"Senior Mo, thanks for your efforts. Sorry to trouble you, but please investigate which council members they've been in contact with and which ones have accepted their bribes. Find evidence of anyone in their families bribing or accepting bribes from members of the National Congress, then send it all to the Empire's Ministry of Supervision and the Supreme Court." Xu Mochen finally made up his mind.
Although this approach wouldn't completely punish the monopoly alliance led by the Seven Great Groups, it would certainly serve as a warning to the others. It was time to let them know who truly ruled the Sun Moon Empire.
But Xu Mochen didn't want to go too far. From another perspective, after all, they had contributed considerably to the Sun Moon Empire's social development. If he rashly resorted to drastic measures, he might destabilize society and hinder the empire's progress.
After Mo Wuying took his leave, Xu Mochen received a report from a palace attendant. In accordance with Xu Mochen's request, the controllers of the three banks aside from the Sun Moon Royal Bank, along with the chairmen and family heads of the three great groups, had arrived at the palace by invitation and were waiting in the reception hall. Hearing this, Xu Mochen's lips curled into a sharp smile. He already had a plan in mind.
By the time he entered the reception hall, Xu Mochen had already spotted the three family heads waiting inside: 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 them, Xu Mochen immediately put on a smile, as though nothing had happened earlier. He warmly addressed the three powerful group leaders, who had been waiting for some time. "You three have worked hard. Thank you for coming despite your busy schedules."
"Your Highness is too kind. It is our good fortune to receive your summons. May we ask what Your Highness requires of us?" The heads of the three great groups rose at once and bowed slightly. The Sun Moon Empire had no tradition of kneeling, so this gesture already showed their respect for Xu Mochen.
Half a month ago, the Xia and Ma Families had regarded this newly enthroned child with some disdain. But after spending these past days around Xu Mochen, they had been astonished by the talent and methods he had displayed. Faced with such a prodigious child, they dared not underestimate him in the slightest. And when they learned that Xu Mochen had been carrying out an anti-monopoly campaign, they became even more wary of the seemingly young Crown Prince.
"Please, there's no need for formalities, seniors. I didn't summon you to discuss state affairs." Xu Mochen nodded faintly in reply, his gaze casually sweeping over them. According to the information he had gathered, Ye Xingyun, as prime minister and head of the Nebula Group, was utterly loyal to the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family.
In fact, the Ye Family had been among the earliest families to follow the Xu Family. Even before the Sun Moon Empire was founded, the Ye Family had stood by the Xu Family. During the Dark Era, when the Sun Moon Empire's emperor was at his most desperate, the Ye Family had remained steadfastly at his side.
After the "God-Emperor War" ended, the Ye Family's contributions to the empire were rewarded. Not only was the family exceptionally permitted to have its direct descendants enter government and participate in politics—under imperial law, and after years of deliberate restrictions by the imperial family, direct descendants of group-owning families outside the royal house were barred from administrative and judicial office, and even the number of their council members was strictly limited—
But several generations of Ye Family heads had also produced a number of cabinet ministers and even prime ministers. What made the other families even more envious was that the Ye Family's mark could be found on national emblems such as the Sun Moon Empire's flag and insignia.
For example, the Sun Moon Empire's national flag was called the Sun Moon Star Flag. Its background was blue, and at its center, a red sun, golden moon, and silver star overlapped and intertwined. The red sun represented the Xu Family, the golden moon represented the Kong Family, and it went without saying which family the silver star represented. This showed just how exalted the Ye Family's position in the Sun Moon Empire was.
The Ye Family had never disappointed the successive emperors who had trusted them. They had served the imperial family diligently, never daring to overstep by so much as a hair. When the Seven Great Groups formed their monopoly alliance and sought to secretly control the empire's economic lifeline, opposing Xu Mochen's anti-monopoly policies, most of the Nebula Group and the Ye Family behind it refused to take part. Instead, Ye Xingyun, head of the Ye Family, had backed Xu Mochen's introduction of the Anti-Monopoly Law and enforcement of its regulations.
