If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

As the laughter subsided, Qian Zhentian looked at Zhao Yu with a half-smile.

"Yu'er, of course your uncle can help, but you've come to me for help, so you must have made some preparations, right?"

"Tell me, what makes you think that with your uncle's help, you can take over the Dong family's property?"

This means he's about to reveal his true intentions.

Zhao Yu didn't hold back and spoke directly.

"I wonder if the Gan family's surrender, along with the right to recruit soldiers, is enough?"

Qian Zhentian's fingers, which were turning the pastry, stopped.

He raised an eyebrow, recalling Gan Qing's visit to the palace a few days earlier.

Qian Zhentian grinned, revealing a mouthful of teeth, and laughed.

"Haha, not bad! That old guy Gan Qing used to give me a real headache, but I never expected him to become your trump card."

Zhao Yu humbly cupped his hands in greeting.

"The cooperation was only achieved by taking advantage of the situation."

"That's your skill too."

Qian Zhentian laughed heartily, tossed the pastries back onto the plate, and began to make his calculations.

"With the Gan family standing against the other families, and using the right to recruit soldiers as bait, the Dong family's intricate network of relationships is basically crippled."

"It shouldn't be difficult for me to mobilize 100,000 troops to surround the five stronghold towns of the Dong family and kill them in one blow."

A hundred thousand troops—it sounds easy.

But to act simultaneously and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop, only the Prince of Zhennan, who commands a million soldiers, would dare say it's not difficult.

After all, if even a whisper of it were to leak out, those desperate members of the Dong family would definitely fight to the death.

At best, it could destroy farmland and houses.

In severe cases... a massacre of the entire city!

Having struggled his way to become a famous star in his previous life, Zhao Yu is acutely aware of the evil in human nature.

After Qian Zhentian finished his calculations, the boldness on his face subsided, replaced by a more serious expression.

"However, Yu'er, there's something your uncle wants to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

Zhao Yu gestured for him to proceed.

Qian Zhentian frowned.

"Taking action against the Dong family at this time may deter the remaining three families, but it will also make them realize that military power is the key to survival."

"By then, they will only become more obsessed with military power and desperately expand their army. Ten thousand men per city will probably just be a nominal number."

"Once their military strength grows, even if Uncle has a million troops, he won't be able to handle it all. Have you thought about the consequences?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu's smile deepened.

"Uncle, you're overthinking it. I've considered this matter carefully."

Qian Zhentian stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! Good! Yu'er is getting more and more amazing. Even your uncle is a little afraid that you'll set your sights on me one day!"

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow, sensing the probing in those words, yet it didn't quite sound like a probing.

He quickly stood up and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting.

"Uncle, you jest. You are my nephew's own uncle; how could I possibly lay a hand on you?"

Qian Zhentian gave him a deep look, but didn't respond to that, and instead said something else.

"In that case, let's leave this matter to Uncle."

"The Dong family will cease to exist within three days!"

Zhao Yu stood up and bowed deeply to the ground.

"Thank you very much, Uncle."

Qian Zhentian waved his hand.

"We're family, no need to be so polite."

Seeing that the matter was settled, Zhao Yu took the opportunity to say goodbye.

"Then I will take my leave today, so as not to disturb your cultivation, Uncle."

Qian Zhentian did not try to stop him, and personally escorted him to the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

As Zhao Yu boarded the imperial carriage, the smile on his face vanished the moment the curtains were lowered.

This cheap uncle is a deep and cunning man; you can't get any information out of him about his true thoughts.

But there's no rush, there's plenty of time.

"Return to the palace."

Wei An's high-pitched voice rang out from outside the mansion.

"Let's depart and return to the palace!"

At the entrance of the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion, Qian Zhentian watched the imperial carriage disappear at the end of the street.

The honest smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a cold expression and a hint of wariness in his eyes.

The butler, Qian Bei, had appeared beside him at some point and reported in a low voice.

"Master, there's news about the medicinal herbs."

Qian Zhentian uttered a single word.

"explain."

Qian Bei bowed deeply.

"Reporting to your master, the Qin Kingdom's Black Dragon Trading Company has that key ingredient, but they do not accept direct sales at the moment; they will only auction it off at the post-harvest auction."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Qian Zhentian's brow, but he quickly regained his composure.

"The Qin state intends to use the auction to attract merchant caravans from various countries and expand its influence..."

"Very well, after the autumn harvest, I will personally make a trip to the Qin state."

……

On the other side, the imperial carriage slowly drove into the palace.

As soon as Zhao Yu returned to Jingxin Palace, he gave instructions to Wei An.

"Summon Qiu Ping, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to see me."

Wei An acknowledged and withdrew.

Zhao Yu entered the hall, sat down at the table, took out a blank imperial edict, and began to write.

His calligraphy flowed like dragons and snakes; with each repetition, his handwriting became increasingly refined, and his speed increased.

Before long, an imperial edict to confiscate the property was written.

After finishing writing, Zhao Yu picked up the Ruyi Jade Seal beside him and solemnly stamped it with a vermilion seal.

A forged imperial edict, convincingly realistic, was thus created.

Before long, Qiu Ping strode into the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Your subject Qiu Ping greets Your Majesty."

Zhao Yu put down the imperial seal, his tone indifferent.

"Rise."

"I have two questions for you."

"First, how is the Royal Engineering Corps making progress? How cooperative are officials at all levels?"

Qiu Ping answered immediately.

"Your Majesty, officials at all levels have received instructions from the five great families and are cooperating very well."

"The materials, venue, and manpower were all prepared yesterday. The preliminary check has been conducted and the personnel are generally clean and there are no problems."

Zhao Yu nodded.

In fact, it wouldn't matter if the five major families sent people in.

That's just a cement powder production line; you learn it, it's not a big deal.

Moreover, the construction team would need to step back to repair the road later, and he was eager for the five major families to learn from them so that he wouldn't have to worry about it later.

"Continue to protect the construction team members and ensure their safety."

Zhao Yu gave solemn instructions.

Unlike the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the construction team had no ability to protect themselves, and there were only fifteen people in total. If one of them died, there would be one less.

Qiu Ping's expression turned serious.

"Your subject understands."

"The second thing, what's the current situation with the five major families?"

Zhao Yu asked another question.

Qiu Ping reported in a deep voice.

"The five major families held a secret meeting the day before yesterday. Due to the extremely strict secrecy, I was unable to obtain all the details."

"All we've learned is that they've set the rules for recruiting soldiers."

"In each city, the main family in charge can recruit five thousand soldiers, and the remaining families will share the remaining quota."

"But the cities where the Gan family is located can recruit soldiers without limit."

Zhao Yu's expression remained calm after hearing this.

This system is quite good, as it ensures that military power in each city is not concentrated in one family.

But the number of soldiers recruited is far too small.

How could such an investment possibly be enough to exhaust their financial resources?

"Continue to monitor the movements of the five major families. Report any suspicious activity immediately."

Qiu Ping bowed and accepted the order.

"I obey your decree."