Chapter 29: The Living God of Wealth

"Cai Qing, there is a matter you must pay close attention to. It would be best if you could find a way to make the Emperor rescind his order." After deep deliberation, the Prince of Dai finally added this instruction.

Cai Qing immediately asked, "May I ask what Your Highness is worried about?"

"Once the imperial examination is abolished, it will no longer be easy for us to recruit our own people into the imperial court. The Emperor may lack such foresight, but in effect, this also stifles our development. If possible, I truly believe we must persuade him to retract the order, or at the very least, implement both systems in parallel!"

Cai Qing nodded, sighing, "Indeed, this is a double-edged sword with both benefits and drawbacks. However, given the Emperor's temperament, he may not be inclined to accept advice from others. I personally feel that Your Highness should seize this opportunity to secure some advantages for yourself. Why not have the imperial clan issue a joint petition requesting the Emperor to grant this policy? Whether it succeeds or fails, scholars will surely remember the kindness of Your Highness and the clan."

"That is a good idea, but wouldn't that offend the Emperor?" The Prince of Dai remained apprehensive; although he held Li Chen in low regard, he was not eager to have a falling out with him.

Cai Qing smiled and reminded him, "Your Highness is mistaken. The Emperor may be muddled, but you can offer him some benefits in return!"

"Oh? What benefit could I possibly offer him? Are you suggesting fine food or silver?" The Prince of Dai looked perplexed; to him, offering a benefit to an Emperor who possessed the world seemed incredibly difficult.

Cai Qing hurriedly offered his scheme, "Your Highness, why not mobilize the power of the imperial clan to secretly assist the Emperor in establishing pleasure houses? If others see this, they will surely follow suit. Before long, the social atmosphere will shift, and when that happens, will the resulting infamy and complaints not naturally fall upon the Emperor?"

***

Over the next two days, as everyone had speculated, public opinion began to ferment rapidly. However, there was one development that seemed to defy all expectations.

In the Imperial Palace, within the Royal Study, while waiting for Li Chen, Ouyang Yu and the others gathered once more.

"Minister Bai, I see your brows are filled with joy. Have you encountered some good news?" Zhang Cong asked, noticing the change in Bai Lian before anyone else could speak.

Bai Lian smiled. "Indeed. I initially thought His Majesty’s idea was a foolish move, but now it seems our own vision was simply too limited! You may not know this yet, but since the appearance of these pleasure houses, not only has the Great Zhou not been ridiculed by other nations, but it has actually attracted many curious foreigners to our lands. These people arrive with full purses, and since the first wave of these establishments are mostly run by the nobility, the imperial clan, and local authorities, that wealth is effectively flowing into our own pockets."

"Moreover, many of these visitors are merchants. Upon arriving in the Great Zhou, they quickly discovered business opportunities. In just two days, over a hundred new shops have opened in our land, and dozens of trade relationships have been established!"

Zhang Cong was stunned. Just as he was about to press for details, Ge Siwang spoke up from the side.

"So that is it. It seems we misjudged His Majesty! Those ceremonies and performances may have seemed vulgar, but in reality, they attracted attention from all corners. People are naturally curious, especially regarding matters involving the imperial family and the court. By staging this event, he has undoubtedly drawn their interest and prompted imitation in the fastest way possible. With this foundation, he naturally attracts speculators and idle, curious people—people with money and time, which is exactly what the Great Zhou needs right now."

"We only saw the first step, and perhaps sometimes the second, but His Majesty? He likely saw the third and fourth steps from the beginning!"

Hearing Ge Siwang’s explanation, Ouyang Yu became visibly excited. He nodded and said to the others, "It seems when we see His Majesty shortly, we must offer plenty of praise, so he doesn't feel that no one understands him!"

As the others prepared to respond, the newly appointed Minister of the Court of Foreign Affairs hurried over with even more good news.

"It is not just that! You may not know, but that great merchant known as the 'Living God of Wealth' has also been intrigued by recent events. He is currently purchasing vast quantities of velvet and silk. Once everything is settled, it will add a significant sum to our national treasury!"

Bai Lian quickly confirmed, "Are you talking about Shen Wanyi, who started from nothing and became wealthier than a kingdom within a decade? Is he not in the Ming Dynasty? How did he come to the Great Zhou?"

The Minister of the Court of Foreign Affairs smiled. "Who else could it be? Truth be told, this is all thanks to His Majesty. If he had not given orders to invite all foreign envoys and famous scholars in Luodu to attend the festivities, how could this Mr. Shen have taken such actions?"

With the previous context established, although they were mentally prepared, confirming that the matter was indeed the Emperor's doing filled them with even greater admiration for Li Chen.

***

Meanwhile, in Luodu, a procession of luxurious carriages arrived slowly from outside the city, immediately drawing countless gazes.

Inside one of the carriages, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe sat with an arrogant expression. Across from him, a woman dressed like a head steward looked worried.

"Steward Chen, is something on your mind?" the man asked, his tone carrying a hint of impatience despite his concern.

The woman replied hurriedly, "Returning to you, Master, your actions this time are truly too risky. I am worried that..."

Before she could finish, the man chuckled coldly. "Worried about what? I did not earn the title 'Living God of Wealth' for nothing. Do you think my judgment could be wrong?"

The woman hesitated for a moment before offering a final warning. "Even so, this is the Great Zhou, not our Ming Dynasty. Many things are different here! If, by any chance..."

Shen Wanyi interrupted impatiently, "Enough. No more words. Do as I said: purchase land and storefronts extensively in Luodu and its surroundings!"

After a pause, he added, "Not just Luodu, but everywhere the Great Zhou’s commerce is flourishing. Buy up as many storefronts as possible. Also, secure the full amount of velvet and silk as quickly as possible. Once our hotels open, these items will be of great use!"

Thinking of his vast and intricate plan, Shen Wanyi’s face was filled with triumph, as if everything had already come to pass. "I must admit, I truly underestimated the Emperor of the Great Zhou. It seems the Duke of Tang was right—the Great Zhou is a country with great potential."

The woman couldn't help but remind him, "True, but even a centipede does not collapse easily, and the Great Zhou is hardly a dying insect. It is just that the Emperor’s many measures are truly difficult to fathom. This time, he intends to abolish the imperial examinations; who knows what kind of chaos that will stir up? Are you truly not afraid that these investments will go to waste?"

"If you cannot understand, it is because your vision is not broad enough. You must realize that the Great Zhou is currently controlled by feudal princes and nobles. To curb them, one must clip their wings! This is one of the reasons I value the Great Zhou so highly. After all, when an Emperor possesses such boldness, the national strength will naturally grow day by day!"