Chapter 729: Clinging to a Big Shot

In truth, Rong Shili understood everything; he simply refused to accept reality.

Perhaps he still remembered Prince Kang's past appreciation of his talents, or perhaps he still harbored expectations for his former lord.

He did not view the situation rationally. Instead, he let personal sentiment cloud his judgment, thereby deceiving his own heart.

People were complicated.

Shopkeeper Qi knew better than to intrude any further.

After finishing his meal, he claimed he had business to attend to and hurried away.

Before leaving, Chen Changsheng handed him a letter. "I must trouble you to find someone to deliver this to Miss Yun."

Shopkeeper Qi paused in surprise, then agreed.

That very night, he dispatched a man to deliver the letter to Qingshan City.

Only Rong Shili and Chen Changsheng remained in the courtyard.

Having eaten his fill, Chen Changsheng rested his head on his hands, lounging beneath the tree in the courtyard.

He looked the very picture of carefree indolence, thoroughly relaxed.

Rong Shili, however, was deeply troubled. He sat at the stone table, pondering how to change the current situation in the Northwest.

He still clung to hope.

A long while later, Chen Changsheng strolled over to the stone table and glanced at what he had written.

Rong Shili snapped out of his thoughts and turned to look at him.

Chen Changsheng read the notes on the paper and asked, "So you want to start with the trade routes, and then slowly change all of this?"

Rong Shili nodded. "Only in this way can we catch the Prince's attention."

As a military general, aside from his own army, Prince Kang cared most about money.

Chen Changsheng looked at his notes but shook his head. "Merchants and the economy are inextricably linked. There are many hidden complexities involved."

"Let's hear it," Rong Shili said.

Chen Changsheng said, "Look at what you wrote here: minting more copper coins because most of the wealth is in the hands of the noble clans. In reality, blindly issuing currency like this won't work. There are rules to these things."

Rong Shili stared at him blankly. "There are rules for minting copper coins?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "How much to issue can actually be roughly estimated. It depends on supply and demand, as well as commodity prices, and it directly concerns the national economy. Minting more at will could easily lead to an even more severe economic collapse. Tearing the nation apart isn't impossible."

Rong Shili looked at him and asked, "I have never heard of such a thing..."

Chen Changsheng chuckled. "Haven't you noticed that money is becoming worth less and less?"

"After the war, the prices of grain and flour skyrocketed, and the cost of other daily necessities rose with them. For example, in the past, a few coins could buy a jin of flour. Now, that same amount of money can't even buy half a jin. If it were purely the price of grain and flour going up, it wouldn't be a big deal, but many peripheral goods have increased in price because of it. This indirectly leads to currency depreciation—which means the money itself loses value."

Rong Shili shook his head. "That is only temporary. Soon enough, the Local Government will step in to balance market prices. It shouldn't be called the depreciation of copper coins; it is merely an increase in prices."

Chen Changsheng asked with a smile, "Then tell me, what is the price of grain now, and what was it in past years?"

Rong Shili paused, suddenly finding himself at a loss for words.

He fell into deep thought.

Copper coins and the economy...

Chen Changsheng said, "You still need to think carefully about minting more currency. If a mistake is made, the consequences will be unbearable."

Rong Shili looked at him. "Tell me more about it."

Chen Changsheng waved his hand. "This Chen is sleepy. We'll talk tomorrow..."

Rong Shili looked at him in exasperation. "Are you doing this on purpose?"

Chen Changsheng chuckled. "It can't be explained in just a few words. Even if you made me explain it right now, This Chen wouldn't necessarily be able to make it completely clear."

Rong Shili stared at him, pondered for a moment, and said, "Once you have thought it through, tell me."

Chen Changsheng laughed. "All right."

Rong Shili felt a faint sense of anticipation.

He had a feeling that Chen Changsheng could offer him some unexpected surprises.

He stopped thinking about the Northwest for the moment and asked Chen Changsheng instead.

"Are you very familiar with the people from the Tang Family Trading Firm?" Rong Shili asked.

Chen Changsheng thought about it and said, "I just know their owner."

"I'm afraid it's not as simple as just knowing him."

Rong Shili said, "As far as I know, very few people ever become esteemed guests of the Tang Family Trading Firm. Not to mention that the shopkeeper from earlier not only arranged this courtyard for you, but even personally delivered our food."

Chen Changsheng paused and said, "Don't you know a shopkeeper too? You are a strategist for Prince Kang, after all. It's not as if they would disrespect you; they would treat you as an esteemed guest just the same."

But Rong Shili shook his head. "You are wrong. I am indeed acquainted with Shopkeeper Hong, but that is only him, not the Tang Family Trading Firm."

"Hmm?"

Rong Shili explained, "The influence of the Tang Family Trading Firm is extraordinary, and they have no need to curry favor with someone like me. Many years ago, before the world plunged into chaos, the Tang Family Trading Firm already controlled the commercial hubs across the realm. Practically all goods passed through their hands, and the merchants subordinate to them were too numerous to count."

"Back then, many appointed officials in the Imperial Court were single-handedly funded by them. In their early years, they also maintained close ties with several princes. Even now, the four princes who have divided the world still maintain reciprocal relations with them—relations that have never ceased. It has reached the point that, even in a world like this, the Tang Family Trading Firm managed to forcefully carve out trade routes, allowing the fiefdoms of the various princes to trade with one another. Such influence is simply unmatched."

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng couldn't help but murmur, "Doesn't that mean their wealth rivals the nation itself..."

Rong Shili nodded. "You could say that."

He paused, then added, "But there are still some underlying truths I have never been able to figure out. Everyone knows the Tang Family Trading Firm is incomparably wealthy, yet not a single prince has ever dared to make a move against them. No one knows exactly what stands behind them."

"Moreover, the Tang Family Trading Firm is also a threat today. Having your economic lifeline controlled by merchants is a particularly perilous thing. Yet the various princes still accepted it. To this day, I don't understand why."

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng also couldn't help but fall into thought.

'That boy Tang Mingjing...'

It left even Chen Changsheng slightly puzzled.

Rong Shili looked at Chen Changsheng. "That is why I am curious. What exactly is your relationship with them?"

Chen Changsheng waved his hand. "Just an old acquaintance..."

Seeing that he wasn't going to say more, Rong Shili stopped asking and instead remarked, "But this does let me know one thing—I really have latched onto a big shot."

Chen Changsheng smiled, but gave no reply.