Chapter 639: Weakness

Chapter 639: Chapter 639: Weakness

Yang Shu laughed for quite a while. Among his six elder brothers, the ones he liked least were his eldest brother, Prince Jing Yang Baicheng, and his second brother, Prince Qian Yang Ye.

These two were much older than Yang Shu, and their thoughts and habits were worlds apart from his. In fact, one could say they were utterly incompatible. Even as a child, he was often scolded or given cold looks by these two; after coming of age and establishing his own residence, they went so far as to call him "the disgrace of the Royal Family."

As for any deep hatred or grievance, Yang Shu felt that wasn’t really the case. He was not a petty or vengeful person; on the contrary, he regarded himself as broad-minded. It was just that he truly had not a shred of fondness for his eldest and second brothers.

The rest of his brothers, in Yang Shu’s eyes, were no better—at best, they simply "ignored him," but at least they didn’t target him as overtly as the eldest and second brothers. This was mainly because Yang Shu had always seemed so weak.

When he was young, Yang Shu’s weakness lay in his frail physique and somewhat docile nature; when bullied, he would always remain silent and showed no sign of resistance. He was often isolated and walked alone, thus earning the reputation of being "weak."

Later, since he was so much younger, by the time Yang Shu established his residence, his six brothers had already moved earlier and snatched up nearly all the key networks and connections, leaving Yang Shu with little more than an empty, lonely mansion and nothing else. At that time, this Seventh Prince was deemed the weakest of them all.

Thus, the word "weak" had accompanied Yang Shu all the way from childhood to the present.

Yang Shu’s current personality was markedly different from his youth; this change happened after he came of age, and the catalyst was something his birth mother—Consort Ling, the Emperor’s consort—said to him on her deathbed.

"The moment everyone considers you weak is when you are strongest."

From then on, Yang Shu became enlightened. He stopped feeling inferior and instead treated his "weakness" as something natural—a fa?ade to be used. He deliberately distanced himself from the mainstream Noble Families and chose instead to approach the merchants and upstart elites whom his brothers considered "non-tiered," even actively keeping his distance from the various officials. For a time, this made others think Yang Shu had given up on himself. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

It was not until Yang Shu learned from these "non-tiered" followers how to "do business," "win people over with a smile," and "be thick-skinned," that he suddenly noticed something he had naturally overlooked: money!

As a Prince, one of the most esteemed figures upon the vast lands of the Jingjiu Dynasty, money—so indispensable to ordinary people—was barely a concept for him.

The Emperor’s supervision of the Princes was strict at first, but only in terms of rules and major issues; when it came to expenditures, he was always generous. Even after coming of age, Yang Shu held shares in excellent businesses—all handpicked from the Emperor’s Inner Treasury and distributed to him. So "wanting for nothing" and even "living in luxury" were trifles that any prince could attain at will.

It was only after much contact with merchants and upstart powers that Yang Shu discovered what immense use "money" could be. He gradually unearthed his own innate talent for making money.

To borrow the words of one merchant’s exclamation: Prince Ling could truly be considered the foremost among all merchants under heaven!

Though this remark was quite exaggerated, it did speak to Yang Shu’s remarkable talent in business. And a string of facts proved firmly that Yang Shu was indeed worthy of such praise.

Take just one example: to gradually erode and ultimately gain control of "tea," one of the Five Great Imperial Merchants, Yang Shu’s skill was more than enough to be called "formidable," wasn’t it?

While Yang Shu’s brothers busied themselves fighting for the meager networks and resources available, Yang Shu quietly constructed a territory of his own—and all the while, he continued to present the outward appearance of "weakness."

This very weakness was likely to secure Yang Shu the equitable subsidy distributed prior to the Major Examination—that is, executive authority over the upcoming "money and grain tightening policy."

Though Jianchuan had just celebrated a victory in battle, everyone knew it was merely a good beginning. To truly win or to end the war against the Southern Barbarians, much time was still needed. Exactly how long? A year, or two? No one could say. Therefore, the nation-wide money and grain tightening was imperative, or how else could the enormous consumption at the front be sustained?

This was a tremendous power! And, as the Guest Elders below said, it was the first time that the Royal Family’s Major Examination had coincided with a period of monetary and grain austerity.

What benefits could come from obtaining such authority?

Yang Shu was unsure, but he knew that with this money and grain tightening authority in hand, he could quickly break into the ranks of the regional officialdom and seize the spoils from the mouths of his brothers who had been running localities for years.

Alongside the potential benefits came matching downsides: Yang Shu would almost certainly become the prime target among the Princes in the near future.

"Have you finished preparing the strategy you discussed before?"

"It’s almost done, only it hasn’t been put in writing, so..."

Yang Shu waved his hand, cutting him off, "Best not to commit these things to paper or copper rod. Oral reporting is best. Go on, tell me what you’ve been thinking over these past few days."

"Your Highness, after repeated deliberation, we believe the key figure in this matter is Bai Changqing, Minister of Revenue."

Yang Shu’s hand paused as he held the teacup; he was somewhat surprised and asked, "The grain and money tightening policy is mainly aimed at the localities, directly affecting the interests of local Nobles and officials. But Bai Changqing, as Minister of Revenue—what does he have to do with it? How did he become the key?"

The Guest Elder explained, "Your Highness, it’s true that the policy closely concerns localities, but it’s equally inseparable from the Ministry of Revenue. Whether it’s allocation or distribution, nothing can proceed without the Ministry’s cooperation. In fact, the Ministry is the main executor."

Yang Shu nodded, agreeing with the Guest Elder, and signaled for him to continue.

"Therefore, Your Highness, you can take this opportunity to draw Bai Changqing—such a heavyweight—into your camp."

"Tch, easy for you to say, isn’t it? Bai Changqing is Ye Lansheng’s stalwart; do you think Ye Lansheng, that old fox, would so easily stand on my side? Besides, they’ve never looked kindly on me." Yang Shu was unconvinced, finding the Guest Elder rather simplistic.

"Your Highness. Perhaps once Bai Changqing was Ye Lansheng’s staunch supporter, but now, that may no longer be the case."

Yang Shu grunted in surprise and pressed him, "What’s going on? Speak in detail!"

"Your Highness, there is confirmation: Bai Changqing, despite opposition from his own sons, recently took as a second wife a pair of sisters as young as his granddaughters. Since then, he’s doted on them to no end, earning himself the nickname ’Gu Family Bai.’ He rarely gathers privately with colleagues, always rushing home to his ’sisters’ after a posting. Even Ye Lansheng’s repeated invitations to banquets have been refused."

"Now, it is rumored in secret that Ye Lansheng harbors dissatisfaction with Bai Changqing."

"Really? Still, would Bai Changqing really snub Ye Lansheng over just two women? I don’t believe it."