Chapter 115: Entrusted to Changsun Wuji

Empress Zhangsun said, "Even if a star of literature were to descend to earth, they could not handle such a complex situation. This has nothing to do with talent or memory!"

"Perhaps Zhi will be a pillar of the nation in the future, but for now... he is not yet ready!"

"I implore Your Majesty to think thrice!"

Empress Zhangsun grasped the core of the issue, repeatedly emphasizing the matter of age. Although Li Shimin claimed that capability was independent of age, he remained preoccupied by it. A lack of age meant a lack of breadth and experience in handling affairs, which would lead directly to the failure of the mission.

"Very well... I was merely speaking in passing!"

In the end, Li Shimin did not proceed with his idea. The matters involving the noble clans remained in the hands of Zhangsun Wuji. He was the only one who could barely manage them.

...

Elsewhere.

Just as Li Zhi had anticipated, the merchants who had pre-ordered the "Divine Wine" from the Capital Chamber of Commerce, incited by the Guanlong noble clans, arrived in the capital one after another, clutching their receipts and demanding their goods.

"Several more have arrived outside, all clamoring to collect their wine. The distillery has been emptied out—what are we to do?" Cheng Chumuo reported to Li Zhi with a distressed expression.

"What must come will come; there is no need to panic!"

Li Zhi had long foreseen this situation.

Cheng Chumuo asked, "Your Highness, what shall we do now?"

"Stall them!"

"Pardon?"

"Find a way to delay them. Once the distillery produces more wine, all problems will be solved," Li Zhi said with a smile.

The idea was sound, but how was he supposed to stall them? Cheng Chumuo racked his brains but could not come up with a good plan.

"I will teach you!" Li Zhi, seemingly prepared with a countermeasure, said, "Go to the most prosperous area of the Eastern Market and open an entertainment complex. Inside, you must have gambling dens, a stage for performances, a brothel, acrobatics, fashion shows, and so on. Include everything that might attract people! Make the scale grand and the costs low—make it so that once people enter, they won't want to leave!"

"Then, invite those merchants who came for their wine to go there and let them become deeply entangled in it!"

"Brilliant!"

Cheng Chumuo was suddenly enlightened.

However...

After a quick calculation, he frowned again: "Your Highness, how much money will this require? Just purchasing the venue alone will cost several million, won't it?"

It would cost far more than several million. Including operating capital and the decoration of the complex... it would be at least ten million! It was a larger investment than both the First Restaurant and the Chamber of Commerce combined!

But Li Zhi was not flustered at all, for he had a way to recoup the costs.

"Do not worry about the money; just go and do it! All expenses are to be drawn from the Chamber of Commerce. Remember, this matter must not be delayed. I want to see the complex open within three days!"

"Yes!"

Cheng Chumuo handed the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce over to Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards, and headed straight for the Eastern Market with his men.

The Eastern Market was vast and populous, with people from all walks of life mingling on the streets. Regardless of whether one’s status was noble or humble, as long as one had money, one could thrive there. It was unlike the main streets of Chang'an, where one was judged by status before money.

"Young Master, why have you come to the Eastern Market?"

Halfway there, he ran into Sun Jiali, the Magistrate of Chang'an County. He was leading a team of bailiffs, seemingly on his way to make arrests.

Cheng Chumuo explained his purpose and then asked, "Magistrate Sun, are you on official business in the Eastern Market?"

"Catching a few petty thieves!"

"Haha... I have never seen you, Magistrate, come to the Eastern Market to catch thieves before. Have the rules changed?"

Sun Jiali paused, looked left and right, and said with a straight face, "The past is the past, and the present is the present! Even the Emperor has said that evil must be eradicated completely. The petty thieves in the Eastern Market fall under my jurisdiction and must be cleared out!"

"I intend to be a conscientious and thorough official! I can no longer be muddled in my duties!"

"A noble ambition, Magistrate!"

Cheng Chumuo was amused. After all these years in office, he had finally decided to be a good official. Where had he been all this time?

"You mentioned earlier that you wanted to buy a few properties, Young Master? What kind of properties are you looking for? Can I be of any help?" Sun Jiali asked. He knew that Cheng Chumuo represented not only the Duke of Lu's mansion but also the Prince of Jin, Li Zhi. Doing him a favor might prove useful in the future.

"You want to help me?" Cheng Chumuo thought for a moment. "Fine! I need to buy three establishments in the most prosperous section of the Eastern Market! They must be adjacent to one another, not separated! Is there such a place?"

"There is!" Sun Jiali replied without hesitation. "The restaurant, gambling den, and brothel that once belonged to the 'Five Tigers of the Eastern Market' were all sealed by the Ministry of Justice and handed over to my county for auction. They haven't sold yet. One of those locations fits your requirements perfectly!"

"Truly?"

"How would I dare to lie to you?"

Cheng Chumuo had not expected things to work out so conveniently. He had been looking to buy property, and the government happened to have exactly what he needed. It saved him the trouble of searching the streets.

Cheng Chumuo said, "Magistrate Sun, sell those three properties to me. Give me a 'friendship price'!"

"Easily done! Let me take you to see the properties first, and then we can discuss it!"

"After you, Magistrate..."

Cheng Chumuo followed Sun Jiali to the middle of the Eastern Market and saw the row of buildings for himself. Two restaurants stood side by side, with a brothel next to them, and a large area of residential housing behind. If he bought the entire lot, the space would be more than sufficient.

Back at the county office, Cheng Chumuo got straight to the point: "The matter is urgent and cannot be delayed. I will send men to renovate and remodel those buildings immediately to get the complex up and running as soon as possible. As for the price... we can discuss that slowly!"

"What?" Sun Jiali was dumbfounded. "Young Master, surely you aren't trying to pull a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' trick on me?"

"What kind of talk is that? Do you think my Capital Chamber of Commerce would default on a debt?"

"If my superiors investigate, I..." Sun Jiali had always been cautious. He would not easily do something that could cost him his head.

"With the Prince of Jin backing you, what are you afraid of? If it comes to it, you can push the responsibility onto us! Besides... it’s not as if I’m not paying; I’m just delaying it. Once I’m finished with the renovations, I’ll pay you half. How does that sound?"

"Pah!" Sun Jiali looked disgusted. He said with dissatisfaction, "I wait for half a day just to get half the money? And what about the other half? Isn't that just an endless wait? Young Master, we cannot do this... the price is the price, and the Chamber of Commerce is certainly not short of funds, right?"

"Nonsense!"

"Those properties of yours are worth at least one or two million. Who can pay that all at once?" Cheng Chumuo rolled his eyes and scoffed, "If you aren't willing, then forget it. There are plenty of properties in the Eastern Market; do you think I'm afraid I won't find one?"

He made as if to leave.

"Wait, wait..." Sun Jiali called him back, gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I agree! But we must sign a contract so there are no disputes later!"

"Haha, deal!"

The two quickly reached an agreement. They signed the papers at the county office and transferred the deeds. That entire row of restaurants and buildings in the Eastern Market now belonged to Li Zhi.

Since the entertainment complex had to be open within three days, Cheng Chumuo did not dare to delay. After leaving the county office, he immediately ordered his men to get to work.

Soon, hundreds of laborers were put to work on the construction and decoration. Several officials from the Ministry of Works were even dragged in to assist, whether they wanted to or not.