On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The inner hall returned to silence again, leaving only Lin Zhen, Zhang Li, Huanbi, Qingwen, Chengxuan and the pile of gold and silver emitting a sarcastic light.

Zhang Li walked over to Lin Zhen and looked in the direction where Wang Youde was being dragged away, her eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "Husband, you asked him to hand over those legal land deeds and property titles. Are you trying to give him a taste of his own medicine?"

She seemed to have guessed Lin Zhen's intention, and a knowing smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Lin Zhen picked up the hot tea that Cheng Xuan had just offered him and gently blew away the foam. His eyes were as deep as a cold pond. "Hu County wants to build a special zone. It needs money. Lots of money. Building roads, harbors, cities, resettling refugees, recruiting craftsmen, which one of these won't be filled with gold and silver? The palace's wealth alone is far from enough. Don't even count on funding from the court."

He put down his teacup and glanced at the pile of gold and silver on the ground with a hint of disdain: "This little bit is just a drop in the bucket. The money Wang Youde has extorted from the people over the years, plus his land and houses, can only solve the immediate problem, but it can't support the construction of the entire special zone."

His voice suddenly turned cold, carrying with it a cold calculation of someone in control of the situation: "The real big fish are those merchants out there who have been intoxicated by the scent of the fertile soil and have been intoxicated by the divine soil! What they hold in their hands is the gold and silver mountain that can pry open the entire Huxian Special Zone!"

Zhang Li's eyes flashed. "My husband, are you planning to use Wang Youde as bait? And use those legal documents in his hands as hooks?"

"That's right!" Lin Zhen's lips curled up in a cold arc. "Wang Youde has been operating in Hu County for many years and has a complex network of connections. Those legal land deeds and house deeds in his hands, stamped with the county government seal, may not have come from legitimate sources, but they are legal and valid in official documents! This is the best hook!"

He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the dilapidated county town gradually sinking into the dusk, and spoke with a decisive voice:

"I want Wang Youde to issue a 'business invitation order' in the name of the Hu County Magistrate!"

"Investment invitation order?" Zhang Li, Huanbi and others showed curiosity in their eyes.

"Yes!" Lin Zhen turned around, his eyes gleaming. "In the name of developing the sacred Xirang soil and revitalizing Hu County's economy! It is announced that Hu County will establish a special economic zone, with development led by the imperial court! At the same time, in order to raise construction funds and give back to the hometown, Hu County, including Chongming Sandbar and its surrounding areas, is being publicly auctioned off. A total of... well, let's allocate him a 100,000-mu franchise for development and operation!"

"Franchise development and operation rights?" Zhang Li instantly grasped the key, her eyes bursting with great surprise and admiration. "My husband is brilliant! This is a brilliant plan!"

Lin Zhen nodded and continued, "This franchised development and operation right is limited to thirty years! The winner can carry out land development, port construction, commercial operations, and workshop establishment within the designated area according to the court's unified plan, enjoying thirty years of exclusive operating rights and income rights! After the expiration of the contract, the land and its fixtures will be reclaimed by the court!"

He paused, his voice laced with cunning. "Of course, the threshold for bidding on this operating right is high! Very high! First, bidders must pay a hefty deposit! Hmm... let's set it at 500,000 taels of silver! Also, only cash or equivalent gold, salt vouchers, or grain coupons will be accepted! No credit!"

"Five hundred thousand taels?!" Qingwen couldn't help but exclaim, her mouth opening into an O shape. "Husband! This...this is too much, right? Which merchant could come up with so much cash at once?"

Lin Zhen glanced at her, a hint of "You're still too young" in his eyes. "A lot? For the real big sea merchants, big salt merchants, and big grain merchants, 500,000 taels of silver is just a corner of their treasury! What's more, this is the sacred land of Xirang! It is a treasure trove that can bring endless wealth like the back of a divine tortoise, and it is the monopoly right to dominate a place for thirty years. In their eyes, this deposit is just a stepping stone! It's an admission ticket worth taking a gamble!"

He said firmly, "Believe me, as soon as the news gets out, those wealthy businessmen who have been so intoxicated by the legend of Xirang will sell everything they have to raise the money! They will even borrow money from each other in private and fight over this 'entrance ticket'!"

Zhang Li had completely understood Lin Zhen's intentions. She chimed in with excitement, "My husband wants to use this franchise as bait to lure those wealthy businessmen into paying a huge deposit! And once that money is in our pockets..."

Her eyes flashed with the shrewd light of a business queen. "But it's not up to them!"

"That's right!" Lin Zhen's eyes flashed coldly. "The auction will be personally presided over by Wang Youde, the magistrate of Hu County! The location will be at the county government office! As for the time, the sooner the better! In just one month! Create a tense atmosphere where time waits for no one and opportunity cannot be missed!"

There was no other way around it. In ancient times, transportation was slow, and it would take some time for the news to be passed on, discussed, and finally arrive in Hu County.

"The auction process needs to be grand and spectacular! Magnificent and magnificent! Make those businessmen feel that winning the operating rights is like obtaining the key to a mountain of gold and silver! Let them fight over it! Let them fight for it! Drive the price as high as possible! Ideally, it should be sky-high!"

"What then?" Huanbi asked softly, with a hint of pity in her eyes, "Husband, after they take the bid and pay the money, are we really going to give them the 100,000 acres of land?"

