The Great Tang's Super Arms Dealer, Shenyang, Trade Post.
After Fang Er left, Ma Fei, affiliated with the Duke's mansion's trading company, found himself surrounded by merchants.
"Manager Ma, can you allocate more of this month's Drunken Immortal Brew? We truly can't keep up with demand!"
"Yes, and what about the soap? Could you give us more of that too? Those barbarians to the west, they treat this stuff like a lost mother. Please, do us a favor and increase our quotas!"
"Manager Ma, why don't you raise the price? By twenty percent! No, even thirty percent would be fine!"
"Manager, urgent dispatch from the Duke!"
Upon hearing this, the merchants quickly parted from Ma Fei, curiously looking at the approaching attendant.
Ma Fei took the telegram from the attendant and, after reading it carefully, grinned at the merchants before him.
"Hahahaha~ Your good days have arrived!"
With that, he turned to the attendant.
"Issue an order: the trade post is closed for today!"
"Summon all merchants and give them half an hour to gather at the plaza."
"Tell them, no exceptions for latecomers!"
"Yes!" the attendant replied and quickly ran out.
As soon as he exited the merchant hall, he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"By order of the Duke, the trade post is closed today! All unauthorized personnel, clear the trade post immediately!"
"All merchants, gather at the plaza in half an hour!"
The guards outside heard this and immediately set off on their bicycles, relaying the message throughout the entire trade post.
Inside the merchant hall, the merchants' eyes widened. Anything Ma Fei called a "good day" was surely beyond their wildest imagination!
"Manager Ma, we'll go grab a good spot then!"
"Let's go, let's go!"
There were over a thousand merchants at the trade post, and with so many people, arriving earlier was always better.
The group excitedly hurried towards the plaza outside.
An hour later, the plaza outside the merchant hall was a sea of people, with all the merchants gathered there.
Ma Fei stood on a high platform in the center of the plaza and cleared his throat, looking at the crowd below.
"First, I have some good news to announce!"
"Our Duke has achieved an unprecedented feat and has been enfeoffed as the King of Kun!"
"At the same time, our Great Tang's territory has expanded once more!"
"Overseas, there is a continent larger than the Central Plains, and now our Sun, Moon, and Five Stars flag flies there!"
"It is inhabited by hundreds of millions of people, and opportunities for trade are everywhere!"
"Everything you have here is what they desperately need!"
"A single thread, a pot, a brick of tea, everything, as long as you take it there, there will be no shortage of buyers."
"His Highness has ordered me to form a trade caravan to travel to the Americas for trade."
"In half a month, the fleet will return from the Americas. Those interested in developing overseas ventures can sign up at the merchant hall later."
At these words, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
A continent larger than the Central Plains, with hundreds of millions of people, this was far beyond anything they could comprehend!
The Great Tang itself only had a population of over ten million. What kind of place would have hundreds of millions of people?
Perhaps, they had no wars there?
Or was it that there were no natural disasters, no famines?
Business opportunities, infinite business opportunities lay before them!
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
"Such a good opportunity, only a fool would miss it!"
Some people loudly declared their intentions, while others quietly left the plaza, returning to check their inventory.
Merchants from other prefectures rushed to the bank, borrowing wireless telegraphs at high prices to send the news back.
If they could seize this opportunity, their businesses would surely soar to new heights!
Shenyang City suddenly became exceptionally lively, and all goods became scarce overnight.
Prices rose accordingly!
When the news reached Ma Fei, it caused him to worry. Not only that, but even Chang'an was affected.
Inside the Taiji Hall, a chair was placed next to the dragon throne, and Li Chengqian sat in it.
By the rules, he was currently acting as regent and was qualified to sit on the dragon throne.
However, after seeing the history of the Tang Dynasty that Empress Zhangsun had secretly given him, he felt a deep apprehension towards the dragon throne.
If he were to truly sit on it, would someone tell his father that he was plotting rebellion?
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the soaring prices are now affecting the daily lives of the people."
An imperial censor stepped forward and said with a bow.
"I went to buy wine yesterday. Normally, I could buy a jar of coarse wine for three hundred wen, but now it has risen to five hundred wen!"
Li Chengqian frowned upon hearing this. "Do you know the reason?"
Fang Xuanling stepped forward. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this old minister believes it is likely related to the King of Kun."
"There are rumors that the King of Kun is preparing to assemble a trade caravan for overseas trade, hence the merchants are hoarding goods."
Li Chengqian stood up and paced back and forth. This matter left him in a difficult position.
His father was also overseas, and he was surely aware of this matter. If he were to obstruct it, it might jeopardize his plans.
But if he let it go unchecked, what about the common people of the Great Tang?
After careful consideration, he looked at Fang Xuanling and said, "Duke Fang, since that is the case, I trouble you to go to Shenyang and discuss with the King of Kun's mansion. Overseas trade is important, but we must not affect the lives of the people."
"This old minister obeys the decree!" Fang Xuanling bowed, a hint of a relieved smile on his lips.
From this matter alone, it could be seen that the Crown Prince had grown, knowing to consider the overall situation. Excellent, excellent!
After the court session, he took a helicopter to Shenyang.
Meanwhile, in the Americas, Li Shimin was so stunned by the sights before him that he was speechless.
"My God!"
After a long while, two words escaped his mouth.
After much thought, only these two words could express his feelings.
Cheng Yaojin, Chai Shao, Li Xiaogong, and others stood by blankly.
So big!
So many!
So imposing!
With these vehicles, why worry about any battle that couldn't be won?
Just push straight through!
"Wait, where's the fuel?" Li Ji asked, stunned after riding his horse around the convoy.
Li Shimin's excited expression instantly froze.
"My God, this kid, he only gave us cars and no fuel?"
Li Ji nodded. "That's right. Only the fuel in the tanks. The kid didn't leave any spare fuel."
Cheng Yaojin said, "Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and contact him, see if he's gone far!"
Leaving Xie Bian'an to guard the vehicles, everyone galloped their horses back to the camp.
A long while later, they sat in the tent, looking at each other.
They couldn't reach him at all!
After a long pause, Chai Shao slapped his forehead. "Did that kid bring any craftsmen with him?"
"Let's go to the Golden Mountain!" Li Shimin stood up and walked outside.
Damn it, giving cars without fuel.
Isn't that like giving smoke without fire? What the heck!