"Your business has grown increasingly successful over the years. I would like to have you take on the railway project from Chang'an to Xingqing Prefecture. What do you think?"

"What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve Your Majesty's mercy?" Xue Donglai's heart tightened. Every word the emperor spoke was a test. What exactly did he want to do?

"I heard that Master Xue invested a lot of money in Xianzhou the year before last, and the people of Xianzhou are very grateful to Master Xue."

Xue Donglai broke out in a cold sweat: "Your Majesty, all the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty are fortunate to have benefited from Your Majesty's new policies. If it weren't for Your Majesty's new policies, we would be nothing more than starving beggars on the streets. Our wealth comes from the people and is used for the people."

"I have been racking my brains for the past two years. The court has now fully opened up commerce to the people. In the future, the construction of the Great Song Dynasty will need more support from Lord Xue."

Xue Donglai broke out in a cold sweat, quickly stood up, walked to the center, bowed again, and said in a panic, "Your Majesty! Please strengthen the control over merchants. Merchants can bring prosperity to the country, but they can also ruin the government!"

How to ruin a government?

"Merchants take the people's wealth to bribe officials, and officials take the power of the court to bribe merchants. The collusion between officials and merchants is no different from the collusion between officials and gentry in the past."

"Isn't it a bit too much, Master Xue?"

"Every word I say is true. As a businessman, I know all too well how people's hearts change when faced with enormous wealth!"

"Your Majesty's 'Economic Treatise' is a masterpiece of Chinese history. I believe that the court should both strictly regulate merchants and encourage people to engage in commerce. Merchants should know where the boundaries of commerce lie. When power and money are deeply intertwined, it is a misfortune for the Song Dynasty and for the people!"

Xue Donglai knew very well that the emperor had summoned him this time to test him.

If you answer carelessly, the spot next to those thirteen heads at the city gate will be yours.