Chapter 102: An Era of Great Strife, Jin Prefecture’s Transformation

In Li Xiao’s plan, West Wind Fury and textiles would become the two pillar industries of Jin Prefecture.

As for the fur industry, it was better than nothing, considered a bonus.

After all, the Western Region grasslands were full of cattle and sheep, so there was no shortage of furs.

It was just to find a market for the furs in the hands of the Jin Prefecture herdsmen.

Li Xiao didn’t expect to make much money from the fur business.

The real huge profits lay in winemaking and textiles.

Both were representative industries of light industry.

Winemaking need not be elaborated on. Regarding textiles, Li Xiao also had certain ideas.

To reform spinning and weaving machines to improve the production efficiency of the textile industry.

Transforming traditional family workshops into industrialized collective factories.

Li Xiao planned to establish a “Cotton Spinning Factory” in Jin Prefecture, recruiting female workers for large-scale production of cotton cloth.

The finished cotton cloth would be sent to the Desert and Yin Mountain for sale.

As for the raw material problem, it was equally easy to solve.

Because Xinjiang in later generations was the largest cotton-growing region in China.

The main planting areas were in Southern Xinjiang and the area between the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and the Gurbantunggut Desert.

This area had a hot climate and ample sunlight, making it extremely suitable for cotton growth.

In contrast, Jin Prefecture had a climate that was too cold and could only grow grains like wheat; it was not suitable for cotton growth.

So, Li Xiao then negotiated the purchase of cotton with Xiao Tuladuo.

To purchase a certain quota of cotton from the Desert every year, process it into cotton cloth in Jin Prefecture, and then sell it back to the Desert.

The same went for wine: purchasing grain from the Desert to brew wine, then selling the wine to the Desert.

In this way, Jin Prefecture’s commerce could be considered to have initially developed. Once the two major industries matured, they could provide Li Xiao with a large amount of wealth every year to support the army.

“Most importantly, the cotton armor is settled.”

After toasting a cup of wine with Xiao Tuladuo, Li Xiao’s face was ruddy, and he thought secretly in his heart.

That’s right; his ultimate goal was precisely to manufacture cotton armor in large quantities.

Currently, the army under Li Xiao’s command had only one hundred suits of iron armor; all other soldiers wore leather armor.

Everyone knew iron armor was good. Li Xiao certainly also hoped that everyone in his troops would have a suit of iron armor, or even Toadskin Armor.

But this was simply unrealistic.

The manufacturing cost of iron armor was too expensive, and it rusted easily, making maintenance costs even higher.

Even at its peak, the Jin State’s Iron Pagodas never exceeded ten thousand in number.

The famous Western Xia Iron Falcons only numbered around three thousand during the time of Li Yuanhao.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to create more heavy cavalry; they simply couldn’t afford to maintain them.

So Li Xiao prepared to walk on two legs: on one hand, forging iron armor as much as possible to develop heavy cavalry.

On the other hand, mass-producing cotton armor to replace the leather armor of the light cavalry.

Although the defensive power of cotton armor couldn’t compare to iron armor, it was far stronger than leather armor.

Moreover, cotton armor wasn’t as heavy as iron armor. Soldiers could move more conveniently wearing cotton armor, making it perfectly suitable as the primary equipment for light cavalry.

Most importantly, the warmth retention of cotton armor was incomparable to any other armor.

After all, the climate of the Northern Frontier and the steppe was too cold. Summer was fine, but in spring and autumn, fighting in iron armor was simply torture.

Cotton armor could protect soldiers from the biting cold wind on horseback. This point alone was enough to occupy a huge advantage in battles with the enemy.

“But this way, aren’t we too dependent on the Desert?”

When the banquet ended and Li Xiao led his men to see Xiao Tuladuo out of the military camp, watching their shadows disappear into the dark night, Li Dashan suddenly shook his head and said.

Raw materials came from the Desert, and finished products were also sold to the Desert.

Once the relationship between Jin Prefecture and the Desert soured and the trade route was cut off, Jin Prefecture would inevitably fall into passivity.

Li Xiao was naturally clear about this point.

But what could be done?

Jin Prefecture was currently destitute, possessing nothing except agriculture and animal husbandry.

To develop commerce, they could only depend on the Desert first.

“Just wait. As long as we build up Jin Prefecture’s reputation, then even without the Desert as a transit station, those merchants will definitely travel thousands of miles to our Jin Prefecture for West Wind Fury and cloth.”

Li Xiao said in a calm voice.

After all, these two were exclusive products of Jin Prefecture, holding a monopoly position in the market. Only Jin Prefecture had them in the whole world; there was no other source.

So, Li Xiao wasn’t too worried.

At worst, they would return to the current destitute state, and Li Xiao would continue to lead the fierce herdsmen of Jin Prefecture to loot other places.

“The Desert is a good place. Pity it can’t be used by me,” Li Xiao shook his head gently.

Although he said so, at this moment, an ambition to annex the Desert was planted in Li Xiao’s heart.

Although most of Desert Prefecture was desert, it was wealthier than Jin Prefecture and had a larger population, especially the number of Han people, which was almost twice that of Jin Prefecture.

Taking the Desert, Li Xiao would have more sources of troops and wealth to expand his army and prepare for war.

