Chapter 230: The Entangled Influential Clans

"Your Majesty, you must not!"

In the Golden Throne Hall, Liang Kai's face flushed red.

During this morning's court session, Zhao Heng issued two consecutive decrees.

The first was to grant the Yan Commandery Trading Firm the status of an Imperial Merchant, and the second was to permit Yan Wang to engage in maritime trade.

Dou Wei's expression was gloomy.

At the banquet that day, he had just united the influential clans to make things difficult for Yan Wang regarding trade.

Now Yan Wang was preparing to strike back; after all, both points were aimed at trade.

However, they could not stop Zhao Heng from granting Yan Wang the status of Imperial Merchant.

Imperial Merchant, Imperial Merchant—it was, after all, just a matter of a single word from the Imperial Clan.

But regarding the matter of maritime trade, he could not let Yan Wang have his way.

So he said, "Your Majesty, sea pirates are rampant on the seas and repeatedly invade the coast. Your subject fears that Yan Wang's venturing out to sea will not only be of no benefit but will instead invite attacks from sea pirates. Yanzhou already faces threats from the Western Liang and the Northern Di; to add sea pirates on top of that, would that not be entirely disadvantageous?"

"Exactly. Prohibiting the sea is the ancestral instruction of the Imperial Clan; ancestral instructions must not be violated, Your Majesty," Han Zheng said, stepping out of the ranks.

On the matter of curbing Yan Wang, currently, apart from the Ma Family's ambiguous attitude, the other seven clans were all of one mind.

He naturally had to help Liang Kai as well.

With Dou Wei and Han Zheng speaking up for him one after the other, Liang Kai breathed a sigh of relief.

Maritime trade was the lifeblood of the Liang Family; how could he allow Yan Wang to stick a hand in?

Zhao Heng's expression was calm; he had long expected that the influential clans would object.

In fact.

As long as it involved Yan Wang, it was impossible for them not to object.

"Not so. The sea can be prohibited, and naturally, it can be opened. When did the Imperial Clan's ancestral instructions ever say the sea could never be opened?" At this moment, an official stepped out.

Dou Wei looked at the official, his brows furrowing.

He was none other than Yan Wang's uncle, Imperial Uncle Mi Hang.

Currently, he was a favorite in front of the Emperor.

Glancing at Liang Kai, he continued, "Moreover, if Yan Wang can defeat the Northern Di, can he not defeat mere sea pirates? In this subject's view, it is your Liang Family that wants to monopolize maritime trade, harming the public to enrich yourselves."

"Nonsense! What evidence do you have? Do not make false accusations," Liang Kai said, enraged upon hearing this.

Looking toward Zhao Heng, he put on a wronged expression, "Your Majesty, all these years the Liang Family has been loyal and devoted to Your Majesty, never having two hearts, and has presented countless rare treasures. I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly."

Hearing this, Zhao Heng's heart softened instantly.

Of the Eight Great Influential Clans over these years, the Liang Family seemed to be the best to him.

"Your Majesty, after the great chaos in Yanzhou, it was left in ruins. The trade that His Highness Yan Wang seeks is merely to earn some Silver to maintain the operations of Yanzhou," Ma Yuan said, immediately reminding him upon seeing Zhao Heng's expression change.

Zhao Heng nodded slightly, his expression becoming firm once more.

Relatively speaking, Yanzhou was still the most important.

Furthermore, the Liang Family had monopolized maritime trade for so many years; did they really think this sea of Great Song belonged to his Liang Family?

Why could he not allow Yan Wang to go out to sea?

However, since the Liang Family had been good to him after all, he did not want to offend them completely.

So he said, "How about this: Yan Wang will soon send a batch of Artillery over. Zhezhou has suffered from sea pirate invasions for years, so I shall give two pieces to your Liang Family to defend against the enemy. How about that?"

"Ah?" Liang Kai was suddenly stunned.

It was not just Liang Kai; even Dou Wei, Han Zheng, and the others were all dumbfounded.

Currently, the topic discussed most in the court was Artillery.

Hearing various rumors about Artillery, he had long been itching with curiosity.

In recent days, he had even proposed in the court that Zhao Heng send craftsmen to Yanzhou to learn the Art of Cannon Casting, but he had been ignored by Zhao Heng.

