Volume 1: Kyoto Winds and Clouds Chapter 63: The Empress's Gentle Feelings

  What business is the most profitable? It's not salt and iron, nor tea and horses, but monopoly. Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Brother, you have so many profitable deals in your hands, why do you need to look at my newly created cement? Not to mention that the production and transportation of cement are very inconvenient, just say that if the formula for cement is slightly leaked, it will be learned by others. At that time, it will be a loss!"

  It's not that Liu Hong is incompetent in governing the country, but he's quite skilled in doing business. As soon as Liu Zhang said this, Liu Hong immediately realized the drawbacks, but he also saw from Liu Zhang's words that Liu Zhang had a way to make money. Liu Hong asked happily: "Imperial brother, you say I have profitable transactions in my hands, how come I don't know?"

  Looking at Liu Hong's greedy appearance, Liu Zhang couldn't help but scratch his head and say: "Imperial brother, do you know what business is making the most money now? It's tea, horse, salt, and iron transactions! And these transactions are all controlled by imperial brother. Why don't you think of a way to make money from here?"

  Salt, horses and ironware were all state monopolies in the Han Dynasty. However, by the end of the Eastern Han period, most of these things were being smuggled. Liu Zhang was also involved in this, but he didn't want other aristocratic families to be implicated as well. Moreover, Liu Zhang wanted to use these things to win over a few big merchants, such as the Xu State Mi family!

  Liu Hong was somewhat embarrassed, although he had done many shameless things, but he had never engaged in commerce. Even if he liked to engage in commerce, the things he did were thorough commercial transactions, and there was always a name that could be used to explain them away. Just like when he resold wood, it was handled by Xiao Huangmen, but engaging in commerce was not something Xiao Huangmen could do. Moreover, merchants in ancient times were considered the lowest and most contemptible profession, if an emperor engaged in commerce, Liu Hong would be ridiculed for a thousand years.

  Liu Zhang couldn't help but understand Liu Hong's intentions, and he smiled: "Imperial brother, these things are all business, but you don't need to do them yourself. You can choose some people to engage in tea, horse, salt, and iron transactions, and have them crack down on those who trade without your permission. Those who get your permission will have to hand over 50% of the profits from the transaction to you. As for those who don't get your permission, their goods will be confiscated and made public, and then you can designate merchants to sell them off. In this way, won't you make a lot of money?"

  Liu Hong's eyes lit up as soon as he heard the words: "It can't be seen! The imperial brother is still a material for doing business! However, most of the officials in the court are now from aristocratic families. If this is really done, won't they oppose it? Moreover, I have no one to use!"

  "This is even simpler!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Merchants seek profit, the emperor can use bidding to authorize. Bidding is to gather the great merchants of the Han Dynasty, let them sell their profits to buy the emperor's license, and then the emperor can put his own people at the source of goods and transactions to achieve control. For example, in the tea, horse, salt, and iron trade, as long as the emperor controls Youzhou, Bingzhou, and Liangzhou, he can firmly control horses, tea leaves, salt, and ironware in his hands. At that time, those aristocratic families and merchants who do not give the emperor benefits will not be able to do business."

  "Alright! Alright!" With Liu Hong's business acumen, he could naturally see the feasibility of it. The way Liu Zhang said was what most projects do in modern society. Liu Hong patted Liu Zhang on the shoulder and said: "Younger brother, this matter is left to you to handle, how?"

  "Impossible!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "I can help Your Majesty contact people, and let my father control Youzhou, but I cannot preside over this matter. I think it's better to let Lord Zhang handle it."

  "Why must Zhang Ran go and handle it?" Liu Hong was somewhat perplexed.

  Liu Zhang smiled and said, "Because Director Zhang can represent the Emperor's brother and can enter and exit the palace at will, while I am a military general, fighting is fine, but when it comes to doing business, at most I can only make suggestions, actual operations, more than half of the time, I would lose!"

  "Imperial brother is being modest!" Liu Hong smiled and said: "Just based on what you said earlier, it's not like you're someone who doesn't understand business tactics."

  "Your Majesty, it's precisely because I understand that I cannot do it!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "If Your Majesty wants to control the three states of You, Bing, and Liang, someone must be left in charge. The governors of these three states must be people Your Majesty trusts, and among them will certainly be my father. If both my father and I are involved, it's hard to guarantee that no one will gossip. Perhaps Your Majesty won't mind, but rumors can be overwhelming, and over time, it's hard to avoid Your Majesty having some resentment."

  "You little scoundrel...!" Liu Hong pointed at Liu Zhang, laughing and scolding: "You're only thirteen this year, yet you've mastered the art of self-preservation from those old guys. I really don't know how you dared to attack Wudang Wangting!"

  Liu Zhang scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said: "Imperial brother, this is different! Attacking the Wudang King's court, that's my specialty, no matter how dangerous, I can try to turn danger into safety. But doing business, I have the heart but not the ability! If imperial brother wants me to kill someone, I absolutely won't decline, but..."

  "Alright, alright!" Liu Hong smiled and said: "Can I not understand you? Since that's the case, let Zhang take charge, and you assist him from the side. How about that?"

  "This is definitely no problem!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Still need Mr. Zhang to remind more!"

  "The champion is polite!" Zhang Rang was also a slippery person, how could he not see that Liu Zhang gave him the most profitable position.

