Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

Outside Xiande Hall.

Wang Ming looked at his raised foot, which had not yet stepped into the hall.

That familiar, money-grubbing voice left him momentarily at a loss.

Just then, Sun Yi, one of Li Chengqian's personal eunuchs who was waiting outside Xiande Hall, coughed twice.

"Your Highness, Governor Wang requests an audience."

Wang Ming's already frozen smile became even more stiff.

Upon hearing the commotion, Wang Yuyan, who was in the secretariat of the side hall, couldn't help but become nervous.

Although her intuition didn't suggest that His Highness the Crown Prince was planning to "rob the rich to help the poor" again, targeting the wealth of these aristocratic families.

However, at this moment, some people couldn't help but peek out with some concern, looking into the hall.

"Oh, my dear Wang Qing, you truly have what I desire! Come in quickly, I have something to discuss with you!"

Standing in front of the geomantic map, he resembled Li Chengqian, the "career dreamer" who was reciting a PowerPoint presentation in his past life.

His face immediately lit up with a bright smile, as if he had seen a rich and foolish sugar daddy.

Hearing Li Chengqian's warm greeting, his movements as he entered the hall to pay his respects were so tense and stiff.

"Your Highness, all the silver reserves of the Taiyuan Wang family are currently deposited in the Royal Bank, this..."

"Snapped!"

Li Chengqian patted Wang Ming on the shoulder.

The latter trembled in fright.

"Wang Qing, the way you're talking makes it sound like I'm coveting your Wang family's wealth. Do you think I'm that kind of person? Do you think I'm a bandit?"

"Wang De? Do I look like a bandit to you now?"

Wang De shook his head with a smile.

"That's right! How could I be a bandit? I'm the damn crown prince! The future emperor of this Great Tang!"

"Why would I steal someone's property for no reason?!"

Wang Ming: "......"

Your Highness, you did not steal people's property for no reason, but you will fabricate reasons.

however.

Even if he were killed, Wang Ming dared not utter a single word.

All they could do was nod repeatedly with an expression of agreement and obedience.

"Hehe, it was my fault for being impolite. I accept the punishment, I am willing to accept the punishment... So, Your Highness, is there something you need from me?"

Wang Ming was being held by Li Chengqian's arm, the old man looking timid and hesitant.

Like a virgin who refuses to sell her body, she was forcibly dragged upstairs by a wicked young master of the court, who intended to commit indecent acts against her...

"Wang Qing, you have been serving as the governor of Bingzhou for almost a year and a half now. Whether it is governing the local area, punishing villains, or implementing new policies, I am well aware of your contributions."

"Your Wang family has suffered a lot of injustices during this period, and I know all of that... I intend to make it up to your Wang family!"

Hear the words.

Wang Ming was nervous, but also somewhat skeptical.

“Your Highness, the Wang family of Taiyuan has been loyal and virtuous for generations. It is an honor to serve a future wise ruler like Your Highness. Even if we have suffered some injustices, how can we call it an injustice when we suffer for the sake of the country?”

"Your Highness, any compensation is absolutely unacceptable..."

While saying it was beautiful, Li Chengqian smiled faintly and handed a document to the other party.

"Look at this... a great opportunity that's guaranteed to make you money!"

Wang Ming, who had originally planned to seize the opportunity to ask His Highness for a marriage alliance and see if he could shamelessly ask His Highness to call him father-in-law, suddenly stopped talking.

"Tang Dynasty Development Bonds... Your Highness, what are these?"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly.

Hold out a finger.

"This national debt is issued for one year. Literally, it means that the country owes a debt. Of course, since I issue this kind of thing, I am responsible for the debt myself."

"Anyone who buys government bonds will receive a 30% interest rate! After one year, the principal and interest will be fully repaid and redeemed!"

The simple meaning made Wang Ming understand it instantly.

However, the 30% interest rate did not really affect him much, to be honest.

As the governor of Bingzhou, and the top general under Li Chengqian in implementing the new policies, he knew all too well how easy it was to make money in Bingzhou today.

One year, 30% interest rate.

This seems like a good option for ordinary people.

However, for businesses and large families with numerous projects and transactions, it was no different from losing money.

It was also 10,000 strings of cash.

Buying these so-called government bonds is far less worthwhile than investing in local businesses, expanding workshops and shops.

If handled properly, it's not impossible for 10,000 strings of cash to double in Bingzhou within a year...

"How many of these government bonds does Your Highness plan to issue?"

Wang Ming asked tentatively.

Li Chengqian held up three fingers: "Thirty million strings of cash!"

"Three... hiss!"

Headache!

Wang Ming gasped. If this were anywhere else, a 30% annual interest rate, and with the Crown Prince personally in charge, would surely attract a huge influx of merchants.

But in Bingzhou...

I wonder if, one day, I were to die from exhaustion in this position, I would, like Zhuge Liang, leave behind a good reputation...

"Your Highness, minister..."

