Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 58: Second Update

Chapter 58: Second Update

The shopkeepers exchanged glances, then uniformly waved their hands and declared, We common folk will never have any further dealings with him. Should any situation arise, we will immediately report to the Marshal.

Xu Mao couldn’t be bothered to listen to their empty pledges of loyalty. After exchanging a few casual pleasantries, she saw them out.

With the Mo family businesses returned to Mo Huifu’s hands, she sighed sorrowfully upon hearing that Shang Fanzhi had escaped while injured. How did things come to this?

With numerous shops requiring management, Mo Huifu allowed herself only a brief moment of melancholy before rallying her spirits. She began reviewing the account books delivered by the shopkeepers and resumed control of her family enterprises.

After taking inventory of all the shops, Mo Huifu compiled a separate list and delivered it to Xu Mao early the next morning.

Xu Mao glanced down at the document – it listed highly profitable establishments whose daily earnings were staggering enough to cover two or three meals for the entire Loyal Army.

Xu Mao stared blankly for a moment, struggling to process what she was seeing. She looked up at Mo Huifu in astonishment and asked hesitantly, Madam Mo, what is the meaning of this?

Preferring directness over subtlety, Mo Huifu stated plainly, Marshal, when you came to my aid, I must admit I had ulterior motives. Though you didn’t hold it against me, I cannot be ungrateful. Please accept these as tokens of my appreciation.

Leaning forward, she pointed to the first shop on the list and explained gently, Don’t be too quick to refuse, Marshal. Please consider this bookstore – it’s one of the shops where my husband met with followers of the Celestial God Sect. All the paper used comes from our own paper mill, employing ancestral techniques passed down through generations. Through continuous refinement across generations, we’ve balanced craftsmanship with cost, creating the best possible paper at minimal expense with quite satisfactory results.

I’ve heard your army maintains educational classes. Reading and writing consume substantial resources in brushes, ink, and especially paper – for book pages, practice sheets, and even for your official duties. I wish to gift this bookstore and paper mill to you, Marshal, to support your great cause. Mo Huifu appealed directly to Xu Mao’s pressing needs. For Xu Mao, paper constituted a major expense, and for the sake of her grand plans, every saving counted. She was confident this would tempt Xu Mao.

Indeed, Xu Mao felt tempted after hearing the proposal. In previous scenarios, she would have proactively sought out Mo Huifu for purchases to reduce costs without waiting to be offered.

But now, having lost interest in continuing the game, no amount of discounts or benefits could sway her resolve – she remained as steadfast as an enlightened monk.

Since nothing could be carried over to the next scenario, these offers held little practical value or attraction for her.

I understand your intentions, Huiniang, but I cannot accept, Xu Mao declined. The Loyal Army has principles – we don’t take so much as a needle or thread from civilians. As Marshal, I should lead by example. This is something I’ve come to realize recently in Yanlin – obligations create dependencies, and those who accept favors often find themselves at a disadvantage in future disputes.

After refusing, Xu Mao still felt somewhat uneasy. Her brows slightly furrowed in thought before she proposed to Mo Huifu, How about this instead – I won’t take the shops, but let’s draft a formal contract. I’ll purchase from you at reduced rates, though we can negotiate the pricing to ensure you don’t operate at a loss.

Mo Huifu looked surprised. Xu Mao could have easily taken advantage freely, yet here she was seriously discussing business terms.

The Marshal is a person of sentiment and integrity. In that case… I shall not press further. Mo Huifu retrieved a yellowed paper from her sleeve and handed it to Xu Mao, saying, Marshal, please take another look at this. This is the workshop my mother left me. It weaves cotton swiftly and skillfully, producing warm clothing. I believe if our soldiers wear such garments to ward off the cold, they will surely fight with greater courage!

Xu Mao’s eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise. Cotton? You mean the white, fluffy cotton plant?

At present, cotton existed merely as an ornamental plant—no one had considered its potential for clothing.

Winter garments were crucial supplies, something she had always organized research on herself. Unexpectedly, Mo Huifu had taken the initiative to offer cotton clothing. Xu Mao sat up straight, reassessing Mo Huifu, committing the important location of Baoping to memory and resolving to seek out Mo Huifu immediately in the next phase.

Hearing her description, Mo Huifu inferred they were referring to the same material and nodded. Beyond mulberry and hemp, cotton—what the Marshal calls cotton—can indeed be woven into fine fabric with excellent warmth-retaining properties.

Using cotton for clothing was once prevalent in our Jin region decades ago, but it gradually declined due to labor-intensive processes and crude craftsmanship. My mother loved weaving and often discussed improvements to cotton textile techniques with her friends. After years of dedicated research by my mother and aunts, they finally improved the loom to weave cotton effectively.

Mo Huifu’s eyes dimmed as she sighed. Unfortunately, this loom was created by women, and no one was willing to believe in its practical efficacy. My mother had no choice but to store the loom in this dilapidated workshop, hiring impoverished women struggling to make ends meet to produce clothing and bedding for their own use.

Xu Mao exclaimed in astonishment, Could your mother be Huang Daopo?

Mo Huifu looked bewildered. Huang Daopo? Who is that?

Never mind. Suppressing her excitement, Xu Mao steadied her breathing, surmising that Mo Huifu’s mother was yet another resource NPC.

