"Brother Shang, be careful with your words!"
"Why shouldn't you say this? Haven't you read the Constitution promulgated by the Emperor Retired? The people of Daxia enjoy the right to freedom of speech!"
"The key point is the word 'freedom'. Could it be that the new emperor can overturn the policies previously set by the retired emperor?"
"If you ask me, the reason why Daxia can be so prosperous today is precisely because of the word 'freedom'! Just think about it, if we didn't have this true freedom, we would still be restricted to our registered places like in the old dynasty, and our largest business would not extend beyond the territory of a county!"
"So, the wealthy merchants of that time all had connections to the imperial court. They were able to obtain travel permits to conduct business throughout the country. But after the Emperor Retired ascended the throne, he abolished household registration restrictions and vigorously promoted free trade for merchants from all over the country. As a result, private merchants gradually rose, while those who once served as officials gradually declined."
"Why is this? It's because those government officials and businessmen have lost their fertile soil. Under the same platform, they can't compete with ordinary businessmen and have to be eliminated!"
The middle-aged man surnamed Shang seemed to be quite knowledgeable. What he said was reasonable and well-organized. The other businessmen all nodded and agreed with his point of view.
"Brother Shang, your family was originally a family of officials. How come you turned to business now?"
"To be honest, my father abdicated after the fall of the Yu Dynasty. And what about me? I used to be an official in the Yu Dynasty, but I didn't think straight back then. As a former official of the Yu Dynasty, I felt a little uncomfortable working for the Great Xia that destroyed the Yu Dynasty."
"Actually, my father did try to dissuade me, because he and the Retired Emperor had a history and he understood him, but I couldn't let it go... Now that I think about it, I was wrong. The Retired Emperor brought about earth-shaking changes throughout Daxia in a short period of time. This is an achievement that no one in the past thousand years will be able to match!"
"I can honestly say that such an achievement is unprecedented and will never be repeated! But I've lost the opportunity to work for Daxia, so I've decided to go into business. Not to mention, I've tasted the sweetness of business these years, riding on Daxia's rise, and I think it's pretty good. So, of course, I hope that Daxia, under the new emperor's governance... not to mention better, as long as the current situation can be maintained, then Daxia's prosperity will surely continue, and the people's lives will surely get better and better!"
Wu Tianci took a deep breath. The waiter brought the food and the aroma wafted into his nose, but he lost interest in eating.
Even the businessman was thinking about his father!
Am I so unbearable?
There is no one before and no one after... No matter what I do, I can never surpass my father!
Since all we need to do is maintain the current situation... then if I don't care about anything, wouldn't that be what they want?
At this most critical moment, no one was there to guide the young Wu Tianci out of this vicious circle - the same vicious circle that his father had used to imprison himself!
He got the wrong direction!
He chose the wrong person to compare with!
"Give me the money and go!"
Liu Jin was startled: "Master, you still have to eat some of this meal."
"I have no appetite. Stop talking nonsense and go, go, go!"
Wu Tianci left Sifanglou, leaving behind a table full of untouched food.
Standing at the bridgehead of Qidao Bridge, looking at the beautiful water flowing slowly under the bridge, Wu Tianci suddenly felt very confused.
Looking up, the willows on both sides of the river bank were still green, and people were coming and going on the bridge. Most of these people had happy expressions on their faces, but in Wu Tianci's eyes, they seemed a little glaring and a little heartbreaking.
That’s right, even the most magnificent city of Chang’an in Daxia was planned by my father himself!
How did he plan this city?
The huge Chang'an has nine districts, thirty-six streets, and seventy-two alleys, as well as four major trading markets in the east, west, south, and north. There is even a railway station in the east and west of Chang'an City.
If he were to plan such a city... Wu Tianci suddenly realized that he couldn't do it at all!
"Liu Jin,"
"Your servant is here!" Liu Jin bowed and stood behind Wu Tianci. He roughly understood the emperor's thoughts, but didn't know how to comfort him.
"Are you saying I'm really that useless?"
"No, Master, the Emperor once said that every talent is destined to be useful. He also said that even a eunuch like me can be useful. For example, I can serve you, allowing you to focus on government affairs and helping you with the trivialities of life."
Wu Tianci stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Xiushui River, a smile on his face. "I was born with talent that will definitely be useful...it all depends on where it will be used."
"For example, this willow tree, no matter how tall and big it grows, cannot be used as a pillar."
"Let's go."
Wu Tianci walked leisurely and turned from the main road into an alley called Luohua Lane.
There are two rows of osmanthus trees planted in the alley. It is the season when osmanthus is in full bloom. The rich fragrance of osmanthus greets Wu Tianci's nose, which makes him feel much better.
He stood in front of the Osmanthus Tea Garden and looked at the ordinary gatehouse and plaque. "I'm tired. Let's go in and have a cup of tea."
I originally thought that this place would be very secluded, but after entering the tea garden, I didn't expect it to be so lively.
The huge tea garden was almost full of people, but judging from their clothes, most of them were ordinary people from these streets.
"Sir, are you two here? Come this way!"
A waiter came over and led Wu Tianci and the other man to a osmanthus tree. He took off the towel draped over his shoulder and wiped the table, then said with a smile, "Young Master, you're probably not from our sweet-scented osmanthus area. You look so imposing, you must be the young master of a certain family. What would you like to drink?"
"A pot of West Lake Longjing tea."
The waiter was startled and said quickly, "Sir, we really don't have West Lake Longjing tea in this small place."
"Then a pot of Houkui will do."
The waiter shook his head, "I don't have this either."
"So what?"
"The best is the fragrant mist from Guanyun City, which costs one ounce of silver per pot."
"...Alright!"
"Please wait a moment, sir."
Wu Tianci looked up at the courtyard and the voices of the tea drinkers chatting reached his ears again:
"Have you read the latest issue of Daxia Weekly?"
"I read it the moment it was released yesterday. Are you trying to tell me that the Emperor reprimanded the Yelang Kingdom, but instead of repenting, the Yelang Kingdom executed the eunuch who delivered the order?"
"Mr. Wei, this is exactly what happened. Do you think the Emperor will declare war on the Yelang Kingdom?"
The old man called Wei Lao raised his long beard and said, "If the emperor were still in power, would the tiny country of Yelang dare to act so boldly?"
"With the Emperor Retired on the throne, if he issues an edict of reprimand, the King of Yelang will probably rush to Chang'an City and kneel before the Emperor to confess his guilt!"
"His younger brother, the so-called Marquis of the Northwest, Wu Chengyun, will surely be abducted by the King of Yelang and brought before the Emperor. Even if he had a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to kill our eunuch who delivered the imperial edict!"
"After all, the emperor is away on a long expedition, and the king of Yelang is bullying our young emperor!"
"Old Wei, do you think our young emperor will send troops to attack the Yelang Kingdom?"
"There will definitely be a war. Of course, if the new emperor has even one tenth of the courage of the retired emperor, he will definitely destroy the Yelang Kingdom, kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, and use this to establish his authority!"
Wu Tianci felt a sudden pain in his heart, I'm going to fight!
But...but, this matter still needs to wait for a cabinet vote!
I am such a coward!
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