Chapter 364 Internal Conflicts

"The problem now is that most merchants can only successfully go to the border cities to sell goods with the support of nobles."

If everyone becomes a royal merchant in the future, who will still rely on nobles?

In fact, what the imperial court wanted was tax revenue. As for which merchant family it was, what difference did it make?

Since that's the case, let's just try to find a balance.

You will issue six imperial merchant waist tokens.

Three of them are like what you described, where a large merchant team was formed from smaller merchants.

This kind of person lives entirely by relying on the royal family, without depending on the nobles.

There are also three waist tokens; you should spread the word that the original merchants should compete for them.

Anyway, those merchants had noble families behind them, and whoever wanted a waist token had to go to that noble family.

Does this mean that the nobles themselves are now competing against each other?

Have you been shifting the pressure elsewhere?

"How those merchants and nobles divide the profits is none of your business," Shangguan Jin said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingming slapped his thigh in delight.

Brilliant! That's a truly brilliant move!

Thinking about it, this has a bit of the "two peaches kill three warriors" vibe to it!

“Mother, you’re right. Why not let those nobles cause trouble on their own?”

Rather than letting them think every day that His Majesty is trying to deprive them of their rights.

Instead, try to make them feel that this is actually a competition between them.

"I'm going to the palace now..." Shen Qingming said, getting up to stand up.

"Wait a minute! Don't go yet, I still have something to tell you!" Shangguan Jin quickly called out to Shen Qingming, who was about to leave.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingming quickly sat back down.

"Mother, please speak!"

Shangguan Jin thought for a moment, organized her thoughts, and said, "You can't just go to His Majesty like this."

His Majesty is very busy and doesn't have time to discuss these matters with you.

You must have a general plan or idea before going to see His Majesty.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingming immediately sat up straight.

Yes, His Majesty has so many memorials to read every day, how could he have time to listen to your rambling!

"That......."

"Remember this: since it's a competition among nobles, you'd better find a noble who can keep the situation in check to take charge of this matter."

You and His Majesty had better not get involved in this matter.

Or, you could say you'd be in charge of the other three waist tokens.

"This nobleman must be prominent, have authority, and be the kind of person no one wants to offend," Shangguan Jin continued to remind him.

Shen Qingming...

This sounds like it's describing your own home!

Now, who in Chongqing can be more prestigious than us?

Even Aunt Dongmai said that there were so many titles in one household that there were simply too many to pay respects to...

"Mother, our family isn't suitable! After all, I'm in charge of this matter!" Shen Qingming said with a forced smile.

Shangguan Jin...

"Who said it was our residence! Our residence is already ostentatious enough."

Your elder brother has just offended all the nobles in Suzhou.

"What I mean is, could you perhaps try going to... Prince Fu?" Shangguan Jin whispered a suggestion.

Upon hearing the name of Prince Fu, Shen Qingming was immediately stunned.

He had heard about what happened to Princess Huian a few days ago from his cousin, the Emperor.

It is said that Prince Fu originally had nothing to do with this, but he immediately sent his imperial edict to the palace.

This shows that Prince Fu had a clear understanding of the situation!

Your Majesty has said that this Imperial Uncle seems timid and greedy, but is actually a man of great wisdom...

"That's right! We can go to Prince Fu!"

Perfect timing! I was just talking to Burileg about opening a gambling den like Qianjinfang in the border town!

This is a perfect opportunity to bring Prince Fu on board!

Mother, I will go to the palace to report this matter to His Majesty. Also, I will entrust the matter of Furong Pavilion to Prince Fu.

He's a member of the old royal family, and he's run Qianjinfang (a famous pharmacy chain) in the capital for so many years; he must have experience."

With that, Shen Qingming quickly bowed to Shangguan Jin and hurriedly entered the palace.

That night, Shen Qingming did not return to stay.

Hu Zhouquan sent a young eunuch to say that His Majesty had kept Shen Qingming behind, probably intending to have another long talk by candlelight...

Shangguan Jin got used to it.

Let's have a late-night talk by candlelight!

On the second day after Shen Qingming stayed in the palace, Emperor Xiaowu issued an imperial edict.

Given the large volume of trade with the border city, and for the sake of border security, the merchants of Dayu and the border city will be subject to unified management.

They will be issued special imperial merchant waist badges made by the Ministry of Revenue.

As for which merchant caravans would be issued the imperial merchant badges, that would be decided by Prince Fu and Shen Qingming, the second son of the Duke of Dingguo.

When the news broke, everyone was stunned.

They knew that the young prince from the border town coming to the capital before the New Year was definitely not a good thing.

So that's what they wanted to do—open an official retail channel!

However, everyone quickly realized what was going on.

It was said that the merchants were under the unified management of the Ministry of Revenue's Merchant Affairs Department, but...

Ultimately, wasn't this decision made by Prince Fu and the second son of the Duke of Dingguo's family?

Suddenly, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion became lively.

Those noble families were all eager to invite Shen Qingming to the banquet.

Shen Qingming also went to the banquet in a generous manner and listened attentively to the requests of others.

But in the end, the guy told everyone with a regretful look on his face.

"It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't help."

There are six waist tags in total.

The purpose of these three tokens is to organize ordinary merchants into three large merchant groups. The three waist tokens I have are for issuing to these merchants.

Those traveling merchant groups you support...

We need to go find Prince Fu.

"It's up to Prince Fu to decide who gets those three waist tokens."

Upon hearing this, the nobles all rushed to Prince Fu's residence.

Prince Fu, who had just received the imperial edict, was also completely bewildered...

He just wanted to keep Qianjinfang running in the capital and didn't want to get involved in these things!

Wasn't my previous act of sending out the imperial edict enough to demonstrate my loyalty?

Why would His Majesty hand over such a hot potato to me?

Prince Fu's two sons, however, looked excited.

Because of their father's caution, the two of them, despite being sons of a prince, accomplished little.

This opportunity is right in front of us...

"Father, this should be a good thing! His Majesty entrusted such an important matter to you, so it must be because His Majesty didn't blame you for Aunt's matter," the eldest son said with a smile.

"Yes! Father, right now the hottest thing in the capital is these three imperial waist tokens!"

Which noble family doesn't have merchants behind them? Everyone's eyeing those three waist tokens like wolves.

Do you think this is compensation from His Majesty to our household?

"After all, you've already sent out the imperial edict!" the youngest son hurriedly added.

Prince Fu sighed and could only say, "Thunder and rain are both acts of imperial favor."

"Fine, let these old bones do something useful!"