"Give it to them?" Lin Zhen sneered, as if he had just heard a huge joke. "How is that possible?!"

His voice suddenly turned cold, with a sense of control over everything:

"When the auction is over, the merchants' blood will have almost dried up! Wang Youde, the Hu County Magistrate's mission will also be accomplished! When the time comes, this prince will personally come forward!"

Lin Zhen walked to the main seat and slammed the table!

"Snapped!"

There was a crisp sound, and the teacup jumped!

"This prince will publicly announce this! After investigation, it has been determined that the former Hu County Magistrate, Wang Youde, was corrupt and perverted the law, deceiving the emperor and his superiors! The so-called special development and management franchise he presided over auctioned was based on land ownership documents that were obtained through embezzlement and were obtained illegally! His auction was conducted without the authorization of the court and was purely personal fraud! Therefore, the results of this auction are invalid! All transaction contracts are void!"

There was a glint of ice in his eyes:

"As for the huge deposits..." Lin Zhen's lips curled up in a cold and cunning arc, "Since it is stolen money, it must be confiscated according to the law! It will be used for the construction of the Huxian Special Economic Zone!"

"hiss--!"

Several suppressed gasps echoed in the inner hall! Even the usually calm Zhang Li and Qingxia showed shock in their eyes!

So cruel!

Great!

What a great way to remove the firewood from under the cauldron and get something for nothing!

Using Wang Youde, a corrupt official who was doomed to die, as a puppet, they issued false investment orders and auction announcements; they used the legend of the Xirang miracle and the huge temptation of the franchise to attract greedy businessmen to pay astronomical deposits; and then they took advantage of Wang Youde's own crimes and turned against them instantly after the auction, declaring the auction invalid and the contract void, and legally swallowed up the huge deposit in the name of "confiscating stolen money"!

This set of combined punches is interconnected and seamless!

Those merchants who were infatuated with Xirang were like prey caught in a well-designed trap. They lost all the huge deposits they invested, but they had no place to appeal!

Because on the surface, it was the corrupt official Wang Youde who defrauded them, and the wise and brave Crown Prince simply punished the corrupt official according to the law, confiscated the stolen money, and eliminated the harm to the people!

They can only swallow their anger and bear the consequences!

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!" Zhang Li exclaimed sincerely, her eyes filled with admiration for Lin Zhen. "My husband, this plan is truly a masterful one! It not only eliminates corrupt officials, but also raises a massive amount of funds for the construction of the Special Zone. Furthermore, it manipulates those profiteers who speculate and attempt to monopolize the sacred land! Killing three birds with one stone! Brilliant!"

Huanbi and Qingwen also understood, and Qingwen clapped her hands excitedly: "Husband is so awesome! Those profiteers deserve it! Let them try to take advantage! Now they will lose everything!"

Lin Zhen's face didn't show much pride. He gazed deeply at the dusk outside the window. "This is just the first step. Money is just a tool. The real test is how to use this money to truly develop Hu County, benefit the people, and make this fertile land a true source of wealth for Daqian in the future."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhang Li. "Li'er, you'll need to pay more attention to the next matter. Mao Mengji will keep a close eye on Wang Youde. You're an expert in the details of the auction, the venue layout, the dissemination of information, and how to convince those merchants of the authenticity and authority of the auction, how to stir up the atmosphere, and how to make them willingly pay the 500,000 taels deposit."

Zhang Li's eyes gleamed with confidence, and she nodded slightly. "Don't worry, my husband. Playing with people's hearts, manipulating merchants, and creating momentum are my forte. I will definitely make this play a grand spectacle, and have those merchants rushing to give me money!"

"Okay!" Lin Zhen nodded, "Ergou!"

"I'm here!" Ergou, like a shadow, appeared again silently behind the screen.

"Immediately bring your men and mobilize all your secret contacts to spread the news of the discovery of Xirang in Hu County, the imminent establishment of a special economic zone by this prince in Hu County, and the auction of the franchised development and management rights that will be personally presided over by County Magistrate Wang Youde in a month. Spread it as quickly and as exaggeratedly as possible! Targets—Yangzhou, Jinling, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Songjiang, in short, all the wealthy places in Jiangnan! All the powerful sea merchants, salt merchants, grain merchants, and silk tycoons. I want this news to spread like a plague throughout Jiangnan overnight! Let those merchants, like sharks smelling blood, recklessly pounce on Hu County!"

"I obey your command!" Ergou's eyes flashed, he bowed and accepted the order, then his figure flashed and disappeared into the shadows again.

Lin Zhen's gaze finally fell on Cheng Xuan. "Xuan Xuan, the security of the county government office and the guarding of Wang Youde are in your hands. On the day of the auction, you must maintain absolute control inside and outside the venue! Anyone who dares to cause trouble, question, or attempt armed resistance..."

A cold light flashed in his eyes, "Kill without mercy!"

"Yes!" Cheng Xuan clasped his fists and accepted the order. His voice was as cold as ice, and a murderous aura emanated from his body!

The inner hall fell silent again.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting long, twisted shadows on the ground.

Lin Zhen stood alone in front of the window, looking at the dilapidated and numb county town outside shrouded in dusk.

His figure appeared particularly tall and lonely in the light and shadow.