The third prince didn't react for a moment, and angrily accused...

"They still insist on giving us two options. Those greedy guys are all trying to seize control of the land and the sales channels for their own goods."

Before I could say anything, I heard that they had secretly divided up their external channels, with one family managing one large country and the remaining few Huang merchants managing several smaller neighboring countries.

Aren't they afraid of stuffing themselves to death?

Ugh~ Such blatant disregard for Emperor Qingyuan is infuriating not only to the father and son, but also to her!

No wonder even the usually composed Third Prince was so angry that he lost his composure!

After the Third Prince finished speaking, Xie Yushu said...

"What I mean is, we want the operating rights to new products like glass and electric lights, without them having to invest, but in exchange for land."

Set the exchange price a bit higher, but not so high that you lose everything.

You can research a suitable price for this point yourselves.

Alternatively, they could gather all the prominent merchants together, establish a chamber of commerce in the name of the royal family, allocate a portion of the production and sales of goods to them, and cultivate new talents to compete with them.

Competition creates pressure!

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's eyes first lit up, then he said with some worry...

"But the powerful families have immense influence; how could they possibly allow the establishment of a chamber of commerce!"

Establishing a chamber of commerce under their noses is no easy feat!

Xie Yushu said

"That's because merchants have always had a very low status. Among the four classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were at the very bottom."

In reality, the role played by merchants in the development of the country is no less important than that of the other three social classes.

Whether ordinary people want to live a better life or the country wants to develop, they all need money.

Business is precisely an important way to make money work.

You can suggest to your father that the status of merchants be appropriately raised. If power cannot be delegated, then some personal protection should be provided. First, classify the merchants, select a few Confucian merchants with good reputations and philanthropy, reward them with titles, and provide them with some protection so that those who want to harm them will not dare to act rashly.

For example, the amount of tax paid to the national treasury determines the rank of an official one can enjoy; bullying, insulting, or killing these people is the same crime as killing an official.

This would elevate the status of merchants significantly, and they would certainly gain the support of a large number of businessmen.

Secondly, it did not endanger the interests of the imperial court.

At the same time, the authority to elevate the status of officials should be within the range that aristocratic families can barely accept.

Alternatively, you could take a two-pronged approach: sell the products separately and have them exchange them for land. Those who agree will get the deal, while those who stubbornly refuse to let go of the land will ultimately lose their right to operate the business.

Although it may seem that both sides have made concessions in the short term, once the land is acquired, it can be distributed to ordinary people who do not have land to cultivate in the long term.

But there will always be a time when the market for these goods becomes saturated.

"And in those few years, I think you'll have enough time to weaken, or even dismantle, the power of the aristocratic families without shedding a drop of blood."

As the Third Prince listened to Xie Yushu's eloquent speech, he went from initial restlessness to focused attention, then his mind raced as he tried to keep up with her train of thought, and finally he was dumbfounded.

After Xie Yushu finished speaking, she paused for a moment before clapping her hands and saying...

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

Princess, your talent is truly well-deserved!

Been taught a lesson!"

The Third Prince's face flushed with excitement. Xie Yushu had provided a solution to the problem that had troubled them for more than two months in less than two hours. He should have come sooner; he had suffered their wrath for two months for nothing, what a huge loss!

Xie Yushu humbly replied

"Thank you for your kind words. It's not a matter of great talent or not. It's just that as nobles, the idea of ​​emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce has been deeply ingrained in you generation after generation, so you haven't thought about improving the treatment of merchants for the time being."

I come from a poor family. To be honest, when I couldn't even fill my stomach, I used to admire merchants the most. I envied them for making a good living for themselves and their families through their own hard work, and I didn't think that merchants were inferior to others at all.

That's why I dared to think about it.

It was just a coincidence!

It is my honor to be able to share the burdens and difficulties of the imperial court in this way.

Everyone loves to hear polite words. After Xie Yushu finished speaking, the Third Prince's goodwill towards Xie Yushu immediately increased to the maximum. She was neither arrogant nor impatient, and was calm and composed. This woman was excellent!

Thinking this, he said happily

"Before I arrived, Lord Yao had already returned to the capital. My father also summoned the Grand Tutor and Lord Han back, presumably to discuss this matter. With the princess's excellent plan, I believe things will make progress soon."

To avoid any unforeseen complications, I will return now. Does the Princess have anything to bring to Lord Han? I would be happy to do so.

The Third Prince wanted to use Han Zhongyu to get closer to Xie Yushu.

Xie Yushu politely declined his offer.

"Your Highness is very kind, but we have only been exchanging letters for a short time, and I have nothing to bring him."

The Third Prince expressed his feelings without hesitation. Having obtained a good plan, he bid farewell to Xie Yushu and rushed back to the capital without stopping.

As the Third Prince was rushing back, Han Zhongyu and the Grand Tutor were also heading to the capital from their respective posts.

This mission was arguably the most difficult task they had ever undertaken in their official careers.

The Third Prince's guess was accurate. Although these people were all upright, fearless of power, and good officials who cared about the country and its people, their integrity was no match for scoundrels, just like a scholar facing a soldier.

Even with exceptional skills, one cannot utilize them.

Moreover, the local officials had long been a protective umbrella for the powerful families. Even if Han Zhongyu wanted to arrest people on the grounds of refusing to pay taxes, there would always be someone protecting them. Either the government would not send anyone, or the person responsible could not be found.

Han Zhongyu spoke lightly to Xie Yushu in his letter, but in reality, he was often so angry with them that his hair stood on end.

Just as he was considering whether to secretly arrest the person in charge or to break in and forcibly collect the rent, he received an imperial edict from Emperor Qingyuan summoning him back.

Forcibly collecting rent is only a last resort; it should never be taken unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, upon receiving Emperor Qingyuan's decree, Han Zhongyu simply put everything aside and led his men back to the capital.

The Grand Tutor was basically in the same situation.

We are all intelligent people. Since Emperor Qingyuan dared to summon them back to the capital at this critical juncture, there must have been a new development. Rather than wasting time here with them, we should go back and see if there are any new solutions.

Moreover, Han Zhongyu had always believed that if this matter were enforced, it would inevitably lead to bloodshed and chaos, and in the end, it might result in a lose-lose situation. Although the order only stipulated an increase of 20% in rent for large agricultural households, in reality, it was a reform.

Throughout history, which revolution wasn't bloody?

Moreover, in the end, only a few of the reforms succeed.

As long as it benefits the common people, he is not afraid to be the first to speak out. However, if there is a more moderate approach, he does not want to use such a radical method.