Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 110: The pattern is open, unity is strength! [Please subscribe]

"Your Highness, it's not that we don't support your reforms, but..."

"But what?"

After hearing the embarrassed words of several family heads after they realized what was happening, Ma Zhou spoke with a stern face before Li Chengqian could say anything.

When the heads of several families saw Ma Zhou, the big creditor, their faces changed instantly and they immediately became timid again.

The reason why they could sit here and have a friendly conversation with Li Chengqian was because they knew the current situation, and Ma Zhou was Li Chengqian's man.

If they dared to continue to oppose Li Chengqian, no matter where the incident took them, they would be doomed both publicly and privately.

So, after Ma Zhou finished speaking, they were all speechless.

"Hey, Boss Ma, I always do things with integrity."

Seeing that Ma Zhou's words shocked several family heads, Li Chengqian pretended to be displeased and criticized him, "What are you doing?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is right. I know I was wrong." Ma Zhou bowed politely to Li Chengqian and apologized.

Cen Wenben, who was standing by, watched with his eyes twitching, thinking to himself that the king and his ministers were in cahoots with each other.

Why can’t it be me and the prince!

Damn Zuo Shuzi!

You've fooled me again!

Although there are only two chief officials in Li Chengqian's Eastern Palace now, Ma Zhou's performance in Jiangling has far surpassed his, making him feel more and more stressed.

However, pressure is also motivation.

He has already opened a new track in Gangneung.

Li Chengqian seems to value this track more.

But then Li Chengqian said, "I've already said this before. If you give us your land and rent it out to landless tenants, I'll compensate you!"

"Now, I'm going to talk to you about compensation!"

After saying this, he turned to look at Cen Wenben and said with a smile: "Mr. Cen, please!"

"Yes!"

Cen Wenben was shocked and immediately, under the curious gazes of several family heads, he picked up a roll of drawings beside him, walked to a wide wooden board, slowly unfolded the drawings, and fixed them with thumbtacks.

Then, he looked around at everyone and said, "This is the business map of Jiangling that I drew according to the instructions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Take a look!"

As soon as these words were spoken, several family heads, including Pei Xuan, Cai Sima and others, stretched their necks and looked at the Jiangling business map.

The map showed in detail the official roads, waterways, and areas covered by most of Jiangling's industries.

Even the assets of several family heads and the imperial court were described in detail.

They were all stunned and shocked.

You should know that every family's industry is divided into open and hidden. The open ones are known to everyone, while the hidden ones are shameful.

Now, this business landscape puts both the bright and dark sides before their eyes.

They all felt very uncomfortable, as if someone was strangling them and they couldn't breathe.

"Your Highness, you..."

The head of the Cai family looked at Li Chengqian in surprise and doubt, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Don't worry. The reason I listed all this and drew this picture is to help you open up your horizons!"

"pattern?"

Everyone was slightly stunned, seemingly confused.

Li Chengqian raised his hand to signal Cen Wenben, who then spoke eloquently, "Nowadays, our Jiangling industries include textiles, shipbuilding, winemaking, lacquerware processing, smelting, and food processing."

"But our products don't sell well across the globe? Why is that? Because the trade routes haven't been fully opened yet!"

"In your Highness's vision, Jiangling is blessed with natural advantages, with both land and water transport. Why not expand our industry to every state and county?"

"But, having said that, our products don't have much advantage in various states and counties, and there are other family businesses in each state and county, so it's difficult for us to promote them!" Pei Xuan couldn't help but interject.

"hehe."

Cen Wenben smiled and continued, "Inspector Pei only sees the difficulties, but forgets our advantages, such as food. Do the states and counties have as much food as we do? Even if they have more, is it all in the hands of one family or one person?"

"This"

Pei Xuan was speechless, and several family heads looked at each other.

Now they finally understood why Li Chengqian wanted to reform!

Because he wants to control all the food in a state!
Only in this way can he be invincible!
After all, the grain in each state and county is scattered in the imperial granaries, family granaries, and personal granaries.

"So, our advantage is the power of unity!" Cen Wenben concluded meaningfully.

Li Chengqian smiled slightly.

After a moment, Cen Wenben continued, "In addition to grain, we also have silk, tea, porcelain, and other commodities. We can transport them to various states and counties by water and land. As long as our products are good enough, there is no need to worry about not having a market!"

At this point, he pointed at the tea everyone had just drunk and said with a smile, "For example, this roasted yellow tea, can it be drunk in other states and counties besides Jiangling?"

"Yup!"

The head of the Pang family's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but slammed the table and said, "I guess there is no tea for sale in the states and counties now! Even in the capital, people still drink tea porridge, and the taste is not as refreshing as our yellow tea!" "Well, that's right, tea is a good business!" The head of the Ma family also agreed with a smile.

But Cen Wenben had not finished speaking.

