Chapter 1453: Chapter 1453

After the group of old men from the merchant guild sat down, Wang Shouxin instructed someone to close the doors and windows.

Xu Maocai urgently exclaimed, "Brother Wang, my son’s life is in danger, I beg you to lend a helping hand to save him!"

Wang Shouxin sipped his tea, unhurried, and said, "Brother Xu, rest assured, it’s not a big deal. The Commandery Princess won’t do anything to your son. However, regarding our business, I am afraid there may be some changes."

"I’d love to hear more!"

Xu Maocai and the other merchants exchanged glances, still puzzled about what the Commandery Princess had said today.

Someone asked, "President Wang, didn’t the Commandery Princess say today she wants to open the market and elevate our status as merchants? I heard she even wants to set up some sort of advisory council, allowing us merchants to elect representatives to enter it!"

"Yes, it seems like the Commandery Princess is encouraging commercial activities!"

"Our social status used to be so low! It was explicitly stated that merchants were not allowed to enter politics. Now the Commandery Princess has given this opportunity, so how could this mean there are changes?"

Wang Shouxin shook his head, smiled, and said, "You all only see the surface but don’t understand the underlying implications. The Commandery Princess is offering small profits, but what she really wants is our lives and worth."

Xu Maocai anxiously said, "Brother Wang, this is urgent, don’t keep us in suspense!"

The other merchants also looked at Wang Shouxin anxiously, unsure about the benefits or downsides of this reform.

Wang Shouxin took out several teacups and placed them on the table, saying, "Gentlemen, look here, currently in the South Yangtze Prefecture’s business world, our Wang Family manages the oil and grain, the Xu Family oversees fur trade, the Ma Ang Brothers control the money shops, and the Li Rong Brothers handle taverns, teahouses, and shop rentals.

Among those present, there are people dealing in fish, horses, wine brewing, weaving, and transporting goods. In these areas of food, drink, lodging, and transportation, all 360 trades, our guilds handle them all, and everything is in good order, water from one well not mixing with another.

No one knows how much profit there is each year, and it’s only thanks to our exclusive operations that we are where we are now!

Now, the Commandery Princess wants us to open up the market and allow more people in. Today Zhang San opens a shop, tomorrow Li Si sells rice, and the day after that, even a turtle seller could hawk his wares on the street. Tell me, can we live well with such prospects?

The market is only so big, the population only so large, if others eat more, we have less!"

Once he spoke, everyone present understood everything.

Open markets are beneficial to merchants in general, but not to them personally.

Ma Ang worriedly said, "What Big Brother Wang says makes sense to us brothers. But now the Prefecture Princess’ Mansion is powerful, already sharing governance with the Imperial Court. We have no people, no soldiers, how can we contend with them?"

Li Rong clapped his hands and said, "Yes, in the end, we’re just merchants. From ancient times, merchants never fought with officials. We’re at their mercy to make a living, how can we fight them?"

Others immediately started to discuss, all anxious and helpless.

Wang Shouxin pointed at them and said, "You guys! At critical times, you’re still like scattered sand. One family can’t contend with the Prefecture Princess Mansion, but if we stand united, even the Prefecture Princess Mansion has to make concessions to us!

I refuse to believe that if we conduct our business activities within reason and legality, the Prefecture Princess Mansion will send troops to kill us?"

The others exchanged looks and all asked Wang Shouxin, "President Wang, just give us your orders, and we will follow them."

"Yes, Big Brother Wang, we brothers are on your side."

"President Wang, I’ll leave it at this. Though we lack manpower, we still have some assets. Whatever plan you have, just say it, and we brothers will execute it." Get full chapters from 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥

Wang Shouxin looked at them, finally satisfied, stroked his beard with a smile, and confidently gave advice, "Here’s what we’ll do then. Since the Commandery Princess wants to open markets, we shall respond in kind by first demanding that she reduce our taxes. When the market opens tomorrow, we will all go on strike, stopping everything in Southern Capital City—no horses moving, no carts rolling, no fish coming ashore, no rice out of warehouses. Everyone shall send people to the Prefecture Princess Mansion to demand tax reductions for us. If she agrees, we will comply with market opening. If not, we’ll strike for a few days, let her see our power. I guarantee that in no time, the starving populace will tear down the entrance door of the Prefecture Princess Mansion family."

"Brilliant! Treat others as they treat us, let’s see how the Commandery Princess chooses."

"President Wang, indeed you are cunning and shrewd, I am in awe!"

"Then it’s settled. Let’s see if the Commandery Princess cares more about tax or those ordinary folks! If she thinks she can get a share of our pie, she’s dreaming!"

"Haha, Big Brother Wang, this is brilliant, I toast you!"

The group praised, raising their cups to salute Wang Shouxin.

Wang Shouxin smiled, returned their cheers, and even called for dancers to liven up the atmosphere.

Only Xu Maocai looked worried among them; others could oppose the Commandery Princess, but his son was still under her control!

If the Commandery Princess got angry and harmed his son, who could he turn to for reasoning?

He feigned acquiescence, accompanied Wang Shouxin in drinking and discussing plans.

After the meeting, Xu Maocai called for the coachman and didn’t go home but headed for the Prefecture Princess Mansion.

Once the carriage entered a dark alley, a light suddenly gleamed at the entrance.

The eldest son of the Wang family, Wang Shihao, stood at the entrance with a scar-faced man, scaring the coachman into pulling the reins tight.

Xu Maocai lifted the curtain and, observing Wang Shihao, shiveringly asked, "Nephew, why are you here?"

Wang Shihao coldly laughed, "Uncle, where are you heading?"

Xu Maocai swallowed, feigning calmness, "Well, I drank a bit earlier, and wanted to take a seat on the red boat on the river, enjoying the breeze to sober up."

Wang Shihao frowned, looked around, and said, "Uncle, you seem quite forgetful for someone who’s taken this path so many years, and now you got your directions mixed up? The riverbank is north of the city, yet this path heads south, I suspect you have other intentions!"

Seeing his thoughts seen through, Xu Maocai flushed with embarrassment and exclaimed, "Nephew, why are you so aggressive, what’s your purpose? Must I get your approval of where to go?"

He felt inside his clothes for a safety talisman, eyeing his surroundings for a chance to escape.

Wang Shihao coldly said, "Xu Maocai, you coward! My father just conspired grand plans with everyone, and you are rushing to inform the Commandery Princess. I’m telling you, my father knew you would do this and specially had me wait for you here. With your treacherous nature, you don’t deserve to be among us!"

"Wang Shihao, do you intend to kill me?"

Hearing the malicious tone, Xu Maocai broke the Ethereal Talisman in his hand and vanished.

Wang Shihao laughed heartily, "So what if I kill you? Anyone who dares to sabotage the Wang Family’s grand plans has only one path to death. I advise you to comply obediently, stop struggling pointlessly. I’ve already set a formation on both ends of this road; your talisman’s power can’t pass through."

"Your Wang Family’s heart is cruel indeed!"

Xu Maocai cursed loudly, raised his hand, and crushed the talisman in his palm.

The spiritual power surged out, enveloped Xu Maocai in a white light, and he shot towards the sky to escape.

This Ethereal Talisman, purchased at a hefty price for Core Formation Stage, was thought to help him escape, yet was blocked by an invisible net in the sky.

A golden light burst from the web, transformed into a net of gold, and shot towards Xu Maocai.

With a loud crash, Xu Maocai fell heavily, landing back on the carriage, smashing it to pieces with an impact.

He lay in the wreckage, cried out to the sky, "My fate is sealed!"