The Princess's Mansion.
The smile on Yu Shurong's face gradually faded.
She looked at the three clan leaders sitting in front of her, each one looking darker than the last.
"So... you don't intend to be responsible for the stocks you issued? The Sitong Bank has been burned down by those mobs. Aren't you worried that they will spread the fire to your mansion? And then to this palace?"
"You were once from the Wu Dynasty, but now you've settled in the Yu Dynasty, making you its citizens. Your family controls the three most profitable businesses in the Yu Dynasty. Is it really that difficult for you to come up with some money to resolve the crisis in Nanjing right now?"
"You raised a large amount of money through stocks. Now that the stock price has fallen to this point, you can't spit out the money you swallowed?"
Yu Shurong's face turned cold, and her voice became icy. "It seems you are bullying me, thinking I have no way to make you spit it out!"
Chen Shi, the patriarch of the Chen family, swallowed his saliva, his face pale and covered in cold sweat.
He quickly raised his head and said, "Your Highness, that's not the case."
"How is that?"
Chen Shi looked to the left at Zhou Xun, the patriarch of the Zhou clan, and to the right at Lu Feng, the patriarch of the Lu clan. The two shook their heads imperceptibly - their families had each donated 10 million taels of silver to Emperor Yu Wendao for the Spring Thunder Project!
When the Spring Thunder Plan was being implemented, even among their tribe, only the three tribe leaders knew about it.
Emperor Yuan Yu Wendao said that this plan should not be told to anyone, including the Empress Dowager. How could he tell this to you, the eldest princess?
What's more, their family needs a huge amount of money to acquire and operate those industries, and they have already invested 30% of their capital in those stocks.
With such huge losses in the stock market, the tens of millions of taels of silver they invested were turned into water.
Now the princess wants them to pay a total of 50 million taels of silver. Isn't this asking for their lives?
Where can I get so much money?
Unless you sell off your property.
But if the industrial workshops that were built with great difficulty were sold... how would these hundreds of thousands of tribesmen survive?
Yu Shurong's eyes narrowed slowly, and she asked again with a frosty expression, "What's wrong? Are you mute? Or did you transport the silver back to Wu Dynasty?"
This is so heartbreaking!
Just when Chen Shi and the other two were feeling incredibly frustrated, a palace maid walked in, bowed to Yu Shurong, and whispered, "Your Highness, Minister Zhuo Liuyun requests an audience."
"Bring him in."
"I will go right away."
Zhuo Liuyun walked into the Princess's Mansion, bowed to Yu Shurong, and sat down leisurely.
He looked at the three clan leaders and suddenly smiled. "Just now, I encountered that countless mob on the long street. They were about to go to your residences, but I stopped them and said I would give you two days to raise money and then redeem your stocks at the Jinling government office."
"They discussed it for half an hour, agreed, and went home. Jinling City seemed to be very peaceful."
"I wonder what you three think of my handling of this matter?"
Chen Shi and the other two looked up at Zhuo Liuyun in surprise. This Lord Zhuo knew about the Spring Thunder Plan and the actual situation in their house!
They originally thought that Mr. Zhuo was here to speak up for them, but they didn't expect that he would actually kick them when they are down!
"I know what you're thinking, but can't you think about it the other way around?"
"Her Royal Highness the Princess is not an outsider. I will make this clear to you now!"
"Your Majesty is leading the army in person, and what he is planning is the destiny of the Yu Dynasty for the next thousand years!" Zhuo Liuyun's voice sank, but Yu Shurong was suddenly startled, and her eyes fell on Zhuo Liuyun's face - Your Majesty is leading the army in person?
Where did he personally lead his expedition?
Zhuo Liuyun didn't look at Yu Shurong. He stared at the three clan leaders and said, "This move is sure to win. After the victory, will your three families still be short of money?"
"I'm asking you to come up with 50 million taels of silver to buy peace in Jinling and to ensure stability in His Majesty's rear!"
"You are the clan leader, how can you be so short-sighted?"
"So what if you sell off your properties? You will eventually return to the Wu Dynasty. Everything in the Wu Dynasty belongs to you. Why bother with such a small profit?"
"If the people of Jinling start to riot, let me ask you, do you think His Majesty will continue to lead the army in person? Or will he return with his troops to quell the rebellion in Jinling?"
"If His Majesty returns with a failed mission... forget about the family fortune! I'm afraid the entire clan will be doomed!"
These words seemed like a mountain pressing down on the heads of the three clan leaders.
But what Zhuo Liuyun said makes a lot of sense.
Didn’t they donate so much money just to be able to return to the Wu Dynasty?
Even if half of the profits were taken by the State of Fan, the three families could share the remaining half, which would still be an incredible fortune!
"Think about it carefully. I'll give you an incense stick of time to think about it. If you figure it out, tell me. If you don't... I won't force you. You can leave now."
None of the three dared to leave.
Zhuo Liuyun made a pot of tea for himself, then looked at Yu Shurong and smiled apologetically, "Your Highness, there are some things...I am not in a position to explain them. I beg Your Highness to forgive me."
Yu Shurong looked at Zhuo Liuyun meaningfully but didn't ask any questions.
Zhuo Liuyun brewed tea and poured a cup for the three clan leaders. He looked up and said, "It seems that I shouldn't have considered this matter for you. Two years of getting along is also fate. I will borrow this cup of tea from the eldest princess and offer it to the three of you. After drinking it...you can go. Let this fate end here."
"The time has come..."
Chen Shi knelt down with a thud, followed by the other two clan leaders.
"Your Highness, My Lord... I, we are willing to do so, but can you give us more time? Two days is simply not enough to raise this much money!"
"Then you can go for three days. If you don't see the Jinling government office redeeming your stocks after three days... you'll lose everything!"
"What are you still standing there for? Do you have so much time?"
The three clan leaders immediately stood up, bowed and left.
Zhuo Liuyun also stood up. Before he could leave, he heard Yu Shurong say two words: "Sit down!"
Yu Shurong stared at Zhuo Liuyun and asked, "Tell me, where did His Majesty go to lead the expedition?"
Zhuo Liuyun pondered for three breaths, "Your Highness, even if I tell you, you won't be able to stop him."
"Where on earth did he go!?"
"His Majesty said he was going to attack the Wu Dynasty."
"What……?"
At this moment, Yu Shurong's face turned pale as paper, as if all the strength in her body had been drained away.
"He hit Fu Xiaoguan? What right did he have to hit Fu Xiaoguan? Ridiculous!"
"Your Highness, calm down. Your Majesty has been planning this for a long time and has allied with the Fan and Yi nations to join forces in this endeavor. I think it will be a safe and sound undertaking."
"Pah..." Yu Shurong slapped the tea table and stood up suddenly. "Safety is bullshit! You idiots, you have no idea how powerful Fu Xiaoguan is!"
Yu Shurong walked out of the Princess's Mansion quickly, and Zhuo Liuyun picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The temperature is just right, and the tea is fragrant.
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