This was emphasized heavily because trade involved enormous profits and touched the interests of many people within the Daoist Order. Asking them to give up their source of income was even more painful than killing them.0

There was also a constant game of interests between Jade Capital and the regional Daoist Mansions. The local Daoist Mansions would not carry out Jade Capital’s orders just because Jade Capital commanded it. They had their own calculations as well.0

The reasons behind this were complicated, but in most cases, it all came down to interests. The Golden Tower Council made decisions for the greater good of the Daoist Order, which inevitably required trade-offs that might harm the interests of local Daoist Mansions. Meanwhile, the local Daoist Mansions acted according to their own interests. Naturally, this created conflict and motives for resistance.0

It was similar to the Wei Dynasty, when people repeatedly pointed out that sea transport was cheaper than canal transport. However, canal transport could never be fully replaced by sea transport because the canal transport system sustained the livelihoods of millions of workers. Too many interests were involved, and the resistance was far too great to shake it.0

Trade with Fenglin was no different, with too many entangled...0