Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Inside the Prince's residence, Li Ye was focused on handling official business sent from various parts of Shu County.

"My lord, something terrible has happened! Tax officials from all over the country have reported that there are serious problems with the summer grain collection!"

A sharp call instantly shattered his focused attention.

Without even looking up, Li Ye asked directly, "What's wrong? Is it because we can't collect the grain tax?"

"No, sir, the taxes have been collected, but not in kind; most of it is in cash."

Li Ye's hand holding the pen paused involuntarily, and his face instantly darkened.

"What did you say? You only accepted silver?"

"Yes sir."

Li Ye immediately stood up and turned to look at the map of the entire Shu Commandery.

"Are the tax collectors in various places collecting grain?"

"Yes."

"Fell into a trap!"

Li Ye immediately understood what had happened.

"Immediately summon all officials in the prefecture and return as soon as possible."

He finally understood the grain merchants' intentions: they were trying to drive the Shu region to its doom.

……

Inside the official residence, Shen Lang leisurely brewed tea and fiddled with the beads on his wrist.

Zhen Yi, who was standing to the side, said, "Duke Zhenguo, the harvesting of new grain has begun in various parts of Shu County. Although we have encountered obstruction from gentry such as the Zhao family, the overall progress of the harvesting is going very smoothly."

Shen Lang: "Keep going and make sure to harvest all the grain from the self-cultivating farmers by mid-August. Once the grain supply in Shu is cut off, the goal of converting rice paddies to mulberry fields will be achieved."

Zhen Yi nodded: "Li Ye will not sit idly by. I think he will definitely launch a counterattack next."

Shen Lang picked up the teacup, brought it to his nose and smelled it, then suddenly blurted out: "How do you think he will retaliate?"

Zhen Yi: "Unite with the gentry to completely obstruct the grain collection progress."

……

Inside the Prince's Palace meeting hall, all the prominent officials and local powerful families of the capital were in place.

Li Ye, seated at the head of the table, gave a deep snort and said, "Gentlemen, I believe you have all felt the changes that have recently occurred in Shu."

Grain merchants from outside Sichuan are currently buying up our new grain in large quantities. In previous years, with Sichuan's grain reserves, there was no need to worry about their purchases.

But that won't work now. Since the policy of converting rice paddies to mulberry fields was implemented last year, the amount of arable land in Sichuan has decreased significantly. If they are allowed to continue harvesting and transporting grain out of Sichuan...

It seems that in the second half of the year, this so-called "Land of Abundance" will soon descend into a state of famine and devastation. The situation is urgent.

"I hope that you esteemed families of Shu will lend me a hand and help the Prince stabilize the situation in Shu."

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately began to whisper among themselves.

After a long silence, Yi Wancheng, the richest man in Sichuan, stood up and said, "Sir, just tell us directly, how do you want us to help you?"

Li Ye: "Very well, since Master Yi has spoken, then I will not stand on ceremony. I invite everyone to join me in vying to seize the grain from those grain merchants."

……

Inside the official residence of the imperial court.

"An alliance? Heh..."

Shen Lang couldn't help but laugh when he heard Zhen Yi's words.

Zhen Yi: "Duke Zhenguo, what are you laughing at?"

Shen Lang picked up the tea tongs and handed a small cup of Kung Fu tea to Zhen Yi's table.

After he accepted the tea, Shen Lang explained, "If it's just a joint effort, then there's nothing to worry about."

"what for?"

Zhen Yi held the tea, puzzled.

"Manager Zhen, after generations of merchants, you don't even understand such a simple principle? Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—each profession has its own way of life."

The key to their friendship lies in mutual benefit; if their interests no longer align, will they come together?

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yi pondered for a moment and then suddenly realized what was going on.

But then he hesitated, "What if some alternative benefit is achieved?"

Shen Lang was taken aback upon hearing this, but picked up his teacup without expression.

