Chapter 1 The Crown Prince

  Inside the palace, the prince's sedan chair slowly headed towards Weiyang Palace.

  "Your Highness, there is one thing that I don't quite understand." Suddenly asked Zhao Yun who was walking his horse beside the carriage.

  "Say it," Liu Fengjian hastily said.

  "Will you know that Your Highness attaches great importance to this group of merchants, but why is it so important and even set a banquet to entertain them?" Zhao Yun asked in puzzlement.

  This thing is really puzzling.

  Crown Prince Liu Feng and these merchants should be in a mutually beneficial relationship. Liu Feng's goal is only money, while the merchants' goal is only a noble title.

  Moreover, since this group of merchants can spend money to buy titles, although they appear dignified, but after all, they are likely to be of poor character. It's better to just exchange money and goods directly, no need for elaborate banquets or manipulation.

  "Hehe, doing business is like that, the most important thing is to have a next time. Treat them well now, for the sake of the next business." Liu Feng said with a slight smile.

  "Oh." Zhao Yun nodded slightly, seeming to understand.

  However, Liu Feng's plan was not that simple. These businessmen may not have high social status, but each of them is a powerful figure in their own field.

  For example, the leather goods merchant who joined the party, if one day Liu Feng can dominate Xudu and compete with the heroes of the world, then countless troops will be needed.

  Tortoise shell.

  Apart from fur traders, there were also salt merchants and even horse traders among them. More importantly, these businessmen were all very wealthy.

  They are all very useful, today's kindness will be greatly helpful in the future.

  What Liu Feng did was just a meal, super worth it.

  However, these are not things that can be told to Zhao Yun now. With so many armored soldiers, palace attendants and palace maids around, after all, there are too many mouths. Except for Zhao Yun, Dong Xi, Liu Xie, Fu Hou and a few others, Liu Feng does not trust anyone else.

  As they conversed, the group soon arrived inside Weiyang Palace. After inquiring about Liu Xie's whereabouts from a nearby guard, Liu Feng came to a side hall.

  "Your Majesty."

  Inside the side hall, Emperor Xian of Han sat on the throne reading a book. When Liu Feng led Zhao Yun in, he immediately paid his respects and said:

  "Imperial son." Liu Xie saw it was Liu Feng and immediately put down his bamboo tablet, smiling as he spoke.

  "This time I have come to ask for an imperial decree from His Majesty." Liu Feng said with a smile.

  "Oh? The 5,000 taels of gold are in hand?" Liu Xie's face showed a hint of delight as he said.

  "It's in our hands. Five thousand gold. And with just one imperial decree from the Emperor, there will be even more later." Liu Feng nodded and said with a smile.

  The Imperial Edict

  Liu Feng attaches great importance to this, as the imperial edict can play a very good propaganda role. It's just like the advertisement made by the King of Yan in history who bought the bones of a thousand-mile horse.

  From then on, countless talents flocked to the State of Yan, including Guan Zhong, who was compared to Zhuge Liang, and Yue Yi, who was comparable to Lü Buwei. Led the great army of Yan to break through the men of Qi.

  Liu Feng's intention was just that. Before the imperial edict was issued, even if people were moved in their hearts, they might still hesitate, what if they were deceived?

  Although it's unlikely that the emperor would cheat them, there is still a possibility. Five hundred gold coins are not a small amount after all. Therefore, many people will continue to watch and wait.

  Once the Son of Heaven issues a decree, conferring titles on ten marquises within the passes, great merchants from all over the world will surely be stirred up. It will then be a real scene of bustling activity, with people thronging before the gates like a market. This also means that wealth and resources will flow in from all sides.

  Tens of thousands of gold is not a dream.

  "All right, I will issue an edict." Liu Xie nodded and smiled.

  Liu Xie immediately took up his brush and wrote down the imperial edict in one breath. The general idea was that Zhang Chao and others had made contributions to the country, and were specially appointed as Marquises of Guannei to show favor and kindness.

  "Congratulations, Your Majesty, we are one step closer to our goal."

  Liu Feng held up the imperial edict and smiled at Liu Xie.

  "Also congratulations to the Crown Prince, he is one step closer to the true honor of being the heir." Liu Xie smiled and replied.

  Haha.

  The father and son looked at each other and burst out laughing together.

  Soon after, Liu Feng took Zhao Yun and left, riding a carriage back to the Crown Prince's palace.

  On that day, Liu Feng announced the imperial edict in the grand hall of the Crown Prince's palace and enfeoffed ten people as marquises within the passes. Later, a banquet was held in the palace to entertain these ten newly appointed marquises.

  The news spread and in just a few days, the whole world was shaken.

  It was just as Liu Feng had guessed that many people in the world had some doubts about Emperor Xian of Han's last edict, and the practice of selling official positions and titles was not unheard of.

  The previous emperor, Emperor Xiaoling, also sold titles, but the problem is that Emperor Xiaoling was also controlled by the Ten Constant Attendants and never formally issued an edict saying "I want to sell official positions".

  Never said before. Liu Xie, on the other hand, openly stated it in an abnormal manner, which would naturally lead to distrust.

  So many people are watching.

  However, after the imperial edict conferring the title of Guannei Hou on ten merchants including Zhang Kuai was spread, they believed it. It caused a sensation and boiled over.

  There are too many people in this era who have money and power but no status. There are countless numbers, and now there is actually such an opportunity in front of us.

  It's boiling.

  In the next few days, the workload of the official in charge of selling titles increased several times. Every day, he had to receive several people who came to buy titles.

  The money received every day is enough to drive people crazy.

  Doing business like this also makes life more fulfilling. However, there are also times when trouble is encountered. Today, Zou Mou met with some trouble.

  He had no choice but to go into the palace to see Liu Feng.

  The Crown Prince's Palace, inside the east wing.

  Zou Zhan reported to Liu Feng, who was sitting on the throne: "Your Highness, today three people came. They are all big merchants traveling between north and south, and they all want to buy a title. However, because the goods in their hands have not been sold out, they are relatively anxious. So they found me and asked if it is possible to use the goods as gold to buy a title."

  "What goods? Can they be sold quickly?" Unexpectedly, Liu Feng was also stunned when he heard this, but immediately said.

  This account is also relatively easy to calculate. If you can sell quickly, it doesn't matter if the goods are stored in your hands for a while. After all, it's all cost-free business.

  The more you do, the more you earn. Where can you find such a good thing? It's all about catching one and counting as one.

  "They are all leather goods, horses, and hemp. Not easy to get rid of." Zou Zhu said with a shake of his head immediately after hearing this.

  "These are all good stuff." Liu Feng exclaimed with delight immediately.

  Leather goods, horses, hemp and so on are too important. They are all indispensable things in the army. He not only needs to recruit soldiers and buy horses to capture Xudu in a short period of time, but also needs more troops even after capturing Xudu successfully.

  To contend against all the vassals of the empire. These things are indispensable. And now these things have been sent to his doorstep, Liu Feng would be strange if he didn't feel delighted.

  However, a strange thought suddenly arose in Liu Feng's mind. These were all things used by the military, how could they not be sold? Cao Cao was the biggest buyer after all.

  Really?

  Liu Feng's eyes flashed, and he was greatly shocked.