Chapter 116: Entering the Palace to Offer Counsel!

The cement had been successfully produced, but Li Yi did not leave immediately, choosing instead to chat with the workers. Some of these men belonged to his own estate, while others had been transferred from various households at his request.

"Young Master, you have no idea!" the speaker was Lan Wei. He had previously been ordered by Li Yi to follow the portly Luo Kaiyuan, who had come from Li Ke’s estate, but whenever he had the chance, he would return here—to lose weight. This was Li Yi’s strict order. When Li Yi arrived this time, he had barely recognized Lan Wei, who had shed dozens of pounds. Though Lan Wei had resisted at first, he had gradually grown to love the place, which was the key reason for his successful weight loss.

"The main ingredient for this cement is stone. Even though there’s plenty of it around here, we can’t keep squandering it forever. We’ve had to go much further afield to quarry it. The workers have truly sacrificed so much to transport these stones. Uncle Zhang’s shoulders were worn raw and bloody, Uncle Li had his foot pierced straight through, and Uncle Wei had his leg crushed by a boulder, leaving him with a permanent injury... And the men who tend the kilns all suffer from one ailment or another. I wanted to tell you long ago, but they wouldn't let me. They always said, 'The Young Master trusted us with such an important task; how can we complain? How would that repay his kindness? If you want to get things done, don't be precious; those who are precious are the least worthy of sympathy!'"

Listening to Lan Wei, Li Yi looked at the workers with profound respect. He had always believed that in any era, there would never be a shortage of people who contribute silently without asking for anything in return. The workers blushed under his gaze; their simple, honest nature made them uncomfortable with such admiration. Perhaps, in their hearts, doing a good job was the greatest happiness.

"Lan Wei, do you understand now why I sent you here?" Li Yi asked. "The Merchant Alliance you are to manage in the future will hold the wealth of the world. What you need to learn now is not just how to do business—even if you knew nothing and lost every cent, it wouldn't matter; I can afford the loss. The most important thing for you to learn is how to guard your integrity, how to keep your original intentions pure amidst mountains of gold and silver. Remember, Lan Wei: money can be earned again, but if you lose your heart, your life is as good as gone. These uncles may not conquer the world like you will, but they possess a profound wisdom you could spend a lifetime learning. Today, you have learned your first lesson in integrity: if you want to get things done, do not be precious."

Seeing Lan Wei’s look of realization, Li Yi felt a sense of relief. He had been in the Tang Dynasty for several months. If he wanted to, he could have launched the Merchant Alliance and his charitable works long ago, but he had delayed, hoping to build two tools that would truly benefit the people rather than becoming a source of harm. When it came to employing people, he dared not be the least bit careless.

"Alright, that’s enough for today," Li Yi said. "Uncle Tie, I won't say much more. Listen to me: have Lan Wei take you all to the Xuandu Temple to have Daoist Sun treat your injuries. Then, go to Bingyu to collect one hundred guan as a bonus for everyone. Afterward, find Fatty Luo and have him arrange living quarters and necessities for you. I can't give you much else, but I can at least ensure you have a stable environment."

Lan Wei did not decline, knowing he could not, and like the other workers, he could only thank Li Yi silently in his heart.

Li Yi found a cement slab that his horse, Juechen, could carry, strapped it to the animal, and mounted. "Oh, right! Uncle Tie, you, Lan Wei, and Fatty Luo, come see me at my estate tonight!"

Riding at full speed, Li Yi arrived at the palace gate, presented his token, and led Juechen inside. After being announced, he entered the Lizheng Hall.

The moment he stepped inside, he heard Emperor Li Er’s sarcasm: "Oh? Isn’t this the Honorable Count of the Founding? Why aren’t you at home enjoying your retirement instead of running over here to see me?"

"Uncle Li, I’ve only been resting for three days. Is that really necessary?"

"Hmph! There’s a mountain of messes waiting to be sorted out, and you—you just wash your hands of it and disappear. I can’t find you even when I want to discuss things!"

"Eh? Really? You have so many ministers, all more capable than I am. Why must you look for me?"

"Hmph! They have talent, but their only talent is asking for money!"

Li Yi immediately understood; the spoils were being divided unevenly. It was only natural—with so much money suddenly available, every department wanted a piece of the fat.

"Uncle Li, how much money did you seize in total?"

"Two million, four hundred and sixty thousand guan!" Li Er replied without hesitation. It seemed that number had been ringing in his ears for days.

"That much? Oh, right, you found the account books for the money shops, didn't you?"

Li Er nodded. "Found them along with the copper coins. Our move was so sudden that Li Yuanchang didn't have a chance to destroy the evidence."

Li Yi nodded in thought and said slowly, "Uncle Li, don't be anxious. I came here today to offer you a strategy."

Li Er looked at him suspiciously. "You? Being so kind? Well, you're here now, so I might as well hear your thoughts. Even if you’re usually unreliable, you do come up with a fair few ideas."

Li Yi rolled his eyes silently. The old man was just stubborn; would it kill him to offer a compliment? "Uncle Li, the priority isn't how to divide the money, but how to distribute it. Integrating the money shops and the banks is inevitable."

Li Er’s expression turned serious. "I’ve considered that, but once they are integrated, there will inevitably be a rush to withdraw silver. Some ministers advised me to drag it out. Since no one knows Li Yuanchang owned the shops, we could use the money to get things done first. Drag it out as long as possible!"

"That’s nonsense!" Li Yi burst out.

"Sit down and speak calmly! Why is your temper even more explosive than mine?"

"Uncle Li, it's not that I have a bad temper, but the very idea is infuriating. How could anyone suggest such a thing? The integration must not be delayed. The most important thing for a bank is its reputation. You cannot hide this; you might delay the inevitable for a day, but not forever. Once it leaks, the people will lose trust in the banks, and worse, they will lose trust in the Imperial Court! Furthermore, if the banks and money shops are governed separately, various factions will soon sink their claws in. By then, even if you want to integrate them, you won't know where to start. You must act now while the shops have no owner and the bank is newly established—cut the Gordian knot and merge them. It might cost some wealth in the short term, but it solves the problem once and for all. If the integrated bank is managed well, the lost wealth will return eventually!"

Li Er was shocked, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. They had been blinded by the sudden windfall and hadn't considered the consequences. "Nephew, thank you for the reminder. I nearly made a grave mistake! Tell you what, why don't you handle this?"

Li Yi waved his hands quickly. "No! Uncle Li, don't get excited. I have enough on my plate already. Besides, Uncle Fang is far more capable than I am, and he’s been managing the banks all along. You don't need me at all!"

"Fair enough."

"Uncle Li, please tell Uncle Fang: when integrating, reputation is everything! Everything else is secondary."

"I will tell him."

"Right. Uncle Li, is there anything else?"

"How could there not be? You didn't let me touch the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, so I’ve been holding it for you. Tell me, what do you want with those people?"

"Uncle Li, don't look at me like that. Am I that kind of person? I saved the Xiaoxiang Pavilion for Changle to use for her charitable work. You can bestow it upon her, and I'll help her get it running."

"Is that so? Well, I suppose you wouldn't dare do anything too outrageous. Now tell me, why did you really come to see me? Don't tell me it was just to help me out of a jam—you aren't the type for that."

"Hehe! Uncle Li knows me best. It’s like this: I have three things to take care of. First, since you have so much money you don't know how to spend, I’ve come to help you spend it!"