……

Inside the Prince's Palace meeting hall, the conditions proposed by Li Ye caused a great stir.

Yi Wancheng said, "Lord Li, it's not that we're unwilling to cooperate, but the prices those grain merchants are offering are simply too high."

If we also charge this price, wealthy families who aren't well-off might lose everything.

Business people are driven by profit; why would anyone do something that offers no real benefit?

Yi Wancheng's words immediately resonated with the other aristocratic officials present.

Upon hearing this, Li Ye's face turned extremely ugly.

These guys are only thinking about immediate gains at this point; they really don't care about the bigger picture.

"Unless Lord Li can make a decision on behalf of the Prince and is willing to subsidize part of our grain collection costs."

Yi Wancheng didn't want to strain his relationship with Li Ye, so he added another sentence.

Li Ye replied, "The Prince's mansion doesn't have much silver left in its accounts, as you all know."

The looms added last year due to the conversion of rice paddies to mulberry fields, along with the recruitment of female workers, all cost a fortune, leaving little money available at the moment.

Yi Wancheng: "How about this? We can raise the money for the grain ourselves, as if it were a loan to the Prince's Mansion. However, we would need something from the Prince's Mansion as collateral."

What do you want as collateral?

"Weaving workshop".

As soon as Yi Wancheng spoke, Li Ye immediately objected: "Impossible. The weaving workshop is the prince's life's work; it would never be mortgaged to you."

"Then, that's going to be difficult."

Yi Wancheng spread his hands, looking helpless.

"Lord Li, this is the best solution I can think of. I am just a businessman."

Knowing full well it's a losing proposition, they're still going to do it at great expense, all for the sake of the Prince's mansion and your reputation.

If Lord Li doesn't agree, then there's really nothing we can do.

Li Ye's face turned ashen: "Yi Wancheng, are you threatening me?"

"I wouldn't dare say that; I was merely stating the facts," Yi Wancheng said humbly. "Making a profit in business..."

The risks were anticipated; if I had even a 30% chance of making a profit, I wouldn't have made such a condition.

But right now, this is a deal that could result in total loss. Without any guarantees, Yi simply doesn't believe anyone would be willing to do it.

Surely the adults wouldn't try to force us to hand over the money, would they?

Li Ye remained silent and began to carefully consider the risks involved.

At this moment, someone said, "What is Lord Li so worried about? As long as the silk weaving workshop delivers the Shu brocade order this year, even a small amount can offset this debt, right?"

These words were like a wake-up call; Li Ye then realized that the silk from the weaving workshop could be exchanged for cash.

If that's the case, why worry about not being able to repay the loan?

Therefore, Li Ye decisively ordered: "Alright, I can draft the invoice for you on behalf of the Prince's Mansion."

Yi Wancheng immediately said, "Then let's set a timeframe of three months, within three months..."

Five months!

Li Ye interrupted him directly, holding up five fingers.

"The outstanding balance can be paid in full five months later!"

Seeing his resolute attitude, Yi Wancheng stopped insisting and, like a reed blown down by the wind, said: "Fine, for the sake of Lord Li and the Prince, then five months it will be!"

"Someone, bring the royal seal, writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Soon, both parties signed the relevant contract and prepared the invoices.

Finally, after the royal seal was affixed, the cooperation between the two parties was concluded.

……

"When the interests of both parties diverge, it means that the cooperation has developed an irreparable rift."

Inside the official residence, Shen Lang calmly answered Zhen Yi's question.

The reason why the aristocratic families and the royal family in Sichuan get along well is because their interests are intertwined. If one side breaks its promise...

That crack would become an anthill burying the entire Shu region, and all I need to do is enlarge that anthill by a tiny bit.

The teacup in my hand was poured onto the tea set, instantly creating a mess.

Zhen Yi finally realized: "Duke Zhenguo, you never actually intended to engage in the Shu brocade trade from the very beginning?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang smiled but remained silent.

But the silence itself says it all.