The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 189 Tokyo's Number One Building (Part 2)
"Envoy Li!"

Li Quan was genuinely surprised.

He had just been thinking about this Commander Li, but when he looked up, the man was right there in front of him—

Could this be what they call a stroke of good fortune?

In the blink of an eye, Li Yi, with a slight smile on his face, strode into the backyard.

He walked with a steady gait, and his tone sounded quite friendly, as if greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time: "Manager Li, how have you been?"

How could Li Quan dare to be negligent in the slightest?

He didn't have time to think any further, so he quickly put down his brush and rushed forward.

He cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "I am so sorry that I was unable to greet you properly, Governor Li!"

Before he finished speaking, Xu Sheng had already led several fierce personal guards in silently filed in. Then, he politely but firmly "invited" the few servants in the courtyard out.

Upon seeing this scene, the men's faces changed, and they didn't dare to even breathe loudly. As if escaping from the jaws of a tiger, they hurriedly bent down and scurried out along the wall, wishing they could step into the front hall in one stride.

Ignoring the commotion behind him, Li Yi's gaze fell on the goods piled up in the courtyard. He asked, "Manager Li, are you preparing to move out of this shop?"

His casual glances carried a hint of indifference.

Because he was personally in charge of overseeing the reconstruction project in the Longjin Bridge area, he was naturally aware of the relocation of surrounding shops and residences, and was only asking casually.

However, Li Quan clearly misunderstood these words and hurriedly bowed and apologized, saying, "Oh dear, I was careless. I've been busy tidying up the shop these past few days and haven't had time to report to Commander Li."

He spoke humbly, trying his best to explain, "To be honest, this shop will indeed be closing down for a while. But please rest assured, Commander Li, it will not affect the business dealings between the wine shop and your residence. The monthly alcohol deliveries can be sent to that house in Chongxin Ward..."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He thought to himself: I only asked a casual question, why is Li Quan babbling on and on?
His gaze swept over the other person's slightly tense body, and then he noticed the fine beads of sweat seeping from the other person's forehead.

Li Yi suddenly chuckled and said, "Why are you so formal, Manager Li? I'm not here to interrogate you..."

As he spoke, he strolled over to the stool under the eaves, lifted the hem of his purple brocade robe, and plopped down on the stool.

The stool creaked softly, as if it couldn't bear the weight of the person who had entered. In the otherwise quiet tavern, it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startling Li Quan and making his heart leap.

Li Yi rested his hands lightly on his knees, his back straight as a pine tree, sitting in a powerful and imposing posture. His entire being exuded a sharp, battle-hardened aura, instantly making the small backyard feel cramped.

It was as if he wasn't in this small tavern, but rather sitting in a command tent directing thousands of troops.

A person's words and demeanor may be faked, but the aura emanating from within is difficult to fake... especially for a general like Li Yi who has fought his way up on the battlefield and in seas of blood.

With a smile on his lips, Li Yi continued, "I've come here today because I have a big business deal to discuss in detail with Manager Li."

The words "big business" came out of his mouth as if they were floating on air, like a gentle breeze brushing against the willow branches, but to Li Quan's ears, they were not so light at all.

What business could a dignified general of the Zhou Kingdom's Imperial Guard, a prominent figure of great importance in the court, possibly have to do with his own small wine shop?

Li Quan's heart stirred with doubt, and a sense of unease arose within him: Could it be that this Commander Li... has ulterior motives? Perhaps the other party has come here with another purpose!
Thinking of this, Li Quan felt increasingly uneasy.

The envoy in front of me, Li, seems to be an easy person to get along with. In our previous interactions, he has not shown any arrogant or domineering behavior typical of a warrior.

But this surface warmth is the most terrifying thing, just like the wooden sheath that conceals the blade!

As far as Li Quan knew, when Zhou Guo was conquering Shu this year, after the Zhou army defeated the Shu army in Tangcang Town at Huanghua Valley, some of the Shu generals who stayed behind to guard the camp had the idea of ​​burning the grain and fodder, but they did not actually carry it out.

Because of this incident, after the entire Shu army in Tangcang Town surrendered, this Commander Li ordered the execution of all the Shu generals who had made the suggestion.

If you really think of this Li Dushi as a kind person, you probably won't even know how you died in the end!

