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The long winter gradually receded, and the warmth of spring began to spread across every corner of Qingzhou.
As the temperature ward and everything began to revive, Qingzhou seed to co alive as well.
After delivering the military uniforms to the Qingzhou Army, Xiao Ming released an announcent through the governnt, which imdiately stirred up a huge response.
“Qingzhou is going to build cent roads! They say that all the streets in the city will be paved with it, and the Eastern and Western Markets will be the main focus of the renovations. Looks like His Highness has big plans for this year!”
In a fine house in one of Qingzhou’s neighborhoods, the old steward was sharing today’s Qingzhou Daily with Guo Xinyuan.
“Cent roads? Are those the ones we saw in the industrial district?” Guo Xinyuan asked.
He was originally a rchant from Chang’an, but after investing all his savings into opening five soap factories in Qingzhou, he bought a house and applied for Qingzhou residency.
Qingzhou’s regulations allowed anyone who invested 100,000 taels of silver to apply for local residency, and Guo Xinyuan had taken advantage of this opportunity.
At first, he had so doubts, but after Qingzhou began producing glass and mirrors, he saw the advantage of living here. Every morning, he could queue at the rchant guild to buy the mirrors and glass being sold that day.
He would then resell these goods for a profit. After a winter, he had earned quite a bit, and he had beco comfortable with his new identity as a Qingzhou resident.
“Yes, these roads will be solid! But if you fall on them, it might break your bones,” the steward said with a nervous laugh. He’d fallen last ti while going to buy supplies, and the pain still lingered.
Guo Xinyuan’s eyes sparkled. Though cent roads were hard, once they dried, they would be perfect for carts and people to travel on. They would be ideal for transporting goods.
If the entire city of Qingzhou were paved with cent roads, the landscape would drastically change. There would be no more mud-filled streets whenever it rained.
That thought excited him.
“What else did it say?” he asked, eager for more details.
The steward continued, “It says that the governnt will recruit strong laborers for the road construction and will pay them wages.”
Guo Xinyuan’s eyes lit up. “This is a great money-making opportunity! With the whole of Qingzhou under construction, they must need plenty of money. Since we’ve settled in Qingzhou, it’s the right place to be—there’s always a way to make money here. Let’s go visit Pang Changshi and ask him about this.”
At the Qingzhou Governnt
Xiao Ming and Pang Yukun were discussing the road construction. During the winter, it was impossible to work on the roads since the cent would freeze. As a result, the construction in Cangzhou had paused. Xiao Ming wasn’t able to co up with a thod to prevent the cent from freezing.
But now that the weather was warming, the municipal project was ready to proceed.
The appearance of a city is crucial for attracting wealthy rchants from other areas. Creating a comfortable living environnt is the key to drawing the wealthy to settle, a principle that has never changed throughout history.
Therefore, Xiao Ming placed great importance on transforming Qingzhou City as part of his comrcial developnt plan.
“Pang Changshi, a rchant nad Guo Xinyuan wishes to et with you,” a servant ca in to report.
“Guo Xinyuan?” Pang Yukun raised an eyebrow, “Your Highness, you speak of him, and here he is. Looks like a lot of sharp-minded rchants are showing up.”
“You know him?” Xiao Ming asked.
“Yes, this Guo Xinyuan is a Chang’an rchant who applied for residency here last year. I personally issued his residency certificate,” Pang Yukun replied.
“Ah, good. This is a great start. I hope more rchants will apply for residency here in the future,” Xiao Ming smiled.
This policy was similar to investnt immigration—a thod many modern countries used to attract capital and boost their economies.
Xiao Ming nodded and said, “Let him in. Maybe he’s here for sothing other than the road project.”
A mont later, Guo Xinyuan entered the governnt office and imdiately bowed to both Xiao Ming and Pang Yukun. “Greetings, Your Highness, and Pang Changshi.”
“Don’t stand on ceremony, Guo Xinyuan. I was just discussing the road project with Pang Changshi. I assu you’re here about that?” Xiao Ming asked directly.
Guo Xinyuan hesitated, then smiled. “Indeed, Your Highness. You truly have a keen mind. I ca today to ask if we rchants can participate in the construction of the roads here in Qingzhou.”
Xiao Ming and Pang Yukun exchanged a glance before Xiao Ming replied, “You can, but there are conditions.”
Guo Xinyuan’s heart sank. Xiao Ming had built a reputation as a shrewd businessman, and he wasn’t sure what the prince would require. Still, he said, “Please, Your Highness, tell
what the conditions are.”
“There are two conditions,” Xiao Ming said. “First, the laborers you hire must be from Qingzhou’s local populace. Second, the materials needed for the construction must be sourced locally. If you agree to these terms, you may participate in the road and underground pipe construction.”
“Buying materials locally will save on transportation costs, and hiring local labor is no problem, as I’ve already settled here in Qingzhou,” Guo Xinyuan replied quickly.
Seeing his eagerness, Xiao Ming said, “Good. I’ll be releasing the construction segnts soon, and you can choose which ones you’d like to bid on.”
Guo Xinyuan was delighted and thanked Xiao Ming profusely before leaving.
Pang Yukun watched him go and then said, “Your Highness, this is an excellent opportunity. We should cultivate more rchants like Guo Xinyuan. It will encourage others to settle here in Qingzhou.”
“You’re right. But we should also develop a pool of construction rchants from the local population,” Xiao Ming replied.
“That could work, but the common folk don’t have the silver to buy materials or hire workers,” Pang Yukun said.
Xiao Ming smiled. “That’s not a big problem. If they don’t have money, we can lend it to them.”
Pang Yukun waved his hand, laughing. “Your Highness, this is a joke, right? Since when does the governnt lend money to the people?”
Xiao Ming answered with a grin, “I’m serious. Do you rember where the silver notes used by the rchants co from?”
“From the Cao family’s pawnshop,” Pang Yukun replied.
Xiao Ming nodded. “I’ve heard the Cao family is the richest rchant family in Jiangnan, and their pawnshops are everywhere in the Great Yu Empire. I envy them. Why don’t we establish a governnt-run pawnshop here in Qingzhou? We could lend money to the people and help them start their businesses.”
Pang Yukun fell silent, thinking deeply. After a mont, he said, “Your Highness, with all due respect, my limited understanding tells
that pawnshops are based on gold and silver. You issue as much silver as you have. Our treasury is far from full.”
“This isn’t a problem for the pawnshop’s foundation,” Xiao Ming replied confidently. “If we need more, we’ll just issue more. Let’s establish Qingzhou’s first bank while we’re at it.”
Pang Yukun was stunned. He had never heard such a bold proposal. Xiao Ming was determined to push forward with his ideas.
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