Song Chi knew the Gu family's predicament.

Gu Rongshan wanted to take advantage of the competition for the throne to play both sides, to buy a breathing space for the Gu family, and also to gain some benefits.

But both sides were putting too much pressure on her, demanding real money from her. Trying to please both sides was like walking on the edge of a knife. But Gu Rongshan didn't want to bet on one side, and she didn't know how to bet, which made her worried.

Song Chi asked, "Are they asking you for money or food?"

"They wanted money before, but now they want food."

"That's right."

"Before the troops move, the food and fodder must go first. Your Majesty wants to fight to enhance the prestige of the Great Zhou, but the treasury is empty, with no money or food. So, he is using the method of competing for the throne to ask the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Qing to raise money and food."

"Food and fodder are more important than money, and your Gu family owns a business and a caravan. The business can purchase food, and the caravan can transport it. You should reply to both sides. Your Gu family will provide food and fodder for the war, and cash should be used to purchase food. If you use it, there will be no food left."

Gu Rongshan's brows relaxed. "No matter who has the final say, as long as war requires food and fodder, there's no question of favoring or leaning towards either side, and everything is acceptable."

She couldn't help but admire him, "Song Chi, you are truly talented. You solved my urgent problem with just a few words. You don't know that Song Ming came to me again yesterday, saying that he wanted to take me as a concubine and marry me into the Song family. He also said that this was his ultimatum, and if I didn't agree, he would destroy my Gu family."

"Song Ming wants to take you as his concubine?"

Song Chi almost choked on his wine. This guy doesn't even have the ability to find a woman, and he wants Gu Rongshan as a concubine?

He thought again and realized that it must be Song Shiwen's order, and he wanted to take this opportunity to win over the Gu family.

"Don't worry about it. If he pushes you too hard, just surrender to Prince Qing."

"That's what I thought."

Gu Rongshan asked, "You are a member of the Qingliu Party. What do you say about me joining His Royal Highness Prince Qing?"

At this point, everyone knows Song Chi's origins and background clearly. Although his name is similar to the Prime Minister's son, he has no relationship with the Prime Minister. Instead, he is close to the Qingliu Party and has made great contributions to His Royal Highness Prince Qing.

Gu Rongshan didn't want to bet on His Royal Highness Prince Qing, she wanted to bet on Song Chi.

“No need.”

Song Chi shook his head and said, "The fight for the throne is a murky one. There's no need for you to get involved. An innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure. The Gu family is the richest family, and this title will make it difficult for you to escape."

"The title of Jiangzhou's richest man is nothing but an empty title. My Gu family earns ten percent of the profits, but we only keep two. The rest goes to those bigwigs."

Gu Rongshan said in a low voice, "People outside say that the Prime Minister is behind our Gu family. But in fact, it's not just the Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Lu, and even the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department can all get a share of our Gu family's wealth, not to mention the local officials."

"To put it bluntly, my Gu family is here to make money for everyone. Now that the balance has been broken due to the competition for the reserve, the real purpose has been revealed."

Song Chi was not surprised, otherwise it would be abnormal.

"So you must give up these false names and even wealth now."

Gu Rongshan looked slightly startled and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The peace of the Great Zhou will probably only last this year. If a war really breaks out next year, if we win, it will be fine. But if we lose, the Great Zhou will be in real chaos. Having money is not a good thing."

Song Chi said with deep meaning.

Gu Rongshan subconsciously looked around. There were only three of them present. "Are you saying that the Great Zhou will lose this war?"

"Defeat is inevitable!"

Gu Rongshan added, "Female Commander Liang Qingwu is valiant and skilled in battle. How could we possibly be defeated with her leading the army?"

"You've overlooked one point. Wars are fought on the strength of nations, not generals. No matter how powerful a general is, can he truly defeat an army of thousands?"

Song Chi said calmly, "Your Gu family is engaged in business, so you should know more about the current situation of the Great Zhou than I do. If we lose this battle, it will be the beginning of a chaotic era. Will your Gu family still be able to protect its wealth then?"

"Even if you have empty fame, this empty fame will bring endless disasters."

Gu Rongshan took a deep breath and asked, "Then what should I do?"

"Let the Gu family go bankrupt, let the Gu Corporation collapse, let the world know that your Gu family has no money, let the Crown Prince and Prince Qing think you are useless..."

Hearing this, Gu Ronghua hurriedly asked, "Brother, are you asking me to spend all my Gu family's wealth?"

"Of course not."

"If you give away all your wealth, others will think you have a thousand and will not let you go."

"So what should we do?"

Song Chi said calmly, "Your Gu family has a granary, right? We originally promised His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that we would deliver the grain to the front. However, the day before departure, the granary suddenly caught fire and burned all the grain. And you spent a lot of money to collect this grain from all over the place, and you still owe a lot of money for it, to the grain merchants, to the loaders..."

"After the fire, the grain merchants came to you for payment, and many laborers came to you to get their wages. You stayed indoors and then spread rumors that the Gu family had no money to pay. A few days later, you personally paid the grain merchants. Others said that the Gu family was wealthy and could not be without money. But just two days later, rumors spread that you had sold many shops to pay off your debts."

"So, more and more such stories spread. One day, people even saw Young Master Gu wearing tattered clothes... and just like that, the Gu family went bankrupt."

"What if a merchant ship sank in the river? What if a shop was suddenly closed down? What if Young Master Gu did something that ruined the family?"

“Don’t have too many methods.”

Gu Rongshan and Gu Ronghua looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.

Song Chi's words were very obscure, but they all understood. It was nothing more than taking advantage of the dispute between the two parties to put the blame on each other. It was completely reasonable and could be justified anywhere.

The food that was promised to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was burned by His Royal Highness Prince Qing. This is very reasonable, and no one will investigate.

Gu Rongshan already understood what Song Chi meant. On the surface, he was bankrupt, but in fact, he was secretly selling his properties for money.

If chaos and conflicts really arise, these industries will not be able to be maintained at all.

This is a plan to escape.

First, they stabilized it under the pretext of raising grain for them, and then slowly made the family "bankrupt" and escaped from the dispute in time.

When the political situation stabilizes in the future, he will be able to make a comeback because of his wealth.

What a good plan.

Song Chi said, "You may have to give up something in this process, but there is gain only when there is sacrifice. Otherwise, when the chaos begins, you will have no chance."

"Don't think I'm exaggerating. You'll see the outcome in a year."

Gu Rongshan picked up the bowl again and said, "I have been in charge of the Gu family for so many years. How can I not have some courage? I will give up what I should give up and abandon what I should abandon. I believe what you say."

"well."

Song Chi raised his bowl and they both drank it down in one gulp.

It is never a good thing for a businessman to become too big, and there are countless examples of this in history.

Gu Rongshan does have some foresight.

The two of them had a very pleasant conversation and were in great joy.

At this time, Gu Ronghua said, "Brother, I see you've had quite a bit to drink. Let's sleep in Yiyuan today."