Li Quan could only force a smile and say cautiously, "Commander Li, you're really making me feel bad. This is just a small wine shop; how could I dare to talk about any big business? If you need anything, just send someone over and let me know..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yi raised his hand to interrupt him: "Although the wine shop is small, the business is quite substantial. Your family's caravans traveling to and from Tokyo also carry Shu brocade, spices, tea, gold, silver, and jade items, which are then sold to local shops in Kaifeng to earn the price difference. How can the profits from selling wine compare to such a business with its rare and valuable goods?"

At this point, Li Yi noticed a slight change in Li Quan's expression, and after a moment's thought, he understood the reason.

"Don't worry, Manager Li!" Li Yi laughed heartily. "I've come here today to discuss a good deal with you."

"If it weren't for my connection with your second wife..." He paused, his tone softening, as if adding a meaningful pause, "wouldn't such a good thing have fallen into the hands of merchants from Sichuan?"

Upon hearing this, Li Quan repeatedly said, "I dare not." He had forgotten that his own background was no longer a secret to this Commander Li.

The other party has leverage over our company; if they really had any other intentions, they wouldn't need to make this trip in person.

With just a slight signal from him, they would be unable to resist and would be at his mercy.
"Take the drawing to Manager Li for his review first," Li Yi instructed without further ado.

Xu Sheng, who was standing to the side, immediately agreed, took out a scroll from his bag, walked quickly to Li Quan, and handed it to him.

“This is…” Li Quan took the scroll with both hands, his gaze slightly puzzled as he looked at it.

Li Yi tapped his knee lightly with his fingertip and explained, "This is the renovation plan for the Longjin Bridge area. If nothing unexpected happens, future construction projects will be based on this plan."

After saying this, with Xu Sheng's assistance, the scroll was slowly unfurled in the hands of the two, and an unprecedented scene gradually appeared—

The first thing that catches the eye is not the familiar meticulous brushwork or freehand style, but a graphic drawn with countless clear and precise charcoal lines.

The entire blueprint is meticulously laid out, with the core area being the renovated main street of Longjin Bridge: two-story shops stand side by side, all with a uniform shape and precise width-to-width ratio.

Moreover, the green tiles on the sloping roof and the overhanging eaves are clearly visible, and even the style of each door and window is depicted in great detail.

The streets also feature clearly defined drainage ditch lines, as well as the locations and directions of trees, greenery, wells, and walkways.

Moving your gaze upwards reveals a top-down view that occupies about one-third of the top of the drawing.

This view, like that of an eagle overlooking the landscape, instantly takes in the spatial layout of the entire street.

The crisscrossing alleyways were meticulously planned, like the lines of a chessboard, dividing the land into similarly sized, square-shaped shop units.

The general internal structure of each shop is illustrated with simple and clear lines. As for the direction, turns, and intersections of the streets, everything is clear at a glance.

On the right edge of the drawing, there are left views or sectional views of several important nodes.

The most striking feature is the cross-section of the Longjin Bridge itself. The solid stone piers are depicted with shading lines to convey their weight and solidity. The precise angle between the bridge deck and the horizontal plane, as well as the height and shape of the railings, are all marked.

Next to it is a cross-sectional view of a high-rise building near the bridge, showing the layout of its interior floor height, beam structure, and even staircase.

Unlike the ink-wash architectural patterns commonly seen at the time, Li Yi employed numerous hatching techniques to represent the interplay of solid and void, light and shadow.

At crucial points, the specific dimensions are marked in tiny characters: "width 24 feet", "depth 48 feet", "step height 6 inches", each item is precise and clear.

Li Quan's eyes widened in astonishment. Even with his extensive experience as a businessman who had traveled far and wide over the years, he was still speechless with amazement.

This method of painting, which clearly shows every detail and interprets the spatial structure from multiple angles, is completely different from any other boundary painting pattern he has ever seen.

……

"What do you think of the market layout, Manager Li?" Li Yi was very satisfied with Li Quan's reaction.

This blueprint represents the culmination of several sleepless nights of hard work, with the ultimate goal of transforming the Longjin Bridge area into the "face" of the Tokyo New City construction—a bustling commercial district that will attract attention from all directions and showcase the new look of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

A few days ago, when I showed it to Xiang Xun and Wang Pu, they were both quite impressed and also agreed with Li Yi's planning ideas for the Longjin Bridge area.

Regarding the expansion of Kaifeng, the emperor granted the four officials left behind considerable autonomy. The suggestion made by Li Yi, which he had previously submitted to the emperor, received high praise, and the emperor instructed the four to simply carry it out.

