Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 160 The Emperor's Sword and the Pancake

The emperor's probing questions, like an invisible iceberg, crashed down from the sky, landing in the center of the Beijing garrison's drill ground. Every word transformed into a chilling current that seeped into the very marrow of all the nobles present.

Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen felt as if his blood had frozen at that moment.

He could clearly hear the frantic pounding of his heart in his chest, each beat louder than the last, but it was suppressed by the metallic taste rising in his throat. Beads of sweat slid down his forehead, down his pale cheeks, and dripped onto the collar of his magnificent official uniform, leaving a small, dark stain, but he dared not raise his hand to wipe it away.

The Duke of Dingguo, and everyone around him, were now prisoners nailed to the spot, awaiting the final verdict from the young monarch on the throne.

The executioner's blade was raised high, its edge gleaming in the leaden light of the daylight with a colder light than the eyes of thousands of new soldiers in the Beijing garrison.

They could feel the bloodstains on the blade that had not yet dried—the blood of Prince Zhu Cunshu of Qin, the blood of Shanxi merchants, grain merchants from Jiangnan, and the blood of the nine clans of Zhou Yanru, a high-ranking official in the court!

Now, it's their turn.

The hands of the Imperial Guards, which were resting on the hilts of their swords, seemed to twitch slightly.

It was as if with just a glance from the emperor, they would pounce on the assembled dukes and earls like hungry wolves, tearing them into a pile of shattered wealth.

However, just as the suffocating atmosphere became so intense that it almost materialized, the chilling killing intent on the high platform, which was enough to freeze one's soul, receded slowly like a tide without warning.

The emperor's tone softened.

It felt like a faint warmth suddenly emanating from a frozen river in the dead of winter.

The ice had not melted, but a crack seemed to have appeared in the desperate situation that had trapped people to death.

"The land can no longer support so many people."

Zhu Youjian's voice rang out again, calm, even with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue, stating a helpless fact.

"I have summoned you all here today not to settle old scores," he said slowly, looking into the fearful and desperate eyes below the stage. "If I settle old scores and kill you all, the refugees will still be refugees, and the hole in the Ming Dynasty will never be filled."

These words made Xu Yunzhen's heart clench.

These seemingly forgiving words concealed the most direct threat. The emperor admitted that he could, and was fully capable of, and had even entertained the terrible thought of killing them all.

The emperor paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. The indifference in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an unfathomable calm.

"I have come to point out a new way out for you all and for the Ming Dynasty."

“A way out that will allow everyone to continue to be wealthy, or even wealthier than before.”

That last sentence, like a spark ignited silently in the boundless darkness, instantly pierced through the thick, impenetrable fear and illuminated their sweat-covered faces.

Fear has not dissipated; it still lingers in everyone's heart. But something more powerful has begun to quietly grow within them.

That is hope.

And, greed!
"His Majesty……"

Someone muttered to themselves unconsciously, but then immediately shut their mouth. Everyone pricked up their ears, like a dying traveler in the desert smelling the moisture of a distant oasis.

On the high platform, the emperor nodded slightly to Wang Chengen, the eunuch standing beside him.

Wang Chengen understood and immediately stepped forward, unfolding a long scroll bound in bright yellow brocade.

"In Shaanxi, I have already piloted the 'Royal General Chamber of Commerce'," Zhu Youjian announced. "The salt, tea, iron, and coal of Shaanxi Province will all be purchased and sold by the government, cutting off all profits from private resale."

The crowd below the stage felt a chill run down their spines. They were all too familiar with this method of cutting off someone's livelihood. Normally, it would have caused a huge uproar, but at this moment, no one dared to object.

They simply didn't understand why the emperor was saying this.

Zhu Youjian didn't let them think too much. He didn't explain the details of the trading company's operation, but gave the answer directly.

He looked up from the file, met the gazes of the crowd, and slowly read out a number:
"This is the net profit of the Shaanxi General Chamber of Commerce during its first month of trial operation—"

"Three million two hundred thousand taels of silver!"

This number exploded like an invisible thunderclap among the nobles.

Three million two hundred thousand taels!

Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen's pupils suddenly contracted; he could hardly believe his ears.

His Duke Dingguo's mansion owned tens of thousands of acres of fertile land and estates all over the capital region. Even in a good year with favorable weather, his net income was only a little over 100,000 taels.

Apart from a few families like the Duke of England, most of the dukes, marquises, and earls present had similar wealth to him.

Three million two hundred thousand taels of silver a month?
This single figure is enough to equal the entire income of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion over thirty years!

A collective gasp arose from the crowd, rising and falling like a leaky bellows.

Everyone's breathing became rapid in an instant, and their faces, which had been deathly pale with fear just moments before, now flushed an unnatural red with extreme shock and fervor.

