Chapter 28: Great Prosperity and Wealth
Yang You is now in a dilemma, his words have already been spread out, he cannot go back on them, and such a big piece of fat meat is placed in front of him, if he pushes it away, it would be unkind to his conscience.
On the other hand, there is also pressure from all the ministers in the court. As a puppet emperor, it doesn't seem like a good idea to ignore these ministers either.
Thinking of the hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth that was just a word away, Yang You's heart felt like dozens of little cats scratching at the same time, itching terribly.
"Money delivered! Don't decline if you don't want it, I'll dare to accept if you dare to donate!"
Yang You thought wickedly in his heart, but in the end Yang You still couldn't resist the temptation of money. Although he had the Crown Prince's treasure, that was something that couldn't be revealed to the public. With this money, the problem of the refugees would be solved by more than half.
However, if he simply accepted it so crudely, it didn't seem like something a wise person would do. Yang You turned his brain around and came up with a plan.
"Ah!"
Yang You let out a long sigh, raised his head at a 45-degree angle, and put on an expression of worrying about the country and its people.
Yu was still young, with no strength to bind a chicken, unable to shoulder or lift, a clever woman cannot cook without rice. Seeing tens of thousands of refugees in Daxing suffering from hunger and hardship, it is really heartbreaking.
"I'm afraid I've been too hasty!" Yao Si Lian stood up, "His Highness the Crown Prince has already done enough for these tens of thousands of refugees."
"No, I can do better than that. Now that we have such a good opportunity, tens of thousands of people will no longer suffer from hunger and cold, but I am hesitant." Yang You's voice was somewhat melancholic as he became immersed in his own performance.
"However, for the livelihood of tens of thousands of refugees, even if it means I'll be infamous, so be it." Yang You slammed his hand on the table.
"On behalf of His Royal Highness, …" A flash of unusual color appeared in Yao Si Lian's eyes, wanting to dissuade him, but he abandoned it dejectedly. He himself had thousands of reasons, and even with millions of faces before him, they all lost their luster.
"Whoever dares to say that about His Highness the Crown Prince, I am the first one who would not be willing. You have already endured more than enough." Wang Xi choked with sobs.
"I will rise and fall with Your Highness." Yao Si Lian gritted his teeth.
In his view, the livelihood of tens of thousands of refugees was all borne by a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, which is a heavy burden. Now there is an opportunity to solve it once and for all, which is something that no one can refuse.
"Yao Shidu, you go and preside over it! Remember, only for today." Yang You waved his hand.
Yao Si Lian personally retreated, as for the method of replacing Wang Gong, he was still very pleased. Just today's opening, both sides took a step back, which also had reason to shut up those ministers' mouths. Besides, relieving the refugees would not harm them, would it?
"Dong Yue!"
"The end is near!"
Dong Yue had been guarding outside and upon hearing Yang You's summons, he flashed in.
"The relief troops will be heavily guarded, and today this king will see no one."
"Yes!"
Dong Yue replied heavily and left after receiving the order.
Today will be stormy.
……
Silence
Eerie silence.
As early as the first merchant, when he said he wanted to donate one million yuan, Xu Dang, who was in charge of receiving large donations, had already sensed that something was wrong and immediately suspended the disaster relief office and reported directly to his superiors.
All the merchants came voluntarily and lined up in a long queue, with horse-drawn carriages lining up to the end of the street, and dozens of people queuing up beside the carriages.
If Lu Ji Tong were to come over, he would definitely be shocked. These dozens of people are all top-notch wealthy merchants in Daxing, and the Lu family's business is like a child compared to them.
No one said a word, they were all quietly waiting. Although everyone knew the car was loaded with wealth, no one would have any greedy thoughts at this moment, but instead felt a sense of solemn atmosphere.
Everyone was nervous in their hearts, what the substitute king said was just a bluff, and it was also a bluff for the officials.
They seized this loophole and directly pulled in 100,000 yuan, which is somewhat like forcing the palace.
This is a gamble! All the wealthy merchants are clear in their minds that they are betting on the prince's behalf.
If they fail, they will pay a heavy price and face even greater oppression from the bureaucracy. If they win the gamble, they will have the capital to preserve their lives and property.
Time ticked away bit by bit, and the wealthy merchants stared at the tightly closed door in silence, with no way to retreat now.
"Ouch!"
The tightly closed door slowly opened, and everyone's heart was racing with anticipation, for the moment that would decide their fate had finally arrived.
Yao Suli walked out, he felt the courage and tragicness of the businessmen, his feet involuntarily paused.
Although the Disaster Relief Agency is presided over by the Crown Prince, people in the know are aware that most of the work is being done by Yao Siliang, the Eastern Palace's Reader-in-Attendance. His appearance can be said to represent the Crown Prince's intentions.
"They are also pitiful people, and at the same time a group of crazy people." Looking at the long line of cars, the neatly arranged rich businessmen, Yao Suli let out a sigh in her heart.
These are all big figures in Daxing with a good reputation, for the sake of a promise, they risk offending the entire officialdom, which requires great courage.
"Only Today!"
Yao Si Lian did not beat around the bush and said directly.
It succeeded!
His Royal Highness has agreed! At this moment, I am overjoyed, happy, and satisfied, all at once.
More and more rich businessmen could not help themselves, bursting into loud sobs, for they had waited too long for this moment.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone knelt down on the ground and paid homage to the Relief Officer, after excitement, a thread of guilt towards King Wang's Mansion was born.
It's really too cruel to force a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy like this, even though the thirteen or fourteen-year-old king had done so many incredible things.
"The Northern City's Du Family is worth ten million taels!"
"Twenty thousand taels of silver in the Li family of West Lane!"
……
One by one, wealthy merchants handed over donation slips, and seeing a large amount of money pouring in, slightly alleviated Yang You's worries.
"A swallow comes to the tower, worth one hundred million."
"How can a swallow build a nest with money?" Yang You asked in puzzlement.
"Your Highness may not know that this Yanlai Building is not an ordinary place, but a commercial organization. The wealthy merchants inside are all operating on the Silk Road and are also famous in Daxing."
Under Wang Xi's explanation, Yang Youcai finally understood that Yanlai Building was a commercial guild.
The Silk Road is a long and profitable journey, but it also comes with great risks. The western regions are plagued by sand thieves, Hu bandits, and even extortion from small Western countries. Out of ten merchant teams that set out, if two return safely, they can be considered lucky.
These people gang up, on the one hand reducing risk, and on the other hand squeezing out other competitors.
"What a true nobleman!" Yang You sighed.
Yang You looked at the long list of huge donations, and in just a short while, the donations had already reached 3 million guan.
I thought I was a big shot after inheriting the crown prince's treasury, but compared to these people, I'm still just a small potato.