With this in mind, Xiang Xun and Wang Pu agreed, and Han Tong had no objections. The renovation of the Longjin Bridge area was left to Li Yi to handle according to his own ideas.

However, there is one problem... that is, the funding gap, which Li Yi needs to find a way to solve himself.

There was nothing that could be done. The emperor was personally leading an expedition to the south, and the priority was supplying the war effort. The national treasury didn't have much money left.

Fortunately, Kaifeng is currently undergoing a major construction boom, with a large number of laborers and building materials being transferred from various places. The labor and materials can be used free of charge.

The only place where money is most needed right now is to redeem property deeds.

In addition to these, Li Yi has other ideas that also require a lot of money.

So, that's why he's here today...

Before Li Quan could recover from the shock, he quickly replied to Li Yi's question, "Although I don't understand engineering and construction, I can see that the planning on this map is so ingenious and the considerations so thorough that no one can find any flaws!"

His words weren't entirely flattery; they also contained some genuine sentiment.

From what he could see, the plan on the blueprint encompassed an area extending one mile to the east and west of the Longjin Bridge, which could be described as a large-scale project.

But... what does this have to do with the big deal they mentioned earlier?

“This design is just a framework.” Li Yi’s voice was steady and powerful, with an undeniable certainty. “When it comes to actual construction, we will have to carefully consider the terrain and hydrology. Everything will be adapted to local conditions, and it will not be as rigid as simply copying a design.”

As they were talking, Li Yi got up and walked to Li Quan's side.

He stood with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice, “Longjin Bridge is located at a vital thoroughfare in the capital, connecting the inside and outside of the city. However, the shops in this area are mostly illegally constructed, messy, and dilapidated, harboring hidden dangers. The renovation is urgently needed.” “But if we expect the people to build it on their own… let alone three or five years, even ten years would be difficult to complete. Not to mention the orderly, chessboard-like, and expansive landscape shown in the picture.”

"Therefore, the imperial court must take charge in order to ensure an efficient approach. This move may seem forceful, but it is actually beneficial to both the public and private sectors. Although it may inevitably attract some complaints, in the long run, the Longjin Bridge area will be completely transformed, and its prosperity may be ten or even a hundred times greater than before. The benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks!"

Upon hearing these words, a vast business prospect immediately appeared in Li Quan's mind.

Located at the crossroads of the inner and outer city and situated on the banks of the Longjin River, the Longjin Bridge area was bustling with the constant flow of canal boats and merchant ships, making its prosperity self-evident.

If it is indeed as magnificent as the reconstruction shown in the picture, its prosperity will surely reach a new level in the future.

Seeing that Li Quan was slightly stunned, Li Yi suddenly changed the subject and said, "I suppose Manager Li has already heard the news and knows that the government is going to redeem the land deeds in this area."

"But buying back the land is just one of many options. If the landowner is unwilling to give up this prime location... he can also invest in the construction of this new market."

He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, curving into a smile, and then paused before continuing, "The homeowner will use the land boundaries recorded in the original deed as proof to bear the costs of materials and labor required for the demolition and reconstruction of the buildings. As for the construction work, the imperial court will send people to take charge of it. Once the shop is completed, the homeowner will be able to enjoy his property with peace of mind."

"This..." Li Quan was taken aback.

When he first heard the words "investment participation," he thought it was just another excuse for the government to extort money.

But after hearing Li Yi's explanation, it was completely different from what he had thought—when would the government be so kind?

But thinking about it carefully, isn't this just like tearing down and rebuilding yourself?
The only difference is that they are forced to do it, and they cannot decide the style of the house themselves; it must be built according to the unified regulations of the government.

If they refused, the government would forcibly buy back their land and property deeds.

In a flash, Li Quan suddenly realized: Could it be that this Envoy Li was implying that he wanted his family to invest as well?

He dared not ask directly, and could only reply tactfully, "I am but a merchant and do not understand such important matters of the court. But I do have some money, and if Governor Li needs it, I am willing to do my best to help."

"I'm here to discuss business, not to borrow money."

Li Yi laughed loudly, raised his hand and slowly traced the scroll, his fingertip stopping at the tall building beside the bridge, and said meaningfully, "Manager Li, please take a look, is there anything special about this tall building?"

