Recalling Lian Yu's words, Lu Qingwan felt a chill down her spine.
With goosebumps prickling her skin, Lu Qingwan's voice trembled as she asked, "For how long have the Tujue been using this method to launder war materials from Nan Qi and Da Qin?"
"At least twenty-three years."
Lian Yu gave a conservative estimate.
From the distant Wanyan Mansion, sounds of fierce fighting could already be heard. Lu Qingwan's ears perked up, listening to the commotion within, her eyes fixed on Lian Yu.
"Have you told the Prince about this?"
Lian Yu nodded helplessly. "Of course. It wasn't just the Prince. Even before His Majesty ascended the throne, we had asked the Crown Prince to remind Emperor Geng Shi, but he found it bothersome and didn't listen.
After His Majesty ascended the throne, he also discussed it privately with several ministers, but they all felt that the Central Plains' national treasury was empty and that filling it was the priority.
As for grain, salt, and iron, Da Qin's current reserves were sufficient.
Moreover, if the Tujue intended to invade Da Qin, they would have done so long ago and wouldn't have waited until now..."
Lian Yu's words were filled with helplessness and sarcasm.
Lu Qingwan sighed, "Filling the national treasury is a lie. They don't believe the Tujue will truly invade Da Qin, is that it?
The Tujue have been quiet and low-key for so many years. Even those old officials who were not bought off by Emperor Geng Shi have long been lulled into confusion by the Tujue's superficial peace.
They don't believe that anyone would prepare for over thirty years to invade another country..."
Lian Yu nodded helplessly. "What the Princess Consort said is very true.
If it were truly about filling the national treasury, I would be at ease. As long as there's money, we can find ways to raise military supplies. I'm genuinely worried that we'll end up losing both people and money, with nothing left!
When that time comes, Da Qin won't need the Tujue to attack; they'll surrender without a fight."
No money, no food, not even enough to eat. Wouldn't the soldiers have to surrender without a fight?
"What about His Majesty?"
Lu Qingwan was puzzled. Emperor Geng Shi was one thing, but Si Fengming was a smart person. He couldn't possibly not know the severity of the Tujue's scheme. Would he also allow the Tujue to continue these minor maneuvers?
Speaking of Si Fengming, Lian Yu managed a slight smile. "His Majesty naturally trusts us, but as you've seen, everything I've proposed are just my own observations, with no concrete evidence.
Even if the Prince were to come forward with evidence, on the surface, it would still appear to be Da Qin merchants voluntarily doing business with the Tujue, and even profiting from it.
Furthermore, the Tujue have shown no signs of hostility towards Da Qin. If we rashly told them not to sell grain to the Tujue, the merchants themselves would be the first to object."
Lian Yu was trying to emphasize the seriousness of the situation to Lu Qingwan, but she heard that Si Fengming had not only accepted their suggestions but had also made corresponding arrangements.
Sensing this, she stopped playing along and directly asked, "So, what arrangements has His Majesty made regarding this issue?"
Lian Yu: ...
A fleeting look of guilt crossed his face. Meeting Lu Qingwan's suddenly fierce gaze, he quickly said, "This is not something I told you; it's something the Princess Consort guessed yourself."
Recognizing this familiar demeanor, Lu Qingwan's "Prince Si Fengwu radar" immediately activated. "Tell me, what good deed is the Prince hiding from me again?"
Her tone was hostile, scaring Lian Yu into waving his hands repeatedly. "Princess Consort, please don't be angry. This is truly a good deed, not something the Prince decided on his own."
Knowing that Lu Qingwan disliked beating around the bush, Lian Yu quickly launched into an explanation before she could ask further.
"Not all court officials disbelieve what I and the Prince have said. They are just worried that rashly stopping merchants from selling strategic materials to the Tujue might lead to merchant dissatisfaction, disrupt the market, and cause losses to the court.
Furthermore, they worry that if the court intervenes, it might alert the Tujue, forcing them to act prematurely and backfire.
These people, afraid of both wolves and tigers, and unwilling to bear the risk of doing nothing, turned their attention to the Prince, under the guise of the Prince having a clean record in Da Qin and being able to compete for those strategic materials with the Tujue in a private capacity..."
Lu Qingwan, being half a politician and half a merchant herself, understood Lian Yu's words perfectly.
"They want the Prince to pay out of his own pocket to cover the court's losses?
Could His Majesty agree to such a thing?"
Si Fengming, if called a brother-complex, wouldn't be wrong. Lu Qingwan couldn't imagine him agreeing to let Si Fengwu pay for the court's losses with his own money.
Lian Yu was also helpless. "His Majesty naturally disagreed, but several officials in charge of finances were present at the time. If the Prince had refused, those individuals could have used the Prince's actions to shirk their responsibilities.
The Prince did not wish for Da Qin to fall into danger, nor did he want to make His Majesty difficult, so he voluntarily agreed to bear a portion of the responsibility on behalf of the court. He also requested that the major noble families set an example and help the court recover the lost strategic materials.
Those people, finding themselves in a difficult position, all agreed."
Lu Qingwan was filled with mixed emotions.
"When the Prince and His Majesty discussed such matters, we were still in the Central Plains, right?
Why didn't I hear any news?"
Lian Yu looked helpless, yet also accustomed to it. "The Princess Consort has no maternal family and married into Da Qin alone. Your subordinates and the assets under your name are your backing and your foundation.
However, you have always been generous. As soon as you heard that His Majesty and the Prince were having trouble with business matters, you would inevitably lend a hand.
The Prince wants you to save some of your own resources, so that even if something happens, you will at least have a guarantee for your own livelihood."
In fact, Lu Qingwan's Bu Ye Zhou, Li Ren Fang, and Ji Ci Hospital, along with her unacknowledged clothing workshops, cosmetic shops, and grain stores, were all well-hidden. Unless someone thoroughly investigated her background, they wouldn't think of using these against her.
Therefore, when Li Jin carefully considered his words and finished speaking, Lu Qingwan only asked, "To be able to so precisely arrange for the Prince to compensate for the court's losses, it must be someone who understands the Prince well.
Tell me, who came up with the idea to have the Prince do this?
What role did I play in this?"
Lian Yu took a deep breath, choosing this moment, of all times, to tease Lu Qingwan.
"Princess Consort, who do you think could make the Prince so troubled?"
The court of Da Qin had undergone a major purge. Those who had been nitpicking and causing trouble had long been removed from key positions.
Seeing Lian Yu's solemn expression, Lu Qingwan slowly said, "Was it the King of Youzhou or Prime Minister Yan?"