Xiulan had assembled a council of every one of her lovers and close servants. They had gathered around a round table in the palace, fruits and other luxury foods were scattered around them on fine porcelain plates.
Xiulan started the conversation saying, “I am sure that everyone has noticed that I have undergone a change. The big picture is that the wealthier I become the more qi I am going to radiate into the surroundings. This has the potential to fundamentally change the dynamics of the Kingdom. In light of that, we need to establish some medium to long term goals.”
Princess Lijuan said, “I can feel the difference already. There are not many people in the interior that are at my level of cultivation but those that are can probably already feel that the qi density in Temple Gorge is going up.”
Xiulan nodded and added, “as we earn more money it is only going to get stronger. How long does the king have before he passes away?”
The Princess thought for a minute before saying, “perhaps a year or a little bit less.”
XIulan nodded, “well our medium-term goal will be to ensure that you succeed him. Correct me if I am wrong but the sects on the coast will most likely not support you.”
The Princess sighed, “most likely not. My brother has already secured their loyalty and his control of the army, and the established power of the royal clan is the only thing that will sway them. My brother has already crushed what little support I did have in the sects after I left the Capital.”
Xiulan smiled and proposed, “our only solution then is to build the power of the interior. With the rise in Qi level, I am giving off the cultivation of those in the interior will rise too. If we build a solid base of power in Temple Gorge and Spillwater then we can oppose him.”
Meirong pitched in, “the resources of the interior have been largely underused. Especially the natural resources of the mountains. If we can capture those resources, then we will have all of the trade power. Especially if the natural qi level of the interior rises.”
Xiulan nodded, “That is why I propose that we found a new city next to the canal and at the foot of the mountains. It will be the trading hub for all of the resources in the Kingdom. I also what to make the peak of the tallest mountain in the Blue Crane range the base for the Golden Hand.”
Princess Lijuan looked thoughtful, “that all sounds great but will we be able to do all of that in less than a year? My brother could also starve us out by just sizing our goods at the Capital.”
Xiulan nodded and revealed, “That is why I want to start to trade with the mainland. If we put effort into making the Kingdom a major trading partner for raw goods, then we can profit despite interference form the Capital.”
The Princess grimaced before saying, “It has been tried but the mainland really does not want any of our goods. The sparse qi of the Kingdom severely restricts the usefulness of anything produced here. They do not even trade in gold on the mainland. They trade in spirit stones.”
Xiulan perked up at the mention of spirit stones, “what are those exactly?”
The Princess clarified, “they are chips of very qi dense stone that cultivators can use to increase their training efficiency. They can only be found in Qi dense areas. The Kingdom has never discovered a deposit.”
Xiulan was relieved. If it was a currency, then she had confidence that she could acquire it. She said, “perhaps that will change as we start to enrich the qi of the Kingdom. The important thing is that if we entrench ourselves as the dominate force in the new emerging power of the interior, we can control an area that is only going to become more prosperous. My hope is that the Blue Crane Kingdom becomes a force in the world at large and that the Princess will be in control when it does.”
Everyone at the table nodded in agreement and then froze when an unexpected voice spoke up, “that sounds like a great plan count me in.”
An old man in thunder sect robes was perched on the windowsill giving a death stare to Xiulan’s parrot. He spat out, “you disloyal bird. As soon as you saw you could work for a pretty woman you abandoned me without a second thought.”
The Parrot looked aloofly away from the old man. Xiulan thought back to when she acquired the Parrot and said, “Elder Xin I presume? It was unfortunate that I had to kill your disciple but…”
The Elder waved away the apology, “I barely knew the boy but still your apology can be allowing me to help you.”
Xiulan was taken aback. She assumed her first contact with the Thunder sect would be antagonistic. “Why would you want to help me?” she asked sceptically.
The Old man clenched his fists and replied, “because I too have a dream. I want the Kingdom and my Sect to surpass the mainland in martial prowess. You do not seem to have much interest in the martial way, but I do. We have spent too long as the laughingstock of the mainland.”
Elder Xin shook his hand at the ceiling in a way that he might have meant to be decisive but only looked slightly comical. Xiulan did not buy his story. There had to be something more personal at stake but chose not to peruse it for now.
She did ask, “well you have said you want to help I am not sure how you propose to do that?”
Elder Xin smiled and said, “I have been to the mainland. I know that there is one product they desperately want but do not have in abundance. I also know where in the Kingdom it can be found. Specifically, I know where it can be found in the mountains.”
The Old man tried to strike a heroic pose, but it was somewhat ruined when Xiulan’s parrot pooed on his shoulder. He swatted at it, “you are always undermining me when I try and be dramatic!”
Xiulan laughed and declared, “okay elder. You can join our conspiracy. We will set off for the mountains after my wedding.”
