Chapter 465

By now, Cui Xuan finally understood Wang Gui's meaning, as well as why Chen Yan had so readily agreed to cooperate on silk and such, without worrying that the technology for producing silk would be mastered by them.

Put bluntly, everyone is gambling, and also willing to accept defeat.

Chen Yan readily proceeded with the white sugar and silk cooperation, giving the aristocratic families an opportunity to explore silk production. In return, the families offered their own benefits to exchange for this opportunity.

It all comes down to who is more capable; the winner takes all.

Cui Xuan deeply glanced at the smiling young man, who was several years younger than himself, and couldn't help but marvel: Chen Yan is indeed stronger than him.

Perhaps, Chen Yan had grasped the aristocratic families' elders' thoughts from the very beginning, while he himself only understood it now.

Before, he even suspected the other party of deceit because Chen Yan was too straightforward.

Cui Xuan let out a quiet sigh, then spoke solemnly: "Most of your demands, I can agree to on behalf of the family right now, but there are a few points I think still need to be discussed......"

Next, he pointed out several points in Chen Yan's recently proposed conditions that were very unfavorable to them, politely indicating refusal.

Chen Yan naturally argued his case, and the two went back and forth, debating for half a day without reaching a mutually satisfactory outcome.

Finally, Chen Yan expressed his stance firmly: "These are the conditions; they cannot be changed. If you cannot make a decision, you can go back and consult your elders, and we'll talk again another day!"

Having said that, he picked up his chopsticks again and leisurely began eating the hot pot.

Cui Xuan furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, then relaxed: "Then, as the Duke of Wei said, we can discuss those few conditions you just raised another day; the other conditions I have all agreed to."

Today's gains are already substantial enough; finding a point that satisfies both sides for the stakes everyone needs to put on the table is inherently difficult in the short term.

Perhaps, Chen Yan himself and the elders also realize this isn't something that can be decided in a day or two.

"No problem, Young Master Cui!" Chen Yan nodded, gesturing with his hand, "Let's leave it at that. Come, eat."

"Good, thank you, Duke of Wei."

"No need to thank me, after all you're the one paying."

Cui Xuan: "......"

"......"

Having eaten and drunk their fill, the two then parted ways.

Unlike Chen Yan's unhurried demeanor, as soon as Cui Xuan left Zui Xian Lou, he hurried back.

A group of important figures from the aristocratic families were still waiting for his news.

"Xuan'er, how's the situation?"

Seeing Cui Xuan return, the long‑waiting Cui Han spoke up to inquire.

Cui Xuan dared not delay, and recounted in detail everything he had discussed with Chen Yan.

He did not offer his own opinion, merely relating the entire process and details of the conversation.

Zheng Zhili snorted coldly: "This kid is simply insatiable—he only provides the goods, bears no risk, stays comfortably at home waiting, taking a fifty percent cut would be bad enough, but he even wants our collected books, as well as our implementation of certain policies and our support in the court."

"It makes it seem as if we're the ones rushing to beg him......"

As he spoke, his voice grew weaker.

It seems...... indeed, they are the ones seeking cooperation from the other side.

Lu Zhongxuan said solemnly: "Benefits are actually irrelevant; after all, they control the fundamental silk, so taking a fifty percent share is fine. However...... the books must be treated with caution, for Chen Yan possesses a huge library."

"We've suspected before that Chen Yan masters a remarkably advanced printing technique; otherwise it's hard to explain how he could build such a huge library, overnight cause the Wei family to be drowned in rumors, and...... Li Shimin's Great Tang Daily that he produces every few days."

"I suspect that if we hand over the books to him, it wouldn't take two days for them to be mass‑copied and then displayed in the Weinan County library."

Li Xiaochang said with a cold face: "According to what Cui Xuan said, Chen Yan's attitude is unusually firm—he definitely wants the books; what do you say then?"

"What time is it now, and you're still considering these?!"

"Could it be that they actually lack those books? Don't forget Chen Yan's background and the people behind him. Such a huge library, even missing our few books, would still be enough to make scholars from all over the world flock to it."

As soon as those words fell, everyone present fell silent.

How many years has it been—how many years have they not encountered such a troublesome person?

It seems as if everything was within the other's anticipation, each step they took arranged by the other side.

Leaving them only able to endure it resentfully.

"Sigh~"

Cui Han let out a long sigh: "Brother Li is right; now is not the time to consider those books—we must find a way to seize the initiative, which is the most important thing at present."

"Moreover, I have a vague intuition that our forthcoming struggle with Li Shimin may well center around Chen Yan."

"He is very confident, readily proposing cooperation on silk with Xuan'er. All the workshops producing silk, and all the miraculous things, are in Weinan County; such readiness absolutely shows he is not worried that we will master those things."

"This is another open ploy, the bait laid out plainly before us—it's just a matter of whether we're willing to take it."

"If we take it, we have a chance; if we don't, we'll remain passive, and someday Li Shimin will gradually weed us out, the era will cast us aside, and we'll become mere relics in a dusty pile of old papers."

Cui Han felt the situation had changed; since Chen Yan returned to Chang'an, too many unexpected events have occurred, forcing them to make choices that deviate from their original direction.

For example, they initially sent Cui Xuan over, intending only to test Chen Yan's attitude, with cooperation merely a pretext; if it really didn't work, they could still annoy Chen Yan.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yan readily agreed and arranged a meeting with Cui Xuan to discuss cooperation.

Let's just meet, but they thought it was merely about discussing cotton planting, and incidentally laying groundwork for silk cooperation, to open a channel and slowly figure out how to gain control.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yan agreed again outright, and directly threw out the bait.

Clearly it was they who first sought out Chen Yan, yet everything seems to have been grasped by the other side, causing the situation to develop in a direction he cannot comprehend.

"These youngsters nowadays......"

Cui Han sighed, shook his head, and said no more.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment, and Wang Gui, who had been listening all along, spoke slowly: "If that's the case, then give it to him; as for the system and court support, we can also agree to that."

Everyone nodded in silence.

In fact, they could only agree, for the aristocratic families no longer possess their former glory; even without their support, Chen Yan still has Li Shimin and a host of civil and military officials behind him.

As for other minor conditions, they are even less of a concern.

Up to now, no one has mentioned trying to win over Chen Yan again.

Because Chen Yan had already thrown out the bait, putting on a show of wanting to sit at the gambling table with them, trying to win them over was absolutely out of the question.

"......"