"How is it?" Zhao Xu was very satisfied with Liang Kai's reaction.

To him, this Artillery was undoubtedly a treasure unique to the Imperial Clan.

Liang Kai swallowed his saliva.

For him, this was indeed a huge temptation.

Dou Wei glanced at Liang Kai, his face showing confusion.

He had originally thought that Liang Kai might know something about the Artillery.

But judging from his performance now, it seemed he was not very clear about it either.

"Your Majesty, allow this subject to think about it," Liang Kai said.

Dou Wei and Han Zheng exchanged a look, and Dou Wei said, "Your Majesty, we subjects have also long admired Yan Wang's Artillery; we hope Your Majesty will not favor one over the other."

Saying this was equivalent to asking for it directly.

Since Zhao Heng could give it to the Liang Family, why couldn't they ask for it?

"This..." Zhao Heng put on a troubled expression.

It was not that he was pretending to be generous, but rather that in the memorial, Yan Wang was very confident in his Art of Cannon Casting.

He asserted that even if other families tried to imitate it, they would be unable to reach the standard of the Artillery he sent.

Thinking of this, he came up with a plan to use this to stop the mouths of the influential clans.

After all, it would be very annoying if they kept pestering him about this matter.

Moreover, as long as Yan Wang's Artillery was delivered to Jingshi.

They would certainly find ways and means to get in touch with it.

Whether he gave it or not made little difference.

"How about this: I will also go back and think about it for a few days, then we shall discuss it again," Zhao Heng deliberately kept them hanging.

After speaking, he ordered the officials to dismiss the morning court.

After Zhao Heng left, Dou Wei came to Liang Kai's side and said, "Minister Liang, why have two pieces of Artillery left you so distracted?"

Liang Kai had been deep in thought, and upon coming back to his senses, he said, "There is one thing, and I am not lying: the dangers of the sea are no less than the southern invasion of the Northern Di. Although my Liang Family has harvested much from maritime trade over these years, we have also suffered heavy losses in battles against sea bandits. I think that if Yan Wang's Artillery truly possesses such power, it would certainly greatly alleviate the Liang Family's difficulties; therefore, I cannot help but be tempted."

"So, Minister Liang intends to let Yan Wang off the hook?" Dou Wei said.

Seeing that Dou Wei was displeased, Liang Kai said, "Are you not coveting Yan Wang's Artillery?"

"Naturally, I covet it." Han Zheng did not hide his thoughts at all. "If we could obtain Yan Wang's Artillery, then this matter could indeed be left alone."

In his view, this matter harmed the interests of the Liang Family; if the Liang Family did not care, why should he bother?

Moreover, as Liang Kai said, since the sea is so dangerous, perhaps Yan Wang will end up losing more than he gains.

Dou Wei looked at Fan Xinglun and the others again, seeing them looking around, it was clear their interest in the Artillery was greater than these two matters.

Seeing this, he sighed slightly and said, "Everyone, think it over carefully for a few more days, and make up your minds."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Another six or seven days passed, and on this day, Zhao Heng once again ordered the officials to hold an early morning court.

Ever since Yanguan became stable, Zhao Heng had returned to his old ways: he would hold court when he felt like it, and would not when he did not.

The officials were already accustomed to this.

However, when they arrived at the imperial court, they received news that shocked them to the core.

The Northern Di envoys had arrived last night.

While they were still in shock, three Northern Di men walked into the great hall and presented the State Letter.

On the Dragon Throne, Zhao Heng wore a look of triumph.

After learning the purpose of the Northern Di envoys last night, he had been so excited he could not sleep half the night.

It was very clear that this time, Yan Wang had beaten the Northern Di into submission.

Otherwise, they would not have sent envoys to Jingshi to sue for peace and request the opening of a Border Market.

For an emperor, what could be more gratifying than a formidable enemy bowing to him?

Below the steps, Dou Wei looked utterly dejected.

Zhao Heng had summoned him into the palace last night to discuss this matter.

With the Northern Di suing for peace, he dared not act recklessly in this affair.

Otherwise, if the Northern Di were to take up arms again, the blame would be entirely his.

He believed that all the officials in the court shared the same thought.

It was just that, in this way, he...