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

Jinyiwei!

Upon hearing this name, Wang Qingyun, who had just uttered some treasonous words, couldn't help but change his expression drastically.

Zheng Wuyang and Lu Wenhu, who were kneeling in front of him, immediately showed a look of horror and panic in their eyes.

Now, everyone in the court knows this.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the "Imperial Sword" given to His Majesty by the Emperor. Within the territory of Bingzhou, the Embroidered Uniform Guard represents the highest power that allows the Crown Prince to do whatever he wants.

Let alone the fact that they are merely sons of five prominent families and seven noble clans.

Even if it were the Zheng family of Xingyang, Zheng Jiang, who served as the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, or Lu Zhaojing, who served as the Minister of the Treasury of Fanyang, the Embroidered Uniform Guard could take them away and torture them if they were here.

They could even fabricate a crime and be dragged directly to the execution ground in the west of Taiyuan City to be executed.

"Big brother, what... what exactly happened?"

Zheng Wuyang turned pale, thinking that their actions had brought disaster upon Wang Qingyun, and was instantly shocked and at a loss.

Lu Wenhu, his face dark, said, "If all else fails, we'll fight our way out!"

"Shut up!"

Wang Qingyun was startled by his sworn brother's thought process and quickly reprimanded him.

Then he quickly walked out of the study.

As soon as he opened the door, the sight of more than a dozen heroic and extraordinary figures made Wang Qingyun's heart tremble instinctively once again.

Unlike when the Embroidered Uniform Guard was first established, it did not have a unified uniform.

The original members of the Hundred Riders Division were still wearing the standard uniform of the Hundred Riders Division.

Li Chengqian has now been overseeing the Bingzhou Circuit for more than two months.

The Imperial Guards, who were once feared mostly because of their titles and power, have undergone a complete transformation.

Each of them was a well-built elite soldier with mantis legs and wasp waists, dressed in the imperial robes of the Crown Prince, with a fine steel embroidered spring knife at their waist.

The lead flag bearer and the left and right guards each carried a short crossbow at their waists as a special precaution.

In the ranks, everyone was equipped with an emergency smoke grenade at their waist.

It can be said that the number of Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) is less than that of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, but the military expenditure that His Highness the Crown Prince spends on these people is no less.

"His Highness the Crown Prince's decree!"

"Zheng Wuyang of Xingyang and Lu Wenhu of Fanyang, listen to my decree!"

Unexpectedly, the purpose of the Imperial Guards' visit was to see Zheng Wuyang and Lu Wenhu, who hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects.

"The Zheng family of Xingyang and the Lu family of Fanyang, having manipulated officials, defied the emperor's grace, using the well-being of the common people as hostage, showing no respect for the emperor and father, and even abducting their officials to force the emperor to abdicate..."

The authoritative voice, seemingly born with an aura of killing intent, had just been uttered by the junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Those kneeling on the ground, whether it was Zheng Wuyang, Lu Wenhu, or Wang Qingyun who was merely listening to the imperial decree from the sidelines, all turned pale instantly.

"Since I ascended to Bingzhou, I have come to know the thoughts in the hearts of you aristocratic families. You have only clan names but no regard for the imperial family. You disregard the well-being of all people and put the survival of your own family above all else..."

As Li Chengqian rebuked, belittled, and scorned them, the faces of the group grew increasingly pale.

Even Lu Wenhu, who was so audacious as to utter such nonsense as "fight our way out" when the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived, was now sweating profusely.

The dripping sound landed on the stone slab in front of us.

As for Wang Qingyun, he now regretted letting these two people into the Sima Yamen today.

If His Highness the Crown Prince suspects that the Wang family is colluding with these two families and has ulterior motives.

I'm afraid that the situation my father finally managed to stabilize will be plunged back into the abyss because of these two people.

Fortunately, after a reprimand, the Imperial Guards finally read out Li Chengqian's decree.