“Something special…” Li Quan hadn’t noticed this before. Upon hearing this, he quickly looked up and, upon closer inspection, discovered some clues.

"This building is truly bizarre in its design. It is neither a palace nor a pavilion, yet it is ten zhang tall and has seven stories. However, the eaves and brackets are only one story long... Overall, it does not seem to be entirely made of wood?"

"Manager Li has a good eye!" Li Yi praised, explaining, "The main structure of this building is entirely constructed of brick and stone."

Li Quan was immediately taken aback: "Bricks and stones can be piled up to such a height? I've only ever heard of city walls being made of brick, with a solid rammed earth core inside. But look at this tall building in the picture, it's hollow and spacious, how could it possibly be supported?"

Li Yi smiled without saying a word, then gestured to the side. A personal guard quickly stepped forward and handed over a blue cloth package.

However, after unpacking the package, a hard, bluish-gray object was revealed.

Li Yi asked his personal guard for a short knife, and with a sudden slash at the hard block, the blade sparked a few flecks.

"This substance is called 'cement,' which is made by calcining limestone and clay, then adding special slag and grinding it into powder. If water is added and stirred, it will become as hard as a rock after it dries, and even an axe or chisel cannot damage it in the slightest."

"Apply this material to the joints of bricks and stones to make them stick firmly and securely. Then mix this material with gravel and sand to make a mold in the shape of a column, with steel bars and iron woven inside. Pour the mixture into the mold, wait for it to dry completely, and then remove the outer mold. What is left is a pillar that can stand for thousands of years without falling!"

"This cement can not only be used to build walls, but also to pave roads, build dams, and construct city defenses. In time, the streets and alleys of Bianliang City, and even all over the world, will be able to use this cement and iron."

Li Quan was immediately stunned. With his shrewdness as a businessman, he immediately realized the huge business opportunity hidden in the cement after hearing Li Yi's description.

If it is truly as wonderfully used as Li Dushi described, then this "cement" is truly a divine substance!

However, Li Yi concealed two points: first, the cement was a semi-finished product, the formula still needed further improvement, and it was currently impossible to produce it on a large scale.

Secondly, the cost of cement is terrifying. It cost nearly a thousand guan just to produce this small sample of cement.

Even if the process is improved and the corresponding supporting facilities are completed in the future, and stable production can be achieved... the price and cost will definitely not be low due to the difficulty in obtaining raw materials and the tedious and time-consuming steps such as calcination and grinding. It will be difficult to apply it on a large scale.

Of course, these things can be dealt with later; for now, let's secure the initial investment.

Li Yi said, "When this building is completed, it will be the tallest building in Tokyo! It may not be the tallest, nor the largest, but it will definitely be the newest, with brand-new construction techniques that will set a precedent for the world!"

Li Quan was unaware of the intricacies involved. After a moment's hesitation, he respectfully bowed and asked, "Please forgive my boldness in asking, but how much did it cost to build this tall building?"

"As for the cost..." Li Yi coughed lightly, "it would be at most tens of thousands of strings of cash, no more than fifty thousand strings of cash."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Quan was startled.

You should know that in the inner city of Tokyo, the price range for purchasing a large mansion with three or four courtyards is roughly the same... How could a high-rise building for a main store cost such an outrageous amount?

Li Yi continued, "Although the construction cost of this building is considerable, once completed, it will stand beside Longjin Bridge, a necessary stop for merchants and travelers. Moreover, if someone funds the construction of this building, they will not only acquire ownership of it, but I will also do my utmost to secure for them the exclusive right to sell wine and tea from the government, and allocate 3000 households to this building for wine sales. I will make it a renowned and prestigious tavern!"

Li Quan remained silent upon hearing this. Even if he was dull-witted, he could tell that Li Yi intended for him to invest in the construction of this skyscraper.

But... tens of thousands of strings of cash is no small amount!

Moreover, the family's savings accumulated over several years in Tokyo have already been depleted by the dowry they provided for this year's envoy, so even if they wanted to fund the construction of the building, they couldn't come up with that much money all at once.

However, the price offered by Li Yi was indeed very tempting.

Aside from the prime location of the high-rise building, the exclusive rights to sell alcohol and tea, along with a stable sales channel of 3000 households, are things that ordinary merchants would find hard to come by.

Although Lee's Liquor Shop was permitted to sell alcohol in Tokyo, it faced significant restrictions: it could not purchase local alcoholic beverages and lacked the qualifications to brew its own.

