caravan in Wusun, which will continue trading with various countries in the Western Regions and also gather information.
He initially plans to open a shop in the capital cities of each country in the Western Regions, dedicated to selling items from Great Zhou. Meanwhile, he intends to set up a private school in each country to teach Central Plains culture.
Opening a private school in Wusun and other Western Region countries to teach Central Plains culture was Zhao Yao’s idea. Currently, a private school has already been established in Wusun’s capital.
Unexpectedly, this private school became very popular in Wusun’s capital, with many people wanting to study Central Plains culture there.
Even Wusun’s chieftain hopes their royal family and officials can learn Central Plains culture. This time, he sent his sons to the Great Zhou Dynasty to congratulate, wanting to forge stronger ties with Great Zhou and hoping Great Zhou would establish an academy in Wusun’s capital.
The Xiongnu continues their internal conflict, with the Qiulin Clan and the Han Clan along with two other tribes still resisting the new Modu Chanyu.
These seven tribes are divided into two factions, fighting fiercely, leaving them with no time or energy to head south and invade Great Zhou’s borders for the time being.
Although the Xiongnu have not moved south temporarily, one must not relax their vigilance against the Xiongnu; constant alertness is necessary.
The cotton that Zhao Yao had brought back from the Western Regions with Liang Run has already been put to use, made into quilts and cotton-padded clothes.
Liang Run told Zhao Yao that in the Western Regions, cotton is merely a flower and isn’t used for making clothes or quilts.
Talking about cotton, Zhao Yao suddenly thought of something. It seems that the rice in Anran and Johor can be planted for two seasons, and it might also be possible to plant it in Lingnan.