My Emperor Father Can Read Minds

Chapter 309: Incredible

In a courtyard, a beautifully dressed elegant lady was sitting under a tree, playing chess against herself.

After a short while, a servant came to report some news.

”Madam, news has arrived from the Merchants’ Alliance. Chairman Deng is back.”

The chess piece held between her fingers was thrown back into the chess box. Guo Yajun looked up, a smile on her lips. ”Finally back. Where is he now?”

”Just at the Merchants’ Alliance headquarters. As soon as Chairman Deng returned, everyone went to the headquarters to wait.”

Guo Yajun straightened her sleeves and stood up. ”Prepare the horses. I want to go to the Merchants’ Alliance.”

In Ziyang County, it’s possible not to know the new County Magistrate, but it’s absolutely impossible not to know Deng Zhengde and Guo Yajun.

The former is the Chairman of the Merchants’ Alliance, and the latter is a hidden figure who single-handedly supported the people’s lives when Ziyang County was in chaos.

Both of their talents cannot be ignored. But if it weren’t for the fact that behind them stood His Highness the Wise King, how could the people of Ziyang accept them without reservations? Especially since Guo Yajun is a woman.

It’s just the old saying: love for the house extends to the house’s crows.

Although Guo Yajun is not an official, she is responsible for all the surrounding factories.

The new County Magistrate has connections and investigated matters in Ziyang County before his assignment.

He knew Guo Yajun worked for the Ninth Wise King and once had handled official duties on behalf of the former County Magistrate Hu Yong. Therefore, the County Magistrate neither spoke talkatively nor interfered with Guo Yajun; rather, he treated her with exceptional respect.

Because the new County Magistrate deeply understood that even though the Ninth Wise King had Guo Yajun handle official affairs, His Majesty did not reprimand her, which was enough to prove the status of both the Ninth Wise King and Guo Yajun must not be underestimated.

And judging by Madam Guo’s talents, if she weren’t a woman, the County Magistrate even suspected the Ninth Highness would have placed her directly into the government office to work.

Not necessarily as an official, since one needs to pass exams for that, but some influential government positions could be purchased by donations!

Some people felt fortunate or regretful that Guo Yajun was a woman, thus unable to work officially in government. But only Wei Yu himself knew the truth.

He had discovered an outstanding political talent; could he let such a person be wasted?

There’s still time. Wait until everyone’s mind opens up!

–

The Merchants’ Alliance was bustling and lively because of Deng Zhengde’s return.

As the first to come back, everyone was eager to know the result of the Great Liang diplomatic mission—whether they profited or lost, how the prices in Great Liang were, and whether the Imperial Court there was strict…

Deng Zhengde is the chairman. For the future development of the Merchants’ Alliance, naturally, he needed to explain everything clearly to the members.

But all this had to wait until he settled himself first.

The Merchants’ Alliance headquarters is located at the center of the Merchants’ Alliance, a compound with five courtyards. Most buildings inside are two or three stories tall and comparable to a restaurant.

Deng Zhengde’s resting place is inside the headquarters.

Having been away for more than half a year, he had many matters to handle, so upon return he was extremely busy. For those who came along—like Sheng Hong, and Liu Wenzhou, Deng Zhengde couldn’t personally arrange their accommodations, and had to send others to do so.

Sheng Hong and Fu Jixiang didn’t mind, but Liu Wenzhou and the others who came for the first time had been amazed since arriving in Ziyang County.

It was so different!

The cities in Great Wei and Great Liang were not hugely different, but this small Ziyang County was far different from other places!

Not backward, but a distinctive, novel prosperity that was eye-opening.

Deng Zhengde didn’t restrict their freedom. To explore properly, Liu Wenzhou refused the arrangement offered by Deng Zhengde’s men and chose to find an inn by himself.

They roamed the streets and alleys of the Merchants’ Alliance, looking at one raffle event, then eyeing another ring-toss game, then listening to people persuade them to become members…

Liu Wenzhou’s eyes sparkled continuously, marveling at everything in the Merchants’ Alliance, not only because of the convenient, useful goods but also because of all sorts of strange sales tricks.

“Incredible, truly incredible.”

After leaving the Merchants’ Alliance, Liu Wenzhou stood on the wide avenue, looking back at the bustling entrance, feeling this trip was well worth it.

His expression became enlightened.

No wonder, all along the way, whenever people mentioned the Merchants’ Alliance, they spoke as if with pride, and when mentioning the Ninth Wise King who established the Merchants’ Alliance, they showed utmost respect. Just by looking at the Merchants’ Alliance, who could not be amazed and admire it after just one visit?

Even for himself, a man from Great Liang, he developed quite a good impression of the Ninth Wise King just by a simple stroll.

After all, behind a prosperous commercial city, countless struggling people could be supported.

Only when the people have a livelihood can they survive; once surviving, naturally, they would love and be grateful to the benefactor who gave them life…

Even before coming of age, making profits from the people and yet winning their gratitude in return—this Ninth Wise King truly has a profound strategy!

Liu Wenzhou shook his head silently, intuitively feeling that if in the future this Ninth Wise King were to succeed to the throne, Great Liang might be forced into a seismic transformation.

The two countries are neighbors, and the greatest fear is the other side producing a widely beloved sagacious monarch.

Liu Shan looked seriously at the Merchants’ Alliance and said, “Third Young Master, this Merchants’ Alliance is truly extraordinary. Many of the small items aren’t even seen before. Even Deng Zhengde didn’t sell them in Great Liang before, so it shows Great Wei is still wary of us!”

This was really unfair to Deng Zhengde.

Have you checked when the caravans went to Great Liang? It was over half a year ago!

In the meantime, a group of chemists from the Research Institute barely returned to their dorms and worked every day on various studies. They often tinkered around, following textbooks to create new gadgets. This was very common.

After the chemists developed the items, they just tossed them in the finished goods room. Whether useful or not, saleable or not, they didn’t care. Product recycling, repackaging, and selling were all thanks to the clever Fourth Prince.

As long as the Fourth Prince thought the product was worthy and checked with Wei Yu if it could be sold, it would be sent directly to the factories for shelving.

More than half a year isn’t long, but for these pioneering chemists in an era with emerging scientific theories—just following the textbook to make new products—this was already enough time to turn a new page.

Their time was precious, not to be wasted. Every ten or fifteen days they could create a bunch of insignificant gadgets, which was no big deal.

The people at the Merchants’ Alliance were used to new products appearing now and then. Seeing some wide-eyed “country bumpkins” on the streets was common.

When they saw Liu Wenzhou and the others standing dazed by the roadside, the patrolling guards kindly offered maps in case they didn’t know where to go.

Liu Wenzhou and the others: …

Goodness, such a small Ziyang County even offers maps for unfamiliar outsiders!

So, are there other rare places here to see too?!