"However, among the five surnames and seven clans, there are also loyal and righteous ministers of the Wang clan of Taiyuan who defended the land and served the country, and there are also outstanding talents among the descendants of aristocratic families who have achieved high rank. Now that you have the ambition to atone for the sins of your clan and set a good example for the future."

"The Turks are currently in turmoil, their homes are destroyed, and their people are displaced. They have neither divine assistance nor a wise ruler to rely on."

"Although I am the crown prince of the Central Plains, I should not concern myself with the fortunes and misfortunes of the northern barbarians. However, Heaven cherishes life, and what crime have the Turks committed to deserve this? The desires of all people, though different, lead to the same goal."

"The four Turkic tribes are embroiled in war, leaving them no time to aid their people amidst the flames of conflict; my heart aches with sorrow."

"We have now signed a non-aggression pact with the four tribes, and are dispatching loyal and courageous men northward to rescue the people, to promote the virtue of the Central Plains in helping all under Heaven, and to save the innocent people of the northern border from suffering."

"The outstanding talents of the Zheng family of Xingyang and the Lu family of Fanyang, if they have the ambition to serve their country, should immediately proceed to Yanmen Pass to receive their orders and go beyond the Great Wall..."

The decree is now complete.

The junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard glanced indifferently at the two men kneeling on the ground.

"Zheng Wuyang, Lu Wenhu, shall we receive the imperial decree?"

As Wang Qingyun knelt on the ground, he glanced up and saw that, as the Imperial Guard officer asked the question, several Imperial Guards behind him silently placed a hand on the hilt of their Embroidered Spring Blades at their waists.

My heart skipped a beat.

As he looked down, his gaze quickly fell upon Zheng Wuyang and the other person.

Fortunately, the two were originally sent to Bingzhou by the Zheng and Lu families to show their respect to Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

Even now, everyone could hear the danger of heading to the Turkic steppe in this decree.

They had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it.

"This humble subject, Zheng Wuyang (Lu Wenhu), receives the imperial decree! I thank Your Highness for your kindness!"

The footsteps of the Imperial Guards gradually faded away until they disappeared.

The three people who had been kneeling outside the study wiped the sweat from their brows and got up from the ground.

"Brother, this job is likely to kill a lot of people..."

Lu Wenhu looked nervous as he held the Crown Prince's edict in his hands, but it felt even hotter than an imperial edict.

Wang Qingyun sighed.

"When the Turks invaded the border, do you know that the eldest branch of the Wang family of Taiyuan sent out all their relatives, servants, and male members, and hundreds were killed or wounded..."

He patted the other person on the shoulder and sighed again.

"At least His Highness is willing to give your families a chance. Think about it, people like the Cui family of Boling, the Cui family of Qinghe, and the Li family of Zhaojun will probably not be able to get this opportunity in the future."

"Immediately send a letter by carrier pigeon to contact the clan."

"The situation in the Turkic Khaganate is currently uncertain, with the four tribes in complete disarray. If you delay any longer, His Highness may have already personally led troops out of the Great Wall to launch a northern expedition. You should know that... Jieli was the one who escaped from His Highness the Crown Prince's clutches."

"His Majesty must have been dissatisfied with His Highness the Crown Prince because of this."

"We must obey the imperial decree and head north as soon as possible!"

Lu Wenhu gritted his teeth, thinking about how many lives the Lu family of Fanyang would have to lose because of this imperial edict.

My heart was filled with hesitation and resentment.

Zheng Wuyang, the third brother, nodded heavily upon hearing Wang Qingyun's words.

"I will contact the clan immediately!"

Time flies.

The late autumn nights began to feel chilly, but the fighting within the Turkic territory north of Yanmen Pass was caused by the secret instigation and meddling of the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) on the Yanmen Pass side.

It became increasingly intense.

Li Chengqian, who had already returned to Yangcheng Palace, received a report from Hou Junji of Yanmen Pass that day.

The content is nothing more than that.

The grassland north of Yanmen Pass has reached its limit due to the recent influx of large numbers of Turkic refugees, and more grassland is needed for silage production.

