Chapter 368

Volume One – Chapter 368  Pretending to Have a Grandson

"No need, I can handle this small matter well," Rong Luoge paused, "It might require the Ministry of Revenue's cooperation, or have you considered establishing a new government office called the Commerce Department?"

Han Xinglan: …

"Go ahead and tell me."

"The Commerce Department, as the name suggests, is a bureau for managing commerce, meaning that in the future all merchants nationwide would fall under its unified jurisdiction," Rong Luoge knew that they were still in the initial planning stage and couldn't get too detailed, so she outlined a simple framework first, leaving details for later. "The Ministry of Revenue oversees the national granaries and taxes; handling commercial affairs as well would be too much. Moreover, you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket—the Ministry of Revenue's power is already too great, and it would be hard to control in the future."

Han Xinglan thought she made a good point and laughed, "Impressive, you've already learned to balance things."

Rong Luoge glared at Han Xinglan, and Han Xinglan burst into laughter, "You continue."

"Once the Commerce Department is formally established, the massive workshop complex around the Glazed Tile Workshop can operate more smoothly. I plan to move the Weaving Workshop there after the New Year. Currently the Weaving Workshop and the Dye Workshop are intermingled, which hampers operations; expansion is urgent, so we must relocate. My point is, after the Weaving Workshop moves out, this site will be freed up for the Commerce Department's office, close to the palace, allowing me to monitor matters promptly."

Han Xinglan listened, nodded slightly, "Let me think; this isn't a trivial matter. Establishing a new office isn't easy either."

"Of course, take your time. Before that, I'll first pocket some cash so your purse isn't empty and you won't worry. We'll take advantage of the wind created by selling patents to publicize the new office; any merchants with foresight will surely want to join. Then we can bind the merchants together like a rope. Even if the court opposes the Commerce Department, it doesn't matter—once we have the people, the work gets done."

Han Xinglan: …

This idea is truly audacious; he likes it.

"We'll each act separately; what do you think?" Rong Luoge explained the overall plan to Han Xinglan.

Han Xinglan nodded, "Just go ahead. Even if those people oppose the Commerce Department, I'll pull the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau out for you to use; it's the same thing, just a different label."

Hearing that, Rong Luoge's eyes lit up, "That's a good idea. If we can control the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau, doesn't that mean all the nation's artisans will obey my orders? Then our work becomes much easier."

Making money, that's all trivial.

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge's sparkling eyes, smiled and nodded, "Let's see first. If we can successfully establish the Commerce Department, after a while I'll merge the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau into your hands, but we mustn't rush, lest those old guys jump up."

"No rush, I'm not in a hurry; take your time, we have time." Rong Luoge was truly delighted; with Han Xinglan's support and help, the two, as a united couple, could accomplish anything.

In an instant, her ambition surged.

She then explained the concrete details to Han Xinglan carefully; they discussed for most of the day. When the plan was nearly set, Rong Luoge felt hungry, glanced at the time and was startled—it was already the hour of Xu (7–9 PM). She immediately ordered the food to be set out and asked Han Xinglan, "Are you hungry? Why didn't you say anything?"

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge and laughed, "I'm not hungry, but now I am a bit hungry."

Rong Luoge and Han Xinglan went to wash hands and change clothes; when it was time to eat, she composed herself and brought up the matter of Kang Shufei and Rong Yan, asking Han Xinglan for his opinion.

Han Xinglan had no objection, "Handle these trivial matters as you see fit. In another year, the court will basically be in our hands, and I will officially announce the release of the concubines from the palace to the world."

Rong Luoge looked up at Han Xinglan and asked, "Have you truly decided, with no regrets?"

Han Xinglan could hear the teasing in Rong Luoge's words and laughed, "If there were no one we love, the three thousand in the harem wouldn't matter. But having you in my life changes everything. Luoge, the promise I made to you back then I never intended to break—then, now, and in the future alike. With someone as wonderful as you, how could anyone else catch my eye? They're just ordinary mortals."

Rong Luoge's eyebrows and eyes curved, and she smiled at him, "When you say that, it makes me happy."

Han Xinglan also laughed.

"Has the Song family of Suizhou really decided to submit to the court?" Rong Luoge asked Han Xinglan.

Han Xinglan nodded, "That's the decision for now, but there are other matters to handle later."

Rong Luoge knew what the follow‑up tasks referred to: the excess lands under the Song family's name, the so‑called black households, and the mines they secretly mined without informing the court. Those were crucial, as they were a major source of the family's income, and the Song family would certainly be reluctant to let go.

"What if the Song family refuses to fully let go?" Rong Luoge asked Han Xinglan.

Han Xinglan sneered, "Then they won't have a choice. Since they've surrendered, they must show an attitude; Xiao Shen in Suizhou is no mere decoration."

Understood, if the Song family goes back on their word, Xiao Shen will respond with force.

It seems Han Xinglan is determined to take the Song family and kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.

She thought for a moment and said, "What if the Song family really agrees not to resist and hands everything over?"

The court ought to show some stance, right?

Han Xinglan said, "At that time I will bestow a title on them—nominal, without real authority, so they can only enjoy the honor."

Han Xinglan's words made Rong Luoge sigh involuntarily; being an emperor truly requires a ruthless heart. Though such a handling would seem a great loss to the aristocratic families, it could preserve the lives of the whole clan and even grant them a favor—already not bad.

Thinking back to when the Old Zhu family seized the empire, after Old Zhu ascended the throne, almost all the meritorious officials were wiped out; who could say anything about it?

Looking at Rong Luoge's expression, Han Xinglan asked, "Do you think it's inappropriate?"

Rong Luoge shook her head, "I think if all the aristocratic families were to be settled this way, there would likely still be some turmoil; some people would not easily bow and submit."

"Then we'll just have to see whose fist is harder." A flash of icy light passed through Han Xinglan's eyes.

The couple glanced at each other and couldn't help but smile.

Even if it gets harder, could it possibly be worse than before?

Can their days of playing the grandson for these two years be bearable?

The aristocratic families were ruthless when the emperor oppressed them; now can she persuade Han Xinglan to show mercy?

She is neither the Virgin Mary nor a reincarnated White Lotus.

So all she can do is help Han Xinglan earn more money, forge more weapons, bolster his courage, and let him continue on the path he wants to take.