Chapter 1321: Chapter 1321

Guo Jia sipped on some wine, gazing at the Yangtze River with a slight sense of melancholy. The spring plowing in Yuzhou was proceeding smoothly; after all, the Xun Family and the Chen Family were local influences, and they easily resolved the issue of the common people not following orders to farm.

Speaking of which, Chen Ji’s guarantee held high credibility in Yuzhou; at least most of the people still believed in this great figure from the previous generation of the Chen Family.

Though this fellow doesn’t quite support Chen Xi, there’s no better way, since he’s Chen Qun’s father. It’s already impressive enough that Chen Xi managed to station in Yuzhou impartially. Fortunately, this time Chen Ji might also have realized the importance of superior seed, so he lent a helping hand.

Talking about this makes Chen Xi somewhat regret sending Wang Lie and Zheng Xuan to repair books. The morals of these two can be considered universally recognized in this era, from dukes and marquises to commoners. If they acknowledged Qu Qi’s promotion of superior seeds, it would be a lot easier.

However, the roots of these two are still from the Confucian School; even if they are willing to extend a hand for the sake of the people to promote this thing, it’s estimated that by the time Chen Xi uses Qu Qi’s influence to overthrow the Confucian School, the two will not feel pleasant.

"Fengxiao, why sigh while gazing at the Yangtze River?" Guan Yu carried a pot of still boiling meat soup, holding a jug of wine, landing on the riverbank beside Guo Jia.

"The spring exams have started, and apart from the military subjects, I’m afraid the other subjects are mostly taken by women as the top," Guo Jia said with a bitter smile. "It’s a pity that Kongming is not here, and Boyan and Zijia are too young."

"Zichuan is just playing around; those people aren’t necessarily easy to beat," Guan Yu calmly said, slightly opening his eyes, placing the pot of soup on a stone casually.

"That’s where Yunchang got it wrong." Guo Jia sat up, reaching for a pair of chopsticks, fetching meat from the pot. He had come to the riverbank to watch the river flow eastward without even having breakfast.

"Are they really that formidable?" Guan Yu stroked his beard, somewhat incredulously said.

"Among this batch, the males should be led by Zhuge Kongming, Pang Shiyuan, and Sima Zhongda, but none of the three have participated, making it truly difficult for anyone to surpass Lady Wang and Cai Zhaoji." Guo Jia said with a bitter smile.

"To elaborate further, even if the three came, poetry and arithmetic wouldn’t see them victorious; Cai Zhaoji possesses the advantage in this aspect. Cough, cough, cough." Guo Jia sighed helplessly. It’s really incomparable; fortunately, the opponent held some propriety and didn’t choose poetry, choosing instead political strategy.

Guan Yu stayed silent for a moment, "Pity that these two are not men. According to Fengxiao, these two, with a few years of experience, could very well reach the ranks of the Nine Ministers."

"Cai Zhaoji doesn’t have this mindset, but the Wang Family Woman, she really aims to do this." Guo Jia pulled a wry face and said, having both the ability and the audacity to do so, Wang Yi could indeed be considered a character.

This time, Guan Yu was stunned and only after quite a while did he speak, "This... indeed is unexpected."

Initially, Guan Yu wanted to say this was not good, but he could not pinpoint what was wrong. After all, during the Han Dynasty, there were still several overachieving Grand Princesses. A Grand Princess, Wang Yi, with such ambition, leaning on her abilities, Guan Yu couldn’t really comment negatively.

"Let’s wait and see; perhaps there might still be surprises." Guo Jia didn’t harbor any animosity toward Wang Yi, only a bit of regret. Wang Yi, whether in terms of ability or learning capability, was rather outstanding. Sadly, she was born a woman; otherwise, she wouldn’t be inferior to Fa Zheng with proper training.

This is also why Lub Su, Li Youu, and Jia Xu let Wang Yi be. She is a genius, but unfortunately born a woman. However, with such a talent, since she is willing to display it instead of being introverted like Cai Yan, let her exhibit it until she encounters that invisible barrier.

Fortunately, this era is somewhat lenient towards women; otherwise, no matter how talented, it would be meaningless.

"Fengxiao, isn’t today the day for settlement!" Guan Yu changed the topic while picking up a piece of meat.

"Yes, I’m waiting for them here, there’s only this dock nearby. If nothing unexpected happens, they should be arriving soon." Guo Jia nodded and said.

Soon, a small dot appeared on the Yangtze River, then this dot drifted with the water, turning into a large flat-bottomed merchant ship in Guo Jia’s eyes, followed by a flotilla of merchant ships flowing down, flying a large flag with the word ’Zhang’ on the mast.

"They’re here, Zhang Wei indeed keeps his word." Guan Yu said calmly.

"It’s not a matter of trusting, but having no choice but to trust. In today’s world, we are the ones writing the rules." Guo Jia stood up, tossing the chopsticks aside, and looked at the flotilla. Meanwhile, Sunx Ce’s troops on the opposite bank also noticed this flotilla but made no effort to stop them.

Before the war breaks out, merchant ships traveling along the Yangtze are unimpeded, regardless of where they pass—it’s merely a matter of being checked. What Zhang Wei is escorting this time has no fear of being inspected by anyone.

Soon, these merchant ships docked at the shore. Zhang Wei, with a flip, jumped from the ship to the shore. Earlier, while on the ship, he saw only two leading figures with a group of dozens comprising their escort on the shore, feeling Liu Bei’s side was being somewhat negligent. But upon seeing who it was, Zhang Wei settled down greatly; with Guan Yu and Guo Jia present personally, this was not negligence.

"Zhang Wei pays his respects to Military Advisor Guo and General Guan." Zhang Wei cupped his fists in salute, to which Guo Jia and Guan Yu responded with calm salutes.

"Our Hanzhong has recently wiped out quite a few barbaric tribes, troublesome to handle. Beforehand, we communicated with Marquis Chen, that any captives would be pacified by Lord Xuande, hence sending them here. I hope the general will accept them." Zhang Wei spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, although at this moment, his status was not that of a governor or general, but as a representative of the Zhang Family head.

"As previously stated, just hand them over. Money and grain tactics, Money Exchange ticket, various materials, what do you need?" Guo Jia followed up.

"Surely the Qi Refining to Gang barbarians can’t be priced the same as regular young and strong ones?" Zhang Wei said with a sly smile while negotiating the price with Guo Jia. After all, buying and selling is all about outrageous asking prices and bargaining downwards, besides, Liu Bei’s side has quite a reputable business credibility.

Guo Jia pulled out a booklet from his sleeve, though having it all memorized, he had to show Zhang Wei that they had predetermined pricing.

"Regular young and strong ones, twenty thousand coins; Qi Attraction Into Body, thirty thousand coins; Qi Refining to Gang, eighty thousand coins." Guo Jia showed the booklet to Zhang Wei calmly, leaving Zhang Wei a bit at a loss.

"That’s rather unreasonable." Zhang Wei awkwardly commented, "Laborers in the Central Plains Region earn eight to nine hundred coins a month; a maid is worth forty thousand coins. Cutting the price for young and strong by half, I can endure, but Qi Refining to Gang only eighty thousand? It’s too far-fetched."

"Liangyu, come over here." Guo Jia beckoned over to his Personal Guard Squad Leader. "Here’s our standard for Qi Refining to Gang. Find one of your Qi Refining to Gang captives, have them defeat my trusted aide, and I’ll raise the price for Qi Refining to Gang."