Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Throughout history, nobles have always been the owners of resources, and they would get involved in anything that made money.

Li Shen had anticipated this.

Seeing themselves making money, how could these nobles possibly resist the lucrative opportunity presented by the betting game?

With so many noble families in Chang'an, it would be strange if no one was involved with Li Shen.

"It's only 40-50%, let them be happy for now, and then we'll make them spit it all out."

Li Shen sneered.

"Then Your Highness's plan is..." Wang Hongfu looked at Li Shen expectantly; he was now very interested in such challenging things.

The Ji Prince's Mansion is already an invincible force in the business world. As the head manager, he has lived a very mundane life these past few years, without any joy.

I often reminisce about the days when I followed Prince Ji in battle, the feeling of strategizing and winning battles from afar.

He held the power of life and death, manipulating powerful families and nobles at will.

This is the thing Wang Hongfu is most proud of over the years. Ten years ago, he would never have dared to dream of it.

"No rush. Keep an eye on them all. We'll implement the plan when the football tournament starts next spring. Don't alert them yet."

By the way, what stage is the football match at?

Li Shen wasn't in a hurry. Since he couldn't play football right now, this matter could only be carried out once the league started.

"Your Highness, according to your regulations, the group stage has just finished, eliminating half of the teams. There are still twenty teams left to compete in the round-robin next year."

Wang Hongfu replied. All the rules and regulations had been established by Prince Ji before his departure; he only needed to follow them.

Li Shen nodded in satisfaction:

"That's right, the longer the competition lasts, the more money we make. Also, tell those spoiled brats to train harder and make the competition more entertaining."

Starting next year, advertising will also be accepted, and bidding will be conducted through chambers of commerce. The same applies to the sports team.

It's not just about making money from betting; everything else needs to be profitable. Sports reports need to be more detailed, providing people with topics to discuss over tea.

"Your Highness, many people want to participate in the guessing game, but our minimum bet is one hundred coins, which ordinary people simply cannot afford."

"I think we should loosen the price a bit," Wang Hongfu cautiously reported.

"No, it's not easy for ordinary people to earn money. Our betting platform is mainly for merchants. I've told you before that these ordinary merchants are called the middle class."

We're better off than ordinary people, but worse off than those wealthy merchants and nobles; we make our money off these kinds of people.

Give them the luxury they want, give them the face they deserve, and in return, you'll get their money.

We may be businessmen, but we don't need to cheat ordinary people, understand?

Li Shen flatly refused. He had always said that if he was going to make money, he should make money from the rich, not from ordinary people.

Even if ten million commoners each ate ten coins, it would only amount to one hundred thousand strings of cash. But if one hundred thousand middle-class people each ate one string of cash, it would amount to one hundred thousand strings of cash.

Ten strings of cash are nothing to them; they can earn a million strings of cash in one go.

This is much easier than serving ten million people.

Therefore, not taking advantage of the poor is Li Shen's business principle.

"Yes, I understand." Wang Hongfu quickly bowed. He knew that Prince Ji was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see the money that the people had worked so hard to earn go to waste.

"Your Highness, I have heard something else that might interest you."

Wang Hongfu looked up and smiled ingratiatingly.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Li Shen asked curiously.

"Your Highness, I have heard that His Majesty has also formed a team, and all the members are nobles, including Duke Lu, Duke E, Duke Ying, and Duke Xue."

Furthermore, I've heard that the Crown Prince is also forming a team after hearing this news, though the specific players haven't been revealed.

Wang Hongfu reported this in a low voice.

"What? There's such a thing? I was wondering why Your Majesty was acting so strangely after we left the game last time. So that's the reason."

Isn't this just causing trouble?

Upon hearing Wang Hongfu's words, Li Shen sat up abruptly. It seemed that his father had formed a team to prepare for the final match.

Who can beat them? Who dares to beat them?

Even the slightest physical contact could be considered an assassination attempt, and a referee blowing a whistle could be considered insubordination, resulting in certain death.

If the goalkeeper dares to catch the ball, it's considered an act of treason. He'll be branded a traitor and his entire family will be exterminated.

This isn't playing football, it's suicide. These guys on the team would have trouble even standing up, let alone playing football, when they see the Emperor.

"Your Highness, I think His Majesty is probably aiming for the championship, after all, this is the first Tang Dynasty Cup League."

Wang Hongfu guessed.

"It's not fear, it's certain. My father has always been competitive, and with this first Tang Dynasty Cup Football League being held by the King, he definitely wants to take first place."

Li Shen's tone was firm.

"Your Highness, I think that since His Majesty wants it, then let His Majesty take it. In any case, it doesn't affect our betting business no matter who gets first place."

Wang Xuance advised him, saying he didn't care and could even sell His Majesty a favor.

"You make it sound so simple. The last few matches are when we can make the most money betting. If my father were to participate in the finals, any team he faced would have to admit defeat."

The fairness of the competition is questionable, and winning or losing is a minor issue compared to the betting, which means we won't be able to determine the odds.

The odds can't be zero, right? As long as there's even a small odds, they're guaranteed to make a profit.

Our losses are considerable.

Li Shen felt that Wang Xuance was wrong. He was only in it to make money. He didn't care who won or lost, but what about the odds? Even if it was 10 to 1, Li Shen couldn't afford to lose.

His father is guaranteed to win in the competition; no one dares to beat him.

"This...it was my oversight." Wang Xuance ignored the betting aspect and only thought about flattering the emperor.

"No, we absolutely cannot let my father participate in the competition," Li Shenyi said resolutely, slapping his thigh.

“But Your Highness, if His Majesty wishes to participate, who would dare to stop him?” Wang Xuance reminded him.

"Hmm... how about we give them some laxatives so they can't participate in the competition?" Li Shen suggested a terrible idea.

Wang Hongfu was immediately terrified. The Prince of Ji had gone mad and had drugged His Majesty.

"Your Highness, you absolutely mustn't! Putting aside whether it will be effective or not, you can't just drug everyone, can you? Those are all Dukes."

The little man heard that there were fourteen or fifteen people in total. They even had substitutes prepared.

"To drug someone, unless Your Highness is... that would be even more dangerous than playing football."

Wang Hongfu strongly advised against it, saying that drugging the players would be useless since they had substitutes, unless all the players were drugged.

Or they might drug the emperor, which would be tantamount to suicide.

(Does anyone know what to eat on the Double Ninth Festival? It's a traditional Chinese festival.)