Li Ru's smile froze for a moment. He felt that victory was within his grasp, so how could he be refused?
Ye Feng stood up and spoke slowly, "This matter is not your fault, sir. It's just that I, this king, still have a few requirements."
Li Ru's expression relaxed. As long as there was an opportunity, what couldn't he achieve with his talent? He instinctively asked, "Your Highness, please speak freely. I will certainly give you a satisfactory account."
"It's nothing else, just the strategy you just proposed. How do you guarantee its effectiveness? If it doesn't work, I'll just think you're all talk. How dare I trust you!"
Ye Feng spoke slowly, "Not to mention achieving the best strategy, even the middle strategy would be more than enough to serve as a provincial governor. Of course, I can also agree to you now and make you an advisor. You can choose yourself!"
"Good, I promise Your Highness that I will handle the best strategy perfectly!" Li Ru picked up a pastry and ate it, saying excitedly, "Your Highness, please give me ten days, and I will surely make Your Highness completely satisfied!"
"Good. If you can succeed, Your Highness will surely prepare wine and kill chickens upon your return to host a banquet for you!" Ye Feng said excitedly, raising his hand slightly. "Do you still need anything, or anyone? You can bring it up now, and I will agree to all of it!"
"Your Highness only needs to give me the authority to act freely. I will handle the rest!" Li Ru bowed confidently and said, "As for the officials and generals in Liangzhou, Your Highness, can you...?"
"Good, all the generals, big and small, in Liangzhou will be under your jurisdiction during this period. Those who disobey will be dealt with by military law!" Ye Feng agreed without hesitation.
He had some idea of Li Ru's abilities. He was capable, but too arrogant. Ye Feng's action was also to temper Li Ru's arrogance and reveal his true gem!
Diao Chan took the teacup from Ye Feng's hand and asked softly, "If he really cannot succeed, what will Your Highness do?"
"These three strategies are extraordinary. Even I would need to consider them carefully. Various forces are intertwined. It's impossible for a scholar like him to succeed. I'm just letting him try!" Ye Feng sat down again. "Moreover, even if something happens to him, I can protect him. Nothing major will happen."
Diao Chan heard clearly and finally understood Ye Feng's painstaking efforts. After a long while, she remembered that she needed to meet Emperor Ling tomorrow. Seeing Ye Feng's state, she worried that he might be looking for trouble.
"Your Highness, tomorrow when you meet Emperor Ling, do you intend to bring this up? I'm afraid..."
Diao Chan hesitated, and Ye Feng frowned. The current situation was indeed not suitable for bringing it up, but Li Ru had already acted. He couldn't fire the first shot, or he would perish.
After carefully considering everything, Ye Feng slowly said, "Now I can no longer make the decision. I can only adapt to the situation. As for this matter, it must be brought up!"
Lü Bu was originally Ye Feng's subordinate and had already begun to act. Coupled with Li Ru's immediate preparations after leaving Ye Feng, it was not difficult for someone with a discerning eye to guess that this was all Ye Feng's doing. Thinking of this, Ye Feng snorted, "I'd like to see how many people they have gathered during this time. They had better not disappoint me!"
Meanwhile, Zhang Rang was scurrying about. In his eyes, to overthrow Ye Feng, everyone must cooperate. However, Liangzhou's most prominent aristocratic families, the Ma clan and Ma Chao, were already Ye Feng's men. He could only gather everyone else.
Adding the nobles in Luoyang, they also formed a considerable force.
"My lords are all loyal ministers of our Great Han. Now the state is in decline, and there are traitors who wish to usurp the throne. My colleagues, can you agree to this matter?" Zhang Rang tried to incite everyone's emotions, but after his speech, there were only a few scattered voices. The rest remained indifferent!
Zhang Rang's lips twitched involuntarily, and he hurriedly said, "Are you really going to let Ye Feng deal with us one by one like boiling a frog in warm water? Aren't you afraid?"
"Eunuch, I think!" the leader of a noble family was about to speak, but was pulled back by someone beside him.
"Brother Wang, what are you doing? Now is the time for us merchants to serve His Majesty!"
The man raised his eyelids slightly and said slowly, "If you're not afraid of losing your own lives, then go ahead. But don't blame me for not warning you!"
"What are you talking about?" The man retorted angrily and said, "This world is still the world of Great Han, and the one on the throne is still His Majesty. Who is Ye Feng to point fingers? I think this deal is worth it!"
"Where is this place?" another person said slowly, "Are you perhaps forgetting?"
"Liangzhou, so what?" a family head spread his hands. "Liangzhou is also His Majesty's..."
Before he could finish speaking, he abruptly sat down on a chair. Zhang Rang saw it clearly. Determined to find a leader, he quickly said, "If you have any thoughts, don't hesitate to speak them boldly!"
