The Empress was unaware of Emperor Ling's intentions. However, her position was hard-won, and she could not afford another mistake.
"Do you think I should take action, and restore order!" The Empress walked for a long time in silence, then suddenly turned her head and asked, "Not for yourself, but just for this Empress to speak a word of justice."
"You should know that if anything happens to this Empress, you will not have a good end!" The Empress said indifferently. Emperor Ling's howling filled her ears, and she could not make up her mind!
"Your servant is loyal to the Empress," the maid quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Your Highness should also plan for yourself!"
"Good, pass the message down," the Empress said in a weak voice. "But remember, if there is any slightest disturbance, report it to me immediately."
"Your Highness, what about His Majesty?" the maid hesitated, not quite understanding the Empress's attitude towards the Emperor.
"Let him be. His Majesty has made the best arrangements." The Empress's nails dug deeply into her flesh. "He arranged everything, but he forgot about this Empress. What have I been all these years!"
The maid nodded heavily and immediately withdrew. For her, completing the task was the most important thing; the rest was unimportant.
Meanwhile, the auction had begun. Guests were seated on a high platform, and those who paid a large sum could have private rooms. With a roar, a platform slowly rose from the pool, and a beauty stepped onto it, enhancing its splendor.
"Prince Chu has taken great care. This place is truly blessed with natural beauty. I wonder how much this place costs?" Old Master Ma asked with a smile.
"This is a place I had reserved for development and management. I'm afraid, Old Master, you will be disappointed!" Ye Feng replied with a smile.
For this pond of lotuses, fresh water was diverted and charcoal fires were used to promote the blooming of the flowers, making it feel like early spring.
"Well said, the flowers and the face complement each other. Prince Chu is indeed generous!"
"If only one could acquire a piece of land here, tsk tsk tsk."
"Who says not? Look at those gentlemen, do you have the money!"
The scholar shook the banknote in his hand. "This was exchanged at the bank. I heard it can be used this time!"
"Hahahaha, thousands of taels of silver exchanged for this? Should I call you stupid or foolish!" someone mocked mercilessly. "Be careful that this auction doesn't recognize this thing, and your family fortune will be washed away!"
The scholar, with his neck stiff and face red, argued a few words, "To gain trust throughout the world, how could it be a deception!" Such words drew peals of laughter.
"We all heard the recommendations, but only you, a poor scholar, heard them. I see you have no money, so hurry up and leave."
"Move aside, move aside. For you to have such a good seat, let me!" someone directly pushed the scholar. "I brought several carts of silver!"
"May I know your surname, little brother has admired you for a long time!"
"This is my credential. Are you going to rob me!"
"I think you're a swindler, where did you get these scraps of paper? Do you really think they can be used as money!" the strong man said aggressively, casually throwing down two silver ingots. "This is what this lord is gifting you. Take it and scram. If you're late, you won't even have this little bit of money!"
"If it were me, I'd take the money and leave quickly!"
For the aristocratic families, such farces were not uncommon, but in the auction house, it was particularly jarring. Everyone's attention was drawn to them.
Lu Bu walked over, understood the situation, and then spoke to the scholar, "Fengxian is the one maintaining order at this auction. Anyone causing trouble should be removed."
The scholar's legs trembled. Firstly, he was genuinely afraid of the tall and imposing Lu Bu, who exuded an aura of menace. Secondly, if the paper in his hand couldn't be used, it would be a major problem!
"May I ask if this item can be examined by Lu Bu?" Lu Bu asked with a smile, though it was still somewhat chilling.
The scholar hastily shoved the paper into Lu Bu's hand. After Lu Bu examined it carefully, he returned it to the scholar and then said solemnly, "The item this person holds is called a silver note, issued under Prince Chu. It can all be used as silver. Of course, if it is privately issued, it will not only be considered invalid but also punishable by death!"
Ye Feng smiled broadly. This was his first step: to link silver notes with Wannian City. With Wannian City and himself as guarantors, coupled with the practicality of the silver notes, they were bound to be popular throughout the Three Kingdoms.
However, he still needed to think more about security.
Old Master Ma had already exchanged a ten-tael silver note through his subordinate and held it up for a long time before asking tremblingly, "Prince Chu, can this thing really be used as silver? What if someone counterfeits it?"
Ye Feng quietly took the silver note from Old Master Ma's hand, took out a flint, and gently heated it. Suddenly, Ye Feng's private seal appeared in the middle. After cooling, the seal disappeared.
"What do you think, Old Master Ma?" Ye Feng asked with a smile.