  Liu Hong might have been too indulgent with Wang Meiren recently, and after chatting with Liu Zhang for a while, he started to lose spirit. Zhang Rang was more perceptive than Liu Zhang, so when he winked at Liu Zhang, the latter understood and bid farewell to Liu Hong. Liu Hong didn't retain him either, directly letting Zhang Rang escort him out.

  Out of Weiyang Palace, Zhang Rang smiled and said: "Thank you, Crown Prince!"

  Liu Zhang knew that Zhang Yan was thanking him, and he smiled: "Lord Zhang is being too polite! We are all serving His Majesty, so we should naturally work together in harmony. However, I have two subordinates, please take care of them for me, Lord Zhang."

  "Why does Champion Hou need us to plead for him when he has control over the goods himself?" Zhang Rang was somewhat perplexed.

  Liu Zhang smiled and said, "Since Lord Zhang has been entrusted by the Emperor to handle this matter, respecting you is equivalent to respecting His Majesty. Giving a greeting is also a must! Given my relationship with Lord Zhang, I'm sure you won't reject me!"

  Zhang Rang burst out laughing and said, "Master Hou has been extraordinary since childhood, now even more so! How could our family not give Master Hou face? However, Master Hou has arrived in the capital, it's been a long time since you last visited Empress Dowager, hasn't it? Empress Dowager is thinking of you anxiously!"

  "Ah! I was negligent!" Liu Zhang slapped his forehead and said: "In the past few months, it's been one thing after another, selecting soldiers and building barracks. I've been so busy that I haven't had a break. Better to take advantage of today than wait for a specific day, I'll go visit my sister-in-law today!"

  "Good! Good!" Zhang raised his eyebrows and smiled, Liu Zhang couldn't help but suspect that he had been bought off by He Lingsi.

  Following Zhang Ren to Jianzhang Palace, before entering, they heard a loud noise of smashing things inside. Liu Zhang and Zhang Ren looked at each other in dismay, both wondering why Empress He was so furious.

  "Your Majesty, the Queen! The champion Hou seeks an audience!" Zhang Rang shouted at the palace gate to prevent Liu Shao from offending the enraged Empress He.

  "Come in!" After a while, He Ling's voice came from inside.

  When Liu Zhang entered the palace, the broken things had been cleaned up, and only Empress He sat on the embroidered couch, her face still filled with anger. Seeing Liu Zhang, the angry look on Empress He's face clearly dissipated a lot, and she asked somewhat puzzled: "How do you have time to enter the palace today?"

  From He Lingsi's words, Liu Zhang heard a lot of resentment. He blinked and said: "Today is the emperor who dragged me into the palace. Since I came, how can I not come to see the empress? It's just that the empress seems to have a big temper, and the commotion earlier scared me to death!"

  Watching Liu Zhang making a fool of himself, He Ling thought burst out laughing, her originally beautiful face seemed to bloom like a flower, Liu Zhang was stunned for a moment.

  "You still have some conscience!" He Ling thought pulled Liu Zhang into her arms like when he was a child, a soft body pressed against his, making his face flush red.

  "Imperial sister-in-law, I am already a grown man!"

  "Really! Little Liu is all grown up!" He Ling thought rubbed Liu's head and said: "Last time you made a meritorious deed, Zhang Rang even suggested that the Emperor grant you a marriage, have you taken a fancy to any girl? I'll be your matchmaker!"

  "Ah!" Liu Zhang was shocked, but Zhang Rang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine, Qiao Xuan has sent his two daughters to be maidservants of the Duke of Guanmen. If their beauty is not superior to these two girls, how could the Duke have taken a liking to them?"

  He Lingsi's eyes lit up and she said: "Old Qiao still has a good eye for things! He made his move so quickly! Not bad!"

  "This blessing is only for the champion Hou to enjoy!" Zhang Rang smiled and told the story of how Liu Zhang rescued Qiao Xuan's youngest son, but unexpectedly, He Ling's face slowly turned black.

  "Is this true?" He Lingsi's face was gloomy, and Liu Zhang nodded somewhat nervously.

  Seeing Liu Zhang nod, He Lingsi suddenly burst into tears and scolded him, "You little rascal, so many people didn't go to rescue, what makes you think you can? You said you want a good outcome, how are you going to achieve it?"

  From He Lingsi's body, Liu Zhang felt a strong sense of concern. Looking at this person who was described as an evil woman by later generations, Liu Zhang got more warmth from her instead.

  "Your Highness, my brother is now very fierce!" Although He Ling thought wasn't Liu Zhang's woman, he also didn't want to make a woman who cared about him cry.

  "Awesome! What's the use of being awesome? Huo Qubing was awesome enough, but he still died so young!" Liu Zhang didn't expect that his casual remark would trigger an outburst from He Lingsi.

  "Imperial sister, what exactly happened?" Liu Zhang's eyes narrowed, a hint of murderous intent floating from his body, he couldn't bear to see his own people being bullied. Standing beside him, Zhang Rang suddenly felt a chill, looking at the anger in Liu Zhang's eyes, he was actually afraid. And He Ling Si also sensed the anger in Liu Zhang's heart, she raised her head and took a look at Liu Zhang, this thirteen-year-old boy, in her heart instantly became extremely majestic!