Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

It's not that Li Shen looked down on Japan; it's just the main fact.

According to Di Renjie's intelligence, the area they were in, which was supposedly the territory of several powerful figures, was only the size of a county.

They only have a little over a thousand people under their command; they can't afford to support more than that.

If there is a war, we can conscript some able-bodied men, but the civilians are starving and have no combat experience, so they are just cannon fodder.

Otherwise, with Li Shen building such a large city there, it would have been coveted long ago.

The mere fact that Li Shen sent five thousand slave soldiers intimidated all the gentry and nobles in the surrounding area.

Everyone knows that the city was built by a prince of a superpower in the east, who was the emperor's own son.

"I see, I've learned something new. I really didn't know much about them." Li Chengqian suddenly realized.

"It's nothing. Japan is weak and located overseas, so it's normal that you don't understand it, brother."

Li Shen, however, thought this was normal; who would care about the existence of ants?

Japan posed absolutely no threat to the Tang Dynasty, and this has been the case throughout history. Moreover, they have frequently come to pay tribute since the Han Dynasty, displaying a completely subservient attitude.

Even Li Shen wouldn't constantly pay attention to the situation of the servants in his household.

"Tenth Brother, why are you suddenly interested in the Japanese envoy?" Li Chengqian suddenly asked.

His younger brother wouldn't do anything without a reason, so why would he suddenly notice the Japanese envoy?

"Well... it's nothing really. I used to know a Japanese envoy, something like Inu-gami,"

I didn't see him today, so I was curious and asked him.

Li Shen hesitated for a moment before explaining.

"Tenth Brother, do you have some plans in mind? Why don't you tell me? Perhaps I can help you out?"

Li Chengqian sensed that Li Shen was hiding something and asked him directly.

"This..." Li Shen looked around and realized there were too many people. Behind him was his father, and next to Li Chengqian were Li Tai and Li Zhi.

At this moment, the two were listening to their conversation, so Li Shen shook his head and said:

"Brother, we need to talk this privately. There are outsiders here, so it's not convenient."

"Hmph." Upon hearing Li Shen refer to outsiders, Li Zhi immediately snorted.

"Hey, Tenth Brother, do you treat your elder brother like an outsider?" Li Tai said angrily.

"Fourth Brother, you misunderstand. I meant that the others are outsiders, but how can you, Fourth Brother, be an outsider?"

Li Shen said something.

"Then you might as well say what you have to say so I can hear it. If you need anything, I can help you out."

Li Tai immediately came over, sensing that Li Shen must have some kind of money-making plan.

"Fourth Brother, I do have some plans, and they're plans to make money, but they require a lot of money."

"Fourth Brother, even if I were willing to take you on as a team, would you dare to invest money in our partnership?"

Li Shen looked at Li Tai with disdain.

"What's there to be afraid of? As long as we make money, that's all that matters. How much investment do you think is needed?"

Li Tai said firmly.

"Five hundred thousand strings of cash, and I'll give you a 30% bonus. What do you think?" Li Shen held out a hand.

"Five...five hundred thousand strings of cash? And that's only a 30% profit margin? What big business do you need that much money for?"

Wouldn't that require an investment of millions of strings of cash?

"Tenth Brother, you mustn't lie to me."

Li Tai was shocked when he heard this. Was this tenth brother going to use this opportunity to trick him again?

Li Shen chuckled:

"Hehe, you see, when I say I'll take you out to play, you're too scared. If I don't take you out, you say I'm not family."

Sigh, being your brother is really tough.

Li Shen sighed and shook his head as he spoke.

"That's because you always trick me," Li Tai retorted.

"Now that I've told you, are you willing to invest? It's only 500,000 strings of cash, but if it succeeds, you can earn a million."

Li Shen's face was full of temptation.

Upon seeing this, Li Tai hesitated. This guy couldn't possibly be so kind; offering 500,000 strings of cash right off the bat was definitely a scam.

But then he started to wonder, what if it were true? Although his relationship with Li Shen wasn't exactly close, it wasn't hostile either.

Would he really cheat himself out of 500,000 strings of cash?

Two opposing ideas are constantly at odds.

On one hand, he was certain that Li Shen was lying to him, but on the other hand, he still held onto a sliver of hope that if he succeeded, he could become a millionaire.

Only Li Chengqian gave Li Shen a look that said not to go too far. He understood that Li Shen could not possibly make money with Li Tai.

It's already good enough that they're not being ripped off; it's obvious that Li Shen is setting a trap.

"So, Fourth Brother, are you interested or not? If not, don't ask any more questions, and don't say that I didn't help you with business."

Seeing that Li Tai remained silent, Li Shenfa asked.

"What deal?"

Suddenly a voice rang in Li Shen's ear, startling him.

Turning around, he saw Li Shimin with a flushed face, looking at his sons with blurry, drunken eyes.

Sometime later, their father had finished the game and was listening to their conversation.

"Hehehe, Father misheard. There's no business involved."

We're just talking about how to do business.

Li Shen quickly gave a sheepish smile and explained.

"Is that so?" Li Shimin asked the others.

“Yes, Father, the tenth prince is indeed talking about business. He said he would take me into business and ask me to invest 500,000 strings of cash.”

Before Li Chengqian could speak, Li Tai told the truth.

"Crack~"

Li Shimin tapped Li Shen on the head.

"Hmph, I knew you wouldn't be honest, you rebellious son. Do you think I don't take deceiving the emperor seriously?"

Li Shimin snorted angrily.

This son now treats deceiving the emperor like it's nothing, he just spouts nonsense.

"Father, please calm down. I was just joking with Fourth Brother. There was no business involved."

Besides, even if it were possible, Fourth Brother wouldn't dare get involved; he'd have to cooperate with Father instead.

Li Shen covered his head and smiled apologetically.

"Well, that would be best. So, tell me what kind of business you'd like to do?"

Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction.

“Father, there are outsiders here, it’s not appropriate to make a scene. Let’s talk privately.” Li Shen gestured to indicate that there were outsiders present.

Li Shimin nodded, but still reminded him:

"Tenth brother, he is your fourth brother. Don't lie to him anymore. It's not easy for him to earn money. If you swindle him out of it, he'll have to ask your mother for help."

"Then who am I lying to?" Upon hearing his father's words, Li Shen blurted out reflexively, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had said the wrong thing.

Just as he was about to explain, Li Shimin punched him hard, causing Li Shen to fall backward and land directly on top of Li Chengqian.

"Oh my god!" Li Shen cried out, rubbing the spot where he had been hit, trying hard to hold his breath.

This completely blew Li Shen away. A fist the size of a sandbag pounded on his chest, and Li Shen couldn't take it.

His face turned red, and he rubbed his chest vigorously. Li Chengqian quickly helped Li Shen catch his breath.

"Father, are you trying to beat your son to death?"