Meanwhile, Xiao Tuladuo and his group, who had left the camp, were slowly rushing towards their own camp in the darkness.

Riding on his horse, Xiao Tuladuo felt the drunkenness rush to his head as the cool wind blew. His eyes became increasingly blurry, and he even started swaying on his horse.

There was no choice; Xiao Tuladuo’s captain of personal guards could only share a horse with Xiao Tuladuo to support him.

“Sigele, Li Xiao’s damn West Wind Fury is really fucking strong.”

“Haven’t been this drunk in a long time.”

Xiao Tuladuo mumbled while riding on the horse.

While complaining about Li Xiao, he chuckled.

After all, for an old drunkard like him, this half-drunk, half-awake state was really comfortable.

But the captain of personal guards sitting behind him said somewhat worriedly, “Governor, are we really going to cooperate with Li Xiao?”

“Will Governor Xiao Lintuo blame us?”

After all, once Xiao Sima’s appointments came out, the relationship between the three major Military Governors and the three Vice Military Governors of the Northern Frontier seemed to become subtle.

Xiao Tuladuo’s relationship with the Vice Military Governor of the Desert, that Uyghur man, also stopped at the state of superficial harmony without tearing off the face.

And once Xiao Lintuo knew that Xiao Tuladuo had business cooperation with Li Xiao, would he think Xiao Tuladuo was deliberately finding fault with him?

“Hehehe, what is there to fear?”

“I’ve known Xiao Lintuo for thirty years; I understand that guy best.”

“He looks straightforward on the surface, but actually, he’s the most petty-minded.”

“Even without this matter, if other things happen in the future, Xiao Lintuo will overthink anyway.”

“After all, I can’t possibly tear off my face with Li Xiao directly just for the sake of friendship with Xiao Lintuo, right?”

Xiao Tuladuo mumbled in a drunken manner.

“Besides, Li Xiao’s relationship with Kunji is significant; he has seemingly already become Kunji’s guest of honor.”

“Just waiting for the Prince to agree, that kid Li Xiao will probably leap over the dragon gate.”

“Tearing off faces with him at this time is truly unwise.”

“Moreover, the matter Li Xiao requested was just a casual favor; consider it giving face to Kunji.”

Xiao Tuladuo’s voice trailed further and further away in the dark night until it disappeared into the Desert Army’s camp.

On the other side, Li Xiao returned to the big tent reeking of alcohol.

He saw Xiao Yanyan curled up under a sheepskin blanket, revealing only a pair of arms smooth as lotus roots.

Leaning against the bed, her face was full of post-rain charm, cheeks pink, eyes silky with allure, looking at Li Xiao languidly.

“What did Xiao Tuladuo say?”

Li Xiao, however, seemed not to have heard Xiao Yanyan’s words at all. His eyes were red, and his breathing became heavier.

Stimulated by alcohol, Li Xiao was like a maddened bull, approaching the bed step by step.

Finally, amidst Xiao Yanyan’s scream, he grabbed the woman’s white ankle and pulled her over.

Immediately after, romantic sounds rang out in the big tent.

The next morning, Xiao Tuladuo led the Desert Army away.

Xiao Sima led the generals to see them off. Li Xiao, wearing black leather armor, looked spirited, showing no signs of fatigue after the craziness.

After the Desert Army left, Xiao Sima turned his gaze back to everyone and said in a deep voice, “The world today is in an era of great strife seen once in three hundred years.”

“The Jin State, Song State, and Xia State are all carrying out reforms to strengthen their countries and armies. Even the steppe tribes in the East are fighting each other more severely than in the past hundred years.”

“The world is changing, and my Great Liao has reached a point where it must change.”

“This Prince has decided to implement the registration of the population for the four prefectures of the Northern Frontier.”

Xiao Sima said in a low voice, looking at Li Xiao and other Jin Prefecture generals, tribal leaders, etc.

His expression became even more solemn: “Jin Prefecture, as the most loyal and battle-hardened prefecture under my rule, I believe you will definitely support this Prince’s decision.”

As his voice fell, Li Xiao and the others felt a heavy pressure hitting them.

What else could be said at this time?

The registration of the population in Jin Prefecture was imperative. Besides, Li Xiao and the others were all beneficiaries of this reform.

Li Xiao had already secured four Thousand-Man Commander positions.

So Li Xiao had changed from an original opportunist to a firm supporter of the reform now.

“The Prince is wise.”

Li Xiao and the others said one after another.

Even if someone’s interests were damaged, in front of the general trend and Xiao Sima’s twenty thousand troops, everything was futile.

No one dared to oppose it openly.

“Good!”

A smile appeared on Xiao Sima’s face, and he said with satisfaction: “From today on, Jin Prefecture will start a unified census, reorganize household registration, and issue iron tags to every household to prove their identity.”

“Let every subject under the rule of my Great Liao witness the re-emergence of my Great Liao together with this Prince.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

Just like that, Jin Prefecture began a large-scale census and registration of the population.

Breaking up the original structures of various fortresses and tribes, and turning them into Hundred-Man units based on one hundred households.

This period lasted until before the wheat harvest; only then was the reform of various fortresses and tribes in Jin Prefecture considered initially established.

And Li Xiao truly became the Vice Military Governor of Jin Prefecture and concurrently the Left Thousand-Man Commander.