"Hehe, Wang Qing, there's no need to put yourself in such a difficult position. I know that this interest rate is only attractive to ordinary people. For large merchants and aristocratic families, it's no different from lending me money."

"However... now that Taiyuan Prefecture is expanding its new city, and there are several other cities such as Datong, Jiuyuan, Qinghai, and Chishui under construction, many important construction parts have not yet been finalized."

Li Chengqian smiled, but that smile was cunning and treacherous.

“Building cities and constructing houses, then selling them to the people, are all ways to make a lot of money. However, ensuring quality and setting land and housing prices are not easy for a company of average size to enter this business.”

"It's even difficult to eat meat, let alone drink some soup..."

"I have decided to relax the entry threshold for investment standards. In the asset appraisal process, government bonds can also be included as assets, and... they will be counted as twice the amount!"

Wang Ming was taken aback, but then immediately understood what Li Chengqian meant.

"Hiss! Your Highness, this... will this work?"

"Hehe, why not? It's just a matter of borrowing their money today to get things done for me tomorrow, and then using my debt today to help them win the bid the day after tomorrow."

"Isn't it the best of both worlds?"

Wu Shiyue, standing to the side, listened in stunned silence.

If Wang Ming still had some concerns about whether the deal would work out, his background as a merchant and his keen eye for investment made him immediately certain.

The national debt deal! It's bound to succeed!

First of all, the people of Bingzhou have become prosperous. Even the farmers have benefited from the grain reserve office guaranteeing grain prices and from working in the surrounding workshops during the off-season.

I've accumulated some spare money.

Moreover, given the Crown Prince's popularity in Bingzhou and the 30% interest rate that year, it was a favorable prospect for some conservative people.

They are still willing to invest.

As for the merchants, they will certainly participate enthusiastically in order to get involved in the city's construction and the projects promoted by the Bingzhou Road New Policy Implementation Office.

In order to gain an edge over their competitors and secure the most profitable land deals, large trading companies will inevitably purchase a significant amount of government bonds to enhance their financial strength during the bidding and verification process.

Small and medium-sized businesses will naturally join this competition in order to get a share of the pie.

If that's the case, the 30 million guan one-year government bonds will probably sell out very quickly...

"Breaking news! Breaking news! His Highness the Crown Prince has personally stepped down and, in order to expand overseas trade and open up maritime trade routes for our Great Tang Dynasty, has decided to invest in the construction of four ports: Dengzhou Port, Fukuoka Port, Jeju Port, and Busan Port. He is now issuing one-year national bonds nationwide, with full refund of principal and interest upon maturity of one year!"

Pingtao County, Fenzhou.

Houjiaju Guangyuan Trading Company.

“Father, this is the current situation. If it's really as we've investigated—that the entry fee for the construction of the central commercial district of Chishui City and the residential area designated by the government is two million strings of cash—then we have absolutely no chance to get involved… unless a few of us cooperate and share some of the spoils…”

"No! We can't divide it up! Juguangyuan has already joined forces with the Sun and He families and given away a considerable share. If we divide it up again, won't we end up with no profit at all?"

"Then what can we do? The entry threshold of two million strings of cash is set by the government. Although Juguangyuan has built the drainage system for Chishui City and made a fortune, we are still far from reaching two million strings of cash..."

The Hou family's sons were arguing incessantly, while the Hou family patriarch, who was in the main seat and the leader of Juguangyuan, was looking at the newspaper that had been delivered to him that day with a furrowed brow.

"Your Highness, your method of borrowing money is both clever and clumsy..."

"Prepare the car, we're heading to Taiyuan. If we want to secure the Chishui City project now, our only option is to buy these government bonds..."

As Old Master Hou spoke, his eyes flickered as he looked at the newspaper article describing the national debt.

at the same time.

Jinyang, Yanmen, Jiangzhou, Fenzhou...

One by one, businesses that had amassed enormous wealth within a year began to stir with excitement.

Some people seem to have gradually discovered something from this art of dealing with government bonds.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.

This year, Li Chengqian could only write a letter to Chang'an, informing them that he would not be able to return to Chang'an for a family reunion.

The central area of ​​Taiyuan Prefecture.

In front of a magnificent and solemn building comparable to Yangcheng Palace, stood wealthy merchants and members of prominent families, dressed in fine clothes and clearly of considerable wealth.

They had been waiting here for a long time.

Inside the Datang Construction Bank, Wu Shiyue's expression was solemn.

After giving the government bonds a final check and explaining the procedures to the bank's executives,

He walked up to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, everything is ready, and it's almost time to open the gates..."

Li Chengqian smiled faintly.

"What's the rush? Doesn't the Duke of Ying have high hopes that my national bonds will sell well?"

Wu Shiyue gave an awkward smile. Seeing that Li Chengqian would not say anything more, he glanced one last time at the surging merchants outside the window.

Take a deep breath.

Wu Shiyue, you're amazing! Master Yuan said your destiny isn't limited to this, it's not limited to this...

He slapped his face twice to try and calm himself down.

Samurai Go: "Open the door!"