Chapter 640: Cooperation
Editor: Atlas Studios
Little Bear clapped his little hands vigorously and rushed towards Mu Yangling with a cry. Mu Yangling took him and carried him up, kissing his excited and rosy face.
Qi Haoran got up and pulled the mother and son to sit beside him, then turned to Ji’an Yong and said, “Your martial arts skills are not bad.”
Ji’an Yong smiled in embarrassment. “Her Highness is the awesome one. It seemed she reserved some of her strength earlier.”
He was not a fool. From the way Mu Yangling’s strength appeared too balanced, he could tell she was deliberately controlling her strength.
With a hearty laugh, Qi Haoran said, “If Her Highness tries her best, I’m afraid even I won’t be able to withstand her strength.”
Now that it was the Great Qi Dynasty, Qi Haoran did not want to hide Mu Yangling’s divine strength anymore.
Secretly speechless, the generals now seemed to understand why Her Highness was so favored. The competition just now shocked Liu Dahei and the others because they knew that without any systematic training, they would probably not last more than 50 moves against Mu Yangling.
From then on, the military generals’ reverence for Mu Yangling reached a new height.
Jinhua went to Mu Yangling’s side and whispered, “Teach me later.”
“Don’t you only use a whip? I don’t know how to use a whip.”
Jinhua felt a little regretful. She turned to look at Liu Dahei and asked with a slightly red face, “Hey, do you know how to use a whip?”
Even if he didn’t know, he had to say he knew!
Liu Dahei sat up straight and said, “I know a little.”
Jinhua’s eyes rolled around. “Then teach me. I want to learn the whip techniques of the Han people. I want to see who’s more powerful, you guys or us Miao people.”
Liu Dahei decided to find someone who knew how to use a whip and master the weapon when he went back tonight.
Now, everyone could tell that Jinhua had taken a fancy to Liu Dahei.
The generals who were sent here as matchmaking candidates felt a little upset. It would be fine if they lost to Lieutenant Zhong, but why did they lose to a tanned and old Liu Dahei?
However, at the same time, they felt glad that this girl didn’t fall for them.
Only Lieutenant Zhong felt very upset. It was one thing for him to not like Jinhua, but he did not expect Jinhua to not fancy him either. Other than his rank being lower to Liu Dahei, he did not think that he was inferior to him in any aspect. Moreover, he was only 21 years old this year. In time, his rank would definitely rise to match Liu Dahei’s.
He glanced at Jinhua and felt that not only was there a problem with the Miao girls’ character and morals, but there was also a problem with their eyes.
When Qi Haoran looked up and happened to see Lieutenant Zhong’s gaze, he was a little displeased. A man should be able to meet gains or losses with equanimity. Previously, Lieutenant Zhong did not dare to turn down the matchmaking even though he didn’t want to marry a Miao girl. Yet now that the girl didn’t fancy him, he was actually brooding over it and could not let go. How could such a person be a general?
He was too narrow-minded.
Looking at the other five generals, Qi Haoran saw that Liu Dahei was so gleeful with joy that his eyes were narrowed into slits. There was no need to look at this person anymore. The other four had already begun to drink and eat meat with their arms around each other’s shoulders. They even punched Liu Dahei’s shoulder from time to time to sort of congratulate him.
Qi Haoran nodded slightly, thinking that these four people were considered promising talents.
Chief Ji’an and his son-in-law looked at each other. Upon taking a closer look at Liu Dahei, he was a little dissatisfied. How could he marry his beloved daughter to this guy, who was even a few years older than his eldest son-in-law?
Qi Haoran dragged Chief Ji’an into the tent to discuss the marriage. Chief Ji’an thought for a long time and felt that if a marriage alliance could form between the Miao stockade and the Han people, it would be quite beneficial to his tribe. Putting everything else aside, he could at least fight for more corn seeds after spring.