She began to wonder if she had taken the wrong path in previous phases. While following her scoundrel father in conquering the land had been relatively smooth, with special NPCs abundant, they primarily assisted her father. Only after she gained military power or influence would they switch allegiance to scheme for her throne.

The early stages focused on building relationships and fostering bonds, with real momentum coming after her father Shen Qiyuan established the dynasty. After sharing hardships and entering the phase of shared prosperity, the meritorious officials had to contemplate their future paths—that was when she emerged from behind the scenes.

Of course, revealing her ambitions early could attract numerous followers if she successfully navigated the overt and covert threats, but it came with extreme risks and poor reputation.

Either her father’s rivals would capture her to threaten Shen Qiyuan—who might ignore it, leading to her demise—or she would challenge her own father, facing misunderstanding from some and accusations of filial impiety from others. Reputation-conscious strategists would avoid association with her.

Striking out independently away from Shen Qiyuan yielded fewer special NPCs compared to before, yet resources seemed plentiful, giving her an illusion of inexhaustible supply.

Could leaving Shen Qiyuan have been the right choice?

Xu Mao shook her head. The official mainline clearly marked Shen Qiyuan as the founding emperor, and the new player guidance explicitly pointed to accompanying Shen Qiyuan and assisting him in ascending the throne to reap the rewards.

Perhaps the hidden feature of Jin Province on this map is its abundant resources, which may not be the case elsewhere.

Given Jin Province’s exceptionally favorable conditions, Xu Mao contemplated heading to Jiangzhou. She noted this in her memorandum before turning back to Mo Huifu and saying, Madam Mo, gifting it is truly inappropriate—I really cannot accept it. You could sell the loom to me instead.

Mo Huifu insisted firmly, Marshal, this loom represents the lifelong dedication of my mother and aunts. It cannot be tainted by monetary transactions. Your noble character and sense of righteousness make you the most fitting person to possess it. If my mother were still alive, she would have gifted it to you without hesitation. Selling it would anger her spirit in the afterlife—she might refuse to see me.

Faced with this sudden emotional appeal, Xu Mao found it difficult to refuse. After a moment’s thought, she proposed, Then, Madam Mo, what if we treat the loom neither as a sale nor a gift, but as a loan? My subordinate He Suifen is recruiting workers here. We’ll borrow the loom to produce winter cotton clothing for the Loyal Army. You can oversee her work, and I will cover all other expenses.

The Marshal needs winter clothing? Allow me to bear this cost as a gesture of my gratitude. Otherwise, I would feel indebted and inevitably seek ways to repay you later! Mo Huifu pressed her lips together, standing her ground.

Xu Mao recognized that if this matter remained unresolved, Mo Huifu would continue dwelling on it, potentially surprising her with unexpected gestures later—like leaving an unpredictable time bomb.

How about this: you contribute part of the funds, Madam Mo, and the Loyal Army will cover the remainder. Additionally, I’ll have He Suifen sell a portion of the cotton garments at premium prices. The proceeds will go toward the workshop’s ongoing expenses. Any surplus profit will be split fifty-fifty between us, Xu Mao suggested earnestly, meeting Mo Huifu’s gaze.

This arrangement ensured no losses for either party, addressed Mo Huifu’s concerns, settled the debt of gratitude, and achieved a perfect compromise.

Mo Huifu hesitated briefly, pondering before responding, A thirty-seventy split would be more appropriate—thirty for me, seventy for the Marshal. After all, the workshop remains idle most of the time. I’m already overjoyed to see it put to use under your direction and dare not ask for more.

Xu Mao rubbed her temples, defeated by the other’s stubbornness. Let’s make it forty-sixty. That’s my final offer.

As they haggled, a stalemate ensued. Mo Huifu knew Xu Mao wasn’t bluffing—pushing further risked the Marshal abandoning the workshop altogether.

Mo Huifu relented softly, Very well, as the Marshal commands. Forty-sixty it is.

Both sighed in relief upon reaching an agreement. They promptly drafted a contract, signed it, and affixed their fingerprints.

After settling matters with Mo Huifu, Xu Mao sought out He Suifen. She explained the workshop arrangement and instructed, You will be in charge of this workshop from now on. Learn diligently from Madam Mo.

Regarding recruitment, Xu Mao added, prioritize women living in hardship, especially refugees displaced by natural disasters and turmoil. Many have lost their families and wander homeless, some resorting to selling themselves into servitude for mere sustenance, while others with no alternatives fall into disreputable trades.

She specified, We won’t restrict by household registration—preference goes to female refugees. Even those unfamiliar with looms may stay and learn gradually. If anyone fails to learn within three months, pay them their wages and send them on their way.

He Suifen nodded repeatedly. Understood, Marshal. I will ensure this matter is handled properly.

Overjoyed, she couldn’t help but recall she was here for the competition. Having unexpectedly received Xu Mao’s help to succeed, He Suifen worriedly said: Marshal, this matter was negotiated by you, and I’m merely benefiting from it. But this is unfair to Lady Wang and Lady Lin… I voluntarily withdraw from the competition.

Xu Mao was startled and quickly responded: No need to withdraw, don’t worry. I intend to help all three of you. Tomorrow I’ll depart for Yanlin to see Wang Xingzhu.