Chapter 281 |
Chapter 281 Emperor Liang
Speaking of going on a trading trip to Great Liang, Emperor Wei was indeed quite concerned about this matter.
After all, it involved money!
The more money the Merchants' Alliance made, the more tribute the unfilial sons would pay!
If this trip went smoothly, it would mean that in the future the Imperial Court would have more opportunities to reap benefits from Great Liang!
Exploiting the enemy’s resources to strengthen oneself—just thinking about it excited Emperor Wei.
“I remember the person in charge of the Merchants' Alliance is called Deng Zhengde, right?”
Emperor Wei frowned, pondering, “He’s been to Great Liang for three months now, hasn’t he? Hasn’t there been any news at all?”
Wei Yu’s concern was somewhat misplaced. “You remember so clearly?”
Emperor Wei might forget many things, but when it came to matters of money, he would always keep it in mind!
Glancing at Wei Yu, Emperor Wei continued to ask, “Has the Merchants' Alliance really not sent any news back?”
Wei Yu shrugged his hands, looking completely innocent. “I’m not even sure exactly when Deng Zhengde went to Great Liang. You know, I was in Huzhou then and was too busy with disaster relief every day to find out about the Merchants' Alliance. Moreover, I entrusted everything regarding the Merchants' Alliance to Deng Zhengde. I only handle collecting the money.”
Those words were quite upsetting to hear.
Emperor Wei gave him a disdainful glance and hinted, “You’re rather careless.”
Not afraid of spoiling them and ending up with a bunch of troublemakers?
At this moment, Eunuch Li came over to serve some tea.
Wei Yu looked at the cup being filled and smiled a bit. “I learned from you to trust the people I use.”
[You can't expect me to do everything personally, can you? If you were in my place, wouldn’t you do the same? It's hard to find people without personal interests. If giving up a small part of the profits can ensure their loyalty, then I think it’s worth it.]
Emperor Wei deeply looked at him.
This little rascal had many flaws in his reasoning, but at least his perspective was clear…
Emperor Wei fell into thought and gradually fell silent.
Seeing that his dad no longer mentioned the Merchants' Alliance, Wei Yu wisely didn’t bring it up again.
He quietly glanced up, spotted some pastries on a small table not far away, and signaled to Li Cheng to bring them to him.
Eunuch Li: …
It was truly only Ninth Highness who could be so audacious in front of His Majesty.
Eventually, Li Cheng brought over the pastries.
When Emperor Wei looked up, he saw Wei Yu holding the plate, lounging on the couch and nibbling on the treats like a fool.
Emperor Wei: …
How could he have such a foolish son?!
“What are you still sitting here for? Get out!”
The sudden scolding made Wei Yu hiccup.
He didn’t even have time to ask why before his dad literally kicked him and the plate out together.
At the entrance to the hall, Wei Yu hugged the plate of pastries with a completely baffled expression.
Li Cheng stood before him, bent slightly, smiling warmly: “Ninth Highness, please don’t take offense. These days the state affairs are overwhelming, and His Majesty is often busy until late at night. I have tried to speak up several times, but to no avail. Luckily, there is Your Highness. Now that you are back, His Majesty is extremely happy.”
Wei Yu stared at Eunuch Li’s old face for a while, then finally gave an official smile.
“Oh, alright then, thank you for letting me know, Eunuch.”
Sounds polite, but basically, it was just an effort to make him willingly serve as a worker!
—
While Wei Yu couldn’t escape the fate of having to work honestly, over in Great Liang, the prominent noble families quietly began a wave of enthusiasm for the traveling merchants.
Anyone with some connections knew that a group of traveling merchants recently arrived in Great Liang with many fine goods.
These merchants claimed to be from Great Wei, from a faction called the Merchants' Alliance. They had gathered merchants from everywhere and carried many novel and useful items, even things designated for royal nobles!
Things like crystal-clear glass, perfumes more fragrant than spices, soaps smoother and cleaner than soapberries, glasses that let you see clearly… there were so many wonderful things that people couldn’t bear to put down!
By the time someone reaches the status of a prominent noble family, money is no longer their pursuit. Power, status, face, honor—these are what they desire.
The traveling merchants from Great Wei carried items that no noble could ignore upon seeing!
It’s said that scarce things are precious. The merchants had only a limited quantity of each item. If a family bought one and then showed it to others, those lacking such things would certainly be envious. This was sure to increase one’s prestige!
Of course, not everyone refrained from trying to leverage their power to force the merchants into giving “free meals.”
Unfortunately, these people underestimated the merchants’ strength.
Though the merchants were far from home and restricted, they were very slippery and careful. They never entered the city. Their guards were all powerful fighters, making it impossible to cause any accidents. Furthermore, if anyone local tried to hurt them, the merchants would simply escape before the trouble even started!
In this era of underdeveloped communication, these hit-and-run actions by the merchants gave the noble families big headaches.
Especially those genuinely wanting to buy, who almost lost their temper and threatened those ill-intentioned families out of frustration for not being able to find the merchants.
Were they all out of their minds?
Couldn’t even afford a little money? Planning to become bandits and rob people?
No money and yet claiming to be noble families—what a disgrace! Absolutely unworthy to be counted among them!
The noble families of Great Liang were in turmoil, and the officials from those families were also well aware of the situation.
Having seen the goods the merchants brought, the officials were not blind to their value.
It is said, “All under heaven belongs to the ruler,” meaning that all the good things in the world belong to His Majesty. Now that Great Liang had such fine things, even their own people used them. It was only natural that their lofty His Majesty should have them too!
Thus, an official who spent a huge sum on a pair of glasses from the merchants presented them to Emperor Liang.
In the Great Liang Imperial Palace.
A corpulent official stood before Emperor Liang, respectfully addressing His Majesty, who was playing with the glasses:
“I bought these glasses for 200 taels of silver. The merchants said this was the medium quality; there are higher and lower grades costing 500 and 10 taels respectively… I believe these glasses have many wonderful uses. In my many years of study, my eyesight worsened with age, and I couldn’t see far clearly. Now, wearing these glasses, I can see everything distinctly.”
The man wearing the dragon robe sat in his chair with sharp features and a strong physique. He frowned as he toyed with the glasses in his hand, emanating an inexplicable aura of authority in every movement.
The official looked up and smiled flatteringly:
“Your Majesty, I am incompetent; I could not obtain the top-grade glasses and could only purchase the medium-grade kind for you. I hope Your Majesty will not disdain them.”