Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

Zhu Shan stared at Chen Lang blankly, unable to recover for a long time.

Chen Lang was not in a hurry. He picked up the wine glass and sipped it slowly.

After Chen Lang finished his glass of wine, Zhu Shan let out a long breath and said, "Brother Chen, I really didn't expect to hear such words from you."

Chen Lang smiled and said, "Because I'm a businessman, do you think I should speak for businessmen unconditionally?"

Zhu Shan nodded.

Chen Lang said, "It is precisely because I am a businessman that I understand the bad habits of businessmen even better."

"Of course, this world is full of businessmen with noble sentiments who care about their country and their people. For example, I... Haha, allow me to brag a little."

"But the vast majority of businessmen cannot resist when faced with the temptation of profit."

"Once this group of merchants does something bad, the entire merchant community will be affected."

"It's a bit sad to say that if one merchant does something evil, then the people will think that all merchants in the world are evil."

"But if a student does something evil, the people won't spread that evil to the entire student body."

"In this situation, as a businessman, if I want to protect my own interests, I can only hope that the law can restrain all merchants in the world."

"That's why I suggested to Lord Chang and Lord Wang that they enact an advertising bill and a copyright bill."

"Although the bill puts shackles on merchants, it also indirectly gives them more space."

Zhu Shan stood up again, bowed to Chen Lang, and said, "Brother Chen, I have benefited greatly from your words. Please accept my greeting."

Chen Lang hurriedly helped Zhu Shan up and said, "Brother Zhu, there's no need to do this. Get up quickly."

After Zhu Shan sat down again, Chen Lang asked, "Brother Zhu, are you preparing to take up your new post elsewhere?"

Zhu Shan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter and said, "Brother Chen is very insightful. I can't hide anything from you after all."

"The powerful noble I offended was demoted for embezzling state funds... Another noble in the capital wrote me a letter, asking me to go to the capital and lobby for a position. Perhaps I'll have a chance to fill a vacancy."

"I... eventually still want to make a difference in the officialdom. Brother Chen, please don't laugh at my desire for power."

Chen Lang smiled calmly and said, "Cultivating oneself, managing the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world are the creeds of scholars. It's quite normal."

"Although I haven't been in Linshui for a long time, I have witnessed the thriving business scene here. In addition to what Brother Chen said just now, if I can really become an official one day, I will definitely do my best to put all of this into practice." Zhu Shan said seriously.

Chen Lang said: "Then you must be prepared for a protracted war."

"Business along the waterfront is so prosperous because it has another identity: a trading place."

"If it were any other ordinary prefecture or county, it would be very difficult to implement Linshui's approach. Not to mention that the imperial court is currently suppressing merchants. If you vigorously promote commerce, you are tantamount to opposing the imperial court."

Zhu Shan frowned and said, "There's one thing I can't figure out."

"Your Majesty, why is your attitude towards the Shang Party and the Shilin Party so erratic?"

"Abandoning the Shang Party, yet launching a war, seems to be an attempt to prove the Shang Party's value to the world."

"But on the other hand, Your Majesty has taken the initiative to seek a marriage alliance with the Liao Kingdom. This is clearly the path of the Shilin Party."

Chen Lang was stunned and asked, "Marriage?"

"You don't know yet?" Zhu Shan said, "Our dynasty took the initiative to propose a marriage alliance, and in return, the Liao Kingdom withdrew its troops."

Chen Lang scratched his head and said, "This is the first time I've heard of it."

Zhu Shan sighed, "The Han Dynasty also used this method of marriage alliance. But that was when foreign barbarians came to propose marriage, and the Han princesses married them."

"But we in Dayan took the initiative to send the princess there, which is completely different from the Han Dynasty."

“It’s actually quite shameful.”

"So I don't understand why His Majesty's attitude is so erratic."

Chen Lang thought, isn’t this just Zhu Qiyu of the Great Yan Dynasty? He wanted to be cruel, but couldn’t be completely cruel.

The internal strife among the Liao princes was the best opportunity to send troops, but they only dared to attack Western Xia.

