Shen Tang Zhou, despite his good looks and respectable standing when out and about, was as discreet as a shadow by Si Feng Wu’s side.
It was only when Lu Qing Wan specifically called his name that he stepped forward. He spoke neither deferentially nor arrogantly, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, your subordinate was ordered by the Prince to expand businesses in the new capital.
When acquiring storefronts, a minor conflict arose with the Lin Corporation. As I had early dealings with them, I have a reasonable understanding of their situation.
The Prince and Li Jin have both informed me of what the Princess Consort intends to do. If there's any place where your subordinate's assistance is needed, please do not hesitate to command me. I will spare no effort to cooperate with the Princess Consort in taking down the Lin Corporation."
Whether the Lin Corporation would be taken down or not was another matter, but Lu Qing Wan detected a hint of something from Shen Tang Zhou's words.
"When you first arrived in the new capital and were acquiring storefronts, a conflict arose with the Lin Corporation. Are you trying to tell me that not only land and timber, but even the shops in the new capital are monopolized by Lin Dong Ye alone?"
Unexpectedly, Lu Qing Wan's focus fell on this point. Shen Tang Zhou's thoughts faltered for a moment before he quickly recovered.
"The Princess Consort may not know, but it's not just in commerce. Lin Dong Ye has been operating in the new capital for a long time. Before, more than eighty percent of the officials in the new capital had some sort of connection with the Lin Corporation.
Officials dispatched from the imperial court were either pulled into Lin Dong Ye's schemes, colluding with them, or were squeezed out to the point where they couldn't stay, willing to demote themselves to leave the new capital.
Although the capital has now been established, the current officials in the new capital are all new appointees. However, the grassroots officials and yamen runners are still the same people. These individuals, though serving the court, are more like Lin Dong Ye's servants.
With them around, anyone who opposes Lin Dong Ye can be silently ruined."
After Shen Tang Zhou finished speaking, Lu Qing Wan's only reaction was that written intelligence, however accurate, was no substitute for firsthand knowledge.
She had practically devoured all the written intelligence on the Lin Corporation and Lin Dong Ye, but such reports were always too general. Without Shen Tang Zhou's on-site explanation, Lu Qing Wan would truly not have known these details.
"Holding sway over the land, shops, and connections around the new capital, and knowing how to exploit the conflicts between the Hua and Wu tribes to solidify his position. This Lin Dong Ye, he seems less like a merchant and more like a cunning politician?"
Lu Qing Wan raised her eyebrows at Yun Ying and Shen Tang Zhou with a relaxed demeanor, "Tell me, the two stewards, how do you plan to deal with the Lin Corporation?"
Shen Tang Zhou and Yun Ying exchanged glances, seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. However, for the stability of the imperial court, Lin Dong Ye, this local emperor, had to be removed. Therefore, neither of them truly treated Lu Qing Wan's question as a jest.
After careful consideration, Shen Tang Zhou chose his words cautiously. "Your subordinate believes there are two ways to deal with the Lin Corporation. First, the imperial court can step in, which would be simple and efficient.
The Lin Corporation has accumulated many vulnerabilities during its years of operation. If the authorities were to truly act, the Lin Corporation's land, shops, and caravans, more than half of them, could be confiscated by the imperial court on perfectly legitimate grounds."
Shen Tang Zhou dared to say this, indicating he already possessed sufficient evidence of the Lin Corporation's wrongdoings.
However, Si Feng Wu immediately dismissed it. "The imperial court stepping in could allow us to seize the Lin Corporation's existing resources in the fastest manner. But at the same time, it would make the common people feel that the court is using its power to suppress them, making it difficult to build trust in the court in the future.
What if merchants who hold the primary resources in various regions were to jointly impose an economic blockade on the new capital? Even the imperial court couldn't withstand such powerful economic pressure for long. Sacrificing the future of the entire new capital's commerce for the sake of one Lin Corporation is not worth it."
Shen Tang Zhou nodded. "Therefore, your subordinate suggests that your subordinate and Yun Ying should take the lead in completely annexing the Lin Corporation's businesses. However, the Prince and Princess Consort must pacify the Wu tribe people in the name of the imperial court, ensuring that the Wu tribe does not cause unrest when the Lin Corporation experiences trouble."
The imperial court guaranteeing safety, while Bu Ye Zhou and Ban Yue Ge divided the resources, was a reasonable plan. Si Feng Wu readily agreed without much thought. "Agreed. The Wu tribe matters will be handled by this Prince and the Princess Consort."
After speaking, he didn't forget to ask Lu Qing Wan, "Does the Princess Consort have anything else to add?"
"The Wu tribe does require the imperial court's intervention, but regarding the Lin Corporation, why should we take all the spoils ourselves?" Lu Qing Wan's almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly as she looked into the distance. "Find a suitable time to leak some rumors. We'll have the meat, and let other merchants have some soup. The Lin Corporation's cake is too big, and swallowing it whole might lead to indigestion. Finding a few more companions to share, we can eat faster and digest more easily."
Lu Qing Wan, this stingy person, was actually willing to share benefits she had obtained? Shen Tang Zhou and Yun Ying couldn't help but show surprise.
Si Feng Wu, however, understood her intention. "The Princess Consort is right. If all the various industries of the Lin Corporation fall into the hands of Ban Yue Ge and Bu Ye Zhou, it will certainly attract the attention of other merchants. If people realize that these two are our businesses, it might indeed stir up some unfavorable rumors externally. Dispersing it appropriately is not without its benefits."
Since both the masters agreed, Shen Tang Zhou and Yun Ying had no objections.
However, "I have also reviewed the information on the Wu tribe. Not everyone in the Wu tribe is in league with Lin Dong Ye, are they? The current Wu Chieftain is only twelve years old. Half of the Wu tribe's power is in the hands of his mother, Madam Yue Zhao, and the other half is with his uncle, Chieftain Mu Ge. And it is precisely these seven Chieftains Mu Ge who are allied with the Lin Corporation. So, can we try to contact Madam Yue Zhao?"
What Lu Qing Wan knew about the Wu tribe, Si Feng Wu was also aware of. Hearing Lu Qing Wan's words, he knew her intention. "You intend to exploit the rift between Yue Zhao, her son, and Mu Ge?"
Lu Qing Wan nodded with satisfaction. "The breakthrough point is already presented before me. If I don't utilize it, wouldn't that be a waste?"
The struggle for power among the Wu chieftains was comparable to the imperial succession struggles among the Hua people. The current chieftain inherited the position legitimately, but the real power was held by Mu Ge. How could Madam Yue Zhao be content? Mu Ge, on the other hand, felt he had worked hard and was the legitimate son of the previous chieftain. With his nephew being young and the power in his widowed sister-in-law's hands, the Wu tribe would eventually fall into the hands of his widowed sister-in-law and her maternal relatives. Thus, he constantly opposed Madam Yue Zhao. The sharp contradiction between uncle and nephew, the cleavages created between them, were precisely the space for an outsider like Lu Qing Wan to exploit.
Si Feng Wu unhesitatingly agreed with Lu Qing Wan's idea and offered a suggestion on the spot. "Before the enthronement ceremony, our identities are not conducive to hosting any large banquets. Elder Wen's birthday banquet is approaching. Request an invitation from Madam Wen and add an extra place setting. This Prince believes Elder Wen would be very pleased."