In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

This was standard equipment in ancient times, but in later generations...

……

Half an hour later.

Li Yuanchang left the palace and headed to Lupu.

"Haha, Young Master Li, you've arrived so early in the morning?" Manager Lu greeted him with a hearty laugh.

Li Yuanchang cupped his hands, revealing a smile befitting a wealthy merchant's son. Neither his demeanor nor his disguise revealed his true identity.

"Manager Lu, the early bird catches the worm."

"Only after I finish this matter can I return home."

Shopkeeper Lu smiled and said, "Yes, yes, Young Master Li is absolutely right. Please come in."

"please."

Li Yuanchang reached out and glanced at the shop out of the corner of his eye. He could clearly sense that there were more servants today than yesterday, almost all of them strong and capable men.

He remained calm and followed Manager Lu back into the cubicle.

As soon as he sat down, Li Yuanchang got straight to the point.

"How is it? Has Manager Lu spoken to your boss about it?"

"I said so."

Manager Lu suddenly looked over, his eyes filled with a hint of apology.

"But my master said that we do legitimate business, and we probably can't do business with the young master."

As he spoke, he returned all the money from yesterday.

Li Yuanchang cursed under his breath, "Old fox!"

If they were truly doing legitimate business, they wouldn't have talked so much yesterday; it's obvious they just don't believe in themselves.

He feigned displeasure: "Manager Lu, what does this mean?"

"Is it fun to tease me?"

"We're all ancient foxes, what's the point of talking about truth, goodness, and beauty!"

"Everyone knows the truth about this."

Manager Lu wasn't angry at all. He skillfully bowed and apologized, "Oh dear, young master, please calm down, please calm down."

"As you know, Liangzhou is different now than before. The King of Han has arrived, and the situation in Liangzhou has changed drastically. Not long ago, the magistrate of Yangping County was torn apart by chariots."

"We really can't do this deal."

"You should find someone else who is more skilled."

Li Yuanchang frowned. If this method didn't work, then he would have no choice but to send soldiers into Lu's Stone Village to conduct a thorough investigation.

But this means the operation could be leaked, and the other side could destroy evidence in advance. Even in the 21st century, when the government does something like this, it needs to transfer people from other places.

He clearly could not be trusted by anyone in Liangzhou Prefecture.

Even if they sneak over there by switching places and only use Li Yuanchang's own guards, there is a high probability that an armed conflict will break out once they get there.

Unlike later dynasties, many families in the Tang Dynasty could have their own private retinues.

Since everyone in Shizhuang is surnamed Lu, if there's a problem there, then the entire village is in trouble.

With a knife to their necks, how could they not resist?

If they rebel in advance... it's unpredictable!

Almost instantly, Li Yuanchang responded swiftly: "So what if he's the Prince of Han?"

"He only governs this small area of ​​Liangzhou, but the place we need to go is not here."

"The risks you mentioned are almost nonexistent!"

Manager Lu frowned: "That's true, but we haven't received any word about the young master's huge demand. There's no such large-scale construction project in Shannan West Road."

He stared intently, his gaze filled with suspicion.

Li Yuanchang smiled inwardly. As long as the other party was still testing the waters, it meant there was still hope.

"So your family still suspects my identity?"

Manager Lu remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

The people he sent out to track him yesterday were shaken off, and as for Liangzhou Prefecture, they still haven't confirmed Li San's background, so it's impossible for them to cooperate.

Li Yuanchang stopped pressuring and offered no further explanation.

As a businessman himself, he knew very well that the more anxious you were in this situation, the less the other party would believe you. On the contrary, if you could adopt a high-handed attitude, things might develop in a different direction.

"Forget it, forced love is never sweet. I was never here."

"unlucky!"

He snorted in displeasure, then got up and left, very decisively and cleanly.

"Shopkeeper, this boy is far too arrogant!"

"Should we teach him a lesson?" one of the shop's thugs said unhappily.

Manager Lu squinted, staring intently at Li Yuanchang's retreating figure without saying a word or ordering anyone to chase after him, seemingly lost in thought.

"Has the second master arrived yet?"

"arrive!"

"..."

A short while later.

Deep inside Lupu, on the third floor.

Manager Lu approached a burly man and bowed respectfully: "Second Master, he's gone."

The burly man toyed with two jade walnuts in his hands, stroking his mustache with one hand: "I saw them."

Manager Lu looked up: "Second Master, are you really just going to let it go like this?"

"That's a deal worth several thousand strings of cash, even bigger than the one at Da Hong Temple last time!"

"Besides, judging from my own petty perspective, Li San doesn't seem like he's trying to fake it."

The burly man sneered, "My brother and I have gotten to where we are today thanks to one word: caution."

"It doesn't make sense for a young punk who suddenly appears to want so much stuff. Maybe he's putting on an act?"

"unless……"

He had only spoken halfway when a sudden sound from the stairs drew the attention of both him and Manager Lu.

A young servant boy came running up and greeted them with a cupped hand.

"Second Master, Manager."

"I've found out!"

"People from Liangzhou Prefecture say that Li San is a merchant from Fengzhou, and the imperial court is going to build new dikes in Fengzhou to prevent flooding."

Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up simultaneously.

Are you sure?

"Second Master, it's absolutely true, our friends in Liangzhou Prefecture have already confirmed it."

"Moreover, the King of Han's men all know about this."

"It is the water conservancy of Fengzhou, and it is indeed not under the jurisdiction of the Prince of Han!" the servant said seriously.

Manager Lu exclaimed with delight, "Second Master, since that's the case, why not give it a try!"

The burly man fell into thought, then suddenly gripped the jade walnut tightly in his hand. Although he still had some worries, the enormous profits still tempted him.

"good!"

"Go find him right away; we'll take this job!"

"But according to our rules, the goods must be inspected in Shizhuang."

"He can only bring a maximum of eight people!" the burly man said in a deep voice.

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away!" Manager Lu left excitedly.