My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 189 Funding
Li Yuan's gaze toward his second son grew increasingly complex.

He remained silent for a long time before speaking, "From now on, when I discuss important matters with your elder brother and the other wise men in the manor, you may sit down with us."

"Thank you so much, Grandpa!!"

Li Shimin rose and bowed deeply, his eyes bright and full of excitement.

He knew his grandfather wouldn't blame him. As long as he didn't make any mistakes, his grandfather wouldn't blame him. It had always been like this since he was a child. Although this matter was a bit big, his grandfather still wouldn't care.

Li Yuan couldn't sit still any longer. He told Liu Xuan to go back and rest for the time being, and asked Li Shimin to take him to see the captured person. He still needed to ask him in person in order to make an accurate judgment.

Li Xuanba rode his fine horse, followed by more than ten riders, calmly traveling along the road.

There wasn't much snow inside the city, but the snow accumulation in the countryside was quite severe, so one had to be extra careful when walking.

Liu Chounu, Zhang Du, Qu Qiusheng and others followed him around, Liu Chounu warily surveying his surroundings.

Zhang Du then explained the situation of the destination to Li Xuanba.

His second brother seemed to have accomplished something great, but Li Xuanba couldn't afford to be distracted; he also had many important matters to attend to.

As the weather warmed up, Li Xuanba visited his businesses in various locations and also met with several key figures from Cheng Houshan to inform them of the important matters to be undertaken next.

Li Xuanba still has many things he wants to do, but now, many things cannot be carried out.

The snow accumulation was only one factor; the biggest reason was poverty.

Li Xuanba owned three large mines in the area, but he hired people to mine them instead of choosing a low-cost method. Moreover, the output had to be sent to two mountain strongholds, so the profit was not very high.

However, the need for money and food is increasing, including restaurants along the road, a large horse farm that was just acquired, and people who need to be fed.
"My lord, money is not important, but we still need grain."

Qu Qiusheng said with a worried expression.

"Grain prices are rising day by day. Back in the first year of the Daye era, the price of grain in Guanzhong was thirty coins per shi! In Henan it was thirty-five coins, and in Hedong it was forty-two coins!"

"By this year, the price of grain in Guanzhong has reached 140 coins, while in places like Hedong and Hebei, it has already started to be calculated by the bushel."

"More and more people are starting to mint coins privately. If the government doesn't stop the forced labor this year, in two years, the price of grain will be incalculable, and money may become worthless."

Li Xuanba slowly frowned.

He has only just begun leading the group to develop the wasteland, and the results are estimated to take another two or three years. It seems that the mining operations still need to be adjusted.

Just as Li Xuanba was deep in thought, Qu Qiusheng suddenly said, "I have an idea, but I don't know if you, my lord, would be willing."

"Oh? What does Old Master Qu want to teach me?"

Qu Qiusheng suddenly spoke up, "Throughout history, those who have accomplished great things have always had wealthy merchants by their side to help them. It is with the support of these people that they have been able to build their great empires. Why doesn't Your Majesty seek help from those wealthy merchants and ask them for their assistance? If you can get their support, I can help Your Majesty acquire more properties, quickly accumulate wealth, and also stockpile a considerable amount of grain."

Zhang Du shook his head, "I don't think that's appropriate."

"Isn't Old Master Qu sending Your Excellency to extort money from the merchants? How can that be allowed?"

Li Xuanba also said, "I do not do things that humiliate others."

“Oh dear, how could I let you extort merchants? You don’t know, my lord! The wealthy merchants in various places may seem powerful, but they live in constant fear. I was nothing in Loufan before, but since I followed you, my lord, these wealthy merchants have been contacting me every day, all wanting to curry favor with me and befriend me.”

"This is the current predicament of merchants. The small merchants only hate that they cannot get rid of their city registration and most of them can only die from corvée labor. The big merchants also try every means, even if it means exhausting their family fortune, to befriend influential people so that their children can get an official position. The corvée labor and taxes are getting heavier and heavier, and even the big merchants cannot avoid them or bear them."

"Only officials can escape this calamity."

