novelraw Chapter 198
Chapter 198
Chapter 198 Lord Qi Is Also a Stubborn Type
After meeting Deng Zhengde, Emperor Wei announced the Merchants' Alliance the very next day at the court.
No matter how the ministers reacted, the Merchants' Alliance had already been established in Ziyang. Coupled with Emperor Wei's on-the-spot declaration that the Merchants' Alliance earned a million taels of silver in three months, it was safe to say that apart from a few who spoke unpleasantly, most were shocked and delighted.
Especially Qi Tishou.
This ironfisted custodian of the National Treasury had his eyes widened even larger than copper bells upon hearing the million taels!
Wei Yu was awakened under his intense gaze.
Fortunately, Wei Yu usually pretended not to see such visual harassment.
As long as the old man didn't trap him or force him to take on some task, Wei Yu resolutely refused to involve himself.
For the ministers at the front rows, who often saw the Wise King secretly dozing off, they actually had an understanding when they saw the Wise King’s nonchalant demeanor.
Whether or not the Merchants' Alliance was His Majesty’s idea, it definitely involved the Wise King's hand. Commerce inherently makes money, and the Merchants' Alliance gathered a large number of merchants together.
That the Merchants' Alliance earned a million taels in just three months clearly predicted what a massive money-collecting beast it would become!
Just thinking about it made the ministers hold their breaths.
Did they covet it?
Of course they did.
But everyone standing at court was smart; no one would blunderously petition His Majesty directly asking which official should be sent to the Merchants' Alliance.
After all, after the Wise King casually mentioned the Merchants' Alliance before, His Majesty had not spoken about it again, and no other officials had been involved except the Wise King.
Judging by His Majesty’s current attitude, it was clear: "I am only notifying you now that Great Wei has a Merchants' Alliance, but it is mine alone. Do not think of meddling."
It could be said that such a large piece of juicy meat, even if His Majesty wanted to send someone, he would only send his own trusted confidants to manage it.
This was like customs taxation, salt, iron, and tea operations—handling these meant huge wealth, and if not managed by trusted people, no one would even know when the money got embezzled.
Because of the Merchants' Alliance matter, the court debated for a long time—about the Merchants' Alliance model, the management of merchants, and who should be assigned to manage it.
Precisely because of the Merchants' Alliance, Wei Yu was once again surrounded by ministers after the court session, like a popular prize.
Especially Qi Tishou, who this time quickly took the best spot, blocking Wei Yu as soon as he appeared. No matter if Wei Yu tried tactics like pretending to urinate or feign illness, it was useless.
Qi Tishou stuck to him stubbornly!
Wei Yu was truly helpless.
"I say, Lord Qi, the Merchants' Alliance was all Father Emperor’s idea. Really, the plan is with Father Emperor. I’m just an executor; please don’t doubt me!"
One trap was bad, two traps were also traps, but having been trapped, Wei Yu no longer cared about getting his dad in trouble multiple times.
Qi Tishou glanced at him, utterly disbelieving: "I am not like the others; His Highness won’t fool me."
Wei Yu had just said this to other ministers too.
But those ministers were not familiar with Wei Yu. They had never seen him confidently explaining blueprints in the Hall of Mental Cultivation before. Even though they knew the Wise King was not incompetent, they still didn’t believe the entire Merchants' Alliance matter was solely Wei Yu’s doing.
So after Wei Yu shifted the blame to his dad, most ministers believed it.
Only stubborn Qi Tishou would not listen no matter what!
Wei Yu was truly at a loss with this stubborn type.
He sighed helplessly, then decisively shrugged, asking Qi Tishou bluntly, "Lord Qi, do you have evidence?"
Qi Tishou was taken aback.
Evidence was still needed?!
Wei Yu gave him a look of "you don’t get it," and said, "Lord Qi, as Minister of Revenue, how can you talk without evidence? Serving in court requires evidence; you have to act based on proof! Understand?"
He didn’t understand.
Qi Tishou expressionlessly looked at Wei Yu, then began to turn to walk away—but silently followed.
Wei Yu sighed, glanced sideways at him, "Lord Qi, I really understand your desire as Minister of Revenue to save money for the National Treasury, but I am still a child! Look at my frail body; do I look like someone who could make the Merchants' Alliance happen?"
"You do." Qi Tishou nodded without hesitation.
Wei Yu was at a loss for words.
"Heh." Wei Yu laughed irritatedly, "Lord Qi, why are you so sure it was me? Other adults don’t think I have the ability."
Qi Tishou calmly folded his hands and answered, "His Highness only appears fragile. I have seen the blueprints you gave Lord Pei; Lord Pei said they were personally written by you."
Then Qi Tishou glanced at Wei Yu coldly and said, "His Majesty has long been worried about the National Treasury’s lack of funds. If the Merchants' Alliance was truly His Majesty's idea, it would have been established long ago without waiting for His Highness to step up."
Wei Yu: …
Ah, dealing with smart people is both delightful and frustrating.
Wei Yu scratched his hands and didn’t directly admit involvement with the Merchants' Alliance. Instead, he asked Qi Tishou, "Lord Qi, why have you come looking for me?"
Qi Tishou immediately turned serious, "I would like to ask His Highness about the person from Jiaozhou. May His Highness introduce him to me?"
"Oh—"
Wei Yu suddenly understood. So the person wasn’t asking about the Merchants' Alliance but wanted to meet the person involved in it directly!
"Lord Qi, why didn’t you say so earlier!"
Wei Yu grabbed Qi Tishou and headed toward the palace gate. "It’s just a small matter, no need for you to be so cautious. Come, I’ll take you to meet him now."
The sudden change in attitude surprised Qi Tishou. "Thank you, His Highness."
"No need to thank me. It’s just a small matter!"
As long as it wasn’t troublesome, whoever Qi Tishou wanted to see was fine!
The two headed straight to the Wise King’s residence to find Deng Zhengde. Meanwhile, the man in question was already facing the Fourth Prince.
Having just arrived at the Capital, seeing its prosperity, Deng Zhengde had been wandering around the city to learn and discover business opportunities.
A person with a business mind could see profit everywhere. Facing the plentiful glasses and various glass goods in the capital, Deng Zhengde couldn’t even take his eyes away.
Glasswares were fine, but glasses themselves were something he was seeing for the first time!
While observing in the glasses shop, Deng Zhengde met the Fourth Prince who had changed out of his court clothes and was patrolling the store.
"These glasses are unique in the world, but unfortunately only here in the capital. If only we could open a shop in the Merchants' Alliance, maybe they could even be sold to…"
The Fourth Prince, keenly hearing the words “Merchants' Alliance,” stopped passing by.
He looked directly at Deng Zhengde. Even though he didn’t know him, given the circumstance, the Fourth Prince immediately recognized who he was.
The man from Ziyang County reporting to Ninth Brother about the Merchants' Alliance!
Thinking about the money-making ability of the Merchants' Alliance, the Fourth Prince took a deep breath.
Listening to Deng Zhengde’s plans about the glasses shop in the Merchants' Alliance, the more he listened, the brighter his eyes became. Finally, he couldn’t help but approach him directly.
Forget about the Merchants' Alliance or not, this man was his kindred spirit!