Chapter 554: Trade

By rights, when Qin Huai Dao called out 'mother,' nobody should have shown such an expression.

Such a young child knows nothing; sometimes he just answers in coincidence, and nobody would treat it as anything.

As for why this is......

Then you ought to ask the Little Princess of Jinyang of the Tang Dynasty.

Our little princess has no other hobbies; her little broken mouth loves to tell little stories, not to mention she feels awful all over.

Even if telling little stories caused her an accident, she remains unchanged, chattering nonstop all day and telling everyone she meets.

「Sigh~」

Chen Yan felt weary.

Just as he was about to say something and change the topic, someone walked over holding a wine cup.

「Ladies and gentlemen, I am the junior Cui Xuan, and I greet you respectfully. 」

Cui Xuan courteously and properly greeted everyone with salutations.

Qin Qiong then said, 「I've heard of you; you are the most outstanding of the younger generation of the Cui family. Are you here to find Zi An? 」

「No offense to the Duke of Yi, that is indeed the case. 」

Cui Xuan was quite humble, saying, 「As for the Cui family's younger generation being the most outstanding...... I really don't deserve that; I cannot bear such praise. 」

Qin Qiong gave a noncommittal response, and Yuchi Gong furrowed his brows; he most disliked these pretentious scholars, who wore smiles and looked respectable on the surface, but who knew what schemes they harbored inside.

As for Chen Yan, although he is a scholar, he does not have that pretentious air; he behaves even more generously than they do, which is the kind of scholar Yuchi Gong likes.

However, since Cui Xuan came to find Chen Yan, he couldn't say much.

Even if he doesn't like to think, he is still quite clear about the current situation.

The relationship between the aristocratic clans and the imperial family, as well as their various ministers, is about to enter a new round of changes......

「Duke of Wei, may I ask you to step aside? 」 Cui Xuan said.

Chen Yan gave a slight nod; he happened to want to continue interacting with Cui Xuan, so he said to Li Lizhi and Gao Yang beside him, 「You go ahead and eat; I'll go over and chat with Brother Cui. 」

The two women nodded, saying nothing.

Afterward, Chen Yan and Cui Xuan left and headed toward the training ground at Cheng Manor.

Here there are few people, and seeing them together, everyone would tactfully avoid disturbing them.

However, what Cui Xuan didn't expect was that before he could even speak, Chen Yan opened first, saying, 「Brother Cui, how about we make a deal? 」

「A deal......? 」

Cui Xuan startled, instinctively asking, 「What kind of deal? 」

As soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately regretted it.

Before coming, Cui Xuan had made many preparations, knowing that Chen Yan was different from ordinary people and absolutely could not be drawn into his rhythm; once Chen Yan guided the conversation, Cui Xuan would find himself at a disadvantage.

But the words were already spoken; regretting now is too late.

「Let's lay our cards on the table; I know why you cooperate with me in business, but after all this time, I have even given you the chance to enter my workshop—have you gotten what you wanted? 」

Chen Yan tilted his head, his expression half-smiling, and said, 「You should know that since we started cooperating, the caravans we've sent out have been numerous; each time you have to pay me a large deposit, the risk is almost entirely borne by you, so I'm essentially making money while lying down. 」

「I have basically gotten what I wanted; what about you? 」

Those words completely threw Cui Xuan's thoughts into disarray, leaving him unable to help but fall silent.

Yes!

Chen Yan directly gave them the opportunity to enter his workshop, but they still haven't obtained the key technology up to now.

The water-powered spinning machine is a creation beyond this era; not to mention Chen Yan would never give them the chance to dismantle it for detailed study, but even if he did, they couldn't replicate it in a short time.

However, they had originally prepared for a protracted struggle, so they aren't particularly rushed.

On the contrary, the deal Chen Yan just proposed has caused Cui Xuan's vigilance to spike to the highest level.

「Duke of Wei, perhaps you should first explain what the deal is. 」

「It's simple; I will directly give you the water-powered spinning machine, including the materials for its manufacture, the design drawings, and even...... I can send people to guide you in producing an identical water-powered spinning machine. How about that? 」

Chen Yan's words were tempting, yet Cui Xuan immediately calmed down.

There's absolutely no such thing as a free lunch falling from the sky.

If there were!

No need to doubt; that would surely be bait!

Now Chen Yan has thrown out this incredibly tempting bait; what then must they pay?

This calls for a question mark.

「A deal! Since it's a deal, the Duke of Wei is willing to put up the water-powered spinning machine as a bargaining chip; then what stake must we put up to obtain it? 」

「Very simple! 」 Chen Yan raised three fingers. 「First, next year the Ministry of Revenue will conduct a nationwide land survey, recording all fields in the registers, and simultaneously implement a progressive tax system; you must not obstruct it and must cooperate to a certain extent. 」

「Second, take out the money you have buried underground and deposit it in the Money Shop; I can guarantee the money remains yours, including the interest—whatever it should be, I will pay you according to the Money Shop's rules. 」

「As for the third...... it's much simpler: just fund the expansion of five libraries for me. 」

Upon hearing the last point, Cui Xuan could no longer remain composed; his face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

First of all, the first point is like cutting their throats.

Who in the world hides the most land?

Isn't it their aristocratic clans and their retainers?

You want to conduct a nationwide land survey, not only asking us not to obstruct but even to cooperate with you?

Moreover, that so-called progressive tax system—just hearing its name is enough for him to glimpse a corner of its true intent.

Furthermore, regarding the second point, the money was originally safely in our hands, and we could use it as we wished; now you want us to deposit it in your Money Shop—do we still get to decide what happens to it?

Now you speak so nicely, but what if we need to use the money later and you simply find an excuse not to give it, or keep delaying?

As for the third point......

As Chen Yan said, it really is the simplest.

What do their aristocratic families lack the most?

It's money!

Just funding the construction of five libraries, that's a drop in the bucket.

At most it's just a few hundred thousand strings of cash.

It's probably not even as much as they spent back when they were fighting over a few glazed items.

"Duke of Wei, forgive my frankness, but we truly cannot accept the conditions you proposed."

Cui Xuan firmly refused.

Chen Yan smiled lightly, "Negotiations, before a deal is carried out, everything needs to be discussed; only when it's settled is it a deal."

"If you feel it's unfair, you can freely raise other demands with me; otherwise, people might think I, Chen Yan, am overbearing and bullying with power."

Cui Xuan was about to speak, but Chen Yan didn't give him a chance to speak, continuing: "Moreover, Cui brother, I need to remind you, you should think carefully about who holds the final say in the current Tang Dynasty, and also public opinion."

"Cui brother, you're still young, many things you haven't considered thoroughly. So I think you don't need to rush to refuse me; you should go back and discuss thoroughly with the elders in your family, who knows... they might agree?"

"....."