Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Li Shimin's team formation caught Li Shen off guard; the most profitable time is when you're betting on the final semi-finals and finals.

If his father gets involved, who will dare to play football against the emperor? In the end, they definitely won't make any money.

And it will also result in a significant financial loss.

Li Shen lay on his bed, his eyes vacant, his mind racing with countermeasures.

"You mean the Crown Prince is also planning to build an army?"

Li Shen turned over to face Wang Hongfu.

"Yes, Your Highness, I heard that a team is being formed, but I don't know the specific personnel."

Wang Hongfu nodded.

"Sigh, one wave subsides only for another to rise. I only wanted to make football a form of entertainment for the whole nation, but how did it end up with everyone wanting to get involved?"

"They're not treating me like a human being."

Li Shen lay back down, looking at the ceiling, his tone full of resentment.

After pondering for a long time, Li Shen suddenly sat up:

"Alright, since everyone wants to play, let's all play. I'll also form a team, and then we'll see who's the best."

Li Shen's face was contorted with rage. Since things had already come to this, he figured he might as well let things descend into chaos and perhaps even profit from it.

"Your Highness is also forming a team? If so, does Your Highness intend to beat His Majesty?"

Upon hearing Li Shen's words, Wang Xuance asked in surprise.

It's obvious that Prince Ji formed the team with His Majesty's back in mind. This son is indeed rebellious, not even sparing his own father for money.

"Football competition is all about fairness and impartiality. When I started the football league, I promised that the entire league must be fair and impartial and there must be no cheating."

Whether we can beat my dad depends on our own ability, and whether we can win the championship also depends on my dad and his teammates' ability. It's fair competition.

Li Shen said with a serious face.

However, Wang Xuance thought to himself, "You're playing football with a bunch of old men in their fifties, and you still have the nerve to call it fair and just?"

Many of those dukes were over sixty years old.

The team members that Ji Wang recruits must be young men in their twenties, full of vigor and vitality. There is no comparison between the two.

"Yes, it's settled then. After the New Year, I will select players from the Imperial Guard. It seems that the Imperial Guard already has a team."

The New Year is just around the corner. You've all been busy all year, it's time to take a break and go home for a good New Year.

Your year-end bonus will be delivered to your home.

Xuan Ce, you should go back soon too. You've been away from home for more than half a year without coming back. Go home and visit.

Oh, right, Stone, later I'll have the Princess get some fabric for Chief Secretary Wang so he can make some clothes for his wife and children back home. Hmm... I'll also have the Princess pick out a few pieces of jewelry to take home for his wife and daughters.

Have the princess prepare a few more copies, one for Manager Wang, Pei Mingli, and Xue Rengui.

Di Renjie's share will also be prepared and sent to his family along with his year-end bonus.

Tell the princess that Di Renjie's share is heavier. He was just a child who traveled thousands of miles to Japan for the sake of the royal family, leaving his homeland behind. It was truly not easy for him.

The Prince's Mansion cannot mistreat him.

Li Shen originally only wanted to make arrangements for Wang Xuance, after all, Wang Xuance had followed him so far and stayed for so long.

But then he thought of Xue Rengui, who had also traveled thousands of miles with him to Kucha, and he couldn't show favoritism.

Since we're going to bestow rewards, let's do it all, leaving one person out but not the whole group.

Wang Xuance's home was in Chang'an City, in the same neighborhood as Xue Rengui and Wang Hongfu, and it was a residence arranged by the Prince Ji's mansion.

All three of them also owned a large mansion and fertile land in Dahuangzhuang.

Their families lived in the city, and occasionally they would stay at the imperial estate for a period of time. Their lives were better than those of most officials.

However, due to the constraints of etiquette and law, it is not possible to overstep these boundaries.

Li Shen treated the three of them better than any other official, and even Wang Hongfu's salary exceeded that of a prince.

This is what is known as "spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones"—with such generous terms, they would be willing to die for it.

"Your subject thanks Your Highness Prince Ji for the reward."

"This humble servant thanks Your Highness for the reward."

Wang Xuance and Wang Hongfu quickly expressed their gratitude, for the gifts bestowed by Prince Ji were far from ordinary; many of them were not permitted to purchase or use.

However, they can use anything that is bestowed by the King of Ji.

"Alright, you have all served me for so many years, working diligently and conscientiously, and I have seen it all."

Wang Hongfu, I have deducted your salary for this year because of your dereliction of duty, which has damaged my reputation, not because of a small financial loss.

I hope you will learn from this and not blame me for being harsh on you.

You should know that since you are following me to investigate this matter, my Prince Ji's mansion has made countless enemies, and the entire Tang Dynasty is watching us. We cannot afford to make any mistakes.

Otherwise, someone will seize on your weaknesses, and you could easily be ruined and never be able to recover.

At that time, it won't just be me who suffers; all the more than a thousand people in my Prince Ji's mansion, including you and your families, as well as the tens of thousands of people who are dependent on the mansion, will not have a good end.

"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken; I hope you will not blame me."

Li Shen's expression was serious, and his words were earnest.

Wang Hongfu was deeply moved and knelt down in front of Li Shen with a thud, his eyes moist and tears streaming down his face.

"Your Highness, I deserve to die for my crimes, for I have brought shame upon your reputation. I accept my punishment willingly, without a trace of resentment."

If it weren't for Your Highness's rescue back then, I might have already lost my family and my home. I am also grateful that Your Highness did not abandon me and allowed me to follow you and serve you.

Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. The Prince has trusted me greatly and treated me well. I have no way to repay him except with my lowly life.

"I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness, to serve you with utmost loyalty, and to be your servant for life."

After saying this, Wang Hongfu solemnly kowtowed, prostrated himself on the ground, and wept bitterly.

"Very well, I believe you. Stone, quickly help Manager Wang up." Li Shen's eyes were also red, and he looked very moved.

"Old Wang, I am very pleased that you don't blame me. The Ji Prince's estate still needs you to manage it. With you here, I can rest assured."

Li Shen wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief as he spoke. (Free reading of Tomato Novels)

But in my heart I sighed. People in this era are really simple-minded. As long as you treat them well, they will be loyal to you.

Unlike later generations who are so driven by self-interest, a little manipulation can yield unexpected results.

For businessmen like Wang Hongfu, you need to keep them in check every now and then, but constant pressure won't work, as it's easy for them to backfire.

Furthermore, one should show kindness and make them feel grateful; the best approach is to combine kindness with severity.

Just like Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West, he didn't just know how to chant the Tightening-Headband Mantra. When it got cold, he even sewed a tiger-skin skirt for Sun Wukong.

(First of all, thank you to book lover Yassen Luoping from Yongpingfang for the generous donation. I wish you good health, a happy family, a prosperous business, and a fortune every day.)

I don't know if he saw this, but thank you very much.