My Emperor Father Can Read Minds
Chapter 48

Yes, it’s difficult, isn’t it?

Du Xing’s thoughts were exactly what Emperor Wei himself wanted to express.

If governing the world weren’t difficult, emperors of past dynasties wouldn’t have had to rise early, sleep late, wear their clothes while eating, and review documents until dawn every night.

Tsk.

Emperor Wei silently shook his head. This life was truly worse than that of a dog…

Hm?

Emperor Wei paused, suddenly recalling a remark by Wei Yu.

— Even dogs don’t become emperors.

Emperor Wei fell silent.

When he first heard this, he had been angry. But now, upon reflecting on it, it seemed the brat had a point!

A few officials had been arguing about how to reduce the price of white sugar, but when they turned back, they realized that their Majesty had been silent for quite some time.

Gongsun Tai spoke: “Your Majesty, the matter of the sugar price requires further discussion. We hope Your Majesty will allow us some time to think it over.”

Emperor Wei didn’t even lift his eyelids, instead directly pointing to the silent Pei Zhi, “Minister Pei, do you have any suggestions? Please discuss them with everyone.”

No one had even remembered Pei Zhi until now, but once his name was mentioned, everyone immediately remembered.

Qi Tishou thought, [Oh right, I almost forgot about this lump of iron! As the Minister of Works, this sugar matter must be related to him! And he didn’t even inform us…]

Emperor Wei was quite satisfied with Pei Zhi’s silence.

Those who worked for him should be tight-lipped.

Pei Zhi did indeed have an idea, though it was something he had only considered and hadn’t planned to speak about.

But since the Emperor had called on him, Pei Zhi had no choice but to step forward and say, “Your Majesty, I do have an idea, though I’m not sure whether it is feasible.”

Emperor Wei had already overheard Pei Zhi’s idea. If he hadn’t thought it might have potential, he wouldn’t have called on him.

Emperor Wei: “Speak freely.”

So, Pei Zhi said:

“Your Majesty, we now have a new sugar recipe that can save half of the raw materials. It’s a good method for benefiting the people. Since the wealthy families are unwilling to release the recipe or lower the price of sugar, leaving the common folk of Yizhou with no options, why not have the government act as a guide?”

Gongsun Tai raised his eyebrows, sensing an ominous feeling.

Sure enough, the next moment, Pei Zhi raised his hand and respectfully addressed Emperor Wei, “I respectfully request Your Majesty to release the sugar recipe to the people of Yizhou.”

The officials were shocked!

He’s stirring things up!

Qi Tishou, the Minister of Revenue, was the first to stand and refuse.

“Impossible, Your Majesty! The sugar recipe is precious; how could it be casually shared with the world? If it’s in the hands of the court, it will surely bring more wealth and grain to the national treasury!”

Pei Zhi shot back coldly, “No matter how precious the recipe is, white sugar is not a necessity for the people, and malt sugar is a viable alternative! I think you, Minister Qi, are too fixated on money, trying to profit at the expense of the people!”

To compete with the people’s interests? What a hefty accusation! It struck Qi Tishou right in the chest.

He retorted angrily, “I think, Lord Pei, you are speaking from a comfortable position! Removing the foundation is a good idea, but how do you know the families of Yizhou will sit back and accept it? What if, as soon as the court releases the recipe, the families secretly destroy it? The people who see the recipe might even lose their lives!”

A few other officials silently nodded.

Indeed, when the noble families got serious, they didn’t care about imperial laws. As long as they weren’t caught, they could even murder people and find ways to escape responsibility.

Emperor Wei remained calm, looking at them with a tranquil gaze before turning his attention to Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi said indifferently, “Who says the recipe must be released to the public? Why not first distribute a batch of sugar in Jiaozhou, sell it at a low price to the ordinary people of Jiaozhou and Yizhou, let them know there’s affordable sugar, and when the time is right, then tell them they can buy the recipe from the government for a few taels of silver?”

People willing to pay for the recipe wouldn’t be foolish. Under the pressure of the wealthy families, if they dare to buy it from the government, it shows they were brave, resourceful, and unafraid of the noble families.

Such people, even when oppressed by the wealthy families, would not easily yield, and might even escalate the matter.

As the matter grew, more people would learn about the low-priced sugar recipe, and by the time the noble families reacted, the public would already be making their own sugar!

The more people who knew the recipe, the more people would be able to make sugar.

At that point, the situation would resemble the common folk selling pancakes at street stalls.

When that time came, whether the noble families lowered the price voluntarily or were forced to do so, it wouldn’t matter to the court, because the main goal would have already been achieved.

Perhaps the court could even make a small profit by selling the recipe.

“This… brilliant!”

Cao Youde, the Minister of Rites, grasped the pros and cons of the plan and couldn’t help but nod at Pei Zhi. “Lord Pei’s plan is excellent! It benefits both the people and the court without any cost, and even gives the noble families a hard time. It’s a triple win.”

It was a great idea, but it could easily make the noble families desperate.

Du Xing pounded his chest, “Your Majesty, rest assured. I am willing to bring troops and directly take charge in Yizhou. If anyone dares to hinder Your Majesty’s plan, I will personally behead them!”

At this point, calling him a reckless fool was an understatement.

Gongsun Tai cursed him as a “butcher” in his mind.

It was quite a fitting description.

Emperor Wei raised his hand in a comforting gesture, signaling the “butcher” to calm down. “The matter in Yizhou isn’t that big. There’s no need for Minister Du to intervene. I plan to assign it to the Second Young Master of the Prime Minister’s family.”

Gongsun Tai, who had been silent throughout, was now shocked.

Your Majesty, why the sudden change of plans?

This would create much hostility, and Gongsun Tai immediately stepped forward to refuse on behalf of his second son.

“Your Majesty, my second son is still young and truly unfit for such a responsibility. If this task is entrusted to him, it could ruin Your Majesty’s plan. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider.”

When the Prime Minister shifted in his seat, Emperor Wei knew what was coming.

For Gongsun Tai’s refusal, Emperor Wei simply smiled.

“You are being too modest. I often hear Consort Xian praise your second son’s quick wit and exceptional talents in both literature and martial arts. I have always wanted to find an opportunity to see if her words are true.”

This put Gongsun Tai in a difficult position.

If he said Consort Xian’s praise was false, it would be a form of deception, damaging her reputation in the Emperor’s eyes.

If he said it was true, then what? He would be sending his second son to Yizhou to die!

Emperor Wei smiled at his struggle and added, “For this task, I intend to send the Second Prince along with him.”

Gongsun Tai fell silent.

Two seconds later, he silently raised his hand and agreed.

“Yes, I will thank Your Majesty on behalf of my second son.”

The Second Prince was the hope of the Gongsun family—if the second son died, the Second Prince must not!

He must go!