I want to establish an Aristocratic Family.

Summary

The Son of Heaven, intrigued by the treasures from Jibin, reflects on the wealth of the region and the Han Dynasty's advantageous trade position along the Silk Road. Despite the Han's significant gains, Zhang Yue argues for imposing heavy taxes on Jibin's goods, which he believes drain the Han's wealth without providing real value. He highlights Jibin's anti-Han sentiment and their reliance on Han products, suggesting that the Han should leverage trade to gain control. The Son of Heaven is interested but wary of potential opposition from frontier armies, yet Zhang Yue assures him that the public will support the tax on imports, especially if it benefits allied trade.

Full content