Seeing that Xi Zhicai seemed to have fallen into another mental trap, Liu Hong couldn't help but chuckle.
"Does Zhicai perhaps think that I established the Royal Trading Company merely to make money...?"
Xi Zhicai pondered for a moment, then looked at Liu Hong with a puzzled expression and asked:
"Your Majesty's intention... is it perhaps to guide those aristocratic families and powerful clans into commerce, and then control them through the Royal Trading Company?"
Liu Hong nodded and said in a deep voice, "That's right! A person's life is nothing more than profit, fame, and power. As long as you have these three things, everyone will have to obediently bow down."
Now that power is in my hands, as for fame... with ink, paper, and printing presses available, it's all in my heart.
As for profits, as long as the value of money is increased, with the Royal Trading Company and the current industrial development, they will eventually be under my control!
In fact, Liu Hong's plan was not complicated; it was simply about seizing power, public opinion, and the economy.
Once power is secured, anyone who dares to disobey can be immediately removed.
Once you control public opinion, anyone who dares to disobey will be utterly disgraced.
Once you control the economy, anyone who dares to disobey will be bankrupted.
It is important to understand that there will be traitors in any social class, and what Liu Hong wants to do is to use these three things to bring the traitors from aristocratic families and powerful clans into his camp and then control them.
Just like those officials who betrayed their aristocratic families and joined the eunuchs' faction for power.
Hearing the emperor's grand and flawless plan, even Xi Zhicai couldn't help but show a look of shock.
"Your Majesty's plans are so far-reaching, I am truly impressed..."
Xi Zhicai also looked at Liu Hong with admiration.
"Hehe~, great works are made from small details, I am merely picking up the leftovers of the sages!"
Liu Hong waved his hand with a smile, but only he knew that everything he had done was just copying essays. The only difference was whether he copied them correctly or not.
"Your Majesty is right. To accomplish great things, one must start with small things, making gradual changes to achieve one's goals..."
Just as the two were talking, a young eunuch suddenly ran over.
"Your Majesty, Xiao Hong, the lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager, has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai stopped talking and realized that it was already dark outside. Only then did Liu Hong feel a pang of hunger in his stomach.
Liu Hong then looked at Xi Zhicai and smiled, "Hmm~, so it's time to eat. Zhicai must be hungry too. Stay and eat with me!"
"promise!"
Xi Zhicai nodded happily, looking like he was enjoying the free meal.
Before long, Xiao Hong led several palace maids into Deyang Palace. Xi Zhicai turned his head to look, but found that they were not carrying the familiar food boxes they used to carry. A look of disappointment appeared in his eyes.
Upon approaching, Xiao Hong respectfully bowed to Liu Hong.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty!"
"No need for formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Xiaohong, why did you come empty-handed today?"
Seeing Xiao Hong's empty hands and feeling a pang of hunger in his stomach, Liu Hong couldn't help but ask.
Seeing the emperor like this, Xiao Hong couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Xiao Hong then respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, tonight is the night you are to dine with the Empress Dowager and the Holy Mother. The Empress Dowager specifically asked me to inquire when you will be going."
"Oh, right, right, I completely forgot about that..."
Liu Hong slapped his forehead, only then remembering that today was the day he was to have dinner with his two mothers.
Since Lady Dong entered the palace, Dou Miao and Lady Dong set a rule for Liu Hong: in addition to Liu Hong's daily meals, he must have dinner with them every three days.
Then Liu Hong turned to Xi Zhicai and said with a smile:
"Zhicai, since that's the case... then you should go back first!"
"Uh... I take my leave!"
Seeing this, Xi Zhicai could only nod with a disappointed look, and then walked out of the palace, wondering whether he should go to Cao Song's house for a free meal.
Before long, Liu Hong arrived at Chang Le Palace, surrounded by a crowd.
After bowing to their mothers, Dou Miao and Dong Shi, the three of them sat down at a round table.
"Huh? They've got a new dish again...?"
Looking at the several exquisite dishes that had appeared on the table, Liu Hong couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.
Sitting opposite Liu Hong, Madam Dong couldn't help but laugh and said, "Yes, you have such a discerning palate. How could the three ladies and the palace chefs not try to prepare more dishes?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong revealed a fawning smile as he looked at Madam Dong and Dou Miao.
"Oh, Mother, what are you saying? I asked them to research new dishes just so that you and Mother could eat better. I'm just taking advantage of the situation!"
"Heh~, you silly child, you're just greedy, why are you dragging your mother and me into this...?"
Dou Miao, sitting next to Dong Shi, chuckled and gave Liu Hong a disapproving look.
Liu Hong hurriedly said, "Mother, I'm not just being greedy. You know, food is the most important thing for people. Isn't the purpose of life to eat well? I'm just trying out the food for the sake of all the people..."
"Hmm~, Hong'er is right. These new dishes do taste much better than before. If word gets out, they will definitely be very popular!"
Ms. Dong agreed with Liu Hong's sophistry, saying that compared to steaming or boiling in the past, this "stir-fry" was undoubtedly much tastier.
Liu Hong nodded and said with a smile, "Mother is right, so I plan to set up a restaurant to sell this kind of food. As for the restaurant, I would like to entrust it to Mother and Mother to manage. I wonder what you two think?"
The Chinese people have always been inseparable from the word "food," and Liu Hong naturally has no intention of letting go of the catering industry, which has been popular for thousands of years.
The reason he wanted to hand it over to the Empress Dowager and his own mother was simply to use their titles to change people's disdain for doing business.
This would guide powerful families and wealthy clans to focus their energy on making money through business, thus reducing their harm to the common people.
Furthermore, this restaurant is the best place to gather intelligence. If Liu Hong wants to keep track of and find out the movements of those powerful and influential people, the restaurant is the most suitable place.
"Restaurant?"
Upon hearing Liu Hong's suggestion, Dou Miao and Dong Shi were taken aback.
Dou Miao then smiled and shook her head, "You child, why do you always act on a whim? Your mother and I are in the palace, how can we control those things?"
Liu Hong smiled and said, "Mother, you two don't need to personally appear at this restaurant. Just using your names will suffice. A restaurant run by the Empress Dowager and the Holy Mother is enough to attract countless people!"
"Heh~, is that all...? Isn't it better to use your imperial title than ours? Just say what you want to do, don't try to play your tricks on me!"
Dou Miao chuckled lightly and gave Liu Hong a disapproving look. After spending so much time together, she had come to know Liu Hong quite well.
In Dou Miao's view, this young emperor was someone who thought three steps ahead before taking any action; whatever he did, he must have a deeper plan in mind.
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