Xiulan had assembled a council of every one of her lovers and close servants. They had gathered around a round table in the palace, fruits and other luxury foods were scattered around them on fine porcelain plates.
Xiulan started the conversation saying, “I am sure that everyone has noticed that I have undergone a change. The big picture is that the wealthier I become the more qi I am going to radiate into the surroundings. This has the potential to fundamentally change the dynamics of the Kingdom. In light of that, we need to establish some medium to long term goals.”
Princess Lijuan said, “I can feel the difference already. There are not many people in the interior that are at my level of cultivation but those that are can probably already feel that the qi density in Temple Gorge is going up.”
Xiulan nodded and added, “as we earn more money it is only going to get stronger. How long does the king have before he passes away?”
The Princess thought for a minute before saying, “perhaps a year or a little bit less.”
XIulan nodded, “well our medium-term goal will be to ensure that you succeed him. Correct me if I am wrong but the sects on the coast will most likely not support you.”
The Princess sighed, “most likely not. My brother has already secured their loyalty and his control of the army, and the established power of the royal clan is the only thing that will sway them. My brother has already crushed what little support I did have in the sects after I left the Capital.”
Xiulan smiled and proposed, “our only solution then is to build the power of the interior. With the rise in Qi level, I am giving off the cultivation of those in the interior will rise too. If we build a solid base of power in Temple Gorge and Spillwater then we can oppose him.”
Meirong pitched in, “the resources of the interior have been largely underused. Especially the natural resources of the mountains. If we can capture those resources, then we will have all of the trade power. Especially if the natural qi level of the interior rises.”
Xiulan nodded, “That is why I propose that we found a new city next to the canal and at the foot of the mountains. It will be the trading hub for all of the resources in the Kingdom. I also what to make the peak of the tallest mountain in the Blue Crane range the base for the Golden Hand.”
Princess Lijuan looked thoughtful, “that all sounds great but will we be able to do all of that in less than a year? My brother could also starve us out by just sizing our goods at the Capital.”
Xiulan nodded and revealed, “That is why I want to start to trade with the mainland. If we put effort into making the Kingdom a major trading partner for raw goods, then we can profit despite interference form the Capital.”
The Princess grimaced before saying, “It has been tried but the mainland really does not want any of our goods. The sparse qi of the Kingdom severely restricts the usefulness of anything produced here. They do not even trade in gold on the mainland. They trade in spirit stones.”
Xiulan perked up at the mention of spirit stones, “what are those exactly?”
The Princess clarified, “they are chips of very qi dense stone that cultivators can use to increase their training efficiency. They can only be found in Qi dense areas. The Kingdom has never discovered a deposit.”
Xiulan was relieved. If it was a currency, then she had confidence that she could acquire it. She said, “perhaps that will change as we start to enrich the qi of the Kingdom. The important thing is that if we entrench ourselves as the dominate force in the new emerging power of the interior, we can control an area that is only going to become more prosperous. My hope is that the Blue Crane Kingdom becomes a force in the world at large and that the Princess will be in control when it does.”
Everyone at the table nodded in agreement and then froze when an unexpected voice spoke up, “that sounds like a great plan count me in.”
An old man in thunder sect robes was perched on the windowsill giving a death stare to Xiulan’s parrot. He spat out, “you disloyal bird. As soon as you saw you could work for a pretty woman you abandoned me without a second thought.”
The Parrot looked aloofly away from the old man. Xiulan thought back to when she acquired the Parrot and said, “Elder Xin I presume? It was unfortunate that I had to kill your disciple but…”
The Elder waved away the apology, “I barely knew the boy but still your apology can be allowing me to help you.”
Xiulan was taken aback. She assumed her first contact with the Thunder sect would be antagonistic. “Why would you want to help me?” she asked sceptically.
The Old man clenched his fists and replied, “because I too have a dream. I want the Kingdom and my Sect to surpass the mainland in martial prowess. You do not seem to have much interest in the martial way, but I do. We have spent too long as the laughingstock of the mainland.”
Elder Xin shook his hand at the ceiling in a way that he might have meant to be decisive but only looked slightly comical. Xiulan did not buy his story. There had to be something more personal at stake but chose not to peruse it for now.
She did ask, “well you have said you want to help I am not sure how you propose to do that?”
Elder Xin smiled and said, “I have been to the mainland. I know that there is one product they desperately want but do not have in abundance. I also know where in the Kingdom it can be found. Specifically, I know where it can be found in the mountains.”
The Old man tried to strike a heroic pose, but it was somewhat ruined when Xiulan’s parrot pooed on his shoulder. He swatted at it, “you are always undermining me when I try and be dramatic!”
Xiulan laughed and declared, “okay elder. You can join our conspiracy. We will set off for the mountains after my wedding.”
