Castle of Black Iron

”It’s easy. If a family doesn’t have descendants, they could adopt a son from their same clan. If they don’t have clansman, a lot of outsiders would like to be their adopted sons. It’s a major event to keep the family line alive. Those who don’t have sons could adopt a son and rename the surname of their adopted son before registering his name in their own pedigree of a clan. Anyone who dared interfere with it would offend the public. After the old man passed away, their adopted son would inherit their real estates in Xuanyuan Hill. Who would spit out the flesh that they have taken in like an idiot?”

”Take that Lame Liu in my neighborhood as an instance. Because he was injured in his childhood, he couldn’t deliver babies. Neither could he get married. Liu’s relatives arrived here from Zhongzhou Province so as to send their own kids to Lame Liu as his adopted son. Liu’s clansmen almost started a battle due to this thing. Finally, Lame Liu selected a niece as his adopted son. The niece treated Lame Liu even better than his father who gave birth to him. In this way, Lame Liu doesn’t need to worry about his old age and funeral affairs. ”

”If so, many families could have outsiders settle in Xuanyuan Hill in the name of their adopted son or stepson. Wouldn’t those adopted sons and stepsons enjoy many treatments and opportunities in Xuanyuan Hill?” Zhang Tie asked out of curiosity.

”It was indeed like this hundreds of years ago. I was told that many families had adopted sons and stepsons in a period previously. Some families would even have 10-20 adopted sons and stepsons. Actually, the so-called adopted sons and stepsons are just kids of their brothers, sisters or relatives. Gradually, the schools in Xuanyuan Hill become crowded. Later on, the imperial court had to deliver a strict command that the stepchildren of people who had descendants were forbidden to register in Xuanyuan Hill, male or female. Those who had no descendant could only adopt one child. As a result, the bad atmosphere of the society was improved from then on!”

After hearing Old Zhou’s words, Zhang Tie became happy, ”Hahaha, I’ve not imagined such a funny thing in Xuanyuan Hill!”

”Yup, in the beginning, there wasn’t any forbidden command; therefore, they all availed themselves of loopholes. As all the others behave in such a way, if you don’t, aren’t you a fool? If some relatives who are on speaking terms with you and beg you to take their sons as your stepsons, who could refuse it?”

After hearing Old Zhou’s words, Zhang Tie became dumbfounded. Indeed, it was not because others were too cunning. Everybody pursued wealth. Now that there was a method to have their kids register in Xuanyuan Hill and enjoy the top educational resources, opportunities and treatments among humans, those who had relationships would definitely try their utmost efforts to seek for such an opportunity.

However, the forbidden command delivered from Xuanyuan Hill could only block half of this loophole; it didn’t work for those families which didn’t have descendants. They could only allow those families without descendants to adopt sons because it was the tradition and custom of Hua people. Therefore, the land in Xuanyuan Hill became increasingly precious. Fewer of them could be taken back. Besides some flexible lands in Xuanyuan Hill which were in the hand of the imperial households of Taixia Country, it would be very difficult for others to cram into the circle of Xuanyuan Hill. As a result, the threshold for settling in Xuanyuan Hill gradually rose.

’Even though I’ve made a lot of military exploits in the Earth-elements Realm, I could only gain a bounty territory outside Xuanyuan Hill. It would be more difficult for others to settle in Xuanyuan Hill. No wonder Bai Suxian said that there were only two kinds of nobles in Taixia Country: first, those who could wedge their way in Xuanyuan Hill; second, those who are outside Xuanyuan Hill. Her words sounded a bit reasonable.’

Zhang Tie pointed at a gaily-painting pleasure-ship crossing the river as he asked, ”What are those gaily-painting pleasure-ships? Are they also flowing brothels in Xuanyuan Hill?”

