"Intendant Cao, could this trusted subordinate of yours be another mole for the Exorcising the Dragon rebels? Why else would he devise such a rotten idea?" In the Southern Office's main hall, Minister Duan Wei of the Ministry of War, one of the Eight Nobles of the Eastern Capital, sighed with a half-smile. "Everyone out there says the Jing'an Directorate is a rebel den. That scoundrel Zhang San had already raised his rebel banner while he was still there."
"Is it that bad? What is bad about it?" Cao Lin ignored the extraneous remarks and asked in earnest.
Duan Wei scoffed but said nothing. Clearly, he had merely seized the opportunity to make an attack and did not actually understand the implications.
Chief Chancellor Su Wei, however, spoke seriously from beside him. "It really is a poor idea. The Exorcising the Dragon Gang controls too much territory. Using money to undermine their currency would do little good. The simplest reason is that if they have too much money within their borders, they can turn it directly into copper ingots and copperware to stabilize things quickly. We would effectively be giving them copper for nothing."
"I see." Understanding dawned on Cao Lin, who then sighed. "So Li Shier's idea really was just fighting battles on paper?"
Su Wei started to speak, then stopped.
Duan Wei, who had intended to mock the suggestion, also fell silent upon learning it was Li Shier's. After all, the young man came from a proper, distinguished Guanlong family and was not his real target. As the situation grew increasingly chaotic, Guanlong's great families were hastening their alliances. Marriage ties were being forged everywhere.
"Chancellor Su, please speak freely." Cao Lin looked around and made an effort to encourage Su Wei.
He had little choice. As the