They looked at the young king on the high platform, their eyes filled with disbelief, confusion, and... a burning, frantic desire!
Zhu Youjian took in the reactions of the crowd below the stage and was very satisfied.

This is just the first appetizer.

He continued to escalate the situation, his voice carrying a hint of enticement: "If this is the case even in Shaanxi, what if this trading company were to expand throughout the country? But this is not the greatest benefit yet."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Could there be an even greater benefit? What kind of immense wealth would that bring?
Zhu Youjian slowly turned around and pointed to the southeastern horizon.

"During the Song Dynasty, the annual tax revenue of the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office was comparable to that of an entire province. Our Great Ming Dynasty has a vast maritime territory, and the maritime ban imposed by our predecessors was truly like drawing a circle on the ground and binding our own hands!"

The emperor's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute and ambitious spirit that heralded a new era.
"My mind is made up! Reopen the Maritime Trade Offices in Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Ningbo, Songjiang, Tianjin, and other places! They shall be directly managed by the Imperial Treasury. Establish a Royal Fleet and plant my dragon flag all over the world! From Japan in the East, to the islands of the South Seas, and even to Europe at the far end of the world! Use the silk and porcelain of my Great Ming Dynasty to exchange for silver from Japan, spices from the South Seas, and the gold from the entire Western world used to forge crowns!"

If the "Royal Trading Company" was a mountain of gold, then the four words "Maritime Trade Office" were like a magnificent door to a world of gold being opened before them!
Zhu Youjian rose from the dragon throne, walked to the edge of the platform, and looked down at the faces below, distorted by desire. He used plain, even somewhat vulgar, language to paint a picture of a golden age that would stir the blood:

"Today, I will settle accounts with you!"

"One ship of the exquisite silks woven in your household can be exchanged for ten shiploads of silver in Japan!"

"A ship full of porcelain fired in Jingdezhen, which may seem insignificant to you, is worth as much as gold when it reaches those red-haired, blue-eyed Europeans!"

He stretched out his hand and made a grasping motion in the air, as if he were holding boundless wealth; his voice was filled with a seductive power.

"The profits from this are a hundred times, a thousand times, greater than what you're making by clinging to those tens of thousands of hectares of barren land and watching those peasants toiling in the fields!"

"A hundred times! A thousand times!"

This pie hit the hearts of every nobleman hard.

They could almost see countless colossal ships laden with silver and gold, sailing against the wind and waves toward the Ming Dynasty. Compared to this, the land deeds and land contracts on which their ancestors had depended for generations suddenly seemed dull and lifeless, even... somewhat of an eyesore.

Just as everyone's greed was fully ignited and their minds were in turmoil, the emperor finally revealed his true intentions.

"Such immense wealth and honor, I do not wish to enjoy alone." He smiled, but that smile carried an undeniable authority. "Today, I offer you all an opportunity. An opportunity to share wealth and honor with me and with this great Ming dynasty!"

The emperor abruptly changed the subject, and the chill that had just subsided returned.

"Effective immediately, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard shall jointly establish the 'Land Survey and Accounting Department'! A comprehensive survey shall be conducted on all the land and estates under the names of nobles and officials, and their value shall be calculated!"

The moment the words "Jinyiwei" were uttered, the nobles who had just been burning with enthusiasm instantly felt as if they had been doused with a bucket of ice water, sobering them up considerably.

They immediately snapped out of their reverie. This was not a deal to be negotiated; it was an extension of the emperor's will, a reckoning process before the ultimatum!

The knife was not sheathed; it was simply suspended around their necks in a different way.

Zhu Youjian ignored their changing expressions and continued to announce the clearly stated "open conspiracy" in a calm tone.

"After the land survey and accounting, the land was converted into silver based on the appraised value. For example, every 10,000 taels of silver worth of land could be exchanged for 100 shares of 'Royal Gold Shares'."

"Those who hold shares may collect their dividends at the end of the year by presenting the share certificates personally issued by me to the Imperial Treasury or the designated Royal Bank. I hereby promise that the annual dividends for the first three years of the golden shares will never be less than 10% of your invested capital!"

One percent!
Xu Yunzhen quickly did some mental calculations.

The yield of land depends on the timing of the harvest and the integrity of those in charge. If even half a percent of the profits can be made after deducting all kinds of losses, it is already considered a stroke of good fortune.

The emperor's "golden shares," on the other hand, guaranteed a steady 10% dividend, paid directly from the imperial treasury—a much more secure arrangement than holding onto land!
"Of course, sharing wealth and honor with me depends on your sincerity," Zhu Youjian's voice rang out again, beginning his attempt to divide and weaken them.

"Dukes, such as the Duke of Dingguo and the Duke of Yingguo, must hand over 90% of their land. In return, you will receive the highest-level 'Dragon Ticket' shares in the two major trading companies, with the highest dividend ratio."

