My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 148 The War?

Li Yuan slept in his residence for a full day and night.

When he got up, his head still hurt a little, so he ate something and took care of his body.

Just then, Manager Liu informed him that Li Jiancheng had been waiting for him outside for a long time.

Li Yuan hurriedly let his son in.

In front of his son, Li Yuan didn't hold back and immediately scolded, "These past few days have really worn me out. I almost fell asleep. Why does this guy love to torment others so much?"

Li Jiancheng smiled and said, "At least he rewarded my family and didn't punish me."

"reward?"

Speaking of this matter, Li Yuan's head ached even more.

Do you think that's some kind of good thing?

"This is a royal title, it's awkward to use it, but it's also awkward not to use it. And your brother's bow, he says it's not an imperial bow, but the appearance and materials clearly make it an imperial bow! By the way, that bow can't be used! You have to keep an eye on the second brother!"

Li Yuan quickly reminded him.

Li Jiancheng said with a smile, "Grandpa, don't worry, Erlang can't wield that bow."

Li Yuan quickly added, "We still have to keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn't incite the third brother to use that bow again!"

"Grandpa, don't worry, the third son doesn't know how to shoot."

Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. The father and son talked for a while longer before Li Yuan brought up a strange incident.

"The sage didn't seem to have come just for the minerals; he said he wanted to continue north and also mentioned some war."

Li Jiancheng narrowed his eyes. "There will be war. In Liaodong, we will fight against Goryeo."

"Goryeo??"

Li Yuan quickly sat up straight. "The war in the Northwest is not over yet, how can we have troops supporting Goguryeo?"

Li Yuan had just uttered a sentence when he suddenly remembered the massive forced labor this year. Wasn't this forced labor all the way north to open up the north-south grain transport route? Then, recalling the emperor's strange expression, Li Yuan suddenly understood everything!
This means they really intend to wage war against Goryeo!

Li Yuan suddenly remembered the outcome of his last expedition to Goguryeo.

In the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Wen dispatched an army of 30 men to attack Goguryeo by land and sea.

They happened to be caught in the rainy season, the roads were muddy, food supplies were scarce, and they were also hit by an epidemic. The army on the water encountered strong winds and the ships were capsized. In short, the army was almost wiped out and had no choice but to retreat.

With Goryeo submitting to the emperor, Emperor Mun did not launch another campaign against it.

Does the sage want to do it again?

Li Yuan pondered, then looked at Li Jiancheng in front of him, increasingly surprised. This guy's insight was getting better and better.

He was quite pleased with this.

"Jiancheng, send someone to invite Liu Jun over. Let's discuss the important matters ahead!"

"Here!"

While Li Yuan was privately discussing important matters, Li Xuanba was also preparing to discuss important matters.

Qu Qiusheng was taken aback when he was brought to the farm here.

Having lived here for so long, he was naturally familiar with the place. It was a deserted wilderness, and he had never thought of anything about it before. But after only a few days, a farm had actually appeared here.

Although there are no fully-built houses in the farm yet, the fences, earthen walls, roads, and the farmland planned for development are all quite well-prepared.

Qu Qiusheng followed Zhang Du, smiling as he looked around.

"Your Excellency has recruited quite a few people."

"Yes, some people were recruited, and some wanted to live around here. With Lord Jun around, no one dares to provoke them."

Qu Qiusheng was taken aback. "Isn't this the prefect's farm?"

"It's only temporary. It will be moved to another location later. This place was built by the Lord himself, so he will probably keep it for himself."

Qu Qiusheng suddenly realized.

Land grabbing.

He was familiar with this approach; powerful clans all operated this way. They had their own farms, horse ranches, and mines in various places. Wherever there was money to be made, their presence could be seen. The more prominent the clan, the larger its business scope. Things were different now than in ancient times. During the Han Dynasty, no matter how powerful a clan was, it could only dominate its own hometown. All its businesses were confined to its hometown and could not leave the prefecture. The prefecture was its kingdom.

But things are different now. The powerful families in the south can do horse trading in the north, and the powerful families in the north can buy several farms in the south. As long as they maintain good relations with the locals, it's not a big deal.