He then smiled and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has made detailed plans for your industries in order to better develop Jiangling's commerce. Leveraging your respective strengths, and with His Royal Highness's investment in technology, we can ensure that your business reach reaches every state and county. With that in mind, do you still need that little bit of real estate?"

"This"

Several family heads looked at each other and fell into deep thought.

After a while, the Huang family's patriarch was the first to react. He glanced at Li Chengqian and asked Cen Wenben, "I wonder what Mr. Cen meant by the Crown Prince's technology investment?"

"It's very simple. For example, your Huang family's main industries are canal transportation and shipbuilding. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince designs larger and more advanced ships for your Huang family, improving their carrying capacity and safety, then that counts as a technology investment!"

"what?"

The Huang family's Patriarch was shocked. "Your Highness the Crown Prince also knows about shipbuilding!?"

"It's just a small thing, not worth mentioning!" Li Chengqian smiled faintly.

The Huang family head said in astonishment, "If His Royal Highness can truly design a better ship than ours, we will accept the technology as a share. But I wonder how much share His Royal Highness would like?"

"Seventy percent!"

"What!?"

The head of the Huang family suddenly stood up and said with a cold face: "Your Highness, if you do this, you might as well rob my Huang family!"

"presumptuous!"

Pei Xuan was shocked when he heard what the head of the Huang family said, and quickly scolded him.

Everything he had now fell on Li Chengqian, so naturally he didn't dare to anger Li Chengqian.

But Li Chengqian still smiled faintly: "Why is Patriarch Huang so excited? The 70% I mentioned is 40% profit from ship trading and 30% profit from grain transport, which adds up to 70%. Is there a problem?"

"Ah? This"

The head of the Huang family didn't expect it to be 70%. He was immediately embarrassed and frightened.

After all, it is divided into twenty equal parts, and the majority is still in his hands, so it is not unacceptable.

"Then does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also want to invest in our business?"

Seeing the Huang family's head standing there in embarrassment and fear, the Ma family's head, who had always been on good terms with the Huang family's head, quickly changed the subject.

When Cen Wenben heard his question, he subconsciously looked at Li Chengqian, who raised his hand again.

But Cen Wenben continued, "If your business requires His Royal Highness to invest in it, His Royal Highness will naturally be happy to do so. If you don't, His Royal Highness will have to develop new businesses on his own. At that time, the compensation you receive may not be industrial support, but monetary compensation. You should consider this carefully!"

"what?"

Several family heads were surprised again: "Your Highness the Crown Prince wants to open up his own business?!"

"Yes! What's so strange about this? Your Highness the Crown Prince controls food, clothing, housing, transportation, firewood, rice, oil, salt, ginger, vinegar, tea, and various industrial technologies. Can't he develop his own industry?" Cen Wenben said with some amusement.

Several family heads looked at each other, feeling a little panicked for a moment.

It doesn't take much thought to know that this is forcing them to cooperate with Li Chengqian.

If they don't cooperate, they will also be doomed when Li Chengqian's industry develops.

And the little compensation given by Li Chengqian is of no use.

In a word, only by uniting around His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can we have meat to eat.

"call"

The family heads took a deep breath at the same time, then looked at each other and bowed to Li Chengqian in unison, "We earnestly request that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince invest in our business!"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled, then looked at Cen Wenben with satisfaction and said:

"From now on, we in Jiangling Prefecture will establish a joint chamber of commerce, named the 'Xingtang Chamber of Commerce.' The heads of your four powerful families will serve as vice-presidents, with no distinction between the primary and the secondary. Mr. Cen will serve as president. Decisions will be made by deliberation and voting, with the minority obeying the majority. Of course, the president will have veto power!"

"This"

Cen Wenben widened his eyes, as if he had not expected Li Chengqian to give him such great power.

The four family heads sighed helplessly. What else could they say?
They are now like fish on the chopping board, and can only do whatever Li Chengqian says.

But then they heard the four of them say in unison: "We will obey the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Okay, that's all for today. We have a long way to go. Don't think I'm taking advantage of you. You'll understand later that country and family are inseparable!"

As he spoke, he looked around at everyone and added meaningfully: "Only when the country is strong can the family be rich!

As soon as he finished speaking, he took Cen Wenben and Ma Zhou and left the Jiangling government office without saying a word, leaving Pei Xuan, Cai Sima, and the four family heads standing there in a daze, each with a different expression.

After a while, Cai Sima reacted to Li Chengqian's words, glanced at the four family heads and Pei Xuan with a smile, and said leisurely:
"Everyone, the weather in Jiangling has changed. This is an undeniable fact, but if the weather changes for the better, we will also be proud of it!"

"But what if the sky falls?" said the head of the Cai family.

"Ah!"

Cai Sima sneered, but did not answer the question, and followed him out of the government office.

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(End of this chapter)