"Marquis, hand over 80% of the land in exchange for a second-tier 'Tiger Ticket' equity."

“Counts and below will surrender 70% of their land in exchange for ‘Eagle Ticket’ equity.”

"In addition, families holding 'Dragon Tickets' will have priority for their direct descendants to enter the future 'Royal Naval Academy' and 'Army Military Academy'."

At this point, Zhu Youjian's tone turned cold again, and he added, "But let me make this clear first. I will personally send people to examine these two academies. Going there is to risk your lives for me and for the Ming Dynasty! It's to learn killing techniques, not to gain prestige. Those spoiled brats who are afraid of hardship and death are better off not going!"

Finally, he threw out the most crucial "date," wrapped in honey.

"Anyone who voluntarily surrenders land as shares can apply to the Survey and Accounting Department for partial, or even... complete, exemption from all outstanding taxes owed to the court and debts for misappropriation of land over the years, based on the assessed value of the 'shared' land!"

All exemptions!

These four words were like a pardon, causing many nobles to faint from happiness.

Which of their households doesn't have a mountain of debts? If the Embroidered Uniform Guard were to meticulously calculate the seized land and unpaid taxes, it would be enough to wipe out their entire families!
Now the emperor has given them a chance to wipe the slate clean of these crimes.

All the conditions have been laid out on the table.

The juicy dates are delicious, sweet, and tempting.

The big stick hung behind the dates, smelling of blood.

After stating all the conditions, the emperor fell silent, simply sitting quietly on the dragon throne, looking down at the audience.

The entire training ground fell into a deathly silence once again.

But this time it was no longer pure fear, but a more complex silence mixed with shock, fervor, greed, calculation, and weighing of options.

All the nobles were rapidly calculating in their minds.

The King of Qin is dead, the Shanxi merchants are gone, Zhou Yanru has fallen... The series of bloody incidents over the past few months have made them realize that this era has changed.

The emperor's sword could fall at any moment; resistance would only lead to death.

On their way there, they thought they were about to be executed, but to their surprise, the emperor not only put away the guillotine, but also personally served them a plate of piping hot roasted meat and gave them a gold medal that granted them immunity from death.

Do I still need to choose a answer to this question?

Just as everyone was racking their brains but no one dared to be the first to step forward, a figure stepped out from the crowd.

It was British Duke Zhang Weixian.

He walked to the high platform, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply to Zhu Youjian on the throne. His voice was as loud as a bell, resounding throughout the entire training ground.
"Your Majesty's wisdom and strategic vision have illuminated the path to success for us nobles. This old minister is filled with admiration! I, Zhang Weixian, Duke of Yingguo, wish to invest ninety percent of my land holdings in the Royal General Trading Company and the Maritime Trade Office! Congratulations to Your Majesty! Congratulations to the Great Ming Dynasty!"

Zhang Weixian's statement was like a massive boulder crashing into a calm lake, instantly creating towering waves!

"Your subject, Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen, is willing to donate ninety percent of his land holdings to invest in the Royal Trading Company!"

Xu Yunzhen shouted almost the instant Zhang Weixian finished speaking. He was terrified that if he was a step too late, the emperor would consider him "disloyal," and he wouldn't get a share of the roast meat!
Their voices were like the fuse that lit a powder keg.

"Your subject, Marquis Jiang Bing of Dingxi, is willing to offer eighty percent of his land holdings!"

"Your subject, Zhang Qing, the Earl of Hui'an, is willing to offer seventy percent of his land!"

……

In an instant, all the nobles rushed to the high platform like a tidal wave bursting its banks, vying to show their loyalty and sincerity.

They shouted out their titles and names at the top of their lungs, as if if they hesitated even a second, their immense wealth and chance of survival would be snatched away by someone else.

The entire training ground instantly transformed from deathly silent to bustling with noise and excitement.

Those faces, flushed with excitement, formed a stark contrast to their initial ashen faces—a contrast that was both absurd and undeniably real.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England was pushed aside. Looking at the scene of enthusiastic donations before him, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

He raised his head and looked at the still calm young emperor on the high platform.

A rebellious thought arose in his mind—even the founding emperor, though he had the iron-fisted power to purge meritorious officials, had no foresight or ability to pave a new path for these meritorious officials who had been abandoned by the times.

The founding emperor destroyed an old world, while His Majesty is using the rubble of that old world to create an unprecedented new world.

The founding emperor relied on the sword and the enfeoffment system to establish the country.

But Your Majesty governs the country using those invisible and intangible golden shares that can manipulate people's hearts, and those treasure ships that are about to set sail.

The land upon which the nobility group depended for survival was completely and bloodlessly destroyed in this open conspiracy intertwined with fear and greed.

And they themselves willingly put their necks into those glittering shackles, becoming the first investors to support the new course of this vast empire!
(End of this chapter)