Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

"As individuals, we have little influence, but what if we form a cooperative? We can borrow money and buy two large spinning wheels and a stone mill. The strong men will cut wood and quarry stone to build a simple workshop, while the carpenters will install and adjust the machinery. The skilled women will spin yarn, weave cloth, and grind flour! After deducting the profits for food and essential expenses, we will pay according to our work, and the rest will go towards repaying the loan! In one year, just one year! We can pay off the principal and interest and establish a foundation for our own survival!"

His proposal ignited a fire among the desperate crowd.

After several discussions and nominations, a cooperative consisting of more than 30 refugee households took shape.

Relying on his ability to read and write, Wang Mao came to the Tongbao Pavilion branch in the name of the cooperative, bringing several village elders as guarantors.

They were received by a young accountant.

When he learned the details of the situation and plans of this special group.

After carefully checking the credit of the village elder who served as the guarantor, a look of surprise and a hint of imperceptible approval appeared on his face.

"This is unheard of. I'll ask my superiors for instructions."

The news was reported up the chain of command and finally landed on the desks of Chu Ying and Qin Ming.

Qin Ming was reading through the loan progress reports from various places.

When I saw this unique cooperative model, a gleam of light flashed in my eyes.

"Using collective lending to allow refugees to help each other produce and redeem themselves? Failed scholar Wang Mao... that's interesting."

Qin Ming put down the document and said to Chu Ying.

"Tell your subordinates that this is feasible. The loan amount will be based on their application, and the interest rate will remain the same. However, their use of funds and accounts must be closely monitored. A knowledgeable clerk should be assigned to provide regular guidance on production organization and allocation. If this works, this model could be expanded."

"Yes!"

Chu Ying responded, feeling quite curious.

It seems that Your Majesty's tactic of "teaching a man to fish" is really going to stir up a stagnant pool of water.

A few days later, Wang Mao returned to the shack area with a huge sum of 75 taels of money approved by Tongbao Pavilion, two spinning wheels worth 50 taels, a stone mill worth 20 taels, and 5 taels of raw materials.

He was greeted by thunderous cheers from the crowd and tears in the eyes of the village elders.

A simple but powerful workshop.

It was erected with difficulty but determination on a cleared piece of land next to a dilapidated temple outside the city.

The heavy stone mill was pushed by several men, making a dull but powerful friction sound.

The clatter of the spinning wheels was sparse, but it was the sound of dozens of ragged people.

The drumbeat of fighting hard for your own destiny for the first time.

Wang Mao directed and arranged production, as if he had found the meaning of life again.

Although the road ahead is still full of thorns, the road under our feet is finally no longer a quagmire.

The windows of the money shops were still bustling with people.

Sheets of household registration papers, each one bearing signs of hope and struggle, were solemnly handed in.

Each copy clearly had the amount of thirty or twenty-five taels printed on it.

The deed with the bright red Tongbao Pavilion seal was carefully put back into his arms.

The silver and money from the "Fumindai" (enriching the people's loans) passed through the huge gate of Tongbao Pavilion.

Finally, it is no longer just stagnant water flowing in the upper layers, but has become a living spring that nourishes the fertile soil below.

They bought spinning machines, water wheels, plowshares, good seeds, and a simple shop.

It also means buying the possibility of escaping slave-like employment and mastering the value of one's own labor.

The air was filled with a long-lost vitality.

Although the road is long, there is the shadow of noble jealousy in front and the pressure of repaying loans behind.

But everyone who holds that small deed and starts to activate their own means of production.

There is a small flame called "hope" burning in their eyes.

These tiny sparks are quietly gathering together to become a force that can start a prairie fire.

It shook the cold foundation of the Shenmu Kingdom, which was built by aristocratic monopoly and exploitation.

A silent transformation that starts from the bottom of the economy, is driven by technology, and is leveraged by capital.

It sprouted quietly in the spring breeze. It was no longer a game of imperial power, but of countless ordinary people.

For the first time, I straightened my back and began to try to grasp the spindle of my own destiny.

On the other side, Qin Ming's actions also attracted Hua Yunhong's attention.

Last night, several interior officials quickly ran to Hua Yunhong and reported the situation.

The dim candlelight flickered on the curtains of Hua Yunhong's bedroom.

The huge map of the Western Regions on the wall appeared to be flickering.

The air was filled with the lingering sweetness of the soothing incense, but it couldn't suppress the new surge of rusty tension.

Several interior officials were practically crawling on the cold gold brick floor.

The cold sweat from his forehead left a few dark wet marks on the smooth ground.

They had just been urgently summoned from outside the palace gate, and the early morning dew was still on their bodies.

"……His Majesty."

The leading Minister Wang had a dry voice and his Adam's apple rolled nervously.

I dared not look at the face shrouded in shadow above me.

"Latest... Latest breaking news! Under Qin Ming's instructions, Tongbao Pavilion is moving...moving like crazy!"

Hua Yunhong was leaning against the large rosewood imperial couch, with only a bright yellow nightgown loosely draped over his body.

A well-maintained hand was playing with a warm jade cup out of boredom.

Hearing this, he did not pause at all, his eyelids drooped slightly, as if admiring the luster of the jade cup flowing in the candlelight, and even his tone carried a hint of laziness and fatigue as if he had been disturbed.

"Oh? How mad were you? Tell me."

“It’s…it’s an oil mine!”

Another doctor, Liu, quickly took over, his voice becoming sharp and filled with undisguised panic.

"They're everywhere... practically everywhere! They're buying like crazy! Every place known or rumored to have even a little oil and gas, their caravans pounce like wolves scenting blood! The black oil sludge that used to be worthless in the wild mountains and wilderness... now, a barrel is being sold for twelve taels! And it's still rising!"

When Doctor Liu got excited, he leaned forward and almost raised his head.

But he was suddenly pinned to the spot by Hua Yunhong's cold gaze, and quickly shrank back.

"Twelve taels?"

Hua Yunhong finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it caused the temperature in the entire bedroom to drop by several degrees.

The jade cup in his hand was casually placed on the small table beside the couch, making a slight clicking sound.

He sat up straighter, the collar of his pajamas slightly open, revealing the lines of his muscular chest, but the corner of his mouth was raised in an arc that seemed to be a smile, with an indescribable sarcasm.

"Qin Ming, that kid, has quite the appetite. He used the money he got from my sacred tree to buy my sacred tree's black soup? Humph... Does he really think that the stinky stuff coming out of that mud pond can compare to the mountains of gold and silver piled up in my treasury? He's just trying to attract attention."

His words were full of condescending contempt, but His Highness's officials lowered their heads even lower.

No one dared to answer. Only the faint sound of breathing and the crackling of the candlelight were particularly clear in the dead silence.

"One more thing..."

Minister Wang's voice trembled imperceptibly. He took a deep breath and managed to report calmly, "The scale of Tongbao Pavilion's loans from banks across the country... has truly exceeded expectations."