"Yes." Gu Moran pointed to the map, "Unfortunately, it's suppressed by the imperial grain supply lines, the Hebei garrison, and the regulations of the Ministry of War."
"My second brother wants soldiers, but he needs money. And wanting money will cross a red line."
Liu Ruyan looked at the post.
"He invited you to explore ways to break the deadlock in Yi Prefecture?"
Murong Xue was sitting on the threshold wiping her riding whip when she heard this and looked up.
"Then are you still going?"
Gu Moran took out a blank booklet.
"Because I also wanted to give him something."
Shen Ling'er squinted. "What is that?"
Gu Moran in ink and slowly wrote the first line.
"A Brief Strategy for Enriching the Army and Supporting the People in Fiefdoms".
Su Yao paused her pen after seeing the name.
Are you going to lie to me again?
"How can you speak to my husband like that, Madam Su? I can't come empty-handed when someone invites me to a banquet."
Gu Moran wrote very slowly.
"I'm just offering my humble opinions on making money, enriching the military, and supporting the people to my second brother."
Xie Wanqing read a few lines, her eyes flickering.
"My lord, this opening is too modest."
Humility is what I'm like.
Lin Qingdai sneered, "Where did you get your modesty from?"
Gu Moran didn't answer.
Su Yao watched him write, her brows furrowing little by little.
"The people can enjoy the benefits first and pay in silver later; merchants can borrow first and pay interest later; the army can be issued vouchers first and exchange them for money later."
Gu Moran stopped writing and added another sentence.
With the Prince's mansion as guarantor, the people are happy to comply.
Su Yao put down the accounting pen, took a closer look, and her expression changed.
"It can accumulate wealth in the short term. But if those who use it are greedy, it will become a bottomless pit later."
Gu Moran turned a page.
"Isn't my second brother being greedy to invite me at this time?"
No one answered from inside the room.
Murong Xue wiped the whip handle with a handkerchief and clicked her tongue.
"You're really bad."
Shen Ling'er pushed a small porcelain bottle in front of him.
"Hangover cure. Take two before you go, and one more when you get back. Don't actually get sick from drinking too much."
Gu Moran took the porcelain bottle and shook it.
" Ling'er still loves me."
Shen Ling'er's ears burned, and she lowered her head to pound the medicine.
"My dear husband, if you really get sick from drinking, I'll force-feed you bitter medicine until you want to run away at the sight of alcohol."
Lin Qingdai slammed the dagger on the table.
"Bring more people."
"No. If I bring too many, my second brother will think I'm being wary of him."
"That Uncle Fu."
Outside the door, Uncle Fu peeked out with half his face.
"This old servant is indeed getting on in years. Taking on a few people from Prince An's Residence is no problem."
Gu Moran nodded.
"Let's bring Uncle Fu."
Liu Ruyan picked up the booklet and turned to the end.
"Why don't you write it in more detail?"
"If you write too much detail, Second Brother will be wary." Gu Moran pulled the booklet back. "Leave it half-open, half-closed, for him to fill in the gaps himself. The more he fills in, the smarter he'll think he is."
Xie Wanqing looked at those pages and said softly, "Those who dig their own graves are the ones they're most willing to jump into."
Gu Moran glanced at her.
Xie Wanqing had already crossed out "five days" on the paper and changed it to "four days".
"His Highness's banquet will only take half a day at most. Once he returns, the roster of his entourage should be finalized."
Gu Moran closed the booklet and tucked it into his sleeve.
"Don't worry. I'll try to come back half-drunk and half-awake."
Shen Ling'er pushed the porcelain bottle forward again.
"Eat now."
Gu Moran poured out two pills in front of her and swallowed them.
The pill slid down my throat, the bitter taste pressing on the back of my tongue, accompanied by a cool sensation.
He clicked his tongue.
"Disgusting."
Shen Ling'er looked up.
"If you don't like the food, then don't go."
Gu Moran immediately changed her tune.
Good medicine is always bitter.
The banquet at Prince An's Residence was held in the waterside pavilion in the back garden.