Listening to Qu Qiusheng's words, Li Xuanba suddenly thought of his elder brother's friend, Wu Shiyue. Wu Shiyue was an extremely wealthy man who ran a timber business and was even involved in major events like the construction of the imperial palace. However, he spent money to befriend so many influential people for only one purpose: to escape his current identity as a merchant.

He preferred to serve as a squad leader in Yingyang Prefecture rather than enjoy a life of luxury at home. This was partly due to his desire to enter officialdom, but it also revealed the extent to which merchants had been forced into such a predicament.

They couldn't find any way to change their fate except by currying favor with the powerful. Oh, right, there was also the path of rebellion, but it wasn't a common one.

The Liu family was the same; they were incredibly wealthy, but they still had to spend a lot of money in order to have someone in the family become an official so they could escape their misery.

The sage's sword is incredibly sharp. No matter how big a merchant or how rich you are, if you are called to perform corvée labor, you have to go; if you are asked to donate your family property, you have to donate. Anyone who dares to say a word will have grass growing half a person's height on their grave.

Li Xuanba turned his head to look at Qu Qiusheng.

"What does Old Master Qu mean?"

"The gentleman Tian who serves by your side is a good example. If you were willing to take in the sons of some merchants to work for you, these merchants would even give you half of their fortune as a token of gratitude! Don't think I'm joking, my lord. If they knew there was an opportunity to help you, I'm afraid the gates of Da De Farm would be worn down by their crowds."

Zhang Du then said, "I still think it's inappropriate."

“Old Master Qu, I’m not referring to you, but I know these merchants’ character very well. They may be timid in front of the court, but they’re a tyrant in front of the common people. If they were to befriend the ruler, who knows what they might do in the future. Besides, if the ruler were to openly befriend the merchants and ask for their financial assistance, wouldn’t that arouse suspicion?”

Qu Qiusheng laughed, “It’s easy to talk about character. I know a few honest and upright merchants in the local area. I would not let morally corrupt people come into contact with you, my lord. Even if I misjudge people and introduce bad people, if they commit crimes, you can deal with them directly. It is their own fault and not a big deal.”

"As for making high-profile connections, Zhang Jun obviously doesn't know that there isn't a single minister in the court who doesn't associate with merchants. Even big figures like the Nine Ministers do this, so it won't arouse suspicion."

"If Mr. Zhang is still worried, we'll just tone it down."

Upon hearing Qu Qiusheng's words, Zhang Du was taken aback, but he couldn't continue to refute them.

Li Xuanba seemed to be thinking, "Could it be that Old Man Qu wants to introduce Old Man Wu to me?"

“If Your Excellency agrees, he will be the first person I recommend to you. His family is of good character and he strictly disciplines his children. He often helps the orphans and the poor. His sons and grandsons are all upright and virtuous people, unlike ordinary playboys.”

"This is a good thing for you, my lord, and a good thing for them as well. Why not do it?"

"Hmm, that's one way to do it."

Qu Qiusheng said with a smile, "With the support of these people, Your Majesty need not worry about money and provisions. They operate many businesses, and even timber, cattle, horses, and cloth are no longer a concern! If Your Majesty agrees, I will go to Wu Su tomorrow and have him pay a visit."

"No need. Old Master Qu said that this person is quite old and not in very good health. In this season, we shouldn't let him go out. We can take me to see him tomorrow."

Qu Qiusheng was stunned for a moment, then said, "Yes."

The group continued forward, traversing a rather difficult road, and then saw many of their subordinates who came out to greet them.

The person leading the group was none other than Dugu Luo.

The weather was still very cold, and ordinary elderly people would not dare to go out, but Dugu Luo was clearly not an ordinary elderly person. He looked more energetic than anyone else, as did Liu Chounu.

Dugu Luo greeted him with a smile and led Li Xuanba's horse. Li Xuanba met with the others and then headed towards the mountain path.

His final destination was Chenghou Mountain.

Because of the second brother's reminder last time, they no longer called themselves Qingzao Village, but directly called themselves Chenghou Village. In this blizzard, there were still casualties here, but fortunately, this place is within Loufan territory, and Zhang Du and others were able to provide relief from time to time, allowing most of them to survive.

Chenghou Mountain has now become an "Iron Mountain". Chenghou Village here is home to a large number of blacksmiths who carry out large-scale smelting work.

(End of this chapter)