Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 1005 - 89: The Impact of the Trade Convention

Several days have passed since the trade fair and military parade ended, and guests from other regions and foreign countries have gradually departed from Swamp Prefecture, yet the impact of the trade fair and parade remains deeply etched in everyone’s hearts.

Let’s first speak about the people of Swamp Prefecture. The trade fair had a massive influence on them, and it was a positive one. During the trade fair, the people of Swamp Prefecture earned significant money. The amount they earned in those few days surpassed what they had made over decades, or even what they might have earned in a lifetime or two. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Beyond making money, the greatest benefit for the people of Swamp Prefecture was their expanded horizon. They witnessed many things from foreign and domestic merchants that they had never seen before, and learned quite a bit from them.

In the past, the people of Swamp Prefecture were trapped in their fields, spending their days either hunched over working the land or being forced into various hard labor by the officials of Swamp Prefecture. Their vision was filled only with endless work and despair. But now, they have seen a new world beyond their fields and glimpsed hope.

After the trade fair ended, the people of Swamp Prefecture were completely convinced by Zhao Yao, the Prince Han, and harbored no doubts about him.

In the minds of the people, Zhao Yao was no longer merely Prince Han, but a "living Bodhisattva" who rescued them from days of misery. If anyone dared speak ill of Zhao Yao, the people would certainly not tolerate it.

If the trade fair impacted the lives of Swamp Prefecture’s people, then the military parade transformed their attitude towards Great Zhou.

The military parade instinctively raised a strong sense of pride and honor in the hearts of Swamp Prefecture’s people. They felt immensely privileged watching the parade.

Whether the people of Swamp Prefecture or those from other prefectures in Lingnan, since the establishment of Great Zhou, they had never considered themselves citizens of it. Of course, it wasn’t because they couldn’t forget the previous dynasty. Even if the previous dynasty had remained, they wouldn’t have considered themselves its citizens.

The people of Lingnan never saw themselves as subjects of any dynasty. They always felt abandoned, as if they were criminals.

The fall of the previous dynasty was irrelevant to the people of Lingnan. The establishment of the new dynasty seemed just as insignificant. Whether it was the previous or the new dynasty, the court never regarded them as people. Whether officials from the previous or new dynasty, they were sent to Lingnan to oversee and exploit them. It had always been so. Thus, they had no sense of belonging to Great Zhou and never saw themselves as its citizens.

Last year, when the Prince Han of Great Zhou arrived in Lingnan and Swamp Prefecture, the people initially didn’t recognize him, viewing him as no different from previous officials. Even though Prince Han did significant good for the people last year, they remained skeptical, suspecting ulterior motives behind his actions.

At the onset of the trade fair, the people of Swamp Prefecture still believed Prince Han had ulterior motives in organizing it, until they earned money during the fair and Prince Han didn’t demand them to pay it, which led them to trust that it wasn’t set to harm them.

During the trade fair, Zhao Yao allowed the people of Swamp Prefecture to freely conduct business without taxing them, as long as they honestly adhered to the rules.

The people of Swamp Prefecture initially couldn’t trust that Prince Han wouldn’t charge them, suspecting he might take all their earnings after the trade fair ended, but this did not occur. Moreover, during the fair, if they faced bullying, Prince Han would send people to protect them, ensuring they suffered no mistreatment. This moved them profoundly, realizing that in matters, Prince Han truly stood up for them.

They forever remember the patrolling officials stating they were subjects of Prince Han, who wouldn’t let them be bullied by outsiders more than outsiders. While the trade fair was important, they were even more important. In Prince Han’s heart, the people were paramount.

Initially scoffing at this sentiment, Swamp Prefecture’s people soon realized it was sincere.

Before the trade fair concluded, Swamp Prefecture’s people had recognized themselves as subjects of Prince Han, yet hadn’t considered themselves citizens of Great Zhou, until the military parade.