However, to him, his daughter was also very important. Chief Ji’an gritted his teeth and said, “There’s no problem with a marriage alliance, but not that Liu Dahei.”
Beaming, Qi Haoran said, “Chief, don’t worry. You naturally have the final say in the marriage candidate. You can choose any of our boys who aren’t married.” He had heard from Mu Yangling that Ji’an doted on his daughter. As long as Ji’an Jinhua took a fancy to Liu Dahei, there was a 80% chance this thing could go through.
Oblivious to Qi Haoran’s thoughts, Chief Ji’an’s eyes lit up and he asked, “Are you serious?”
Qi Haoran nodded and waved his hand generously. “If you are willing, you can bring your daughter to the military camp often. There are many fine young men in our army who aren’t married.”
Chief Ji’an immediately beamed with joy and said, “Your Highness, actually, there are other unmarried girls in our Miao stockade.”
Chuckling, Qi Haoran said perfunctorily, “As long as both parties are willing, I have no objections.” It was already good enough that he could suppress his subordinates to marry the Miao chief’s daughter. How could he force them to marry just an ordinary Miao girl? Such a thing could only be left to fate.
After confirming their intentions of having a marriage alliance, the two of them felt that they were family now. Therefore, Chief Ji’an promised to protect the Imperial Court’s policies with all his might from now on. He would also organize the Miao people to plant medicinal herbs, prosper together, and form friendly ties with the Han people.
Qi Haoran also expressed that he would provide some help to the Miao stockade. For example, he assured that the Miao stockage would receive sufficient corn seeds in spring. As long as the Miao people grew medicinal herbs of good quality, they would definitely not have to worry about sales. He also guaranteed that he would send officials to teach the Miao farmers advanced farming techniques.
He even promised to provide technical and partial material support to the Miao people for the difficulties they encountered in building terraced fields. Similarly, Chief Ji’an had to do his best to promote the Emperor’s great morals and let the Miao people know that he loved the people like his children.
Chief Ji’an felt that he was getting a great deal. This Prince seemed to be a little silly in this aspect. He had given them so many advantages, and in return, he only wanted to publicize the Emperor? As for supporting the Imperial Court’s policies, as long as the Imperial Court did not bully the Miao people, it went without saying that they would naturally support it.
He was thrilled to be able to obtain so many things with just a few words, and not having to actually give anything in return.
After hearing his father-in-law’s happy recount, Chen Jiacai only fell silent for a moment before nodding with a smile. “His Highness is indeed benevolent.”
However, he was a little worried. If the Miao people all knew about the Great Qi Emperor, would the Miao chief still be able to order the Miao people around easily going forward?
He wanted to dissuade Chief Ji’an, but if the Imperial Court could not obtain the benefits they wanted from the Miao stockade, would they still give them such generous benefits?
If they were to suffer like they did in the later stages of the Great Zhou Dynasty where the Miao people were exploited by the Imperial Court, they would only be commanding the Miao people to continue opposing the Imperial Court. Their lives might not be better than now.
Therefore, the chief’s choices were…
To give up the supreme power and let all the Miao people benefit. Or, he could continue to let the Miao people suffer, while controlling the life and death of all the Miao people in their stockade.
Seeing that his father-in-law did not realize this, Chen Jiacai thought about it and recalled his childhood dream. Thinking of his father-in-law’s occasional expectant gaze, Chen Jiacai suppressed the words he wanted to say. He thought that perhaps his father-in-law’s original intention had not changed, that he still yearned for the Miao people to live a good life. Since that was the case, why let him make such a choice?
Hanlan didn’t notice her husband’s abnormality and only told him about her sister’s thoughts. She whispered, “Why did Sister choose such a tanned and old one? I think the white-robed general beside him is not bad.”
However, Chen Jiacai said with a smile, “You’re not as smart as your younger sister this time. I think she made the right choice. Assistant Commander Liu is much better than Lieutenant Zhong.”
Chapter end
