Inside a private chamber in the Wu family's silver bank in Jincheng.
"My Lord," said the Wu family patriarch, Wu Xingyan, holding a cup of clear tea above his head with both hands, respectfully addressing the man seated in the grand armchair.
Fu Chong glanced leisurely.
Wu Xingyan's hand holding the tea bowl trembled slightly, spilling some hot water that scalded his somewhat wrinkled hand a bright red.
"Lord... Lord Fu!" He raised the tea bowl higher above his head again.
Finally, Fu Chong made a move this time, taking the tea from Wu Xingyan's hand slowly, sipping it, and shaking his head. "It's brewed a bit too astringent."
Wu Xingyan, having just withdrawn his swollen hand, felt like taking the bowl back upon hearing the man above him speak, still enduring the pain.
"Never mind!" Fu Chong waved his hand impatiently, stood up, and walked to a wall adorned with a landscape painting. "Old Master Wu, you've been prospering more and more lately. You've even managed to collect Liu Zhao's paintings?"
"Lord Fu, this painting was an accidental find. If my Lord likes it, my Lord can..."
"Hey!" Fu Chong waved his hand. "I wouldn't dare accept this painting. Who knows how long it would be allowed to hang in my place?"
"Lord Fu, what are you saying? Who could possibly take it from you if you fancy it..."
"The Emperor!" Before Wu Xingyan could finish, Fu Chong interrupted him.
Wu Xingyan froze, unsure how to continue.
Fu Chong gave a cold smile. "Old Master Wu, you should know why I've come to your silver bank today, shouldn't you?"
Wu Xingyan swallowed several times.
"Something has happened at the shops in Linzhou. Do you know?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Xingyan's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground. "Lord Fu, this..."
"Do you know what it means when the shops over there have problems?" Fu Chong asked again.
Wu Xingyan's body began to tremble.
Fu Chong crouched down, staring at him intently. "Old Master Wu, how many years have you been navigating the business world?"
"Mos... most of my life..." Wu Xingyan stammered in response.
"Hmm... quite a long time." Fu Chong sighed. "And yet, you've managed to fall into the hands of two mere youths?"
Wu Xingyan could no longer maintain his composure. "Lord Fu, it is indeed my negligence in this matter. I had already informed Lu Gu, but who knew he would be so greedy and kill Shen Tu Jue, which led Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie to investigate? Otherwise... no matter what, our Wu family bank would never have allowed such a foolish incident to occur at this juncture."
"Hmph!" Fu Chong snorted coldly. "Wu Xingyan, isn't it a bit late for you to be saying such things now?"
Wu Xingyan lowered his head, not daring to answer.
Fu Chong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forcefully suppressed his anger. "I don't care what method you use. I only want two objectives achieved. First, I want Zhong Li to have no chance of recovery. Second, the words 'Qiates grass' must not be associated with the Wu family bank in any way. Do you understand?"
"I understand! I understand!" Wu Xingyan nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.
Fu Chong pondered for a moment, walked to a corner, took out paper and a brush, wrote a few words, and stuffed them into Wu Xingyan's hand. "A brilliant plan. Use it wisely!"
With that, Fu Chong turned and left the private chamber.
Wu Xingyan knelt on the ground, dazed. After a long while, he slowly regained consciousness. He pushed himself up from the ground with difficulty, found a nearby chair, and sat down. Once his strength had somewhat recovered, he spread his palm and opened the paper inside.
It read four words: Ah Wu, Xu Qing!
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Five days later.
Zhong Li stood in Zhaoyang Hall, gazing at the scattered memorials on the floor, her eyes lowered in silence. Ever since she and Lu Wu Xie had returned to report the Linzhou matter to the Emperor, Lu Jing'an had been raging there for nearly half an hour.
Several ministers stood in the hall, including Eunuch Hua, all with their heads bowed, fearful that a single misplaced word would further fuel the Emperor's fury.
"Minister Liu!" Lu Jing'an shifted his gaze to Minister Liu, the head of the Ministry of Revenue.
Upon being called by name, Minister Liu instinctively trembled, then forced himself to say, "Your servant... is here."
