Meeting Three Families, The Three Patriarchs' Shock

"Senior Mo, thank you for your hard work. Please investigate which council members they have been in contact with and which ones have accepted their bribes. Find evidence of bribery involving their family members and the councilors, then submit it all to the Imperial Supervisory Department and the Supreme Court," Xu Mochen finally decided.

Although this approach would not completely dismantle the monopoly alliance led by the seven major groups, it would serve as a sufficient warning to the others. It was time for them to realize who the true ruler of the Sun Moon Empire was.

However, Xu Mochen did not want to be too ruthless. From another perspective, they had contributed significantly to the social development of the Sun Moon Empire. Taking drastic measures too rashly might destabilize society and hinder the empire's progress.

After Mo Wuying withdrew, Xu Mochen received a report from a palace attendant. As requested, the heads of the three major banks—excluding the Sun Moon Royal Bank—and the chairmen and patriarchs of the three major groups had arrived at the palace and were waiting in the reception hall. Upon hearing this, a sharp curve tugged at the corner of Xu Mochen's mouth; he already had a plan in mind.

When he entered the reception hall, Xu Mochen found the three patriarchs waiting respectfully: Ye Xingyun, head of the Ye Family and chairman of the Nebula Group; Ma Xiu, head of the Ma Family and chairman of the Soaring Dragon Group; and Xia Zhenxuan, head of the Xia Family and chairman of the Xiali Group.

Seeing this, Xu Mochen immediately put on a smile, as if nothing had happened, and greeted the three power-brokers who had been waiting for a long time: "My apologies for the wait, chairmen. Thank you for making the time to come."

"Your Highness, you are too kind. It is our honor to be summoned by you. May I ask what instructions you have for us?" The heads of the three groups stood up and bowed slightly. The Sun Moon Empire had no tradition of kneeling, so this gesture was already a sign of great respect toward Xu Mochen.

If the Xia and Ma families had felt a hint of disdain for this newly ascended "child" half a month ago, they were now stunned by the talent and methods Xu Mochen had displayed over the past few days. Facing such a monstrously gifted prodigy, they dared not underestimate him in the slightest. Especially after learning of his anti-monopoly plans, they had become even more wary of the seemingly young Crown Prince.

"Seniors, please, no need for such formalities. I did not summon you today for state affairs," Xu Mochen said with a faint nod. His gaze swept over them casually. According to his investigations, Ye Xingyun, as the Prime Minister and head of the Nebula Group, was fiercely loyal to the Imperial Family.

In fact, the Ye Family had been the earliest supporters of the Xu Family. Even before the Sun Moon Empire was established, they had stood by the Xu Family's side. Even during the darkest era of the empire, the Ye Family had remained steadfastly loyal to the Emperor.

After the "God-Emperor War," to honor the Ye Family's contributions, they were granted the rare privilege of having direct family members serve as government officials. According to imperial law—and further restricted by the royal family over the years—direct members of business families were generally prohibited from holding administrative or judicial positions, and even their number of seats in the council was strictly limited.

The Ye Family had produced several cabinet ministers and even Prime Ministers throughout history. What made other families even more envious was that the Ye Family's influence was embedded in the very symbols of the nation, such as the Sun Moon Star Flag.

The flag featured a blue background with a red sun, a golden moon, and a silver star overlapping. The red sun represented the Xu Family, the golden moon the Kong Family, and the silver star—needless to say—represented the Ye Family. This showed just how exalted their status was.

The Ye Family had never betrayed the trust of the Emperors, serving diligently without overstepping their bounds. When the seven major groups formed a monopoly to control the economic lifeline of the empire and oppose Xu Mochen's policies, the Nebula Group and the majority of the Ye Family did not participate. On the contrary, Ye Xingyun had actively supported the anti-monopoly laws.

Because of this, Xu Mochen held the Ye Family in high regard. It was no wonder that in Douluo Continent 2, Emperor Xu Tianran had felt comfortable entrusting the command of the Ming Capital's Imperial Guards to Ye Yulin. That position was equivalent to the Commander of the Nine Gates in the Qing Dynasty, directly tied to the Emperor's safety. It was a role reserved for the most trusted nobility, suggesting that Ye Xingyun could indeed be a trusted ally for Xu Mochen.

However, the other two were not as honest. The Soaring Dragon Group and the Xiali Group were massive oligarchs whose influence extended beyond finance into natural resources and technology.

The Soaring Dragon Group's business included financial services, industrial Soul Tool manufacturing, carriage and ship production, forestry, mining, construction, steel refining, heavy metal processing, and natural resource development.

The Xiali Group focused on pharmaceutical cultivation and development, artificial soul beast forests, and biological research. Both were members of the monopoly alliance, using their banks to raise capital and expand their influence.

Despite these thoughts, Xu Mochen's face remained impassive. He began to explain his investment ideas, including the establishment of insurance companies, trust firms, leasing companies, and stock exchanges to build a comprehensive financial system.