The wine could only be transported from Sichuan, and it was subject to numerous extortions along the way. Upon arrival in Tokyo, it was subject to a special tax.

If they were granted a monopoly, under the current wine monopoly system in the Zhou state, they could not only buy and sell government-brewed wine, but also resell government-run yeast to earn the price difference.

In addition, a certain amount of private liquor can be brewed each year, and only a fixed liquor tax needs to be paid.

As for tea... the restrictions were even more severe than those on alcohol. The Li family could not sell tea in Tokyo at all. They could only transfer tea from Shu to Zhou Kingdom tea merchants through private channels, and most of the profits were earned by others.

Of course, more importantly, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and perhaps I can use this opportunity to form a deeper bond with this Envoy Li, so that I can have a powerful backer in the Zhou Kingdom in the future!
After much deliberation, Li Quan gritted his teeth, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "This matter is not something I can decide. I will consult with my master and then reply to Commander Li."

Li Yi waved his hand and said, "No rush, the renovation project won't make progress in a short time."

He liked dealing with intelligent people; without him having to say it explicitly, Li Quan would understand.

As for whether the Li family in Shu would agree... given how shrewd Li Erniang is, she would surely not easily let go of this opportunity to gain a foothold in Tokyo, Zhou Kingdom.
Thinking of this, Li Yi suddenly asked, "I heard that your second wife returned to Shu to prepare for marriage. I wonder if she has married yet?"

"Huh?" Li Quan was taken aback.

He was confused by Li Yi's wildly imaginative thoughts. Why was the other party suddenly concerned about his second wife's marriage?

But Li Quan didn't have time to think too much and honestly replied, "My second wife was originally betrothed to the son of Han Jixun, the military governor of Xiongwu. But now that Han Jixun has gone to Tokyo to serve as an official, the marriage between my second wife and the Han family has been temporarily put on hold."

"I see." Li Yi nodded slightly. "It's good that it's been put on hold...tsk tsk, I mean this matter really can't be rushed."

……

By the time we left Li's Wine Shop, the sun was already high in the sky. The winter sun, though high in the sky, offered little warmth.

Icicles, frozen and translucent like crystals, hung from the eaves. In the shade, the remaining snow piled up thick and hard, still bearing the rough edges etched by the wind.

On the sunny streets, the ice that formed overnight gradually melted, seeping into the cracks between bricks and stones, mixing with mortar and the dirt left by footsteps, turning into patches of shallow brown pits.

The air was dry, cold, and fresh; each breath produced a puff of white vapor that quickly dissipated under the winter sun.

Although the sky was already bright, a chilling cold still lingered in every corner.

Li Yi adjusted his dark red cloak, then nimbly mounted his horse, the hem of the cloak billowing before draping heavily over the horse's back.

After settling in, he turned slightly to Li Quan, who was standing respectfully at the door, and instructed him, "I will send someone to deliver a special travel pass with the official seal a short time. When you send someone to and from Shu to deliver the message, you will have fewer unnecessary troubles and entanglements on the way."

Upon hearing this, Li Quan solemnly clasped his hands in front of him and replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Commander Li. I will certainly send someone to travel day and night to deliver the message back to Chengdu as quickly as possible. I will not dare to delay for even a moment and thus hinder Commander Li's important business!"

Li Yi, still on horseback, nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Li Quan's respectful face. He said nothing more, but simply tightened his grip on the reins and gently squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs.

The mount beneath him seemed to understand its master's intentions. Guided by this slight movement, it raised its head and exhaled a powerful plume of white vapor from its nostrils.

Then the horse took steady steps, its hooves striking the bluestone with a crisp, powerful sound, and slowly moved forward.

The guards immediately followed, and without a word, with a slight movement of their eyes, they simultaneously urged their steeds to stand on either side, firmly protecting Li Yi in the middle.

Li Quan stood before the desolate threshold, his body still bowing, until the striking dark red figure disappeared around the bend in the bridge, only then did he withdraw his gaze.

A complex emotion spread through his heart—this Li Dushi said he would let him make his own choice, but now he had personally issued a travel permit as a guarantee. If he refused his proposal, he knew he wouldn't get away with it.

Li Quan subconsciously rubbed his fingers, which were numb from the cold.

but……

This Commander Li, compared to when they first met, is now completely different—

Their power has only grown stronger!
(End of this chapter)