”Hehehe, such a profession is forbidden to go ashore in Taixia Country. It’s a regulation that has lasted for hundreds of years as a feature of Xuanyuan Hill. These gaily-painting pleasure-ships could enter the Golden Water River of Xuanyuan Hill in the daytime; in the evening, they would enter the surrounding three lakes. Childe Cui, although these gaily-painting pleasure-ships look small, they could make a lot. Those gaily-painting pleasure-ships with famous prostitutes could make mountains of golds a day. Those who visited those gaily-painting pleasure-ships are all nobles and rich people, who would treat gold coins as nothing but sh*t. Those who could do such a business in Xuanyuan Hill are all related to big figures in the emperor’s imperial city more or less. Without such a background, such gaily-painting pleasure-ships are forbidden to enter the Golden Water River...”

”Does anyone participate in such a business in the emperor’s imperial city?”

”Those who could settle in Xuanyuan Hill are all followed by a lot of family members, subordinates and clansmen, whether they are the top 3 chancellors or the 9 ministers in Taixia Country. These people have to live at a high cost in Xuanyuan Hill. If a clan wants to maintain its decent life, it has to establish relationships with influential figures. Even though a person could have a compensation of tens of thousands’ kilograms of gold coins a year, tens of thousands of people might be waiting for that. Although the dissolute business in gaily-painting pleasure-ships doesn’t sound good, it’s also a legal business at least with a high profit. By the way, they could collect a lot of intelligence. Of course, those decent families in the emperor’s imperial city don’t need their family members to do such a business. They only need to have a trusted steward find an agency to do it, which would bring them a great amount of money each year. Then, why not?”

When Old Zhou said that, he glanced at Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian for a few more times while revealing a steadfast smile, ”According to Childe Cui, Childe Cui should not pay attention to money in daily life. If you two are juveniles, it’s normal for you to not know about the expenditure at home. However, given the looks of Childe Cui and Miss Bai along with your demeanors, you must have seen the world and could treat heavy winds and waves as unimportant. Those who have seen the world and known the universal laws must be born in rich and noble clans. You must pretend to be low-key today. Given your background, I dare say that you two at least come from provincial governors’ clans!”

’I’ve not imagined that a boatman on the Golden Water River could have such an insight.’

After promoting to a knight; especially after plundering the wealth of those clans of Three-eye Association, Zhang Tie indeed didn’t care about money anymore. Money was merely a worldly possession for Zhang Tie. Besides, Zhang family’s business of the all-purpose medicament was pretty hot due to monopoly, which would create mint of money for Zhang family every day. Neither Zhang Tie nor his clan lacked money. Additionally, Zhang Tie and his elder brother didn’t have too many descendants in Jinwu City. Although only a few clans had knights across Taixia Country, very few of them lacked money. In order to make money, Huaiyuan Palace also had a lot of clan businesses. Similarly, Zhu Clan, the clan of the Yanzhou provincial governor also had a lot of clan businesses.

However, there was one point that Old Zhou had not imagined or could not imagine based on his former insight. Besides making money, major clans had one more important purpose by doing business or involving in an industry——expanding their influence! Even those clans which didn’t lack money were still doing various businesses and involving in many industries, such as Zhang Yang. For what? For those besides money! The so-called major clans were definitely not only rich; they should also be influential. Even they had mountains of gold coins in the warehouse, they couldn’t gain influence. They were just a pile of metals. After investing them in various industries and using them to bind more people’s interests and deepen into people’s daily needs, they would gain a strong influence and controlling force.

Influence was what the major clans paid special attention to.

Whether a clan was doing business for money or for expanding its influence was the most important criteria for judging a clan’s power. The significance of this criterion was nothing less than testing whether a major clan had a deep foundation in Xuanyuan Hill. The second sort of clan might do something beyond their means in order to be impressive; however, the first sort of clan must be powerful. At least in Zhang Tie’s opinion, Zhang family was not doing business for money anymore. When they made enough money, money would be meaningless for them. All of their businesses would work for higher clan purposes. For instance, those major clans and syndicates in the Western Continent and the other subcontinent started to control public opinion, military-industrial complexes and grains circulation. They were definitely not doing that for money. Emperor Xuanyuan didn’t establish Gold and Power Law for money, either.

