Tailin City, the capital of the Yi Kingdom.
The snow here is heavier than that in Yuchaoyao County.
Yan Liangze had not returned to the harem at this moment, but was staying in his imperial study.
Also present were his Prime Minister Bian Muyu and Minister of State Wu Wenhai.
Yan Liangze frowned and was looking carefully at a letter in his hand - this letter was written by Fu Xiaoguan to Yan Hanyu, and in front of him was a stack of information about Wofeng Road.
Bian Muyu, who was sitting opposite him, had a gloomy expression on his face, not because of the charcoal fire beside him, but because he had also received the news that the assassination attempt on Fu Xiaoguan had failed.
Yan Liangze put down the letter in his hand, rubbed his hands, and said in a low voice, "It is indeed his handwriting. I didn't expect that he would care about the one-armed prince..."
"But I think there's some truth to what he said in this letter. The One-Armed Prince was short of money, and Fu Xiaoguan taught him how to issue stocks and make money by raising funds."
Yan Liangze grinned, "This guy is quite generous. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish... Look at what he said, how much of it is true?"
Bian Muyu felt chilled when he thought of Fu Xiaoguan. He quickly said, "I think there's something fishy going on here!"
"Well, tell me in detail."
"Official Fu is as venomous as a scorpion. How could he possibly have good intentions? Besides, the One-Armed Prince is no longer of any use to him. Why would he teach him how to set up a bank and issue stocks? I'm worried about what he's up to!"
The Minister of State Affairs Wu Wenhai, who was sitting on Yan Liangze's left, did not quite agree with Bian Muyu's opinion.
He bowed to Yan Liangze and said, "Your Majesty, let's ignore this letter and rely on the intelligence we have obtained from Wofengdao in the past six months... Wofengdao Sitong Money House has only been established for three months, and it has already issued ten stocks and raised nearly 50 million taels of silver in total!
All this silver was actually invested in the industries of Wofeng Road. It was precisely because of so much silver that Wofeng Road changed so quickly!
Prime Minister Bian, you and I are both familiar with Xiangtailou and Jinxiufang, two century-old shops in Wofeng City. They each issued a stock, raising nearly ten million taels of silver, and they also set up factories on a large scale in Wofeng Road... If there really was something wrong with the stock, would Fu Xiaoguan, with his shrewdness, have promoted it so vigorously?
"The intelligence coming from Jinling is even worse. The thirty-three stocks of Jinling Sitong Bank have seen astonishing growth. Those who bought the stocks have made money, and the companies that issued the stocks have also received sufficient funds... Everyone is happy, so what's the problem?"
When Bian Muyu heard this, he realized that this was indeed the truth. In short, it was like using chickens to lay eggs. As long as there were chickens, eggs could be laid, and with eggs, chickens could be hatched.
According to what Fu Xiaoguan said in the letter to Yan Hanyu, there are endless chickens and eggs.
He couldn't see anything wrong with it. After all, the two Sitong banks under Fu Xiaoguan were doing this in a big way.
But he just felt that Fu Xiaoguan would not be so kind - he was a hungry wolf who swallowed up the entire Wofengyuan in one bite and made the Yi Kingdom pay 180 million taels of silver in compensation!
Seeing that Bian Muyu hadn't expressed his opinion, Wu Wenhai sighed again and said, "Our country's finances are extremely tight right now. We've already raised taxes three times this year!
The people of Yi Country are already dissatisfied. If you fail to resolve this financial problem and resort to increasing taxes... I fear trouble will ensue, Your Majesty!"
This is Yan Liangze’s biggest headache.
Fu Xiaoguan, that fellow, stripped away nearly ten years of Yi State's wealth, resulting in the current empty treasury of Yi State.
He also urgently needs money!
He knew that the flintlock rifle was powerful, and he wanted to gather the whole country's strength to manufacture flintlock rifles and red cannons, but all of this required money!
The rapid changes in Wofeng Road made him green with envy.
He had to admit Fu Xiaoguan's ability, especially after learning that Fu Xiaoguan wanted to build more schools, a transportation network, and even had the crazy idea of digging a Southeast Grand Canal, he became even more depressed.
Is that how money is squandered?
If I had so much money, I would definitely use it on military research!
If I had red cannons and flintlock rifles, I would definitely attack the Wacho Pass and take back the lost fertile land!
However... I really don't have any money!
Even the expenses in the harem have been reduced again and again this year, which has caused complaints from the concubines in the harem.
So, Fu Xiaoguan asked Yan Hanyu to run a money house and issue stocks to make money. Did this mean that he had already seen the problems of the Yi Kingdom?
He wants to use this economic means to help Yan Hanyu rise to power, and then... seize my kingdom?
It must be like this!
"This kid really has bad intentions!" Yan Liangze suddenly said this, startling the Minister of State Wu Wenhai. Bian Muyu thought that the emperor had figured it out and was about to be happy, but he didn't expect Yan Liangze to say another sentence:
"I absolutely cannot give the One-Armed Prince the opportunity to rebel... Tomorrow morning, I will issue an order to establish the Bada Bank!
Wu Wenhai, you are fully responsible for the affairs of the money shop and must open for business before the eighth day of the first lunar month.
Prime Minister Bian, you will be responsible for mobilizing all merchants in Yi State and inviting them to come to Tailin City to issue stocks and list them on the stock market... According to the idea that Fu Xiaoguan gave Yan Hanyu, we will establish a state-owned company, and I will also issue stocks!"
Bian Muyu was shocked. "Your Majesty, we need to think carefully about this matter, so as not to fall into Fu Xiaoguan's evil scheme!"
"Oh... can you tell me what evil plot is going on here?"
Bian Muyu was speechless, but Wu Wenhai was overjoyed. "Your Majesty is wise... How about establishing ten state-owned companies in your name?"
When Yan Liangze heard this, he thought it was a great plan!
Ten companies can issue ten stocks, how much money can be raised!
"It's settled. You pick the company name. I... only care about the results!"
On the second day, Fu Xiaoguan and his party were heading to Xishan when the Yi Kingdom's king Yan Liangze issued an imperial decree, ordering the Yi Kingdom to carry out reform and opening up, establish the Bada Money House, and invite merchants from all over the country to go to Tailin City on the eighth day of the first lunar month of next year to participate in the prosperity!
At this time, Fu Xiaoguan had not received this news yet.
When he arrived at Xishan, he did not enter the Xishan Villa, but went straight to Xishan Academy.
The group sat in Qin Bingzhong's office, which scared Qin Bingzhong.
"Brother, go back to Jinling."
Qin Bingzhong laughed and said, "Brother, I won't go back this year. I'll stay here and enjoy the New Year here."
Because Yu Wendao was here, Qin Bingzhong did not say that Wen Xingzhou had sent him a letter, nor did he say that his grandson and granddaughter had already gone to the Wu Dynasty.
He was talking about Linjiang Fu Mansion:
"Everyone in Linjiang Fu's Mansion has left."
Fu Xiaoguan was stunned. The fat man had mentioned this in the letter to him, but he didn't expect the fat man to act so quickly.
"No problem?"
Qin Bingzhong shook his head and said, "No problem."
Fu Xiaoguan nodded and did not stay in Xishan for long. He asked someone to call Chunxiu and set off again with Chunxiu towards Linjiang.
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