Wealth That Shocks Heaven: The Fisherman's Intent (2)

"Tax Exemption Plaque, haha... haha... Young Master Zhang, this Tax Exemption Plaque only works for businesses with extremely high profit margins. Hmm... your jade shop only pays 100.5% tax! Does Young Master Zhang intend to get involved in such a high-profit industry?" Zhu Li asked.

Highly profitable industries include salt production, brothels, and gambling. These industries typically pay 15% tax on 100% of their profits. The Tax Exemption Plaque signifies that if you possess this certificate, regardless of your business, your tax liability is capped at 10% of your profits. In other words, it has a limit!

The Li Family Head narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of malice flashing in them. "Boy, you want to get involved in highly profitable industries? Hmph, your skills are high, but when it comes to business... I'll show you why the Li Family has been able to completely monopolize the salt and gambling industries, two highly profitable sectors, for hundreds of years!"

"Very well, my nephew's ambition is commendable. Your Majesty should grant his request." The Li Family Head immediately advised, seemingly showing great concern for Zhang Xingfeng.

Zhu Li smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "You two can fight it out slowly. Even if I refuse to give Zhang Xingfeng the Tax Exemption Plaque, my tax revenue will still be 10% of 100. I'll let you fight it out."

"Since Li Family Head has said so, what reason do I have to refuse? Very well, since Young Master Zhang is determined to enter the highly profitable industry, I will certainly support him! But I must also remind Young Master Zhang that the Li Family is the Li Family Head, hahaha..." Zhu Li burst into laughter, it was unclear whether he was happy for Zhang Xingfeng or happy that Zhang Xingfeng was fighting with the Li Family.

"Li Family Head, let me first greet you here. Please leave me some room for maneuver in future business dealings!" Zhang Xingfeng said with a beaming smile, appearing very humble. But inwardly he thought, "Hmph, Li Family Head, I never said I'd leave your Li Family any way out."

The Li Family Head, relying on his age, said, "Don't worry, my dear nephew, I won't go too far." But in his heart, he thought, "Not just too far, I will go far far and drive you to your doom!" At this moment, the Li Family Head was filled with ruthless hatred. His ancestor had been insulted so much, and his daughter-in-law's body had been stolen. Wasn't that an overwhelming hatred? But on the surface, the Li Family Head still called him "my dear nephew," as if the two of them were extremely close.

The smiles between the two seemed very genuine.

"Alright, now that Young Master Zhang has agreed to go with everyone, what does Li Family Head think?" Zhu Li was now focusing all his attention on Li Family Head. He really wanted to increase the national treasury by several billion taels of silver; that would be a legacy for generations to come.

The Li Family Head did not answer, but instead changed the subject, saying, "Even if everyone participates, is there a limit to the number of people from the three parties who can go?"

Zhang Xingfeng suddenly interjected, "I have no objection to any of this. Your Majesty and Li Family Head should discuss it!" With that, he turned around, picked up his wine cup, and admired the flowers. To be honest, the Imperial Garden was absolutely unparalleled. Admiring the flowers was truly a great pleasure.

Zhu Li smiled and said, "I think it's better to have more people. Everyone knows that Genghis Temujin, the Yuan Dynasty emperor, swept across the world, and the treasures he collected were absolutely astonishing. The mechanisms within were unimaginable. With too few people, we probably wouldn't be able to break in!" Zhu Li was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Although he didn't have many top-tier experts, he certainly had the most people. Each of the nine provinces had hundreds of thousands of standing troops, and the whole country had millions. In terms of numbers, who could compare to him!

The Li Family Head, of course, understood this principle. Looking at Zhu Li, Li Family Head smiled and said, "While having more people has its advantages, the disadvantages are obvious. The place where the treasure is hidden can't be too big. How can so many people get in? Only a moderate number is the best strategy." The Li Family has the most experts in the world; who can compare? Perhaps the Zhang Family could, as the combined experts of the Zhang Family's Dark Blood and Tianyu Tower could certainly rival the Li Family. However, the Dark Blood experts can be deployed, while the Tianyu Tower experts are responsible for intelligence and cannot leave their posts!

The number of experts they can mobilize is definitely the strongest in the Li Family.

Zhu Li suddenly said, "Li Family Head, you're wrong to say that. If there are too many people, we can divide them into batches. If the first batch dies, the second batch can go in. We'll definitely succeed!"

Zhang Xingfeng felt a chill run down his spine. This emperor was truly ruthless when it came to important matters. How many people were in that group? It was definitely not just a few, but dozens.

The Li Family Head suddenly said, "Your Majesty, what if the first group of people goes in and triggers the traps, destroying the location of the treasure? You know, some large treasures have traps designed to destroy them!"