Although the gaily-painting pleasure-ships looked like dissolute, they served as recreational sites. From there, people could disseminate and ask for information as well as establish relationships with people from all walks of life. To a certain extent, these gaily-painting pleasure-ships could influence the cultural and recreational circle in Xuanyuan Hill and create some public opinion and specific pop culture among some high-end population. The latter effects might be pursued by these major clans in the emperor’s imperial city who controlled these gaily-painting pleasure-ships. Even if these gaily-painting pleasure-ships’ real boss was the Supreme Court of Taixia Country, Zhang Tie would not feel strange about that, not to mention that they were major clans in the emperor’s imperial city.

The small gaily-painting pleasure-ships and Old Zhou’s words reminded Zhang Tie of many things. Zhang Tie’s heart raced as he suddenly took out a gold coin. After pinching it slightly, Zhang Tie tossed it towards Old Zhou.

”Old Zhou, catch it!”

After catching that gold coin proficiently, Old Zhou grinned, ”Childe Cui, you can pay me when we go ashore!”

”Hahaha, I like you. We can be friends with each other. If you want to make money, you or one of your sons could come to Fire Dragon Bounty Territory in Youzhou Province 3 months later. By then, I promise your Zhou Clan a unique business on the Golden Water River and let you enjoy the feeling of having a mint of money one day too. You can also be a rich man in Xuanyuan Hill by then...” Zhang Tie burst out into laughter.

Old Zhou lowered his head and saw a deep fingerprint on the gold coin, which must be left by Zhang Tie.

Old Zhou then took a deep breath as he thought, ’The good fortune of Zhou Clan is finally coming; no wonder I always dreamed about catching a fierce fire at home these nights. It’s the lucky omen of a prosperous clan.’

Additionally, given Zhang Tie’s look, Old Zhou realized that Zhang Tie was not having shot from the hip. Although Old Zhou couldn’t guess about the unique business mentioned by Zhang Tie, he was clear that it was just a lip service for someone to reward a good fortune to Zhou Clan.

Old Zhou meticulously put away that gold coin as he treated Zhang Tie more respectfully, ”Childe Cui, Miss Bai; if you like, after going ashore, I invite you two to have a meal at my home. I will have my wife prepare some dishes and spirit for you!”

”Haha, Old Zhou, you’re too polite. If you really want to appreciate me, when you really do that unique business well in the future, I will feel reassured by having food and drinks at your home for free...”

Old Zhou revealed another smile on his swarthy face as he had long noticed that Zhang Tie was not a commoner. However, he didn’t imagine that Zhang Tie could treat him so politely as he was just a trivial figure.

At this moment, Bai Suxian had prepared well the peach flower spirit as she served Zhang Tie the spirit with a big smile.

”What unique business have you thought about on the Golden Water River?” Bai Suxian asked Zhang Tie in a secret way.

Bai Suxian knew that Zhang Tie would not make fun of a commoner. However, she wondered why Zhang Tie would introduce a unique business to a common boatman.

”Haha, you will know that!” Zhang Tie told Bai Suxian after having a sip of her peach flower spirit.

Zhang Tie indeed thought up this business after hearing Old Zhou’s words about the gaily-painting pleasure-ships.

’Now that others could do business on the Golden Water River of Xuanyuan Hill, I could also have one. After Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory produced the high-power alcohol and various engines, would it be difficult for Old Zhou to find a unique business on the Golden Water River? As long as Old Zhou’s boat could be installed with an engine and a propeller, it would be a speedboat.’

When Zhang Tie thought about Old Zhou driving his speedboat on the Golden Water River of Xuanyuan Hill, leaving a white line behind it, he couldn’t stand to giggle inside.

This might be the best advertisement for Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory!