The victory against the Western Xia brought threats from the Liao Kingdom. It was time to fight a war directly with the Liao Kingdom. Even if we lost, we still had the option of negotiation.

Besides, you may not necessarily lose.

As a result, the Western Xia withdrew its troops after taking Xiazhou, and the Liao Kingdom surrendered without even fighting, and lost a princess for nothing.

During his twenty years as an emperor, he relied heavily on merchants and amassed wealth crazily. He finally achieved a crushing victory over the Liao Kingdom and Western Xia in terms of military equipment, and ended up taking Xiazhou.

You have to know that Xiazhou is not an important city, and Xixia would not feel sad even if it lost Xiazhou.

The emperor was satisfied with Xiazhou, the merchants gave it up, and the princess was given away.

What's the difference between this and Zhu Qiyu who, after taking the throne, only placed Zhu Qizhen under house arrest instead of killing him?

After Zhu Qizhen regained the throne, he killed all of Zhu Qiyu's descendants.

If the emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty abandoned merchants, he might lose the throne because of them.

Wait, something doesn't seem right.

If the emperor really wanted to suppress merchants, he would not have sent Chang Anmin to Linshui to serve as the county magistrate.

"You are right. The emperor's attitude is indeed difficult to understand." Chen Lang said seriously.

"But the way to be an official is to seek benefits for the people. Figuring out the intentions of the superiors is secondary."

Zhu Shan said, "Mr. Chen is absolutely right."

Chen Lang asked, "By the way, which princess is so unlucky as to be sent to the Liao Kingdom as a marriage alliance?"

Zhu Shan said, "I heard it was... Yongjia?"

Chen Lang blinked: "Why does this name sound so familiar?"

"Oh my god... is it her?"

……

After saying goodbye to Zhu Shan, Chen Lang took Xiao Huihui back home.

Li Xiuzhi complained, "Why did you take so long? Didn't you realize you were injured?"

"Hurry up and sit down. I'll help you change the medicine."

Chen Lang sat down with a smile.

Li Xiuzhi came forward, her nostrils flaring as she asked, "Have you been drinking?"

Chen Lang said: "I met Zhu Shan and had a couple of drinks with him."

"You're injured, how can you drink?" Li Xiuzhi said angrily. "That Zhu Shan is also wrong. He knew you were injured but still forced you to drink. That's too much."

Chen Lang took Li Xiuzhi's hand and said, "Don't be angry. I promise you that I won't drink a drop of alcohol until your injury is healed."

"And don't be too harsh on Brother Zhu. He has the hope of becoming an official again, so he should be happy."

Li Xiuzhi was stunned for a moment and said, "He's going to be an official?"

Chen Lang said, "We will be going to the capital in a few days."

"Guoguo, Cuicui and Ninth Sister don't have a teacher to teach them anymore." Li Xiuzhi said.

Chen Lang said, "I'm still here. During the next period of time, I will teach them their homework at home."

Li Xiuzhi said, "That's what you said."

Chen Lang looked at Li Xiuzhi, but in the end he didn't tell her what Chang Anmin and Wang Yunzhang had said to him.

Let's observe and see. If the situation is really not right, then just run away.

While Chen Lang was considering whether to run away, Chang Anmin came to the Market Control Office and met with Wang Yunzhang.

"He also came to visit you?" Chang Anmin asked.

Wang Yunzhang nodded.

"I didn't tell him."

"No, but looking at that kid, I feel like he's going to run away."

"Under heaven, all land belongs to the king. Where could he run to? I just don't understand why it had to be him."

"Perhaps...it's still related to Master Xiao. In the eyes of many people, Master Xiao is Chen Lang's backer."

"If he doesn't come back, it will be a great loss to the country."

"Doesn't Chen Lang have a good relationship with Lord Zhu? I heard that before Lord Zhu left for the war, he even asked Chen Lang to cook a meal. When Lord Zhu comes back, I'll tell him about this. Maybe there will be a turnaround."

"hope so……"