Hou Junji inquired whether the aquaculture area could be expanded further north.

Li Chengqian didn't even think about it, and immediately picked up his brush.

"allow!"

Suddenly, he gave instructions to Qian Yingying, who was standing to the side.

"Yingying, prepare a document for me, ordering the Jingle Armory to immediately send a batch of newly produced armor and weapons to Yanmen Pass to equip the garrison there!"

"Yes, I will take care of it right away."

Li Chengqian then looked at another document in his hand, which also came from Hou Junji.

However, it was a report concerning recent events in the livestock breeding areas and wool textile mills.

The cattle breeding area now has an astonishing 6 head of cattle alone.

If we take any one of the four Turkic forces at present, even if we combine all the cattle under Jieli's tribes, they still wouldn't equal the current cattle-raising area.

In addition, there are 15 sheep.

Fortunately, with such a large herd of livestock being cared for by these Turkic herders who were already skilled in animal husbandry, there was a real possibility that something might have gone wrong.

However, the most direct benefit brought by such a huge number of cattle and sheep is...

The wool textile mill has officially started production.

After Li Chengqian told Mo Lao and the others about all the techniques for cleaning and degreasing wool,

After the craftsmen explained the design of the various processes and the working principle of the mechanical wool combing machine, the wool textile factory officially began spinning the first batch of wool.

In his report, Hou Junji couldn't wait to inquire about the benefits of wool.

This caused Li Chengqian to shake his head repeatedly.

"He truly is a man who indulges in sensual pleasures and debauchery."

Another round of reviews followed.

By the time Qian Yingying reminded her again, the time had already passed unnoticed, and it was already midnight once again.

Standing outside the Shougong Hall.

Li Chengqian stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the streets of Taiyuan Prefecture dotted with lights in the distance.

Take a deep breath of the cool autumn breeze and exhale slowly.

"After some time, Taiyuan Prefecture can try to see if it can lift the curfew..."

The new policy has been vigorously implemented in Bingzhou for more than two months.

Merchants from other regions of the Tang Dynasty who, as Li Chengqian had mentioned in his conversation with Changsun Wuji, "had little interest in commerce in Bingzhou," flocked to Bingzhou.

In Taiyuan Prefecture, customers flocked to the shops along the specially designated commercial street.

Meanwhile, the shopkeepers in the backyards of stores such as soap shops, perfume shops, toothbrush shops, herbal toothpaste shops, Datang National Bookstore, and candy shops were extremely busy.

"Oh dear, Manager Yan, it's not that I'm unwilling to sell, it's just that all the goods I have on hand have already been pre-ordered... What? Pre-orders? Then, would you still be willing to accept them in three months?"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please hear me out. If you wish to order perfume from my shop, in addition to signing a contract between the two of us, you also need to register and pay taxes at the tax office. Those who do not follow the rules will not be able to do business in Bingzhou!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, the perfume in this porcelain bottle is what the noble ladies in the palace are using now. It has a variety of floral scents. You can use it yourself, or give it as a gift or to win the heart of a beautiful woman."

"Stock is limited. The bottle you have here is priced at 17 strings of cash. If you're looking to give it as a gift, I suggest you take a look at this one. The fragrance is richer, but not overly ostentatious, making it perfect for a lady from a distinguished family..."

The Wang Family Mansion in Taiyuan.

The clattering sound of abacuses echoed through the courtyard.

After the abacus was described in the "New Tang Dynasty Gazette" about its production and usage, it had already spread among the great merchants of Bingzhou.

In fact, in some households, if the accountant didn't know how to use this tool, he would be kicked out by the owner.

Wang Ming sat upright at the main gate of the courtyard, sipping tea while frowning as he looked at the memorial in his hand regarding the implementation of new policies in some areas of Bingzhou Road.

With his brows furrowed, it was clear that some fools were trying to challenge the methods of Wang Qingyun, the eldest son of the Wang family, known as "Bloody Hand Butcher."