Peach flower spirit was a local specialty of Xuanyuan Hill. This spirit tasted soft, sweet, fragrant and glutinous. People used peach flowers from Xuanyuan Hill to brew spirit. The spirit looked rosy and smelt as fragrant as that of peach flowers. In Xuanyuan Hill, many families would pick peach flowers in their own houses to brew spirit. After coming to Xuanyuan Hill, peach flower spirit almost became one of the necessary ”tourism projects” on the Golden Water River. According to the legends, if the beloved ones could have a cup of peach flower spirit face-to-face on the Golden Water River, they would be able to have a mutual affinity and never leave each other.

This explained why Bai Suxian made her utmost efforts to make the peach flower spirit at the prow. Indirectly, it explained why the Golden Water River was one of the most romantic places in Xuanyuan Hill. Besides those dissolute gaily-painting pleasure-ships, couples and lovers could be seen on other cruises and boats everywhere across the river.

While standing at the prow and drinking peach flower spirit with Zhang Tie, Bai Suxian blushed as beautifully as a fairy. As a result, Zhang Tie couldn’t stand to glance at her for a few more times.

”Childe Cui, Miss Bai, the bridge in front of us is the Horse Bridge...” Old Zhou’s voice drifted from the back.

Actually, Zhang Tie had already seen it without the warning of Old Zhou. A steel bridge crossed the Golden Water River thousands of meters in the front.

The bridge was very magnificent. The arches below the bridge were even available for ten-thousand tons’ huge ships. On the side which was close to the emperor’s imperial city, there was a wharf which was covered with many steamers with special banners.

After entering the arch on the outer flank of Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie saw a gate tower like the arch of triumph. There was a shiny statue of a golden horse at the highest point of the city gate under the sunshine. The entire bridge guarded an entrance of the emperor’s imperial city in the periphery of Xuanyuan Hill.

The 12 bridges over the Golden Water River were named by the 12 earthly branches in Hua culture, which corresponded to 12 Hua Zodiac. Each bridge had the corresponding totem and statue of one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac. Gradually, commoners in Xuanyuan Hill called these bridges Hua Zodiac bridges.

Watching the Horse Bridge in the distance, Zhang Tie was recalling the map of Xuanyuan Hill.

After passing the Horse Bridge, as long as he kept walking forward, he would enter the Horse Avenue of emperor’s imperial city. After entering the Horse Avenue for about 20 miles, he would see the mansion of the finance minister, one of the 9 ministers in Taixia Country.

All the 9 ministers of Taixia Country had fixed official residences in the emperor’s imperial city. The official residence of the finance minister was close to the Finance Minister’s Mansion, right on the side of Horse Avenue.

Zhang Tie unconsciously felt that the 12 official residences of the top 3 chancellors and the 9 ministers of Taixia Country corresponded to the avenues in the emperor’s imperial city which were linked with the 12 Hua Zodiac bridges.

Watching the Horse Bridge in the distance and the flock of sparrows that were flying over the bridge, Zhang Tie’s eyes sparkled...

Xuanyuan Hill had most kinds of birds across Taixia Country. In the three surrounding lakes, there were over 100 kinds of aquatic birds. Additionally, in Xuanyuan Hill, sparrows and pigeons accounted for the most. The willows made pleasant shades alongside the Golden Water River. This place was the favorite place of sparrows. The pigeons mainly gathered in some squares and parks. After living there for a long time, those sparrows were not afraid of people at all...

The boat drove towards the Horse Bridge. When it was less than half a miles away from the Horse Bridge, an extremely brilliant gaily-painting pleasure-ship moved towards them and brushed against their boat with a distance of 100 m in between.

Some young male and female were talking about something on the open delicate deck of the gaily-painting pleasure-ship.

Zhang Tie didn’t pay attention to those people. Because there were too many such gaily-painting pleasure-ships on the Golden Water River, Zhang Tie just threw a glance at that gaily-painting pleasure-ship before moving his eyes away onto the scenery on the riverside close to the emperor’s imperial city. However, Zhang Tie had not imagined that Bai Suxian immediately became icy all over like a hedgehog with standing spines at the sight of those people.

”Fang Xinyi...”

Those young men almost caught sight of Bai Suxian and Zhang Tie at the same time as they stopped talking and watched this boat at once.