Isolated town in northern border region

That night, Xiao Lie gave another order.

"Reduce the price of all goods, except for grain, by another 10%, and see if the powerful families still want to buy!"

This time, the established families couldn't afford to buy anymore.

They're out of money; a large amount of cash is tied up in their previous stockpiles. If you don't even count the land deeds, they can't even afford to buy more goods now.

In just seven days, Qian Wanli's business completely dominated the market in Yongzhou. The shops of various aristocratic families were deserted, and even their old customers were snatched up by the Northern Frontier Business.

In order to recoup their funds, the powerful families began to sell off large quantities of goods from their Northern Frontier Trading Company to other regions.

The price they paid for the goods from the northern Xinjiang merchants was low, but the price they sold them to other prefectures and counties was more than ten times higher!

In just half a month, the Yongzhou family made a fortune!

On this day, the Wang family villa was brightly decorated, and the heads of various prominent families gathered together, all beaming with pride and satisfaction as they toasted each other.

"Old Master Wang had great foresight!"

"He multiplied his fortune several times over without lifting a finger. That kind of skill is something that brat Xiao Lie could never match!"

"Exactly! Xiao Lie is just a martial artist, how could he possibly know anything about business acumen?"

"Selling such fine wool yarn and top-quality leather goods at such a low price is an absolute waste!"

"If you ask me, Xiao Lie is practically our benefactor!"

Wang Shouchang, his bandages on his shoulder blades covered by a brocade robe, his front teeth replaced with gold-inlaid animal bones, sat steadily on the high platform, listening to the praises of the crowd below, looking quite impressive.

Just then, Wang Shijie, who had been so frightened by Xiao Lie that he lost control of his bladder in public, walked to the center of the banquet with a wine glass in his hand.

"Your elders are all distinguished individuals, possessing profound knowledge and wisdom!"

"That Prince Xiao Lie disregards the law and allows rioters to run rampant, causing immense suffering to the people of Yongzhou!"

"For the sake of all people, Wang Shijie, a younger generation, urges all elders to join hands in boycotting all businesses in the Northern Frontier!"

"If we can wipe out Xiao Lie's entire fortune, we will have done our part for the world!"

Wang Shijie spoke with righteous indignation, like a brave fighter who led the charge for the people.

The people present were quite tactful and offered their praise.

"With such a broad mind, my nephew Shijie is destined for great things!"

"Grandpa Wang, your family has produced a prodigy!"

With their back-and-forth banter, the atmosphere of the banquet was once again brought to a climax!

Everyone here knows...

What do you mean, "for Yongzhou, for the world"? Bullshit!

They simply wanted to drain Xiao Lie's coffers and force him to hand over the technology from the Northern Frontier that could be produced at breakneck speed day and night!

After tasting success, the Northern Frontier Trading Company became a coveted prize in the eyes of various powerful families. Whenever new goods arrived, they would be immediately bought up by caravans from other regions disguised as members of these families.

Qian Wanli had an incredibly sharp eye and immediately recognized the identities of those out-of-town merchant caravans, but Xiao Lie paid no attention to it, which made him so anxious that he almost pulled his hair out!

After all, watching your arch-rival make money is more infuriating than losing money yourself!

"Your Highness! This really can't go on!"

"Those powerful families buy their goods from us at low prices and then resell them for more than ten times the price!"

"We're not just trying to ruin these powerful families, we're practically handing them money!"

Xiao Lie held a chess piece in his hand, not even raising his eyes.

"No rush, wait another half month."

"I will settle accounts with them in half a month!"

"Princess! It was Old Qian who interfered just now. Take your time!"

Watching Xiao Lie move the chess pieces in a cheeky manner, Jiang Min helplessly pursed her lips.

How could I have been so blind back then!

Jiang Min raised her head, revealing her swan-like neck.

"Your Highness, is this arrangement a ploy to outwardly deceive the Emperor of Chu while secretly cultivating relationships with powerful families?"