Zhu Li hesitated, unable to speak. What the Li Family Head said was absolutely true; most of the large treasure troves were equipped with destructive mechanisms. But Zhu Li was unwilling to accept this.

Suddenly, Zhu Li had a sudden thought, and a sinister plan formed in his mind. He glanced at Zhang Xingfeng, who was admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden, and at the somewhat smug Li Family Head beside him, and thought to himself, "Li Family Head, since you're like this, then don't blame me for being greedy. Young Master Zhang, I had no choice. A great treasure, of course, you can't take one share without feeling satisfied!"

"Alright, what Li Family Head said is right. Too many people might backfire. In that case, I agree to have fewer people. So, Li Family Head, how many people do you think would be appropriate?" Zhu Li asked in return.

After thinking for a moment, the Li Family Head said, "Five hundred people is neither too many nor too few."

Zhu Li suddenly felt a nameless fire rise in his heart. "Not too few, five hundred experts. The five hundred experts that your Li Family can send out are at least at the Xiantian level. Hmph, I can't even find that many experts in my palace all at once. Aristocratic Clan, Aristocratic Clan, one day I will make you know that imperial power is the greatest force!"

Zhu Li, however, maintained his smile and looked at the Li Family Head, saying, "Since the Li Family Head has said so, I have no objections. Five hundred people, then let's all gather together in three days. Is that alright?"

A satisfied smile appeared on the face of the Li Family Head, seemingly pleased with his performance. He nodded upon hearing Zhu Li's suggestion, but inwardly he thought with disdain, "Our Li Family can gather a thousand Innate Master in half a day, but your imperial palace needs three days to gather five hundred experts, and we don't even know if those experts are innate. Humph!" A surge of pride as a member of the Li Family welled up within him.

Zhang Xingfeng nodded and turned back to continue admiring the flowers. He didn't care how many people there were; he was enough on his own.

Suddenly, the Li Family Head noticed Zhang Xingfeng standing proudly to the side, and his pride vanished instantly. "It's you! You will make my Li Family pay back double for the humiliation we have suffered! Humph! You think you can get involved in such a lucrative industry with no experience? I'll make sure you lose everything!"

"Your Majesty, I'll be taking my leave now!" The Li Family Head bowed to Zhu Li and then departed.

Zhu Li's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of lightning flashing within them, revealing to others that he was not merely an emperor, but also a peerless master. "I... there are probably very few people who would dare to call themselves 'I' before an emperor!" Zhu Li felt a pang of disappointment. But what could he do against powerful aristocratic Aristocratic Clan? Even Temujin's formidable strength hadn't been able to subdue Aristocratic Clan. His ambition was admirable, but his goals seemed somewhat unrealistic. Yet, who could say that his ideals were impossible? What was impossible for an immortal being?

"Young Master Zhang, you seem to have a great fondness for flowers?" Zhu Li turned to Zhang Xingfeng said. He had always regarded Zhang Xingfeng as a celestial being and had never treated him as an ordinary citizen.

"Xingfeng doesn't admire flowers for their own sake; he simply appreciates beautiful things." Zhang Xingfeng smiled slightly, then suddenly asked, "What was the Emperor's purpose in sending Princess Leyue to my residence some time ago?"

Zhu Li was taken aback, unable to understand what Zhang Xingfeng meant.

Zhang Xingfeng suddenly smiled and said, "Does Your Majesty know that Leyue is quite charming?"

Zhu Li was suddenly overjoyed: Could it be that Zhang Xingfeng has really fallen in love with his daughter? But according to intelligence analysis, the possibility of Zhang Xingfeng falling in love with another woman is almost non-existent.

Zhang Xingfeng continued, "Leyue has only been at my residence for a short time, but she has already stolen my elder brother Lang Feng's heart. I wonder if Your Majesty can grant them their wish?" Zhang Xingfeng's purpose had finally been revealed!

Zhu Li instantly recalled the information about Zhang Xingfeng's elder brother, Lang Feng. "Isn't Lang Feng just an ordinary expert? He has no power or official rank." Zhu Li felt a little embarrassed; he didn't want his precious daughter to marry an ordinary person.

Zhang Xingfeng's expression changed. He understood Zhu Li's intentions and sneered, "You can't judge a book by its cover. Your Majesty, I'll take my leave now!"

Zhu Li was taken aback. Yet another person was referring to himself as "I." But Zhu Li showed no anger whatsoever, as if it were all perfectly normal. At that moment, Zhang Xingfeng's words echoed in his mind, "You can't judge a book by its cover!"

"Did I make a mistake just now?" Zhu Li muttered to himself, watching Zhang Xingfeng's departing figure. But Zhu Li quickly recovered; he now needed to prepare for the big event three days from now, and his preparations weren't just about gathering experts! They also included hidden strategies!

Zhang Xingfeng, how will the Li Family fare against Zhu Li's underhanded tactics?

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