Chapter 27

First Volume, Chapter 27: Doing Business

Qin Feng counted on his fingers, calculating small accounts right before the Liang Emperor: "Since the Sage is borrowing money from me, he clearly can't pay interest—so I'll replace the interest with Intellectual Property."

The Liang Emperor's eyes filled with confusion: "Intellectual Property? Never heard of it."

Qin Feng patiently explained: "Simply put, from now on, no one else can sell what I sell. My ideas are protected by the Great Liang Code—anyone who steals them will be punished."

Although Qin Feng himself was a pirate, he cared deeply about Intellectual Property—in short, only I can copy you, you can't copy me.

The Liang Emperor understood Qin Feng's meaning but shook his head: "There is no precedent for this."

Qin Feng truly wanted to curse him for being rigid, but to avoid his entire family being executed, he swallowed the words, forced a shrewd merchant's smile, and began his business proposition: "If Your Majesty is willing to set this precedent, I'll build for you… three Qiangnu Armies, six Modao squads, and ten thousand Elite Ji Zhan."

That's equivalent to three army groups—I refuse to believe you won't be tempted!

The Liang Emperor's eyes lit up: "Do you know how the Crime of Deceiving the Emperor is punished?"

Qin Feng pretended not to hear and continued: "But I'm short on funds myself—Your Majesty must give me ample time for Preparation: three years, delivering one unit per year, with written proof."

After saying this, Qin Feng opened a stack of Imperial Memorials beside the Liang Emperor, pulled out a blank sheet, took up brush and ink, and scrawled a messy, disgraceful script—signed his name, then shoved it toward the Liang Emperor with a grin: "Just sign your name, and our contract is sealed."

The Liang Emperor frowned slightly: "Do you know what it means if I sign my name here? Could you not simply make a circle instead?"

Qin Feng tilted his head, thought for a moment, then reluctantly nodded: "Fine then—I still trust you more."

The Liang Emperor chuckled and shook his head, then casually drew a circle in the "Party B" section.

The contract was made in duplicate—one copy given to the Liang Emperor, the other kept securely on Qin Feng's person.

Then he suddenly remembered something and whispered softly into the Liang Emperor's ear: "Your Majesty, I plan to open a Wine House in a few days—would you be interested in investing?"

"Oh?" The Liang Emperor chuckled: "Tell me more."

Qin Feng lowered his voice so only the two could hear, laid out his idea, and the Liang Emperor's expression brightened instantly—though he said nothing, he gave a slight nod, tacitly agreeing.

Qin Feng returned, satisfied, to his original seat.

The Liang Emperor whispered to Qin Tianhu: "Qin Shangshu, no need for such formalities—rise."

Qin Tianhu slowly stood, shot Qin Feng a venomous glare, yet breathed a long sigh of relief inside.

The Liang Emperor turned his gaze back to Qin Feng, intrigued: "The diagramming matter is settled—now tell me, is this Military Strategy also copied?"

"Your Majesty, this Military Strategy is my own summary," Qin Feng replied casually.

The Liang Emperor narrowed his eyes: "How did you summarize it?"

"Fighting! Those noble brats bullied me daily—I couldn't just sit there and take it, right? As the saying goes, prolonged illness makes one a good doctor…"

Before Qin Feng could finish his nonsense, the Liang Emperor's laughter echoed throughout the Imperial Study.

Li Zhan was overjoyed—since the North Di Barbarians invaded the border, he hadn't heard the Liang Emperor laugh so freely in a long time.

Unbeknownst to him, the Liang Emperor believed not a single word Qin Feng uttered—but though the boy appeared mad, he possessed great talent, and there was no need to probe further.

Compared to those timid ministers who spouted Confucian platitudes, the Liang Emperor preferred conversing with Qin Feng. Most crucially, every time the boy spoke, his words landed squarely on the point—cutting straight to the core and offering solutions. If he only delivered empty, flowery rhetoric, the Liang Emperor's patience would have long vanished.

The Liang Emperor was accustomed to Qin Feng's style and asked directly: "The North Di Barbarians have invaded our border. If we do not send troops to suppress them, our Shedynasty's prestige will suffer. But deploying troops faces many obstacles—even high officials are divided, with the peace faction holding the majority. Though I am Emperor, I cannot act unilaterally."

"Beat the bastards!" Qin Feng rolled up his sleeves and blurted out.

Qin Tianhu's face turned black with rage—he kicked out: "How dare you speak so recklessly!"

Qin Feng looked wounded, pouting: "I meant beat the North Di Barbarians—Father, where did your mind go?"

Qin Tianhu grew even angrier: "Still speaking? Should I rip out your tongue before you stop?"

The Liang Emperor understood well—the political stakes in the Imperial Court ran too deep; some truths couldn't be spoken plainly, or else the Ministry of Revenue would unite against Qin Tianhu, who alone couldn't withstand them.

The Liang Emperor shifted tone: "Suppose someone invades the Qin Residence—not only attacking its people, but seizing its assets. As Patriarch, you wish to retaliate, yet lack funds, manpower, and resources—what would you do?"

Qin Feng, still thinking nothing through, blurted: "No money? Sell the pots and pans! The whole family pitches in—use whatever you've got, fight first, think later."

"Losing a fight is better than sitting idle to die; winning brings full coffers. As the saying goes: wage war to sustain war."

The Liang Emperor pondered silently—neither rejecting nor accepting, but a strategy had already formed in his mind.

As for this audacious little brat before him, he liked him more with every passing moment.

In just one Incense Stick Time, Qin Feng committed crimes worthy of death a hundred times over—enough to implicate his Nine Clans. These offenses are temporarily recorded—if the boy keeps his word, they'll be erased. If not, old and new debts will be settled together. Whether the Qin Family is implicated remains uncertain, but this boy is certainly doomed.

"Qin Shangshu, your son not only excels in Military Strategy, but his statecraft insights have greatly enlightened me. Though boisterous, it is no true crime."

Hearing this, Qin Tianhu felt the heavy stone on his heart finally lift—his tense body relaxed, and he immediately knelt to thank the Emperor: "To receive Your Majesty's grace is Qin Feng's fortune, and the Qin Family's fortune."

The Liang Emperor casually tossed Qin Feng's record of assaulting noble youths onto the floor—a hand emerged from behind the Screen, retrieved the document, then placed it with newly recorded offenses, setting aside a separate drawer exclusively for Qin Feng. When the reckoning comes, it depends not on the Liang Emperor, but on Qin Feng himself.

The Liang Emperor had further matters to discuss with Qin Tianhu, so he dismissed Qin Feng.

As Qin Feng stepped out of the Imperial Study, the moment the Door closed behind him, he exhaled silently—his back was drenched in cold sweat.

Before this, Qin Feng hadn't been sure whether his street-smart tactics would work on the Liang Emperor.