Chapter 309

But Huang Taiji soon sensed something amiss in Wang Dengku's words.

Then he coldly smirked at Wang Dengku.

"Squire Wang, aren't you leaving out part of this story?"

The moment Huang Taiji finished speaking.

Wang Dengku's face immediately flushed with embarrassment.

He sheepishly scratched his head and laughed.

"Your Majesty, the Great Ming has also informed us that their treasure notes are redeemable on the spot, in cash."

"Whether at the horse markets or the Maritime Trade Office, one must first exchange for Great Ming treasure notes before crossing the border."

Wang Dengku noticed nothing.

His casual remark.

Sounded to Fan Wencheng like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

"What did you say?!"

Fan Wencheng lunged forward in near hysteria.

Terrifying Wang Dengku from afar.

"My lord, the Great Ming redeems the notes on sight, without asking their origin…"

Fan Wencheng's chest heaved uncontrollably.

He stared fixedly at Wang Dengku.

His body trembling slightly, he nodded and said:

"Has there been any change recently on the Great Ming side? Is it still the Cabinet, or Sun Chuanting and Hong Chengchou?"

Wang Dengku whispered, puzzled:

"No… no word of any Grand Secretary being dismissed; I suppose no reshuffle has occurred yet."

Watching Fan Wencheng's expression.

Huang Taiji immediately signaled to Dorgon and the others nearby.

Soon, Dorgon seized Wang Dengku like a chick and dragged him out of the Viceroy Yamen.

Moments later.

The grand hall was left with only Huang Taiji and Fan Wencheng.

Huang Taiji looked at Fan Wencheng, puzzled, and asked:

"Mr. Fan, have you understood?"

Fan Wencheng, pale-faced, bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot allow the Great Ming to keep issuing treasure notes so recklessly."

The horse markets and Maritime Trade Office now all use Great Ming treasure notes.

This means it will take no long.

From the grasslands in the north to Jiaozhi in the south, even the Western Seas.

All will adopt Great Ming treasure notes.

And these treasure notes.

Are nothing but light, flimsy sheets of paper.

The Great Ming can take these sheets.

And use them anywhere under heaven to buy anything they need, to use against the Great Qing.

If they wish, they can simply crush the Eight Banners with money.

Even before, Fan Wencheng had realized the Great Qing had almost no chance of turning the tide.

But upon hearing Wang Dengku's words,

Fan Wencheng realized:

The Great Ming doesn't just intend to win—it may conquer without fighting at all.

The war to destroy the Qing.

The Great Ming never planned to shed a single drop of blood!

After understanding Fan Wencheng's interpretation,

Even Huang Taiji's face turned deathly pale.

"This… this is truly a strategy Zhu Youjian could devise?"

Huang Taiji knew full well what Zhu Youjian was like!

Even if Zhu Youjian were capable of such cunning,

Had the Great Ming's founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, possessed even half this cunning,

How could the treasure notes ever have turned to worthless paper?

But soon, Huang Taiji grasped the terrifying implications.

If the Great Ming treasure notes continue to spread like this,

It may take no more than a few generations.

The entire Eight Banners will be utterly swallowed by the Han.

Not the kind of swallowing where they submit petitions as vassals.

But true cultural assimilation: one script, one language!

"Mr. Fan, do you have any Method to break the deadlock?"

Fan Wencheng looked at Huang Taiji with near-despair.

"There is only a strategy to treat the symptoms, but no method to cure the root."

These paper notes of Zhang Baochao.

Undoubtedly, they have condensed the invisible forces of Great Ming into a single mass.

Even if the Eight Banners beyond the pass possess three thousand li of vast territory, what of it?

Three thousand li of land is merely a barren wilderness, vast in area but sparse in population.

But south of the Great Wall lies the most prosperous place under the heavens.

This enormous disparity in strength.

Is enough to drown Great Qing to death.

These tens of thousands of so-called elite Eight Banners cannot even stir up a splash.

At this moment, Fan Wencheng.

Felt only hatred in his heart.

In some mysterious way, Fan Wencheng could sense.

That everything he had studied all his life.

Had already been rendered useless.

His so-called hidden armor in his belly and military stratagems in his chest, which he took pride in.

Before these paper notes of Zhang Baochao, had become worthless.

Hong Taiji let out a long sigh and said,

"To this day, Mr., you must no longer speak of treating symptoms or curing the root."

"I still say this: trust those you employ, and do not employ those you distrust."

"If Mr. offers advice, I will surely assist with all my might!"

Hearing Hong Taiji's words.

Fan Wencheng's eyes turned red involuntarily.

This is indeed the image of a true monarch!

Even if Fan Wencheng tried to break his head, he could not figure it out.

Clearly, Great Qing is brimming with talent, with a heroic ruler above and fierce generals below.

How did the situation inexplicably come to this state!

Fan Wencheng's mind raced at high speed.

After a brief moment.

He clasped his hands toward Hong Taiji and said,

"Please grant Your Majesty's subject three days. After three days, I will surely give Your Majesty an answer!"