Chapter 434

Chapter 434 Melted Into One Heart

Several people sat under the arbor, starting with their own stories and then talking about life and daily preferences. Lolan Hill’s originally somewhat introverted nature gradually relaxed, no longer feeling as restrained as before.

“Wise Lady, could you tell us how Brother Pulman met you?” Sonia opened her eyes wide, asking curiously.

“Well, this story starts with roasted mushrooms.”

Lolan Hill recalled that night in the forest when a youth collapsed by the fire after eating poisonous mushrooms. Back then, Pulman was indeed very naive.

“Wow, I didn’t know Brother Pulman had such unreliable moments,” Sonia said, blinking her eyes as if she had discovered something new.

“In my heart, Brother Pulman has always been very steady, considering every detail thoroughly and preparing several backup plans. I never expected he had such experiences back then,” Sonia said, reflecting on her impression of knowing Pulman.

“People do grow up eventually,” Jork commented with a sigh.

As they chatted, time passed unnoticed, and the sky gradually darkened.

“Well, that’s all for today, Wise Lady,” Sonia said before leaving, bowing to Lolan Hill, and then parting ways with the others.

—

After Lolan Hill walked away, only Sonia and Lyden remained under the arbor.

“Lyden!” Sonia started.

“What is it?” He replied, looking indifferent.

“How could you be so clueless this afternoon? You really are a fool. The Wise Lady is new here and doesn’t know everyone yet. It’s too soon to talk about serious matters. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate?”

“Especially just now, before we left, you asked if there were any other trade-related knowledge or texts. You lack any sense of tact. How can you hope to make big business when you act like this? You’re both foolish and dull.”

Lyden fell silent, his fan motionless.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

“Fine, how much do you want this time?”

“Five thousand Extraordinary Gold Coins!” Sonia made a gesture.

“You might as well sell me off. I’m in charge of the entire department and don’t have time to run my own merchant guild. Where would I get so much money?”

“Besides, what would you do with so much money?”

“Ah? You can’t even come up with that? Your family business isn’t doing well?” Sonia retracted her finger.

“Business is about making more money, but many assets are fixed, like houses, land, personnel, trade caravans, shops, etc. Working capital cannot be easily… ”

Chaos was used, or else something terrible would happen,” Layden explained slightly.

“Alright, I wasn’t planning on going through official channels anyway,” Sonia twirled her finger, contemplating as she spoke.

“Things have been unstable lately over at Blackrock. Since Frost Rose supports the ‘Halberd Faction,’ we should support the ‘Huntbow Faction.’ Unfortunately, we’re currently short on funds, and the intelligence department can’t take up too much of the budget. Everything still needs to focus on agricultural production and education,” Sonia continued.

“Non-interference is the right approach,” Layden nodded.

“Even if this were to succeed, it wouldn’t bring about a good outcome.” Though Layden could sometimes be a bit lacking in emotional intelligence, he wasn’t truly foolish; he simply focused his thoughts elsewhere.

“How would it help even if the ‘Huntbow Faction’ succeeded? They are more conservative and rigid than the ‘Halberd Faction,’ and we are destined not to align with them. Even if we were to form an alliance, it would be fragile, needing constant reinforcement. If we were to engage in full-scale war with Frost Rose later on, leaving our rear vulnerable, we wouldn’t dare entrust the north to such an ‘ally,'” Layden added.

“Rather than wasting effort trying to win them over, I’d prefer if they took the initiative to attack us, giving us just cause to crush Blackrock and liberate the entire region, integrating it permanently into Clancia. Only then can we truly rest easy.”

The eyes of the head of Clancia’s trade department flashed with cold light; he was not someone who would show mercy.

“Fighting and killing is not something a wise person would approve of,” Sonia said somewhat dejectedly as she leaned on the table. After the afternoon’s conversation, the leader of the intelligence department began to understand the nature of this silver-haired young woman—gentle and kind.

Such a person as a superior or ally would bring peace and comfort, but there was also concern that their methods might lack decisiveness.

People are strange like that; one side hopes for loyalty and kindness in their own people, allowing them to feel secure without fear of betrayal. On the other hand, they desire flexibility in dealing with outsiders.

“But such a wise person makes me feel very secure and happy,” Sonia said after a while, lifting her head to look at Layden.

“And you, dummy?”

“I? I admire the knowledge and insights of the wise person. It truly elucidates many aspects of commerce.”

“That’s where our views differ. Alright, no more talk. It’s time to go back. Let them fight among themselves, whether it’s the ‘Halberd Faction’ or the ‘Huntbow Faction.’ We’ll respond to changes with constancy.”

—

In the following days, under Palinsa’s arrangement, Lolan Hill met with these key figures of Clancia one by one, gradually becoming familiar and understanding them.

Though Lolan Hill was somewhat inexperienced in specific matters, she generally did not express opinions rashly.

They carefully inquired about the crux of various issues, then thought of ways to discuss solutions. Specific actions would then be planned out by each department.

In fact, many of these issues, although Clancia was encountering them for the first time, had been resolved long ago in the future. For example, the household-based distribution of land, major industries like salt, iron, and transportation controlled by national institutions, courts established in various regions, categorizing civil and criminal law, and the grading system for schools.

“Then, regarding the compilation of history textbooks, does Your Wisdom have any suggestions?”

One day, several people sat in a pavilion beside the Wind Singing Palace, discussing the issue of textbooks.

“If it’s about compiling a history book, it must include the customs, culture, notable figures, and history of various places. This will have its own advantages.”

“Even if two people are separated by thousands of miles north to south, when they meet one day, they will understand each other’s hometowns. In this way, there will be a sense of recognition and understanding.”

Lolan Hill spoke of something important.

“Culture is the best bond, allowing people from different countries to recognize and understand each other. I know your past, you know my past, and our ancestors lived together on this land.”

“Just imagine, if one day, the eastern part of Clancia needed to go to war, and the people in the west knew nothing about what the easterners were like, their living habits, or their connections with themselves, under such circumstances, the citizens in the west would find it hard to care or worry about the disaster in the east.”

“But if they knew that the people in the east lived in wooden buildings, were kind and hospitable, and that the grain they ate came from there, and that their ancestors had once fought off invaders together, supported each other, stood under the same roof, and belonged to the same nation.”

“At that moment, a sense of shared adversity would arise. Over time, as the country continued to integrate and become more familiar and close, after several years, the people of this country would truly become one.”

The saying goes, brothers from all over the world come to aid when one is in trouble. Only then can it be called a true nation, not a fragile coalition built for temporary interests.

Lolan Hill spoke as if it were self-evident. The scribe and other officials listened with great excitement, as if a window had been opened to reveal a new world.

Many years later, people from other nations could not understand why Clancia, only a little over ten years old, had such strong feelings of unity. Perhaps this was the reason behind it all.

The silver-haired young lady sage did not know that her words were recorded in the oath of employment for the Education Department, melting the hearts of the people into one, forging a nation into a world. Many great and astonishing things often originated from those unknown corners.

(The chapter ends)