As Xu Mochen spoke, the expressions of the three patriarchs grew increasingly shocked. It was an eye-opening revelation! For years, they had struggled to expand their financial institutions, but due to the limitations of the era, they had lacked any truly innovative measures.

If they followed Xu Mochen's vision, the financial system of the Sun Moon Empire would undergo an unprecedented transformation. More commoners would participate in commercial investment, and new industries would emerge.

Of course, the system would need refinement before it could be applied in practice. But as seasoned foxes, Ma Xiu and Xia Zhenxuan did not reveal their true thoughts, instead pondering Xu Mochen's intentions with caution.

The three patriarchs raised several questions, which Xu Mochen answered in detail. Xia Zhenxuan and Ma Xiu tried to probe his true intentions, but Xu Mochen remained flawless, giving nothing away. After several rounds of discussion, a complete plan was established.

However, the observant Xu Mochen noticed that while Ye Xingyun was impressed by the financial plan, there was a hint of worry in his eyes, as if he were hesitating about something.

Once the discussion concluded, Ma Xiu and Xia Zhenxuan, having confirmed there were no traps, respectfully took their leave. Before departing, they showered the Crown Prince with praise, their respect for his intellect having reached a new level.

Ye Xingyun, however, did not leave. Once the others were gone, he asked anxiously, "Your Highness, why did you share such commercial secrets with the Ma and Xia families?"

Xu Mochen had anticipated this, but he feigned confusion. "Prime Minister Ye, why do you find this inappropriate? Wouldn't this stimulate the development of the empire's commerce?"

Ye Xingyun remained unconvinced. "But Your Highness, if the Ma and Xia families adopt your strategy, they will become our strongest competitors. A massive amount of capital will flow into their hands."

"The Ma and Xia families are ambitious; they have always sought to monopolize the empire's pillar industries to weaken the royal family and reap exorbitant profits. By doing this, aren't you simply strengthening them?"

"Why not share this method only with us? We could establish a complete system first. Even if they tried to imitate us, they would inevitably face problems and loopholes, allowing us to seize the market and monopolize the industry."

Xu Mochen smiled calmly. "Prime Minister, if the Ma and Xia families run into trouble while imitating our system, who besides them would suffer? Furthermore, even if we were to monopolize such a massive financial sector, would that truly be a good thing for the empire's development?"

Ye Xingyun was stunned, then began to ponder. Slowly, he began to understand Xu Mochen's logic.

Indeed, this financial system concerned not just a few groups, but the entire populace. If the Ma and Xia families' systems failed, it would affect every investor and client they had.

This included the life savings of countless commoners. If a crisis occurred, the families might freeze assets to stop their own losses, leaving the people to suffer.

This would not only lead to bankruptcy and protests but could cause severe social unrest. Moreover, was a monopoly by two groups truly beneficial?

Competition drives progress. Xu Mochen's anti-monopoly stance wasn't just about preventing price gouging or ensuring fair play; it was about preventing the stagnation that comes when competition disappears. Without rivals, monopolistic capitalists would cease to innovate, which would be disastrous for the empire.

If the Sun Moon Royal Group and the Nebula Group also engaged in such monopolies, who could guarantee they would continue to self-reflect and strive for higher development?

"Your Highness is far-sighted, prioritizing the nation and its people. This humble official was narrow-minded." Ye Xingyun bowed in shame. At this moment, he was not only impressed by Xu Mochen's intellect but also by his long-term vision and grand spirit.

Xu Mochen smiled and added, "Actually, there is another reason. I want them to accumulate enough wealth to purchase my latest Soul Tool technological achievements..."

He then patiently explained that he had developed the Soul Guidance Steam Engine and was working on its supporting devices, even detailing the potential products that would follow.

As Xu Mochen listed the devices and their functions, Ye Xingyun's eyes widened, his mouth agape. After a long silence, as if struck by a revelation, he knelt on the ground with such force that the floor trembled.

"Senior Ye, you must not!" Xu Mochen exclaimed, rushing to help him up. The Sun Moon Empire did not practice kneeling, and Ye Xingyun was a pillar of the state and a patriarch of the Ye Family, enjoying a status so high that even the late Emperor would not have required him to kneel.

Yet, tears shimmered in Ye Xingyun's eyes. "Thank you to our ancestors for bestowing such a genius upon us! The Sun Moon Empire will surely flourish! Your Highness is truly a heaven-sent blessing!" He felt a surge of emotion. As a loyal subject, he now admired Xu Mochen's talent and wisdom beyond measure.

Few could predict the impact of the Soul Guidance Steam Engine better than Ye Xingyun. If such machinery were popularized, the empire's productivity would explode, and the labor shortage would be resolved. The change to society would be historic. He felt as if he could already see the prosperous, industrialized future of the Sun Moon Empire.