In those times, paper had only recently appeared. Let alone having such craftsmanship, it was not easy to even produce white paper. Moreover, Ye Feng planned to upgrade it at any time. How could there be any forgery?
"It seems I was worrying too much!" Old Master Ma laughed heartily.
"This silver note can be used as silver in Wannian City and all areas under my jurisdiction. More importantly, from now on, banks will be established to facilitate your transactions!" Ye Feng announced loudly.
Old Master Ma and Old Master Shi trembled. They knew how great a change the appearance of this thing would bring. This was not the end. Ye Feng continued, "Anyone who pays with a silver note today will receive a discount of fifty percent!"
"Prince Chu is truly unexpected!" Old Master Shi wished he could slap his own face. If he had paid with silver notes, how much money he could have saved.
"Don't worry, Old Master. Our previous agreement still holds!" Ye Feng replied with a smile, cupped his fists, and said, "This matter requires the joint promotion of you two Old Masters. Please lend your full support!"
"Of course, of course!" Old Master Ma and Old Master Shi did not really believe that Ye Feng would share this technology and power with them; it was just a polite remark.
"You two are the wealthiest families in Liangzhou City, and now you are becoming my partners. Why be so formal!" Ye Feng continued to probe. "If you two were to shed a single hair, it would probably be thicker than my waist!"
"How dare we! Liangzhou City has always been ruled by Your Highness. We only live by relying on Your Highness!" Old Master Shi and Old Master Ma hurriedly flattered. "We also ask Your Highness to take care of us!"
Old Master Shi quickly said, "Let's wait for the auction to begin."
"I have some important matters to attend to. You two Old Masters, please help yourselves!" Ye Feng bowed and hurried away.
After a while, Old Master Shi had thought things through. His face was grim. "Old Ma, if we bid and win, we'll be on Ye Feng's ship, and there will be no turning back!"
Old Master Ma gave Old Master Shi a glare and said slowly, "I think you've really gotten senile. How can you say such things? Besides..."
Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Old Master Ma leaned closer to Old Master Shi's ear and whispered, "We got on his ship long ago. Do we have a choice? We can only follow him step by step!"
"Moreover, once Wannian City is established, unless you and I remain stagnant and stop making money, the only way to disengage is to withdraw immediately!" Old Master Ma glanced at the people around them again, pulled Old Master Shi, and whispered, "So, I absolutely cannot let this silver note succeed, or we will have no place to stand!"
"You old fox, I didn't expect you to have so many tricks up your sleeve. I'll listen to you this time!" Old Master Shi said excitedly. "If this grand plan succeeds, you will not be short of benefits!"
"You stingy old man, you can still give me benefits? I thank you in advance!" The two looked at each other and smiled, then entered the auction house and sat on their chairs without a word.
"Now you can hear clearly, and you should let me pass!" The scholar, with his head held high, stared at the strong man. "Otherwise, I will have to ask General Lu Bu to uphold justice!"
With Emperor Ling's decree and Ye Feng's tacit approval, Lu Bu was like a living Yama who decided life and death. How could the strong man dare to say another word? He fled shamefully.
"Since everyone is here, let's not delay. The auction begins now! Prince Chu has divided the land into sixteen plots, each with auspicious signs and named accordingly. The highest bidder gets it!"
"The first plot, the land where the White Tiger offers peaches!"
The sweet voice, coupled with her constantly swaying waist, made even the seasoned old masters' hearts waver, let alone the many young men full of vigor.
"If it were me, even if I couldn't bid for the land, just having a smile from the little beauty would be worth it!"
"Little beauty, how much is this?"
"Everyone, everyone, the starting price is one thousand taels of silver, and each bid must not be less than fifty taels!" the little beauty said in a blushing voice. "Please make your bids!"
"Little beauty, I was talking about you!" The person whistled and said with a grin, "As long as you come with me, all the money will be yours, better than working here!"
Suddenly, this lewd remark caused a burst of laughter!
"This honored guest is joking. How can it compare to working under Prince Chu!" the little beauty said with composure after being teased earlier. "My surname is Wang, and my given name is Hong. Please remember it, honored guest!"
As soon as Wang Hong finished speaking, the guest grinned and said, "Little beauty, tell me, do you want me to propose early? How much dowry is needed to marry you!"
But instead of Wang Hong's reply, he looked up to see Lu Bu, as tall as a tower, standing before him. "State your name clearly!"
"G-General!"
"I, Lu Bu, never kill nameless people. I'll bring your body back then!"