All Hail Cousin Brother

390 Okay, It’s Up to You

She dragged out the last word, her voice trembling. She said softly, “Cousin, can you…”

Zhou Linghuai’s heart itched. Before she could finish, he said, “Okay!”

“Thank you, Cousin.” Yu Youyao was overjoyed. Her eyes darted around. “However, can you lend me your family’s soldiers?” She smiled ingratiatingly and blinked. “There are at least 800 soldiers in the residence now. Cousin doesn’t need so many people for the time being. It’s a pity to raise them for nothing!”

Zhou Linghuai looked at the little girl, who looked delicate and coquettish. He couldn’t help but pinch the tip of her nose. “You’ve planned it well.”

Yu Youyao pouted slightly. “I didn’t use Cousin’s name for nothing. Also, the Xie family will get 20% of the profits from the escort business. We’ll get 40% of the remaining 80%. As long as Cousin makes a name for himself, he can get 40% of the profits for nothing. How can you find such a good thing!”

It was not easy to be an escort. Using her cousin’s name would block most of the risks.

The soldiers of the Prince of You’s Residence had all been on the battlefield. They were definitely not bad and their strength crushed most people. No one dared to provoke them outside. Her cousin should receive so many dividends.

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “Alright, we’ll do as you say. You can use the name and the person. As for the profits, keep them for yourself!”

Yu Youyao pouted. “That won’t do. Even biological brothers have to settle accounts clearly. I know that Cousin dotes on me, but I can’t let him suffer a loss.”

Zhou Linghuai stopped smiling. “You also said that only biological brothers can settle accounts clearly. We’re not biological brothers. You don’t have to be so clear with me.”

Yu Youyao wrinkled her nose. “In any case, I don’t care. The most important thing in doing business is sincerity and trust. Cousin, you can’t lose a single cent. This is the most honest thing. It has nothing to do with whether we’re biological brothers or not. Cousin, you’re not allowed to reject me.”

As soon as she wheedled, Zhou Linghuai couldn’t do anything to her, so he could only agree. “Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

Yu Youyao smiled when she heard this. She tilted her head and looked at her cousin. “Cousin, I’ll manage the escort business well. There’s no need to be afraid of the 300,000 You army. I’ll earn a lot of money and raise them for you. I’ll let the soldiers under you eat their fill and wear the best armor. I’ll also let them use the best swords and ride the best warhorses. I won’t let the soldiers in your hands fall into a bad situation of lacking supplies again, nor will I let countless loyal souls die in vain because of a lack of supplies…”

Zhou Linghuai’s gaze froze. The little girl’s smile was bright and warm, and there was a burning feeling in his body and mind.

Just because she didn’t mention, ask, or say anything didn’t mean she didn’t know anything.

As she was close to him, she knew him well. Even if she did not mention or ask, she knew everything and was willing to bear it with him.

Yu Youyao panicked under her cousin’s deep gaze. “Cousin, why are you looking at me?”

There were 300,000 You soldiers. Every year, there were hundreds of thousands of them and maintaining them would require up to a million taels of silver. This was not a small number. Every year, the Ministry of Revenue would fight with the Ministry of War for it.

When the money reached the Ministry of War, there would be internal wrangling over how much to distribute out. The military salary distributed by the Ministry of War every year was far from enough to meet the military needs. Half of it still depended on the vassal lords to think of a way themselves.

There were all kinds of resources in the east. There was a trade route in the south and a mine in the west.

Only the north was the most bitterly cold. Not only were farmers and merchants in a place that was not developed, but the Di Clan was also a large tribe. They were good at riding horses and archery. They could only rely on the Imperial Court’s army to receive a large number of supplies.

The other three vassal lords were passed down from generations. They had guarded the vassal lands for generations and had a strong foundation. Most of the resources in the vassal lands were in the hands of the vassal lords.

Although there was also coal in the north, most of it was in the hands of the local nobles.

His father had only been guarding Youzhou for more than ten years and had always been restrained by the local officials and nobles. It was said that a strong dragon could not suppress a local snake. These nobles seemed to be incompetent, but they had taken root in the north for generations and colluded with the local officials. The local officials also protected the court officials, forming a very stable relationship unified by similar interests.

Therefore, the situation in the north had never been good.

Three years ago, the Di people had invaded wantonly. He had sent people to raid the homes of the local nobles and gather supplies. On the surface, they had only touched the interests of the nobles and local officials, but there were actually court officials who had colluded with the north.

Among them was the Marquis of Weining’s faction.

It was also because of this that the court officials reported sparsely and asked the emperor to summon his father into the capital, allowing the Marquis of Weining’s family to take advantage of the situation.

How could he not know this? However, he had no choice in the situation at that time.

Once the Di people broke through the defense line in the north, the destruction of King You’s Residence was inevitable.

If he mobilized the local nobles and officials, at least he could still mediate and protect King You’s Residence.

However, he had never expected that the Marquis of Weining’s faction would be so crazy as to ambush him on the battlefield in order to steal the military power of Youzhou.

It was also at this moment that he truly understood what it meant to be a king.

The Marquis of Weining had dared to do such a thing because he had hurt his ego.

If he wanted him to die, he would have no choice!

Due to the schemes, the emperor did not even think about the consequences if King You died.

Zhou Linghuai’s lips curled up slightly. “It’s very difficult to raise an army of 300,000.”

Yu Youyao had thought about this long ago. “With the current profits of the businesses under my name, I can basically maintain the basic needs of the 300,000 You Army. I still have more than three million taels of silver and more than a thousand taels of gold in the bank. It won’t be a problem to withdraw 200,000 taels of silver every year. In addition, I still have many antiques, jade artifacts, calligraphy, and paintings in my private vault. They’re all expensive. If I exchange them for money, I can gather at least a million taels of silver. Even if I can’t afford it for the time being, it can resolve urgent needs. In the future, when the escort business is done and the trade route is opened, I’ll have an endless supply of supplies, money, silver, and rations.”

She looked at her cousin with a faint smug expression.

Not to mention the capital, even in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, no young miss was as rich as her.

Zhou Linghuai smiled. “Silly girl.”

He was not surprised that Yu Youyao was a little rich woman.

Not to mention that Madam Xie had married into the Xie family and gained almost 30% of their assets back then, in addition to countless gold, silver, and artifacts. After Yu Youyao was born, the Xie family was still rich and generous, sending ten merchant ships to her. The maritime trade route was the foundation of the Xie family, so there was naturally no need to mention the efforts of ten merchant ships. Not to mention that Old Madam Yu doted on Yu Youyao, and good things were endlessly sent to her.

Previously, Yu Youyao had also told him about the businesses that Old Madam Yu had given her. These businesses were also very profitable.

However, she was not on guard at all. She had completely forgotten the principle of not revealing wealth to others.