Chapter 570: Trapping My Family Again?

After a while, amid a chorus of discussion, Chen Yan and Li Chengqian hurried over at the same time.

Only, unlike Chen Yan, Li Chengqian also brought a number of armored, sword‑wielding imperial guards.

They both stood at the entrance of the Money Shop; Li Chengqian turned around, looked around, and clicked his tongue in amazement: "Brother Zi An, you still have a way, really made the noble families dig out this portion of wealth."

Several tens of millions of strings, sounds like a lot.

But if it's only twenty‑to‑thirty million strings, it's actually not much for the noble families.

Because Li Chengqian's party belongs to a noble lineage themselves, they naturally know exactly how much wealth the families have amassed.

If it were a few tens of millions, the families would find it indeed difficult to produce that much cash at once, and would have to swap assets or something to manage it.

But if it's only a few million, it's actually not difficult.

Yet this figure is several times the Tang Dynasty's entire annual revenue.

Chen Yan gave no comment, "Let's go in first and see; today we'll gauge the families' sincerity."

"Alright."

Li Chengqian had no objection; he came today merely to make an appearance, with no intention of getting involved otherwise.

Going up to the second floor of the Money Shop, Chen Yan saw Cui Xuan and a few other people sent by various families.

When the two sides met, everyone on Cui Xuan's side rose to salute, "Greetings, Crown Prince, honored to meet the Duke of Wei."

"No need for formalities, you're all young; informally is fine," Li Chengqian waved his hand, indicating everyone sit down.

Xu Lianyue walked over and gave Chen Yan a look.

Chen Yan nodded slightly, "Since Brother Cui and his party have already brought the money, go down and help them process the deposit and issue the certificate."

"The rest can be left to the outside guards."

"Alright!" Xu Lianyue nodded.

"If so, everyone go down and deposit money with Miss Xu; I'll talk with the Duke of Wei and the Crown Prince." Cui Xuan paused, speaking to those beside him.

They had no objections, after all Cui Xuan was the main representative.

With Chen Yan and Li Chengqian's arrival, the second floor became spacious again, leaving only Chen Yan, Li Chengqian, and Cui Xuan present.

"Young Master Cui, may I ask how much the families have collectively deposited today?" Chen Yan asked while pouring tea for the two.

Cui Xuan laughed, "This is only the first batch; large‑scale fund transfers take time, some need to be moved from clan lands."

"As for the amount… the Cui family deposited twenty‑eight million strings, and the other four families are roughly around twenty‑five million each."

Even though he was mentally prepared, Li Chengqian's hand still involuntarily trembled upon hearing the figure.

Your grandma!

The first batch alone already reached ten‑million strings; the second batch must be even more, right?

Thinking back, Dai Zhou, over fifty hundred thousand strings, once in front of the entire court, spat at the Minister of Works without any decorum, opening with a greeting to the minister's mother.

Earlier, Li Shimin's birthday banquet for Empress Changsun was so frugal that they even plucked hair, pondering how to save money.

Now, people deposit money, and it's instantly tens of millions of strings.

Li Chengqian felt a sigh in his heart.

Truly, both drought and flood are deadly.

Chen Yan was a bit surprised, "There's a second batch? I thought you'd only deposit around ten million strings, that would be enough."

Cui Xuan paused, shook his head, "Since it's already settled, we won't play tricks here; we'll certainly honor the agreement."

"Just hope the Duke of Wei can also match his words with deeds."

"Rest assured." Chen Yan raised his hand in a gesture, "Since I dared to open this Money Shop, everyone—no matter who—must obey this rule; even the Imperial Family and the court are no exception."

"Your Majesty wants to wage war; the Ministry of Revenue can't instantly provide that much money and supplies. I've already planned to borrow from the Money Shop in the name of the Ministry of Revenue."

Cui Xuan:???

Chen Yan's words truly startled Cui Xuan.

As the Minister of Revenue, using the Ministry's name to borrow from his own enterprise?

Those who can see the twists understand Chen Yan is principled and follows rules; those who can't might think he's exploiting his position for corruption.

"Duke of Wei… still acts in ways that are incomprehensible." Cui Xuan sighed again.

No matter how many times, each encounter with Chen Yan refreshes Cui Xuan's perception.

At the same time, Cui Xuan mentally elevated the Money Shop's importance another level.

Chen Yan's words were simple, yet revealed a lot.

This Money Shop, to make the court and Imperial Family obey the rules, their money should be trouble‑free.

However, the shop may no longer be just a Money Shop in the future.

Perhaps one day it will become a vital economic lifeline of the Tang Dynasty.

"Alright, Brother Cui, I still have official duties; I just came from the Ministry of Revenue, so I must return now."

The three talked for a while; Chen Yan stood up and said, "If there are any issues, we'll discuss tomorrow. Come to my house tomorrow, and I'll give you the plans and such."

"By the way, have your people withdraw from Weinan County; from now on the waterwheel and hydraulic loom are yours."

"As for the Money Shop, just send people to deal directly with Xu Lianyue; everything follows the shop's rules, and interest will be paid to you."

Cui Xuan nodded, "No problem, Duke of Wei and Crown Prince, feel free; after we finish here, I'll also head back."

"Alright, goodbye."

Chen Yan called out a greeting and left with Li Chengqian.

【7】 Outside, Li Chengqian exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Zi An, you taught the hydraulic loom technology to the noble families?"

After coming out, Li Chengqian exclaimed in surprise, "Zi Anxiong, you taught the hydraulic weaving machine technology to the noble families?"

"Yes." Chen Yan smiled, admitting calmly.

"No."

Li Chengqian grew a bit impatient, "How could you hand such a thing over to the noble families?"

"Silk is like a hen that can keep laying golden eggs; no amount of money can exchange for it, let alone just having the noble families deposit money into the Money Shop."

"You see, you're in a hurry again!"

Chen Yan gave him a meaningful glance, walked out of the Money Shop, and stepped onto the carriage.

Li Chengqian kept up the chase, "Brother Zi An, I really advise you to think twice about this; the hydraulic weaving machine truly cannot be given ……"

His words were cut off before he could finish, as Chen Yan raised his hand and interrupted.

Immediately after, Chen Yan said to Xiao Shunzi, who was driving outside, "Xiao Shunzi, turn back and take the research institute's latest results to Weinan County, so we can upgrade our machines."

"Alright, Young Master."

Li Chengqian:???

"Wait, wait!"

For a moment he was at a loss, thought for a good while, then hesitantly asked, "Your research institute… has produced an even better machine?"

"More than that."

Chen Yan said calmly, "We not only refined the hydraulic weaving machine, but also created an automatic silk‑reeling machine and a hydraulic polishing machine; not only has efficiency greatly increased and costs decreased, but the silk produced is of higher quality."

Li Chengqian: "......"

He twitched the corner of his mouth and began to silently mourn for the noble families again.

"......"