The man, feeling cornered, blushed profusely and finally let out a loud fart before saying, "I wish to change my clothes!"
Zhang Rang's face changed. He was not here to listen to their nonsensical talk. He reprimanded, "Sit down!"
The man sat down steadily, quickly patting his chest. "Fortunately, my old friend reminded me and I reacted quickly. Otherwise, I might have lost my life here. Thank you, old friend, for the reminder!"
"It's nothing. By the way, about those three shops, brother, are you going to...?"
"What did you say just now, old friend? I didn't hear clearly. Say it again."
After a few times of interrupting and dodging, no one bothered to mention the shops!
Seeing that they were all mumbling and unwilling to speak, Zhang Rang became furious. He cursed, "His Majesty has treated you well usually, and now you all want to stay out of it. Don't even think about it. If no one comes up with a plan today, no one is allowed to leave!"
The representatives of the noble families were like old hands. How could they do anything that would offend people? They all narrowed their eyes and refused to speak, no matter what Zhang Rang said.
Suddenly, a young eunuch hurried over and whispered a few words in Zhang Rang's ear. Zhang Rang's expression instantly turned from anger to joy. "Since you all do not wish to get involved, then please leave!"
Everyone felt it was too good to be true. Given Zhang Rang's personality, he wouldn't let them leave if the matter wasn't resolved. It was a pipe dream. Thinking of this, they all hesitated.
"Please leave, esteemed lords. My humble abode cannot accommodate such esteemed guests. However, Lü Bu has been ordered to acquire land. If it falls into anyone's hands, do not expect me to help you!"
Land. The family heads who had previously claimed to be uninvolved suddenly felt their scalps tingle. That was their foundation. How could it be touched?
Even those who had already taken a few steps back returned and smiled obsequiously at Zhang Rang. "Old ancestor, we were disrespectful just now. You are magnanimous, so please don't take it to heart. Just give us your orders."
It was no wonder that the heads of the noble families spoke so hastily and didn't bother to verify the truth. They were concerned and panicked. Moreover, land was their capital, so they would rather believe it than not!
"Since that is the case, please sign this document. I will naturally help you speak in court at that time," Zhang Rang said coldly, throwing out a document without looking up.
It was better not to look at the document, but upon seeing it, many clan leaders were filled with anger. Regardless of anything else, every transaction required Zhang Rang to be aware of it, and to take away five percent of the profit. What was this? He had found himself another boss.
The document went around, and no one put their fingerprint on it. The leader carefully smiled and said, "Eunuch, what does this mean? We don't quite understand. Please explain."
Zhang Rang snorted, "What else can it be? It's just asking you to give up a little profit. If you regret it and disagree, you can leave now!"
Five percent might not seem like much at first glance, but once this document was signed, giving up five percent every year would accumulate. This Zhang Rang would gradually devour them. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible to agree.
"Old ancestor, I'm afraid we are powerless regarding this document. After all, we all have to eat!"
"Good, show them out!" Zhang Rang shouted, but he kept a close eye on everyone. If they really left, his plan would fall through. Due to his cooperation with Sun Jian, he would most likely have to plead with Emperor Ling.
"Since the eunuch is unwilling to wait for us to think for a while, we will leave now!" A merchant said calmly, cupped his hands, and left without hesitation.
With the first one, there was a second, and a third. Moreover, Zhang Rang's greed was well-known. It was better to negotiate with Ye Feng, and perhaps there would be a turning point.
Who spoke out? The merchants looked at each other. After an unknown amount of time, the leader sighed heavily. "Let's hurry and prepare. I'm afraid we can't protect ourselves anymore!"
They all dispersed and hurried to their shops. Then, a shadowy figure, after several twists and turns, entered a wealthy household. The one sitting at the head was none other than Li Ru.
"Is the matter settled?" Li Ru picked up the scissors and trimmed the lamp wick. "If you fail, I have other plans. Just say it directly!"
"As Master predicted, that Zhang Rang set a trap and tried to swallow the wealth of the families, but it was thwarted by me. Master's plan will surely be implemented smoothly." The shadowy figure explained everything quickly.
"Good. With this, my assistance to the King of Chu is already half successful!" Li Ru said excitedly, patting the shadowy figure on the shoulder. "Go and receive your reward!"
"I dare not take credit for serving Master. It's just that..." The shadowy figure hesitated. "Since Master promised the King of Chu, why did you send me to Zhang Rang in advance? Isn't this redundant? Aren't you afraid of ruining things?"
"Hmm?" Li Ru snorted, and the shadowy figure quickly lowered his head and retreated cautiously. As he was about to reach the door, he heard a heavy sigh, followed by the sound of porcelain breaking.