Chapter Fourteen: Questions and Answers in the Palace

The steps are majestic, the palaces are deep and secluded.

Liu Bao'er followed the eunuch leading the way, walking along the long corridor of Taiji Palace. Golden-armored guards stood on both sides, holding halberds, their chilling aura almost tangible, making it seem like a completely different world from the bustling city of Chang'an outside the palace walls.

Her face remained calm, but her mind was racing. The act of offering the copper had yielded far greater profits than expected; not only had she gained the protection of the imperial plaque, but she had also alarmed the highest ruler of this nine-layered palace. Whether today's summons was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen.

Upon reaching the side hall of the Zichen Palace, the eunuchs silently withdrew. The furnishings inside were ancient and heavy, and the air was filled with a faint scent of ink and an indescribable sense of oppression. A middle-aged man in casual clothes stood with his hands behind his back by the window. He was not particularly tall or imposing, but his very back seemed to carry the weight of an entire empire.

Liu Bao'er knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the cold gold brick: "This commoner, Dou Liu, pays her respects to Your Majesty."

The figure slowly turned around. Li Shimin's gaze, as described in historical records, was sharp as an eagle's, yet unfathomable. He did not immediately tell her to get up, but instead strolled to her side, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.

"Dou Liushi," her voice was calm yet carried a metallic tone, "you have rendered meritorious service by presenting copper, and I have already bestowed upon you the plaque of 'Diligent Merchant.' I have summoned you here today simply to ask why you, a woman, are so enthusiastic about matters of 'wealth and goods'?"

Liu Bao'er's mind raced, and the prepared words of "accumulating virtue for her deceased husband" rolled in her throat before she swallowed them back down. Before those eyes, any pretense seemed pale and laughable.

She raised her head, still kneeling, her voice clear yet neither servile nor arrogant: "Your Majesty, I believe that wealth is like water; if blocked, it will overflow; if dredged, it will flow freely. What I have done is merely an attempt to open more channels for the waters of this world, allowing them to flow more smoothly and nourish more fields."

"Oh?" Li Shimin's eyebrows twitched slightly. "In your opinion, how well are the irrigation canals being constructed in my Great Tang Dynasty?"

"Your Majesty is wise and benevolent. Since the Zhenguan era, taxes and levies have been reduced, allowing the people to rest and recuperate. The waterways of the realm have begun to take shape," Liu Bao'er responded respectfully at first, then subtly changed the subject, "However, although the waterways are open, the flow is slow. Merchants carrying heavy loads over thousands of miles need carts and horses, which is extremely risky and costly. The produce varies from east to west and north to south, but due to poor circulation, grain is cheap in areas of abundance, hurting farmers, while rice is as expensive as gold in areas of famine."

"So, you came up with those 'salt permit splitting' and 'glutinous rice paper tickets'?" Li Shimin's voice was unreadable. "Do you know that such things, though ingenious, easily stir up unrest, drive people to pursue empty profits, and undermine the foundation of the nation?"

The true intentions are revealed when the truth is finally revealed!

This was the issue the emperor was truly concerned about! He saw the convenience brought by Liu Bao'er, but he also saw the hidden threat that could overturn traditional power and agricultural order.

Liu Bao'er took a deep breath, knowing that the most crucial moment had arrived.

"Your Majesty is wise," she stated, "those paper tickets are not wealth in themselves, but merely certificates of credit." She presented her core argument: "They are like military tallies issued by Your Majesty; they cannot kill enemies themselves, but they can mobilize thousands of troops. What I have done is attempt to establish a system of 'certificates of credit,' allowing wealth to be directed swiftly and easily to where it is needed."

She straightened up slightly, her gaze intense: "Has Your Majesty considered that if the borders are in dire need of assistance, and the court were to allocate provisions and funds through such a voucher system, perhaps the time could be shortened from months to ten days? If a region is bountiful, grain can be quickly converted into convenient vouchers to support other areas in times of famine? Accelerated wealth flow means that the court's ability to respond to natural disasters and man-made calamities and to allocate national resources will be multiplied!"

"Credit..." Li Shimin repeated the word, his eyes deep. "Do you know why I emphasize agriculture and suppress commerce? Because the land produces grain and silk, tangible things. But these paper certificates of yours are intangible. If everyone chases after these things, who will be willing to cultivate the land in peace? Once credit collapses, it's nothing but a pile of waste paper. When the world descends into chaos, what will you do then?"

"Your Majesty's concerns are clear to me," Liu Bao'er said without flinching. "Therefore, when I was involved in the affairs of the Dou family's shop, I always adhered to the concept of 'reserve funds.' Every voucher issued was backed by corresponding silk, copper coins, or salt and tea as collateral. Credit must have an anchor! A voucher without an anchor is indeed worthless paper. But with a solid anchor, it becomes a powerful tool for promoting circulation and enriching the country and its people!"

She paused, then declared firmly, "Agriculture is the foundation of a nation; commerce is its lifeblood. With a strong foundation and vibrant lifeblood, the nation prospers! I do not wish to undermine agriculture, but merely to clear a few more of the lifeblood of this giant, the Tang Dynasty, making it even stronger and more powerful!"

A hush fell over the hall. Li Shimin gazed at the young woman kneeling below, noticing the wisdom, composure, and almost arrogant confidence in her eyes that belied her age. Her words struck him like a hammer blow. Many economic principles he had vaguely sensed but failed to clearly articulate had been revealed to him by this woman in a single sentence.

After a long while, Li Shimin suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter carrying a complex and enigmatic meaning.

"What a fine 'strengthening the foundation and revitalizing the blood'! What a fine 'credit must have an anchor'!" He waved his hand. "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Bao'er slowly stood up, her legs and feet were a little numb from kneeling for a long time, but her back remained straight.

"Your ideas do have some merit," Li Shimin said, his tone regaining its imperial calm and majesty after returning to his desk. "However, remember, commerce is ultimately a minor matter; don't forget your fundamentals. I'm speaking to you about this today because I see you still possess some understanding."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone growing somber: "But if one day I discover that your 'anchor' is gone, or that your 'bloodline' has flowed to a place it shouldn't..."

He didn't say anything more, but the air in the hall instantly grew colder.

"This humble woman will remember Your Majesty's teachings!" Liu Bao'er bowed deeply.

"Step down."

Stepping out of the Taiji Palace and back into the sunlight, Liu Bao'er realized her inner shirt was soaked with cold sweat. This confrontation with the emperor was no less dangerous than any of her battles in the business world.

She glanced back at the majestic palace gate, feeling little joy, but rather a deeper heaviness in her heart.

The emperor did not explicitly approve of her actions, but the conversation itself was a tacit consent. From then on, she was no longer a simple merchant; her every move would be under the watchful eye of this emperor who would dominate history.

She hugged her hands tightly to her sleeves and walked step by step out of the palace. The sunlight cast a long shadow of her.

The gaze of those in power is both a pressure and an opportunity.

She needs to be even more careful on the road ahead. She must not only calculate profits, but also weigh power, until... one day, the capital she wields will be able to speak on equal terms with this supreme imperial power.