When Gu Moran arrived, Gu Mochen was already seated at the table. The wine pot was warm, and there weren't many dishes, just typical fare found in the capital.
Gu Mochen stood up to greet him.
"Third brother is here."
Gu Moran clutched her chest, slowing her pace.
"Since my second brother invited me, how could I refuse? It's just that I was recently frightened and I get out of breath after walking only a few steps."
Gu Mochen suppressed his smile as he looked at his sickly appearance.
"Sit down. Today we will only discuss brotherhood, not court affairs."
Gu Moran sat down.
Uncle Fu stood behind him, his eyelids drooping and his hands tucked into his sleeves.
The wine cups were filled to the brim.
Gu Mochen raised his glass.
"We both have to leave the capital. The struggle in the capital has dragged on for so long, but it hasn't yielded any good results."
Gu Moran the cup and first smelled the aroma of the wine.
Shen Ling'er's two pills were worth it.
He took a sip and immediately made a face.
"Second brother is right. The capital is too terrifying. After I arrived in Yi Prefecture, I stayed home, ate, and spent time with my wives raising fish and growing flowers."
Gu Mochen looked at him.
" Yi Prefecture is prosperous, yet my third brother only raises fish?"
"Raising fish is good," Gu Moran, putting down his wine cup. "Fish won't impeach me."
Gu Mochen chuckled.
"I've heard that the governor and the military commander over there are tough guys. Third brother, you'll inevitably have to deal with them when you go."
Gu Moran quickly waved his hand.
"No fighting. No paying. If anyone comes to me, I'll pretend to be sick. If anyone invites me, I'll say I have a stomachache. If anyone asks me to take charge, I'll say the six ladies forbid it."
Gu Mochen stared at him for a moment.
"If that's truly what my third brother thinks, then Father can rest assured."
Gu Moran finished her drink, and her face quickly flushed.
The effects of the alcohol were suppressed by the medicine, but he deliberately let his gaze wander and his shoulders slump slightly.
"I'm glad Father Emperor isn't worried. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have time to warm up my nest in Yi Prefecture before my head is gone."
Gu Mochen poured him another drink.
"Third brother, the six families will be accompanying you to your fiefdom; the expenses along the way will be considerable. Do you really have no plan?"
Gu Moran's fingers slipped into his sleeve and touched the booklet.
He didn't take it out.
Second brother, you cast that fishing hook too straight.
Too impatient.
Gu Moran drank another cup and leaned against the table.
"Articles of association? What articles of association could I possibly have? A wise man wrote a few pages for me, but just looking at them gives me a headache."
Gu Mochen paused, his wine cup still in his hand.
"A master?"
Gu Moran patted his chest, slipped his hand into his sleeve, and pulled out half of the booklet.
"Someone who knows how to make money talks about how fiefdoms need to support the people, the army, and the merchants. Ugh, it's so annoying."
Gu Mochen's gaze fell on the booklet.
May I have a look?
Gu Moran hugged the booklet, looking at him warily.
"No way. My second brother is smart; he'll learn by watching for a couple of seconds."
Gu Mochen's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned.
Why hide things from your brothers?
Gu Moran drank another cup and stuffed the booklet into his arms. Halfway through, the wine cup was knocked aside by the back of his hand, and the wine spilled onto his sleeve.
He then slumped onto the table as well.
The booklet slipped from his bosom and landed on the side of the mat.
Gu Mochen glanced at him.
"Third brother?"
Gu Moran a muffled hum.
Uncle Fu pricked up his ears from behind, but didn't go forward.
Gu Mochen reached out and picked up the booklet.
Don't get it dirty. Your second brother will keep it safe for you.
He spoke politely, but his hand had already turned to the first page.
I only intended to glance at it.
His finger stopped when he saw the lines "Guaranteed by the Prince's Mansion, merchants enjoy first, and repayment will be made later".
Turn the page to the next page.
The military issues vouchers, merchants accept them, government offices stamp them, and tax revenue is transferred.
This is a road where silver rolls into the treasury.