The business scope of the large family is no longer limited; it's boundless.

Qu Qiusheng walked through the crowd of people who were working and finally entered the manor.

Li Xuanba was practicing his riding skills on horseback.

Upon seeing Qu Qiusheng arrive, he quickly dismounted and walked forward with a smile.

"My Lord!!"

Qu Qiusheng bowed in greeting, and Li Xuanba pulled him up, smiling as he pointed around, "What do you think of this place?"

Qu Qiusheng quickly flattered, "Excellent! Your presence here, my lord, has truly brought good fortune to this place!"

"I plan to build a large village here, centered around this farm!"

Qu Qiusheng nodded with a smile, "It is truly remarkable that you, my lord, have already begun to manage your family's assets at such a young age."

Li Xuanba then said, "The reason I invited you here this time is to discuss business matters."

"Oh?"

“I don’t just want to establish a village. I discussed it with my grandfather and we plan to buy three mines: two iron mines and one coal mine.”

"Buy a mine?"

Qu Qiusheng was somewhat surprised, but thinking about it, it was normal for the other party, as one of the top wealthy families in the country, to buy several mines.

"Great news! Excellent news! Your Excellency should buy more!"

"Three places should be enough. If we buy any more, someone might report to His Majesty that my father is abusing his power for personal gain."

Qu Qiusheng dared not answer.

Li Xuanba said, "Although I want to buy it, I don't know how to manage it. As you can see from my subordinates, they are not very good at this kind of thing either. If you are willing, sir, could you work for me?"

Qu Qiusheng trembled, and his gaze toward Li Xuanba suddenly became fervent.

"How could I dare not serve you, my lord?!"

Qu Qiusheng was about to kneel down when Li Xuanba quickly helped him up, saying, "Old man, there's no need for that!"

Qu Qiusheng found it difficult to express his thoughts at that moment. The reason he had previously abandoned his business was because he had no one to protect him.

The officials these days are becoming increasingly unscrupulous. Not to mention taxes, just the money they demand for goods to cross the border into the city is no small amount. They extort and deduct from his business at every turn, making it impossible for him to continue doing business.

And who would dare to embezzle money from the properties owned by those powerful families? They're lucky if people don't even ask them for money.

Opening up these roads was no easy task. Ordinary families, whose spheres of influence were not large enough, could not protect these merchants in other places. Qu Qiusheng suffered a lot.

I never imagined he would have the opportunity to find a powerful family to protect him today! A noble family, a duke's family!

With this flag planted behind me, damn it, I'll see who dares to withhold my goods, who dares to ask me for money!
Li Xuanba gave a wry smile, "I haven't even mentioned the payment yet!"

"No need! It is my honor to serve you, my lord, and I dare not ask for any reward! I will speak frankly to you, my lord, that my small mine is no longer viable. If I can serve you, my business will be preserved, and that would be the greatest reward!"

Zhang Du also spoke up, saying, "My lord, he is telling the truth."

"If I can help you, then no one will dare to make things difficult for his little mine in the future."

Qu Qiusheng rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement, and said, "Don't worry, my lord, I will find the cheapest people to do the work and arrange a place to ship the goods."

"Well, it's like this. For these mines, I hope to hire more local villagers. Also, don't make them too cheap. As for the goods, I have places to sell them."

Qu Qiusheng was puzzled. Miners always wanted people to be as cheap as possible, especially powerful officials and wealthy families. They could get prisoners to work for them for free with just a word. What did you mean by this, Lord Jun?
Zhang Du explained, "The Lord is kind-hearted. He opens mines not only to make money, but also to support some villagers who have no other means of livelihood."

Qu Qiusheng was even more puzzled. Why was the wealthy family thinking about saving people instead of making money from mining?

However, he did not refute it, and quickly said, "Whatever you ask me to do, my lord, I will do!"

"it is good!"

The matter was settled. Li Xuanba had Zhang Du take Qu Qiusheng to see the three mines they were about to acquire, and the two quickly left.

(End of this chapter)