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

"Look, Lord Li has come to deliver grain again!"

Inside the Dongzhou camp, one cart after another was transporting grain to the newly built granary.

Yi Wancheng and Li Ye directed the grain trucks to drive into the grain depot in an orderly manner.

"Lord Li, this 30,000 shi of grain is the most our Yi family can currently provide from our reserves. But rest assured, I have already written a letter to the rice merchants throughout Shu County."

"We will definitely replenish the granaries with the missing two million shi of military rations as quickly as possible."

"I hope that Patriarch Yi will keep his promise. Military rations are a matter of morale and must not be taken lightly."

"Lord Li, please rest assured. Since you are willing to give me the profits from the weaving workshop, I will naturally do my best to serve you. At the latest, two million shi of military rations will be delivered on schedule within a month."

Li Ye nodded expressionlessly, and after watching Yi Wancheng's figure disappear, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"The weaving workshop is the foundation of the prince's legacy. How dare a scoundrel like you lay your hands on it? Yi Wancheng, your days as the richest man in Sichuan are over."

Li Ye naturally had no intention of giving up the profits of the weaving workshop to Yi Wancheng. He planned to take action against the Yi family once Yi Wancheng had replenished all the grain.

It may take years or even decades to cultivate a wealthy family in Sichuan, but it often takes only a single thought to ruin a person.

On the other side, on his way back to his residence, Yi Wancheng suddenly said to the coachman, "Change course and head to the official residence. I need to see Zhen Yi."

The coachman, a loyal servant of the Yi family, chimed in, "Master, Guanxuan is now the residence of the Duke of Zhenguo. If Li Ye's men find out about us, there's no guarantee that trouble won't arise."

"Do you think my words, Yi Wancheng, have no effect? ​​Or do you think my Yi family is being too polite to you?"

Inside the carriage, Yi Wancheng's extremely cold words rang out.

"If you think you're talented and that being a coachman is beneath you, then go find another job. My Yi Wancheng government can't afford to support a big shot like you."

Upon hearing this, the driver immediately panicked: "Master, please calm down. I will never dare to do it again. Please give me another chance."

With that, he quickly changed course and headed towards the official residence.

……

Inside the living room of the official residence, Shen Lang, dressed in ordinary brocade clothes, lay on his side on a mat, his thick eyebrows furrowed as he faced the chessboard.

At the low table on the other side, Zhen Yi and Yi Wancheng were exchanging words.

"Manager Zhen, I don't come here unless I have a reason. My Yi family has probably gotten into serious trouble this time. Only the Duke of Zhenguo can help me. Please help me introduce me to the Duke of Zhenguo."

"Master Yi, please don't be anxious. Tell me slowly what happened."

Zhen Yi remained calm and composed, smiling as she reassured Yi Wancheng.

Yi Wancheng poured Zhen Yi a cup of tea before speaking, "The Dongzhou granary caught fire and burned down, resulting in a loss of over two million shi of grain. Li Ye has ordered us merchants to take our own stored grain to make up for the two million shi shortfall."

Today I sent 30,000 shi of grain to appease him, and promised to gather the remaining grain from various places in Shu County within a month.

But in reality, I, Yi Wancheng, have no more surplus grain. Even racking my brains, I can only scrape together 300,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). Those wealthy households have jointly agreed to hand over one million shi.

I have to shoulder half of the quota alone, a shortfall of nearly 700,000 shi (a unit of dry measure), and I really don't know how I can make up for it.

Zhen Yi: "The fire at the granary is the responsibility of the military. It is really inappropriate to shift the losses onto you. Didn't Lord Li ever consider buying grain from you?"

Yi Wancheng sneered: "To be honest, I'm willing to pay five taels of silver per shi (unit of dry measure) to cover the losses at the Dongzhou granary."

However, Li Ye refused to do the business, citing a lack of funds in the Prince's account. Although the summer grain had not yet been received,

But the money was indeed collected. Two million shi and ten million taels was a bit much, but even if Li Ye had written a promissory note, I would have gritted my teeth and sold it.

Unfortunately, Li Ye clearly didn't want to pay this money, but when I demanded 70% of the weaving workshop's profits, he only hesitated slightly before agreeing.

Don't you think there's something fishy going on?

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yi exclaimed in surprise, "Master Yi, if I may be fair, five taels of silver per shi of rice is an astronomical price, even in a famine year. It's understandable that Li Ye wouldn't buy it."

Furthermore, demanding 70% of the weaving workshop's profits is rather audacious. The weaving workshop is, after all, private property granted to the Prince's residence by the imperial court; how dare you try to seize it?

Yi Wancheng replied, "Patriarch Zhen, your rampant buying high and selling low has completely disrupted grain prices in Shu."

Now, 90% of the new rice in Sichuan is in your hands, and the rice shops in Sichuan are so squeezed that they can't sell a single grain.

The disruption in rice prices has impacted other industries, especially the food sector, which may not recover for several years.

Five taels of silver as compensation is actually not much at all when spread across other industries.

As for demanding 70% of the weaving workshop's profits, that was just a test. From the beginning, I knew it was impossible to get a single penny from the weaving workshop.

That's the lifeblood of the Prince's estate. Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I wouldn't dare to even think about touching the Prince's property.

The reason I said that was to see Li Ye's attitude, and surprisingly, he agreed.

They even drafted a profit-sharing agreement, which could be used to reach an agreement with me on behalf of the Prince's Mansion!

What do you think Li Ye is trying to do?

"Naturally, they'll fabricate a charge against you for embezzling the royal estate's assets, confiscate all of your Yi family's properties in Shu County, and then change your household registration to slavery and exile you."

Shen Lang's words rang out lightly, instantly catching Yi Wancheng's attention.

In fact, he had noticed this calm-looking young man from the moment he entered the official residence.

For a moment, no one guessed that his identity was that of the Duke of Zhenguo, whom they were about to meet.

"May I ask who this gentleman is...?"

"Oh, he is..."

"I am a friend of Manager Zhen. I am in the mining and iron smelting business. You can call me Manager Liu, Master Yi."

Shen Lang interrupted Zhen Yi's introduction in time and made up an identity on the spot.

The essence of the matter is that he has absolutely no liking for Yi Wancheng.

The Jingwei Division had secretly gathered intelligence on the wealthy families of Shu County, especially on Yi Wancheng, who was utterly despicable, carrying dozens of murder charges against him, and had been under the protection of the Prince's Mansion for years.

Yi Wancheng cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "It seems Manager Liu is also aware of the risks involved?"

Shen Lang didn't even look up: "To negotiate with a tiger for its skin, if you don't even understand this much risk, aren't you just throwing yourself into the tiger's mouth? Master Yi,"

Forgive my bluntness, but you've really gone too far this time. You dare to profit from military rations? Aren't you just asking for trouble?"

"It's in a businessman's nature to pursue profit; does that mean they have to do business at a loss?"

Aren't you making a losing deal right now?

Shen Langman replied casually, resting his head on one hand and supporting himself on the ground with his elbow, still quietly looking at the chessboard.

"You're unwilling to suffer losses in business, but if you risk your life, who knows whether you'll gain or lose?"

Yi Wancheng closed his eyes and carefully examined Shen Lang.

That kind of composure, that air of having everything under control, is definitely not something that only a businessman possesses.

"Who are you?"

At that moment, he seemed to have guessed the identity of "Manager Liu".

"I told you, you can call me Manager Liu."

Shen Lang, however, remained calm and composed throughout.

Even if you guess their identities, the person speaking to you is either the Great Chu Emperor, the Duke of Zhenguo, or a wealthy merchant named "Manager Liu".