For that alone, Xu Mochen's favorable impression of the Ye Family remained high. No wonder that in Douluo Continent II, Emperor Xu Tianran of the Sun Moon Empire had so readily entrusted Ye Yulin with command of the Imperial Guard in Ming Capital. On Blue Star during the Qing dynasty, that post would have been equivalent to the commander of Beijing's Nine Gates, directly responsible for the emperor's life and safety—an office reserved for powerful nobles and ministers of the Eight Banners. At the very least, Ye Xingyun could become a trusted ally in Xu Mochen's eyes.
The other two, however, were not so straightforward. The Soaring Dragon Group and the Xiali Group were both massive conglomerates in the Sun Moon Empire, and their influence was not limited to finance. It also extended into natural resources and technology.
Aside from finance, the Soaring Dragon Group's businesses mainly included industrial Soul Tool equipment, the manufacture of carriages and ships, forestry and mining, construction, steelmaking and other heavy industries, heavy-metal processing, and natural resource development.
The Xiali Group's businesses also included medicinal plant cultivation and drug development, artificial Soul Beast forests and biological research, as well as other fields related to cultivation and biological medicines. Both had long been members of the monopoly alliance, using the two banks' fundraising operations to increase investment and expand the reach and influence of their monopolized industries.
Though these thoughts were on his mind, Xu Mochen showed nothing on his face. Instead, he immediately began laying out his investment ideas, including establishing insurance companies, trust companies, leasing companies, stock exchanges, and other institutions to build a complete financial system.
As Xu Mochen spoke, the three family heads grew more and more astonished. He had hit the nail on the head! For years, the heads of the three families had been trying every means to expand their financial institutions and raise more capital, but the limitations of their era had kept them from finding any particularly effective measures.
If they truly followed Xu Mochen's proposals, the Sun Moon Empire's financial system would face an unprecedented transformation. More and more commoners would actively participate in commercial investment, and an increasing number of new industries would emerge.
Of course, the system would need to be refined before it could be put into practice. But as old foxes who had been in business for many years, Ma Xiu and Xia Zhenxuan weren't about to reveal their thoughts so easily. Instead, they cautiously considered Xu Mochen's intentions.
The three family heads raised several questions about the proposals, and Xu Mochen answered each one in detail. Xia Zhenxuan and Ma Xiu then probed him repeatedly, but Xu Mochen gave nothing away. He let neither of them detect the slightest anomaly. After numerous discussions among the four of them, a complete plan gradually took shape.
However, the observant Xu Mochen noticed that although Ye Xingyun was astonished by and approving of these financial plans, a trace of worry lingered between his brows, as if he were pondering and hesitating over something.
After Xu Mochen had discussed the entire plan with the heads of the three great families, Ma Xiu and Xia Zhenxuan confirmed several times that there were no traps, then respectfully took their leave. Before departing, they lavishly praised Xu Mochen's plans. Deep down, they were secretly astonished by the wisdom the young Crown Prince had displayed, and their regard for him rose another notch.
Ye Xingyun, however, did not leave. Only after the other two family heads had departed did he anxiously ask Xu Mochen, "May I ask why Your Highness revealed such valuable business secrets to the Ma and Xia Families?"
Xu Mochen had expected this question, but feigned ignorance. "Why does Prime Minister Ye think it was unwise? Wouldn't this better stimulate commercial development in the Sun Moon Empire?"
Ye Xingyun still seemed confused and reluctant to accept it. "But Your Highness, if the Ma and Xia Families join forces to adopt your financial strategy, they'll become the strongest competitors to our two groups. By then, huge sums of capital will pour into their hands."
"The Ma and Xia Families are ambitious wolves. They've always wanted to monopolize the Sun Moon Empire's pillar industries, further weaken the imperial family, and seize the chance to make enormous profits. Doesn't Your Highness's approach simply strengthen those two families?"