"You are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. Tell me, were you aware of Linzhou abandoning agriculture?" Lu Jing'an asked.
Minister Liu froze, then nodded. Before he could utter an explanation, a stack of memorials and a cup with slight tea stains were hurled at him.
"You still have the nerve to nod?" Lu Jing'an pointed at Minister Liu with a trembling finger.
Minister Liu dropped to his knees with a 'plop'.
"Linzhou is on the border of the Southern Yue Kingdom and the Northern Di. It's a remote area, the people are poor, and the land is barren. But do you know why I still asked them to find ways to engage in farming?" Lu Jing'an asked, looking at Minister Liu.
Minister Liu first nodded, then felt it was improper and frantically shook his head.
"Foolish, foolish!" Seeing Minister Liu's reaction, Lu Jing'an, infuriated, paced back and forth around the bench.
"Feng'er, you tell me!" He looked at Lu Yuanfeng, who was standing closest to him.
Lu Yuanfeng glanced at Lu Wu Xie standing beside him.
Seeing Lu Wu Xie close his eyes and signal him, he took a step forward. "Linzhou originally subsisted on animal husbandry. After the civil war twenty years ago, Linzhou's animal husbandry declined significantly. Although Father, Your Majesty, still supports Linzhou's animal husbandry, he has gradually intended to have Linzhou participate in some farming.
One reason is that during the reign of the previous Emperor, Linzhou experienced an epidemic, and no cattle or sheep survived. That's why Father, Your Majesty, made this decision."
"Mm." Lu Jing'an nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this answer.
Lu Yuanfeng continued, "Another reason is the constant warfare. Although Linzhou's land is barren and its seasons are distinct, if farming is practiced, they can still achieve a harvest once a year. If Linzhou is invaded by the Northern Di, their self-produced grain would be enough to sustain them for a month or so. This is what is meant by 'the army marches on its stomach'."
"Mm!" Lu Jing'an nodded again, his gaze towards Lu Yuanfeng carrying a hint of praise.
Zhong Li subtly raised her eyes to scan Lu Jing'an's slightly relaxed expression, estimating that Lu Yuanfeng was becoming increasingly important in Lu Jing'an's eyes.
"Then, Feng'er, do you know why the Northern Di is so cheap with the cattle and sheep meat supplied to Linzhou?" Lu Jing'an asked another question.
Lu Yuanfeng thought for a moment. "Replying to Father, Your Majesty, your servant guesses that the Northern Di is doing this as a precautionary measure."
Lu Jing'an raised an eyebrow, waiting for his follow-up.
"On one hand, by doing so, the already poor animal husbandry in Linzhou will completely disappear. The Northern Di can wait for the opportune moment and then suddenly increase the price of cattle and sheep meat for the Southern Yue Kingdom, disrupting the market.
On the other hand..." Lu Yuanfeng paused, then carefully considered his words, "If the Northern Di were to make a move on Linzhou, they would only need to cut off the supply of cattle and sheep meat, and if Linzhou had no grain to fill their stomachs, it could easily be conquered. Then, it would not be difficult to reach Huanglong directly through Linzhou's official road."
As soon as he finished speaking, many of the silent ministers around them began to whisper.
Especially Minister Liu, who had been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, turned as pale as paper.
"Did you all hear that?" Lu Jing'an sneered.
Silence fell over the hall again.
Lu Jing'an swept his gaze over Zhong Li, who had been standing silently in the distance. "Young Minister Zhong."
Zhong Li stepped forward.
Lu Jing'an picked up a letter that had been prepared on the table.
Eunuch Hua, seeing this, quickly took it and hurried to Zhong Li, presenting it to her.
Zhong Li accepted it, awaiting Lu Jing'an's instructions.
"The special envoy Shen Tu Jue's purpose in Linzhou is still unknown, and the remaining envoys from Yingzhou are at a point where they must return. I have written something to the Emperor of Yingzhou. I order you to deliver this letter to him when he leaves the city with Minister Yuan today."
"Yes!" Zhong Li nodded, placed the letter in her sleeve, and turned to leave the inner hall.