Xiao Lie paused for a moment, then put down the chess piece.

"Princess, why do you always think I have to fawn over these parasites?"

"Is it truly the case that governing the world can only rely on powerful families?"

Jiang Min nodded as a matter of course.

"certainly!"

"Although aristocratic families have a thousand faults, there is one thing that no other group can replace!"

"That's what stability is!"

"When powerful families hold power, they are nothing more than accumulating wealth and pursuing personal gain. As long as the person in charge understands how to distribute the benefits, these powerful families will be the most loyal watchdogs, managing the people below for you."

"Your Highness, think about it, what would it be like if a civil or military official with no political foundation were to take power?"

"Or what if we simply delegate power to those ignorant people?"

Xiao Lie placed his hands on the stone table, signaling Jiang Min to continue.

"If it were those civil or military officials from humble backgrounds, even Your Highness would find it difficult to maintain peace of mind through political maneuvering. Once someone suddenly rises to a high position, the hardest thing to resist is the erosion of power!"

"And once they get used to enjoying the benefits of their rights, the person on the throne will become their only obstacle."

"Over the years, there have indeed been many loyal ministers and capable generals, but far more have been ordinary people corrupted by power!"

"And then there are the common people; most of them can't even write their own names, they're completely ignorant of their own limitations!"

"These ignorant people, if stirred up by those with ulterior motives, can plunge the world into chaos in an instant!"

"Isn't it the same tactic used when a prince led his people to seize grain from a family's granary?"

Xiao Lie gave Jiang Min a thumbs up, then clapped his hands in praise.

"Impressive! The princess has a keen eye indeed!"

"Every word and phrase contains the truth of governing a country!"

"For countless years, the so-called brilliant strategies for governing the world have essentially boiled down to nothing more than the two words 'shepherding the people' and 'keeping the people ignorant'!"

"Indeed, the common people are unlucky. They were not born into noble families or the royal family. They have no money to study and learn to read, so they can only remain ignorant for their entire lives."

"They work from dawn till dusk every day, toiling in the fields, yet they don't get any reward at all throughout the year."

"And yet, they are to be seen as fools by those in power, trampled underfoot by a bunch of parasites, all while being given the euphemism of: 'Shepherding the people on behalf of the emperor'!"

Xiao Lie's tone was calm, even with a hint of a smile.

But Jiang Min could hear the anger in his words.

"Your Highness, there has never been fairness in this world."

"Only stability can allow more people to survive!"

Xiao Lie shook his head with a wry smile.

"Stablize?"

"If it weren't for the need for stability, I would have already led my troops to wipe them out!"

"Why bother putting in so much effort to play house with them?"

Xiao Lie stood up and looked at Qian Wanli.

"In the next two weeks, inform the people to stockpile grain. After two weeks, I will increase the price tenfold!"

Qian Wanli was taken aback upon hearing this.

"ten times?"

"What if those powerful families don't buy it?"

Xiao Lie glanced at the chessboard, where the victory was already decided, with a cold smile.

"Not buying? Then they're just waiting to die!"

As Xiao Lie had predicted, less than half a month later, the powerful families of Yongzhou could no longer sit still.

Not only did people line up to buy the goods, but they even prepaid deposits to secure most of the next batch of goods.

Xiao Lie didn't tolerate them and raised the price ahead of schedule!

The moment the news of the price increase spread, all the powerful families in Yongzhou panicked.

"Ten times! This isn't business, it's robbery!"

"Hmph! Even without Zhang the butcher, are we still going to eat hairy pork?"

"At worst, we won't buy it. Let his goods rot in the warehouse!"

"Xiao Lie is completely clueless about business. He dares to use such clumsy methods and make a fool of himself!"

Within a single day, the powerful families had withdrawn all their "out-of-town caravans"!

The brand-new goods from the Northern Xinjiang Trading Company could only sit on the shelves gathering dust.

But the powerful families were unaware that they had unknowingly taken the bait set by Xiao Lie!