"Why not tell only our two groups about this, Your Highness? We could establish a complete system first. Even if the Ma and Xia Families tried to imitate us, they would inevitably run into countless problems and loopholes. Then our two groups could seize the commercial advantage and find an opportunity to monopolize the entire industry."
Xu Mochen only smiled calmly at this. "Then, Prime Minister Ye, if the Ma and Xia Families run into trouble while trying to imitate our financial system on their own, who besides the Ma and Xia Families will suffer? And even if our two groups really could monopolize such a vast financial business in the end, would that truly be good for the development of the entire Sun Moon Empire?"
Ye Xingyun was stunned by Xu Mochen's words. Then he began to consider them carefully. Gradually, he came to understand Xu Mochen's reasoning.
That was right. This new financial system would affect not just several major groups, but the common people of the entire Sun Moon Empire. If the financial systems of the Ma and Xia Families ran into problems, everyone who had invested with or banked at those families' institutions would be affected.
Among them would undoubtedly be many ordinary citizens who had invested their entire life savings. If something went wrong, the Ma and Xia Families might immediately freeze all depositors' assets to limit their losses and stop processing withdrawals. The common people would be the ones who suffered.
By then, countless people would go bankrupt, protest, and even take their own lives, undoubtedly throwing the entire Sun Moon Empire into turmoil. Besides, would it really be good for two great groups to monopolize the entire financial sector?
As the saying went, "Without competition, there can be no progress." Xu Mochen had pushed so hard for an anti-monopoly campaign not only because he feared that monopolies would take the opportunity to raise prices and deprive other businesses and merchants of the right to compete freely and fairly. More importantly, he worried that without competitors, the development of monopolistic capitalists would slow or even grind to a halt. That would do the Sun Moon Empire's development no good at all.
And if the Sun Moon Royal Group and the Nebula Group also adopted a monopoly strategy, who could guarantee that the two groups, once stripped of their competitors, would keep reflecting on themselves, striving to improve, and pursuing greater growth?
"Your Highness is far-sighted, placing the well-being of the nation and its people above all else. I was narrow-minded." Ye Xingyun clasped his hands and bowed to Xu Mochen. At that moment, he was not only impressed by Xu Mochen's talent and intelligence, but also moved by his long-range vision and his concern for the world.
Xu Mochen merely smiled and admitted, "Actually, there's another reason. I hope they'll accumulate enough money to buy the latest Soul Guidance Technology I produce..."
Xu Mochen then patiently told Ye Xingyun that he had already developed a Soul Guidance Steam Engine and was working at full strength on its supporting equipment. He even told Ye Xingyun what related products might be developed in the future.
As Xu Mochen listed each device and explained its function, Ye Xingyun's eyes widened and his mouth gaped so far it could have swallowed a duck egg. After a long while, as though he had been struck by a sudden revelation, Ye Xingyun dropped to his knees. His cultivation was no weak thing to begin with, and the force of his movement made the entire floor tremble.
"Senior Ye, you mustn't!" Xu Mochen was startled and hurried forward to help him up. Kneeling was no longer customary in the Sun Moon Empire. What was more, Ye Xingyun was one of the empire's true pillars and head of the Ye Family, with an exalted position throughout the Sun Moon Empire. Even the late emperor had no right to demand that he kneel!
But tears glimmered in Ye Xingyun's eyes. "I thank our ancestors for granting Your Highness such heaven-gifted talent! The Sun Moon Empire is destined to flourish! Your Highness truly is a blessing sent from heaven to the empire!" His heart surged with emotion. Already an absolutely loyal servant of the imperial family, he was now utterly awed by Xu Mochen's talent and wisdom.
Few could predict the profound changes the Soul Guidance Steam Engine would bring to the Sun Moon Empire as far into the future as Ye Xingyun could. If machinery like this could be put to widespread use throughout the empire, its productivity would inevitably grow by leaps and bounds! The shortage of human labor would be alleviated to the greatest possible extent! The transformation of Sun Moon Empire society would surely be historic! At that moment, he seemed to see with his own eyes the Sun Moon Empire of the future, flourishing beneath a surging tide of industrialization!
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