However, there's no rush today.

Today is the day to tally the revenue of the new workshops under the Wang family.

Because the Wang family was obedient, Crown Prince Li Chengqian knew to throw a few pieces of meat at the right time.

Today, the Wang family has given up most of their ancestral land and even their family heirlooms.

However, the reputation of the eldest branch of the Wang family in Taiyuan also showed clear signs of being salvaged by the people of Bingzhou.

The Tang Dynasty National Bookstore granted the Wang family of Taiyuan the exclusive right to print and sell authorized books in Bingzhou, in addition to the Tang Dynasty Bookstore itself.

Furthermore, His Highness the Crown Prince secretly granted them a monopoly on the trade of pencils.

Although this thing is a monopoly, it actually benefits ordinary people, so the benefits are great, but just right.

It's also a good way to gain fame.

Including the copper coins and silver coins that the Wang family dug out of the cellar, they all invested in some industries permitted by His Highness the Crown Prince.

It wasn't just the Wang family of Taiyuan who were eagerly anticipating their income.

Even the small and medium-sized aristocratic families in Bingzhou who were spared from Li Chengqian's slaughter by choosing to submit sent people to witness the ceremony.

Finally, one of the accountants stood up excitedly.

All eyes immediately fell on him.

Wang Ming asked calmly, "How much?"

The accountant was excited, his hands trembling: "Master, the family bookstore business, after deducting costs, has brought in a total of 27 strings of cash! In one month!"

"hiss!"

The powerful family heads of Bingzhou around them all gasped in astonishment.

However, Wang Ming nodded calmly, and ripples spread across the teacup in his hand.

"good....."

No sooner had the words been spoken than another accountant stood up.

"Reporting to the master, after deducting costs and the share of technology licensing fees paid to the Commerce Department, the total revenue from the pencil, blackboard, and chalk business amounted to 42 guan!"

Everyone: "Hiss!!!"

The people of Bingzhou have indeed become wealthy!

Wang Ming took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then talked about the income and expenditure of his family's layout and shareholding in various industries such as soap workshops and perfume workshops.

He no longer wanted the audience to listen.

He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd.

"Gentlemen, my Wang family has other matters to attend to today, so we will not keep you any longer. Please forgive us..."

Despite their reluctance, everyone could only offer their congratulations with smiles in the presence of Wang Ming, the governor of Bingzhou, before leaving the Wang family residence.

"Pah! What is that?!"

"He's just a dog to the Crown Prince, look how smug he is!"

"Tsk, they say a fortune is a fortune, but the Wang family has lost its land and its heirloom books, yet it seems they've earned even more from other sources... If you include the income from their other workshops, they probably make over a million strings of cash a month..."

The group had only taken a few steps.

They gathered in small groups, whispering amongst themselves, some expressing shock, others jealousy.

Without exception, everyone's eyes turned red at that moment.

Money!

Nobody dislikes money!

Moreover, these powerful families nowadays, besides the money from selling their land, perhaps only the copper coins in their cellars can bring them any pleasure.

As some people began to make their own plans.

At this moment, inside the Wang family mansion.

Wang Ming had no interest in listening to the accounting report anymore and went to the study without saying a word.

Under the questioning gaze of his own son, Wang Qingyun, he suddenly began to write a report.

After a while.

"Go, send this report to Yangcheng Palace, follow the normal procedures, and make sure His Highness sees it..."

That night.

When Li Chengqian was reviewing the day's reports, he came across Wang Ming's report and, upon reading its contents, couldn't help but let out a faint, ambiguous laugh.

"My Lord Wang, what can I possibly say about you?"

Li Tai, standing nearby, curiously came over.

"Your subject, Wang Ming, observes that the commercial tax reform in Bingzhou has been implemented smoothly and yielded fruitful results. I request Your Highness to follow the established new policy and promote the establishment of money shops in Bingzhou. The Wang family is willing to serve Your Highness wholeheartedly and will deposit 90% of the profits from our industries into these money shops..."