Foreigners and outsiders attending the trade fair hosted by Swamp Prefecture couldn’t have e empty-handed. They brought many of their best-selling goods from home, hoping to catch Prince Han’s eye. If Prince Han takes a liking to them, they might have the chance to do business with him.
The goods they brought were indeed excellent, and most of them were items not found in Great Zhou; Zhao Yao was very eager to do business with them. Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhao Yao had already signed up to fifty or sixty trade deals with them.
After the Dragon Boat Festival, outsiders and foreign merchants set up stalls to sell the goods they brought.
Zhao Yao designated a specific area for them to set up stalls and sell goods. The people of Swamp Prefecture were very curious about these items being sold by outsiders and foreigners, and even though most couldn’t afford to buy them, it was good to see them and gain some knowledge.
Inland merchants and foreign merchants were very curious about each other’s goods. Allowing them to set up stalls was also meant to facilitate their munication. Inland and foreign merchants signed quite a few deals with each other.
Lingnan has many things not found inland, and of course, the inland has many things not found in Lingnan, so there is no need to prohibit inland merchants from cooperating with foreign merchants. Besides, Zhao Yao hosts the trade fair to encourage foreign and Great Zhou merchants to do business.
Zhao Yao pushed He Lianfang in his wheelchair, bringing Tong Xi and others along to tour the stalls set up by outsiders and foreigners. When he saw some novelty and fun items, he also bought some to send back to the capital for his mother and fourth brother to see.
Every stall was crowded with people, and even though everyone couldn’t understand each other’s languages, they managed to municate and trade through gestures. The bustling scene was delightful and made one smile involuntarily.
By this time, it was already evening, but the place was brightly lit and very lively. Guards were patrolling with blades to catch troublemakers and thieves. This allowed outsiders and foreigners to confidently set up stalls and do business.
Sitting in his wheelchair, He Lianfang looked around. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the moners, listening to their conversations, and feeling the lively atmosphere, his heart inexplicably felt warm.
Looking at the scene before him, Uncle Gao sighed, "It’s really nice." Although such scenes could be seen in the capital or other places inland, seeing this in Swamp Prefecture brought an inexplicable touch to his heart.
Zhao Yao withdrew his gaze from the stalls on either side and looked amazed at Uncle Gao, "Uncle Gao, what do you think is good?"
Uncle Gao pointed to the stalls on both sides, smiling, "Lively and prosperous."
Zhao Yao slightly nodded and said, "It is lively, but pared to the capital, this liveliness is nothing; as for prosperity, it is still not there yet."
"Your Highness, you can’t pare with the capital, you should pare with the past; in the past, Swamp Prefecture didn’t have such a scene." Though he didn’t participate in building Swamp Prefecture, seeing it transform into what it is now burst forth a sense of pride from nowhere. "Your Highness, you are truly remarkable."
Listening to Uncle Gao praising him, Zhao Yao paused slightly, then intentionally asked, "Uncle Gao, are you genuinely praising me or teasing me?"
"Of course, I’m sincerely praising you," Uncle Gao said with full sincerity on his face, "You transformed the barren Swamp Prefecture into a lively, prosperous place in less than a year; ask how many people in the world could achieve that."
"Since you’re genuinely praising me, I will gladly accept it without reservation," Zhao Yao said, casting his gaze towards the stalls on either side again, a subtle smile playing on his lips, "I haven’t done enough yet, it’s just the beginning, Swamp Prefecture will grow increasingly prosperous in the future."
"I believe under your governance, Swamp Prefecture will get better and better, and one day surpass the capital," Uncle Gao firmly believed that under Zhao Yao’s leadership, Swamp Prefecture would bee more prosperous than the capital, even more than Jiangnan.
"It’s simple to surpass the capital, my goal is to surpass Jiangnan," Zhao Yao said brazenly.
"Your Highness, you will definitely achieve it." Uncle Gao marveled inwardly: Now he finally understood why the Emperor and General cooperated to elevate the Prince to such a position. Once the Prince ascends to the throne, Great Zhou is bound to enter a prosperous era. Fortunately, he is still young and healthy enough to witness the era of peace and prosperity created by the Prince.
In just a few years, Swamp Prefecture will indeed bee, as the Prince said, the largest trade prefecture in Great Zhou, as well as one of the most prosperous prefectures in Great Zhou. The future Swamp Prefecture will be the future of Great Zhou.
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